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ASSENG/2015/64205

PAGE 12

Vol. II

Issue 122

MAMATA BANERJEE, ARVIND KEJRIWAL ATTACK PM MODI OVER DEMONETISATION

Dibrugarh, Friday, November 18, 2016

Bye-Elections to 14Lakhimpur and 20Baithalangso Constituencies

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Price -

In a breather for farmers across the country ahead of the onset of Rabi season, Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das Thursday announced that farmers can withdraw up to Rs 25,000 per week from the payment they receive for agriculture produce in form of cheque or RTGS. Further, the government has decided to increase the time limit for payment of crop insurance premium to 15 days.

“Government has decided that time limit in crop insurance premium cases will be extended by 15 days,” Das said. The Finance Ministry will

Pakistan shells Indian posts in Jammu IANS Jammu, Nov 17: Pakistani troops started shelling and firing on Indian positions across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu district on Thursday evening, sparking off an exchange of fire that was still on, an army official said.

"Pakistan army resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation on the LoC in Pallanwala sector of Jammu district today evening.

ongoing wedding season,” Das said. However, the limit for over the counter exchange of old Rs 500, RS 1000 notes has been reduced from Rs 4,500 to Rs 2,000. “For over the counter exchange of old Rs 500/1000 notes, with effect from Nov 18, Rs 4,500 limit will be reduced to Rs 2000,” Das said.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS The government has eased cash withdrawal norms for farmers, agritraders and weddings.

A family can withdraw up to Rs 2,50,000 for a wedding.

Some central government employees can withdraw Rs 10,000 in advance from their Central government employees, up to group C, can draw their salary in advance up to Rs 10,000 in cash, DEA Secy Das said.

November salaries. also allow registered traders at mandis to withdraw up to Rs 50,000 per week to meet labour costs. All the accounts of farmers and traders must be Know Your Customer (KYC) compliant, Das said.

Saying that the government and the Prime Minister ’s Office have received several representations from the public to relax withdrawal norms for households celebrating

wedding ceremonies, Das said a member of the family, be it father or mother, can make a one-time withdraw of up to Rs 2.5 lakh. “Up to Rs 2.5 lakh cash can be drawn from bank account for a marriage during

And central government employees, up to group C, can draw their salary in advance up to Rs 10,000 in cash, Das said.

This will be adjusted against their November salaries, he added. On the issue of recalibration of ATMs, Das said the special task force set up to expedite the process have held a meeting and a road map has been formed to re-calibrate all ATMs.

Demonetisation In Joint Warning, Mamata Banerjee And Arvind Kejriwal Now, get Rs 2,000 cash Set 3-Day Deadline On Notes Ban from petrol ET Bureau New Delhi, Nov 17

Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal made a double bore attack on the government today, warning that there will be intense protests and unrest if it does not withdraw its ban on 500 and 1000 rupee notes. They also visited the Reserve Bank of India to check on the progress of printing new notes, Mr Kejriwal said.

are giving you three days. If you do not fix all problems, we will not leave you. We are still alive," vowed Mamata Banerjee, who is West Bengal Chief Minister.

Together the leaders also visited the office of the Reserve Bank of India in the capital.

"How much currency needed?

How much printed? What is capacity? How many more days will it take? Me n Mamtadi at RBI to get this info," Mr Kejriwal tweeted.

"Pakistan shelling and firing started at 7.15 p.m. They are using 82 mm mortars and automatics to target our positions," defence spokesman, Lt. Col. Manish Mehta told IANS here.

"Take back this decision in three days... Don't test people's patience. Otherwise, there will be a 'bhagawat' (revolt) by people," said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at Delhi's Azadpur Mandi, the country's biggest wholesale hub.

He called the demonitisation the country's "biggest scam since 1947."

Ms Banerjee had led a march on Wednesday to petition the President against the notes ban, but Mr Kejriwal had not joined her protest because, said sources, he did not wish to share space with the Shiv Sena, which is an ally of the ruling BJP, but threw in its lot with Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress on this issue.

"Our troops are effectively and befittingly retaliating," he said, adding firing exchanges are still going on in the area.

"Prime Minister Modi has broken constitutional rules...Why did not you (Modi) make a proper plan before the implementation (of demonetisation). The common man is suffering due to it. We

Mamata Banerjee's party, the fourth largest in the Lok Sabha, is trying to also move an adjournment motion in the house on demonetisation, which entails a debate followed by a vote.

Both houses of parliament were adjourned today as opposition members raised slogans against the government on the notes ban.

In the Rajya Sabha or upper house, they demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi respond to questions they have raised in a debate on the issue.

The government has refused to give in to that demand.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley this evening said "there is no question of a roll back" of the decision to abolish 500 and 1000 rupee notes, aimed at ending black or untaxed money. He also ruled out the formation of a Joint Parliamentary Committee as demanded by the opposition.

At the public rally Mr Kejriwal asked who was responsible for the death of 40 people who have reportedly died in incidents linked to the notes ban.

The sudden move to scrap high value notes has caused huge disruption to daily life with people standing in long queues for hours outside banks and ATMs.

pumps IANS New Delhi, Nov 17 With long queues continuing at banks and ATMs, now petrol pumps will also dispense Rs 2,000 cash per person per day, state-run Doordarshan announced in a tweet on Thursday.

"Cash to be dispensed at 2,500 petrol pumps; Cash to be given by swiping of debit/ credit card via POS (Point of Sale) machine," @DDNewsLive tweeted.

"Rs 2,000 per person per day in cash can be dispensed.

Facility to be extended to over 20,000 petrol pumps," the tweet said.

The measure comes following the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes by the government on November 8, that has triggered long queues at banks and ATMs across the country to deposit or exchange the scrapped notes and withdraw cash.

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HOW TO MAKE A STUDY SPACE

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Huge relief for farmers, families celebrating weddings; over-thecounter exchange limit reduced Agencies New Delhi, Nov 17

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Winter session of Parliament : Second Day

Currency ban debate: controversial remarks in Parliament expunged Rebuking Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad for his controversial comments, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar on Thursday said the remarks by former union minister are “atrocious, anti-national and an insult to the martyrs” 40 people had died following government's decision on demonetisation. These many casualties had not occurred even in the terror attack on Uri Army camp: Azad This comment from Azad drew massive protests in Rajya Sabha Azad's remarks are "antinational": Venkaiah Naidu PTI New Delhi, Nov 16

Rebuking Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad for his controversial comments, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar on Thursday said the remarks by former union minister are “atrocious, anti-national and an insult to the martyrs.”

The comments have been expunged or deleted from records.

“Such remarks shows frustration and desperation of the Congress’s top leadership following the positive response from the public to the demonetisation move. Azad has not only insulted the martyrs but in a way has also given a certificate to Pakistan sponsored terrorists,” Kumar told PTI. His comments have not only hurt the sentiments of general public but is also a blow to our soldiers who are working day and night for their country, he added.

“Such remarks are atrocious, anti-national and insult to the martyrs. Therefore we demand an unconditional apology from Azad to the people of India,” Kumar said.

Contd. on Page 3

Govt Rejects Demand For PM's Reply on Demonetisation Debate PTI New Delhi, Nov 17

Government on Thursday rejected the demand for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's response on the debate on demonetisation and accused the opposition of using it as an excuse to scuttle discussion on the issue in Parliament.

Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters after Parliament was adjourned for the day, amid protests by opposition demanding Modi's presence, that the reply to the debate would be given by the minister concerned or any other person on behalf of the government as per the rules of the House and precedents.

The opposition disrupted the Rajya Sabha, stalling midway the discussion on demonetisation that started yesterday.

A united opposition's relentless demand for a debate on demonetisation under a rule which entails voting forced the adjournment of the Lok Sabha also for the day as the government refused to accept

The government has rejected demand for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's response on the debate on demonetisation Uproar by Congress and other opposition parties is an "excuse" to stall the debate: Venkaiah Naidu it.

"Half way through, they realised that by raising such a debate it is going negative on them and boomeranging. Now I am afraid, are they trying to find a way out to come out of this and then stall the debate on one pretext or the other," Naidu said.

Dubbing the uproar by Congress and other opposition parties as an "excuse" to stall a debate, Naidu alleged that there is no rationale, whatsoever, behind it.

The Minister said things will happen as per the rules and procedures of the House and urged that the debate should go on.

Contd. on Page 3

Tayeng condemns the SSAMC conducts cleanliness drive miscreants disrupting Mebo- at Komlighat in view of Siang Aarti Dhola Road re-carpeting According to reports from PWD, Pasighat Division, who are carrying out re-carpeting work over worn out road of Mebo-Dhola Road, some miscreants are said to have threatened to discontinue the ongoing work at wee hours on Wednesday night.

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While deeply condemning the act, local MLA cum Advisor to Chief Minister, Lombo Tayeng said that, such act of miscreants are anti development and anti social

Namsing and Gadum village)

by March 2017. If such disruptions comes in the midst, we won’t be able to achieve the target”, added Tayeng.

Meanwhile, condemnation over the act of disrupting developmental works has poured in from all quarters, including Mebobian living across the state. ABK East Siang President, Okom Yosung has also deeply condemned the act and said that ABK will also work toward punishing such people.

Todol Pertin, Joint Secy. ABK (HQ) also has condemned the act.

Maaksam Taayeng Pasighat, Nov 17

After getting due permission to conduct 3rd Siang Aarti on 13th, 14th and 15th January 2017 (on Makar Sankranti) from district administration vides order No. J-4303/Puja/ 2014 dated 15th Nov’16; the executive committee of Sarvajanik Siang Aarti Mahotsava Committee (SSAMC) being coordinated

by United Students of Pasighat started its preparation for the day while conducting a Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, clean drive along Komlighat today.

The locations like Children

Park, left and right side moving down toward celebration site was cleaned by collecting littered plastics and other bushes while burning if off.

The executive committee of SSAMC headed by President, Lungkang Ering and Lenzing Doming, President, United Students of Pasighat jointly put effort to clean the locations.

Ering appealed every section of the society to cooperate the organizing committee to make this year’s Siang Aarti a grand success. While Makpak Peyang, founding Chairman of the SSAMC cum Councilor, Contd. on Page 3

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Maksam Tayeng Pasighat, Nov 17

which will derail the full swing ongoing works. He directed ADC Mebo to investigate the matter on urgent basis and punish the culprits. Tayeng also appealed all like minded people of Mebo area to jointly condemn such acts. “At present, re-carpeting work over Mebo-Dhola Road from Zero Point (Mebo Chariali) to Ngopok Korong (in between Kiyit and Borguli village covering around 15 KMs) with black topping are in full swing.

Efforts and plans are on to complete the re-carpeting work in the remaining stretch of Mebo-Dhola Road upto Taratamak River (in between

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18

P2 Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat to host Annual Conference of Indian Society of Agricultural Economics

BOGIBIL ACCIDENT

SDRF personnel on Thursday searching for a construction worker of the Bogibeel Bridge in Dibrugarh who is suspected to have drowned in the Brahmaputra the night . Pic. Manoj Pandey

HOROSCOPE Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

You may have a hard time relating to people in social situations, Aries. Perhaps you're frustrated at hearing the same shallow conversations over and over. While you mingle with dozens of different people, all you can think about is how nice it would be if you could be home in front of the TV. Your best plan is to avoid situations that you know you won't enjoy. There's no sense in torturing yourself.

Things have probably been going well lately in the love and romance department, Taurus.

You find that communication has improved, and the witty banter is invigorating and educational. Today there may be a blip on the radar. You may have been so caught up in the good parts that you failed to take care of the details and do the actual work needed to make things run smoothly.

You may be feeling emotionally good, Gemini, but unfortunately the people around you don't seem to share this feeling. Your first instinct may be to sacrifice yourself in order to make the path easier for the next guy. Remember that other people need to learn how to do things on their own. If someone is in a bad mood, let them be in a bad mood. You may be better off spending the day alone.

There's an advantage to joining people in a social or family situation, Cancer. Your role today is to bridge communication gaps. Be aware of details that need doing, but don't feel like you have to do them all yourself. This is a good time to delegate responsibility. Keep track of who is in charge of what or you could end up taking up the slack for a job that someone else is supposed to do.

Calm down and get organized before you spread your ideas to others, Leo. This is especially true when it comes to love and romance. As soon as this topic comes up, you tense up and erupt inappropriately. Ground yourself and find your center of balance - literally and figuratively - before you proceed. Don't worry about getting the upper hand. What you need to do is join hands.

You've reached a climactic time of year regarding love and romance, Virgo. This is the time when your dream finally materializes or you realize that all your efforts are failures. It all depends on how you played your cards over the past few months. This is one of those moments of reckoning when you face reality.

You must bring your craft to the landing strip and check in with mission control.

Your emotions are solid and you feel good, Libra. At the same time, you may be tonguetied. You're having a hard time expressing your true feelings in the way you'd like to, especially when it comes to love and romance. Perhaps you have so many thoughts that you don't know how to sort them out, or which to disclose and which to keep hidden.

Matters of love and romance should be going well, but try not to overdo it, Scorpio. Be careful of getting so caught up in the fantasy of romance that you fail to take care of the details.

Today is a good day to get the foundation solid before you start building. If you've already started building, you may need to stand back and consider areas in which some extra support beams may be necessary.

This is one of those days when the road forks in several directions and you must decide which way to go, Sagittarius. This usually isn't hard. You just go with the flow. But now things are flowing in multiple directions and you need to figure out which way to go. Stick with the way that seems most natural. Remember that whatever choice you make will be the right one.

Your plane is fueled, your bags packed, and you have clearance from the control tower, but for some reason, Capricorn, you just can't seem to get off the ground. Perhaps there are details of the trip that you haven't taken into account. People are firing questions at you, and you don't have all the answers. This is especially true when it comes to matters of love and romance.

The person who is most organized and stable will win the race, so let it be you, Aquarius. Be careful, though. Other people may try to distract you from your work. You may be in the middle of an important project and decide to take a break. Before you know it, the phone rings and suddenly you're trapped with no escape. The break that you hoped would take no more than five minutes has turned into a big interruption.

Your brain is buzzing in high gear, Pisces. Anyone else would get dizzy trying to process even a fraction of the things that filter through your head in one day. The key for you is to not speak every single thought aloud but to keep your processing internal. People want to hear your final decision, not the process you went through to reach it. You will save everyone a lot of time if you do.

ET Correspondent Jorhat, 17 NOV: Assam Agricultural University of Jorhat is going to host the 76th Annual Conference of Indian Society of Agricultural Economics (ISAE) from 21st to the 23rd of November, 2016. Galaxy of experts and agricultural scientists are expected to attend the Annnual Conference."Apart from Dr. Ramesh Chand, Member, NITI Aayug, who is expected to deliver the

presidential address.

Dr. Abhijit Sen, exmember, Planning Commission, Government of India and President of the Executive Committee, ISAE; Dr. Uma J. Lele, Exadvisor to the World Bank; Dr. R. B. Barman, Chairman, National Statistical Commission; senior officials from NABARD; Reserve Bank of India, Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune; Indian Insti-

tute of Management, Ahmadabad are also going to participate in the conference " said Dr R K Saud the Public Relations Officer of AAU.He also informed that about 200 delegates from all over the country are expected to take part in the conference.

lated to Agro-Industry, Agricultural Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Agri-business, Trade and Innovations; Agrarian Distress, Family Farming, Land Management and other Issues and Farm Income, Productivity and Methodology of Farm Income Level.

The 76th Annual Conference of Indian Society of Agricultural Economics would offer discussions on plethora of issues re-

Dr R K Saud also mentioned that the outcome of the conference would be forwarded to the Government of India,

NABARD, RBI, Agricultural Ministry for evolving suitable policy options and implementation."

The Honble Minister of Commerce and Industry, Transport, Parliamentary Affairs, Govt. of Assam Chandra Mohan Patowary is going to inaugurate the conference on November 21, 2016," said Dr. Chandan Hazarika, Director of Post Graduate Studies.

Rhino killed by poachers in Kaziranga National Park

PM Modi safeguarding illegal migrants in Assam: former CM Tarun Gogoi

ET Bureau Jorhat, Nov 17: A rhino in the Kaziranga National Park was shot dead by poachers on Wednesday, taking the number of rhino deaths this year to 16. The incident took place near the Tunikati anti-poaching camp under the Burapahar forest range He further questioned as in the park.

Forest staff had launched an operation in the area following a tip-off. Upon running into the poachers' gang at around 1am, an encounter took place between forest staffs and poachers in the dense forest of Burapahar. No one was killed or injured in the encounter.

"Poachers shot 32 rounds of bullets from an AK-47 rifle in two seconds at the rhino and fled the spot. Our staff found the bullet-riddled rhino and 32 rounds of blank cartridges. The horn of the rhino, however, was found intact," said Kaziranga director S N Singh.

As the forest staff attempted to chase the poachers away, the gang spotted the adult male rhino, opened fire and managed to escape while the forest staff was just a few metres away from them. The gang ran towards the Karbi hills through Rong Bong.

ET Bureau Guwahati, Nov 17:Former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Thursday in a scathing attack alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was safeguarding the illegal Bangladeshi migrants in the state instead of acting tough. to why the Centre had delayed the process of updating the National Register of Citizens. However, the former chief minister went on to the extent of saying that there were no records of illegal Bangladeshi migrants in the state during the Congress regime. He further alleged that PM Modi had failed to keep up his promise of flushing out illegal migrants from the state.

100 pc e-invoicing in Aurora Cinema Numaligarh Refinery of Assam Dibrugarh, H.S Road Cinema

ET Correspondent Golaghat, Nov 17: Taking forward the Central government's vision of a 'Digital India', Assam's Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) recently introduced digitally signed invoices for its product sales transactions taking place from its Siliguri Marketing Terminal.Earlier in June this year, the company had implemented digitally signed invoicing at its Marketing Terminal in

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Numaligarh.The first digitally signed invoice was formally launched by NRL MD P Padmanabhan at Numaligarh on November 14, in the presence of NRL Director Technical S R Medhi, NRL Director Finance S K Barua and senior NRL officials along with representatives from BPCL, HPCL and IOCL.With this, NRL has achieved 100 per cent e-invoicing which are all digitally signed and stored. No invoices are

"AE DIL HAI MUSHKIL" 1ST show at 09:30 AM "PAGLI" 2ND show at 12:30 PM "GAANE KI ANNE" 3RD show at 03:10 PM "PAGLI" 4TH show at 05:50 PM "AE DIL HAI MUSHKIL" 5TH show at 08:30 PM Tele booking timings: 9:00AM to 8:00 PM Tele booking No.: 8876565001/ 8876565002 (Terms & conditions apply)

Ticket Rates Rs. 100/ Rs. 150/Rs. 200/Rs.250/ Rs.300 MORNING SHOWS: Rs.80/Rs.130/Rs. 150/ Rs.200/Rs.250

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invoicing process and digitally signing and storing will reduce printing of approximately 6,95,000 pages annually, equivalent to 4.3 tonnes of paper, resulting in saving of approximately 103 numbers of trees per year.As regards digital enabling, NRL customers will now be able to access and download required information from the electronically stored database which would also be available to the Central Excise and Tax Department..

One Killed Illegal coal trade on the rise in Massive as a fully wood laden vehicle seized by Forest officials Fire in meant for coal fields Nalbari ET Correspondent Guwhati, Nov 17: Amidst 'Raas' festivities, a major fire broke out at Shahid Market in Assam's Nalbari district,on early Thursday morning, leaving one person dead. The deceased has been identified as Kaancha.

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printed at its sales location at Numaligarh and Siliguri, a NRL statement said here.

NRL is first amongst oil PSUs to implement this environment friendly initiative which would replace manually signed hard-copy invoices issued on pre-printed stationery in multiple copies, thus saving paper and doing away with non-essential printing.On a conservative count, considering NRL's sales volume of Rs11,000 crore annually, electronic

Three business establishments were gutted in the inferno. Property worth lakhs was destroyed in the fire. A team of SDRF was deployed to douse the flames.

As per reports, the fire broke out due to an eletrcial short circuit.

Mithun Baruah, Margherita, Nov 17: In what appears to be case of political patronage of illegal coal trade, a fully loaded woods Mahindra Max pick up was seized by the employees of Margherita West Range Forest Office when the vehicle was plying from Margherita towards Makumpani, Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh. According to sources the fully loaded woods were taken to illegal coke coal Bhatta at Aradhara which is used for making post but officials of Forest Department seized the fully loaded wood

vehicle along with the driver and handyman of the vehicle. During the interrogation the driver and handyman said that the wood belongs to Gyanendra Singh alias Gontai and Prashanna Borgohain. Both hails from Jaya Nagar Margherita.Gyanendra Singh alias Gontai is the husband of Mamoni Devi BJP 1 Number Ward Commissioner of Margherita Town Committee and Prashanna Borgohain is newly BJP member. Both Gyanendra Singh aka Gontai and Prashanna Borgohain are absconding while the report was being filed.

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18

1 injured in fire accident A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Nov 16: A women was injured in a devastating fire accident that gutted three houses, including an OBT building, at Forest Colony near here on Wednesday around 12.45 am.

The injured Sorang Yai (30) was rushed to RK Mission Hospital for treatment.

All household items, including three bikes were reduced to ashes in the fire as fire tender reportedly arrived late.

Electric short circuit is suspected to have caused the fire but the actual cause of the fire were yet to be ascertained.

The members of the Bagang Abu Youth Welfare Society, who visited the spot and provided some relief materials to the victims, appealed the State Government to give immediately relief and necessary assistance for quick rehabilitation of the fire victims.

Councilor (ward-I) Biri Tugdo also visited the fire the victims and provided some relief materials to the victims.

The Arunachal Pradesh Youth Congress (APYC) team led by its president Jikke Tako and vice president Niglar Veo visited the victims and provided immediate relief materials. The APYC team will conduct social service for temporary arrangement for the homeless victims.

“Had the fire brigade team reach in time, the extent of the damage could have been minimized and some properties saved,” the APYC said, and appealed to the concern department to remain alert and prepared all the time as the fire mishap is a common incident in the state during the winter season.

Meanwhile, the APYC appealed to the state Govt. to provide immediate relief fund and aid to the victims.

Over 200 benefit from outreach camp on diabetes Yupia, Nov 16: In all 222 individuals were screened for diabetes, hypertension, obesity and other diseases during an outreach screening camp for diabetes and other NCDs which was conducted by the district NCD cell, District Health Society (NCD) Yupia at the 1st APP Bn Chimpu on the occasion of World Diabetes Day here on Wednesday.

A team of doctors led by NCD clinic TRSH Specialist, Dr. Radhe Natung and Dr. RR Ronya attended to the patients.

Commandant, T Karga, assistant commandant, D K Thungon, Inspector, L Brah, Police volunteers, staffs of NPCDCS, IDSP and NTCP and the medical officers incharge of Doimukh, Chimpu and Chiputa were also present on the occasion. (DIPRO)

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Orgs condemns brutal attack on NHPC official, demands immediate arrest of attackers ET Bureau Itanagar, Nov 16: The Bengia Welfare Society (BWS) has taken serious note of the brutal attack on one of its clan members, Er Bengia Guma, Deputy Manager, NHPC Ltd, Dibang Hydro-Project, by some local youths at Roing on Tuesday night.

Family sources informed that the victim was attacked and assaulted in his official residence, that too in front of his wife and children, without any provocation. The victim sustained grievous injuries on his head, neck and back. The prima-facie circumstances like entering in the residence at night hours with masked faces, group assault, armed with lethal weapons like iron rod, hockey sticks and stone which manifest the clear case of attempt to murder, the BWS stated.

The brutal nature of crime suggests that it was a premeditated cold blooded attack not on the victim alone but clan member in particular clan with malicious intent to disturb peaceful environment.

The BWS strongly con-

demned the barbaric and unprovoked attack on Er. Bengia Guma and urged upon the law enforcing authorities to do justice to the victim by apprehending the perpetrators of the crime within 7(seven) days and unearth the truth behind the attack. The society further warned of dare consequences if attackers are not arrested within 7 days. The BWS also appealed everyone to maintain calm and cooperate with law enforcing authorities.

The Confederation of Service Associations of Arunachal Pradesh (CoSAAP) has vehemently condemned the inhumane attacked on Bengia Guma. Attacking the innocent employees has become very bad and regular practice in today’s society, the association stated in a release. Further CoSAAP demanded for immediate arrest of the criminals and awarding of exemplary punishment as per the appropriate section and law of land.

The All Arunachal Contractor’s Welfare Association (AACWA) has

also strongly condemned the physical assault on Er Bengia Guma. AACWA strongly urged the district administration to launch manhunt to nab those miscreants and award them exemplary punishment.

The Yachuli Constituency Employees Forum (YCEF) has also strongly condemned the attack on Er Bengia Guma. In a release YCEF stated that such heinous attack in front of family members grossly traumatizes the children and wife. The forum appealed for immediate needful action from the authority concern in this regard. They sought exemplary punishment to all culprits so as to maintain peaceful coexistence in the tribal society. In this hour, the YCEF stand with the victim’s family and pray for speedy recovery of Er. Bengia Guma, they added.

Our Roing Correspondent adds: Idu Mishmi Cultural and Literary Society (IMCLS), All Idu Mishmi Students Union (AIMSU) and the Dibang Right Bank Idu Mishmi Cultural Society (DRBICS) have

He was addressing the teaching faculty and students of Govt. Model College, Geku during a function organized as part of the College Day celebrations here on Nov 10 last.

Panyang further assured to extend all out support and

SP Roing Sanjay Kumar Sain informed that the police have already sprung into action to nab the culprits. The culprits have not been identified yet but as per police sources, few suspects have already been rounded up for interrogation.

The SP urged people not to paint the incident with a communal colour.

The IMCLS said, “We have appealed to the administration and officer in charge to speed up the investigation process and book the culprits at the earliest.

The AIMSU has also rendered full effort on its part to find out the culprits calling the incident a cowardly act. They have also offered their sympathy to the family and have extended their hands for any kind of help required.

Mama Natung donates ambulance to District Hospital Seppa SEPPA, Nov 17: Parliamentary Secretaries Tapuk Taku (Tax & Excise) and Mama Natung ((RD & PRI) flagged off an ambulance donated to the District Hospital Seppa by the latter in presence of jubilant doctors and other health staff here on Wednesday.

Speaking on the occasion, Mama Natung said that education and health are correlated and are very important sectors, without which we cannot survive. He urged the health staff to work in tandem and exhibit bet-

ter work spirit while delivering health services to public.

Saying that doctor is second to god,” he urged people to show respect to them.

Tapuk was all praise for Natung for the donation.

Informing that the state government has accorded top priority to education and health sectors, Tapuk urged the health officials to work sincerely, maintain team spirit and deliver health services to the satisfaction of the public.

He suggested the hospital authority to use the ambulance properly.

“The high mast light in the compound of the hospital has been installed and water supply to the dental surgery room provided as promised. Now it is the responsibility of the health fraternity to keep and utilise these facilities properly,” he said.

He has also assured to look into the demands of the health department and pursue the matters with the concern authority.

DMO i/c Dr. Kopi Gyadi put forth the demands of

health department of the district for early fulfillment, which included posting of adequate number of doctors, specialists, radiographers, lab technicians and other staffs, construction of residential quarters, supply of equipments, and others.

He informed that the digital X-Ray machine donated by Indian Oil Corp. Ltd (IOCL) will be operationalised very soon in the district hospital. Doctors and other health staffs were present in the programme.

(DIPRO)

IIHR expresses willingness to offer expertise in horticulture ET Bureau Itanagar, Nov 17: Chief Technical Officer of Indian Institute of Horticulture Research (IIHR), Bangalore, RN Pandey expressed his willingness to offer services/expertise of the research institute (IIHR) in horticulture development to Arunachal Pradesh.

Pandey, who called on

Chief Minister Pema Khandu here on Wednesday, said that Arunachal Pradesh has immense potential in horticulture and, therefore, he foresees a viable partnership with the state government in this sector.

While informing the chief minister about various on going research activities of the institute

for higher production and productivity, Pandey said that with scientific interventions, the institute has been able to breed tomato crops that give upto 15 kg per plant.

The Chief Minister admitted that though Arunachal Pradesh has lots of scope in horticulture sector the state is still unable to harness its true

MLA emphasizes STEP organizes need of quality health camp education Yingkiong, Nov 16: MLA Olom Panyang has emphasized on the need of quality education and urged the teaching fraternity to perform their duties with dedication and sincerity.

also condemned the assault on the official of the NHPC Dibang Multipurpose Project and demanded the administration to immediately apprehend the culprits involved in the crime.

co-operation for growth and development of the college.

While responding to a memorandum, he announced sanction funds for construction of two semi OBT hostel for men and women each from MLALADS. The college’s Principal, Kuku Panyang in his address, briefed on the basic problems of the newly established Model College.

Hydro Power, Executive Engineer, Ojing Nobeng was also present on the occasion. (DIPRO)

ET Bureau Itanagar, Nov 16: The Standing Together to Empower People (STEP), a Naharlagun based NGO, with support of Non-Communicable Disease Cell of the State Govt under National Health Mission has organized a health check up camp on the occasion of World Diabetes Day at Gurudwara premises Naharlagun on Nov 14 last.

The Day also coincided with Guru Nanak Jayanti.

Around 200 people including women above 30 years

of age were benefitted from the health camp wherein a team of doctors conducted, Body Mass Index screening, blood sugar and blood sugar test. Fifteen per cent of the people who participated in the health camp were found with high BP and Blood Sugar and they were referred to Tomo Riba State Hospital, Naharlagun for further treatment. Those who were found with alarming body mass index were also advised to take up physical activities to keep their body healthy.

potentials.

Appreciating the gesture of the IIHR official, Pema assured to depute a team of officers from the state government to visit IIHR. He stressed on production of organic crops and expressed optimism that IIHR cab help Arunachal realize its vision of going cent percent organic.

GSU President presses for demands for actions against encroachment in and around Government Schools ET Bureau, West Siang, Nov 17: President of Galo Students’ Union, Binya Ronya along with GSU General Secretary Kenge Lomi and former GSU adviser Gokar Basar met Parliamentary Secretary, Land Management Gojen Kadi at his official residence today to discuss various issues regarding rampant encroachment in and around Government Schools. Terming the matter very serious the GSU

The Parliamentary Affairs Minister reiterated that government is ready for discussion on issues related to implementation of demonetisation and even ready to consider the opposition’s suggestions if they have any.

“We have already told and requested opposition parties for demonetisation. And we are surprised that after having debate for one

revenue generating source for the state,” the press release of GSU added.

Appreciating GSU’s approach and view, Gojen Kadi assuring the GSU said, “I will try my level best whatever possible to take necessary initiative from my end.” Gadiji also expressed his hope that the State Government under the dynamic leadership of Shri Pema Kadu will be able to curve the encroachment problem.

Lack of AU infrastructure irks GAF A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Nov 16: The Members of Green Arunachal Foundation (GAF) led by its chairman Takam Tatung, recently visited the site of the Arunachal University (AU) at Pasighat town. They were appalled by the lackadaisical approach and apathy of the government of Arunachal Pradesh towards establishing the promised state university.

In a release GAF claimed that due to persistent pursuance of the then AAPSU president Takam Tatung and his team to rename the Rajiv Gandhi University to Arunachal University, the then government of Arunachal Pradesh under former Chief Minister Late Dorjee Khandu approved to establish an independent state university (Arunachal University) in 2011. Subse-

quently on 20th of January, 2013, foundation stone of the upcoming university was laid at Pasighat by the then Chief Minister Nabam Tuki in the premises of the Jawaharlal Nehru College.

It’s pathetic and lamentable that the so much sought after and anticipated university is yet to be functional, the GAF added. Even the office buildings of the university, which probably is the pivotal necessity for any institution to start functioning, is yet to be constructed, least to talk of classrooms, departments and faculties.

Woefully, the people of the state, especially the students, are being made understood to believe that there is a functional state university. They are under the wrong spell and notion that there exists an Arunachal University, the GAF lamented.

The Green Arunachal Foundation (GAF) has ardently urged the government of Arunachal Pradesh to look into the matter and fill the shortcomings at the earliest, before all the hopes, aspirations and expectations of the students nurturing to pursue higher education in the state are washed away.

The foundation demanded urgent construction and establishment of the Arunachal University as promised by the state government. There are many brilliant students in the state who are unable to venture out of the state due to financial constraints. The establishment of a state university is therefore of utmost necessity and importance in the present situation which surely would solve most of the predicaments of the local indigenous students of the state, they claimed.

GSU resents hydel project inauguration ET Bureau Itanagar, Nov 17: Galo Students’ Union (GSU) has expressed its strong resentment over inauguration of the 2X1 MW Liromoba small Hydel Station, saying that the local MLA and the Department of Hydropower Development will solely be responsible for any failure of the hydel station.

Raising doubt over functional ability of the hydel

project, which is still under CBI scanner along with a pending court case, the GSU had strongly opposed the inauguration of Hydel project until the pending issues involving it were settled.

The students’ union, however, welcomed the assurances given by Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju and Parliamentary Secretary Education Bameng Felix for development of

Liromoba Assembly Constituency.

Meanwhile, GSU criticized the local MLA for failing to initiate for posting an allopathic doctor in Primary Health Centre (PHC) under Liromoba.

This is an utter failure of the local MLA that the hospital is running without an allopathic doctor since last 4-5 years, GSU said and urged the local MLA look into the matter seriously.

SSAMC conducts cleanliness drive at Komlighat in view of Siang Aarti Contd. from Page 1

Ward-6, Pasighat Municipal Council also sought everyone’s support including of state government for grand celebration of the Maha Siang Aarti.

This year’s celebration of Siang Aarti at

Currency ban debate: controversial remarks in Parliament expunged Contd. from Page 1

team requested Gojen Gadi to issue effective directive order from his good end to all DCs and DLRSOs to conduct demarcation of land of all Government Schools of Arunachal Pradesh in general and Galo inhabited areas in particular to ensure a concrete boundary line. “If State Government could take necessary initiative to collect revenue from vendors and inhabitants in and around School premises, it could be a good

day how come opposition itself is obstructing and now running away from discussion on this issue,” he added.

Kumar further said the government is ready to start discussion on the demonetisation issue from tomorrow.

It is strange to note that, all political parties on record have stated that they are against the menace of black money, but they are running away from debate on the same, he added.

Komlighat will be the 3rd time and with the assurance from state government to help this time around to make it a grand success, the preparation has started off today with full swing.

The ‘Siang Aarti’ conducted in Siang River (Brahmaputra)at Komlighat here in

Pasighat during Makar Sankranti is observed at the line of Ganga Aarti being held at Haridwar & Rishikesh in Uttarakhand and Varanasi in UP. During this Maha Siang Aarti, all community festivals are conducted while praying the sanctity of Siang River (Brahmaputra), the lone male River in India.

Govt Rejects Demand For PM's Reply on Demonetisation Debate Contd. from Page 1

"I feel that those who started the debate are now understanding that it is going negative, that is why they are finding excuse for not allowing the discussion. They are speaking in double tone and in different voices. They are not coming out openly either for or against. They are in dilemma and that dilemma will continue," he said.

Naidu said the entire country is watching as to who are with the hoarders and with the people with black money and who are with the government and the Prime Minister, who has "taken such a revolutionary step.

They have to make a choice".

"Let the discussion take

place. Then who will reply in the government. It could be the concerned Minister. The solution will come through the government as per traditions and rules," he said.

Naidu said government is addressing the problems faced by people on demonetisation and any suggestion, if worth considering, will be take up positively.

"Government is open to ideas to improve the system.

But if somebody is trying to question this and attribute motives, then people are there to finally come to an assessment and decide. Let every party decide are they in favour of this move or against it, for which they have no answer directly," the minister said.

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18

Assam Govt mourns demise of former Governor Lt Gen S.K Sinha ET Bureau Guwahati, Nov 17: The Assam Government has expressed profound sorrow at the sad demise of former Governor of the state, Lt. Gen S.K Sinha, who passed away today on 17/11/16 in New Delhi.

The Government has declared state mourning on 17/11/16 and 18/11/16 as a mark of respect to the departed soul. The National Flag will be flown at half-mast in the state capital and all districts and sub- divisional headquarters of the state.

Industries and Commerce Minister condoles the demise of former Governor of Assam, Lt. Gen (retd.) SK Sinha ET Bureau, Guwahati, Nov 17: Industries and Commerce Chandra Mohan Patowary has condoled the demise of former Governor of Assam, Lt. General (retd.)

S.K. Sinha. The former Governor passed away at the age of 92 in New Delhi after a brief illness. In a condolence message, the Minister said that SK Sinha would be remembered for his integrity towards the nation and his deep commitment for Assam and its people. The Minister recalled that the former Governor had won the hearts of the people through his six years tenure in the State.

His demise is an irreparable loss and his contribution to the country would be remembered for generations to come. The Minister also prayed to the almighty for eternal peace of the soul.

P4

DC, SP meets gun down victim's family Bye-Elections to A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Nov 17 : Hailakandi Deputy Commissioner Moloy Bora and Superintendent of Police PranabjyotiGoswami met thefamily members of Hijbur Rahman Barbhuiyawho was gunned down by suspected militants belonging to BRU Revolutionary Army of Union at Jamira near Fakuratolunder

South Hailakandi bordering Mizoram yesterday. Two persons were injured in the firing incident.

The Deputy Commissioner met the family members of the deceased and assured them that the militants behind the heinous act would be brought to book. “Stringent action will be initiated against those responsible

the next of kin of the deceased at the earliest.

The Deputy Commissioner handed over a sum of Rs 6000 from his side to the mother and wife of Hijbur for performing his last rites.

He also promised to allot an IAY dwelling unit to the family members of the deceased.

At the intervention of Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police, the road blockade at Dholeswar-Bhairobi NH resorted to by the agitating local public was lifted at around noon yesterday.

Meanwhile, the body has been brought to SK Roy Civil Hospital for post mortem.

Workshop in Guwahati to develop a road map for climate resilient flood management in cities along Brahmaputra A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Nov 17 : All rivers in Assam are liable to floods and every year flooding and riverbank erosion cause devastating impacts on life and property. As addressing flood risks entails a comprehensive multi-disciplinary approach, a diverse group of stakeholders participated in a half-day workshop on 17 November, 2016 at Guwahati, in Assam, to develop a road map for climate resilient flood management in cities along Brahmaputra. This workshop was an event planned under Climate Change Innovation Programme (CCIP), which aims at addressing the issue of urban flooding in the state.

CCIP is a partnership between the Indian government (Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change) and the UK government (Department for International Development). The workshop on

‘Climate Resilient Flood Management in Cities along Brahmaputra River’ was organised in collaboration with Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), Govt. of Assam, on 17 November, 2016 at Assam Administrative Staff College, Khanapara, Guwahati. About 50 officials from Urban Development Department, Water Resource Department, Guwahati Municipal Corporation, Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), Directorate of Town and Country Planning, project officers working with District Disaster Management Authority, Civil Society Organisations, flood management experts and with team members of CCIP Assam and ASDMA, attended the workshop.

Shri Dipak Kumar Sarma, Commissioner & Secretary and CEO, ASDMA, spoke on the emerging concerns on the subject, highlighting, “the need of a comprehen-

NCHISF calls off rail-blockade following assurances for compensation ET Correspondent Haflong, Nov 17: Following the assurance of the General Manager (construction) H K Jaggi to hold a meeting with the NC Hills Indigenous Students Forum at Maligaon, Guwahati on 24th November in presence of Deputy Commissioner, SP Dima Hasao in regards to their demand the NCHISF has called off

for the dastardly and cowardly act,” he said. Bora appealed to the people to maintain peace and tranquility and not to be provoked at any cost. “I appeal to all of you to maintain communal harmony and to exercise restraint at this hour,” he said. The Deputy Commissioner said that exgratia amounting to Rs 5 lakh will be handed over to

their indefinite rail blockade on Thursday.

NC Hills Indigenous Students Forum had earlier called an indefinite rail blockade demanding compensation for the people whose land and houses were affected due to railway construction in several parts of Dima Hasao. The railway authority had as-

sured to give compensation to these affected people but was not sincere to resolve the issue said President, NCHISF David Keivom.

He also said they realizing the sufferings of the people, they agreed to call off their agitation but at the same time the railway authority should have to be sincere considering the sufferings of the people.

sive plan for flood management in the urban centres of the state, to tackle the aggravated impacts of climate change induced weather anomalies”. The Guest of Honour, Mr. A.K.Johari, Additional PCCF, Biodiversity & Climate Change, Dept. of Environment and Forest, Govt. of Assam opined that,“ it is human interference that has aggravated the natural happenings in to disasters.

While we are contributing to these disasters every day, it is imperative that we take appropriate steps to minimise the impacts”.

Mr. Rizwan Uz Zaman, Team Leader, Assam, CCIP-DFID highlighted that, “it is growth of towns and cities alongside rivers that have led to changes in land use and large scale encroachment in river flood plains, increasing vulnerability of urbanized areas to flooding”. Further, Mr. P.P. Changkakati, Secretary, Water Resource Depart-

ment, Govt. of Assam emphasized on, “the need of a coordinated effort between all stakeholder departments to identify the relevant issues related to water resources and urban flood, while designing the comprehensive plan, to make it resilient enough”.

Smti. Vidya Soundarajan, India Programme Manager, CCIP briefly described CCIP interventions for Assam and India, focusing on how integration of climate change with the planned interventions is crucial for achieving desired outcomes. Shestated that, “CCIP’s interventions will lead to development of action plans, which will be implemented through scalable pilots that can be replicated later across the states.”

During the technical session, Mrs. Nandita Hazarika, Joint Secretary & State Project Officer of ASDMA presented on the challenges, issues of

Guwahati flooding and shared the findings of the ASDMA-Columbia University Project. She also steered the discussion session of the workshop to identify various issues relevant to different cities and towns of the state.

The workshop is a part of CCIP activity on climate resilient flood management in vulnerable cities, where the programme will extend technical support to ASDMA in planning climate informed future actions. The actions will be targeted at delivering localised benefits to the affected population living in cities along the river Brahmaputra,as well as a much wider group by scaling-up and mainstreaming policy innovations, to buildclimate resilience. It was agreed that the action plan will be planned in such a way that it informs project designs and detailed project reports for development projects in the state.

9 teachers suspended A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Nov 17 : Nine teachers of Lower Primary and Upper Primary Schools have been placed under immediate suspension for gross negligence of duty, misappropriation of Government grants and non-implementation of Mid-Day Meal Scheme in Hailakandi district.

Additional Deputy Commissioner, FR Laskar,

who is in charge of District Elementary Education, issued an order today placing under suspension Moynul Haque Laskar, Headmaster, Fakaruddin Laskar, Science Teacher and JharnaSingha, Assistant Teacher of Kutubia ME Madrassa, Habibur Rahman Laskar, Headmaster, Sirajuddin Tapadar, Assistant Teacher, Parbin Sultana Laskar, Assistant Teacher

and Rahul Chakraborty, Science Teacher of Boalipar Girls’ ME School and Atuar Rahman Laskar, Head Teacher and Sultana Firuza Akhtar Choudhury, Assistant Teacher of 184 AnwarparMaktab.

Laskar has directed the Block Elementary Education Officer, Hailakandi to draw departmental proceedings against them.

World Heritage Week to be Saradindu Das assumes office celebrated at Dima Hasao ET Bureau Guwahati , Nov 17: The Directorate of Archaeology, Assam, is going to celebrate the “World Heritage Week, 2016” at Dima Hasao from 19th November to 25thNovember, 2016. On the occasion, the Directorate of Archaeology, Assam will organize a Seminar, Awareness Camp and Photographic exhibition. As a curriculum of the long heritage week celebration, the opening ceremony will be

held on 19thNovember, 2016 at Asalu Fort, Asalu, Dima Hasao District, Seminar on “Recent Trend in Archaeology of Assam from Pre-historic Period onwards...” on 20th November 2016 at Haflong Government College, Awareness camp at Dubungling Village on 21stNovember, Awareness Camp at Khobak on 23rd November and closing ceremony on 25th November, 2016 at District Library, Haflong.

The aforesaid programme will be attended by Shri.

Debolal Gorlosa, Hon’ble Chief Executive Member, N.C Hills Autonomous Council as the Chief Guest on 19th November, 2016.

In this connection a photographic exhibition will be inaugurated on 19th November, 2016 at Asalu Fort and will continue at District Library, Haflong from 20th November to 25th November 2016.

Guwahati Frontier of Border Security Force apprehended one Indian cattle A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Nov 17 : Troops of Guwahati Frontier of Border Security Force apprehended one Indian cattle smuggleryesterday near the International Boundary under Dhubri District of Assam.

The cattle smuggler identified as AdusSalam (50 yrs), S/o Abul Hussain, r/

o Vill –Jordanga part-1, PO/PS-Mankachar, Distt –South Salmara, Assam,was apprehended by the troops of BOPJordanga along with 02 cattle headswhile he was trying to smuggle them from India to Bangladesh.He has been handed over to local police for further legal action.Besides, BSF

troops of Guwahati Frontier also seized 114 cattle heads, having an apprx value of Rs. 7,55,180 /-,on the intervening night of 16/17 Nov 2016.

BSF troops are always alert towards the issues of trans-border crimes and illegal infiltration and are making all endeavors to contain suchtrans-border crimes.

A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Nov 17 : Saradindu Das assumed the charge of Chief Coconut Development Officer in Coconut Development Board. He has been holding the post of Director at Horticulture Department,

Tripura. Shri.Saradindu Das is a postgraduate in Agriculture from Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, West Bengal.

Shri.Saradindu Das started his official career in Coconut Development Board as Technical Assistant at State

Centre Kolkata in 1985.

Subsequently he joined as superintendent in Agriculture Department, Tripura in 1988 and later on served as Deputy Director and Joint Director in Agriculture Department, Government of Tripura.

14-Lakhimpur and 20Baithalangso Constituencies

ECI notifies list of alternative identification documents ET Bureau Guwahati, Nov 17: In view of the ensuing bye-elections to the 14-Lakhimpur Parliamentary Constituency and 20-Baithalangso Assembly Constituency to be held on November 19 next, the Election Commission has directed that all electors who have been issued the Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) shall produce the EPIC at the polling station before casting their votes. ?And for those electors who are not able to produce the EPIC shall produce one of the following alternative photo identity documents for establishing their identity: (i) Passport; (ii) Driving License; (iii) Service Identity Cards with photograph issued to employees by Central/State Govt./ PSUs/ Public Limited Companies ; (iiii) Passbooks with photograph issued by Bank/ Post Offices; (v) PAN Card; (vi) Smart Card issued by RGI under NPR; (vii) MNREGA Job Card; (viii) Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the scheme of Ministry of

Labour; (ix) Pension document with photograph; (x) Authenticated Photo Voter Slip issued by the election Machinery; and (xi) Official identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/ MLCs The EC has directed that Authenticated Photo Voter Slips should be distributed to all electors before the polls.

The EC has also clarified that if any elector produces an EPIC, which has been issued by the Electoral Registration Officer of another Assembly Constituency, such EPICs shall also be accepted for identification provided the name of that elector finds place in the electoral roll pertaining to the polling station. If it is not possible to establish the identity of the elector on account of mismatch of photograph, etc., the elector shall have to produce one of the alternative photo documents stated above.

Overseas electors who are registered in the electoral rolls shall be identified on the basis of their original passport only (and no other identity document) in the polling station.

Sighting of Amur Falcon continues to enchant birdwatchers at Umrangso ET Correspondent Haflong, Nov 17: Though the season for arrival of Amur Falcon at Umrongso is nearing to its end within next week, but the winged guests still continued to visit in thousands of numbers and was witnessed by hundreds of birds lovers from various part of the State as well as from the district on Monday last.

Amur falcon is a small raptor of the falcon family. It breeds in south eastern and northern China before migrating in large flocks across India and over the Arabian Sea to winter in South Africa. Umrangso is an industrial town in Dima Hasao district of Assam where they stop for few days in the month of October and November every year.

Earlier these birds were being killed for consumption but following the initiative taken by the Forest department of Dima Hasao and several NGOs including Blue Hills Society, the killing of these birds has come

down remarkably and the people became more interested in watching the arrivals.

Divisional Forest officer, Rajib Baruah talking to this correspondent this year said that he has not received any report of killing of birds till date. Perhaps due to massive awareness drive by the department and NGOs working for the conservation of wild lives, the killing of birds came down to zero. He said the Chief Executive Member, N C Hills Autonomous Council Debolal Gorlosa was taking remarkable initiative to ensure safety of these winged guests of Umrangso.

Baruah also said sufficient numbers forest personals have been engaged to guard these birds so that none can kill them.

Meanwhile, the District Administration has imposed 144 in and around the roosting area of Amur falcon to save these birds from hunters.

41th Raas Mahatsov strikes the right chord as it enters its fourth day Sasanka Talukdar, Pathsala, Nov 17: The ongoing 41th Raas Mahatsov under Bajali subdivision is in full swing now with the mega religious-cultural mega event entering its fourth day. The 15 day-long event which kicked off on 14 November appears to have hit the right chord with the people.

The event has so far has had attracted huge number devotees from various parts of the State at 'Bhagawati Kshetra', Pathsala. Devotees from various parts of the state visited at Raas Mahatsov have thronged to the

mega event.

The festival has exhibition of more than three hundred clay arts symbolising lord Krishna, Rhino killings, Jurassic Park, Anaconda, Fear of Ghost, Big Cave, 'Mina Bazar', Trade fair, Puppet Theatre. Besides there are host of various cultural and religious programme which are organised on stage on day to day basis. The Raas Committee appealed to all to visit to the Raas Mahatsov to enjoy the festive cultural programme performances by eminent artistes.

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18

Missing car of the Congress found in hatchery firm after four months Agartala, Nov 17: A Tata Sumo car owned by Tripura Pradesh Congress that was missing for last four months was found lying beside a hatchery firm at Patu Nagar under Airport Police station near Agartala.

The car was detected by the Congress workers while they were campaigning for their party candidate for Barjala constituency which is going to polls on November 19.

The TPCC president Birajit Sinha, MLA Gopal Roy and other party leaders rushed to the spot and informed the police who immediately rushed and seized the car. Jiban Debnath, owner of the J J Hatchery was not present at the time of the seizer but his manager Debasish Sarkar told the police that one Ujjal Ghosh brought the car here and was not taking it back even after repeated request. He

TPCC president Birajit Sinha. claimed that they were ignorant about from where he brought the car.

Interestingly the car has a long history of political controversy which begun with the defection of six Congress MLA's to Trinamool Congress six months back'.

The car was given by the AICC to the then Tripura Pradesh Congress President Diba Chandra Hrangkhawal which he

was using even after being removed from the post.

After he defected to TMC the Pradesh Congress committee wrote a letter to his asking to return the car which he did not accepted. About four months back the TPCC president Birajit Sinha filed a complaint to the police and requested to recover the car.

Since then the car was found missing. (Agencies)

MGNREGA : Sepahijala, West adopt Geo Tracking technology

In Tripura, the newly developed software is operatioal only in two districts- West and Sepahijala.

Agartala, Nov 17: To ensure proper implemenation of MGNREGA outlay, the Centre has come up with a unique plan to make it more transparent by introducing Geo Tracking technology.

Under the new technology, the District Magistrate or BDOs or GRSs will click photogrphs of development projects- be it water body or land development or any particular project and upload them on the newly developed software- Bhuban.

Once the photograph is uploaded on Bhuban software, it will accessible to all.

One official or citizen could see the work by browsing Geo Tracking technology by sitting Delhi or elsewhere in the country.

In Tripura, the newly developed software is operatioal only in two districtsWest and Sepahijala.

On Tuesday, District Magistrate, Sepahijala PK Chakravarty inspected some projects at Barjala gram panchayat under

newly created Charilam RD block.

When contacted, the DM confirmed using Geo Tracking technology in his district- Sepajiala. "I went to Barjala gram panchayat on Tuesday and took some photographs of water bodies, land development, IHHT and IAY to upload them on Bhuban software", he said.

"I had also a motivational meeting with villagers where they demanded to raise the budget for Individual Household Toilet", he stated.

The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has already asked the state government to adopt Geo Tracking technology at the earliest to ensure proper implementation of MGNREGA outlay.

In the last year, South district received award for creating maximum number of mandays under the MGNREGA while Gomati district fetched another award for sustainable development in the national flagship programme.

(Agencies)

District agri office building inaugurated Dimapur, Nov 17: New building of district agriculture office was inaugurated on November 16 at new district Hq. Peren by parliamentary secretary of Agriculture, Dr. Benjongliba Aier as the chief guest.

According to DIPR report, Dr. Benjongliba said that it was a red letter day for the farmers of Peren district, while congratulating the departmental officers and staff for keen initiative in constructing thenew building. He also remarked that Peren district would be the most beautiful district due to its fertile soil and climatic condition, adding that it had the potential to be one of the most economically viable districts in the state.

Agriculture secretary Chumremo A. Odyuo urged the officers and staff

Parliamentary secretary of Agriculture Dr. Benjongliba Aier with other officials after inaugurating the new office building to be sincere and regular in their duties. SDO (C) Peren, Robin lauded the efforts of the department for the successful completion of the construction.

Short speeches were also delivered by the president of Zeliang Baudi and KukiInpi.

Chief guest unveiled the

monolith. A brief report on the construction of new building was given by Er. Achakbou. Cultural dance was performed by Kejanglwa village while the vote of thanks was proposed by DAO Peren Atoi Sema in the programme chaired by director, Rongseninla. (Agencies)

High Court orders reaudit in all 58 blocks, appeal to SC likely Agartala, Nov 17: In a farreaching order passed yesterday the division bench of Tripura high court comprising chief jutice T.Vaiphei and justice Shubhasish Talapatra ordered reaudit of accounts in all 58 blocks of the state and submission of detailed reports to CAG as well as state assembly. The order was passed on two writ petitions filed by Dr Ashok Sinha of Congress and senior advocate Arun Chandra Bhowmik of Trinamool. Shortly after the

massive scam in Bishalgarh block had come to light and the then BDO Bimal Chakraborty had been arrested two writ peititions had been filed in the court with the plea for detailed audit of accounts in all blocks of the state. The state government had audit conducted and furnished report to the high court but the court was not satisfied .

Passing the final order on the twin writ petitions the division bench said that reaudit of accounts should

be conducted in all 58 blocks within next eight months and reports thereon should be submitted to CAG as well as the state assembly.

Highly placed official sources refused to comment on the high court order as it was yet be studied thoroughly. Sources however hinted that the option of filing an appeal to the supreme court was open to have the audits already conducted upheld by the apex court. (Agencies)

NORTHEAST P5 Blockade disrupts railway services in Northeast Agartala, Nov 17: A rail blockade called by tribal students hit railway services in parts of northeast India for the second day on Wednesday, snapping the crucial rail link of Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur and southern Assam with the rest of the country.

The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) cancelled several important trains passing through the Lumding-Badarpur hill section due to the indefinite rail blockade agitation by the North Cachar Hill Indigenous Students Forum (NCHISF).

Hundreds of NCHISF members have blockaded rail tracks since Tuesday morning at Haflong, the district headquarters of Dima Hasao district, for-

merly known as North Cachar Hills District.

The NCHISF has been demanding compensation to the affected families, whose land and homes were taken away by the NFR during conversion of metre-gauge railway line to broad gauge in 2014 and 2015.

Acting Deputy Commissioner of Dima Hasao district Sonaram Khanikar held an inconclusive meeting on Tuesday with the agitating students body and the railway officials at the district headquarters at Haflong, 279 km from Guwahati.

"The NFR official failed to give a written promise to release compensation within 15 days as demanded by the Forum.

The railway authorities

sought four months' time to sort out the matter," Khanikar told reporters.

NCHISF President David Kevom said a total 300 hectares of land belonging to 500 families was affected by the construction of the broad-gauge railway line in the hill district.

"The NFR authorities had promised compensation to the affected families, but nothing has been done yet," Kevom told reporters.

NFR officials, however, said that the railway authorities had given compensation of around Rs 55 crore to the affected families, but they are demanding Rs 3-5 crore more.

The NCHISF President said that unless senior and responsible officials of the railways come to the spot,

they would not withdraw the indefinite rail blockade agitation.

A railway official, on condition of anonymity, said Divisional Railway Manager A.K. Jain is expected to visit Halflong.

In a statement, NFR's Chief Public Relations Officer Pranav Jyoti Sharma said four trains -Guwahati-Silchar, Silchar-Guwahati train services, Sealdah-Silchar Kanchenjunga Express and Agartala-Sealdah Kanchenjunga Express -have been either cancelled or short-terminated.

Around 1,200 passengers were stranded at Haflong station due to the rail blockade. Some passengers were, however, trying to reach their destina-

tions using other modes of transport.

The railway line from Guwahati passes through Lumding (in Nagaon district of central Assam) and Halflong, connecting Agartala and parts of Manipur and Mizoram, besides southern Assam, with the rest of India.

The Guwahati-Silchar railway route is the lifeline for southern Assam, comprising Cachar, Karimganj, Hailakandi and Dima Hasao districts, and the mountainous states of Tripura, Manipur and Mizoram.

The region is dependent on this railway route for supply of food grain, fertiliser, petroleum products, construction materials and other consumer goods.

(IANS)

Hohos foil govt's plan on women quota Dimapur, Nov 17:The attempt by the T.R. Zeliang led-DAN government to get the nod from tribal hohos to assent to certain modifications to the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001 failed, as the hohos suspected that the exercise was mainly to get their nod to revoke the 2012 assembly resolution in the house to clear the decks for civic polls with 33% women reservation.

The consultative meeting held at the Capital Convention Hall began with state chief secretary Pankaj Kumar making his opening remarks to inform that the meeting was called to discuss the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001 vis-Ă vis tax and landholding issues and not about 33% women reservation.

However, most of the tribal representatives objected to it and nearly staged a walk-out as they wanted it to also include 33% women reservation issue. Chief minister T.R. Zeliang intervened after which it was agreed to discuss the contentious quota issue. The chief minister focussed on suggestions on issues of tax and land holdings raised by Ao Senden and also APO to omit or delete the provision for reservation of seat for Schedule Caste. However these were overshadowed by the handling of 33% women reservation by the state government.

According to DIPR, on the 33% women reservation, the chief minister said a series of meetings were held with the Naga Mothers' Association and other women organizations but they have decided to wait for the verdict of the court. It reported that the chief minister reiterated that in view of the 33% reservation for women, unless the petitioner (the women organization) agreed, there was no

question of a compromise and therefore, the cabinet decided to agree with the reservation of women.

It may be noted that the September 22,2012 assembly resolution tabled

by T.R. Zeliang as then minister of parliamentary affairs and introduced by Dr ShĂźrhozelie, then urban development minister, was adopted by the house to make inoperative Clause IX A from the amendment made in 2006 on 33% women reservation.

Nagaland Post spoke with prominent members of several tribal hohos over phone and all of them said they stood firm with regard to both the tax and landholding issues including 33% women reservation. They said the issues needed wider, proper and lengthier deliberations and cannot be rushed otherwise it would result in eroding the principles of tribal customary laws and practices that were welded to Article 371A. Naga Hoho president P. Chuba Ozukum said the Hoho stand was that there should be no reservation but nomination with voting rights. He said such a formula could be worked out for the nod from the assembly only after a wide consultation with all stakeholders in order to avoid controversies.

Ozukum reiterated that NH supported equality of rights among men and women but if the issue infringed Article 371 (A) then the Hoho will have to defend it.

The apex bodies at the meeting suggested nomination for women in the civic bodies, while some suggested nomination with voting rights. However, the apex bodies at the same time made their stand clear that they would vehemently oppose any move that would in-

Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan to organise four day Youth Festival Agartala, Nov 17: The Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan (Deemed University) is organising the 9th four-day inter-campus Youth Festival from tomorrow at Ekalavya Campus. Participants from all seven states of northeast will converge on Agartala on the occasion of the youth festival in which more than a thousand young sports-persons and literary and cultural activists accompanied by dignitaries will take part. The four-day long festival commencing from tomorrow will continue till 21st November and will be inaugurated by the Vice Chancellor Professor Parameshwara Narayan

Shastri at 10-00 AM at Rabindra Shata Varshiki Bhawan tomorrow.

An official press-note issued by Professor Khageshwar Mishra , Principal of Ekalavya Campus, said that students from far-flung sttes like Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Delhi and Jammu will arrive here along with their teachers in charge to participate in the festival . Professor Mishra said that every year the Rashtirya Sanskrit Sansthan organises such youth festivals to promote national unity and solidarity. The 9th such festival is being held in Tripura from tomorrow for the first time.

(Agencies)

T.R. Zeliang with the tribal hoho leaders, legislators and officials after the meeting fringe upon Article 371(A), which may arise out of such matter.

APO president Dr. Vilhousa Seleyi said the issues could not be discussed properly during the consultative meeting as many issues raised could not be properly addressed.

On the 33% women quota Dr. Seleyi said he shared the same opinion with all tribal hohos that there was no difference in status between men and women and therefore, there was no need for any reservation.

According to another tribal hoho member, T.R. Zeliang's stand were less defensive and instead revealed inherent contradictions between his argument on the 33% women reservation and Lotha Hoho PIL. The chief minister defended the government stand to support 33% women reservation since the SLP filed by NMA in the Supreme Court would take a long time and for which the state exchequer would incur heavy expenditure. He also speculated that the apex court's ruling would be more or less in favour of the Joint Action Committee on Women Reservation (JACWR). Zeliang said this was also the opinion of some "senior lawyers in Delhi".

However, on the issue of fighting the PIL filed by

Lotha Hoho on the oil issue, the chief minister said the government has engaged senior Supreme Court lawyers for the case.

One of the tribal leaders wanted to know from the chief minister, the difference in fighting the Lotha Hoho PIL by hiring expensive lawyers and then justifying backing out from the case on the 33% women reservation citing heavy legal expenditure.

Any court matter would take a long time and definitely money would be spent in the process, the tribal leader said.

Another tribal hoho leader further pointed out that both PIL on oil and 33% quota imbroglio raised by various organizations/government was in connection with Article 371(A).

He said when the government was literally against Lotha Hoho's PIL-- citing reasons that it (PIL) would weaken Article 371(A); what was its stand on 33% women reservation, when majority of the tribal bodies were voicing its concern that women quota would have ramifications on Art. 371(A)?.

One of them pointed out that the government was over keen to give up the 33% women reservation case mainly due to the fund (over Rs.200 crore) that it would get from the centre if it held poll to

ULBs. He also cited parliamentary secretary, Geology & Mining, Dr. Imtiwapang's statement cautioning people that the verdict on PIL may go against Article 371(A).

Now, which way would the government like to exercise its wisdom, he wondered. On one side they say they are spending too much money fighting in the court and on the other hand the government is ready to fight tooth and nail (PIL on oil filed by Lotha Hoho) by hiring expensive lawyers.

The tribal leaders said if the so called "Consultative meeting on Municipal Act, 2011" was held as an eye wash just before the upcoming Assembly Session to make it look as if all was well, the government would be wrong, as no one would allow the tribal bodies/stakeholders to be taken for a ride.

A senior tribal hoho leader also disclosed that if the government attempted to go ahead with an assembly resolution to push through civic polls with 33% women reservation, then the hohos will not remain silent.

One of the vocal members claimed that many were not given adequate time as the entire process was sought to be steam rolled.

"This cannot be called a consultative meet as the very word consultation was not present throughout" he said.

Those who spoke include members of the Naga Hoho, ENPO, Ao Senden, APO, Konyak Union, Chakhesang Public Organization, Lotha Hoho and Rengma Hoho and among the legislators PHE minister Tokheho Yepthomi.

However, Zeliangrong Baudi Nagaland, Sumi Hoho and Pochury Hoho representatives were not present. (Agencies)

NPP may have CM face for polls Shillong, Nov 17 : The National People's Party (NPP) may field a chief ministerial candidate for the 2018 Assembly polls.

A party source said there is an effort to zero in on a leader who can take the party to victory in the next Assembly polls. The names of Tura MP Conrad Sangma and former Rajya Sabha member Thomas Sangma are doing the rounds for the job.

NPP is hopeful that it can make a difference taking advantage of the weak position of the Congress in Garo Hills.

During an interaction with GHADC CEM Denang Sangma in Tura,

he said going by the mood of the people, the Congress may not have any chance to win in the next Assembly polls. He was, however, tightlipped about who would be NPP's chief ministerial candidate for the 2018 polls.

"We have to discuss the matter within the party for a final decision, though the party wanted to project a chief ministerial candidate," Sangma said.

He hoped that NPP would be able to secure majority seats out of the total 24 in Garo Hills.

Asked about the pre-poll alliance with BJP and other like-minded parties, the GHADC chief said Conrad has been appeal-

ing to BJP for a pre-poll understanding. "We are trying for a possible alliance ahead of the polls," Sangma said.

In the last 2013 Assembly polls, NPP could secure only two seats represented by James Sangma and Nihim Shira as majority of the seats went to the Congress.

However, NPP's victory in the by-election to Tura Lok Sabha seat, which was won by Conrad, rejuvenated the party.

An NPP leader said banking on the anti-incumbency scenario, the party hopes to get as many as 16 seats out of 24 in the next Assembly polls. (Agencies)

EDITORIAL

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18

Today's quote Life is a tragedy when seen in “close-up, but a comedy in longshot.

Charlie Chaplin

Against the odds A day after Class 12 students turned up in large numbers for their school-leaving examinations in the Kashmir Valley, attendance for the Class 10 tests too crossed the 95 per cent mark. Successful conduct of these tests is crucial not just as a signal that normalcy could be returning to Jammu and Kashmir after the months-long unrest, but equally importantly, to secure the school year for students. In the event, given that classes had been disrupted since the July 8 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen 'commander' Burhan Wani, the syllabus had been reduced by half for students opting to appear for the examinations now. But their successful start, amid demands that they be summarily postponed, should also allay fears caused by a series of arson attacks on school buildings across the Valley. More than 30 schools have been attacked in recent months - in fact, on Monday teachers managed to prevent serious damage when a school in Baramulla district was set ablaze. The attacks are a clear signal of the determined plan by miscreants, their identity yet to be established, to hold class's hostage. It is critical that, going forward, the State government rally teachers and parents sufficiently to build a constituency to firewall the school calendar from disruptions imposed on the Valley.

After a long summer when too many children were caught in the crossfire, with some killed or blinded due to the security forces' unconscionable persistence with pellet guns, a curtailed syllabus for examinations must serve as a reminder of the risks to the aspirations of yet another generation. To bring back calm, more needs to be done to use the tenuous calm on the street to normalise the daily transactions among local communities. If anger spilled over on to the streets in unexpected and disturbing ways after Wani's death, as the weeks and months passed it led to maximalist rhetoric on the part of the separatists, expectedly, and the government, unnecessarily. It is bewildering, for instance, why Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar would choose to commend the demonetisation measure by linking it to a decline in protests in Kashmir.

A larger-hearted acknowledgement by New Delhi of the distress in the Valley is essential. Getting past the protests and shutdowns of 2016 will require far more than was done in 2010. In this fractious Parliament session, the government needs to foster an all-party initiative to reach out to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Taking careful note of their inordinate hardships this year would be a good beginning.

A challenge and an opportunity A year and a half after China and Pakistan announced plans for an Economic Corridor, the CPEC, to connect "Kashgar to Gwadar", the two countries operationalised the trade route this week, with the first shipment moving to Gwadar port and on to the Gulf and Africa. Many of the infrastructure and energy projects that are part of CPEC, worth an estimated $46 billion, are already under way. Of this, $35-38 billion is committed in the energy sector, in gas, coal and solar energy across Pakistan, with the combined expected capacity crossing 10,000 MW. This is roughly double the current shortfall the country experiences. In addition, the 3,000-km rail and roadway project is expected to generate 700,000 jobs by 2030. While Pakistan sees CPEC as a game changer, there are many challenges. There are some misgivings domestically, with critics questioning the project's viability, and some accusing China of launching a second "East India Company". There are the security challenges too, especially in the western areas near the key Gwadar port, where militants ranging from Baloch nationalists to the Taliban and the Islamic State have carried out attacks. Systemic challenges include project delays in the CPEC's first year, which the World Bank warns could prove to be an impediment to Pakistan's overall growth. PakistanIndia tensions, unless contained, too could endanger sectors of the project where Pakistani troops are engaged in providing security. Finally, the economic slowdown in China and the political instability in Pakistan could impact the project's future as well.

However, these internal considerations for Pakistan shouldn't blur the bigger picture for India: CPEC is now a reality. In the past India's reaction to the project, announced a few weeks before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China in 2015, had turned from dismissal and disdain to disapproval and then to outright opposition. India even raised concerns over projects in disputed Gilgit-Baltistan at the UN General Assembly. Not only has the project gone ahead despite the objections, but China now sees CPEC as a physical link between its One Belt, One Road (OBOR) project and the Maritime Silk Route (MSR).

India has refused to be a part of either. That Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are all on board the OBOR and the MSR should give India pause. It is important for Delhi to also take a closer look at the security implications of the China-Pakistan clinch that is fast drawing in Russia in the north, all the way to the Arabian Sea, while China plans a floating naval base off Gwadar.

P6

White is the new black Even as the common man gets in line for fifty days of pain, the affluent have found innovative ways to launder their hoard of cash A week into the demonetisation drive, we are in the midst of a painful transition. In a televised speech on November 13 delivered in Goa, the Prime Minister sought 50 days' reprieve, though he did not tell us what exactly we should expect.

Perhaps we are en route to a better state but in the interim we are left to ponder an unedifying transition. Much of the evidence of what is taking place in the economy since the fateful night of November 8-9 is anecdotal, but no less valuable for that is all we have.

News from different parts of the country indicate two developments. On November 8 itself, there had been frenzied late-night shopping till midnight especially in the upmarket malls. This indicates that some sections of the populace had money hoarded from unaccounted activity and wanted to get rid of it while it was still legal tender. From the next day on, there has been a rush to the banks to exchange currency notes and to deposit money into savings accounts. The experience of those attempting the former has not been a happy one. Reports speak of long waits, scuffles, bank employees favouring relatives over fellow citizens and banks running out of cash.

The mind is drawn to accounts of the life of the people of Delhi in the reign of Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq.

Accounting for oneself The other development is the reported spurt in deposits in Jan Dhan accounts. As these accounts mostly belong to persons with low incomes, and often showed a near-zero balance, it suggests that these deposits may be black in-

come being distributed among many agents. We have heard of benami titles to property, could we have just witnessed the emergence of benami deposits? Could the facility of allowing deposits of up to Rs.2.5 lakh without attracting income tax have unwittingly acted as a conduit to the laundering of black money?

Accounts have also come of gold sales rising. How can this be possible when highdenomination notes, which as we shall see constitute the overwhelming part of total currency in circulation, are no longer legal tender? We are told that this is made possible by pre-dating sales. Of course, where stock movement is verifiable this would be difficult. But it does speak of many loopholes that have been suggested as means of sabotaging the intent of the demonetisation. Yet more exist. We have actual statements made by party bosses in Tamil Nadu that they have distributed old notes to their workers before a by-election to come. So, in Uttar Pradesh where elections are due only in 2017, there is no reason why money cannot be distributed right away, a form of advance payment. One would expect that the Rs.4,500 limit on the exchange of notes is just the right magnitude in the context.

A slowing of commerce Demonetisation had targeted the stock of illegally accrued wealth held in the form of money. Where disgorging of it in the forms suggested above is not possible, demonetisation would be successful in punishing the guilty. This view of the role of money as a store of wealth

is appropriate. But the tal world". This is somewhat demonetisation can also af- brazen as the RBI has been fect the flow of income in the granted the monopoly of note future even when it is to be issue precisely so that it faearned legally. If this hap- cilitates economic exchange. pens, it also punishes the in- There are unlikely to be many nocent. This it can do as takers for the government's money is also the medium of propaganda on public radio exchange without which the which has a kirana store overwhelming majority of owner say that he is not wortransactions cannot occur. It ried as his money is clean and is not hard to imagine the he has till the end of the year impact t o o n change transPulapre Balakrishnan it. This actions misses a when over 85 per cent of the trick as it ignores the many country's money stock - that who cannot earn an income is, the share of high-denomi- as the system does not have nation notes in the total - is enough money to enable sucked out of circulation. transactions to take place.

The economy has responded Thus views on the transipredictably. The pre-mid- tion are likely to be influnight shopping spree of the enced by how one is placed day on which demonetisation in relation to the income genwas announced was followed eration process. So, for inby a slowing of commerce stance in Kerala, where many not only in the bazaars but live directly or indirectly on also in the upmarket shop- monthly remittances from ping malls themselves. West Asia and where undeWhere transactions involving clared income is rife, a relaemployment of persons can- tively aware local population not be undertaken, there is an is likely to see the irretrievable loss of output. It demonetisation as justified cannot be made up after the and hurting the rich. They currency shortage has been may well see it as a 'surgical ended. The national political strike'. However, in smallleadership and the techno- town northern India where crats of the Reserve Bank of households are dependent India (RBI) appear to have upon daily earnings from the missed this possibility. local economy, the populace The Prime Minister has is likely to be energised less expressed his confidence that by schadenfreude at the disthe people of India will bear comfiture of the rich as much the inconvenience of the tran- as the loss of their own livesition for the sake of purify- lihood, about which we presing the country. But engineer- ently read in the press. They ing a loss of employment is are likely to see the not inconvenience, and this demonetisation as a form of could hardly have gone un- bloodletting. noticed by those affected.

The RBI's stance is worthy of What could have been Marie Antoinette. It is quoted done as exhorting Indians to turn to Internet banking as it Could this have been forewould "also enhance the ex- seen? Yes, absolutely, were perience of living in the digi- the policy intelligently de-

signed. The central bank could have started replacing the larger denomination notes with smaller denomination ones much earlier. This would have isolated those holding unaccounted income in the form of high denomination notes, the unspoken premise of the demonetisation. There is of course a case for secrecy, but the RBI has long shown itself to be unmindful of the need to facilitate transactions in any case. This is the only conclusion that one can draw from the fact that so large a part of the money stock was constituted by high denomination currency. It reflects a complete disregard for the low-value transactions that dominate the economy.

level, this cannot be denied and this line of argument can be whipped up to some political advantage. But there is a counter-narrative, and it is that the entrepreneur in India is forced to generate 'black money' to gratify the political class and the civil service who are the gatekeepers of all activity. This is hardly a novel argument. It is what underlay C. Rajagopalachari's imagery of India being governed by the 'licence-permit raj'. His only mistake was to see this as entirely due to Jawaharlal Nehru's economic policy.

Actually this is India's inheritance from colonialism, zealously guarded by its beneficiaries, again ranging between the political class and the civil service.

It is not hard to see that a very large number of Indians must earn less than Rs.500 a day. Given this, it reveals a monumental lack of sensitivity to withdraw the Rs.1,000 note and bring in one of Rs.2,000. Given the average daily income of an Indian, and the average value of transactions, a move to a money stock far more balanced between the denominations is absolutely essential now. The issue of a shortage of small denomination notes in the economy was brought to the attention of the RBI some years ago.

So if Prime Minister Narendra Modi does go on to check all records going back to 1947, as he has said he is willing to do to root out corruption, he may also want to investigate the role of the government machinery in the process of generating unaccounted income. One should not be surprised if this role is quite substantial. Of course, one hopes he does not do this as it not only carries more than just a whiff of 'retrospective taxation', it can leave us mired in a transition longer than the one we are in now.

Stemming the rot within

We are told that our Prime Minister admires Lee Kuan Yew. We know that in building his country the late Singaporean statesman started with the civil service.

He is known to have treated its members well, but is unlikely to have countenanced their being corrupt themselves.

The Prime Minister has brought the issue of corruption centre stage. But it is important to recognise that there is more than one narrative on the issue. One is that a few rich entrepreneurs have evaded the rules laid down by the state and got ahead of the rest of the people. At one

A sense of only itself At one level, India's middle class is now inured to the world outside its own class. At another level, it displays an aggressive nationalism and is completely disdainful of the idea of the community as a nation.

India's middle classes have travelled a long way since the late 19th century when they planted the saplings of the freedom movement. On the way to India's Independence, they filled the jails, and while they could not prevent the horrors of Partition, they wrote a unique document for the new nation: the Constitution of the Republic of India.

After Independence, it was the middle class again that supplied the teachers, doctors, engineers, lawyers, administrators and the other builders of Project India. It was a very imperfect project and there were strong disagreements, but there was no denying the pride these middle-class servants felt in building the Republic.

Middle-class activism Things have changed in recent decades. Beginning in the 1990s, India's middle class many times its size in 1947 and amorphous in its composition - started to have a sense only of itself. Gone is a sense of the nation as a country which, while divided, is still one where everyone has equal rights and where no one should be left behind. In its place, the middle class is now happy to wear a flag-waving nationalism on its sleeve and is con-

cerned only about itself.

The middle class as driving public action is now a thing of the past. The last time India saw mass protest by the middle class was after the horrific rape in New Delhi in December 2012. That did lead to new legislation. But December 2012 was an exception and mostly women marched on the streets.

Middle-class activism, as it is now called, is usually only about matters of immediate concern - the neighbourhood, the locality, and the city.

It is not a caricature to say that the better off among the middle class are worried today only about their next gadget, next holiday, next car and next home.

At one level, India's middle class is now inured to the world outside its own class. At another level, it displays an aggressive nationalism and is completely disdainful of the idea of the community as a nation.

In the initial days after the demonetisation of Rs.500 and Rs.1,000 notes, the middle class played to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's script. It was willing to put up with its own inconvenience for what it saw as a larger cause. But the middle class is impervious to how the members of India's

The starfish Once a man was walking along a beach. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day. Off in the distance he could see a person going back and forth between the surf's edge and and the beach.

Back and forth this person went. As the man approached, he could see that there were hundreds of star-

fish stranded on the sand as the result of the natural action of the tide.

The man was stuck by the the apparent futility of the t a s k .

There were far t o o m a n y starfish. Many of them were sure to perish. As he approached, the per-

vast informal sector, the rural editorialised strongly or sent communities in unbanked re- their reporters in hunt of the gions, the savers of cash hold- true story. It has required the ings and rare and o t h e r s C. Rammanohar Reddy fine excepwere going tions like to manage. this newsToday, when middle-class paper to expose the lies. The concerns are expressed in silence of TV has been deafstrength, they are expressed on ening. social media - with hate. The Instead, there have been voices in anger are overwhelm- online diatribes against those ingly directed against "anti- who question the official vernationals", religious minori- sion. Here is one posted on ties, and, if they are reckless Twitter on October 31: "Why enough, they can be casteist [sic] people are raising questoo. tions whether the encounter was fake or not? Terrorists Bhopal as a test case should be neutralised wherever Consider, for example, the found." And here is one from shooting in late October of the Letters column of the digieight Muslim undertrials after tal publication Scroll.in in rethey purportedly broke out of sponse to an article questionBhopal Central Jail while kill- ing the official version: "These ing a prison guard. Even a de- law-abiding SIMI terrorists cade or two ago, a shooting of stayed as state guests in a highsuch a large number and so security establishment which suspiciously in abuse of the relies on the tax payers money law would have attracted a - and you're okay with that? measure of anger from the These people should have been middle class which is aware of shot dead a long time back". the rights guaranteed by the India's online population reConstitution. mains small, and on social Not now. media it is infinitesimally There has been the isolated small. But it wields a power far statement by a civil liberties beyond its size. What it says group and the odd statement by resonates with the political one or two political parties. powers in ascendance. And Nothing more. In the media what these political forces say few newspapers have either resonates with this vocal social

son continued the task of picking up starfish one by one and throwing them into the surf.

As he came up to the person, he said: "You must be crazy. There are thousands of miles of beach covered with starfish. You can't possibly make a difference." The person looked at the man. He then stooped down and pick up one more starfish and threw it back into the ocean.

He turned back to the man and said: "It sure made a difference to that one!"

media population - drawn entirely from the middle class.

This is not the first time that the murder of undertrials has evoked the barest of protests from the middle classes. In April 2015, five Muslim terror accused who were in handcuffs and were being shifted from one prison to another in Telangana were shot dead inside a van by the police because apparently one of them tried to grab a policeman's rifle.

(This happened within weeks of two incidents in the State in which two Students' Islamic Movement of India activists and three policemen were killed.) A few questions from a few newspapers, a few statements, and one state Special Investigation Team probe which has gone nowhere. It does not seem to matter.

Of course, the "who-cares" attitude or the "they-deservedit" reaction is most obvious when Muslims are involved.

It is not just the professional trolls who are venting spleen on the Net. Visit any story of any English newspaper or magazine and see the comments on a story about India's Muslims. You can only despair for the future after reading the venom being spewed there.

The online comments on "SIMI men had no guns, say

witnesses" in media are a representative sample.

Anti-minorityism out in the open It is time to stop pussyfooting about what the middle class (Hindus) think about some of their fellow citizens. We have to accept that a creeping antiminorityism has now become full-blown among the middle class. From a whispering conversation among the likeminded it has now entered everyday conversation among families, friends and office colleagues. It is there all around us.

The disdain for everyone else is the outcome of the very successful build-up of Hindu majoritarianism over the past three decades. This has now reached a new peak under the Bharatiya Janata Party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It threatens to march even higher in the run-up to the next round of State elections in 2017 and the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The majoritarianism of the middle class reflects the essential philosophy of the party in power and in return it strengthens this exclusionary philosophy.

It has been a long journey since the beginning of the freedom movement and the drafting of the Constitution.

Exchanging notes The demonetisation move is no doubt creating distress for the people, especially senior citizens and the poor, but many economists have praised the government's effort to curtail the flow of black money . People are cooperating with each other and with the banks. I have seen students help golgappawalas use mobile phones to accept payments so that businesses aren't affected. In my locality, more and more shops are now putting up posters saying 'Card accepted', 'Paytm accepted', etc. In small shops where there is no point-of-sale machine and customers do not have access to the Internet, shopkeepers are sitting with data-enabled mobile phones asking customers to add money to their e-wallets using cards. These are healthy changes. The situation is not that distressing that the move needs to be revoked. The government is coming up with an extra measure every other day to reduce discomfort. But immediate steps need to be taken to help mandiwalas, small retailers, rural labourers, artisans and farmers so that their livelihoods aren't affected.

Riju Das Moran

WOMEN

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18

P7

The Status of Women in India In the past, women were cated and modernized hustreated as mere slaves. As bands want to see their they belong to the weaker wives confined within the sex, men used to keep them four walls. under thumb. They were denied freedom. They were The noble professions of kept like dumb cattle within the outside world are conthe four walls of the house. sidered to be of no concern Indeed, they had no rights. to them. Their husbands, Their most sacred duty was they may be good or bad, to obey blindly. are their lords and gods.

Though the conditions in Those changes are bent h e eficial country which Manish Rajkoomar c o m e are fast changgraduing, yet women are still ally. Our country is changtreated, in some respects, in ing politically, economithe same old way. No one cally and socially, at a swift feels happy in the home at speed. The condition of the birth of a female child. women is also gradually Even an only daughter is changing. They have begun supposed to be a curse for to take their due place in the family. She is regarded free India as is evident from as a decree of lakhs of ru- the following facts. pees on the parents. Further, as a wife, she has always to In free India, women canobey her husband. "Theirs not be kept as sheer domesnot to reason why, theirs but tic servants. They have to to do and die." was the play their vital role in the motto for them. Even edu- development of the country.

Top 5 best bridal makeup tips Wedding is a special day for everyone's life. The bride always wants to make sure that nothing goes wrong on that very day and seek for bridal tips. She is going to cherish the rest of her life and ensure that she gets the best. Friends, arrangements and the functions are always part of the wedding but the most important part is the bridal make up. The bridal make up gets the most attention, not only for the prolonged photoshoot and the numerous guests but also for the feeling of looking best on the most special day of the life. Here are the Top 5 bridal tips that can ensure nothing goes wrong.

Use Moisturizer Use the moisturizer as the base of all the bridal makeup.

It should be applied before the foundation of the makeup. This would ensure that your skin glows and looks beautiful.

Also, it can be very helpful for the warmer weather as it can firm the makeup and it does not melt with heat. It is often seen that the makeup gets bloat due to high temperature and thus moisturizer can help you to avoid the problem.

Use Foundation There are lots of cosmetics available that can be applied on the face as part of the bridal makeup. However, that makeup may not remain for long time during the wedding function. Also, it can create bloats on the photos during the celebration and no bride would want that. The use of foundation can be very effective for that case and can ensure that all your makeup remains intact for longer period of time. This also helps you to glow your makeup.

Use Brush It is best to use a brush to apply the makeup. The use of fingers should be completely avoided in order to make the makeup more effective and highly risk free. There are lot of chances where the fingers can make rashes and other skin problems on the wedding day and that should not be desired.

The use of brush can help you to avoid all such issues.

Use Concealer The use of concealer can be extremely helpful for the bridal make ups as well. The bridal tips ensure that the concealer can be great for the facial makeups. However, you can also effectively use it for the eye liners and others. The best part of the concealer is that it holds your make up firm and it looks extremely natural.

Use Natural Products The best practice is to use natural products for the bridal makeup. The skin is very sensitive and the chemicals can harm your skin. There are chances that it can show the impact even immediately. To avoid that you can use the natural products that will help you to look beautiful and at the same time it should be safe.

However, even after all the tips, the most important and effective tip is to put a smile on the face and enjoy the best moment of your life.

That is why more and more girls are getting education.

No distinction is now made in matters of education be-

tween boys and girls. Education is bound to give them place of honour in society.

It is for the first time in

the history of our country that women have been given equal voting right with men.

It clearly means that women

will now take an active part in outside affairs also. Their voice will now be as forceful and important as that of men. No politician of leader can now afford to neglect, or oppose their rights. They are becoming equal partners in the making, or the dismissing, of a Government.

Hindu law has been changed and modified. Far reaching changes have been introduced in the Hindu Marriage Act. Women have been given right to divorce in certain cases. This is a very important change.

They have been given protection in other ways also against the cruelly of the husbands. Besides this, the Hindu Succession Act has given to the daughter the right to the property of her parents. These reforms have secured for women an honorable status in society.

Our constitution has given equal rights to women. No distinction has

been made on the basis of caste, religion or sex. Their rights have thus been safeguarded. Reservation for women in state assemblies, parliament and the upper house is apt to be enacted in near future.

Many a women has begun to occupy high position in the life of our country.

There are a number of lady minister and deputy ministers. A woman, late Mrs. Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister of the country and a leader world stature. Besides this, women are taking to the profession increasing number. Today there are women who are competent police which direction the wind is blowing.

The observance of the international women's year in 1975, gave further impetus to the movement for the emancipation of women.

Attention has thus been focused on problems peculiar to women in India.

Also Indian girls bagged two beauty crowns in 1994.

Sushmita Sen won the Miss Universe title and Aiswarya Rai bagged the Miss World crown. This unique double success on the world's beauty stage earned a healthier respect for India as a whole, because these contests of late have become as much tests of the contestant's brains, outlook and presence of mind as of mere physical beauty.

From the above account it is evident, that the place of women in free India is becoming more and more secure with the change of times. She can no longer be dominated and driven like dumb cattle by man. She is on the march. She is now an equal partner in her family.

Her future is bright.

5 ways to preserve fruits or vegetables other than canning, freezing, or drying charcuterie.

Canning, freezing, and drying are popular home preservation methods today.

In the past, people preserved food because they didn't have any other choice.

In times of pestilence, war, famine, tsunamis, and earthquakes, people wanted to make sure they had some food 'put by.' Unlike today, they lacked a year-round supply of fresh food and mechanical refrigeration.

But preservation methods go well beyond freezing or drying food in an electric appliance, or canning it with special equipment.

Here are 5 different ways you can preserve local produce for use throughout the year. Most are easier and less expensive than the more modern methods of canning and freezing: 1. Quickly pickle vegetables by soaking in an acidic liquid. The simplest way you can pickle vegetables is to immerse slices or chunks in an acidic liquid such as vinegar, lemon juice, or whey. Other mildly acidic ingredients that you can use for pickling, include pomegranate juice, verjuice (underripe grape juice), soy sauce, and miso. Acid-pickled foods are a great alternative to fresh salads and can add a lot of interest to your meals. Think of them as crunchy, mouthwatering fast food.

4. Macerate fruits with alcohol. Macerating fruits in alcohol is a form of pickling that is very common in cultures throughout Eastern Europe. It is an easy process that you can do at home with fresh fruit and vodka. You can add spices to the soaking liquid and use other types of liquor (such as rum or brandy), as long as it is at least 80 proof. Brandied or maraschino cherries are common examples of macerated fruits, and the resulting fruited liquor is a delicious beginning or end to any meal.

2. Ferment fruits or vegetables into wine or vinegar.

When you have a bumper crop of fruits or vegetables, that's the time to make wine or vinegar. Ferment almost any type of fresh or dried fruit to make a delicious "country" wine. Popular fruit choices include pears, peaches, or plums, and vegetables with a sweet nature, such as beets, carrots, corn, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, or winter squash. Reclaim fruit and vegetable peels before you discard them in the compost bin and use them to make vinegar. Exploit apple peelings left over af-

ter making applesauce, as well as orange peels, pineapple peels, and potato peels. Wine or vinegar making is also a good method to make use of culls, seconds, overripe, or fallen fruit. Just make sure that any of the produce you use is free of any mold, trimmed of any bruises, and thoroughly washed.

3. Pickle or ferment vegetables with dry salt. Easy, practical, and inexpensive, you can use dry salt either to pickle or ferment a wide variety of vegetables. High salt concentration prevents fermentation to preserve

vegetables in a near-fresh state. Use this method for cauliflower, cooking greens (spinach, kale, chard), shelled peas, and string beans. People familiar with this method consider drysalted vegetables to be far superior in taste and texture to canned or frozen ones. In contrast, using a low salt concentration causes the vegetables to ferment and make products like sauerkraut or kimchi from cabbage. The sauerkraut method also works on turnips, rutabagas, and kohlrabies, for delicious wintertime sandwich and burger toppings or garnish for

5. 'Cellar' root vegetables.

Cellaring is any form of storage that holds food in optimum condition for an extended period. Today's modern "root cellar" is the refrigerator. However, a cold food cellar can be accomplished by using something as simple as a cool basement closet or fashioned using a clean metal or plastic, food-safe container that is partially buried in the ground. Root crops are the ideal cold cellar inhabitant, such as beets, carrots, turnips, and parsnips. Use these vegetables throughout winter as a roasted side dish, shredded for latkes, simmered in soups and stews, or baked into muffins and breads.

India's 3 most successful female entrepreneurs 1. Indra Nooyi Current position: CFO, Pepsico Indra Nooyi,56, is the current chairman and CFO of the second largest food and beverage business, PepsiCo. Born in Chennai, Indra did her Bachelor's in Science from Madras Christian College in 1974 and a Post Graduate Diploma in Management (MBA) from Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta in 1976.

Beginning her career in India, Nooyi held product manager positions at Johnson & Johnson and textile firm Mettur Beardsell. Nooyi joined PepsiCo in 1994 and was named president and CFO in 2001.

She has been conferred with prestigious Padma Bhushan for her business achievements and being an inspiration to India's corporate leadership.

General Manager & Country Head HSBC,India Naina Lal Kidwai,55, is presently the Group General Manager and Country Head of HSBC India.

Naina has a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Delhi university and an MBA from Harvard Business school. In fact, Kidwai was the first Indian woman to graduate from Harvard Business School.

She started her career with ANZ Grindlays . Presently, she is also serving as a non-executive director on the board of Nestle SA. Kidwai is also global advisor at Harvard Business school.

Indian government conferred Padma Shri award on Naina for her contributions in the field of Trade and Industry.

2. Naina Lal Kidwai Current position: Group

Current position: CMD, Biocon

3. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw

Kiran,59, is the founder Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Biocon Limited.

Born in Bangalore, Shaw completed her Bachelors in Zoology from Mount Carmel College, Bangalore University. She later did her post-graduation in Malting and Brewing from Ballarat College, Melbourne University.

She worked as a trainee brewer in Carlton and United Breweries, Melbourne and as a trainee maltster at Barrett Brothers and Burston, Australia.

She started Biocon in 1978 and spearheaded its evolution from an industrial enzymes manufacturing company to a fully integrated bio-pharmaceutical company.

Today Biocon under Shaw's leadership has established itself as a leading player in biomedicine research with a focus on diabetes and oncology.

Kiran is also a member of the board of governors of

the prestigious Indian School of Business and Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad.

Kiran received the prestigious Padma Shri (1989) and the Padma Bhushan (2005) from the government of India.

4. Chanda Kochar Current position: MD & CEO - ICICI Bank Chanda Kochar, 51, is currently the MD & CEO of india's largest private bank ICICI Bank.

Rajasthan born chanda got Masters Degree in Management Studies from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai. She received the Wockhardt Gold Medal for Excellence in Management Studies as well as the J. N. Bose Gold Medal in Cost Accountancy.

Chanda Kochhar is married to Deepak Kochhar, a wind energy entrepreneur and her Business schoolmate.

5. Indu Jain

Designation - Chairperson (former), Times Group Indu Jain,76, used to be the chairperson of India's largest and most powerful media house - The Times Group.

A strong votary of women's rights and women entrepreneurship, Indu contributed immensely to the growth of Times group. Now, her two sons Samir and Vineet are running the company.

Indu Jain is also founder President of the Ladies wing of FICCI (FLO).

Indu is also the Chairperson of the Bharatiya Jnanpith Trust, which awards India's most prestigious and highest literary award, the Jnanpith award.

She addressed the United Nations in 2000 at the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders, a speech in which she stressed the need for oneness among faiths and went on to chair a special session of the conference.

Is Equal Pay for Women Fair?

Aatish Palekar In recent times women have come out of the four walls of their homes and sought suitable careers for themselves. Today, we find that women are working in practically every field of life. There are women doctors, professors, writers, journalists, judges, lawyers, typists and even police women. Women have also entered the military officers in general. In games and sports they have own many laurels. P.T. Usha made sports history through her thrilling performance in the Olympics in Los Angeles, California. They have invaded even the world of politics and have risen to the highest position in their respective countries, Margret Thatcher of England, Late Mrs. Indira Gandhi of India, Mrs. Bandaranaike of Ceylon, and the current president Pratibha Devisingh Patil, are only a few examples.

Women today are holding highest position in a number of countries of the world.

The performance of women in every field has been really creditable, and they have outshone man in spheres, which were supposed traditionally to be his exclusive privilege. Still the prejudice against women persists. It is still said that women are inferior to men, both physically and mentally, that they cannot put in as much work as men can do, hence they should be given less pay than their men folk. Nothing can be more unjust, wrong and unfair. Those who expressed such a view - and their numbers are not small - turn a blind eye to the manifold achievements of womanhood. Such a view is entirely contrary to facts.

Women have convincingly demonstrated their capacities and abilities and to deny them the same pay is given to men is immoral, unjust and unfair. Justice must be done to them; age-old prejudices must be shed and women must be paid equal pay with their men folk.

To deny women equal pay is not unjust and immoral, it is also entirely on constitutional. Indian constitution expressly provides that there should no discrimination on the basis of sex, religion, caste or race.

All citizens of India ere equal in the eyes of law and any discrimination between one citizen and another is illegal and criminal.

Women are rightful and lawful citizen of India. They also enjoy the same fundamental right as men do.

They, therefore, fundamentally and constitutionally speaking should get the same right as men do.

Therefore, equal pay for women is just. In the modern times, most of the work is done by machines.

Women technicians, engineers, pilots and women workers, working with computers and other machines, have proved themselves more effective.

Therefore, they must get the same pay as men. To deny them equal pay is worst form of exploitation.

The view that women should not be given equal pay is discriminatory, unenlightened and prejudiced. It is an expression of the oldage exploitation to which women have been subjected in the modern world. In the modern democratic world, "equal pay for equal work", is a recognized principle. To pay women less is extremely cruel and unprincipled. If at all, women should be paid more, for they have also to do domestic work in addition to the work they have to do in their jobs and which they do much more sincerely than their male counterparts.

They have to do a number of household chores like cooking, cleaning utensils, sweeping, the house, mending clothes and also take care of children. A man's work is done as soon as he is out of office, but a women's work continues well into the night and it also begins much earlier next morning. Hence it would be more just and ethical to allow them a higher pay.

Our way of thinking, our attitude towards womanhood must undergo a radical change with the change of times. To allow them equal pay for equal work is merely a first step towards such a change. The question "is equal pay for women fair?" has no relevance in the modern context. It is entirely unjust and prejudiced.

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18

NATION Tourists bear the brunt of demonetisation

Visakhapatnam, Nov 17: Rajkumar Chatterjee, a tourist from Kolkata, reached Visakhapatnam on November 9, for a week's stay in the port city.

Little did he know that a decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the night of November 8, would jeopardise his week-long fun that he planned with his family.

The demonetisation scheme has hit the tourists hard.

Talking to media, he said, "I was carrying all Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes. And they turned into waste paper, as neither the hotels nor the taxi drivers or the restaurants for that matter, refused to take the currency, as they were no longer legal tender."

With great difficulty, he could get in touch with a common friend who

Visitors enjoying a night view of the city from the vantage point at the popular tourist site atop Kailasagiri in Visakhapatnam. helped him out with some change and exchange a few notes of Rs. 500.

"My tour, which was planned for a lavish outing, has turned into rationed living," he lamented.

This has been the case with most of the tourists, who feel that they are stranded despite the gov-

ernment giving a clear instruction that tourists are exempted.

The tourists are facing problem for minor things such as paying auto charges or buying gift articles from roadside stalls, as every tourist does, or for paying food bills at small eateries.

"We have not encountered any problems in big malls, as there are card swiping machines. But not everybody can afford to do shopping at malls. And most importantly, this city is new to us and we are unable to exchange our notes at the ATM counters, as they are either not working or there is a big queue," said Arup Sen, another tourist from Burdwan district in West Bengal.

According to Sunit Kumar Panja of Nimantran Hotel, the tourist flow has suddenly died down.

"Being a hotelier, we are in touch with most of the lodges and we understand that there are over 30 per cent cancellations. This is the beginning of the tourist season and if the trend continues then the business for this season is hit

badly," he said.

Besides tourism, the flow from the city has also slowed down.

According to the Welfare Group of Tours and Travels, there are about 10 per cent cancellation of outbound travel and those who are planning have indefinitely postponed their travel plans.

"People do not want to take the risk, till things settle down," said an executive of the tour company.

Last year, the city of destiny recorded about 1.15 crores of tourist footfalls, which included about 69,000 foreign tourists.

The tourism season is at its peak from October to January, which stood at about 40 lakhs of the 1.15 crores, which accounts for about 35 per cent in four months. (PTI)

P8 I was taken out of House on Sisodia's instance: Gupta New Delhi, Nov 17: Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta today alleged that he was taken out from the House during the emergency session on demonetisation issue "on the instance of" Deputy CM Manish Sisodia.

He also released a video clip, in support of his allegation, which purportedly showed Sisodia nodding his head after which Marshals are seen taking the BJP MLA out of the House.

Terming the incident as a "day light murder of democracy", Gupta alleged that the House was being run by Chief Minister

Arvind Kejriwal, Sisodia and Secretary of Assembly instead of Speaker Ram Niwas Goel.

"The ruling party is deciding the role of Opposition in Delhi Assembly and the CM, Deputy CM and Secretary of Assembly are running the House. The Secretary is working to ensure that the House is run according to the ruling party," Gupta told reporters in a press conference.

Gupta was taken out of the House by Marshals when he interrupted Kejriwal's address on demonetisation issue.

However, he claimed that Kejriwal was "abusing" Prime Minister Narendra

Modi by taking his name and he had raised the issue as a violation of Rule 264 and asking for Speaker's ruling on it.

"While I was asking for Speaker's ruling on Kejriwal's violation of Rule 264 as he was naming Prime Minister while abusing him, Marshals surrounded me. Later, my party colleague Jagdish Pradhan told me that I was marshalled out on the instance of Sisodia," Gupta said, while showing the purported video clip of the incident. He said he will meet Lt Governor Najeeb Jung to complain against the incident. (PTI)

Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal attack PM Modi over demonetisation Govt silent on fresh bill India issues demarche to Pak to hike retirement age over ceasefire violations of HC judges

New Delhi, Nov 17: India has issued a demarche to Pakistan on continued violation of ceasefire along the LoC and strongly condemned increased concentration of terrorists observed across the border in the vicinity of Pakistani forward posts.

The Ministry of External Affairs called in a senior official of the Pakistan High Commission yesterday and made a demarche on the continued violation of ceasefire along the Line of Control, the ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said today.

This is the third such demarche this month.

"We conveyed that despite calls for restraint, Pakistanforces have committed twelve ceasefire violations between 9 and

15 November, 2016 during which Pakistan Army deliberately resorted to calibre escalation by employing artillery and 120 millimetre heavy mortars against Indian posts.

"These violent acts constitute a clear violation of the Ceasefire Agreement of 2003," Sawrup said. A counsellor rank officer from the Pakistan High Commission was called in.

India has also conveyed its strong condemnation of the "increase in concentration of terrorists observed across the Line of Control in the vicinity of Pakistani forward posts. During the last week alone, there have been 18 instances when terrorists attempted to infiltrate into the Indian side from the vicinity of Paki-

stani posts and also targeted Indian posts and patrols," the spokesperson said.

Government has also protested the "deliberate" targeting by the Pakistan Army of 14 villages along the LoC during nine to 15 November, 2016 which has resulted in four fatal and 25 non-fatal casualties, besides extensive damage to public and private property and displacement of civilian population, he said.

India also reiterated the concerns of the government about the safety and well-being of Sepoy Chandu Babulal Chavan, who inadvertently crossed the LoC over six weeks back, and sought his early and safe repatriation. (PTI)

J&K govt orders mass promotion of students to next level

Image for representation purpose.

Srinagar, Nov 17: In a major relief to students who have missed their classes for over four months due to the ongoing unrest in the valley, Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday announced mass promotion of students to next levels and also ordered continuation of "No-Detention" policy for the current academic session.

"All the students from class 5th to 9th and class 11th from all the government schools and recognised private schools of Kashmir valley shall be elevated to the next level with immediate effect," an official of the School Education Department said.

The official said the government has waived off the Term-2 examinations for the students of all classes including 8th, 9th and 11th for all government schools and the recognised private schools of Kashmir for the current academic session.

"As a consequence, the new academic calendar for the schools shall commence in the Kashmir valley forthwith," he said.

The official said the earlier government order on scrapping of "No Detention" policy for classes 5th to 9th shall now take effect from the calendar year 2017.

Schools in the Valley went on a two-week summer

holiday on July 1 but could not resume functioning due to the unrest which was triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir's Anantnag district on July 8.

The unrest has left 86 persons dead and thousands injured while hundreds of people including students were booked under Public Safety Act (PSA) for participating in the protests.

Despite opposition from various quarters including students, the government began the annual board examinations as per its schedule this week.

The examinations for the 12th and 10th classes started on November 14 and 15, respectively, and are underway and recorded above average attendance after government decided to provide 50 per cent relaxation in syllabus.

The government has also decided to hold separate examination for class 10 and 12 in March next year if they fail to appear in already scheduled exams in November but the students had to attempt 100 per cent of the question paper at that time.

(PTI)

Minor girl rape case: Advocate, her son arrested Hyderabad, Nov 17: Police today arrested a LLB student, who allegedly raped his 16year-old domestic help, and his advocate father for "misbehaving" with her in Chaitanyapuri area here.

The girl, who was working at the house of M Sudhakar Reddy here for the past nine months, was allegedly raped by his 29-year-old son Bharat Kumar Reddy, Assistant Commissioner of Police (L B Nagar Division) P Venugopala Rao said.

Sudhakar, aged about 65 years, also "misbehaved" with the minor girl, he said.

On November 14, based on information provided by a social worker, a group of women went to the advocate's house and rescued the girl.

The victim reported that Bharat had allegedly been raping her for the past two months while his father Sudhakar also "misbehaved" with her.

"They also neglected her nurture and welfare and insisted

for compulsory labour against her will and did not allow her to go outside their house," the ACP said based on the complaint lodged.

Following the complaint, a case was registered against the advocate and his son under relevant sections of IPC, Protection of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act and SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. After the arrest, the father-son duo was produced in a court, police added. (PTI)

New Delhi, Nov 17: Amid an ongoing debate on vacancies in the higher judiciary, government has preferred to maintain silence on bringing afresh a bill to increase the retirement age of high court judges from 62 to 65 years.

Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha yesterday on whether any proposal for extension of retirement age of high court judges is under consideration of government, Minister of State for Law P.P. Chaudhary said in a written reply that a bill brought by the previous UPA government in 2010 lapsed after the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha in 2014.

"The Constitution (114th Amendment) Bill, 2010 which provided for increasing the retirement age of High Court Judges from 62 years to 65 years was introduced in the Lok Sabha on July 25, 2010. Thereafter, the

Bill was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee for examination and report, which recommended that the proposed bill in its present form should be passed without delay."

"The Bill could not be taken up for consideration and passing in the Parliament and lapsed with the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha," he said.

The UPA proposal had sought to bring at par the retirement age of high court judges with that of Supreme Court judges at 65.

At a time when the 24 high courts face a shortage of nearly 450 judges, the government and the judiciary have agreed that an extraordinary provision of the Constitution can now be invoked to appoint retired judges with proven integrity and track record as judges of high courts to tackle rising pendency.

(PTI)

Chief ministers Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal.

New Delhi, Nov 17: Chief ministers Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday tore into Prime Minister Narendra Modi over demonetisation with the AAP chief asking the government to roll back it in three days while the TMC supremo said such a crisis was not seen even during Emergency.

Addressing a rally here, Kejriwal alleged that demonetisation was the "biggest scam" in Independent India's history while Banerjee said Modi should not run the country through "dictatorship", calling the protest a fight to save the country.

The Delhi chief minister alleged that demonetisation was being carried out to write-off around Rs 8 lakh crore of loan owed by Modi's "corporate friends" by collecting Rs 10 lakh crore from the people through the exercise.

"Black money is flooding the market again. Notes are being home delivered to some people. This is independent India's biggest scam. The government wants to amass Rs 10 lakh crore by forcing the people to deposit their money in banks and use that amount to write off loans of Modiji's friends.

"Modiji sent Vijay Mallya,

who has huge debt, to London one night. He has also brought people to the streets (following demonetisation). People are being cheated. Why did IT not raid former BJP Minister G Janardana Reddy who spent Rs 500 crore in his daughter's wedding? And they want us common people to spend Rs 2.5 lakh in a wedding," he said.

Kejriwal also took a dig at Finance Minister Arun Jaitley wondering if he spent only Rs 2.5 lakh in his daughter's wedding recently.

"Modiji, do not fool people saying standing in line is patriotism.

Who is responsible for the death of 40 people standing in queues?," he said, addressing traders at Azadpur wholesale fruit and vegetable market.

The Delhi chief minister also made certain allegations against Modi pertaining to his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister, claiming to base his allegations on documents given to him by a someone sitting in a top position in the Finance Ministry. (Agencies)

1,877 Indians returned 'Opposition scared of being exposed': from Saudi Arabia: Govt Government rejects demand for PM's New Delhi, Nov 17: As many as 1,877 retrenched Indian workers returned to India from Saudi Arabia since August, Parliament was informed today.

Hundreds of Indian workers have lost their jobs due to slowdown in Saudi economy, triggered by low oil prices and cut in spending by the government.

"As per latest data available, a total of 1877 workers have arrived in India till November 11.

The process is still on," Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh told Rajya Sabha, replying to a question.

The Indians, who lost their jobs in Saudi Arabia, had started coming to India from August 11, in batches.

To a separate question, the Minister said about 2,700 workers, mainly from Saudi Arabia, have also been either repatriated or rescued by the recruiting agents at their own cost in the last one year.

He said the responsibility of resettlement of the returnees rests with the State Governments and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has re-

quested all the State Governments to provide all necessary assistance to them.

"Ministry of External Affairs through its Missions abroad has facilitated return of distressed Indian workers from Gulf countries including those who have lost their jobs. This facilitation includes logistical support as well as providing air tickets whenever required," Singh said.

In reply to another query, he said except Iraq and Egypt to some extent, there is no significant threat of losing jobs by the large number of Indian workers due to economic slowdown and "indigenisation of jobs" in the Middle East.

He said Indian missions in some countries reported that the governments in those nations are undertaking fiscal measures to cope with the depressed oil and gas prices.

Singh said the Government has successfully secured repatriation of those Indian workers who were facing distress due to nonpayment of salaries in Saudi Arabia, after filing their claims through Indian Mission. (PTI)

reply on demonetisation debate

New Delhi, Nov 17: The government on Thursday rejected demand for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's response on the debate on demonetisation and accused the opposition of using it as an excuse to scuttle discussion on the issue in Parliament.

Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters after Parliament was adjourned for the day that the reply to the debate would be given by the minister concerned or any other person on behalf of the government as per the rules of the House and precedents.

The opposition disrupted the Rajya Sabha, stalling midway the discussion on demonetisation that started on Wednesday.

A united opposition's relentless demand for a debate on demonetisation under a rule which entails voting forced the adjournment of the Lok Sabha also for the day as the government refused to accept it.

"Half way through, they realised that by raising such a debate it is going negative on them and boomeranging. Now I am afraid, are they trying to

find a way out to come out of this and then stall the debate on one pretext or the other," Naidu said.

Dubbing the uproar by Congress and other opposition parties as an "excuse" to stall a debate, Naidu alleged that there is no rationale, whatsoever, behind it.

The minister said things will happen as per the rules and procedures of the House and urged that the debate should go on.

"I feel that those who started the debate are now understanding that it is going negative, that is why they are finding excuse for not allowing the discussion.

"They are speaking in double tone and in different voices. They are not coming out openly either for or against. They are in dilemma and that dilemma will continue," he said.

Naidu said the entire country is watching as to who are with the hoarders and with the people with black money and who are with the government and the Prime Minister, who has "taken such a revolutionary step. They have to make a choice".

"Let the discussion take place. Then who will re-

HIGHLIGHTS The government has rejected demand for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's response on the debate on demonetisation Uproar by Congress and other opposition parties is an "excuse" to stall the debate: Venkaiah Naidu ply in the government. It could be the concerned minister. The solution will come through the government as per traditions and rules," he said.

Naidu said government is addressing the problems faced by people on demonetisation and any suggestion, if worth considering, will be take up positively.

"Government is open to ideas to improve the system. But if somebody is trying to question this and attribute motives, then people are there to finally come to an assessment and decide.

Let every party decide are they in favour of this move or against it, for which they have no answer directly," the minister said. (PTI)

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18

EDUCATION P9 How to Make a Study Space How to Draw Perspective ØTry to avoid over-consuming sugar and caffeine while studying. These can make you feel jittery and lead to “crashes” later.

Do you have trouble studying? Do you doze off in bed when trying to learn about the Middle Ages, or get tied up with distractions around the dining room table when you’re supposed to be focusing on the periodic table? Finding a better study space may be your answer. With the right equipment, some planning and organization, and a personal touch, you can carve out a better studying oasis that might improve your results.

ØTry saving your snack for when you take a study break. You’ll be more aware of what you’re eating, and it’s a nice way to reward yourself for a job well done. ØDon’t ignore your body’s needs, though. Set yourself a meal or snack break, or give yourself a specific amount of time before you replenish your coffee. This way, you take care of your mind and your body.

Stocking Your Space Find a good desk (or table) and chair You want to be comfortable, but not so comfortable that you lose focus or fall asleep.

(Your bed’s not the greatest option for homework, it turns out.) You also need adequate workspace to spread out. ØFind a desk or table with a top that rests somewhere between your waist and ribcage when you sit at it, so that your elbows can rest easily upon it without having to hunch your shoulders forward. You also want to be able to rest your feet flat on the ground. ØUse a comfortable chair that fits the height of the desk / table. You may want to skip the fancier desk chairs that rotate, roll, recline, lift, etc., if these will only become distractions. ØIf you are using a computer, you want enough space to place it about 1 ½ to 2 ½ feet away from you.

Keep things organized Make use of the desk drawers to keep things you need close by but not spread out all over the desktop. If you don’t have enough (or any) drawers, use boxes, small crates, etc. that you can stack on the desktop along the perimeter of your study area. ØOrganize your study materials by course / subject in folders or binders. Mark each clearly and store them for easy access. ØYou can also organize assignments and notes by using bulletin boards, cork tiles, and wall calendars. ØFor more ideas, see How to Organize Your Desk Organize your computer files, too Being organized should extend to your online stuff as well as what’s physically around you. Have you ever looked for a draft of that essay you were writing only to be unable to find it? Or lost the notes you needed to study for your psych test because you can’t remember where you saved them?

Create specific folders for each class or subject, and keep all your files in the right place.

ØLabel things clearly so you can use the search feature to find them. Skip cutesy names in favor of descriptive titles. And label drafts!

Consider a clock This depends on the type of person you are. Will a clock motivate you to keep studying for an hour more, or remind you that your favorite show is on in only 15 minutes (or make you think “I’ve only been studying for that long?!”)? ØTry using a clock to set time-related study goals.

You can also use the clock or timer feature on your phone or a watch to help you do this. Decide to study in a “chunk” of time, such as 30 minutes. Don’t allow yourself any distractions for that period of time.

When it’s up, take a little break to reward yourself!

ing.

The modern Smartphone is perhaps the ultimate tool and the ultimate distractor. Put it away when you study, or you may find yourself browsing Facebook or texting a friend without even realizing you’d picked up the phone. ØShut your phone off or put it in silent mode so the lure of notification chimes doesn’t drag you away from your studies. Also try placing it well out of reach so you can’t reflexively grab for it. Ø If you are using your phone as a calculator or other tool, consider putting it in “airplane mode,” which shuts off wireless and cellular connections. You can turn them back on for your (brief) study breaks.

“really” a multitasker. Focus your study time on studying, and save things like TV and music for leisure time. ØIf your study space shares a room or a thin wall with a TV in use by someone, or people engaged in conversation or some other potential distraction, try to block out the distraction with your own background noise. ØTry choosing something like rain sounds or white noise; there are websites and apps with samples of these. If you prefer music, try light classical or at least something without lyrics.

You want something that negates audio distractions without becoming one itself. ØDon’t use headphones if you have a choice. They

Personalizing Your Study Space Make it yours Try to locate your study space in an area that suits you. If you need dead silence, find a tucked away corner, an attic, a basement, a spare bedroom, whatever you can find. If you prefer some sound, locate it near (but not within) an area of more activity. ØIf the location can’t always be your dedicated study space, let others know when it is being used as such. Go ahead and make a “Do Not Disturb,” “Quiet, please,” or “Hey, knock it off -- I’m studying here!” sign to post, depending on your personality.

Decorate to motivate Adorning your study space with posters, signs, and

Then for the next step draw a series of poles on the right side When you almost reached the center or the vanishing point you can substitute the poles to a series of lines.

For the left side draw a series poles and add in some perpendicular benches Remember to draw lines again when you almost reach the center or the vanishing point.

Then for the next step draw the roof of the pathway by illustrating its checkered pattern.

Ink over your drawing and you’re done To ink over your drawing use a black pen or marker with different kinds of points so that there will be some variation of texture on your drawing.

Eliminating Distractions Reduce desk clutter This ties in with the need for proper desk organization, but also means that you need to keep tabs on the mess of papers, pens, open books, and so on that may build up on your workspace as you study.

Too much clutter can leave you feeling overwhelmed and stressed out, which will put a damper on your study session.

Detach from your phone It is hard to ignore the lure of your phone when study-

Start by creating a vanishing point by drawing an “X” at the center of the paper Then from the center through the edge of your paper draw lines, but make sure also that the lines you have drawn can be used on your drawing.

Finally end the drawing by sketching lines that will highlight or outline the path and roof

ØIf the tick-tock of an oldfashioned clock bothers you, go digital.

ØExcess clutter can lead to unnecessary distractions.

Keep only what you need at that time in front of you.

A cluttered workspace can lead to a cluttered mind.

Basic Perspective Drawing

Next is to sketch houses on the left side and a beach scene on the right side of the drawing.

ØYou could also try out a timer for even more precise time-keeping, especially if you are preparing for a timed exam like the SAT or ACT.

ØIt is a good idea to take short study breaks along the way anyway, so when you do, take a moment to tidy up your workspace before resuming.

Perspective drawing is a drawing technique used to illustrate dimension through a flat surface. There are many forms used under perspective drawing such as, one perspective, two-point perspective, three-point perspective, bird’s eye view, worm’s eye view and others. For this tutorial, a one perspective is used to draw a scene under a checkered pathway. One perspective is also a perspective drawing that has one vanishing point where the lines drawn are parallel to each other and are at “infinity.”

Block out distracting sounds Some people do well with “white noise,” background noises such as those in a coffee shop that aren’t really distinct enough to be distracting. Others need total silence to work. Figure out what works well for you, and plan your space accordingly. Ø”Multitasking” is a myth.

You simply can’t watch TV or surf Facebook and study at the same time, no matter how much you think you’re

seem to hinder focus and information retention for many people, probably because the sound does not as easily blend into the background.

photos that are important to you may help give you that boost to keep going. Just make sure they don’t become distractions rather than motivators.

Use the space only for studying If your study space is your bed, you’ll be more tempted to think of (or actually) sleep. It it’s where you play computer games, gaming; the dining room table, eating; and so on. You’ll be more likely to create distracting associations.

Figure out what kind of motivation works for you. A picture of your family or a beloved pet? A poster of the car you hope to get after you pass these exams and graduate? Copies of your earlier exams in chemistry with poor scores that you are determined to improve upon? Determine whether you need more of a “push” or a “pull” (or a carrot or stick, if you prefer) to keep you motivated.

Decorating the space also identifies it as yours, even if only temporarily, as in the case of a dining room table or shared space. Bring along a few motivating mementos for your study time that can be easily packed up when you’re finished.

ØIf it is possible for you to carve out a space -- even a corner, a niche, a large closet, etc. -- dedicated exclusively to studying, do it.

Associate your presence there only with studying. ØIf this is not an option, do what you can to transform the multipurpose space into study space. Clear away food, dishes, centerpieces, etc., from the dining room table. Put away your computer games, scrapbooking supplies, and so on.

Avoid snacking while studying Studying is hard, hungry work, but you need to be careful. It’s easy to nibble into oblivion when you’re hitting the books. Junk food in particular is a bad idea. If you have to have some snacks handy, choose fresh fruits, vegetables, or wholegrain snacks like crackers.

Don't go overboard Remember that the purpose of a study space is to help you study more effectively.

If you spend too long trying to set up your space just so and end up significantly reducing your actual study time, you will be doing yourself a disservice. A study space meant to limit distractions can become a distraction itself.

Remember: You're better off studying in a less-than-ideal space than not studying in a perfect space.

One Point Perspective One point perspective is usually used when the object's front is facing the viewer. In this type of drawing the horizontal and vertical lines will be horizontal and vertical respectively in the drawing, and lines getting farther from the viewer will have an angle towards what is called a "Vanishing Point." Click on any of the following images to get a closer look.

Determine the horizon in your drawing Draw a horizontal line for the horizon with a hard pencil. The horizon lines determines how far the viewer can see based on the terrain and the distance of the viewer from the ground.

Choose the vanishing point This is what will determine the effect of the perspective. As a reference, the most basic vanishing point would be located in the center of the paper horizontally and over the horizon line. If you set the vanishing point to the right, the drawing will look as if the point of view is moved to the left of the objects. The vanishing point for some objects can also be above or below the horizon lines depending on the inclination of the planes in respect to the ground.

Sketch the main objects.

· Take care to draw all the horizontal and vertical lines perfectly horizontal and vertical. · The lines that start near the point of view and get farther should be drawn extending towards the selected vanishing point. This will give the perspective effect.

Give detail to your drawing respecting the proportions dictated by the reference lines you sketched before.

Two Point Perspective Two point perspective or perspective with two vanishing points is used when the objects' corners are facing the viewer.

This method is perfect for drawing isometric objects.

Determine the horizon in your drawing. Sketch a horizontal line for the horizon as in the first method.

Determine the point of view, which is the approximate location of the eye of the person viewing the drawing This point may be located below the bottom of the paper (outside the paper.) You don't need to actually mark the point.

Determine your first vanishing point The usual method for this is to sketch a first line from the point of view in a 60 degree angle to the left and mark your vanishing point where this line intersects the horizon.

Determine your second vanishing point For this you will draw a second line from the point of view in a 30 degree angle to the right.

Again, the vanishing point will be the intersection of this line and the horizon.

The 60 and 30 degree angles can be different, but the angle between the lines that go from the eye of the observer to the vanishing points have to form a 90 degree angle.

Sketch your main objects drawing the vertical lines perfectly vertical, the horizontal lines moving to the left at an angle towards the left vanishing point and the horizontal lines moving to the right at an angle towards the right vanishing point (all the horizontal lines should converge in one or the other of the vanishing points if extended far enough).

Give detail to your drawing respecting the

trends given by the horizontal lines sketched for the main objects These lines will determine the proportion of the sizes of the objects when they are located closer or farther from the point of view. · Make light, temporary guidelines with a ruler (shown here in green) to make sure your details are in perspective.

Erase these guidelines later.

Three Point Perspective Notice that the three point perspective includes the two point perspective or perspective with two vanishing points plus it also has a third perspective point or third vanishing point in the vertical perspective aspect as from near the ground for instance looking up at a tower -- as the viewer is facing a vertical corner (edge) of the object.

Consider that the third point can be any fourth, fifth view for an angular, tilted or rotated part of a drawing, but it is usually based on parallel lines in each part and relates those parts that are actually parallel to each other.

Look at the staircase example to see that different "3rd point" depends on the angle of the item being viewed So then there can be several "other" vanishing points off at "some odd angle vanishing upward into the sky (or downward)" in a picture, for example another identical staircase could be oriented (rotated) differently as for example shown in the same drawing of a lobby of a building, etc.

Zero Point Perspective Think about scenes such as landscapes that have no parallel lines This kind of perspective is of irregular shapes like crooked trees, boulders, mountains, rubble, stones, gravel, and sand dunes, etc.

Draw this kind of perspective with object sizes generally getting smaller into the distance, and the drawing elements like tree limbs, becoming thinner and less detailed in the background, with textures, shading and colors showing less contrast as they are farther away so that colors fade (become lighter) and become tinted toward blue color tones in the distance.

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18

INTERNATIONAL

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Chinese Communist party expels Russia claims strike in Syria killed 30 Al-Qaeda fighters top official for corruption He was removed from his posts in 2014, after reportedly becoming 'naked' which means moving his family and assets overseas Beijing, Nov 17: A former chief of Communist Party of China (CPC) in Hubei province has been expelled for corruption and inappropriate sexual relationships.

Hu Xunbi, currently the chairman of Zhiyin Media Group (ZMG), was thrown out of the Party for resisting investigation, buying gifts with public funds, taking bribes and inappropriate sexual relationships, discipline inspection commission, CPC of Hubei province said on Thursday.

Xunbi was put under investigation in March for "serious violation of Party discipline."

He was removed from his posts in 2014, after reportedly becoming "naked," which means moving his family and assets overseas.

"Naked officials" in China are considered a high-risk group for corruption as they can easily escape to foreign countries.

ZMG grew out of Zhiyin, (Soulmate) a magazine focused on love and relationships, based in Wuhan, capital of Hubei.

The company owns a number of spin-off magazines in addition to Zhiyin,

The company owns a number of spin-off magazines in addition to Zhiyin, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Also Han Xuejian, formerly Party chief of Daqing City in northeast China's Heilongjiang province and a member of the standing committee of the Party's provincial committee, was sentenced to 12 years and six months in jail for taking bribes.

Liaoyuan City Intermediate People's Court in neighbouring Jilin Province seized Han's personal assets of one million yuan (USD 145,444 ).

All money and material he received as bribes and ensuing interest were confiscated and turned over to the state treasury.

Court said, Han accepted

bribes worth 16.9 million yuan either personally or through othersfrom 1998 to 2014 and took advantage of his various posts to seek benefits for others.

The court held that the verdict was reached with the consideration that Han's penalties should be mitigated in accordance with the law, since he willingly confessed to his crimes, offered facts yet unknown to law enforcers, expressed remorse and helped recover all illicit gain.

Over a million officials of the party were punished in the anti-graft campaign initiated by Chinese President Xi Jinping. (PTI)

Ban on immigrants to end incredible US experience: Joe Biden In his remarks, Biden congratulated three new Indian-Americans elected to the House of Representative on November 8, Pramila Jayapal (from Washington State), Raja Krishnamoorthi (from Illinois) and Ro Khanna (from California).

US Vice President Joe Biden.

Washington, Nov 17: Describing the contribution of the Indian-American community as breathtaking, outgoing Vice President Joe Biden has warned that any effort to stop the flow of immigrants to the US would end the incredible American experience. "The amazing contribution of the Indian-American community is breathtaking because many of you and your friends came here not out of some sense of the Diaspora that ended up in Delaware were the most educated people when they arrived in America. As a matter of fact they made it hard for other people," Biden said at the Diwali reception held at his residence.

"The day we shut things down, the day we cut these out, the day we decide to go back that is happening now, that's getting to the end of this great incredible experiment," he said.

Organised in association with Indiaspora, it was attended by some top IndianAmerican leaders and several current and past members of his Administration from this community. "You are incredible group of Americans," he said welcoming the guests as he commended Diwali as celebration that opens its arms to people of all faiths.

In his remarks, Biden congratulated three new Indian-Americans elected to the House of Representative on November 8, Pramila Jayapal (from Washington State), Raja Krishnamoorthi (from Illinois) and Ro Khanna (from California). The Gold Star father Khizr Khan and his wife Ghazala Khan were the special invitees for the event. In the middle of his remarks, Biden asked them to the podium. Biden praised Khan for taking a strong stand against religious ha-

tred during the general elections, he appealed to the attendees not to be disappointed by the results of the election.

"This is America, This is kind of who we are," Biden said referring to Khan.

"You reminded millions of Americans why there is hope and faith. I will say you that the fact that the other team won does not mean that that was rejected," Biden said. "We lost because of awful lot of hardworking Americans who live in areas where we did not pay much attention to. Barack Obama won these people. They are not racist. They did not vote for the Democrats this time," he said.

Biden identified globalisation as among one of the key reasons for the Democratic party defeat.

Globalisation, despite all its advantages, hurt people in the US. "I do not want anybody to walk away thinking that you know because Donald Trump says some awful things‌He is the most unpopular elected President in American history. Just as Hillary was very unpopular. There has been no election in American history when the negatives of both the candidates have been this high," Biden said. "I do not care what your political affiliation is we have to not give up. One election will not change America," he added. (Agencies)

Sri Lanka blast victims demand compensation from government Colombo, Nov 17:Hundreds of Sri Lankans protested Thursday to demand the government speed up paying compensation to those whose houses were damaged by an explosion in an army camp five months ago.

About 200 demonstrators gathered in front of the capital Colombo's main railroad station to call for swift measures to pay the compensation.

The explosion at the Salawa army camp, 35 kilometers (22 miles) east of Colombo, in

June killed one soldier. Eight others, including seven civilians, were injured. The explosions sent shrapnel and munitions flying into the surrounding area, damaging 2,031 houses.

Military spokesman Brig.

Roshan Seneviratne said soldiers had repaired 1,031 homes with minor damages and handed them back to the owners. He said the compensation process is handled by district administrative officials.

People whose homes were

destroyed are living in rented houses and the government is paying the rent.

Hemantha Rodrigo, who organizes a victims group, said the homeowners face hardships because the government has failed to pay compensation as promised.

He said some people have been paid compensation for their homes, but have not been paid to replace household items and equipment.

Government officials could not be reached for immediate comment. (PTI)

Moscow, Nov 17: A Russian airstrike in northern Syria this week killed at least 30 members of an AlQaeda-linked group, including some of its leaders, the Russian military said Thursday.

The statement comes amid a new wave of airstrikes in the war-torn country, with the besieged rebelheld part of the city of Aleppo facing its third consecutive day of heavy bombardment by Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces.

The Russians, who announced the new offensive in Syria this week, have denied bombing the rebel enclave. At least 59 people were killed across northern Syria in the first two days of the offensive, including besieged neighborhoods of Aleppo, as well as the surrounding countryside and the nearby rebel-held province

of Idlib.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj Gen Igor Konashenkov said the strike targeting Al-Qaeda took place in Idlib on Tuesday. It was launched from Russia's aircraft carrier, which has been deployed to the Mediterranean, and hit the AlQaeda-linked militant group now known as Fatah al-Sham Front, he said.

The strike marked the combat debut of the Admiral Kuznetsov, Russia's only aircraft carrier. According to Russian intelligence reports, it was confirmed that three prominent leaders of the AlQaeda-linked group Muhammad Helala, Abu Jaber Harmuja and Abul Baha al-Asfari - were among those killed, Konashenkov added. He said al-Asfari had overseen the group's attempts to

Months of negotiations between Moscow and President Barack Obama's administration have failed to cement a long-term cease-fire in Aleppo break the siege of Aleppo.

Russia has said its air raids and missile strikes have only been targeting Idlib province and the central province of Homs to root out militants of the Islamic State group and the AlQaeda-linked group.

Meanwhile, Syrian warplanes have been pound-

ing rebel-held districts of Aleppo, home to nearly 2,75,000 people.

On Wednesday, bombs hit an Aleppo district that houses several medical facilities, including the central blood bank, and forced Syrian staff and patients in the only remaining pediatric hospital to

cower in a basement as buildings collapsed around them.

The Russia-declared offensive came hours after President Vladimir Putin and US President-elect Donald Trump discussed Syria in a phone call and agreed on the need to combine efforts in the fight against what the Kremlin called their No. 1 enemy "international terrorism and extremism."

Months of negotiations between Moscow and President Barack Obama's administration have failed to cement a long-term cease-fire in Aleppo, which has become the focus of the war between Assad and rebels fighting to topple him.

Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate is fighting alongside the rebels, but the Islamic State group has no presence in Aleppo. (PTI)

China gets USD 98 bil- Thousands opposing same-sex lion FDI in ten months marriage stage rally in Taiwan Beijing, Nov 17: FDI in China rose 4.2 per cent year on year to reach around USD 98 billion in the first ten months of the year with service sector attracting massive investments, unlike manufacturing which suffered over capacity, official data said today.

The growth rate is unchanged from the January-September period, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

The service industry continued to attract massive foreign investment from January to October, said Tang Wenhong, head of the ministrys foreign investment division.

The FDI rose 4.2 per cent to reach 666.3 billion yuan during initial ten months.

In the service sector, which accounted for 70.7 per cent of all investment, FDI increased 9.1 per cent year on year during the period.

In particular, FDI in hightech services skyrocketed 90.2 per cent from a year earlier to reach 79.18 billion yuan.

In the first ten months, FDI from the US surged 79.8 per cent, while that from the European Union soared 41.5 per cent.

The number of newly-established foreign companies with investment of over 100 million dollars totaled 600.

FDI in Chinas western regions jumped 29.8 per cent year on year to 49.27 billion yuan during the 10month period, while the more developed eastern areas attracted 582.82 billion yuan in investment, up 6.9 per cent.

Official media attributed the continued inflow of FDI to China attaching great importance to improve its business environment, pledging more measures to create a level playing field for domestic and foreign companies.

Some administrative approvals for foreign investors setting up businesses on the Chinese mainland have been scrapped in recent years.

Investors are now only required to report business plans to local regulators, as long as their business is not on the "negative list", state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

China is also stepping up its overseas direct investment, (ODI) USD 102.75 billion in the first seven months over taking the FDI. (PTI)

'Bangladeshi Taka 2 note sought after by Indian drug addicts Dhaka, Nov 17: Due to high demand by Indian drug addicts, the Bangladeshi two Taka note is being smuggled into India for its durability, media reports said.

Sources said drug addicts use this note to roll into a pipe to inhale smoke from yaba, a powerful addictive stimulant, and heroin, the Dhaka Tribune reported.

This unique usage of the note was discovered recently after police arrested two Indians with a huge amount of the Bangladeshi currency at Benapole port in Jessore district.

According to the men, they had been smuggling the notes for some time now as it was very popular among drug addicts in

India as a pipe made from the note can be used several times.

Not only this, it is believed that the Bangladeshi notes are being sold for Rs 5 each.

Asked about the smuggling of the note and its use in drug consumption, a Benapole Subedar said they were not aware about the particular usage.

"We don't want our money to be smuggled. We are doing everything we can to stop it," he said.

In 2012, a Russian online entertainment outlet declared the Bangladeshi two Taka note as one of the most beautifully designed currencies in the world. (IANS)

5 killed in Peru shopping centre fire ahead of Asia summit Lima, Nov 17:Officials say five people have died and seven people are missing as the result of a fire at a shopping mall next to the hotel that will host world leaders at this week's Asian-Pacific economic summit.

Lima's police chief says investigators are trying to determine the cause of yesterday's blaze at a movie theatre where a screening for journalists of the film "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" was taking place.

A large black mushroom cloud rose above the sea-

side Larcomar shopping centre while people struggling to breathe were helped into ambulances.

Witnesses said they had to break down blocked emergency exits to escape.

The shopping centre is across the street from the high-rise JW Marriot hotel where many of the foreign leaders attending the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation summit will stay. US President Barack Obama is among the leaders scheduled to take part in the summit beginning tomorrow.

(Agencies)

Legislation before parliament likely to legalise samesex unions on the island Beijing, Nov 17: Thousands protested in Taipei on Thursday against draft bills that would make Taiwan the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage, arguing traditional family values would be undermined.

Protesters dressed in white and holding placards with the slogans including "Stand forward for the next generation's happiness" packed a street outside the parliament where a committee was debating the issue.

They shook their hands in the air and gave the thumbs-down as they watched a live stream of the committee meeting on a big screen Supporters of gay rights are more hopeful than ever that same-sex marriage will soon become a reality under the pro-gay rights Democratic Progressive Party, which is in control of parliament for the first time.

But opposing voices have been building since proposed amendments to legalise same-sex marriage passed initial vetting in parliament earlier this month.

While Taiwan is considered progressive on many issues, its roots in Confucianism translate into a strong sense of adherence to traditional values such as family loyalty and social hierarchy.

David Tseng, spokesman of the rally's organiser, The Happiness of the Next Generation Alliance, said that while the group supported equal rights for

A Christian alliance came to Taipei from the south of the island on Thursday to protest. same-sex partners in certain areas, marriage should only be between a man and a woman.

"Now they want to amend the law to do away with the 'father' and 'mother' altogether," he said.

"We are different from the West. In Eastern culture, we place great importance on filial piety to one's father and mother. This is a virtue we must keep," he said.

Tseng also called for a referendum on the issue, criticising the absence of public participation in drafting the bills.

Taiwan is one of the region's most forwardthinking societies when it comes to gay rights, but progress on marriage equality had been stagnant, because of resistance from the Kuomintang political party, which dominated politics for decades before being unseated by the DPP in May. President Tsai Ing-wen has also openly supported marriage equality and said she would respect any

decision reached by parliament.

A Christian alliance came to Taipei from the south of the island on Thursday to protest. Dozens wearing black clerical clothing listened to a sermon while some blew horns used during worship.

"Only a heterosexual marriage can create the possibility of bearing children and only then can we sustain the nation's next generation," said Wang Tzuhao, a pastor representing the group.

"Marriage is a human right, but like all human rights there are limitations," he said.

A smattering of rainbow flags were also seen amid the protesters and a small group of gay marriage supporters also gathered outside parliament.

Nicole Yu, who described herself as a Christian, said she hoped the bill would pass so her parents would no longer be afraid to tell friends their daughter is gay.

"The Bible does not oppose same-sex love," she said. (Agencies)

India forms task force to facilitate notes-exchange for Nepal, Bhutan Kathmandu, Nov 17: The Reserve Bank of India has formed a task force to deal with the issue of providing note-exchange facility to Nepali and Indian residents in the Himalayan nation who possess Indian bank notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination that were pulled out of circulation on November 8.

In a communication to the Nepal Rastra Bank, the Nepali central bank, the RBI said the task force will come up with a modality to address the problems faced by residents of neighbouring countries like Nepal and Bhutan, where the circulation of the now-banned Indian notes was high.

Indian currency is freely exchangeable in Nepal and Bhutan and following the Indian move to demonetise its high-value bank notes, it came to light that billions of Indian rupees are stuck in banking channels and huge amounts have been hoarded by the public.

After the ban, Nepali Prime

Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', Finance Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara and NRB Governor Chiranjibi Nepal spoke with their respective Indian counterparts Narednra Modi, Arun Jaitley and Urjit Patel.

Patel, in his conversation with counterpart Nepal, informed him about the formation of the task force. Other senior NRB officials have also spoken with RBI officers on a daily basis to avert any currency crisis and the Indian officials have indicated that problems, if any, would be resolved soon.

On Thursday, a parliamentary panel also urged the Nepal government to take all necessary and required steps to facilitate exchange of high-value Indian currency possessed by Nepalis.

Facing problems postdemonetisation are mostly residents of the Nepal-India border region, Nepali students pursuing studies in India, pilgrims and traders.

India is a major destination for Nepali students and pilgrims and for people requiring medical treatment.

Earlier this week, on Monday, Prime Minister Prachanda urged PM Modi to arrange note-exchange facility in Nepal as Nepalis have quite a large stock of Indian notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination.

Also on Monday, Finance Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara made the same request to his Indian counterpart Arun Jaitley.

NRB has said there is Indian Rs 33.6 million in denominations of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 in circulation within the Nepali financial system. The figure includes cash parked in vaults of banks and financial institutions and with NRB. But the actual amount of the now-banned Indian bank notes is expected to be much more because Nepalis were previously allowed to carry Indian Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 bank notes worth up to a total of Indian Rs 25,000.

(IANS)

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18

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BUSINESS

Government eases cash withdrawal limit for farmers Sensex jumps 134 pts in early trade New Delhi, Nov 17: With cash crunch following demonetisation impacting agri sector, the government today eased guidelines for farmers by allowing them to withdraw up to Rs 50,000 cash per week from bank.

Besides, it has also extended the deadline for payment of crop insurance premium by 15 days and permitted APMC-registered traders to withdraw up to Rs 50,000 per week.

This steps will ensure that sowing takes place adequately in the Rabi season and enough cash is available to the farmers to buy fertiliser, seeds and other inputs, Economic

A farmer gives treatment to his paddy crop at village devigarh in Patiala.

Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das told reporters here.

"The government has decided to permit the farmers to draw up to Rs 25,000 per week against

the crop loan sanctioned and credited to their accounts, subject to the limits...and this will also apply to Kisan Credit Cards," he said.

These accounts have to be

in the name of the concerned farmers, the accounts will have to be KYC compliant, Das said.

Besides, if the farmers receive payments either by way of cheques or RTGS into the bank accounts, they can withdraw up to Rs 25,000 per week, Das said.

Similarly, the registered traders with the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) markets also will be permitted to draw Rs 50,000 per week to meet various cash requirements like payment of wages to workers and other sundry expenses.

"So, this will facilitate smooth procurement process and help farmers to

sell their produce without any difficulty," Das said.

The government has also allowed its Group C employees, including from PSUs, defence and railways, to get salaries up to Rs 10,000 in cash in advance which will be adjusted against their November salary. "It is expected that this will relief pressure on banks," Das said.

Following the demonetisation of 500 and 1,000 rupee notes on November 8 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government allowed withdrawal of up to Rs 24,000 per week per person through cheque and Rs 2,500 from ATMs. (PTI)

The gauge had lost 1,218.99 points in the previous three sessions.

Mumbai, Nov 17 : The BSE benchmark Sensex rebounded over 134 points in early trade today, after a three-session fall, on fresh buying by investors despite subdued Asian cues. The 30-share index was trading higher by

134.38 points or 0.51 per cent to 26,433.07 with banking, oil&gas, PSU, metal, auto, realty, healthcare and metal sectors leading the recovery.

The gauge had lost 1,218.99 points in the previous three sessions. The

New Delhi, Nov 17: The Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari introduced the Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill 2016 in the Lok Sabha today. The much talked bill that proposes hefty penalties for violating traffic rules to curb road accidents was met with protests from the Opposition which said copies of the bill were not circulated to them in advance, as per practice. The opposition urged Speaker Sumitra Mahajan not to allow Mr. Gadkari to introduce the Amendment Bill suggesting it will set a "bad precedent". But she overruled their objections, noting that Gadkari was only tabling it and discussion would occur later.

Gadkari contended that road safety was not only his but also the responsibility of other members and said the bill's early passage in Lok Sabha.

Hence, it was necessary so that it could be moved to the Rajya Sabha for passage during the ongoing

session, which ends on Friday. Adding further, he said, "I am ready to accept your suggestions.

More lives could be lost if a lot of time passes before it is passed."

Making a strong plea, Gadkari cited huge number of road accidents which claimed over 1.5 lakh lives annually, as he urged the members to support the introduction of the bill. The bill has been pending for over a year according to the minister and incorporates suggestions of 18 transport ministers of various states belonging to different political parties and called for its quick passage.

The Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016 proposes hefty penalties for violation of traffic norms including up to Rs 10,000 fine for drunken driving and Rs 2 lakh compensation for hitand-run cases. The bill also has provision of up to Rs 10 lakh compensation in case of road fatal-

NSE Nifty was up 30.35 points or 0.37 per cent at 8,141.95 in early trade.

Brokers said continued purchases by domestic financial institutions and value-buying by retail investors in recently battered stocks influenced sentiments. They said, however, sustained capital outflows by foreign funds restricted the gains.

Among other Asian markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng was down 0.12 per cent, while Shanghai Composite Index shed 0.49 per cent in early trade today.

Japan's Nikkei also lost 0.08 per cent. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.29 per cent lower in yesterday's trade.

(PTI)

Bank note reform may depress Rupee up 8 paise against Nitin Gadkari Presents Motor Vehicle Amendment dollar in early trade inflationary pressures: DBS Bill With Hefty Penalties In Lok Sabha The banknote reform has pushed up deposit growth, which in turn has boosted liquidity," said DBS in its daily market report.

The defunct Indian currency Singapore, Nov 17: India's bank note reform has pushed up deposit growth and boosted liquidity that may in turn depress inflationary pressures, the Development Bank of Singapore (DBS) said on Thursday. "The banknote reform has pushed up deposit growth, which in turn has boosted liquidity," said DBS in its daily market report. With credit growth still weak, excess liquidity has pushed Indian tenyear bond yields sharply lower this week. This is in contrast to Asian price action, observed DBS. Markets' based borrowing rates and banks' lending rates are also softening, it said.

Alongside the liquidity boost, the banknote reform is expected to depress inflationary pressures. This is addition to the already positive inflation trend, the bank said.

October 2016 inflation eased to 4.2 per cent Yearon-Year from a peak of 6.1 per cent in July 2016.

Easing food inflation was the main drag, in turn entirely due to a sharp fall in vegetables and pulses, while other segments were little changed, said DBS. Core Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation (ex-food and fuel) has been fairly steady in the 4.5 per cent to 5.0 per cent range for nearly a year.

In light of a normal monsoon, smaller rise in mini-

mum support prices and administrative steps undertaken by the government, food inflation is likely to stay below 5 per cent this year, according to DBS. Global crude prices are up since the nadir in January this year, but have struggled to gain ground on an uncertain supply outlook. From the demand end, the recent banknote reform is likely to hurt consumption, it cautioned. "This, to some extent, will off-set the lift from higher public sector wages, posing downside risks to our inflation estimate of 4.8 per cent for the year," it said.

The positive inflation path and RBI's lower real rate threshold, along with their non-committal to the 4 per cent inflation target for FY17/18 leaves the room for a 25bp cut in the first quarter of next year (1Q17). Contingent on the inflation outlook, odds for another 25bp cut within first half of next year (1H17) will also rise, it believes. A cut in the December meeting, however, looks unlikely after the pre-emptive rate cut in October and volatile financial markets amidst rising external uncertainties.

(Agencies)

Image for representation purpose.

Mumbai, Nov 17: The rupee recovered by 8 paise to 67.86 against the dollar in early trade on Thursday on fresh selling of the US currency by exporters and banks amid a higher opening in the domestic equity market.

Forex dealers said weakness in the dollar against other currencies overseas on disappointing US economic data -- showing wholesale inflation and industrial production flat in

October -- also supported the rupee.

On Wednesday, the rupee had lost 20 paise to end at near five-month low of 67.94 against the US currency in a highly volatile trade amid unabated dollar outflows.

Meanwhile, the benchmark BSE Sensex recovered by 134.38 points, or 0.51 per cent, to 26,433.07 in early session T h u r s d a y.

(Agencies)

Jewellery shops remain shut for the 7th day

Banks still grapple with huge rush, most ATMs run dry New Delhi, Nov 17: Banks still struggle to manage huge rush of people thronging branches across the country to exchange invalid currency notes and get cash to meet their daily needs.

Despite some ATMs getting calibrated to dispense Rs 500 notes, such vending machines are running out of cash because of huge pressure of withdrawal.

Queues at some branches in the metros cities were seen slightly shorter for exchange of old currencies as the process of putting indelible ink has started from yesterday. As a result of this, those who have already exchanged old currency notes are

unable to interchange again on the same day due to the ink mark.

At the same time, the ATM recalibration exercise is also going on so that higher denomination currency notes are dispensed as soon as possible.

With the government and RBI struggling to ease cash availability, the small businesses - from vegetable vendors to dhabas and small kirana stores that use cash as mode of transaction were the worst hit.

A bulk of daily labourers were rendered jobless as construction and other activities came to a standstill in the wake of cement, sand and other supplies not coming in.

Truckers too were reportedly stranded on highways as drivers ran out of valid currency notes, affecting movement of goods in several parts of the country.

Meanwhile, the government today announced many measures, including ease of restriction for cash withdrawal by farmers and wedding family.

At the same time, it has lowered the exchange limit for defunct notes to Rs 2,000 from the existing cap of Rs 4,500, effective tomorrow.

The over-the-counter exchange of Rs 500/1,000 in return of new currency will be available once per person till December 30.

(PTI)

Demonetisation impact: ICICI, HDFC Bank cut Fixed Deposit rates by 0.25% New Delhi, Nov 17: Faced with liquidity comfort, major lenders, including ICICI and HDFC Bank, on Thursday lowered FD rates by up to 0.25 percent in view of surge in deposits following the demonetisation.

The lowering in fixed deposit rates may herald reduction in lending rate as well in the next few days.

For fixed deposit between 390 days to 2 years, the banks has lowered the interest rate by 0.15 percent effective yesterday, ICICI Bank website showed.

ICICI Bank will pay 7.10 percent as against 7.25 percent earlier.

Meanwhile, HDFC Bank has reduced interest rate by 0.25 percent across all tenures on bulk deposits ranging between Rs 1-5 crore.

The new rates are effective today, as per HDFC Bank website.

With the revised interest rates, the one-year fixed deposit will attract an interest rate of 6.75 percent as against the 7 percent earlier.

For fixed deposits between '3 years 1 day-5 years', the rate has been lowered to 6.5 percent from 6.75 percent.

Yesterday, the country's largest lender SBI slashed fixed deposit rates on select maturities by up to 0.15

percent.

Private lender Axis Bank has cut marginal cost of fund-based lending rate (MCLR) by 0.15-0.20 percent.

Till yesterday, SBI collected Rs 1,14,139 crore in deposits over the last seven days after the government announced to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

According to estimates, banks have collected cash deposit of over Rs 4 lakh crore following the demonetisation decision announced on November 8

by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (PTI)

Image for representation purpose.

Mumbai, Nov 17: Gold and jewellery establishments remained closed for the 7th day today in the national capital today after the Income Tax Department carried out surveys following reports of alleged profiteering and efforts at tax evasion following the government's

demonetisation move.

The government last week demonetised high denomination of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 currency notes to flush out black money.

Most of the jewellery showrooms in the national capital have been closed since November 11. (PTI)

Demonetisation: Don't hoard currency; sufficient notes in supply, assures RBI Mumbai, Nov 17: The Reserve Bank on Thursday asked people not to hoard currency as there is sufficient supply of notes, even as banks struggled to manage the rush of people thronging branches across the country to exchange the scrapped high denomination 1,000 and 500 rupee notes.

The government meanwhile eased restrictions on cash withdrawal by farmers and families in the middle of marriage and sowing season, and at the same time more than halved the limit for currency exchange to Rs 2,000.

"The Reserve Bank of India has once again clarified today that there is sufficient supply of notes consequent upon increased production which started nearly two months ago. Members of public are requested not to panic or hoard currency

notes," the central bank said in a statement.

Despite ATMs being calibrated to dispense Rs 500 notes, such vending machines are running out of cash because of huge pressure of withdrawal.

Queues at some branches in the metros cities were seen slightly shorter for exchange of old currencies as the process of putting indelible ink has started from yesterday.

As a result of this, those who have already exchanged old currency notes are unable to queue up again.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on November 8 surprised citizens by announcing demonetisation of 500 and 1000 rupee notes and since then a large number of seemingly unending queues before banks and post offices are seen as people throng to exchange the currency. (PTI)

HIGHLIGHTS The Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill as presented in the Lok Sabha Gadkari contended that road safety was a responsibility of all members The bill will be presented in the Rajya Sabha after Lok Sabha approves ity.

The bill includes penalties in the range of Rs 10004000 for over-speeding.

According to the bill, driving without insurance will be punishable with Rs 2,000 fine and/or threemonth imprisonment, while driving a twowheeler without helmet will attract Rs 2,000 fine and 3-month suspension of license. The provisions also include that guardian/ owner will be deemed to be guilty in case of road offense by juveniles while registration of the vehicle will be cancelled. (PTI)

Rvlin in Haryana, IndoIsraeli projects in focusi Chandigarh, Nov 17: Israeli President Reuven Rivlin will visit the Centre of Excellence for Vegetables (CEV) in Karnal district tomorrow to get an overview of Indo-Israeli agricultural projects in Haryana.

India and Israel signed agreements for agriculture partnership in 2006 under which Israel has been sharing its best practices and knowledge through professional training programmes.

Rivlin would visit the nursery in the high-tech green house located at the Centre at Gharaunda. Besides, he would also get an overview of Indo-Israeli projects in India and six Indo-Israeli projects in Haryana, an official spokesman said here on Thursday.

Ambassador of Israel in India Daniel Carmon, Agriculture Counsellor Dan Alluf and senior officials of Haryana Government would also be present on this occasion.

Agricultural Centres of Excellence' (CoE) were established in various Indian states to achieve the goals under the Indo-Israeli

Reuven Rivlin agreements.The CoE in Karnal is the most fully developed and operational Centre, an Israeli Embassy spokesman said.

President Rivlin is on a state visit to India on the invitation of President Pranab Mukherjee.

The visit, first by an Israeli President in nearly 20 years, symbolises the growing partnership between India and Israel.

President Rivlin is accompanied by heads of busi-

ness and academic delegation including 15 heads of Israeli universities. Rivlin would be received by Haryana Agriculture Minister O P Dhankar. The Israeli President arrived on November 14 on an eight-day visit to India.

Rivlin had wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 15. President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday hosted a banquet for the Israeli President, who also visited the Taj Mahal. (PTI)

Mutual fund equity folio count rises 20 lakh in first 7 months of this fiscal New Delhi, Nov 17: Equity mutual funds witnessed an addition of nearly 20 lakh investor accounts or folios in the first seven months of the ongoing fiscal, primarily on account of strong retail participation.

This follows an addition of over 43 lakh folios in the entire 2015-16 and 25 lakh folios in 2014-15. In the last two years, investor accounts increased mainly due to robust contribution from smaller towns.

Folios are numbers designated to individual investor accounts, though one investor can have multiple folios.

According to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) data on investor ac-

counts with 43 active fund houses, the number of equity folios jumped to 37,997,044 at the end of October from 36,025,062 at the end of last fiscal, a gain of 19.72 lakh.

Overall, the industry folios rose to an all-time high of 5.13 crore.

Growing participation from retail investors and huge inflows in equity schemes have helped in increasing the folio counts, experts said.

"Contribution towards monthly SIP (systematic investment plans) lead to higher positive net inflows in equities," Bajaj Capital Group CEO and Director Anil Chopra said.

SIP is an investment vehicle

offered by mutual funds to investors, allowing them to invest using small amounts periodically instead of lump sums. The frequency of investment is usually weekly, monthly or quarterly.

Mutual funds have reported net inflows of Rs 31,627 crore in equity schemes in the first seven months (April-October) of the current fiscal.

Inflows are in line with BSE's benchmark Sensex rising over 10 percent during the period under review.

The robust inflow has pushed the assets under management (AUM) of equity mutual fund to a record high of Rs 4.85 lakh crore at the end of October from Rs 4.68 lakh crore in September-end. (PTI)

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DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18

P12 Hume rescues a late point for ATK against NorthEast Assam boys win in style Match Awards: Club award: Shared by both teams Fittest Player of the Match: Iain Hume Winning Pass of the Match: Helder Postiga Swift Moment of the Match: Robin Gurung ISL Emerging Player of the Match: Seityasen Singh Hero of the Match: Nicolas Velez

Hume rescues a late point for ATK against NorthEast Kolkata, Nov 17 : Atlético de Kolkata drew 1-1 with NorthEast United FC in front of more than 12,000 fans at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium in Kolkata on Thursday. Nicolas Velez gave the Highlanders the lead in the fifth minute before Iain Hume equalised in the final minute of normal time. The draw saw ATK keep their spot in Hero Indian Super League 2016’s top 4. With 11 points from 10 games, NorthEast also moved off the bottom of the table.

Kolkata went behind five minutes into the game after an alert Velez was on hand to collect a lapse pass on

the edge of the box. The Argentine forward capitalised on the defensive lapse

by Henrique Sereno and rounded Debjit Majumder in ATK’s goal before calmly slotting the ball into the back of the net to make it 10.

The hosts tried to mount an immediate response with Lalrindika Ralte seeing plenty of the ball on the left flank. NorthEast, to their credit, kept their shape and made it difficult for ATK to break them down as Ralte registered his side’s first shot on target in the 25thminute. Helder Postiga went close to equalising two minutes later with a shot

from the edge of the box that went inches wide of goal.

Sereno had Kolkata’s next effort on goal when a Javi Lara free-kick from the right found the Portuguese defender at the near post. He managed to keep his header on target but Subrata Paul was perfectly positioned in goal to make a comfortable save.

Stephen Pearson had a chance shortly after when a loose ball found its way to him just inside NorthEast’s penalty area.

The Scotsman’s shot on goal though was again easily saved by Paul as the Highlanders went into the break with a 1-0 lead.

ATK’s first chance of the second half came in the 52nd minute as Lara attempted an audacious shot on goal directly from a corner. The Spaniard’s corner was goal-bound and had beaten Paul, however, Robin Gurung had placed himself perfectly at the far post to head-clear the danger.

NorthEast had a chance of doubling their lead in the 68th minute but Romaric’s shot from just outside ATK’s box went behind for a corner. Velez almost managed to score his second goal of the night from the resultant corner as he watched his shot cleared off

the line.

They had another attempt on goal 18 minutes from fulltime as Emiliano Alfaro headed a cross from the right at goal. However, his header was easily saved by Majumder to give his side a fighting chance in the closing stages of the match.

The Uruguayan had a golden opportunity to put the game to bed for the visitors in the 82nd minute. A deflected shot by Seityasen Singh found its way to Alfaro, who headed straight into the grateful hands of Majumder, with the whole goal at his mercy.

Kolkata finally got their equaliser in the last minute of regulation time. A Lara free-kick was headed across the face of goal and towards the far post for Hume to apply the finishing touch as it ended 1-1 at full-time with both sides sharing the spoils.

Knocked out by bouncer, 8 Indian boxers get first-round Aussie batsman Adam byes at Youth World C'ships Voges suffers concussion

Adam Voges of the Warriors sinks to his knees after being struck in the head by a bouncer from Cameron Stevenson.

(Getty Images) AFP Sydney, Nov 17: Struggling Australia batsman Adam Voges suffered a concussion after he was struck on the helmet by a bouncer on Thursday, ruling him out of a domestic game and dealing a blow to his Test chances.

The 37-year-old needed runs in Western Australia's Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania in Perth to salvage his Test spot after a highest score of 47 in his last 10 innings.

But the sickening impact from a Cameron Stevenson bouncer saw him sink to the ground before gingerly walking off minutes later, with each arm wrapped around the shoulder of medical staff.

"Voges has been diagnosed with concussion. He is ok, naturally a bit groggy. Being monitored by medicos. Ruled out of rest of game," the Western Austra-

lian Cricket Association tweeted.

The scare came just weeks after an inquest into the death of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes, who died from bleeding on the brain in November 2014 after being hit on the neck by a rising ball during a domestic match in Sydney.

A coroner ruled Hughes made a "minuscule misjudgement" before he was fatally struck, attaching no blame to the bowler or the tactic of sending down short-pitched deliveries.

It was the second serious concussion Voges has suffered this year after being struck on the head by an errant throw while fielding for Middlesex in England.

Australia's Test team has been thrown into crisis after five straight defeats, with chairman of selectors Rod Marsh quitting on Wednesday.

PTI New Delhi, Nov 17: Eight of the 10 Indian boxers in fray got firstround byes when draws for the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships were unveiled in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The 10-strong Indian team comprises, among others, three boys who have won silver medals at the Asian Youth Championships. They are Ankush Dahiya (60kg), Ashish (64kg) and Reyal Puri (81kg).

Of these three, Ashish is the only one not to have got a bye and will open his campaign against Armenia's Toni Galstyan, while Srinivas (69kg) will take on Frenchman Milan Prat in his lung-opener tomorrow.

The 16 to 18-year-olds would be competing in the biggest event of their nascent careers, up against

a formidable field of 417 boxers from 75 countries.

Among other Indians in the fray, Sachin (49kg) will open his campaign against the winner of the clash between Korean Seongchan Baek and Mexico's Gustavo Antonio Alvarez on Saturday.

Reigning national champion Anwar (52kg) will face England's Akash Tuqir, also on Saturday.

Etash Khan (56kg) will be up against the winner of the bout between Cuban Alexei Romero Rodriguez and Egypt's Elsayed Ragab Oman on November 19.

Ankush Dahiya (60kg) will be up against the winner of the clash between German Nick Bier and Scotland's Mark Reid on November 20. Aditya Maan (75kg) will face England's Ben Ress on the same day.

Reyal Puri (81kg) is pitted against Azerbaijan's Elkhan Aliyev, while Naman Tanwar (91kg) will square off against Crotia's Marijan Brnic on November 21.

Manjeet (+91kg) will await the winner of the clash between Greek Vagkan Nanitzanian and Ukraine's Viachesla Havryliuk on November 22.

The event, which gave India the likes of World Championships medallists Shiva Thapa and Vikas Krishan, will be held till November 24. While Vikas had won a gold, Shiva had clinched a silver in the 2010 edition of the tournament.

However, in the 2014 Championships, India had managed just a bronze and would be looking to improve on that performance.

Assam U-19 boys celebrating after defeating Andhra Pradesh at DDSA in Dibrugarh on Thursday. Pic: ET Photo Sports Reporter 199 for eight in 88 overs and took wickets in reguDibrugarh, Nov 17: at stumps on yesterday. lar interval. Spinner Hosts Assam won by 42 For Andhra Pradesh, Hrishikesh Borah bagged runs in the fourth day of Maheep Kumar played a four wickets conceding their Cooch Behar Trophy patient knock of 80 off 47 runs in 18.4 overs. under-19 Group A league 183 balls with nine bound- Riyan Parag scalped three fixture against Andhra aries and two sixes. for 50 in 16 overs while Pradesh at Dibrugarh Dis- Wicketkeeper batsman U seamer Mukhtar Hussain trict Sports Association M S Girinath contributed took two wickets.

Stadium in Dibrugarh toIn the first innings, day.

Cooch Behar Trophy Assam posted 192 in the In the second innings, first innings and the visiAssam gave a target of 40 off 126 balls, hitting tors were bundled out for 266 runs to chase to five boundaries while Dgj 126. Assam has won two Andhra Pradesh but they Chaitanya chipped in with matches so far in the tourwere all out for 223 in 97.4 33 off 81 balls with four nament and bagged six overs. In both the innings, boundaries. P Girinath points.

Assam beat Andhra batsman failed and Reddy scored 26.

Himachal Pradesh in the could not score against the Assam bowlers troubled earlier match. Assam will Assam bowlers. Andhra the Andhra batsmen with lock horn with Jammu and Pradesh were down to their disciplined bowling Kashmir on November 22.

Kohli's century takes India to 317/4 ET Bureau/ Agencies Visakhapatnam,Nov 17: Post-lunch, Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara tormented the Engllish bowlers as the two batsmen scored their centuries on the day one of India's second test against England.

Kohli stood unbeaten at 151 along with R Ashwin (1) as the day got over at 317/4.

pleted their respective halfcenturies and put on an unbroken century partnership.

Kohli (55) and Pujara (50) look solid at the crease.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, England bowlers rose to the occasion and dismissed KL Rahul, who replaced Gambhir, in the first over for 0 on day one of the second

39 for 2 with Kohli on 10 and Pujara on 9.

After losing KL Rahul early, India lost Murali Vijay for a well-made 20. James Anderson took his first wicket after coming back from injury.

India 22 for 2. It now depends on Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli to stabilise the innings for India.

Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara Kohli celebrated Pujara's century more than his, as his return to form is noteworthy. He was dismissed at 119 after one long haul of a much needed boost to the team. Pujara and Kohli extended their partnership to the highest of the day.

India's score was 92 for 2 at lunch. From lunch to tea, India scored 118 runs.

After the early jitters, Indian captain Virat Kohli in association with ever-reliable Cheteshwar Pujara did not allow England to strike wickets.

KL Rahul (0) and Murali Vijay (20) were the batsmen dismissed early. With the score on 22 for 2, these two batsmen took India's score past 150.

Post-lunch, Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara com-

Test in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.

The other opener Murali Vijay played some delightful shots and scored briskly. He was particularly severe on Stuarat Broad.

James Anderson, who made a comeback after injury, accounted for Murali Vijay for 20.

After the early jitters, indian captain Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara defended and played some exciting shots. They two now have added unbeaten 70 runs for the third wicket.

India finished at 92 for 2 at lunch.

After the early dismissals of KL Rahul and Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli steadied the Indian innings and exhibited some delightful strokeplay. India

After winning the toss and electing to bat, India lost early wicket with Stuart Broad removing KL Rahul for a duck. England struck early. India 6 for 1.

Indian captain Virat Kohli has won the toss and decided to bat first in the second Test against England in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.

The first test between India and England in an exciting draw at Rajkot.

India made two changes to its team from the first Test bringing in KL Rahul in place of Gautam Gambhir and gave Jayant Yadav his international cap in place of Amit Mishra.

England made one change bringing James Anderson in place of Chris Woakes.

Golfer Chirag aims to defend Panasonic Open title New Delhi, Nov 17 (IANS): Indian golfer Chiragh Kumar is all set to defend his title at the upcoming Panasonic Open, starting from December 1 at Delhi Golf Club (DGC) here.

Kumar recently finished tied-fourth in Manila which propelled him to the 40th

place on the Order of Merit, putting him well inside the top-60 cut-off mark to retain his Tour card for the next season.

"I played solid last week. I putted well. It was nice to finish the way I did. I think I have kept my card for now.

It's a big relief heading into

the last few events on the Asian Tour. I can go out there and play with that big pressure off my shoulder now," Chirag said.

"There aren't too many titles i have to defend so I am looking forward to going back there. It is good that I am playing well and I'll carry

some confidence heading into the event. There are so many memories from last year.

"It was so close to the very end and I knew I won only on the 18th green so that's my fondest memory. It was an awesome feeling to grind it out and win," added he.

Thai veteran Thaworn Wiratchant, who holds an unprecedented 18 victories on tour, will also feature in the tournament alongside countryman Prayad Marksaeng, as well as Indian stars Arjun Atwal, Rashid Khan and Gaganjeet Bhullar.

Young local prospect Shubhankar Sharma will also be looking to build on his recent form to target a maiden Asian Tour title on home soil.

Shubhankar, who claimed two top-fives in his last three appearances at the Panasonic Open,

snatched the limelight when he fired two eagles in four holes to close with a whooping 10-under-par 62 in Manila last week.

"That was a special round. I haven't played that well on the Asian Tour this year. I played well on the domestic Tour

but just cannot get the same kind of confidence on the Asian Tour. I told myself that I have to play well as I need to keep my card for next year. I did that and it was really satisfying," said Shubhankar, placed 57th on the Merit rankings.

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