The Golden Sparrow on Saturday 10/10/2015

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PUNE, OCTOBER 10, 2015 | www.thegoldensparrow.com

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

TGS LIFE PUNE, OCTOBER 10, 2015 | www.thegoldensparrow.com

Why let age hold you back from

being fit?

As you get older, physical exertion takes over terms like vigour and ability but not everybody bows down to the tyranny of time. These city veterans have worked hard to bring the clock’s hands into submission

A diva in the making

Be strong, not skinny

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Cooking puts a broad smile on his face

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p06 p12

Why let age hold you back from being fit?

They serve wholesome food at rock-bottom prices

Catering is big business indeed but there are also some generous-spirited people who are not in it solely for the money See Spotlight, p08 & 09 PICS BY ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

MUMBAI

Justice delayed but not denied P2

CITY

Lavasa directed to return land to tribals

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This man shared the stage with V Shantaram

78-year-old Keshavlal Mulchand now plays harmonium on streets to make ends meet

Man walks a km with his wife’s severed head

Ramchandra Chavan suspected his wife Sonabai was having an affair

RAHUL RAUT

Ramchandra Chavan paraded outside Huzurpaga Girls’ School with a blood soaked axe in one hand and his wife’s severed head in another

Keshavlal Mulchand (78) playing the harmonium on the streets at Warje as his wife, Sonibai accompanies him

BY SALONEE MISTRY @Sal0412 The evergreen musical notes coming from the harmonium fails to cover its creator’s adversity. With poverty making him look older than his age, weary legs that forces him to hobble, dishevelled dreadlocks, overgrown beard and worn-out dress completes the profile. Meet Keshavlal Mulchand, the 78-year-old musician who once shared the stage with the likes of film-maker, film producer and actor V Shantaram, singer Hemant Kumar, music director Kalyanji of the Kalyanji Anandji duo, and singers Kishore Kumar and Mahendra Kapoor. A small one BHK, an old television set that shows grainy picture and moving frames, a broken sofa propped on bricks and three plastic bags filled with clothes are the bare possessions that he shares now with his wife Sonibai after making Pune their home 44 years ago. Their struggle to survive will move many to tears.

Living in a housing society built by the government as a part of slum rehabilitation initiative, the couple barely manages to make ends meet. Only

the wide smile lightens up the wrinkled face of Keshavlal who throughout his life has been hard-working, honest and passionate about his music. Falling on hard times has not weakened him to be more positive and thankful than his better off.

playing the harmonium is all I know, I hit the streets to entertain people and earn money. It is just like going to a show minus the ambience of a hall,” said Keshavlal with a big smile.

Singing on the streets for a while now, Keshavlal has earned quite a bit of a fan following for himself with people uploading his videos on the social media. “One Sunday afternoon, I heard a beautiful tune from just outside my house.

I rushed to the balcony to see what it was and was surprised to see an old man playing the harmonium. Once I went down and spoke to him and his wife, I was extremely moved by their story and his music which is most definitely a treat to the ears,” said Ajay Anil Adhiya through a Facebook post he made about Keshavlal.

Contd on p 4

“Since playing the harmonium is all I know, I hit the streets to entertain people and earn money.”

MAKING ENDS MEET Minor recordings and being smaller part of large orchestras that perform in the city, Keshavlal has to struggle to earn a living. When he is not recording in the studio or performing on stage which is the case more often, he can be seen singing on the streets at Kothrud and Karve Nagar, hopeful to earn enough to last him for the next few days.

“I don’t sing on the streets because I want to. I sing because I have no other option. Very few people call me for performance or recording. Since

BY YOGESH KOLEKAR & GITESH SHELKE @TGSWeekly

Residents of the Katraj area were struck by shock and panic on Friday morning at the sight of a man parading on a street with the severed head of a woman in one hand, and a bloodsoaked axe in the other.

Chavan hacking his wife outside their house, chopping off her legs, hands and severing her head

Dressed in white kurta and dhoti, the man strolled towards Katraj lake.

He was later arrested by the police who have identified him as Ramchandra Chavan, who is 63 years of age.

Chavan had been employed as security guard at Rajas Society for 22 years.

Contd on p 6

He then left the house and went straight to the main road outside Rajas Society

He kept walking till he was intercepted by traffic cops a km away from his house

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 10, 2015

PUNE

MUMBAI UK hacked routers in Pak to identify terrorists: Snowden P 13

“Our daily passenger strength had dipped from 40 lakh some years ago to 28 lakh in June. Efforts taken to market BEST services have resulted in an increase in past three months.”

— Jagdish Patil, BEST General Manager

Justice delayed but not denied Fighting a battle with a developer for his flat agreed to be given possession in 1993, consumer finally gets order in 2015

BY BAPU DEEDWANIA @TGSWeekly A Mumbai suburban consumer court recently ruled in favour of a senior citizen, awarding him not only the flat that the developer delayed for more than 20 years, but also asked the developer to pay damages to the tune of Rs five lakh to the consumer.

The case pertains to a flat purchaser dispute which has been continuing for more than two decades.

Chandru Watwani, 69, entered into an agreement for a flat with Habitat Constructions in their project called ‘Panorama’ on the 9th floor of a building located in Versowa, Andheri.

The flat was to be given to Watwani by 1993.

However, instead of giving possession, an alternative flat on the 6th floor was assured to the Complainant as the BMC permission had only been taken for seven floors. This fact was not told to Watwani at the time of entering into the agreement. Instead of getting possession Watwani was asked to pay the escalated prize. The tussle went on for a few years between the two parties with the developers assuring Watwani possession year on year.

Tired of the long wait, Watwani filed a complaint in the consumer court in 2005.

Chandru Watwani

Arguing for the developers, their advocate S B Prabhawalkar said that since the flat had already been sold to some other party, Watwani was no longer consumer.

Arguing for Watwani, advocate Geeta Handa Khanuja said that her client’s flat was sold even though it was in his possession for he had already paid a sum of Rs 48,00,000/during the pendency of the Complaint. “My client

Govt curbs lead to builder’s suicide A city-based builder on Friday allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself, apparently because he was fed up with government’s regulations and problems being faced by realty developers, police said.

The incident occurred this afternoon when builder Suraj Parmar, who was also the Thane unit President of Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry, was at a construction site office of his company, located within the limits of the Kasarwadavali Police Station.

Parmar fired a bullet from his

revolver on his head following which he collapsed. He was rushed to a hospital where he was declared brought dead, Police PRO Gajanan Kabdule said.

According to police, a tablet PC has been recovered from Parmar’s office in which he has listed reasons for taking the extreme step.

In a note on the PC, the 48-yearold builder has cited reasons like government’s numerous regulations for housing sector and problems being faced by realty developers, among others, for ending his life, police said.

PTI

who has already lost his wife, now lost the flat also,” she told the court.

Speaking to TGS, Watwani said, “I did not have the courage to fight this battle as I had already paid more than 80 per cent of the consideration. I said this before the court also that I have lost my savings and even my loved one during this battle”.

Khanuja told the court that there was no occupation certificate which

was obtained from the BMC by the developers.

The Judges A Z Telgote and S R Sanap noted that though Watwani paid a huge amount from out of the purchase amount to Habitat Constructions, they did not give him the possession of the flat. On the contrary, they only caused delay in completing the construction of the building and giving possession of the flat to some other purchaser.

The court said that “Their act is not merely a fault in the service of the opponents but also an unfair trade practice adopted by them. Opponents (Habitat Constructions) have sold the flat, admeasuring 887 square feet in Andheri, which they had offered to sell to complainant (Watwani) to other person during the pendency of the present complaint, and therefore, they are liable to make available to the complainant a flat of same area in that very vicinity,” the court said.

“This is indeed a decision with a difference and will go a long way in helping hapless buyers whose flats are sold by unscrupulous builders. Usually, the purchaser is left with no other option but to bang the huge doors of courts as knocking will not allow their voice to echo in the long corridors.

However, here, my client’s patience paid dividends,” said Khanuja. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

‘Seek job abroad through valid agents’ Minister cautions citizens after Saudi employer allegedly chops off right hand of Indian domestic help Amid outrage over the Saudi incident where an Indian woman’s hand was chopped off by her employer, Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh on Friday urged people to go abroad for employment only through recognised agents to prevent instances of exploitation.

He cautioned people against being misguided by agents to get jobs in other countries.

“Through the media, I want to tell people not to be misguided by agents to get jobs in foreign nations. People who go to other countries like this (through bogus agents) are not made aware of the rules of the country and what should be done at critical times,” he said in reply to queries about the incident.

He was talking to reporters here on the sidelines of an event at the Bombay Stock Exchange in Mumbai where he was felicitated for the success of ‘Operation Rahat’ conducted by the government in worn-torn Yemen in April this year.

“Talks are being held...,” Singh said without elaborating, when asked about the incident.

The family of 55-year-old Kashturi Munirathinam, working

Writer to return award in protest Urdu novelist Rahman Abbas cites Dadri lynching incident as injustice

After writer Nayantara Sahgal and poet Ashok Vajpeyi, Urdu novelist Rahman Abbas has announced that he would be returning the Maharashtra State Urdu Sahitya Academy Award as a mark of protest against the Dadri lynching incident.

“After the Dadri lynching, the

Urdu writing community has been quite unhappy. I have decided to return the award. There are some other Urdu writers who also want to join the protest.

Rahman Abbas It is high time we stood up to the injustice surrounding us,” he said.

Abbas had in 2011 won the award

for his third novel Khuda Ke Saaye Mein Aankh Micholi (Hide-and Seek in the Shadow of God).

Earlier, noted writers Nayantara Sahgal and poet Ashok Vajpeyi had returned their literary honours to protest what they termed as an “assault on right to freedom of both life and expression”. A 50-year-old man was on September 28 lynched to death by a mob in Dadri’s Bishada village near Delhi over rumours of eating beef, triggering nation-wide outrage.

PTI

Ghulam Ali accepts Delhi invite

Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali has accepted Delhi Government’s invitation to perform in the national capital in December, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said amid a row over cancellation of his events in Mumbai and Pune in the face of threats by the Shiv Sena.

The Delhi Chief Minister talked to the celebrated ghazal singer over phone this morning and invited him to perform in the capital. “Ghulam Ali Sahib, we are very big fan of yours. It was good talking to you now. Thanks for agreeing to do a program in Delhi in Dec,” Kejriwal wrote on Twitter.

Later, Ali said that he will be coming to Delhi in December, adding that he

will go “wherever people invite me with love”.

“Yes I have accepted the invitation and most probably I will be coming in December. I have always said that I will go wherever people invite me with love. I have been coming to India for the past 40 years. So, yes I am happy,” Ali told PTI just before leaving India.

Earlier in the day, Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra met the Pakistani singer in New Delhi after which the Chief Minister spoke to him over phone.

Yesterday, the governments of West Bengal and Delhi had offered to host Ali’s concert, saying music and culture have “no boundaries”, after two events were cancelled in Mumbai and Pune in

the face of threats by the Shiv Sena.

“Music has no boundaries. Music is the rhythm of the heart. Ghulam Ali concert can be held in Kolkata,” West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had tweeted. “We will make all arrangements(for the concert),” she added.

In Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government while inviting Ghulam Ali to perform in the city had yesterday said that “music, art and culture have no boundaries”. Culture Minister Kapil Mishra, who is also Tourism Minister in the Arvind Kejriwal government, had said the Pakistani singer was welcome to hold his concert here.

PTI

as a domestic help in Saudi Arabia, has alleged that her right hand was chopped off by her employer when she tried to escape harassment and torture, evoking strong condemnation from India which demanded that a case of attempted murder be lodged against the culprit.

Singh also cautioned people that they could get into serious trouble if they are not aware of the rules and regulations of the country where they seek employment.

“People should make sure they only go to foreign countries through a recognised agent or don’t go at all.

There is an awareness needed. Many people go through bogus agents and then these people are not made aware of things like the kind of employment they are getting into or the language of the country where they are going.

This is where the problem starts,” he said.

Munirathinam is currently being looked after in a Saudi hospital.

Terming the incident as “unacceptable”, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today said the matter has been taken up with Saudi authorities.

PTI

Susairaj arrested for ‘duping’ Haj pilgrims Kannada actress Maria Susairaj, who served jail term in Mumbai’s high-prof ile Neeraj Grover murder case, was arrested by city police for allegedly duping Maria Susairaj Haj pilgrims to the tune of Rs 2.68 crore in Vadodara.

Maria had earlier filed for anticipatory bail with Gujarat High Court, but her plea was rejected yesterday.

The 35-year-old actress was arrested from her residence at Mysuru, Karnataka and process has been initiated to hand her over to Vadodara Police, according to an Ahmedabad Crime Branch press release.

Maria, along with her business partner Paromita Chakravarti, a resident of Mumbai who is absconding, opened an air ticket booking agency under the banner of Parapan Group in Vadodara a few months ago, it said.

The duo booked tickets on behalf of local Haj pilgrims. However, they allegedly pocketed refunds worth Rs 2.68 crore after cancelling these tickets. They kept pilgrims in dark about ticket cancellations, according to the complaint filed against them.

PTI

VK Singh lauds Bohra community’s role in ‘Operation Rahat’

Said these ‘silent workers’ did a tremendous job in evacuating Indians from Yemen but have not been adequately recognised for their work H a i l i n g Dawoodi Bohra community’s role in the evacuation of Indians from Yemen during ‘Operation Rahat’, Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh General VK Singh on Friday said these “silent workers” did a tremendous job but have not been adequately recognised for their work.

“For evacuating Indians, not only did we get great amount of help from Yemeni authorities who were willing to come to the airport while it was otherwise barren, we also had the Indian Bohra community which

provided us volunteers and assisted us in gathering people to come to us,” Singh said.

“These silent workers did a tremendous job and I think nobody seems to have recognised the type of role this little community played out there in ensuring that people could come to the airport, could be ferried to the airport. Word would be passed around to them that aircraft will start landing at so and so time so we want you to come early,” he said.

“They were also ensuring that immigration authorities worked there and assisted us,” the former Army Chief said.

He was speaking at an event in Bombay Stock Exchange where he was felicitated for the success of ‘Operation Rahat’ conducted by the

government in April this year.

Describing the challenges that Indian authorities faced while evacuating Indians from the wartorn country, Singh said some people were reluctant to return to India and had to be coaxed to come back.

“Our people who were working there were very happy, except that when the situation went bad they thought it is better that we get evacuated. Otherwise there were a lot of people, for example a bunch of nurses I spoke to said that they are not happy going back. So it was a shock...You are trying to evacuate somebody back home and they are saying I am not happy to go back home,” he said.

“When I asked them why, they said we have a very good job here and

we are only going back because our parents are crying at home and asking us to come. They wanted to stay back and I am quite sure by now, they must be already back in Yemen,” he said.

“A lot of people have gone back...

These are the types of challenges you face where you have to gather people to organise a thing where some are reluctant and some are not,” the Union Minister said.

He said other challenges, included handing over houses where Indians were staying to local people and dealing with instances when there was shortage of food.

“You can imagine the scale of operation when in about 10 days, we did 80 plus sorties to evacuate people,” Singh said.

PTI

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 10, 2015

PUNE

“Due to over-utilised line capacity and backlog in track renewals, there are speed restrictions, which lead to delay in running more number of trains. The review will be completed soon so that we can announce new trains and increase frequency of trains in this session.”

— Suresh Prabhu, railway minister

Will protect Article 370 and 35A: J&K government P12

Residents fined Rs 8,000 for wasting water

Lost and found, twice

Meet the luckiest scooter owner

Activa scooter returns to owner after being stolen twice, without any effort by the police to recover it

Falling water levels in dams have hit citizens across every strata, forcing everyone to adjust and alter their routines GARGI VERMA

RAHUL RAUT

wash centres across the city has been switched off and Pashan is the worst hit. “There’s no water to drink in this areas. We get water once in two-three days at home. Where’s the water to wash cars?” he said.

“There are eight workers and we get paid according to the work we do. Now that there’s no car washing to be done, we have to do other jobs like repairs to earn some money. The owner is planning to convert this place into a repair garage for two- and four-wheelers.

Those of us who know the basics will get work and we’ll be able to have a regular income,” he said. “The rain gods have deserted us,” he said.

BY GARGI VERMA @missgverma The monsoons have almost ended and the water levels in the dams are far below the desired levels.

Water shortage is a stark reality in the city and the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has resorted to water cuts and water rationing, which are taking their toll on every citizen in every area. We highlight the fallouts of this water shortage.

WASTING WATER? PAY A FINE OF RS 5000 The Zennia Society is along the highway, a few kilometres away from Chandni Chowk. Two of its residents, living in rented apartments, have been levied substantial fines by the society for wasting water. The society’s committee member Pragya Gupta said, “The boys living in A wing have been fined Rs 5,000 as they had left the tap running for fourth time. We are facing severe water shortages and have had to call in water tankers to ensure adequate RAHUL RAUT

Service centres in the city don’t wash vehicles anymore

water supply to all our residents. We have put up notices regarding fines to be levied for wasting water.

I have put up hand-written notes near the lifts, and at flats occupied by bachelors and single women as well,

instructing them to close the taps and switch off fans and lights in the interests of the society.”

The running taps resulted in the flooding of the two apartments and consequently there was no water in the building for a day. Apartment A1101 was flooded for the fourth time in a few months. The flats were locked and the neighbours informed the security staff about water flowing out of the doors. The water supply was stopped to the entire wing. “What a waste in times of shortage. We took strict action to deter them from repeating such oversights,” Gupta said.

WATER SUPPLY TIMINGS The Nine Hills Society at NIBM Road is picturesque but the water scarcity has robbed it of charm. Media professional Sakshi Bhasin who lives in house number 1303, has altered all her schedules owing to the water cuts. “I work from Mumbai where my parents live, but I keep coming to Pune due to work. But now I carefully plan my visits to Pune according to the erratic water supply timings,” she says. “I have had to change work shifts and reschedule clients meetings because of the changing water supply timings,” she said. The situation has gone from bad to worse.

“Earlier I never had to face such an ordeal regarding water in Pune,” she said.

NO WASHING CARS In the Pashan market area there’s a vacant lot which was a beehive of activity earlier. A hand-painted sign indicates an auto centre, but the handful of its workers have not much to do. “We don’t wash cars anymore,” said Vijay Kumbhalkar, one of the employees as he tinkers with a motorcycle. “Ours is the most popular car wash shop in this area and our clients come from as far off as Bavdhan, owing to our top quality service,” he said. The PMC water cuts have affected this car wash drastically as supply to car

BY GARGI VERMA @missgverma It’s indeed a towering achievement for a student to have a teacher as student. Dr Milind Choudhari has just attained this privilege. And it’s even more memorable as it involved the teacher who has been responsible for his attaining his current stature in life.

Choudhari is the founder of Biocare Solutions, a company devising new ways of healing using DNA strands. This involves complicated Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, subjects he did his doctorate in. But they weren’t his forte really. “Two days before my standard XII board Botany exam, I went into nervous shock. I rushed to my teacher and told her that I would not be able to appear for the exam,” he recounts. The teacher he confided in was Dr Shaila Deshpande, Botany professor in the Dharampeth Junior College, Nagpur. “I expected anger, shock or even disbelief. She showed none but calmly told me that I would appear for the exam and come through in flying colours. She revised

can to ensure that the water reserves are used sparingly and that they last until the return of the monsoons next year. gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com

the entire syllabus with me for two of CSIR fellowship, like many of her straight days. Thanks to her faith in students, including Choudhari, she me, I passed the exam.” decided her real calling was teaching.

Choudhari’s journey started there.

“I was awarded the CSIR fellowship He was granted a Council of Scientific in tissue culture. However, Nagpur and Industrial Research (CSIR didn’t have many facilities those days. fellowship and made his mark in the Since my research was not going very field that petrified him earlier. anywhere, I resigned my fellowship And now as the owner of a company, and started doing research on how his first intern was none other than his plants reacted to radiation and did my teacher Shaila Deshpande.

PhD in the same,” she said. “I took up Deshpande, 65, has been breaking the job because I didn’t want to be a stereotypes all her life but is modesty burden on my parents. I realised that personified. “I am not doing anything I was happier sharing knowledge and different. I just do what making Botany easily I want to, while keeping accessible to everyone. my conscience clear,” she After my PhD, I stuck says with a mischievous to teaching,” she said. grin, that makes her look She has over 40 years closer to her assumed of teaching experience age of 26. “Don’t go and is not done yet. “I by my grey hair. I have don’t get how people dyed it. Isn’t that the feel happy to retire. It fashion these days?” she was heart breaking to laughs. Born in 1950 to retire from my regular government employee job. I am glad I still have parents, she was the students through private second last amongst four classes and as a visiting sisters. Her progressive faculty,” she says.

- SHAILA DESHPANDE parents granted them Deshpande doesn’t the freedom to study consider teaching as what they wanted. “I was interested working. “It is second nature now, in Botany. I decided to pursue it almost like breathing. I can’t go a day seriously after my first year of Bachelor without it,” she says. It is her undying of Science, though I had better marks love for teaching that makes her see a in Chemistry,” she says. An awardee talent in everyone. Even at the age of 65,

“Don’t go by my grey hair. I have dyed it.

Isn’t that the fashion these days?”

BY PRIYANKKA DESHPANDE @journopriyankka

Shardul Kadam takes his toothbrush and change of clothes to the office

Teacher interns at student’s firm A teacher for 40 years, Shaila Deshpande now interns at Milind Choudhari’s biotech co

The Activa parked at Balgandharva police chowky, is waiting to be united with Deepti

it was her idea, more than Choudhari’s that she intern with Biocare solutions. “I had to see how DNA is isolated, had to experience the technology I keep telling my students about. If I didn’t do it before dying, my ghost would have kept badgering Milind,” said Deshpande, who is extremely camera shy. However, when asked to do a procedure, she forgot everything and became the starry-eyed, keen and curious teenager that she identifies more with. Addressing the issue of mismatch between her age and the position of an intern, she said, “I am so glad I came now, when my eyes are still functioning and old age tremors haven’t affected my hands. Imagine the catastrophe, if it had. I would have never been able to isolate DNA!” Deshpande, married for 29 years now, has a son. “My husband and son are lawyers. They are both extremely supportive and if I ever question my ambitions and desires, they embolden me. Her marriage is another inspiring, movie-esque tale. “I married when I was 36 years old, an unheard of thing in the era when girls were married in their teens,” she says. However, marriage was never on her cards. “I wanted to learn and teach. Marriage seemed a distant prospect,” she said.

Until the day, Advocate Shirish Deshpande came to Dharampeth College in 1985 to deliver a lecture.

“My husband was blind since he was

Deepti Palsule, 28, has been amazingly fortunate. Her Honda Activa scooter was stolen twice in a year and it was recovered and returned to her both times. In the first instance, the scooter was stolen from the parking lot of her residential apartment at Sadashiv Peth in 2013, and it was found after two and a half months. Then the ill-fated twowheeler was stolen from Fergusson College Road in March 2014, but it was found in a lane near her house a year and a half later.

Jewellery designer Deepti said, “My friends keep telling me to get rid of my jinxed Activa since it was stolen twice in the span of a year. But I think it’s a lucky scooter as I got it back both times without a scratch.”

She has a serious grouse with the police department, though, as they made no efforts to nab the bike thieves despite Deepti providing them the CCTV footage of the incident.

“When my bike was stolen from Fergusson College Road at around 10.30 pm, the footage from the CCTV camera at a shop in the vicinity clearly showed the neatly dressed culprits making away with my bike after unlocking it with a duplicate key,” Deepti said. She had handed over the CCTV footage to the police.

“Two and half months after the bike was stolen, the police gave me a

document stating that the case was closed,” Deepti said. She had discarded both the bike keys and the CCTV footage, but an acquaintance saw the missing bike parked in a lane next to her house on September 27, and informed the police, E v e n when it was first stolen in 2013 from the parking lot of her apartment, the culprits Deepti Palsule seemed to have used a duplicate key. Even that time it was found near her house after two and a half months.

Even her dad’s bike was stolen soon after but it has not been recovered.

The attitude of the police is quite surprising as they seem to be shirking their job. Besides the CCTV footage when it was stolen for the second time, Deepti had told the police of a person loitering around the scooter the first time it was stolen. But the police did not even bother to interrogate him, Deepti said.

Rather than be grateful to the police for scrupulous investigation, Deepti thinks that her Activa is a lucky bike that has come back to her after being stolen twice. priyankka.deshpande @goldensparrow.com

four years old. However, for me it was love at first sight. Of course, I was the one to propose marriage but he kept me waiting as he left for Oxford without telling me if it was a yes or no. When he returned and realised that I was determined to marry him, he agreed,” she says with a smile.

Deshpande has few hobbies. “I have a huge garden and a veranda.

That’s my life, that and my husband and son,” she says. “Her house is full of students at all times. I have gone to her after 10:30 at night,” Choudhari said. Deshpande kept pointing out trees and their characteristics to Milind, who like an obedient pupil, is asking questions. Even in the lab she is constantly quizzing Choudhari and partner and fiancée Anupama Engineer. “I had come to Pune for a one-week internship and these two haven’t disappointed me.

They have made me work extremely

hard and have made me perfect in DNA isolation, sequencing, polymer chain reactions and other procedures I had only learnt and taught in theory. Now, I can proudly tell my students that I’ve done these practically too,” she says with pride and contentment.

“She is not just my mentor and mother, she is also such a big inspiration. If I had 10 per cent of the zeal she has to learn new things, for knowledge and towards life, I’d say I have reached great heights in my life,” Choudhari said. Deshpande, however, says, “I don’t think I am doing something great. What good is life if you haven’t learnt everything you can and on your death bed you know you have lived a full life? I am just fulfilling my life’s goals. I am just learning and teaching. I won’t be able to survive without either.” gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com

RAHUL RAUT

Zennia Society near Chandini Chowk does not take lightly to wasting water; Notice put up across the society (inset)

A BATH IS A LUXURY Ideosphere employee Shardul Kadam takes his toothbrush and change of clothes to the office washroom as there’s little or no water in his rented flat at Bhandarkar Road which he shares with two others.

“I have to tote bucketfuls of water from the emergency tank in the basement to our second floor flat,” he says.

“This is an independent building, and there’s no one responsible for the water supply. When the emergency tank runs dry, all we can do is wait until the water supply resumes,” he said. “We simply never know when to expect water supply. Washing clothes or having a bath are tricky propositions in such circumstances,” he said.

“We bathe at our friends’ houses or at office or college washrooms,” he said. They also have to buy overpriced cans of water. “With all the hassles and money involved, we minimise the amount of water we use,” Shardul said.

We here in the city are better off than the residents of drought-hit villages. But the water shortage has affected citizens’ routines strikingly and for the present there is no sign that things will change any time soon.

The civic administration has to use every measure it

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 10, 2015

PUNE

“The wardens are posted all along the route till 10pm when our bus service ends.We have also put up signages at the start of every bus lane. Motorists or two-wheeler riders are not supposed to go in the corridor.”

— Mayura Shindekar, PMPML CEO

Facebook tops networking, WhatsApp in msg apps P10

Govt organisations taking fancy to apps and networking sites

P12

From streets to studio and back to streets

RAHUL RAUT

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

Most of these apps and socalled interactive pages on social networking sites are absolutely useless

credibility. The real time app provides information about traffic in the city, traffic branches near you, nearest police station, traffic rules and regulation, emergency contacts, photos and videos gallery et al.

Users complain that the mobile application does not register autorickshaw-related complaints and that the photos and videos fail to open.

“As soon as I filled in all the details, the app crashed and failed to register the complaint. I finally posted my complaint in the feedback section. I hope they fix the bug soon,” says one user.

BY EKTA KATTI @ EktaaK Government organisations in Pune have made the most of the social net work ing sites and m o b i l e technologies to enhance t h e i r outreach.

E v e n as the city is caught Track DL up wholeheartedly in the Smart City mission, government organisations have somehow failed to make their presence on the social networking sites more interactive.

Although some feature mobile applications, their functioning leaves a lot to be desired.

Hadapsar resident Satyajit Sharma, 32, feels that the Regional Transport Office (RTO) should be more interactive on Facebook.

“I had posted a query regarding my licence a couple of months ago. I am yet to get a reply,” says Satyajit.

The RTO Facebook page is filled with reviews and suggestion by citizens, but the organisation’s personnel are yet to acknowledge these. The Track DLRC app is choc-a-bloc with bugs and loopholes, if the comments are to be believed. This application gives one the status of your licence and they could all

High School in TN launches dress code for teachers

The Pune Traffic App does not register the autorickshaw complaints and fails to open the pictures and videos section

track their Registration Certificate.

After entering a name, one gets the barcode with which the application was filled recently, and after feeding the barcode, the status of the license is generated.

Mobile geek and a user of the Track DL-RC app, Bharat Dodeja says, “Even after entering my vehicle number and barcode, it says ‘Data Not Found’.”

R T O head Jitendra Patil assures that all Facebook queries and suggestion will be duly noted Track RC h e n c e fo r t h .

“Just replying to comments won’t make a difference.

We will not only reply to them but also work on the problems and suggestions.”

However, he has urged citizens to ensure that they enter the right number and barcode while using the application.

“If a person feeds the wrong data, how will the application track their license? We have received positive response from the people who have furnished the right details,” he said.

FACEBOOK DAY The RTO head read out all the problems and suggestion on the Facebook page, and said, “It’s not that we haven’t read these comments. We will surely work on them.”

In fact, he even promised that they will start a ‘Facebook Day’ very soon, where people who write to them on Facebook can visit the office and get their problems solved in person.

NEAT APP WITH FEW GLITCHES The Pune Traffic Police addresses all the genuine problems posted by the Punekars on their official Facebook page.

Satyajit was elated that the Pune Traffic app was quite informative and up to date. He hopes that the mobile application does not let him down in the future. However, certain loopholes in the application have marred its

WOMEN SCHEMES As of now the Pune Municipal Corporation(PMC) has only one app – PMC Women Welfare Schemes App. Built with a local language interface, this app provides in for mat ion about welfare schemes for the women. “ O u r p r e s e n t application PMC Women Welfare Schemes for Pune women is doing well. So far we have come up with only one. We are in the process of coming up with more apps,” a PMC official said.

The PMC Facebook page gives you almost all the details of what’s happening in the city. An active participation by followers of the page shows that citizens are willing to bring about a change in society and in incompetent governance. But PMC is not addressing citizens’ comments. ektaakatti@gmail.com

Contd from p 01 MUSICAL JOURNEY Playing harmonium alongside his father since he was 10, Keshavlal mastered the instrument through observation. Being brought up in a poor family in Gujarat, his early childhood was spent in destitution and poverty as parents did not have the money to send him to school. He travelled with his father everywhere the latter went and learnt to play. Keshavlal fell in love with his wife when he was 17 and got married. After a few years, they moved to Mumbai for better prospects.

“I was playing outside a studio in Andheri when V Shantaram Sahab walked up to me and asked if I would help him record a song for a film that he was working on. I hoped that this would be my chance to become big,” said Keshavlal. Later, he played with other famous Bollywood musicians and singers as well.

FORSAKEN BY FAMILY The couple has three sons with two

currently living in Ahmedabad.

Keshavlal and his wife visit them once in one or two years mainly to see their grandchildren. “My sons are very different from me. They both are happy in their life and are not really bothered about our whereabouts which suits me just fine. I do not like the fact that they are alcoholics but it is their life,” Keshavlal said, adding that his third son who was an artist just like him passed away a few years back. The deceased son’s daughter is studying in a college at Pune and visits the grandparents during vacations. Apart from this small almost broken family, Keshavlal has no one to lean upon when and if the need arises.

There was a time when music placed Keshavlal to a position where he shared the spotlight with geniuses from the Bollywood industry. Today all he has left with is his music, hope of a better future and a loving wife who accompanies him on his street and stage performances and studio recordings. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

A real life story that seems like reel script

BY GARGI VERMA @missgverma What can happen at a pub and popular hangout? A lot. A young man from Mumbai reconnected with the man who saved his life, no less.

Khodu Irani, owner of the High Spirits Café and bar, unravelled this fairy tale like saga in a recent Facebook post. Agrim Goel, a real estate entrepreneur working with the Goel Ganga Developers in Pune, was reconnected with the man whose life he had saved a few weeks ago.

“I generally read all the mail we get, and so I chanced upon this mail,” recounts Khodu. The mail

was from a man who had attempted suicide in the wake of personal and financial problems. He knew that he was saved by someone by the name of ‘Akram Goel’ and had a letter from him, behind which was mentioned High Spirits. So the man from Mumbai wrote to owner Khodu, who connected the dots and helped Agrim connect with the person whose life he had saved.

It began three weeks ago when the young man tried committing suicide after an interview gone wrong and financial and personal issues. Luckily for him, when he jumped from his fourth floor balcony and lay bleeding on the road, Goel noticed him. “He

took me to the hospital, called my parents and remained by my side till they arrived. He even took care of the hospital formalities,” said the survivor in the mail addressed to Khodu. He also mentioned how he was initially furious with his saviour.

“But he had written me a letter and left it with my family. The letter was very encouraging and supportive and helped me recuperate,” he said. This letter helped join the dots as it was written on the back of a High Spirits membership letter that had Agrim’s details.

After the two reconnected, Agrim offered the man whose life he saved a job in Pune, and support and help to

settle down in this city. “This was a long shot with the whole back page being a High Spirits membership letter but it worked. I really appreciate this from you all,” he wrote to Khodu after Agrim spoke to him.

However, Agrim didn’t wish to comment, stating that what he did was just what anyone else would have done.

“It is what others should have done, but how many people would really have? I am glad I know at least one person who did,” said Khodu, who believes that this story needs to be told. “It is very touching and it is important people to do such things, if the world is to be a better place,” he said. gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com

TV screens go blank in western parts of city Hathway-GTPL cable TV services switched off as cable operators fail to procure licences

BY PRIYANKKA DESHPANDE @journopriyankka Mayur Shedge of Bhusari Colony, Sinhagad Road resident Ajinkya Kari, and Vanaj resident Sanjeev Bokil have had to make do without their daily dose of Mayur Shedge cable television enter ta inment for no fault of theirs. It’s their cable operators who are to blame for not procuring necessary licences to provide cable TV service to their customers.

The district Entertainment Duty (ED) Department had shut down the cable TV services of Hathway and

Ahmedabad-based Multi-System Operator (MSO) Gujarat Telelink Private Limited (GTPL), on October 6. The cable operators were sourcing their feeds from Hathway-GTPL. Consequently, nearly one lakh customers in the western area of the city have been deprived of cable TV for a couple of days.

District Collector Saurabh Rao had ordered the restoration of cable TV services, but the district ED department had notified Hathway-GTPL to register for the license before October 31, lest their MSO units be sealed again. HathwayGTPL is the largest cable TV provider in Sanjeev Bokil the district with approximately 2.50 lakh customers.

District ED officer Mohini Chavan said, “After October 31, the district administration would seal the

MSO units of the above-mentioned cable services if their cable operators failed to register themselves. And the citizens would be deprived of cable TV for no fault of theirs. We will also take action against other cable services like DEN and City Cable,” Hathway-GTPL had submitted an affidavit that their cable operators would get themselves registered before October 31.

“There are 485 cable operators in the district, of which a mere five per cent are registered. HathwayGTPL has 200 cable operators, while Hathway alone has 185 cable operators,” Chavan said. Meanwhile, Bokil who has been a Hathway customer for 20 years, is now considering switching to another cable service. He said, “Our cable services are switched off randomly for days on end. The matter between the district administration and the cable service provider is of no concern to me.” Some popular channels were off the air for three months despite paying extra for them.

Shedge is equally frustrated. “Our cable service is completely unreliable.

RAHUL RAUT

FLOUTING RULES The cable operators have to get an NOC from the ED department before resuming cable services. Registered cable operators have to pay Rs 45 for urban areas, Rs 30 for areas under Municipal Council limits and Rs 15 for rural parts, for each cable connection as entertainment tax. Cable operators do not comply to evade paying the entertainment tax.

It was switched off for ten days recently. And my cable operator has switched off his all his phones to avoid our calls,” He sees no option but to switch to another cable TV Ajinkya Kari service provider.

Kari regrets not being able to watch the English Premier League football on October 6 and 7. He said, “The cable service was shut down without any notice and all the cable operator has are lame excuses. Why can’t they comply with the legal formalities?”

Hathway cable customer relations manager Vatan Pathan said that notices were issued to the cable operators as regards the registration.

He said, “Our cable operators are getting their registration done and 50 per cent have got their licences, while the remaining will get them before the end of the month.” priyankka.deshpande @goldensparrow.com

A Godly Capacity The US is prosperous enough to take on ambitious climate targets

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY

Total historical emissions (1850-2011) in million tonne CO2

3,61,299.98 3,25,545.08

Historically, the US has been the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases. Its responsibility in forcing climate change has been the most

OCTOBER 10, 2015

PUNE

Currently, the US is the 2nd largest emitter of greenhouse gases

35,581.29

It is important for the US to overcome its state of climate perdition

1,40,860.33

The good news is that the US can. It has such immense capacity Per capita CO2 emissions (metric tonne, 2012)

Every parameter of well-being points to the fact that the US can take on a very ambitious target to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide

16.5 7.2 1.7

US stand on climate change putting world at ‘deadly risk’

“The Jalyukta Shivar scheme to conserve water in small dams has been launched, an action plan has been drafted for making at least 5,000 villages droughtfree every year. Also, 68 lakh farmers in drought-hit areas were provided rice for Rs 2.” — Devendra Fadnavis, chief minister

10.7

1,55,33,800 1,68,11,791

China

18.4

7.4

EU-28

Russia

59,62,978

4.4

1,34,95,910

P14

Brazil

21.2

3.3

USA

GDP per capita (US $, 2011)

Japan

49,854

2.8

33,414

P11

Rationalise taxes, advocates Jaitley

Percentage of global CO2 emissions: Past and present (1850-2011)

6.8

GDP (PPP, 000’ US $, 2011)

India

28.7

2.2

Rest of World

4,883

Canada

10,041

0.9

South Africa Total primary energy consumption (Quadrillion BTU, 2011)

Lavasa directed to return land to tribals 97.46

USA

72.67

EU-28

India

China

23.47

Per capita electricity consumption (KWh)

103.72

Total renewable electricity net consumption (billion KWh, 2011)

527.5

Motor vehicles per thousand (in 2011)

13,246

684.8

786

5,738

160.4

684

801

473

18

3,298

Air travel (million passenger trips in 2013)

69

Human Development Index (2013)

743

0.914

NA

0.735

75

0.586

352

0.719

Sources: World Bank, IEA, HDI report

Villagers allege company agents used power to illegally claim their ancestral property

PICS BY ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

Thumabai and Bandubhau Valhekar

BY GITESH SHELKE @gitesh_shelke The happy faces of people at Lavasa’s Mugaon village, 80 km from Pune, exclaim in unison ‘Apli Jameen Parat Bhetalu (We got our land back)’. The Maharashtra Government has directed Lavasa Corporation Ltd to return 191 acres to the local tribals.

Sub Divisional Officer Subhash Borkar of the revenue department issued the orders after studying the land records stating that tribal lands cannot be acquired.

The department released orders in favour of 16 Adivasis, mainly Katkaris, from the valley on the bank of Varasgaon reservoir.

Fifty-year-old tribal woman Thumabai Bandubhau Valhekar said, “I am an illiterate woman. The agents came and forcibly took away the land.

I realised it only when heavy machines moved into our farms eight years ago.”

Thumabai, the mother of four daughters, said that she did not have any document to prove the land’s ownership.

“We have been tilling the land since

Shankar Tukaram Katkar

ages. After agents and company officers took away our property, we visited the Tehsil office at Paud and collected relevant documents with the help of educated people from our village. After obtaining documents mentioning our names, we filed a suit in the court and with the revenue office,” she said.

The old tribal woman claimed to have faced harassment and threatening from agents. “My husband was beaten up twice by the agents and we reported the incident to Paud police station. I am relieved that we got our land back,” she said.

Thumabai and other farmers cultivate paddy, varai, nachni and bamboo to earn livelihood. “We have got back our five hectares and will grow more paddy,” she said, showing copies of the orders received two days ago. She claimed that the family also holds eight acres in Dasve village (where Lavasa is been developed) and will file a suit to reclaim the land.

12

Another tribal, Shankar Tukaram Katkar (60), who has received favourable orders from the revenue department, said that the company took over his land about three years ago. “I never met any agent or company officer and never sold my land. I was shocked when agents ordered me not to till my land. They put heavy boulders in my land and I was not allowed to cultivate anything in the farm,” he said. Living with his wife, son and four daughters, he said, “Being an illiterate person, it was a hard battle collecting documents, visiting courts and reclaiming six hectares.”

Local leader Leelabai Balu Margale of National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) helped farmers to reclaim their lands. “We staged many protests and about 25 farmers were lodged in Yerawada Central Prison four years ago,” she said. Leelabai also filed a suit with a local court and revenue authorities reclaiming her 60 acres.

“My husband never sold land to agents or company but construction activities began on my property,” she said.

Leelabai of Mugaon claimed that land agents’ harassment claimed her husband in 2003. “I have got my land back and debarred them from doing any activity on it. I am fighting the battle for eight years and these agents even burned down my house four years ago,” she said.

Leelabai is instrumental in gathering adivasis under one umbrella.

“The revenue department has assured to issue more favourable orders in near future. There are about 500 farmers and adivasis who have not sold their

land to the company or agents but have been debarred from doing agricultural activities on their land,” she said.

Leelabai prepared a list of farmers who have suffered losses in last 10 years and submitted it to the local tehsil office.

“My father-in-law Kondiba Margale had bought this land and we are staying here for over 40 years. I will get my land back,” she said, adding that collecting land documents, searching government registers and visiting tehsildar office regularly was a tedious task. Local villagers were supported by social worker Medha Patkar. “We will not allow illegal activities in our villages, including destruction of forests and hills,” Leelabai said.

Leelabai Balu Margale

from the entry of remark, LCL would have bought the lands with proper permission of the Government. No such remarks were there on the land record of these lands.

Besides, The Regulation 17 of the Special Regulation for Hill Stations, 1996, specifically states that ‘the Government in Revenue Dept. shall grant permission to the Owner/ Developer of such project to purchase the Tribal land in the project area as per the provisions of Section 36 A of the MLR Code. In any case, being unbuildable hilly areas, these lands are neither under development nor earmarked for any future development in the Lavasa’s Planning Proposal/ Development Plan. Loss of these lands therefore is not going to affect Lavasa’s immediate or future development. All this has happened because there is no title guarantee given by the State for land that anyone buys despite being the official keeper of land records.

This is one more thing that the Government will have to do under its ease of doing business initiative. gitesh.shelke@goldensparrow.com

LAVASA’S STATEMENT It is the first time that SDO declared 23.75 hectares of Lavasa Corporation Ltd’s (LCL) land as tribal land. The land records at no time showed these lands as tribal land nor did the records contain the mandatory remark to indicate that these were tribal land under Section 36 (a) of Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966. LCL has not bought these lands directly from the allottees. These lands were sold by the allottees 15 to 20 years ago. And they have changed hands two or three times before LCL bought these lands from the latest owner on record.

Every tribal land carries a specific remark under Section 36 A of the MLR Code. This indicates tribal land status of the land. In all such cases permission is required from the Government.

Had the tribal status of land known

HC expresses displeasure with Pune police

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Cops fail to arrest wanted accused, yet again

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in court and give an update on the status of the absconding accused. On September 10, police commissioner was present before the HC and assured that he will take necessary action.

However, on September 30, when the petition came up for hearing, HC expressed displeasure yet again. None of the accused in eight priority cases had been arrested. Only three accused from other cases had been arrested.

“The police officer shall continue the search of the accused against whom the non bailable warrant have been issued more specially in the eight priority cases based upon their finger prints or otherwise and report to Court on the next date of hearing,” the court ordered.

Greg Malstead, founder of Freedom Firm said that they have faith in the judiciary. “The Pune police, however, refuse to budge. During the previous hearing, Commissioner of Police had cited all excuses he could possibly come up with. The court discarded all of them while instructing him to redouble the efforts. Even then, the police have come up with abysmally meagre developments,” said Malstead gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com

FE A T

City police chief may have given an assurance to the court, but that doesn’t mean Pune cops will get their act together. The Bombay High Court recently expressed its displeasure over the manner in which city cops have been dealing with human trafficking cases. Not long ago the court had put eight out of 42 pending cases on priority list and instructed the cops to nab the accused who have enlarged on bail. Despite being given enough time and even summoning KK Pathak, commissioner of Pune police, to court, the cops have not done enough to trace the accused of the cases put on priority

by HC. Terming the progress made by police as ‘dis-satisfactory’ the division bench of Justice Roshan Dalvi and Justice Shalini Phansalkar-Joshi pointed out how no arrests have been made as far as eight priority cases are concerned. The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by Freedom Firm, an NGO that works with commercial sex workers.

The petition, filed on January

27, focuses on 42 cases pending in various trial courts in Pune for want of the accused.

Victims or sex workers rescued from the brothels have been kept in rescue homes. The accused who were initially arrested, were granted bail, and ever since have not KK Pathak been traceable.

The victims have not been reunited with their families as they are needed during the trial.

Freedom Firm’s petition urges that the accused must be traced immediately.

Over the last several hearings, HC has pulled up Pune cops. On August 20, the division bench noted, “The PIL raises a sensitive and important question and reflects the callousness of the police and the prosecution agency in the prosecution of crime concerning human rights under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA) and the relevant provisions of the IPC.” The HC instructed that Pune police chief be personally present

THRILL O

BY GARGI VERMA @missgverma

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This artist has a feline fancy

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Busy walking a tight rope

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 10, 2015

PUNE

“Good investment climate, ease of doing business, investor-friendly policies and employment opportunities make a city competitive.

A provision of higher (FSI) is part of the reforms.”

— Kunal Kumar, Pune Municipal Commissioner

Garbage nuisance at Manjri P 15

Jog School accused of discrimination RTE concept trampled underfoot as local English medium school authorities humiliate six-year-old boy

RAHUL RAUT

BY GARGI VERMA @missgverma

wife went to school the next day to ask why our son wasn’t allowed. First they denied that such a thing had happened, The Right to Education (RTE) is meant and accused our child of lying. However, to ensure that all students are entitled after much coercion from our side, they to equal standards of education and the admitted it had happened,” he said. He government will pay for students whose was then given lame excuses that since parents can’t afford the fees to get them his child had joined late, they wanted admitted to schools. But what happens him to focus only on studies and not after the admissions are done with and extra-curricular activities. “We tried the student is enrolled in a school? For consoling our son who was thoroughly the Hingmiras, it was a lesson learnt the disheartened, only for the teachers to hard way. scold him next day for lying to us. He Sateesh Hingamira works as a has been affected adversely and has clerk in a private firm. His six-year-old become less enthusiastic about school in son was admitted to the P Jog English general,” said Hingmira who requested Medium School at us to withhold his Manik Baug area son’s name as the of Sinhagad Road school teachers may after many months harass him further. long efforts, on The same September 10. But incident was the parents’ joy repeated a month was short-lived. later, in October, “A week later, the when the ward school organised admitted through - DHANANJAY PARDESHI a rakhi-making RTE was barred competition. Our from a sandwichson also took along all the necessary making competition. “Even on normal raw materials. He was excited about days, he was not allowed to mingle with the competition, as any child would other students, made to sit in a different be,” said Hingmira. However, his place, all alone and other students excitement was trampled into the dust were asked to not share books with by his class teacher who asked him to him,” recounted a visually distressed abstain from the competition. “My Hingmira. All of this was obviously

“No child should face such discrimination.”

P Jog English Medium School at Manik Baug area of Sinhagad Road has been harrassing a student admitted under RTE

not helping the child to cope with new environments.

Recently he fell ill and missed classes for 7-8 days. Rather than expecting the teachers to co-operate with the recuperating student, the parents were summoned immediately.

“They asked us to give in writing that we were solely responsible for our son being denied to appear for the term end exams. The reason for that was stated that he didn’t have 75 per cent attendance,” said the father, who

then went ahead to plead with the management. “Surely the delay they caused in admitting my son wasn’t my son’s fault,” he tried to reason. However, the management refused to listen. “My son was taunted everyday and asked for the application stating that we were responsible for him losing out on an entire academic year. Finally, we had to go to the school again,” said Hingmira.

This time, the authorities asked for a different letter. “They asked us to file an affidavit on stamp paper, stating that if

Uruli Devachi and Phursungi villagers threaten to stop garbage trucks PMC fails to chalk out plan within October 7 deadline

RAHUL RAUT

BY SURBHI MODI @surbhi909 Refusal by the villagers of Uruli and Devachi to allow garbage dumping trucks to enter the area despite National Green Tribunal (NGT) clarifying that the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) cannot be stopped from depositing waste at the landfill site exposes the administration’s poor planning when the city is gearing up to become one of the leading smart cities.

“PMC was given a deadline to stop waste disposal at the site by October 7. The issue was discussed in various meetings held by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Guardian Minister Girish Bapat.

With no concrete solution from civic administration, the only option left for us is to prevent trucks from entering our locality,” said residents of Uruli Devachi and Phursungi, who claimed that the stakeholders are not serious towards finding a viable and sustainable solution.

At the various meetings held

by Fadnavis, Bapat, civic officials and village representatives, it was concluded that waste disposal will be

According to Pune Municipal Corporation, the city generates around 400 tonnes of waste every day but lacks proper disposal infrastructure

stopped within nine months. A resident of the village said, “PMC officials have been giving false assurances that there will be waste management plants, but no promises have been fulfilled.

Many political leaders have come and gone but there was no action taken on ground level resulting in our two villages suffering the most.”

Pune Municipal Commissioner Kunal Kumar said, “The amount of garbage dumped at Uruli and Phursungi landfill has considerably

reduced since January 2015 as we have set up new waste processing plants besides making the existing plants operational.”

Uruli Devachi and Phursungi villages are being used as landfills since 1981 despite protest from villagers.

In 2000, villagers also knocked the doors of High Court that urged PMC to take immediate steps. Over the years, villagers have stopped the dumping trucks from entering the area many times, which resulted into

accumulation of garbage in the open.

“We are working on the issue and have urged the residents to wait till the court passes the order and not take the law in their hands,” said Deputy Municipal Commissioner Kishori Gadre, who is handling the solid waste management department. The next NGT hearing is due on October 26.

He said the NGT has also asked the civic body to respond to the plea by October 26.

Around 1,600 tonnes of waste is generated daily in the city. Villagers stopping vehicles from depositing waste at the landfill sites would result into 1,000 metric tonnes of garbage piling up in dust bins across the city every day.

TAKING STEPS Civic officials state that setting up of new processing plants and making the existing plants fully operational has improved the waste management.

Civic chief said PMC will ensure that its 300 tonne waste processing plant at Talegaon Dabhade is functional

by October 15. The PMC has also restarted the five shut biogas plants in city, surbhimodi909@gmail.com

they did not get the compensation from the government, the parents would have to pay a Rs 75,000 fee. If I had that much money, why would we be going from pillar to post for the past year to get our child admitted to a good school, under RTE?” he asked, with an ironic smile.

Since the parents expressed their inability to do the same, the student was taunted and jeered every day. “He was told to not come to school if he didn’t get the affidavit. There were comments about how he should study in a school he can afford. They refused to give him books and refused to complete his admission process, the online part of which was ignored,” said Hingmira who had come knocking on the door of the Pune Municipal Corporation’s education department.

Assistant Education Officer Dhananjay Pardeshi took cognisance of the incident and said, “It is a very serious issue. No child should face such discrimination. We shall definitely look into the matter. No one can threaten or discriminate against the child. If needed, I will myself go and inspect the school.”

Principal of the English medium branch of the school Minal Chitale denied any knowledge of this incident.

“We have treated all our kids in the same way. I don’t think something

like this would happen here. We are pretty conscious to not let such issues crop up. I am sure there has been some misunderstanding,” she said.

Meanwhile, Hingmira has been trying to get the school to budge. He said he hopes that the intervention of the education department made a difference in the way the school treats his son. He asked, “I just want the best education for my son. Is it too much to ask for?”

RTE: A DIFFICULT ROAD The Right to Education (RTE) has been a difficult proposition since its initiation.

In Maharashtra, especially, since the private schools had been asked to admit students free of cost under RTE, there were legal battles raged and fought and there was a stay on the admissions for the past three years. While admissions have begun throughout the state, as many as 17 schools in the city have denied admission going against a High Court order. This number is the largest in the state. Even the schools that have complied and given admissions are not so rosy. The students are dealt with pretty rudely and discrimination creeps up. One can only hope for the issue to be resolved soon so that the victims, the students willing to learn, are not harmed. gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com

City slum pocket in darkness for 20 years PMC states Sambha Nagar Basti is illegal and land belongs to district administration

BY PRIYANKKA DESHPANDE @journopriyankka There is a slum pocket in the heart of the city that has no electricity for past 20 years.

And the dwellers of Sambha Nagar Basti in Karve Nagar are facing inconveniences because of the tussle between District Collectorate and Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). The residents gheraoed Assistant Commissioner of PMC (Warje and Karve Nagar ward) Umesh Mali in the Collectorate on October 8 demanding electricity and water connection in their slums.

PMC officials said that it has directed Mahadiscom (Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited) to disconnect power connections as the basti is illegal and civic body does not provide water facility to such human settlements.

Sambha Nagar Basti occupant Vijay Sawant said, “We have ration cards, Aadhaar cards and even voter ID, yet civic authorities term as illegal occupants.”

Another resident Vaishnavi Waghmare said that with PMC not providing water facility, the women folk have to go miles to fetch water. “I have not

seen electricity in the house since I came to settle in the basti after my marriage 10 years back. It is unsafe to move out at night,” Waghmare said.

As the basti falls under Kothrud MLA Medha Kulkarni’s constituency, she said, “If the basti is illegal then it should have been demolished long back. On the one hand PMC officials are talking about smart city, while on the other hand they do not even care to provide basic facilities to poor people.”

The BJP leader organised a meeting of slum dwellers and District Guardian Minister Girish Bapat at the district collectorate on October 8 and requested Bapat to look into the matter. However, residents gheraoed Mali who was present in the meeting.

Mali said, “This basti is unauthorised and we have instructed Mahadiscom to not provide electricity connection.” On asked as to why PMC is refraining from taking action, Mali said that the issue was brought to the notice of District Collectorate. “The land belongs to district administration and they should take action,” he said. priyankka.deshpande@ goldensparrow.com

Man walks a km with his wife’s severed head Contd from p 1 He is known to his neighbours as a normal, law-abiding person. However, he and his wife Sonabai, 60, had been bickering and arguing constantly for the last few months. Chavan suspected Sonabai of an extramarital affair and the continuing friction has even resulted in their sons Umesh and Mukesh evicting their father from the house one night.

Things reached breaking point Friday morning after his sons left home for work. That was when Chavan locked up his daughter-in-law inside the house and went over to the place outside the house where Sonabai was cleaning vessels.

Nilesh Shelke, a resident of Rajas Society, witnessed the horrific act from his seventh floor apartment. “I was in my balcony when I saw Ramchandra Chavan walking towards his wife with an axe in his hand. I rushed down to

try and stop him, but by the time I got there, the deed was done,” Shelke said.

Chavan struck Sonabai with the axe like a man possessed, and in a murderous frenzy, he chopped off her hands and legs, and then with a final mighty blow, beheaded her. Holding Sonabai’s severed head in one hand and the gory axe in another, he walked towards the main road. He walked thus for almost a kilometre and a half before the police arrived on the scene and took him into their custody.

The trio of traffic constables, including Vishnu Kumkar, DN Jagtap and Bhalchand Tawre were the ones to arrest Chavan. “We were informed about a man walking on the street brandishing an axe and the severed head of a woman. We rushed in that direction and came upon Chavan.

When we stopped him, however, he

was remarkably calm and coherent and replied to all our questions and came along with us to the police station without any fuss,” they said.

Chavan is said to have told passersby that he was going to the Katraj police station. But he told the traffic constables that he was going to Katraj lake where he wanted to throw his wife’s severed head.

The police have put down the time of the beheading as 11:15 am.

Chavan’s younger son Mukesh and his wife were summoned by the police for questioning, while Umesh was so shaken by the incident that he was rendered incoherent and inconsolable.

Chavan has been charged under sections 302 and 201 of the Indian Penal Code. The complainant is his daughter-in-law Sunita, whom he had locked up inside their house. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

Mortuary beheading Four men going around with a severed head were spotted by residents of Kondhwa in April 2008. They informed the city police control room, following which the quartet was arrested.

Investigations revealed that the foursome had severed the head from a body in the Sassoon General Hospital mortuary. The beheaded person was identified as Nasir Shaikh, afflicted by TB, whose body was sent for post-mortem since he had died within 24 hours after being admitted to the hospital.

The act of beheading was done as a dare by the four culprits.

Police inspecting the crime scene, while Ramu Chavan’s son and grandson watch (Above); DN Jagtap, Bhalchand Tawre and Vishnu Kumkar were the ones to arrest Chavan

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 10, 2015

“I am confident that with the will of leadership, Sri Lanka will achieve reconciliation, so that all Sri Lankans, including Tamil community, can live a life of equality in SL.” — Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

“When we advocate disarmament and peaceful resolution of disputes, we are taking into the contemporary world philosophy of active non-violence.”

— S Jaishankar, India’s Foreign Secretary

Mission of two fistfuls of grains Young members of Yuvatvaa are making efforts to feed hard working yet poor people

Youths knocking on neighbourhood doors and asking for just two fistfuls of grains in the city is not a common sight. These people asking for charity are members of Yuvatvaa launched in September with the mission to improve the living standard of those who do menial jobs.

Raunak Shetty, 23, and his seven friends have set an example on how to serve, how to grow and how to live a better life with more compassion towards others. Their lessthan-a-month-old NGO has come up with solutions to tackle hunger, poverty, poor standard of living and employment. The other friends-cum-members of the group are Ridhi Kataria (22), Pritam Bhandari (23), Jitesh Shetty (20), Aditya Birla (23), Sidhi Kataria (26), Vishwanath Rajput (23) and Uday Shetty (34). Hailing from different family backgrounds, these youngsters have lined up various programmes to take small steps towards feeding the underprivileged.

TRADEMARK DRIVE Raunak, the founder of student parliment (Chatra Sansad) Gujarat and Karnataka, believes in ‘being a doer than a moaner’.

“Instead of debating and discussing on issues weakening the country’s social fabric, we should walk the talk. Every small effort taken by an educated citizen will go a long way in strengthening the society. Addressing the issue of hunger, we have already started collection drives on Sundays. We are not asking much but just two fistfuls of grains of any kind. There is no money involved at all. From the collection,

SELF-FUNDED DRIVES Apart from the registration fees, the group has not really had any big expense till date.

The cost of packaging and delivering goods is covered by the members themselves. “We are not spending much. Cutting down the expense on eating out and travelling and channelising funds to this initiative gives us satisfaction and happiness,” Raunak said.

(From L-R) Raunak Shetty, Aditya Birla, Jitesh Shetty, Sidhi Kataria and Pritam Bhandari giving a part of the collected grains to Mamta Blind Orphanage Welfare Association. They provided rice, wheat and sugar to the organisation

we make half and one kg packets of grains and distribute it among the less fortunate,” Raunak, who is pursuing law, said.

One’s standard of living is measured according to his or her income, access to basic services and amenities, and the conditions in which that person lives. The target beneficiaries of members are balloon vendors, rag pickers and those doing menial tasks but are unable to earn enough to get two square meals a day.

Explaining the thought behind the drive, Ridhi said, “We are not donating anything to beggars. People we are helping are those working hard for a living but many times go to bed on an empty stomach.

Helping them get one meal a day is our aim.

The idea is to assist them in diverting money that they earn towards medical expenses or education of their children.”

The NGO’s collection drives have covered SB. Road, Shivaji Nagar, Kothrud, Aundh and Baner. They have managed to collect 1,000 kgs of sugar, wheat, rice and dal. Beginning with friends, families and neighbourhood areas, Yuvatvaa will soon be holding the drives throughout the city. Irrespective of other campaigns in future, grain collection drive will remain a permanent fi xture in their social calendar.

GROUNDWORK Before starting the mission, the friends carried out extensive surveys and case studies to figure out the people that need their assistance and get benefitted. They found labourers toiling for long hours under extreme temperatures yet finding it difficult to fend for themselves and families. The collected grains have till date been given

Youth do their bit to help drought-hit farmers Put up donation boxes at 20 spots across city, aim to collect Rs 1.5 lakh

Donation boxes were placed at Swargate, Good Luck, Roopali and Vaishali Hotels, Pune Station, Shivaji Nagar, E-Square Theatre and other places

The efforts carried out by actors Nana Patekar and Makarand Anaspure’s Naam Foundation in collecting funds to help drought-hit farmers have found support from youths hailing from Marathwada region and pursuing their studies in Pune. These students preparing for competitive examinations have joined hands with Naam Foundation and launched ‘Save Farmers Save Nation’ campaign.

These bright 20-somethings have been placing donation boxes at 20 crowded locations across the city since September 25. Standing at busy streets for two hours each in the morning and evening, they appeal to motorists, bikers, pedestrians and bystanders to donate for the cause.

Somnath Amundakar, a member of the campaign, said, “We have collected Rs 25,000 and the amount will be used to provide foodgrains to farmers in drought-hit villages Dharmapuri, Yelamb and Sawargaon from Beed district of Marathwada (Maharashtra)

Committed to make daughters our pride

to one blind school and about eight to nine families from across the city. The team has laid well-planned initiatives and prepared a list of places and people to be helped.

BY SALONEE MISTRY @Sal0412

BY TUSHAR RUPNAVAR @TGSWeekly

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for two months. These villages have recorded the season’s lowest rainfall this year.”

Hailing from rural areas and moving to Pune to prepare for competitive exams, the youth are doing their bit to help their villagers facing water crisis. ‘’Our areas are facing one of the worst droughts this year. Despite the state having the highest number of large dams in the country, poor rains have left many half-fi lled. The waters of dam is reserved for drinking and there is poor supply for irrigation leaving farmers with very little cultivation this year. Marathwada is reeling under water scarcity and farmers are not in a financial condition to ensure sufficient fodder for their livestock. With many farmers losing Kharif (autumn) crops due to poor rainfall in Marathwada region, they are now reeling under economic crisis. As part of civilised society, it is our responsibility to help our farmer brothers. Th rough ‘Save Farmer Save Nation’ campaign, we appeal to donors from Pune city for generous contribution.”

Overwhelmed by the response,

another volunteer Mahesh Bade said, “Citizens are willing to help the affected if they are assured that their money goes to the right place. We have collected more than Rs 25,000 and our target is Rs 1 lakh. Apart from citizen contribution, we ourselves will pool in funds to achieve the Rs1.5 lakh mark.

The money that we have collected despite not being registered as an NGO speaks a lot about the citizens’ concern towards the cause. We have placed 20 donation boxes at Swargate, Good Luck, Roopali/Vaishali Hotels, Pune Station, Shivaji Nagar, E-Square Theatre and other places.”

The volunteers show their identity cards of study rooms to people, explaining the mission and appeal for donation. “By spending two hours each in the morning and evening, we do not lose out on our coaching classes and daily study schedule. Our aim is to become public servants and serve the people and taking part in such social initiatives gives us satisfaction that we are doing our bit,” he said.

Mahesh Bade, Sanket Kadam, Sudarshan Dayal, Amol Hipparge, Amit Gurnule and Sagar Awale are also taking part in the drive. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

Patekar donates Rs 16 lakh to widows of farmers Nana Patekar and Makarand Anaspure have donated Rs 15,000 each to 113 widows of the farmers in Latur and Osmanabad who had committed suicide in the droughthit Maharashtra. Over 660 farmers in Maharashtra have committed suicide in 2015, as compared to 628 last year. The highest number of suicides were from Beed (179) followed by Osmanabad with (103) and Latur (64) districts. Patekar’s Naam Foundation collected Rs 80 lakh in a day. of Actor Akshay Kumar has also offered Rs 90 lakh for the cause.

DREAMING BIG Making the initiative a commercial feature is far from anything that the team is looking at.

Their effort is make the younger generation aware about their social responsibilities.

Their long-term goal is to ensure that the less fortunate are self-sufficient. “We do not want people to be dependent on others.

If we can generate employment and show them a way of earning money instead of begging on streets or sleeping hungry, we would think ourselves successful,” Ridhi said, adding that the NGO is taking one small step at a time.

FUTURE PROJECTS Yuvatvaa’s upcoming projects include launching a paper bag making drive in November aimed at providing employment opportunities, besides helping in reducing the use of plastic bags. The NGO plans to hold a drive to collect old newspapers, notebooks, worksheets and other waste sheets of paper for this campaign. Initially, a bag-making workshop will be held for students of a blind schools in the city.

Funds generated from bag sale will be given to people making it after deducting the operation cost. An HIV awareness programme is also planned. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

(From left) Dr Asmita Gupte, Dr Sanjay Gupte, AD Shinde, DR Barve, at the launch of AsmitA Movement in the city

BY JAMES MATHEW @mathewthejames Going beyond their medical responsibilities, Dr Sanjay Gupte and Dr Asmita Gupte of AsmitA Medical Foundation, the social arm of Gupte Hospital Pune, launched AsmitA Movement on Thursday. Their mission is welfare of girl child and women empowerment. “The birth of girl child in India is still considered a bad luck in many homes in India. A revolutionary change in mindset is required to overcome this anomaly,” AsmitA Medical Foundation Managing Trustee Dr Sanjay said.

The movement will focus on six vital categories: education and career guidance, health and nutrition, awareness against sex selected terminations, safety and lifestyle challenges in young girls, and sports and fine arts encouragement.

The non-profit initiative commemorates the International Girl Child Day. AsmitA Movement is a platform where underprivileged daughters and girls can grow together and nurture their individual personalities to attain true potential.

“We want the girls to become mentors, entrepreneurs and leaders so that the movement in future becomes selfsufficient and robust,” Dr Asmita said.

“We will partnering with NGOs like Jagruti, Swaroop Wardhini and Seva Sahayog Samstha and dedicated mentors like Symbiosis Principal Director Vidya Yeravdekar, Kirloskar industries Chairman Atul Kirloskar, DES Vice Chairman Vikas Kakatkar, IG (CID) Maharshtra State (Rtd.) AD Shinde and Chess GM Abhijit Kunte are also associated with the project,” he said. james.mathew@goldensparrow.com

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 10, 2015

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY

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OCTOBER 10, 2015

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PICS BY ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

They serve wholesome food at rock-bottom prices

Catering is big business indeed but there are also some generous-spirited people who are not in it solely for the money

BY SHAILESH JOSHI @TGSWeekly Food is a universal leveller for all living creatures. We must eat to live.

The human race, of course, since the invention of fire, has devoted extraordinary levels of time, energy and creative input to the food we consume. So it could be little or no

exaggeration to say that the human race lives to eat, more than it eats to live.

Wining and dining are, especially in the urban affluence, elevated to a fine and epicurean art and there are nearly as many etiquettes and rituals with the indulgence in food, as there are races and regions on this planet.

But despite food being a common factor, one man’s meat can be another’s

poison. And what a well-heeled urban bigwig spends on single meal can probably feed a lowly labourer’s or average person’s family for a year, going by the exorbitant tariffs at five-star hotels and gourmet restaurants.

Pune has, over the preceding few decades, blossomed into a genuine foodie paradise, offering cuisines from around the globe, be it Italian,

French, Thai, Turkish, Mediterranean, Japanese, Moroccan, Iranian or Iraqi.

But on the flip side, it is also dotted with eateries for the common man, and the ‘khanaval’ or mess that dishes out daily meals to the money-conscious citizen are a distinct feature of the Puneri food circuit. What sets them wholly apart is the human element, because the customer at such a commoners’ mess

means more than a paying client, and he/she is bestowed far more than just common courtesy. In fact, some of the folk who run these people’s diners, are so caring and generous-hearted that their customers are allowed to pay their monthly mess charges when they can.

Such kindness is so hard to come by in this money-driven age, that these angels of mercy exemplify Mohandas

Karamchand Gandhi’s words to the effect that in the next incarnation on earth, god will appear in the form of bread.

Meet these caterers of the human kind, most of whom go beyond the line of their duty to provide their needy customers the most ‘sattvic’ or wholesome food at rock-bottom prices. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

Ashwini Ravidra Pusalkar

Pooja Mandar Yadav

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shwini Pusalkar, 54, must come across as motherly to the students who frequent her khanaval. This diminutive woman radiates a simplicity and cordiality most becoming for someone who runs a common man’s eatery. And the large chunk of her clientele who are students, Ashwini lavishes with an almost motherly care, which is certain to go a long way in easing the pangs of homesickness these out-of-towners feel constantly. “My young customers keep in touch with us long after they return to their home towns or go elsewhere,” she says with obvious pride and joy.

Her husband Ravindra’s wireman’s profession was far from steady and she helped out by cooking for other households. They decided to forsake living in a joint family, and invested Rs 1.5 lakh in their own house, where they moved in with just a handful of possessions. “Money was hard to come by and we had the house loan to pay off. That’s when I thought of starting a kihanaval as I already was doing cooking jobs,” she said. This plan took concrete shape in 1995-96, in a 10 x 10 room at the three-storey Bhagyaprakalp Society in Shinde Ali at Shukrawar Peth, in the heart of old Pune. “There was no miracle and the going was tough initially.

We had only two girl students as regular customers.

But word soon spread about our wholesome meals, and thankfully we began to get a constant and regular flow of customers,” Ashwini said..

Today Ashwini has 45 regular customers she serves on a daily or monthly terms. She has two women helpers who help out with the food preparation and serving. The khanaval of course, boasts no frills and is furnished with the most spartan of furniture, tables and stools mostly. It is open from 12 noon to 2 pm for lunch, and from 8 pm to 10.30 pm for dinner. It costs Rs 50 for a thali consisting of rice-dal, dry/wet vegetables and ‘poli’ or chapati. “Our food is Brahmin style mild and non-spicy, and those with a yen for the spicy are served mirchi ‘thecha’. The Sunday special dessert includes gulab jam, jilbi or kheer,” Ashwini said.

The monthly mess charge amounts to Rs 1200 for a single meal or Rs 2400 for both meals.

Kind-hearted Ashwini serves poor students at subsidised rates and they are also allowed to keep credit and pay when they are able. The rates, if hiked, are only in January.

Calamity befell Ashwini in 2014 when Ravindra was hurt badly in a road accident which has left him incapacitated. In 2005, he underwent bypass surgery. “I remember what invaluable help we were given by my mess regulars Chaitanya Deshpande, Raghavendra Bagadia and Govind Kulkarni. They took turns in staying by Ravindra’s bedside in the hospital, and also raised the much-needed money for his surgery from friends and well-wishers,” she said.

Their son, Bhushan, 33, works with milk delivery at Chitales, and helps out in the mess in his spare time. His wife Vrushali is a teacher. The Pusalkars’ daughter Anuradha, 30, is also married.

Shubham Keskar, 21, is studying to become a chartered accountant, and has been eating at Ashwini’s mess for two months. “It’s a blessing to be provided such tasty, home-cooked food when one is away from home. And it is more special because of the homely atmosphere at this khanaval.”

Sanket Lakhotiya is also a wannabe chartered accountant. He said, “Ashwinibai is so particular about healthy and hygienic meals, and the food makes me feel like I am eating at home.”

Gajanan Chandele, 31, has been a regular at Ashwini’s mess for six years. “I have never ever thought of eating elsewhere, because this khanaval is so warm and homely, and Ashwinitai manages it all with such kindness and care. It’s a home away from home.”

ooja Yadav, 24, has had a decent education and has completed standard XII. She and Mandar were struck by Cupid’s darts, and the god of love also smiled down on them, making their path to the marriage altar a mostly trouble-free one. And in due time came along their daughter Durga, who is now three.

“Mandar used to work in a print shop and he is also a skilled carpenter. But we wanted to start a joint enterprise and the idea of a khanaval or mess appealed to both of us,” Pooja said. They took the plunge and embarked on the new uncharted route by renting out the premises at what used to be the Godbole wada, near Chimnya Ganpati, opposite Gajre Chambers in Sadashiv Peth, three years ago. They have named it ‘Durga Mess’ after their beloved daughter, of course.

Pooja is dark, very slight of build, less than five feet tall, and humble to a fault.

She is endowed with a sparkling energy and her cordiality and easy manner are most appealing. “Our daughter Durga is the love and light of our lives. What we want most in life is to give her a fine upbringing, education and a stable and happy life. The mess, we hope, will enable to do this,” Pooja said.

“We are simple people and wanted our mess to be wholly and essentially ‘bharatiya’ in nature. Therefore the seating here is on ‘chatai’ or mats on the floor. It is a small place and we can cater to ten or twelve

S

hobha Gaikwad, 42, has an instantly likeable charm. She is fair of complexion and is quite imposing physically. She and her husband Sanjay have been in the khanaval line of business for almost two decades. “I

Ujwala Vidyadhar Parasvar

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segregated, be it in the kitchen, cleaning or serving. “I make it a point to treat them well and they also get free meals.” Ujwala said.

Her husband lends a hand with the grocery shopping etc.

The Vithu Mauli mess is open from 12 noon to 3 for lunch, and from 8 pm to 10.30 pm for dinner. Besides the regular rice plate or thali, Ujwala also offers a restaurant-like menu with a variety of dishes, and special goodies during festivals.

A thali costs Rs 60, and customers are served on a Rs 30 coupon basis amounting to Rs 1650 monthly.

“I do not compromise on quality, and maintain a scrupulously clean and hygienic environment,” Ujwala said. “You may find it unusual but I also insist on a temple-like custom, where my customers are required to remove their footwear before entering our mess. They are also urged to put their dishes in the washbasin after they are done,” she said. Another remarkable aspect of this eatery is that the customer is asked to ring a bell to show their appreciation for the meal.

Besides the regulars, they also have family groups at the eatery.

Regular customer Vishal Sasane said, “Not only is the food served at Vithu Mauli mess of impeccable quality, but Ujwala mawshi is genuinely caring and considerate to all her customers, and who could ask for more?”

charges are Rs 1000 for a single meal and Rs 2000 for two meals monthly. The Sunday meal includes a sweet dish.

Rahul Dhangar, 23, of Khamalkheda in Dhule district has been a regular at Durga Mess for two and half years. “Pooja vahini and Mandar dada are the nicest people you

will ever meet. Not only are the meals here affordable and tasty, but the home-like atmosphere and love I feel are priceless, especially for out-of-towners like me. And where else will you find this ‘eat now, pay later’ kindness in these money-loving mercenary times?” he said.

Shobha Sanjay Gaikwad,

Sharada Shivaji Pawar

jwala Parasvar, 50, is originally from Pandharpur, and was married into a rather well-to-do family. Her husband Vidyadhar used to run a grocer’s shop and things were going well. Their conjugal life couldn’t be happier when they were blessed with two children, daughter Kshitija and son Aishwarya Raj, who are educated and well-settled.

“The idea of starting a restaurant or khanaval came to me quite out of the blue really. My life was well settled and it was more about using my energy and knowhow to do something,” Ujwala said. The smallmade, dusky complexioned woman is given to a simple sari attire, but she exudes a wholly pleasant and exceptionally friendly aura.

She started the Vithu Mauli mess at Sanjeevani chowk in Sahakar Nagar, in 2007.

“I consider myself fortunate that it all went off without a hitch, The ten customers I had initially multiplied into 50 before I knew it, and then there was no looking back,” Ujwala said. “Now I have nearly 80 regular customers, and they are a very respectable lot, including police personnel and civic employees,” she said.

The mess adjacent to their one-storey house, now has 40 tables, indoors and outdoors.

Ujwala has knack for orderly management and since two years she has ten women helpers, whose duties are well

people at a time,” she said.

They are content with the way things are going, their relatively small clientele, and are not yearning for overnight riches.

“I do most of the cooking myself, though I do have two women helpers,” Pooja said.

A rice thali costs Rs 40, and the monthly

harada Pawar, 48, has been running Vahini’s Mess for 22 years.

Bespectacled Sharada is somewhat non-descript and diminutive but her friendliness and charm are the reasons she is known as ‘vahini’ by one and all.

“My husband Shivaji, god bless his soul, had lifelong addiction to alcohol, and it was also the cause of his untimely death eight years ago. I used to work at the Lunkad Bhabhi mess, which used to be closed during Diwali. Manoj Lohade, Amol Kala, Ajay Agrawal and Sachin Chordiya were students, and regular customers at the Lunkad mess, They asked me if I could serve him meals during Diwali,” Sharada said.

That was the catalyst for Sharada to start out on her catering business. She started off in a little 10 x12 room. She was also helped out by the students’ foursome with groceries and money. Since then she has switched locations thrice before settling in the current one near Natubag chowk at Sadashiv Peth three years ago. “Currently I pay Rs 35,000 as rent and can cater to 40 customers at a time,” she said. “I also started WiFi service six months ago and have an LED TV,” she says with pride.

From the initial charge of Rs 800 a month, she now charges Rs 1400 for a single meal and Rs 2400 for twin meals monthly.

The vegetarian thali costs Rs 70 and on Sundays she serves seet dishes like gulab

used to work as ‘kamwali bai’ or domestic help in other households. Being mother of three children, Supriya, Sujata and Vaibhav, my landlord Dada Ketkar was aware of my struggle to manage both home and the work,

jam, rabdi and rasmalayi.

She has had to bring up her children mostly on her own. Her son Shrikant, 27, is her man Friday in the running of the mess.

Her daughter Shital, 32, is married.

Ritesh Panjwani of Jalgaon, has been a regular customer for four years and swears by the quality of food here. “Sharada vahini is

and one day he asked me if I had thought of starting my own business.” Shobha said. “I am ever grateful to him for the suggestion as it has turned out to be such a fruitful decision,” she said.

so friendly and kind and is not at all moneyminded, but to her the customer matters most,” he said.

Shriram Morage is studying for his UPSC exam and has been a regular eater at the mess for two years. “Sharada bhabhi is generous with her servings and her attitude and service is so warm and homely,” he said.

Sagram Navale, 22, has been coming to

Thus began their Vaibhav Mess (named after their son) in a one bhk apartment at Shaniwar Peth, near Dakshin Mukhi Maruti 19 years ago. Customers then were charged Rs 600 for two meals, and Rs 350 for one meal monthly.

“I am so proud that we have managed to run our household and educate our children, all from what we earned from the mess,” Shobha said. From their rather modest beginning, they now have 60 regular customers today.

“I do all the cooking, but I also have the help of Rohini and my dear husband and son Vaibhav are always willing to lend a hand,” Shobha said.

It is a modest place with simple furniture, and can accommodate 15 customers at a time.

The fare is simple enough too with the rice thali costing Rs 50. They cater to the middle class customers and charge Rs 1200 for a single meal, and Rs 2200 for two meals, monthly. What comes extra is a sweet dish, and for a change, some nonvegetarian fare for regulars on Sundays.

Quick on the uptake, Shibha speech contains a smattering of English words like ‘no problem’, etc which she has picked up from her young clients.

Computer student Vinayak Desai of Kolhapur is a relatively new customer but he swears by the flavor and variety of the meals at Vaibhav Mess.

Gajanan Pawar said, “It’s a treat to get a non-vegetarian dish like egg curry here and the seet dish on Sunday is welcome too. While most of the khanavals are shut for Diwali, Vaibhav Mess is still open.”

this mess for three years. “Sharadaji is savvy, which shows with her providing WiFi service.

She is also friendly and caring by nature and knows how to treat her customers,” he said.

Sushant Kadam has been a regular customer for five years. “The generous helpings, the hygiene, variety of food and most of all Sharada vahini’s warmth are what I appreciate the most,” he said.

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 10, 2015

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The first two video games copyrighted in the U.S. were Asteroids and Lunar Lander in 1980. http://www.reliableplant.com/

India-Pakistan border at night P 13

Facebook tops networking, WhatsApp in msg apps

APP WORLD

Design your home Intero:Interior Design Gallery

Facebook continues its dominance for social networking platforms with 51 per cent of the users Facebook remains the most popular social networking site in India with 51 per cent of users logging on daily, while WhatsApp tops the list of instant messaging (IM) apps, according to report by global research consultancy firm TNS. As per the findings of ‘Connected Life’ -- a global study of the digital attitudes and behaviours of 60,500 internet users across 50 countries, 55 per cent are on instant messaging every day.

In India, Facebook continues its dominance for social networking platforms with 51 per cent of the users while WhatsApp is the most popular for instant messaging app with 56 per cent of users, TNS said in a statement.

Commenting on the findings, TNS India Executive Director Parijat Chakraborty said: “The social networking market of India is Facebook centric, which is fuelling the adoption of Facebook Messenger also as the IM platform for private messaging. However, WhatsApp is by far the most popular IM platform in India.”

As per the study, Facebook has maintained its position as the world’s favourite social platform with almost one third of global internet users (30 per cent) saying they use it every day and with usage in Asia Pacific (APAC) region much higher.

India’s Facebook usage of 51 per cent, however, is far lower compared to some countries in APAC markets like Thailand

(78 per cent), Taiwan (75 per cent), Hong Kong (72 per cent).

Interestingly, India is the second largest base with over 125 million users

for Facebook that has 1.49 billion users globally. The US has the highest number of Facebook users.

On the popularity instant messaging

Indian tech, services mkt to touch $350 bn by 2025: Nasscom Industry expected to grow from $132 billion in FY 2014-15 to $225 billion by 2020

in India, Chakraborty said the country had always been a text heavy market. This legacy, coupled with the attraction of connecting with like-minded people privately, is making instant messaging platforms a perfect tool.

“This new-found excitement of largely new mobile- internet users has made India one of the highest globally in average daily number of messages exchanged,” Chakraborty said.

In APAC, over three out of five internet users or 61 per cent are now using instant messaging every day, while 82 per cent are using it on a weekly basis, the report said.

Overall, “the popularity of IM has soared over the past year, with a 12 per cent uplift in daily usage globally as more people opt for closed messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and WeChat”, it added.

IM has achieved high numbers of daily users across much of APAC, with 77 peer cent of those in Malaysia, 73 per cent in Hong Kong, 69 per cent in China and 38 per cent in India, using an IM platform daily. By contrast, some Western markets are lagging behind, including the UK (39 per cent) and the US (35 per cent), it said.

TNS said While IM popularity is rising, traditional social media platforms are still holding strong, allowing content to go viral more quickly. The challenge for brands is to create content that consumers actually want to share.

PTI

Exploride raises more than half a million USD in pre-orders Exploride Inc has raised more than half a million US dollars in pre-orders within 40 days of its international launch, a record-making feat for any Indian startup company till date.

The company incubated at the Startup Village here, has already received more than 1,800 pre-orders from around 50 countries for the innovative product that combines display and gesture-recognition technology to provide hands-free access to maps, calls, texts, notifications, music and the onboard diagnostics of a car.

“Raising a whopping USD 512,718 in 40 days for a startup is a feat achieved by no other company in India,” claimed Sunil Vallath, Founder and CEO, Exploride.

“We are so excited about the global response which validates our product,” he said in a release here.

The product, known as Exploride Heads-up Display, has received orders from most parts of the globe, but the biggest pre-orders, priced at 299 dollars apiece, are from the US. The cutting edge small and portable product sits on the dashboard of cars and provides a safer and smarter navigation advice. “Your car’s infotainment system, instrument cluster, navigation system, and your smart phone all these compete for your attention while you drive.

Exploride puts all of them in one place, on a transparent display, so that you won’t have to take your eyes off the road,” he explained.

The utility-packed device has GPS, LTE (a 4G mobile communications standard ten times faster than 3G) and Google maps that direct the driver through the best route, removing the need for a smart phone. It also has voice activated navigation that reminds the driver to take direction every time. Startup Village chairman Sanjay Vijayakumar said the success of Exploride is a great example of global ideas being created in local ecosystems.

PTI

Innovation and entrepreneurship will drive the next phase of growth for Indian technology and services market in the coming decade with the industry poised to touch USD 350 billion by 2025, a Nasscom-McKinsey report has said.

The report, titled Perspective 2025: Shaping the Digital Revolution’, said the industry is “well on track” to grow from USD 132 billion in FY 2014-15 to USD 225 billion by 2020 and further touch USD 350 billion by 2025.

“The industry is well on track for growth. There is a continued progression of double digit growth despite expansion of base. But below the calm waters, there is a lot of churn happening as well and companies will have to do a lot of things to address the

challenges as well,” Nasscom President R Chandrashekhar told reporters here.

He added that these challenges range in nature, from geopolitical to regulatory to the need for innovation and disruption.

“The industry is expected to grow at over 11 per cent to USD 225 billion in 2020 and 10 per cent-plus to USD 350 billion by 2025.

About 1.2-2 million people will be added with the next USD 100 billion revenue,” the report said.

Driven by the adoption of digital technology, the total addressable market for global technology and business services will likely expand to about USD 4 trillion by 2025, growing at an average annual rate of about 3.6 per cent, the report added.

“Probably the most pressing need

New tech may lead to cheaper cellphone batteries

Indian-American to lead consortium

Addressable market for global tech and business services likely expand to USD 4 trillion by 2025

Researchers have overturned a decades-old scientific dogma and shown that a potassium-ion battery is possible and can act as a cheaper and more sustainable alternative to lithium-ion batteries that are widely used in cellphones and laptops.

Lithium-ion batteries are ubiquitous in devices ranging from cellphones to laptop computers and electric cars. But there may soon be a new type of battery based on materials that are far more abundant and less costly.

Researchers have now shown that it is possible to develop a potassium-ion battery. The last time this possibility was explored was in 1932.

PTI

is for companies to develop offering along with new digital service lines, even as they re-invent their traditional service lines,” McKinsey & Company Managing Director India Noshir Kaka said.

He added that companies hoping to prosper in the “new environment” will have to closely watch six new service lines, including the Internet of Things, cyber security, social, mobility, analytics and cloud.

Out of the USD 350 billion, exports are expected to account for about USD 280 billion and USD 70 billion (from USD 34 billion in FY 2014-15) from the domestic market.

“The focus on Digital India, skills India and other such initiatives will drive consumption in India,” he said.

Talking about regulatory challenges, Nasscom Chairman BVR Mohan Reddy said issues with taxation and difficulties around starting and exiting businesses are some of the impediments faced by businesses, especially in the technology sector.

PTI

BY LALIT K JHA An Indian-American engineering professor will lead a US consortium to identify new and emerging areas of advanced manufacturing that could benefit from shared publicprivate investment in research and development, education and training, the White House has said.

Sridhar Kota, Herrick Professor of Engineering at the University of Michigan, will lead the university’s work on a consortium, MForesight - The Alliance for Manufacturing Foresight, to identify new and emerging areas of advanced

manufacturing that could benefit from shared publicprivate investment in research and development, education and training, a media release said yesterday.

“In this ‘think-and-do’ tank, we will identify emerging

technologies early on so the nation can invest public and private sector dollars in a way that builds the infrastructure, knowledge and workforce skills needed to anchor manufacturing technology in this country,” Kota said.

Kota served as assistant director for advanced manufacturing at the White House from 2009-2012. He helped create Obama’s Advanced Manufacturing Partnership in 2011 and the Manufacturing Innovation Institutes in 2012.

The US Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National

Science Foundation (NSF) said the consortium will commission teams of national subject matter experts to provide technology roadmaps and reports on selected emerging technologies that outline projections for development, application and economic impacts.

NSF and NIST are funding MForesight with a three-year, USD 5.8 million cooperative agreement. “With collective access to over 30,000 subject matter experts across a wide range of industries, MForesight will serve as a continuous mechanism for research coordination across the public and private sectors,” Kota said.

PTI

IOS/Android: Free Are you looking for creative and stunning ideas for your dream home? Browse through the gallery of images in Intero. You will be stunned with new interior design ideas to redesign your home. All the gallery images are categorised with simple and clean user interface. Turn your phone or tablet into landscape to have a full screen view of the images. You can save images locally, for you to view it off-line.

Share your favorite images with friends and family right within the application.

Houzz Interior Design Ideas

IOS/Android: Free Whether you’re looking to completely renovate or simply redecorate, Houzz has everything you need to improve your home. Be inspired by over seven million high-resolution photos of home interiors and exteriors that you can browse through by style, room and location, and then save and share.

Connect with over 800,000 active home improvement professionals, from architects and interior designers to builders and more, who can make your dream home a reality; and discover thousands of products to complete your projects.

Lovely Interior Photo Frames

IOS/Android: Free Are you ambitious to feel proud to show your interior home decoration and designs to your neighbours or friends and relatives with your photos on walls?

You only have to install Lovely Interior Photo Frames Application from play store and share photos and feel proud. Collect your lover’s photo from your android gallery or from the app’s camera and set Lovely Interior Photo Frames on your lover’s photo and surprise your lover with unique idea of photography. Too easy to use it, just collect photo and drag it on the hollow area of the frames and set it according to your mind and wish and post it on Facebook and many other social media.

Homestyler

IOS/Android: Free Homestyler Interior Design for your Android powered devices allows you to experiment with the interior design and create your own eyecatching designs. The app offers an extensive catalog sorted according to part of the house, bathroom, lounge, kitchen, bedroom… that will help you to get a perfect idea to decorate / redecorate your dream home. Take a picture of the room and create the basis for a three-dimensional interior design. With the app you have the possibility of rearrange and placement of furniture, decorations, lamps, carpets, paintings, mirrors, etc. The program has a user friendly interface, intuitive and easy to use. In addition, you can share your creativity with customers or friends through Facebook or email.

Design Dimensions

IOS/Android: Free Whenever you are designing any room, the most important factor you have to consider is the amount of space available.

Things like natural lighting and colour palette are also important, not quite as much as the amount of usable space at your disposal. The smaller the room, the more critical it becomes to utilize the space effectively, especially if you want to avoid a cluttered look. Originally made for design students, Design Dimensions has become a staple app for designers everywhere. The database features a vast number of common furniture and household items, along with their dimensions. This means no more buying closets that are too big and end up blocking the door from opening all the way.

ENVIRONMENT

Total historical emissions (1850-2011) in million tonne CO2

H EALTH

3,25,545.08

35,581.29

Historically, the US has been the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases. Its responsibility in forcing climate change has been the most

NGT warns UP, MP over pollution issue

Currently, the US is the 2nd largest emitter of greenhouse gases

It is important for the US to overcome its state of climate perdition

1,40,860.33

The good news is that the US can. It has such immense capacity

Per capita CO2 emissions (metric tonne, 2012)

16.5

7.2

Every parameter of well-being points to the fact that the US can take on a very ambitious target to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide

1.7

This approach of the US 6.8 is shifting the burden of GDP (PPP, 000’ US $, 2011) fighting climate change to 1,55,33,800 nations like 1,68,11,791 India, says CSE

Percentage of global CO2 emissions: Past and present (1850-2011)

10.7

China

18.4

7.4

EU-28

Russia

59,62,978

1,34,95,910

Ahead of the crucial climate meet GDP per capita (US $, 2011) in Paris, Centre for Science and 49,854 Environment has slammed the US ‘climate action plan’,33,414 saying that Washington’s “business- as-usual” approach 4,883 is putting the world at “deadly risk”10,041 and shifting the burden of fighting climate change to nations like India.

Total primary energy consumption BTU, 2011) “Th(Quadrillion e business-as-usual approach 97.46 of of the US means shifting of burden fighting climate change72.67 to nations like India,” CSE23.47 said in its analysis of the US’s Intended Nationally Determined 103.72 Contributions (INDC), or voluntary cuts. ItTotal noted that there is “no evidence” renewable electricity net consumption KWh, 2011) of a policy driven(billion downward trend in greenhouse gas (GHG)527.5 emissions.

In the run up to the Paris 684.8 conference, to be held between from November 30 to December 11, CSE 160.4 also said that the US has been the 801 UN “biggest divisive force” in the climate change negotiations.

It said that the “no-domesticaction” approach of the US has transformed the UN Convention from a forum where every nation was supposed 12 to take action based on ‘common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR)’ and respective capabilities to a forum

4.4

Brazil

21.2

3.3

USA

Japan

2.8

India

28.7

2.2

Rest of World

Canada

0.9

South Africa

USA

EU-28

Per capita electricity consumption (KWh)

India

China

Motor vehicles per thousand (in 2011)

13,246

786

5,738 684 3,298

Air travel (million passenger trips in 2013)

473 18 69

Human Development Index (2013)

743 NA

0.914 0.735

75

0.586 352

0.719

Sources: World Bank, IEA, HDI report

where nations are competing in a race to the bottom.

CSE’s analysis on the US’s INDC on GHG emissions said that this also puts the world at “deadly risk”, because

of the impacts of changing climate which is already evident in countries like India, where erratic weather is becoming the new “normal” leading to huge losses for the poorest.

Thermal power plants and coal mines in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh causing acute air, water pollution

In a “severe indictment” of the US INDC, CSE said that the US is not doing anything extra for climate change as most of the changes are happening naturally and automatically because of economic reasons and market forces and improvements are being “squandered away” because of increased growth and consumption.

“The US INDC is neither ambitious nor equitable. Our analysis shows that the key economic sectors of the US economy — energy, transport, industry etc — are operating and would continue to operate till 2030 in a business-as-usual way, even as the rest of the world gears up to fight climate change,” said Sunita Narain, CSE Director General while releasing the report.

Every country, in the run up to the Paris climate change summit, is submitting its INDCs. The US has already submitted its climate action plan in which it has pledged to cut greenhouse gases by 26-28 per cent by 2025 against the 2005 level.

India too recently submitted its INDCs in which it has pledged cutting down emissions upto 35 per cent by 2030 from 2005 levels, a 75 per cent jump over its present voluntary commitment.

Noting that the poor ambition of the US means other countries have low ambition, Narain said that the present climate action vocabulary, which has US inventions and coinages like ‘bottom-up’, ‘nationally determined action’ and ‘voluntary’ suits only them.

PTI

Arunachal takes up plan for conservation of gibbons

National Green Tribunal has warned of shutting down thermal power plants and coal mines in Singrauli and Sonebhadra areas of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh for causing acute air and water pollution, asking the states whether the people there have the right to live.

NGT’s sharp reaction came when it was hearing a plea alleging high levels of pollution in Singrauli and Sonebhadra where the coal mines and thermal plants are operating and the serious impact it was having on the local populace.

The green panel slammed the state governments after a committee set up by it to inspect these areas submitted that heavy industrial activities in the region were a major source of pollution. It asked the two governments to inform by the next date the steps they proposed to take to tackle the problem.

“We will shut down your thermal plants, (you) stay in dark,” a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.

“Th is comprehensive report shows very serious levels of pollution in the area in question. Don’t the people of that area have a right to live? You can’t do this to the people.

Heavy industry in the region are major source of pollution

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Regal splendour: Elephants togged up in decorative attire

CE) Department’s submission that rejuvenation camps were being conducted for temple elephants at a cost of Rs 2.75 lakh for each pachyderm.

The PIL was fi led by M Saravanan, an environmental activist.

HR and CE Commissioner M Veera Shanmugha Moni in his counter

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Dr Vijaypat Singhania’s grandchildren from his estranged son Madhupati have moved Bombay High Court seeking their share in ancestral property. They have filed a suit against their grandfather, father, mother and Raymond Limited. Detailed story on p7 TGS LIFE

When hunger strikes past midnight

DITCH THE

While Gautam Singhania ‘in a span of 14 years as CMD of Raymond Limited has built a personal net worth of `1.4 billion, Madhupati belonging to the same family was struggling to settle down in a new country, educate his children and make a new life.’ Gautam and his family led a luxurious life ‘with fancy cars, private jets, yachts and expensive holidays.’

NATION

CITY

Bakery worker’s daughter gets her wings P 12

Why are traffic cops taking selfies these days?

P3

AUTO,

HAIL A

CAB

GAUTAM SINGHANIA

or long distances (depending on their mood), overcharge or ask for obnoxious fares, often refuse to ply by meter – the list is endless.

TGS Team members decided to give the ‘victimised’ autorickshaw drivers a chance.

Five members of the team tried hiring rickshaws for distances

Intentions of Dr Singhania were ‘malafide and illegal’ with a motive to grab the share of Madhupati and Anuradha as well as grandchildren and to achieve the same he directed that his son and daughter-inlaw move to another country ‘instead of Pune Municipal Collectively the family. continuing to stay in India with

DEHU

6

Corporation, PimpriChinchwad Municipal Corporation and Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited have spent `1,816 crores on constructing dedicated corridors and flyovers along major routes, erecting bus shelters, and buying buses.

Despite this not a single route is operational or has succeeded in years. Citizens residing in twin cities continue to cry foul over pathetic public transport system. And from the looks of it nothing is going to change in near future.

See Spotlight on p8&9

Precious man hours are lost every day at Hinjewadi just because planners forgot to make more entry and exit points. Over a decade after Hinjewadi was planned to house country’s best IT firms and saying is true. But what they are not telling us or willing to talent, planners have finally woken up to the plight of citizens. concede is that their enemy lies within. Their enemy number one They have now planned five alternative roads. But the authorities is not private cabs but members of their own ilk – many of whom are in no hurry to complete them. See spotlight on p8 & 9 are rude, refuse to ply short

CHIKHALI

ALANDI

KIWALENIGDI

~ Suit filed by the siblings

What a mess!

Teacher booked for sexually abusing 22 students acquitted

Parents teach them more than exams do P 10

1,816 crores spent on BRTS, `1,816

~ Suit filed by the siblings

And yet no respite for commuters

DR VIJAYPAT SINGHANIA

Madhupati Singhania (57) and his wife Anuradha (54) with their children Ananya (29), Rasaalika (26), Tarini (20) and Raivathari (18)

Rickshaw unions across the city want us to believe that private cab service providers or radio cab operators, as they are popularly known as, are villains.

Around 12,000 radio cabs have made their lives miserable for 50,000-odd autorickshaw drivers in twin cities of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. The auto drivers want us to believe that corporate houses with deep pockets behind the cab services are eating into their share. Essentially poor rickshaw drivers are getting poorer because of stiff competition from private cab operators.

COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS

CITY

Truly, a tree lady P4

PICS ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

A Madras High Court bench here has closed a public interest litigation seeking a ban on keeping elephants in captivity in temples and houses after the state government submitted that the Supreme Court was seized of the matter.

Special Government Pleader M Govindan informed the court that a similar case was pending in the apex court, which in an interim order had permitted keeping elephants in temples subject to certain conditions.

Closing the PIL, Justices R Sudhakar and V M Velumani also recorded Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and

listed various measures taken by the state government since 2003 for proper upkeep of temple elephants.

“Elephants are maintained in temples from time immemorial. They are part and parcel of Hindu culture and tradition. In so many temples, “Gaja Puja” is performed and elephants take part in daily rituals and other events,” he submitted.

He said the government was conducting rejuvenation camps for the elephants. Elephants from Puducherry and Dargah in Nagoor too were part of the camps, he submitted.

Elephants were provided with special diet according to their age, height and weight during the camps, he said, noting pachyderms which could not attend the camps due to health reasons were also provided with a similar diet and medical facilities at temples.

PTI

GRANDCHILDREN SUE THE COMPLETE MAN

CHINCHWAD

AKURDI

RAVET

BHOSARI

4 THERGAON HINJEWADI VILLAGE

DIGHI

NASHIK PHATA

KALEWADI FATA

5

WAKAD

LOHEGAON

DAPODI 50

PIMPLE GURAV

WAGHOLI

3 4 BANER

VISHRANT VIMAN WADI NAGAR YERWADA

AUNDH

2

SANGAMWADI PASHAN

AH47

WADGAON SHERI

MUNDHWA

SHIVAJI NAGAR

GHORPADI

9

BAVDHAN

CAMP

HADAPSAR

KOTHRUD

SWARGATE PARVATI

WANOWRIE

1

NANDED AMBEGAON BUDRUK

KONDHWA

UNDRI

KATRAJ

4

Sab golmal hai...

Had it not been for a Pune-based activist everybody had forgotten about a film on Lokmanya Tilak commissioned in 2001 by Central Government at the cost of 2.5 crores. Three years after Vishnu Kamalapurkar raised questions about the film,

The creative writing teacher from a reputed school in Baner was booked and arrested in February 2013. A special court acquitted him on the grounds that police bungled up in collecting evidence

RAHUL RAUT

Elephants in temples are part and parcel of Hindu culture

Get your voice heard on NetaG P6

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

Elephants remain in captivity

NATION

CITY

No damaged goods please P3

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PUNE, MARCH 21, 2015 | www.thegoldensparrow.com

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

advance, and second instalment was to be released after completion of certain formalities. The very next year second instalment was also disbursed.

Cut to October 2012 – Kamalapurkar fi led an RTI with chief public information officer (CPIO) of Ministry of Culture seeking information about the fi lm on Tilak.

The CPIO was clueless about the project and sought information from

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

the communiqu informed.

The launch also celebrated the fi fth day of the Wildlife Week.

Project principal investigator Dr KuladipSarma gave a comprehensive overview followed by technical sessions to review the present conservation

TGS LIFE

Run for... yourself

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

Eastern Hoolock Gibbon

status of the Eastern Hoolock Gibbon in Arunachal Pradesh- Assam landscape.

Wildlife Trust of India veterinarian Dr Zahan Ahmed and Itanagar Biological Park spoke on “Translocation of Gibbons and conservation issues” and “Conservation breeding & habitat management of Gibbon” respectively.

ENVIRON is a society for conservation and management of nature and natural resources in NE India.

Its wildlife and biodiversity conservation division head Kripal Mazumdar lauded US Fish and Wildlife Service and other organisations for their support. The project would foster and facilitate dialogue between key stakeholders, local community, youth groups, district administration (local block officials), forest officials and various civil society organisations, the communique added.

PTI

There is no monitoring of emissions at all. Much efforts are required to tackle with environment hazards that could be drastic to human health,” the bench said.

The core committee, set up by the Tribunal, informed the bench that ground water in the villages near Singrauli was contaminated with high fluoride and mercury concentration.

“Signs of lung manifestations were found, suggestive of silicosis. It was also found in people residing near the coal transport roads,” the report said.

It said that the level of mercury concentration in ground water was found “exceeding the limit of 0.001 mg/litre in the samples collected from Kirwani, Parasi, Harrahwa, Naktu, Sirsoti, Chilkadand, Parsavar-raja, Govindpur, Kusmaha, Khairahi, Jayant Colony, Jaitpur, MPCC colony, and Dibulganj villages.”

The committee made several recommendations including the supply of safe drinking water in fluorideaffected villages under the supervision of the administration. The tribunal was hearing a plea by advocate Ashwani Dubey opposing power projects in Singrauli and Sonebhadra districts.

PTI

THANK GOD IT’S S AT U R D AY

Project to be implemented in partnership with Environment and Forest departments

A community and school-based education programme on conservation of the endangered Eastern Hoolock Gibbon has been launched in Arunachal’s Lower Dibang Valley district in the state and at Sadiya sub-division under Assam’s Tinsukia district.

The programme launched by Arunachal Pradesh Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) Dr Shashi Kumar, would be implemented

by ENVIRON, North East based NGO, an official communique informed recently.

Supported by US Fish and Wildlife Service, the project would be implemented in partnership with state’s Environment and Forest department with Aitijya (The Heritage) as partner.

Rajiv Gandhi University’s Zoology department and G B Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development (GBPIHED), NE Unit would provide all technical support,

PUNE

“ Pune generates nearly 1,600 metric tonne garbage every day. The PMC should use provisions of solid waste management.”

— Maj Gen SN Jatar, founder, Nagrik Chetana Manch

US stand on climate change putting world at ‘deadly risk’ 3,61,299.98

OCTOBER 10, 2015

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

A Godly Capacity

“Managing large volume of plastic waste generated at Mahableshwar is a huge problem.Tourists litter these places with plastic. Hence it is decided that none of US is enough take on ambitious stallsThewill beprosperous allowed to handtoout polythene bagsclimate or selltargets food packaged in plastics.”

— MN Mohite, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Satara

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY

RITU GOYAL HARISH The case created ripples across the city. A teacher was accused of sexually abusing 22 students all from fi fth standard of a reputed school in Baner.

In February 2013, Chaturshrungi police registered a case of sexual abuse against the creative writing teacher and arrested him immediately. Two years after the cops went all out to claim that they had a watertight case, the teacher has been acquitted by a Special Court. The court ruled that the prosecution made out a weak case. The management of the school and parents of students are not only disappointed but also irked with the outcome.

“We are feeling let down by the prosecution and the system. It is upsetting because we do not how to face the parents and students who came forward to give their statements.

We believe we were on the right,”

said director of the school, who

the FIR and kept in touch with “We are feeling fitheled investigating officer and public The director is prosecutor let down by the | www.thegoldensparrow.com 14, 2015throughout.

PUNE, MARCH

prosecution and the system.

It is upsetting because we do not how to face the parents and students who came forward to give their statements.”

DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL

yet to get a copy of the order.

The case dates back to February 2013 when some of the students studying in class five walked up to their class teacher and alleged that their creative writing sir had touched them inappropriately. The class teacher in turn informed the principal and authorities School management. spoke to several other students and found that 22 girls in all had levelled similar allegations. Director of the school approached Chaturshrungi police station and lodged an FIR under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSOA).

The investigation was carried out by Supriya Bhoite from Chaturshrungi police station.

Contd on p4

PUNE, MARCH 21, 2015 | www.thegoldensparrow.com

PUNE, MARCH 28, 2015 | www.thegoldensparrow.com

Hum

Fourteen years later, there is no sign of the fi lm. Vishnu Kamalapurkar, Pune-based activist, sought details of the project in 2012 from the Central Government only to be told that they had no records left, the concerned ministry had been wound up, and that fi lm-maker could not be traced.

Essentially, the government acceded that it had been duped of `2.5 crores, the sum that was transferred to the fi lm-maker.

It has taken Kamalapurkar three years since he sought details about the fi lm under Right to Information Act to get the government to launch a fullfledged investigation. Dhumale has

receiving his RTI finally been traced by the government with the help of police and claims that the fi lm will be released in “next two to four months”. He still hasn’t answered several questions raised by the government about the script and the star cast.

It all started in December 2001, when Commemoration Bureau under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture commissioned a fi lm on Lokmanya Tilak. A sum of Rs 1.25 crores was paid to Dhumale immediately as an

Saath Saath

When

HUNGER STRIKES past midnight

A family that prays together stays together. Pune’s joint families on why they agree to disagree

TGS takes a night trail around the city to look for places that will silence a grumbling tummy in the dark of night

The Kamdars

Run for…

yourself

Puneites are running to fight depression, lethargy, even physical disadvantage. Marathoners are taking over the street and making the city fitter than it has ever been

PUNE’S FIRST WEEKLY NEWSPAPER

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY Invitation Price

`5

Annual Subscription

`199

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Contact : 02024450705 (during office hours only)  tgs@goldensparrow.com

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 10, 2015

PUNE

“In memory of the Indians who have been murdered, in support of all Indians who uphold the right to dissent, and of all dissenters who now live in fear and uncertainty, I am returning my Sahitya Akademi Award.”

— Nayantara Sahgal, Writer

Opposition National Conference and Congress had demanded suspension of Question Hour for discussing Article 35A

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir government said it will protect the special status granted to the state under Indian Constitution.

“We are here to safeguard and protect the Article 370 and Article 35A,” Law minister Basharat Bukhari said amid thumping of desks by the treasury benches.

Bukhari made the statement as Opposition National Conference and Congress demanded suspension of Question Hour for discussing Article 35-A which has been challenged in the Supreme Court.

According to Article 35-A, Indian citizens other than the state subjects of Jammu and Kashmir cannot acquire immovable property or have the voting rights,

PTI

Will protect Article 370 and 35A: J&K government

National Conference working President Omar Abdullah leads a joint sit-in protest of all opposition parties including Congress against suspension of their Party MLAs and MLCs at the gate of Legislative Assembly

Indians other than J&K subjects cannot have voting rights

while Article 370 grants special status to the state.

“Question Hour is meant for raising issues of public interest in the House. Please stop creating disruptions,” the Minister told the Opposition.

Leading the charge on behalf of the coalition government, Bukhari said rules demand that the House should not

hear matters which are sub-judice.

“Go and read the rules. What are you (Opposition members) shouting for? By creating this melee, you are only wasting the precious time of this House,” he said.

Regretting the constant disruptions, Bukhari said the Opposition is not serious in speaking on issues of public interest.

“They only want to disrupt the House. It is not necessary to adjourn the Question Hour. Article 35A is subjudice and there are rules which must

be followed,” he said.

Earlier, the Opposition members including Mohammad Akbar Lone, Devendra Singh Rana, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mohammad Usman Majeed, G M Saroori and Sheikh Abdul Rashid stormed the Well of the House and shouted at the Speaker.

“Please sit down,” Speaker Kavinder Gupta told the Opposition members, who refused to relent.

“The House will give you time for raising your issues,” he added.

Later, talking to reporters, Bukhari said the NC should not have boycotted the entire session.

“I feel they should not boycott the entire session. They should come. There are issues of the people. When they raise those issues, we will respond and people get respite,” he said.

The minister said there was nothing bad in opposing the government, but the Opposition members should also listen to the Speaker.

“There is nothing bad in opposing the government. We have also done it while we were in opposition. I appreciate it when an opposition opposes in the real sense of term. They had given adjournment motions, but at the same time they should have listened to the Speaker,” he said.

PTI

High School in TN launches dress code for teachers

MADURAI: In a move aimed at enhancing respect for the teaching community, a government high school in Peraiyur district here has introduced dress code for teachers.

The Government High School operating at Vannivelampatti in Periayur district last month introduced a pilot programme for a few school students by asking them to wear overcoats, School Head Master S Baskaran said.

“We were discussing about issuing overcoats to students.

It was well received among them.

After that, we thought why not we implement it for teachers also. Now

we have launched it officially”, he told PTI. Elaborating, he said that during a Parent Teachers Association meeting, the concept was mooted to the parents who “welcomed it”.

“Almost all the students from class six to ten in the school wear overcoats now”, he said.

“The concept has been introduced for the teachers. We have eight lady teachers in school and they wear it after

Robbers loot Nashik co-op bank for sixth time

‘No mention of Rumi, St Francis in edu system’

NASHIK: A sum of Rs 17.24 lakh was allegedly robbed from the cash locker of Nashik District Central Cooperative Bank in Yeola taluka after a gang of dacoits broke into the Jalgaonneur branch and fled with the booty, police said.

The incident, sixth such instance of heist at NDCC banks in last 10 months, came to light yesterday when the manager of the Jalgaon-neur branch, Kailas Nagpure, opened the bank at 10.30 AM, police said.

The heist took place in the wee hours yesterday when dacoits entered the premises after breaking iron bars of the windows using gas-cutters and made their way to the bank locker, Additional SP, Malegaon, Sunil Kadasane said.

This is the sixth robbery within a span of 10 months on NDCC branches in Nashik district, the ASP said.

CHENNAI: Rajya Sabha MP Karan Singh today regretted that the Indian education system from kindergarten level to Phd had no mention of spiritual luminaries like Jalaluddin Rumi, St Francis of Assisi and others.

Delivering a lecture at an event organized by Madras Bar Association on “The Four Pillars of Education”, he said the absence of spiritual teachings in a curriculum could lead to a situation fostering ‘revivalist regimes.’

He said UNESCO International Commission on Education for the 21st century, of which he was a member, had identified four fundamental aspects of education. These were: Learning to know (Gnana Yoga), Learning to do (Karma Yoga), Learning to live together (Saha yoga) and Learning to be (Athma yoga), he said.

PTI

After a complaint was lodged at local Yeola police satation, a dog squad was pressed into service and finger print experts were called in besides sealing important exit points to trace culprits, police said.

NDCC bank branches which have been looted earlier include Karanjali in Peint taluka (Rs 15 lakh in January 2015), Andersool branch in Yeola taluka (Rs 50 lakh in May 2015) Nimon in Chandvad (Rs 19 lakh in July 2015), Ranvad branch in Niphad taluka (Rs 1.75 crore in August 2015) and Nimgaon branch in Malegaon taluka (Rs 13 lakh in September 2015), Kadasane said. Police suspect that the same gang has been behind all the robberies. No arrests have been made so far. NDCC authorities are considering tightening security to prevent more such incidents in future.

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reaching the school and leave it before leaving the school. It is a blue colour overcoat”, Baskaran said.

Stating that the concept was introduced to the teaching community following the doctors and judges who regularly wear such attire, he said that “by wearing the blue colour overcoats, it not only gives respect to the teachers, we can also prevent unnecessary comments,” he said.

PTI

PTI

Government school introduced a pilot programme by asking students to wear overcoats

Breaking the ice was not easy P 15

Indian woman employee files case against Wipro

Claims to be forced into an affair with a married boss at the Bangalore-headquartered firm’s UK division

BY ADITI KHANNA LONDON: An Indian woman employee at the London office of IT major Wipro has filed a one million pounds compensation case of sexual discrimination, unequal pay and unfair dismissal against the firm.

She alleged she was subjected to a “deeply predatory, misogynistic culture” and forced into an affair with a married boss at the Bangaloreheadquartered firm’s UK division.

The 39-year-old told an employment tribunal in London this week how her boss called her “a seductive dancer from Indian mythology”.

“Women who are confident, capable and express their viewpoints are often called ‘emotional’, ‘psychotic’ or ‘menopausal’. Women who supported women are called ‘lesbians’,” she said.

She claimed she was manipulated into an affair with a married senior vice-president.

On one business trip to Stockholm in 2013, the 54-year-old allegedly told her the silk blouse she was wearing was “too tight” for her body type.

The India-born woman said she embarked on the affair despite finding his conversation “inane” and that he suffered on occasion from a “certain body odour”, the ‘Daily Telegraph’ reported.

The former sales and market development manager, who handled outsourcing business deals for Wipro, said she was treated like “dirty goods” after ending the affair and lodging complaints about her treatment.

She also claimed she was paid far less than male staff, earning up to 75,000 pounds per annum rather than the typical 150,000 pounds paid to male equivalents.

However, Wipro refused to comment on the lawsuit.

“Wipro does not comment on its ongoing lawsuits and Wipro is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity and provides all our employees with a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment of any kind. Wipro is defending these allegations before the court,” a statement by Wipro Ltd said.

“Following an impartial inquiry, both were relieved from the services of the company after it was established beyond reasonable doubt that they had violated the stated policy,” the statement said.

“Wipro takes serious objection to the scurrilous allegations made against the company and will initiate legal action to defend itself against insidious and defamatory allegations,” it said.

“The company has built its business over the years by ensuring it adheres to the highest standards of integrity, fairness, and ethical corporate practices.

Any transgression of these beliefs and policies are dealt with expeditiously and with the strictest action,” the statement said.

PTI

JOB HUNT

A large gathering of candidates at Patiala Bus Stand during their the written test of the Staff Selection Commission (SSC Constable GD) in Patiala Centre

Delhi Police notice to Flipkart over phone theft case Company asked to join the probe in connection with stolen phones allegedly sold through their website

Vol-II* lssue No.: 17 Editor: Yogesh Sadhwani (Responsible for the selection of news under the PRB Act, 1867) Printed and Published by: Shrikant Honnavarkar on behalf of Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt. Ltd. CIN:U22200PN2014PTC151382 and printed at PRI – Media Services Private Limited CIN: U22222MH2012PTC232006 at Plot No. EL-201, TTC Industrial Area, MIDC, Mahape, Navi Mumbai.

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NEW DELHI: Delhi Police have sent a notice to e-commerce giant Flipkart following the arrest of six persons and recovery of stolen high-end mobile phones worth around Rs 1 crore, many of which were allegedly sold through the e-tailer’s website.

The notice, addressed to the CEO of the company, asks the company to join the probe in connection with stolen phones allegedly sold through their website, said DCP (IGI Airport) Dinesh Kumar Gupta.

“During investigation, facts

emerged that a peculiar modus operandi was adopted by the accused, who sold these mobile phones via Flipkart.

As many as 209 phones have been recovered and further investigation is underway,” Gupta said.

A Flipkart spokesperson said, “Flipkart is a digital marketplace that helps sellers connect with customers across the country. Each and every one of our 40,000-plus sellers are mandated to adhere to stringent guidelines.

“Any exception to, or violation of this code of conduct is taken very

seriously. We enforce a strict policy of zero tolerance against unscrupulous sellers who sell products that are fake, stolen, or in violation of any applicable law of the land.”

According to police, a Delhi-based logistics company had reported in July that 600 high-end mobile phones were missing from a shipment sourced from Hong Kong.

When the private firm in charge of the cargo terminal and the vigilance unit of Delhi airport failed to trace the missing phones, the matter was

reported to police and a case registered.

Six accused identified as Raju Singh (31), Sunil Jain (40), Gaurav Mittal (44), JitenderGirotra (28), Harender Singh (42) and Ravi (26) have been arrested in the case and 209 phones have so far been recovered. The case involves high-end mobile phones worth around Rs 1 crore and users of the lost phones were traced to Mysore, Mangaluru, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Mahasamund, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Delhi and Chandigarh.

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THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 10, 2015

“We didn’t start or initiate violence and Israel needs to stop and accept the hand extended to them.We want to reach a political solution by peaceful means, and not any other way.”

— Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian President

He continues to guard the post P 16

UK hacked routers in Pak to identify terrorists: Snowden Snowden said that the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), British intelligence and security organisation has been monitoring Pakistan’s communications data

“British spies can hack into phones remotely with a simple text message.”

spies can hack into phones remotely with a simple text message and make audio recordings or take photos without owners knowing.

“They want to own your phone instead of you,” he said.

The GCHQ had the power to hack into phones without their owners’ knowledge, he said.

Snowden said GCHQ could gain access to a handset by sending it an encrypted text message and use it for

such things as taking pictures and listening in.

The UK government has declined to comment on Snowden’s claims.

He said both GCHQ and the NSA had invested heavily in technology allowing them to hack smartphones.

Snowden talked about GCHQ’s “Smurf Suite”, a collection of secret intercept capabilities individually named after the little blue imps of Belgian cartoon fame.

“Dreamy Smurf is the power management tool which means turning your phone on and off with you knowing,” he said.

“Nosey Smurf is the ‘hot mic’ tool.

For example if it’s in your pocket, [GCHQ ] can turn the microphone on and listen to everything that’s going on around you - even if your phone is switched off because they’ve got the other tools for turning it on.

“Tracker Smurf is a geo-location tool which allows [GCHQ ] to follow you with a greater precision than you would get from the typical triangulation of cellphone towers,” he said.

Once GCHQ had gained access to a user’s handset, Snowden said the agency would be able to see “who you call, what you’ve texted, the things you’ve browsed, the list of your contacts, the places you’ve been, the wireless networks that your phone is associated with.

“And they can do much more. They can photograph you”.

Snowden also explained that the SMS message sent by the agency to gain access to the phone would pass unnoticed by the handset’s owner.

“It’s called an ‘exploit’,” he said.

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India-Pakistan border at night WASHINGTON: An astronaut aboard the International Space Station has clicked a stunning nighttime image of the border between India and Pakistan, showing one of the few places on Earth where an international boundary can be seen at night.

The astronaut took the nighttime panorama while looking north across Pakistan’s Indus River valley.

In the image, the winding border between Pakistan and India is lit by security lights that have a distinct orange tone.

The photo, released by NASA, shows port city of Karachi as a bright cluster of lights facing the Arabian Sea, which appears completely black.

City lights and the dark colour of dense agriculture closely track with the great curves of the Indus valley, NASA said. The photograph shows one of the few places on Earth where an international boundary can be seen at night, NASA said. The photograph was acquired on September 23, 2015, with a Nikon D4 digital camera using a 28 millimetre lens, and is provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Johnson Space Center.

Another night image taken by an ISS astronaut in 2011 showed the India-Pakistan border zone looking southeast from the Himalaya.

PTI NASA

LONDON: Britain secretly obtained vast amounts of communications data from Pakistan to identify terrorists by hacking into routers in the country made by an American firm, according to US whistleblower Edward Snowden.

The former intelligence contractor with the US National Security Agency (NSA) said that the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ ), British intelligence and security organisation responsible for providing signals intelligence, has been monitoring Pakistan’s communication data.

To access the data, the GCHQ hacked routers made by Cisco, Snowden said in an interview with the BBC. He also stated that the spying was done with the permission of the British government and the apparent aim of such hacking was to aid in the identification of terrorists.

32-year-old Snowden, charged by the US with espionage and theft of government property after leaking sensitive documents to the media about NSA’s internet and phone surveillance, has been living in exile in Russia since June 2013.

Snowden also said that British

PUNE

Pak seeks support on N-energy

CHAMPION PUMPKIN

Foreign Office spokesman said country is generating nuclear energy to meet energy demands and policy is shaped by evolving security dynamics of South Asia

BY SAJJAD HUSSAIN

Robert Jaser poses with his Atlantic Giant pumpkin at the palace in Ludwigsburg, Germany. Weighing 812.5 kilogrammes, the pumpkin won the German championship title. AP/ PTI

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said it was seeking international cooperation, including with the US, on civil nuclear energy, amid reports that America is negotiating a deal with it that might lead to an agreement similar to the Indo-US civil nuclear deal.

“As a responsible nuclear state, Pakistan remains actively engaged with the international community, including the United States, on nuclear stability and security issues,” Foreign Office spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said during a weekly news briefing here.

He was responding to a Washington Post report that the US is negotiating a pact on new limits on Pakistan’s nuclear weapons and delivery systems, a deal that might lead to an agreement similar to the IndoUS civil nuclear deal.

The White House has neither confirmed or denied the report. It just

said that the US is in regular contact with Pakistan on a range of issues ahead of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ’s visit to Washington on October 22.

Strategic export control experts from Pakistan and the US last month discussed the best practices to maintain strict control over non-proliferation of nuclear materials.

The Foreign Office spokesman said that Pakistan is generating nuclear energy to meet its energy demands.

“There should be a nondiscriminatory approach on nuclear issues, including Pakistan’s access to peaceful use of nuclear energy,” he said.

Earlier, in a statement he said that Pakistan’s nuclear policy is shaped by evolving security dynamics of South Asia, “growing conventional asymmetry, provocative doctrines and aggressive posturing by India, which obliges us to take all necessary measures to maintain a full spectrum deterrence capability in order to safeguard our national security,

maintain strategic stability and deter any kind of aggression from India.”

He also said that Pakistan seeks peace and strategic stability in South Asia as corner stone of its policy and considers conflict resolution as a means to achieve this end.

“This policy has been reiterated

by Pakistan’s highest decisionmaking body, the National Command Authority (NCA), chaired by the Prime Minister, in its meeting on September 9, 2015,” he said.

The Washington Post report talked at length about the possible cooperation by the US with Pakistan in return of a commitment by Islamabad to keep its programme focused on possible threat India and not to indulge in the development of long range missiles.

It said that such an agreement might eventually “open a path toward a Pakistani version of the civil nuclear deal that was launched with India in 2005”.

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No outsourcing fee Britain rules out changes in student visa for Indian firms Overseas students should return home as soon as their visa expires unless they have a graduate job

BY LALIT K JHA WASHINGTON: In a relief to Indian IT companies, the US has scrapped an additional fee of USD 2,000 for H-1B visa and USD 2,500 for L1 visa seen as discriminatory.

Popularly known as outsourcing fee, such a fee was called discriminatory by Indian companies as it majorly affected them and hit their ease of doing business in the United States.

The charges had forced Indian IT companies in the last few years to pay millions of dollars towards protecting the US-Mexican border from illegal immigration.

Passed by the US Congress in August 2010, the law contained provision to increase H-1B and L-1 Visa fee per application by USD 2,000 and USD 2,250 respectively for companies having more than 50 per cent of its employees overseas.

This mainly affected Indian IT companies.

In a recent report, NASSCOM said Indian tech industry contributed an estimated over USD 375 million during this period to the US Treasury as part of this law.

But not any more.

“H-1B and L-1 petitions filed on or after October 1, 2015, should not include the additional fee that was previously required...for certain H-1B and L-1 petitions. The additional fee required by...law... expired on September 30, 2015,” the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said in a statement.

All other H-1B and L-1 fees, including the base fee, Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee, and American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of 1998 (ACWIA) Fee when applicable, are still required, it said.

PTI

BY HS RAO

LONDON: Talking tough, Home Secretary Theresa May ruled out any relaxation in Britain’s student visa system, saying overseas students should return home as soon as their visa expires unless they have a graduate job.

Speaking at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, she said: “We welcome students coming to study.

But the fact is, too many of them are not returning home as soon as their visa runs out.”

“If they have a graduate job, that is fine. If not, they must return home.

So I don’t care what the university lobbyists say: the rules must be enforced. Students, yes; over-stayers, no. And the universities must make this happen,” May said.

Leading NRI industrialist, Lord Swraj Paul, Chancellor of the Wolverhampton University and Lord

Home Secretary Theresa May

Karan Bilimoria, Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, have been emphasising the need for removing students from the immigration figures and reintroducing the post-study work visa.

Lord Paul today said, “Britain should attract high caliber students to

study in the UK. We must also provide opportunity for them to work in the UK for two years following their studies. It does not help foreign students alone. It also helps British student as they gain experience in international living. This is important in today’s world.”

Expressing concern over decline in the number of Indian students coming to study in the UK universities, Bilimoria has asked the British government to remove students from the immigration figures and reintroduce the post-study work visa.

Participating in a recent debate on the Immigration bill in the House of Lords, Lord Bilimoria had said: “The Prime Minister (David Cameron) talks about Britain having to take part in a global

race yet the government’s insistence is on following this madcap immigration cap policy and targeting bringing down the immigration level to the tens of thousands. This is shooting ourselves in the foot.”

Indian students constitute the secondlargest foreign students group in the UK after the Chinese and nearly 20,000 Indian students went to the UK for higher studies in the academic year 2013-2014. The number of Indian students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) courses have declined by nearly 50 per cent between 2010 and 2012 after UK scrapped the two year post-study work permit.

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Bilimoria has asked the British govt to reintroduce post-study work visa

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 10, 2015

PUNE

MONEY MATT ER S

“The Reserve Bank of India will soon issue a draft report on liberalising External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs) and the government are holding discussions with the RBI.” — Shaktikanta Das, Economic Affairs Secretary

Signposts

“The Congress is trying to delay the new tax regime. But one must remember, it is a transactional tax and not an income tax.”

— Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister

Rationalise taxes, advocates Jaitley

Finance Minister said the government has already announced in the budget that it is seriously looking at some category of transactions making PAN card compulsory over a particular threshold limit and GST is the BJP Government’s top priority

‘India needs to be integrated into global trade pacts’

BY YOSHITA SINGH

Govt clears bonus for rail employees Government cleared a proposal to give productivity linked bonus to about 12 lakh railway employees. Railways had proposed to give 78 days wages as productivity-linked bonus, the same as the last three years, despite the financial crunch. This could mean that the employees will get Rs 8,897 as bonus for this month.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said that the problem of domestic black money can be addressed by rationalising taxes and bringing more people under Arun Jaitley the banking net besides some other measures.

“The fi rst step is you rationalise your rates and have rational rate of taxation which helps you in making sure that people comply,” he said in a lecture at Columbia University.

“The second factor is that the nature of the economy is itself changing so more and more banking transactions, payment getaways are a reality, all this is going to incentivize and a lot of economy is going to go through the banking transaction as a result of this,” he said yesterday.

In addition to this, Jaitley said the government has already announced in the budget that it is seriously looking at some category of transactions making PAN card compulsory over a particular threshold limit.

“As far as corporate taxes are concerned, once corporate tax rates go down the exemptions will have to be

phased out,” he said.

“These are those corporate exemptions which people get...

Bulk of the litigation and discretion is around those exemptions,” he added.

Referring to GST which is stuck in parliament, he said it is the top priority of the government.

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As the US and 11 other nations reached a landmark deal on the TransPacific Partnership which aims to become the world’s largest free-trade zone linking 40 per cent of the global economy, a top US industry advocacy has argued for India’s integration into global trade pacts.

“For India to reach its ambiguous economic growth targets, it needs to be integrated into global trade pacts, especially those that drive commerce in the dynamic Asia Pacific region,” MukeshAghi, president of US India Business Council (USIBC) told PTI after the deal on TPP was announced by the US and 11 other countries Monday.

The 12 countries Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the US and Vietnam constitute 40 per cent of the global economy.

“India’s exploration of APEC membership, which is currently an informal precursor to TPP membership can unlock India’s potential as a global manufacturing hub and deepen its ties with the global economy,” Aghi said In fact USIBC’s outgoing Chairman Ajay Banga of MasterCard has been strongly arguing in favour of India joining

TPP. “APEC membership would help prepare India to participate in the emerging megaregional trade arrangements, such as the TransPacific Partnership (TPP) and the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) that will define the future of global trade,” Banga and the former Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, wrote in The Wall Street Journal in July.

Aghi said recent study by the Peterson Institute for International E c o n o m i c s demonstrates that if India were to complete its domestic reforms and join an ambitious TPP agreement that included all of the APEC countries, it could potentially expand exports by more than USD 500 billion per year.

“On the other hand, if it were to stand outside the negotiations, while other countries entered a regional trade agreement, the Peterson study forecasts export losses of USD 50 billion per year, as trade is diverted

away from India,” Aghi said.

However Indian officials argue that India is not left out of such international trading agreements.

In Washington last month, the Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman refuted that India is being left out.

“If you looking at India being left out.

That’s not really true,” she told a Washington audience when asked about India not being part of the TransPacific Partnership, of which India is not a part.

“We are very actively engaged in ARSEP (Asean Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) which consists of ASEAN and ASEAN FTA countries. So we actually in ARSEP are moving faster along with other members,” Sitharaman said during a panel discussion on India-US economic ties organised by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a top American think tank.

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India is not left out of such global trading pacts, officials say

India to grow at 7.5 per cent, faster than China: IMF Indian economy is expected to grow faster than other major emerging economies, the IMF said on Thursday, projecting a growth rate of 7.5 per cent for India in 2016 as against China’s 6.3 per cent.”Growth in India is expected to rise above the rates in other major emerging market economies,” the IMF said

Indian economy is expected to grow faster than other major emerging economies, the IMF said on Thursday, projecting a growth rate of 7.5 per cent for India in 2016 as against China’s 6.3 per cent.”Growth in India is expected to rise above the rates in other major emerging market economies,” the IMF said in its latest World Economic Outlook Update released here.

“India’s growth is expected to strengthen from 7.3 per cent this year and last year to 7.5 per cent next year. Growth will benefit from recent policy reforms, a consequent pickup in investment, and lower commodity

Patent infringement

by Glenmark

In a relief for US drug major Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD), Delhi High Court on Wednesday restrained Indian firm Glenmark Pharmaceuticals from manufacturing and selling its antidiabetes drugs Zita and Zita-Met, saying it has infringed patent of the American company. “Injunction allowed,” Justice AK Pathak said and added that MSD shall be entitled to actual cost of the proceedings.”In view of the finding returned on the above referred issues defendant is restrained by decree of permanent injunction from making using, selling, distributing, advertising, exporting, offering for sale or dealing in Sitagliptin phosphate monohydrate or any other salt of Sitagliptin in any form, alone or in combination with any other drug thereby infringing patent of plaintiff (MSD),” the court said.

Earlier, in an interim order, a division bench of the High Court had restrained Glenmark from making or selling its drug, used for treatment of Type-2 diabetes.The bench had, however, on Glenmark’s oral plea to allow it to sell its goods already in the market, clarified that it “may sell such of the products which are already in the market i.e in possession of its distributors and retailers”.

However while granting the injunction today, the high court did not say anything about sale of existing stock.

MSD in its plea had sought injunction against Glenmark alleging that the Indian pharma company had violated its IPR over its anti-diabetes medicines,

Januvia and Janumet, by coming out with their own drugs containing the same salts.

The US firm had said it had invented ‘Sitagliptin’ salt used in its anti-diabetes drugs and has patent over molecule.

Glenmark, on the other hand, had contended that it has used ‘Sitagliptin Phosphate’ in its anti-diabetes drugs, Zita and Zita-Met, and US firm has no patent right over this salt.

Glenmark had said that Sitagliptin Phosphate has been a distinct product from Sitagliptin and due to this, MSD had obtained separate patent for Sitagliptin Phosphate in the US. MSD first applied for a separate patent for Sitagliptin Phosphate in India and later abandoned it, Glenmark had said.

On its part, the US drug firm had said its anti-diabetes drug Januvia is not costly at Rs 43 a pill which is roughly 1/5th of its price in the US. According to market sources, Glenmark’s version costs around 30 per cent less.

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prices,” it said.

On the other hand, growth in China is expected to decline to 6.8 per cent this year and 6.3 per cent in 2016.

Previous excesses in real estate, credit, and investment continue to unwind, with a further moderation in the growth rates of investment especially that in residential real estate, it said.

The forecast assumes that policy action will be consistent with reducing vulnerabilities from recent rapid credit and investment growth and hence not aim at fully offsetting the underlying moderation in activity, it said.

Global growth for 2015 is projected

UAM will simplify process for MSME entrepreneurs: Mishra Union Minister Kalraj Mishra said the newly introduced system of UdyogAadhar Memorandum (UAM) will simplify registration process for entrepreneurs of MSME sector and will bring a revolutionary change.

The MSME Minister, who was in Jodhpur yesterday, said that the UAM will promote ease of doing business by making the process of registration simpler for entrepreneurs, according to an official statement.

Mishra was speaking at a programme of LaghuUdyog Bharti in Jodhpur where he said the government is focused on promoting technology, skill development, among other things.

Minister said incubation centres will be set up in all districts of the state and skill development will be promoted on large scale, the statement said.

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at 3.1 per cent, 0.3 percentage point lower than in 2014, and 0.2 percentage point below the forecasts in the July 2015 World Economic Outlook (WEO) Update.

In advanced economies, growth is expected to remain robust and above trend through 2016 and contribute to narrowing the output gap.

The growth recovery in the euro area is projected to be broad based.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, activity is expected to rebound in 2016 after a recession in 2015, it said.

According to the report, in India, inflation is expected to decline further in 2015, reflecting the fall in global oil

and agricultural commodity prices. .

Near-term growth prospects in India remain favourable, and the decrease in the current account deficit has lowered external vulnerabilities.

The faster-than expected decline in inflation has created space for considering modest cuts in the nominal policy rate, but the real policy rate needs to remain tight for inflation to decline to the inflation target in the medium term, given upside risks to inflation, it said.

Continued fiscal consolidation is also essential, but it should be more growth friendly (tax reform, reduction in subsidies), it noted.

“With balance sheet strains in the corporate and banking sectors, financial sector regulation should be enhanced, provisioning increased, and debt recovery strengthened,” it added.

Structural reforms should focus on relaxing long-standing supply constraints in the energy, mining, and power sectors.

Priorities include market based pricing of natural resources to boost investment, addressing delays in the implementation of infrastructure projects, and improving policy frameworks in the power and mining sectors, IMF said.

PTI

TPP to pressurise China to increase standards

BY LALIT K JHA

The multi-nation Tr a n s - P a c i f i c Partnership (TPP) accounting for 40 per cent of the world economy would put pressure on China to raise its environmental and labour Josh Earnest standards, the White House has said.

“There’s no denying that this does put pressure on China to raise environmental standards, to raise labour standards, and to incorporate the kind of intellectual property

protections that are included in the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement,” White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said.

His remarks comes a day after 12 countries reached agreement on the Trans-Pacific Partnership following grueling Atlanta negotiations.

TPP does put a lot of pressure on China that typically likes to see their own influence inside of Asia, and by raising economic standards in the Asia Pacific, the economic interests of the United States are well represented.

“But it certainly is a way for the US to make clear to China that we welcome a rising and growing China, but that there are some expectations that the international community places on countries like China that are

seeking to be a genuine international presence,” he asserted on Tuesday.

He said President Barack Obama has made a quite overt case that if the US were to scale back its engagement in the Asia Pacific, it risks a scenario where China comes in, lowers standards and writes the rules of the road economically inside of Southeast Asia to put the United States, US businesses and US workers, principally, at a significant disadvantage.

“The President has chosen the opposite tack, which is to go and engage throughout the Asia Pacific and to raise standards and write the rules of the road of the economy that levels the playing field for American businesses and American workers. That will have a positive impact,” he said.

PTI

‘Verify employees’ service annually’ NEW DELHI: All central government departments have been asked to verify employees’ service record annually and inform them of any deficiencies thereof in order to check delay in processing their pension.

With the objective of eliminating delays in processing of cases of retiring government servants, the Personnel Ministry has asked the departments to immediately undertake an exercise to ensure completion of the entries

of service verification and conclude within a defined time-frame.

“Any gap in the verification of service may be intimated to the employee concerned, and simultaneously appropriate action for ensuring verification of missing spells may be taken by the Head of Office,” it said in a directive to all ministries.

The government servant concerned may also be informed of deficiencies and gaps as regards missing entries

relating to verification of service and the period thereof, the order said.

In order to preclude and cut down on delays in payment of retiral benefits to government servants retiring of superannuation, the ministries may consider annual service verification and intimation to every officer regarding service verification status so that any lapse is timely ascertained and corrective action taken.

“The exercise of annual verification

be monitored by every ministry, department or cadre controlling authority on a quarterly basis,” it said.

There are about 50 lakh central government employees. All ministries are requested to issue suitable instructions to all Heads of Offices, and Pay and Accounts Offices for strict compliance of the instructions so as to preclude any delays in disbursement of retiral benefits of government servants, PTI the directive said.

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 10, 2015

“ The objective of the environmental guidelines for buildings is to enable energy efficient construction by cutting down on use of natural resources and recycling, recharging and reusing water.”

— Durga Shankar Misra, Addl secy (Urban Devp)

“Besides developing forests on the hills, emphasis will be given on creating lakes, and bird observation centres. Efforts will be taken for cleaner air and use of conventional sources of energy.”

— Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister for Environment

Garbage nuisance at Manjri

City of uncivilised road-users

Piles of garbage have not been cleared for months on end and all the pleas to the PMC have gone unheard

Tushar Jadhav

I live in the fast-developing Manjri which is like an extension of Hadapsar.

Owing to the haphaz a rd development, sanitation and hygiene are completely overlooked. The

There is a garbage dump near my housing which is polluting the very air that we breathe. And not just us, but this is affecting even the schools and hospital in the vicinity. Scores of complaints later, nothing has been done.

The stagnant water and garbage have also given rise to a mosquito menace. We have to keep our windows shut all the time owing to the foul odour. The garbage dumps attract stray dogs.

The PMC solid waste management department has been asked them to clear the garbage.

The garbage disposal issue has lingered on for years and the residents of this area are at the end of their tether. The PMC seems incapable or unwilling to make any effort to resolve this issue which is making everyday life unbearable and also hazardous to health. We wonder how much longer we can bear this and how long it will be before the PMC decides to deal with the garbage problem once and for all.

CITIZEN JOURNALIST

spot opposite the Annasaheb Magar College has become a dumping ground for garbage which has piled up for months. The residents of the housing societies in the city have to bear with the stench and health hazards.

The problem is compounded with the excess water during the rains. The PMC has been notified repeatedly regarding the shifting of the garbage bins, but to no avail. With garbage spilling on to the road, the situation is getting worse by the day.

PUNE

Unchecked and haphazard development has turned the city into a veritable nightmare for commuters I have been living in Pune since 2006. Over this decade, the weather has changed owing to the rapid development and construction. It Doan Trent is not as pleasant as it used to be and the summers are unbearably hot.

There are so many things about Pune that I have come to like and appreciate. Besides the generally temperate climate, it has also grown into a big buzzing place with all the amenities an urban dweller would like.

Being an education and IT hub has benefited the transformation of the city greatly as it brings a continuous flow of people from out of town which has turned the city into a more cosmopolitan one.

Besides the abundance of shopping centres and malls, it offers a wide variety of cuisines and therefore, it is a great place for foodies to explore.

It is also a town that offers a wide variety of entertainment and cultural events and there is never any shortage of things to do. But there are so many issues that the administration must tackle on a priority basis. The congestion on the roads and the difficulty of commuting are issues that concern the citizens every day and there seems to be no efforts being made to make their life easier. There is no discipline among the road users which has made the roads a frightening and dangerous place to be. The pedestrians are not given any consideration and there are no footpaths or walkways to speak of.

It keeps growing by the day and in contrast, the municipal corporation, police and administration seem to be shirking their jobs big time.

FROM FOREIGN

SHORES

Breaking the ice was not easy

As a complete stranger, I have had my share of problems in adjusting and settling down in Pune I moved to Pune almost a year ago and I must say that settling down here proved to be such an ordeal that I even had thoughts about packing my bags and going Tejasvi Patil back home. I had such a difficult time even finding a place to live, and the main reason was the almost hostile attitude of the people. Most people seemed cold and indifferent and they were not the least helpful even though it was obvious that I was a stranger to this place and needed some guidance and advise. But none was forthcoming and it almost was like a miracle that I did manage to find an apartment eventually.

LETTERS TO THE

EDITOR

Adjusting to the daily life here was a huge problem. In fact, I am still to come to terms with the difficulties of commuting here and I quite dread going out on to the streets that are not only crowded but downright dangerous. The reason, of course, is the lack of discipline among the road users. It is astounding how brazenly the citizens of Pune, including women, break traffic laws left, right and centre.

They run red lights, drive on the wrong side, go through no entry zones, ride on pavements, and it is also frightening how aggressive these law breakers are. Road rage is a reality here and there have been cases where people have been done to death by enraged and violent road users. The law enforcers seem incapable of implementing traffic rules and they are too few to curb the

growing number of law breakers. I wonder if a stronger traffic police force will be able to enforce an adherence to traffic laws in Pune.

I have adjusted somewhat but I still do not dare to ride or drive myself on the streets of Pune and rely on autorickshaws or my friends to get about the city.

There are lots of other aspects of Pune which could do with improvement as it keeps growing in a rather haphazard way which is creating new problems.

Roads is one burning issue as the current ones are far too inadequate to accommodate the huge population of vehicles here.

On the bright side, I have come to like certain areas and aspects of this city. The civilised attitude in the cosmopolitan areas is welcome and

NON-NATIVE

PAROLE

some trustworthy friends and in their company I have explored the city to quite an extent. I love the FC Road and Law College Road areas, which have scores of restaurants and hangouts that are always fun to visit. Koregaon Park is probably the best feature of the city and with so much happening all over, it is the kind of place that always lifts my

mood when I’m feeling low.

There is still some time to go before I complete my education here and I am looking forward to a happier time now that I am more familiar with the city’s ways. I can’t say that I love everything here, but I can see the possibility of liking it enough to even think of living here on a long-term basis.

Pune students exemplify Indi-genius but every shopping complex and mall in the city has the means necessary to ward of the hazards of fi re or any such emergency.

-Shakuntala Rajwade

Aadhar comes in handy

The feature on the architecture students of Pune who made their mark at an international architecture design competition, was a ray of sunshine amid the bad news all around. Their accomplishment is specially commendable as they are the only Indian team to win an award this year. India has no dearth of talented youngsters but not all are capable of using their energy and abilities to such remarkable effect. It was also the youngest team in the competition held in London and therefore is all the more praiseworthy. The claimed fi fth place in the competition and were also given a special award by the organisers in view of their being the youngest team of the 185 entries. Th is was the kind of story to really make my weekend.

—Manvik Jain

shows the potential of Pune to become a global city. Some of the old areas of the city have a quaint charm and it is also a positive feature that the tradition and culture are still preserved. I have taken the opportunity to take in events such as plays, music concerts and such that are a rich showcase of Maharashtrian culture. I have been fortunate to make

The blame game The instance of fi re in Sohrab Hall at Tadiwala Road put the fi re-fighting machinery of the city in poor light indeed. The fi re fighters lay the blame at the door of the mall management for not having in place adequate equipment. The excuse that this building is old does not carry water.

Every commercial building must have in place all the necessary measures to ensure the safety of those who occupy the building such as the shop owners, but also the lives of the visitors. The efficiency or the lack of it among the fi re fighters is also of grave concern as the time it took to put out the fi re seems inexcusably long. The blame game does no one any good and instead of this, the authorities concerned must now ensure that not just Sohrab Hall,

The story about the young girl whose family could be traced thanks to an Aadhaar card is really poignant.

It is a happy ending that no one would think of and that it happened thanks to the details necessary for an Aadhaar card is specially striking. The observation home staff must be lauded for thinking of getting the girl her Aadhaar card. Imagine, if they had not, the girl could never have been reunited with her family. That the girl is speech and hearing impaired makes the story immensely heart-wrenching.

Whatever it was that led her to abscond from home and land up in Pune far from her native Telangana, does not matter now that she is back

in her family fold. Miracles do still happen and the story of Komal is truly heart-warming.

—Shlok Adhikar

Family is the cornerstone of society The spiralling divorce rate in India just highlights the rapid and monumental change the country is going through.

It is certainly welcome that Indian woman are no longer dependent on the male for her food, clothes and shelter but if this emancipation and economic independence are shaking up the very foundation of society that is the family and marriage, this is surely a matter that should evoke our greatest concern. The break-up of a marriage, especially when it involves the estranged couple’s children can lead to no good, as children from broken homes are bound to bear the adverse effects of such trauma all their lives. Th is means that couples before embarking on the drastic measure of divorce, should calm themselves and fi rst give a thought to what the consequences will be for the children.

It is a fact that the growing affluence has made and is making all of us more and more selfish by the minute and now every one thinks of his/her own happiness and fulfi lment before giving the other person any thought.

Marriage is not an institution to be taken lightly and those entering it

should fist search their souls and determine if they are really cut out for a life-long commitment, or are in it just for the benefits of sex and having their laundry done and getting food cooked for free.

—Asawari Bhide

The police are

stood around as bystanders is chilling.

Is this what the law enforcer have turned out to be? I guess we Indian have become utterly callous toward life itself, because there are so many of us probably. But the police have no excuse as serving the public and helping people in need is what they are paid for. So an inspector who says that let them die, these things happen all the time is a shame to his uniform and for the entire police force. And the kind of treatment meted out to the dead youth’s family is even more heartless. Instead of acknowledging their grief and behaving in an accordingly sensitive manner, the police station staff acted like animals by not even hearing them out. Such inhuman behaviour should be punished severely. On one hand, the police kowtow to celebrities, bigwigs and politicians who can literally get away with murder, while on the other hand the common man is treated like dirt by the police. Shame on you indeed.

—Suresh Sawant

Write to Us

completely heartless The youngster who drowned during Ganesh immersions while the police

Letters to the Editor may be emailed to editor_tgs@goldensparrow.com, yogesh.sadhwani@goldensparrow. com or mail it to The Editor, Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt Ltd, 1641 Madhav Heritage, Tilak Road, Pune-411030.

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 10, 2015

PUNE

SPORTS

“I was very fortunate that I played with MS Dhoni when just captaining Chennai Super Kings in ISL. So, as a young leader you look at where you can learn from other leaders.”

— Faf du Plessis, South African skipper

Signposts Pune FC faces AIFF in final game today

“I just want to play and enjoy my cricket and it was always my passion as a young kid. If I get an opportunity to come back and play for India, I would look forward to that.”

— Yuvraj Singh, Indian all-rounder

‘Players should get time to recover’ ISL MEDIA

Pune FC Under-17s opened their campaign in the 56th Subroto Cup International Football Tournament with a 5-0 thrashing of Bengaluru FC in a Pool G encounter in New Delhi. A second half brace from striker Lalawmpuia (60th & 68th minutes) and goals from winger Buanthanglun Samte (15th), full back Kiran Saravanan (43rd) and defender Asish Rai (71st) propelled Pune FC to a massive win.

TGS NEWS NETWORK @TGSWeekly The weather it quite hot and humid in India, and considering the travelling distances to venues, players should get enough rest to recover, feels FC Pune City coach David Platt.

He went on to suggest that a week would be ideal for a team to recover, but he knows that it will not be possible with the current Indian Super League format.

“Ideally the players and trainers should get at least a week for reconditioning and recovering.

This is the way matches in the English Premier League are scheduled. But it does not seem possible here. ISL is currently creating a buzz with the tournament and if you have gaps, the coverage of the tournament will decrease,” said the coach.

However, the former Manchester City assistant boss has agreed with the ISL rule of playing at least five Indian players in a match.

The rule was implemented to showcase Indian players’ talents in this big league.

“It’s a rule that’s been implemented to improve Indian football. I have no issues about it. Though who have decided on these rules, must be having some vision behind it and I believe it will do good for Indian football in general. Though, if they had come up with a different combination, it wouldn’t have changed anything. We would have altered our team according to the rules set by officials,” said the coach.

Platt is quite keen to prevent injuries to his players and it was reflected in the club’s first match against Mumbai City. Ex-Middlesborough striker Tuncay Sanli was replaced immediately after he scored a brace in that match.

Zol to lead Maharashtra in CK Nayudu Vijay Zol will lead Maharashtra team in the Colonel CK Nayudu Trophy under-23 cricket tournament starting from October 10 against Madhya Pradesh at MCA stadium, Gahunje. The squad: Vijay Zol (C), Jay Pande, Murtuza Trunkwala, Nikhil Naik (Wk), Shamshuzama Kazi, Satyajit Bacchav, Pradeep Dadhe, Moshin Sayyad, Chinmay Patil, Taranjit Singh Dhillon, Vaibhav Chougule, Yassar Shaikh, Yuvraj Pawar, Prashnat Kore, Jagdish Zope, Shubham Taiswal.

Cricket umpires exam Maharashtra Cricket Association will be conducting MCA panel umpires’ examination on Sunday (Oct 18). Age limit will be from 21 to 40 years for the candidates residing in jurisdictions of association. Examination will be held in English and Marathi. The examination will be based on MCC Laws of cricket.

Interested candidates should contact MCA office, before October 14.

Feels FC Pune City coach David Platt, but says that won’t be possible in current ISL format

Tuncay Sanli (No 11) of FC Pune City who was replaced immediately after his second goal againt Mumbai FC

“It’s important that we don’t risk injuries. Tuncay and others who ran all out needed rest immediately.

We wanted to avoid a Helder Postiga like situation.

Lots of factors contribute to that,” said the coach.

TOO EARLY TO PREDICT David Platt About other team performances this season, he said it was too early for a verdict.

“One can’t judge a team’s strengths and weaknesses on the basis of just two games. May be after 5-6 games, we can see the winning pattern or consistency of performance of any particular team. We need to wait and analyse who the strong teams are. It’s nice to meet a team which has already played and we have a report on,” he said.

The coach also said that he doesn’t bother much about team’s last year’s performance.

“Last year the team was different, the coach had different ideas and the complete scenario was different. I am focused on this season’s team and their performance. It depends on how the game goes,” said the former Arsenal player.

However he was pleased with their opening 3-1 victory at home against Mumbai and stressed the importance of ball possession.

“Ball possession is important in the game.

It helps you express yourself. We weren’t progressing as we wanted in the game against Mumbai FC and we tweaked things at halftime. When we did have the ball we kept it well.

We conceded a lot of possession too. It’s always good to win and it’s good to win,” he said. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

Top Indian tennis stars He continues to guard the post to be seen in action Indian Davis Cuppers Yuki Bhambri and Somdev Devvarman to lead Indian Challenge at ATP Challenger from October 24 TGS NEWS NETWORK @TGSWeekly Top Indian players and Indian Davis Cuppers Yuki Bhambri and Somdev Devvarman along with Saketh Myneni, Ramkumar Ramnathan, Sanam Singh, and Junior Wimbledon doubles Champion Sumit Nagal Somdev Devvarman will spearhead the Indian charge at the MSLTA organised $50,000 KPIT ATP Challenger tennis tournament, at Shiv Chhatrapathi sports complex in Balewadi from October 24.

The event sponsored by Pune based technology giant KPIT, offers a total prize money of $50,000 (Rs 33 lakh), and is being jointly organised by the Maharashtra State Lawn tennis Association (MSLTA), Pune Metropolitan District tennis Association (PMDTA), in association with the Directorate of Sports and Youth Services Govt. of Maharashtra.

Top players and Davis Cuppers from 25 countries across the world including James Ward of England and Belgian Davis Cup team member Yanick Mertens. Former world number 65 Evegeny Donskoy of Russia, Adrian Menendez-Maceiras of Spain are the other attractions of this event.

“Th is event is a fantastic opportunity for tennis enthusiasts in Pune to witness international class tennis and see the stars battle it out for the title. The tournament is a

great opportunity for Indian players to pick up valuable points. A title here can help players like Yuki and Somdev to start the new year on a high. Yuki who is on verge of breaking into the top 100 in world tennis will try and strengthen his place, in the tournament this year,” said Kishor Patil, the president of the organising committee.

The KPIT Challenger will offer $7,200 (Rs 4,71,00) and 80 ATP points to the winner, while the runners-up gets $4,053 ( Rs 2,65,000) and 55 ATP points.

Tournament director Sunder Iyer said, “We expect ten Indian players in the main draw including the wildcards giving Indian players an opportunity to compete at world class level and that too on the home turf.”

However, local challenger Arjun Kadhe, who impressed with his performance last year, will be missing.

“The dates of this tournament clashed with his University matches in the US, and so he is unable to participate in this tournament,” said Arjun’s father Jayant Kadhe, who is also a part of organising committee.

The qualifying rounds will be played on October 24-25 and the main draw of the event will get underway from October 26. The matches will be played from 11 am onwards and entry is free for spectators. KPIT has also organised special bus services from PYC Gymkhana to Balewadi.

Italian Roberto Ranieri, who is also the referee for the Rome ATP will be the ATP supervisor for the event, while Riccardo Ragazzini of Italy, Nitin Kannamwar, Saibal Banerjee, Abhishek Mukherjee have been designated as umpires for the event. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

Pune footballer Mihir Sawant refuses to stay away from the field despite several career-threatening injuries, and plans to set up a goalkeeping academy in Pune

BY ASHISH PHADNIS @phadnis_ashish

The threat of a career-ending injury is every athlete’s nightmare. It affects athletes on the mental, physical, and emotional levels. And they are forced into early retirement and cope with the consequent depression.

Mihir Sawant, city-based goalkeeper, is an exception. The 28-year-old has overcome several career-threatening injuries and is still raring to go.

It all started in 2011, when Sawant suffered a grave head injury during a match and had to undergo a major operation. It seemed like the end of his sports career, as doctors advised him against playing football. However, he refused to let go his dream and continued to play for his club.

“During a nine-a-side tournament in Aurangabad, I collided with an opponent

City tennis enthusiasts to attempt record Over 350 tennis enthusiasts from all age groups will attempt to set a new Indian record for bouncing tennis balls on the racquets at one time at the fi rst ever Maharashtra Tennis festival that will be organised on the sidelines of the KPIT ATP Challenger to be held at the Balewadi from October 24.

Pune players of all age groups will assemble on the centre court on October 31 to set the record of bouncing balls with the racquet non-stop for 30 seconds by over

250 people at the same time. Currently the world record is with China where 900 people created that record, informed Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association secretary Sundar Iyer.

The festival will also see tennis clinics for beginners, fastest service contests, corporate tennis tournaments along with food festival, fun tennis contests for the children and fans apart from a VIP tournament to be held at the same venue. Participants will get an opportunity to attend tennis clinics also.

Mihir Sawant

team’s striker. The collision was so hard that my If that wasn’t enough, Mihir thereafter temporal bone had a crack in it, which if not continued to suffer injuries, dislocating his operated on immediately, could nose, shoulder, right hand finger, have been life-threatening. The and had a major ligament tear operation was successful, but the recently which put him out of doctors advised me to stay away action for three weeks. from the football field as even a “I was leading the Pune little injury could be hazardous,” district team at an inter-district said Mihir, who was hospitalised tournament in Basmat, Hingoli for over a week. district. In the fi rst match against “I ignored the doctors’ Gondia, my toe got stuck in mud advice and continued playing. and I fell, twisting my knee. I Football is in my blood and if I continued till half time, but the stop playing, my life will have no pain was unbearable. I had to be meaning. I just can’t stay away put on a stretcher and rushed to from football,” he said. a nearby hospital. Considering - MIHIR SAWANT Mihir represented Dangam the seriousness of the injury, Club in the All-India Football the doctors advised me to return Tournament at Hingoli to Pune. I underwent an MRI immediately after his discharge, and even won scan and was diagnosed with anterior cruciate the best goalkeeper of the tournament award. ligament tear. I had to undergo surgery which cost Rs 1.80 lakh. I had insurance so it wasn’t a financial burden but I thought my playing days were over,” said Sawant.

It was a major setback, after overcoming a spate of injuries in the past. However, the love for the game didn’t wane and he has already started practicing and participating as a makeshift keeper in tournaments at Sikkim.

“Currently I am training with Chetak FC A team and also training youngsters at the club. I have also cleared AFC Level 1 and FIFA level 1 goalkeeping exams and am waiting for the results,” said Sawant, who has some big plans in mind.

“I don’t want to be visiting faculty for the clubs. I want to set up a goalkeeping academy in Pune. It will be the first of its kind and I have already started working out a plan. There is a long way to go but I believe my protégés will don the Indian colours one day,” he said.

About his playing career, he believes he still has lot more football in him and aims to represent a club in the Indian Super League.

“Football is in my blood and I just can’t stay away from it.”

ABOUT SAWANT Sawant’s football career started at the age of 14, as a striker for Super XI, a Pune club. Then he moved to Goan giants Dempo SC and was in the reserve squad. He has also represented Franco SC, Mumbai, where was rewarded as best goalkeeper in the MDFA league in 2006. Then he joined Sky Hawks, Pune and his career flourished under the tutelage of Vivek Nagul and Salim Pathan. His stints with other clubs include Royal Rangers (Delhi), Faria Strikers (Mumbai), Vasco Club (Goa) and Deccan XI (Pune). He also coached Don Bosco School teams for a brief period. ashish.phadnis@goldensparrow.com