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THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2015
PUNE
MUMBAI India, China ‘most affected by weatherrelated disasters’ P9
“Instead of branding all those who question the government and Modiji as unpatriotic, anti-national or motivated, the government would do better to reach out to people to understand what’s disturbing them.” —Rahul Gandhi, Congress chief
Alert passengers bust child trafficking racket Three travellers came across a lady in her 40s carrying a new born and found her behaviour to be suspicious. Hours later, they discovered that they had foiled an attempt to sell the baby BY RAJIL MENON @TGSWeekly Three employees of child protection unit in Thane foiled an attempt to sell a new born baby. Varsha Mestry, Kavita Shinde Doiphode and Rajshree Satkar were travelling back home from work in a local train on Thursday (Nov 19) when they spotted a woman in her 40s carrying a baby. They found the woman’s behaviour to be suspicious and sought help from Government Railway Police. Hours later, the trio was able bust a child trafficking racket. The incident occurred on Thursday evening when Varsha, Kavita and Rajshree boarded a local train from Ulhasnagar, where their office is located. Varsha is a child protection officer, Kavita a counsellor and Rajshree works as a data analyst at the District Child Protection Unit, Thane. One station later, at Vitthalwadi, a lady in her 40s got in to the train holding a baby.
Varsha Mestry, Kavita Shinde Doiphode and Rajshree Satkar; Suchitra Walunj (Right)
“The lady was behaving suspicious right from the moment she entered. It was obvious that the lady was not the child’s mother,” said Varsha. “We weren’t sure if the child was even alive. So we took turns to go near the lady on some pretext or the other to check on the baby and were relieved to see
Govt to explore all legal options: CM Mumbai, Nov 26 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said his government was not in favour of opening dance bars and would explore legal options after Supreme Court asked it to implement its order in this regard. “We respect the Supreme Court’s order. However, we are principally against opening of dance bars. Will explore all legal options including legislative intervention,” Fadnavis said here. Earlier in the day, the apex court asked the Maharashtra government to implement its earlier order on dance bars and decide within two weeks hoteliers’ application seeking grant of licence for running them in the state. The Maharashtra government had amended the 2005 Bombay Police Act, which was challenged in High Court by Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association. The Bombay High Court on April 12, 2006 had quashed the government’s decision and declared the provision unconstitutional, saying it was against Article 19(1) (g) (to practice any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business) of the Constitution. However, the state government had moved the apex court against the
High Court’s order that same year. On July 16, 2013, the Supreme Court had upheld the Bombay High Court verdict quashing state government’s order, saying the ban violated the constitutional right to earn a living. The state Assembly had on June 13, 2014 passed the Maharashtra Police (second amendment) Bill which prevented licenses for dance performances in three-star and five-star hotels. The ban also covered drama theatres, cinema halls, auditoriums, sports clubs and gymkhanas, where entry is restricted only to members. Restaurant owners had challenged the law saying many of its members would be forced into prostitution if the state refused to allow dance performances. The state police had cracked down on dance performances in bars for the first time in 2005. Elite establishments, including five star hotels, were, however, exempted. Last month, the Supreme Court had stayed the operation of 2014 amendment in the Maharashtra Police Act that had banned dance performances at bars and some other places, paving the way for reopening of dance bars across the state. PTI
the child blinking,” said Kavita. The woman later identified as Suchitra Walunj, was constantly on the phone paying little or no attention to the baby. Realising something was amiss, the trio sought help from the GRP. A few stations later, at Dombivli cops
got onto the train and took Walunj for questioning. Varsha, Kavita and Rajshree too accompanied the cops. During the course of questioning Walunj kept changing her statement. Eventually she revealed that she had taken the child from a family who already had four children. The baby was to be given to a couple who had recently lost their 19-year-old son.
She refused to divulge the financial transaction between the two families or her role in the entire deal. Walunj told the cops that the baby boy had been born to Aruna and Dyaneshwar Jadhav residing at Ulhasnagar two days ago. The Jadhavs have four children, youngest one being 14 months old. They did not need the fifth child and decided to give him away. Walunj, who used to work in a maternity home dealing extensively with cases of surrogacy, brokered the deal between the couples. Waunj also divulged name of one Arti Ramesh Patil, her former colleague, who was also involved in the deal. Walunj revealed that the baby was to be delivered to Surekha and Sanjeev Pandey residing in Dombivli. The cops took down Walunj’s statement and referred the case to the district Child Welfare Committee, a quasi judicial body. On Friday, the case came up before members of CWC. The quasi judicial members were certain that it was a case of child trafficking. The biological parents had sold their child
to another couple. During the hearing, the biological mother kept changing her statement. Initially she said that Pandeys were known to her. Then she said that Walunj was her sister. Later she admitted that she did not want the child and hence gave him up to Pandeys. She however did not disclose if there was money involved. For now the CWC has ordered the police to investigate the case and get to the bottom of the racket. CWC believes that once police questions the biological parents and Walunj properly, truth will come out. They have ordered the cops to register an FIR and book the guilty. When The Golden Sparrow contacted Datta Pable, senior inspector of Dombivli GRP, he said that investigation was underway. “We will take down the biological mother’s statement over the next few days once she is in a position to talk to us. We will initiate action very soon,” said Pable. Sources said that Thursday’s incident was tip of the iceberg and that Walunj may have been involved in several such cases in the past. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
Why food trucks are a rarity in India VISHAL KALE
The Food Truck Association is working towards legalising food trucks in India BY ABHA PANDIT @abha_pandit
With the fast-paced lifestyle of today, the food culture of India is moving away from the traditional sitdown meals in restaurants. Fast grub is the new rage, and people are looking for quick, affordable and hygienic food. Having a huge presence Shubham Kar internationa l ly, Chaudhuri the concept of food trucks is yet to take off in India. Street carts and restaurants are the two ends of the spectrum, whereas food trucks are in between. Shubham Kar Chaudhuri faced a dilemma after he graduated from the Institute of Hotel Management in Mumbai. “I wanted to open up an eatery, but the cost of setting up a restaurant was too high. That was when I thought of opening up a food truck,” he says. After a bit of research, he realised that there were no laws
In the coming days, Shubham hopes to get this act legalised
WHAT IS A FOOD TRUCK? A food truck is a large mobile vehicle equipped with facilities to cook and sell food. Some food trucks sell pre-packaged food such as ice creams, while others have an onboard kitchen where fresh food is prepared from scratch and served to the public. Food trucks do not fall under the street hawker category, or the restaurant category. Most food trucks move around in a certain location, parking in one place for short periods of time to serve customers. regarding food trucks in India. The Government of India recognises street food vendors and restaurants. There are no provisions for mobile food vehicles such as food trucks. Existing food trucks have managed to find loopholes in the
legislation, but are technically illegal. Presently, they try to mix and match licenses required for restaurants and hawkers, since there are no licenses in place for owning and operating a food truck. If owners do not have connections high up in the echelons,
they are, in all probability, likely to be shut down. In the last three months, the Supreme Court of India has passed judgment banning open air cooking, making all street food carts, or thelas as they are more commonly known, illegal. So the process has become even more complicated. To fix this situation, Shubham founded The Food Truck Association (TFTA), which is a Non Profit Organisation, in 2015. TFTA is a government registered association which is working towards legalising and popularising the concept of a mobile food vehicle in India. “The main reason no laws exist is that the government has no idea what a food truck is. That was our starting point,” explains Shubham. The Government of India does not recognise food trucks presently, so TFTA is in talks with the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai in an attempt to get recognition for food trucks as a viable form of operation. The 24-year-old heads the TFTA from Mumbai, with city heads running operations in Delhi, Pune and Bangalore. In the coming days, Shubham hopes to get this act legalised in Mumbai. According to him, once it is in place in the capital city, the rest of the state will follow suit. “In case this plan of action doesn’t work out, we will go ahead and file a PIL through our association,” said the enthusiastic youngster. abha.pandit@goldensparrow.com
HC directs special drive against illegal hoardings in Maha The Bombay High Court directed civic bodies across Maharashtra to take up from December 5 a special drive to remove illegal hoardings, posters and banners, which should be completed by the Republic Day. “Making the municipal areas hoarding-free should be the objective of every Corporation or Council and if this happens, it would be an ideal way to celebrate the Republic Day,” said a bench of Justices Abhay Oka and Gautam Patel while hearing two public interest litigations. The PILs, filed by Suswaraj Foundation and Bhagwanji Riyani of Janhit Manch, alleged that political workers, NGOs and private organisations put up illegal hoardings, banners and posters all over the state in complete violation of civic rules, defacing private and public properties and spaces. The judges asked the civic bodies to give wide publicity to the grievance redressal mechanism adopted to remove illegal hoardings such as e-mails, letters, toll-free numbers etc. The HC also allowed the citizens to file anonymous complaints in this regard, if they wanted to. The judges directed the civic
bodies to introduce a dedicated website where complaints or photographs of such illegal hoardings can be uploaded for necessary action. Such websites should be on the lines of those websites already introduced by the civic bodies for complaints about potholes on streets and roads across the state, the judges said. The bench further asked the heads of the municipal bodies to act promptly on complaints of court commissioners appointed to remove illegal hoardings. Such complaints should be dealt within a week, the Judges said adding that response should be given to these issues within 72 hours. The bench issued notices to BJP state president Ashish Shelar and other political leaders asking them to show cause on January 8 why contempt action should not be initiated against them for violating High Court orders on putting up illegal hoardings. The allegations against them were that illegal hoardings on public roads had displayed their photographs. The HC noted that three parties - BJP, MNS and NCP - had come forward before it to give their response to the issue of illegal posters. The court directed NCP and BJP
MNS lawyer pointed out that such illegal hoardings were put up at night and therefore the persons displaying them could not be identified and taken to task. Responding to this allegation, the high court asked the state government to ensure that night patrolling should be carried out in all the wards of municipal bodies to stop this illegal practice of putting up hoardings without permission. The judges also suggested the civic bodies ensure that illegal hoardings are not displayed when they give permission to the organisations for erecting pandals during Ganeshotsav and Navrati festivals. The matter has been posted for compliance on January 8. The court had earlier warned political parties of contempt action after it was informed that despite tendering apology and undertakings that no illegal hoardings will be put
up, workers of BJP, MNS and NCP were found to have erected hoardings at several places in the city. “Political parties and their leaders have complete disregard for the rule of the land and the orders passed by the court. Why don’t you appoint one leader in each ward who will be held responsible if any illegal hoarding is put up? Do this, then we will know that you are genuinely dedicated,” the court said. “If tomorrow every citizen starts spraying black paint on the hoardings and on the faces of the leaders whose photos are on the hoarding, then nobody can do anything. Then it is not defacement as the hoarding itself is put up illegally,” Justice Patel had said. “The hoardings have names of the people who claim to have put it up. Give us their addresses and we will issue contempt notices against them,” the high court had observed. PTI
Civic bodies told to complete the drive by Republic Day
to nominate one worker from their respective parties in each municipal area to take note of illegal hoardings and bring it to the attention of municipal administration for their removal. The bench issued notices to Shiv Sena, Congress, BSP and RPI (A) to appear before the HC on the next occasion and file their responses to the issue of illegal hoardings.
The court asked the heads of municipal administration to issue appropriate directions to civic bodies on the basis of court orders relating to removal of illegal hoardings. The judges further directed the state government to provide two armed police constables to Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) in each ward to carry out the removal of illegal hoardings.
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PUNE, NOVEMBER 28, 2015 | www.thegoldensparrow.com
PICS BY ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
An obstacle is another name for opportunity
Being visually impaired is not an obstacle to these individuals who would rather be treated as equals by society See Spotlight, p06 & 07
Bhosari residents drag CME to High Court Mahar community heirs begin their battle to reclaim 100 acres of their land See p05
Woman stages 2-monthold son’s abduction BY GITESH SHELKE @gitesh_shelke
A day after a mother reported that her child had been snatched away from her on a busy Pune street, cops booked her for staging the abduction drama. On Thursday Archana Sonawane fi led a case with Kothrud police station alleging that masked men had taken away her two-month-old baby boy while she was walking in Rambaug Colony, Kothrud. The 24-year-old mother told the cops that five masked men, who were sitting in van, snatched her baby. In her complaint she stated that she was on her way to drop her four-year-old son to Raja Shivray School in Kothrud when the men approached her. She added that a few minutes before the baby was taken away from her, a woman had asked her if the child she was holding in her arms was a boy or a girl. After she narrated the incident, cops swung into action. Apart from the cops
attached to Kothrud police station, crime branch sleuths too were roped in. However, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) P R Patil and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rajendra Joshi were not convinced with Sonawane’s version of the incident. They found it hard to digest that such an incident would take place on a busy street and that there were no eye witnesses. Moreover, Sonawane also fumbled a lot while narrating the incident, which made the two cops suspicious. Contd on p4
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2015
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PUNE, AUGUST 29, 2015 | www.thegoldensparrow.com
“PMC is taking efforts to curb air pollution and the metro initiative is a part of the programme to discourage use of private vehicles. But civic authorities have nothing substantial to prove that they are serious aboutTGS containing the menace.” MUMBAI CITY LIFE — Kunal Kumar, Pune Municipal Commissioner
Cheaper way to clean water
.com densparrow
29, 2015
| www.thegol
Books, Beyond ing Follow ssion Their Pa
PUNE,
AUGUST
s have youngster talented passions and their but ve extremely proud to follow These fi kind parents the path charted only made their others of their for have not an example are setting
is in Jennifer space y a happ
trash Turn yourure into treas
p2
pet Wish yourbirthday y a happ
p11
p12
Sheena Bora murder: A case of lies, deceit and greed P2
Beyond Books, Following Their Passion
P8
‘RTI won’t tackle corruption in politics’ P6
HC comes to the rescue of trafficking victims A Godly Capacity
Meet the future Collectors and Commissioners 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
35,581.29
Historically, the US has been the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases. Its responsibility in forcing climate change has been the most
OCTOBER 10, 2015
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY
PUNE
AUGUST 15, 2015
PUNE
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)
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
Rationalise taxes, US stand“Th on climate ere is a need to revive grievances redressal mechanism in the education advocates Jaitley change putting sector. world Major complaints have been admission problems and salary issues P14 a weekly report.” teachers. We will take action after getting at ‘deadlyofrisk’ Percentage of global CO2 emissions: Past and present (1850-2011)
6.8
“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
GDP (PPP, 000’ US $, 2011)
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
Brazil
21.2
3.3
USA
GDP per capita (US $, 2011)
Japan
49,854
2.8
— Purushottam Bhapkar, Education Commissioner 33,414
P11
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
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
Firms chase talent, fancy designations
India faces prospect of population ageing
P14 P11 For these youngsters, working at an ATM is a stepping stone to a public service career See Spotlight, p08 & 09
Govt rulesto in favour of biodiversity park return land tribals
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.
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
3,298
Air travel (million passenger trips in 2013)
473
18
69
743
NA
Human Development Index (2013)
0.914
0.735
75
0.586
352
0.719
Sources: World Bank, IEA, HDI report
BY SHAILESH A JOSHI @TGSWeekly
Issues order denying permission for new construction in the Biodiversity Park reserved area 12
guard job. And you can be sure that the remuneration is as lowly as you would expect. But what may seem like truly meagre wages, are very precious and nothing less than lifesaving amounts of money to these young men, who display admirable grit, fortitude and resourcefulness in stretching a rupee as far as it can, as they finance their own studies, and restrict their living expenses within the ambit of a proverbial shoestring budget. They probably see silver linings even in the darkest of horizons. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
Another tribal, Shankar Tukaram land to the company or agents but have Katkar (60), who has received favourable been debarred from doing agricultural orders from the revenue department, activities on their land,” she said. the common man. Even a helper from my wife’s said that the company took over his land Leelabai prepared a list of farmers who college, got us plenty of signatures,” he said. about three years ago. “I never met any have suffered losses in last 10 years and agent or company officer and never sold submitted it to the local tehsil office. GREEN HAVEN my land. I was shocked when agents “My father-in-law Kondiba Ameya Jagtap, 29, has been involved with the ordered me not to till my land. They Margale had bought this land and we green initiative for eight years. “I have been a part put heavy boulders in my land and I are staying here for over 40 years. I will of this movement since 2007, and it has become a was not allowed to cultivate anything in get my land back,” she said, adding that mass movement,” said Jagtap. the farm,” he said. Living with his wife, collecting land documents, searching Jagtap and his team son and four daughters, he said, “Being government registers and visiting were responsible for an illiterate person, it was a hard battle tehsildar office regularly was a tedious mobilising the youth. They collecting documents, visiting courts task. Local villagers were supported by conducted signature and and reclaiming six hectares.” social worker Medha Patkar. “We will social media campaigns, Leelabai Balu Margale Local leader Leelabai Balu Margale not allow illegal activities in our villages, made presentations for of National Alliance of People’s including destruction of forests and college students and IT from the entry of remark, LCL would Movements (NAPM) helped farmers hills,” Leelabai said. firms and more. “The only have bought the lands with proper to reclaim their lands. “We staged many thing on my mind was permission of the Government. No protests and about 25 farmers were LAVASA’S STATEMENT saving the hills. We had such remarks were there on the land lodged in Yerawada Central Prison four participants from the ages It is the first time that SDO declared Ameya Jagtap record of these lands. years ago,” she said. Leelabai also filed of 15 to 80,” he adds. There 23.75 hectares of Lavasa Corporation Besides, The Regulation 17 a suit with a local court and revenue were countless people who Ltd’s (LCL) land as tribal land. The land Deciding in favour of the BDP, the government has rejected the proposal for eight per cent construction of the Special Regulation forbehind Hill the scenes day in and day out. “For authorities reclaiming her 60 acres. worked records at no time showed these lands as on the hills Stations, 1996, specifically “My husband never sold land to agents the states Green that Pune Movement, we had to write and tribal land nor did the records contain ‘the Government in Revenue Dept. or company but construction activities draft letters, handle social media, design logos and the mandatory remark to indicate that grant permission the Owner/ BYshe EKTA autorickshaw drivers topamphlets, began on my property,” said. KATTI these were tribal land under Section 36Fromshall and visit college campuses,” said Jagtap. Developer ofeveryone such project to purchase Leelabai of Mugaon @EktaaK claimed that (a) of Maharashtra Land Revenue Code,to industrialists, THE CAUSE the Tribal area as with land equal in zest.the project land agents’ harassment claimed her 1966. LCL has not bought these landsparticipated Eco-conscious of Pune have been intensely “It a people’s A BDP was made in 2002 to protect perhas thebeen provisions of Section 36 reservation A of husband in 2003. “I citizens have got my land directly from the allottees. These lands active on thethem issuefrom of a doing Biodiversity right Code. from the thecase, hills of Pune. the MLR In any being back and debarred any Park were(BDP). sold by the allottees 15 to 20 yearsmovement eirit.effI orts have now borne per the But the rapid urbanisation posed a threat to unbuildableProminent hilly areas, these lands activityThon am fighting the battlefruit. for As ago. AndGR they have changed hands twobeginning. released August 5, even no fresh construction willtimes be before LCL bought thesepersons such as under Arun development the reservation. are neither nor To safeguard the green zone, eight years andon these agents burned or three allowed 978.54 of land 23 from fringethe latest owner on record. Firodia and Dr and green activists joined hands, to oppose earmarked for Jayant any futureNGOs development down my houseon four years acres ago,” she said.in the lands villages which reserved for a BDP. been Planning a the builders lobby and politicians who wanted to Every tribal land carries a specificNarlikar in thehave Lavasa’s Proposal/ Leelabai is isinstrumental in whatunder swayed decision inremark favourunder of Section 36 A of the MLRpartDevelopment of it.” Khot said. up constructions on the hills. Plan.ALoss put of these lands gathering So adivasis onethe umbrella. Satish Khot the green activists, has NGOs and eco-conscious ThLavasa’s e Green Pune Movement united the Code. This indicates tribal land status ofmemorable therefore isexperience, not going to affect “The revenue department assured Puneites? lots of anecdotes to development. conscious citizens of Pune, who demanded a 100 the land. In all such cases permissionhe has immediate or future All to issue more favourable orders in near “Thisare wasn’t a short-term struggle. more from tell. “A of college girls They perthere cent isBDP. is For required thecouple Government. thishad hasenrolled. happened because no The government made several future. There about 500 farmers than 10who yearshave citizens asked collect signatures the BDP cause. to the Had thethe tribal were status of to land known titleforguarantee given by changes the State forBDP reservation draft, which called and adivasis nothave soldfought their to preserve green cover,” said Satish Khot, President of the They were going to a multiplex 10 anyone pm so they for suggestions landatthat buys despite being the and objections from citizens. The National Society for Clean Cities (NSCC). asked me to go along. An autorickshaw driver said records. proposal was pending with the state government official keeper of land that he knew who we were and that for a fithat nal decision. Deciding in favour of the BDP, Thiseveryone is one who more thing the PEOPLE’S MOVEMENT sat in his autorickshaw wouldGovernment sign the petition.” will have tothe dogovernment under its has thus rejected the proposal for This happens to be a people’s movement, with citiNext morning the autorickshaw driver came initiative. eight per cent construction on the hills. ease of doing business zens from every strata of society being involved. with 350-400 signatures. “Such isgitesh.shelke@goldensparrow.com the power of tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
The next time you visit an ATM, the guard you pass by could be a police officer or district collector of the future. It is the nature of the mostly sedentary ATM job that has drawn these young hopefuls to it. But they are ones who aspire to serve society through appointments to the revenue department, the police service, district administrations and more. Their lofty ambitions and dreams are in stark contrast to the seemingly lowly aspect of the ATM
Asks Pune police to seek CBI help to trace the accused who have jumped bail BY GARGI VERMA @missgverma
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most of these cases bail was granted without considering the factors, like, the seriousness of the offences, the nature of the evidence in existence, the severity of the punishment, the character, behaviour, means and standing of the accused, the circumstances peculiar to the accused, the reasonable possibility of securing the presence of the accused at the time of trial and the fact that, most of these accused are habitual accused, involved in repetitive offences. HC reviewed some of the cases presented in the PIL. One of them was of a 12-yearold victim who had been rescued and accused Rani Vyankatramana Nayak charged with trafficking. When the case came up for hearing in a Pune court, the victim testified against the accused. Despite that, Nayak was granted bail and then absconded. Lower court issued a non bailable warrant on January 22, 2010, but failed to nab Nayak. As of now, the accused is still absconding and the case is indefinitely stalled. The court then went to discuss numerous cases of this nature at length in its order to establish, that it is indeed a worrisome situation that bail is being granted so easily in such serious and sensitive cases almost leading to travesty of justice for those against whom these crimes are committed because the accused successfully overreaches law and justice. “The result of this sordid system is that the victims and their families are subjected
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In the in issue cases the list of 42, the High Court
orderedESthe Pune Commissioner of Police R to be present and show the progress made in the trafficking cases. “The Court has taken a firm stand and it is a positive step for us that the police Celebrate is being forced to look for the accused. freedom! I, however, doubt if the Commissioner will actually show up. It is nonetheless an important step and shows that the High Court is very actively listening to our demands,” said Greg Malstead, founder of Freedom Firm. Contd on p4 U
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TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly
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The Commissioner of Police, Pune has been summoned by the Bombay High Court, on September 10, regarding the situation on trafficking cases. The court, ‘I want the petition next Simple acting on toa be writ filed by the Priyanka Superstar Pune NGOChopra’ Freedom Firm, has taken a stern stand on delays observed in the taking up cases of human trafficking. The latest court hearing on August 20, noted that “despite giving the police enough time, no progress was shown to ENT E R TA
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“I hold that the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by men, from the cruelty of men.” Division bench of Justice Roshan Dalvi and Justice Shalini Phansalkar–Joshi quoted Mahatma Gandhi while delivering their judgement on a case pertaining to the manner in which cases of immoral trafficking are handled. The judges from the Bombay High Court were hearing a criminal Public Interest Litigation filed by Freedom Firm, a human rights organization that fights sex trafficking in India. Freedom Firm had moved HC earlier this year citing several cases of immoral trafficking registered in Pune. They pointed out how victims were languishing in rescue homes, while accused had jumped bail. The NGO pointed out lacunae in the system and the insensitivity with which concerned agencies were acting. On November 25 the division bench delivered the judgement. In the past, court had pulled up Pune police and even summoned police commissioner KK Pathak to HC. The court took a serious note of numerous matters cited in this PIL where accused booked for immoral trafficking under the Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act (ITPA) had jumped bail. The court in a landmark judgement laid down stringent guidelines to be followed by courts, police and even the State machinery that handles such cases so that the accused in such cases do not abuse the system and get away with such heinous crimes. The court observed that it is a sorry state of affairs in trafficking cases that the accused applies for anticipatory bail and it is readily granted. “He or she then often not only absconds pending the trial, but repeats committing similar offence. The trial remains at that. The police machinery is required for righting the wrong. It rarely succeeds in the efforts. Justice remains out of bounds. The victim is far from reaching the doors of justice,” the judges noted. Further, the court observed that in
along with an additional Rs 2000 for her husband’s funeral expensRAHUL RAUT es. A 3-memWithber committee age consisting t le m this Why back fro of District Judge Bhojraj Patil, u yo hold issue advocate Atul Gunjal and legal aid Mahesh Jadhav arrived at the decision of compensating the widow for her husband’s murder, on Wednesday. Sunita Suryawanshi lives in a Women rescued from brothels are forced to live in shelter homes because they are witnesses, even as accused in their cases are fugitives world of ng, uncertainties. A mother not skinny Be stro of two, shesentishome unsure of what BY GARGI VERMA think that the police would locate the from the shelter homes. will accused easily if they really wanted to,” The High Court has also told the @missgverma ing transpire from one today to the next. he said. lower courts set stringent measures BY GARGI VERMA 27, focuses on 42 cases pending in in court and give an update on the in the mak A diva Anyone who has been entangled in Women rescued from brothels for bail. “Th e jumping oflike non-bailable various trial courts in Pune for want status of the absconding accused. On @missgverma Things areweren’t always this. courts of law and the endless judicial forced to live in shelter homes because warrants is a serious issue and the of the accused. September 10, police commissioner But awry her processes, knows that the delivery of they are witnesses, even as thethings accused have sureties gone should be doubleafter checked City police chief may have given an Victims or sex was present before the HC and assured justice takes its own sweet, er... bitter in their cases puts are afugitives. “Many before granting bail. Th e accused assurance to the court, but that doesn’t workers rescued that he will take necessary action. king husband Prakash (36) was allegedly face Coowere time. A Pune NGO called ‘Freedom of them mean Pune cops will get their act from the brothels However, on September 30, when le on hiswho are now should report to the police station, d smiminors, Firm’, that works in the field of human adults.broa They still suffer the stigma of by daily, as they will be able toover keep a together. The Bombay High Court have been kept in the petition came up for hearing, HC murdered their neighbours trafficking, has fi led a writ petition in being in the sex trade. The trauma will track of them better than the court,” recently expressed its displeasure over rescue homes. The expressed displeasure yet again. None petty issue on May 18, 2014. “Our the Bombay High Court regarding pass with time, but they are estranged Malstead said. the manner in which city cops have accused who were of the accused in eight priority cases delays in the handling of their cases. from their homes andneighbour’s families,” said The last used hearing of to the petition washis been dealing with human trafficking initially arrested, had been arrested. Only three accused son get The petition Malstead. on July 31. “The court asked the police cases. Not long ago the court had were granted from other cases had been arrested. In the issue friends to stay over at night. They fi led on January 27, Evan Henck, to improve the methods to track down put eight out of 42 pending cases on bail, and ever “The police officer shall continue NG names theIVIPune the Western region criminals. The police used to just read out priority list and instructed the cops to since have not the search of the accused against S R would says, then play C o m mDi s s i o n e r director, a list of thesongs, absconding sometimes accused, from KK Pathak nab the accused who have enlarged on been traceable. whom the non bailable warrant have The hearings RE ZZ what U of F Police as “There are a number police station. Now they have been bail. Despite being given enough time The victims have been issued more specially in the eight even vulgar movies over the are stalled in of cases Respondent. Greg from the told to list what steps they have taken to and even summoning KK Pathak, not been reunited with their families priority cases based upon their finger loudspeaker at the night. Ite police wasseem during Malstead, the head Faraskhana red light locate accused. Th to be commissioner of Pune police, to court, as they are needed during the trial. prints or otherwise and report to Court cases dating of Freedom Firm, area. Many cases evading their duty as the accused are still the cops have not done enough to trace Freedom Firm’s petition urges that the on the next date of hearing,” the court exam times running and their they had been told said that the writ held up because businesses from the same the accused of the cases put on priority accused must be traced immediately. ordered. back to 2007 are petition aims to the aaccused have of areas,”times he said. to turn down by HC. Over the last several hearings, HC number Greg Malstead, founder of make Brand the police stopped The next hearing is scheduled for Terming the progress made by has pulled up Pune cops. On August Freedom Firm said that they have This artist has a reporting power BusyAugust walking a the volume. That night, my and the judiciary to the court. We 20. fateful police as ‘dis-satisfactory’ the division the division bench noted, “The faith in the judiciary. “The Pune police, Sunitabench is very particular about her20, daughter’s studies, and makes sure she does her daily homework feline all fancy accountable for their leisurely and lax compiled these cases and fi led the “Most girlsso involved the flesh of Justice Roshan Dalvi and PIL raises a sensitive and important however, refuse to budge. During the tight rope husband was tired, he inwent out approach to court cases. petition.” trade in Pune are from Andhra Justice Shalini Phansalkar-Joshi question and reflects the callousness previous hearing, Commissioner of “The hearings are stalled in cases yelled them. Those boys etc. who The Bombay High and Court has taken at Pradesh, Nepal, West Bengal pointed out how no arrests have been of the police and the prosecution Police had cited all excuses he could dating back to 2007, since the accused a commendable stand. It has asked Some have been sent home, while made as far as eight priority cases are agency in the prosecution of crime possibly come up with. The court BY GARGI VERMA concerning were stabbed himfor over and vice cleared itsdiscarded firstallcase of Victim hasrefuse gotto show a Rs lakhsay that compensation up. Th2e police the lower courts to fast track drunk these others are still waiting the accused concerned. The court was hearing human rights under the of them while instructing theythis are absconding refuse to Suryawanshi, tell cases and dispense with themagain,” in six to turn up. We hope the petition a Public Interest Litigation filed by Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 him to redouble the efforts. Even then, over Sunita said abouthelpsthe Compensation Scheme. The scheme only week.butSunita @missgverma us if they are doing anything to track months. The HC also suggested that in putting the accused behind bars,” Freedom Firm, an NGO that works (ITPA) and the relevant provisions the police have come up with abysmally launched in developments,” Maharashtra in a 33-year-old slum from the them down. The accused havedweller jumped the victims’ statementsincident. could be video Malstead said. with commercial sex workers. of the IPC.” The was HC instructed that meagre said Malstead non-bailable warrants, they say. But we recorded, after which they could be gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com The petition, filed Pune on January PuneSerpolice chief be personally present but Pune’s gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com On August 26, the Legal Contd on p4 April 2014, first victim Railway Phatak Area in Bopodi, is
Family of a murdered man are the first beneficiaries of the Victim Compensation Scheme
Of Patna’s missing Dak Bungalow, hidden ‘kothis’ and mansions
to face untold trauma and difficulties in the entire painful process. The grant of bail also many a times results in the accused interfering with the witnesses or pressurizing them through direct or indirect means,” the division bench noted. The court then went to say that though it has adjourned the case time and again with a hope that the non bailable warrants issued to trace the accused would show some results, police has made little progress. The court said that its efforts of calling upon the Pune police chief to give priority to these cases of ‘human suffering and violation’ did result in a special drive being conducted in the locality which yielded some result but not as much as was expected of the State machinery. The Pune police in its defence said it was almost impossible to secure the presence of the accused because most of them were from Nepal and Bangladesh. Cops told the court that once the accused are released on bail and leave India, they have no control. The division bench ordered that Pune police must continue the drive to trace the accused. The Division bench added that if the state fails to trace the absconding accused, CBI’s assistance should be sought to find them. Also, the court ordered that the state must create a database of offenders who are human traffickers under the ITPA. HC also issued guidelines to lower courts dealing with ITPA cases. gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com
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Passing out from NDA is a dream come true
333 cadets, including 11 foreign cadets, pass out from NDA’s 2015 batch BY SUSHANT RANJAN @sushantranjan It was a childhood dream come true for National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla toppers Cadet Jitendra Kumar, Cadet Abhishek Kundlia and Cadet Rakesh Kadyan, when they passed out from the prestigious institute with flying colours. Jitendra Kumar of Rewari, Haryana had joined the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pashan, but quit when he was asked to join the NDA. He said, “I appeared for both the IISER and NDA entrance examinations. I cleared the IISER, but after six months, I received a letter from NDA asking me to join. My father was initially against it, but it was my childhood dream to join the NDA, and he agreed.” Jitendra knew little about the NDA initially. “The training was rigorous and after three years, I can feel the difference in myself,” he said. His father Nayab Subedar (retd) Hari Ram Sharma served in the EME, Secunderabad. He did not want Jitendra to join the army, but his mother Kiran Bala always wanted her son to become an army officer. His sister Manisha Kumari is proud that her brother is joining the Indian Army. Sharma said, “As an army person I am happy, but as a father I am not happy. I know how jawans live in Siachen Glacier, Kargil. I am proud that my son will becomes an officer.” Abhishek Kundlia studied at Indian Military College, Dehradun, where one seat is reserved for an Uttarakhand aspirant. His father BP Kundlia working with Aakashwani, Dehradun, his mother Krishna
(From left) Recipient of COAS Trophy Cadet, Rakesh Kadyan; Admiral’s Trophy, Cadet Jitendra Kumar and CAS Trophy, Cadet Abhishek Kundlia
Kundlia is a housewife and sister is studying medicine. He cleared the NDA entrance examination and was in the top ten. He is joining Indian Military Academy, Dehradun and after being commissioned he will join the Infantry. Rakesh Kadyan of Jhajhar, Haryana is a farmer’s son. He was inspired by his maternal uncle who is an army colonel. He said, “Fourteen officers from my village are in the army. I am happy to be joining the Indian Army.” Divisional Cadet Captain (DCC) Rakesh won the Commandant’s Silver Medal and COAS Trophy presented by General K Sundarji, PVSM (Retd) for standing first in Science stream with highest FGPA (Final Grade Point Average). Cadet Jitendra Kumar received the Commandant’s Silver Medal and the Admiral’s Trophy presented by Admiral Suresh Mehta, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, and Chief of the Naval Staff (Retd) for standing first in Computer Science stream with highest FGPA. He also
bagged the Chief of Naval Staff Trophy presented by Admiral OS Dawson, PVSM, AVSM (Retd) for standing first amongst all the three streams. Battalion Cadet Captain (BCC) Abhishek Kundlia bagged the Commandant’s Silver Medal and the CAS Trophy presented by Air Chief Marshal N C Suri, PVSM, AVSM, VM (Retd) for standing first in Social Science Stream with highest FGPA. As many as 333 cadets, including 11 foreign cadets were conferred degrees in social sciences, science and computer science by the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) at the National Defence Academy’s (NDA) convocation for the 129th course on Friday. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was the chief guest on the occasion. Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar, Commandant, NDA was also present. Of the 333 cadets, 103 received BSc degrees, 154 received BSc degrees in computer science and 76 got BA degrees in social science. sushant.ranjan@goldensparrow.com
Shrewd conman pulls ‘Make Katraj park a picnic spot’ off Rs 32 lakh heist Posing as company manager, conman dupes jewellery firm and makes away with gold booty BY TUSHAR RUPANAVAR @TGSWeekly In a scene right out of a thriller film, a conman posing as company manager decamped with 120 gold coins, weighing 1,100 grammes, worth Rs 32,50,544. The incident occurred at Evon IT Park, Kharadi, on Thursday afternoon. Parmeshwar Mohan Khaire, 24, of Gangai N i w a s , Kharadi, who runs a tourist car business, has filed the c ompl a i nt with the Chandannaga r police station in this regard. The Steve Santosh Chandannaga r police have registered a case against one Steve Santosh, who had hired a car from Khaire. Chandannagar police station Senior Police Inspector Anil Patrudkar said, “Khaire’s maternal uncle Ambadas Funde works with Chandukaka Saraf jewellery shop at Ahmednagar. Steve Santosh, posing as a manager of Rigous Organ Tech World Trade Centre, told Khaire that he wanted gold coins as Diwali gifts for his company employees. Khaire got a quotation from Chandukaka Saraf jewellers. Steve made a purchase order in the name of his company and Saraf jewellers
Residents and corporator urge PMC to launch boating service at the lake park
Katraj area residents and the local corporator and leader of the opposition in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Vasant More have urged the PMC to start a boating service at Nanasaheb Peshwa Lake near Katraj Gaothan to make it a complete tourist attraction. Spread over 4.5 acres, the Katraj park has recently started Phulrani, a toy train for children, and a boating service will add to its allure. Sachin Jadhav, 40, a resident of Utkarsh Society, said, “Most of our civic issues have been addressed. Our priority now is a boating service at the lake which is sure to draw more tourists.”
At the first ward meeting in July, More had assured the residents of attending to their problems and he has resolved most of their complaints. Katraj Talav Senior Citizens group member Prakesh Saswade said, “The Phulrani and fountain are the main tourist attractions at present. A boating service will make Katraj lake and park an even more attractive picnic spot.”
“A boating facility is sure to add to the attraction of Katraj lake and will attract lots of boating enthusiasts. The PMC had promised to start the boating service by Diwali but has not kept its word. All the facilities to run a boating service are in place and we are just awaiting a green signal,” said More. A resident of Shelkar Mala, Sampatrao Gaikar, 68, said that the boating service should be started on a priority basis. “Residents of Nimbalkar Wadi and Mangade Wadi are dumping waste in the canal which flows into the lake. The boating facilities will be an attraction for visitors from Sangli, Satara and nearby towns.” PMC Land Estate Deputy Commissioner Satish Kulkarni said, “The PMC plans to take up the boating service project at the earliest.” ekta.katti@goldensparrow.com
An app for the hearing impaired City-based company will release the Q+ app on both Android and iOS by January next year BY EKTA KATTI @Ektaak
made 120 gold coins as per the order, including 70 10-grams coins and 50 8-grams coins. Saraf jewellers agent Omprakash Tekale and Funde came with the coins to the Rigous eighth f loor office. Under the pretext of showing them to his boss, Steve took the gold coins and f led. When he failed to reappear for a long time, Tekale and Khaire went to the Chandannagar police station, where the police registered an offence against Steve under sections 406 and 420 of the Indian Penal code.” Police Sub Inspector Sandip Salunkhe is investigating the matter tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
Quadio Devices, a city-based company has developed an application that will benefit the hearing impaired by bypassing the need for hearing aids. Q+ as the app is called, is now in the testing phase, and is available on iOS system. Paresh Patel, 68, the co-founder of Quadio Devices, is hearing impaired himself. He said, “This application will provide relief to those who don’t like hearing aid. I have used several devices, and then decided to develop a cost-friendly app. The app will be in stores in a couple of days.” Founded in 2009, Quadio provides hearing aid solutions. Anurag Sharma, 41, is an aerospace engineer and cofounder of Quadio. The audio testing feature of the application sets it apart
from the rest, he said. “There are only a couple of heading aid applications worldwide. The audio testing feature enables users to test their hearing loss which none of the application has provided. The app works on smartphone and as of now it is available only on iPhone. We are working on the Android version which will be out next month,” he said. Users can test their hearing loss using the audio testing feature. Once the hearing deficit is fed, the user can synchronise the sound setting as per their convenience. The use of the headphones is a must while using the app. “The working of the app is very simple. As the sound is picked up by the microphone of the headphone, it is transmitted to the phone. The application modulates
the sound as per the hearing loss of the user and sends it to the ear piece. The app is free as of now. Once it is in the play store, it will be a paid app. We also provide smartphones for those who are helping us with the testing of the application,” said Ketan Pandya, 38, head of the application team. A team of ten began working on the application last year. Features such as noise reduction, speech enhancement, signal processing algorithms, accuracy and feedback cancellation ensures to provide the user the perfect environment. “We want the app to be very accurate, hence we spent a lot of time and energy in calibrating the app. We have been working on the application since June 2014. We are also planning
Anurag Sharma
Ketan Pandya
to have call centre based support module where a user call our team via the call when they face any problem,” he said. To check the reliability of the application, it was tested on 20 hearing impaired people. “I was looking for an application like this for a long time. The application fulfills most of my needs and I am going to buy it as soon as it is available,” said one of the users. Gopal Deshpande, 83, has been testing the app since three months. He said, “I am quite satisfied with the performance. In speech quality settings, I like option called – heavy which gives me gives more clarity.” ekta.katti@goldensparrow.com
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2015
“Looking at the increased load of Dengale Bridge, we have decided to do the repairs. The base of the bridge will be strengthened. Modern technology will be used to carry out works, which are expected to start this week.” — Shriniwas Bonala, traffic planner of the PMC
PUNE
Poor kids to attend Ind vs SA test match for free
Savour gourmet food at fair price
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P8
Bhosari residents drag CME to High Court RAHUL RAUT
Mahar community heirs begin their battle to reclaim 100 acres of their land BY GARGI VERMA @missgverma Eight residents of Bhosari are taking the College of Military Engineering (CME) to court, to reclaim the land that belonged to their forefathers. The 100 acres of cultivable land that originally belonged to the ‘Mahar’ community and was thus called ‘Mahar Watan’, was acquired in 1925 by the British to set up the CME, is still under their jurisdiction. While multiple representations have been made to various government authorities over the years, no results have been forthcoming and so the deprived persons have decided to move the High Court. The petitioners are led by Yashvant Keshav Dolas. Their advocate Suresh Mane is pleading with the court to either provide the eight people with compensation for the land or return their land parcels. The petition urges the court to consider, “Handing back possession of the vacant Mahar Watan land in question acquired by the Collector of Pune district to the legal heirs of the original land owners, the Watandar farmers, for cultivation and restraining the respondents from
transferring the vacant land or creating any third party rights, title or interest in respect of the same land.” Various reasons are cited by the eight persons to plead to the court how the land will be put to better use by them rather than the CME. Even historical land acquisition acts dating as far back as 1874 are cited, which is when the Mahar Watan land was officially recognised by the British governance. Contesting the validity of the pre-independence laws, the petition states that, “the present possession of the same land with the Military Engineering college is without any valid and cogent legal basis,” and deems it illegal. The main point of contention between the petitioners and the respondents, namely the CME, the District Collector, Ministry of Revenue and Forests, Maharashtra and Defence Ministry, is that no compensation was ever paid to the original owners or the legal heirs to acquire the land. Contesting the basis of acquisition, the petition states that when the land was acquired, “there was neither an “award” nor a “compensation” by the Pune Collector
in favour of the original owners as well as their legal heirs and therefore, it is in the fitness of the things that the lands are reverted back to the land owners for the cultivation.” The petition further states that the eight petitioners have been waiting for 65 years for their rightful compensation and now are in “dire need”. “Most of us are either retired professionals with no property or are landless labourers. This land, if given back to us, can really help our economic conditions,” says Dolas. Moreover, the petition also states, “if the relief ’s as sought by them are not
15 persons duped of Rs 9 lakh
RAHUL RAUT
Staff of investment company which duped people with the lure of land and returns booked by police
regarding where the land was located or its demarcation. With growing suspicions about the company, Surve stopped investing in 2013, and also demanded that they return his money. The company did no refund his money and in fact, Surve found the company office shut down on November 8, 2014. Police Inspector Sucheta Khokale of Deccan Gymkhana police station said that 11 others had approached them in this regard and that the police registered complaints against the company. The victims have been duped to the tune of Rs 9.28 lakh. Khokale said that the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) had sealed the accounts and offices of
the company about a year ago. “It is unfortunate that members of the public have been cheated of their hard earned money. We are awaiting for further directions from the SEBI and our investigations are continuing,” she said. The SEBI has ordered PACL, formerly called Pearl Agrotech Corporation, and its promoters to refund the over Rs 44,376 crore that it collected until March 2012 through a collective investment schemes (CIS). This is the biggest crackdown by SEBI so far on an entity in monetary terms. SEBI had issued an ultimatum of three months to comply with the orders. The company has 200 offices across India, including in Jaipur and Delhi. gitesh.shelke@goldensparrow.com
back?” Like all the eight petitioners, Dolas, a retired office bearer of Khadki Armament Factory had grown up hearing about the eight acres of land his family held in Bhosari village. “We had never seen the land, nor did we get any produce out of it. We are all from really poor backgrounds and thus the land was our only hope, however distant,” he recounts. After retirement, he started to dig for information and also filed multiple RTIs over a period of 14 years before amassing the entire paperwork declaring that the land in question was indeed theirs. “Meanwhile, our elders had already given up on the land. So many letters, presentations and actual pleading didn’t lead us anywhere,” he says. That’s when he decided to file a case along with seven others in the Bombay High Court. “I had approached our lawyer, Suresh Mane nearly three years ago. However, it took us so long to even get a hearing in the court,” he says with a somber look. The case has been slotted for December 2 at the Bombay High Court and notices have been sent to all the respondents. The Golden Sparrow tried reaching the College of Military Engineering but the authorities refused to comment. gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com
‘Traffic cop abused me’
Kalyani Potekar alleges that she was assaulted by a traffic cop. Head constable Kishor Shinde refutes allegation and says that he was at the receiving end BY PRIYANKKA DESHPANDE @journopriyankka
BY GITESH SHELKE @gitesh_shelke The Deccan Gymkhana police have booked the director and office bearers of the PSCL India Limited for allegedly duping 15 persons in Pune. They promised the investors land and handsome returns on their investments, but failed to do so. Vishal Vinayak Surve, 33, of Yerawada, who was among the duped investors, has lodged a complaint with the police in this regard. Police have booked the company officials, including Anand Guruwant Singh and nine others on a cheating charge. The police said that Surve was among many others who invested in two policies, in 2008, against which the company had promised him land. Since 2008, Surve had invested Rs 75,000 for five years, which amounted to Rs 15,000 yearly. Surve said that he was promised a 800 x 800 yard plot of land which was mentioned in the policy certificates. But the company never provided any details
granted, grave and irreparable harm, injury and/or loss will be caused to the Petitioner and on the other hand if the same are granted no harm would be caused to the Respondents,” citing that only 25 per cent of the land is utilised. “When 75% of the land is lying empty, why not give it to us, who can farm the fields and earn a livelihood out of it?” asks Dolas. The petition also states that even if the lands were acquired, the fact that, “it has not been used for the purpose for which it was acquired fully for nearly 65 years,” makes it important that the
land is returned to the legal heirs of its forbearers so that they can put it to its good use, which, the petitioners state, is cultivation. The petitioners also cite points of the ‘Right to fair Compensation & Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013’. The Mahar community is originally a Scheduled Caste. Citing the 2013 act, the petition states, “the Scheduled Castes and the Tribes and other forest dwellers have been extended an extra cover of the protection in case of land acquisition in tune with the constitutional philosophy of social justice,” and hence pleads that the Petitioners being members of the Scheduled Caste should be entitled to some extra protection under the law and from the court too. Further on, they cite the law, “In addition to cases where no awards had been made, the provisions of new law would also apply in cases where awards were made five or more years prior to the commencement of this Act but the physical possession of the land has not been taken or the compensation has not been paid”. Thus, Dolas asks, “since the acquisition, if it did happen, happened 65 years ago and we still haven’t received compensation and there is a clause which validates return, why can’t we get our land
Two city-based bikers are making the rounds of the District Court seeking action against traffic cop Kishor Shankar Shinde, who allegedly abused and beat them. The police, on their part have registered a case under IPC sections 353 (Deter public Kishor Shinde servant from discharge of his duty), 279 ( Rash driving) and 34 (Common intent) against the bikers. Kalyani Potekar, one of the bikers alleged that Shinde manhandled them and abused her and her friend. However, while talking with TGS, Shinde refused all the allegations made against him and claimed that Potekar slapped and pushed him, while her biker friend Sahil Dhoble threatened him with the girl’s influence and connections. The incident occured on the
morning of November 19, when Potekar and Dhoble were heading towards MG road from Nehru Nagar chowk. According to the duo, they took a left turn at Nehru Nagar chowk when they were stopped by traffic cop Shinde. “Shinde snatched the keys of my bike which itself is against the law,” said 22-year old Potekar. She added that she was talking very politely with Shinde, but the cop started abusing her. “He did not only abuse me verbally but also hit me against my helmet and called
reinforcements,” Potekar said. Her friend Dhoble, who came to her rescue alleged that after abusing both of them, they were taken to Bund Garden Police Station, where they were detained for seven hours. “Our statement was not recorded. A false case was registered against us,” said Dhoble. The duo were later taken to the district court, where they were granted bail against Rs. 25,000. Shinde’s description of the event is entirely different. The cop said that as soon as he stopped Potekar for breaking a signal, she started abusing him and also slapped him. “Being in service for the last 15 years, I am aware that a male police officer cannot even touch women. How would I then hit her or verbally abuse her?” Shinde said. He added that on the day of the incident, he completed 15 years in the police and expected to celebrate the occasion. The incident was captured on video by a passerby, in which it appears that Potekar pushed the cop. She, however, said that her reaction came after Shinde abused and pushed her. priyankka.deshpande @goldensparrow.com
they will harass our staff and hamper functioning of the hospital as well,” said the official requesting anonymity. Sources revealed that there are groups who keep a tab on trucks entering the city. They tail the vehicles and wait for the transporter to engage workers who are not part of their union. As soon as the workers show up to unload, the union members demand what they term as ‘Warai charges’. This they claim is for the welfare of Mathadi workers who were deprived of the unloading job.
When The Golden Sparrow contacted Advocate Nana Kshirsagar, head of the local Mathadi Kamgar Union he denied the charges. “Our men would never do anything like this. We are a strong union and believe in earning our livelihood through hard work. These must be impostors. If they have done this in the past as well, then the hospital must report the matter to police immediately. The men should be booked for extortion,” said Advocate Kshirsagar. dnyaneshwar.bhonde@goldensparrow.com
Kalyani Potekar
Ruby Hall succumbs to extortion Expensive medical equipment could not be unloaded for hours at Ruby Hall Clinic as Mathadi workers demanded Rs 40,000 for being denied the job. After 12 hours of haggling they left with Rs 20,000 BY DNYANESHWAR BHONDE @Dnyanesh1
For over 12 hours expensive equipment meant for cath lab in Ruby Hall Clinic, a well known hospital in Pune, could not be unloaded as members claiming to be from Mathadi Kamgar Union refused
to let them do so. They demanded Rs 40,000 to allow unloading. This, they explained was charges for letting the goods to be unloaded by other workers not associated with their union. The drama started around 5.30 am on Saturday (Nov 21) when PICS BY RAHUL RAUT
two trucks carrying the equipment from Chennai arrived in hospital’s premises. The equipment had been bought by the hospital from Philips, whose representative accompanied the goods. Once the trucks were parked inside the hospital, representative of Philips organized a crane and few local workers to unload the goods. Even before the workers could begin work, a group of men claiming to be from Mathadi Union sprung up and demanded to be paid. They said that their Mathadi workers were being denied jobs because Philips and Ruby Hall had called for random workers who had nothing to do with their union. The union members demanded Rs 40,000 for the loss caused to their members. For the next several hours, the crane and workers hired to unload the equipment were idle. The trucks parked inside the hospital premises partially blocked entry to some of the departments. In all this, the group of men from the union kept haggling with the representatives from Philips and Ruby Hall. The men claiming to be from the union threatened workers
who had been called to unload at the hospital. “They told us that if we so much as lift a box, they would thrash us. They threatened us with dire consequences if we unloaded the vehicles till such time that they were paid,” said one of the workers hired to unload. Mahesh Bhosale, manager, bio medical department at the hospital confirmed the incident. “Every time we call for goods, these union members spring up at our door and insist on being paid. In the past, we have offered the unloading work to their men but they end up quoting exorbitant figures. They do not want to work as such and only want to extort money. Even today they demanded a huge sum and eventually settled for Rs 20,000. The Philips representative paid them the money and only then were the goods unloaded,” he said. Another official at the hospital added that this was nothing short of extortion. “We cannot go to the cops as these men are from neighboring slums. We do not want to mess with the Mathadi union. We are aware that if we resist and refuse to pay,
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2015
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“Acting against illegal constructions will be our priority. Elaborate steps have been planned to ensure constructions are controlled and allowed only with proper permissions.” — Mahesh Zagade, PMRDA chief
ISIS activities disrupting global economy: Jaitley P 12
Heritage temple to be restored by 2016 Restoration of the 700-year-old Nageshwar Temple is one of the most challenging projects undertaken by the PMC BY EKTA KATTI @Ektaak The restoration of 700-year-old Nageshwar Temple in Somwar Peth will be completed by mid-2016. The two-crore rupee project is one of the most challenging undertaken by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). The three-phase project involved
RAHUL RAUT
expenditure of Rs 20-25 lakh in the first and second phases and Rs 75 lakh in the third phase. Twenty-four workers have been working for three years to restore the temple, whose premises are spread over 2,043 square metres. PMC’s heritage department chief Sham Dhavle said, “The temple restoration project is a matter of the pride for the PMC. We faced many challenges including detecting the structural defects and procuring the appropriate materials for the temple restoration.” Reputed architects were roped in for the restoration, including citybased Shrish Kembhavi, who is wellversed with the temple architecture,
Restoration of the 700-year-old Nageshwar Temple is a challenging project
NCP Corporator locks horns with her housing society’s office bearer Pimpri housing society chairman and corporator trade accusations culminating in a court case BY GARGI VERMA @missgverma Aashirwad Society in Pimpri has turned into a veritable battlefield, with legal disputes galore. The society chairman and a local corporator who live in the society, are at loggerheads over various issues and are filing legal suits against one another. The corporator lodged a case of sexual assault against the chairman’s husband, while the chairman has now lodged a case of voluntarily causing hurt, hurting religious feelings and intentionally breaching the peace. Sujata Palande Sujata Palande, of Aashirwad Society, is also a Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation corporator belonging to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). She lodged a complaint of sexual assault against society chairman Jyoti Salvi’s husband Dattaram Salvi, in March 2015. While the police agreed to file her FIR, they rejected outright Jyoti Salvi’s plea to file an FIR against Palande and her family, for allegedly threatening her, trying to beat up her son and hurting their religious sentiments. “The entire story is fabricated and full of
Dattaram Salvi
lies,” said Dattaram Salvi. “There was a truck parked near the gate, from which workers were unloading cement blocks. All I did was ask them what they were doing and under whose orders,” he said. The versions of what ensued thereafter vary greatly, but it ended in a sexual assault case being lodged against
Dattaram Salvi. The FIR lodged by Sujata Palande accuses Dattaram of abusing her and touching her inappropriately while breaching the peace by threatening to beat her son. In the FIR lodged by Jyoti Salvi, she accused Sujata, her husband and her son of abusing and threatening her family while using her position as a corporator to induce fear. “The police readily lodged their complaint, but when we tried to lodge a complaint, they turned us down, saying we didn’t have proof,” Dattaram said. They had to go through the court to force the police to register the complaint. According to their advocate Tosif Shaikh, it is a clear misuse of power. “When my client tried to file an FIR, the police refused. How can the police do this unless they have a strong reason, which in this case, happens to be the position our
opponent holds,” he said. However, the case was presented before the court which ordered the police station to lodge Jyoti’s complaint. The case will come up for hearing on December 7. The feud between the two families goes way back. Their legal tussle started in 2012 when Jyoti Salvi lodged a case in the co-operative court against Sujata Palande’s brother-in-law Anil Palande. “He runs a beer bar in front of the society. The plot was assigned to him to set up a flour mill. We lodged a complaint against the beer bar which he is clearly running illegally and the case is under jurisdiction. They are completely at fault,” asserts Salvi. According to the Salvis, the cases lodged by Sujata Palande against Dattaram Salvi are a way to weaken their stand against the beer bar. “They are clearly lodging false cases against us to stop us from trying to remove the beer bar,” says Salvi. “However, I am not going to let go of that case. What is wrong has to go. I know that the law will see the truth too,” he said. While Sujata Palande refused to comment on the cases, she maintained that the beer bar run by her brother-in-law has all the necessary permissions and licenses. While the chairman and the NCP corporator are heading for a legal showdown, the actual issue of the beer bar and the society’s maintenance now plagues the society’s occupants. gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com
EOW probing land scam give farmer his due
Poverty-stricken farmer gets unexpected bonanza in the form of prime plot of land from the government BY GITESH SHELKE @gitesh_shelke While investigating an alleged land scam, the Pune rural police’s Economic Offenses’ Wing (EOW) stumbled upon a case involving a farmer, who has not availed of his share of land, being unaware that the government had allotted a prime two-acre plot of land to his father at Shikrapur, about 15 years ago. The EOW officers have submitted chargesheet against 30 persons, four of whom are deceased, in the Chas Kaman land scam case. The sleuths investigating the mammoth land scam, came upon some documents issued by the state government. The investigating officer, Assistant Police Inspector N R Jagtap said that during the investigation it came to light that the state government has allotted two acres of land to a farmer, who owns a few gunthas of land in his native village of Bursewadi in the Chas Kaman project, at Shikrapur. “We went to the house of Shivaji Gundal, a farmer in his late 50s, and handed over the documents. He was unaware that the state government had allotted two acres of agricultural land against his land, which is now submerged in the Chas Kaman dam waters,” Jagtap said. he land agents were in possession of the documents. “We do not know why the documents did not reach Gundal, and how they went to the land dealers,” Jagtap said. “After thorough scrutiny of the entire case, we took the documents and handed them over to Gundal a couple of weeks ago. The documents and land were allotted to his father. Now, he can claim his land,” he said. Jagtap said that Gundal lives in abject poverty in
and Ravi Ranade was appointed as structural consultant. The architects discovered several structural defects in their survey, and some sections of the temple needed immediate repairs, while the presence of rodents posed another hazard. “It was a formidable challenge. Our main objective was to preserve the original structure, and repairing and strengthening the dilapidated sections,” said Kembhavi. Pujari Mangal Pansare, 54, said, “This temple is part of Pune’s heritage and the restoration is a welcome step by the PMC. It is an honour to be in service at such a landmark place of worship,” she said. Labourer Likhan Dhotre, 26,
said, “It’s an honour to be a part of this project. I have been working with the team for five months.” The temple built in the Yadav era had undergone several changes. It is said that both Sant Dynaneshwar and Sant Tukaram had visited the temple. The sabha mandap made of timber wood was added on by the Peshwas in the 18th century, and the gabhara where the idols are installed is made of stone. The PMC started refurbishing of Kasba Ganpati, funded by the state government, in 2011. “The Kasba Ganpati restoration will be completed next year,” Dhavle said. ekta.katti@goldensparrow.com
Woman stages 2-monthold son’s abduction
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They immediately started looking into her phone records. A close examination of her call log revealed that she had gone to Shivajinagar ST stand after dropping her son to school. She had spoken to someone on the phone while she was at the bus stand. It didn’t take cops too long to piece the story together. The person she had spoken to over the phone was on the way to Aurangabad. A police team was dispatched to Aurangabad, from where the child was traced and brought back on Friday morning. What unfolded next shocked everybody on the investigation team. Sonawane had allegedly sold her baby boy to her own sister for Rs 2 lakhs. Cops revealed that the sister did not have a child and had asked Sonawane to give up her younger son. The 24-year-old housewife had some differences with her husband and did not want to be with him anymore. Her sister’s offer only made things easier for her. She had made up her mind to use the money to live separately. ACP Joshi explained that Sonawane and her husband were not getting along and that she staged the abduction for money. “In a way she attempted to sell the baby,” ACP Joshi said. Sonawane’s husband, Mukesh, who is a contractor, said that he was at work when he received the call informing him about the abduction. The couple got married six years ago. “She and I do not get along but she should not have sold the baby. This is very disturbing,” Mukesh said. He added, “I am aware that I never
took her out for holidays but what she has done is unpardonable. I never imagined she would stoop so low,” Mukesh concluded. gitesh.shelke@goldensparrow.com
Man attempts suicide over police harassment Victim sustains 60 per cent burns; Cop says he is history-sheeter BY PRIYANKKA DESHPANDE @journopriyankka
a hut made of cane and mud and works on his farm measuring 12 gunthas. THE SCAM Pune rural police had arrested several farmers and agents who sold land and attempted to sell other pieces of land meant for the rehabilitation of the farmers and other land holders, displaced by the Chas Kaman dam project. An offense was registered in this regard with the Chakan police station in April this year. Seven land agents and several farmers including a woman were involved in the scam. Investigations revealed that the suspects have duped people to the tune of Rs 82.63 lakh. The two land agents were identified as Nandkumar Popatlal Bothra and Sadashiv Devram Shelar, both residents of Khed. One of the victims, Vijay Shah has lodged a complaint in this regard with the police. Many project affected persons from the villages of Bibi, Kalmodi, Goregaon and others had lost their lands when the project was sanctioned and completed. The government had promised either land or money as compensation to the farmers and affected persons. Under the rehabilitation plan, the farmers were supposed to get land from the government. gitesh.shelke@goldensparrow.com
The district collectorate campus witnessed tense moments for police, officials and police on Thursday noon when Wanowrie resident Reuben Samuel Manuel (40) doused himself with kerosene. The publisher of weekly Marathi newspaper ‘The Light of Pune’ took the extreme step over alleged harassment by Lashkar Police Station Senior Inspector Barkat Mujawar. Rueben sustained 60 per cent burns and is admitted at Sassoon General Hospital. Doctors said that his condition is stable. Samuel’s 60-year-old mother Shalini Manuel said that her strong-minded son could not cope with the torment any longer. “The ordeal started two years ago after the weekly carried a report about alleged malpractices of Mujawar and Cantonment Sub Inspector Sandeep Ghuge,” she said. Ghuge is now stationed at Bundgarden Traffic Division. “District administration and Police Commissionerate did not pay heed to the numerous complaints we submitted. Following the report that first appeared on the newspaper, Mujawar and Ghuge along with local leaders started issuing threats. When Reuben continued carrying stories on the cops, Mujawar trapped him in false cases and arrested him four time in the past two years,” said Rueben’s younger sister Rebecca Samuel. Rebecca said that her younger brother Jitesh was also implicated in an extortion
case. “Mujawar and his supporters used to barge into our house forcing us to shift our stay to three different places,” she said. The family of five stays in a chawl of Kedari Nagar in Wanowrie on rental basis. Reuben’s mother admitted that she did not take his comments on ending life seriously. “He did not take his meal yesterday night and was awake the whole night. He left home today morning saying that he is going to meet Police Commissioner. I thought that everything was okay with him before I received his call that he was burning himself alive. I do not know what made him so depressed. Maybe the refusal by officials to help him has forced him to take the extreme step,” Shalini said. Admitting that an inquiry on the incident has been initiated, Bundgarden police inspector (crime) Ajit Chaudhari said, “We have recorded the victim’s statement and will file a case after examining his crime history.” priyankka.deshpande@goldensparrow.com
COP BYTE Mujawar said that Rueben’s suicide attempt is the consequence of externment notice issued by the police on November 24. “Rueben is a history-sheeter and has extortion cases against him in Kondhwa, Wanowrie and Lashkar police stations,” he said, adding that Rueben is addicted to liquor and used to extort money from hawkers and autorickshaw drivers.
ADMINISTRATION SPEAKS According to Resident District Collector Rajendra Muthe, Rueben never approached the authorities. “As the district magistrate is the representative of the district, he must have chosen the campus of district collectorate to commit the extreme act,” Muthe said.
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2015
“The constitution has played an important role. We know how many problems Ambedkar faced. But he never said he will go somewhere else.” — Rajnath Singh, Home Minister
Climate change threatens 55mn on India’s coasts P11
Young face of global unity
A child labour once, Gaus Shabbir Sayyad is the common speaker at international meets on inter-state harmony and integration
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Citizens unite to stall road widening plan RAHUL RAUT
BY ABHA PANDIT @abha_pandit
The global face of integration and assimilation, Gaus Shabbir Sayyad, has a past. Working as a child labour in Kesnand and Bakari areas in Wagholi, with a bed-ridden paralysed father, housemaid mother and two elder sisters to take care, his life was a struggle with no hope, no prospects for living a decent life. Hailing from Barsi village in Solapur, the family of Gaus moved to Pune in search of job. TURNING POINT “My mother was the sole breadwinner and I did odd jobs, selling papads, working in garage and restaurant, to subsist the family income. It was while working in the small garage in Wagholi that Sister Lucy Kurien of Maher asked me, ‘Why I am not going to school?’ That evening she visited our rented 2 x10 sq ft house and asked my parents to allow me to join the Maher centre in Vadhu Budruk, about 31 km from Pune. And at the age of seven in 2000, I joined the centre run
Gaus Shabbir Sayyad with participants from other countries at the global meet on world peace in US; (below) with her mentor Sister Lucy Kurien
by the NGO. I was cleaning and repairing cars in the garage but sat in a car for the fi rst time in my life when Sr Lucy took me for the ride to Maher centre,” he said. ACADEMIC GROWTH Maher provided Gaus with school uniform and he began his studies as a standard III student in a zilla parishad school. He was allowed to visit his home during Diwali vacations and summer holidays. His two sisters got married when they reached the age of sixteen. When his father died in 2003, his maternal grandparents moved to his home from Solapur to support his mother as she was left alone. Gaus finished his high school at Shirur, junior college in commerce (standard XI-XII) at Wagholi, one-year diploma in international business at Ness Wadia College of Commerce before pursing MBA (international business) from Suryadatta Institute. SUCCESS STORIES The stay at Maher provided Gaus with the ideal environment to hone his skills. “I bagged the best actor award at the Pune district interschool contest in 2007. I was selected to take part in the India Social Forum in Delhi and World Social Forum in Nairobi, Africa. I could not attend the global meet as I did not have a passport. However, Lucy Didi took
efforts to meet my family, get my records made and finally I got my passport in 2008. I was selected after screening and seeing my speech, acting and organisational skills. As I was child labour once and the topic was child rights, I could share my personal experience. I also visited England with a 35-student Maher team to perform shows on Indian tradition, history and culture,” he said. Gaus also took part in the Republic Day parade in 2012 through his NSS accomplishments. INSPIRATION “I got the honour to meet our country’s former president Pratibha Patil, vice president Hamid Ansari, former prime minister Manmohan Singh and other leaders at the Republic Day parade in 2012. I was the youngest speaker at the inter-faith conference in US in 2013. The Maher life has taught me to be secular. I am Muslim, Lucy Didi is Christian and my friends in Maher are Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and belong to other religions. We never ask anybody’s religion. At the international conferences we share one mission: we are part of one world. I am close to God when I do Vipassana Meditation and Kathak. It is my prayer to the divine. I wish is help others like me and do my bit to make this world a better place. My aim is to become the President of India one day,” he said. james.mathew@goldensparrow.com
Rural state gets a Maha teacher Techie Santosh Talagahtti quits his job to launch Global Classroom Initiative in schools
Santosh Talagahtti says kids are always open to innovative ideas
Having realised the gap in education in India, 33-year-old techie Santosh Talagahtti decided to chalk a programme that will bring about innovative changes in training, curricula, learning materials, learning processes, learning outcomes, assessment and monitoring systems and quality of teaching and learning. Having completed his studies under the traditional form of education, the developer of software system in Bengaluru, moved to Pune 10 years ago with the aim to digitally empower the rural parts of Maharashtra. Putting his IT knowledge and dream to see change together, Santosh started the Global Classroom initiative under his educational consultancy firm eLMNOP. Overcoming one challenge at a time, be it learning Marathi, convincing parents to send their children to schools or ensuring that villagers took the education of their children seriously, Santosh has managed to empower thousands of teachers across Maharashtra and digitise five villages in Pune with many more lined up. Impressed with his efforts, Maharashtra government
ISIS activities disrupting global economy: Jaitley
Residents near Vamnicom say project will destroy green cover
BY JAMES MATHEW @mathewthejames
BY SALONEE MISTRY @SaloneeMistry
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has suggested that 1,500 governmentrun schools across the state could adopt Global Classroom initiative under the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative. The government support has boosted Santosh’s morale and a few corporates are already on board. INTEGRATED EDUCATION SYSTEM The model classroom that Santosh envisage will not only enable a wellrounded education but also boost the morale of children and build their confidence. His initiative brings experts on different subjects from across the globe to rural classrooms. “This section is included in their regular school schedule itself. The fifth, sixth and seventh graders are clubbed together while the eighth, ninth and tenth grade students form another group. Students are given academic lectures which include science, math, English and Information Communication Technology. Then there is value education and inspirational lectures as well,” he said. What Santosh has realised in the last one-and-a-half-year since he started the Global Classroom initiative is that children are just waiting for an opportunity to think o u t o f
the box. Students always have questions after experts talk on any topic at an interactive session. “This is the kind of education system that a country can be proud of. Maan village near Hinjewadi is an example of having developed and blossomed under this initiative,” he said. “Global Classroom initiative is a model initiative to widen the reach of students and teachers living in rural parts of Maharashtra. As it is majorly a CSR activity, the load on the government is also reduced considerably. Apart from the occasional connectivity issue and difficulty in convincing people of things that are generally new, the entire programme has the potential to do wonders,” said Under Secretary (School Education) Reena Phansekar. Santosh said that the initiative has resulted in improving students’ communication skills, understanding of various academic concepts and ability to share thoughts and reflect their artistic skills. “Even the experts from across the world are enjoying the interactive sessions with students,” said Santosh, who himself holds training workshops for teachers. MEETING CHALLENGES Global Classroom initiative involved changing mindsets and invited opposition. Since the target audience is children, it is relatively easy to bring about the change in terms of value education. The challenge was in convincing gram panchayats or teachers who are trained under this initiative to accept the idea. Lack of proper infrastructure in schools also was a hindrance. “We set up computer on a drum in one of the schools as it did not have table or chair as children sit on floor.” “Before setting up Global Classroom initiative in our school we had an in-depth discussion on what would be beneficial for students. We chalked a schedule and are happy with the results. Th is initiative is a great way to educate children in a more interactive format,” said Haribhau Narayan Waghulkar, principal of the Zila Parishad Prathamik School in Hinjewadi. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
Even as Pune is laying groundwork for the Smart City mission, the green cover near India’s premier cooperative institute Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management (VAMNICOM) on University Road is facing depletion. Residents blame the civic administration for falling prey to the lust of builders’ lobby. With residential projects coming up behind Vamnicom, Madhavi Kolte builders are facing problem in selling their units as there is no access road to these flats. The sole stretch passes through the defence establishment and chances of it remaining permanent is questionable. Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has approved the widening of the internal road, from University Road to General BC Joshi Gate, that runs along the institute with hill on one side and boundary wall of housing societies on the other. Bhosale Nagar and ICS Colony Mohalla Committee members will hold a peaceful protest on University Road on December 5. They plan to file RTIs for permissions taken for hill cutting and the status of the High Capacity Mass Transit Route (HCMTR) planned in the University Area. Residents cry that widening the road will damage greenery and ecology, not to mention rise in traffic and pollution at what is currently a quiet and serene area. Residents of Bhosale Nagar and ICS Colony areas that neighbour the road in question have drafted a plan for various activities to voice their concerns and attempt to stall the road widening plan. “The present narrow road sees very less traffic
and it is a great space for walks,” said Rakhee Pandit of 10 Kasturkunj Society in ICS Colony. “Around 1,000 trees will be cut for the proposed road widening project besides ecologically damaging the hills,” she said. Citizens said that the road project is not in compliance with National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP), Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP), Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Preservation of Trees Act (1975), Forest Conservation Act (1980) and Environment Protection Act (1986). Suvarna Akhegaonkar and Madhavi Kolte have initiated an online petition. “We are trying to put pressure on the authorities, hoping they will reconsider their decision,” said Kolte of Pimple Saudagar., adding that the hill is home to around 60 peacocks, 40 kinds of birds, variety of animals, 28 varieties of plants, herbs and medicinal plants. “In case the protest does not succeed, we plan to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL),” she said. Many residents dismiss PMC’s reason that road widening will reduce traffic congestion on University Road and believe that it will only favour builders. Out of the around 2,000 residents of the area, more than 50 per cent have expressed their willingness to join the protest and save the hill from being damaged. “These green spaces are the lungs of our city,” a resident said. abha.pandit@goldensparrow.com
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2015
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An obstacle name for opp
Being visually impaired is not an rather be treated as equals by soci BY SHAILESH JOSHI AND ABHA PANDIT @TGSWeekly Of all the five senses, sight is the one we need and use the most, but paradoxically we also tend to take it for granted. To read, watch a movie or be enamoured by the colours of a flower or the sunset, our eyes are the windows to our wonderful world. Imagine then a life without the precious gift of vision, and yet the reality is that there are millions of human beings who are deprived of this indispensable and
Samina Sheikh
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amina Sheikh, 26, is infectiously spirited and talkative to a fault. Life as part of a Muslim household in rural India wasn’t a bed of roses for Samina. And being visually impaired, she was perceived as a liability rather an asset by her family. She studied at a local and after completing standard X, she was sent to the Niwant Andh Mukta Vikasalay in Pune, in the hope that there she would be able to chart the course of her future life by finding some sort of vocation. Samina has found her calling in dance and she is now pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in dance from Bharatiya Vidyapeeth in Pune. Her parents could not afford the tuition for the dance education. But her guru Shama Bhate has agreed to teach
Sanjay Jain
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r Sanjay Jain, 45, professor at the Indian Law Society’s Law College, has been blind since birth, as is his sister. Their parents had to strive hard to find a school that would accommodate them. And when they did, the experience at the school is not something Jain remembers with a sense of joy. “There is a social stigma towards people with any kind of disability, and 40 years ago it was even more prevalent.” he says. But he was never one to feel cowed down by his disability. At that time, the use of Braille was not as widespread as it is now, and consequently, the paths of education at school and college was an obstacle-strewn one for the visually impaired. Jain was fortunate that he had wonderfully caring friends in college, who
would go out of their way to make notes during their classes, and read them out to him so that he could grasp what was taught in college. With the help of the Rashtriya Swyayamsevak Sangh (RSS) centre at Nagpur, senior citizens would also volunteer as readers to help him with his studies. Jain found his calling when he took up law after completing his graduation. His family wanted him to pursue a career in music, but he was adamant. He considers the time at law college his most productive and fruitful phase. “I realised immediately that law was something I was truly passionate about. The competition was fierce and in my desire to excel, I forgot about my disability,” he says. After his masters, Jain found a job as professor at the University of Pune. But his quest for learning continued and he wrote a thesis on ‘A feminist critique of the Indian
Constitution’. But it took him almost ten years to submit the research and complete his Ph D owing to his impairment. Now at Law College, Jain is greatly admired and loved by his students as he teaches them constitutional law, international law and women and law. “Knowledge is my greatest weapon, and it is the only power one ever needs,” he says. He is the author of five books, several articles and has frequently been invited abroad for law seminars. Not one to forget what he owes to society, Jain says that the credit goes to his teachers, colleagues, students, friends and most importantly his family, who have supported and encouraged every step of the way to such unexpected success. Society at large is rather insensitive towards the needs and aspiration of the visually impaired, he feels. There are hardly any provisions for them to fit into society,
crucial sense, an live on in a seem For the vis like moving aro they have to rel hearing and sm of their surroun Visually im subjects of mis handicap, as no have the empath
her and Bharatiya Vidyapee her fees. Samina’s teachers ha innovative methods to teach h has majored in Kathak. “Wit able to see, it is difficult to the teacher’s instructions whe about a certain pose or a gestu guru goes out of her way and to explain each posture to me, signifies.” says Samina. Samina has since then per stage with Shiamak Davar’s also in the Marathi show ‘E Ek: Apsara Ali’. Her success to change her family’s views are now justifiably proud o achievements. Her young n to follow in her footsteps whi regards as her greatest complim
outside of their homes. “Something as basic as public transport is not disabled-friendly,” he says. “They should have announcements for the stops and the routes of the buses. As of now, we have to depend upon the other passengers to guide us and help us out”, he says. The government, instead of paving the way forward for the visually impaired, is doing much the opposite, he feels. There are lacunae in the education system, and governmental organisations are known to sack visually impaired employees owing to their disability. “The Madras High Court has declared blind persons to be incompetent of becoming judges. This is baseless, since internationally there are judges with visual impairments, and they are doing just fine,” he said.
Siddhant Chothe
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iddhant Chothe, 28, has had a relatively troublefree childhood. His parents treated him like a normal child and enrolled him in Bal Shikshan Mandir School in Pune. The school experience was quite pleasant as his teachers and schoolmates went out of their way to make him feel at home and helped him out with his studies. The school authorities too did all they could to make Siddhant’s school phase smooth. With audio recordings being made available to him, he never had the need or opportunity to learn Braille like other blind children. He completed his graduation from Fergusson College in economics, and was expected to take up a career in banking, which is a common choice for the
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THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2015
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PICS BY ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
is another portunity
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nd they have no option but to make do and mingly dark and colourless world. sually impaired the most basic of chores ound take on a formidable dimension, and ly on white cane as well as on the senses of mell to figure out the textures and geography ndings. mpaired children are more often than not streatment by their peers owing to their ormal children who are able to see, do not hy necessary to imagine and fully understand
the trauma of having to deal with the impairment, which is prone to give them an inferiority complex and the unwanted baggage that this entails. Overwhelming though their share of difficulties may seem, being visually impaired is not an impediment to those endowed with a will and an indomitable spirit. The Golden Sparrow casts the spotlight on just some such remarkable individuals, who have shrugged off the shackles of their disability and impairment, going onward and upward to get a grasp on the shimmering lining of a success that fate seemed to have put beyond their reach.
S
ana Sheikh, 21, grew up in a large household, with three siblings who are normal. Naturally, visually impaired Sana was treated differently than her brother and sisters. After school, she was sent to Niwant Andh Mukta Vikasalay, where she has blossomed and her talents have flourished here. A first year student of arts at Garware
eth waived ave devised her, and she thout being understand en they talk ure. But my d uses props and what it
College, Sana is an athlete who has participated in a number of marathons. “I have been running since I was in school, but I never realised it was something I could do professionally, considering my impairment,” she said. She has also participated in Pinkathon, a marathon that is held for breast cancer awareness. Sana topped the visually challenged category, and her feat was praised by Pinkathon founder Milind Soman. Sana in turn, also did her bit by speaking at a press
Kalyanlaxmi Chitta
rformed on troupe and Eka Peksha has served s and they of Samina’s niece wants ich Samina ment.
ually impaired. But Siddhant wanted to break ough these stereotypes, and opted for a post graduate loma in the field of computers. It was at Niwant Andh Mukta Vikasalay that dhant developed an interest in computers and gramming. He had an innate knack for coding but one had faith in him. After completing his postduation, he worked with Agile Technosis for a year he had the urge to do something of his own. Niwant vided him the resources and the opportunity and in 10, he founded Tech Vision, which works in the fields onsulting, testing and accessibility. Boardwalk Tech, an American company offered m a pilot project which they completed in record e, and the rest, as they say, is history. Today, Tech ion runs in the premises of Niwant, with two partners d three employees. One of Siddhant’s major aims for
Sana Sheikh
K
alyanlaxmi Chitta had a wholly normal childhood. At the age of nine, she was diagnosed with a type of genetic mutation that led to a progressively deteriorating her eyesight. Her father and elder sister also suffer from this genetic mutation. Fortunately for her, the teachers and management of Dastur High School, were immensely understanding and helped her excel in her academics despite her growing disability. She achieved distinction in both her board exams, and was also selected for the National Merit List. Economics has always been her first love, and she completed her graduation and post-graduation in the subject from Nowrosjee Wadia College and the University of Pune respectively. Kalyanlaxmi has many academic achievements to her credit. In 2006, after her post-graduation, she began teaching at Ness Wadia College of Commerce, Pune. In 2008, she began teaching at Balaji College of Arts and Commerce, all the while continuing to read and study in her free time. That was when her love for learning led her to pursue a Ph D. Under the guidance of Rohini Sahani, her
his company is to make the internet hugely accessible to the visually impaired. “Being blind myself, I know the challenges still faced in using the internet. Even with the screen reading softwares that have come into the market, I will never be able to access it the way sighted people do. Getting rid of this barrier is part of a project Tech Vision is working on currently,” says Siddhant. The foremost challenge faced by the entire visually impaired community is stereotyping. Society generally believes that since one of their senses is impaired, or missing, they are incapable of excelling. Siddhant recollects his early days in the IT field. “Visually impaired people are not expected to be good at programming, but I wanted to break this stereotype and prove that this is not the case.” With the success of Tech Vision, he hopes that the blind will not have to struggle to prove themselves in this sector like he did.
supervisor, she devote her time and energy to the cause and has recently submitted her thesis on ‘Select WTO Agreements and India: Challenges and Opportunities’. In 2013, Chitta wrote a concept paper on Anti Synergy and visited Oxford University to present it. “A friend and I were just discussing this concept when we heard about the conference in Oxford. Even though there wasn’t much time, we decided to write the paper and submit it, and miraculously, it was selected,” she says. In the twenty minutes of her presentation, she was able to answer most of the questions thrown at her by the experts present, and her paper was widely appreciated. Since the cost of travelling to the United Kingdom was high, she applied for and received a travel grant from the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), which funded her entire trip. Dr Chitta has written 18 other research papers and plans to apply for a post-doctorate fellowship soon. She enjoys writing short stories and poems in her spare time. She is also a recipient of the Rajeev Gandhi Fellowship for the Disabled. “The white cane is a universal symbol for blindness. But people have absolutely
conference for breast cancer awareness and the purpose of the Pinkathon runs. Sana travels by herself by bus from Pimple Saudagar to Tingrenagar, to attend classes at Niwant. She also lends her mother a hand with the household chores and makes time to practice for her marathons. She will be participating in the next Pinkathon to be held in November in Pune.
no knowledge of its usage,” she says, underlining the insensitivity of society towards the visually impaired. On the opposite end of the spectrum is the excessive sympathy shown for people with disabilities. They are constantly coddled, not allowed to venture out on their own and even helped with regular everyday tasks. So they grow up and are unable to look after themselves. “Even the visually impaired are capable of going about their own lives, just like anybody else, although it takes more of an effort for them,” says Dr Chitta. The government is meant to issue a disability certificate, which declares the degree of a person’s impairment. This process is highly corrupt, feels Dr Chitta, speaking from her experience. “The first time I applied for this certificate, I was given a 40 per cent disability rating, since I required it for a well-paying job. The second time around, I pretended to be illiterate and helpless, and I was declared 75 per cent disabled. This just goes to show the level of discrimination and the faulty system of the government and its officials. Why should I have to lie to get a truthful certificate?” she says.
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2015
TECH/START-UP
PUNE
“The average 21-year-old has spent 5,000 hours playing video games, sent 250,000 emails, instant messages, and text messages, and has spent 10,000 hours on a mobile phone alone.” —http://www.websitemagazine.com
India serious about plan to cut emissions P 11
Savour gourmet food at fair price Food start-up Street Meat serves exotic meaty dishes at Viman Nagar BY ABHA PANDIT @abha_pandit Nikhil Vaswani, 24, knew that he had to churn out something unique to the table after graduating from the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM) Mumbai. He loves food and wanted people to fall in love with his dishes. After a couple of kitchen stints at various restaurants in Mumbai and abroad, a back injury forced Nikhil to return to Pune. Looking for new places and delicacies to try out, Nikhil met 22-year-old Anurag Baheti another IHM graduate, who would accompany him on his food binges. Realising their mutual love for good grub and inventive recipes, the duo decided to serve their kind of food to others. And their gourmet food cart Street Meat served its first course last week. Street Meat aims at serving exotic food combinations with bold flavours to customers at affordable prices. Living in Mumbai during their college years, Anurag and Nikhil were excited by the striking food options available in the business capital.
Nikhil Vaswani plans to open stalls at other parts of the city like their Viman Nagar cart
However, each time they try out something different, it would burn a hole in their pockets. So they decided to start a food joint of their own. “Our main focus is different types of meat, such as chorizo and pork, which is difficult to find in Pune at reasonable prices,” said Nikhil, explaining the concept behind their start-up. Serving food on a cart in Viman Nagar, the Street Meat team faced initial setbacks. “Something or the other went wrong at the first few places we tried to put the cart, and
we had once even decided to close down our venture,” Nikhil said, adding that a building project has now made their cart inaccessible for the walking crowd at Viman Nagar. After overwhelming responses at festivals like NH7 Weekender and Farmer’s Market in Pune, the duo decided to make their makeshift food stall into an official food cart. Their menu consists of just five items, but they promise quality. “A lot of people are sceptical about buying meaty dishes off the street, especially when it is exotic. This is what we are aiming to change,” the founders said.
For unbreachable online communication BY HS RAO A new telecommunications technique which uses quantum technology could lead to the development of unbreacheable i n t e r n e t communicat ion links, an international research team, which included an India-origin Chandra Natarajan scientist, has claimed in a paper published. Researchers from the Universities of Glasgow, Stanford, Tokyo and Warzburg describe how they have implemented a novel tool for a longdistance telecommunication link which is impossible for hackers to breach. Published in the journal ‘Nature
C om mu n ic at ion s ’, the technique could also underpin the creation of a new form of ‘quantum internet’. Scientists have previously used the phenomenon of quantum entanglement also known as ‘spooky action at a distance’ - to allow the exchange of information over short distances. Entanglement allows particles which are physically separated to share properties - for example, the direction of one electron’s spin will be related to the direction of spin of its entangled partner. This process of entanglement also allows scientists to encode information in quantum particles, similar to the way in which the ones and zeroes (known as bits) of digital communication are used to encode all kinds of data. Two computers sharing quantum information are much more secure,
Their meat is locally sourced, guaranteeing freshness. The chorizo sausages are the only food item ordered from Goa. With a present team of only three persons, everything, from buying the ingredients each morning to serving the customers in the evening, is done by them. “We refuse to compromise on quality and hygiene. I taste everything that is served from my kitchen for freshness and seasoning,” said Nikhil, admitting that they currently deliver only in Viman Nagar because of limited manpower. Modest price and exclusive food fare has already made many customers to either order for home delivery or crowd before the week-long Street Meat cart. Their popular items are the Pulled Pork Burger (Rs 200 per plate), Thai Chicken Gol Gappa (Rs 80 per plate), Choriz Pao (Rs 150 per plate) and Cajun Chicken Pita pockets (Rs 150 per plate). Since they plan to reinvent their menu every few months, the Street Meat team will be launching a special Christmas Menu in December, including Eggnog. Next on their to-do list is Japanese and Italian menu, which will be up by next year. Their future plans include opening outlets around the city. Where: Konark Nagar II Road, Viman Nagar, from 5 pm to 10:30 pm Contact: 9545127012, 7057468024 abha.pandit@goldensparrow.com
Cheaper way to clean water
as any interception by a third party will change the properties of the data itself, allowing easy detection by the intended recipient. The team, co-ordinated by University of Glasgow postdoctoral research fellow Chandra Mouli Natarajan, together with colleagues at Stanford, managed to create long distance telecommunications link for a stationary quantum bit for the first time. “The physics behind quantum communication, by their very nature, make data transfer utterly secure any tampering with either side of the communication will be immediately apparent because it will affect the quantum correlations,” Natarajan said. “Our work is an important step towards creating architectures for the future hybrid quantum internet.” PTI
An effective and inexpensive process to remove contaminants from oil sands wastewater using only sunlight and nanoparticles has been developed by researchers. Researchers from the University of Waterloo found that photocatalysis a chemical reaction that involves the absorption of light by nanoparticles can completely eliminate naphthenic acids in oil sands wastewater, and within hours. Naphthenic acids pose a threat to ecology and human health. Water in tailing ponds left to biodegrade naturally in the environment still contains these contaminants decades later. “With about a billion tonnes of water stored in ponds in Alberta, removing naphthenic acids is one of the largest environmental challenges in Canada,” said Tim Leshuk from the chemical engineering department at Waterloo, who led the study. “Conventional treatments people have tried either haven’t worked, or if they have worked, they have been far too impractical or expensive to solve the size of the problem. Waterloo’s technology is the first step of what looks like a very practical and green treatment method,” he added. PTI
Leadership and gender divide Most women across the globe feel that their employers are not doing enough to close the gender gap in leadership positions, says a survey. About 90 per cent women are concerned that their employers are not doing enough to narrow the gender gap in leadership positions, according to a survey by Skillsoft, a global learning and talent management fi rm.
Further, it found that more than half of the respondents (54 per cent) stated it’s important for their organisations to offer leadership training specific to women. However, nearly 70 per cent believed their employers do not provide adequate resources and support to help them drive their careers forward. The respondents’ perceptions
mirror the current state of women in corporate leadership globally, including in India. In the United States, women hold more than half of all professional-level jobs, yet comprise only five per cent of Fortune 500 CEOs. In most European countries, women comprise less than 20 per cent of all corporate boards. PTI
Tim Leshuk, University of Waterloo/Credit Light Imaging Ltd
Women particularly seem to love Tinder, sending more Super Likes than men each week
competes with others like TrulyMadly, OkCupid and Woo, said it has witnessed a 400 per cent increase in downloads in past year. It said Indians are sending one million ‘super likes’ per week on the application, with women being more active in sending the ‘super likes’. It, however, did not share more details on the split between men and women on app usage. India’s favourable demographics where over half of the population is said to be under 35, a rapid pick up in mobile telephony and
changing outlooks towards personal relationships due to factors
Groceries are just a click away PepperTap IOS/Android: Free PepperTap your on-demand grocery app brings you the power and convenience of ordering groceries and fruits and vegetables in your hands. A few taps on the phone and within two hours, or at your chosen time slot, you will see the products knocking at your door.No need to physically go to a store to buy groceries and fruits and vegetables. With this mobile app you can order, household, kitchen, dairy items, beverages, baby care products or beauty products online. Their executives hand pick fresh fruits, vegetables and packed grocery items of the finest quality, but if you’re unsatisfied with any of the items received, they even take the order back. So dump those long grocery shopping list and trips to local stores and order them on the go.
ZopNow IOS/Android: Free This large grocery hypermarket is meant for customers, who want to shop on the go. ZopNow is said to deliver grocery within a matter of three hours from the time of ordering to its customers. Additionally, there is no minimum order size or value. This application provides an easy and a customer friendly mechanism to place orders. If you are an existing ZopNow customer, you can easily look at the products you purchased in the past thereby saving some more time for you. You can then search for new products to add them to your previously saved list of items or create a new shopping list of grocery items for your next purchase. Thus, you can enjoy a personalised grocery shopping experience.
AaramShop IOS/Android: Free Now, you can safely shop for your groceries using your smartphone. It brings a unique service for the consumers to shop for daily grocery while they are on the go. All you need to do is to download the application, browse through thousands of products that are being offered by top grocery brands. Then, choose a retailer near your area and confirm the order. Customers can easily check for attractive discounts and online grocery shopping deals available at any of your favorite grocery store.
LocalBanya
Tinder’s downloads in India up 400 per cent Online dating app Tinder has said it has witnessed a 400 per cent increase in downloads in the country in the past year, and women are more active in using the application than men. “We are truly excited about the rapid adoption of Tinder in India... women particularly seem to love Tinder, sending more Super Likes than men each week, which is incredibly empowering,” Tinder’s India head Taru Kapoor said in a statement. Without disclosing absolute numbers, the app which
APP WORLD
like hectic lifestyles have aided usage of such applications, ac-
cording to reports. Tinder said 90 per cent of its users in the country are between the age groups of 18 to 34. Kapoor added that the conversations on the app last more in India than in any other country. The app launched in 2012 is present in 196 countries globally in 30 languages. It claimed 26 million matches are made on Tinder on a daily basis and over 10 billion matches have been made on it so far. It has recently launched product enhancements including addition of job and education information to profi les and an improved messaging interface, the statement said. PTI
IOS/Android: Free There are more than 14,000 products available with LocalBanya, which is slowly turning into one of India’s premier online convenience store that revolutionises your grocery shopping experience. All you need to do is to place an order using the LocalBanya application on your smartphone by browsing through the well-stocked aisles across different categories like fruits and vegetables, international and gourmet, grocery and staples, etc. The timings for delivery are flexible and the customer should select from among a range of delivery timing slots available for the area where the food items need to be delivered.
Go4fresh IOS/Android: Free Go4fresh started with an aim to provide the internet savvy, modern Indian families an option to get best quality farm-fresh produce at the click of a button. They believe in the idea of health first, and realise that the first step towards eating healthy and having a healthy lifestyle begins with getting healthy food at home. With longer working hours, heavy commutes and in general a stressful life, many families are unable to give adequate attention to the most important aspect of eating healthy , which is getting good quality fruits, vegetables and groceries home. When you buy from them, you need not worry where and how your produce is being grown, as all our produce is from verified sources, mostly local farmers, so that you get the best quality food.
ENVIRONMENT
H EALTH
PTI
Kodur: Flood affected people in Kodur, Andhra Pradesh on Monday
years, national preparedness and more efficient responses to disasters have significantly reduced the numbers of people dying from weather-related hazards in some countries. India, China, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Thailand and Myanmar have each made major commitments to reduce disaster losses by acting on the priorities of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA). For India, a key trigger was the 1999 cyclone which claimed around 10,000 lives in Odisha as casualties
Betrayals behind human migration
A day after holding its second carfree day in the capital, the AAP government claimed that the south Delhi’s Dwarka stretch used during the event showed “significant” reduction in level of pollutants in the air.The government said this while releasing the comparative ambient air quality figures collated by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) on November 20 and November 22. The figures show up to 55 per cent reduction in level of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) along one of the car-free stretches.Th is happened at Dwarka’s Sector 3 where level of NO2 fell from 318 micrograms to 140 micrograms per cubic metre. At the Panchsheel apartment area, PM 2.5 fell from 315 micrograms per cubic metre on November 20 to 276
yesterday as number of cars came down owing to car-free day. The safe limit is 60 micrograms per cubic metre. Another locality, Ayushman Hospital area which also fell along a car-free stretch, saw marginal decrease in levels of PM 2.5, PM10. NO2 was reduced to 85 micrograms per cubic metre from 123, a 31 per cent decrease. The reduction of PM 2.5 and PM10 in the air were equally slight at Sector 3. It hovered around 9 per cent. “The air quality results on car-free stretch highlight the need of mass awareness programmes to convince the residents of the national capital to voluntarily give up the use of their personal vehicles for some days and the positive results will be there for all to see,” an official statement said. PTI
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TGS LIFE
Run for... yourself
NATION
CITY
Get your voice heard on NetaG P6
No damaged goods please P3
GRANDCHILDREN SUE THE COMPLETE MAN
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PUNE, MARCH 21, 2015 | www.thegoldensparrow.com
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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
NATION
CITY
Bakery worker’s daughter gets her wings P 12
Why are traffic cops taking selfies these days? P3
AUTO,
HAIL A
CAB
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 Collectively Pune Municipal continuing to stay in India with the family.
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
BHOSARI
4 KALEWADI FATA
WAKAD
DIGHI
NASHIK PHATA
5
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
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NANDED AMBEGAON BUDRUK
KONDHWA
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KATRAJ
4
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,
said director of the school, who
fi led the FIR and kept in touch with “We are feeling the investigating officer and public prosecutor The director is let down by the PUNE, MARCH 14, 2015throughout. | www.thegoldensparrow.com yet to get a copy of the order. prosecution The case dates back to February 2013 when some of the students and the system. studying in class five walked up to their class teacher and alleged that It is upsetting their creative writing sir had touched because we do them inappropriately. The class teacher in turn informed the principal and not how to face management. School authorities spoke to several other students and the parents and found that 22 girls in all had levelled similar allegations. Director of the students who school approached Chaturshrungi came forward police station and lodged an FIR under the Protection of Children from to give their Sexual Offences Act (POCSOA). The investigation was carried out by statements.” DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL
CHINCHWAD
THERGAON HINJEWADI VILLAGE
RAHUL RAUT
RITU GOYAL HARISH
ALANDI
AKURDI
RAVET
Sab golmal hai...
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
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,”
CHIKHALI
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 1,816 crores spent on BRTS,
~ 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
DITCH THE
GAUTAM SINGHANIA
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.’
ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
OPEN QUATERNARY
Gurgaon Police Commissioner Navdeep Singh Virk and Joint Police Commissioner Saurabh Singh with other police officers riding bicycles during car free day in Gurgaon
THANK GOD IT’S S AT U R D AY
ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
with a grudge was a danger but it was human emotions which provided the force of repulsion from existing occupied areas which we do not see in other animals. Early species of hominin were limited in distribution to specific environments such as grasslands and open woodland. The expansion of Homo erectus out of Africa into Asia around 1.6 million years ago appears to have been caused by the need to find more large scale grasslands. By contrast, Neanderthals occupied cold and arid parts of Europe. All archaic species adapted slowly to new opportunities for settlement and were often deterred by environmental and climatic barriers. After 100,000 years ago, dispersal into distant, risky and inhospitable areas became relatively more common compared with movements into already occupied regions. Humans moved into cold regions of Northern Europe, crossed significant deltas such as the Indus and the Ganges, deserts, tundra and jungle environment and even made significant sea crossings to reach Australia and the Pacific islands. Spikins said that betrayals of trust resulting from moral disputes were a significant reason for such risky dispersals into apparently unwelcoming environments with a desire to avoid physical harm from disgruntled former friends and allies being a key motivation. The study was published in the journal Open Quaternary. PTI
Margareta Wahlstrom said. “Economic losses are a major development challenge for many least developed countries battling climate change and poverty,” she said. The report highlights data gaps, noting that economic losses from weather-related disasters are much higher than the recorded figure of 1.89 trillion dollars, which accounts for 71 per cent of all losses attributed to natural hazards over the twenty-year period. “In the long term, an agreement in Paris at COP21 on reducing greenhouse gas emissions will be a significant contribution to reducing damage and loss from disasters which are partly driven by a warming globe and rising sea levels,” Wahlstrom said. According to the report, Asia accounts for the “lion’s share of disaster impacts” including 332,000 deaths and 3.7 billion people affected. The death toll in Asia included 138,000 deaths caused by Cyclone Nargis which struck Myanmar in 2008. Storms were the deadliest type of weather-related disaster, accounting for 242,000 deaths or 40 per cent of the global weather-related deaths, with 89 per cent of these deaths occurring in lower-income countries. Overall, heatwaves accounted for 148,000 of the 164,000 lives lost due to extreme temperatures, with 92 per cent of deaths occurring in high-income countries. PTI
Vaccination prog to reach 90% within 3 years Union Health Minister J P Nadda said that the vaccination program under ‘Mission Indradhanush’ will reach a coverage of almost ninety per cent in next three years. ‘Mission Indradhanush’, launched by Nadda in 2014, aims to immunise children against seven vaccine preventable diseases. “We came out with an ambitious program called Mission Indradhanush, which also includes (prevention of) Hepatitis B... Every year we used to increase our immunisation program by one per cent. We thought if we go at this speed then we won’t be able to reach the goal till 2050... “In one year time we will be able to cover 5 per cent and within three years we will be reaching from 65 per cent to 90 per cent of coverage,” Nadda said. He was speaking at the Hepatitis B Awareness Drive launched by Health and Family Welfare Ministry in association with UNICEF. “In India, approximately 10 lakh children, on an annual basis, run the lifetime risk of developing chronic Hepatitis infections, leading to life-threatening issues including liver cancer, liver failure and a possibility of premature death”, he said. The minister said four more vaccines will be added in the ‘Mission Indradhanush’ program. “Next month we are going to review and learn from some of our mistakes. Next year we will relaunch this and add four more vaccines... I am proud to say this immunisation program is world’s largest public health program,” he said. Maharashtra Health Minister Deepak Sawant said the state government will roll out ‘Nucleic Acid Test’ (NAT) program in the next three months. “Maharashtra government is coming out with NAT where every hospital will have a NAT test, even in rural areas. It’ll cover HIV and Hepatitis B and other diseases which are transmitted through blood donation...,” he said. PTI
Delhi’s Dwarka stretch used during the event showed ‘significant’ reduction in level of pollutants in the air
ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
Betrayals of trust resulting from moral disputes forced early humans to cross major geographical barriers, including deltas such as the Indus and the Ganges, and spread across the world about 100,000 years ago, a new study has found. Penny Spikins from the University of York in the UK said that the speed and character of human dispersals changed significantly around 100,000 years ago. Before that movement of archaic humans were slow and largely governed by environmental events due to population increases or ecological changes. Afterwards populations spread with remarkable speed and across major environmental barriers. Spikins relates this change to changes in human emotional relationships. Researchers said that neither population increase nor ecological changes provide an adequate explanation for patterns of human movement into new regions which began around 100,000 years ago. They suggest that as commitments to others became more essential to survival, and human groups ever more motivated to identify and punish those who cheat, the ‘dark’ side of human nature also developed. Moral disputes motivated by broken trust and a sense of betrayal became more frequent and motivated early humans to put distance between them and their rivals. Larger social networks made it easier to find distant allies with whom to start new colonies, and more efficient hunting technology meant that anyone
in two recent major cyclones were minimal, the report said. The report, which comes ahead of the Paris climate conference starting November 30, further shows that over the last 20 years, 90 per cent of major disasters have been caused by 6,457 recorded floods, storms, heatwaves, droughts and other weather-related events. “Weather and climate are major drivers of disaster risk and this report demonstrates that the world is paying a high price in lives lost,” UNISDR head
‘Car-Free Day’ yields good results
Supriya Bhoite from Chaturshrungi police station. Contd on p4
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
United Nations, Nov 24 (PTI) India and China are among the countries most affected by weatherrelated disasters with the two nations accounting for more than three billion disaster-affected people between 1995 and 2015, a new UN report has said ahead of the crucial Paris climate conference. The report titled ‘The Human Cost of Weather Related Disasters by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction’ said the five countries hit by the highest number of disasters are the US, China, India, the Philippines, and Indonesia. “Asian population giants, China and India, dominate the league table of countries most affected by weatherrelated disasters. Together these two nations account for more than 3 billion disaster-affected people between 1995 and 2015. That is 75 per cent of the global total of 4.1 billion people,” the report said. In India, 805 million people were affected by weather- related disasters during the 1995-2015 period, second only after China where 2,274 million were people affected. India was hit by 288 disasters over the last 20 years, third only after the US (472) and China (441). The Philippines (274) and Indonesia (163) round of the five nations hit by the highest number of disasters. The report, however, said in recent
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“Cities need to curb pollution from all sources, but vehicles need special attention as they emit toxic fumes. India needs urgent action to scale up public transport, and promote cycling.” — Anumita Roychowdhury, Head, CSE
India, China ‘most affected by weather-related disasters’ BY YOSHITA SINGH
NOVEMBER 28, 2015
ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
“More than 800,000 children worldwide die from diarrhoea, and almost half of all deaths of children under five are due to under-nutrition.” — Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General
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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
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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
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“The day we will link terrorism with religion we will be trapped into ill design of terror elements. Those elements who are indulged into such cruelty have nothing to do with Islam or humanity.” — Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Minority Affairs Minister
Water hyacinth menace at Katraj lake P 13
German artist paints India’s sorry gender picture
Katharina Kakar’s exhibition ‘Crossing the Lakshmana Rekha: Shakti, Sensuality, Sexuality’, is on at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi till November 30
The writer-cum-artist also experiments with a wide range of materials for her installations like pepper and chillies, cloves and coconuts, wax and clay, fish and ash, perfume and paint and even impressions of her own body parts. “This particular installation which keeps with the theme of the exhibition ‘Crossing the Lakshmana Rekha’ is a huge floor installation which consists of about 400 human body parts. These are parts of my own body; I moulded them in wax and used pigments so they look like mutilated cut-off body parts. I addressed the issue of public and private space through this,” she says. This installation consists of a large circle, approximately three metres in diameter, filled with rose
Poor kids to attend Ind vs SA test
NEW DELHI: Delhi High Court allowed children from economically weaker sections and those studying in government schools to attend the upcoming cricket test between India and South Africa for free. A bench, comprising Justices B D Ahmed and V K Rao, allowed the plea of Justice Mukul Mudgal, appointed observer for the fourth test match, noting that there was no objection by any party. Meanwhile, the DDCA has agreed to bear the cost of the season tickets fixed at Rs 50 per child. “It has been prayed that the court permit DDCA to provide Rs 50 denomination season tickets to school children alongwith accompanying teachers for East Stand lower level (having capacity of about 8225 seats) for the said match.
“No objection by any party. School children permitted to witness the cricket match. We request Justice Mudgal to assure children from economically weaker sections and those studying in government schools in Delhi should be provided with this facility. We leave it to his discretion,” the bench said. In his plea, filed through advocate Nitin Mishra, Justice Mudgal had said that since most of the pavilion stands remained vacant during test matches, the tickets could be given to school children. Advocate Sunil Mittal, appearing for Delhi and District Cricket Administration (DDCA), said there was no objection as such from the cricket body. Justice Mudgal said that many stands remained vacant during the test matches. PTI
petals surrounded by several hundred distorted wax body parts. The installation mainly refers to women’s vulnerability in public space. “It was no coincidence that the crossing of the Lakshmana Rekha was quoted so often by politicians after the Nirbhaya rape case. Not only are women made partly responsible for violence happening to them, but they are also pushed back into private, controllable space and role expectations. “Women should re-claim public space and should feel confident being in public space. I think this is a major issue if we work towards safety and equality between the sexes,” says Kakar. One of her installations depicts the Nirbhaya case. It is a floor installation
Liberal approach to Tamil as first language: HC CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has directed authorities concerned to show a liberal approach in the matter of students applying to opt out from the applicability of provisions of Tamil Nadu Tamil Learning Act of 2006, which made Tamil compulsory as the first language. The First Bench of Chief Justice SK Kaul and Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana gave the direction while disposing of a batch of petitions challenging the Act. Since the rules have been brought into force only in 2012 and the issue relates to the fate of the students, who should not suffer, a liberal approach is mandatorily required, especially at the inception stage of introduction of the scheme, to ensure that the students do not face any harassment, the bench said. The bench granted two weeks time to students who have not yet applied and directed the competent authority to deal with the applications within six weeks. PTI
of wooden items from a traditional metal workshop and copper rod. Through the installation, Kakar portrays the ongoing disrespect and aggression towards women who cross into public space, which in India is culturally “male space”, is addressed here. “I have made a piece which relates to the Nirbhaya case which is called - December 26, 2012. It looks like spread legs in a kind of abstract way. People across the world know India as a ‘rape country’ which is not true.” Memory of the Future (Missing Girls) is another installation, a threepiece one. The first is made of copper cylinder, bronze skulls, burnt clay; the second a wall hanging of 144 wax skulls in a golden frame and the third an artificial butterfly in a jar that starts moving when the copper lid of the jar is tapped. “With this installation, I relate to the issue of missing girls. The gender gap in Indian society does not only reflect the preference of sons through selective abortion of female fetuses, but is also caused through neglect, such as less medical attention or less food for daughters in comparison to sons,” rues Kakar. According to Kakar, India is a country of tolerance and diversity. “I think it is very important that people speak up and give back their awards, make it public that India has a tradition of tolerance and diversity,” she says. PTI
NEW DELHI: Emphasising the civilisation from the root level and importance of “Indological studies”, helps us to know each other better. Spanish professor Javier Ruiz German professor, F H Von Calderon said Stietencron, said, “There are a large in the west less number of students in this hall itself, philosophers I believe each one of you should know about India contribute to make it internationally but the situation acclaimed by doing some good is not the same research work.” with Indian ICCR Prof Lokesh Chandra philosophers. said, “Sanskrit is not only a “In west, less language but it is a subject where the philosophers relationship between man and nature know about have been discussed.” Javier Ruiz Indian and He also urged the Ministry Calderon C h i n e s e of External Affairs to organise a philosophy but Sanskrit conference abroad to spread in India many philosophers knows knowledge about the subject. both about the west and India. I A tab, developed and gifted believe, Indology can by a Chinese Prof ensure some help to Yu Long Yu, which study and master the helps to know the philosophy of India Chinese culture and for all,” Calderon it is also equipped said while addressing with the sutras of the students of Delhi 100 paradigms, was University here. also presented to DU’s Sanskrit the department of Department along Chinese Language and with the Indian Literature of Delhi Council for Culture University during the - ANAND PRAKESH Relations (ICCR) conference. hosted foreign Emphasising on scholars who are on a visit to India the fact that globalisation has changed to participate in the World Indology the entire concept of learning, DU Conference at Rashtrapati Bhawan professor Anand Prakesh said, “Earlier which concluded today. it was not possible to connect with the Terming Sanskrit as a classical experts from other countries easily Indian language, Calderon said but now the world is one learning this language is a very precious gift community.” which gives us the essence of Indian PTI
“Globalisation has changed the entire concept of learning.”
BULLOCK CART RACES PTI
NEW DELHI: German artist Katharina Kakar explores various issues faced by Indian women like gender equality, violence, rape as well as public and individual space in her debut solo exhibition. ‘Crossing the Lakshmana Rekha: Shakti, Sensuality, Sexuality’, on at the India Habitat Centre here till November 30, includes 16 drawings, 22 wall hangings and 16 installations. “ T h i s exhibition deals with women and their sensuality Katharina Kakar and also the violence and constrains that women have to face in India. These are issues which are very close to my heart,” Kakar told PTI. The Germany-born artist moved to India in 2003 with her husband, renowned writer and psychoanalyst Sudhir Kakar, to settle down in Goa. Katha, as she is fondly known, is now bringing forth her own understanding of Indian society in this show. “I live in India and it is my home and I relate to it in many different ways so I felt it is important to continue this debate not only through writing but through art to address the subject that is in my opinion very important,” she says.
West philosophers know less of India
People participate in a State Level bullock cart race at Tegur, in Chikmagalur
Of Patna’s missing Dak Bungalow, hidden ‘kothis’ and mansions Dak Bungalow hosted the likes of Jim Corbett and E M Forster, made way for a high-rise 25 years ago BY KUNAL DUTT
Vol-II* lssue No.: 24 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. Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt. Ltd. 1641, Madhav Heritage, Tilak Road, Pune-411 030, Tel: 020-41220010.
PATNA: Once an iconic landmark, the Dak Bungalow hosted the likes of Jim Corbett and E M Forster only to make way for a high-rise 25 years ago, but the legend of the British-era building has survived the ravages of time. It is hard to imagine the capital’s busiest traffic intersection, eponymously still called as ‘Dakbungalow Chouraha’ was earlier a laid-back spot of the city, with the sprawling tiled-roof bungalow, beckoning weary travellers and government officials. Patna-born Rajiv Soni, an avid photographer in his 60s, now Kolkatabased, says the “Dak Bungalow may
Patna Museum
have gone long ago, but its ghost is still there.” Soni, who curated an exhibition here a few years ago called ‘Patna kaleidoscope’, which displayed some of the historic and rarest building of the city, many of which had disappeared by then and few others vanished later,
giving in to “high real estate demands.” “I was going through some of my old negatives of the 70s and the 80s, and found this black and white photograph of the Dakbungalow Chouraha. I shared the image on Facebook and it has triggered a wave of nostalgia among people, with many
saying that the building should have been preserved as a unique specimen of our history, but who cares,” Soni rued. Anunaya Chaubey, former Principal of the College of Arts and Crafts here and a noted artist, says, “Jim Corbett was posted at Mokama, a town in the outskirts of Patna during the Raj days, and he had stayed in this Bungalow.” British author Forster, while researching his landmark work ‘A Passage to India’, visited Bankipore (Patna’s civil station) in 1913, where the New Capital was coming up after the separation of Bihar & Orissa Province in 1912. “He is said to have stayed there and at the historic Bankipore Club (established in 1865) during his Bihar sojourn,” he said. Forster’s experiences are even reflected in ‘A Passage...’ work where the town of Chadrapore and Fielding College were shadows of Bankipore and Patna College only, he added. PTI
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Veteran paddler Muley defies his age P 14
BERLIN: German singer Xavier Naidoo, of Indian and African heritage, has been withdrawn from the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest following criticism that the lyrics of his song are anti-Semitic and homophobic. Naidoo has sold millions of albums in Germany but songs such as 2012’s ‘Wo Sind’ (Where Are) have been widely criticised. Anti-racism groups complained after his selection, on Thursday, for the Stockholm contest, BBC reported yesterday. Public broadcaster ARD denied the “brilliant” singer was racist. Executive Thomas Schreiber said: “It was clear that his nomination would polarise opinions, but we were surprised about the negative response.” The discussion on Naidoo could harm the image of the contest, he added. “The Eurovision Song Contest is a fun event, in which music and the understanding between European people should be the focus. This characteristic must be kept at all costs. The ongoing discussion about Naidoo could harm the image of the Eurovision Song Contest. “This is why Naidoo will not represent Germany. We will quickly decide now, how the German entry for the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest will be found,” he said. In 2014, when Germany marked the 25th anniversary of reunification, Naidoo was criticised for appearing at a rally of the controversial Reichsbuerger group, which wants the re-establishment of Germany as a twoborder state. On Friday, Germany’s most popular newspaper Bild questioned his selection on its front page. Anti-racism group the Amadeu Antonio Foundation also described the choice as “problematic”. In response, 44-year-old Naidoo said on Facebook in his native language that it was “OK for me” and that ARD had urged him to compete in the first place. He also said he represented a Germany that was “open to the world” and tolerant of different religions and lifestyles. Germany, which came last in this year’s competition with zero points, would name a new contender as soon as possible, Schreiber said. PTI
“China is willing to set up a high-level meeting mechanism with India on security to further promote security and law enforcement cooperation.” — Guo Shengkun, Chinese State Councillor
India serious about plan to cut emissions BY YOSHITA SINGH
UNITED NATIONS: India’s plan to slash greenhouse gas emissions indicates its “seriousness” in confronting climate change challenges and will help the world “bend” temperature projections for the rest of the century, UN chief Ban Ki-moon has said ahead of the crucial Paris summit. The UN Secretary General also took note of India’s concerns over the lack of climate ambition on display by developed countries on both fronts of mitigation and support, saying that there is “no question” that developed countries need to take the lead on climate action. “I welcome India’s submission of its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC). I believe it indicates the seriousness with which India is confronting the challenges of climate change, and it will help the world ‘bend’ the temperature projections for the rest of this century,” Ban told PTI. In its INDCs, India has offered to slash its emissions per-unit of gross domestic product figures to 35 per cent by 2030. The United Nations Climate Change Conference, widely known as Conference of Parties (CoP 21), will take place from November 30 to December 11 in Paris and will aim to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate, with the aim of keeping global warming below 2 C. More than 120 leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will
MELBOURNE: A memorial plaque honouring a 41-year-old Indian woman IT professional who was knifed to death in Australia in March was unveiled during an emotional memorial service here. Prabha Arun Kumar, who was sent to Australia on a three-year deputation by MindTree company, was stabbed to death by an unidentified assailant while walking towards her home in Sydney in March. The motive of the attack on Prabha is yet to be ascertained. The pathway where she took her final steps before being stabbed to death has been re-named as Prabha’s Walk. Several family members including Prabha’s daughter, husband and parents from India and friends gathered in the park yesterday on the day after what would have been her 42nd birthday. Family members wiped back tears
The child Ayesha Ali was found dead in her east London home with over 50 injuries BY ADITI KHANNA
American street artist Shepard Fairey, aka Obey, poses by piece ‘Earth Crisis’, a giant sphere themed on environment and hanging between the first and second floor of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Obey’s art piece will be displayed at Paris conference
participate in the 21st Meeting of the States Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. India has expressed deep concern over the lack of climate ambition on display by developed countries on both fronts of mitigation and support. Ban said while there is no question that developed countries need to take the lead on climate action, nations however have to move forward. “Global emissions are continuing to rise. We have to look at the issue differently. We have to recognise that all countries have to do their part, to the extent they have the resources and capacity to take action,” Ban said. He stressed that countries understand that all nations need to be involved in the solutions, and all need
Memorial at Aus Indian techie BY NATASHA CHAKU
Lesbian lovers get reduced sentences
as they stood before around 100 people at the memorial service in Parramatta Park. “What I’m going through no-one should go through. I want justice,” her husband Arun Kumar said during the service, adding that his wife was a “very caring, loving wife”. “It was very hard. I don’t want this to happen. I’m helpless now, I can’t do anything,” Arun said. The family took the same path Prabha took on the fateful night when she was killed. According to media reports, NSW Police helped the family make the trip to Australia to attend the memorial service. The service was led by a prayer and flowers were laid on the bench unveiled in Prabha’s memory. Arun also appealed for information into the murder which still remains unsolved. “I hope they (NSW Police) will find the murderer and I am trusting them,” he said. PTI
to see that the benefits of low-carbon, climate-resilient growth are realised by all. “Developed countries need to lead but all countries need to contribute,” he said. India has stressed that developed countries cannot undermine the core principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities in arriving at a climate deal. Ban emphasised that the Paris conference has to result in an agreement that is “fair”. “It has to recognise and respond to the circumstances and needs of the most vulnerable, who have not contributed to the problem of climate change yet have the most to lose due to its impacts,” he said. PTI
LONDON: A Bangladeshi-origin mother and her Indian-origin lesbian lover found guilty of beating the former’s eight-year-old daughter to death have had their murder sentences reduced on appeal. The child Ayesha Ali was found dead in her east London home with over 50 injuries. The girl’s mother, 35-year-old Polly Chowdhury, will now serve 10 years rather than 13 years in prison for manslaughter. Her lover and co-defendant, 43-year-old Kiki Muddar, has had her sentence reduced from 18 years to 15 years for the crime by the Court of Appeal. Sitting at the appeal court in central London today, the judges agreed that Muddar’s sentence was “manifestly
excessive” before reducing it by three years. In March, Judge Christopher Moss told the Old Bailey that Muddar’s sentence should reflect the “lion’s share” of responsibility for the misery inflicted on Ali. The eight-year-old was found in her bedroom with injuries including a bite-mark and carpet burns on August 29, 2013. Muddar had created a cyber-fantasy world to manipulate Chowdhury through a series of fictitious friends on social media. “She was rational in her judgments in having a disgust with Ayesha. She did not like Chowdhury putting Ayesha above her interests. However immoral, abhorrent and illegal her judgment, it was rational... there is no question of either defendant having been mad,” prosecutor Richard Whittam had told the court. PTI
Polly Chowdhury and Kiki Muddar
SPACE TRUCKING PTI
Indian-origin singer dropped from contest
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A Japanese H-2A rocket is launched from the Tanegashima Space Centre in Tanegashima, off Japan’s southernmost main island of Kyushu. The first Japanese rocket with a commercial payload is heading into space. The Mitsubishi Heavy Industries rocket was launched from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency launch pad
‘Social media platforms are enabling radicalisation’
US Ambassador to India Richard Verma said they are enabling recruitment and networking individuals MUMBAI: Noting that social media platforms are enabling radicalisation, US Ambassador to India Richard Verma said the return of foreign fighters from places like Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria also casts ominous shadows on security of big cities. “Social media platforms are enabling radicalisation, recruitment, and networking among like-minded individuals from afar,” Verma said in his address at a two-day conference on “Megacity Security”, organised by US Consulate General. “The return of foreign fighters from places like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria also casts ominous shadows. More so than ever before, small groups and individuals have access to lethal and even military-grade technologies that give them the ability to attack a city’s functioning. Communications and transportation networks essential to the daily livelihood
in cities also can serve as enablers that allow groups to recruit and maintain networks with relative anonymity. Even smart cities, which offer the promise of a greener and more sustainable future, can be vulnerable to cyber attacks”, he said. The second potential security challenge comes from the inability of mega-cities to uphold their end of the social contract through effective governance and service provision, the US Ambassador said. On security threats mega-cities like Mumbai face, Verma said “One threat is from terrorism, as this city knows all too well.” “While the confluence of government, industry, and finance creates a unique dynamism in cities, the concentration of critical infrastructure and mass transit systems also creates vulnerabilities. “If you look at the world s top 30 mega-cities a common characteristic
Amitabh Bachchan, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, US Ambassador to India Richard Verma and Medanta Medicity CMD Naresh Trehan holding Ganesh idols at the launch of ‘Mission TB Free Haryana’ initiative in Gurgaon
among them, regardless of geography or level of economic development, is that they have suffered terrorist attacks. The people of Tokyo, Jakarta, Manila, Karachi, New York, Mumbai, Bangkok, Dhaka, Istanbul, Lagos, Paris, and London have all seen first-hand the horrors terrorists can inflict,” he said. Recent events in Paris, Bamako, and Beirut have sadly focused the world
s attention again on the scourge of terrorism, a tragedy experienced acutely in this city, Verma said. “Here in this room, we are joined in sympathy for the victims of terrorism, both in Paris and elsewhere. The Paris assaults were, as President Obama stated, “an attack on all of humanity and the universal values that we share.” “But as our leaders have pledged, we
are united with the nations of the world, and together we can defeat the terrorists and their ideologies of hate. Efforts to ensure mega-city security, though focused on many different aspects, must be a part of our shared response,” the US Ambassador said. “Mumbai is truly a mega-city it is one of about 30 cities around the world with a population greater than 10 million people. In light of its history, and its importance to the national and international economy, I could not think of a more appropriate place than Mumbai to hold a Megacity Security Conference,” Verma said. The US envoy said he was “proud to say the United States and India are working closely on these sorts of security issues, as well as livability in cities.” “In 2011, we created the US-India Homeland Security Dialogue, which was the first comprehensive bilateral dialogue on homeland security issues between our two countries. The dialogue covers a wide range of activities linked to enhancing homeland security cooperation. Engagement between our Department of Homeland Security
and India s Ministry of Home Affairs has reinforced our strategic homeland security partnership. “It also has enhanced operational cooperation in investigations, capacity building, and countering threats. We hope to routinize the exchange of security experts and build cooperative efforts to further our mutual counter terrorism goals,” he said. The US Department of State Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA) programme, operated by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, provided training to over 250 Indian law enforcement officers over the past year, both at courses in India and the United States, he said. Each year, we hold on average 10 ATA training courses for Indian law enforcement officials in areas such as Senior Crisis Management, investigative techniques, explosive incident counter measures, and community policing. This programme has been a great partnership that “trains the trainer”, and enhances the capability of thousands of police officers across India. PTI
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2015
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MONEY MATT ER S
“The launch of AMG GT S is the finest example of our ‘top of pyramid’ approach for the Indian market, as we are presenting the most acclaimed product from our global portfolio.” — Roland Folger, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz India
Signposts
“As of today, everyone in India nationwide can access free internet services for health, education, jobs and communication through internet.org’s Free Basics app on the Reliance network.” —Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook CEO
ISIS activities disrupting global economy: Jaitley Finance Minister said that earlier management of the economy was easier because such crisis happened only in a decade or more
9,200 business jets to deliver by 2025 More than 9,200 new business jets are expected to be delivered in the next ten years at a cost of USD 270 billion, an annual global business aviation outlook report has said. The deliveries, worth about USD 270 billion, are a 3 to 5 per cent reduction over the value noted in the 2014 forecast, Honeywell Aerospace Asia-Pacific’s Shanghai headquarters said. According to the report, slow growth means that only about 700 new business jets are expected to be delivered in 2015.
Rs 20,000 cr crops lost due to rains Farmers have lost more than 10 million tonnes of rabi crops, valued at above Rs 20,000 crore, due to unseasonal rainfall and hailstorm in February-April 2015, CSE said in a report. India may have to import 10 lakh tonnes of wheat in 2015-16 as about 68.2 lakh tonnes were lost due to unseasonal rainfall, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said in its report, titled ‘Lived Anomaly’. In FebruaryApril 2015, standing crops on 182.38 lakh hectares or 29.61 per cent of the entire rabi sown area were affected.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley warned that disruptive ISIS activities could impact the world economy. “Meeting the challenges of development will now be increasingly diverted towards security measures and which part of the world is safe itself will become a great question,” he said while speaking at the annual meet of an industry chamber. He further said that what ISIS has been doing across the world in the last few months poses a new danger to civilisation and “therefore its impact on global economy cannot be understated.” The terrorist outfit Islamic State or ISIS has captured territories in Iraq and Syria and launched attacks in western world, including the recent attacks in Paris that killed 129 persons. “And which part of the world will be safe itself will become a good question,” he said adding ISIS activities will have consequential bearing on buoyancy in currency, trade, and tourism. Jaitley said that earlier management of the economy was easier because there was one crisis in a decade or more, “but now, today, you live in a world, which is
Belgium police officers patrol the Grand Place in central Brussels, Belgium
full of turmoil, full of volatility and you have to be think ahead of others because you are continuously busy dowsing the impact of one fire and trying to put firewalls around your own economy so that you can be saved of that crisis. “I do believe the new global norm is volatility and turmoil. It is no longer stability and things can change very fast.” Moreover, he added, the patchy recovery and occasional green shoots witnessed in BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) nations were overtaken by certain geopolitical factors which has created global instability.
Jaitley further said that global resources which were earlier intended to be spent on poverty alleviation and meeting the challenges of development will now be increasingly diverted towards security measures and “which part of the world will be safe itself will become a good question.” “India carves out its own place. Even if we can’t insulate ourselves from global trends, how do we minimise its impact in adversity, and how do we take advantage in emerging global situation. History presents us with this challenge,” Jaitley said. Referring to the government’s
No policy paralysis: GDP to touch 8 pc this year BY KJM VARMA Rejecting criticism that the policy paralysis has returned to haunt the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in view of critical legislations getting stuck in Parliament, NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya says the economic Arvind Panagariya growth this year may touch eight per cent due to implementation of various critical economic reforms. He asserts that projects are being
cleared and gathering speed and ease of doing business has improved. “In January-March, 2016, I expect that we would touch eight per cent mark, hopefully cross it a bit,” he told PTI in an interview. He said the economic growth for the entire year is expected to be at 7.5 per cent to eight per cent. “We might get full eight per cent because I also expect the first quarter growth rate which has been at seven per cent for 2015-16 will be revised upwards,” he said. “We will continue to make progress. When we come to the last year of the present term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I would expect it would be near the double digit,” he said. Panagariya, who is in Beijing for talks with China s key think-tank the
Development Research Centre on the status of the Sino-Indian economies, strongly denied criticism that the policy paralysis is creeping into the Modi government in view of government’s inability to push through important legislations like GST Bill and Land Acquisition bills. “I do not buy that. If you actually look at what the government has done, it is not the UPA government in operation. If the UPA government policies were continued we would have remained at five per cent or below. We have come out of it,” he said. “The policy paralysis has been eliminated completely from the government. Three is a well functioning government at the centre,” Panagariya said. PTI
decision to reduce tax exemptions as a prelude to bring down corporate tax from 30 per cent to 25 per cent over four years, he said, “we have already notified the first slot. “Obviously when you bring down the tax rate from 33 per cent down to 25 per cent, some exemptions will have to go (as) too many of these exemptions eventually make the tax policy of India a rent-seeking exercise.” Simplification of tax structure and bringing down tax rates to global levels by reducing exemptions, he said, were needed as the nation aspires to be a global leader. The Minister further said the government would try to introduce changes in the arbitration law in the forthcoming session of Parliament beginning Thursday. He said government will try to introduce some the legislations aimed at making it easier to do business in India. Commercial port laws and arbitration law for early disposal of all commercial disputes are all part of the agenda to make business easier, he said. To give push to real estate sector there is need to simplify procedure further, he added. On increased financial burden that will result from implementation of the 7th pay commission at a time when the economy is facing challenges of low investment and subdued global demand, Jaitley said his mantra is to get one or two extra percentage points in the GDP growth. PTI
For Indians, Bali is top winter destination This winter, Bali, a city in Indonesia, has topped the list of most popular international destination for Indian travellers while Goa is the most preferred domestic destination, according to a survey. “For Indian travellers, Bali is the most popular international destination and Goa the most popular domestic destination this winter,” according to TripAdvisor search data. The report ‘Winter Vacation Value Report’ revealed that destinations having colder climatic conditions during winter are finding favour with the Indian travellers Jaipur, New Delhi, Manali, Shimla and Agra - all feature in the top 10 list. The winter period mentioned in the survey was from December 1 to January 31 next year. “The cost of winter holidays can add up as people travel further afield in search of sun, snow or an exotic city break, but a winter trip doesn’t have to break the bank,” TripAdvisor India Country Manager Nikhil Ganju said. If travellers are flexible with their dates they can save even more money by visiting during the least expensive week for the chosen destinations, he added. “Our research shows that while Indians prefer sunny places for overseas travel, within India colder places are equally popular along with beach destinations,” he added. Other international destinations on wish list of Indians travellers for winter are Dubai, Mauritius, Singapore, Bangkok and Phuket. Within the country, Goa is followed by Kerala, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jaipur, New Delhi and Udaipur. PTI
4G smartphone shipments up 3-fold Smartphone shipments in India jumped 21.4 per cent in the JulySeptember quarter to 28.3 million units, buoyed by a three-fold jump in demand for 4G-enabled devices, according to a research fi rm IDC. Smartphone shipments stood at 23.3 million units in the same period a year ago. The shipments increased over six per cent from 26.5 million units in the April-June 2015 quarter. “The growth in the smartphone market was helped by rising demand for affordable 4G smartphones,” IDC Senior Market Analyst Client devices Karthik J said in a statement. In the third quarter, 4G-enabled devices witnessed almost threefold increase in shipments over the previous quarter and one out of three
smartphones shipped was 4G-enabled, IDC said. “E-tailers such as Flipkart, Snapdeal and Amazon continue to drive shipments of the Chinese vendors, who have been aggressively trying to capture the 4G smartphone market in India,” Karthik said. Samsung emerged as the biggest 4G player in India with its popular sub-USD 150 LTE models such as Galaxy Grand Prime and Galaxy J2, IDC said. Samsung was the largest player with 24 per cent share of the smartphone market, followed by Micromax (16.7 per cent), Intex (10.8 per cent), Lenovo Group (Lenovo and Motorola) (9.5 per cent) and Lava (4.7 per cent). PTI
‘Will start thinking Banks told to clean up balance sheet retirement after 60’ USL Chairman Vijay Mallya said he will not retire from the company’s board anytime soon, but would start thinking about it when he turns 60. “I am not retiring quite yet, but as I said once, sixty years old, you must start thinking, you know of enjoying life ... so what is wrong in me thinking (about it),” he told reporters, responding to a query on when he is going to retire from the Vijay Mallya USL Board after the much-hyped USL annual general meeting. “As I said, people are reminding me that I am turning 60. Normally, when you turn 60 you think of retirement,” he added. The liquor baron was born on December 18, 1955. Mallya is in the news with reports that Diageo, the United Spirits’ new owner, had asked him to step down as Chairman and Director of the Indian liquor firm for alleged fund diversion to
Kingfisher and other UB Group entities. To a question, Mallya said: “See, you try to interpret everything, twist and turn it... I will think when I hit 60. I will start thinking how to enjoy my life, what is wrong with that?” Asked whether he was in process of reducing stake in United Spirits Limited (USL), Mallya said he was focussing on settling the affairs relating to Kingfisher. “I am focussing on settling Kingfisher affairs with banks. That’s what my current focus is on,” he said. On what means he would adopt to reduce the stake, a relatively annoyed Mallya castigated the media for “twisting” and giving a turn to statements. “This is like saying I am going to buy new suit and your very next question will be where you are going to get, (and) which tailor? What is this ya? You guys have gone nuts,” he said. He continued, “Please I made a statement, that’s it. You want to twist and turn from every angle. This is not right. This is why I don’t talk to media. One statement cannot be opened to 10 different interpretations. I said what I said.” PTI
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley asked state-owned banks to clean up their balance sheets at the earliest, stressing that they have all the powers to deal with wilful defaulters. The Minister during his meeting with heads of public sector banks (PSBs) also reviewed interest rate in the light of key policy rate reduction by RBI in September. Besides, the institutional measures being taken to assist banks in reducing NPAs were also discussed in the second quarterly performance review in six months. The gross Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) of public sector banks rose to 6.03 per cent at the end of June, as against 5.20 per cent in March this year. “When we took assessment of certain sectors which had a higher level of NPAs, some particular defaulters which are common thread running across several banks did crop up for discussion,” he told reporters after the meeting. The public sector banks, he said, “have all the powers... Banks today have full authority and autonomy to take action against them (defaulters)”. He asked the bankers to get rid of their past scars of Non Performing
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley with MoS Jayant Sinha at the Quarterly Review Meeting of the Chairman and Managing Directors of Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and Financial Institutions (FIs) at RBI Building in New Delhi
Assets (NPAs) and clean-up their balance sheet at the earliest. The issue of asset quality was discussed in detail and banks described measures being taken to improve asset quality and profitability with special focus on non interest income. Committing full support, he said that the Government will take necessary policy corrective measures wherever required. The meeting also discussed the issue of passing on the benefit of rate cut, with the PSBs noting that their base lending rates had been reduced consequent upon
the rate reduction announced by the Reserve Bank. Since January, RBI has reduced its benchmark rate by 1.25 per cent but banks have not passed on the entire rate cut benefit to the borrowers. PSBs discussed various steps being taken to improve credit growth. . On Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), Jaitley asked the banks to accelerate disbursements as PSBs were expected to achieve a potential of at least Rs 70,000 crore during the current financial year. It was noted that the Indian Banks’
Association had put together a phased publicity plan, to ensure that eligible entrepreneurs were fully informed about PMMY, and thereby enabled to approach banks with their projects. With regard to agriculture credit, he asked banks to achieve the target of 20 per cent growth in disbursement and 15 per cent growth in number of accounts and also attempt to even out regional disparity in such loans. The banks briefed the meeting about various efforts that they are taking in the sector, an official statement said. On education loan, progress made by banks in activating the Vidya Lakshmi Portal, which is a first-of-its-kind portal providing a single window facility for students to access information and apply for educational loans provided by banks as well as Government scholarships were reviewed. Banks were requested to enter into the required agreement to take advantage of new credit guarantee scheme, it said. While noting good growth at 18.69 per cent in housing loans, PSBs were also strongly encouraged to achieve growth in priority sector housing loans, which are intrinsically secure loans and which are required to provide a stimulus to overall growth. PTI
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2015
CROSS+ROADS
SOULSHINE
Soulshine will enthrall you with their powerful performance. Soulshine is a blues and hard rock band. The band incorporates elements of blues, rock, and country music, and their live shows have jam band-style improvisation and instrumental. Band consist of Enoch Harold and Akash Nandrekar on the guitar, Calvin Symss on drum, Sanchia Ribeiro on bass, Arjun Shrivatsan on keyboard and Nikhil Bailur on vocals. With the largest collection of beers under one roof, sumptuous food and amazing ambience, the weekend couldn’t get any better. When: November 28 Where: The Beer Café, Koregaon Park
Craft connoisseurs will get an opportunity to witness an exciting and vibrant collection of art, crafts and textiles from all over the India at the craft bazaar. The market will see over 90 craft, textile and folk art stalls. Apart from these there would be workshops for children, folk performances and regional cuisines from Rajasthan, Gujarat and Pune. When: Till December 6 Where: The Monalisa Kalagram, Koregaon Park
CELEBRATING THE SPIRIT OF ART
For the fi rst time ever, Yatzee, the psychedelic trance project of Yuri Dimitrov from Italy will be performing in the country. F Beach House will host the Namastasye Festival Promo Party. Born in 1987, Yatzee started to study piano at the age of seven and guitar at 15. The project is focused on futuristic sounds and high energy beats, influenced by many psytrance artists but also by others genres like: IDM, techno, drum and bass, dub and reggae, breakbeat and of course by electro-acoustic music. When: November 29 Where: F Beach House, Koregaon Park
Water hyacinth menace at Katraj lake
COLLAGES AND ACRYLICS
Darpan Art Gallery is hosting an exhibition of Collages and Acrylics paintings by artists Sanyogita Modak and Vedanti Shirodkar for a week. The inauguration of the exhibition will be done by Dr Shivdev Bapat. Proceeds from the exhibition will be used for rehabilitation of families of alcoholics and support for economically needy. When: Till December 2 Where: Darpan Art Gallery, Senapati Bapat Road
DASTKARI HAAT SAMITI CRAFT BAZAAR
THE JAMES BOND SPARQUE QUIZ
Head to The British Library for a SparQue quiz based on popular books and movies that lets you learn more about them and do this among likeminded people. Answer questions about James Bond aka 007 in this participative session. You don’t have to have read or watched the series in question. In the process, we will also explore interesting ideas from the series. When: November 28 Where: The British Council Library, Shivajinagar
MERA ISHQ SUFIYANA
Watch the rockstar Raja Hasan performing live with Pragya Sodhani, a powerhouse of talent who has mesmerised audiences with her silken voice and her inimitable charm. Raja Hasan and Pragya Sodhani will be performing at a charity concert to raise funds for the education of children.Funds raised will go towards providing education to children who are living in areas that do not contain modern amenities and even basic living essentials. When: December 2 Where: Ganesh Kala Krida Manch, Swargate
RAHUL RAUT
Tilting Art Gallery at Ishanya is all set to feast your eyes through a scintillating art show, ‘The Accruals’ showcasing a broad spectrum of colourful paintings and sculptures depicting tangible and abstract art. The art show will give Punekars a glimpse of national group show of paintings and sculptures under one roof promoting and showcasing creative talent. Tilting Art Gallery will be putting together curation of some astounding pieces of art depicting diversity of theme and style. When: Till December 8 Where: Ishanya Mall, Tilting Art Gallery, Viman Nagar
Our voices need to be heard
YATZEE LIVE
Cross+Roads is a high energy and experienced four piece blues rock band and exhibits high levels of professionalism and have been together since 2011. Their music is a unique blend of blues styles ranging from rock, jazz, funk and traditional blues. The pure amalgamation of five passionate and driven musicians is evident in their live gigs. Part of the success of the band relies on their mutual respect and understanding of each other’s musicality. Their musically diverse backgrounds and tastes all add up to their creative mix which is very evident in their original compositions. When: December 3 Where: Hard Rock Café, Koregaon Park
I
live in the Katraj area and the Katraj lake is the destination for my daily walks. I am extremely distressed that the surface of the lake is now covered with water hyacinth. Th is is also an eyesore and a source of bugs which is not what the visitors to Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park expect. The water hyacinth problem must be dealt with urgently as it a breeding ground for mosquitoes and in these days of dengue and viral fever outbreaks, this is a hazard we can do Madhura Gaikwad without. The water hyacinth is the cause of many other issues. Water from the lake is used for rituals at the temple in the vicinity. Some careless people also dump garbage in the lake. The water hyacinth is also threatening the fish in the lake waters and recently there is foul odour from the dead fish. It is the responsibility of the Pune Municipal Corporation to maintain the lake and the park area in a clean and hygienic state as this is a picnic spot and has a regular flow of visitors. The spread of water hyacinth is a threat to the ecology of the lake. The civic body has started work on removing the water hyacinth and clearing the dead fish and garbage, but the marshy banks are making the job difficult.
Write to Us
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. VISHAL KALE
WEEK THAT WAS RAINS FLOOD 60 HOUSES
PIC
THE
A car driver failed to control his vehicle during the rains on Monday and jumped over the road divider at Erandwane near Pavitra Hotel. No one was injured
EDITOR
PUNE FC LOG THIRD CONSECUTIVE WIN
Pune FC built on their impressive run and logged a third consecutive win, hammering PIFA Colaba FC 6-1 in an Under-15 Youth League Maharashtra Zone Round 3 encounter at the Pune FC Training Pitches in Mamurdi. A brace each from striker Ishan Dey (3rd penalty and 32nd minute) and medio Mozaffar Ali (13th and 74th) along with goals from substitute Gulam Ansari (54th) and playmaker Cladeo Nongpluh (69th) handed Pune FC a well-deserved win. The three points earned meant Pune FC consolidated their top spot in the Maharashtra Zone moving up to nine points from three games.
NDA PASSING OUT PARADE
OF
E WE K
Pune witnessed a flood-like situation on Monday morning as incessant rains continued since Sunday evening. More than 60 families were rendered homeless for the night in Tingrenagar, Santosh Nagar and Vaibhav Colony areas as rainwater gushed into their homes at 5 am and washed away cylinders, utensils, grain sacks, furniture and even two-wheelers. The loss of property is estimated to be around Rs 50 lakh. Pune Municipal Commissioner Kunal Kumar said, “It would be fair to say that after observing the damage caused by the sudden downpour, efforts need to be increased to strengthen our preparedness to face such natural situations. We will take action against those who diverted drainage lines.”
LETTERS TO THE
PUNE
A training demonstration was staged on Saturday, November 21, at the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, to showcase the cadets’ training. Th is was a precursor to the Passing Out Parade to be held on November 28. The Army cadets featured in the Double Lane Obstacle course and the destruction of an enemy position through the employment of tactical drills. The Air Force and the Naval cadets too showcased their skills they had acquired during the training.
They stayed put when times got tough
Ira Ghosh is the youngest IB schoolteacher
Government ignoring palliative care in Pune
The feature about survivors from the city made me realise how minimal our regular problems are. Finding out about the immense struggles people have to go through just to survive really puts life into perspective. Neha Satav’s story was particularly inspiring. Not losing the will to live when her world came crashing down around her, is something truly commendable. She stayed strong through the entire ordeal and emerged victorious, that too at such a young age. A family member of mine is also suffering from cancer, and I hope this story encourages her to keep fighting. — Umesh Kale
I loved the feature about schoolteacher Ira Ghosh. Being only 23 years old, she has already taken a step towards changing something she disliked. A lot of us like to complain about the things that are wrong with this country, or the system, but that is where it ends for us. We feel that by complaining and voicing our problems, we have done our bit. There are very few who actually do something, and Ira is one of them. Having a problem with the Indian schooling system, she became a teacher herself and is now involved fi rst-hand in shaping the lives of many students. Everyone must take inspiration from her. -Barkha Khemu
Palliative care is an issue that is, more often than not, ignored in this country. Taking the example of Pune itself, the government has absolutely no idea what is going on. If the responsibility of this is shouldered entirely by the private sector, where are the members of low income groups supposed to go? There are many misconceptions about palliative care. It is often regarded as a place people go to die, but that is not the main purpose. They are largely needed to relieve people of their excruciating pain. It is because of the misconceptions that only places tending to dying patients are referred to palliative care centres by hospitals. Although most of the patients are terminally ill, palliative care is important in ensuring they live what little is left of their life comfortably, without any pain. — Nandita Sabnis
Overworked MSRTC bus drivers The article in TGS stated that Shivneri bus drivers work 16-hour shifts, due to shortage of drivers. I commute regularly between Pune and Mumbai and often travel by Shivneri buses as they are comfortable and convenient. Drivers should be properly rested before sitting at the wheel, as a tired driver may be prone to errors in judgment and accidents are a real hazard. The MSRTC Pune Division Controller denies making drivers work overtime, but the possibility itself is enough to make commuters uncomfortable. — Santosh Tandon
Lack of manpower at Vaikunth
In Hindu culture, bodies of the deceased people are cremated. Many look down at a crematorium worker’s job, thinking it is lowly and not respectable. It is not the best work for anyone, but it needs to be done. Being short staffed is a problem even here. It only adds to the distress of the family members of the deceased. Helping lift up the body on to the furnace, or even waiting with a body for hours on end due to the delay is not a situation that anyone wants to be in. — Ajay Chavan
SPORTS
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2015
PUNE
“India generates money because other countries come and play in India. If you do not have a fierce competition, the broadcasters and sponsors are not going to pay you.” — Shashank Manohar , BCCI President
“We have three Slams to play before the Olympics. As a tennis player, we don’t have the luxury to prepare for Olympics six months in advance.” — Sania Mirza, Indian Tennis Player
Veteran paddler Muley defies his age PICS BY PRANAV JOSHI
Plays 72 matches in a span of two days to win four district table tennis titles; his son joins the party with a U-10 title BY ASHISH PHADNIS @phadnis_ashish
Upendra Muley, the city’s player turned coach, made a clean sweep at the recently held district table tennis tournament in Inorbit Mall, winning four titles, while his son Neil, won the under-10 title to join his father’s spree. Muley had represented Pune and Maharashtra during his heyday, but then turned to coaching and produced some quality paddlers. He returned to the playing arena after eight years, and has been faring well in the men’s and veterans’ categories. In the district tourney, Muley started his campaign by winning the veterans singles fi nal, beating top seed Debdoot Chatterjee 11-7, 11-9, 12-10. Later he paired with Chatterjee to oust Gaurang Sharma and Deepesh Abhyankar 11-8, 1210, 11-7 in the veteran doubles’ title clash. Muleu continued his title hunt, facing the same opponent in the men’s fi nal. But he had to toil hard before beating Chatterjee 7-11, 14-12, 11-8, 7-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-8. However, in the open double’s event, the duo again proved supreme and clinched the title with a 8-11, 11-3, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7 win over Pooja Koparkar and Sanat Bokil. It wasn’t just the number of titles, but the way this veteran played 72 matches over two days, that amazed everyone. A few top district players were missing, due to clash of dates with the national tournament, but
Signposts Ishpreet wins junior snooker title Top seed Ishpreet Singh proved invincible as he won all three semi-final round robin matches in three straight frames to win the junior snooker title, in the Maharashtra State Junior and Senior Billiards and Snooker Selection tournament held at PYC Hindu Gymkhana. The Mumbai cueist gave his challengers no glimmer of opportunity in the four-way round robin match-ups, and three players will represent Maharashtra in the coming National Championships.
Goldfield cricket league from Nov 29 The third edition of the Goldfield League will be organised at PYC Hindu Gymkhana grounds from November 29. The third edition of the event will be played under flood lights, and 14 teams have been selected through an auction process. Karna Mehta proved the most expensive player at the auction and was snapped up by Bad Dragons. Goldfield Properties will be the title sponsors for this tournament, while Brihans and Nirmiti Developers are the associate sponsors.
Kirrtane wins doubles crown in All-India tennis City’s veteran player Nittin Kirrtane clinched the doubles’ title in the Godrej Properties Cup Solaris Club AITA All-India Ranking Men’s Tennis tournament at Kothrud. Nittin, along with teammate Sahil Deshmukh, logged a 6-1, 6-4 win over Vilasier Khate and Anand Rithvik in the semifinals before beating Bibaswan Deb and Harsha L. 6-3, 6-4 in the big final to clinch the crown.
Mini football tourney from November 28 A total of 214 players will be seen in action in the first ever ABIL Futcorp Inter corporate Mini football championship, organised by Sportiluv and Green Box in association with Maharashtra Krida from November 28.
Muley prevailed over paddlers half his age without showing a sign of fatigue. “I am from the old school of table tennis. Our coaches made us work hard to achieve perfection and we never had an issue of mastering skill or technique. The only problem was fitness and stamina. However, it didn’t bother me much and I was quite comfortable. I just stuck to my game plan and that worked,” said Muley. NEW GENER ATION Muley’s son Neil is following in the footsteps of his father and has started winning titles at an early age. Muley hasn’t started coaching his son yet. “He is too young to start serious coaching. Right now he is just observing others and improving his game. He should enjoy the game more than losing or winning. He plays confidently and that’s
the main thing,” said the proud father. DOUBLE CROW N FOR PRITHA City youngster Pritha Vartikar had an easy outing in this tournament and won a double crown. The ward of Madhukar Lonare defeated Mrunmayi Raikhelkar 13-11, 11-4, 11-7 in the cadet girls’ fi nal and later grabbed a second title when she prevailed over Sanika Dhavale 13-11, 118, 11-8 in the sub-junior girls’ fi nal. Meanwhile, giant killer Rohan Khivansara also bagged a grand double. He stunned top seed Shounak Shinde in a close match 5-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-6, 14-12 to win the junior boys’ title. He knocked out another top seed Sanat Bokil in the youth category. His 11-9, 117, 5-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-7 win over Bokil earned him the double crown. ashish.phadnis@goldensparrow.com
Table tennis tourney witness new trend A district-level table tennis tournament was conducted at a mall for the fi rst time in Pune. It was a bold and surprising decision but it brought forth positive results. For the final, the arena was full of cheering crowds, who had gathered there for festive shopping. “We got this idea last year in Bangalore, where we conducted a tournament in a mall. It was a huge success. It attracted several kids to the sport. We decided to do the same here in Pune and would like to conduct similar tournaments in future too,” said Puneet Varma, AVP Marketing and Corporate Communications, Inorbit Malls India. Even Olympian paddler Neha Aggarwal was all praise. On a social site, the Delhi player said, “Table tennis tournament in mall in Pune. Th is is cool and need to keep this on. We have a lot of passionate people around. Congrats on this.” About the experience, Muley said, “It was altogether a different experience. We had never played any tournament in an open arena. Normally the crowd we get is table tennis enthusiasts. But here our game was witnessed by those who never played or watched a match before. I felt it was our responsibility to make them like our sport, to show them the thrill and excitement in this, as it will promote the sport further.” “Though some players complained about being distracted by the lights from the surrounding shops, I hardly faced any issue. And after playing 72 games and winning four titles, I was fine with the lights, so they had no right to complain,” he said. Former international table tennis player Aniket Koparkar said that they
would try to conduct a district ranking tournament next year. “We received a huge response this time and will like to continue it in the future,” he said.
Mixed Sunday for fitness enthusiasts TGS NEWS NETWORK @TGSWeekly Too many events being held at the same time puts spectators in a dilemma, where they have to choose one. What happened on Sunday, November 22, put the city’s fitness and sports enthusiasts in a dilemma, owing to the overlapping of several events. The Sunday was marked by PYC organised Cycle treasure hunt, Pune Running Beyond Myself (PRBM) organised triathlon event at Manas resort, Bhugaon, 50k Ultra marathon event organised by Free Runners at Loni Kalbhor and Pune-Kapoorhol-Lonavala loop 200km BRM cycle event. Two events were cancelled, while the other two were a resounding success. The treasure hunt organisers were in for a big shock. The fi fth edition of the event was sponsored by MG’s Sports & Fitness and BU Bhandari and Volkswagen Pune West. Puneites have always responded enthusiastically to the event offering total prize money of Rs 65,000, and 200 participants were expected. Imagine the dismay when it drew an all-time
The finishers of 50K ultra marathon
low response just 16 entries, and it had to be called off. “The number of participants was increasing every year, and we were expecting a huge crowd. The clash of several events was one of the reasons for the dismal turnout,” said event director Mahendra Gokhale. “We had checked dates of the other events which were unconfi rmed, so we decided to conduct the event on the 22nd. Th is should have been avoided,” he said. Participants were naturally disappointed. “We received the message late in the evening on Saturday. Though they assured us that the entry
fees would be refunded, it was a wasted Sunday, as we couldn’t participate in any other event at the eleventh hour,” said Omkar Brahme, who had won a category prize at last year’s edition of the treasure hunt. The Triathlon event at Manas resort in Bhugaon too was called off but it wasn’t the lack of entries but a lack of infrastructure that caused this. “The water body had to be cleaned before the event, and the concerned people didn’t do their job in time. We didn’t want participants to suffer health issues, so we decided to call off the event,” said Nikhil Shah of PRBM. The remaining two events received a good response. The BRM event got 61 entries and 52 riders completed it. The ultra marathon received 40 entries and 22 runners completed the event. The run was organised by FreeRunners and Innovera School. “The event was superbly organised and a big success. One of its kind, this will be an annual event and will have increased number of participants next year. Th is year, there were two Koreans and some outstation participants too,” said Taru Mateti, one of the participants. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
ITF to witness top juniors from world TGS NEWS NETWORK @TGSWeekly Top juniors from 18 countries including India will be seen in action at the BIPL Sports ITF Junior tennis Championship, which will get underway at the Shiv Chhatrapati sports complex in Balewadi from November 28. The event which is being sponsored by BIPL Sports and supported by Indian Oil, KPIT, and Directorate of Sports and Youth Services, Government of Maharashtra, will see top 100 juniors including all top players from India in action. Robert Wrzesinski of Lithunia, Vorachon Rakpuangchon of Thailand, Finn Bass of Great Britain, Salvador Bandeira of Portugal, Georgina Axon of Britain and Sing–Le Fan Chiang of Taipei are some of the top players in the boys and the girls draw. Top Indian juniors Snehal Mane, Mahak Jain, Sabhyata Nihalani in the girls, Vashisht Cheruku, Rian Pundole, Alex Solanki, Siddanth Banthia are expected to provide a tough challenge. The event will also help state players gain valuable ITF points. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
PIM organisers accused of shoddy management
City runners expect better administration, facilities and traffic management this year TGS NEWS NETWORK @TGSWeekly
The Pune International Marathon (PIM) is one of the oldest marathon events in the country, and since it has been boosting fitness levels and awareness amongst Puneites, the event should be an eagerly awaited one. But the PIM has always been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. The 29th edition turned out to be much better than earlier editions, but the organisation, traffic management and facilities left a lot to be desired. It is no surprise then that city runners prefer the Mumbai Marathon, Delhi Half Marathon and Hyderabad Marathon, which are better organised than the PIM. The major complaint the PIM organisers face are concerning the improper treatment of amateur runners. Girish Gogate, a businessman who participated in the 10k race last year, said, “The organisers seem to be mainly interested in full and half marathons and foreign athletes. The rest of us are meted out rather shoddy treatment. Water and energy drinks are crucial but several of my friends didn’t get water so they had to buy water bottles from roadside shops at double the rate. The organisers should treat all the athletes decently. Compared to PIM, events like Pune Running Beyond Myself (PRBM) are better organised and planned.”
It’s welcome that the organisers avoided busy routes and opted for alternate routes with less traffic. Earlier, the marathon route ran through the heart of the city and went as far as Aundh via Laxmi Road and Cantonment. For the fi rst time in 30 years, the marathon route will pass through Shaniwarwada and enter and exit Shiv Chhatrapati sports complex in Balewadi. The race will start from Deccan Gymkhana, from where the fi rst Indian marathon started in 1918, and the new finishing point will be at Sarasbaug Road instead of the Nehru Stadium at Swargate. The half marathon will finish at Balewadi. Regulating traffic will be a big task for the PIM organisers. In each edition even the elite runners in the full marathon were caught up in the traffic chaos. In the last edition, runners were seen alongside two-wheelers, autorickshaws and heavy vehicles. Belachew Endale Abayneh of Ethiopia, who won the event in 2013, was also the victim of mismanagement. Despite several pilot vehicles, the elite runner could not escape the chaos. The utterly disappointed athlete said, “I was very surprised with the traffic. I was forced to stop or take a diversion to avoid the vehicles. Otherwise I could have improved my timing.” To find a solution on this sensitive issue, the organisers have announced a ‘No vehicle’ time zone from 5.30 am to 10am on December 5. “We are appealing to citizens to observe the no vehicle time zone. It will help organisers control traffic,” said Pune Mayor Dattatray Dhankawade. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
The new route Khandoji Baba Chowk – Alka Talkies – Tilak RoadMaharashtra Mandal – SP College – Bajirao Road – Shanipar – Prabhat Talkies – Shaniwarwada – PMC Building – SSPMS – Modern Café – Pune University – Bremen Chowk – Parihar Chowk – Baner Road – Balewadi Sports complex – Baner Road – Senapati Bapat Road – Balbharati – Bhandarkar Road – Deccan – Alka Talkies – Sarasbaug