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UK national duped by Indian husband P2
Justice delayed is justice denied P5
Itna andhera kyun hai bhai? Unless you are the PMC Commissioner, Mayor or Member of Parliament, the street outside your home is bound to be dark. TGS Team conducted a survey of several major and minor roads across the city only to find that well-lit streets are a luxury only a few are privy to See Spotlight, p08 & 09 PICS BY ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
PRABHAT ROAD
Let there be light
PMC CHIEF’S STREET 30 per cent of the city’s street lights are non-functional n
n
70 per cent of the streets are dark
n Petty crime has increased in areas that remain dark after sundown n Statistics show that the highest number of accidents have taken place due to poor street lighting n Motorists are forced to drive on high beams due to dimly-lit streets, causing inconvenience to others n Non-functional lights are not replaced or repaired for weeks on end
Way Out:
Many lamp posts have been erected without proper planning n
Illumination on footpaths has been completely ignored, making most roads unsafe for pedestrians n
Crossroads and junctions have high-masts but most of them are non functional n
Neon and sodium lights have been mindlessly installed on the same stretches without paying heed to national standards n
Move your residence to areas where VIPs stay. Or invite them to stay in your area. During our trip across the city we found that areas where PMC Commissioner, MLAs, MPs and other important people stay, are very well lit. In fact, the illumination in such areas is much higher than that prescribed in national standards
mUMBAI
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY AUGUST 15, 2015
PUNE
Confidentiality under black money window P 14
“Ajit Pawar played havoc with the state’s numerous irrigation projects, which have been in limbo, and farmers have been left high and dry.” -Uddhav Thackeray, Shiv Sena chief
UK national duped by Indian husband The man has been booked by police after he allegedly tried to usurp flats bought with wife’s money BY Bapu Deedwania @bapudeedwania Vimmi Malhotra, a UK national is in Mumbai these days. Her sole aim is to see her former husband behind bars and take back what she claims is rightfully hers. She has filed an FIR with Khar police against Anil Malhotra, her husband for 15 years, for usurping her properties situated in Mumbai by allegedly forging documents. Vimmi and Anil met when he came to London in June 1997. They got to know each other through common acquaintances. After briefly dating each other they got engaged in Mumbai in October 1998 and then tied the knot in November 1998. “After our marriage, Anil relocated to live with me in London and he started residing with me at my home,”
she told The Golden Sparrow. Their marriage was registered in accordance with British Law. The 42-year-old self employed woman has stated in her complaint that she got divorced from her husband Anil Malhotra in August 2013 and managed to get the custody of her two children - daughter Saahiba, 19 and son Sahib, 14. She alleged that her ex-husband fled from the legal proceedings in London and has usurped the properties – flats in Bandra and Juhu - bought from her hard earned money. She claimed that immediately after their marriage Anil’s focus was on obtaining a British Citizenship. “He applied for this at the first available opportunity when our son Sahib was born at Queen Charlottes Hospital in April 2000. He made it a point to register the birth of his son on June 26, 2000 at the Registry Office in London which finally helped him obtain British Nationality,” she alleged in her FIR to Khar police, a copy of which is available with TGS. “Once in London, and after Sahib’s birth he became a changed man. His attitude towards my daughter and me changed to the extent that he rejected my daughter and started physically mistreating us. He started taking loans from various banks in Britain which he defaulted upon. He also forced me to be a guarantor to these loans. Initially, I had no clue of his intentions and I did all of this in good faith. Much later, when I learnt that he has no intentions of repaying those loans, I was forced to repay them, just to keep a clean record with the British government at my end. I knew this could mean trouble for me and my children in future,” she stated in her
In happier times: Vimmi and Anil’s wedding cveremony in November 1998
compliant. Vimmi’s complaint filed earlier this month stated that Anil constantly demanded substantial sums of money from her parents to obtain property in Mumbai. “He refused to work and did not provide any monetary assistance towards his living expenses and household expenditure for the family throughout the entire duration of our marriage.” Vimmi also alleged adultery. As per her complaint, in December 2012, she received a letter from Hamburg
(Germany) informing her about an alleged affair of her husband. “On making enquiries, I understood that he was in a relationship with a woman that had been going on for the last five years and that they were at that time are engaged to be married. I was then forced to throw him out of my home. This
Anil constantly demanded money from Vimmi’s parents
‘Godwoman’ Radhe Maa faces arrest in dowry harassment case
happened on December 31, 2012,” she said. On January 10, 2013 she filed a Divorce Petition before the UK Central Family Court in London. The court after hearing both the sides granted her a divorce August 5, 2013. Once the divorce came through she started pursuing a case in
London to get back the properties worth crores of rupees in Mumbai bought from her money. “I requested the court that based on the revenue from these properties I should be given maintenance and once they are sold a lump sum amount should be paid to me as alimony,” she said. While the proceedings were on, in April 2014, Anil’s legal representative made a submission before the court saying that he had left from London for Mumbai to take care of his ailing father. He hasn’t returned to London since, Vimmi said. Her complaint claims that the UK Court found that Anil had abandoned the proceedings and effectively gone into hiding. Thus the Family Division of the UK court passed an order of injunction. By this order the court restrained any sort of dealing and disposing of the properties. The UK Court also appointed Colliers International in Mumbai to submit valuation reports of the properties. When the Colliers International executives called upon Anil’s legal representatives to submit documents for the properties, the FIR alleged that forged and fabricated documents were submitted. The documents showed Anil was a co-holder along with his Mother of one of the flats. Another flat had been gifted by Anil. All this was done, Vimmi alleged in her compliant, to reduce the value of properties. Based on all these allegations Khar police has booked filed an FIR against Anil and other relatives under Sections 420, 421, 424, 463, 464,467, 468 of The Indian Penal Code, 1860. These offences relate to cheating, fabricating a false documents, forgery, criminal conspiracy. The cops haven’t made any arrests yet. Anil Malhotra, did not respond despite repeated calls and text messages. bapudeedwania@gmail.com
Self-styled godwoman Sukhwinder Kaur alias Mamtamai Shri Radhe Guru Maa may be arrested on Friday, claim reports. The godwoman is currently being questioned by the Mumbai Police at the Kandivali Police station in connection with a dowry harassment case and may be taken into custody, say reports, if her answers are not satisfactory. Senior inspector Mukund Pawar said, “Presently I will not be able to tell anything with regard to the case and the statement of the accused as well as of Radhe Maa.” The Kandivali police had last week issued summons to Radhe Maa and other six others in connection with the case filed on August 5 in which the woman alleged that she was physically and mentally harassed by her in-laws for dowry. In her complaint last week, a 32-year-old woman had alleged that Radhe Maa instigated her husband and in-laws to demand dowry from her, though she had given them jewellery at the time of her marriage. The woman had alleged that Radhe Maa had instigated her in-laws, who have been the godwoman’s followers for the past several years. Radhe Maa rubbished the dowry charges levelled against her and said she had nothing to do with the family dispute. A lawyer on Thursday filed a complaint with the Mumbai Airport police station, alleging that Radhe Maa had carried a trishul (trident) with her at an airport and on a flight during her recent travels. Advocate Rajkumar Rajhans had given an application to the police, seeking action against Radhe Maa for breach of security rules, said DCP (detection) Dhananjay Kulkarni. But no FIR had been registered yet, he added. Meanwhile, BJP MLA from Gujarat Vasan Ahir has demanded a probe against Radhe Maa in connection
The government has appointed senior lawyer Arun P Sathe, elder brother of Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, on the board of markets regulator Sebi, raising eyebrows about political nominations to key positions. Sathe, who is also said to have been an RSS full-timer in the past and had unsuccessfully fought Lok Sabha elections as a BJP candidate in 1989 from Mumbai North-West against Congress’ Sunil Dutt, has been appointed a “Part-Time Member of the Securities and Exchange Board of India for a period of three years”, the Finance Ministry said in a notification. This comes at a time when a huge uproar has been witnessed over alleged political considerations in appointments made by the government to various important institutions, including on Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). Besides, various key positions are scheduled to go vacant soon at a number of regulatory bodies, including RBI and Sebi, and the government would need to fill them. Sathe’s appointment has also been made at a time when one more position is vacant on Sebi’s board and its Chairman UK Sinha’s current tenure will also end in a few months. The notification, dated July 28, said that the appointment has been made under a provision of the Sebi Act that empowers the government to appoint five members on the board of this key regulatory body, which regulates stock exchanges, various kinds of market entities including brokers, mutual funds, FIIs, rating agencies and investment bankers, as also thousands
PTI
Complaints filed against controversial sadhvi for abetting suicide and using a vehicle without proper documents
Govt appoints Sathe on Sebi board, raises eyebrows
Radhe Maa during an interaction with the media in Mumbai
with a case where seven members of a family committed suicide. “I have written a letter to the Minister of State for Home Rajnikantbhai Patel and the Director General of Police PC Thakur seeking investigations against Radhe Maa in the case of suicide at Ningal village in Anjar tehsil of Kutch,” said Ahir. Ahir represents Anjar in the Gujarat Assembly, and is also the ‘parliamentary secretary’ for social justice in the state government. “Seven members of a family in my
constituency were lured by Radhe Maa with the help of two others, promising them a place in heaven (after death) if they became her disciples for life by paying more than Rs one crore,” Ahir said. The family sold its entire agricultural land and gave Rs 1.35 crore to the godwoman. But they eventually realised that they had been duped, and committed suicide, he said. Kutch police registered a case against Sonal Ahir of Jamnagar district and Delhi-based religious
preacher Balramdasji Maharaj, but Radhe Maa’s role was not probed thoroughly, he alleged, adding that his friend Ramesh Joshi had also filed a complaint with Mumbai police. Raghu Jaru(32), his wife Laxmi (30), Raghu’s brother Lakhu (30) and his wife Kanku (28) committed suicide by hanging themselves after poisoning and killing Lakhu’s son Shaswat (4), daughter Prachi (5) and Raghu’s son Shyam (7) in March 2014. Sukhvinder Kaur alias Radhe Maa, a self-styled godwoman, is facing a case of abetting harassment for dowry in Mumbai, where a court refused her pre-arrest bail. Radhe Maa, summoned by Mumbai police for questioning with regard to a dowry harassment case, had sought anticipatory bail, but the sessions court denied her relief. The Mumbai police filed a case against her on August 5 for instigating the in-laws of a 32-year-old woman to harass her for dowry. In Thane, near Mumbai, an NGO called ‘Support’ claimed that the highend car used by Radhe Maa during her recent visit to Aurangabad was purchased using fake documents. It demanded probe by the police and the Thane Regional Transport Office. Radhe Maa hails from an affluent family of Gurdaspur and her father was a government servant in Punjab. Educated up to senior secondary level, she dropped out of school and got married at the age of 18 to a businessman, Mohan Singh, of Hoshiarpur and the couple has three children. However, she renounced the world at the age of 23 and was initiated as a ‘sadhvi’ by Mahant Ramdin Das 1008 of Paramhans Bagh Dera, in Hoshiarpur. Since the past few years, Radhe Maa has made Borivali her home where a devotee donated a building to her for religious work. PTI
of listed companies. Sathe, who has been on boards of some companies as well as an independent director, is expected to attend his first Sebi board meeting later this month. A nominee member on Sebi’s board, on condition of anonymity, said Sathe is probably a qualified person for this position, but still such appointments send across a wrong message if the person concerned has strong political affiliations. Out of the five members that the government can appoint on the Sebi board, at least three must be whole-time members. In addition, the board includes a Chairman and three nominee members — one each from the RBI, the Finance Ministry and the Corporate Affairs Ministry. Going by the current board composition, the government can appoint one more member while Chairman UK Sinha’s current tenure will also end in February 2016. While Sinha will be eligible for a oneyear extension as per his age, there are murmurs that the government has already initiated a process to find his successor. However, a formal advertisement to invite applications is yet to be issued. Sinha, a 1976 batch IAS officer of Bihar cadre, was appointed Sebi Chairman for three years in February 2011 and was later given a two-year extension, which ends on February 17, 2016. Among Sebi’s three wholetime members, the current tenure of Prashant Saran and S Raman will end in 2017 while that of Rajeev Kumar Agarwal will come to an end in 2016. PTI
Sathe is said to have been a fulltime RSS member
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY AUGUST 15, 2015
“One way to keep a check on errant drivers is to give permits to only those who drive the autorickshaws themselves and are dependant on them for their livelihood.” — Nitin Pawar, Convener, Rickshaw Panchayat
SC reserves its verdict in Rajiv Gandhi case P12
Leprosy patients ditched by families
Despite being completely cured of the disease, their families want nothing to do with them pics by Ajay rupanavar
Even though 50 of the patients at Dr Bandorawalla Government Leprosy Hospital in Kondhwa are completely cured, they are not accepted by families and continue to live at the hospital
By Ajay rupanavar @TGSWeekly Mehboob Shaikh is a leprosy patient of the Dr Bandorawalla Government Leprosy Hospital in Kondhwa. Besides dealing with his affliction, Shankar faces a daily struggle against the stigma and ostracisation on account of the disease. “Leave alone strangers, we are even deserted by our own families, be it our wives or children. It’s awful enough to be treated like untouchables by strangers but when our own flesh and blood do that, it makes
me feel as if we have been cursed to be afflicted with leprosy,” Shankar said. The Bandorawalla Hospital is set up on a 115acre plot. It has 350 beds and there are currently 180 leprosy patients being treated there, who hail from all over Maharashtra and the country. Physiotherapy and surgery are part of the treatment. Fifty are completely cured. But they are still not accepted by society or their families, so they continue to live at the hospital. Some have been living there for almost ten years after being cured. The hospital administration
It has been a life of neglect for leprosy cured Sundar Mithe, his wife Karishma and their daughter
About the hospital The origins of the Dr Bandorawalla Government Leprosy Hospital date back to 1882, when it was started as Kondhwa Lepers Home by Scottish Missionaries. It was just a sanitorium giving asylum to leprosy patients. It was handed over to the government of Bombay in 1942 and it was developed as Kondhwa Leprosy Hospital. The institute was handed over to Poona District Leprosy Committee on contract basis in 1956. In November 2001, it was handed back to the government of Maharashtra due to management problems. Dr Bandorawalla and Dr Jal Mehta strived hard to bring comprehensive care for leprosy patients. Three buildings were set up by Anantram, Ratanchand, Shantiswaroop, Satyaprakash and Omprakash who donated Rs 3 lakh in memory of their father and mother, in 1978-79.
ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
PUNE
is striving for their rehabilitation by providing them the means to earn a livelihood. Dr KP Shah, a skin specialist, said, “The skin of a person who contracts leprosy becomes insensitive, and white or red dot appear, which do not itch. If neglected, the virus enters the veins of the limbs. The fingers and toes get deformed, and if untreated, fall off. The nose can also fall off and facial skin gets wrinkled. This makes them outcasts from their family and society.” Ashok Patil, who hails from Jalgaon district, has been at the hospital for five years. He has a wife, son and daughter but is unable to live with his family because
of the stigma that leprosy carries. “They fear that they will catch the disease from me so I can neither go home or to my daughter’s house. I work on the hospital’s farm labourer and earn Rs 40 a day,” he said. Maruti Ahir, 70, is from Parner in Ahmednagar district. He contracted leprosy seven years ago and is now completely cured. “I still bear traces of the disease owing to which my sons and daughter still treat me as an outcast. They come to see me sometimes but do not want me to live with them. I have no option but to live here at the hospital. Raghunath Belvalkar, from Satara district has been at the hospital for three years. He is accompanied by his wife who does not have leprosy. His son is afflicted by paralysis is unable to look after him and his daughter refuses to shelter him. “No one cares if we are dead or alive. It’s hard to carry on living like this,” he said. Hospital joint director Sanju Kamble said that since even the patients who are cured are not taken back by their families, they are doing all they can to rehabilitate them. “We give them work as per their capacity. Skilled workers are paid Rs 100 and unskilled one Rs 50 rupees as daily wage. We also arrange marriages for those of an eligible age,” he said. tgs.feedback@ goldensparrow.com
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY AUGUST 15, 2015
PUNE
“We are not happy with the way social media was being handled. We have sought the assistance of a private firm for better management of the media handles.” — Dattatraya Dhankawade, Pune Mayor
Know ups and downs of start-ups P10
Switch to generic pills ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
Elected representatives from the city are walking the extra mile
BY GARGI VERMA @missgverma
SWATIJA AND SUHAS PARANJAPE Suhas Paranjape’s wife Swatija, a freelance researcher, was working in the field of affordable medicines for rural populace when Dr Anant Phadke, their friend, contacted the couple regarding generic medicines. Since she was working in contraceptive medicine, she agreed to explore possibility. “Contraceptives have been a cause for concern for women not just because of the cost, but the effect it has on hormones causing imbalance and other adverse effects that take long to wear off, just because companies decided to make the product pricey by adding substances not needed. The same applies to almost all medicines,” she said. So, the idea of drugs that are cheaper and less wrapped with unnecessary components appealed to both of them. Suhas, who retired as a researcher, said, “We are now spending one fifth of what we were spending monthly.” Both of them, however, rue
P12
Netas go beyond their call of duty
They are a cost effective alternative to branded medicines
It is expensive to be sick with daily doses of medicines marketed by big brands making a big dent in the monthly family budget. The plight of retired households is severe. The answer? Generic Medicine. Generic Medicines are drugs that have the same molecular formula of a branded counterpart but are out of its patent deadline or are less marketed. This just means less cost incurred by the manufacturing company without compromising on its quality. This leads to lesser market price and cheaper drugs. They are not alternative therapy, alternative medicine or composition. They are exactly the same drug, just from a different, generally lesser known, company than the prevalent one in the market. While India is the leading manufacturer of generic drugs, the consumption in the country is far less than average. Generic medicines are still a nascent trend, kept so mostly because of the indifference of medical store owners and doctors. They allegedly reap huge profits by prescribing and providing the marketed drug. With people in India having undeniable faith in doctors, the sale of generic drugs hits a low. Things are slowly changing. An app Medsonway was launched last week that not just provides online medications, but also helps people finding the generics of their prescribed drugs. Here are a few people who are walking the generic drug way and reaping its benefits.
NIA not to challenge Swami bail plea
BY PRIYANKKA DESHPANDE @journopriyankka
For Paras (43) and Sangeeta (42) Bafna, it was their daughter Payal who changed to generic medicines and helped reduce the monthly budget on medication
the non-availability of generic drugs. Swatija said, “Drug stores get a profit of nearly 200 per cent from branded medicines and doctors also have their share. So, pharmacists do not share generic medicine details.” RASIT PEREIRA For Tata Motors Assistant General Manager (AGM) Rasit, it all started when he was looking online for his mother’s hypertension medicines. “My mother takes daily medication that are costly and dig deep into her life savings. She should at least be allowed to make an informed choice between a strip that costs Rs 120 and another that costs Rs 40,” he said. His efforts paid off and now her mother takes medicines at nominal cost and he also has generic medicine for his irritable bowel syndrome, acidity and even fever. “There are buyers for branded and non-branded clothes. Medicines are more important than clothes, so why is it kept out of a certain strata’s reach, just because the doctor wanted to?” he said. He has had little to no response from doctors on generic medicines. “They’d just say that was the one I could remember then and move on. None of them would obviously accept this,” he said, adding that Rasit Pereira lower income groups are the worst hit. He has tried talking people into it, with little success. “People first need to understand that generic medicines are the very same medicines and not an alternative therapy. The whole thing is very nascent now, and it will take more and more doctors to propagate this further.” SHRIKRISHNA GUTTIKAR The retired technical officer of National Institute of Virology was one of the first to accept the concept of generic medicines. “Thanks to my background and family doctor Anant Phadke, I understood that there was nothing different
between branded and generic medicines. As there weren’t many shops in Pune selling these drugs, we decided to start Lokayat, the centre where people could get cheaper medicines,” he said. He has since then spoken about generic medicines to everyone around him. “We are all retired people living on pensions. Everyone wants the cheaper medicine substitute but not all have the courage to go against the doctors,” he said, adding that generally doctors agree to the generic medicine with a rider ‘take at your own risk’ and discourage senior citizens. His nephew, who’s a doctor, uses generic medicines. “Times are changing. If I could adapt then I am sure people will too, soon,” he said. SANGEETA AND PARAS BAFNA Everyone in the middle class Bafna household take medicine and it hits them hard. So, when their daughter Payal, a BPharma graduate, decided to take generic medicines, everybody agreed. “My father has cardiac issues, my grandmother diabetes and my mother has skin-related ailments. Our monthly bills on medication used to be very high,” she said. Paras Bafna said that her daughter checked the details online but her wife Sangeeta agrees that generic medicines are not available in nearby shops. The family has tried talking to others, but most think it’s a farce. “Some think we are talking about discounts while others think we are hiding facts,” said Paras. ANIKET BORA, COFOUNDER, MEDSONWAY.COM Everyone is a patient in my family and I get medicines home delivered. While this helps customers, it also helps in getting more and sure sales from various shops. While working on this, we stepped on to track generic medicines. What we are aiming to achieve is a slow shift in ideology. So, currently our generics also have branded medicines in order to make people believe what they are taking, instead of their doctor’s prescription. In the four months of our working, we’ve seen 15 per cent prescription changes. So, we have started making slow changes. gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com
When some corporators, MLAs and MPs only keep talking about all the work they have done in their constituencies, some people’s representatives are not talking much, but instead are actually going out of the way to resolve grievances of the residents of their constituencies. They have shrugged off being just silent spectators to issues which do not fall under their assigned duties, but are showing genuine concern for citizens’ welfare by going out and tackling the same. Medha Kulkarni is a fi rst time MLA from the Kothrud constituency, who spearheaded the raid on Laxmi Nagar slum in Dahanukar Colony, to bring to book the illegal liquor vendors. There are other legislators who are also responding to the trust placed in the by voters, who are going beyond the line of duty to resolve civic issues. Kulkarni told TGS that since citizens’ spate of complaints to the respective police authorities with regard to the bootleg liquor menace had fallen on deaf ears, she took it upon herself to curb the illicit trade. “Th is does not fall under my assigned duties, but I could no longer the distress it was causing the women of my constituency, whose spouses were regular customers of the bootleggers,” said Kulkarni. She led the raid on the liquor dens on the night of August 9, with party volunteers. Kulkarni had raised the issue with the police after being elected as MLA. “When I was corporator, this area was not in my constituency. But after being elected, I have been keeping tabs
Kalyani Nagar corporator Minal Sarvade removes posters and banners during her daily morning walks
on bootlegging in Laxmi Nagar Sable also plans to urge area, which is a nuisance that is corporates and professionals fostering criminal activity,” said to surrender their gas subsidy. Kulkarni. “Once the Parliament’s session Rajya Sabha MP Amar is over, I will write to the affluent Sable was the fi rst politician to citizens of Pune, asking them to give up his gas cylinder subsidy give up their gas subsidy. There after PM Narendra Modi’s call. is a lukewarm response to the “I represent BJP in the Rajya ‘Give it up’ scheme, but I intend Sabha. I liked the to pursue it,” Sable concept not because said. our government Kalyani Nagar took this decision, corporator Minal but it gives me the Sarwade is also satisfaction of giving among those it to those who really undertaking citizens’ need the subsidised causes selflessly. gas facility,” said She is on a mission Sable. to take off all the A f t e r posters and banners Amar Sable surrendering his in her constituency. subsidy, Sable “Residents of my exhorted his party constituency are members to do so as well. “I from the creamy layer of society fi rst insist on them surrendering and their expectations from their gas subsidy before dealing corporators are entirely different with other party issues. I also from what residents of other appeal to the audiences at any parts of the city expect,” said public event to surrender the gas Sarwade, a fi rst time corporator. subsidy in the interests of the She said that cleanliness is poor and needy,” said Sable. a prime concern for residents of her area. “Kalyani Nagar is an upmarket area and to maintain this status, the residents and I have set up a group called ‘Swaccha’. Removing posters and banners is one the programmes we conduct,” said Sarwade. “I have made it a point to remove every poster and banner that I come across, from walls, MSEB DP boxes, or trees, even if it has been put up by my own party,” said Sarwade. Kothrud MLA Medha Kulkarni (inset) raided shops in Laxmi Nagar area priyankka.deshpande@ of Dahanukar Colony in a drive against illegal liquor sale goldensparrow.com
An innovation that promises fitness for all BY ASHISH PHADNIS @phadnis_ashish
There is no substitute for hard work and training for a sportsperson, but modern, state-of-the-art technologies can make the training process smarter and more effective. The StrataSoles training system is one such innovation that promises to give the winning edge to sportspersons. Hemant Thakkar of Pune is the co-inventor of the StrataSoles system, developed by Ronald Stratten who owns StrataSoles Enterprises, based in California, USA. Thakkar and his childhood friend Jehan Kothary hold the marketing rights for the product in India. “This is nothing but an anatomically contoured, weighted pair of training insoles, which is fitted inside any athletic or casual shoe. The weighted insole works on the principle of increasing the
effects of the gravitational pull on the body during training, thus increasing workload and producing increased muscle strength. It has proved very popular in the USA and soon they are launching it in the European market,” said Thakkar. THE STARTUP Thakkar has a post-graduate degree in polymer engineering from University of Akron, Ohio, USA. He was employed as a consultant when he met Ronald Stratten, who, after a 40-year career as coach and administrator at high schools and colleges, was named as one of the 100 most influential sports educators in America, in 2007. Stratten wanted to develop a product that would transform the sportspersons’ training process and Thakkar acted as his consultant. “Lead is generally used to make
the insole heavier, but lead is harmful so we decided to use rubber instead. It gave us the weight range we were looking for. I had quit my previous job in Pennsylvania and returned to India, when Ronald told me that they have developed the product and has applied for a patent in 2010, which was eventually approved,” said Thakkar. “Then it struck me just how unique our product was, and Jehan, who was involved with sports events management, and I set up a partnership, and got exclusive rights for the marketing of the product in India,” he said. The feedback they received about the insoles from players, coaches, former Olympian Nikhil Kanetkar, who runs a badminton academy at Balewadi, and PYC Gymkhana tennis coach Hemant Bendrey, was positive. “My trainees Purva Barve and Orijit Chaliha have been using StrataSoles for a year and the results prove that they are an excellent training tool. Purva won the under-15 state championships as well as the under-7 state event wearing the heavy insoles. Now we have 15 kids using StrataSoles for their training,” said Kanetkar.
RAHUL RAUT
Hemant Thakkar of Pune has co-invented StrataSoles, a weighted insole, being patented in the USA
Jayant Thakkar (left) and Jehan Kothary have received positive feedback from players for their patented weighted insole StrataSoles
“We used to put ankle weights in our times but those are cumbersome,” he said. Bendrey said, “We have been using weight training by heavier shoes, but it wasn’t very effective, so I was looking for something like StrataSoles. India’s top players Ankita Raina and Arjun Kadhe are using these soles and we expect better results.”
Thakkar said the biggest advantage of the insoles is prevention of injury. “The insoles provide stability and protection to the feet, ankles and knees. They also help in exercising growing or aging muscle groups through natural body movements. They enable athletes gain leg and cardiovascular strength at a faster rate. They are heavy enough to create resistance, but light enough
to avert any negative effect on stride length. USEFUL FOR ALL The insoles are currently only used by professional sportspersons, but Thakkar says that they can be used by any fitness enthusiast. “They have helped me overcome knee pain. I used it for eight hours daily. We plan to get their effects documented by physiotherapists. It’s a product not just for sportspersons but anyone interested in developing their fitness can use it productively,” he said. FOR FOOTBALL The insoles are used by badminton and tennis players as well as long distance runners in city. But Thakkar and Kothari believe that they could be beneficial for football players and other athletes too. “I used to play as a football player, so I know that they will help footballers. We will promote it among football clubs in the city. The senior team’s short training schedule does not much experimentation, so we will focus on youth teams and football academies,” Kothary said. ashish.phadnis@goldensparrow.com
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY AUGUST 15, 2015
“There is a need to revive grievances redressal mechanism in the education sector. Major complaints have been admission problems and salary issues of teachers. We will take action after getting a weekly report.” — Purushottam Bhapkar, Education Commissioner
PUNE
Firms chase talent, fancy designations
India faces prospect of population ageing
P14
P11
Govt rules in favour of biodiversity park Issues order denying permission for new construction in the Biodiversity Park reserved area
the common man. Even a helper from my wife’s college, got us plenty of signatures,” he said.
Deciding in favour of the BDP, the government has rejected the proposal for eight per cent construction on the hills
BY EKTA KATTI @EktaaK Eco-conscious citizens of Pune have been intensely active on the issue of a Biodiversity Park (BDP). Their efforts have now borne fruit. As per the GR released on August 5, no fresh construction will be allowed on 978.54 acres of land in the 23 fringe villages which is reserved for a BDP. So what swayed the decision in favour of the green activists, NGOs and eco-conscious Puneites? “This wasn’t a short-term struggle. For more than 10 years citizens have fought to preserve the green cover,” said Satish Khot, President of the National Society for Clean Cities (NSCC). PEOPLE’S MOVEMENT This happens to be a people’s movement, with citizens from every strata of society being involved.
From autorickshaw drivers to industrialists, everyone participated with equal zest. “It has been a people’s movement right from the beginning. Prominent persons such as Arun Firodia and Dr Jayant Narlikar have been a part of it.” Khot said. A Satish Khot memorable experience, he has lots of anecdotes to tell. “A couple of college girls had enrolled. They were asked to collect signatures for the BDP cause. They were going to a multiplex at 10 pm so they asked me to go along. An autorickshaw driver said that he knew who we were and that everyone who sat in his autorickshaw would sign the petition.” Next morning the autorickshaw driver came with 350-400 signatures. “Such is the power of
GREEN HAVEN Ameya Jagtap, 29, has been involved with the green initiative for eight years. “I have been a part of this movement since 2007, and it has become a mass movement,” said Jagtap. Jagtap and his team were responsible for mobilising the youth. They conducted signature and social media campaigns, made presentations for college students and IT firms and more. “The only thing on my mind was saving the hills. We had participants from the ages Ameya Jagtap of 15 to 80,” he adds. There were countless people who worked behind the scenes day in and day out. “For the Green Pune Movement, we had to write and draft letters, handle social media, design logos and pamphlets, and visit college campuses,” said Jagtap. THE CAUSE A BDP reservation was made in 2002 to protect the hills of Pune. But the rapid urbanisation posed a threat to the reservation. To safeguard the green zone, NGOs and green activists joined hands, to oppose the builders lobby and politicians who wanted to put up constructions on the hills. The Green Pune Movement united the conscious citizens of Pune, who demanded a 100 per cent BDP. The government made several changes to the BDP reservation draft, which called for suggestions and objections from citizens. The proposal was pending with the state government for a final decision. Deciding in favour of the BDP, the government has thus rejected the proposal for eight per cent construction on the hills. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
Justice delayed is justice denied Brothel owners roaming around scot free, while sex workers languish in rehabilitation homes; Freedom Firm NGO has filed a public interest litigation in the High Court
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The hearings are stalled in cases dating back to 2007
sent home from the shelter homes. The High Court has also told the lower courts to set stringent measures for bail. “The jumping of non-bailable warrants is a serious issue and the sureties should be double checked before granting bail. The accused should report to the police station, daily, as they will be able to keep track of them better than the court,” Malstead said. The last hearing of the petition was on July 31. “The court asked the police to improve the methods to track down criminals. The police used to just read out a list of the absconding accused, from what police station. Now they have been told to list what steps they have taken to locate the accused. The police seem to be evading their duty as the accused are still running their businesses from the same areas,” he said. The next hearing is scheduled for August 20. “Most girls involved in the flesh trade in Pune are from Andhra Pradesh, Nepal, West Bengal etc. Some have been sent home, while others are still waiting for the accused to turn up. We hope the petition helps in putting the accused behind bars,” Malstead said. gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com
THRILL OF
Anyone who has been entangled in courts of law and the endless judicial processes, knows that the delivery of justice takes its own sweet, er... bitter time. A Pune NGO called ‘Freedom Firm’, that works in the field of human trafficking, has fi led a writ petition in the Bombay High Court regarding delays in the handling of their cases. The petition fi led on January 27, names the Pune Commissioner of Police as Respondent. Greg Malstead, the head of Freedom Firm, said that the writ petition aims to make the police and the judiciary accountable for their leisurely and lax approach to court cases. “The hearings are stalled in cases dating back to 2007, since the accused refuse to show up. The police say that they are absconding but refuse to tell us if they are doing anything to track them down. The accused have jumped non-bailable warrants, they say. But we
think that the police would locate the accused easily if they really wanted to,” he said. Women rescued from brothels are forced to live in shelter homes because they are witnesses, even as the accused in their cases are fugitives. “Many of them were minors, who are now adults. They still suffer the stigma of being in the sex trade. The trauma will pass with time, but they are estranged from their homes and families,” said Malstead. Evan Henck, the Western region director, says, “There are a number of cases from the Faraskhana red light area. Many cases are held up because the accused have stopped reporting to the court. We compiled all these cases and fi led the petition.” The Bombay High Court has taken a commendable stand. It has asked the lower courts to fast track these cases and dispense with them in six months. The HC also suggested that the victims’ statements could be video recorded, after which they could be
ENT E R TA
BY GARGI VERMA @missgverma
Celebrate freedom!
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY AUGUST 15, 2015
PUNE
Wanted, parking lots at Laxmi Road
“The state government must have a uniform rule for the entire city. If the state wants to keep Biodiversity Park as reservation in 23 merged village areas, the same rule must be applied in old city areas.” — Nilesh Nikam, NCP leader
Who needs a cellphone?
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Saying no to alcohol and tobacco for 100 years
With ubiquitous availability, mobiles have become indispensable these days. But there are exceptions BY ZAINAB KANTAWALA @kantawalazainab
A mobile phones is as essential as the very oxygen we breathe, it seems these days, considering how dependent we are on the device for all things, from connecting with friends in the hustle and bustle of an event like a concert, to call mommy and tell her that you will be late for dinner, and a zillion other things besides. But you may be surprised to know that there are people who can and do survive the city life without the indispensable device that some even carry to bed. Sure, they are a minority, but they are a proud and defiant lot, to not make use of or rely on a gadget that is of so much use, saves so much time, and can be a life-saver in an emergency. And they are not retired or recluses detached from urban life, but are quite prominent in their own fields. They do not even entrust responsibilities to personal assistants for receiving messages, or deal with daily chores, life like celebrities are wont to. They are prime examples who prove that living without a cellphone is do-able. Pavan Iyengar, env ironmentalist and physics enthusiast Pavan Iyengar is the co-founder of the ‘DriveChange Learning and Resource Centre (DLRC) that aims to give students a well-rounded and application-based learning experience. This eco-conscious 27-year-old believes in a sustainable Pavan Iyengar existence. “Technology has spoilt us in a big way, and we can’t do without it. Cellphones are addictive, and people spend hours fidgeting with it. You lose focus and concentration, and you don’t have time to think. Hence I decided to give up on this,” says Pavan. The environmental aspects are another reason why he does not use a cellphone. Cellphone contain toxic elements like lead, zinc and mercury. “Coming from a science field, I know what goes into the making of this device. I try to lead an eco-friendly life,” he says. His mother wants Pavan to have a phone in an emergency. He pooh-poohs the notion. “We have expanded our version of emergency. Before life was simple without phones, we have only complicated it now,” he says. Roger Dr agonette, bassist, JulPanDr a band Roger is a much revered musician who is known for his deft and dextrous bass-playing, signature vocal and song-writing. Musicians these days want to be well-connected at all times, and a cellphone is indispensable. “Mobile phones are
intrusive. I do not want my privacy to be compromised in any way. My wife and children have cellphones, so whenever I have to make a call, I use theirs,” he says. Roger cannot believe it when he sees people Roger Dragonette using their mobile phones even at social events. “People texting or making calls at parties and such are a common sight. They are so engrossed in the virtual world that meeting people does not interest them. This is truly irritating,” he says. Tom Alter, actor Tom Alter, the movie and theatre veteran actor wants no part of the cellphone world. The 64-year-old, who has appeared in films like ‘Kranti’, ‘Parinda’ and ‘Bheja Fry’, said that this device has no importance in his life. “I need peace of mind and concentration in my work and life. I need Tom Alter to be able to concentrate on one thought, one person, one project without any other thought or person breaking in, and hence, no cell phone for me,” he says. He connects with people through email and landline, but a mobile phone is a big no-no. He likes to disconnect with the world when he is at work, and does not like breaches of his privacy. “I am well-established in my life and career, and I also understand that young people base their life’s and careers on cell phone. But it does not work for me that way,” he states. Vidya Bal, social activ ist Vidya Bal, a reputed writer and activist of the city finds no need for a cellphone. She works to give women an equal social status. She appreciates the advances in technology, but is skeptical about owning a mobile. “I am 79, and I Vidya Bal don’t find the need to own a phone. I am very choosy when it comes to technology. I have a landline at my residence and another at my office. They cater to my needs very well,” says Vidya. “I do not like to be followed when I am not available on my landline. If there is any emergency, my friends know how to reach me. I do not want a phone to be part of me. I am happy with less rather than excess,” she says. zainab.kantawala@goldensparrow.com
The members of St Anne’s Temperance Society have to take an annual vow to shun tobacco and alcohol besides telling others the ill-effects of abuse substances
The members of St Anne’s Temperance Society lead the way by setting an example for others to follow
to take vow before a priest to not touch any of these abuse substances, it was not a religious organisation.”
BY PRIYANKKA DESHPANDE @journopriyankka Rahul Waghmare credits St Anne’s Temperance Society for helping him wean away from alcohol. The forty-eight-year-old resident of Solapur Bazar, a non-Christian, became hooked to booze because of friends and neighbourhood before he met the members of this social group. Pune-based St Anne’s Temperance Society will be celebrating its centenary on August 16. The 140 members of this group have vowed to shun alcohol and other tobacco products. Founded in 1915 by an alcoholic-turned-deaddictive activist, the group has been making efforts to teach citizens, especially students, the ill effects of such products and demystify it as a socially acceptable thing. It is one of the only social groups in the city to have helped people to overcome the habits of drinking and smoking. Speaking to TGS, the group’s president Charles Arockiam said, “Our objective is to encourage temperance amongst group members and other Puneites including non-drinkers. Even as each member has
CATCH THEM YOUNG The members of St Anne’s Temperance Society advice members of their families and neighbourhood to abstain from tobacco and other addictions at an early age as 15. They keep away from such abuse substances the whole life after taking the vow, besides telling others to do so. “People from all walks of life and religion join our group. We follow a procedure for inclusion in the group and start telling the bad affects of alcohol, tobacco and drugs to children as young as 13 years of age,” said Arockiam, who took the vow when he was 13. The group’s president said that many join the voluntary social body and become successful torchbearers to the cause. “There is no age or gender barrier. Our senior most member is 75 years old and all of us have to talk to the people in our vicinity to overcome the habit of drinking, smoking and consuming these unhealthy substances,” said the group’s committee member Robert Christie. Rahul Waghmare said that he would have turned into a habitual drinker had he not joined the group 28 years ago. “The area where I spent my childhood is a place known for bootlegging and I was close to getting addicted. However, I came
to know about the group and eventually joined it. Since then, my lifestyle has completely changed and I lead a happy married life,” he said. Ivan Marotikal, 16, a standard XII students of St Vincent’s School, said that his friends consume liquor and go to pubs. “I do not believe that consuming alcohol means fun. I like sports which is not only fun, but it also keep me healthy and happy,” said Ivan, who joined the group last year. Ivan was told about the group by his cousin. “The monthly meetings of the group give me peace,” he said, adding that he is trying to tell friends the benefits of leading a tobacco-free life. IN THE BEGINNING St Anne’s Temperance Society was established on July 26, 1915 by Puneite S Lazarus and his six friends, to overcome alcohol addiction. According to Arockiam, Lazarus sold his wife’s gold bangles to fulfil the urge of consuming alcohol. Later, he regretted his action and formed the social group with his six friends. The group took the vow and started spreading the message about the dangers of substance abuse. With a present strength of 140 members, monthly meetings and various innovative awareness programmes, St Anne’s Temperance Society is doing its bit to keep people away from alcohol, tobacco and other addictions. priyankka.deshpande@goldensparrow.com
Innovative citizens offer smart city solutions
Pune Municipal Corporation’s contest throws up a diverse mix of solutions for a better Pune By Gargi Verma @missgverma
Pune Municipal Corporation doesn’t leave any stone unturned in matters of public outreach, be it their active social media presence (even on Instagram) or their fast interactive programmes. A month ago, they had come up with the Smart City Project. Ten from all the ideas they received were shortlisted on August 10. A panel of experts will evaluate all the concepts and decide on the best three, on August 15. While the PMC and PCMC limits were not demarcated, the top ten concepts are innovative and smart. Most of these are based on use of technology, mobile app technology primarily. Some suggest the use of basic resources to maximise productivity. Chaitaly Kulkarni’s concept involves an app that can trace NGOs working on the ‘food for all’ mission and links them to restaurants and cafes, to minimise food wastage and in fact feed the hungry. Archit Chaware proposes an app that tracks garbage bins and the timely collection of garbage. Shikha Jain has suggested
an online parking monitor that helps people find parking spaces, and even suggests alternative ways of commuting. Varad Kulkarni and Milind Acharya’s ideas top the list of simple resourceful methods. Kulkarni recommends the use of vacant lots near under construction overbridges for parking and public toilets. Acharya’s debris management system involves segregation of construction debris, to be ground and sold as construction filler. Navnath Raut and Shahuraj Kadam suggest making the city bicycle-friendly. Kadam proposes a bicycle zone from one end of the river to another, enhancing the scenic nature of the river and keeping it pollution-free. Raut wants a bicycle kiosk to reduce the reliance on twowheelers and autorickshaws. TGS has zeroed in on the following three concepts, and tried to fathom what motivated their creators.
Gaurav Shindolkar Being pulled over by the traffic police for some infringement or another is a hassle we can do without. And if are not carrying all the relevant documents for our vehicle, things can get even knottier. Solution? An app that stores the Gaurav Shindolkar documents. The app can also track the list of offences, and the payment of fines and taxes. That’s what Shindolkar wants for a smart Pune. “I use a bike which has no storage space to keep the documents. I have been stopped numerous times and have had to pay fines. This made me think of an app that could serve this purpose,” he said. Shindolkar has done Android app development courses. “I can design the basics and I have friends who can design the entire app. It’s a basic app and needs minimal resources but has a high user interface. It will be easy for anyone to use and we’ll be free to travel on roads without being fined for the lack of documents,” he said. It will also stop the payment of bribes to the police. “Many of us would rather pay a bribe than waste time with the formalities. A digitised system could track every transaction and
monitor every infringement, and thus eliminate the giving and taking of bribes,” he said. Pr ashant Sahay Prashant Sahay, an electronic designer, and his friend lost their way back to Pune from Rajmachi Fort. There was no mobile connectivity nor road signs in the desolate spot. “We tried to keep calm and Prashant Sahay looked for the river. Going along the river, we saw the lights of a small village. The relief we felt on reaching civilisation was unforgettable,” Sahay said. That’s when he thought of welllit zones. “An area that is well-lit up, with CCTVs is a safe zone,” he said. Sahay proposes safety zones all across the city. “The investment is negligible. Mark a spot, paint it yellow for easy visibility, and install adequate lighting. CCTVs and public phones will make the area even more citizenfriendly. In the case of an emergency or danger, any person can call up the police,” he said. Besides its simplicity, the concept is also laudable for its focus on safety. “Constant police presence is not possible. But safety zones are do-able,” he said.
Upendra Sarvaiya All the out-station students who come to Pune have to deal with the issue of commuting, owing to the lack of efficient public transport. Sarvaiya suggests an app that tracks public transport bus Upendra Sarvaiya timings, and the location of bus stops. Besides, it also suggests virtual payment of fares, to avoid the hassle of change. Sarvaiya is a second year MBA student at Symbiosis College of Human Resource Development. When he arrived in Pune a year ago, he got on to a bus for Hinjewadi. His phone indicated a 30-40-minute travel time, In reality it took no less than two hours. He has shunned Pune’s public transport ever since. “I was told that Pune was really pleasant. But Hinjewadi is like Mumbai, with all the smog. This is a solution my friend and I thought of,” he said. “I posted the idea on PMC’s social networking site. But there was no response. The competition therefore, was the perfect platform for it,” he said. The app demands some technical acumen and investment. “It will take time to connect all of Pune, but it will be an effortless system,” he said. gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY AUGUST 15, 2015
“I am happy that the prime minister is resolute in resolving the Naga conflict. It is important that the settlement made is keeping in mind the Naga cultural system and based on their unique history.” — T.R. Zeliang Chief Minister, Nagaland
“The country should resolve to strive towards attaining social equality and dignity for every citizen of India.” — Hamid Ansari, Vice President
Youth are way ahead of their times BY JAMES MATHEW @mathewthejames
The guy on stage with self-confidence writ large on his beaming face that belies his age, early twenties, said, “I have saved three persons from ending their lives after I talked with them when they shared their suicidal thoughts after reading my online post…” Meet Shamir Gabriel Reuben, 22, who was one of the speakers at the first ever event organised by TEDxYouth@ KalyaniNagar in Pune at Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies in Khadki on Sunday (August 9). DOWN TO EARTH None of the speakers put on airs about their accomplishments. They stood along with the organisers and were seen helping them manage the stage. This informality could not be ignored. Even during the lunch break, they were the last to have food, a welcome shift from the rigid conventionality where guests and speakers are invited to have food first. SAVING LIVES Shamir wears many hats. He is a writer, spoken poetry performer, digital content writer, freelance senior correspondent and a seasoned online writer. “Everybody craves to grab the evershrinking attention spans online. The only criterion they look for is numbers, the count of their followers. Facebook and Twitter, the world’s two most popular social networks, boast of 1.3 billion and 271 million monthly active users. So, you can imagine what is written and what is
missed. In 2014, there were about 3,50,000 tweets and 3,82,000 Facebook likes every minute,” he said. The social media explorer advised all Shamir Reuben to go beyond numbers and use it qualitatively. Sharing his growing up years, Shamir said, “My father was an Air Force pilot who became bedridden after he met with an accident on duty. I lost my mother to cancer a few years ago. Only putting thoughts into words gave me the much-needed solace. And my writings have changed the lives of others.” He took to Wordpress and penned his thoughts on ‘the devastated dreamer. wordpress.com’ and followers follow suit. “I was overwhelmed by the response. Many people could empathise with my state of life and drew inspiration from it. Soon I joined ask.fm and started advising youngsters. There are times when I am on the phone well into the night talking to teenagers who are unable to handle the pain they suffer due to neglect,” he said. LIVING MUSIC Tejas Menon is a singer-songwriter of acoustic pop rock and writer. He made fans at Bandstand Revival Mumbai, ‘Live from the Console’, Ragasthan Music Festival, the Vans New Wave Festival (Goa) and Bacardi NH7 Weekender.
Tejas Menon is an acoustic pop/rock singer-songwriter and writer
that could generate electricity from agricultural waste such as rice husk, mustard seeds or corn cob. And many farmers are its beneficiaries now. This local renewable power source provides cheaper, reliable and better quality energy to low-income households in rural India,” he said, adding that the two per cent mandatory contribution in corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives under Companies Act 2013 could be used as a step towards social entrepreneurship.
“I fell in love with science fiction during childhood days when my elder brother showed me Ridley Scott’s ‘Alien’. I used to imagine extraterrestrials visiting my house. I learnt playing guitar because of my school friends. We used to practice during vacations. Soon I was singing to Michael Jackson and started creating and composing music when I was 16 and wrote my first (unproduced) musical at 19. I found telling stories through music an attractive concept. Transmedia storytelling was the gradual next step. It is a form of telling a story across multiple media and preferably with audience participation,” Tejas said. The alumnus of Symbiosis Institute underlined the importance of keeping friends. “We were a group of five in school. Even after so many years we keep in touch. I was not good in studies and once in school I laid bare by frustrations before my friends. Soon, all of them shared theirs and we felt so composed after putting forth our weaknesses. We felt so exposed, so vulnerable yet strong in each other’s presence. One should nurture such a human bonding,” he said, attributing his success as music producer, video editor, singer, songwriter at the age of 25 to his strong fellowship with friends and family.
MATTERS OF THE HEART Harnidh Kaur used to hate herself as a child and went through a two-year ‘in-ashell’ mode. The budding poet could always relate herself through poems. Accord ing to her blog: I write poetry and a few mediocre short stories here and there. Harnidh Kaur Borderline sociopath, maybe. I’m wholly, irrevocably, socially awkward. I do not understand social constructs and mores. Writing has always been a ‘refuge’ from some of the horrendously taxing years of my life, both emotionally and physically. It’s been a ‘solace’ at a time when no one, literally not one single human being, could understand what I was trying to express. I put these words into inverted commas because honestly, writing was exactly the opposite. It was a cage, a trap. Since I could not escape, I embraced it, and I turned to poetry. I was ‘the’ poet, ‘the’ fat girl whose identity revolved around the fact that she was oh-so-deep. Yet, Harnidh, an LSR College
JAMES MATHEW
The first event by TEDxYouthKLN in Pune is an eye-opener for those who undermine youngsters’ creativity, ideals and courage to improve society
A small step in nation-building
Pune school students paint homes in Karjat village to provide shelter to the underpriviledged BY SALONEE MISTRY @Sal0412 Developing world is fast adapting to the global trends toward democratisation, and economic, political, and social changes. These inevitable changes form children’s understanding about civic awareness and attitudes, their participation in c om mu n it ie s , and their construction of rights and other f undamenta l democratic concepts. With the Anupama Sagdeo mission to include children in nationbuilding, Amanora School (Hadapsar) Principal Anupama Sagdeo encouraged students to join the Rupee for Change campaign in July 2015. “Participation by children is important for children themselves, for their communities, and for democratic societies at large. Participation also plays an important role in other aspects of children’s social and personality development,” she said. Soon six schools from Pune — Podar International School (Pimpri and Chinchwad), Amanora School (Hadapsar), Prodigy Public School (Wagholi), Bharati Vidyapeeth (Balewadi) and Indus International School (Mulshi) joined the movement that is the brainchild of international NGO Habitat for Humanity (HFH). The NGO aims to cover 20 city schools and 100 schools from across the country, THE CAUSE Rupee for Change is a fund raising campaign aimed at providing an opportunity for students across the country to participate in improving the society. Children attend workshops that help increase their awareness of social issues. Rajan Samuel T h r o u g h
Students who took part in Karjat village mission found it a learning experience
participation, children learn ideas and values that are not easily understood if they are merely passive learners. For example, active participation can give children valuable experience in making difficult decisions, promote a sense of mastery and control, support a developing sense of altruism, encourage a favourable school climate, Smita Patterson and set in motion a lifetime pattern of engagement in civic activity that will benefit society considerably. “The workshops revolve around the need for sanitation, poverty housing and other issues that help elevate the standard of living of the poor. Schools also hold related activities. Children’s participation in a civil society encourages the development of knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes. Engaging children in various family, school, and community decisions throughout their formative years helps them learn constructive ways of participating in society,” Anupama said. WORKING ON-FIELD Students of Podar International School (Pimpri) recently visited a village in
MAKING RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS “When the children were onfield it was a proud moment. The activity gave children a fi rst-hand community service experience which is a must. It is their fi rst step towards becoming a responsible citizen and better human beings. They should be a part of such initiatives more often.” ~ Smita Patterson, Principal, Podar International School, Pimpri Karjat and assisted in building houses. They also helped paint the walls and conduct a poverty survey of the area. Students also made posters revolving around the themes ‘What home means to me’, ‘Importance of Sanitation’ and ‘Cleanliness and Hygiene’. Under the fund collection drive, Amanora School has managed to raise close to Rs 3.5 lakhs in two months. SANITATION FOR ALL HFH was set up 32 years ago with the aim to improve housing and sanitation facilities across the country. “Every single penny got from this campaign is directed towards providing sanitation facility and housing to the less fortunate. Twenty-four per cent of girl child dropouts is because of lack of availability of proper sanitation,” said Rajan Samuel, Managing Director, Habitat for Humanity. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
PUNE
With online presence as facebook. com/tejasmenon.music, soundcloud.com/ tejasmenon and youtube.com/tejasmenon, Tejas sums up his success to ‘be a good, humble person. Don’t be a pushover. Humility goes a long way and being nice is way more important’. TAP THE SOCIAL QUOTIENT Saahil Mutha, the odd one out among the speakers, is a social entrepreneur. With the help of slides, graphs and PowerPoint presentation, he showed the ‘humane’ side of business. “Our economy is still dependent on agriculture and most farmers do not have proper irrigation facilities. Major business houses could easily change the living conditions of the neighbourhood of their factories and plants,” he Saahil Mutha said. “ S h e l l Foundation assisted Bihar-based innovative startup Husk Power Systems (HPS) that developed a gasification technology
(New Delhi) graduate pursuing her Masters in Public Policy from St Xavier’s Mumbai, tells us the way to handle our demons of rejection and failure. “We should let it go. We get hurt because we allow that weakness to overwhelm us. I have realised from my experiences that such bad feelings suck our lives. Face it squarely and give birth to positivity in your life. If I can do it and so can you,” the 20-year-old said. Apart from being a debater and social media addict, Harnidh’s first book, a poetry collection, is slated for a 2016 release. CUB EFFORT The overall arrangement and smooth conduct of the event get noticed when we come to know that the organiser is a standard XI science student of Nowrosjee Wadia College (Arts and Science) on Bund Garden Road. “I have been watching TED talks on the Internet since standard VI and always wanted our community to know of all the inspiration that prevail within. While browsing through their website in January 2015, I noticed the ‘pa r t ic ipate’ tab. I learnt of the procedure to apply for a licence to organise a TEDx event. And TED xYouth@ K a lyaniNaga r Vedant Lamba happened,” said 16-yearold Vedant Lamba, who rues the fact that the city does not have a platform as prominent as TED. Vedant calls the event ‘a mission with the simple aim of inspiring the youth of Pune with the brilliance contained within it’. james.mathew@goldensparrow.com
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY AUGUST 15, 2015
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY
PUNE
AUGUST 15, 2015
PUNE
VIP ROADS
Itna andhera kyun hai bhai?
Authority speak
Kalyani Nagar Near MP Vandana Chavan’s house
people move about even at night. The illumination under one of the working street lamps was 25 lux, and away from it, it was 2.1 lux.
Unless you are the PMC Commissioner, Mayor or Member of Parliament, the street outside your home is bound to be dark. TGS Team conducted a survey of several major and minor roads across the city, only to f ind that well-lit streets are a luxury only a few are privy to
Salunke Vihar
Dias Plot Road There is no lighting to speak of here, and Dias Plot is notorious as hotbed of crime and nefarious activities. Besides the spate of murders and killings, the police have also recovered human bodies from the Mutha right bank canal waters. The road leading to Gangadham Chowk from Seven Loves Chowk has no illumination. Very few of the street lamps on one side of the road are working. And the high-mast lamps are not working at optimum level, if not completely kaput. The illumination levels on the entire stretch, including near the high-mast lamps, is just 4.2 lux.
Near PMC Mayor Dattatray Dhankawade’s house
Prabhat Road
Bhandarkar Road is always abuzz with pedestrians, mainly students and senior citizens. There are lots of vehicles moving about, but the illumination levels at night are abysmally low. Several street lamps are not functioning, while the light from the functional ones is diffused and obscured by the foliage and branches of the surrounding trees. Their light, therefore, barely reaches the road surface. The illumination directly under the street lamps is 50 lux, while between two street lamps it is just 2.1 lux. There are three banks and some restaurants in this area. From an intersection, there’s a branch leading to Prabhat Road. There are five street lamps near and around the intersection, of which just two of them are functioning, but the illumination they provided is way below the required intensity. This is therefore, a prime spot for muggings or assorted crime, owing to it being shrouded in darkness for the most part. The illumination under the street lamp is just 29 lux, while away from it, it is 2.1 lux.
Prabhat Road frequented by students, senior citizens et al. The light from the handful of street lamps that are working is dimmed and shaded by the large number of trees. These street lamps, however, light up only one side of the road, and the street lamps on the other side, along the footpath adjacent to National Film Archives of India (NFAI) are not working. As many as 10 street lamps are not working at the section near the intersection of lane number 15. The illumination level directly under the lamps is pretty good, with a reading of 40 lux, while between two streetlamps it drops to just 6.2 lux. A fortnight ago, a middle aged woman was mugged by two unidentified motorcycle-borne culprits. The woman shouted out for help but none was forthcoming as the people who were around were probably unable to see or react to the situation, owing to the poor visibility.
Law College Road The BMCC circle is shrouded in the
chowk is in complete darkness. No street lamp is working and road users avoid this stretch at night owing to the conditions. What little light there is, is from the shops in the area.
Koregaon Park–Mundhwa Road
Most of the street lamps here are not working. There are State Transport (ST) and private bus stands, and the passengers who are picked up and dropped here late at nights or in the wee hours, are in real danger from criminals and miscreants owing to the ill-lit conditions.
Koregaon Park– Mundhwa Road, an extension of North Main Road, is filled with the party crowd, besides the never-ending flow of road users. The section of the road near ABC Farms has little or no illumination, with almost all the street lamps out of order. About 200 metres towards Mundhwa, only three street lamps are in working condition. The illumination level near the ABC farms is just 2.1 lux.
Dias Plot Road
Bhandarkar Road
No surprise, this section of Shankarsheth Road has been the backdrop to a number of accidents during the wee hours. The illumination level under the lamp is 18.7 lux, while between two street lamps it is just 6.3 lux.
bus at around 10 pm. She lodged a complaint with the Deccan Gymkhana police station in this regard. The police scrutinised footage from the newlyinstalled CCTv cameras, but in vain, as the prevailing darkness has shrouded the entire incident. Police are still investigating. The illumination level directly beneath the street lamp was 80 lux, while between two street lamps it was just 6 lux.
Shankarsheth Road
Shankarsheth Road
dark without street lamp lighting. Law College Road seems to be well illuminated at night thanks to the headlights of vehicles. The reality of the situation is that most of the street lamps on this stretch of road are not working, a case in point being the spot near the Indsearch Institute and Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). The illumination level under the street lamps is 25 lux, while between two street lamps it is just 4.2 lux.
at the chowk leave a lot to be desired. one high-mast lamp and four street lamps are not functioning. The illumination level in the centre of the chowk is just 12.5 lux. It dips even lower between two street lamps.
Karve Road Another constantly busy spot, it has dense green cover. The street lamps that are working are above the level of the branches of the trees. A fortnight ago, two motorcycle borne suspects snatched a gold chain from a woman who was walking after getting off a PMPML
On the ever busy section of Shankarsheth Road near Swargate, in front of Wega Centre, the illumination levels are remarkably low. With all the PMPML buses parked along the road at night, road users are forced to weave their way through them. None of the street lamps are functioning on one side of the road. A few are working on the other side of the road, but their light does not reach very far. Accidents, therefore, are a constant hazard. The dense foliage of trees overhead the footpath in front of the Wega Centre, means that it is shrouded in darkness.
HH Aga Khan Bridge The 12 street lamps on the HH Aga Khan Bridge leading to Kalyani Nagar are not working. There is consequently complete darkness on the bridge across the Mula-Mutha river. This is a busy road with lots of traffic even at night.
Kalyani Nagar The public road in front of Mariplex in Kalyani Nagar has no street lights. It is frequented by software professionals and call centre workers from all the office complexes in the area, which function round the clock.
Viman Nagar A student of a prominent college in Viman Nagar area was molested by some
Bhandarkar Road
The dimly lit lane behind Anand Nagar Society has alternately placed LED street lights. There are clusters of housing societies on both sides of the narrow lane. The lane would be in darkness even if one of the lights stopped working. The reading on the footpath opposite the streetlight of a two-lane street was 12 lux. Directly under the light the reading was 49 lux.
This road has lots of traffic as it connects with Karve Road, and it is a rather densely populated residential area, along with the hospital. TGS team found that the light from the adequate number of street lamps is dimmed and obscured by the trees. The illumination level under the street light was 1 lux, between two street lights it was 1 lux, while the footpath opposite was completely dark.
Lokmanya Nagar
The stretch between Lokmanya Nagar to Dandekar bridge do not have LED lights and people have to manage with old dimmed street lights. The road is having residential apartments, school and a college, however the civic administration do not feel a need to replace it with LED lights. The illumination level under the street light was 5 lux, and between two street lights
Opposite PMC headquarters The street poles with tube lights do cast some light at night, which is a comfort to the road users and those waiting for PMPML buses. But the road in front of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) headquarters is very poorly lit. The newly-installed street lamps on the heritage Shivaji or Nava Pul illuminate Shivaji Road near the PMC headquarters adequately. The bridge has an illumination level of 27 lux.
With all the software companies and calls centres, this is a commercial hub, but is very poorly lit at night. One side of the road has street lamps, while the other side does not have a single one. Most of
Erandwane
Navi Peth-Anand Baug near Vaikunth crematorium
In November 2014, a goon allegedly from the Gajanan Marne gang was killed and two others were injured in Anand Baug near Vaikunth crematorium. They were easy targets owing to this being a rather secluded area. There have been several chain snatchings, with the culprits getting away in the cover of darkness. TGS team found that the street light
Type of road
A-1
miscreants from the area near her college premises. She lodged a complaint with the Viman Nagar police station, but was unable to identify the suspects as it all happened under the cover of darkness. Students move about on the roads near their campus late at night. The road to Viman Nagar from the new Airport Road is also poorly lit. There are street lamps which are not working. The illumination level at the road is just 2.1 lux. The spot near Ganapati Mandir
the street lamps are not working and the road users have to make their way about in the dark. The illumination level is just 10 lux underneath the street lamps, and 2.1 lux in between two street lamps.
A-2
B-1
Nagras Road, Aundh
Only two street lamps are working in the upmarket Nagras Road in Aundh. It is 60 feet wide, but very poorly lit. There are large housing complexes and commercial establishments, and therefore lots of
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) P R Patil Adequately powered and properly working street lights are essential for every road in the city. This is a serious problem in Pune. A welllit street feels safe for every citizen, especially women, pedestrians and road users. It helps curb all kinds of crime, such as chain-snatching, mugging, molestation or assault. Elderly women out for early morning walks are easy prey for miscreants, who snatch their gold chains, on dark stretches of roads. The darkness is also conducive for culprits to do their misdeeds and flee without being seen, either by the people around or the CCTVs in the vicinity. “A committee has been formed which is headed by the commissioner of police. The members are PMC and MSEDCL authorities. In order to maintain illumination on the different roads local police will continuously keep updating about the non functioning lamps. The decisions of the committee will be implemented soon,” he said.
Sandeep Bhadkamkar, Kothrud The street lights on the highway stretch have not been working for several nights. Without the headlights of the vehicles and the light from the restaurants along the highway, it is in pitch darkness. The streets near my house are poorly lit, mainly because of the positioning of the street lights. Trees blanket the lamps and stop the light from reaching the street surface. There are always students moving about on the streets, and the parents are concerned owing to the ill-lit conditions.”
Model Colony Road leading to the PMC Commissioner’s official residence is properly lit. It is a small road surrounded by large trees, but is well lit, thanks to LED lighting. The residents of the area includes foreigners who move about safe and secure at nights. The road has an illumination level of 45 lux.
DP Road, Aundh
Sarang Awad, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Fatal accidents occur due to various reasons, of which poor illumination is one. In 2014, out of 399 casualties on the city roads, 191 occurred between 6 pm and 4 am. The highest numbers of casualties, 27 fatalities, have been reported between 10 pm and 11 pm. Traffic police regulate vehicular movement during weekends till late in the night, but it is hazardous even for policemen on poorly lit roads, owing to the possibility of accidents. Traffic police have suggested installing street lamps at some sections of the Katraj–Dehu road bypass, which has the highest number of casualties annually. Last year, there were 38 casualties on the road. Better visibility will bring down the number of accidents. NHAI authorities have been asked to look into the issue, especially at junctions. The absence of street lamps, and intermittent power supply to street lamps are also a cause for concern. PMC authorities have been urged to take corrective measures.
People speak
Model Colony Road
Near PMC Building
Viman Nagar
Anand Nagar
Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, Erandwane
and on the pavement opposite, it was completely dark.
Salisbury Park Road Salisbury Park Road, near the Maharshinagar police chowkey, is completely in the dark. There are very few who use the road at night. None of the ten street lamps are working. There is no illumination level to really mention.
Recommended levels of illumination as per Bureau Of Indian Standards
Nal Stop This is one of the busiest chowks in the city. It has been the venue for a number of fatal mishaps, including two policemen in separate incidents. All these accidents have occurred late at night. A traffic police constable stationed at the intersection was knocked down by a speeding motorcycle rider about a year ago. There have been instances of mugging and such crimes, thanks to the darkness that pervades the area. It is, however, a spot where there is traffic all through the night. The visibility and illumination levels
Ahmednagar Road and Bund Garden bridge
The road between Oxford Village and Clover Citadel in Salunke Vihar area has streetlights of which only a few are working. Very dimly lit, there are dark stretches between street lights, and even the footpaths are left in the dark. It is extremely unsafe for women at night. The lux levels under the working streetlights were adequate but between two lights, it was just 6.2 lux, and 1.2 on the opposite side of the road.
illumination was just 7 lux, and between two lights and on the other side of road it was zero. Under the street light the level was 6 lux, while between two street lights and on the pavement across the light, it was completely dark.
Shrinivas Kandul, Superintendent Engineer, Electricity Department, PMC Shrinivas Kandul, the Superintendent Engineer of the Electricity Department of Pune Municipal Corporation admitted that the illumination on various roads is much lower than the prescribed norms. “On main roads, the minimum power of the light should be 30 lux, while on secondary or interior roads, the light should be at least 15 lux,” said Kandul. He said that his department ensures that the street lights on the roads are above 250 Watts. “Since the last five years we have been replacing the old yellow lights with LED lights. By May 2014, we had installed 15,653 LED lights on various roads of the city,” he said. Kandul added that he did not have data on the number of street lights currently operational in the city. Till May 2014, 1.25 lakh street lights were installed on the streets. As for the trees obscuring the street lights, he said it was the ‘battiwalas’ duty. “One battiwala is appointed for each ward and he is supposed to check every spot in his ward on a daily basis in the evening, and sort out any problem the next day. I will look into why they are not performing their duty properly,” said Kandul. He denied the special treatment to the VIPs and said that even residential areas of the common man had high watt LED lights.
B-2
Road characteristics Important traffic routes carrying fast traffic Main roads carrying mixed traffic like city main roads/streets, arterial roads, throughways Secondary roads with considerable traffic like local traffic routes, shopping streets Secondary roads with light traffic
Average level of illumination on road surface in lux 30
15
8
4
Prachi Kaushal, Hinjewadi Returning home from Hinjewadi at night is tough. The inadequate street lighting makes it scary and risky. I had a real scare, when some guy followed me at night. It is extremely unsafe for anyone, leave alone single girls. IT staffers work odd hours and it is imperative that the streets are brightly illuminated. How else are we supposed to feel safe?” Meena Joshi, Erandwane The road near my house is narrow, and the low intensity street lights make it a very poorly lit and accident-prone area. The interior lanes between the bungalows have no street lights at all. I am a senior citizen, and it has become impossible for me to use road after dark, with all the traffic and dim lighting. Moumita Roy, Aundh I was initially very hesitant to buy a house in Aundh because of the poor lighting in the area. It is extremely risky especially because I return home late from work. If the quality of light from the street lights in the city were to improve, it would make the city a much safer place. The crime rate would also drop.” Shilpa Kulkarni, Lokmanya Nagar On this road, we mainly depend on lights from the societies and shops. After the shops close at 9 pm, I do not feel safe at all on this road with all the dark stretches. And at Dandekar Bridge, which is poorly lit, we have to face the nuisance of anti-social elements. Sagar Ghodke, Navi Peth With the frequent incidents of chain-snatching in the area, my wife and I avoid this road at night. The cops patrolled the road after the spate of chain-snatching incidents, but stopped after a few days. The street lights are far too low-powered and dim, and that is the reason for all the accidents at night. Anand Mahajan, Erandwane The area near Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital is always crowded. The vacant lot at the corner of the road going towards Karve Road has become a parking lot. And the criminal elements are taking advantage of the dark to do their misdeeds. Sonali Parte, Navi Peth The road is secluded and scary. I do not feel safe here. The street lights are too far apart and it is completely dark between two street lamps. There is also the nuisance of some amorous couples, who behave rather indecently under the cover of darkness. And the anti-social elements are another undesirable element.
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY AUGUST 15, 2015
tECH/start-up
PUNE
Alaska is the only state in America that can be typed on one row of a traditional English QWERTY keyboard. — http://www.thefactsite.com/
More arrests in Pak child abuse scandal P 13
Know ups and downs of start-ups
Seven-year-old Pune Open Coffee Club is a virtual community platform for vendors and freelancers BY SALONEE MISTRY @Sal0412 It would be an understatement to cite that four entrepreneur friends Santtosh Dawara, Navin Kabra, Jayesh Bahiti and Anjali Gupta laid the foundation for start-up incubation and growth when they started the Pune Open Coffee Club community (POCC) seven years ago. The present strength of 16,500 members today reveals the group’s success. With an intention to build networks and help each other grow, the group’s mission was to provide a platform for startup founders to interact with each other. The community initially started off as one that was merely start-up oriented and focused on a smaller range of issues. Today, they cover everything from startups to vendors who want a change of pace as well as freelancers looking for a correct direction. “It is necessary that people who are new to a particular industry get enough feedback on
Any member of POCC can organise the event any time of the year
their course of action as well as proper guidance. It is only then that they will enjoy what they are doing. This platform gives them just that exposure,” said Nikhil Karkarey (37), the event organiser at POCC. It is only when such a platform is available that there will be readily available opportunities and adequate exposure, added Nikhil. POCC is a perfect example of a forum that holds a huge
pool of database. The reach of an individual by being on a platform like this is immense. “Learning from the mistakes of others is sometimes the best way to learn and that needs communication which this platform provides,” he said. INFORMAL SETTING The success of POCC is largely attributed to its informal structure. There is no chair or
committee that presides over POCC. Keeping the setting informal makes it easier to sense the pain points of entrepreneurs and help find solutions. Any member who is free could hold an event any time of the year, said Nikhil, adding that such a fluid arrangement does not put a lot of pressure on one person and allows everyone to be in a position of leadership. “It also brings in diversity to the kind of sessions that are being organised. Whoever wishes to can decide to organise an event. There are absolutely no restrictions,” he said. DIVERSE INTEREST GROUP Keeping in mind the diverse range of members of POCC community, the sessions too are different every time. At least one seminar is organised in a month. The topics range from how to raise funds for start-ups
Combating child trafficking through a mobile app Struck by the horror of being kidnapped at the age of six, computer engineer Shashank Singh teamed up with a colleague to develop a mobile application that traces lost children and re-unites them with their families. The initiative named . “We want to help the vulnerable street children with the help of data and technology,” says Singh, founder of the initiative who holds a Bachelor in Technology in Computer Science. The mobile app, availaible for download on the Google Play store and installed by volunteers aims to help vulnerable children by clicking a picture of them and guiding them to the nearest police station. The volunteers work on a short and long term basis to help the needy children. The initiative had made it to the top 5 innovations recognised by CNNIBN’s initiative “Networked India”, which aims to identify and felicitate clutter-breaking innovations in the field of connectivity and mobility. “We have an android app installed in phones used by our volunteers and wherever they find the children who are lost or in need of help, they take a picture, says S Sai Meera co-founder of the initiative.
Billion-dollar campus for start-ups on anvil The Kerala government is working on a master plan to create a billion-dollar campus for startups in the near future, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said. Chandy announced this after inaugurating the distribution of Startup Boxes to 50 young mobile application developers as part of the Youth Entrepreneurs Scheme (YES) 2015, of which the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) is the implementing agency. Putting forward a development strategy for the state, the Chief Minister said the vibrant business environment created by the young generation entrepreneurs and experienced Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs) can transform Kerala to a developed state by 2030. “The top student entrepreneurs, selected for the startup boxes should aim to become top startups in India within one year,” he said. Chandy released the logo of the YES 2015 at the function. PTI
PTI
‘Helping Faceless’ uses technology such as ‘Face Recognition’ and data analytics to combat child trafficking and help lost children connect with their families
Shashank Singh and Meera are combating child trafficking
There are two ways, explains Meera, through which the app can be of help to the children - the short term way or for the long term. “We help children in two ways. One is the short term way of helping the kids in which we take the child to the nearest police station. The police conducts inquiries and takes the child to the children’s welfare committee or the observational home. “In the long term way we run the photo of the lost child through our database, which sports an algorithm that is supposed to be 96 per cent
accurate. This is then manually verified and finally we reach the observational homes and help the child further,” says Meera. Singh says he was kidnapped from a lawyer’s office in Lucknow when he was a child and remained missing for 14 to 15 hours. He was traced through a network of rickshaw pullers operating in the city. “The idea came from personal encounter when I was myself kidnapped at the age of 6 from an area in Lucknow when I had gone with my father. A network of rickshawallas operating in the city helped to rescue me. “So I had an idea in my mind and met Meera at a lecture at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. We finally we came on board for an app to help the needy children,” says Shashank. The self-funded initiative operates throughout the country with a strong base in Mumbai. The founders say they owe their success to the volunteers and the co-operation of the Mumbai police. “This is a self funded endeavour though we are looking for funds to reach worldwide. Our app works throughout the country but it is more active in Mumbai.” The founders aim to expand it internationally and help children all over the world. PTI
Member Speak “All the events organised by POCC are learning based. No matter how much you know, attending these sessions have always been beneficial. The events are always wellorganised. The response to last Saturday’s event was overwhelming underlining the rising need for such a platform. In my association with POCC for the past two and a half years I have almost never been disappointed by attending the seminars. The effort is commendable.” - Abhijit Mhetre (39), Founder, Canavazify to the concept of open source and founder agreements. The latest seminar held on Saturday (August 8) was based on ‘Immersive User Experiences for Mobile Language’. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
Digital solution for students Oxford Achiever launched Primary and secondary school students can now look forward to build their English language skills with the help of a comprehensive web-based learning and assessment system developed by Oxford University Press. Oxford Achiever, which caters to students of class I-VIII, was launched here today. Achiever aims to strengthen English language skills through practice and remediation in six core learning areas of listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar and vocabulary. This diagnostic tool has been successfully used in Hong Kong. It has been successfully pilot-tested by OUP India in schools from different regions and the feedback from students and teachers has been positive, according to OUP. It said Oxford Achiever is the first paid digital offering by it. There are more digital products and ‘app’ launches on the anvil soon, including the OUP dictionary and atlas ‘app’. Oxford Achiever comprises 36 progressive levels of learning and assessment; placement tests for each class which automatically allocate the appropriate level in each skill for each student; objective-specific practice exercises that are finely graded into levels; immediate post-practice remediation and practice drills; practice reports and progress charts for students; and comprehensive reports for teachers to keep track of students’ progress and performance. It is a total e-learning solution for effective webbased teaching and learning and is characterised by effective knowledge building and management; immersive self-learning experiences; meaningful assessments for better learning outcomes; and closing the gap in learner abilities. “Oxford Achiever meets the requirement of schools for continuous assessment of English language skills and provides the necessary diagnostics for self-paced learning,” said Ranjan Kaul, Managing Director of OUP India. PTI
Facebook gives benefits worth USD 20 mn to Indian developers Social networking giant Facebook has distributed benefits worth USD 20 million to developers in India, its second largest market globally to help them build and monetise apps. Under its FbStart initiative that was started last year, the US-based firm has provided free tools and services worth USD 50 million to help developers in the Asia Pacific region. “Developers are an important part of our ecosystem. We have grown from a small size and we know the hurdles that developers can face while developing products,” Facebook Director Product Platform Partnerships Ime Archibong told PTI. Through this initiative, Facebook wants to help take care of certain aspects, so that the developers can focus on building worldclass products, he said. Archibong added that India is an important market since the country has the second highest number of developers after the US under the FBStart initiative.
“More developers are building apps with Facebook in India than any other country outside the US and today, more than 75 per cent of top-grossing apps in India are integrated with Facebook,” he said. Out of USD 50 million in benefits distributed to Asia Pacific startups through FbStart, more than USD 20 million went to startups in India, Archibong added. Delhi-based app Cardback and Hyderabad’s Samosa that offers a curated
collection of clips from popular movies were among the beneficiaries. In Asia, Facebook has more than 1,000 members as part of the FbStart programme. Facebook has started its FbStart World Tour, an event series across 20 cities to meet mobile developers across the world. It has held events in London, New York, Mexico City, Hong Kong, Seoul and Taipei. In India, it is hosting these events in Bangalore and Gurgaon. “With millions of people still not yet connected to the Internet in India and around the world, there is a huge opportunity for mobile developers to build some of the first experiences people have with the Internet,” he said. Archibong said that through programmes like FbStart and Internet. org that opened its platform to developers, Facebook aims to help build better mobile experiences that demonstrates the power of Internet. PTI
APP WORLD
Ignite the child in you Thumbelina: Journey to a Dream
IOS/ Android: Rs 277 Set out to a magical journey together with Thumbelina! This book is a new interpretation of the well-known Andersen’s tale presented as an interactive animated film. Atmosphere of fairy tale, wonderful on the score of beauty illustrations and interactive elements will make both children and adults to empathize. Living pictures and game quests give you the opportunity to develop the plot and take part in the fates of the characters. This most fascinating adventure is provided with exclusive soundtrack, beautiful illustrations which create atmosphere and professional voiceover.
Prodigal Angel HD
IOS/ Android: Rs 996 Max has spent the last ten years in a coma, unable to move, a prisoner in his own body. One day he discovers that in some mysterious way he can enter the minds of those around him — and control their bodies. He is now free to enjoy the joys of life denied him for so long: walking, laughing, loving… But with new power come new responsibility and a new peril. Now you can read this series of mystery stories online in the amazing animated comics for adults. The beautiful graphics turn the whole tale into a series of mini cartoons full of life and emotion.
The Avengers-Iron Man Mark VII
IOS/ Android: Free Set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, “Marvel’s The Avengers: Iron Man - Mark VII” is an epic interactive comic book experience through the design logs of super hero Tony Stark as he journeys from his Mark I armor, used to escape from captivity in the Ten Rings insurgents’ cave, to the high-powered Mark VI armor, used to vanquish Ivan Vanko and his army of Hammer Drones. Immerse yourself in the genius, grit and humor of Stark and team up with all your favorite Iron Man characters, including Pepper Potts, J.A.R.V.I.S., and James Rhodes, as Stark finds inspiration for his latest innovation, the Mark VII. Suit up, blast off, and hang on tight for the first-ever fully-interactive Comic App Experience!
Panchatantra Stories Book IOS/ Android: Free This is a Panchatantra Story Book application containing 101 stories. Panchatantra story book is the best guide to en-root moral values in children since its each tale has a moral lesson in its end. The Panchtantra is a great story book where plants and animals can speak and converse with human beings too. The Panchatantra is an ancient Sanskrit collection of stories, probably first composed around 300 CE, though some of its component stories may be much older.
Garfield Daily
IOS/Android: Free Feed your Garfield need with a daily dose of the classic comic! The Garfield Daily Comic Android app allows you to view every Garfield daily comic strip ever produced – that’s over 12,300 strips! This awesome app has tons of features that allow you to search and share your favorite comic strips. You can browse through the comic strips by touching the Previous or Next navigation buttons or by touching either side of the comic strip. Resize the comic strip by tapping or pinching. Like Garfield, this app is prone to nap attacks. After about 10 seconds of inactivity, the navigation, title, and toolbar will fade away. To bring them back, touch the middle of the comic strip. Touch again to have them disappear.
ENVIRONMENT
The world’s population will increase from today’s 7.3 billion people to 9.7 billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion at century’s end BY YOSHITA SINGH India, China and Brazil countries with young populations but lower fertility face the prospect of substantial population ageing before the end of the century, acJohn Wilmoth cording to UN projections. The world’s population will increase from today’s 7.3 billion people to 9.7 billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion at century’s end, UN Population Division director John Wilmoth told a session focused on demographic forecasting at the 2015 Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM 2015) in Seattle yesterday. The UN projection suggests there will not be an end to world population growth this century unless there are unprecedented fertility declines in those parts of sub-Saharan Africa that are still experiencing rapid population growth. The UN estimated the probability that world population growth will end within this century to be 23 per cent. Wilmoth’s presentation said developing countries with young
Wilmoth’s presentation ‘Populations Projections by the United Nations’ was made as part of an invited session titled ‘Better Demographic Forecasts, Better Policy
populations but lower fertility?such as China, Brazil and India?face the prospect of substantial population ageing before the end of the century. “The new projection suggests these countries need to invest some of the benefits of their demographic dividend in the coming decades toward provisions for the older population of the future such as social security, pensions and health care,” it said. Looking more closely at the global projections, Wilmoth said Asia, with a current population of 4.4 billion, is likely to remain the most populous continent, with its population expected to peak around the middle of the century at 5.3 billion, and then to
Towards a climate change pact
PTI
The
Indian
Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has tied up with the Union Urban Development Ministry for mapping over 500 towns and cities, to make a base plan for better planning and V K Dadhwal management. Th is base plan will further help the town planners to prepare a master plan for many fast urbanising local bodies. The mapping is being currently done for municipal local bodies with a population of more than a lakh. The project is expected to start by next month. “We have tied up with the Ministry of Urban Development to map over 4,041 areas. This includes around 500 urban local bodies. After mapping these cities and towns, we can prepare a base plan. This can help urban planners prepare a better master plan,” said V K Dadhwal, Director of ISRO’s National Remote Sensing Centre. He was speaking at a news
conference held to elaborate on additional features incorporated in the Bhuvan, country’s geo-platform launched in 2009. He added that over 2,500 town planners have been roped in and trained on how to use the base plan. “A small per cent of the cities have been mapped. Th is project can cover around 500 urban areas, which will be later taken to 4,041,” said an ISRO official. The space agency will also map and provide management plans for heritage sites and monuments of national importance. Dadhwal noted that ISRO has diversified operations under Bhuvan Application Services like 1 meter satellite images for more than 300 cities in the country and 3D city models with extrusions of the buildings and virtual city models, which would be a “useful tool for Smart City Programme of the government.” PTI
The base plan will help to prepare a master plan for cities
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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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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 ranging between 1.5 and 20 kms. All the members came back irked and disgruntled. The autorickshaw community let us down badly, as they do with
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 Then we tried our luck with private cabforgot operators, to whomake were planners more entry and exit points. Over a decade more than were willing to oblige after saying is true. But what they andHinjewadi take us wherever we was wanted planned to house country’s best IT firms and are not telling us or willing to to go, for a price of course. talent, planners concede is that their enemy lies In some cases, the have cab fare finally woken up to the plight of citizens. within. Their enemy number one worked out cheaper than what They have now planned five alternative roads. But the authorities is not private cabs but members the auto drivers were asking us 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 Spotlight Pg 8 and 9
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
1
NANDED AMBEGAON BUDRUK
KONDHWA
UNDRI
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
India is at the bottom rank in terms of per capita emissions
The government has approved India BPO Promotion Scheme (IBPS) for promoting of BPO/ITeS operations across the country with an outlay of about Rs 493 crore during the remaining period of 12th Five Year Plan, Parliament was informed today. About 48,300 seats have been planned with distribution across states and union territories based on population percentage as per Census 2011, Minister of Communications and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad said in a written reply to Lok Sabha. In addition, 5,000 seats have been planned for the states of North East Region under the North East BPO Promotion Scheme (NEBPS) which stands notified, he added. Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of seats planned at 8,800, followed by Bihar (4,600), Maharashtra (3,900) and West Bengal (3,400). The Minister said under the IBPS, entrepreneurs or interested entities are expected to satisfy themselves regarding availability of requisite infrastructure, including broadband connectivity in the proposed areas, for setting up the BPO/ITeS operations. “The IBPS, inter-alia, involves two stage approach, initially, Expression of Interest (EoI) is proposed to be invited from the interested companies to assess the market potential and interest at various locations across states,” he said. Then bids would be invited from eligible applicant companies through a Request For Proposal (RFP), he added. PTI
ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
Paris in accordance with the principle and provisions of the UNFCCC and highlighting the strong domestic initiatives of the new government on climate change. “India has been co-ordinating with G-77 and China, BASIC (Brazil, India, China and South Africa) group of countries and the Like Minded Developing Countries (LMDCs) for ensuring an equitable, comprehensive and balanced agreement in Paris,” Javadekar said. Replying to another question, Javadekar said as per analysis of World Resources Institute (WRI), in per capita emissions for top ten emitters, India was at the bottom rank with average per capita emissions of around 1.92 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, while that of Canada was 24.6 tonnes, US 19.6 tonnes, Russia 15.3 tonnes and China 7.69 tonnes in 2011. “These are many times more than India’s per capita emission average. India’s per capita emissions are only one third of the global average,” Javadekar said. PTI
ISRO teams up with ministry to map 4,041 towns
Rs 493 crore outlay to promote BPOs
ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Independent Charge), Prakash Javadekar distributes saplings to the school students, at the launch of the School Nursery Yojana, in New Delhi
Desks that allow employees to pedal while working can make them healthier and more productive by fighting the ill-effects of a sedentary lifestyle, a new study has claimed. By providing workers with a portable pedalling device under their desks, Lucas Carr, from the University of Iowa in US, discovered that people who were once sitting all day were now moving at work without getting up. The study also found that workers who pedalled more were more likely to report weight loss, improved concentration while at work, and fewer sick days than co-workers who pedalled less. Carr said key to the findings was providing workers with a pedalling device that was not only comfortable and easy to use, but was theirs alone to pedal. “We wanted to see if workers would use these devices over a long period of time, and we found the design of the device is critically important,” Carr said. Another essential component was privacy. Place a high-end exercise bike or treadmill desk in the hall as a shared device, and very few employees will use them, Carr said. “It’s a great idea in theory, but it doesn’t work over the long haul for most people,” he said. Carr’s 16-week pilot study was the third and longest in a series of studies he has conducted testing portable pedal machines among workers with sedentary jobs. His interest stems from growing evidence that people who sit all day even if they’re active outside of work are at increased risk for serious health conditions such as multiple chronic diseases, poorer cognitive function, and mental distress. According to recent studies, sedentary jobs have risen 83 per cent since 1950 and currently account for 43 per cent of all jobs in the US, researchers said. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates 3.3 million people die annually due to physical inactivity, making it the fourth leading cause of mortality, they said. PTI
PUNE
“Climate change is no longer just about the future that we’re predicting for our children or grandchildren. It’s about the reality that we’ re living with every day.” — Barrack Obama, President, US
‘Bike desks’ could make employees healthier
India co-ordinating with nations for equitable, balanced agreement in climate change summit: Javadekar
India is co-ordinating with various countries to ensure an “equitable and balanced” agreement at the forthcoming UN climate change summit in December, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said. He also said the government was in the process of finalising its post-2020 Climate Action Plan to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and had taken up a “multi-stakeholder” dialogue to finalise the country’s proposed greenhouse gas emission cuts. “Government of India has undertaken an elaborate multistakeholder consultation process for finalising its Intended Nationally D e t e r m i n e d Contributions (INDCs) for submission ahead of the expected date. “A series of meetings have been held with various ministries, think tanks, institutions, industry associations, NGOs and civil societies in this regard,” Javadekar told the Lok Sabha. He said India has been advocating a “strong and ambitious” outcome in
decline to around 4.9 billion people by the end of the century. Wilmoth’s presentation ‘Populations Projections by the United Nations’ was made as part of an invited session titled ‘Better Demographic Forecasts, Better Policy Decisions’ held in Seattle. Wilmoth told the audience that according to models of demographic change derived from historical experience, it is estimated the global population will be between 9.5 and 13.3 billion people in 2100. The primary driver of global population growth is a projected increase in the population of Africa. PTI
AUGUST 15, 2015
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
India faces prospect of population ageing
H EALTH
ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
“A special tiger protection force comprising a team of 120 personnel has been employed in four reserves of the state. For locals’ involvement in saving tigers, we have set up village eco-development committees.” — Vikas Kharge, Secretary, Forest Department
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Supriya Bhoite from Chaturshrungi police station.
Hum
Fourteen years later, there is no sign of the fi lm. Vishnu Kamalapurkar, Pune-based activist, sought details of the project in 2012 from the Central Government only to be told that they had no records left, the concerned ministry had been wound up, and that fi lm-maker could not be traced. Essentially, the government acceded that it had been duped of `2.5 crores, the sum that was transferred to the fi lm-maker. It has taken Kamalapurkar three years since he sought details about the fi lm under Right to Information Act to get the government to launch a fullfledged investigation. Dhumale has
receiving his RTI finally been traced by the government with the help of police and claims that the fi lm will be released in “next two to four months”. He still hasn’t answered several questions raised by the government about the script and the star cast. It all started in December 2001, when Commemoration Bureau under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture commissioned a fi lm on Lokmanya Tilak. A sum of Rs 1.25 crores was paid to Dhumale immediately as an
Saath Saath
When
HUNGER STRIKES past midnight
A family that prays together stays together. Pune’s joint families on why they agree to disagree
TGS takes a night trail around the city to look for places that will silence a grumbling tummy in the dark of night
The Kamdars
Run for…
yourself
Puneites are running to fight depression, lethargy, even physical disadvantage. Marathoners are taking over the street and making the city fitter than it has ever been
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THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY AUGUST 15, 2015
PUNE
“The generations of a family which has dominated this country’s politics have not worked for a living. They have learnt the art of living comfortably without working, some of us have not.” — Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister
There’s unity in Pune’s diversity P 15
SC reserves its verdict in Rajiv Gandhi case The Supreme Court has reserved its verdict on constitutional issues arising out of TN govt decision NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has reserved its verdict on constitutional issues arising out of Tamil Nadu government’s decision to set free the convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, including the power of states to remit sentences. A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu would authoritatively deal with questions raised by the smaller bench while staying the state government’s decision to set free seven convicts in the sensational case. The bench, also comprising justices FMI Kalifulla, Pinaki Chandra Ghosh, Abhay Manohar Sapre and UU Lalit, heard for eleven days the arguments advanced by Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, who appeared for the Centre, and others including senior advocates Ram Jethmalani and Rakesh Dwivedi, representing V Sriharan alias Murugan, one of the seven convicts, and Tamil Nadu government respectively. The court would be dealing with seven issues framed by the smaller bench on the scope of executives’ power
of remission. It would decide whether state governments also have power of remission in cases where central agencies like CBI are the prosecutor. “The issue of such a nature has been raised for the first time in this court, which has wide ramification in determining the scope of application of power of remission by the executives, both the Centre and the State. “Accordingly, we refer this matter to the Constitution Bench to decide the issue pertaining to whether once power of remission under Article 72(by the President) or 161 (by Governor)or by this Court exercising Constitutional power under Article 32 is exercised, is there any scope for further consideration for remission by the executive,” the apex court had said while referring the matter to the Constitution bench. It had said the Constitution bench would decide whether the sentence of a prisoner, whose death penalty has been commuted to life, can be remitted by the government. The bench would also decide
With the apex court commuting the death sentence of convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case into life sentence, the entire scenario has changed and looks into the State’s stand on remission
whether life imprisonment meant jail term for rest of the life or a convict has a right to claim remission, it had said. Another issue for the constitution bench to decide is whether a special category of sentence could be provided for cases where death penalty might be substituted by imprisonment for life or
imprisonment for a term in excess of 14 years and to put that category beyond application of remission. The bench will also decide whether the Union or the State has primacy over the subject matter enlisted in concurrent list of 7th Schedule of the Constitution for exercise of power of
NIA not to challenge Swami bail plea NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has decided not to challenge in Supreme Court the conditional bail granted to Swami Aseemanand, accused in the Samjhauta Express blast case, as it did not find any grounds for the same, Lok Sabha was informed. Minister of State for Home, Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary, told the House that the Punjab and Haryana High Court had granted conditional bail to Naba Kumar Sarkar alias Swami Aseemanand on August 28, 2014, in the Samjhauta Express blast case. However, the certified copy of the said order was issued by the court only on May 1, 2015. “The NIA examined the feasibility of filing a Special Leave Petition and decided that there were no grounds to challenge the order in Supreme
Court,” he said in his reply to a written question. However, Swami Aseemanand continues to remain in jail since he did not comply with the conditions of bail specified in the August 28, 2014, order. Blasts in two coaches of the Samjhauta Express on February 18, 2007, had claimed the lives of 68 people. Chaudhary also told Lok Sabha that the government did not find it fit to challenge the March 21, 2014, order granting bail to the two accused in the Mecca Masjid blast case of May, 2007 -- Devender Gupta and Lokesh Sharma -- on grounds of parity since on June 3, 2012, and June 27, 2013, respectively, bail was granted to Bharat Mohan Lal alias Bharat Bhai and Tejaram Parmar which was not challenged by the prosecution. PTI
Cancer patient Kunwar Singh Patil who was made a police officer for a day as per his wish, occupies senior inspector’s chair in Mumbai on Monday
Vol-II* lssue No.: 09 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: 020-2432 4332/33.
SRINAGAR/NEW DELHI: The decision not to oppose the bail granted to Swami Assemanand chargesheeted in 2007 Samjhauta blast case was slammed by opposition parties today with NC leader Omar Abdullah asking how this was different from Pakistan justifying bail for Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi. “How is the Indian justification of bail for #Aseemanand any different from the Pakistani justification of bail for #Lakhvi?,” Omar, the leader of National Conference and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, wrote on micro blogging site Twitter. The Parliament was informed by the Government yesterday that
PTI
INSPECTOR FOR A DAY
oppn slams Decision
SC grants Rs 1.8 crore to Chennai girl in Medical negligence case NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered one of the highest compensations so far in the country in a case of medical negligence to the tune of Rs 1.8 crore. The Tamil Nadu government has to pay the sum to an 18-year-old girl who lost her vision at birth due to medical negligence at a government-run hospital. A bench of justices JS Khehar and S A Bobde considered inflation and escalating cost of treatment required by her in future while deciding the quantum of compensation.. The girl was born prematurely at the government hospital in Chennai’s Egmore. But she was discharged from the hospital without a retinopathy test, mandatory for preemies, babies born prematurely. The father of the girl approached only after discovering that the girl had lost her vision. The Forum had awarded Rs 5 lakh as compensation. Dissatisfied with the compensation, the family then approached the Supreme Court. Notably, the Supreme Court reviewed the literature available on Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) guidelines and came to the conclusion that the principle of awarding compensation that can be safely relied on is restitutio in integrum. The honourable bench cited Malay Kumar Ganguly vs Sukumar Mukherjee, (2009) 9 SCC 221 while applying the principle, which says that the aggrieved person should get that sum of money, which would put him in the same position if he had not sustained the wrong. PTI
the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has decided not to oppose the conditional bail granted to Assemanand as it did not find any grounds for it. Lakhvi, a LeT terrorist and the Mumbai attack mastermind, was granted bail by an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan early this year. “He (Aseemanand) is accused in the Samjhauta train blast case. It was a major terrorist attack in our country. After the coming of this (NDA) government, the various terrorist cases in which Hindutva extremists are involved, attempts are being made to end all cases like that,” CPI-M leader Prakash Karat said. PTI
remission. During the hearing, Centre said that repeated mercy pleas before the President and the Governor by convicts seeking remission or commutation of their sentences violate the principle of finality. It had also asserted that the killers of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi did nor deserve any mercy as the assassination was the result of a conspiracy involving foreign nationals. Tamil Nadu government, on other had, asserted the states have power to grant remission under the law and trashed accusations that its decision to release seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case was “political and arbitrary”. The state government had wanted to know as to why Congress governments at the centre delayed the decision on their mercy pleas that led to commutation of their death sentence in the first place. Jethmalani, appearing for one of the convicts, had sought dismissal of Centre’s plea, contending that the citizens could file writ petitions for enforcement of their fundamental rights and “Union of India is not a citizen but State under Article 12; it has no such rights vested in it”. “The present petition is not
maintainable for additional reason that it seeks to challenge the correctness of a final judgement of this court through a writ petition under Article 32”, he had said. The apex court had on February 20 last year stayed the state government’s decision to release three convicts Murugan, Santhan and Arivu, whose death sentence had been commuted to life term by it two days before. It had later also stayed the release of four other convicts — Nalini, Robert Pious, Jayakumar and Ravichandran, saying there were procedural lapses on part of the state government. Santhan, Murugan and Arivu are currently lodged in the Central Prison, Vellore. The other four are also undergoing life sentence for their role in Gandhi’s assassination on May 21, 1991 in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. Recently, the apex court has dismissed the curative petition of the Centre filed against the commutation of death penalty into life imprisonment of three convicts in the case, granting a fresh lease of life to them. The review pleas, challenging the commutation of death penalty to life term of Santhan, Murugan and Perarivalan, had been dismissed on the ground of 11-year delay in deciding mercy petitions. PTI
HC seeks Delhi govt reply to PIL NEW DELHI: The High Court has sought Delhi government’s response to a PIL seeking reconstruction of the building of a minority school which has been functioning from tents since its demolition 40 years ago during Emergency. A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath issued notices to the city government, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the Delhi Waqf Board on the plea and asked them to respond by September 23, 2015. The PIL filed by civil activist Firoz Bakht Ahmed, contended that the state of affairs at the Qaumi school was
“sad and pitiable” as it was functioning from the grounds of the Eidgah at Quresh Nagar in old Delhi after its building was demolished on June 30, 1976, during Emergency. The plea alleged that despite promises of land and building nothing has been done and the school continues to function in a “tattered, tented and tinned structure, without a building” since 1976. The PIL, filed through advocate Atyab Siddiqui, contended that children from the “down-trodden and backward class have to suffer due to threats of closure, makeshift classrooms, leaking roofs and no proper facilities. PTI
Two Indian children reach Everest base camp in Nepal
The base camp is at an altitude of 5,380 metres in northeast Nepal. The siblings were accompanied by their parents by Shirish B Pradhan KATHMANDU: A five-year-old Indian boy and his eight-year-old sister might have set a new record by becoming the youngest climbers to reach the base camp of the world’s highest peak, the Mount Everest. Gwalior-based Kandarp Sharma and Ritvika successfully reached the base camp situated at an altitude of 5,380 metres in northeast Nepal, according to Thupden Sherpa, general manager of Arun Treks and Expedition, that organised the expedition. The siblings were accompanied by their parents to the base camp, according to Sherpa. Apart from their individual records of being the youngest boy and girl to trek to the base camp, they have also become the youngest brother and sister to reach the height, their father Bhupendra Sharma said. The family might also have become the first to reach the base camp on the 8,848-metre tall Everest. First-grader Kandarp and fourth grader Ritvika are students of Little Angels High School in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. Kandarp is 5 years and 10 months old while her sister Ritvika is 8 years and 11 months old. Last year too, Harshit, another climber from India, had reached the
Gwalior-based Kandarp Sharma and Ritvika who successfully reached the base camp situated at an altitude of 5,380 metres in northeast Nepal were part of the expedition organised by Arun Treks and Expedition
base camp at the age of 5 years and 11 months, setting a record. Bhupendra’s wife Mamta and the two children also reached Kalapathar peak situated near the base camp with an altitude of 5,555 metres. All the four reached the Everest base camp and three of them reached Kalapathar, Sherpa told PTI. Kalapathar is higher than the highest peaks of three continents Mont Blanc (4,810 m) in Europe, Vinson Massif (4,810 m) in Antarctica, and Puncak Jaya (4,884 m) in Australasia. The children flew to Lukla on
August 2 to embark on the trek. They have started descending from the base camp and are now heading towards Kathmandu, where they are expected to organise a press meet. The expedition was undertaken to send a message to the world climbers that Everest trekking route was not damaged by the earthquakes that devastated other parts of the country, said Thupden Sherpa. Sherpa said they would try to get the children’s names in the Guinness Book of World Records and India’s Limca Book of Records for becoming the youngest climbers to reach the base camp. PTI
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY AUGUST 15, 2015
PUNE
“We want cordial and cooperative ties with India and Afghanistan. We will not allow our territory to be used by any terrorists irrespective of their nationality or ethnicity.” — Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister, Pakistan
Players face a punch from Fed P 16
India’s UN seat prospects suffer a setback US, along with Russia and China, has opposed negotiations to reform the United Nations Security Council BY Yoshita Singh
Inter-faith wedding disrupted at UK gurdwara
More arrests in Pak child abuse scandal
by Aditi Khanna LONDON: A group of over 20 men stormed a gurdwara here and stopped an inter-faith wedding between a Sikh bride and non-Sikh white groom. Members of the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Southall, south-west London, said the final preparations were underway on Friday when the “thugs” came in, forcing the couple to call off their wedding plans. “They were all thugs. None of them were recognised by any of the Sikh groups here. It was because it was a mixed marriage... They just came here to spoil it and intimidate us,” gurdwara vice-president Sohan Singh Sumra told ‘The Independent’ newspaper. “I’ve been in this temple since 1994 and I’ve never seen this sort of thing. We will always listen to people’s suggestions but there was no reasoning with them. “It was a sad day... We are living in this country and we work with couples ? if they are happy we’re fine with it ? Sikhism is a liberal religion,” he said. Scotland Yard officers were called in to remove the “threatening” men and the gurdwara is now considering hiring private security. The men had reportedly also threatened to prevent the Sikh wedding ceremony from taking place in a phone call the night before but the bride’s family had decided to go ahead. The Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara is one of London’s largest Sikh temples and was inaugurated by Prince Charles over a decade ago. PTI
AP/PTI
UNITED NATIONS: In a setback to India’s bid for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council, the US, along with Russia and China, has opposed negotiations to reform the powerful UN body, refusing to contribute to a text that will form the basis for the long-drawn reform process. UN General Assembly President Sam Kutesa achieved a breakthrough of sorts by circulating a text to UN members that will form the basis for the negotiations on the reform of the Security Council. Kutesa had appointed Jamaica’s Permanent Representative Courtenay Rattray to chair on his behalf the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council Reform. Kutesa, in a letter dated July 31 to all UN members, said he is also circulating letters containing the positions of groups and Member States that indicated they did not wish their proposals to be included in the body of the negotiating text. These countries include US, Russia and China. American Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said in her letter to Kutesa that the US is “open in principle” to a “modest” expansion of both permanent and non-permanent members but the condition that “any consideration of an expansion of
permanent members must take into account the ability and willingness of countries to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security and to the other purposes of the United Nations.” Power added that “we believe that consideration of new permanent members must be country-specific in nature.” She also reiterated that the US remains opposed to “any alteration or expansion of the veto”. Sources told PTI that the US opposition to aspects of the reform process can be perceived as a “duplicity” since President Barack Obama has reaffirmed his support for a reformed UN Security Council with India as a permanent member. Russia, which has also supported India’s candidacy as permanent member, said in its letter to Kutesa that the “prerogatives of the current Permanent Members of the Security Council, including the use of the veto, should remain intact under any variant of the Council reform”. “The intergovernmental negotiations on the UN Security Council reform should proceed in a calm, transparent and inclusive atmosphere free from artificial deadlines,” it said. India has maintained that the process to expand the powerful UN body “cannot be seen to be an exercise
US Secretary of State John Kerry, 3rd left, and Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, facing camera right, greet other ministers at an ASEAN Gala in Kuala Lumpur
ad infinitum” and a results-based timeline is crucial to achieve a concrete outcome. “Those who ask for not imposing artificial timelines may be advised to desist from inflicting artificial delays on this process,” India’s Ambassador to the UN Asoke Kumar Mukerji has said in the past. Sources said that India feels that the 70th anniversary of the UN, being commemorated this year, is an appropriate milestone to propel the reform process, which should be completed within the next one year. .
Russia said that in the situation when positions of the main groups of states - those who support the idea of the UN Security Council’s expansion in both categories and those who do not - remain polar, one can advance in the negotiating process only by searching for a compromise. It said that while it supports broader representation of the developing countries from Africa, Asia and Latin America on a reformed Security Council, it is important to maintain compact composition of the Council in order for it to provide an
adequate and prompt reaction to new challenges. “The number of members in an enlarged UNSC should not exceed a reasonable level of low twenties,” it added. On improvement of the working methods of the Security Council, Russia said the leading role in this process should belong to the Security Council itself as the “only legitimate master of its own procedures and working methods.” China said UNSC reform is “multifaceted”, covering not only issues such as enlarging the Council’s membership and strengthening representation, but also increasing efficiency and improving working methods. It added that Member States are still seriously divided on the Security Council reform and no general agreement has been reached on any solution so far. UNSC “reform should not be carried out at the expense of the unity of Member States. All member States should remain committed to the intergovernmental negotiations process, adopt a flexible and pragmatic attitude, gradually build mutual trust and meet each other halfway. No solution on which Member States are seriously divided or approach that may cause division among Member States will have China’s Support,” it said. “Member states still need to
This is the country’s biggest child abuse scandal in a village in Punjab bordering India
Child abuse: Pak judiciary rejects request
by M Zulqernain LAHORE: Pakistan police have arrested the main accused and four other suspects in the country’s biggest child abuse scandal in a village in Punjab bordering India, taking the total number of arrests in the case to 11, even as victims’ families accused police of protecting the culprits. At least 280 children were filmed being sexually abused by a gang who used the hundreds of videos they produced to blackmail their parents in Ganda Singh village in Kasur district, some 50 kilometres from here. Kasur Police chief Rai Babar told reporters today that the prime accused, Hasib Aamir, was arrested yesterday and he had confessed to his crime. “The accused confessed to have committed sexual assault on a number of children and blackmailed their parents,” Babar said, adding police have also arrested another two accused named in the FIR. Following the surfacing of the scandal early last month, police had registered criminal cases against 15 suspects of ‘the gang’ under sodomy and extortion charges. Eleven suspects have been arrested so far. Hasib, however, told media at Kasur police station that he only filmed the crime. “I only used to film the crime but I never took part in it,” he said. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed strong resentment over the incident and vowed stern action against those responsible. He said the culprits behind the
Activists from Pakistan’s civil society rally to condemn a child abuse scandal in Lahore, Pakistan. Police in eastern Pakistan arrested several men accused of sexually abusing children and distributing videos of the abuse, authorities said
incident would be taken to task with “exemplary punishment”. Shahbaz Sharif, the chief minister of Punjab province, where the abuse took place, has ordered setting up of a judicial commission comprising judges of superior court to investigate the matter. The head of Punjab’s Child Protection Bureau, Saba Sadiq, described the case as “the largest child abuse scandal in Pakistan’s history”. Meanwhile, an 18-year-old student in Lahore also filed a complaint with the police, alleging that when he was nineyear-old, Hasib and other accused lured him to their place and sodomised him. The victim children’s family alleged that police are protecting the criminals and
have provided them an opportunity to escape the village. A number of civil society members and opposition leaders visited the village and demanded exemplary punishment for the culprits. Last month, police registered cases against the suspects after a large number of villagers surrounded the houses of the suspects and threatened to torch them. According to the FIRs, the influential suspects used to record videos while sodomising young boys and raping girls. The gang allegedly attempted to extort money as well as gold jewellery from the parents of victims, selling clips of the videos locally if they did not pay PTI up.
LAHORE: Pakistan’s judiciary has rejected a request by the Punjab government to form a judicial commission to probe the country’s biggest child abuse scandal involving nearly 300 children, citing the ongoing police investigation. Lahore High Court Chief Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik has declined the request for a judicial inquiry into the scandal in Punjab’s Kasur district, bordering India. “Police are already investigating the cases, as such, there is no justification to hold a judicial inquiry or to nominate District & Sessions Judge Kasur for the said purpose,” says a letter written by LHC Registrar to Home Secretary. The Home Secretary, on behalf of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, had sent a reference to the Chief Justice for holding a judicial inquiry into the incident following an outcry by civil society members, opposition parties and media to “thoroughly investigate” the matter. At least 280 children were filmed being sexually abused and the videos to blackmail their parents. PTI
‘Obama govt politicised trafficking report on India’ WASHINGTON: US lawmakers have alleged that the Barack Obama administration has “politicised” its annual human trafficking report by improving the status of India, Malaysia and Cuba, despite “minimal progress” by their governments. The State Department which prepared the Congressional- mandated report released last month, however, denied any wrongdoing and asserted that its report was based on facts. Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, appeared unsatisfied with the response of senior State Department officials who testified before a Congressional hearing
yesterday. He threatened to subpoena information with the department over internal deliberations about questionable upgrades for countries with poor records of combating human trafficking. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee convened a hearing on the issue after a media report alleged many of the enhanced ratings in the annual Trafficking In Person (TIP) report occurred despite objections from staff with the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP), who were overruled by diplomatic personnel. Citing the report, Corker alleged
this year’s TIP report improved the status of Cuba, Malaysia and India, despite their “minimal progress” in addressing trafficking aggressively. “It’s hard for me to understand how India could possibly be a tier two entity, and I hope the Secretary will explain to us what those competing equities were there because I’m not sure I fully understand,” said Corker. “...in India, it’s an amazing thing. As I understand it, the Government of India seized the passports of trafficking victims and their families who were issued T visas, which are reserved, for trafficking victims by the US. “In other words, we were trying to get trafficking victims here to
safety. And we understand that the government of India seized their passports. They’ve denied international travel to others,” he said. In her response, Under-Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, Sarah Sewall, defended State Department’s decision to rank India as a Tier II nation. “India’s tier two ranking indicates that it does not fully comply with minimum standards but is making efforts to do so,” she argued,” Sewall said. “The significance of those efforts is really primarily in the shelter and rehabilitation services arena, as well as
in its training of prosecutors and judges, and the launching upon the order of the Supreme Court within India, of searches to trace the whereabouts of lost and abandoned children, including potential trafficking victims,” she said. However, Sewall expressed concern over recent Indian decision on Indian nationals having T1 visas. “We remain concerned, about the T visa issue. It was in July 2014 that the Government of India began confiscating the passports of Indian nationals that had received T visas. These are visas provided by the US government to trafficking victim family members. PTI
engage in patient consultations to find a solution that accommodates each other’s interests and concerns,” it said, a position different from that of India which has stressed that the 2015 “is a year for decisive action” and for it, another round of the IGN with business like the earlier rounds would “not be acceptable.” India has said it would then find it very difficult to meaningfully engage with the process. China also stressed that new seats of the Security Council should be reasonably distributed. It also noted that any solution or reform model should enjoy general consensus. “The five clusters of key issues concerning Security Council reform are interrelated, and should not be addressed in isolation of each other. It is imperative to stick to the approach of a package solution. The ‘piecemeal’ or ‘step-by-step’ approach is not conducive to accommodating the interests and concerns of Member States,” China said. India has received support from France and the UK, the two remaining permanent members of Security Council. The two nations along with Kazakhstan and Romania have specifically named in the negotiating text Brazil, Germany, India, Japan and an African representation to be included among the permanent members of a reformed UNSC. PTI
US Senators ask Obama to raise human rights issues with Xi by Lalit K Jha WASHINGTON: Ten powerful Senators have asked US President Barack Obama to raise concern with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping over human rights conditions in China, particularly on the issues of Tibetan lamas, when the two leaders meet here in September. “We understand that there are many important issues in the USChina bilateral relationship we expect that China’s recent actions in the East and South China Seas, economic and trade issues, climate change, as well as the recent cyberattacks, will figure prominently in your discussions,” the Senators wrote in a letter to Obama. “While these issues deserve a full and robust exchange of views, so too do human rights... Mr President, we recognise that managing the USChina relationship is an enormous and complex task. We firmly believe that a full and frank discussion of our concerns regarding human rights and civil society in China would serve to strengthen our relationship,” the Senators wrote in the letter released to the press. Xi will visit the White House next month where Obama will host him over a State Dinner. The letter was signed by Senators Ben Cardin, John McCain, Pat Leahy, Kelly Ayotte, Sherrod Brown, Tom Cotton, Tammy Baldwin, Susan Collins, Robert Menendez and John Cornyn. Under President Xi, there has been an extraordinary assault on rule of law and civil society in China. Beginning on July 9, for example, Chinese law enforcement officials have detained or harassed more than 250 lawyers and political activists, they alleged. “These detentions send a chilling message to civil and political rights advocates, and to the Chinese people. Their only crime was to seek to build a stronger and more inclusive China. Therefore, we ask that you call publicly and privately for China’s immediate release of these detained lawyers and activists, or at the very least, that China grant them due process,” the Senators demanded. In the letter, the Senators hoped that the President’s administration will continue to urge China to end the harassment, detention, and other mistreatment of individuals who peacefully practice their religion. PTI
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY AUGUST 15, 2015
PUNE
MONEY MATT ER S
“Despite the volatility we are seeing on some markets, the BMW Group continues to show steady sales growth around the world.” — Ian Robertson, board of management, BMW
Signpost
“With the help of the feedback received from the beta launches, we have now built India’s first commercial 4G network that will make high speed mobile broadband a reality.” — Gopal Vittal, managing director, Bharti Airtel
Confidentiality under black money window People can file disclosures online and information will be restricted to officers concerned
Kochi first Indian city to join WTCF Kochi has become the first city in India to be a member of Beijing-headquartered World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) Council, with the Kerala Tourism Department accepting the Council’s invitation to join its league of leading tourism cities across the world. Kochi Mayor Tony Chammany handed over the membership acceptance document to Chinese Ambassador to India Le Yucheng at a function. Yucheng said the two regions need to explore the possibilities for partnerships in culture, sports and tourism as there are many striking similarities between their cultures.
Emami Agrotech enter bio-diesel retail Emami Agrotech of Emami Group has started retailing of bio-diesel from its Haldia plant to make the product available for sale in New Delhi, Vijayawada and Vishakhapatnam. The service was inaugurated via video-conferencing by Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan from New Delhi. As per the government policy, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) are required to supply five per cent of bio-diesel through pumps, blending it with 95 per cent of diesel.
Seeking to allay fears, the Indian government said full confidentiality will be maintained with regard to disclosures of unaccounted overseas wealth made under the black money compliance window and only those who do not take advantage of the scheme need to worry. Asking people to disclose unaccounted wealth by September 30, Revenue Secretary Shaktikanta Das on August 10 said the 90-day compliance window will not be extended, though the CBDT would continue to clarify all doubts on the black money law. At a workshop organised by ICAI at the behest of CBDT he said, “A person can fi le disclosure online and information will be restricted to officers who require to know. Information will not be circulated far and wide. Confidentiality shall be maintained.” Th is is in contrast to the Das’ statement last week, where he had said that the information provided during the one-time compliance window can be revealed in the public interest. “In this law, there is no assurance of confidentiality but at the same time there is a provision that Section 138 of I-T Act, which is basically a confidentiality provision... However, the Department in public interest can declare it,” Das had said. Clarifying government’s stand, Das on Monday said the provisions of Section 138 of the Income Tax Act will be applicable to the informations disclosed and full confidentiality will be maintained. “Let us not create false alarm. Those who have stashed money abroad and not declared them has a lot more to worry because we will start getting information under automatic exchange of information and FATCA. Those who fi le disclosure information under compliance window under Black Money Act need not worry,” Das said. To allay fears that the Tax Department would start a greater scrutiny after someone avails a disclosure window, Das said if someone makes a declaration the I-T department “will not make a roving enquiry”.
Revenue Secretary Shaktikanta Das said 90-day compliance window will not be extended, though CBDT would continue to clarify doubts on the black money law
“We will verify whether we have received that information earlier under double taxation avoidance agreements and will inform him. We will not harass him. He can then fi le his undisclosed assets under the Income Tax Act,” he said. The Revenue Department would come out with a second set of FAQs on the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015 to clarify the provisions of the law, he added. The department had earlier issued the rules and the fi rst set of FAQs on the new law, which has come into force from July 1, provides a 90-day compliance window to help people holding unaccounted assets abroad to come clean by paying 60 per cent tax and penalty. Black Money law is based on principle of rule of law and is transparent, objective and is a fair law, he said, adding that the compliance window in the new Act is not an amnesty programme. The Tax Department had kept secret the names the persons who had disclosed assets under the Voluntary Disclosure of Income Scheme (VDIS)
which was announced in 1996. Das said such confidentiality would also be maintained in case of new black money law. Government was very clear in its mind that the law has to be effective and meaningful, Das said, adding since certain provisions of the Act are stringent. “The law is based on the principle of rule of law, law is not arbitrary and leaves nothing to chance. Law is nondiscretionary,” he said. Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Chairperson Anita Kapur said although the I-T Act has been in operation for years, but the problem of black money had persisted and hence there was a need to come out with a more stringent law. Kapur said that the black money law has generated a lot of controversy and hence the CBDT had decided to go out and conduct workshops with ICAI to understand the doubts. Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) President Manoj Fadnis said with more clarity coming in on the black money law the compliance window is expected to be a great success. PTI
FINANCIAL CORNER
Get health insurance with adequate cover BY SARANSH DEY @Casaransh
The age-old saying ‘Money lost, nothing is lost; Time Lost, something is lost; Health Lost; everything is lost’ still stands true. Any investment done without taking care of contingent medical expenses is a sure way of losing profits to unplanned hospital expenses. Medical insurance is the most neglected investment avenue. I call it an investment and not an expenditure because your personal health is the best investment. Understanding medical insurance is easy. There are many products with several variations from single general insurance providers. What most people miss is reading the fine print and understanding the riders. The fi rst step in selecting a medical insurance policy is to buy it at an early age. Anyone above 30 years of age must have a comprehensive medical cover. Th is is because the earlier you subscribe to a policy the earlier you can reap benefits of no claim and reduction of premium clauses. Premiums are also low in early days. An analysis of your residential area will give the first input to your medical insurance. If you stay in an area prone to dengue, dengue cover is a must. These guides will help you choose the right policy. I recommend a family floater plan. This plan ensures that members of the family are covered by one single policy. It also has benefits of top up which can be taken if the limit is utilised by one member. This is best for any person with a family of three or more persons. Always check the individual sum insured and family floater together. The general thumb rule is that if your age is 30 years and above, you should have a cover of Rs 1,50,000 with an increase of Rs 10,000
every passing year. With increase in medical costs and treatment expenses, I believe sufficient cover is the only way forward. Cashless facility is a must. It ensures that you don’t have to shell out major amounts while availing the benefits of your policy. Once cashless facility is availed, ensure that you utilise the policy at your nearby cashless networked hospitals only. Most policies have a room rent cap. Know the room rent in the hospital you prefer and ensure that the rate offered covers your preferences. There should not be any cap on ICU charges. Ambulance charges should also be covered by your policy. Loading of premium on renewal is a clause which many of us ignore. Th is is triggered if you have utilised the policy in previous term or discount offered on continuous renewal. Th is clause significantly impacts your cost of policy. You should aim for increase in sum assured if amount is unutilised. Th is policy will take care of the upside required in your cover. Domiciliary hospitalisation clause will take care of minor diseases treated at locations other than hospital. Take care that the limit specified under this clause is sufficient to cover expenses anticipated by you. Many insurance companies provide free health check-up which is a welcome feature to ensure good practice for overall wellbeing. Wa i t i n g period is a vital clause in a medical insurance policy. Initial waiting period is the duration for which your policy will not trigger if it was called for after its coming into effect. Standard waiting period is 90 days. Anything beyond that should generally not be accepted. A waiver for accident and life-threatning emergency should be ensured in the waiting period. Preexisting disease waiting period is also critical. Anything beyond three years should not be accepted. Most policies are also eligible for income tax benefits. Investment in health is the best investment ever. I recommend it as an immediate investment to all. saransh@goldensparrow.com
Adani, Standard Firms chase talent, fancy designations Chartered sever ties
People are being called ‘Chief Geek Officers’, ‘Dream catchers’, ‘Gold Miners’ and even ‘Heads of Fire Fighting’
Carmichael plan in Queensland plunges further into doubt BY NATASHA CHAKU Adani and the Standard Chartered Bank have severed their ties, marking the second big bank to walk away from the Indian mining giant’s controversial 16 billion dollar coal mine project in Australia, barely a week after the federal court revoked its environmental approval. The development puts the Carmichael coal mine project in Queensland into further doubt. Commonwealth Bank, Australia’s largest lender, quit its role as financial adviser last week.
Adani spokesperson said the conglomerate has requested the termination of Standard Chartered’s financial advisory role, on the basis of Adani’s own concerns over ongoing delays to a now five-year-long approval process in Australia. The project to build one of world’s largest coal mines and expanding a port on the Great Barrier Reef - the largest coral reef system - is opposed by green groups and residents. Standard Chartered said the decision to quit was mutual. PTI
Thinking out-of-box to attract talent, especially youngsters, many companies are trying out creative and at times ‘quirky’ designations to convey a work culture that is fun and innovative. As a result, people are being called ‘Chief Geek Officers’, ‘Dream catchers’, ‘Gold Miners’ and even ‘Heads of Fire Fighting’. According to the HR experts, this trend actually started during the dotcom boom in the late 90s, but has gained currency now, especially among the newage start-ups, who are increasingly doing away with the traditional designations and are coining the new ones. At software firm Sapient, a person working on software codes like CSS,
Chief Delight Officer
Preserver of Experience
JS and HTML is called the “creator of experiences”. “The motive behind creating such new-age descriptions is to lay emphasis on the experience/impact the person will create rather than just talking about the
job title,” SapientNitro, part of Sapient, India V-P, Hiring and Staffing, Prashant Bhatnagar said. SapientNitro is also launching role descriptions like ‘Omni-Maestro of Integrated Commerce’, ‘Curator of next-generation digital experiences’ and ‘Preserver of Experience’ for different roles. At Smartprix.com, an online comparison shopping platform, there is a Chief Delight Officer (HR), who is tasked with connecting people, building teams, reducing stress and promoting a happy work culture. Shiju Radhakrishnan, founder and CEO, iTraveller.com, said: “Breaking the stereotype of designations which has evolved through ages gave us the
idea to have some quirky and unusual designations. Like, we have ‘Chief Tweeting Officer’, ‘Chief Jolly Officer’ and ‘Chief Geeky Officer’ as well.” Sanjoe Jose, co-founder and CEO, of technology hiring platform Talview.com said: “Quirky designations help convey a work culture which is fun and innovative and is a major driver for candidates when joining a new organisation.” Suresh Raina, Managing Partner of Hunt Partners, a leadership talent advisory firm, believes that “though interesting job titles help empower workers by conveying power to others and communicate a greater influence, there is a risk that what is cool today could be pass tomorrow or ten years from now”. PTI
Indian managers are future oriented: US daily BY LALIT K JHA
One of the reasons for Indian managers’ success is that they are future oriented, a leading American financial daily has said, with Google’s Sunder Pichai joining the fast expanding club of Indian-origin CEOs. The elevation of Pichai, 43, as the CEO of Google, The Wall Street Journal reported is a reminder that the CEOs of some of the world’s most recognisable tech companies share origins from India.
“Indian managers are futureoriented, and had a paradoxical blend of genuine personal humility and intense professional will,” the Journal said, citing a recent study by Southern Hampshire University. “These leaders achieved extraordinary results and built great organisations without much hoopla,” the daily said as it listed out the Indian origin executives that are heading top companies in the US. “Nowhere, perhaps, is that more
starkly on display than at Microsoft. Since taking over as CEO, Satya Nadella managed to achieve what had once seemed impossible: to make Silicon Valley like Microsoft again. He did so by embracing collaboration and not treating rivals products as enemies?in some ways the opposite of his often-flamboyant predecessor, Steve Ballmer,” the daily reported. While Indian managers are not in many cases the founders of the companies they lead, they are respected managers
who have held numerous positions in their companies, working up the ranks, it said. Adobe chief Shantanu Narayen, 53, according to the daily, has been described by colleagues as quiet but incredibly competitive. Sanjay Jha, the 52-year-old CEO of chipmaker Globalfoundries, had previously run Motorola Mobility and was a senior executive of Qualcomm. In another article, The Wall Street Journal said Pichai’s ascent reflects his ability to create strong products,
including Google’s Chrome browser and later the Chrome operating system. But it also shows his ability to identify competitive pressures, manage others and smooth over differences, both internally and with Google’s business partners, it said. “He has this amazing, almost 12-year track record of being this guy that always launched things that people wanted,” said Wesley Chan, who handed over the Google Toolbar product to Pichai in 2004. PTI
Sundar Pichai
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY AUGUST 15, 2015
PUNE
“Public transport is not efficient. Every day , more than 500 vehicles are registered. Traffic enforcement will not solve problems, it will be cosmetic. However, enforcement brings traffic discipline.” — Sarang Awad, DCP (traffic)
“ We are monitoring dam levels and government will ensure the city gets enough water. There are plans to save about two TMC additional water for the city by releasing treated water for agriculture through baby canals.” — Girish Bapat, Guardian minister
Wanted, parking lots at Laxmi Road
L
axmi Road is the best and most popular shopping area of Pune because of the wide variety, the fair prices and the bargaining option. Naturally it is crowded all through the day and fi nding parking space for a twowheeler is extremely diffi cult and for a four-wheeler it is like mission impossible. How long it will take to fi nd an empty slot no one knows. You could be waiting for half an hour or seemingly forever. One of the reasons is that the shopkeepers and their workers occupy the parking lots when they open their shops, leaving no space for the shoppers. Being one of the busiest roads in the city, a lot more consideration should be given to the issue of parking space. Imagine what the situation will be during the festive season, when people from all over converge on Laxmi Road. Is there time to find a solution or option, except for parking miles away and walking to Laxmi Road?
In fact it bothers me so much that I do not go to Laxmi Road except when it’s unavoidable. The pavements are another issue, as with all the vendors and encroachments, there is no room at all for pedestrians, who then walk about in the middle of traffic. Crossing the road is a nightmare with the constant flow of traffic. I remember that there was a plan for ten parking lots on Laxmi Road a few years ago, of which a couple
CITIZEN JOURNALIST have been built. The vendors who occupy large amounts of space on this crowded road are a source of revenue for the PMC, and so they will not be removed. Shop and restaurant owners also encroach freely on space near their establishments. The shopping malls, in contrast,
provide adequate parking space, which allows the shoppers a carefree experience. On Laxmi Road, we are left scrambling for parking pace and all the wasted time and struggle is not what a shopper wants. In fact, it puts me completely off my shopping mood and fi lled with disgust. Pune is a city that is sinking under the weight of mushrooming vehicular traffic, all because of the lack of public transport. And no matter how many times the issue comes up, with traffic jams at every street junction at all hours of the day or night, the concerned authorities at the municipal corporation are the least concerned. They seem to have neither the qualifications nor the motivation to address this burning issue. The unplanned and rampant development in Pune is another factor that the government and civic body seems blindfolded and immune to. But a parking facility at Laxmi Road seems quite possible. Is anyone listening?
RAHUL RAUT
There’s unity in Pune’s diversity The Ganeshotsav is the highlight of Pune’s cultural calendar when the city seems to be caught up a stirring religious fervour
Jignesh Raval, Regional Head, Overnite Express, Yerawada
I moved to Pune from Ahmedabad four years ago. I was excited about discovering and experiencing that this new city had to offer. So, though I was cooped up in my office for almost 12 hours a day, I made time on the weekends to explore Pune, and I must say that I have been amazed by the diversity I have observed here. From the inhabitants, who seem to come from all corners of the country and the world, to the widest range of food and cuisines, the profusion of educational institutions, and most importantly, the liberal, cosmopolitan lifestyles, this is a veritable melting pot of cultures, but where Puneri traditions still hold sway. The cultural calendar sparkles with a scintillating mix of events and festivals that encompass every month of
LETTERS TO THE
EDITOR
The success of Operation Muskan is a big deal. Not only have the children been united with their families, but the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) deserves praise for their valiant efforts. But it is also essential to ensure that such incidents are prevented. One can only imagine the pain and agony the parents of the missing children must have gone through. What we need is stricter policing that will
On the brink of becoming Tier-1 city
ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
The lack of infrastructure is stopping Pune from achieving the status it really deserves
the year. There is always something to be experienced, be it art, theatre, music, dance, movies, or the resplendent extravaganza of Ganeshotsav. In fact Ganesh Chaturthi is my favourite time of the year. The entire population of the city seems to be caught up in its fervour and every street in the peth areas has its pandals, lighting and music. It’s almost as if the city is on holiday for a couple of weeks, and the devotion and worship of Lord Ganesh is an overwhelming experience. It is truly inspiring and an experience of a lifetime for tourists and visitors. Along with the modern malls and high-rises, the heritage architecture of Pune is exemplified by the wadas and buildings from a bygone era. The weather, the hill stations, getaways and trekking destinations make Pune even more attractive to live in. I live in Bavdhan, where everything is
within walking distance. I do like going out, and my favourite hangouts include 1000 Oaks, Miami-Marriott, Hard Rock Cafe, The Ship, Kue Bar - Westin, Cafe Toons, One Lounge, Hidden Place, Kiva Pubs, Shisha to name a few. Not all is rosy though. The lack of infrastructure and chaotic traffic are woes that citizens face and complain about day after day. The civic authorities are to blame for not providing efficient public transport, the lack of which forces people to use their own vehicles, which in the main reason for the over-congestion and chaos. It is extremely difficult, if not impossible to commute without your own vehicle. I wonder why the municipal corporation is turning a blind eye to such a burning need, for which they are cursed on daily basis by everyone who has to while away hours stuck in the perennial traffic jams.
NON-NATIVE
PAROLE
I came to Pune in 1992 and I also got married here. Those days there were no road signs and I remember travelling the length and breadth of the city on a bicycle. The only way one could find their way was to remember landmarks such as hospitals, schools or government buildings. It’s almost unbelievable how this city has grown, from a sleepy town that it used to be, to a bustling metropolis. Though I don’t want to go back to the old days, I definitely wish that the beautiful trees and greenery was preserved well. What remains is gradually being cut down and done away with to make room for all the construction all around the city. If on one hand I miss the slow pace and open spaces, I also love the fact that now I have all the facilities of shopping complexes, schools, hospitals, malls and multiplexes well within reach. These have made our lives easier as I don’t need to travel
long distance to shop for our daily neccessities. On the other hand, with the way and at the pace Pune is growing, it’s also making people more aggressive and impatient. For example, the uncontrollable traffic and lack of proper infrastructure is stopping the city from becoming a Tier 1 city. I feel sad whenever I see beggars at every traffic signal. One thing I really want this city to have is better public transport. Back in Germany, we have so many transport options that I don’t feel reluctant to leave my children on their own to travel wherever they want to go. But here, I am always worried. My son wants a bike, but I am
FROM FOREIGN
SHORES
too scared to let him out alone on the roads as no one observes traffic rules implicitly. One must depend on cars or friends to go wherever we want, as the bus services are completely unreliable and woefully time-consuming. I hope the metro will help bring down the chaos. But again, there needs to be some kind of control on the number of vehicles which are increasing at such a fast pace.
Nicola Pawar, Germany
Having lived here for over 20 years, I have made some amazing friends and great companions. Though it was difficult initially as I wasn’t well versed with the language, but now I understand Marathi and can even speak a little bit of Hindi and Marathi too. The people of Pune are very warm and friendly. The best part about them is that they don’t unneccesarily bother or invade your privacy which I have heard happens a lot in many other Indian cities. I love the fast pace and the small town feel that this city has to offer at the same time. I can proudly say that I have now become a true Punekar and would like to spend the rest of my life here.
Police deserve praise for locating missing children
curb such crimes. The onus is on the concerned government authorities to put laws and regulations in place. —Harshada Arshi
Why is the issue of de-addiction being ignored? The problem of addiction is one that
involves people from every strata of society. Preventing addiction is much easier that curing an addict. Therefore we must focus our efforts on this aspect of the issue. Of course, this entails constant effort as well as fi nancial investment to make sure that it reaches out to the maximum number of people. The government must target its efforts in the right direction for them to be most effective. It is also essential to delve into the root causes of the problem. Only then will we be able to devise and implement measures that will help to curb the problem of addiction that is the source of so much woe and distress to the families and the addicts themselves. —Sameer Joshi
There’s more to tattoos that meets the eye Tattoos are no longer a novelty but as common as the use of cosmetics. All kinds of people sport tattoos today and not just the musicians or celebs. With tattoos becoming an everyday
affair, it is also essential that due attention is given to the materials and the methods used by the tattoo artists. The hazards of using sub-standard
inks or machines could be serious, so tattoo studios need to assume a responsible attitude. It is good to know that the studios featured in your article comply with the international standards and use approved inks and machines. It is art where the human body is the canvas and no wonder that the tattoo studios employ sanitation and hygiene methods comparable to a hospital. It was good to focus on tattoo as a subject, as they are now taken for granted. But not every one is qualified to do this and that is why it is crucial to ascertain the studio’s credentials. —Shankar Abhigol
Destination Pune
Pune’s population today has a large share of people from all over the country and the world. It is refreshing to see and experience the city from their views and experiences. Your feature on expats and the vital work that they are doing is inspiring. It is only by highlighting their efforts that citizens will realise the value of their work. They deserve all the praise they get for their selfless attitude. There is lot to learn and be inspired by through
reading about them. Pune is a place that is easy-going and cosmopolitan enough for out-of-towners to settle down in. —Preeti Puri
Dance to keep fit
The Fitness Social is a great way to get fit and meet new people. A fitness regimen need not be dull and boring. And why should it not be affordable? Top gyms and fitness clubs charge exorbitant membership fees, so this new concept is a welcome one. The routine does not seem difficult and it’s a way of getting fit that any one can enjoy. We need more such activities and concepts. —Akshay Nerkar
Write to Us Letters to the Editor may be emailed to editor_tgs@goldensparrow.com, editor_tgs@gmail.com or mailed to The Editor, Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt Ltd, 1641 Madhav Heritage, Tilak Road, Pune-411030.
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY AUGUST 15, 2015
PUNE
SPORTS
“We have been poor, we have been outplayed by a superior opponent, and as coaching staff, players and selectors we accept the blame for our losses at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge.” — Darren Lehmann, Australia cricket coach
“Rohit is a better choice over Pujara but I feel Virat should bat at No. 3. That way, he can set the agenda for the rest.” —Sunil Gavaskar, Indian legend
Players face a punch from Fed WAKO national silver medallist were left empty handed after sudden change of rules in qualifiers TGS NEWS NETWORK @TGSWeekly For any sport to grow, it requires fully efficient and transparent national body. Apart from just organising flashy tournaments and events, the office bearers are expected to pay attention towards the needs of the players. However, in the case of WAKO India (National Kickboxing Federation), the only governing body of World All Styles Karate Organization (WAKO) in India, it’s exactly opposite. During the recently concluded, WAKO Asian Kickboxing Championship held at Shiv Chhatrapati sports complex in Balewadi, the junior players who actually needed encouragement, experienced nothing but injustice and cheating from the office bearers. Unfortunately, these players who are under constant fear of getting their career ruined, didn’t even dare to protest, but confessed to TGS representative about their disappointment. “The WAKO national kickboxing tournament was held in Pune in March, this year and gold and silver medallist from each category were asked to be present at the venue for Asian qualifiers. Naturally the players arranged everything and landed in Pune, but were left in shock when they were told only gold medallist can participate and all silver medallist will have to go back,” said one player who wished not to be named. “If the silver medallist were not allowed to participate, why didn’t the officials bother to convey the message well in advance? We had trained hard
Signposts FC Pune City sign striker Tuncay The Rajesh Wadhawan Group and Hrithik Roshan co-owned Indian Super League team FC Pune City have bolstered their squad by signing former Fenerbahce and Turkish star Tuncay Sanli for the 2015 edition of the league. The 33-year-old played an instrumental role in Fenerbahce’s three Super Lig title-winning campaigns. The striker began his career with his local club, Sakaryaspor. He became popular after scoring a hat-trick against Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League.
KPIT emerge champions KPIT bagged the team title at the Suhana Pravin Masalewale and Lakshya Sports Foundation 1st Corporate Ladies’ Badminton Championship at Shivajinagar. KPIT, overall, finished with two titles, with Sandhya Melasheemi and Gandhali Sopal topping the doubles section. The third final, however, could not be completed, with Gayatri Desai (MCCIA) winning the singles crown at the expense of Noopur Sahastrabuddhe (ZS Associates).
Vidit shines at Asian Continental chess While the Pune chess players returned in a blaze of glory from South Korea, Nashik’s Grandmaster Vidit Gujarathi finished fourth in the recently concluded Asian Continental Chess Championship in Al Ain, UAE, thus qualifying for the forthcoming World Cup. He remained undefeated in the tournament, scoring 6.5 points in the nine rounds. He will have a first ever chance to showcase his talents at the World Cup.
“As a rule, the bouts are three rounds, lasting 1-2 minutes each round. However, just to fi nish the matter quickly they gave us just one minute to prove our mettle. Most of them were paired against gold medallists and it wasn’t a fair chance,” the player said.
WAKO Asian Championship held at Balewadi
for this tournament and any player can understand the bitterness of being denied without any solid reason,” the player added. Talking about what happened exactly behind the curtains, another player said, “As per rule the host country can put more entries in the qualifiers. But, when the officials of other countries saw that more than 250 Indian players have come for the qualifiers they protested against it. As a result, WAKO India officials changed their stance overnight and left their own players stranded.” When asked about the controversy, WAKO India president CA Tamboli justified their decision by saying they tried their best to give the players a chance. “Till 2012, the silver and gold
medallists were allowed to take part in qualifiers. But, later on the rule changed and we were not aware of it. Just before the tournament the rule was pointed out and in a desperate attempt to give our players a fair chance, we appealed to Asian technical committee. However, our appeal got rejected and we had no other options left but to tell the players to go back,” he said. He also tried to pacify things by saying that they adjusted few silver medallist where the empty slot was available and will also try to give them a chance before the World championship to be held in Peru later this year. However, the players exposed the president’s defi nition of fair chance by saying it was more of farce than a serious tournament.
Aakanksha’s medal haul at Asian chess
City chess player wins two golds and a silver medal at this year’s edition of the championship in South Korea
Akanksha poses with her medals she earned in the Asian Championship
TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly Aakanksha Hagawane, the city’s chess prodigy, added another feather to her cap by winning three medals in the recently concluded Asian Youth Chess Championship held at Seoul. She added another gold medal in rapid format and bagged a silver medal in the blitz format as well. Aakanksha had won three bronze medals in the last edition of the tournament. She was determined to convert those bronze medals into yellow metal. She won a gold medal last month in the Commonwealth Chess Championship at New Delhi, which was a confidence booster. “We had set targets and we were pretty confident that she could achieve them all. Ahe didn’t miss a single opportunity that came her way and she is on the right path,” said Aakanksha’s coach Jayant Gokhale. A few months ago Gokhale’s wards Aakanksha and Abhimanyu Puranik won under-17 state titles. He had set targets for them at that time, an Asian gold medal for Akanksha, and International Master title for Abhimanyu. The coach couldn’t be happier now that they have done just that. “It’s a big commitment but I am sure that Akanksha will be Woman
International Master, and Abhimanyu will earn his two Grandmaster norms by the end of next year,,” said Gokhale. Akanksha was in super form in South Korea, and in the classical format, she secured seven points out of a possible nine. Akanksha’s second gold medal came in rapid format, where she garnered 5.5 points, with five wins, one draw and one loss. Aakanksha finished joint fi rst with Alinasab Mobina, with six points each, in the blitz format. But Alinasab was given the gold medal on the basis of a better score in the tiebreaker. With this performance, Aakanksha has now earned the Women Fide Master title along with fi rst norm of Woman International Master. The rapid and blitz were not rating events, but she added 30 ELO rating points from her performance in the classical format. A standard X student of DES School, Aakanksha has been training with FIDE trainer Jayant Gokhale for eight years. She is sponsored by Sujanil Chemicals and Lakshya Foundation. As part of the training programme, she practiced with IM Abhishek Kelkar for eight days prior to this championship, which was a big help. Regular counselling by sports psychologist/counsellor Debashree Marathe Dandekar is also helping in her overall development, said Gokhale. In a telephonic conversation, Aakanksha also voiced her gratitude for her school principal Sujata Naidu. “I participated in each and every tournament held under the Marathe Jewellers Every Sunday Rapid Chess Championship. Th is match practice came handy during the Asian event and I am really happy that I managed to convert my bronze into gold,” said Aakanksha. Meanwhile, Harshit Raja, also from Pune, selected for the under-14 category, returned with a medal. He missed out a podium finish in the classical format, but garnered a bronze medal in the rapid category. He trains with IM Prathamesh Mokal. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
MONEY MATTERS The more serious allegation the players have put is the lack of transparency in fees collected from the athletes. “Before the tournament, every player was asked to deposite Rs35,000 for the tournament. It included camp fees (Rs15,000), team colours and track suit (Rs 7500) and other expenses. However, even after all players deposited the money, no such training camp was held. And if any such camp was held, we were not told about it. Secondly, they were supposed to give two sets of colours (red and blue), but got just one random colour. So you can calculate the total amount they put in their pockets,” said the player. When asked about this, the president decided to shy away from unwanted questions and remained busy in the prize distribution function. Now the question arises, does WAKO India really think they can popularise the game, having such attitude. In this championship, six Indians won gold medals. The senior players believe that the number is too small. Th is is warning sign Mr president, if now taken steps correctly the number can slide down further and there won’t be any kickboxing aspirants in future. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
It’s all in the family Pune’s mother-son duo become first pair of white badge tennis referee in India TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly Pune’s Ashay Shekatkar recently completed Level 2 tennis officiating exam conducted by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) in China. In the process, he has become India’s 17th and Maharashtra’s fi fth White Badge tennis official. Significantly, his mother Vaishali and Ashay have achieved the distinction of becoming the fi rst mother-son duo to hold ITF officiating badges. Vaishali is also an ITF white badge referee. Vaishali said, “My entire family, including my father and my sisters Sheetal and Leena, who are also ITF officials, are involved with tennis. It was no surprise then that I also began officiating in local level tournaments. My interest kept growing and I eventually took the plunge into tennis full-time.” Vaishali’s officiating career began in 2000, but she focused on officiating in 2006 by closing down her boutique. She eventually was awarded a white badge in 2013. Ashay’s career began as a player, who featured in some state and national level tournaments. But he realised that competitive tennis was not exactly his cup of tea, coaching and officiating being his prime interests. “Ashay has been assisting me from a very young age. He was a keen observer when I was officiating, and also had the opportunity to supervise some tournaments. Th is on-field experience has provided a impetus
A file photo of Ashay Shekatkar with his mother Vaishali
to his officiating career, which has progressed smoothly,” said Vaishali. MOTHERLY ADVICE Asked about the advice she gave her son, who was following in her footsteps, Vaishali said, “I wanted him to avoid the mistakes I committed initially. Officiating and umpiring are very demanding responsibilities, as the entire conduct and outcome of a tournament depend on fair and unbiased officiating. The pressure is another aspect one has to be able to handle, as well as abiding by the rules. Even a chair umpire’s conduct should be flawless. A single wrong call can ruin a player’s performance, and render a setback to his efforts and dreams.” His mother’s advice and family members’ guidance and support has gone a long way in Ashay clearing his level 1 exam, and to start work as line umpire in international tournaments. He was declared the recipient of the best rookie of the year award, in 2014. Ashay is aiming for a gold badge, but it’s going to be a long journey. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com