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Bhapkars led a lavish lifestyle: Cops

Compassion of the

NOBLEST KIND It is easy to love and care for a household pet, but it takes truly exalted compassion to go about feeding and caring for stray dogs. Here are a few Puneites who do just that See Spotlight, p08 & 09

Decorated war hero cheated of huge sum in land deal Six persons accused of cheating former serviceman in land deal at Susgaon

BY YOGESH WAGH @YogeshWagh1857 Former air force official Dilipkumar Kamlakar Parulkar, 72, has filed a case cheating and forgery against six persons. The former war hero bought a piece of land, but was never able to get documents transferred to his name.

A complaint has been filed at Alankar police station against six persons under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 420 (cheating), 465 (mischief), 468 (forgery), and 120 (concealing design to commit offence).

Parulkar has filed a complaint against Girirajaji Mansingh Chudasama, Vijay Hanumant Mahajani of Shivajinagar, Laxman Mahadev Deore of Mumbai, Nitin Balasaheb Chandere, Harishchandra Dattu Galande of Susgaon, Mulshi, Pune and Raju Kanhu Kalaje. The crime was first registered at Hinjewadi police station and then transferred to Alankar police station.

Parulkar bought 90 gunthas of land at Susgaon from Giriraj Chudasama on October 9, 1989, which was registered at Joint District registrar’s office on May 14, 1990. According to the registration, Parulkar is the sole owner of the land. Parulkar went to the talathi office on May 20, 1990 to register his name on the 7/12 extracts.

But the talathi allegedly asked for a bribe which Parulkar refused to pay.

Parulkar owns another plot adjacent to the land which he had given

on rent to Vidya Valley School. He believed that according to the sale and the information given to the talathi, his name was on the 7/12 extracts.

But in November 2011 he realised that his name was not on the documents. He applied again for the registration of his name on the 7/12 extracts on November 21, 2011. He found that the name of the Bank of Karad was on the 7/12 extracts and that Chudasama’s name was on other rights.

Parulkar looked into the matter and found that Vijay Mahajani had taken a loan of Rs 9,15,000 from the Bank of Karad in 1984, and that Chudasama was a

guarantor for Mahajani, along with Aravind Rajaram Renuse and Ashok Shantaram Kulkarni.

Mahajani was unable to repay the loan and the Bank of Karad filed a civil suit on January 23, 1990. But Parulkar sale was done before January 23, 1990, a fact that Chudasama had not disclosed to the court, to save his other properties.

C h u d a s a m a and Mahajani are friends so the latter knew about this deal.

Chudasama’s name is still on the 7/12 extracts so for recovery the Bank of Karad seized the land and put its own name on the 7/12 extracts, via a court order dated January 16, 1991. Chudasama and Mahajani did not disclose to the court that Parulkar was the owner of the land.

So the question is why the bank seized Chudasama’s property of instead of Mahajani’s.

Till 1991, the Bank of Karad was unable to find a buyer for the land for up to Rs ten lakh, and it closed the file. The bank was declared insolvent in 1994 and the Reserve Bank of India appointed Laxman Mahadev Deore as official liquidator for recovery and property disposed by High Court order on July 20, 1994.

Contd on p 3

“The property is mine and I expect the court to give me justice.”

The Bhapkars lived a lavish life, in the name of God, at the expense of gullible investors. The family comprises commerce graduate Balasaheb Bhapkar, 56, a ‘Sai baba’ follower who named all his business establishments and residences after his guru. His 50-year-old wife Vandana who has a huge collection of platinum jewellery; son Shashank, 26, who is a party animal, and 18-year-old daughter Dhanshree who is studying online fashion designing course in Pune.

Contd on p2

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JANUARY 9, 2016

PUNE

Another step closer to clean Pune P 10

“Climate change is taking a toll on agriculture. Of the 40,000 villages in Maharashtra, 30,000 are facing drought conditions. We need green technologies. Unless we invest in them, we cannot survive.”

—Devendra Fadnavis, chief minister

MD of Pune based ‘fraud’ company arrested by Mumbai EOW SANTOSHEE MISHRA @TGSWeekly

The Mumbai police have finally managed to trace and arrest Shashank Bhapkar, managing director of Pune-based Sai Prasad Group. The 26-year-old was partying in Goa when he was nabbed by sleuths attached to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai police. His parents Balasaheb and Vanadana have already been arrested in connection with a case of cheating and fraud registered by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), and the cops were looking for him.

The arrest took place in Goa, where Shashank was hosting a New Year bash in a plush property for his friends. “We got a tip off that he was in Goa. We raided the place and nabbed him. He was produced in court on January 2 and has been remanded to custody till January 4,”

said an officer attached to EOW. Shashank and his parents have been accused of siphoning off public funds. They allegedly collected funds to the tune of Rs 2,500 crore from 15 lakh people and offered huge returns.

When they were not able to repay,

investors fi led complaints. In 2013, SEBI issued an order restricting their companies – Sai Prasad Properties Limited (SPPL) and Sai Prasad Foods Limited (SPFL) – from collecting funds from public. In January 2015, SEBI issued another order.

The order dated January 15, 2015 stated that the Bhapkars “shall abstain from collecting any money from the investors or launch or carry out any Collective Investment Schemes”, “shall wind up the existing Collective Investment Schemes and refund the monies collected”, and “shall remain restrained from accessing the securities market and prohibited from buying, selling or otherwise dealing in securities market, even after the completion of period of four years”. The order also stated SEBI would fi le criminal cases against the management of the Group for “offences of fraud, cheating, criminal breach of trust and mis-appropriation of

public funds”. Despite a warning prohibiting them from collecting funds from the market and instructing them to refund the monies collected, the Bhapkars did not fall in line. On December 2, 2015 SEBI fi led a criminal case with the Mumbai police against the management of Sai Prasad Group in which Balasaheb, his wife Vandana and their son Shashank were named.

Vandana was already arrested in Chhattisgarh in connection with a similar case in September 2015.

After the FIR with the Mumbai police in December, Shashank was apprehended at Mumbai airport, but managed to flee from Sahar police station. Balasaheb was arrested by the EOW on December 5 from a Mulshi farmhouse. The sleuths were on look out for Shashank. Cops revealed that in a bid to evade arrest, Shashank, who headed a news channel and holds a management degree from London, resigned as an office bearer of Sai

who did MBA (management and leadership) from London and also won a young industrialist award, designed various schemes for the companies. The family ran 24 companies, including national Hindi news channel Newsexpress. Shashank was arrested while he was partying in Goa on New Year. According to the EOW team who is investigating the case, “Shashank used to splurge on parties in Goa and Mulshi farmhouse in Pune. His fiancée is based in Russia.

Skoda and Land Cruiser, having registration number 678.

The companies, SPPL and SPFL have over 75 four-wheelers given to staff. The vehicles include Ford Fiesta, Pajero and 139 two-wheelers, two trucks and two Tempos. Bhapkars own three posh bungalows in Pune, includes Sai Darbar in Wakad, Sai Darbar in Green Park and Sai Darbar in Chinchwad, besides farmhouse in Mulshi. The market value of these properties is Rs 80 crore. SPFL and SPPL have several commercial offices across the state on purchase, lease and rental basis. Offices are spread across Nagpur, Nashik, Chiplun, Sangli, Satara (Golodi), Solapur, Indore, Orissa, Jagatpur (Chhattisgarh), Balswara (Rajasthan), Noida, Raipur (Chhattisgarh), Korba (Chhattisgarh), Thane (Chendani Naka), Chindwara (Madhya Pradesh ), Jhansi (UP), Harda (MP), Bhopal (MP), Sehore (MP), Kanpur (UP), Agra, Ujjain (MP), Kanker (Chhattisgarh), Hadapsar (Pune), Mathura (UP). Bhiwani (Kalyan) and Somtane (Maharashtra).

“The commercial offices value about Rs 91 crore. We are still to

Bhapkars led a lavish lifestyle: Cops Contd from p1

The Economic Offence Wing (EOW) team of Mumbai Police is puzzled with the ongoing details of properties of Balasaheb and his companies. Investigating officer and Police Inspector Ashok Khedkar claims that the 15-yearold Ponzi chit fund schemes scam runs into Vandana Bhapkar Rs 2,500 crore leaving about 15 lakhs investors in the lurch.

THE FAMILY Living at a one-bedroom-hallkitchen house at a Bhakti Paradise in Chinchwad and paying a rent of Rs 1,000 in 2001, the Bhapkars now own three posh bungalows and a farmhouse worth crores in the same city. EOW police inspector Khedkar said that through Ponzi chit fund schemes, the family owns properties whose estimated market value is Rs 3,500 crore. The investing agency

said that the family owns around 2,000 acres across the country, including 500 in Maharashtra.

Sleuths found that only Rs 100 crore of the investors’ money was used to buy land and probe is on to source out the remaining wealth that have been illegally amassed.

Balasaheb, who is lodged at Arthur Road Jail at Jacob Circle in Byculla, started his career at Pearls India Limited (PIL). After 12 years, he took over PIL and ran the chit fund schemes for a few years. He started Sai Prasad Food Limited (SPFL) in 2001 and Sai Prasad Properties Limited (SPPL) in 2008. The commerce graduate started Ponzi schemes with a promise of 15-20 per cent returns without the mandatory permission of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) with the help of agents who were paid well.

Balasaheb Bhapkar Shashank,

THE PROPERTY “The Bhapkars have made huge properties across the country, we are still to list it. The bank accounts, mutual funds, shares, jewellery, vehicles, residential and commercial places and huge land will be worth around Rs 3,500 crore,” said Khedkar. The companies has several current and savings accounts with 25 banks across the country. “A cash of Rs 40 crore also includes MFs, Rs 70 crore in FDs and shares,” he said. The Bhapkar’s own 20 SUVs and luxury vehicles, including Porshe, BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Benz, Range Rover,

Widow’s tormentors felicitated

Nine Jat Panchayat members welcomed by residents of their locality with fanfare and garlands

BY DNYANESHWAR BHONDE @dnyanesh1 The nine culprits who forced Shobha Vatamkar, 53, to take a bath with her deceased husband Shankar’s body, have been released on bail on Wednesday.

The Khadak police had arrested the Jat Panchayat members on January 5 under a section of the ‘Maharashtra

Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013’ and other sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC).

After their release, Sunil Yashawant Gadekar, 53, Shankar Wadekar, 65, Sharad Bhingare, 55, Narayan Andekar, 75, Dipak Wadekar, 52, Dilip Wardekar, 57, Chandrakant Palkar, 53, Bholanath Vatmkar, 60, and Motiram Vatamkar, 50, were welcomed with garlands by the residents of their home locality of Shukrawar Peth.

Activist and complainant in the case Komal Warde said, “It is shameful and even tragic that such culprits are honoured and welcomed with garlands on their release on bail. They have brazenly put up their photos on social networking sites. Some vested interested affi liated to political parties are trying to gain mileage from the incident.”

Shobha Vatamkar was forced to take a bath with the body of her deceased husband Shankar on December 24. Ghee was smeared on her forehead, and she was locked up in a dark room on the tenth day of her

Prasad Group but that didn’t help him much.

Investigators revealed that on Monday Shashank would be produced in court again for an extension of his custody. “We have booked the office bearers of the Group under the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors Act (under which their assets can be liquidated to settle the claims of investors). Although it is a lengthy process, it does help the investors. We have already identified the properties of the accused in this case,” said DCP Pravin Padwal attached to EOW. History of the Sai Prasad Group The Sai Prasad Group of companies was started by Balasaheb Bhapkar, a commerce graduate. Bhapkar used to work in a company named Pearls India Ltd. He left the job after serving for 12 years and floated Sai Prasad Group in 2002. The newly-formed Sai Prasad Foods Ltd specialised

in Ponzi investment schemes. With the help of agents, the company lured investors. They offered 12 to 18 percent returns, over and above land parcels as security, EOW officials revealed. Several investors fell for the ‘attractive’ schemes.

“It was clear from the beginning that the management had no intention of returning the money they had collected. They just did not have enough land parcels, which they had offered to their investors. From the monies collected, they put down mere 10 per cent on acquiring land parcels, and rest of the money was used in supporting the Bhapkar family’s lavish lifestyle,” said an investigator.

The EOW sleuths have so far identified the family’s bank accounts which have funds to the tune of Rs 150 crores, several plush bungalows in Pune and neighbouring cities, and over 20 high-end imported cars. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

calculate the present value,” he added.

The land parcels is spread across Satara, Ahmednagar, Solapur, Usmanabad, Jalgaon, Nashik, Raigarh, Ratanagiri, Pune and Goa;

Kanpur, Rajasthan, Badmer, Udaipur in UP; Ganjam in Odisha; Shajnapur, Ujjain and Khargone in Madhya Pradesh and Raipur and Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh)

Juvenile criminals to get a legal helping hand

Pune DLSA plans to start legal aid clinic for juvenile criminals and convicts

The nine accused were felicitated Surykant alias Bandu Andekar

husband’s demise. Her daughter Komal Warde, who lives in Yeola, had fi led a complaint with the local police station in protest against these rituals.

The offence was transferred to the Khadak police station under which police took action against the accused.

Gangster tuned politician Surykant alias Bandu Andekar, has openly supported all the accused, and said that they had not done anything wrong.

“It is true that we welcomed them on their release. We were following the rituals of the Kashi Kapdi community,” said Andekar. He said that complainant Komal Warde wants to gain popularity in the media. “There is no specific note in the black magic act where these rituals are banned.

We will co-operate with the police,” he said. dnyaneshwar.bhonde@ goldensparrow.com

BY GARGI VERMA @missgverma The Pune District Legal Service Authority (DLSA) plans to start a legal aid clinic for juvenile criminals. The fi rst of its kind clinic in the state will be inaugurated on January 8. It will have six lawyers who will help the juvenile prisoners.

The Maharashtra State Legal Service Authorities (MSLSA) had directed the DLSA units of Mumbai, Pune and Thane to set up special legal aid centres for juvenile convicts in December.

While the Mumbai and Thane units were taking their time, Pune DLSA had started working on it. Pune DLSA Legal Aid and Secretary Mahesh Jadhav said, “We were planning to set up such a centre. The guidelines only made the process easier.

We started work on it as soon as the work of the Maha Lok Adalat was completed. We have designated six lawyers for the work, all of whom had been working with juveniles and thus have the necessary experience,”

said Jadhav. “We realised that the help desk was not necessary, and the legal aid clinic will be helping the inmates. So we did away with the help desk,” Jadhav said.

The Resource Cell for Juvenile Justice (RCJJ), a department at the Tata Institute of Social Science in Mumbai working for juvenile accused and convicts, had approached the MSLSA in November 2015.

In a letter dated November 26, Assistant Professor Asha Mukundan from the RCJJ had urged the MSLSA to convene a meeting with the DLSA of Pune, Thane and Mumbai. “We have been working with inmates and

convicts along with individual lawyers. It would help juvenile convicts and accused if legal aid could be provided as most of them are unaware of their rights or any other legal jargon and are often taken advantage of by the lawyers,” she said in the letter.

Acting on the suggestion

by RCJJ, the MSLSA issued an internal memo on December 9 to the three district authorities, asking them to attend the meeting on December 16, when the decision to start a legal aid centre for juveniles was taken.

“We are also in touch with the RCJJ department at TISS. We will take their help when necessary. We will also conduct training sessions for the lawyers and other court staff so that they are more sensitive to the needs and nature of the juvenile prisoners, convicts or accused,” said Jadhav.

The legal aid clinic will start work immediately. The names of the lawyers will be announced at the inauguration. gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JANUARY 9, 2016

PUNE

“We will step up vigilance on controlling gang wars and street crime. Our teams have done well by registering as many as 17 cases under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act in 2015 as against just 5 cases a year before. Utmost attention is paid to unsolved crimes.”

— Police Commissioner KK Pathak

Unruly MPs must face action: Expert P12

PMC caught constructing illegally on Poona Club land Four days after High Court ordered the civic body to stop work, PMC continued constructing

BY YOGESH SADHWANI AND TUSHAR RUPANAVAR @TGSWeekly

light when members of the club complained to the district collector about the illegal construction.

‘Ek to chori, upar se seena jori’ seems to be the moto of Pune Municipal Corporation, which has been shortlisted in the ‘Smart Cities’ to be developed across India. The body is supposed to keep a check on illegal constructions in the city, but was caught red handed on the wrong foot, by none other than the state government. It has been constructing a community centre on a plot which is owned by the state government and leased to the elite Poona Club, but also has not obeyed the Bombay High Court directives.

The civic body recently sanctioned construction of a community centre on a land leased by the state government in Bund Garden area to the club. The matter came to

Club’s complaint Last year in September PMC issued a work order for construction of a community centre on a piece of land leased to the Poona Club. Recently, when the construction work started, members of the club rushed to the district collector. Their argument was that PMC does not have the authority to take up any work on the land owned by the state. The club has been leased 118 acres of land by the state government for 30 years. The lease is valid till the year 2037.

Collector issues a notice The collector’s office in turn shot a letter to PMC ordering that work be stopped. “It was brought to our notice that Pune Municipal Corporation

had sanctioned some work on the land leased by the state government to Poona Club. Around 15 days ago, we wrote to the PMC ordering them to stop work. We also sought an explanation from the civic body as to how could they sanction any work on the land that belonged to the state government,” said Rajendra Muthe, resident district collector, Pune.

HC orders stop work The club members also approached Bombay High Court on January 4, through their lawyer SR Ganbavale.

In their petition fi led under the Maharashtra Municipalities Act, they challenged the construction terming it illegal. The HC division bench of Justice AS Oka and Justice CV Bhadang heard the matter on the same day and restrained the PMC from “carrying out any further work on the basis of the Work Order No.3150 dated 11th September”.

The division bench noted that district collector had written to assistant commissioner in PMC on December 14, 2015 about the construction of community centre on the land owned by the state. “In fact, the Collector called upon the Assistant Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation to explain as to how on a land held by the State Government, the Municipal Corporation has permitted

construction of a Samaj Mandir,” observed the HC bench. The court has granted an interim stay on the work, and the case will be heard next February 2.

Politicians justify Meanwhile, PMC has justified the construction. Arvind Shinde, opposition leader in PMC and corporator of the ward where the construction is in progress, claimed that the community centre has been existence on the plot for several years. “A mosque and samaj mandir have existed there for years.

They are part of a residential colony of former club employees, who stay on the leased land. We (PMC) have been servicing that area for long now and providing all the basic amenities to the citizens residing there. We are not constructing any new structure there but merely renovating the old one.

The work involves replacing old tin sheets with new ones,” said Shinde. He added, “If anything Poona Club needs to explain if they are fulfilling the lease conditions. They were given land by the state to promote sports. Are they really doing that?”

Work goes on unabated When the TGS team went to the spot on Wednesday and Thursday (January 6 and 7), we came across a two storey structure being built.

Residents claimed that there was

Construction of the community centre went on unabated even after HC order

a single storey tin roof structure there, which is now being replaced by a concrete one. The HC order had made no difference to the contractor or the PMC. Within minutes of the TGS team reaching there, locals surrounded us.

“We know it is a land owned by the state government, but we have been living here for years. Poona Club has been harassing us for a while and even depriving us of basic necessities. The government officials who are siding up with the Club have been given free membership,” said a resident of the area, asking TGS team to leave.

Chhaya Jadhav, another resident of the area claimed that their parents had served the club for several years and had been given the space to live.

“The club hasn’t done anything for us. If anything, the PMC has been helping us with infrastructure. Th is centre has been in existence for years now, and is only getting a new look,” she said.

PMC finally reacts As the construction work went on unabated, TGS brought it to

the notice of additional municipal commissioner Om Prakash Bakoria, who claimed that he was not aware of the HC order. He made a few calls and asked his subordinates to stop work late on Thursday. “I will inquire as to how the work of construction was sanctioned by us without checking the ownership of land. For now, I have issued orders to not carry out any further work. We will abide by the HC order,” said Bakoria.

Poona Club and controversies The Poona Club has been mired in controversy for a while over the manner in which it has been given the land on lease by state government.

Activists have been alleging that the lease has been granted by the state government at throw away prices to the club. They have in the past alleged that several government officials have been granted membership in the elite club in lieu of concessions given while allotting the land.

Th is time around, the club is playing a victim card and state offi cials seem to be in favour. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

State copies Central scheme, sans machinery to monitor it

BY PRIYANKKA DESHPANDE @journopriyankka Taking a cue from Union Government Sansad Aadarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) initiative, the state government recently launched Aamdar Aadarsh Gram Yojana (AAGY). But the Pune District Planning Committee (DPC) head says that the scheme is a farce as there is no machinery in place to monitor the scheme. The DPC is responsible for the implementation of AAGY in Pune district.

The state government sent a circular through DPC asking 21 MLAs and eight MLCs in Pune to submit the list of villages they wish to adopt by August 15. The legislators are expected to spread awareness before implementing schemes for the development of the villages.

With the exception of Mangesh Kudalkar three, the MLAs and MLCs have named the villages of their choice, but the state government has not made

any arrangements for the monitoring of the scheme. District Planning Offi cer PR Kembhavi said, “We have appointed one officer for each village who will mediate between the village residents and legislators.”

These officers are tehsildars, naib tehsildars and block development offi cers. A collector will be the mediator for this scheme at the district level. “But when these legislators start implementing the schemes in the villages in the next six months, there will be no machinery to check if the developmental work is being implemented in villages by the legislators,” Kembhavi said.

Th is has raised questions about the reliability of the scheme. “It will take time and lots of money to create such a machinery, without which schemes cannot be implemented properly,” said Prakash Pawar, political scholar.

Kothrud MLA Medha Kulkarni has adopted Nere village in Mulshi tehsil. Kulkarni said that her rapport with the Nere village woman sarpanch would help her understand the developmental needs of the residents.

“Cleanliness, girls’ education and dowry issue are my priorities. I am aware of my responsibilities and am

accountable to the residents, so there is no need for government machinery to check my work,” Kulkarni said.

Kurla MLA Mangesh Kudalkar has selected Vandre village in Khed tehsil. “I have submitted my plan of action to the minister. Th is village is inhabited by tribals and developing roads is a necessity here,” Medha Kulkarni Kudalkar said.

The MLAs/ MLCs has to develop the selected villages by July 2017. Then they will select and develop another village

by July 2019. The village should not be his/her or his/her spouse’s native place. They must undertake developmental works and make the residents of the village aware about the evils of dowry, female foeticide etc. They also must construct roads, toilets, and implement schemes to develop the village into an ideal one.

As per the 2011 census, there are 43,665 villages in Maharashtra of which 40,960 are inhabited. priyankka.deshpande@goldensparrow.com

Decorated war hero cheated of huge sum in land deal Contd from p1

Meanwhile the property had come under the Pune Municipal Corporation jurisdiction and its value skyrocketed.

Despite being aware that Parulkar was the owner of the land, Deore acquired permission from the High Court to sell it to Nitin Chandere, Harishchandra Galande and Raju Kalaje. Deore said that Chudasama agreed to sell the property for Rs ten lakh for recovery.

Deore helped in selling the property for Rs ten lakh without inviting any tender or auction. He gave a certificate of sale

to Chandere, Galande, and Kalaje on April 11, 2014 and registered the deal at the sub registrar, Haveli on the same day.

It is clear, therefore, that Chudasama, Mahajani and Deore had hoodwinked Parulkar and the High Court.

The market value of this property is Rs two to three crore, while the sale puts it at Rs ten lakh.

Parulkar said, “Chudasama is a good friend of mine, who has deceived me. The property is mine and I expect the court to give me justice.”

Group Captain Parulkar is a

recipient of the Vayusena medal and Vishesh Seva medal. He was involved in both the 1965 and 1971 wars against Pakistan. In the 1965 war he suffered a serious injury in the right shoulder from Pakistani anti-aircraft gun fi re.

In the 1971 war, his Sukhoi 7 fighter plane was hit by anti aircraft gun fi re and he and his crew were arrested as prisoners of war by the Pakistan army.

They even escaped from a Pakistani jail, but were recaptured near the Afghanistan border. yogesh.wagh@goldensparrow.com

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THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JANUARY 9, 2016

PUNE

“Storm water becomes a problem every monsoon. The detailed project report aims at creating the database of storm water drainage systems. It will also give the location, length and width of drainage channels.”

— Ashiwini Kadam, the head of the standing committee

Kids love alphabet teachers P10

National Award winning film’s actor attempts suicide Prashant Ingale, who played the second lead in Khwada, had taken a loan from moneylenders and wasn’t able to repay it

BY TUSHAR RUPANAVAR @TGSWeekly Prashant Ingale, actor of National award winning Marathi film Khwada, attempted suicide recently owing to a debt he had taken last year. The actor who played the role of Panda, elder brother of the protagonist Balu (played

by Bhau Shinde) in the film, consumed pesticide on December 24, in a bid to end his life. He was rushed to a private hospital where his bill on the first day itself ran up to Rs 20,000. He was later shifted to state run Sassoon General Hospital in Pune. He was discharged on Saturday, January 2.

Born in a family of poor farmers in Karanjavane village in Shirur Taluka (45 km from Pune), Ingale lost his parents at an early age. He was brought

Prashant Ingale in Sassoon General Hospital

up by his maternal uncles, who also lived in the village. Due to poverty and the need to earn to feed his family, he dropped out after 11th standard. Ingale started growing onions on his half an acre farm land. He married Vaishali in 2006 and has three children – Pranjali (6), Pallavi (4) and Shekhar (2).

The family had been living in a kuchha house all along. Sometime last year, Ingale decided to build a pucca house and borrowed Rs 3.5 lakh from moneylenders in his village. Even though the rate of interest was way

higher than what banks would charge, Ingale was confident that he would be able to repay the loans. He knew that banks would not give him as much money as loan and hence decided to borrow from private moneylenders.

His hope was the yield from his farm.

However, due to poor rainfall in his village, the crop failed this year.

Ingale wasn’t able to bear the monthly interest on his loan, let alone repay the principal amount.

“Moneylenders had started knocking on my doors. I was ashamed of my

Dog tied to a trailer dragged for kms in Pune Sadistic truck driver drags dog chained to the rear bumper across miles of tarmac in Lonikand area

BY GARGI VERMA @missgverma A dog chained to a speeding truck, being dragged across tarmac, is a disturbing sight, enough to raise the hackles of any animal lover.

But that is exactly what Baibhav Nath saw on late in the evening on January 5, as he was riding down Wagholi Road, near the Lonikand police station. A trailer truck bearing the registration number MH46 AF 5490 was speeding towards Wagholi,

with a dog chained by its hind legs to its bumper. Dragged across tarmac at speed, the tortured animal was yelping and yowling in agony. Baibhav did his best to get the truck driver to stop, but in vain. All he could manage was clicking pictures of the canine’s gruesome ordeal at the hands of the sadistic truck driver.

Baibhav was unable to contact PETA when he reached home but he posted one of the pictures he had clicked on the Facebook page of ‘People For Animals (PFA), Pune’,

Company promises jobs, dupes several people of Rs 250 crore

existence. Hence I took the drastic step,” Ingale told TGS. On December 24, he went to the open square of his village with a can of pesticide. He consumed some of it before he was stopped by villagers.

Ingale was rushed to a private hospital in Shirur by the villagers. On the very first day the medical bill ran up to Rs 20,000 after which he was shifted to Sassoon General Hospital.

“We could not afford to pay as much and hence decided to shift him to a government hospital,” said Anil, his brother. For the last few days he had been recuperating at the hospital. “We gave him antidotes and now he is out of danger. His condition is stable and we have asked him to come once a week for follow-up,” said a medical officer at Sassoon General Hospital.

For now, Ingale is staying with his relatives in Wagholi, Pune. Anil revealed that after the incident, he tried reaching out to some of the actors and director of the film Khwada. “No one even came to see him, let alone offer help,” said Anil.

The 27-year-old bagged the role of Panda in film by accident. “The film was being shot around my village and I would go to see the entire process every day.

The actor, who had been given the role of Panda, was not doing his job well. So I just walked up to the director Bhaurao Karhade and told him that I would be able to do the role easily. He gave me a shot and I bagged the role,” said Ingale.

He got paid Rs 15,000 for the role, for which he worked for two months. The film won two national awards – Best Director and Best Sound – in 2015. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

with the message, ‘Truck number MH46AF5490 dragging a dog on the streets of Pune. Poor dog suffered severe injuries and couldn’t take the brutality of this inhumane truck driver.

Please advice how to bring this monster to justice.”

Animal lovers and activists were quick to respond, one of whom, Anson Joseph took it upon himself to see justice being done. The founder of Animal Care Empowered (ACE), which aims to curb cruelty to animals, Joseph said, “No one should be allowed to get away with such sadistic behaviour.”

Joseph visited the spot on Wagholi Road with Baibhav. Even Baibhav does not know for what distance the dog had been pitilessly dragged across tarmac, when he saw it, but the scrapes and bruises were visible on the hapless animal’s body. Joseph later discovered that the dog had died from the injuries sustained. He found the dog’s body near the toll naka further down the same road on January 7. gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com

P12

Travelling abroad is no longer a preserve of a select few Big upward surge in passport generation in 2015 as more and more people can afford foreign travel

BY GARGI VERMA @missgverma “International tourism has become cheaper and more affordable. So everyone wishes to get a passport and travel the world,” says Atul Gotsurve, Regional Passport Officer. Gotsurve was speaking to TGS at the Passport Adalat held on January 6.

There was a surge in passport generation in 2015.The Pune passport office passed 2.86 lakh new passports, compared to 2.1 lakh passports in 2014, and 1.8 lakh passports in 2013.

Another 30,000 passport applications were rejected. Talking about the reasons for the surge, Gotsurve said, “International travel has become cheaper. You can travel wherever you want for Rs 50,000. Salaries have skyrocketed so that even a middle class family can travel abroad. Then there is religious tourism. Muslims go for Hajj, Buddhists travel to Sri Lanka and Hindus have started going to Nepal. Today the children are paying for their parents’ travel, so more and more people are travelling abroad. That is why there is such a surge in passport applications.”

Studying abroad is yet another reason. “Most applications we get are from students who want passports to appear for GRE and IELTS exams.

Studying abroad is the current trend and more and more students are applying to foreign universities, which generally don’t accept applications

The dog was tied by its hind leg to the truck’s bumper and dragged for kms

‘Main Madhya Pradesh se Maharashtra kutta marne nahin aya’ This is what the driver of the trailer, which dragged a stray dog for several kms in Pune, had to say when tracked down by TGS

BY YOGESH SADHWANI @yogeshsadhwani While the Pune police was grappling to register a case against the driver

of the trailer which dragged a stray dog for several kms in Wagholi on Tuesday evening, TGS tracked him down. We were able to speak to him on Wednesday evening while he was

Baibhav Nath and Anson Joseph lodged an FIR against the truck driver in Lonikand

on his way to Surat with a shipment.

Jailal Kumar Bahiya (26) claimed that he had no role to play in tying the dog behind his 40 feet trailer.

Jailal, who has been working with Navi Mumbai based Shree Sai Shipping Services for four years, claimed he got to know about the dog being tied to his vehicle a km after he had begun the journey. “I emptied the container at a godown in Wagholi around 8.10 pm. After I hit the road, a km ahead somebody on the road told me about a dog being tied to my truck. But the road was very congested and narrow. I couldn’t have stopped to untie the dog as that would have led to a traffic jam. So I navigated through the traffic. When I reached a toll naka on ShikrapurChakan Road, I parked on the side and untied the dog,” said Jailal. He claimed that on Tuesday he was on his way to back to Navi Mumbai after offloading his vehicle at Wagholi, when the incident took place.

Jailal’s trailer MH46 AF 5490 was spotted by a Fujifilm employee Baibhav Nath on Tuesday night. The Wagholi resident saw a speeding

without passports,” said Gotsurve.

That is why there are more rejections.

“Nearly 25,000 passport applications from students are rejected every year,” Gotsurve said. Ignorance and childish errors are also responsible for the rejections. “Most students who apply for passports are from other states or from other parts of the state. They furnish their permanent address as address proof instead of where they actually live. This makes police verification difficult,” he said.

“If the police give us a contradictory response, we generally reject the application,” he said. This can be easily avoided. “Getting a postpaid sim, a bank account or a bonafide certificate is not very difficult and they work as address proof. Applicants should get it beforehand,” he said.

“Passport generation is an intricate and lengthy process and the growing numbers make it even more important for us to be accurate,” said Gotsurve.

“A passport is as necessary as an Aadhar card,” he said. gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com

trailer with a dog chained by its hind legs to its bumper. Dragged across tarmac at speed, the tortured animal was yelping and yowling in agony.

Baibhav did his best to get the truck driver to stop, but in vain. All he could manage was click pictures of the canine’s gruesome ordeal at the hands of the sadistic truck driver, which he posted on Facebook.

The Facebook post sparked lots of responses, most of them outraged at the callous driver. Likes of Manoj Oswal, founder of PFA Pune and Anson Joseph, founder of Animal Care Empowered (ACE), took it upon themselves t—o see justice being done. At the time of going to press, Baibhav and Anson had just finished lodging an FIR with Lonikand police station against the ‘unkown driver of the trailer’. The driver had been charged under sections 429 (mischief by killing or maiming cattle), section 279 (rash driving) of the Indian Penal Code, section 11(1) (beats, kicks, over-rides, over-drives, over-loads, tortures or otherwise treats any animal so as to subject it to unnecessary pain or suffering) of The

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, and section 119 (beats, goads, overworks, ill-treats or tortures an animal) of The Bombay Police Act. Police was yet to even begin the process of tracing the driver. “We will try to track down the driver and present him before the court,” said Rajaram Godambe, police naik attached to Lonikand police station.

Meanwhile, TGS managed to get the details of the trailer’s registration. The vehicle registered with PanvelKhopoli is in the name of Sharad Gund, a resident of Kamothe in Sharad Gund Navi Mumbai.

Gund, who is a director in Shree Sai Shipping Agency Pvt Ltd, revealed that his driver Jailal did not mention anything about the Wagholi incident. Few minutes later Gund called back and said, “The driver found out about the dog tied to the vehicle while he was on the road. He did

not tie the animal to the trailer,” said Gund.

Jailal on his part said, “Us kutte ne thode hi mera khana churaya tha jo main use marta (that dog had not stolen my food for me to kill it).”

As for not stopping for several kms despite people chasing him, he said, “Motorists did try to stop me and kept howling at me. Till then I hadn’t figured anything about the dog. I thought they were trying to loot me and hence stepped on the accelerator.

It was only later when I heard someone tell me about the dog, that I realised what the commotion was all about. Hence I stopped the truck on an empty road and untied the dog.

I am not sure if the animal was alive or dead by then. It wasn’t making any sound though,” said Jailal. He kept insisting that he had no role to play in tying the dog to his trailer.

“Somebody must have tied it to my vehicle. Main Madhay Pradesh se Maharashtra kutta marne nahin aya (I haven’t come to Maharashtra from my hometown in Madhya Pradesh to kill animals),” he concluded. yogesh.sadhwani@goldensparrow.com

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JANUARY 9, 2016

“We will ask BJP-ruled states to waive tax for electric cars. If entrepreneurs are forthcoming, e-charging stations can be a separate unit which will further reduce pollution.”

— Piyush Goyal, Union power minister

How little Arya got a new lease of life Modern day Samaritans raise Rs 1.5 lakh for the treatment of infant girl

BY EKTA KATTI @Ektaak The world today is no all cold-hearted an mercenary there are some people who have their hearts on the right side.

Social worker Akash Jain, 31, and his friends are the modern day Samaritans, who are raising Rs 1.5 lakh, for 11-monthold Arya Das, suffering from pneumonia and blood fungus infection. Arya’s health has taken a turn for the Akash Jain better, and she was taken off the ventilator on Monday, January 4.

Arya’s father Ganesh, 32, is a mason and mother Sheetal, 30, is suffering from Group B strep (GBS) infection, which has left her legs paralysed.

Consequently Sheetal’s sister Dipali Devlekar, 28, has been looking after Arya. She was diagnosed on December 21, 2015, and was admitted to the

children’s ward of Bharti Hospital.

Neither Arya’s parents not Dipali, however, had the means to afford the intensive medical care.

That was when Akash Jain and his friends Shweta Bajaj, 31, Ishwar Bajaj, 32, and Rita Sethiya came to the help of the desperate family. “I got to know about Arya’s condition, and immediately contacted my friends. We managed to raise Rs 60,000 in a couple of weeks,” Jain said. TGS was unable to verify Arya’s condition. But Dipali said, “Akash and his friends are like angels. It is because of their timely help that Arya could get the medical treatment in the nick of time. And the good news is that Arya is stable now.”

However, a bed in the ICU costs Rs 2,000 per day apart from other medical expenses. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) offers 50 per cent rebate on medical bills to poor people.

“We still need to raise Rs 40,000.

Arya should be discharged in a couple of days, but the final bill could be around two lakh rupees. I urge everyone who can to help,” said Akash. ekta.katti@goldensparrow.com

22 shipwrecks discovered in Greek archipelago P11

PUNE

Bad loans turn worse in 2015; banks bet on ‘rainbow’ reforms P14

Wasting public money, Pune Rail Division style Scrubbing machines worth Rs 14 lakh gather dust as sweepers use brooms and mops at Pune railway station

BY SUSHANT RANJAN @sushantranjan The Pune Rail Division has spent lots of money on the scrubbing machines that are lying unused on a Pune railway station platform. And the sweepers are still using the age-old brooms and mops to sweep and clean the platform floors.

Railway officials say that the four scrubbing machines and two ride-on scrubbers costing Rs 14 lakh, are only used when some top brass like the General Manager or Railway Board officers are visiting Pune station.

Otherwise the four scrubbing machines are gathering dust near the general ticket booking window, while the ride-on scrubber is stationary in front of the station health superintendent’s office on platform 1.

Pune Rail Division Public Relation

Platforms are manually cleaned while scrubbing machines (inset) are lying idle

officer (PRO) Manoj Kumar Jhawar said, “The division has given the contract to Apcon India for two years.

The tender cost is Rs 4,42,47,000 and 145 labourers are working under this contract in three shifts. We regularly monitor them and roundthe-clock checks will be conducted and attendance of cleaning staff will be

monitored through CCTV cameras.”

TGS team saw that one scrubbing machine was used in the morning on platform 1 and not on platforms 2, 3, 4 and 5. Platform 6 is under construction.

Platforms 2 and 3 are busier than platform 1, with Express and intercity trains coming from Mumbai and going to Solapur or Bangalore coming in.

A platform 2 sweeper said, “We use brooms and mops to clean platforms.

We were told that the machines are only for platform 1.”

On platform 5, a woman is throwing water and a male sweeper is using a mop to clean the floor.

Railway Pravasi Group President Harsha Shah said that the machines are use once in a day when there is not much of a crowd.

“The Railway should use the automated scrubbers for cleaning instead of manual labour. Why was public money wasted on buying these automated machines if they are not used?”

The Pune station has six main platforms and separate buildings for reservation, waiting halls and circulation areas. Over one lakh commuters pass through the station in more than 150 trains.

Commuters complain of the lack of cleanliness on the platforms.

Lata Shah, a regular traveller, said, “I had seen a couple of machines being used some years back. But now they are just gathering dust.” sushant.ranjan@goldensparrow.com

A shot in the arm for Kolhapur tourism MTDC and Kolhapur Collectorate plan Kolhapur festival in February to attract more tourists

BY PRIYANKKA DESHPANDE @journopriyankka The Pune division of the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) is collaborating with the Kolhapur Collectorate to stage the Kolhapur festival in February, to attract more tourists to Kolhapur,.

The biggest tourist attraction of Kolhapur, known as ‘Dakshin Kashi’, is the Mahalaxmi Temple. But the Kolhapur district administration now wants to focus on the other sites which have great tourism potential, such as

the palaces and gardens harking back to its princely past.

Pune division MTDC head Vaishali Chavan feels that Kolhapur has a lot more to offer than just the Mahalaxmi Temple.

“The Mahalaxmi Temple is the best known tourist spot in Kolhapur, but there are a myriad less known attractions such as Khidrapur Temple, Amba village and Kopeshwar Temple, which are charming and scenic,” she said.

The Kolhapur administration has

also devised a special tour package for visitors. “We have put together special tour packages to Kolhapur on February 11-14, wherein visitors will get to experience lesser known and relatively unexplored spots,” said Chavan.

The tours, from Pune and Mumbai, will also give tourists the opportunity to experience the Kolhapuri culture. “giving visitors a taste of the culture of Kolhapur is a big part of our agenda,” said Chavan.

Pavankhind, Kanheri Math, Shalini Palace and Radhanagri jungle safari are some of the attractions of

the Kolhapur festival. “This is our first attempt to boost tourism in Kolhapur after the shutting down of the MTDC facility on Panhala fort,” said Chavan.

Kanheri Math Manager Vikram Patil said that there is a growing number of tourists from Pune and Mumbai, Kolhapur still remains rather obscure on the tourist map.

“At the 1300 years old Kanheri Math, village life is depicted with statues. Even our agro-tourism plan failed to evoke enough of a response,” said Patil. priyankka.deshpande@goldensparrow.com

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JANUARY 9, 2016

PUNE

“We have been suspending licenses for the last three to four years for offences like drunk driving, signal jumping among others based on recommendations of the traffic police and our own action. The duration of suspension depends on the severity of the offence.”

— Jitendra Patil, Regional Transport Officer

Not all that safe for women Two-fold rise in rape and molestation cases in 2015 in Pune TGS NEWS SERVICES @TGSWeekly

in 2015. Cheating cases increased by two per cent, from 770 in 2014 to 784 in 2015. Thefts increased by three per cent, hurts by seven per cent, and robberies by 13 per cent) There were 58 criminal breach of trust cases in 2014, increasing by 57 per cent to 108 in 2015.

In 2014, 139 murder cases were registered, of which 132 were solved.

In 2015, 125 murder cases were registered, of which 123 were solved.

Chain snatching incidents have decreased from 512 in 2014, to 352 in 2015. Recoveries have gone up from 30 per cent in 2014 to 49 per cent in 2015. Most chain snatching incidents (172) happened between 5pm and 9 pm on Sunday (103). Bike-borne duos accounted for 271 chain snatching incidents, while in 57 incidents only one culprit was involved.

Pune is generally considered one of the more safe cities in India as far as women are concerned, but the Pune Police annual crime statistics presented on Tuesday by Commissioner of Police K K Pathak and Joint Commissioner Sunil Ramanand show that the city is becoming increasingly unsafe for the fair sex. Rape cases have risen from 198in 2014 to 264 in 2015. Cases of molestation have risen from 454 in 2014 to 705 in 2015.

However, deaths of newly married woman have dropped from 52 in 2014 to 39 in 2015.

Commissioner Pathak described the increase in crimes against women as alarming and said he has ordered the police staff to registers complaints fi rst and then decide which jurisdiction the crime was committed under.

The overall crime rate in the city in 2015 has increased by seven per cent. The resolution of cases has gone up marginally. In 2014, of the 12,772 cases registered, 7265 were resolved, denoting a 57 per cent success. In 2015, of the 13,701 registered cases, 7973 were resolved, a 58 per success rate.

Even the conviction rate rose from 23 per cent in 2014 to 30 per cent in 2015.

Robbery, cheating, theft and criminal breach of trust cases have increased in 2015. In 2014, 4872 theft cases were registered, rising to 5037

Th ree-fold rise in MCOCA cases Dacoities fell by 64 per cent, from 112 in 2014 to 40 in 2015, of which 38 were resolved. In 2015, 17 cases under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999 (MCOCA) were registered, in which 124 persons were arrested, of whom 112 are in jail, 18 are absconding and 12 were freed on bail.

In 2014, only five cases were registered under MCOCA and 30 persons were arrested.

Under the Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act (MPDA), 1981, action was initiated against 12

Supermarkets hop on e-wagon for survival and success P 14

Jilted lover held for molesting minor

The school dropout who was stalking the victim, threatened her at knifepoint

BY YOGESH WAGH @YogeshWagh1857

Commissioner of Pune police KK Pathak and joint commissioner Sunil Ramanand

persons in 2015, while in 2014 the number was 11.

In 2015 106 cases were registered under Section 399 of the Indian Penal

Code (IPC) and 155 were arrested and 132 weapons recovered under the Arms Act, 1959. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

TOTAL CRIME 2014 2015 12772 13701 Rape 2014: 198 2015: 264

Molestation Robbery 2014: 454 2014: 336 2015: 705 2015: 379

Theft Murder 2014: 4872 2014: 139 2015: 5037 2015: 125

Dacoity 2014: 112 2015: 40

Cheating 2014: 770 2015: 784 Chain snatching 2014: 512 2015: 352

A minor studying in a college in Hadapsar was allegedly molested and threatened for rejecting a proposal from a school dropout. On December 30, the victim was talking to her friends outside her college when Akash Zarak, 19, sneaked up behind her with a knife. He allegedly told her that she should not be speaking to anybody other than him. The victim’s mother lodged a police complaint.

Zarak, who was arrested by Hadapsar police on January 5, gets five days police custody. He told the police that he is a friend of the victim. The accused will be produced before court on January 11.

The unemployed youth, according to the police, has been stalking the victim for a while now. The girl has turned down all his advances in the

past. On December 30, he saw her talking to her friends and threatened her at knifepoint. According to the police, though the incident occurred on December 30, 2015, the victim’s mother fi led an FIR on January 4.

The family was scared to lodge a complaint as the accused is notorious.

Hadapsar police Assistant Police Inspector Rupali Mali-Memane, who is investigating the case, said, “Akash Zarak was angry after the victim rejected his love offer. He used to send her vulgar text messages, abuse over the phone and tail her.”

The police have registered a case under Section 11(4) of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (stalking and sexual harssment) and IPC Sections 354(5) (outraging a woman’s modesty), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506(2) (criminal intimidation) against Akash. At the time of going to press Akash was absconding. yogesh.wagh@goldensparrow.com

Alternate day water Sahyadri hospital charges double for meds cut to continue Patient’s family ends up paying Rs 97,000 for injection that cost Rs 51,000 at other medical shops

Four months of alternate day water supply has resulted in adequate saving of water Water storage (In TMC)

BY TUSHAR RUPANAVAR @TGSWeekly

3.71

TEMGHAR

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) resorted to alternate day water supply from September 1, 2015 in wake of the water crisis owing to below average rainfall in 2015, which left water in the dams which supply water to the city at dangerously low levels.

As a result, the earlier 1250 MLD water supply to the city everyday has fallen to 850 MLD with alternate day water supply. Th is has resulted in savings of two TMC of water over the four months since alternate day water supply was resorted to. An additional three TMC of water will be saved if PMC continues alternate day water supply till the next monsoon, which will suffice water needs of the city till July 2016.

PMC Water Supply Department Superintendent Engineer V G Kulkarni said, “The catchment areas of Khadakwasla, Panshet, Temghar, and Varasgaon dams recorded less rainfall so dams were not fi lled to capacity. Water from these dams is the main source of water supply to the city. Guardian Minister Girish Bapat held a meeting with PMC officials and

10.64

PANSHET

12.82

VARASGAON

1.97

KHADAKWASLA

(Source: Maharashtra state water resource department)

irrigation department personnel in August 2015 and proposed alternate day water supply in the city from September 1, 2015 to cope with the water crisis. The PMC water supply department appealed to citizens to not use drinking water for construction, washing vehicles, or unnecessary uses.

We also kept tabs on construction sites and washing centres. We have saved two TMC water in four months.”

PMC Commissioner Kunal Kumar said, “We have kept track of water storage at Khadakwasla, Panshet, Temghar and Varasgaon dams and regulating water supply to the city accordingly. We will continue alternate day water supply till June 2016. We will have saved five TMC water till June and it will be enough to last till July 2016. We also undertook repairs to curb leakages. The citizens of Pune have co-operated whole heartedly.” tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

Sahyadri Hospital does it again. Two days after Pune District Consumer Redressal Forum pulled up the hospital for forcing a 70-year-old patient Jitendra Kelkar to buy medicine from the hospital and asked it to pay Rs 40,000 to the patient, another case of charging double for an injection from a patient has surfaced.

Gauri Vedepatil, 30, of Bavdhan has filed a complaint with Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) health department stating that the hospital charged double the price for IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulin), an injection used for increasing blood platelet count.

Chemist Association of Pune District (CAPD) helped the patient in filing the complaint.

Pravin Vedepatil, a farmer, admitted his wife Gauri, a homemaker, to Sahyadri Hospital at Deccan on December 7 after she was diagnosed with dengue. The hospital presented a bill of Rs eight lakh when she was discharged on December 24 last year.

“During the treatment Gauri needed three IVIG injections and the hospital forced us to buy the medicines from its medical store for Rs 97,000 per injection.

This injection was available at Rs 51,000, including tax, at other medical shops,” said Pradip Vedepatil, brother of Pravin.

CAPD member Vijaykumar Unecha

VISHAL KALE

BY SUSHANT RANJAN @sushantranjan Plans for the Pune Cantonment Board’s (PCB) long-awaited sports complex to be built at Golibar Maidan have been stalled owing to the transfers of defence officials, and the PCB has also cancelled the tender for the construction of the sports complex.

The PCB had approved the

proposal to develop a sports complex at the Golibar Maidan, in 2009.

This decision had been taken in

complex and external services, including roads, pathways, water supply, electrif ication, sewage disposal and compound wall. The estimated cost for these amenities is Rs 3.83 crore.

PCB CEO Sanjeev Kumar said, “This sports complex had been proposed after the PCB’s earlier proposal of a commercial complex at Golibar Maidan was rejected by the central government. But the tender for the proposed complex has been cancelled due to some technical problem.”

Off icials from Engineering Department of PCB said that the regular transfers of Army personnel was the reason for the delay. “In 2009, the PCB had proposed to set up a sports complex at Golibar Maidan on a build operate transfer (BOT) basis with an estimated investment of up to Rs 15 crore.

But the Army off icials responsible of this whole project have been transferred regularly.”

PCB Vice President Dr Kiran Mantri said that PCB recently cancelled the tender for the longawaited complex.

Senior PCB off icials said that the service charge was not paid to M/s Anand Upalekar & Associates.

The board had appointed the f irm in 2004 for preparation of detailed drawings, plans and estimates for the construction of sports complex at Golibar Maidan.

Upalekar had asked for payment for architectural services amounting to Rs 14.50 lakh.

Anand Upalekar said, “I have sent a legal notice to the board regarding my payment in October 2015. They have not released my payment for almost 11 years.” sushant.ranjan@goldensparrow.com

Protestors gathered outside Sahyadri Hospital

said that the hospital told the patient’s family that medicines brought from outside may not work. The complainant ended up paying Rs 2.93 lakh for injections that costed Rs 1.53 lakh in the outside market.

The victim’s family, CAPD member and corporators held protest outside the

Tender for PCB sports complex cancelled Transfers of Army personnel is the reason for hold-up of PCB sports complex at Golibar Maidan

hospital premises on January 5.

CAPD chairman Suresh Bafna said, “It is wrong to force patients’ relatives to buy medicines from hospital. According to a court ruling, a patient is free to buy medicines from wherever he wants and it is mandatory for hospital to put up this information on display boards. We

have written to health chief officer, charity commissioner, Pune Guardian Minister Girish Bapat and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take action against the hospital.”

Sahyadri Hospital is yet to install display boards informing people about buying of medicines despite PMC health chief issuing a notice two months ago. “The hospital has violated the rule. We would take action soon after receiving the complaint,” said PMC Assistant Health Officer Dr Narendra Thakur.

Assistant Commissioner of Food and Drug Administration (Drug), Suhas Mohite initiated an inquiry in wake of the complaint from the Vedekar family. “We found that the doctors asked the Vedepatil family to purchase the injection from the hospital, as an injection purchased from outside may not bring the desired result. The hospital higher authority admitted the mistake and assured not to do it again. The hospital has also displayed signboards stating they medicines can be brought from wherever people wanted,” said Mohite. He said that the pharmacy on Sahyadri Hospital premises did not force the family to purchase the medication from them.

“The cost of the IVIG injection is Rs 97,000 according to MRP, which the Vedepatil family was supposed to get for Rs 51,000 from outside,” he said. dnyaneshwar.bhonde@goldensparrow.com

BY DNYANESHWAR BHONDE @dnyanesh1

board meeting in 2012. The PCB had given the tender to M/s Anand Upalekar & Associates in 2004.

PCB sources said that the sports complex proposal is stuck in red tape and the f ile has not been forwarded to the Ministry of Defence. “The sports complex proposal was passed in 2009. The then PCB Chief Executive Off icer (CEO) Dr D K Mallik had conf irmed the proposal.

Construction was to be start in March 2010 but the f ile is still stuck in the off ice,” sources said.

The sports complex supposed to be developed in two phases. The f irst phase, costing an estimated Rs 1.31 crore, would include construction of a jogging track, visitors’ seating gallery and football ground. The second phase involved the construction of an indoor sports

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JANUARY 9, 2016

No choice but to wade through sewage water

BY TUSHAR RUPANAVAR @TGSWeekly Due to narrow drainage pipelines, sewage water is getting clogged and seeping into the homes of 500 residents of the Late Meenatai Thackeray Vasahat, Maharshinagar, Gultekdi. Besides having to clear the dirty water from their homes, these people have to bear with the foul odour, as well as a proliferation of mosquitoes, which is posing a health hazard. This has been happening since September 2015 and those affected by this sewage overflow area at their wits’ end.

Salma Malik Sayyed said, “The problem started when the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) launched the alternate

TEJAS GAIKWAD

Narrow drainage pipelines result in sewage water seeping into Meenatai Thackeray Vasahat

day water supply plan. The water is released at high pressure and so the drainage pipelines get clogged. As a result, our homes are filled with ankle-deep drainage water. It takes lots of time to throw out this filthy water from our homes. As the floor is submerged, little children have to placed on beds and household articles have to by hung up on walls. With so much water, we have a difficult time cooking food.”

Sabir Shaikh said, “The PMC installed an 18-inch diameter drainage pipeline initially but in next phase they installed a 14-inch pipeline. The narrow pipeline cannot handle the pressure and that is the reason for the sewage water coming into our homes.

We have submitted numerous complaints regarding the pipeline issue but nothing has been done.“

Gultekdi ward officer Vijay Landge said, “This area was a rock mine, on which people built their homes after grabbing this land illegally. Now there are more than 2000 homes. The foundation level is below the road level, so drainage water coming from Indiranagar Audyogik Vasahat gets clogged owing to the narrow pipeline. It is difficult to work in the slum with its narrow lanes and some homes have been built over the pipeline.”

Local corporator Abhay Chhajed said, “The drainage water problem at Late Meenatai Thackeray Vasahat has arises because of high pressure water supply, so the solution is to reduce the pressure. We will also install broader diameter drainage pipelines very soon.” tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

Noisy mall eateries irk neigbourhood residents Pimple Saudagar housing society residents complain about noise pollution from nearby mall

BY DNYANESHWAR BHONDE @dnyanesh1 Residents of Essentia Society at Shivar chowk in Pimple Saudagar have suffered sleepless nights for nine months, owing to the racket from the eight-storey Spot 18 mall on Rahatani Road, that houses KFC, Eagle Boys Pizza, 18 Degree and Yolo restaurants.

The society is at the rear of the mall and the blowers, air conditioning units, open goods lift, scrubber and compressors of KFC and Eagle Boys outlets emanate a non-stop cacophony which is less than music to the ears of the society residents. Their repeated complaints to the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) commissioner, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and PCMC commissioner of police have fallen on deaf ears. Besides this, there is also loud music from late night events and foul odour from the blowers.

“We are fed up with the constant, round-the-clock racket and this is now telling on our family life. Our irritation levels have now reached breaking point,” said Kunal Bomanwar, former secretary of the society.

“We first raised the issue of disturbance from the mall in June 2015. The PCMC commissioner told us to approach the MPCB as it was not in their jurisdiction. The MPCB didn’t even bother to assess the noise pollution,” said Ramesh Ghodaskar, another resident. Wakad police station senior police inspector N J Shaikh visited the spot in the first week of December and summoned builder Sunil Advani to the police station and recorded his statement, where he assured residents that the blowers etc would be removed within a week, but nothing has happened.

“We have given some time to the builder. If he fails to take action, we will send the report to the higher authority,” Shaikh said. PCMC commissioner Rajiv Jadhav said that the mall has the necessary permits. “The mall has permission for commercial purposes but if there is sound pollution, the residents should complain to the MPCB,” he said.

An MPCB official said that they were going to monitor the noise pollution soon. “After conducting a noise pollution test, we will forward the report to our legal wing for further action.” Asked why the matter was forwarded to the PCMC, the official said that it was according to the section of citizen charter. “The structure is smaller than 30,000 square metres, which is why it comes under PCMC jurisdiction,” he said.

Spot 18 mall’s liaison officer Ajit Kulkarni said that the issues had been discussed with the residents and would be resolved in a week. “We held a meeting with residents as well as KFC and Eagle Boys restaurant representatives on Wednesday. They have agreed to reduce noise pollution and are working on it,” said Kulkarni.

The mall is planning to have a four-screen multiplex which will add to the noise pollution. dnyaneshwar.bhonde@gmail.com PICS BY RAHUL RAUT

Residents of Essentia Society can’t take it anymore. The neighbouring mall, Spot18 is nothing but a nuisance

Call drops due to poor investment

India’s emission regulations stand exposed

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P11

Cardiac patient goes on a winning spree Parbhani teen Sangeeta is making her mark in the athletics arena after undergoing heart surgery TGS NEWS SERVICES @TGSWeekly Sangeeta Shinde has had an eventful life. At the age of 15, she already has a national medal and two state level athletics medals to her name. A resident of Chudava village in Parbhani district, Sangeeta is a standard IX student of Balewadi’s Krida Prabodhini, where youngsters of Maharashtra are trained and groomed in various sports disciplines.

Sangeeta joined Krida Prabodhini in 2010. She was prone to bouts of breathlessness and headaches during training. The Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) doctors team number 12 of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) visited the school for check-up in July 2014, suspected that Sangeeta had a more serious ailment.

Medical health officer Dr Sarala Rane said, “I suspected that Sangeeta was suffering from heart murmur, wherein the heartbeat sounds different.

I referred her to a private hospital for further investigation.” Sangeeta was somewhat averse but we convinced her that it was important. “After further investigations, Sangeeta was diagnosed with ‘Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) Device Closure’, a congenital heart condition that affects blood flow to the heart,” she said. The doctors advised heart surgery at a private hospital, the cost of which was estimated at around a lakh of rupees.

Sangeeta’s father is a farmer and he did not have that kind of money. The RBSK doctors Shyam Pawar, Sarala Rane, Sagar Pawar and Usha Shinde advised them to avail of the Rajiv Gandhi Jiwandayee Yojana (RGJY), under which poor patients undergo surgery free of cost.

Sangeeta was operated on by cardiologist Dr Santosh Joshi at Sahyadri Hospital in August 2014.

“There was a marked difference in Sangeeta after heart surgery and she was perfectly fit, and the breathlessness, headaches and pain were all gone,”

VISHAL KALE

“There will be a drop in sugarcane crushing in Maharashtra and Karnataka because of the drought. The sugar mills are not in a position to make payments to farmers as per the fair and remunerative price.”

— Sharad Pawar,Former Union agriculture minister

PUNE

Sangeeta Shinde, 15, praticising at Balewadi

said Suresh Kakad, Sangeeta’s coach.

There was no looking back as Sangeeta won a bronze medal at the national Junior Athletics Championship 2014 at Ranchi, Jharkhand in the 800-metre event. She bagged two gold medals in the 400- and 600-metre events in the state level West Zone Athletics Championship in Gujarat in 2015.

“I am grateful to the RBSK doctors who identified my ailment disease and advised surgery.

I feel extremely fit now and now I have greater ambitions, like representing India at the Olympics,” said Sangeeta.

Maharashtra state RBSK doctors and workers union Chairman Dr Pranali Vetal said that 114 poor children identified by RBSK doctors underwent heart surgeries in Pune district last year. There are 80 RBSK doctors teams in the district working under the National Health Mission (NHM) programme helping to bring down child deaths. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JANUARY 9, 2016

PUNE

Compassion of the

NOBLEST KI It is easy to love and care for a household pet, but it takes truly exalted compassion to go about feeding and caring for stray dogs. Romil Kothari and Shailesh Joshi found Puneites who do just that

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here is a growing number of people who have pets, but India is not a country especially known for its kindness to animals, especially the stray and abandoned sort. Yes, the civic body has provisions for the rounding up and sheltering of stray animals, but the truth is

that there are just far too may stray animals on the streets of Pune for all of them to be provided even the most basic of amenities.

Having said that, look around and you will find gentle-hearted human beings who will go way out of their way to care for stray dogs, cats, birds and other animals.

Pune has its share of such compassionate humans who believe it is our duty as an

She feeds 600 dogs every day

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do not make a racket to disturb people and they are careful enough to clean up the areas after the stray dogs are fed.

Besides her own staff, she has hired other helpers in Undri and Dhole Patil Road. “I have seven dogs in my own home, one of whom is blind, another disabled, most of whom I has rescued and provided shelter,” she said. “I also sterilise female dogs. The sterilisations are done in my home with the help of a veterinarian doctor every Sunday. I nurse them for a few days before setting them free,” she said.

Rajni aunty also does counselling for cats at animal adoption camps. She is currently working on a project for the adoption of dogs. She has been feeding stray and hungry dogs for all of her life, and has inspired countless others with her caring attitude towards animals.

“I love dogs and I can’t help myself when I see some stray dog. I just have to give them whatever food I have,” she said. Rajni has no financial help and she pays for the dog food herself.

A Mumbai girl, Rajni aunty came to Pune in 1986 after her husband’s death. She has a son who lives with her, and two sons who live in the US. She has been working as secretary at the Rustom N Jeejeebhoy firm for 18 years.

Pune are united by an affection for animals. C these people make time feed stray dogs, cats an What is it that in hearted human beings There is certainly no rew in fact some of them at by people who don

‘Adopt more Indian breed dogs

RAJNI D’ARAUJO

hey call her Rajni aunty, and Rajni D’Araujo, 61, is certainly one of a kind. Her day revolves around her mission: to feed all the stray dogs in Pune that she possibly can.

The statistics are astounding. Rajni aunty buys 200 kg of meat of every day.

She starts cooking the meat at 4:30 am, and she is done in about an hour. Then begins her massive mission. The first to be fed are her seven cats and about 35 neighbourhood dogs, which she does herself. Thereafter begins her citywide mission, where her domestic help Rohit, Jaivijay, Inder and Algu Singh take off on bikes and scooters with their cargo of dog food to Katraj, Boat Club, Mundhwa, Council Hall, Dhole Patil Road, Koregaon Park and other areas.

The number of dogs thus fed, twice a day, is close to 600. And it shows, as all these strays look well-nourished.

Her faithful helpers are done feeding the dogs by around 10 am. The same process is repeated in the evenings. And the cycle is maintained every day, 365 days of the year, irrespective of the weather.

Rajni aunty has learnt from past experience, and makes sure that her charity to animals is not a cause for complaint for her neighbours or anyone else in the other localities. Her helpers

intelligent species to devote attention to creatures who must rely on nature’s bounty or the benevolence of human beings for food. These chosen few hail from a crosssection of society and diverse backgrounds.

What is striking is that they all pay for their charitable missions from their own pockets, some of them being far from affluent. These extraordinary citizens of

POONAM KANWAR

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oonam Kanwar, 46, has always had a soft spot for dogs. Th is love has now blossomed into a duty to care for and feed stray dogs.

Besides the seven strays she feeds herself in the vicinity of her house, she feeds 60 dogs in the Panchavati and Pashan areas.

Poonam has a crew of volunteers, who help out as she sets out on her daily mission at around 4:30 pm.

It takes them about an hour and a half. Besides the cost of the food, she also pays for the vaccination and sterilisation of strays.

Poonam co-ordinates with the Pune Municipal Corporation’s Animal Birth Control (ABC) initiative. PMC staffers pick up the dogs for sterilisation, and she makes sure they are brought back to the same area again. “If a dog is left in another area, the dogs in that

She started feeding two dogs near her home at Dhole Patil Road when she moved to the city and the number has grown constantly since. She now resides in Undri. “Humans beings are selfish,

they only care for themselves. The dogs I feed are voiceless and that’s why I have chosen to become the voice of the voiceless. I will feed the strays as long as I live.”

area may attack or kill him,” said Poonam.

“I have a difficult time with people who do not allow me to feed strays in their housing societies, as they fear that the strays may dirty the area,” she said.

Poonam, an independent facilitator, copy editor and counsellor, has a daughter and her husband is an army man.

She along with other dog lovers, organises a monthly adoption camp on a Sunday, where people are encouraged to adopt strays. “Indian breed dogs are able to survive in our environment, while foreign breeds struggle to adjust to our weather conditions,” she said. Poonam wants to do more to shelter and care for stray dogs, and she makes use of the social media to connect with animal lovers.

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JANUARY 9, 2016

PUNE

PICS BY RAHUL RAUT, VISHAL KALE AND TEJAS GAIKWAD

MANGAL KOTWAL

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he works as housemaid, but that has not stopped Mangal Kotwal, 50, from caring for and feeding dogs for over two decades.

Known fondly as Mangal maushi, she feeds around 25 dogs and a few cats in the Pashan area. The animal food includes Pedigree, chicken, bread and milk.

“It breaks my heart to see hungry and starving animals and though I don’t have much, I do all that I can to feed the animals,” said Mangal. “I can’t go a day without feeding these poor animals. If I am not there to feed them, who will do it?” she said.

Fortunately for her, Mangal’s family is supportive. Her daughter is pregnant so Mangal has the extra

s’

burden of her care, currently.

Mangal has a constant problem with residents of housing societies who do not let her feed stray dogs in the vicinity of their societies, as they think that the stray dogs are a nuisance and will dirty the premises.

“People can be unbelievably cruel to animals. A dog in my locality is constantly pelted with stones, though I try my best to dissuade these people.

All I can do is feed the poor animal when I can,” she said.

Mangal even helps stray dogs in need to get medical treatment such as sterilisation. She collaborates with other animal lovers in theses missions of mercy.

Mangal helps the PMC dog

squad in the sterilisation of strays, and makes sure that they are returned to their locality.

She also helps in fi nding homes for new-born pups and kittens.

because their neighbours or society residents do not want strays around as they feel that such animals are a nuisance.”

“Be that as it may, we will never stop from doing what we can to help and feed these animals,” they say.

‘My dogs are my first priority’ PRAKASH NAGARKAR

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rakash Nagarkar, 65, works as a night watchman at Mandai. An incident 12 years ago changed the course of his life. A female dog was run over by a truck, and Prakash then took it upon himself to care for her orphaned puppies. While raising them, he discovered that he really loved dogs and he also began feeding stray dogs that he came across.

“I have dedicated my life to looking after strays,” Prakash said. He feeds the stray dogs near Mithganj Police Station, Guruwar Peth, Mandai and Shukrawar Peth areas in the afternoon and at night.

IND

n infinite supply of Come rain or shine, e in their busy day, to nd even birds. nspires these kindto do what they do? ward or recognition; are looked askance n’t understand their

‘Who will feed them if l don’t?’

motives. Some even face ostracisation or the prospect of police complaints and such for their animal-caring endeavours. But they remain undeterred and continue to follow their hearts. Most of us who are much too busy or otherwise occupied, would do well to take a leaf out of their books, and do what little we can to show less fortunate living creatures a little tenderness.

Most of what Prakash earns goes toward the expense of feeding the dogs.

“My dogs are my fi rst priority. I don’t care if I have no food for myself, but I feed my dogs daily without fail. They are like my children. No parent can see his child go hungry,” said Prakash.

Nagarkar even takes injured animals to veterinary hospitals for treatment, and pays for the treatment if need be. In the course of his job, he is often surrounded by the dogs he feeds.

“I don’t have any real family, so these dogs are like my family. I will keep on feeding them till my last breath,” said Prakash.

‘People’s attitude must change’ ARUN & SUVARNA PASARE

A

run and Suvarna Pasare are a couple who share a common love for animals. Arun’s love for dogs began when he saw a puppy run over by a car. Arun is a vastu consultant and Suvarna is a beautician.

Their days begin early, at 4 am, as they begin cooking the meat and rice for the stray dogs they feed. They feed around 600 dogs every day in the Tilak Road, Padmavati, Modern Colony, Bhosale Nagar, Chandni Chowk and Bavdhan areas.

The Pasares are helped out by people who know about their mission to feed the strays. “People are kind enough to donate the extra food and leftovers which we feed to the dogs,” said Arun.

The food is transported to the

areas in a Maruti Omni van. “Our van is packed with food and medical kits.

The stray dogs know our van and come running when they hear the horn,” said Arun.

Arun and his wife also provide medical care and shelter to injured animals at their home. But their neighbours and society residents have gone so far as to fi le a case against the Pasares.

The Pasares have a lot of plans, including cremating dogs, and a foster home and hospital for the strays.

People’s attitudes towards stray animals must change, they feel.

Veterinary doctors are not available to come where an injured stray dog may be. Animal lovers are dissuaded from helping or sheltering stray animals

‘We’ve made animals homeless’ PRACHI SHARMA

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rachi Sharma, 45, believes that it is the duty of human beings to care for stray animals. She has three pet dogs but she was so moved by the condition of the stray dogs in her neighbourhood, that she began feeding them around four years ago.

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. I feel it’s our moral responsibility to feed these animals,” she said.

She feels that the proliferation of housing societies on every available piece of land has deprived animals of their habitats. “The least we can do is provide them food since we have made these concrete jungles and rendered them homeless,” she said.

Prachi sets off at 8 am and at 4:30 pm to feed around 65 stray dogs in the NIBM Road, Church Lane and Chandan Garden areas.

She is vegetarian, but she feeds chicken to the dogs. “It makes no

difference to me as animals must be given the food they prefer. Once they are fed, they generally go off to sleep and do not have to scavenge for food,” she said.

People have a lot to learn, she thinks. “We should encourage people to adopt Indian dogs. Indian dogs are used to our climate and their immunity level is high compared to pedigree dogs. Pets should be treated as part of the family and not as status symbols,” she said. She helps in finding homes for abandoned dogs.

A resident of Natraj Society, NIBM Road, Prachi is often accompanied by Vijay Ram, the society watchman. “I appreciate what she is doing for the stray dogs. Back home in Bihar, I used to take care of stray dogs, and I am glad I am able to do it here,” said Vijay Ram. Prachi wants to set up an animal shelter home of her own, to look after strays, injured and sick dogs.

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JANUARY 9, 2016

PUNE

“ As we look to address the challenges that female scientists face, we need to engage our children at school level and tell them about contribution made by female scientists of India.”

— Smriti Irani, Human Resource Development Minister

“Shakti (power) is important for a nation to keep its identity and existence alive. A society with good character and power can only guide the country on the path to development.”

— Mohan Bhagwat, RSS chief

Kids love alphabet teachers

Another step closer to clean Pune

Pune Learns started with five CoEP students now teach English, soft skills to 200 slum children around the city

BY EKTA KATTI @Ektak On a Sunday, when students prefer to laze around and keep themselves away from books, these collegians are excited to hit the streets and become needy children’s f a v o u r i t e teachers.

Five students of College of E n g i n e e r i n g , Nishant Pune (CoEP) Bidichandani have joined hands to impart basic knowledge to slum children. Pooja Kulkarni (21), Tanvi Lolap (21), Pallavi Patil (22), Nishant Bidichandani (21) and Dipack Panjadi (21) founded the social project ‘Pune Learns’ in June last year.

Volunteering was never new to Pooja and Pallavi, who have been doing social work since their teenage days. While working at a children’s community at Balewadi, a couple of years ago, both of them felt the need to educate more children whose parents cannot pay for their studies.

“Every child has the right to learn.

It is time we give something back to society. We meet local communities and teach English, soft skills and fun activities to their children right from basics. We intent to make a difference by reaching to as many kids as possible.

We teach kids from standard I to X,” Pooja said.

What began as a social initiative with five students, Pune Learns now has 50 volunteers who visit eight different

Volunteers Vedant Pachpande and Priyanka Sohani play games with children from Baner area after the teaching session

communities and teach around 200 children. Aware of the amount of study time needed for engineering studies, these student volunteers teach children every Sundays for two hours. “It is the Sunday we all look forward too. As per the convenience of children and volunteers, we have started eight communities in areas like Baner, Balewadi, Aundh, Chinchwad, Kondhwa, Camp, Kothrud and Shivajinagar. On own request, people having open spaces give it to us for holding classes,” said Tanvi.

After the areas have been identified, the volunteers have a screening p r o c e d u r e Dipack Panjabi where they have

an interactive session with slum children to understand their needs. Later, they are categorised into basic and advanced group.

“In the basic group we teach Pallavi Patil them alphabets while those in the advanced group are taught grammar and higher-level English,” said Pooja.

The volunteers believe that their social journey together has been successful because of their fi rm belief in the mission. “Only word of mouth appreciation has helped us get enough funds to teach these children. We need books and stationary but loads of will to change the world,” she said.

The founders feel that volunteering is always a give-and-take relationship.

Each session with kids make the volunteers a better person. “I feel that we have learnt so much more from the kids than what we could impart.

We know the Tanvi Lolap importance of patience in our lives, and these kids have been our best teachers to keep our tempers in check,” said Tanvi.

So far, the group has received good response from children and their parents. The fact that the children eagerly wait for their out-ofschool teachers every Sunday is the greatest achievement for Pune Learns.

Overwhelmed with the gratitude expressed by children, Tanvi said, “I feel a sense of satisfaction when the kids are happy to see us. It means they are eager to learn.

When the kids grasp the things that we teach, it means a lot to us.”

Talking about the future plans, Pooja said, “A mobile library for kids is our next mission. We have Pooja Kulkarni collected around 100 books. In a couple of days, we will detail out a proper course structure. We are also collecting funds for a fun-fi lled event for children that will be organised in two months.” ekta.katti@goldensparrow.com

One of the largest bamboo species, now in our backyard

Ajeet Thakur has been promoting the cultivation of bamboo and has set up one-of-its- kind nursery solely devoted to bamboo in Chinchwad

BY HIREN KUMAR BOSE

“It was sometime in 1981 that I first saw a giant bamboo,” begins Ajeet Thakur as we meet him in his Chinchwad-based bungalow home on a November evening. “It could hide a full-grown child.”

Ever since then, Thakur, a mechanical engineer, now in his late sixties seventies, has been obsessive about the variety of grass which we all know as bamboo. His bungalow, Nathkutee, is home to scores of bamboo saplings at different stages of

growth. Standing close to a bamboo grove, he points out: “This is Dendrocalamus Giganteus, one of the largest bamboo species in the world which aroused my fascination for the bamboo.”

It took Thakur almost 10 years to lay his hands on saplings of the giant bamboo. “I had put an order for 100 planting material with a Tamil Nadu farmer but months later when I reached with my truck to collect them I got only 34 of them for he was pressed by the officials to sell them only to locals.

You can imagine how economical was

my trip bringing them to Pune,” remembers Thakur.

The giant bamboo reaches a height of 30-40 m and within three years achieves a diameter of 300m and a wall thickness of 20mm. Under favourable conditions, it can grow up to 40cm per day. The denseclumping species, growing around Thakur’s bungalow seems to be competing with the high-rises which have mushroomed in the neighbourhood!

Thakur has travelled length and breadth of the country to fuel his love for the ‘Green Gold’ of which India has the richest genetic resources with 136 species, including 11 exotic species. In his nursery are clumps, rhizomes and culm cuttings of varieties like Bambusa Oliveri which is used in pole vaults; an almost solid D Brandisi; creeper bamboo; D Ritcheyi used to make soft coal;the black bamboo (G Atroviolacea) used for making traditional musical instruments, handicrafts etc ; the hollow B Multiplex with wall thickness of a mere 2mm and several others.

“Only eight bamboo varieties found in India are beneficial to farmers,” says Thakur, founder member of Bamboo Viswa, an electronic journal which promotes Bamboo, its cultivation and products. “Wait for three years and bamboo is ready for harvest unlike Nilgiri, Casuarina or Teak which take around six to seven years besides the required permissions at the time of harvest.”

A familiar figure in bamboo meets and workshops held in the country, Thakur stresses the need to remove the misconception that bamboo is a poor man’s timber. With the sole purpose of promoting cultivation of bamboo he has set up a 13-acre one-ofits-kind bamboo nursery at Khalchwadi in Mangaon taluka of Raigad where he grows planting material of 24 varieties of bamboo.

An easy to grow plant, the world of bamboo has much to offer. Like B Multiplex ‘Riviereorum’ if you need a cozy space or a low hedge, B Multiplex ‘Golden Goddess’ for adding colour in your garden, the neighborhood park for its culms turn golden with age or D Stocksii which has been providing as a major source of income and livelihood for farmers in several villages in Maharashtra. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

PMC’s first Bio-CNG plant at Talegaon, Ambi starts functioning on Wednesday

BY EKTA KATTI @EktaaK The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has announced that the city’s fi rst plant to convert biogas to BioCNG at Talegaon, Ambi will starting functioning on Wednesday.

PMC deputy engineer Ravindra Muley said, “The commencement of functioning of this one-of-its-kind plant is a matter of pride for the PMC.” Wet waste from the city will be sent from Aundh to the 300-metric tonne plant,which is a digester of organic waste.

“We have been feeding five tonnes of garbage to the plant. Waste collected from the city will be crushed at Aundh. The Talegaon plant has a digester into which the crushed waste will be fed and from which Bio-CNG will be produced,” said one official.

The amount of garbage sent to the plant will be gradually increased. The maximum intake is 300 metric tonnes.

The plant is a step towards achieving PMC’s Clean Pune target by

2016. “Th is plant will definitely help in resolving the city’s garbage clearance problem,” Muley said.

The Bio-CNG produced at the plant will be used as fuel for cars and autorickshaws. “Th is gas causes less pollution. It will reduce the expenditure on petrol and diesel, there will be less waste and it will ensure a cleaner Pune,” he said.

The PMC will set up more such plants if the Talegaon plant shows good results. “We will be able to assess its effect in a couple of days,” said a PMC official.

PMC Commissioner Kunal Kumar said that the plant is a New Year’s gift to the city. “The plant was going to take 12 months to complete. Because of the emergency situation in Pune, we were able to finish the plant in a record time of nine months, which is a recordbreaking time to set up a 300-tonne plant. The plant is now operational on trial and testing method. By January 15, we want to scale the input to 300 tonnes,” he said. ekta.katti@goldensparrow.com

Decoding science

Young NCL researchers have launched an initiative ‘Dor’ to make science an everyday subject

BY SALONEE MISTRY @SaloneeMistry Dialogue is necessary. Whatever may be the topic or issue, it is imperative to discuss things and find solutions together rather than jumping to conclusions.

And science has always been a dreaded-and-keepat-arm’s-length subject. Eleven research students of National Chemical Laboratory of Pune have decided to make science stimulating for the young and old.

Starting from Saturday (January 9), these students will be organising one lecture every month for the common man. And the venue they have chosen is a café to bring together a diverse audience.

BRIDGING THE GAP Between the age group of 24 and 26, Zenia Motiwala, Anand Sukeerthi, Sharmila Mujawar, Sneha Singh, Swati Shri Pal Singh, Ashwini Bhoite, Ekta Sangtani, Madhura Murar, Debopriya Roy, Nivedita Patil and Rajeshwari Rathore have taken the responsibility to make science an everyday subject. Doing research in different fields ranging from cancer, diabetes to chemistry drug designing, these young minds felt the need to make the common man understand the ‘beauty of the subject’. They found that a forum or space would help bridge the gap that they felt existed from time immemorial between the community and scientists. “Often someone who is not interested in science or in the topic that we are researching does not know anything about what we are doing. We believe that this mindset needs to change. Being updated with what researchers of your country is doing, specifically of your city, will help initiate healthy discussion and

may give birth to new ideas,” said Zenia.

The other advantage of lectures is that it will help increase the awareness of the community about the ongoing researches as they will get a clear idea of where their money as a taxpayer is being used as many research projects are government funded. Generating interest in these research works will help community to become active participants in the scientific and technical revolution of our country.

“They might have suggestions or feedbacks that might be crucial to our research. We look at everything as minutely as possible, but the fact that others aren’t a part of the technical environment make us miss on some out of the box suggestions,” Zenia said.

Since it is the very fi rst talk that is going to be organised as a part of their initiative, the researchers have approached faculty and scientists who will interact with the audience. The speaker for the fi rst session is Dr Kiran Kulkarni, who is a senior scientists at NCL. He will be talking about the ongoing research that NCL is doing on cancer in India. The organisers hope that the community asks questions and gets their doubts cleared, besides giving some valuable suggestions and feedback.

COMMUNITY-FRIENDLY SPACE The talks will be held at Pagdandi- Books Chai Café at Baner. “The reason that we selected a place like this is to get a diverse audience. Being a community place, the café is always thriving with people from varied backgrounds, cultures and age groups. It will be the perfect place to hold these talks,” she said, adding that had they conducted the talk at NCL or a more formal venue, the audience would have been limited.

Looking at making this a regular feature, the team will organise talks of this kind on various topics once every month. From Pagdandi as the present venue, they want to hold such talks across the city at similar action-fi lled places. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

ENVIRONMENT “The level of pollutants like nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter below 2.5 microns is higher than the prescribed level in the city. The 2.5 particulate matters could enter deep into lungs and cause health hazards.”

— Mangesh Dighe, Environment Officer, PMC

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY

H EALTH

JANUARY 9, 2016

PUNE

“Pune is better off than Delhi, but local conditions, including the weather and surrounding hills make pollutants hang in the air for long. Issues like diesel, petrol and CNG variants are minor.”

— Sujit Patwardhan, Founder, Parisar

India’s emission regulations stand exposed CSE says Volkswagen fraud is a wake-up call for authorities

happened here too. But the technical ingenuity of the Volkswagen corporate fraud has exposed weakness and gaps in the emissions regulations in India, like many other regions that allow industry to compromise on emission performance of vehicles.

“This makes India extremely

vulnerable as it is motorising and dieselising rapidly without the right regulations and compliance framework for manufacturers,” said Anumita Roy Chowdhury, Executive Director, CSE. The Volkswagen fraud was a key point of discussion at a workshop on “Urban air quality and challenges and

Speaking at a panel discussion on ‘Your Breath Your Health’ at the American Center, Lesley Onyon, Region Advisor, WHO, said approximately 40 per cent of diseases burden can be attributed to household air pollution. She said government needs to improve the access to cleaner fuels like LPG and CNG to deal with indoor air pollution as more than 60 per cent of the household are still dependent on solid fuel combustion.

“As much as 81 per cent of the rural households use dirty fuels like wood for cooking, and in urban areas it is 20 per cent, making the national average of 64 per cent. The government needs to take long-term measures to deal with air pollution, which includes increasing access to cleaner fuel as 64 per cent of the households use solid fuel combustion as a primary source of cooking,” she said.

The World Health Assembly in

their resolution had highlighted the key role that health authorities needed to make in raising the awareness about the potential to save lives and reducing health costs if air pollution was to be addressed effectively. Parthaa Basu, Indian Director and South Asian Liaison, Clean Air Asia, said that indoor air pollution is also caused by biological material and consumer products like mosquito repellents, incense sticks and deodorants.

Relatively less traffic was seen in Delhi after the Odd-Even plan became operational

Car-free day saw dip in pollution The car-free day organised by Delhi government has “proven” that restricting vehicles cut pollution as PM 2.5 levels in the selected Dwarka stretch were “half ” compared to what was observed at the Dhaula Kuan area, where no such restrictions were put, a green body has said.

Monitors of NGO CSE said that there was a significant difference in pollution exposure level, “as much as 50 per cent”, between Dwarka’s car-free stretch and the heavy-traffic stretch between Dhaula Kuan and Patel Chowk.

“During the car-free event, the PM2.5 level was 335 microgramme per cubic metre (cum) in Dwarka. This was much lower than the levels observed in the heavy traffic stretch between Dhaula Kuan and Patel Chowk where PM2.5 levels were 645 microgramme per cum,” CSE said in a statement.

The Delhi government held the second ‘Car-Free Day’ in Dwarka on the road stretch between Sector 3-13 and Sector 7-9, which witnessed a cycle rally

Indoor air pollution cause more deaths

Men eat more in company of women

Wrecks date from the Archaic Period (700- 480 BC) through the Late Medieval Period (16th century)

600 AD). The ships’ cargos point to the importance of long distance trade between the Black Sea, Aegean Sea, Cyprus, the Levant, and Egypt - in all these periods.

“What is astonishing is not only the number of the shipwrecks, but also the diversity of the cargos, some of which have been found for first time,” said Greek director George Koutsouflakis.

At least three of the sites have cargos that have not been found previously on shipwrecks. Archaeologists mapped each wreck using photogrammetry to

create 3D site plans. Representative artifacts were excavated and raised from each wreck site for scientific analysis.

These artifacts are primarily amphoras, which were terracotta jars that carried bulk goods prior to the invention of wooden barrels.

The finds are currently undergoing conservation at the Ephorate’s laboratory in Athens and may go on displays in museums in the future.

Fourni is a collection of thirteen islands and islets located between the eastern Aegean islands of Samos and Icaria. The small islands never hosted large cities, instead their importance comes from their critical role as an anchorage and navigational point in the eastern Aegean.

Fourni lies along a major east-west crossing route, as well as the primary north-south route that connected the Aegean to the Levant.

The findings suggest a great quantity of the shipwrecks still await discovery in Fourni.

PTI

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

DITCH THE

AUTO,

HAIL A

CAB

GAUTAM SINGHANIA

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

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

Five members of the team tried hiring rickshaws for distances ranging between 1.5 and 20

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

CHINCHWAD BHOSARI

4 THERGAON HINJEWADI VILLAGE

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

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

RITU GOYAL HARISH

CHIKHALI

KIWALENIGDI

~ Suit filed by the siblings

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

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,”

Parents teach them more than exams do P 10

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

~ Suit filed by the siblings

What a mess!

Teacher booked for sexually abusing 22 students acquitted

COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS

CITY

Truly, a tree lady P4

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.

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.’

PICS ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

V MENTOGIANIS

A Greek-American archaeological expedition has discovered 22 shipwrecks over 13 days in a small Greek archipelago, which researchers say may be the ancient shipwreck capital of the world. The findings in the Fourni archipelago in the Greek Islands bring to light ancient trade networks that once connected the entire Mediterranean, researchers said.

“The concentration of ancient shipwrecks is unprecedented,” said Peter Campbell, University of Southampton archaeologist and project co-director from the US based RPM Nautical Foundation.

“The volume of shipwrecks in Fourni, an island that had no major cities or harbours, speaks to its role in navigation as well as the perils of sailing the eastern Aegean,” said Campbell.

The wrecks date from the Archaic Period (700- 480 BC) through the Late Medieval Period (16th century).

Several date to the Classical (480323 BC) and Hellenistic (323-31 BC) periods, but over half of the wrecks date to the Late Roman Period (300-

TGS LIFE

Run for... yourself

RAHUL RAUT

22 shipwrecks discovered in Greek archipelago

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ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

diners were intercepted by a researcher to ask them to complete a short survey indicating their level of fullness after eating, and their feelings of hurriedness and comfort while eating.

Men who dined with at least one woman ate 93 per cent more pizza and 86 per cent more salad than men who dined with only other men. The amount that women ate didn’t differ when eating with other women or with men, researchers found. “These findings suggest that men tend to overeat to show off - you can also see this tendency in eating competitions which almost always have mostly male participants,” said lead author Kevin Kniffin, of Cornell University. The study was published in the journal Evolutionary Psychological Science.

PTI

THANK GOD IT’S S AT U R D AY

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

Dieting is hard to comply and only a very few lose weight from dieting on a long-term basis. Now a new study surprisingly indicates that sticking to ‘low fatdiets’ has little consequence on long term weight loss. A leading British journal Nature concluded ‘decade’s worth of medical advice was misguided’ on low fat diets. Interestingly the researchers find that none of the diets works very well and a year after being on diets on an average people lost only 5 kg.

A study published in The Lancet: Diabetes & Endocrinology suggests that ‘evidence does not support low-fat diets over other dietary interventions for longterm weight loss’. If the latest study is to be believed the latter would do no more or less harm in the long run.

Scientists from Harvard Medical School in Boston sifted through 53 studies covering more than 68,000 people to find that low fat diets are no more effective than high fat diets.

PTI

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

Men eat significantly more food when sharing a meal with women than with other men, a new study suggests.

“If you’re a man, how much you eat may have more to do with the gender of your dining companions than your appetite,” researchers said.

The study by researchers at the Cornell University in New York found that men will eat significantly more food in the company of women than they will with other men.

For the study, researchers observed 105 adults lunching at an all-you-caneat Italian buffet over the course of two weeks. They recorded the number of pizza slices and how many bowls of salad each diner ate.

Gender of each diner’s eating partner or partners was also noted.

Before leaving the restaurant, the

Low and high fat diets are same

Supriya Bhoite from Chaturshrungi police station.

Contd on p4

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

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

The CPIO was clueless about the project and sought information from his colleagues in other department

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

Indoor air pollution is causing more deaths than outdoor air pollution and needs to be addressed with an integrated approach to increase the access to clean fuel in the country, leading environment experts said.

They called to form a community of researchers to draw a roadmap for reducing air pollution in the country, particularly in the national capital, which has been rated as the mostpolluted city in the world by WHO.

led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and participation of schoolchildren, and officials.

The initiative of the Delhi government has helped to prove once again that if vehicle numbers are controlled, pollution can be lowered significantly, Anumita Roy Chowdhury, Executive Director of CSE said.

CSE said there was reduction in ambient pollution levels of the city citing figures collated by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to buttress its claim that less cars equal less pollution. “On November 21, the average PM 2.5 level for the comparable hours was 226 microgramme per cubic metre and today it had dropped to 177 microgramme per cum,” it said.

CSE’s real-time exposure monitoring is different from the ambient monitoring that the government does as the former captures the pollution on road and roadside that is influenced by direct emissions from vehicles within our breathing zone.

This is normally higher than the ambient level.

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

The recent Volkswagen corporate fraud has exposed gaps in emissions regulations in India and makes the country “extremely” vulnerable as it is “dieselising” rapidly without the right norms and compliance framework for manufacturers, a green body said today.

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said that the Volkswagen fraud was one of the biggest corporate frauds in the global automobile industry which was unearthed recently when popular diesel car models of the company were found to be patched with ‘defeat devices’ wired to trick official emission tests in the US. “This matter has gone nearly unnoticed in India except the usual investigation to check if the fraud has

strategies to reduce emissions from inuse and new vehicles” held by CSE. “Even as India waits for the results of the investigation of the Volkswagen models sold in India – as directed by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways – it is important to state that without a robust system of emissions monitoring and compliance... the investments in emission control systems in vehicles to meet tighter standards can go waste and negate air pollution control efforts in our cities,” said Roy Chowdhury.

“The current practice of pollution under control programme (PUC) is rudimentary and ineffective to address complex emissions control systems in new vehicles.

This cannot screen inherent technical flaws and frauds for which manufacturers are responsible and compromise the emissions performance in the real world,” it said.

PTI

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Hum

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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“There is jungle raj in Bihar as the law and order situation has worsened. Lalu Yadav, Rabri Devi and Nitish Kumar have ruled the state for the last 25 years and ruined it. The state has not seen any development in all these years.”

— Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Minister

Time to be tough on crime No country spares any criminals, except India.

And the laws leave loopholes as escape routes

COUNTRY BAD FOR WOMEN

Mostly activists remain silent when the victims are subjected to the indignity of forcible sex crimes Britishers kept rape as crime with jail sentence, as they were in power and only they could have committed rapes

BY JOGINDER SINGH, IPS (RETD) Whenever a rape is reported, especially in metropolitan cities, it occupies the front pages of newspapers and headlines on TV. It does not affect the Government and is forgotten, till the next cases occupies the headlines. We are still governed by the laws drafted by the British on rape, in 1863. Some of the rapes committed are so ghastly that they cannot even be described, where victims range from children to even married one.

140 crore people, have 140 crore opinions as to how to solve the problem.

As per the latest Census in 2011, total female sex ratio in India is 940 per 1000 males and the female child sex ratio is 944 girl children per every 1000 boy children of the same age group.

Delhi has only 866 girls to 1000 boys.

Whatever the self proclaimed moralists, may say, sex is the basic need of human beings. They are looked down upon, not for any reason, except that they have become victims of the crime, without any fault of their own.

The women or girls in some states are killed in the name of the honour crime, for even talking to men outside their immediate family. Nothing happens to the males.

The so-called activists for all lost cause, like the terrorists or those indulging in anti-national activities, are silent when the victims are subjected to

Mumbai witnessed 647 rape and 1,877 molestation cases in the last three years The Centre and state governments talk about controlling the crime, but the police strength is woefully inadequate the indignity of forcible sex crimes.

However, ghastly may be the crime of rape committed in the most inhuman way, there is no capital punishment for rape. It was kept so, by the ruling Britishers as jail sentence, as they were in power and only they could have committed rapes.

A total of 20,737 rape cases were registered in 2007, 21,467 in 2008, 21,397 in 2009, 22,172 in 2010 and 24,206 in 2011. The conviction rates of rape cases during 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 were 26.4 per cent, 26.6 per cent, 26.9 per cent, 26.6 per cent and 26.4 per cent respectively.

Mumbai witnessed 647 rape and 1,877 molestation cases in the last three years. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, there were 1,781 incidents of crime against women

in Mumbai in 2012 which include 234 rapes, 614 incidents of assault on women with the intent to outrage her modesty and 235 incidents of insult to the modesty of women. My own feeling is that registered rape crime, is not even one fourth of the actual cases, because the performance of the police is judged on statistics.

The Government whether at the Central or State level talk about controlling the crime, but the Police strength is woefully inadequate.

As per the information given to Lok Sabha, India has a police-population ratio (number of police personnel per one lakh of population) of 134 as compared to minimum United Nations norm of 220. High Court Judges, there are as many as 275 vacancies. Out of a sanctioned strength of 17,151 posts

We can learn from Muslim countries that any offence against a woman is inexcusable

ACT OF SERVICE

A sadhu distributing tea among others at Babughat transit camp in Kolkata on the way to Gangasagar Island ahead of upcoming ‘Makarsankranti’

Raj govt accepts dalit IAS officer’s VRS application JAIPUR: Rajasthan Government has accepted the VRS application of IAS officer Umrao Salodia who had embraced Islam and wanted to opt out of service alleging “victimisation” because of his caste.

The application of Salodia, who was due to retire in June, 2016, was accepted with effect from March 31, 2016, according to the order issued by department of personnel of the state government today.

A 1978 batch officer Salodia wrote to Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje expressing disappointment for purportedly being overlooked for the post of chief secretary and alleged that he was victimised because of his Schedule Caste origin. The state government, however, has already rejected his allegations as “baseless”.

PTI

of judicial officers, below the level of High Court Judges, 3,170 were vacant in the country. We are still looking upto other countries for solving our problems and showing us the way. There is no harm in that, in picking up the best practices from others. No country spares any criminals, except India. But while making the laws, we leave all the loopholes, as escape routes, with the most lenient punishment.

A crime is a crime and it should be left to the judiciary, to decide, as to what punishment be awarded instead of laying a law, which is being misused. Why not have a harsher punishment for life and why should the taxpayers spend on the criminal in the quest of reforming them and paying for them. Why not we show the lead, that a prisoner, once sentenced, will have to pay for his free boarding and lodging, by doing hard labour in the jail.

We can also learn from middle east Muslim countries, that any offence against a woman is inexcusable and some cases, rapists are publicly executed.

Countries that have allowed sex shops and other outlets for satisfying the carnal desires, coupled with harshest punishments, have hardly any rape crime. A former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court while releasing the report of the High Court had said, that it will take 465 years, for the present pendency in Delhi High Court to dispose off.

India is the biggest law factory the world has known, but hardly any implementation. It is time that the Government made the right to justice, in a reasonable time frame a reality.

Otherwise, it will remain elusive as Judge Sturgess said “ Justice is open to everyone in the same way as the Ritz Hotel.”

PTI Feature

The pitiful plight of Pune’s pedestrians P 15

Unruly MPs must face action: Expert MUMBAI: With the Parliament sessions witnessing frequent disruptions, a noted Constitutional expert called for strict disciplinary action against unruly MPs. “If Presiding Officers go by the rule book and take disciplinary action against agitating Parliamentarians, then everything would get sorted out because no MP would want his daily allowances to be cut,” Subhash Kashyap, former Secretary General of the Lok Sabha said.

Speaking at a symposium on ‘Parliamentary Democracy: The challenges of Negative Politics’ organised by Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, a charity organisation, Kashyap noted that he failed to understand why Presiding Officers did not use this power and instead preferred to adjourn the House after every uproar.

“If they start doing so (acting as per the rule book), then on the basis of my past experience, I can tell you that acrimony and unruly behaviour would stop immediately,” he said.

An amendment in the Representation of People’s Act is required to facilitate smooth functioning of Parliament by ensuring that elected MPs rise above vote-bank politics, said the well-known expert in Constitutional laws. “Right now, 70 per cent of the elected representatives are elected by minority of votes (more against than in favour of them) and when they land in Parliament, politics of vote- bank overpowers their mindset.

This leads to frequent pandemonium in Parliament,” he said.

Referring to the logjam in Rajya Sabha, which led to a near complete washout of winter session, he said, “In functioning of Parliament, minority (Opposition) must have a say, but majority (treasury benches) must have its own way. But now there is a role reversal.”

“The present government should develop political skill to get Parliament to function,” he said.

PTI

Company promises jobs, dupes several people of Rs 250 crore

Firm ‘recruited’ people from Mathura, Agra, Aligarh, Bharatpur for home teacher, supervisor MATHURA: Hundreds of people from Mathura and other districts, in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, have been duped of over Rs 250 crore allegedly by a company, which asked them to deposit “security money” to provide jobs as teacher or supervisor but closed its offices, officials said today.

Some of the people, who had paid between Rs 80,000 and Rs 1 lakh as “security money” filed an FIR yesterday against St Peters and Mother Terressa Children Education and Welfare Organisation, police said.

The company had allegedly “recruited” several people from Mathura, Agra, Aligarh, Bharatpur (in

Rajasthan) for the post of home teacher and supervisor, on five year contracts, they said. It demanded Rs 80,000 and Rs 1 lakh from “recruits” as “security money” and paid Rs 7,000 and 10,000 respectively to home teachers and supervisors, they said.

The company was operating here for the last three years.

But three months back their local office, on Goverdhan road, was found closed, which has not opened since, and alos its office-bearers could not be found, they said adding its head office at Badarpur border, near Delhi, was also found closed and the office-bearers untraceable. The closed offices and

untraceable officials rang alarm bell for the “investors” who filed the FIR last evening.

“On the complaint of the investors, a case u/s 420 and 468 of IPC has been registered in Highway police station last evening. The mobile numbers of company office-bearers have been kept under surveillance,” District Magistrate Rajesh Kumar said.

The company used to contact people “who come either for withdrawal or deposits at banks,” the report says.

Initially some beneficiary were paid salary, who virtually became vocal advocates of the company.

PTI

Throat slit for asking to pay for guavas India pips China in fastest growth rate

A teenage fruit vendor’s throat was slit by a group of people, including a man stated to be a local Samajwadi Party leader, at Sardhana area in Meerut when he asked them to pay for one kg guava they bought, police said.

While the family of the victim, Saddam (18), alleged that one of the accused Anees Kureshi belongs to Samajwadi Party, district president of the party, Jaiveer Singh, denied that he was a member.

According to a complaint lodged by the victim’s family, Anees Kureshi along with some of his men bought one kg guava from Saddam, Sardhana police station in-charge Mehar Singh said. When asked to pay for it, they beat up Saddam and slit his throat with a knife kept on the fruit cart, he said.

On the basis of the complaint, a case was lodged against Salman, Anees, Nafees and Shadab.

PTI

Vol-II* lssue No.: 30 Editor: Yogesh Sadhwani (Responsible for the selection of news under the PRB Act, 1867) Printed and Published by: Shrikant Honnavarkar on behalf of Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt. Ltd. CIN:U22200PN2014PTC151382 and printed at PRI – Media Services Private Limited CIN: U22222MH2012PTC232006 at Plot No. EL-201, TTC Industrial Area, MIDC, Mahape, Navi Mumbai.

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Industry is expecting GST bill, stuck in Rajya Sabha, to finally see the day of light in 2016

BY CHANDRA SHEKHAR India surpassed China to become world’s fastest growing major economy in the world, but challenges remain and key reforms like GST would have to be pursued vigorously in 2016 to achieve the potential growth rate of 8-9 per cent in the coming years. In absence of the critical reforms and favorable global environment it might not be able to lift growth to higher pedestal.

Although the government cannot do anything about the global economy, it can definitely improve the domestic policy by undertaking structural reforms with a view to improving the growth prospects and achieving the overarching objective of removing poverty and enhancing living standards of the vast majority of populace.

As regards the current

financial year, as per the latest estimates, economy is expected to record a growth rate of 7 to 7.5 per cent, which will be significantly lower than 8.1 to 8.5 per cent predicted by the government in February. The targets

laid out in the Economic Survey, which was tabled in Parliament in February ahead of the budget for 2015-16, will be missed by a wide margin.

This is less of a reflection on the inability of the economists to project growth with some kind of accuracy and more on the continued uncertainty in the global commodity and financial markets.

Although the year 2015 began with lot of promise, the growth rate could not pick up on expected lines mainly because of faltering global economy and slowdown in exports, and inability of the government to push big ticket reforms like GST and land acquisition legislations.

However, on the positive side, India’s economic growth accelerated to 7.4 per cent in the July-September quarter, overtaking China as the world’s fastest growing major economy, on pick up in manufacturing, mining and services sectors.

The 1.25 per cent reduction in key interest rate by the Reserve Bank in 2015 coupled with host of steps taken by the government to improve the ease of doing business is likely to give push to the economy.

The Finance Ministry informed the lawmakers that India economy has consolidated the gains achieved in resolving macroeconomic stability from

the beginning of the last fiscal.

“Given the challenges of real GDP measurement, we estimate that real GDP for the year as a whole will lie in the 7-7.5 per cent range. CPI (retail) inflation is likely to be within the RBI’s target of about 6 per cent,” the MidYear Economic Analysis 201516 tabled in Parliament said.

Industry is expecting the long pending indirect tax reforms — Goods and Services Tax (GST) — the bill for which remained stuck in Rajya Sabha, will finally see the day of light in 2016. Industry body Assocham said the commodityled meltdown is expected to continue for better part of 2016 even as crude oil touched an 11year low in 2015.

The challenge in 2016, as has been repeatedly pointedly

by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, would be to evolve a political consensus on certain key economic legislation to prevent growth being sacrificed on the altar of narrow sectarian politics.

PTI Feature

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JANUARY 9, 2016

‘Women footballers need motivation’ P 16

PUNE

“When our national security is threatened by a seething hatred of the West, one that turns people against their country and can even turn them into murderous extremists, I want us to be very clear: you will not defeat us.”

— David Cameron, British Prime Minister

China denounces N Korea for H-bomb test Condemns its neighbouring country for dishonouring international obligations

BY KJM VARMA BEIJING: China has strongly condemned its close-ally North Korea’s claim of carrying out its first hydrogen bomb test saying it “firmly opposes” the move and will honour its international obligations on sanctions on the reclusive nation. “The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) once again carried out the nuclear test irrespective of the international community’s opposition.

The Chinese government firmly opposes that,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told the media.

“On the sanctions, China will honour its international obligations and work with the international community to realise the goal of the denuclearisation of the (Korean) peninsula and make our due contributions,” Hua said.

She said Beijing plans to summon North Korean Ambassador here to

Indian-origin pickpocket gang jailed over London thefts

BY ADITI KHANNA LONDON: A 11-member highlyorganised pickpocket gang, majority of which were of Indian-origin, have been jailed for a total of 30 years for amassing more than five million pounds by stealing smartphones on London’s Underground tube network.

British Transport Police (BTP) discovered that Nawid Moshfiq was the ringleader of the gang which included Olia Moshiq, Paramijit Singh Kalra, 42, Harmet Bhatia, 24, Pritbal Bhatia, 55, Nirmohan Bhatia, 20, Ranjit Banger, 31, Mubarak Korasi, 41, Ahmed Raza, 28, Ariji Singh Sethi, 43, and Nirmohan Singh, 38.

More than 100 officers raided private properties and businesses in southwest London where more than 1,000 smartphones and 1,43,000 pounds were seized as part of BTP’s Operation Park.

The operation began almost twoand-a-half years ago, resulting in the 11 being sentenced at Blackfriars Crown Court in London last month.

“This was a long and complex investigation into a highly organised criminal gang who used stolen property from the rail network for their personal gain,” said BTP Detective Chief Inspector John Justice.

Phones are often stolen out of view of CCTV in crowded carriages or busy stations. The court heard how the gang worked strict “office hours” between 2pm and 10pm, earning almost 10,000 pounds a day nabbing mobile phones from commuters on the London Underground, known as Tube.

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A South Korean protester with a wooden stick beats an effigy of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a rally against North Korea’s announcement that it had tested a hydrogen bomb, in Seoul, South Korea

lodge a diplomatic protest over the test, which follows three earlier nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013.

“To realise denuclearisation of the peninsula, prevent nuclear proliferation and safeguard peace and stability of north East Asia is China’s firm position,” she said. “We strongly urge the DPRK side to strongly commit to its denuclearisation commitment and stop taking actions that make the situation

worse,” she said. China will push forward the denuclearisation and remain committed to resolve the nuclear issue within the framework of six party talks involving China, the US, North and South Korea, Japan, and Russia, she said.

Hua said that China, which share borders with North Korea, has stepped up environmental monitoring following the test and so far tests showed that the gama rays dosage is within the normal

range. Hua also said that China is trying to determine whether it is a nuclear or a hydrogen bomb test. “China has noted DPRK statement. We will make our assessment on that. Our position is clear.

We oppose their test. We hope they stick to their commitment to denuclearisation and stop taking similar actions.”

Refuting criticism that the six party talks which China pushed firmly in the past for denuclearisation, Hu said, “Facts have proven that the six party talks is the only practical way to resolve the relevant issue. We are committed to resolve the nuclear issue of the peninsula.” China, North Korea relations mellowed down after the present leader Kim Jongun came to power in 2011 following the death of his father Kim Jong II. The test, just two days ahead of leader Kim’s birthday, was initially detected by international seismology monitors as a 5.1-magnitude tremor next to North Korea’s main nuclear test site. Kim had last week suggested that North Korea has developed a hydrogen bomb, but the claim was questioned by the international experts.

PTI

US will respond appropriately

BY LALIT K JHA WASHINGTON: The US vowed to respond appropriately to North Korea’s provocations after the reclusive nation claimed that it has carried out a hydrogen bomb test.

“We will continue to protect and defend our allies in the region, including the Republic of Korea, and will respond appropriately to any and all North Korean provocations,” State Department Spokesman John Kirby said in a statement.

The US at the same time said it cannot confirm the claim of North Korea.

“While we cannot confirm these claims at this time, we condemn any violation of UN Security Council

Resolutions and again call on North Korea to abide by its international obligations and commitments,” Kirby said.

“We are aware of seismic activity on the Korean Peninsula in the vicinity of a known North Korean nuclear test site and have seen Pyongyang’s claims of a nuclear test,” he said.

The US is monitoring and continuing to assess the situation in close coordination with its regional partners.

“North Korea conducted its first nuclear test in 2006 and, until today, has done so twice since, but we have consistently made clear that we will not accept it as a nuclear state, ” Kirby said.

US varsity blames Air India, students for visa mess A US university, whose Indian students faced deportation in recent weeks, has blamed Air India (AI) and some of the deported students for the prevailing confusion on the issue.

“I want to share with everyone my strong belief that these difficulties arose solely because of the actions of Air India,” Peter Hsieh president of the Northwestern Polytechnic University (NPU) said in an email to its students.

“At this time, we do not know why Air India has undertaken these actions to cause irreparable harm to our university and tarnish its reputation and incite great distress in our students

and their families...we can only speculate as to Air India’s motives and assume Air India s recent actions are related to their precarious financial position,” he said.

Hsieh alleged that AI is preventing students from boarding the plane because of the fear of financial burden in case students are deported from the US. The statement has

Hsieh alleged AI fears financial burden if students are deported

also been posted on the university’s website.

There was no immediate comment from Air India.

“Although it is still early, as our incoming students for Spring Semester 2016 begin reporting to the varsity, we continue to witness a large number of students successfully arriving and entering the US,” he said.

“We have been informed that many, but not all, are going

China’s first same sex marriage lawsuit BEIJING: China’s first lawsuit on same-sex marriage rights has been accepted by a court, marking a milestone for gay, bisexual and transgender rights, official media reported.

Plaintiff Sun Wenlin (pseudonym), a gay man, told state-run Global Times daily that the court has accepted his suit against the civil affairs bureau in Changsha’s Furong district for not accepting his marriage registration application.

Sun filed the case on December 16 after his marriage registration application was turned down by an official who said that only “one man and one woman” can be registered as married. Sun claimed that local police also visited his home after he filed the

case, which has gained a high profile and has been hailed by many LGBT activists online.

“The officer kept emphasising that it is important to have a child to carry on one’s family name, but I can’t abide by people imposing their values on me,” Sun added.

“The original text of the Marriage Law does not say one man and one woman, but a husband and a wife. I personally believe that this term refers not only to heterosexual couples but also to same-sex couples,” he was quoted as saying by the Global Times previously. The court is expected to hand down a ruling on the case within six months.

PTI

through secondary inspection. As long as students have proper documentation and are able to answer questions, they are being allowed into the US. They also report that this is not limited to NPU or F-1 students, but also to other foreign traveller on H-1 visa and the like,” Hsieh said.

“We also believe that the false allegations were further exaggerated by certain returning students. Rather than informing their parents that they did poorly in their interviews, some simply pointed the blame at NPU as being blacklisted and conveniently referencing news reports as support,” he said.

“The announcement by the Indian and US governments coupled with the evidence of students continuing to enter into the US clearly contradicted general statements that all NPU students were being turned back by US immigration,” said the university president.

Hsieh claimed that a small percentage of international students are being sent back to India, but only those that fail their immigration interviews, for example by communicating that they are coming to the US to work illegally or are unable to show sufficient identification or financial support.

PTI

COLD SAIL

A tourist boat with restaurant aboard, especially designed for winter rivers, cruises the frozen Moskva River in Moscow, Russia.

Temperatures dipped to -18 degree C (-0.4 F) in Moscow and -20 degree C (-4 F) in surrounding regions

Indian-origin murderer wins UK claim Vietnam ISRO

BY ADITI KHANNA

LONDON: An Indian-origin man serving three life sentences in a UK prison for three murders has won 1,000 pounds compensation from the UK’s Ministry of Justice (MoJ) after a judge ruled that a guard squirted shampoo on his CDs during a prison transfer.

Kevan Thakrar K e v a n Thakrar, who was found guilty over six years ago of killing three drug dealers, was awarded more than 800 pounds by the same judge in April 2014 after items including his nose hair clippers were damaged in jail.

Last week’s ruling at Milton Keynes County Court is the result of a claim made by the 27-year-old in 2013, when he was a prisoner at HMP Woodhill in

south east England.

“He appears to be intelligent and articulate and has been able to advance his claim in writing through the County Court,” in his judgment published on New Year’s Eve, District Judge Neil Hickman said.

Indeed, some would say that the fact that a claim of this kind can be dealt with at modest cost through the County Court system is a good

advertisement for the civil justice system of this country.

“I am satisfied that the damage to the CDs must have been caused by the deliberate act of one or more prison officers.”

Thakrar had complained that in the course of being moved prisons his stereo was broken, a number of CDs were damaged beyond repair and four of his books were lost,

In March 2010, Thakrar had severely injured three guards at HM Prison Frankland in County Durham

The Independent reported.

A Prison Service spokesperson said, “We are currently considering this judgment and whether there are grounds to lodge an appeal.

“We robustly defend claims made against the Prison Service where evidence allows, and have managed to successfully defend two thirds of prisoner claims over the last three years.”

Thakrar was jailed in 2008 after he and his brother Miran used a submachine gun to kill Keith Cowell, 52, his son Matthew, 17, and Tony Dulieu, 33, the previous year.

The brothers were also sentenced for two attempted murders. In March 2010, Thakrar severely injured three guards at HM Prison Frankland in County Durham after stabbing them with a broken bottle, but was cleared of two counts of attempted murder and three of wounding with intent after claiming he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

PTI

unit raises concern

BEIJING: India’s plan to activate a new data reception and tracking station in Vietnam has been criticised by a Chinese think tank, terming it an attempt by India to “stir up trouble” in the disputed South China Sea region to serve its own ends.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has set up a Data Reception and Tracking and Telemetry Station in Ho Chi Minh City, which will be activated soon and linked with another station in Biakin, Indonesia, state-run Global Times quoted reports from India as saying. India also has a satellite tracking station in Brunei.

Reacting to the report, Gu Xiaosong, a researcher of the Southeast Asian studies at the Guangxi Academy of Social Sciences told the daily that “India has no territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea. It wants

to stir up trouble in the region to serve its own ends, which is to counterbalance China’s influence.” It clearly indicates India’s attempt to complicate the regional dispute, Gu said.

The news comes close on the heels of the foreign ministry’s criticism of Vietnam’s protest over China landing its first flight on a newly build artificial island.

India has been calling for freedom of navigation and over-flight in the South China Sea which Chinese officials say echo with the stand of the US and Japan.

China which has objected to US naval ships and planes going close the waters of its artificial island in the South China Sea has no problem with freedom of navigation.

India has also been advocating peaceful resolution of the dispute.

PTI

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JANUARY 9, 2016

PUNE

MONEY MATT ER S

“Investor interest to remain strong as low inflation, declining interest rates and strong governance are likely to drive improvement in corporate performance in future.”

— Vaibhav Agarwal, VP, Angel Broking

Signposts

“The year 2016 is broadly expected to deliver positive returns; for this it is important for markets to have some momentum in reforms, private capex cycle, global stability and growth.”

— Devendra Nevgi, Chief Executive, ZyFin Advisors

Supermarkets hop on e-wagon for survival and success Centre has opened up FDI in the business to customer (B2C) segment in a calibrated manner

BY SHRUTI VERMA KHARE

Clear roadmap on CT reduction: India Inc India Inc pressed for a clear roadmap for reduction in corporate tax (CT) rate from 30 per cent to 25 per cent in the Budget even as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley stressed that improved fundamentals would lead to better economic growth in 2016-17. The industry chambers in a pre-budget consultation meeting with Jaitley also made a case for the continuation of public expenditure to boost growth.

Jaitley endorsed the idea that the business and trade sector needed to “increase spending specially in the infrastructure sector”.

As a year of David vs Goliath in retail market draws to a close, the newbies’ gang of Flipkarts and Snapdeals are forcing Ambanis and Birlas of supermarket chains to join the burgeoning e-commerce landscape.

At the same time, a knockout round is at play in the online as well as off line retail worlds, where ‘survival of the fittest theory’ is forcing weaker and smaller players to either close the shop or get merged with stronger rivals – a trend that is likely to consolidate further in 2016.

The year passing-by has also seen overseas players joining the ranks on both the sides — be it the likes of Amazons with online marts or H&Ms with brick-and-mortar shops bolstered by a liberalised FDI policy.

This was also the year which saw major mergers involving homegrown supermarket chains including the one between Future Group and Bharti Enterprises. Besides, Aditya Birla group also consolidated its operations.

From abroad, foreign brands such as Hennes & Mauritz (H&M),

Gap and Aeropostale kicked off their India journey, while German sportswears major Adidas Group geared up to open its own stores from next year after getting nod for 100 per cent single-brand operations.

Yet, the multi-brand retail remained a no-go zone for foreign retailers.

The retail sector which is pegged to grow to USD 1.3 trillion by 2020, clocked a growth of 13 per cent in the year from last year’s USD 560 billion, despite factors such as availability of good retail space remaining a major challenge.

Retailers Association of India (RAI) CEO Kumar Rajagopalan said that retailers are bullish about the sector doing well in future. For the next year, he said factors like GST, expansion of mobilebased

Consumer durables back to growth on rising income

BY KUMAR RAHUL Days of robust growth seem to have returned to the consumer durables market after a gap of two years — helped by rising disposable income, easy finances and growing popularity of ecommerce platforms.

Almost all leading appliance makers including Panasonic, Sony, LG, Samsung, Videocon, Haier have ramped up production capacity.

Joining the Make in India bandwagon, they also increased the local sourcing amid a slew of new product launches in 2015 and the trend is expected to further firm up in 2016.

“The Consumer durable industry has been on a high-growth trajectory throughout 2015 aided by the government support and emergence of innovative technological solutions.

While certain challenges like a belownormal monsoon and the consequent dip in sentiment in rural markets did act as a dampener and hit the sales of consumer durables industry, there was an overall uptick in the market sentiments,”

Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association (CEAMA) President Manish Sharma said.

Industry experts believe that the surge in online sales, discounts and easy finance options have also contributed considerably to the growth.

“The year 2015 has been defined by certain innovative technology trends in the consumer durables industry. Today we have machines that are intuitive and learn and act accordingly with very little or no human contact,” LG India’s Head of Corporate Marketing Niladri Datta said.

“Factors like rising disposable income and urbanization of consumers, and easy finance options lead the industry recording a growth of 25 per cent during festive season,” said CEAMA’s Sharma, who is also Managing D i r e c t o r Panasonic India & South Asia. “ T h e surge in

aspirations of youth in small towns and tier-II cities, who clearly understand their gadget needs, have led to a greater number upgrading the technology products, be it smartphones, televisions and home appliances, among others,” a Samsung India spokesperson said.

The companies are betting on further rise in growth rates in 2016. “Buoyed by the current progress, the industry will continue to grow, aided by the policy changes made by the Government of India. The product categories which will see a major fillip in 2016 are highend Television, Air conditioners and Smartphones,” CEAMA’s Sharma said.

PTI Feature

electronic payment systems and infrastructure development will be key for the retail sector.

“The other main expectation in 2016 is the announcement of retail policy by various states, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra and Gujarat,” Rajagopalan said.

“E-commerce was also a big opportunity. Most retailers either began selling their product themselves or through a tie-up with a e-commerce players,” he said.

Mahindra Retail, which acquired Babyoye.com in February this year, integrated its entire e-commerce business into Babyoye.com and later rebranded its off line retail network from Mom & Me to Babyoye by Mahindra.

Likewise, Aditya Birla Group

launched its e-commerce portal for apparel, abof.com as a one-stop fashion portal for apparel, footwear and accessories for men and women.

“The e-commerce sector is a sunrise sector from an investment point of view... We plan to stay focussed on seeding and growing specific businesses in areas where we have specific strengths which we can play on extensively. We see fashion e-commerce as one such space,” said Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla.

The government had given a further boost to the e-commerce sector by opening up FDI in the business to customer (B2C) segment in a calibrated manner. At the same time, questions are already being asked about the business model of various e-commerce players, especially the huge discounts and cashback offers being doled out by them.

Former Infosys director and himself an investor in some startups, T V Mohandas Pai said the industry may see a shakeout in the next two years, or “even earlier”.

He faulted the business model adopted by e-tailers, which he said promotes growth without building customer loyalty and the players, while Flipkart and Snapdeal are just trying “to grow fast by giving subsidies, which is wrong because there is no customer loyalty”.

PTI Feature

Call drops due to poor investment Lack of investment by telecom fi rms in network infrastructure like mobile towers, appears to be the main reason behind the “pervasive problem” of call drops across the country, TRAI told Delhi High Court.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) told the court that the telecom majors, including Vodafone, Bharti Airtel and Reliance, “have failed to keep the investments commensurate with the pace of increase in usage and the growth in number of subscribers being added by them”.

This was stated by TRAI in an affidavit placed before a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath after the cellular operators file their response to the authority’s affidavit.

“The investment made in the infrastructure (other than radio spectrum) in wireless access service

segment rose by only 4.6 per cent from Rs 2,02,399 crore in the financial year 2012-2013 to Rs 2,11,691 crore in financial year 2013-2014. During this period, the minutes of usage (MOU) grew by 6.8 per cent and the data usage grew by more than 100 per cent.

TRAI said that “the surge in data consumption has led to an increase in the share of data revenue in the overall subscriber revenue of the telecom service providers (TSPs).

TRAI has refuted the claim of the telecom majors that they would incur huge losses if the compensation rule was implemented, saying “the total financial implication on service providers was likely to be not more than Rs 800 crore per annum” which would be 0.75 per cent of their Adjusted Gross Revenue of Rs 1,38,566 crores for the year 2014-15.

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TRAI said compensation rule will not lead to huge losses for telecom firms

Expect low data tariff, consolidation in telecom sector

BY PRASOON SRIVASTAVA Consumers in 2016 would be able to save a lot on mobile bills with wide availability of free public Wi-Fi and pressure on Internet rates due to expected entry of pan-India 4G player Reliance Jio Infocomm.

Though data usage of consumers is very likely to see signifcant increase, however, the spending may not be in proportion to the usage with availability of public Wi-Fi. “The pricing would be under pressure and 2016 could see intense completion on the price front, both for data and voice. Intense completion may give rise to innovative tariff plans including bundling offers, etc,” Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP Partner Hemant Joshi said.

The trend is expected to put pressure on financial health of telecom operators with players as government has been talking tough to them to improve quality of service, reduce call drops by investing in infrastructure. The first quarter of this year already witnessed spectrum rights getting sold for Rs 1.1 lakh crore. Credit rating firm Moody’s expect the Indian telecom sector to grow in the range of 5-6 per cent in next 1218 months.

Moody’s expect Bharti’s adjusted capex to revenue ratio to peak to about 40 per cent in 2015 from 28.4 per cent in 2014, and then to decline to a more normalised level of around 24 per cent25 per cent in 2016.

“Reliance Communications capex will decline once its networksharing agreements with Reliance Jio start kicking in by mid- 2016,” Dhruv said.

The pressure will be on government too which will have to create mechanism to ensure flow of investment in the sector for job creation and connecting unconnected in remote parts of the country and lower rung of the society without compromising on consumer’s interest. Both industry and government has seen love of people for Internet with huge participation in net neutrality debate. Telecom operator fear losing of major revenue portion that comes from phones calls to Internet-based voice calls.

“2016 is likely to be a make or break year for telecoms where resolution of issues around call drops, net neutrality debate and availability of spectrum will be critical,” Ernst & Young India, Partner (Telecom practice) Amit Sachdeva said. E&Y feels telecom operators have their eye on spectrum that can help them expand their 3G and 4G services but they may not be ready to buy most premium airwaves in 700 Mhz band.

PTI Feature

Bad loans turn worse in 2015; banks bet on ‘rainbow’ reforms ‘Indradhanush’ envisages strengthening of asset reconstruction companies to deal with bad loans

BY DIPANKAR KUMAR As the burden of bad loans turned worse for banks in 2015 especially the staterun players, they are betting big on the seven-point ‘Indradhanush’ reforms to bounce back in 2016 and expect more steps from the government and the RBI to clean up their books.

Besides, the commercial banking industry is also gearing up to face a new kind of competition in form of payments and small finance banks that would begin operations in 2016.

Also on anvil could be the government’s divestment in IDBI Bank and setting up of the long-awaited Bank

Board Bureau (BBB).

Non-performing assets (NPAs) remained a matter of concern for both the government and RBI. To revive the fortunes of public sector banks (PSBs), the government in August unveiled a seven-point plan named ‘Indradhanush’ or ‘Rainbow’ encompassing Rs 20,000 crore immediate fund infusion and creation of a single holding company.

Gross NPAs of public sector banks rose to Rs 3.14 lakh crore at the end of September 2015. Wilful defaulters owe PSU banks a total of Rs 64,334.59 crore, which is about 21 per cent of the total NPA. As of September 30, State Bank of India (SBI) had maximum number of wilful defaulters at 1,164 who owed Rs 11,705 crore to the state-run lender.

SBI was followed by Punjab National Bank with 764 wilful defaulters who have defaulted a total of Rs 9,203.84 crore.

‘Indradhanush’ plan also envisages strengthening of asset reconstruction companies to deal with bad loan situation.

Financial inclusion and social security initiatives remained focus area for the government this year with Prime

Minister Narendra Modi launching MUDRA scheme to fund the unfunded in April and two low-premium insurance schemes — Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and a pension scheme

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Chief Economic Advisor, Arvind Subramanian during the Pre-Budget Consultation meeting with the representatives of IT (Hardware & Software) Sector, in New Delhi

Atal Pension Yojana (APY) in May. To make life easier for such borrowers, an innovative credit product, MUDRA Card, is being issued wherein borrower can avail of credit in a hasslefree and flexible manner, Financial Services Secretary Anjuly Chib Duggal said. So far, banks have issued 1,98,499 Mudra Card.

Public Sector Banks have been allocated a total target of Rs 70,000 crore, she said, while adding that the social sector initiatives and financial inclusion will continue to remain thrust areas.

On the flip side, the banking sector was also rocked by Bank of Baroda forex fraud case this year.

It is alleged that Rs 6,172 crore black money was remitted from Bank of Baroda to Hong Kong, camouflaged as payments for nonexistent imports like cashew, pulses and rice.

A forensic probe has been ordered

into the alleged irregularities.

CBI and Enforcement Directorate have registered cases on the bases of complaint filed by the bank regarding irregularities in outward foreign remittances from its Ashok Vihar Branch, New Delhi, through newly opened accounts.

The branch opened 59 current accounts during May 2014 to June 2015 through which large foreign exchange remittances were done.

During this period, total of 5,853 outward foreign remittances aggregating USD 546.10 million (around Rs 3,500 crore) were made through 38 current accounts to various overseas parties numbering some 400, mainly based in Hong Kong and one in the UAE. The bank has admitted that the branch did not adhere to FEMA (Foreign Exchange Management Act) guidelines.

PTI Features

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JANUARY 9, 2016

PUNE

Our voices need to be heard successful entrepreneur. He will reveal steps and secrets and problems faced by budding entrepreneurs and how to deal with them. He will also talk about step-by-step guidance on how to plan your financial safety and avoid your business losses.

When: January 10, 10 am to 1 pm & 3 pm to 6 pm Where: Yashada, Baner Road

The pitiful plight of Pune’s pedestrians

AN ARTFUL DISPLAY OF MEMORIES

Attend a seven-day painting exhibition by wellknown artist Ram Das Pawar, who will showcase an abstract interpretation of memories by Pawar.

When: January 10, 6 am onwards Where: Café Coffee Day, Chandani Chowk to Panchgani

UPLIFTING MELODIC ANTHEMS

ACTING WORKSHOP

Every individual has their own unique style of carrying their body or playing expressions.

It is very important to train actors helping them retain their own style and originality. At Swatantra Theatre, they have a mixed blend of practical and theoretical knowledge of acting and its techniques. This workshop is not just a mere training of techniques, as they start with basic regional form of theatre and art popularly known as Folk Art. Abhijeet Choudhary will conduct sessions on the line expressing text by techniques of stage and body work, while Dhanashree Heblikar will develop new ways how to apply the principals of on-stage to the work with text using each dialogue as a weapon.

When: January 9 onwards, 5 pm to 9 pm (weekends); 7 pm to 9 pm (weekdays) Where: Mahavir Jain Vidyalaya, amphitheatre, Deccan

BECOME A SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR

Internationally acclaimed author and branding expert, success coach Nilesh Waghchoude is holding a free workshop on how to become a

When: Till January 12, 10 am to 8 pm Where: Darpan Art Gallery, Kalachhaya Campus, SB Road

Award winning Canadian House music DJ and chart topping producer Tara Mobayen, aka Miss Tara, is all set to deliver her signature blend of crowd-pleasing, electro-heavy bangers and uplifting melodic anthems this Saturday.

Following a successful modeling career, Tara learned her craft on the decks and dance floors of Paris before relocating to Toronto and now regularly headlines top nightlife destinations of Europe, Asia and the Americas. Having recently played at the Main Stage at Sunburn Festival Goa, she is all set to takeover Pune this Saturday.

When: January 9, 9 pm onwards Where: blueFROG, Ishanya Mall, Yerwada

CHAI & PAKODA BREAKFAST RIDE

This Sunday, Pune will be ready to host one of IBW’s highly popular local breakfast rides – Chai & Pakoda (C&P) Breakfast Run. After being kick-started in November and having completed four editions across the country, the ride will be bigger and better and will look at featuring over 350 bikers from across biking clubs in attendance.

LIVE PERFORMANCE BY R COLLECTIVE

This Saturday, enjoy an unparalleled beer experience with a performance by the popular commercial rock band R Collective. The co- founder of the band and drummer Raphael Aaron met the others - Robie Wood (singer and song writer), Ronnie (Bass guitarist) and Rishi (Lead guitarist) purely due to their shared love of music. Together they formed the most versatile band playing genres such as blues, rock and roll, pop, rock and alternative rock. Liven up your weekend with crunchy guitar riffs, backed an up tempo drummer with some peppy bass lines.

When: January 9, 9 pm onwards Where: The Beer Café, Kapila Matrix, Koregaon Park

NEON SINHGAD KARANDAK

This year’s 10th edition of Sinhgad Karandak is back with 10 times more fun and excitement with a grand opening act by city’s fame DJ Abhishek Mantri. Get your friends jamming, heads banging on some heart thumping EDM beats performed live at the opening concert.

When: January 9, 5.30 pm onwards Where: Sinhgad Campus, Vadgaon

LETTERS TO THE

EDITOR

WEEK THAT WAS NURSE FILES MOLESTATION CASE AGAINST DOC A 21-year-old nurse of a private hospital in the city was allegedly sexually harassed by Dr Rajendra Chhajed of Harsh Hospital in Bibwewadi. She lodged an FIR at the Market Yard Police Station. According to the FIR, the victim went to the doctor’s cabin at 9.30 pm on December 22 to ask for an advance of Rs 5,000. The doctor instructed the head sister to give the nurse Rs 3,000. She alleged that doctor summoned her to his cabin and gave her additional Rs 2,000 and suggested that she go to his house with him as his wife wasn’t expected to return soon. Market Yard Police Station Police Inspector SB Pachorkar said, “We haven’t made any arrest so far.” Dr Chhajed claimed that the nurse had filed the FIR because he was planning to fire her.

VISUALLY IMPAIRED MAN TURNS NEWSREADER AT AIR Dhanraj Patil, a visually impaired person, read a fiveminute Marathi news bulletin for AIR Pune at 7.10 am on January 4. Patil is a member of Pune Blind Men’s Association and the occasion was Louis Braille’s birthday. The retired 62-year-old government servant used to work as Braille inspector at Yerwada jail. His job was to get Braille material made from convicts in the jail. He retired in 2011 after 31 years in service. “I was first called to check if my voice works for the radio. Later, I was made to practice. I was a little scared initially. It was only after three-four days of practice that I felt comfortable,” said Patil, a Dhanori resident.

SANATAN SANSTHA LAW YER ‘THREATENS’ MARATHI LITERARY MEET CHAIRMAN ‘Wake up early in the morning and go for morning walk’ seems like a fitness advice. But for Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan chairman Shripal Sabnis it is a threat.

Shripal Sabnis Sanjiv Punalekar Advocate Sanjiv Punalekar of rightwing organisation Sanatan Sanstha put up the message on Twitter on January 3, tagging Sabnis. Sabnis has requested for police security after he received this tweet. The author has been receiving threats after he allegedly made some remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a speech at Akurdi Pimpri-Chinchwad on December 22. BJP PimpriChinchwad unit lodged a complaint against Sabnis under Section 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) on January 7 for his remark against PM.

P

avements are conspicuous by their absence around Pune, with the exception of a few areas.

For the most part, footpaths are the domain of vendors, as is seen on prominent streets like FC Road and MG Road. What’s more, the shopkeepers along some streets use the pavements to put up their wares, or signboards. The result is that there is hardly any room for pedestrians, who then have to step on to the road and risk their lives in the midst of moving traffic.

Then there are the two-wheeler riders who freely ride on footpaths during rush hours. Let alone Prasanjeet Dhekle showing some courtesy to pedestrians who use the footpaths, most two-wheeler riders do not give a damn if they knock down some pedestrians. This is truly criminal behaviour and since the police do not take any action, it is growing by the day. The footpaths in the station area, around Central Building and Sassoon Hospital are crammed with vegetable, fruit, knick-knacks and clothes vendors. This is a constantly busy area with throngs of pedestrians moving about. Who are the authorities who have the powers to do something about such total encroachment?

This state of affairs has prevailed for so long that even the citizens seem to have become immune to the hardships and no one seems concerned enough to even complain to the police or the civic officials about this matter. It puts children and senior citizens most at risk.

There are anti-encroachment drives undertaken from time to time, but they seem to be just a farce as the vendors are back in business the next morning. The truth of the matter is that the administration has no regard for pedestrians’ rights. They are supposed to cope with the situation and if some of them are the victims of accidents and such, so be it.

Pune is aiming to be among the first of the smart cities in India. But how can a city be regarded as smart, if there is such a glaring absence of consideration and thought given to the welfare of pedestrians. The PMC is like an ostrich with its head in the sand.

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Letters to the Editor may be emailed to editor_tgs@goldensparrow.com, yogesh.sadhwani@goldensparrow.com or mail it to The Editor, Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt Ltd, 1641 Madhav Heritage, Tilak Road, Pune-411030.

Give hockey its due Once upon a time, hockey was India’s glory, the only sport India used to win a gold medal at the Olympics in. That was decades ago. Now the world has caught on, other nations have left India behind. But still it is a matter of concern that there are hardly any astro-turf facilities available for the hockey players in Pune. Even little towns abroad have several hockey grounds, and that is why the game has flourished in Europe and Australia. Pune is a city with no shortage of funds but it is the responsibility of those in power to ensure that the sport of hockey is alive and well and that a new generation of players is being groomed right here in the city.

— Sameer Wertey

Still living in the dark ages

RAHUL RAUT

The practice of sati was banned a long time ago, but people are finding new ways to torture widows and make them miserable. What happened to Shobha is an example of how some people are still stuck in a rut despite all the changes that have occurred over the world and in India.

Locking a woman up in a dark and dingy room and forcing her to take a bath with her dead husband’s body is the kind of behaviour that does not belong in this day and age. When will such people learn?

— Radha Shah

THE

SIESTA TIME: This stray at Balgandharva Auditorium decided to take a nap, while students around him waited anxiously for a session that was about to begin

PIC OF

E WE K

The not-so-noble profession How times have changed since the days of Florence Nightingale. The medical profession is said to be a most noble one as other human beings literally place their lives in a doctor’s hands. A certain standard of ethical behaviour is expected from them. But today the Hippocratic oath does not seem to matter much to those involved in the medical profession. Making money by any means seems to be the motto. Hospitals are no longer places where one can feel safe and cared for, but today the common man must check and double check to ensure that one is not being taken for a ride. The Sahyadri Hospital story is a case in point and the authorities must bring those responsible for mistreating patients to book. Patients place their trust in the hospital staff and they deserve better service. Not everyone is capable of fighting for their rights. It is high time that strict laws are laid down for hospitals to abide by.

— Pooja Savre

Cruelty to animals The truck driver who tied a dog to the trailer and dragged the helpless animal for miles on end makes one wonder what has happened to human beings.

Was this the man’s idea of fun? What thrills could he have got from torturing a dog so mercilessly? He claims that h did not know that there was a dog tied to the trailer, but then why did he not stop when he was informed about it? His justification that the lane was narrow and that stopping would have created a traffic jam holds no water. Probably there is no law that the man can be penalised under, but he certainly deserves to be taught a lesson.

— Rajendra Jole

Visually impaired news reader

All India Radio hiring a visually impaired man as news reader is a heart-warming story. People with physical disabilities tend to be treated with neglect for the most part and they are considered incapable of doing their jobs. That is why they are treated indifferently and not given the opportunities that they deserve. Provided with the opportunities, every person can and will do a job to the best of their ability. Everybody needs a break and this story is the perfect example.

— Surendra Fashi

SPORTS

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JANUARY 9, 2016

PUNE

“It’s a challenge always to play against Australia. Yes, they will miss Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc, but they have got other bowlers like Pattinson.”

— Ajinkya Rahane, Indian batsman

“I feel comfortable with my decision, knowing that I have given my best at all times and will continue to do so. However, I feel there is a greater need to work on my own game.”

— Hashim Amla, South African cricketer

Football is flourishing in Pune: Pereira DSK Shivajians coach feels that football standards in Pune are improving but not up to the mark

BY ASHISH PHADNIS @phadnis_ashish “When I took charge of Pune FC in 2009, the football scenario in Pune was rather lacklustre. PFC was the only professional club and there were no local players making a mark at the national level. In the last six years the situation has undergone a sea change and the beautiful game is now flourishing in Pune,” said Derrick Pereira, DSK Shivajians coach.

Pereira who will be guiding the team in their fi rst ever I-league season starting from January 17, spoke about various aspects of the team and the state of football in Pune.

“When I joined PFC in 2009, I was asked why Pune players were not representing the team. I said that it would take time. The game of football was yet to attain a professional outlook in Pune. PFC was the only team in the I-league but I was sure that other teams would follow. They would start making efforts, train harder and compete professionally. I am happy to see that I was right,” he said.

“A few academies have come up in Pune in the last few years. DSK have their Liverpool International Academy. There are quality players like Shrikant Molangiri and Prakash Thorat coming out of Pune. Districts like

Signposts Maharashtra women enter Super League Riding on Anuja Patil’s all-round performance and Devika Vaidya’s accurate bowling, Maharashtra defeated Hyderabad by two wickets, at Eden Garden. Maharashtra bundled out Hyderabad for 92 and attained the required target with two wickets to spare. With this win, Maharashtra women have booked their place in the Senior Women’s inter-state T-20 cricket tournament. This is Maharashtra’s third win in this tournament. Earlier they have defeated Railways and Delhi.

Solapur (Kiran Pandhre) and Kolhapur (Nikhil Kadam) are producing good players.

Th is is a good sign. There is long way to go, but Pune players will make their presence felt in national football in the near future,” said Pereira.

The coach was in city to see local tournaments like Ashok Wanjari Cup and DSK Cup. “I have seen a sea change in football in Pune. Players are fitter and stronger. But a professional approach is still lacking. Players with talent do not have access to scientific training. Rest and diet are equally important aspects of training. You can’t train and then go to work. That’s not done by professional footballers. You have to dedicate your whole time to the game. Standards are improving but they are not up to the mark,” he said.

Pereira started his coaching career with Vasco SC in 2000, and shifted to Mahindra United in 2005, before moving to Pune FC in 2009. He managed the team for two seasons, leading them to top five finishes in each season.

At the start of 2013-14, I-League campaign Salgaocar replaced David Booth with Pereira, and they finished in third place, a marked improvement over the

past two finishes.

About challenges in coaching a team at the highest level, he said, “Th is is the third club I am training in the I-league so I have the experience. But the major difference in coaching PFC and Shivajians is that PFC did not have a set-up. They were supportive but it took time to develop the training ground and other facilities. Here we have everything under one roof. It helps a lot in building a team and I’m sure we are going to have a strong team.”

About PFC’s decision to close down their I-league team, he said, “It is a sad and disappointing decision. They had invested a lot of effort and money in this venture. I was there right from the beginning. They told me their plans, but they didn’t get any help from the AIFF. They wanted to make changes, but things didn’t turn out as they wanted,” he said.

DSK Shivajians have roped in five youngsters who are shortlisted for the India U-19 team, while 18-yearold Lallianzuala Chhangte joined the big league, and became the youngest goal-scorer for India.

His brace against Nepal helped India win the match 4-1 in

Oinam Devi says that Indian women footballers need a national league of their own

BY EKTA KATTI @Ektaak

Oinam Bembem Devi has bid adieu to her beloved sport of football at the age of 35, after a career which has taken her to memorable heights.

Announcing her retirement on December 30, she said that it was “the saddest day of my life.”

A resident of Imphal, Oinam donned the na-

tional team jersey way back in 1991. Oinam was drawn to the beautiful game since childhood, inspired by the legendary Argentinian Diego Maradona, and decided to take up football professionally.

In a telephonic conversation with TGS, Oinam said, “I played ‘gully’ football with my friends as a teen. I also watch football on TV constantly. In 1991, I was invited to join Imphal’s Yawa Football Club. There was no looking back since then. I scored 15 goals in two years for the club. In 1993, I joined Fun Football Club for whom I scored 30 goals in five years.

“Joining the Manipur Police Club in 1998 was a big step forward. In 2003, I played the first match for the national team,” she said.

Old Monk’s 24th Veteran’s State Level Badminton Tournament will be conducted by Poona District and Metropolitan Badminton Association at PDMBA complex from January 14. The event will be held in eight age groups and five events for each group. For further details contact tournament secretary Ajit Deshpande (9822089738).

Pune’s tennis ace Ankita Raina has been given top billing for the $25,000 ITF women’s tournament to be held at Aurangabad from Saturday (January 9). The tournament will serve as a competition and practice for the Asian girls who will be playing the FED Cup Asia Oceania Zone 1 and 2 events at Hua-hin in Thailand from January 30. The entire Indian women’s squad for the FED Cup and the SAFF games with the exception of Sania Mirza will be seen in action at Aurangabad. Raina recently crashed out early in ITF tournament in Pune.

The debate about merging I-League with the Indian Super League (ISL) continues and city-based clubs like Pune FC and Bharat FC have decided to close their ventures, while criticising the AIFF approach. But the new face of Pune’s I-league team DSK Shivajians FC are confident.

“We have a rich history at the local and state level. I started my playing career with this club and have a close connection with it. We have won several tournaments and have given a platform to budding players with Liverpool FC International Academy. So, whatever happens with the league, we are not going to close our venture. We are here for football and we are here to stay,” said Shirish Kulkarni, club president at the launch of the club in I-league this week.

The club, founded in 1987, was the SAFF Cup recently.

These youngsters will be torn between their club encounters and national duty.

But Pereira feels that they need to develop as individuals.

“Managing youngsters is tricky. We can’t

‘Women footballers need motivation’

Veterans state level badminton from Jan 14

Ankita Raina gets top seeding in ITF tennis

‘We are here to stay’

The midfielder’s talents were acknowledged as she was named as the AIFF Women’s Footballer of the Year in 2001 and 2013. She credits her success to her family’s unflagging support.

“My father wanted me to focus on studies but my mother and siblings always supported my love for football. My father was overjoyed when I got my Arts degree in 2003,” said Oinam.

Argentine footballer Lionel Messi is her idol and she says that he has been her inspiration with “his effortless ease and skills.”

The 5’ 2’’ diminutive Oinam has captained the national women’s team six times, and captaining the team for the first time in 2003 was unforgettable.

She feels the need for a women’s national football league in India. “India women footballers need more motivation, more sponsors There are a lot of budding female footballers in India. What we need is a national women’s football league,” she said.

She said that training techniques have changed a lot for the better since the old days as well as the gear and kits.

She had visited Pune in 2013 as part of the national team to train for the AFC Asian Cup qualification in Palestine, but did not have the time to explore Pune. They practiced with the Pune FC U-17 men’s team, which enabled them to strengthen their strategies.

On June 9, 2014, Oinam was signed by the Maldivian football club New Radiant. ekta.katti@goldensparrow.com

promoted to the Pune Super Division.

In 2013 the club made their intentions clear to make it to the national level of Indian football, by asking for direct entry into the I-League. But instead of a direct entry, DSK Shivajians would have to participate and fi nish in a top two spot in the 2nd Division.

“We have fi ve players from Pune and quite a few from Kolhapur. It’s not possible to build a team from Pune, but surely they will have the presence in the team,” he said.

“Unfortunately we don’t have a proper system to take the fans to Balewadi. We are working on how we can reach out them. We have a fan following and many of them will attend our matches. We don’t have to create a fan base, we just have to reach a larger audience,” he said. just push them into the I-league. Some players thrive under pressure, but others crack. One must be careful and build their confidence.

As coach, it’s my duty to develop them both as a team and individually,” he said. ashish.phadnis@goldensparrow.com

Puja Verger emerges fastest sprinter TGS NEWS SERVICES @TGSWeekly Pune City Police had a reason to celebrate as sprinter Puja Verger claimed a crucial 100m gold medal, in the 28th State Police Games at the Baburao Sanas Ground this week.

Puja clocked 12.07 seconds to beat Sonia Mokal (13,01) of Mumbai City Police. Training Directorate’s Sonali Zende (13.04) settled for the bronze medal.

Thane City Police’s Vaibhav Hedge clocked 10.08 seconds to win the ‘Blue Riband’ event in 100m dash. Hedge’s gold medal effort was almost one second faster than the second-placed Deepak Bacharkar of Training Directorate (11.01). Kokan Range’s Rahul Kale finished in the bronze medal position clocking 11.02 seconds.

Anil Yenapure of Kolhapur Range won the men’s 400m hurdles event in 55.06 seconds, beating SRPF’s Dayanand Yadav (55.09).

Sambhaji Hatkar of Railways Range won the bronze medal with a timing of 56.09.

In the men’s section, two more gold medals went to Training Directorate with Santosh Mali leaping to 1.90 metres to win the high jump title and 4x100m team winning the relay in 42.08 seconds breaking previous record of Mumbai City (43.41). tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

50th National cross country in city from today TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly Lalita Babar, Sudha Singh and Monika Raut will be the star attractions in the Pune Mayor’s Trophy 50th National Cross Country Competition to be held at Shiv Chhatrapati sports complex in Balewadi from Saturday (January 9).

Th is event is important for all athletes as the Indian squad will be selected on the basis of this tournament for the Asian Cross Country Championship to be held in Panama, Bahrain from February 26.

Lalita, Sudha will represent the Railways, while Swati Gadhawe, who had represented India in World Cross Country and Monika Raut will spearhead Maharashtra’s challenge.

World Police Games gold medallist Jayashree Borgi, Inter-University gold medallist Sanjiwani Jadhav, national level marathon winner Monika Athare and Inter-university silver medallist Rohini Raut are also part of the Maharashtra squad.

In the men’s category, Services will get a tough fight from Railways athletes. Ratiram Saini, Yogendra Kumar, Sachin Patil and

Sompal are some of the medal prospects for Railways, while Govind Singh, Anil Pawar, Ramesh Bishnoi are key athletes for the Services. Kailas Hirwe, Pradeepsingh Choudhary and Ajay Kumar of Maharashtra have raised huge expectations.

A special 2km track has been developed at Balewadi tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com