The Golden Sparrow on Saturday 12/03/2016

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PUNE, MARCH 12, 2016 | www.thegoldensparrow.com

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TGS LIFE

Meet the Unsung Music Makers

MUMBAI

CITY

Women cops man police stations P2

Senior citizens of society accused of molestation P3 PICS BY RAHUL RAUT

Hail ladyship! Village girl clears judge exam

Archana Sopan Garad becomes youngest Maha woman to clear JMFC and first from her village Wakhari See P05

To see a world in a

GRAIN OF SAND

The obscure mysteries of weather, the microscopic world of cell science, structures of chemical compounds, genetic diversity or police personnel’s personal aspects, the scope of Pune’s R&D fraternity’s endeavours are as diverse as they are far-reaching See Spotlight, p08 & 09

Pune’s Hussaini Brahmins recall glorious past

Punjabi Brahmins who fought alongside Imam Hussain call themselves Hussaini Brahmins See P06

Ladies Club, Diamond Queen under the PCB scanner Pune Cantonment Board sends show cause notices to 17 bungalow owners in Cantonment area for running commercial establishments on their premises

BY SUSHANT RANJAN @sushantranjan Bungalow owners under Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) jurisdiction who f lout cantonment rules, will face stringent action. The PCB has sent show cause notices to 17 bungalow owners over the use of the space for commercial purposes.

PCB senior officials say that these bungalows owners have been misusing their properties for years. “We have decided to take action under section 244 of the Cantonments Act 2006 for misuse of properties. Most of these bungalow owners are running restaurants, bars, club houses, offices and shops which commercially benefit them. This is gross misuse of the properties given to them,” said a PCB official, requesting anonymity.

Chief Executive Officer of PCB Sanjeev Kumar said that they have already launched action against such bungalow owners. “The PCB had given these bungalows for living purposes, but it has come to our notice that most of the bungalows are being used for commercial purposes. If they are not used for residential purposes, we will take them back,” he said.

PCB has issued notices to four bungalows owners at Moledina Road, one at Lothian Road, four at NPS Lines, five at Elphinstone Road and one each at Solapur Road, Prince of Wales Drive and Jubilee Road. The bungalow owners, on the

other hand, allege that the PCB has always been aware of their activities.

“These bungalows have been ours since the British era and we have been renewing the lease every 30 years, like the law has asked us to. After that what we do is our business,” said a bungalow owner who runs a shop on his premises.

“These shops and commercial complexes haven’t come up in just a day. They have been here for years now. What’s the point of sending a notice now?” said another.

The PCB, however, says that they have been trying to get them relocated for ages now. “We have been asking them to leave the bungalows if they are not living there, for a while now. But now that it has been so long we had to take action,” PCB sources said. “We don’t have strict rules like the PMC, but we do know that operating commercial places in residential areas is wrong,” sources said. While the notice is a show cause, PCB is ready to receive answers. “We are not asking them to vacate right away. We could have, but we haven’t. Even if they tell us the time duration by when they will vacate, we are okay with that,” they said. While the cantonment board has finally woken up from slumber, the bungalow owners are in no mood to listen. “We haven’t received any written communication from anyone. We will decide our future course of action once we do,” said one of the bungalow owners. sushant.ranjan@goldensparrow.com

These properties are under PCB gaze • The bungalows in question are: • Bungalow number 6, Moledina Road, Ramakrishna Restaurant • Bungalow number 8, Moledina Road, Grand Hotel, Restaurant & Bar • Bungalow number 3, Lothian Road, Ladies Club • Bungalow number 12, Moledina Road, Cafe Diamond Queen • Bungalow number 13, Moledina Road, Penosh Translink • Bungalow number 2, NPS Lines, furniture shop • Bungalow number 6-A, NPS Lines, student shelter • Bungalow number 9, NPS Lines, recreation centre • Bungalow number 10, NPS Lines, nursery • Bungalow number 6, Solapur Road, RWITC office • Bungalow no 1-A, Prince of Wales Drive, Theological Seminary • Bungalow number 2, Elphinstone Road, Mayfair builders, Bajaj • Appliances & Modern Dry Cleaners • Bungalow number 4, Elphinstone Road, commercial complex • Bungalow number 5, Elphinstone Road, Siddhivinayak Developers • Bungalow number 7, Elphinstone Road, shops & restaurant • Bungalow number 8, Elphinstone Road, restaurant • Bungalow number 5, Jubilee Road, YWCA, hostel for women

PICS BY TEJAS GAIKWAD

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY MARCH 12, 2016

PUNE

MUMBAI

“I am happy to inform that all clearances have been obtained for constructing the national monument of revered Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The government intends to complete the work before 2019.”

— C Vidyasagar Rao, Maharashtra Governor

‘Coal cost hike will make solar power competitive’ P 11

Rules to ensure police don’t misuse powers in raids

DSK Shivajians score historic win P 16

NCP accuses BJP of spying on them Maharashtra Legislative Council Chairman Ramraje Nimbalkar directed removal of all CCTV cameras from the lobby adjoining the Council Hall in Vidhan Bhavan building here, after NCP legislators alleged that the BJP-led government has Ramraje Nimbalkar installed these

“It seems that the Opposition members are being watched as we discuss our strategies on how to go about during the session. These cameras should be removed as the ruling parties need not know whom we meet in the lobby,” he said.

Responding to his request, Nimbalkar instructed that all CCTVs be removed from the lobby.

A senior security official said that four CCTV cameras each have been installed in the lobbies of the state Legislative Council as well as Assembly.

“We felt that cameras were required in the lobbies as we are taking extra security measures on Vidhan Bhavan premises. There are a total 78 cameras on the premises, of which 28 are permanent and the rest are installed during the session,” he said.

A mobile phone stolen from a cabinet minister’s chamber, was recovered with the help of CCTVs. PTI

The Maharashtra government informed the Bombay High Court it was planning to frame guidelines to ensure police don’t misuse powers while raiding hotels to check prostitution.

This was stated by Chief Public Prosecutor SS Shinde when a bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka inquired whether the state had issued any guidelines to ensure police do not misuse powers during such raids.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation alleging police had committed excesses while raiding hotels in suburban Malavani last year by imposing fines on couples on charges of indecency.

The bench was of the opinion that if there were no guidelines to check police from misuse of powers, then it would be in public interest to frame some rules.

The judges asked the state to frame guidelines if not done so earlier. Accordingly, the state sought a reasonable time frame to form rules for police in this regard and the bench

gave four weeks to the government to frame guidelines.

The court had on last occasion asked the government whether it had issued any guidelines on police raids on hotels and had asked the chief public prosecutor to appear on behalf of the state today and throw light on

Tech challenges more important than rankings

Maha govt gets Rs 90 cr for Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan

Institutes should focus on delivering on national challenges in research and technology instead of focusing on higher global rankings, renowned scientist and former secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy Anil Kakodkar said here.

Kakodkar, a former chairman of board of governors, IIT Bombay, was felicitated by the premier institute on its 57th foundation day.

“There is often a desire to see our institutions figuring near top of the table in global rankings of institutions.

Setting a target like this is no doubt laudable. However, targeting to deliver in tangible terms on key national challenges...in my view would make a larger impact...with high ranking coming as natural spin-off,” he said, speaking on this occasion.

Kakodkar highlighted some of the initiatives of IITs which can help in overcoming the key technological challenges before the country, including the ones at IIT Bombay such as solar study lights for rural school children, the centre for urban science and engineering, cleaning of rivers, etc.

Eleven IIT-B alumni were felicitated on the occasion for contributions in their respective fields.

PTI

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis informed the Legislative Council that the CM’s Relied Fund has so far received donations of Rs 90 crore for its flagship ‘Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan’.

As the House assembled for the Question Hour, Congress MLC questioned if cheques given by 32 people to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund have bounced and if these people include BJP workers.

In his response, Fadnavis said the account opened for the government’s integrated water conservation and management scheme has received

this aspect.

The bench had also asked petitioner Sumeer Sabharwal to file a reply to the second affidavit filed by police on conducting raids at hotels in suburban Malwani in Malad area of North Mumbai.

The judges also asked Sabharwal,

funds through NEFT, RTGS and cheques. “Uptil now, we have received a total of Rs 90 crore for the scheme, for which 10,373 cheques have been given. Out of this, 28 cheques have not been cleared. The total amount of these cheques adds up to Rs 10 lakh and 36 thousand,” he said.

The chief minister further said that of the 28 uncleared cheques, 3 new have been received and its amount adds up to Rs 5.5 lakh.

“Some cheques have not been cleared due to various reasons like insufficient funds in bank account, signature did not match or the

BIRDS OF A FEATHER...

Flamingo birds at Sewree in Mumbai

a Khar resident, to file written submissions and offer suggestions on procedures to be followed by police in such cases.

On August 6, 2015, police had cracked down on hotels and bars in Malwani area and imposed fine on several couples on charges of indecency.

The petition had termed the raids as “illegal, intrusive and unconstitutional” and sought action against police officials involved.

The high court had earlier observed that while there was a laudable intention behind police raids on hotels in Malwani following complaints of an alleged prostitution racket operating there, innocent persons cannot be harassed and their privacy should not be invaded.

The Maharashtra government had taken a stand that police received complaints from local MLAs and residents that hotels in the area were being used to run prostitution racket and hence they conducted raids on hotels.

PTI

instrument was outdated (old cheques),” he said.

Fadnavis further clarified that at present, there is no BJP worker, whose cheque remains uncleared.

“We have given notices to people whose cheques have bounced and their amounts range from Rs 5,000-10,000.

They have assured us a new cheque will be given soon,” he said.

Leader of Opposition Dhananjay Munde then asked if the government has received any funds from Dance bar association, to which Fadnavis replied in the negative.

PTI

BY SANTOSHEE MISHRA @santosheemishra Women police personnel felt special and proud of khaki on March 8.

After all, they were managing the police stations.

Maharashtra Director General of Police Praveen Dixit had issued a circular that women officers and personnel would be at the helm of police stations as part of the International Women’s Day initiatives. All the 94 police stations across Mumbai followed the circular.

TGS interacted with the cops of JJ Marg police station and women in uniform said that women and girls feel more confident to share their complaints with them. “The initiative has helped us get the much-needed exposure to policing at the grassroots level. Shouldering the responsibilities of

meeting complainants, patrolling and chairing meetings. It was my dream to join police force,” said 26-year-old police sub-inspector Jyotsana Thackaray, who was made the duty in-charge of the station for the day.

Married last year to a banker from Jalgaon, Jyotsana’s husband wanted her to shift to Jalgaon. “I love my job and will never ask for a change of workplace,” she said.

According to Jyotsana, girls are

more at ease to share their complaints, mainly of eve-teasing, with women police force. The women police staff said that such measures will help in breaking the thought that police stations are not a good place for respectable women.

“It is important that the staff, including men, are gender sensitised.

I found that the men staff were comfortable to see me on the chair.

They believe and even tell me that women police officials are non-corrupt

Women officers and personnel were at the helm of police stations as part of the International Women’s Day initiatives

A mobile stolen from a minister’s room was recovered with the help of CCTVs

Maharashtra Governor CH Vidyasagar Rao, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Legislative Assembly Chairman Haribhau Bagde and BJP leader Girish Bapat

Woman doctor develops digital primary health centre A woman doctor has claimed to have fully digitised a primary health centre, in terms of equipment and data, at Patonda village in Maharashtra’s Jalgaon district.

She has also designed a digital platform for the PHC called ‘Arogyadootam 2016’.

“Taking cue from the Centre’s ‘Digital India’ initiative, I have digitised the PHC with advanced

Women cops man police stations Staff at Mumbai’s JJ Police Station found it a learning experience

cameras to keep a watch on them.

Raising the issue in the Upper House, NCP MLC Amarsingh Pandit alleged that the CCTV cameras have been installed at the lobby adjoining the Council Hall of the state Legislature complex here as members of the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena want to keep an eye on the Opposition’s moves.

and unbiased,” Jyotsana said.

Constables Anita Salunkhe (25), Sunita Deshmukh (26), Anusaya Borgalli (28), Asha Narayan Davkhar (25) and Asha Narayan Davkhar (25) are constables attached to JJ Marg police station.

“Generally Women’s Day celebration is not a big affair at the police station. We discuss cases as a routine,” said Constable Anita Salunkhe.

Women police staff credit their fellow men for being co-operative.

“We all are here on first deputation.

Initially, we were shy to tell our senior to keep the toilets clean but we knew that they needed time to change. We know our responsibilities and rarely take leave citing medical conditions.

We know that our uniform commands respect but we need to work hard to earn it,” she said.

Constable Asha used to dread handling mobs but when she found that men staff also carried the same fears, she overcame her inferiority complex.

“I realised that uniform has no gender,” she said. santoshee.mishra@goldensparrow.com

equipment of primary treatment and diagnosis for the benefit of villagers,” Dr Manisha Lalchand Mahajan said.

The PHC has the latest digital pulse oximeter, glucometer, apparatus to check blood pressure, thermometer, nebuliser, digital weight machine, etc, she said. “Using software system, I have made PHC work paperless,” the doctor said.

The software ensures proper

registration of patients at Out Patients Department (OPD), complete digital records of pathology and health record of patients, online pharmacy browser for searching medicines, etc.

It also provides alert to parents for vaccination of children, section-wise monthly reports, keeps a real-time tab on medical stocks, setting targets and reminders for doctors at the PHC. PTI

Mumbai, Bengaluru cheapest in world Mumbai and Bengaluru are among the cheapest cities in the world, according to a top London-based forecast group that named Singapore as the most expensive city.

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) ranked Singapore as the priciest ahead of Zurich, Hong Kong, Geneva and Paris.

The EIU also said India and Pakistan accounted for five of the 10 least expensive cities in the world.

London was sixth and New York seventh on the list that compares the cost of a basket of goods across 133 cities, ‘BBC News’ reported.

The cheapest were Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, followed by Bangalore and Mumbai, the EIU said.

The expense of cities are tabled by comparing them to the cost of living in New York.

Although Singapore was the most expensive, the cost of living there was 10 per cent cheaper when compared to New York than was the case in the EIU survey a year ago.

As cities coped with economic factors ranging from the strength of the US dollar and currency devaluations to falling oil and commodity prices and geopolitical uncertainty, there was a considerable movement in the rankings, researchers said.

“In nearly 17 years of working on this survey I cannot recall a year as volatile as 2015,” said Jon Copestake.

PTI

The cost of living in Singapore is 10 per cent cheaper than New York

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY MARCH 12, 2016

Cohabitation can be marriage proof: HC P12

PUNE

“There is almost 100 per cent birth registration within PMC limits. Even if a mother delivers at home, she registers the birth with the PMC. This helps us figure out the sex ratio at birth every year.”

— ST Pardeshi, Medical Officer of Health, PMC

Senior citizens of society accused of molestation Woman resident of Koregaon Park housing society accuses other residents of evil intent and conspiring to do her bodily harm

BY GARGI VERMA @missgverma Affinity Housing Society in Koregaon Park is facing an unusual problem. The society’s residents are mostly senior citizens, whose peace of mind has been disturbed by a middle-aged woman who thinks that the residents and employees of the society mean to do her harm, to the extent that she perceives it as a threat to her life. She has filed numerous complaints with the police against the society residents, alleging that they are subjecting her to all kinds of torture.

Rita Gupta, 40, the woman in question, has accused 82-year-old Ramesh Belapurkar of outraging her modesty.

This is not a solitary case. Gupta has filed complaints against almost all the members of the society, including an FIR against Tushar Sampat, former secretary of the society, under Indian Penal Code section 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty). “He has tried to molest

TEJAS GAIKWAD

me and even murder me by tampering with my car,” she said.

Sampat has left the society because of her threats. “I have evidence to show that what she is accusing me of is false.

I am willing to see this matter to its end because I believe that truth will triumph,” he said.

She has even filed a complaint against Prashant Karade, a helper of the society, stating that Karade looks at her lasciviously and that he intends to outrage her modesty. “I don’t feel safe around Karade as he ogles me in an improper way and means to make physical advances,” her letter written in Hindi states.

While most complaints are based on ‘outraging her modesty’, some allege threats to her life and ‘looking at her lasciviously’. She has tried to convert most complaints into FIRs, but except for one, none have been filed as even the Koregaon police believe that Gupta is a compulsive troublemaker. “We have visited the society a number of times and there is no threat to Gupta,” said a Koregaon police chowky constable, requesting anonymity.

Vijaya Limaye, 85, is distressed that the society does not have a night watchman.

“I live alone, and at time I return home late at night. We need a security guard at the gate, but the problem is that no one wants the job, as Gupta files molestation complaints

Society workers have been sacked owing to Gupta’s accusations

Residents of Affinity Society, Koregaon Park, have had their peace of mind disturbed by constant allegations of abuse by a woman resident

against them,” she said. Gupta has actually got workers sacked from their job by filing complaint against them.

The saga dates back to 2007, when Gupta stopped paying the society’s maintenance charges. “It was hardly a thousand rupees per month then.

Everyone used to pay except for Gupta.

We sent her notices, tried to convince her, but she was extremely rude and even got physical with me. When we

kept telling her to pay, she brought in Pune Municipal Corporation officials on the pretext that the society office wasn’t at its designated spot. They razed our office,” Limaye said. When the society members resorted to legal means, Gupta claimed that she had already paid a lump-sum amount to the society committee. “The money she paid went to the builder, so she should have taken up the matter with him,”

said a society member. “We wanted her society registration to be cancelled and approached the registrar’s office,” said Limaye, who volunteers at a blind school.

Due to technical glitches on the society committee’s part, the Additional Registrar, with whom the case was filed, ruled in Gupta’s favour. “We then went to the Minister of Cooperatives, who after multiple hearings, ordered

her to pay the maintenance. But she moved the High Court against his judgment,” said Limaye. A number of cases are lodged in the High Court against the Minister for Cooperatives

by Gupta, which are subjudice.

Meanwhile Gupta insists that the society members are conspiring against her. “I have exposed a lot of illegal activities and frauds committed by the committee members. That is one of the major reasons why they are torturing me,” she said. She says that most of the society members are in cahoots with the workers. “I have proof that these people are trying to kill me. Our law and order system is so weak that even after multiple attempts on my life, the police has not helped me. Even when I wanted to file the FIR against a man who tried to molest me, I was asked to come later. About the maintenance tax issue, she said, “The committee was formed illegally and they are not doing anything for the society upkeep. Why should I pay them? I have already paid a big amount when I had bought the flat.”

While the tussle continues, the society members have to cope with the shortage of staff. “We have no one to repair our lifts and to guard our gates, because Gupta threatens every one. We have to use the stairs, though we are senior citizens. We are scared even to talk to her, because she is quick to file molestation charges. She has actually tried to hurt some old women,” said a member. “The authorities are to blame. They tell us to handle the matter ourselves. Don’t they realise that we are the victims?” said Limaye. gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com

Civic chief wants a pedestrian PMPML helplines are of policy with mere 12 working signals no help to commuters Pedestrian signals are glaringly conspicuous by their absence on the traffic-congested streets of Pune

TEJAS GAIKWAD

BY TUSHAR RUPANAVAR @tusharrupanavar

BY SHAILESH JOSHI @TGSWeekly

Walking through moving traffic, risking life and limb, is the order of the day at the ever busy Swargate area

The helpline numbers on Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahanagar Limited (PMPML) buses are of little use these days as they are in an illegible state. Moreover, if commuters are able to decipher the numbers, and call them up to narrate their grievances, they find that the PMPML authorities are busy, not reachable or the calls remain unanswered.

PMPML buses are the lifeline for Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad commuters. The PMPML has provided three-four helpline numbers and a grievances redressal centre number for commuters to voice their grievances, or for queries.

Maharashtra Kamgar Manch President Dilip Mohite said that the helpline numbers are of no use.

“The PMPML call attendants at Swargate office are never available. Leave aside citizens, even conductors and drivers are unable to connect to the helpline in case of an accident or emergency,” he said. And if the authorities

noted down a grievance, the problem is not solved until one makes many follow-up calls.

Gajanan Chandele, a regular commuter, said “I tried calling the helpline number, but there was no response. There is no system for passenger to board buses. Senior citizens and women should be given priority.”

Officials said, ”The design of the number plates has been changed,. We have added contact details and email id of customer care. We are renovating number plates that are blurred.” tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

HIT OR MISS instructions regarding the sustainable transport cell.” Pedestrians have no option but to cross traffic-infested roads.

Junctions like Swargate are especially hazardous for pedestrians. Then there is the issue of vehicles standing on zebra crossings, which traffic police neglect. J M Road, F C Road, Tilak Road, Bajirao road, Satara Road, Hadapsar Road, Karve Road and Aundh Road are always crowded and extremely dangerous for pedestrians. The pedestrians signals that are working are not visible to pedestrians and as road users.

Prashant Inamdar of NGO Pedestrians First said, “It is shocking that a city like Pune which has been selected for the government’s

Twelve working signals is very low in ratio to the population of Pune

much hyped smart city project has only 12 pedestrian signals. It clearly shows the negligence of policy makers and the administration towards the people of Pune city. The mid block pedestrian signals on Sambhaji Road and Sarasbaug road are completely ignored by vehicle users. These mid block pedestrian signals needs a traffic warden to monitor violations to make them safe for pedestrians. Some pedestrian signals are faulty and create problems for pedestrians. Some signals are not visible as their locations are wrong. We are constantly demanding pedestrian signals at every traffic junction. We have given numerous applications to the PMC and traffic police but nothing has happened yet. There must be pedestrian signals at every zebra crossing, but Pune city has very few even at traffic junctions. It’s high time policy makers construct pedestrian signals in the city.” tushar.rupanavar@goldensparrow.com

RAHUL RAUT

Pune city’s population has crossed the 31-lakh mark, according to a 2011 census. The city has over 20 lakh registered two-wheelers, and an equal number of SUVs. Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Commissioner Kunal Kumar, in the 2016-17 budget proposed a pedestrian policy, which involves a sustainable transport cell and 75 km of pedestrian roads.

But in reality, there are just 12 working pedestrian signals in Pune city. There are 45 major thoroughfares in the city with huge volumes of traffic, and crossing such roads always puts pedestrians at risk. PMC officials, on conditions of anonymity, said that there are only 12 pedestrian signals in the city and two were demolished while constructing f lyovers. There are two types of pedestrian signals, one at traffic junctions and another at mid block pedestrian signals, which are in the middle of the roads. In the city, mid block pedestrian signals are useless because no vehicles stop at these signals, and pedestrians are unable to cross the roads.

Due to heavy traffic, many roads have been made one-ways.

PMC roads department chief engineer Srinivas Bonala said, “In 2011, there were 14 pedestrian signals in PMC limits. The pedestrian signal on Swargate road near Saibaba Mandir was demolished for constructing a f lyover. And another pedestrian signal at Dhankawadi near KK Market was demolished during f lyover construction.

Now there are 12 operational pedestrian signals in PMC limits, which is very low in ratio to the population. In the recent budget, the PMC commissioner has proposed to build 75 km of pedestrian roads by the end of 2016, and 225 km of pedestrian ways in the next three years.

A sustainable transport cell too has been proposed for pedestrian safety. The aim is to make Pune city pedestrian-friendly. We have not received

PMPML helpline numbers on buses are in an illegible state, and authorities do not attend to calls

The lack of pavements in Wanowrie means that residents of the area have to dodge their way through traffic at all times of the day

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY MARCH 12, 2016

PUNE

IITians turn garbage collectors

“Whether it was installing ITMS on BRTS routes, getting bus stations or coordinating with civic bodies, we got it all right. And in the end, the three BRTS routes got operational.”

— Mayura Shindekar, CEO of PMPML’s BRTS cell

P10

P12

Pune couple at wit’s end over address changes in passport The Pune passport office is at it again, giving hapless citizens the runaround for months on end

BY GARGI VERMA @missgverma A month after issuing an adverse police verification report against a three-year-old, the Pune passport authorities have now reverted on their own directives provided on the website. City based marketing research analyst Siddharth Shah has been running from pillar to post, trying to get his wife Sakhi’s name and address changed on the passport since November 2015.

The Pune Passport office premises Sakhi wished to change her surname after their marriage in January 2015. This led to a long and grueling process of obtaining identification documents and went to changed names and addresses in all the Passport Office,” said Siddharth. important documents. The Shahs However, the couple was stopped at decide to start with the passports as the gate itself. “We were told that Siddharth had had a we’d have to get a more very positive experience cognisable address in 2014 when he had proof. When I asked filed for reissuing of what could be more his own passport. cognisable than the An interior designer spouse’s passport, I was by profession, Sakhi told to bring a bank applied online for a restatement the next issuing appointment in time,” said Siddharth.

August 2015 and her However, it wasn’t first appointment came till their third and only days later. last try, they had According to the missed their second - SIDDHARTH SHAH Passport Authority of appointment due to India website, for cases dengue, that they in which spouses need to realised the lack of change their names and addresses after clarity in the passport office directives. marriage, any one address proof, one of At her third appointment, Sakhi which is the spouse’s passport with a was told that only a bank statement valid marriage certificate is enough. wouldn’t work.She had to get a bank “We took the passport, marriage passbook that had her pictures in certificate along with my personal it. “Nobody had told us that before.

“We were told to get a more cognisable address proof.”

‘Encourage elderly to visit libraries using technology’

It wasn’t mentioned anywhere, not even on the website. How were we to know?” he asked.

The Shahs decided to approach the authorities since it was the last attempt and they had technically followed instruction.

However, the authorities were unavailable and later, unsympathetic. “The Regional Officer wasn’t there so she had to approach the assistant officer who came half an hour late.

She didn’t even give Sakhi enough time to explain and shooed her off, stating that we didn’t have proper documentation,” he recounted.

Siddharth approached the grievance section that, according to the passport website, should be approached in case of any problems regarding the procedures. “I haven’t received a single reply from them,” he said. Next he approached the Appellate body which directed him to the regional officer. Even after Siddharth approached the regional

Man dies after hyena attack

Doctors suspect that the sugarcane cutter may have died due to a rabies infection

BY DNYANESHWAR BHONDE Dnyanesh1

officer, he couldn’t get a reply from him after sending multiple emails.

Three months and multiple attempts later, however, Siddharth has finally resorted to twitter and social media. “The sad part is that, after using the social media, I realised how often this happens. It shows the flaws in the system,” Siddharth said.

Sakhi has had to face a lot of problem due to not having a firm identity proof like a passport after marriage. A flustered Siddharth said, “The process is too complicated for something so simple and widely used.

Most women change their surnames and addresses after marriage. Most of them clearly don’t have address proofs for their husband’s houses.”

Regional Passport Officer Atul Gotsurve believes that when it comes to passport issuance documentation is the key. Explaining about the documents needed for name and address change after marriage, he said, “If it is the surname change, the marriage certificate along with relevant documents works.” However, according to him, a spouse’s passport isn’t enough for the wife’s address proofs. “Many times, due to multiple reasons, a husband and wife can’t stay together, even after marriage. Moreover, the passport office treats a woman as a separate identity.

We need her individual identity and address proof,” he said. Asked about the fact that a woman might not have her address proof for her husband’s house, he said, “Bank accounts can be opened in a day or two these days. Surely, one can opt for that. There are several options.” gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com

A sugarcane cutter from Beed district died at Sassoon General Hospital on March 7, a fortnight after he was bitten by a hyena. Though the exact cause of death is yet to be determined, doctor suspect that he may have died of rabies infection, after being in the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) for a day.

Dastagir Ambir Sayyed, 38, and his wife Latifa, 36, from Vadgaon in Georai Taluka of Beed district, were in Kanjal village for sugarcane cutting work, along with nine other couples.

Dastagir was sleeping outside his wood and bamboo hut which was too small to accommodate his wife and two daughters, when the hyena attacked him. “We were woken up by my husband’s screams. I opened the door of our hut and saw a hyena attacking and biting him. But our neighbours arrived with sticks and the animal fled,” said Latifa. Dastagir’s body was covered with bites, and was bitten on his face and hands too. They immediately took Dastagir to a hospital in Nasrapur on a two-wheeler. Dastagir’s cuts on his face and hands required ten stitches.

Dastagir was brought to Sassoon General Hospital the next day for rabies shots. Dastagir felt fine for a few days but took ill on the 11th day after the attack. He was Dastagir Sayyed taken to a local hospital but as his condition worsened, his family admitted him to a private hospital in Indapur.

Eventually they shifted him to Sassoon on March 6, and put in the MICU. But he passed away on the next day. But the bereaved family had to undergo another ordeal as the police panchnama was delayed over whether the incident took place in the jurisdiction of Rajgad police or Bhor police station. After that issue was settled, the panchnama was done and the body was sent for post mortem, which took another few hours.

Head of the Forensic department, Dr S B Punpale, said, “The exact cause of death is not known but we suspect that he may have died of rabies infection.” dnyaneshwar.bhonde@goldensparrow.com

The grieving family of Dastagir Ambir Sayyed

India’s answer to demining solutions Parents spend sleepless nights over school closure

Director of English medium school City World Saroj Khanna denies rumours TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly Rumours have been brewing that BT Shahani Navin Hindi High School and its sister organisation English school City World will shut down in a couple of months.

While BT Shahani Navin Hindi High School at Bhawani Peth seems to working fine, City World school on Tadiwala Road is facing a lot of issues, according to parents.

The authorities of Hindi medium school have given a final ultimatum to staff members that the school will close down in April, leaving the parents worried about their children’s future. Teachers seem as clueless as parents. “I have been working here for two years. The school management without giving any reason told us that our responsibility will be terminated.

We are yet to receive any official letter but we fear for our career future. As it is a government school, we are concerned about our pension and provident fund,” said a senior teacher of the school on condition of anonymity, adding that teachers could still get other jobs, but it will be difficult for students to join

There are rumours that, due to undisclosed reasons the BT Shahani Navin Hind School, Tadiwala Road branch could shut down by April

another school.

The teachers of City World are fed up with the facilities provided by the authorities. The English medium school was under BT Shahani Group before it was handed over to City World School two years ago. There are around 450 kids at various grades from UKG to standard VIII. “I joined the school in August 2015 as it was a renowned educational institute. I decided to work at a monthly salary of Rs 7,000 after leaving the job at Sinhgad School where I drew Rs 35,000 per month. I regret my decision,” said one of the teachers.

Another teacher said, “Even basic facilities like ground and sports equipment are not available here. If kids are not provided with basic sports gears, how will they learn?”

The parents of kids at English medium school are unhappy with the quality of education. “My elder son is in Standard I and he does not recognise alphabets properly. It is the teacher’s job to make sure that the kids learn basic language. The fees are quite high. The school suspended my son for two months for not paying the fees when I was late to

deposit the money,” said Namita Khajaniya, a parent.

Another parent Vikram Mishra, 32, did his school at BT Shahani, so enrolling his daughter Khushi, 5, at the same school was a well-thought decision. “We have heard that the Hindi medium school could shut down and kids will be transferred to the main branch. My daughter is in the English medium school and the quality of the education seems to be mediocre. I am fine with the school not providing other facilities but when it comes to education it should be the best. The school should hire well educated teachers,” he said.

Talking to TGS, the director of English medium school Saroj Khanna said that the school is functioning efficiently and do not heed to rumours. “We provide quality education and our teachers are well qualified.

Most of the kids here come from slum area. Their parents believe that sending their kids to English medium school will make them speak English in no time,” she said.

Principal of City World School Shilpa Unani said, “The teachers here are well trained.

For the students’ development, we keep organising events at a nominal fee. The school cannot help if the parents don’t send their kids. We are trying our best to given them the best of education.”

While the blame game continues between teachers and parents, the future of students seems dark. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

Remotely Operated Vehicle Savior series made by ex-servicemen promises to detect and dispose of bombs and IEDs with ease

BY EKTA KATTI @Ektaak

Pune-based post-conf lict environment management group Horizon Assignments and its sister group Navyug Infosolutions have built a Remotely Operated Vehicle (RVO) Savior I and II, to detect and dispose off bombs and other improvised explosive devices (IEDs) with ease. The revolutionised RVO can be fitted Col Navneet Mittal with various detectors for detecting sophisticated bombs and IEDs. Savior is equipped with a water gun disruptor to destroy an IED. Savior is built with a purpose to not only reduce the threat to human life from demining, but to simplify the process.

Horizon Assignments was founded in 2002 with a view to realising its objectives of service to humanity and supplement its The RVO Savior is built to detect and dispose of bombs and improvised explosive devices with ease funding.

Talking to TGS, Horizon Assignment Chairman Col Navneet Mittal, 53, said, Pune. “The model was highly appreciated per second. It is built to cross any obstacle “The RVO will change the scene of at the event,” he said. and could climb a slope negotiation up to demining across the world. It is a Make-inTalking about the model, he added, 30-degree gradient. “It is a radio frequency India RVO, and it is a matter “Savior I is 75 kg while II is operated model which is handled by the of pride for us.”

45 kg. Both come in handy user’s palm pad. The RVO also has a front There are RVOs available which is the USP of the and rear looking cameras for day and night at the international market, model. This RVO is quite operations while the third camera is on the what sets Savior apart is its cheaper than the others in manipulator arm,” he said. size and cost. Also, during the market,” Savior is still Horizon Assignments was founded as demining even if the mines in the test phase and will an adjunct to Horizon, an NGO started blast, the model can be be available for commercial by the ex-servicemen in 2001, with an replaced but human life purpose in a couple of days at endeavour to use their skills in peace cannot, he said. a cost of Rs 20 lakh. making. With funds coming from various Savior II was showcased A team of seven people organisations across the world, Horizon at the recently concluded worked relentlessly for more Assignments has carried humanitarian Force 18 Training Exercise than two years to built the demining projects in Sri Lanka and Jordan. attended by army contingents RVO. The high-end RVO Presently, the demining project is been - COL NAVNEET MITTAL from 18 ASEAN nations at is extremely mobile and can carried out in Kuwait. the Aundh Military Station, touch a speed of 1.4 metres ekta.katti@goldensparrow.com

“It is a Make-inIndia RVO, and it is a matter of pride for us.”

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY MARCH 12, 2016

Too few Modi scholars in Pune

Archives developing mobile app to provide basic knowledge about the Modi language

Archana Sopan Garad becomes youngest woman to clear JMFC and first from her village Wakhari

BY PRIYANKKA DESHPANDE @journopriyankka

TEJAS GAIKWAD

Archana Sopan Garad, who celebrated her 24th birthday on March 2, is the daughter of a small farmer of village Wakhari in Phaltan tehsil of Satara district, 91 km from Pune. Wakhari is one of the drought-affected villages in Maharashtra. And the village women have to spent half of their day in fetching water. The drought situation has forced the youth of the village to move to cities for livelihood.

Despite the village struggling with drought and the family working hard to make both ends meet, Archana has brought smile on faces of Wakhari villagers by cracking the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) examination conducted

by Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) in 2015 and becoming the first girl judge from the village. Archana secured fourth position in open category in Maharashtra and is the youngest girl to clear the exam whose results were declared by MPSC on March 10.

Archana completed her schooling from Chhatrapati Shivaji High School of her native village Wakhari. She secured 79 per cent in her X exam and joined Mudhoji Junior College.

She passed her XII exam in Arts with 84 per cent in 2009. Even though her

percentage of XII exam was enough to get admission for DEd (Diploma in Education), she decided to go for law, a different career than traditional options. But Archana stood by her own choice and took admission to Bachelor of Social Law (BSL) at Priyadarshini Dnyan Prabodhini Law College Phaltan (Satara) in 2009.

After realising that her college did not have adequate facilities, Archana decided to shift to Pune for further studies. Coming from a financially poor family, her decision to move to Pune was possible only after her brother Ajit assured to cover her monthly expenses. Archana took admission at Deccan Education Society’s Fergusson Law College in 2011 and completed

her LLB (Bachelors of Law) with 63 per cent marks in 2014. She joined Savitribai Phule Pune University’s Department of Law to pursue LLM (Masters of Law) and cracked the NET (National Eligibility Test) conducted by UGC (University Grant Commission) in the first attempt.

Archana secured LLM with 73 per cent marks and was a topper in the department.

The family’s financial constraints forced Archana to start her practice at Shivajinagar Sessions Court. The NET score also helped her join her alma mater DES Law College as a faculty. Archana desire to serve society inspired her to appear for JMFC exams and become a judge. She appeared for

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Hail ladyship! Village girl clears judge exam

BY TUSHAR RUPANAVAR @tusharrupanavar

Iran fires ballistic missiles in new test

Cybercrooks eye Indian start-ups to steal consumer data: Report

“Citizens across the state, barring Pune, had agreed to wear helmets. My department would ensure strict implementation of the government’s decision to make the headgear compulsory.”

— Diwakar Raote, Transport Minister

PUNE

To spread awareness about ancient Modi manuscripts, the Department of Archives is coming with a mobile app which will provide basic knowledge about the Modi language. Around 80 per cent of documents related to land and residency records are in the Modi manuscript, but the content of the documents cannot be deciphered owing to the want of scholars familiar with the Modi script.

“There are only 25 Modi scholars in the city, while the number of people approaching the department for the translation of the documents in Modi script is increasing,” said , Anuradha Khanvilkar, Assistant Director of Archives department, Pune division.

She said that the department’s responsibility was to spread awareness of the Modi script and not translation of the script.

“People, mainly lawyers, the staff of settlements commissionerate and district collectorate approach us for the translation of documents from Modi to Marathi or English. We have been suggesting to the district revenue department and the district court to recruit staff who know the Modi script. For this, we also started Modi language courses in six divisions of the state. However, due to a lukewarm response, we have decided to come up with an app which will teach the Modi script and people can easily translate

preliminary exam in May 31, 2015 and cracked it in her first attempt. The preliminary result of JMFC boosted her confidence to study hard for the mains.

Archana left her legal practice to devote full time to study at her room in Dhankawadi and cleared the mains also. She joined Awhad Law Coaching classes to prepare for interview.

Archana faced JMFC interview held at MPSC head office in Mumbai on January 27, 2016. The panel comprising two senior judges and one senior administration officer interviewed Archana for 12 minutes. On their question on why she wants to become a judge, she said, “By becoming a lawyer I would serve my client who is paying money. But by becoming a judge, I will serve people who cannot afford the legal fees. A judge can appoint advocates to fight cases for the poor.”

The interview panel gave her 31 marks out of 50, the best score in JMFC interview. Archana got 163 marks in the final, just four marks short of the state topper.

Speaking to TGS, Archana said, “Having completed my schooling in vernacular, it was difficult to learn the law in English. The law touches every aspect of human life so it is important for women to join this field,” Archana said. tushar.rupanavar@goldensparrow.com

the Modi documents on their own,” Khanvilkar said.

The Pune division has sent the proposal in this regard in January to the Directorate of Archive department. The Information and Technology department of the state with the help of C-DAC will develop the mobile app which will consist of the Modi alphabet, meanings of words and historical context which will be useful in understanding the complex land record documents.

“Considering that the Modi language from the Chhatrapati Shivaji and Peshwa eras was altogether different from each other, the app would take care of the learning of both the scripts. We will take the help of Modi scholars in the state to develop this app,” Khanvilkar said. priyankka.deshpande@goldensparrow.com

Are university authorities cutting down trees themselves?

Environmentalists agitated again over more illegal tree-cutting on university campus TGS NEWS SERVICE @TSGWeekly

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cutting incidents from January 2015 to February 2016. “The NGT order said that tree cutting cases should be brought to the district court, but according to RTI, only 31 illegal tree cutting cases of 208 were brought to the district court,” Jain said.

SPPU Estate Section Executive Engineer R V Patil said that he was unaware of the recent tree cutting. “I have planted trees on the university premises. I am not aware about this latest incident of tree cutting on the university premises,” Patil said. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

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university premises, but no action has been taken against the culprits.

Last year the Pune bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) cancelled the 14-year-old resolution of paying only Rs 5000 as fine, and ordered that offenders would have to face court trial. “It is now a criminal offence to cut down trees. But lack of action against culprits encourages more people to cut down trees illegally,” said Vinod Jain, social activist.

Jain received a reply to the RTI he filed last month, which stated that there were 208 illegal tree

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The tree-huggers of Pune were up in arms over the chopping down of heritage trees on the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) campus just a few months ago. And they have cause to be agitated again as a fresh incident of illegal cutting and burning of heritage trees on the SPPU campus has come to light on Thursday.

Environmentalists say that trees near the dhobi ghat area, in the vicinity of the main building and the boys’ hostel were cut down and later burnt by unidentified persons eight days ago.

The environmentalist also claim that the concerned university authorities themselves have axed and burnt these trees. Outraged by this incident, social activists plan to file a complaint against authorities in the Estate Section of the university.

“This is not the first time that trees have been cut down on the university premises. Such incidents have been for the last few years, but the authorities have turned a blind eye towards them,” said Sunil Mate, an employee of SPPU and tree lover. He said that a complaint has been filed with the police with regard to the illegal tree cutting on the

Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza launched

Eat to lose weight

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY MARCH 12, 2016

PUNE

“I have already written four letters to the government with an appeal to remove my security cover. Can this security stop my death? ...The police is already short-staffed. I do not feel there is a need to engage them in my security and incur expenses on it.”

— Anna Hazare, Social Crusader

‘Banks must recover last pie lent to firms’ P 14

Jako Rakhe Saiyan, Maar Sake Na Koi 10-year-old falls into a water tank, rescued after three days

BY YOGESH WAGH @YogeshWagh1857 Little did 10-year-old Faiyaz Imtiyaz Multani of Kashewadi slums, Bhavani Peth, know that climbing a tree on the playground of nearby Maharshi Harkadas English Medium School could shut him from the world for three days.

On March 7, like any other day,

Faiyaz hit the school’s playground in the evening after his classes and

was enjoying his favourite sport of climbing a tree on campus when he slipped and found himself at the bottom of an empty water tank placed above the school’s toilet block. The shell-shocked boy raised alarm to catch the attention of passers-by and friends who were playing on the ground but the high thick walls of the tank supressed his repeated shouts. Meanwhile, when Faiyaz did not return home after hours, his parents started to look for him and later lodged a missing complaint at Khadak Police Station.

Faiyaz’s distressed mother Sultana stopped talking to anyone. His

father Imtiyaz, who earns a living by selling scrap, was fearing the worst when he received a call from local police at 8 am on March 10.

Missing from his house since March 7, Faiyaz was rescued on March 10. Unhurt, the boy rejoined his parents after undergoing treatment for dehydration and shock at the Command Hospital.

“My happiness knew no bounds when my son saw me and hugged me when I reached Khadak police station. We do not have enmity with anyone. I have never cried in my life but the last three days had been very tormenting for me. As

Pune blossoming into start-up hub City’s socio-politico-economic environment ideal for entrepreneurial ecosystem

BY EKTA KATTI @Ektaak Pune is increasingly becoming a favourable city for budding startups. With the city developing into an ideal place to whet innovative ideas, ample exposure, home to many investors, venue for vibrant events and having many educational institutes — favourable conditions for a start-up ecosystem, Pune has seen exponential growth of start-ups. And city’s wellknown start-up company SpiderG’s co-founder and CEO Ashwani Rathore, 34, is part of this growth story.

SpiderG, an e-invoicing technology provider for small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs), was founded in the early 2015 by three friends, RajasthanAshwani Rathore born Ashwani,

Pune’s Prakash Nair, 31 and Nashik’s Harshal Ingale, 27.

“There has been a commendable change in the city’s sociop o l i t i c o e c o n o m i c Abhinav Khandelwal e n v i r o n m e n t .

People are open for change. The quality of life, great cultural ethos and weather conditions continue to draw people to this city. The city is in favour of start-up ecosystem because of its proximity to Mumbai and affordability unlike Mumbai and Bengaluru. Also due to many educational institutes, leading research institutes, large number of foreign expats and visiting researchers, Pune is the right place to start your entrepreneurial journey,” Ashwani said.

SpiderG provides a platform for businesses wherein they can electronically transact and communicate with their vendors and

customers. They can get information about business and their supply chain.

In 2014, Rajasthan-born Abhinav Khandelwal, 34, and wife Radhika, 29, started Sweets InBox in the city.

Their enterprise is an online portal that provides Indian sweets and snacks one your doorstep. Courtesy Pune’s encouraging milieu, the IT hub and proximity to Mumbai, Sweets InBox has grown exponentially. “My family was based out of Pune but I had some work experience here which is why we started our start-up in Pune.

Moreover, Pune is known as an IT hub. So there are plenty of talented engineers. The culture of the city is such that it could make anyone feel at home. All such reasons make Pune the hotspot for putting up a start-up,” said Abhinav.

The culture of start-ups began booming around 2007 and early 2008 when ventures such as TastyKhana (food ordering service), FirstCry (largest online store of kids and baby products) and others took the city by storm. Since then, there have been around 600-700 small and big start-ups in the city.

In 2011, city’s food junkies Tanmay Ratnaparkhe, Sneh Thakkar, Suneet Kulkarni and Piyush Chavan started Torqus with the idea to provide restaurant management solutions provider for the food and beverage (F&B) industry.

With sales and support team in Bengaluru and Mumbai, Tanmay is quite elated by the Punekar’s response. “Our expertise lies in managing web Tanmay technologies, Ratnaparkhe creating mobile phone applications, and transforming customer relationship management (CRM). With these specifications and the city’s IT culture, Pune provides the best ecosystem for any start-ups. Moreover, the people are very approachable. The way start-ups are mushrooming, the future looks bright,” said Tanmay. ekta.katti@goldensparrow.com

Fresh notices issued to 18 FTII students Police have identified 18 more students from FTII in connection with the alleged ‘gherao’ and ‘illegal confinement’ of the institute’s director Prashant Pathrabe last year and issued them notices to present themselves before court on March 14.

However, the FTII Students’ Association (FSA) has dubbed the police action as “arm-twisting” tactics

by Film and Television Institute of India’s administration.

With this, the total number of students named in the case has reached to 35, as 17 students were identified earlier. Out of those 17, five were arrested while 12 others are out on anticipatory bail.

“Seventeen students were already identified and named in the earlier FIR. Now, after screening the video footage of the incident, the complainant (Pathrabe) and eyewitnesses have identified some more

students, and on that basis their names have been included in the case. They have been issued notices last evening,” Deccan-Gymkhana police inspector Pravin Chaugule said.

He said the police are in the process of filing a charge sheet in the

case by Monday.

Besides the new 18 students identified, the 12, who were earlier named in the FIR but not arrested, have also been asked to present themselves in court, he said.

The FTII students, who were

on strike for 139 days since June last year against the appointment of BJP member and TV actor Gajendra Chauhan as its chairman, had allegedly gheraoed and confined Pathrabe at his office on August 17.

The incident had led to police swooping-in on the campus on the intervening night of August 18-19, and arresting five students. The students were charged under various sections of IPC, including 143, 147, 149, 323, 353 and 506, dealing with offences, some of them non-bailable, related to unlawful assembly, criminal intimidation and rioting.

Meanwhile, the FSA has condemned the police action. “The FTII administration on one hand draws out academic schedules and deadlines, and on the other proceeds with the court cases to corner the students,” it said in a release.

PTI

Faiyaz’s health condition is bad for going without food for three days, he was admitted to Command Hospital.

Though he is in Standard IV, my boy is very brave,” Imtiyaz said.

Nearing the end of his strength, Faiyaz on March 10 started to scream for his life. Fortunately, a few students of the school playing near the tank heard his voice and alerted the teachers who in turn called the police. The police then launched a rescue mission. Police Sub Inspector Narendra Baisane of Khadak Police Station told TGS that a complaint under Section

363 (punishment for kidnapping) of Indian Penal Code was lodged on March 7. Police carried out extensive search operation at markets, schools and nearby areas.

“We got a call from the principal of Maharshi Harkadas English Medium School that a child has fallen in a dry water tank located on the roof of school toilet block. We immediately rushed to the spot and rescued the boy. As he was weak, we admitted him to Command Hospital. He is safe now and reunited with his family,” Baisane said. yogesh.wagh@goldensparrow.com

In property matters, you can’t even trust your own siblings Siblings attempt to deprive woman of ownership of ancestral property by means of forged documents

BY GARGI VERNA @missgverma Sulochana Bansode nee Ladkat, 50, is a co-owner of ancestral property along with her three brothers and a sister. The seven-acre plot of land measuring in Wadki area, on the Pune-Pandharpur Road, is a prime property.

In January 2016, Sulochana’s son Shrikant, who is a lawyer at the Sessions Court, realised that there was some communication going on about a deal on the land. When he looked into the matter, he realised that his uncles and aunt had plotted against his mother, and had removed her name from the 7/12 form of ownership.

When Sulochana tried to lodge an FIR, the police refused, so she approached the district court. The court has now ordered the police station to take necessary action along with pulling up the registrar who passed the forged papers.

“The accused have prepared forged documents and are in the process of striking off Sulochana’s name,” the petition read. However, since the document was seen by advocate Bansode, he immediately realised that the signatures were forged. “My mother always uses a single stroke to write her name. She takes a pause after

her name and then writes her surname.

It wasn’t so in the forged copies. Even the curves of the Hindi alphabets and the maatras were differently shaped,” he said. Moreover, Sulochana had no memory of dealing with the propertyrelated issue at all, thus confirming the documents to be forged.

Armed with these documents, when the mother and son approached the Hadapsar police station, the police refused to file an FIR. “First they asked us to wait for their senior inspector to come. But he refused to listen to our complaint,” Bansode said.

“Since the accused hold clout in the area, they could have influenced the police as well,” he said. When after several days the police refused to take the complaint, the Bansodes decided to approach the court.

The court case names as many as 14 identified accused along with other accomplices, accusing everyone from the stamp bearer to the bond writer, the witnesses and even the sub registrar who were involved in getting the forgery done and passed. The court took a stern stand and ordered in favour of the Bansodes in the last week of February. “The complaint discloses commissions of cognisable offence by the accused. In the circumstances a thorough investigation is necessary,” the order read. The order directs the Hadapsar Police Inspector to file an FIR and carry out a thorough investigation.

However, more than ten days have passed and the police still haven’t taken any action. While the Inspector refused to comment on this matter, the petitioners are now planning to resolve the matter outside the court. “Since the police are not doing anything, we are now looking to resolve the matter in the family itself,” said advocate Bansode. gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com

Pune’s Hussaini Brahmin community recalls glorious past Punjabi Brahmins who fought alongside Imam Hussain call themselves Hussaini Brahmins

BY SUSHANT RANJAN @sushantranjan Did you know that Punjabi Brahmins fought alongside Imam Hussain in the Battle of Karbala, now in modern Iraq, in 680 AD? The 40 families of this community in Pune call themselves Hussaini Brahmins.

Gurudyal Singh Bali, a member of this community, retired from the Indian Army as Honorary Captain in 1987. Rahab Dutt, one of his ancestors,

travelled to Arabia, where he became a disciple of Imam Hussain. Dutt fought against Yazid along with his sons, who were killed in the Battle of Karbala.

The Imam, seeing Dutt’s love for him, conferred upon him the title of Sultan and told him to return to India.

Bali said, “Dutt came back and the community to which he belonged adopted the name, Hussaini Brahmins, signifying his close bond with Imam Hussain and the fact that they were Hindu Brahmins.”

The Hussaini Brahmins, also known as Mohyals, are a tightly knit community of 125 families with surnames like Mohan, Bali, Chibber (Bakshi), Dutt, Vaidh, Lau and Bimwal, drawn from the seven rishis from whom they claim to have

TEJAS GAIKWAD

THE BALIS: (From left) Priya, Supriya, Raj, Gurudayal Singh, Surendra and Rakesh

descended. The Hussaini Brahmins came to Pune from Punjab centuries ago and settled down to a quiet existence, most of them continuing the warrior tradition of their ancestors and joining the Army.

His son Surendra Bali said that there certainly is an “element of surprise” when he introduces himself as a Hussaini Brahmin. “When I tell my friends in Pune about my community, they are greatly surprised,” he said.

This community is proud of its ancestral links to Imam Hussain, and they recall this bond on Ashura with great reverence. “We are a very, very small community in Pune, but this single piece of history is of seminal significance in our lives and binds us together, both Hindus and Muslims.”

“Most importantly, we symbolise the centuries-old bond shared by Hindus and Muslims in this part of the world,” Bali said. Noted lawyeractivist NK Bhog, also a Hussaini Brahmin, said, “Hussaini Brahmins hold a special place in the history of Islam. Our ancestors fought alongside Imam Hussain for the cause of truth and justice. We still cherish those sacrifices made by our community.”

He got emotional while talking

about the partition, saying, “We hail from Kanjur Dattan, tehsil Shakargarh, district Gusdaspur in Pakistan. I was just six years old when my family left Pakistan. We left behind everything when we came to India.”

The battle of Karbala took place on the 10th day of Muharram in 680 AD in Karbala, now located in present day Iraq. On one side were supporters and relatives of the Prophet’s grandson Hussain ibn Ali, while on the other side was a military detachment from the forces of Yazid I, the Umayyad Caliph. The Battle of Karbala is commemorated during an annual 10-day period held every Muharram by the Shi’a as well as many Sunnis, culminating on its tenth day, Ashura. sushant.ranjan@goldensparrow.com

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY MARCH 12, 2016

Women are already fulfilling important roles in the army and, as far as a combat role in the army is concerned, it is just a matter of training.

The ultimate decision will be taken at the higher level, though — Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, Indian Army

PUNE

I want to dedicate my Grammy award to the LGBT community all around the world. I stand here tonight as a proud gay man. I hope we can stand all together as equals one day — Sam Smith, Singer

Mission to present rural craftsmen to wider market

For a healthy tomorrow

BY SALONEE MISTRY @SaloneeMistry

TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly

A counsellor by profession, 27-year-old Aleme Avani is also an active social worker. Extremely fond of travelling and covering uncharted routes, meeting people in the countryside and staying with them during her journey adds meaning to her sojourns. Visiting rural villages near Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and her home-town Punjab, she came across some craftsmen who were extremely talented yet living in difficult times. Right from teaching them the ropes of doing business, to handling it for them and even ensuring that their children go to school, Aleme Avani she is currently spending most of her time to help them secure a bright future.

Avani loves stationery and everything traditional. She found that both her loves were combined by the hands of rural craftsmen when they decided to become creative. Realising that it is something that even those living in the city needed and providing financial stability to craftsmen was a by-product, she decided to start a business model. Starting the venture Chahal Pahel in July last year, she currently sells embroidered leather diaries, fulkari art work either in the form of lamps or wall frames and leather lamps as well.

She is currently working with six families. Three of these families are from Andhra, two from Rajasthan and one from Punjab.

Before starting off, her priority was to figure out how she could get the products made by these craftsmen to the city as not only do they live in villages and have remote access but also have absolutely no business sense and fail to

Breast or cervical cancer is the most common form of cancer in women under the age of 35 and the ignorance, fear, misunderstanding and prejudice that surrounds the illness deepen its severity. By sponsoring a check-up camp for 50 slum dwelling women from Hadapsar, Kriti Ravi Gupta is doing his bit to raise awareness about the ailment and lead a confident life. Losing her father to cancer was a wake-up call for her to take proactive steps to help people face the disease with adequate knowledge and timely medical access.

A member of NGO Dhruv Foundation, the check-up of women will be carried out at mere Rs 250 per person. The test will be conducted by cancer specialists that are on board with the NGO thereby helping in reducing the cost. Kriti will be sponsoring the check-up for 50 women on Sunday (March 13) and took to social media to urge others to contribute for the camp and get as many women covered as possible.

The NGO works in the areas of health, specialised education, motivation and training children, with its health section concentrating on women and cancer. The organisation through its bank of about 35 volunteers conducts awareness programmes

By marketing the products made by the craftsmen of villages from Andhra, Rajasthan and Punjab, Aleme Avani has helped these families earn better and put their children in schools

reap the benefits. “My biggest challenge when I started off was getting the families on board with my venture idea. They have been looted enough by other people whom they had tried to do business with and hence were averse to anyone who came knocking on their door with a business proposal. Today finances are a huge problem to manage marketing and advertising of the products,” she said. The young woman is sure that when she begins expanding her business idea to neighbouring families and those in other villages across the country, convincing them will once again be a task. At this point her biggest challenge is managing the finances.

From whatever money is earned by selling the products that these craftsmen make, Avani keeps aside 10 per cent to use for the growth of business while the rest goes to those who have made it. This 10 per cent is used to set up stalls and do any other kind of advertising that the brand might require.

She also wants to ensure that the children of these craftsmen study and become independent so they can either carry on their family business better or help bring out their families from poverty. To ensure a bright future for them, she has enrolled their children in schools. “It is difficult for these children to manage in school as there is no one to teach them or help them out at home. I make it a point to visit these families at least once in six months to talk about work and check the report cards of these children at the end of semesters or at the end of the year. I am currently even trying to set up local tuitions for them,” she said.

While this venture and her newborn baby take up most of Avani’s time, she also does counselling as a part-time business. She most definitely is looking at expanding this idea of hers and getting more families on board and try and cover as many villages and states as she can. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

Shivaji is his inspiration Uttam Dukare did not let losing his right leg stop him from becoming a successful entrepreneur

BY SHEKHAR PAIGUDE @TGSWeekly The contagious smile that 39-year-old Uttam Dukare wears hides his sadness perfectly. The successful entrepreneur braved all odds to establish a poultry business that has clients like Venky’s (Venkateshwara Hatcheries Private Limited) and chicken company Zapa.

It was a life full of fun, joy and pleasure for Uttam Dukare till tragedy struck him at the age of 10. The young boy of Aurangpur village in Junnar taluka hurt his right leg while playing at home. His parents instead of taking him to a public health centre used traditional methods to cure the wound. Soon, the sore turned into pus and spread throughout the limb, forcing doctors to amputate his leg to prevent the infection from damaging his body.

“Life was very difficult for me.

It came to a standstill after I lost my leg. As a child I could not fathom the consequence. I was cursing my fate till I came across a book on Chhatrapati Shivaji. The inspiration that I drew from the life of the Maratha warrior king at book became a significant turning point in my life,” said Uttam.

He cited Shivaji’s competence and progressive civil rule to establish Swarajya (self-rule) and his foresight to

set up a disciplined military and wellstructured administrative organisations in adverse circumstances.

“Shivaji Maharaj did not curse his fate but was able to fight formidable opponents like Adil Shah of Bijapur, Nizam of Ahmednagar and the Mughals. He had strong will power to change the situation and I tried to apply his principles in my life and stopped cursing my fate,” he said.

Uttam completed a vocational course in Ahmednagar and started an electronics shop in nearby village Pargaon. “I was the only bread winner in my family and since the earning from the shop was not enough to support it, I entered into the business of poultry farm,” he said.

It was not easy for Uttam to get a bank loan because of his physical condition. “I applied for loan against farm in Bank of Maharashtra’s Nimgaon branch in 2003-04. The bank officials were reluctant to sanction a loan. I had to visit the bank for 15 days in a row before the staff repose faith in me and cleared the loan of Rs 3.5 lakh.”

Poultry farming of raising domestic birds commercially for the purpose of meat and eggs requires a lot of efforts and physical condition did not stop Uttam from toiling hard. Layer chickens raised for eggs and broiler chickens raised for meat have to be handled differently.

“Even though poultry farming doesn’t require high capital, chickens require proper hygiene and care to minimise disease and illness. I laboured hard to feed and look after all aspects of poultry farming. Certain things one

For Uttam Dukare, his wife Sangeeta has always been a good supporting partner

has to keep in mind in this trade. For simple example, presence of light helps birds lay eggs earlier. So, providing more lightening period increases the probability of beginning laying eggs.

Egg-laying birds lay more eggs in warmer months than cold months. So, I keep the temperature of space moderate for better egg production,” he said.

Uttam said poultry farming requires adequate drainage system, good ventilation, protection from winds, regular cleaning of equipment and sterilisation, besides giving poultry birds healthy and nutritious feeds and clean water.

The business that he started with 4,000 birds in 2005 has swelled into annual production of 60,000 birds with turnover touching Rs 20 lakh per annum. With Uttam’s business going successful, he did not face any hurdle from banks for loans.

“I had to work hard in attracting clients to become partners. I bagged a contract with chicken company Zapa only after I visited their office and convinced them. They were very sceptical about my capability. Officials from Venky’s invested their belief in me and I lived up to their expectations,” said Uttam. Recently, a team of scientists from Israel visited his farm and appreciated his efforts.

Sangeeta, the wife of Uttam, has always been a good supporting partner.

The thin middle-aged woman did not think twice to accept the proposal to marry a man with one leg. “If not me, somebody else could have married him. He is honest and I did not care about what others might say about our relationship. My people supported my decision and we both are a happy couple,” she said.

“I cried on the day of my marriage.

Every girl dreams of marrying a prince but Sangeeta decided to marry me despite my physical condition,” said Uttam.

Villagers love Uttam for his magnanimous nature. He leases agricultural equipment at below market rates and actively takes part in social events. “Many people have used Shivaji’s name for their selfish motives but the fighting spirit of Maratha King Shivaji has always been a source of inspiration for me,” he said. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

Dhruv Foundation has organised a free cancer check-up camp for women from Magarpatta slums

Dhruv Foundation director Rupali Saikhedhar (second from right) started the organisation after losing her mother to cancer

in schools, colleges, residential societies, women groups, among industrial workers, slum dwellers as well as health care providers.

Collaborating with PRAYAS, a pathological screening and detection of cervical cancer lab, they have managed to keep the screening rates minimal.

“The fact that cervical cancer is 100 per cent preventable and that no symptoms are seen in the pre-cancerous stage, awareness about it is crucial.

When symptoms do appear, the disease is already in the advanced stage and this is the main reason why we stress on getting regular check-ups done,” said Rupali Saikhedhar (40), the founderdirector of Dhruv Foundation.

Registered just about a year ago, since January the foundation has conducted over 15 awareness camps and plans on holding more such initiatives. Rupali decided to open the organisation after she lost her mother to breast cancer.

After working in the software industry as a business developer

Helping hand • • • • • • • •

•

Name as per Account : Dhruv Foundation Bank’s Name : Oriental Bank of Commerce Branch Address: Aria Towers, Baner, Pune, Maharashtra 411028 MICR Code of Branch : 411022018 Bank Account Number : 16772191014821 Type of Account : Savings account IFSC Code : ORBC0101677 (Kindly Write your name below and how many check-ups you can sponsor. Each screening cost Rs 250.

Get in touch9224788399

for several years, she decided to quit it to start the foundation. tgs.feedback @goldensparrow.com

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY MARCH 12, 2016

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY

PUNE

MARCH 12, 2016

PUNE

PICS BY RAHUL RAUT

The study of rain, fog, trees and clouds

T

he Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) was originally called Institute of Tropical Meteorology when it was set up on November 17, 1962, as an individual unit of the India Meteorological Department, which is responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasts, and detecting earthquakes in India. It was made an autonomous institution under the new name Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology on April 1, 1971. Till 1984, it worked under the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation and in 1985, it was taken over by the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology. The institute was put under the control of the Ministry of Earth Sciences with effect from July 12, 2006.

“The IITM library is a veritable treasure house when it comes to atmospheric and weather related topics,” says Abhay Rajput, a scientist of the institute. “We also have laboratories, where unique aspects of the atmosphere and weather are studied, such as the vertical movement of air,” he said.

The major focus of IITM research has been and still is the monsoons.

Their predictions and forecasts were earlier on a broad time frame, but with the advances in technology and innovation, they have become more focused and specific.

Apart from monsoon

The unique tree lab at IITM studies trees to analyse climate change, the only one of its kind in the world. It is managed by Amar Sikdar

predictions, the IITM is also analysing rain water. Once rain water was like distilled water, but today it is contaminated. The IITM study of rain water samples from different places can then determine the cause of the contamination by scrutiny of the area, and pinpoint if the water was contaminated by effluents from industries, or from natural causes.

One of its major ongoing projects concerns the study of lightning and thunderstorms.

“In India, Maharashtra has the most deaths due to lightning and thunderstorms, and our study of these phenomena will enable us to

predict the time and locations of lightning strikes accurately, and thus avert human fatalities,” Rajput said. The conclusions of IITM research are forwarded to the Indian Meteorological Department.

Another current IITM project is the fog campaign. North India is where the incidence of fog affects daily life adversely and the IITM has set up sensors at the New Delhi International Airport in 2015, to gather data and thus decipher what causes the onset of fog. In time, they hope to collate the information and thereby avert the obstacles posed by foggy conditions.

The IITM has set up a laboratory at Mahabaleshwar, for the study of clouds. Clouds are at ground level at the hill station. “Our aim is to determine the formation and constitution of clouds, and how they are affected by chemicals. We also experiment with the creation of artificial clouds,” Rajput said.

The IITM’s tree lab is for the study of trees. “Trees are like timekeepers, that live for hundreds and even thousands of years, and they therefore, are the logical focus of our studies in our quest to understand climate change,” said Rajput. Of course, samples from the trunks of old trees are required. “Ours is the only lab in the world that focuses on trees to understand climate change.

We extract small segments of trees, from which we can determine the age of the tree, its growth rate and how climate has changed,” said Amar Sikdar, who is in charge of the tree lab. This method has borne rich fruit, throwing up scientific evidence dating back hundreds of years. “There has been periodic heating and cooling of the earth surface in the past, but over the last sixty years there has only been heating,” he said.

The quality of air in Pune has also been the focus of IITM study and the institute has called in students and weather enthusiasts to their hi-tech lab, for a glimpse into their working methods.

Unravelling structures of complex chemical compounds

T

he Indian Drug Research Association and Laboratory was set up in 1953 by the Indian Drug Research Association, a charitable organisation set up by likeminded physicians in 1944.

Housed in a rather nondescript two-storey building, the aim of the IDRA & L is to make complex chemical compounds of medicines accessible and understandable to the public.

Dr Anagha Desai, the current Director, has been associated with the IDRA & L since 1992. “I joined as a part time teacher for the masters of pharmaceuticals course we used to run under the Pune University’s affiliation. When the course went under the AICTE, we stopped the course as we didn’t have adequate infrastructure and we wanted to focus on research and not money making. We set out to make complex science available to all. We started

analysing drugs and tried to figure out alternatives as well,” she said The IDRA lab has focused on making ayurvedic medicine a norm.

“We have been doing a lot of research in the field of the hitherto untouched Ayurveda. We do some work even under the government’s Aayush’s grant,” Desai said. Her latest research study was on Ayurveda, on the relation of the potency of ingredients and their shelf life.

“There is a misconception that the older the medicine of Ayurveda, the better it is. But that is not how it works. Sometimes, with time, medicines even become defunct as their potency is nullified,” she said.

The current ongoing research topics are focusing more on the finished drug instead of the ingredients used. “We are trying to standardise ayurvedic medicines like allopathic medicines. Once they have a shelf life, a periodic dosage, more and

more people will start using them,” she said.

The lab is also involved in chemical analysis which is open for everyone. “Anyone can bring in a sample to be analysed. This way they get to know everything about items of daily use. We even guide them on what test they can ask us to do, depending on the information they need. So, if a woman wants to manufacture pickles, she can bring a sample and we will tell her what she needs to do to get FSAI registration.”

The laboratory also does calorific and qualitative analysis.

“We get water and food samples from government bodies which we analyse to check if they are safe for human consumption. We even check toxicity in daily use items,” Desai said.

Such tests generate most of the lab’s revenue, but they are reasonably

priced. “We can’t charge too much or we’ll lose our customers, and if we charge too little, they won’t trust in the results of our tests,” she said.

The revenue goes towards maintenance of the lab and research.

“We have permission to conduct experiments on small animals, and procuring them costs a lot,” said Desai.

During her three-year tenure as director, public awareness has grown. “Today people are more curious, and come to us because they want to know,” she said. She studied botany, and works pro-bono like most of the staff. “We organise training sessions for Ayurveda doctors and medicine developers, so that they can contribute to standardising the science of the Vedas. Everything is waiting to be explained and adapted to the present world. That is the great hope of the future,” she said.

Dr Anagha Desai has been at the IDRA & L since 1992, first as a part time teacher and then as a permanent employee, and has onserved a growing public awareness

Harnessing genetic diversity of microbes, plants & animals

To see a world in a

GRAIN OF SAND The obscure mysteries of weather, the microscopic world of cell science, structures of chemical compounds, genetic diversity or police personnel’s personal aspects, the scope of Pune’s R&D fraternity’s endeavours are as diverse as they are far-reaching

BY EKTA KATTI AND GARGI VERMA @tgsweekly

P

une, known as the Oxford of the East for its proliferation of educational institutes, is also at the forefront of research and development. And it is home to premier organisations like the National Chemical Laboratory, Indian Institute of

Science Education and Research and National Institute of Virology. Besides these, there are also scores of research organisations that are devising cutting edge technologies and innovations.

The accomplishments of Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), National Centre for Cell Sciences (NCCS), Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Indian

Drug Research Association and Laboratory (IDRA & L) and Centre of Police Research are worthy of more widespread recognition.

The benefits of state-of-the-art facilities and personnel with the drive to utilise them to the utmost make these institutions forces to be reckoned with in terms of pioneering breakthroughs, which in turn endow Pune with a status comparable to Bengaluru, Delhi

The institute has played a pivotal role in developing breeding line of hybrids of wheat, soyabean and grapes. They have found a new variety of wheat for timely sown irrigated conditions of the peninsular zone. “The variety of wheat is quite bold which has better nutritional value, high content of protein and excellent chapatti quality,” said Dr Paknikar.

ARI has been working in the field of Nanobioscience to understand the scientific properties of zinc oxide nano particles. “The nano particles were tested on type 1 and 2 diabetic mice that showed significant anti-diabetic effects and improved glucose tolerance,” he said.

Vivek Kamat, 27, is pursuing his PhD in microbial assisted synthesis of nano particles. He has been working at ARI for two years and has registered a patent for a micro mixer that simplifies the reactions which are done using bulk reactors. “This

micro mixer is a miniature version of huge reactors. In India, only a handful of the institutes are working on fabrication of this device. The fact that we are considering other aspects in this field is what sets us apart,” said Kamat. “In future, if we are able to translate this technology into an industrial scale, that will surely simplify the work and bring it on to a small platform. Ten years down the line, if one wants to undergo a malaria test, the micro mixer will come in handy instead of using big and bulky strips,” he said.

At present, 90 students are pursuing their PhDs in various fields at the institute. ARI Department of Biology head Dr Chinmoy Parta said, “Pune is the hub of research and development. We are trying to understand the development of the heart. The state-of-the-art facilities at ARI are a boon to researchers.”

Since 1995, over 50 patents have been registered under ARI.

and Hyderabad.

Scientists and students of these institutes are involved in path-breaking research in fields the common man may not be aware of.

They are following in the footsteps of Jayant Narlikar, Vasant Gowarikar and Shadbar Qureshi, and carve their own niche, while accomplishing feats that will benefit mankind for ages to come.

Wanted, people with a natural born curiosity

D

r Shekhar Mande, 54, Director of National Centre for Cell Sciences (NCCS), believes that a scientist must possess an inborn curiosity to delve into how things work, and a constant urge to decipher mysteries of natural and cosmic phenomena.

A research and development organisation, NCCS, located on the Savitribai Phule Pune University campus, was launched in 1986 to bridge the gap between science and industry. An autonomous organisation funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Ministry of Science and Technology, NCCS is a national repository for cell lines, a cell culture developed from a single cell, which will proliferate indefinitely under fresh medium and space. NCCS has expanded its scientific charter to strengthen basic research in cancer biology, diabetics, cell biology, immunology, genomics and proteomics.

“NCCS has always been involved high end research and general biotechnology. The area of cell science is our prime focus.

Our cell line supply activity is of enormous support to the academic world, the government as well as private research institutions, industry, universities, colleges and students pursuing post graduation and doctoral programmes. NCCS contributes to approximately 20 per cent of the nationwide cell line based publications,” said Dr Mande.

NCCS has expanded considerably since its inception and 130 PhD students have registered here.

To preserve and study the

A

gharkar Research Institute (ARI) was established in 1946, with the aim to work in the fields of environment, agriculture and health. ARI conducts research in the field of life sciences by harnessing the genetic diversity of microbes, plants and animals.

ARI head Dr Kishore Paknikar, 57, said, “Our driving force is to conduct successful research that benefits humankind. We have been focusing on the fields of biodiversity, bioenergy, genetics and plant breeding, developmental biology and nanobioscience.”

Funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), ARI is the only centre outside Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) that is part of the All-India Coordinated Projects, a platform that brings together agricultural universities and research institutes to resolve research problems.

Dr Vijay Kumar and Dr Manoj Kumar Bhat

rich microbial biodiversity of the country, in 2009, DBT started the Microbial Culture Collection (MCC), at Sai Trinity, Pashan.

MCC ranks third in the world with over two lakh microbial collections.

NCCS is home to 33 scientists, and has over 25 patents in varied fields. Kashmiri Dr Manoj Kumar Bhat, 56, and Keralite Dr Vijay Kumar, 43, have been conducting research at NCCS for over 15 years. The duo along with their research students developed a method for preparing dialysed fenugreek extract. “When I joined the institute in 1998, patents on natural products such as neem, brinjal where happening in the US. Our government had to fight

and get the patent back to us. Even though I was cancer biologists, our team was up for the challenge to understand the biological property of natural products. Fenugreek seeds are well known in Indian traditional medicine for use in the management of diabetes and obesity. The scientific findings on mice exhibited glucose, lipid lowering and weight lowering effects. We have scientifically found the mechanism of the same. However, due to the pungent odour and bitter it is not consumable for humans. We applied for the patent in 2006 and earned it recently,” said Dr Kumar. To study this mechanism, they had developed a unique cell

line model, where they can test any compound for its anti-diabetic properties. Presently, the team is working on a cell model project to find out the correlation between obesity and diabetics with cancer.

Dr Debashis Mitra has been with NCCS for 17 years, trying to identify novel molecules and strategies in the fight against HIV/AIDS. “We have been trying the study how the HIV virus propagates inside the human body. The strategy to combat the virus will be powerful if we understand the virus better,” said Dr Mitra. His team at the NCCS lab is striving to find the strategy and molecules that can inhibit the virus. “Presently, we have

Dr Shekhar Mande, Director of NCCS In the scientific ethos, Pune is now on par with Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Delhi. Students throng to venues where scientific lectures are held. This shows how curious and determined they are. The atmosphere in the city is vibrant and conducive and a boon for students.

ARI encourages study in all fields. Vivek Kamath is working on microbial assisted synthesis of nano particles

Police personnel are just as human as anyone else

Jay Trivedi is one of the researchers at NCCS, looking for cures for diseases in the human cell

Abhay Rajput, scientist at IITM In India, Maharashtra has the most deaths due to lightning and thunderstorms, and our study of these phenomena will enable us to predict the time and locations of lightning strikes accurately, and thus avert human fatalities.

some molecules which exhibit properties that could curtail the virus. If it’s positive, in the long run could be turned into drugs,” he added. Another area that has evolved is repurposing of drugs. The team is trying to find out if some of the existing drugs could be reused. Talking about his current research he said, “We are currently screening known bioactive pharmacological inhibitors for repurposing of use for anti-HIV activity. We have received some leads hopeful we could get a positive outcome.”

Under Dr Mitra’s guidance, 26-year-old senior researcher Jay Trivedi has been studying the antiHIV activity on the molecules since four years. “These molecules are known medicines. The detailed mechanism identifies how safe the drugs are. Once the mechanisms are done, we find the analogues of the molecules which could make the drugs even safer,” he said.

There has been a boom in research and development organisations in the city. Dr Mande said, “In the scientific ethos, Pune is now on par with Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Delhi.

Students throng to venues where scientific lectures are held. This shows how curious and determined they are. The atmosphere in the city is vibrant and conducive and a boon for students.”

P

olice and research are not words that hang together generally, and a Centre for Police Research (CPR) therefore, seems rather unusual. But it does exist, and this semi-autonomous body is currently headed by retired Director General of Police, Ravindra Kedari.

Open to anyone who wants to know of anything related to the police force, the Centre has managed its own expenses since it was set up in 1999. “We have lawns, swimming pools and party halls that we give out on rent to the general public.

Other sources of income include the periodic government grants we get in accordance with the number of training sessions we hold here,” said Kedari, who is the head of training at the CPR for six years.

“People have a very one-sided view of the police. But policemen and policewomen are just as human as anybody else, with myriad aspects to their lives and personalities, which are largely ignored or not considered. We encourage our officers and outsiders to think of the out-of-the-box aspects,” said Kedari.

Crime Investigation Department Police Inspector Ashok Sakhare, who is currently deputed at the Centre, said, “The findings of research helps us introduce new training initiatives and policies.”

To get a topic approved, a researcher has to submit a detailed proposal. “It needs to have the itinerary and goals every three months, so that the review committee can track the study, along with a detailed statement as

to the reasons behind the research,” said Kedari. This proposal is then sent to the review committee that comprises current and retired top brass of the state police along with the authorities of the centre. After approval, the researcher is provided guides, material and even grants by the centre.

Interesting projects are intrinsic to the police genre. “Researchers have focused on the humane aspect of the police force. So there are topics like gender friendliness, alcoholism, and effects of pollution on traffic constables. There are also topics like criminology and victimology. While most are done by the policemen themselves, some topics were introduced by civilians,” Kedari said.

The centre also doubles as a cognitive subject training institute. Training only SubDivisional Officers and Additional Commissioners of Police, the centre has a set of seven modules. “One is a professional self development course, while the other six deal with imparting information policemen need,” said Kedari. The centre also keeps officers abreast with the latest international policing trends.

The centre provides insights into the functioning of the police in the city and state. “An officer from Nagpur is doing research on conviction rates, and how more criminals can be jailed for their crimes. Police work is highly complex science that it would do good for the common man to understand and appreciate,” he said.

Dr Anagha Desai, Director of IDR A There is a misconception that the older the medicine of Ayurveda, the better it is. But that is not how it works. Sometimes, with time, medicines even become defunct as their potency is nullified.

Dr Kishore Paknikar, ARI head Our driving force is to conduct successful research that benefits humankind. We have been focusing on the fields of biodiversity, bioenergy, genetics and plant breeding, developmental biology and nanobioscience.

Ravindra Kedari, retired Director General of Police People have a very onesided view of the police. But policemen and policewomen are just as human as anybody else, with myriad aspects to their lives and personalities, which are largely ignored or not considered. We encourage our officers and outsiders to think of the out-of-the- box aspects.

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY MARCH 12, 2016

TECH/START-UP

PUNE

The first ‘modern’ computer was built in 1941 by Konrad Zuse in World War II. He looked to funding from the Germans but was denied because they did not expect the war to last beyond Christmas — http://www.shoutmeloud.com/

‘Encourage elderly to visit libraries using technology’ P 12

Cybercrooks eye Indian start-ups to steal consumer data: Report Start-ups were ‘negligent’ in implementing and maintaining reasonable security practices and procedures Cybercriminals are looking to exploit vulnerabilities in the IT infrastructure of Indian start-ups to steal customer data, including passwords and financial details, a report said.

According to a report by UK-based data security firm BugsBounty.com, 72 out of the 100 major start-ups it analysed were “negligent” in implementing and maintaining reasonable security practices and procedures.

While the report did not name the companies, it said these were across segments like eCommerce (30), classifieds (14), finance and fin-tech (7), healthcare (7), food-tech (5) and hyperlocal services (3).

With growing Internet penetration and data packs becoming more affordable, consumer-focussed start-ups have seen business booming. Be it ordering food or furniture online or paying bills, consumers today are much more comfortable making purchases on the web and sharing details like email IDs, address and phone numbers.

“We have been speaking to some of these firms. We have warned them that they may be liable to pay massive compensation to users whose ‘personal’ and ‘sensitive’

data they store including passwords and financial information,” BugsBounty.com Director Ankush Johar told PTI. Citing Section 43A (Compensation for failure to protect data) of Indian IT Act, Johri said the companies may have to shell out as much as Rs 5 crore in case of a data breach.

He added that this is critical, especially since billions of dollars of investor money is

riding on these ventures.

“Also, 22 out of the 100 were found to have web server software vulnerabilities that pertain to software on their servers that is known to have bugs, but these startups have not patched those,” he said.

This puts all the data on their server at risk including their software code, databases in entirety among others, he added.

Explaining the attack, Johar said a user

receives an email asking them to login to the company’s and they comply.

“The link is the same URL as that of the startup. The ‘cautious’ user ensures that the URL in the browser is the same as the sender. The user inputs his or her username and password because it appears to be completely genuine,” he said. However, instead of the company, it is the hacker who receives the username and password.

“This is not a phishing attack because the consumer is indeed logging into the company’s website. However, because of the vulnerabilities that the website has, the consumer data can get into the hands of the hacker,” he said.

Also, the magnitude of the threat is even higher because with mobile penetration soaring, Johar said.

Consumers on their part should ensure that they change their passwords regularly and keep different sets of passwords for critical services like banking and email, and another set for other non-critical services.

“They shouldn’t share any extra information that is not critical for the companies,” he said.

PTI

A policy to promote Pentagon invites hackers entrepreneurship to attack its websites Seeking to promote entrepreneurship Delhi Secretariat, Sisodia said among the youths in the city, Delhi incubation and start-up is a buzz word Deputy Chief Minister Manish but policies can’t be implemented Sisodia launched an around buzz words. incubation policy and “There has to be distributed seed money a concrete plan for of Rs 1.5 crore each to that. There has to be a six higher educational concrete implementation institutions under the policy for that. Of scheme. course, for that you need The institutes are — money also. Now, if you Ambedkar University, have a good idea, a good Delhi Technical plan and need money, University, Indira we will give it to you,” Gandhi Delhi Technical Sisodia said.

University for Women, “We don’t have any Institute of Information lack of talent, our people Technology, Netaji are running the world’s - MANISH SISODIA Subhash Institute largest companies. We of Technology and have to take our children Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business where they don’t dream of getting jobs Studies (DU), according to Delhi but giving jobs. The incubation policy government. is a major step in that direction.”

Addressing a gathering at the PTI

“If you have a good idea, and need money, we will give it to you.”

Ever wanted to hack Uncle Sam? Provided you are American and can pass a background check, you can go right ahead, the Pentagon said.

The US Department of Defense is inviting vetted hackers to test its cybersecurity under a pilot program that is the first of its kind in the federal government.

Called ‘Hack the Pentagon’, the so-called bug bounty program will give cash awards and other recognition to participants who can identify weaknesses on the Pentagon’s public web pages.

“I am always challenging our people to think outside the five-sided box that is the Pentagon,” Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said.

“Inviting responsible

hackers to test our cybersecurity certainly meets that test. I am confident this innovative initiative will strengthen our digital defenses and ultimately enhance our national security.”

The pilot program is modeled after similar competitions conducted by major firms to improve network and product security.

The Pentagon announced the initiative while Carter

visited Silicon Valley in California.

It is his third visit to the world’s tech heartland and he has repeatedly stressed the need for the Pentagon to innovate and work with tech partners.

Carter also announced plans to establish a “Defense Innovation Advisory Board” that will be chaired by Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of Alphabet, Google’s parent company.

The board will give Pentagon leaders independent advice on ways to address “future organisational and cultural challenges, including the use of technology alternatives,” Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said in a statement.

AFP

Flipkart-reject IITian flooded with job offers

IITians turn garbage collectors

IITian Akash Mittal may not have measured up to the expectations of Flipkart, but the product listing-like presentation of his resume on the e-commerce platform has made many start-ups sit up, take notice and flood him with concrete job offers.

The unorthodox style pitchforked the 23-year-old into limelight last week after he uploaded a screenshot of his profile on the Flipkart website -- just like the way a product is listed -- which went viral on the social media.

Pursuing the final semester of his five-year integrated Ocean Engineering programme at IIT Kharagpur in eastern Indian state of West Bengal, Akash is now examining all the offers before him.

This innovative idea of resume presentation was born after Flipkart came calling to the campus for recruitment, but Akash did not make the cut out of 1,500 applicants.

“Being a six-pointer (CGPA), I knew I will never get through.

So, I tried something innovative,” he told PTI. “I then made a screenshot of a Flipkart listing page with information about myself on photoshop and uploaded it on the website’s career page,” he said.

PTI

Selling recyclable garbage in Kharagpur town is now as easy as ordering a pizza over phone, thanks to a social entrepreneurial initiative of a group of IITians.

A group of IIT Kharagpur students are successfully running a ‘Kabaadi on Call’ service which allows people living inside and outside the campus to call at a given number and fix up an appointment for a garbage collecting truck.

PhD student Abhimanyu Kar and his friends have formed a social entrepreneurial venture called ‘GainWaste’ which offers a comprehensive solid waste management and recycling services.

“We have hired labourers to collect recyclable waste from residential quarters.

They go with a digital weighing machine and a rate card for different types of waste,” the mechanical engineering student told PTI. They collect all kinds of dry waste from papers to bottles and plastic and then resell it to a wholesaler at a nominal profit.

Started in 2014, they are selling recyclable garbage worth Rs 20,000 every month on an average.

“Till now most of such waste used to land in Gopali landfill at the edge of our campus.

It created pollution and there were problems in segregating organic and recyclable waste. Now things are improving,” Kar,

‘Kabaadi on Call’ service allows people living inside and outside the campus to call and fix an appointment for a garbage collecting truck

They collect all kinds of dry waste from papers to bottles and plastic and then resell it to a wholesaler at a nominal profit

who founded the company with two other students, said.

A lot of professors have become the customers of this students-led initiative.

Civil engineering department’s professor Sudha Goel used to depend on the regular garbage collector who would come calling on a bicycle infrequently.

“But now I call them and they come at a time which is convenient to me. They take away everything which is recyclable and

not just newspapers. I also get better rates,” Goel said.

‘GainWaste’ is planning to gradually scale up the service by allowing customers to book their garbage sale with the help of a simple mobile app.

Besides the recyclable waste, they also collect organic waste from the dustbins in the campus to turn it into rich manure.

“We have 40 beds of vermicompost in Gopali which produces 8 tons of manure in a month. We sell it directly in the market,” Kar, who took a fascination to recycling from childhood, said.

The idea began in 2014 when they won a students’ project from a Bangalore institute and got a seed grant of Rs 3 lakh to start their work.

They are expecting support in the next stages from an environmental project being funded by the Innovation Challenge Grant, a research initiative under the Vision 2020 program of IIT-Kgp. “Eco-friendly measures are the only way out to the proper maintenance of the hygiene, wellness and beauty of university campuses. These initiatives are not a sudden new addendum but have always been part of the functioning of the campus of IIT Kharagpur,” said Prof Anir Dhar of civil engineering department.

PTI

APP WORLD Mind reading The Psychology of Stress

IOS/Android: Free Do you ever feel blue, strained, or anxious? Millions of people struggle with tension, anxiety, or mood issues. They may wear and tear on your body leaving you feeling fatigued, drained, and empty inside. Over time, tension and anxiety can build, causing you to be less productive, uneasy, tense, and even unhappy. A poor mood may make you irritable, impatient, and hurt your relationships. You might find it tough to center, stay motivated, or achieve tasks. Stress is one area which almost everyone on earth is handling. And many of them do not know how to handle it and do not even know how to handle it and it’s psychology. In this free app learn all it takes to handle stress and how it can create problems if ignored.

Color Psychologist

IOS/Android: Free Different colours have different effects on our daily life according to their shade and appearance. It is human nature to choose the most charming and lovely colours for their personality. This app gives a quick and brief idea about colour psychology that what it is and what effects it has on our daily lives.

The app explains the effects of warm colours and the effects of cool colours.

The colours in the app include various major colours. Like Yellow colour makes babies cry. Different restaurants are coloured in red as it stimulates the appetite. The app interface is very simple and easy to use. The user just needs to select the colour which he/she would like to inquire about and the app will display the properties of that colour accordingly. The Colour Psychology app can be very beneficial for daily life uses by adopting the required colour according to the situation/occasion/ event/friends get together or selecting a car colour smartly.

Mental Health Psychology

IOS/Android: Free Mental Health Psychology is an app that help you understand the problem faced by some people that may seem to behave visibly different from the rest. This has largely something to do with psychology and how the mind of these people works. In mental health, if psychosis is not a life-long condition but a temporary response similar to a runny nose when we have a cold, then there is something we can do to empower those people who are undergoing mental distress. If we can learn to read the warning signs of an impending cold, then we can learn to interpret the deeper cause and meaning of psychological overwhelm. By taking time to explore our feelings instead of reacting to them, we can definitely make some headway. If you are studying psychology or is interested in knowing more about Mental Health psychology, then this is the best app to download!

Simple Positive Psychology

IOS/Android: Free Positive psychology is a new approach within psychology that takes into account the positive aspects of human emotions and behavior. Twentieth-century classical psychology has focused primarily on the treatment of mental illness. In contrast, positive psychology aims to focus on improving quality of life and well-being; studying the qualities, attitudes and positive emotions of human beings; and applying this knowledge in a scientific manner. The most important positive states are optimism, hope, perseverance, humor, flow, resilience, creativity, happiness, courage, love, caring, self-esteem, assertiveness, empathy, etc. Experiencing positive emotions leads to mental states, cognitive processes and behaviors that prepare us to successfully face the challenges that life brings as well as augment our well-being and happiness.

Introduction 2 Psychology

IOS/Android: Free This app is suitable for student and professionals of psychology but also it developed for the non specialized people who wants to get general but robust induction to psychology. Psychology is an academic and applied discipline that involves the scientific study of mental functions and behaviors.Psychology has the immediate goal of understanding individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases, and by many accounts it ultimately aims to benefit society. In this field, a professional practitioner or researcher is called a psychologist and can be classified as a social, behavioral, or cognitive scientist. Psychologists attempt to understand the role of mental functions in individual and social behavior, while also exploring the physiological and biological processes that underlie cognitive functions and behaviors.

ENVIRONMENT Most of the plastic used are difficult to dispose and very polluting. I have seen samples of bags that the company wants to supply, and they are of satisfactory quality. Our staff will have lesser difficulties in collecting and disposing garbage — Sanjeev Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, PCB

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY

H EALTH

MARCH 12, 2016

PUNE

The state has registered 5,175 cases of water-borne illnesses in 2015. Awareness about using bleaching powder to purify water have helped reduce the outbreaks and deaths — Kanchan Jagtap, Joint Director, State Health Department

The rampant adulteration of milk in India India is today the world’s largest producer of milk thanks to the white revolution. Yet more than two-thirds of the milk in India does not meet the food safety standards. Adulteration of milk is rampant, a startling six per cent of the samples tested in 2015 by the Ministry of Health had presence of ‘detergents’ in them confi rming that ‘synthetic milk’ is a huge problem.

For a lay person trying to differentiate between contaminated and pure milk is a tall order and only specific chemical tests can reveal the truth. Contaminated milk can be a huge health hazard especially when it has been laced with urea, detergents and other toxic chemicals. With the festival of Holi round the corner, it is time to be alert about the dangers of milk contamination.

Now a cheap milk testing kit has been developed by the Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL) in Mysuru, which is a part of the gigantic Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Th is kit, which even an untrained person can use at home, helps within minutes detect contamination of six common adulterants in milk.

Recently as part of another initiative, Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Harsh Vardhan unveiled another dedicated system for the detection of adulteration and analysis of milk, developed

by Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-CEERI), Pilani.

According to Vardhan, “The gravity of the situation had been such that the National Institute for Transforming India (NITI

CAUSE FOR CONCERN

• India is world’s largest producer of milk • Six per cent of samples tested in 2015 by the Ministry of Health had presence of ‘detergents’ • Mysuru’s DFRL, a part of DRDO, has developed a cheap milk testing kit • Milk adulteration is high during festival seasons • Washing powder and refined oil are mixed and diluted to make it look and have the consistency of real milk • Kit should be very helpful to plug ingress of contaminated milk at source. Expert suggests that such tests become common then milk when it is collected by suppliers at the level of the households could be tested and if found contaminated it should be rejected right at the doorstep of a small dairy supplier

in 46.8 per cent samples, milk found to be sub-standard in respect of fat and solid not fat (SNF) contents. Another 44.69 per cent of the samples (548) in respect of skim milk powder were found to be nonconforming to the prescribed standards where presence of glucose was detected in 477 samples. A total of 103 samples (5.75 per cent) were found to be adulterated with detergents.”

“Milk adulteration is particularly high during the festival season, when the demand peaks but production cannot be increased,” explains MC Pandey, a scientist at the DFRL who has helped develop the milk testing kit.

The kit developed by the defence institute uses just a few chemicals and strips of paper dipped in a different chemical. A change in colour of the milk or a change in colour of the

paper indicates the presence of a contaminant.

When detergents are present in the milk the colour of test turns to green, yellow or blue and Pandey says the test can detect as low a value as 0.5 per cent of the contaminant.

Especially in north India, a lot of milk during the festival season is made using detergents and urea. Called ‘synthetic milk’, it resembles milk but can be very harmful.

Every day washing powder and refi ned oil are mixed and then diluted to make it look and have the consistency of real milk.

Scientists at this nondescript lab in Mysuru developed the kit at a mere cost of Rs 9 lakh and the box containing 320 strips for testing 8 different contaminants with the cost of each test strip coming to just about Rs 2.

Pandey says all the other milk-testing kits require sophisticated laboratory settings but this simple strip based test helps Indian soldiers test supplies of fresh milk even at remote locations. .

Academic stress in kids may lead to ADHD: study the mid-2000s. And 6- to 8-year-olds in 1997 saw time spent on homework increase to more than two hours a week, when a decade earlier their peers were studying less than an hour.

While ADHD is a neurobiological condition, researchers said it is influenced by age-dependent behaviours and demands of the environment. As academic activities have increased, time for playing and leisure has decreased, resulting in some children being seen as outliers and ultimately being diagnosed with ADHD. PTI

NATION

CITY

Get your voice heard on NetaG P6

No damaged goods please P3

GRANDCHILDREN SUE THE COMPLETE MAN

PAGES: 16+16 (TGS LIFE) | PRICE: `5

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PAGES: 16+16 (TGS LIFE) | PRICE: `5

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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

proposed to raise the cess on coal, lignite and peat to Rs 400 per tonne from the current Rs 200.

Stressing that the accelerated depreciation will be reduced from 80 per cent to 40 per cent beginning in 2016-17, the report said this reduction will mostly affect rooftop solar, some large-scale projects and the wind sector.

It further said the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has recently ruled against India’s domestic content policy for solar cells and modules which was originally fi led in 2013.

In the short term, this will affect manufacturers who are overly dependent on the Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) market.

“In the long term, the effect should be minimal as DCR projects are a small part of the projects auctioned; manufacturers now have clarity and can adjust their strategy accordingly in order to compete. The Indian government is expected to appeal the ruling,” it said.

“Restricting the use of cheaper non-domestic components while expecting solar power at the lowest possible price has never made sense,” Mercom Capital Group CEO and CoFounder Raj Prabhu said.

Mercom sees more than 4 GW in total solar installations for 2016, nearly 100 per cent year-over-year (yoy) growth from 2015 total of 2,133 MW. PTI

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

yet to get a copy of the order.

The case dates back to February 2013 when some of the students studying in class five walked up to their class teacher and alleged that their creative writing sir had touched them inappropriately. The class teacher in turn informed the principal and management.

School authorities spoke to several other students and found that 22 girls in all had levelled similar allegations. Director of the school approached Chaturshrungi police station and lodged an FIR under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSOA).

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

Contd on p4

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

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

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

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

The budgetary proposal to double the coal cess will make solar power more competitive by increasing the cost of the dry fuel, a report by Mercom Capital Group said, adding increased cost may pass on to consumers in the form of higher electricity bills.

“The Clean Environment Cess previously known as the Clean Energy Cess (tax) has been increased from Rs 200 per tonne to Rs 400 per tonne.

Th is increase will make solar (power) more competitive by increasing the cost of coal. But increased costs are expected to be eventually passed on to consumers in the form of higher electricity bills,” the report said.

“Furthermore, nearly half of this tax in the past has gone to the Ministry of Water Resources for the Ganga rejuvenation project and we cannot assume that the entire amount collected from the new coal tax will go towards renewable energy.”

Renaming the Clean Energy Cess as Clean Environment Cess, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his Budget speech for 2016-17 last month had

BHOSARI

4 KALEWADI FATA

WAKAD

RAHUL RAUT

said director of the school, who

DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL

CHINCHWAD

THERGAON HINJEWADI VILLAGE

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

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

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.”

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.’

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

Increased cost may get passed on to consumers in the form of higher electricity bills

TGS LIFE

Run for... yourself

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

‘Coal cost hike will make solar power competitive’

PAGES: 16+16 (TGS LIFE) | PRICE: `5

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

PICS ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

said Jeff rey P Brosco from University of Miami in the US. “From time spent studying to enrolment rates in pre-primary programmes, everything had increased, and not surprisingly, in the past 40 years we also saw ADHD diagnoses double,” said Brosco.

Researchers found that from 1981 to 1997, time spent teaching 3- to 5-year-olds letters and numbers increased 30 per cent.

They also discovered that the percentage of young children enrolled in full-day programmes increased from 17 per cent in 1970 to 58 per cent in

THANK GOD IT’S S AT U R D AY

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

Parents, take note! Higher academic demands on young children may increase their risk of developing a t t e n t i o n- d e f i c i t / h y p e r a c t i v i t y disorder (ADHD), a new study has claimed.

Researchers suggest that increased academic standards since the 1970s have contributed to the rise in diagnosis of ADHD. “When we researched educational and public policy literature for studies that documented time children spent on academic activities, we were alarmed to find how substantially education had changed since the ‘70s,”

Occasionally to make milk look fresh, some ‘neutralisers’ are added using the strip test the contaminated milk becomes pink in colour. If the milk contains urea the test becomes yellow.

The technology for the milk testing kit has been transferred to a private company Pearl Corporation says Pandey who says the DRDO sold the technology at a royalty of Rs 1.25 crore annually, this according to him marks the success of this technology.

Pandey explains this kit should be very helpful to plug ingress of contaminated milk at source. He suggests if such tests become common then milk when it is collected by suppliers at the level of the households could be tested and if found contaminated it should be rejected right at the doorstep of a small dairy supplier.

Rather than a large consignment of milk being rejected for contamination at the level of a milk plant, where hundreds of tons of milk gets collected for further processing.

Singh says, “Dairy play an important role in agriculture domain of the country with the 3.9 per cent contribution to the national gross product. It is not only a substantial source of livelihood but also most credible basis to ensure the national food requirement. It is the repercussion of the growth in dairying that the growth rate of agricultural sector has been 4 per cent unabatedly.

“Today we have been able to provide on an average 302 gm per person per day milk in the country which is more than the minimum required recommended by the WHO.” So even as India feels proud of being the number one producer of milk in the world having outpaced US, China and Brazil, the large-scale contamination of milk remains a big blemish for the White Revolution.

Towards that Nadda says “the menace of food adulteration and particularly milk adulteration needs to be eliminated.”

PTI

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

BY PALLAVA BAGLA

Aayog) identified the problem of detecting adulteration in the milk within three minutes at Rs 4 or less, as one of the grand challenge areas being considered under the ‘Atal Innovation Mission’.

In this backdrop, the Vardhan appreciated the initiative of CSIR for developing and deploying this technology solution, ‘KsheerScanner’, which instantaneously detects the above- identified adulterants in milk. It is a low-cost portable system with user-friendly features. It enables detection of contaminants in just 40-45 seconds at the per sample cost of less than 50 paise.

Earlier, Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Radha Mohan Singh while speaking at National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana said, “India stands fi rst on global milk product scenario. Milk production has been increased from 137.68 million tonne in 2013-14 to 146.31 million tonne in 2014-15. For the fi rst time there is a record enhancement of milk production as 6.3 per cent whereas on international scenario there is only an increment of 2.2 percent enhancement of milk production.” .

Th is is a spectacular achievement for the country which in 1950 was producing a mere 17 million tonnes of milk. An almost nine-fold increase in milk production in a little over 60 years.

However, what is most embarrassing for the country is a 2015 admission by Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare JP Nadda that “the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had conducted a nationwide survey on milk adulteration in 2011. A total of 1791 samples were drawn from 33 states and were tested in the government laboratories. 68.4 per cent of the samples were found to be non-conforming to the prescribed standards. Out of these,

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

More than two-thirds of the milk in India does not meet the food safety standards

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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Death is a blessing...its above criticism...no one criticises death. Sometimes I feel Congress is also blessed (like death)...whenever we criticise Congress, media says opposition is under attack —Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

Illicit diversion of pharma products challenge for India P 14

The savvy new Indian woman globe-trotter About 50 per cent Asian women travellers say they make all travel decisions themselves

MUMBAI: More and more Indian women are becoming assertive while making travel plans as a whopping 75 per cent of the respondents said they were equally involved while charting a trip, according to a recent survey.

“About 50 per cent Asian women travellers say they make all travel decisions themselves while 46 per cent include their significant other (spouse or partner) in the travel planning process,” according to a survey by TripAdvisor that highlights how women across Asia plan their holidays.

“Only 32 per cent Indian women

travellers make all the travel decisions themselves, but they are increasingly voicing their opinion with 75 per cent taking equal ownership of planning the trip,” it said.

The findings, launched in conjunction with International Women’s Day, are based on responses from over 2,800 female travellers across seven Asian countries, including India, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, China and Japan.

The survey found that overall 68 per cent Asian and 63 per cent Indian women travellers feel their travels have helped them learn more about the world while 33 per cent Asian and 36 per cent Indian female travellers say travel has changed the way they think and live their lives.

Indian women travellers further feel that their travels have made them

28% women not satisfied with salary, against 22% men: Report Around 28 per cent of working women in India are not satisfied with their salary as compared to 22 per cent men, according to a study by Michael Page India.

It also said that 23 per cent women in Asia Pacific are not happy with their salary.

The study is an analysis of responses from around 300 women employees from mid-senior level, across organisations and sectors, and drawing a comparison between their male counterparts, as well as women in the Asiapacific region, including India.

Indian women are less confident about their job search, with only 68 per cent confident about finding a job within the next three months, it said.

“Women are more realistic about their promotion, as they are able communicate their challenges better. While searching for a new job, salary is not as important for women as it is for men. They prefer matching their life priorities with their career,” Michael Page India Senior Managing Director Sebastien Hampartzoumian said.

more confident (46 per cent) and more open to learning and trying new things (57 per cent), it said.

Further, the survey found that Indian women travellers feel travel has had a positive impact on their lives, with 69 per cent saying travel makes them feel relaxed and 58 per cent saying it inspired them.

‘Encourage elderly to visit libraries using technology’

Physical books and digital versions should supplement each other and build a bridge between generations

KOLKATA: Loyal elderly readers need to be encouraged to come to libraries by equipping them with suitable technology, a British library consultant has suggested.

“The older people in your country and in my country still like to come to the library though the number may be declining.

“There is a huge opportunity. I think by encouraging them, we would be providing opportunities to make them feel they are needed,” Tom Forrest, former Director of Cultural Services in Oxfordshire, told PTI here on the eve of his interaction with library experts of the country in New Delhi.

“Libraries should have mobile apps. You can read an e-book and access catalogues online. In fact physical books and digital versions should supplement each other and build a bridge between the two generations, both of whom should be engaged in active library movement,” Forrest, who has worked in over 20 countries to impart knowledge on using technology to improve access to services and content, said.

Talking about the experiment

Talking about his visit to the National Library Kolkata, Forrest said, “I was very impressed (the way) National Library organises its activities.”

to retain the old and loyal readers in different cities of the UK like Manchester, Forrest said, “Our motto is to make them feel they are needed.

I have something to give through memory sessions, storytelling for children and likewise.”

Noting that libraries have to be relevant to people in the 20-age group equally, Forrest said, “Libraries can’t be seen in isolation from the places frequented by this generation like shopping malls and plexes and we have to tailor them to younger people as well. That remains the challenge.”

Forrest, who was here on an invitation from the British Council to give a talk in Kolkata on UK Libraries Today and Tomorrow, said, he had

been hearing about death of books for years but that would never happen.

“I know the nostalgia tinged with books and classics which becomes apparent as you flip through the pages of a classic physically. I want some of that nostalgia captured digitally,” he said, adding these issues would come up during his interaction with Indian public library experts, here and in New Delhi later.

Talking about his visit to the National Library Kolkata, Forrest said, “I was very impressed (the way) National Library organises its activities. I am told they have an agreement with the British Library to work together.”

PTI

The survey also found that 83 per cent Asian women travellers contributed financially, either fully or partially, to their last personal trip, of which 27 per cent said they funded the entire holiday (including for their travel companions), while 32 per cent shared the cost with their spouse or partner.

Women fighter pilots to be inducted in June NEW DELHI: The first batch of women fighter pilots, comprising three cadets, will be inducted in the Indian Air Force on June 18.

Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha said three women trainee officers have volunteered to be inducted in the combat role.

“We inducted women as pilots in 1991, but on only helicopter and transport (planes). I must thank the Defence Minister for having approved the IAF’s proposal to induct women as fighter pilots. Very soon...on June 18, the Air Force will get women fighter pilots.

“As of now three women trainees have volunteered to join the fighter stream. They are under the second phase of their training. Once they complete their training... they are on par with their male colleagues and the passing out parade is scheduled on June 18,” Raha said.

He was speaking at a seminar on ‘Women in Armed Medical Corps’ to mark International Women’s Day, also attended by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. The Defence Ministry had cleared the proposal of inducting women as fighter pilots in October last year. Parrikar also lauded Raha’s insistence to push forward the proposal to induct women as fighter pilots in the Indian Air Force.

“Though I approved and support the proposal, it was he who was consistently pushing the file to the MoD (Ministry of Defence) level.

PTI

On same parameters, 60 per cent Indian women travellers contributed financially, either fully or partially, to their last personal trip, of which 18 per cent funded the entire holiday themselves, including for their travel companions, it said.

About 35 per cent said they shared the cost with their partner, whereas 16 per cent paid for their portion of the trip with their family or friends, it said.

Despite this apparent financial independence, Asian women travellers are deal-hunters at heart and are most swayed by deals or low prices (78 per cent Asian and 72 per cent Indian), the TripAdvisor survey said.

The survey found that 72 per cent Indian women have voted for ‘nature’, followed by learning about a new place and its people (71 per cent), and only 24 per cent chose shopping as a key influencer while planning a trip.

Commenting on the findings, TripAdvisor India Country Manager Nikhil Ganju said, “It’s great to see Indian women taking charge of their travel process across all spheres - from planning and booking to purchasing their holiday. In terms of what influences their holiday, while majority (72 per cent) have voted for ‘nature’, what’s surprising is that only 24 per cent are influenced by good old ‘shopping’.”

The top destinations Asian women travellers plan to travel to in 2016 are all near home, like Japan, Thailand and Australia, while the US is top choice for long-haul travel.

For Indian women, top destinations in 2016 are India (23 per cent), the US (20 per cent) and the UK (14 per cent).

PTI

Women prefer female company Seventy per cent women prefer going on vacations with female friends as compared to their family, according to a global survey.

Leading travel company Thomas Cook has released the worldwide survey which entails responses from 1,215 women who travelled with the firm.

The survey showed that 70 per cent respondents welcome travel opportunities with their women friends over family holidays.

The favourite inclusions in their travel plans are culture, cuisine, spa-wellness, shopping, said Rajeev Kale, president and Chief Operating Officer, MICE, Domestic and Sports Tourism Thomas Cook India.

Thirty-five per cent showed interest in outdoors, adventure, wildlife, while 17 per cent showed inclination towards solo travel with safety and security being the prime concerns. Singapore topped the list of favourite destinations for women travellers, followed by Thailand, Switzerland, Dubai, Sri Lanka, Bali and the USA. “Financial independence has given strong impetus to this segment. The Frost and Sullivan Amadeus Report too highlights a significant growth potential in women business travellers,” he said.

In India, Goa, Andamans, Rajasthan and Ladakh topped the list of favourite destinations.

Cohabitation can be marriage proof: HC

MADURAI: In the absence of evidence like wedding invitation and photographs, the cohabitation of a man and woman for a long time could be taken as a valid proof of marriage, the Madras High Court has ruled.

A division bench of the Court’s Madurai bench, comprising Justices S Manikumar and CT Selvam, reversed the order of Tirunelveli family court Judge, who declined to entertain an application for divorce, citing lack of evidence to prove that the couple was married. The matter will not go to the trial court for hearing.

The bench in its order said the views of the trial court “reflect a most presumptuous view on considerations which are matters for trial” and not to be decided at the preliminary stage of entertaining the divorce petition.

“Presumption of marriage may arise even on proof of prolonged cohabitation,” the judges observed.

The family court had rejected the

divorce petition filed by the woman on the grounds that her marriage was not registered and even the wedding photos had not been produced.

However, the woman produced another photograph taken with her ‘husband’ which the lower court judge refused to accept. Besides, the wife had claimed that she had two children and was living with the man for 21 years under a settlement.

The trial court judge relied upon the settlement between the applicant and the man she called her husband, wherein it was stated that she would reside with him and attend to his needs through his life. The trial court judge concluded the settlement did not prove the two were married.

Disagreeing with the trial court, the bench said such details could be discussed only during the trial and not at the preliminary stage of entertaining the divorce petition.

PTI

Need to look at laws says Jaising Vol-II* lssue No.: 39 Editor: Yogesh Sadhwani (Responsible for the selection of news under the PRB Act, 1867) Printed and Published by: Shrikant Honnavarkar on behalf of Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt. Ltd. CIN:U22200PN2014PTC151382 and printed at PRI – Media Services Private Limited CIN: U22222MH2012PTC232006 at Plot No. EL-201, TTC Industrial Area, MIDC, Mahape, Navi Mumbai.

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New Delhi, Mar 10 (PTI) There is a need to think about and look at laws to see where we are going wrong, senior advocate Indira Jaising today said while advocating the idea of a secular India which allows everyone to enter any place of worship without discrimination.

The activist lawyer was speaking on ‘Right to Worship and Gender Discrimination at Religious Places’ at a meeting organised by United Lawyers’ Association (ULA) here in which some of the prominent persons -- former Attorney General Soli

Sorabjee, Rajya Sabha MP D Raja and senior advocate Salman Khurshid -- who were expected to grace the occasion were conspicuous by their absence.

Indira Jaising Jaising, who has also moved an intervention application in the Supreme Court to argue that any form of discrimination against women

is abhorrent to the Constitution, said, “We need to think about and look at the laws to see where we are going wrong. Lot of temple entry acts are there in the country which were enacted precisely to do away with discrimination in relation to entry in a temple.”

“The country is going through very critical times. We are being challenged today about what is the idea of India. The idea of India is secular and not where you prosecute people for eating beef. The idea is that which allows all of us to enter

any temple, the idea which does not discriminate,” she said.

The others present on the dais were Father Timothy Shaw from St Thomas Church and a priest from Mahabodhi Society who too advocated for equality of gender in places of worship.

The discussion, which took place at the Indian Law Institute here, came in the backdrop of the ongoing proceedings in the apex court on a plea seeking to lift restrictions on women from entering the Sabarimala temple.

PTI

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY MARCH 12, 2016

‘Junior shooters will peak in 2020’ P 16

Our nations are stronger when every person has the right to practice their faith how they choose, or to practice no faith at all. It’s not a topic of conversation we don’t have, and it’s not a topic of conversation that we’re afraid to have with our Indian counterparts — Barack Obama, US President

We won’t budge on South China Sea China terms UN arbitration as ‘tainted’ and refuses to recognise case filed by Philippines

BY KJM VARMA BEIJING: Terming the UN’s arbitration on a raging territorial dispute in the South China Sea as “tainted”, China asserted that will not t h e honour

outcome of the tribunal in the strategically vital area.

“The Philippines stubbornness is clearly the result of the behind scenes instigation and political manoeuvring,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at his annual press conference, in a veiled attack on the US for its backing to the Philippines and the maritime neighbours of China in the South China Sea (SCS) dispute.

China refuses to recognise the case lodged by the Philippines with the tribunal and says all disputes should be resolved through bilateral talks.

“Th is so called arbitration has become tainted and gone astray and China is not going to honour it,” Wang said.

Asked whether China is worried about the likelihood of the Philippines winning its petition on its claims on the SCS islands at the UN Conference of the Law of Sea (UNCLOS), Wang said it is too early to judge the outcome of the case.

“I respect your right to ask the question.

Perhaps you are judging the outcome of the UNCLOS a rbitration case and it is too early to tell,” he said.

China h a s already

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi took a hard line on the country’s claims to virtually all the South China Sea, saying Beijing won’t permit other nations to infringe on what it considers its sovereign rights in the strategically vital area

made a declaration at the UNCLOS back in 2006 excluding itself from the arbitration under the article 290 of the tribunal, Wang said adding that over 30 other countries made similar declarations excluding themselves.

“So in legal terms these declaration are part of UNCLOS and must be respected by other parties,” he said.

“So by not accepting arbitration case China is acting entirely legal.

Where as the Philippines stand is unlawful and unfaithful and unreasonable,” he said.

Wang again reaffi rmed China’s claims on the whole of the SCS stating that “China is the fist one to discover, name develop the SCS islands”.

“Our ancestors lived and worked here for ages. We know the place and love it more than anyone else,” he said.

China’s stand on the SCS is strongly contested by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan which had counter claims on the islands and reefs, which believed to have rich oil and mineral deposits.

The US in a bid to assert the freedom of the navigation in the region has sent its naval ships and aircraft to counter Chinese claims.

Wang defended China building defence facilities in the SCS, saying that they belonged to it.

“China exercises the right of self defence entitled by the international law,” he said, rejecting allegations that China militarised the region.

Wang said China will uphold the freedom of navigation of the SCS over which a host of countries, including India and US have expressed concerns.

“We want to uphold the peace

and freedom of navigation in the SCS,” Wang said, adding, “freedom of navigation does not imply doing whatever you want”.

The SCS has seen “colonial invasion and illegal occupation. Now some people are making waves and some others showing force.

However like the tide that comes and goes none of these things will make impact and history will determine who is the real guest and who is the host,” he said.

China he said will not make further claims. “China has never claimed and will not claim new territories,” he said. “Not China, but others should be accused of militarising the sea,” he said.

“Besides meeting basic defence needs, China is building more facilities for civilian use, with purposes of offering public services to the international community,” he said and promised to take the international media there after the facilities are completed.

He also said China and the US can consider more maritime cooperation.

China and the United States are two major countries, and there are both cooperation and friction between them. “In the face of problems, our task is to resolve them.

We want to expand and deepen cooperation and work hard to turn friction into cooperation,” he said.

“China is not the US, and China will not and cannot become another US. We have no intention of displacing or dominating anybody,” he said.

PTI

India does not have to prove that it is a stable country: Italy NEW DELHI: Italy “believes” in India and it does not have to “prove” anything to establish that it is a “very stable market”, a top Italian official said against the backdrop of the Jat quota stir and a debate over free speech.

Italian Trade Commissioner Francesco Pensabene made the remarks while announcing a two-year campaign, ‘Italy: The Extraordinary Commonplace’, to promote the European country’s best of food, fashion and design among others.

“We conceived this plan because we believe in India.

India does not have to prove anything but India is a very stable market for us.

“Just look at the growth rate of India, we push our companies to come

Francesco Pensabene

over to India. I officially and personally believe that this is a great and stable country to be in,” Pensabene said when asked about Italy’s views on the

ongoing debate over free speech and dissent.

US Ambassador to India Richard Verma, while speaking on the JNU row, had recently said diversity of “thought and speech” was one of India’s great hallmarks which will “propel” it forward in the next century.

Under the campaign, a series of focused events and activities in each sector will be held across the country to promote Italian lifestyle and businesses in India and to explore new business avenues for Italian companies.

“Italy is also a country to invest and is the second largest manufacturer in Europe after Germany. It’s not just about pizza and sunshine,” Pensabene quipped.

PTI

TORONTO: Canada’s fi rst Sikh Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan now has a chicken burger named after him and it is called ‘The Minister of National Deliciousness’.

45-year-old Sajjan, who was in November named Canada’s Minister of National Defence in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s 30-member Liberal cabinet, stopped by a downtown Vancouver eatery to sample the burger named in his honour.

“National Deliciousness indeed!

Tried my namesake burger at #Vancouver’s @TheCannibalCafe and was not disappointed,” Sajjan tweeted after eating the burger.

Sajjan, who represents the Vancouver-South, was in town last week for the Liberal government’s fi rst ministers meeting, but made time to visit ‘The Cannibal Cafe’ and try out his namesake burger ‘The Minister of National Deliciousness’.

“I approve,” Sajjan said after taking the fi rst bite.

“It’s got pakoras on it. Who would’ve thought to put it into a burger? Now that that makes sense,” he was quoted as saying

by CTV News.

The chicken burger also features a tandoori-spiced patty doused in butter chicken sauce and pressed yogurt with mint, cilantro and cucumbers.

It was introduced as February’s ‘Burger of the Month’ but the eatery’s owner said it was so popular they added it to the regular menu.

Sajjan, who called the experience “very humbling”, also shook hands

Sajjan moved to Canada with his family when he was five years old

with the chef behind the burger, Zai Kitagawa, and signed off on a chalkboard featuring a drawing of him in sunglasses.

Kitagawa told reporters that he started thinking about the burger shortly after the minister’s appointment. “If there’s a man that a Canadian can be proud of, it’s definitely Mr Sajjan,” he said.

Sajjan is a combat veteran and has served in Bosnia and had three deployments to Kandahar, Afghanistan. He was born in India and moved to Canada with his family when he was five-years-old.

Since his appointment as Defence Minister, Sajjan has faced two incidents of apparent racism.

Soon after his appointment in November, he faced racist remarks by a soldier on social media, prompting the Canadian Armed Forces to launch a probe. Last month, Sajjan was heckled in Parliament with an opposition member shouting that MPs needed an “English-to- English” translation as he spoke, an act dubbed as “racist”.

PTI

Silk Road move no ‘Monroe Doctrine’

Refuting criticism that the mega Silk Road initiative is aimed at expanding China’s interests abroad, Beijing said its multi-billion dollar project is an “open initiative” and not a form of “Monroe Doctrine” to expand its dominance.

The Silk Road initiative which is officially termed as Belt and Road projects is “an open initiative, not some form of Monroe Doctrine or expansionism,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.

The Monroe Doctrine was a US foreign policy regarding domination of the American continent in 1823.

It stated that further efforts by European nations to colonise land or interfere with states in North or South America would be viewed as acts of aggression, requiring US intervention.

“The Belt and Road Initiative is China’s idea, but the opportunities it has created belong to the world,” Wang said pointing to the formation of USD 40 billion Silk Road Fund and setting up the Chinese initiated Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

The Belt and Road Initiative refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt that links China with Europe through central and western Asia, and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road (MSR) connecting China with southeast Asia, Africa and Europe.

‘K-issue shouldn’t be pre-condition for talks’

BY SAJJAD HUSSAIN ISLAMABAD: Settling the Kashmir issue should not be a pre-condition for holding talks between India and Pakistan, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said as he asked the two nations not to allow non-state actors and other pressure groups to derail the peace process.

He also asked Pakistan to speed up the investigation into the January 2 Pathankot attack which India has blamed on Pakistan-based Jaish-eMohammed (JeM) militant group.

“Settling the Kashmir issue should not be a precondition for starting the dialogue process,” Hammond, who is here on a day-long visit, said during a joint press conference with Pakistan Premier’s advisor on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz.

“I welcome Pakistan’s commitment to vigorously pursue Pathankot attack investigations and we hope that the country will make progress in the investigation,” he said.

Aziz said that a joint investigation team is in process to complete its probe into the Pathankot attack. Aziz also said that there is no pre-condition for the meeting of the foreign secretaries of the two nations.

Aziz said that Pakistan also shared intelligence with India about possible terror attacks. “Sharing of intelligence among various nations of the world is a routine practice and this happens around the world. However, this time it was somehow leaked to media. But this showed Pakistan’s commitment to fight terrorism,” he said.

PTI

AVIAN ATTRACTION

Chihiro Kawamoto, an owl cafe employee, with owl ‘Wasabi’ on her arm attracts customers at Harajuku shopping district in Tokyo

Chicken burger named after Canada’s first Sikh Defence Minister!

Food joint owner said he started thinking about the burger shortly after the minister’s appointment

PUNE

Iran fires ballistic missiles in new test

TEHRAN: Iran said its armed forces had fired two more ballistic missiles as it continued tests in defiance of US warnings.

“Long-range Qadr-H and Qadr-F precision missiles were fired today... which destroyed targets” some 1,400 kilometres (870 miles) away, official media quoted the deputy head of the Revolutionary Guards, General Hossein Salami, as saying.

State television broadcast video of two missiles being fired from a site in the Alborz mountain range in northern Iran.

The Islamic republic also carried out multiple ballistic missile tests earlier, defying US sanctions imposed earlier this year aimed at disrupting its missile programme.

The missile sanctions were imposed a day after nuclear-related sanctions on Iran were lifted.

US State Department spokesman John Kirby said he could not confirm Tehran’s multiple tests, but warned that Washington might take unilateral or international action in response.

“The more our enemies increase the sanctions the more intense the Guards’ reaction” will be, General Amir Ali Hajizadeh who heads the Revolutionary Guards’ aerospace wing said.

“We saw missiles fired from silos and platforms and the launches are taking place from the heart of our Islamic land,” he added.

“The reason we have designed these missiles with such a range -2,000 kilometres -- is to be able to hit our remote enemies, the Zionist regime,” ISNA news agency quoted Hajizadeh as saying, referring to Israel.

The series of tests included short-, medium-and long-range precision guided missiles, state media reported.

AFP

US warns of taking unilateral action in response to Iran missile tests

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY MARCH 12, 2016

PUNE

MONEY MATT ER S

Purpose of proposed reform in tax regime was to encourage more staff to go for pension security after their retirement instead of withdrawing their entire money from PF account — Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister

Signposts Consumer confidence dips in Feb: Report Consumer sentiments in India fell marginally last month, offsetting January’s rise as consumers reported a further deterioration in their personal finances and saw little hope of a turnaround, says a report. The MNI India Consumer Sentiment Indicator fell to 108.9 in February from 109.8 in January. While the sentiment remained above the 100 level, meaning optimists still outnumber pessimists, it stands 7.4 per cent below last year’s average, the report by Deutsche Borse said.

‘Banks must recover last pie lent to firms’

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said Centre will extend help and encourage banks to recover money from big borrowers as its involves public money As the group of PSU banks moved Supreme Court to restrain Vijay Mallya from traveling abroad, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley threw his weight behind the lenders, saying each penny lent must be recovered.

“Well, I think it’s not only a legal but a moral obligation that every banking institution in India has to recover the last pie,” Jaitley said.

The government cannot accept a “situation where 15 or 20 people are sitting on so much money of the banks, that the ability of the banks to lend to thousands of others” get severely impacted, he said. “...whatever steps the banks will take in this matter, the government of India will stand behind them but also actively encourage them to protect their own interest which is also the larger public interest because the public money is involved in the banks.

“After all, I am taxing the people of India to put money into the capital of the banks,” he told ET Now. He was asked about banks’ efforts to recover dues from Mallya.

The Supreme Court heard a plea of 13 banks, which had advanced loans of over Rs 9,000 crore to Mallya’s fi rm, seeking a direction to restrain him from leaving India.

The Debt Recovery Tribunal on

Fitch lowers FY’17 India growth forecast Fitch Ratings lowered India’s economic growth forecast for next fiscal to 7.7 per cent, but maintained the GDP projection for current fiscal at 7.5 per cent.

Fitch, in December, forecast an 8 per cent GDP growth in 2016-17 supported by the government’s beefed-up capex spending and gradual implementation of a broad-based structural reform agenda.

In its latest Global Economic Outlook (GEO), Fitch said gradual recovery in 2016-17 and 2017-18 would be supported by higher real disposable income, assuming a normal monsoon after two years of below-average rainfall and a substantial wage increase for central government employees.

“Growth is expected to gradually accelerate to 7.7 per cent in FY’17 and 7.9 per cent in FY’18. This implies minor downward revisions from the December GEO but leaves India at the top of the global growth ladder,” it said.

Fitch said it is keeping the GDP growth forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2016 at 7.5 per cent.

Country recorded highest ever software exports in 2015.

Setting up world-class infrastructure for electronics manufacturing across the country remains a priority — Pranab Mukherjee, President

“The gradual implementation of the structural reform agenda is expected to contribute to higher growth, even though progress is lacking so far on big-ticket reforms such as the Land Acquisition Amendment Bill and the Goods and Services Tax,” it said.

Fitch observed that implementation of legislative reforms has so far been difficult given the government’s limited support in the Rajya Sabha, but executive reforms continue to be rolled out. Fitch said it expects another 0.25 per cent cut in monetary policy, as the government has decided to stick to the fiscal deficit roadmap for next fiscal.

PTI

Kingfisher employees protest against Vijay Mallya outside Kingfisher’s office at Vile Parle in Mumbai

Monday barred Mallya from accessing USD 75 million (Rs 515 crore) exit payment from Diageo till the loan default case with SBI is settled while the ED registered a money laundering case against him in another default case. .

Talking about bad loans in the banking system, Jaitley said there are two kinds of NPAs, one is because of economic slowdown while the other emanates from questionable practices.

There are NPAs on account of the industrial downturn in sectors like steel, infrastructure and power.

“In some cases, some companies are taking bonafide steps to sell assets so that companies come back into green.

These are cases where we will have to

Very few takers for home insurance policy Around 93 per cent of respondents of a recent survey conducted by ICICI Lombard do not own a home insurance policy. Th is, despite the fact, that 62 per cent of those surveyed were aware of the benefits of a home insurance policy, a company statement said.

It revealed that most home owners did not feel the need to get their homes covered and 59 per cent of the respondents said that they would buy a home insurance policy if the premiums were lower and the claims process was made easier.

“Home insurance, as a segment, is hugely under-penetrated. Although a home insurance policy can help ease the financial burden that arises out of severe disasters such as floods, storms, earthquakes and riots,” ICICI Lombard chief Underwriting and Claims Sanjay Datta said.

The survey was conducted across a user base of 2,000, half of whom were in the age group of 36-40 years. 62 per cent of the respondents had acquired their homes only in the last three years.

PTI

give slightly a longer rope, because (we) don’t want crisis situation,” the Finance Minister said.

“But there are cases, which border more on questionable practices and there I think the provision of whatever laws exists will come into play,” Jaitley said.

Gross Non Performing Assets (NPAs) ratio of the public sector banks increased from 5.43 per cent as on March 2015 to 7.30 per cent as on December 2015.

Gross NPAs of PSBs increased from Rs 2,67,065 lakh crore in March 2015 to Rs 3,61,731 lakh crore in December 2015.

PTI

USIBC unhappy over drug permits Indian government has “privately reassured” industry lobby group USIndia Business Council that the country would not invoke ‘compulsory licensing’ for commercial purposes that could allow local drugmakers to make cheaper products by overriding patents of big global players.

The US-India Business Council, however, wants the Indian government to make “a public commitment” to forego using compulsory licensing for commercial purposes and use this clause for public emergencies only, the advocacy group has said in a submission to the US Trade Representative.

As per the WTO agreement, a compulsory licence can be invoked by a national government to allow someone else to produce a patented product or process without the consent of the patent owner. It is done for the cause of public health.

“Despite compulsory licensing denials, industry continues to be concerned by the potential threat of compulsory licensing. The Government of India has privately reassured...(that) it would not use Compulsory Licenses for commercial purposes,” the USIBC said in its submission.

The submission was made last month

by USIBC to the Office of the US Trade Representative and is addressed to Acting Assistant United States Trade Representative, Intellectual Property and Innovation Probir Mehta.

It further said that USIBC would be further encouraged if the Government of India made

a public commitment to forego using compulsory licensing for commercial purposes and in public emergencies only, saying “it would greatly enhance legal certainty for innovative industries”.

No immediate comments were available from the concerned authorities in this regard.

The Indian Patent Office had invoked such a clause for the first time in March 2012 to permit Hyderabadbased Natco Pharma to manufacture and sell cancer-treatment drug Nexavar at a fraction of the price charged by its patent-holder Bayer Corporation.

The order, which provided great relief to the kidney and liver cancer patients, was issued by India Patents Office as a ‘Compulsory Licence’ under Section 84 of the Indian Patent Act, which is in compliance with TRIPS the agreement of the World T r a d e Organisation.

PTI

Probir Mehta

Black money: RBI to share FDI info with IB, RAW

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will share FDI-related information with country’s intelligence agencies — IB and RAW — to check black money from entering the country.

The decision was taken during a recent meeting of a government group, headed

by Revenue Secretary, to check economic crimes. The move comes after Cabinet Secretariat — under whose administrative control Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) functions — expressed concern over companies in tax havens investing in the country, official sources said.

Emphasising on the need to keep a track of such companies’ source of funding, the Cabinet Secretariat suggested that Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB) under the Finance Ministry should maintain a database of such entities and investments, a move which was later rejected, they said.

During the meeting of “Working Group on Intelligence Apparatus”, representatives of Intelligence Bureau felt that it is important to have the

information. It was decided that RBI should share with IB and Cabinet Secretariat, information on FDI which actually enters the country, the sources said.

The moves assumes significance as the government expects rise in FDI inflow to the country owing to its attempts to liberalise trade and promote ease of doing business.

The FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) comes either through automatic route (which gets recorded by RBI) or through Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB)--an inter-ministerial body under the Department of Economic Affairs, which is responsible for processing of FDI proposals and making recommendations for government approval.

“Even after FIPB has approved a

FDI proposal, concerned government agencies will not know whether the investment has actually come into India.

The only organisation which will know when the investment actually comes into the country is RBI. “Hence, it was felt that they should form a database on it and share details with both IB and RAW,” said a senior official in the Cabinet Secretariat, requesting anonymity.

The RBI has also been asked to consider displaying this information on its website, he said.

Foreigners who bring FDI may also get long-term visa or residency permit as the option is being explored by the government to make travel easy for businessmen as part of its ‘Make In India’ campaign, the official said.

PTI

Centre expects rise in FDI flows owing to ease of doing business policies

Illicit diversion of pharma products challenge for India

International Narcotics Control Board cites PM Narendra Modi’s efforts to spread word against drug abuse The diversion of pharmaceutical preparations containing narcotics and precursors like ephedrine and pseudoephedrine to illicit channels in India remains a major challenge for law enforcement agencies, a global body’s report has said.

It cited the efforts by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for spreading the word against drug abuse.

“The diversion of pharmaceutical preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances from the Indian pharmaceutical industry, as well as their trafficking, including through illegal Internet pharmacies, continued over the reporting period,” said the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) report for 2015.

INCB is an independent and quasi-judicial monitoring body for the implementation of the United Nations international drug control conventions.

The diversion of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine from legal manufacture in India to illicit channels remains a major challenge for law enforcement agencies, it said.

Indian drug law enforcement agencies continued to report seizures of pharmaceutical preparations containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine trafficked from India to Myanmar for the extraction of the precursors, said the report released last week.

Precursors are chemicals which can be used to manufacture narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. While ephedrine is used for temporary relief of shortness of breath, chest tightness and asthama, pseudoephedrine is used to relieve nasal congestion caused by cold and allergies.

“The government of India accorded high priority to the issue of drug

Dip in seizures indicates that ketamine trafficking may be on the decline as a result of the Indian authorities’ stringency following recent amendments to the Act, INCB said

abuse. The Prime Minister used many platforms to spread the message to parents that they should spend more time with their children. There was an emphasis on skill development, which was also encouraged among drug users,” it said. .

India also continues to be a source country for ketamine — a party drug — trafficked to South-East Asia.

Since February 2011, ketamine has been a controlled substance under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.

In 2014, Indian law enforcement agencies seized 32kg of ketamine, a significant decrease from the 1,353kg seized in 2013. The dip in seizures indicates that ketamine trafficking may now be on the decline as a result

of the authorities’ stringency following recent amendments to the Act, it said.

“Trafficking of codeine-based cough syrups, such as phensedyl, from India to Bangladesh continued to be reported.

Although Bangladesh banned codeine-based cough syrups, its medical use is allowed in India,” the report said.

In 2014, 7,48,730 bottles of codeine-based preparations were seized in Bangladesh, a decrease from the 9,87,661 bottles seized in 2013.

“India continued to develop a system for the online registration and submission of returns by manufacturers and wholesalers of psychotropic substances. The system opened in 2015, and the government planned to make it mandatory by the end of 2015.

“Notwithstanding the welcome developments, access to internationally-controlled substances for medical purposes in the South Asia region remained below the world average, in particular for opiate pain

medication,” it said.

South Asia is increasingly being used for the illicit manufacture of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) — another party drug. ATS are also increasingly being abused.

ATS in powder form is increasingly being smuggled from and illicitly manufactured in India, which is emerging as its main source in the region.

“India and China are perceived as major sources of various new psychoactive substances. One of those is mephedrone, whose increasing abuse has been reported globally in recent years.

India was one of the source countries for mephedrone trafficked to various overseas destinations.

“After establishing its control over mephedrone and regulating it as a controlled psychotropic substance, India effected various seizures (1,106kg from January to June 2015),” the report said.

PTI

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY MARCH 12, 2016

PUNE

Our voices need to be heard

place for Home Decor and Gifting ideas brings to you another power-packed evening filled with electrifying pop and contemporary musical performance by Firuzeh Mihrshahi, a renowned vocalist and Rhyma Hussain on lead guitar. Both the talented women will mesmerise the audience with the grace and elegance of their performance. The HomeSukh has consistently initiated unique endeavours to offer differentiated experiences to their patrons so come and enjoy this musical experience and get enchanted!

When: March 12, 5 pm onwards Where: The Home Sukh, Aracade 4, Ishanya, Off Airport Road

SHOP AT THE JUNKYARD SALE LIVEN UP YOUR WEEKEND

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE AT THE HOMESUKH

The HomeSukh, Pune’s first and smartest market

WALK THROUGH A PERFECT WEDDING

For those who dream of having a perfect wedding and confused about where to start with the planning, here is an apt solution for all your wedding related queries and requirements. Be a part of Pune’s biggest wedding extravaganza, The JW Royal Wedding Show powered

by Marquee Events. With the wedding season just around the corner, JW Marriott, Pune is offering the best guidance on all the elements including date fixing, venue, décor, attire, food, entertainment, decorative invites and gifts. For the first time ever, one can walk through every aspect of an ideal wedding and decide on various things.

When: March 13, 11 am onwards Where: JW Marriott, SB Road

FUN WITH ACRYLIC COLOURS

Art2Day Gallery is organising a unique workshop

Attend the Junkyard Sale and Street Food Festival, presented by The Cultural Centre, Mahlzeit and Prelocate. The Junkyard Sale is back along with their first Street Food Festival, bringing together the best fusion of food and art start-ups in Pune. Enjoy a day in the beautiful ambience of Cocoparra, mingling with

WEEKEND KATHAK BATCH

Kathak has always been a principal classical form of India. It’s a dynamic form, which brings out beauty, virtuosity, grace, strength, speed all at once. Its speedy footwork whirls and turns, and the lovely lines in space are spellbinding. The much awaited Weekend Kathak batch with Ameera Patankar will give you the perfect opportunity to unwind.

When: Ongoing till August 14, 1 pm on Sat & Sun Where: R Studio, 208, Regent Plaza, Baner-Pashan Link Road

EDITOR

YOUR CAR ISN’T SAFE IN PRIDE HOTEL VALET PARKING

Valet parking is common at up market restaurants and hotels in Pune. And the car owners are at ease regarding the security aspect. But think again. The director of renowned transport company, Supreme Trans Concept, Pride Hotel, Shivaji Nagar Prashant Mohite’s car was Prashant Mohite stolen from the three-star Pride Hotel valet parking on March 2. “I drove to Pride Hotel around 8 pm on March 2 for an important meeting, in my Toyota Fortuner. I handed over the keys to the Pride Hotel valet. But three hours later, the valet didn’t have my car key. I looked for my car in the parking lot, but like the keys, my car was also missing,” said Mohite. The car contained his laptop, car documents and other files. It’s been a week and while the hotel hasn’t taken any action against the negligent employees, even the police seem to be dragging their feet in the case.

MODEL PROMISED MARRIAGE, RAPED FOR THREE YEARS

A model and film actress has filed a complaint against brothers Sanket Dnyaneshwar Lande and Mayur Dnayneshwar Lande of Moshi Borhadewadi, Woodsvhil Society, on March 6, at MIDC Bhosari police station, accusing Sanket of raping her under the pretext of marriage for three years, and Mayur of threatening her. Assistant police inspector and investigating officer, Rupali Bobade, said that the victim and Sanket shared a live-in relationship since November 2013 to February 2016, during which time they had sexual relations in Mumbai, Pune and Goa. Senior Police Inspector R P Chaudhar said that Sanket and Mayur have been booked under IPC.

HERE, WALKING IS DANGER: The garbage bins on pavement force pedestrians to walk on Agarkar Road near BMCC College and risk their lives

We are meant to help each other

Women are standing up for their rights

Road rage comes of age in Pune

The cover story in LIFE was a good read. It is refreshing to see women fighting against injustice they are subjected to, and emerging all the better for it. We need more women who will stand up for themselves. And they are the ones who will bring about a sea change in society. These women have had to be strong and have had to raise their children on their own, filling in the void of the father. It is a challenge to assume the responsibilities of a single parent, and such women deserve all the help and encouragement they need to raise their children as upright citizens.

— Prema Holle

The StreetBeats Crew is using its talent to raise funds for a young man who is suffering from cancer. Now this is something that everyone can learn from. We all want to show the world our talents but using one’s gifts to help another person in need, is indeed a praiseworthy endeavour. Music and dance have today become a stepping stone to fame and fortune, but there is far more to life than just bright lights and fame. We are all part of the human race, and it is our duty to help each other when we can. The StreetBeats youngsters are paving the way for others to follow in their footsteps, and make the world a better place.

— Swami Gill

The road rage incident is horrifying. It is chilling that a couple trying to find parking space had to face such inhuman treatment. The German national was chased by the culprits who were wielding a baseball bat. What have come to? Such barbaric behaviour is a sign that all is not well with urban society, if a casual incident can throw us into such murderous rage. The more money and luxury we have, the more backward we seem to be going, and car owners seem to behave that they are better than the commoners who use two-wheelers. The police also have a role to play and they can curb such eccentric behaviour.

—Shaila Thuse

PIC

OF

LETTERS TO THE

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.

E WE K

BIKER IN PMPML MISHAP PASSES AWAY

After battling for life at the Sassoon General Hospital against burns and other injuries for three days, the biker involved in the freak accident with a PMPML bus succumbed to his injuries on March 11. The accident had happened in front of the Shivajinagar court on March 8 and had resulted in a PMPML bus getting burnt down.

The bus plying from PMC Headquarters to Keshavnagar was overtaking a car and was on the wrong side of the road, as it hit a biker head-on. The impact damaged the CNG pipe under the PMPML bus which caused the fire. While the bus passengers were unhurt, the bike rider Sharad Bhagwat, 52, suffered burn and other injuries on both legs, as well as head injuries. Bhagwat was caught under the bus after the crash. He had been admitted to Sassoon Hospital, where he passed away on Friday. Meanwhile, his daughter Prajakta, 29, who was riding pillion, escaped with minor injuries, as she was thrown off the bike.

Write to Us

RAHUL RAUT

WEEK THAT WAS

‘Fun with Acrylic Colours’, under the guidance of well-known artist Milind Mulick and others. An opportunity to learn basics of acrylic colour painting in specially designed short course of 10 sessions for art lovers in city. It is an excellent chance for people with creative urge to learn from art master, the basics of painting in perfected step-by-step demonstrations.

When: From March 12 till April 3, (Sat & Sun) Where: Art2Day, Samarth, 1048, Near Hirabaug Chowk, Tilak Road

T

he Airport Road subway is in bad shape and with all the craters it is almost unusable for road users. This is a busy road and the long-pending repairs of the subway has caused untold hardships to the countless road users on a daily basis.

The road is narrow and it is especially hazardous during the monsoons as the surface becomes slippery. The potholes pose a real danger, as they Robin N get submerged in the water and two-wheeler riders are most prone to be caught by surprise. And because of the potholes, road users swerve and dodge them, and this causes an even more hazardous situation. It is high time that the corporation’s roads department takes action and do the needful. Or are they waiting for some major mishap on this road before they do? I myself have had so many close shaves here, and I am sure other road users have experienced the same, and some of the unlucky ones have crashed. Pune is among the first list of smart cities but this state of affairs, where a road with potholes is not repaired for months on end is not in keeping with the city’s elevated status. The corporation is definitely to blame for turning a blind eye to the safety of citizens on the road, and with the smart city plan, the Pune Municipal Corporation really needs to up the ante.

And it is not as if the corporation is short of money, is it? At the rate Pune has grown and expanded, the civic body’s coffers must be overflowing with money. It is just that the people who decide how to use it, have no idea or concern for the common man, who has to endure lifethreatening hazards on city roads because of such unscrupulous public servants.

THE

This Saturday, enjoy an unparalleled beering experience with retro rock band Strange Brew.

The band was formed in 1999 by Michael Periera, Christopher Fonceca and Sanjeev Pandkar. The track single No Time won the Ruff ’s Award for best Indian Rock Song of the year. Strange Brew has played more than 1,500 shows. The team comes from versatile musical background and have spent many years in the music business and have played all over the country as sessions artists with line ups such as Agnee, Colonial Cousins, Gary Lawyer, Karma and many other renowned artists When: March 12, 9 pm onwards Where: The Beer Cafe, Ground Floor, Kapila Matrix, Koregaon Park

your friends, family and friends-to-be. There will be gourmet food and drinks, good music, cool vintage stuff, fun activities and artists exhibits.

When: March 13, 1 pm to 10 pm Where: Cocoparra, 20-A, Kharadi Bypass Road, Near Mundhwa Bridge

RAHUL RAUT

Bumping along on Airport Road

Look before you leap

The young woman who was hoodwinked by a man for years on end under the pretext of marriage is a pointer to how things are in our society these days. Gone are the days when children were closely monitored by parents, and in matters of relations with the opposite sex, the parents had the last word. But in today’s world, children are no longer under the scrutiny of parents, and they travel to other places for studies or work, where they have to make their own decisions. This is where girls should be more discreet and be wary of men who will dangle the carrot of marriage to lure a girl into having sexual relations before marriage. There is only so much parents can do in this scenario, except for bringing up their children to be savvy and smart and not get fooled by unscrupulous people.

— Priyanka Joginder

The killer PMPML buses This is not the first time that someone has lost his or her life or that damage has been done by PMPML bus drivers. The authorities must make sure that the vehicles are road-worthy and also that the drivers observe traffic laws and are disciplined. PMPML is notorious for bus breakdowns, which just shows that this is an organisation that sorely needs to improve its working and discipline its staff. The public transport body has been in the doldrums for ever and all the initiatives to improve its functioning has come to nought. But it is criminal that the bus drivers are so rash, and do not seem to care that their flouting of traffic laws can result in injury and even death to hapless road users.

—Sham Singh

SPORTS

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY MARCH 12, 2016

PUNE

“Within hours of my announcement, fans showed me support and loyalty, which I could only expect to hear when someone would be at the top of their profession. Their words put a smile on my face.”

— Maria Sharapova, Tennis Player

“We are hot favorites for the T20 World Cup. The home conditions will suit us and the kind of form our team is showing by winning Asia Cup, I am sure the cup is going to remain in India.”

— Zaheer Khan, Former Indian Bowler

‘Junior shooters will peak in 2020’

The progress in terms of infrastructure has failed to keep pace with the growing number of shooters, says junior national shooting coach Deepali Deshpande

BY ASHISH PHADNIS @phadnis_ashish

The junior shooters of India are finding their mark and making their presence felt at prestigious tournaments.

And the graph of their striking progress m e a n s that come Deepali Deshpande O l y m p i c s 2020, they will be peaking in terms of performance.

Deepali Deshpande, India’s junior national shooting (rifle) coach, in fact, believes that the juniors will bring home a heap of laurels.

The former Olympian was in Pune to receive the Kridabhushan award from Symbiosis. “During our days, the shooters were talented but most of them were misguided. Not intentionally, but they learnt from their mistakes and their careers ended while they were rectifying their errors. Fortunately, the juniors today get proper training at the right time. Once they get their basics right, it helps them in the long run,” she said.

“The current crop of shooters have everything in their favour, including quality coaching from former Olympians, proper infrastructure, and corporate sponsorship as well. All these combined result in boosting their performance, which consequently translates into the winning results.

Establishing themselves at the junior level is the ideal springboard for them to set their sights on the big league,” said Deepali, who had

Signposts Amit Dhumal wins rapid chess tourney Amit Dhumal defeated Ameya Datar to clinch the Invitational Rapid Chess Tournament recently. Dhumal garnered 5.5 points from six rounds.

Atharva Gawade finished second with 4.5 points. At the end of round 6, Sanskruti Wankhede, Amogh Kunte and Rahul Moghe were joint third, with four points each.

Triple for Manjusha Sahastrabuddhe Continuing her fine performance, Pune’s veteran badminton player Manjusha Sahastrabuddhe won a triple crown in the National Veteran Championship held in Coimbatur recently. Manjusha emerged winner in the singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles in the 50+ age group. In the singles final, she defeated Maharashtra’s Saroj Sawant. Meanwhile, Pune’s Sameer Bhagwat won a double crown.

Infosys dominates corporate basketball Infosys team won the men’s and women’s titles in the Elevate 16 Corporate Basketball Tournament held recently by Pune Institute of Computer Technology. In the men’s final, Infosys defeated Wipro 76-65. W Shiavam (25 pts) and Abhishek Samantha (20) were impressive for the winning team. In the women’s final, Shama Hasilkar and Vishakha Bhabhal played an important role in Infosys’s 20-13 win over Syntel.

won a silver medal in rifle shooting at the 2004 Asian Shooting Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and was selected to represent India at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Greece.

Deepali is currently training upcoming shooters like Asian bronze medallist Anjum Modgil, Asian silver medallist Shriyanka Sadangi and Asian Junior champion Swapnil Kusale of Kolhapur.

“There was a void after Anjali Bhagwat, Suma Shirur and I retired from the competitive circuit. But things are at a really promising phase now, as today’s youngsters are putting in performances that are almost level with those of seniors like Heena Sindhu and Rahi Sarnobat. In fact, the problem now could be picking the ones to represent India from the ever growing number of aspirants and the competition is certainly going to be fierce,” said Deepali.

MENTAL BALANCE A calm and unflustered mental demeanour is crucial for a shooter, and that is the area Deepali focuses on, apart from all the other essentials. There is no room for depression or negativity in a shooter’s make-up if he/she is to excel, she believes.

“Of course winning is the goal, but I think that a crucial aspect of my role as coach is to work on a shooter’s mental aspect. Don’t worry about performance, I keep telling my wards. Winning and losing are all part of the game, and it is important to be able to be gracious in defeat. Experience is the ultimate teacher, and indispensable in terms of how one

reacts to changing situations in a competition. I believe that all these aspects form the foundation for young shooters to build their sporting career on,” she said.

INFRASTRUCTURE Deepali thinks that there have been immense improvements in terms of infrastructure, but there is still not adequate facilities to accommodate the constantly increasing number of shooters.

“During our time there was almost no infrastructure to speak of, and whatever was there was basic and primitive compared to the facilities available these days.

There is significant improvement, but that said, it’s far from enough.

In our time, there were five shooters, and now there are over 5000. There’s a need to keep pace with the increasing numbers,” said Deepali.

CORPORATE AID Deepali believes that corporate financial support is indispensable for shooters if they are to make progress. There is only so much that the government can do, and the private sector has a significant role to play in the evolution of the sports fraternity.

“The government programmes to support players fall way short of what is needed, and the restrictions make them difficult to implement.

Corporates therefore, must fi ll in the vacuum and offer wholehearted support. Anjum and Swapnil are supported by Lakshya, a Pune-based sports NGO, and if the others follow their lead, the shooters of India will find their mark at the Olympics for sure,” said Deepali. ashish.phadnis@goldensparrow.com

Deepali Deshpande’s shooting stars •

ANJUM MOUDGIL - is a 20-year-old Chandigarh based rifle shooter. She has been a part of the Indian Shooting Team since 2010. Having represented India in 10 international competitions so far, she has bagged seven international medals out of which one is an Individual bronze at the Asian Air Gun Shooting Championship, Kuwait 2014. Several times National Champion, she has won over 50 national medals in her 5 year career.

•

SRIYANAKA SADANGI has a brilliant national and international track record.

She created a Youth World Record in the 10m Air rifle women team event at the 4th Asian Air Gun Championship, Kuwait in October 2011. She also won the Silver medal (team) in 10m Air Rifle event at the Asian Shooting Championship Doha in Jan 2012. Last year, she won a silver in Asian championship and recently a two silver and one bronze in Netherlands.

•

DSK Shivajians score historic win First Pune team to beat East Bengal with a good margin; coach believes better performances ahead TGS NEWS SERVICES @TGSWeekly DSK Shivajians made their presence felt in the Hero I-League with style scoring a dominating 2-0 victory over Kingfisher East Bengal at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Mhalunge-Balewadi last week.

Interestingly, it was biggest win scored by any Pune team against mighty East Bengal at Balewadi. The win was DSK Shivaji ans’ second of the season and was powered by a goal in each half by midfielder Douhou Pierre (10th minute) followed by a wonderstrike by Juan QueroBarasso (65th minute). The Pune-based club now has 9 points, which places them seventh in the Hero I-League table.

While the scoreline does not justify DSK Shivajians’ victory totally, the close chances missed were by the many in a game that the hosts completely dominated.

However, DSK Shivajians coach praised the team work by saying that the defense was good with goalkeeper Subrata Paul and debutant Sandesh Jhingan at the back. “Surchandra Singh and Milan Singh also played a good role in the middle, while Douhou Pierre, Perrick Aser Dipanda and especially Juan Quero combined well at the front,” the coach said.

The visitors began with a bang holding on to possession for long periods. Mehtab Hosain had an early crack at goal, which was seen wide by the returning Subrata Paul in the goal.

CLUB APPOINTS NEEL SHAH AS CEO DSK Shivajians is all set for bigger goals under the leadership of its newlyappointed CEO Neel Shah. Shah is known for his deep experience in the development and commercialization of football in North America and Asia over the past 13 years while holding senior level positions with Major League Soccer, Dentsu and Libero Sports. He will now be instrumental in the management of DSK Shivajians Football Club, Liverpool FC International Academy – DSK Shivajians and programming partnerships for DSK Group’s sports infrastructure projects.

However, DSK Shivajians took the lead against the run of play in the tenth minute when Surchandra Singh found a pacing Perrick Dipanda on the break, as he rounded off the keeper and took a shot, but the ball hit the post and fell to Douhou Pierre, who then guided the ball in the back of the net.

DSK Shivajians carried forward the momentum from the goal as they came close to doubling their lead. In the 14th minute, Baljit, who got on the end of a ball from Juan Quero, placed his shot just wide of the East Bengal goal.

Twelve minutes later, Quero found Milan with a lay-off, but the latter’s shot was blocked by the East Bengal,

only for the ball to fell to Douhou, whose acrobatic effort was just over the bar. Moments later, Quero found Perrick with a through ball to send the captain one-on-one with the keeper, but his shot was blocked by Rehnesh.

The visitors tried to hit back in the 29th minute, but Ranti Martins’ shot was bravely blocked by Haroon Amiri, who threw his body in the way of the goal-bound ball.

Surchandra was the fi rst player to be booked in the match as a result of his crunching tackle on Mendy in the 43rd minute. DSK Shivajians went into the half time with a goal’s advantage.

East Bengal came out spirited after

the break, as they attacked the DSK Shivajians’ goal twice in the opening three minutes of the half. In the 48th minute, Joaquim Abranchesof East Bengal broke free from the right flank and took a screamer of a shot from outside the box, which went just wide of the goal.

DSK Shivajians countered right away as Perrick broke free after Douhou passed the ball to the captain’s feet, but his shot hit the side netting on its way out. 53rd minute saw Amiri find Quero with a diagonal ball, as the latter tried to find Douhou, who misjudged his run.

The home team started piling pressure on East Bengal as in the 57th minute Baljit took a shot from outside the box, which went over the bar.

The pressure paid off in the 65th minute when Juan Quero, who received the ball from Surchandra, ran at goal and unleashed a shot from 30 yards of outside the box, which beat Rehnesh on the far post, doubling DSK Shivajians’ lead in the process.

DSK Shivajians contained the match from thereon, as Subrata Paul made a string of saves in the last 20 minutes to keep East Bengal at bay.

Perrick got yet another chance in the 83rd minute which was blocked by the keeper, but the ball fell to Douhou, who’s rebound was wide off the mark.

Lalhriatpuia, a product of the Liverpool FC International Academy – DSK Shivajians, made his I-League bow for DSK Shivajians when he replaced the captain Perrick Dipanda in the 90th minute of the match. The Mizoram-born player nearly made it 3-0 to the home team in the dying minutes when Quero found him with a lay-off, but the youngster was unable to control the ball. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

SWAPNIL KUSALE - was crowned the Asian Junior Champion, after winning gold in the 50m rifle prone position in 2015. Recently, he defeated senior stalwarts such as Olympian bronze medalists Gagan Narang and Chain Singh, to win gold in the 50m prone 3 position in the 59th Senior National Championship held at the Karni Singh Range, Tughlakabad.

He also won bronze in the 50 m 3 position at the same event.

Pune to host two extra IPL matches TGS NEWS SERVICES @TGSWeekly Along with seven home matches, the Maharashtra Cricket Association’s stadium in Gahunje will host two extra matches in this Indian Premier League 2016 season.

Pune team – Rising Pune SuperGiants (RPSG) will start their IPL campaign against defending champions Mumbai Indians in an away match on April 9. RPSG’s fi rst home match is almost two weeks later, as they will take on Royal Challengers, Bangalore on April 22.

Immediately, RPSG will face Kolkata Knight Riders (April 24), Gujarat Lions (April 29) and then Mumbai Indians on May 1.

After a small gap, the Puneits will be able to enjoy the tie between RPSG and Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 10 and against Delhi Daredevils on May 17. Pune will play their last league match against Kings XI Punjab on May 21.

After the league phase, the Pune’s IPL fever won’t come down, as they will witness the Eliminator round, where third placed team will take on fourth placed team on May 25.

Immediately, Gahunje will host the crucial tie of Qualifier Two. In this match, loser of Qualifier one and winner of Eliminator round will clash to book a berth in the fi nal on May 27.

The fi nal will take place at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on May 29.

The ground which was home ground for Pune Sahara Warriors during 2011-13 hosted home matches for Kings XI Punjab in 2015. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com