The Golden Sparrow on Saturday 06/08/2016

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THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY AUGUST 6, 2016

PUNE

‘‘We had sent a proposal for getting approved Distance Education Centres to the UGC. Two years ago the decision to grant such centres lay with the Indira Gandhi National Open University but then this power was transferred to UGC. We had sent the proposal more than 6 months ago.”

— B Gaikwad, Director, Board of College and University Development

Guj HC quashes quota ordinance P10

They risk their lives just to go to school Students of Ambeghavan have to risk their lives daily to get to school by using a cable bridge to cross the Mandvi river

BY VICKY PATHARE @Vickypathare2 Crossing the street to catch the school bus is perhaps the riskiest part of going to school for most students. But the school children from Ambeghavan village of Junnar district literally have to risk their lives, as they cross the Mandvi river using a cable bridge every day, to and from school. The hazardous cable bridge though is a lifeline for the residents, who use the bridge every day to visit the hospital, school or market.

There are many such villages in Pune district, where students have to use hazardous means to cross rivers, when there is no proper bridge.

Incessant rains in some parts of Pune district have caused rivers to overflow their banks, and using makeshift bridges is always a hazardous or even life-threatening prospect.

Ambeghavan village, 110 km from Pune, is among the worst hit. More than 500 residents and their children from Dhaushi, Mordara, Bhutambare, Kawte, Pawdewasti and Takate villages use the ropeway bridge to cross Mandvi river to reach Ambeghavan, which also connects to Otur. Currently, the cable bridge is submerged under water, and the residents of the villages are unable to cross from either side.

Shri Gajanan Maharaj Prasarak Mandal’s Shardabai Pawar Madhyamik Vidyalay (SPMV), was built in the memory of late Vilas Tambe, in the year 1994. There is a Zilla Parishad school next door to this school, which is more than seven decades old. SPMV has classes from Kindergarten to Standard X, while the Zilla Parishad is a primary school. There are

around 80 students who have to cross the river to attend SPMV school, and a dozen students of Zilla Parishad School.

The village residents have built a cable bridge at a height of 25 feet on the Mandvi river, which is 220 feet wide and 15 to 20 feet deep. Tied to the rope is a wooden swing which can be used by two adults or four children at a time. Those crossing from the Dhaushi side sit on the swing, which is pulled by residents from the Ambeghavan village side. The same

process is repeated after school. The water level in the river is always high as water is released from the Chilewadi dam. The locals have petitioned their representatives many times, but to no avail. The villagers have to use this bridge to go to the only market in Otur.

Some farmers even use this swing to carry their produce to market.

SPMV School Principal Manik Borhade said, “This situation has affected the students adversely. Poor attendance yields poor results at

Drunk tourists are not welcome here any more

the end of the school year. Students who fail in exams, especially boys, drop out early. For the last three days the situation has been even more grim and students have remained absent as the water levels have risen. During heavy monsoon rains, the access to the village is blocked and school staff also has problems in commuting.

The government should provide a solution to this problem as soon as possible. There are more than 15 children between six and ten years of age who use this swing to come to school.”

“Almost every day we hear of children getting injured while crossing the river. We do not have the heart to educate our children at the cost of their lives,” said Sujata Fatesingh, a school teacher.

The tehsil is a perfect picture of the apathy that prevails in the remote regions of the district. It is blessed with natural wealth, but owing to the state government’s apathy, it lacks the most basic of amenities. Residents of the villages struggle to survive in this tough topography, in the absence of roads, electricity, healthcare, education and employment. They have to make the most of what they have. There are 200 families who risk their lives every day while crossing the river.

Talati of Ambeghavan Rahul Shinde told TGS, “I have sent a detailed report of the grim situation to the tehsildar’s office. The tehsildar of the area Asha Holkar will visit the village within two days and look into the situation.

A permanent solution will be provided to the problem at the earliest. However, students and the residents have faced this problem from more than a couple of decades, and the officials have not come up with a concrete solution. Some students fallen in the river were rescued by villagers.”

Social worker Raju Gaykar said, “The government seems to be unconcerned about the students who risk their lives daily. The government should provide a concrete solution to the problem. The problem has become worse recently and residents and students are unable to cross the river.”

Resident Narayan Kalekar said, “Boys and girls from Mordara and Dhaushi have to cross the river from points where there are no bridges to reach the schools in Ambeghavan. With heavy rains, the water level crosses the danger mark, making the crossing even more difficult.

The students have no option but to remain absent from school.” vicky.pathare@goldensparrow. com

38 Pune bars booked for serving smaller pegs LMD books 1041 establishments across Maharashtra for cheating customers by serving less than the prescribed quantity of liquor

BY VICKY PATHARE @Vickypathare2

Residents of villages in the vicinity of popular picnic and trekking spots are up in arms against the invasion by drunk and disorderly tourists

BY ASHISH PHADNIS @phadnis_ashish Bhushi dam, Rajmachi fort in Lonavala, the waterfall points in Mulshi, Madhe ghat, and even Sinhagad and Panshet near Pune are favourite destinations for picnickers and tourists, especially during the monsoons. But the growing numbers of inebriated tourists have now become a huge source of worry and concern for the local police, genuine trekkers and family groups.

To counter this menace of drunken tourists, residents of local villages have planned to take appropriate action to curb such irresponsible and even dangerous behaviour. The residents of Udhewadi, a base village of Rajmachi fort, have dug a trench to prohibit entry to fourwheelers, while at Madhe ghat near Torna fort, the locals have stopped providing any service to such groups. The Raigad collector has asked all sub-divisional magistrates in the district to issue orders restricting groups of visitors near waterfalls and dams.

Citing the reasons behind the decision, Tukaran Umbre of Udhewadi said, “We have had enough of these drunken tourists.

They have converted our place into a garbage pit. They litter the place with trash and beer

bottles, play loud music and dance in obscene attires. If we try to stop them, they abuse us and sometime even manhandle us. Even the local cops are having problems in controlling these hooligans. So we have all come together to put an end to this nuisance.”

But there are some villagers who provide alcohol to these groups, to make some money.

However, with the mounting pressure from others and the local administration, they have now stopped selling alcohol.

“The worst part is that our women folk

are not safe, as there have been cases of eve teasing in recent times. We don’t have enough manpower to stop them or drive them away.

But at least we can stop entertaining them. We do not offer food and other services to such groups any longer,” said Lakshman Shinde, a resident of Kelad, a remote village near Madhe ghat.

Three years ago, the villagers had got into a fight with one such group, wherein one villager got injured when a hot curry vessel was thrown at him. The case is still pending in court.

“That was an extreme case, but we don’t want to take any chances. We have already approached the local administration and asked them to post police staff to prevent these types of incidents,” said Shinde.

The genuine trekkers who visit these places to enjoy nature’s beauty, have welcomed the decision.

“This step was necessary. There are some places like Sinhagad, Purandar and Patta forts, where tourists are not allowed to carry alcohol. The villagers have formed joint groups with local police and they check every vehicle. It would be an impossible task to put such check points everywhere, but that the villagers are taking a stern step, is a good sign and hopefully it will reduce the number of hooligans,” said Sidgounda Patil, a Punebased trekker. ashish.phadnis@goldensparrow.com

PIC FOR REPRESENTATION PURPOSE ONLY

A trench has been dug en route to Rajmachi fort to prevent four wheelers. (Below) A group of drunk tourists captured at Malshej Ghat

Several city establishments have been booked by the state government for cheating customers by serving less than the ‘prescribed’ quantity of alcohol.

The cases have been registered against many prominent bars, which were either serving less alcohol for the small/large pegs or using nonstandard peg measures. The cases have been registered by the Legal Metrology Department.

The drive across Maharashtra was carried out between July 28 and July 30, wherein 1401 bars were inspected. Over 1041 bars were found to be flouting norms. Out of the 45 bars inspected in the city, 38 were found guilty.

In Pune, establishments like Allarella Food Pvt Ltd Kalyaninagar, Elephant and Co, Kalyaninagar, Apache Next, Ghole Road, Agent Jacks Bar, SB Road, Mainland China, SB Road, and Hotel Ritz Café, Shivajinagar were among the establishments booked by LMD for following substandard practices.

Amitabh Gupta, Controller of Legal Metrology said, “Violations in the state include use of unstamped peg measures 30, use of not re-verified and stamped peg measures 626, use of non-standard peg measures 199, short delivery in liquor 5, and other violations 181.

“The organisation will be collecting a fine of Rs 40 lakh towards it.”

“The intentions of all these bars was to

compromise on liquor quantity served in pegs to customers and make more profit,” he said.

The peg measures used for liquor should be as per the specifications, material and capacity as specified in the Legal Metrology (General) Rules 2011 which are made under Legal Metrology Act. 2009.

D L Kove, deputy controller, Pune region said, “Many bars and restaurants were found using peg measures that were not verified and stamped OK (mandatory as per norms)

by LMD.” Many of them were using peg measures that had not been re-verified after their first verification expired. Still others went a step further and were using non-standard peg measures, ultimately compromising on the amount of liquor served.

If the bars approach the department and plead guilty within a certain time, they will be let off with a monetary fine (Rs 20,000). If they fail to do so, the department will file a chargesheet against them,” he said. vicky.pathare@goldensparrow. com

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PMC school kids forced to wear tattered uniforms

They’ve Risen like a Phoenix From the Flame

Of course they’ve faced countless odds and hurdles along the way but these Puneites have undertaken a tough hike See p06-07 up the social and financial ladder for a glorious view from the height of success

Pune cops won’t help victim of sexual abuse

A month after a 17-yearold student got two of her seniors booked for sexually abusing her, she is being threatened and harassed all over again by their friends.

They have been threatening the teenage girls with an acid attack YOGESH WAGH AND GARGI VERMA @TGSweekly

International students and their friends have been wreaking havoc at Wadia College. A month after a minor girl lodged a complaint against three Afghan boys studying at the same college, she has been subjected to repeated harassment in the past few days. In a typical case of burking, the investigation officer has also not taken any strict action and has pushed all responsibilities on to the college administration.

The 17-year-old student was being harassed by students from her own college as reported by The Golden Sparrow. However, even after she lodged a police complaint, her ordeal did not end. “It all started two days after I joined classes after lodging the

complaint. The boys would just keep following me everywhere. Everyone knew within days that I had lodged a complaint and everyone just kept asking me about the incident,” she said.

The situation grew so bad that the girl had to get her mother to accompany her all the time to college. One of the accused’s friends Almar, also allegedly threatened her life. “He told me that they would take revenge and that he would explain to me how acid works,” she said with a shudder.

The girl was being subjected to unwanted advances by a student of Afghan nationality, named Zahir.

When she tried thwarting him, his advances just increased and he even enlisted his friends’ support to get her to agree. The victim finally had to lodge a police complaint. However, it went even more downhill from there.

“When I joined the college on July 8, multiple people came up to me and started accosting me about the complaint. In the next few days I had many boys following me to the bus stop near my home. They would follow me and pass lewd comments. Random people would walk up to me and ask about the incident. It was almost akin to being pierced multiple times by the piercing and at times judging glares of strangers,” the young girl, who aspires to become a doctor after her studies, said.

During the last few days of July,

after multiple direct and indirect threats to her life, of acid attacks and ‘grave consequences’, the girl stopped going to college. She restarted only after her mother came to Pune from their hometown and started accompanying her to and from college. “I worry all the time about her. It is such a grave inconvenience for no fault of ours,” her harrowed mother said.

Koregaon Police Station was contacted by the girl when all this started again. “I called them and told them how I was being harassed.

However, they just said they’ll look into the matter and have not taken any action yet.” The Korgeaon Police station confi rmed that they had received complaints and are working on them. “These Afghani students have been a trouble for some time. When the girl contacted us, we approached the college management and gave them the complaint in writing. It is now up to the college as to how they wish to punish them,” said Vidya Raut, Police Sub Inspector.

The college, however, believes the opposite. “Since they are international students, there is very little the institute can do to discipline them,” said Dr K S Vyenkatraghawan, Principal of the college. “I got the complaint of the girl in question on August 3, about her getting harassed again. I took a quick action and a committee was set up immediately to look into the matter,” he added. However, the committee just sent a letter to the International Council of Cultural Relations. “We have sent a copy of the letter, the FIR and the police reports to the International Student Centre at the Savitribai Phule Pune University.

Since the students in question are international, any disciplinary action including their admission, suspension or rustication happens from there. We are not eligible to take that step,” he explained.

While the police is passing the responsibility to the college authorities and they are passing it on to the international centre, the victim in the meanwhile is at the receiving end.

Feedback.tgs@goldensparrow.com

See p03

MUMBAI

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY AUGUST 6, 2016

PUNE

‘‘If BJP plans to bring a resolution for a separate Vidarbha state, the Sena stand will be to oppose it. The Sena is committed towards an undivided Maharashtra. ’’ - Eknath Shinde, Minister for Public Works Department

‘We look forward to more investments from Russia’ P 12

12-time ‘groom’ lands in jail

Police use family as bait to nab rapist

Man who cheated and raped 12 young girls with promises of marriage, arrested by Vile Parle police

BY SANTOSHEE MISHRA @santosheemishra The Vile Parle police arrested a man who has allegedly cheated and raped 12 girls under the pretext of marriage. The arrested accused used to tell the victims that he was based in Japan, and that he owned 150 acres of land at a hill station near Mumbai.

According to Vile Parle police, the person named and identified as Moranjak Bhavsar, 32, allegedly raped several young girls, by promising to marry them. He speaks fluent English, with a foreign accent.

There are 12 FIRs registered with Vile Parle police station, and Bhavsar was earlier arrested by MIDC police station in Andheri and jailed for three years, on similar cheating and rape charges.

Mahadeo Nimbalkar, police inspector from Vile Parle said, “The Vile Parle police station has registered 12 FIRs, but there are 60 cases wherein the arrested accused has cheated and raped young girls in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur.”

Bhavsar’s modus operandi seems like a Hindi film script. He poses as an NRI who earns Rs 22 lakh per month, and has acquired a MBBS degree from Mumbai. He wants to marry an Indian girl after approval from his parents, and settle down with his family in Japan.

“A young girl, Radhika Apte (name changed) came to us in the second week of July, stating that a man who identified himself as Rahul, took her to Shirdi and fled with her debit card. She stated in her complaint that Rahul, through a matrimonial

PIL urges HC to stop sale of exotic birds, animals The Bombay High Court issued a notice to Maharashtra Government, police and other authorities on a petition seeking closure of pet shops which sell exotic birds and other animals at Crowford Market here and criminal action against their owners.

A bench headed by Justice VM Kanade asked the state government and other authorities to respond within four weeks.

The PIL alleged that birds and animals were kept in barbaric condition and urged the court to direct the Animal Welfare Board to frame rules to regulate pet shops in the state.

“There are rampant instances of selling un-weaned puppies — puppies taken away from their mothers before they can open their eyes. Thereafter, they are drugged to prevent them from crying. Large birds are stuffed into small cages and are also debeaked by cutting their beaks with hot knives.

Kittens are de-clawed with pliers so that they won’t be able to scratch,” the PIL alleged.

As per the data with the Ministry of Environment and Forests, a total of 8,000 birds have been seized and rescued from Crawford Market since 1993, the PIL said.

Besides, exotic birds like koels, jungle fowls, macaws, horn bill, munias, parakeets and mynahs are being openly sold in the market, the petition added.

The PIL cited a 2014 Supreme Court judgment which says that Article 21 of the Constitution of India - Right to life - applies not only to human beings but to all living beings, including animals.

PTI

Moranjak Bhavsar

website, came across her photo and told her that he was a doctor from Mumbai, and that he owned 150 acres of land in Mahabaleshwar, and he planned to marry an Indian girl. He told the complainant that he was based in Japan, and after marriage in India, she would have to shift to Japan. She said that she was impressed with his foreign accent and decided to marry him. The arrested accused, after a formal engagement, took her to Shirdi to offer prayers.

After the prayers, he booked a room in a five-star hotel in Shirdi and forced the complainant to have

‘Helping out kids gives me satisfaction’ P 14

physical relations with him,” said Nimbalkar.

The next day, the conman took the complainant’s debit card, claiming that his debit card had developed some technical error. Radhika gave him her debit card and told him the password.

“Within hours, Radhika realised that a huge transaction of about Rs 1.50 lakh was done from her card. She phoned Bhavsar to confirm it, and he confessed that he had cheated her not only with money, but also made her suffer physical and mental trauma,” said the officer.

Radhika, a resident of Vile Parle, register an FIR at the police station, and the police started tracking the mobile phone of the accused.

“We came to know that the phone as well SIM card belonged to another victim who had been cheated and raped by Bhavsar in June. We reached the five-star hotel in Shirdi and took the CCTV footage. But the accused’s face could not be seen in any of the available footage,” he said.

The CCTV footage at the entrance of the hotel gave a clue of the registration number and a flag of a political party.

“The team reached the owner of the SUV at Malshej ghat near Nashik, and the owner said that the car belonged to him, and that he had given it to his future brother-in-law. The police tracked Bhavsar to a five-star hotel at Karnala bird sanctuary near Panvel, and arrested and took him into custody.

According to the police, Bhavsar is a resident of Thane, and his parents had thrown him out of the house three years ago. santoshee.mishra@goldensparrow.com

Accused hiding in a tug boat was told that his family needs urgent help TGS NEWS SERVICES @TGSWeekly

The Cuffe Parade police had to wait for 10 hours on the sea shore to nab a married man who found a tug boat to evade arrest after allegedly raping two minors. The accused was ‘trapped’ after message was send that his family has come to meet him.

The police arrested Mushtaq Ahmed Sakharkar (55) of Ambedkar Nagar slum in Cuffe Parade, hailing from Ratnagiri district under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) 2012.

His family comprising wife and two children had left him owing to family dispute and he was staying alone.

Cuffe Parade Police Sub-Inspector Rahul Bhandare said, “Mushtaq was living alone for the past few months. On August 2, he lured the two sisters aged 9 and 11 years of the neighbourhood with chocolates and allegedly raped them. He threatened the victims of dire consequences and managed to escape when neighbours came to know about the heinous crime.”

Accused Mushtaq Ahmed Sakharkar

Bhandare said that an FIR was filed and teams formed to nab Mushtaq. A team was also sent to his native place in Ratnagiri district. The neighbours said that he works in Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) but remained elusive.

MbPT authorities told the police that he was aboard a tug boat named Ravi in the sea. “We had to wait for 10 hours after we got an idea and asked MbPT to alert Mushtaq that his family needs urgent help. The accused was nabbed when he reached the shore,” Bhandare said. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

Imposter Pilloo arrested by police

Pilloo arrested for impersonating Silloo Mistry, and sent to police custody for a day TGS NEWS SERVICES @TGSWeekly

The Kasarvadvali police officials arrested Pilloo Parvez Mehta for impersonating Silloo Mistry and cheating, on Thursday (August 4).

The police had arrested former Mira Bhayandar MLA Gillbert Mendonca on July 29, for his alleged role in the land-grabbing case, involving about 107 acres of land worth Rs 875 crore, in Thane.

Pilloo’s lawyer Mohammad Mohammed Irfan Momin said, “Pilloo was arrested and was produced in the designated court at Thane. The Kasarvadvali police have been given her custody for a day by the court.

On Friday, Pilloo will be produced in court by the police.”

On Februray 26, Kasarvadvali police station in Thane registered an FIR against Pilloo Mehta , her brother Kersi Minoo Guard, former MLA from Mira Bhayandar Gilbert John Mendonca, his associate Ashok Hire and advocate GB Lal, under sections 415 (cheating), 466 (forgery of records of public register), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), 426 (mischief), and 471 (forging a genuine document) of the IPC. The FIR states that Pilloo as Silloo Mistry approached the Kasarvadvali police station with forged documents, on December 5, 2015, and said that her land parcel situated in village Borivade

Pilloo Parvez Mehta

Gilbert Mendonca

Silloo Mistry

at Thane was allegedly grabbed by New Shree Swami Samarth Borivade Housing Company Private Ltd. After the police refusing to register an FIR, she approached the Bombay High Court to seek an order ‘for registering the FIR’ against her false allegations.

It was revealed that Pilloo was lured by her brother Guard who had allegedly promised her money in return. The statements given by Pilloo reveal that her brother forced her, and also told her that if she did not agree to be an imposter, they both would be killed by Hire and Mendonca.

It all started with a criminal petition being filed in HC on December 17, 2015. The case came up before the division bench of Justice Ranjit More and Justice VL Achliya on January 6. When the hearing began, Jehangir Mistry, who also practices in HC as a senior counsel, pointed out that his mother’s name had been used to file a petition against Thane cops. Lawyers representing the fake Silloo were stunned and told the court that the woman was outside

the courtroom. One of the lawyers went out to look for her but returned without her. Despite being summoned to court, the fake Silloo did not turn up.

Meanwhile, the real Silloo’s son Jehangir maintained that his mother’s identity had been stolen.

The court was convinced in a couple of hearings that the person who had filed the petition was an imposter.

They compared the documents of the fake Silloo with the real ones and found that while the details matched, photographs were of two different persons. The fake Silloo’s lawyers told the court that they were asked to file the petition by her brother Guard. On January 12, when the case came up for hearing, the imposter and her brother Guard finally came to court. The woman told the court

with conviction that she was indeed Silloo Mistry, and even gave her residential address and phone number.

Her brother Guard too gave his details.

The division bench of HC did not pass any strictures and slated the matter for January 14 after instructing the woman and her brother to appear again. On January 14, while Kersi appeared, his sister did not turn up. The HC issued a warning on the same day and asked the person who had filed the petition to be present on January 21, failing which they would initiate action.

On January 21, when the case came up for hearing, the woman who had filed the petition in the name of Silloo Mistry appeared with a new lawyer. Advocate RA Shaikh, appearing on her behalf, told the court that she was not Silloo Mistry

Land grabbers claimed to have bought property from Silloo in 2014

but Pilloo Parvez Mehta. “Ms Pilloo Parvez Mehta states that she has been used and forced to file this petition by her real brother by name Kersi Guard,” HC division bench of Justice Ranjit More and Justice SC Gupte noted. Guard passed the buck on to former Mira Bhayandar MLA Gilbert Mendonca and one Ashok Hire. The brother-sister duo told the court that their lives were in danger and that they were coerced into filing the petition in the name of Silloo Mistry.

Some time in 2014, a few landgrabbers claiming to have bought the land parcel from Silloo, tried getting the land records amended in their name. Initially, they were able to get some of the land records changed.

However, one of the government officials suspected something amiss and reported the case to Thane Nagar police station.

In November 2015, Thane Nagar Police registered an FIR of fraud, forgery and cheating against Gilbert Mendonca (former Mira Bhayandar MLA), AR Gaikwad, a record keeper in a government office and Manoj Sawant, a property agent by profession.

Ganesh Kekane, an investigating officer attached to Thane Nagar Police, told TGS that Mendonca along with others allegedly prepared forged documents of the land owned

by Silloo and submitted them in the tehsildar’s office to amend the land ownership records. After the FIR was registered, Sawant was arrested.

Gaikwad had obtained anticipatory bail and Mendonca was granted interim relief from arrest by Bombay High Court. Police are investigating the case. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

Doing routine tasks defeats ATC purpose Being engaged in local crime cases, the ATC team members are becoming known and are easily identified TGS NEWS SERVICES @TGSWeekly Despite the need to remaining alert regarding terror-related information, and orders by the Commissioner of Police Dattatray Padsalgikar to keep a tight and regular tabs on the growing Islamic State (IS) terror activities, officials of the specialised

Anti-Terror Cell (ATC) are still engaged in dealing with the local crimes of police stations across Mumbai.

The ATC, set up in the year 2012 in each of the city’s police stations, is a dedicated and specialised unit of the Mumbai police, in a bid to have of its own anti-terrorism resources.

The ATC wing was loaded with

technical work such as electronic surveillance methods, interception and data analysis, including gathering intelligence, so as to assist the Crime Branch of the Mumbai police.

“As we are associated with the police stations, our team members are very identifiable. Thus, the human intelligence gathering by each team has become next to impossible. Locally our faces have been identified, as being for about three years at one ATC police station gives no possibility of personally

visiting the places,” said an official from the ATC on condition of anonymity.

“The electronic surveillance methods, interception and data analysis is now upgraded and each police station engages the officials of ATCs to all these activities. Along with helping police stations in cases of extortion, murder, robbery and theft, we are assigned to be on the field with the police station for investigation,” said another ATC person on condition of anonymity.

Each ATC unit at a police station is headed by a police inspector and five constables are deputed.

“The human intelligence has now reached a stage where we only check or inspect the newly rented occupants with the help of estate agents. The terror activities locally to be monitored were enforced after the four Kalyan youths fled the country, but we usually are identified faces, so cannot personally visit worship places in our jurisdiction,” said a senior of the ATC unit.

“We are looking at the issue with ATC units. They have been facing problems, as the task designated for them is too delicate. The faces becoming identified are creating issues. We cannot transfer them, as by the time they are trained and well skilled, it is easy for the department.

We are looking at the issues that they should not be engaged in local daily crimes at the police stations,” said Sanjay Saxena, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime). tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY AUGUST 6, 2016

“Judgments of higher courts have given specific directives on how civic bodies should act in the matter of illegal buildings. But civic officials seem to avoid acting on them. They advise developers on how to approach the court.”

— Vivek Velankar, founder of Sajag Nagarik Manch PMC goofs up in awarding the contract for school uniforms. Bombay High Court asks the civic body to invite fresh bids

BY GARGI VERMA @missgverma Thirteen-year-old Saba Parvez, resident of Indira Nagar, is in the eighth standard at the Abaji Bibwe English Medium School. However, she still wears a tunic instead of the salwaar-kameez that the standard VIII girls are supposed to wear. “We had received just one pair of the salwaarkameez last year. That got torn earlier this year. So, I now wear the tunic I had in standard VI,” she explains. Saba is not the only one. There are many other children suffering from the lack of uniforms that are supplied by the Pune Municipal Corporation to its schools.

The PMC provides all its 314 schools in the city with uniforms for their students every year. These uniforms are delivered to the nearly 80,000 children at the beginning of the academic year. However, this year, even though it is August, the students have still not received their annual quota of uniform. According to Manisha Jangde, a teacher in the PMC school, “Children outgrow their uniforms very fast. Worse is the condition of their shoes. Since the uniform hasn’t come yet, we allow children to wear their home clothes or shoes to school.”

The uniforms haven’t yet reached the children as the PMC gave the contract of making the uniforms to a company that allegedly doesn’t have even an ISO certification. In March last year, PMC accepted tenders from three companies. However, stating that they need to relax the rules for

“stronger competition”, they allowed the company, Mafatlal Industries Limited, to participate. The contract was then allotted to the latter and they were in the process of finishing the procedure when another bidder, Peppermint Clothing Private Limited, filed a case of wrongful allotment of the contract. The High Court ruled in favour of Peppermint Clothing and asked the education board to file a fresh bid. According to the High Court, “Having relaxed the essential and fundamental eligibility condition, after the tender process started, in our considered view the Municipal Corporation has not acted fairly but in fact has acted arbitrarily and illegally.

Thus the action of the Municipal Corporation is abuse of and in excess of its powers.” The High Court has thus

cancelled this contract and has asked the education board to conduct a fresh tender application.

However, now that the entire process of getting new uniforms for the students is embroiled in a legal battle, the students have it the worst way. Maheshwari, an eight-year-old studying at the PMC school in Model Colony, wears torn jeans underneath her tunic, as the tunic is too small and she feels cold. Most children coming to school either come barefoot or wear their slippers and sandals, as they all have outgrown their shoes. “I am glad my height is still the same, or else I would have to wear my daily clothes to school,” says Akriti Karje a 10-yearold in the same school who wears an assortment of colourful leggings underneath her tunic.

Are you an internet addict?

About time you seek help City based counselling centre is dealing with several cases of internet addiction

BY DNYANESHWAR BHONDE @dnyanesh1 Muktangan De-addiction Centre in Yerawada known for providing comprehensive rehabilitation programme for alcohol and drug addicts is changing with times and technology, virtually.

Their latest visitors at Out Patient Department (OPD)are four youngsters with Internet addiction disorder.

Internet addiction includes excessive use of gaming, watching pornographic content, browsing on the Internet, using social networking sites like Facebook and WhatsApp on mobile or personal computer.

Most of the addicts fall prey to first two categories. The age group of this addiction is 16 to 20 years old, mostly from affluent families.

According to experts, if any person spends his maximum hours of a day on

activities that involve Internet, giving less time to food consumption, sleep, regular work and personal care, he is termed as an ‘Internet addict’. Apart from the ignorance towards physical fitness, it can lead to isolation from family or society and aggressiveness.

“We ascertain the patient’s aggressiveness (verbal or physical like a drunkard) if prevented from accessing the Internet. We check if s/he demands a high-end mobile and better network and always clings onto the phone. Only when the family members confirm that we go forward with the treatment,” said Manav Jogdev, Internet addiction councillor from Muktangan.

At least one Internet addicted patient visits the centre in every month.

Three counsellors are treating the four youngsters at the OPD. “More public awareness is the need of the hour regarding this addiction,” Jogdev said.

Counsellors cite that Internet addiction does not depend on the time spent online but how it affects other routines of the day. Along with the use of the Internet, if these patients are addicted to nicotine, drugs or alcohol, then only they are admitted to Muktangan. They are then cured by OPD treatment.

Counsellors advise patients’ families to gradually reduce the ward’s Internet time and monitor the progress and encourage participating in other activities, besides giving medicines.

“Our patients comprise alcohol addicts (75 per cent), drugs (15 per cent) and Internet, gambling and others (10 per cent). We work on four parameters like awareness, treatment, training and rehabilitation,” said Madhav Kolhatkar, Muktangan Coordinator. dnyaneshwar.bhonde@goldensparrow.com

RBI funds not for recapitalising PSU banks

Prachanda elected Nepal’s new PM

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PMC school kids forced to wear tattered uniforms

The boys, however, can’t say the same. Abhay, Akriti’s elder brother is in his early teenage years and is growing in height by the day. “The trousers were coming above my ankles. So, now I wear my black pants. Yesterday, I got drenched in the rain. The shirt shrunk and now I have to wear my home T-shirt as well,” he said with a smile. However, their parents are not amused. “It becomes a huge burden for us, if they soil their uniforms, or rather what is left of them, we have to either get them perfect within a night or have to manage with what clothes we have at home,” their mother Geeta Karje said. For most children, a wet uniform mostly means a holiday, as there are no spares.

The schools are clueless as to when the uniforms are going to come.

“Parents come to ask and even the students ask almost daily. But we can’t give any information since we don’t have any. We will give the uniforms when we get them from our head office,” explained Ashok Kardale, one of the principals of the PMC schools.

The Education Board, on the other hand, is very confident about its allotment and completion of the school uniform contract.

Vasanti Kakade, Chairperson of the PMC School Board, said, “We are going to approach the Supreme Court against the High Court’s order. The uniforms have already been completed and will be delivered to the students within a week.” gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com

PUNE

Sex racketeer behind bars, finally The arrest of Kalyani Deshpande brings down the curtain on her illegal activities

BY YOGESH WAGH @YogeshWagh1857 With the arrest of 46-year-old Kalyani Deshpande (alias Jayashree Umesh Deshpande) on August 4, the police nabbed the elusive notorious sex racketeer.

Deshpande is a woman having high contacts. Kalyani Deshpande Though under the police scanner since 1998, she has not mend her ways.

The Kothrud Police made the arrest. On July 20, police raided a flat in Bhusari Colony, Kothrud, and rescued three girls hailing from Mumbai. Though her agent Ravi Tapase was nabbed, Deshpande managed to escape.

The court had externed her from the city limits in February 2014 for a two years after the police arrested her in October 2013 in a sex racket case.

When her involvement was found in a murder case at Haveli Police Station, in 2005, Deshpande was booked under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), 1999. She was later discharged for lack of evidence.

The Deccan, Kothrud, Vishrantwadi, Hingewadi, Chaturshrungi, Hinjawadi

and Haveli rural police have booked many cases against her under the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA),1956, since 1998. But she always managed to get bail. In April 2012, the State Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), had arrested an inspector and a constable of Hinjawadi police for allegedly asking for money from Deshpande’s relative Jatin Chawda for not demanding an extension of her police custody in a sex trafficking charges. So not only she has strong networks in organised crime but also uses her relatives to free her from criminal cases.

Hailing from Pune, Kalyani married an autorickshaw driver. Her modus operandi was to operate sex trafficking through escort agency. She used to run escort agency Venus from her Sus Road bungalow. In December 2007, her close aide Anil Dhole was found murdered at her Sus bungalow.

Despite being involved in sex trafficking and under the police scanner, Deshpande used her ‘contacts and sources’ to evade arrest. Police allege that she had a strong network with established hoteliers across the city and in many parts of the country and her illegal business was centered on her high-profile criminals and hoteliers, girls coming from well-off and educated families and foreigners and resourceful aides. Investigation officers claim that her ‘girls’ used to receive as much as Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000. Some of her aides include Ravi Tapase, Anil Dhole, Shivaji Tapase, Bhayya Pathan, Vishwanath Narayan Shetty and Pradeep Gawli. yogesh.wagh@goldensparrow.com

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY AUGUST 6, 2016

PUNE

“The government will take action against errant civic officials who were responsible for the increasing illegal constructions in the city.

The state government will take steps to fill up vacancies in the civic building permission department and recruit engineers.”

—Ranjit Patil, Minister of state for urban development

The Olympics are here!

BY TUSHAR RUPANAVAR @tusharrupanavar The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) run Kamla Nehru Hospital and Naidu Hospital provide human milk to infants whose mothers do not have sufficient breast milk, they have some disease, or are in Intensive Care Unit (ICU). But just two human milk banks are not enough to provide milk to the thousands of babies born in the PMC-run 14 maternity homes.

Therefore the PMC health department has decided to start human milk banks at all the 14 maternity homes.

More than 8,000 babies are born in the 16 maternity homes of PMC-run hospitals annually. The setting up of human milk banks is now underway at the 14 maternity hospitals, for which the health department has allocated Rs 30 lakh. By the end of this month, all 14 maternity homes will have human milk banks, which will benefit thousands of new-born babies.

RCH nodal officer of PMC health department, Dr Sanjeev Wavare, said, “In some new-born baby cases, the mother does not have breast milk, has a disease, or is in Intensive care unit (ICU) due to some medical problem.

If a woman has twins or triplets, they do not get enough mother’s milk, which is crucial for an infant’s growth and health. Breast milk is the boosting factor for new-born babies, and it increases the immunity power of babies. Breast milk feeding has to start within four hours of a baby’s birth, but due to the above mentioned reasons, some babies do not get mother’s milk, so there is no option but to feed other mothers’ milk to the infants. Breast milk is the only meal for new-born babies and it has to be given for six months. Considering these issues, the health department had started human milk bank at Kamla Nehru and Naidu hospitals. But we have a total of 14 maternity hospitals where there is a demand for human milk for newborn babies, which we provide from Kamla Nehru and Naidu hospitals.

Many times we face difficulties in

transporting milk from Kamla Nehru and Naidu to the maternity homes.

Eight thousand babies are born in hospitals run by the PMC every year.

But we have human milk bank facility only at Kamla Nehru and Naidu. So we need to start human milk banks in the other 14 maternity homes as well.

Considering the need to set up of milk banks at 14 maternity homes in PMCrun hospitals, we have allocated Rs 30 lakh for it. Very soon freezers to store milk will be purchased and installed at these 14 maternity homes.”

About collection of human milk, Wavare said, “Right now we collect milk from donor mothers at Kamla Nehru and Naidu hospitals. Our nurses and mawshis (Class 3 employees at hospitals) appeal to mothers to donate milk, which is good for the mother as well, because there are less chances of breast cancer in mothers who feed

milk. Donor mothers who have excess milk after feeding her baby, donate milk to our bank. Emphasising the importance of breast feeding, our mawshis tell mothers about milk banks and how the donated milk is useful for new-born babies whose mothers cannot feed them due to some medical reasons. It can save the life of another baby whom she did not give birth to.

Realising the importance of milk donation and to save the lives of other babies, some mothers agree to donate milk. Firstly we check the health of the mother, whether she is well nourished, with no evidence of tuberculosis (TB) or infectious diseases like HIV or Hepatitis. Importantly, she must be willing to donate and is not undergoing any medication. The milk is extracted manually by her own hand, or breast pumps in sterile containers, for which our mawshis instruct or help donor mothers. Then this milk is made bacterial culture negative and undergoes pasteurisation process.

These milk containers are kept in cold storages and frozen at 20 degrees Centigrade. Then as per the need, the milk is provided to babies who need it. Every child should receive mother’s milk as it plays an important role in an infant’s growth, brain development and overall increases a baby’s immunity power. By the end of August we will start milk banks in all our 14 maternity homes which will benefit hundreds of children. Training to nurses and mawshis will also be given to spread awareness of milk donation.” tushar.rupanavar@goldensparrow.com

Ruby Hosp refuses to admit poor patient

The 40-year-old patients’ family alleges that he was discharged hastily and later refused admission

BY DNYANESHWAR BHONDE @dnyanesh1 A 40-year-old patient suffering from heart disease and chronic alcoholism was forcefully discharged from Ruby Hall Clinic after nine days of treatment. When he returned to get himself admitted to the hospital a day after the discharge, the hospital denied him admission in the required ward, and put him on waiting for more than 35 hours in a casualty ward.

The hospital’s social medical workers are reluctant to admit him under the Indigent & Weaker Section Patients (IPF) scheme, and say that there are no beds available under the scheme. The patient’s kin say that the hospital is denying him admission and forcing them to take the patient out of the hospital.

Vishal Raju Pardeshi, resident of Yerawada, is a labourer. After suffering a mild heart attack, he was admitted to Ruby Hall Clinic at 6vam on July 23, in the Critical Care Unit (CCU) under the observation of chief cardiologist Dr P K Grant. As he is poor, he was having treatment under the IPF scheme under the provisions of Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950 free of cost. After treatment in CCU, he was shifted to the general ward, and on

August 1, he was abruptly discharged from the hospital without his relatives being informed.

“After having tea at the canteen, I went to the bed where Vishal was, but he was not there. After inquiring with neighbouring patients, I came to know that the doctors forcefully asked him to leave the hospital, and he left weeping,” said Sanjay Kalokhe, maternal uncle of the patient. Vishal came home by autorickshaw but he was not feeling well. His relatives and mother Latabai brought him to the Ruby Hall Clinic on August 3 in the afternoon. But in spite of admitting him in the patients

ward, he was neglected in the casualty ward, which is only for emergency patients.

After some time, he was shifted to the next ward where surgery patients are kept.

“I have been suffering from constipation, swollen legs and now I am unable to walk. Not a single injection, saline or any other medication was provided for me, as the doctors have dumped and neglected me here,” said Vishal, the patient. After facing admission issue, Vishals’s relatives reported the incident to charity medical superintendent Abhijit Anap. “Anap called one of the medical social workers and asked him to admit the patient, but these medical social workers say that they are waiting for their colleague and after that will admit him,” said Kalokhe.

When TGS visited Ruby Hall and asked one of the medical social workers why the patient was not being admitted under the IPF scheme, she called up another medical social worker, Sneha Yadav, and asked her to do the procedure of admission. Asked her why the patient was denied admission for 27 hours, she answered, “We are preparing his file.”

Kalokhe went to Yadav and requested him to write an application to admit the patient, and said she would check whether

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City to get 14 human milk banks by month end

Human milk banks to be set up at all the PMC-run maternity hospitals to cater to the 8,000 babies born each year

She is their ‘English Saviour’

there was any bed available. After giving the written application with required documents by Kalokhe, the medical social worker collected it and dumped it on the table, and all the medical social workers left at 5 pm after locking the cabin. One month ago, joint charity commissioner Shivaji Kachre had ordered all the private hospitals to appoint medical social workers 24x7, but Ruby does not seem to pay heed.

Dr S K Mohapatra, assistant director (medical services) and in charge of the casualty under whose observation Vishal is, said, “Medical social workers did not give me any application and other documents to admit him. We are monitoring the patient and after the completion of the necessary documents, we will shift him to a ward.” Another doctor from the casualty said that the patient needs ICU support and other treatment but they can’t do anything, evading the procedure. Dr P K Grant, chief cardiologist and Chairman of Cardiovascular services & Managing Trustee of the Ruby Hall Clinic, said that there may not be beds available so that’s why patient’s admission was delayed.

After 46 hours of waiting in the casualty ward, Vishal was admitted to Ruby Hall Clinic cardiac ward C-23 at 12 pm on Saturday.

Dengue on rise in Pune, but not in PMC records

Actual number of dengue cases remains unknown as private practitioners, laboratories and private hospital do not report all dengue cases to the PMC health department

BY DNYANESHWAR BHONDE @dnyanesh1 Though the state government declared dengue as a notifiable disease seven months ago, private health institutions in Pune are not reporting all dengue cases to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) health department. Th is indifference is causing fewer dengue (suspected) cases being reported to the state health government, resulting in the government’s failure to curb the rising number of dengue cases.

The state government made dengue a notifiable disease as per the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897, in December 2015. As per this act, all private practitioners, laboratories, and competent authorities and doctors at private hospitals must report the cases, using the software provided by the state health department in prescribed format, such as the name of the suspected patient, age, residence and other details every day.

But due to the lack of a monitoring system, doctors continue to not report suspected and confi rmed cases to the state government. Meanwhile, government health institutions like primary health centres at district hospitals report dengue cases to the health department.

As per the data available with PMC health department, 60 suspected dengue cases were found in PMC limits in January 2016. After that there was a decline in the number of cases, with 30 in February, eight in March, 18 in April, and 30 in May. In June, with the onset of the monsoons, there was a near five-fold increase, of up to 140 cases.

In July the number doubled to 295, which means that only 9/10 suspected cases are recorded in a day in PMC limits as per the records. But some hospitals have recorded more than 12 suspected dengue cases in a day. Every doctor claims to report each and every case to the government, but the fact does not reflect in the PMC daily health report.

“A minimum of 12 suspected cases of dengue are reported every day in our hospital. Patients are coming to our hospital from Dhayari, Warje, Uttamnagar, Suncity area,” said a doctor from a hospital in Anandnagar area on Sinhagad Road on condition of anonymity. Asked if they report the cases to the PMC’s health department, he said that they report every case to the department. If this is true, then why are only ten cases reported in a day?

A senior general practitioner from Dattawadi who runs a clinic and has 50 to 80 patients per day, says, “Dengue is at its peak these days.

Every day I get one or two suspected patients from nearby areas. I got four patients from SNDT area last week.”

There are hundreds of general practitioners in the city limits but

their exact number is not available with the PMC health department, as it is not mandatory for these doctors to register with the PMC. Even if a private practitioner get one suspected dengue case every day, the number can be in the hundreds.

Dr Kalpana Balivant, chief of vector borne control disease PMC, confi rmed that many doctors do not provide information about dengue patients. “We have issued notifications to all private practitioners, labs and hospitals to report the cases but they are not responding. They should report the cases within two days to us online,” said Dr Balivant.

If one case comes to light, our ward medical officers survey the spot and carry out survey of containers (in which water are stored), and spraying which helps in reducing the breeding spots and controlling the disease.

“Due to non-reporting of cases, breeding spots remain undetected leading to the spread of the disease.

We have not taken any action as we don’t have any instructions to do so,” said another officer.

Private doctors carry out NS1 antigen test (nonstructural protein 1) which is a test for dengue, introduced for rapid detection on the fi rst day of fever. The test is conducted on suspected dengue patients whose platelet count is low, with symptoms of the viral fever.

The PMC confi rms it as a dengue case only after conducting Immunoglobulin (IgM) or Immunoglobulin G (IgG) tests.

As per record with the PMC, since January to July, only 650 suspected dengue cases were found, out of which 124 cases were confi rmed as dengue.

The state government has declared dengue flu as a notifiable disease under the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897.

The mosquito-borne infection in the Act empowers district collectors to take all-round measures to prevent outbreak and spread of dengue within their jurisdiction.

In the month of June, the Union health ministry has also made dengue a notifiable disease in the country. dnyaneshwar.bhonde@goldensparrow.com

Do you see PMPML drivers using mobiles behind the wheel?

Lukewarm response by citizens to PMPML’s scheme to catch its drivers using mobiles while driving

BY SUSHANT RANJAN @sushantranjan More than two years down the line, the Pune Mahangar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) scheme to award cash prizes of Rs 1,000 to citizens who click photographs of PMPML drivers talking on mobile phone while driving, is not getting much of a response.

The scheme was announced in December 2013 and launched on January 2014. After two and half years the authorities have shown little interest in promoting this scheme.

PMPML has received only 40 complaints in this period, mostly from social activists.

According to data provided

by PMPML, from January 4 to December 12, 2014, they received only seven complaints regarding such drivers. From January to June 2015, they received only 16, and from June 2014 to July 2016, they have received 17 complaints.

PMPML however, claims that they are promoting the scheme and many citizens send them photographs

of drivers through social networking site Facebook. The Facebook page of PMPML has not been working since 2013, and no one has posted any photographs. Commuters believe that the scheme has been discontinued.

Public relation officer Subhash Gaikwad said, “The scheme is not shut down though it is true that we are getting fewer complaints. But our drivers are following safety protocols and they are not violating any rules.

If somebody is still doing it, we are waiting for complaints.”

The administration deducts Rs 1,000 from a driver’s salary if there is photographic evidence and bus details. Because of this, drivers are not violating rules, he said.

PMPML sources said that the scheme was not run properly. “The administration is supporting this scheme. But citizens have forgotten this scheme. Drivers are still using mobile while driving, but no one is interested in clicking pictures. Authorities think that the scheme is a success, but it has failed. The data shows everything.”

Commuters group PMPML Pravasi Manch founder member Jugal Rathi said that the administration was doing nothing for the betterment of PMPML. To say that citizens are not sending photographs of drivers talking on mobiles while driving is an irresponsible statement. The management knows everything.” sushant.ranjan@goldensparrow.com

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY AUGUST 6, 2016

“Judgments of higher courts have given specific directives on how civic bodies should act in the matter of illegal buildings. But civic officials seem to avoid acting on them. They advise developers on how to approach the court.”

— Vivek Velankar, founder of Sajag Nagarik Manch

Pune-based Screen Magic, finds biz in SMS

Heavy rains bring no relief as residents of Kasba Peth and Kothrud areas are still deprived of dependable water supply

Pune district has had heavy rains all through the week. Khadakwasla, Panshet, Temghar and Varsgaon dams, from where the city gets its water supply, are more than 70 per cent full. But citizens are still getting alternate day water supply. There is the blame game going on between Mayor Prashant Jagtap and Guardian Minister Girish Bapat over the rollback of water cuts. The four dams collectively have 24.90 TMC water storage of its collective capacity of 29 TMC. Despite the water cuts for the last 10 months, areas like Jachak Wada, Shinde Wada, Nalawade Apartments, Kasba Peth, and Sagar Colony, Sujata Nagar, Shasakiya Vasahat in Kothrud, did not get water for two days. The residents of Kasba Peth and Kothrud have raised the water supply issue with Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) several times but nothing has happened yet. This is despite heavy rains and dams being 75 per cent filled.

PMC general body ordered the administration to start regular water supply in city. But the decision is in the hands of the district collector, guardian minister and irrigation department.

Kasba Peth resident Damini Karade said, “We are living in the heart of the city but face water supply problems for the last nine months.

More than 25 families living in Jachak Wada in Kasba Peth, who do not get

Damini Karade wakes up early only so that she can fill a few pots for cooking

water for two days, and the water supply is at very low pressure. Our children do not bathe for two days. We complained to our area corporator Anita Dhakave and water supply department of PMC many times but they just assure us every time that they will look into the matter and then neglect the issue completely. A few days ago our area got alternate day water supply, but some residents in our area have taken illegal tap connections, and since then we are not getting water supply. Water supply department has to take action on such illegal taps and those who are using water pumps. Only then will our area will get water supply.”

Another resident of Kasba Peth, Savita Kamble said, “We are getting just 2-3 pots of water on alternate days. This is the state of water supply in our area since many months. When we complained to the water supply department, they told us that our area is on high level so the water does not reach our areas, and instead goes to low areas. Officials say that they will increase water pressure but nothing has happened. Even six public taps in our area do not receive water. We are fed up with this water problem. The city has had heavy rains since the last few days, but we are deprived of water supply.”

Waste-pickers get no protection from the rain Waste-pickers work under pouring rain without raincoats, which the PMC had promised them before the monsoons GARGI VERMA @missgverma The heavy rains, although much welcomed, are causing a lot of problems for city dwellers. However, while most of the people have the

option of either using a raincoat or an umbrella, or taking a day off; there is a section of people who are forced to work under the deluge day in and day out. These are the SWaCH waste-pickers and segregators who are working on the Pune city streets daily without a raincoat or a sheltered area.

S W a C H had entered a Memorandum of Understanding with the Pune Municipal

Corporation which entailed that PMC would enlist the SWaCH workers as waste-pickers and provide for them. However, these promises haven’t yet been fulfilled. According to Aparna Surulekar, the head of SWaCH, “PMC has been continuously delaying. There promised date was June 25, before the monsoon. Now that it’s raining cats and dogs, there are still no raincoats for the workers.

These people are working so hard, without really caring for their health. In fact, even if they fall sick, they have to go to work or else the societies start heckling them. So, we have to worry about their health along with the cleanliness.”

While most of them are forced to work without raincoats, some work voluntarily to clean the premises they are supposed to. “What sort of a smart city are we living in if we can’t provide for these waste-pickers without whom life would be difficult in this season?” she said.

However, Pune Municipal Corporation is taking the easy way out. When asked, first they completely negated that there is an agreement as such in place.

However, they later agreed that the agreement existed. According to Suresh Jagtap, Head, Solid Waste Management Department, “Yes, there is an agreement in place. We have provided them with excess raincoats last year. There were nearly 2400 raincoats given then. This year we will give in the next eight days.”

SWaCH is not buying it however.

According to Aparna, “They have been doing this for a long time now. First there was a delay in the suppliers. Then they told us that the raincoats are not up to the mark.

Right now, we want something, even if it’s of bad quality. We need to work together and help those who are trying to work.” Meanwhile, all the waste-pickers are still forced to work in the continuous rain. gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com

“Now that it’s raining cats and dogs, there are still no raincoats for the workers”

The Green Crusader

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These residents still do not get adequate water supply

BY TUSHAR RUPANAVAR @tusharrupanavar

PUNE

Sudhir Dhawade, resident of Kothrud said, “In Kothrud areas like Sagar Colony, Sujata Nagar and Shasakiya Vasahat, water supply is very irregular, and some areas get contaminated water. We wrote to the PMC water supply department on August 2, regarding no water supply in Kothrud areas and contaminated water, but nothing has happened. We have now decided to stage an agitation at the PMC building over the water issue and contaminated water, in the coming week.”

Kasba Peth area Corporator Anita Dhakave said, “Water pipelines in Jachak Wada, Shinde Wada, Nalawade Apartments and Kumbhar Wada areas of Kasba Peth are very old and rusted.

So they have to be replaced. I wrote to the PMC about replacing pipelines in this area and we are waiting to replace the pipelines.”

PMC water supply department head V G Kulkarni said, “There is urgent need of water supply pipelines replacement in Kasba Peth area. We are in the process of its work order and very soon this issue will be solved.

Due to old pipelines in these areas, we cannot release water with full pressure.

Therefore some areas in Kasba Peth get low pressure water supply. But we have given six public taps in this area to citizens. For Kothrud areas, our department has received their complaint letter, and very soon we will look into the matter and will solve it.” tushar.rupanavar@ goldensparrow.com

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The farmer with a yen for swimming

BY VICKY PATHARE @Vickypathare2 He can float in water in the Padmasana position with both legs and hands folded. He spends most of his time in the water, practicing swimming even in the wee hours. At the age of 38, he is full of energy and wants to do something to make his family proud.

Meet Appa Baburao Pawar, resident of Bhamburda in Shirur tehsil of Pune district, a farmer by profession. He has developed a unique static floatation technique on his own, without the help of any coach. He performs Padmasana, the Lotus position in water for almost 7/8 hours a day in the Bhamburda village pool. His practice sessions last up to 14 hours a day. He has also played karate, judo, football and cricket during school and college days.

Currently no one holds a record for this unique Lotus type swimming.

Pawar who has a masters degree

in Arts, and diploma in taxation, has a unique style of swimming. He can float in the water for hours with the help of his hands. He developed a liking for swimming when a doctor suggested swimming to overcome leg pain.

“I practice between 3 am and 10 am and sometimes from 2 am to 9 am. I prefer to practice at night, as the atmosphere is calm and I am able to concentrate. There is no problem practicing in the day but I am fond of practicing at night. Every month I set my own time records and try to beat them. I am preparing to increase the duration of floating for at least one day in 24 hours,” said Appa.

Appa’s parents Vatsala and Baburao Pawar, and wife Komal hope that he succeeds in achieving his goal.

“He is hard-working and fond of sports since his childhood. He looks after the farm,” said his mother Vatsala. vicky.pathare@goldensparrow.com

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THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY AUGUST 6, 2016

Money and satisfaction are equally important

R

ide towards Phase-1 of the IT Park in Hinjawadi and you will see a left turn that shows an arrow towards Bodkewadi.

Enter the lane and you will be surprised to see this part of the IT hub which consists of lush green fields.

One of the farmers residing there is Dnyaneshwar Bodke. He hates subsidies and loan waivers, and keeps off politicians and their promise of freebies. He got together a group of farmers and founded Abhinav Farmers Club, who produces more than 13.2 million flowers and some 250 tonnes of vegetables. Its yearly turnover is a little above Rs 50 crore. The club uses drip irrigation and believes in keeping their costs under check.

But all this wasn’t an easy ride.

Dnyaneshwar’s family comprises of his parents and four sisters. In 1972, they owned 15 acres of land that had adequate water supply throughout the year. Later, due to lack of adequate farming knowledge and inability to harvest crops scientifically, his father had to sell five acres in 1982 to repay a debt of Rs 20,000, which had increased to Rs 1,04,000, including interest.

All the money that was left was then spent on marrying off his two daughters over the next two years.

In order make ends meet, he started to learn typing, and took up a job with an architect.

“It was much better than tending cattle in the field, and Rs 200 per month was a huge amount for me and my family those days,” he says.

Dnyaneshwar had to wake up at 6 am and ride a bicycle for 75 minutes to reach his office in the heart of Pune from his home in Hinjawadi and come back home by 11 pm. The owner then suggested he learn interior designing which would earn him more money. “He paid the fees of Rs 17,000 which was an amount that I

humble settings. This lowered my morale but I was never going to give up,” Shiwaji adds.

He worked harder, day and night, to score better marks, whereas his room-mates flunked the exams.

Shiwaji then moved to Mumbai and got admission at a reputed institute. “My strength was my dedication and optimism, while my only weakness was English,” he says. He also faced a major financial crunch while pursuing his studies. He lived in the mega polis as a paying guest and didn’t have enough money to pay for his dinner. “I used to have a late lunch so that I didn’t feel hungry later,” he shares. Not having enough money to seek private tuitions, he worked hard and didn’t sleep for weeks when exams neared.

In 1970, during his second articleship he was hired as an auditor at Fergusson College. It was during this period that he caught a fraud and reported it to the authorities. “Devadutta Dabholkar was the principal then and he had given fees concession application forms to some students. He charged a fee of Rs 50 on each form and the cashier turned it into Rs 150.

I suspected the change in the ink colour and reported it to the principal,” he says. For his honesty, he was given a sum of Rs 100 as reward. “I was on top of the world! The money bought me dinners for quite a few days after,” he laughs.

He completed his CA in 1972 and decided to teach other students who come to the city from villages.

He was offered to take up a project in France but he declined solely for the purpose of teaching young boys like himself. “Money and satisfaction are both important. I loved teaching and had made up my mind to stick with that. Today, there are over 9,000 students who have passed from my institute,” he shares.

Nobody wants to marry a farmer

had never seen in my life until then. But I told him I would take up his offer only if he allowed me to repay the debt by paying Rs 50 from my monthly salary,” he says.

For the next ten years, he worked hard, designing the interiors for pizza joints, pubs and dance bars in Pune and Mumbai. “I was making good money and because of this the other members of my family stopped working. All the money I made was spent in household expenses,” he adds. After a few years, he thought of getting back to farming again. His father suggested he get married as nobody would want to marry a farmer. “The only reason why my in-laws agreed

to the relationship was I had a steady job. But the fact that my father still owned 10 acres of land had always played on my mind,” he adds.

He then read about polyhouse farming that changed his life forever. But his family was against him taking up farming. “Nobody, except my mother, spoke to me for more than a week.

They couldn’t understand why I was quitting a high-paying job, borrowing money from a bank and making a mess of their well-settled lives.

But I knew what I was doing. They failed to see my vision,” he recalls.

That was not the end of his problems though.

Dnyaneshwar knew nothing about horticulture

or floriculture and growing flowers in a controlled, greenhouse environment. He took up a two-day course at Talegaon’s Horticulture Centre and got recruited as a trainee at the centre. “I was not paid for six months but money was not a concern as I had savings on which my family could survive a year,” he says.

Dnyaneshwar learned all about drip irrigation, greenhouse plantation, preparing a risk bed, basal dose, preventing carnation plantations from mite attacks and various sprays and pesticides that help in good growth of carnations.

His next hurdle was convincing a bank to give him a loan of Rs 5,00,000 so that he could give shape to his dreams. “I had known for a fact that the demand for carnation flowers had been growing at a steady 20 per cent since 1995 and had a ready market in India as well as in Europe,” he says.

The bank manager was impressed when he pitched for the loan. In two months, his loan was sanctioned. “I earned Rs 4,88,000 after selling my produce and got a subsidy of Rs 1,22,000 from the National Horticulture Board for my efforts. I actually made a small profit after repaying the amount,” says Dnyaneshwar. He now grows vegetables, flowers, and owns a nursery where everything is grown in an organic manner. “Due to high cost and low revenue yield, traditional farming practices are not a viable option for farmers.

Farming in polyhouses bears fruit in about 90 days, saving time,” he says. His club, at present, includes 4,600 farmers as members from all over Maharashtra apart from Bhopal, Gujarat and UP. They own 357 acres and have a self-help group, which has employed women to oversee the post-harvesting activities like packaging fruits, vegetables and flowers.

THEY’VE RISEN LI

PHOE FROM

BY ZAINAB KANTAWALA @kantawalazainab

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PIC BY RAHUL RAUT AND VISHAL KALE

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ome of the richest people in the world were born with a silver spoon. Then there are those like chartered accountant Shiwaji Zaware, who started with nothing and through hard work, talent, grit, and a bit of luck, managed to rise to the very top.

Today, he owns Zaware’s Professional Academy and is an accomplished CA. Coming from a remote village Gargundi near Ahmednagar, he completed his primary and secondary schooling in a Marathi medium Zilla Parishad school.

He walked more than 7 kms barefoot every day in order to reach school. It was during this period that social activist Karmveer Bhaurao Patil opened a high school in the nearby area. After completing HSC he wanted to shift to Pune for higher studies. “The village comprised of just 550 people and anyone who studied till 12th took up a job as a primary school teacher.

They didn’t know if any other professions even existed.

So everyone was taken aback when I told them that I wanted to study further,” he says. His father was a retired government servant who got Rs 600 as pension and his elder brother was a primary school teacher.

There weren’t enough funds to provide for his sister’s schooling so she dropped out when she was in the fifth standard.

Shiwaji then completed his graduation in Commerce from a Marathi-medium college in Ahmednagar and came to Pune. His father started a small printing business in order to make ends meet.

He enquired about the course for CA and stayed at the Firodia Hostel with five other roommates. “They would make fun of me as I hailed from a small village and spoke in Marathi. All of them were very fluent in English and confident even though they came from

PUNE

he phrase ‘rags to riches’ signifies the journey from being totally obscure to achieving monetary and social recognition. If you thought the scenario only works in Bollywood films, then you are quite mistaken. People from different walks of life have gone through several stages of hardship before making their mark in their respective field. We

L

eaving an abusive relationship can be one of the hardest things a person does but staying strong, regaining the self-confidence and control over life is even tougher. City-based fashion designer and TV actor Aarnna Mali is an inspiration to many such women who face abuse every day. She was born and brought up in Mumbai and moved to Nashik when she was in the ninth standard. She was in the 11th standard when she fell in love with a guy in her college. After a few months of courtship, they decided to get married.

“I was just 17 years old then so being in love and getting married to the same guy is something every woman fancies. I was living that dream,” she says.

But little did she know that her dream would soon turn into a nightmare.

The boy hailed from an orthodox, political family in Jalgaon, so they had to shift there after the wedding. Trouble started only a few days after marriage, when he started abusing her. Soon, she realised that she had no say in family matters and was not allowed to speak before elders. “It was all new to me. Women in that family were not allowed to work or even participate in any decision making.

Although I was living in a palatial bungalow, with so many servants around, I felt like a nobody,” she says.

She would fear when the day came to end and her husband would get back home. He would come home drunk and hit her black and blue. “I was very naive at fi rst and really didn’t know people like him existed. He would kick, slap, push and trip me over, throw things at me, and yell abuses. But I had no way out, so I kept quiet,” she recalls.

As time passed, things got worse. Many a times he would lock her out of the house at midnight.

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY AUGUST 6, 2016

E IKE A

PUNE

Of course they’ve faced countless odds and hurdles along the way but these Puneites have undertaken a tough hike up the social and f inancial ladder for a glorious view from the height of success

ENIX M THE FLAME

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know of and are inspired by APJ Abdul Kalam’s leadership and work. But did you know that he hailed from a very humble background. His father was a boat owner and, to help his family, Kalam worked as a newspaper vendor. Dhirubhai Ambani was a petrol pump attendant before he went on to become multi-billionaire. Pune’s own Prahlad Chhabria, owner of Finolex group of companies, worked as a cleaner in a small cloth shop when he was 12 and was given a salary of Rs 10, per month. There are several such stories

about the rich and famous who had to face their share of struggle and hardships before climbing up the ladder of success.

TGS meets Puneites who weren’t quite born in the lap of luxury yet they had the courage to eke out way more than a living, overcoming poverty and harsh situations. They are the children of farmers, labourers and petty shop owners, who have seen severe hardships but today they have found a place in the front row despite all odds being stacked against them.

Perseverance and hard work pays

F

arooque Poonawala, 68, owns two Raymond showrooms in city’s most sought after areas today. But to lead the luxurious life he has had to struggle and face hardships to the level that many might just think of giving up. He made it big all on the dint of his honesty, hard work and some foresight.

Brought up in an orphanage in Mumbai, he has seen poverty very closely. He survived on sadaqah (charity given by fellow Muslims) and zakat (almsgiving in Islam) that he received in the orphanage. “I have faced rough days in my life. For food too, I was dependent on some generous strangers each day. I studied from the books that people

donated and wore clothes that were thrown away but I always believed that perseverance and hard work would pay and that kept me going,” he says.

After completing his schooling from Mumbai, Farooque came to Pune to pursue further studies and started to look out for work opportunities. “I was not keen on taking up a job as the salary wouldn’t suffice my needs. I had to look after my basic necessities, pay the college fees and house rent. So I decided to do something on my own,” he shares. He started picking up a stock of cloth pieces from Mumbai markets and sold them in Pune. He would go door to door in order to sell his material

and sometimes even sit by the roadside till he made enough money to survive the day. He would travel all around the city on a cycle. “My regular customers would be working women. I used to go to offices and banks to sell materials there. To get my payments cleared, I had to wait till the day they received their salary but they were my loyal customers, so I couldn’t demand money right away. Th is went on for a couple of years,” he recalls.

After graduating from Ness Wadia College, he decided to pursue business on a bigger scale. He borrowed some money from the market and started his first shop in Camp area. “It was difficult to get customers initially but with time I managed to build a good clientele,” he adds. Today, Farooque lives in a spatial apartment with his family on Boat Club Road.

Nobody wanted to work with a woman broker

T

My son inspired me to fight

Aarnna Mali sold all her jewellery, caught a train to Pune, rented a flat at Pimple Saudagar and bought a stove and a mattress. She survived on a cup of tea and omlette for a year and a half. Then, she took up a fashion designing course She would then stay at her friend’s house. The next morning her husband would come to pick her up with a bouquet of flowers and a promise that he would be a changed man. But that never happened.

The violence became a daily occurrence if it did not involve several episodes in a single day.

Then, Aarnna got pregnant. She hoped things would change once her husband held the child in his hand but she was mistaken. “I was 19 when my son was born. All I wanted to do was keep him away from his father but things weren’t in my control. He was a womaniser and sometimes he would even hit me in front of our son,” she adds.

She was now determined to not let her son go through the hardships that she faced. She sent him away to study at a school in Panchgani.

After 18 years of an abusive marriage, she saw a ray of light when her son returned. “He had completed his 10th standard. The fi rst thing he told me was, ‘Mom let’s get away from here’. I was so low on confidence and emotionally unstable that I

simply didn’t pay heed,” she says. But after a lot of convincing, she finally agreed.

She sold all her jewellery, caught a train to Pune, rented a flat at Pimple Saudagar and bought a stove and a mattress. “I had got nothing else with me. I survived on a cup of tea and omlette for a year and a half. Then, I took up a fashion designing course,” she says. After 19 years of abusive marriage she finally gathered courage to divorce her huband and got custody of her son.

She soon started stitching and tailoring clothes and the customers loved her designs. After a year or two, she saved enough money to rent out a space and start her own boutique. Aarnna soon became a popular designer in the area. “I had heard from a client that international designer Adam Saaks was coming to Pune for a fashion show. Many designers were sending him their work so I too thought of trying my luck. He liked my designs and I got an opportunity to collaborate with him on a project,” she says. Th is was the turning point in her career.

Offers from various designers and celebrities started pouring in.

So far, she has designed for celebrities like Sara Jane Dias, Jackie Shroff, Geeta Basra and many more. She opened her boutique MACYS Store in Koregaon Park and has done plenty of fashion shows across the country.

In 2015, she married the former CEO of DSK Toyota Jitendra Mali. She has now even taken up acting and plays a character based on Radhe Maa on &TV. She will also be seen playing Abhay Deol’s mother-in-law in his upcoming fi lm Snafu. “When I look back now, it all seems like a miracle to me.

I believe it’s important to stand up for yourself and my son gave me the inspiration to fight,” she adds.

hough the brokerage sector itself has slowly seen the infusion of women over the last few years, it still remains largely male dominated. But Shanta Chhabra, the founder of Tulsi Properties, was determined not to be intimidated by the difficult working conditions and make a successful career.

A lecturer in MBA colleges based in Udaipur, Shanta entered the real estate business after she and her husband shifted to Pune in 2005. Clueless about how to manage household expenses here, she thought about entering a business where there would be no investments required. “We were in Udaipur when my husband’s brothers and father passed away. At the time, we decided to move to Pune. He stayed back in Udaipur for a few months to wind things up there.

In the meantime, I had to manage the house without any money in hand,” she shares. She rented a flat on NIBM road with just a bed and stove.

She felt that a real estate business could

In Udaipur, my husband had a fashion designing business. We were like celebrities there.

Whenever there was a party people would invite us. In Pune, we were nobody and that’s what drove me towards working harder be started without any investment or risk.

“The idea was to make more money in less time as I had to enrol my kids in school, pay their fees, the house rent, etc.,” she says.

The biggest problem was dealing with other brokers. They didn’t cooperate at all. Her husband too, was apprehensive about her

working in this field. “The road was not an easy one. Nobody wanted to work with a woman broker. People were amazed when I told them about what I did,” she adds. Soon, she got her fi rst client who paid her the brokerage of Rs 12,000, which helped pay her daughter’s tuition fees.

She feels that her work has grown because of goodwill. Nevertheless, she is quick to admit that her journey has been like a roller-coaster ride. “In Udaipur, my husband had a fashion designing business. It was a small city so people there knew us well.

We were like celebrities there. Whenever there was a party people would invite us. In Pune, we were nobody and that’s what drove me towards working harder,” she shares.

After a few years, her husband joined her in the business and now they work as a team.

She takes care of the office and administrative work while he manages the field work. “The broker tag does not matter, as long as there are financial rewards for my hard work,” she says.

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY AUGUST 6, 2016

PUNE

TECH/START-UP AAP govt to move SC, says fight is for democracy not supremacy

“The name Google was an accident. A spelling mistake made by the original founders who thought they were going for Googol.”

— http://blog.varnion.com/

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The Olympics are here!

Cutting-edge online and mobile tools will bring the Games to you as never before — but beware of cyber baddies waiting to trap sports fans

BY ANAND PARTHASARATHY

The 31st Summer Olympics got underway yesterday (August 5) and if you are a sports fan, a rich feast of multimedia viewing awaits you over the next fortnight, harnessing never-before deployed technology like 360 degree views, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. Round the clock TV coverage is nothing new. What is new , this time, is the extent to which resources are available on Web and mobile phone.

The official website is www.rio2016.com and you can turn here for comprehensive coverage of the events. But it makes sense to download the mobile app (iOS, Android or WindowsPhone) which can be found on the same site so that you can get news and live action feeds on the move.

If you are an avid fan, you can sport a new theme picture on your PC, or laptop, featuring Vinicius, the Olympic mascot for the 2016 games. Named after Brazilian lyricist Vinicius de Moraes, the design represents Brazilian wildlife, combining “the agility of cats, sway of monkeys and grace of birds”. You can find the desktop theme on the home page under “mascots” — and can even print out Olympics- themed coloring books or a cut-out Vinicius doll for your children.

Surprisingly, the Rio2106 YouTube channel is not due to go live till the last day — August 21. But don’t let that curb your enthusiasm. YouTube this year can be expected to showcase 360-degree 3-D images from other providers, where you

can use your mouse or finger to zoom, around images in a manner that has never been possible before with a major sports event. As we put together this report we are not too sure if the promised Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality extension to video coverage which the world’s major TV networks like BBC and NBC have promised for their Olympics coverage will be accessible live, in India. But keep looking in YouTube— some one will offer it!

CYBER DANGERS

If such cutting edge technology in our hands is new for an Olympics -- so, sadly, is the looming danger of being trapped by cyber criminals who are known to be waiting for the huge increase in online traffic to trap sports fans with malware like Trojans, Ransomware, , Botnet, Pishing etc. Brazil, the host country is the secondlargest cybercrime generator in the world and ranks No. 1 in South America as both a source and target of online attacks. You can be sure their cyber baddies are working

overtime to milk Olympics fans during this brief ‘window of opportunity’.

Here are some hints from Net security specialist e-Scan: Cyber - crooks will rely on social engineering techniques to lure Olympic lovers into clicking on links or giving their account credentials. The email recipients would presume the email to be genuine, unknowingly download the Ransomware by opening the file sent by the cyber crooks or malicious website. Ransomware may also be delivered via drive-by download attacks on compromised websites. Drive-by-download are malicious pieces of a program that is downloaded to a computer without the users’ consent or knowledge. The malware delivered by drive-by download is usually classified as a Trojan horse, because it deceives the user about the nature of the website or email.

Wily culprits will also deploy Botnets to deceive the users into falling prey. Botnet allows hackers to take control of many computers at the same time and turn them

Tutoring in atomic doses Here’s an app that gets your child a tutor’s help within 90 seconds!

There is hardly a high school student who has not felt the need of tuition in a subject. But your child may not need costly coaching for a full subject — just some help in some tough portions. This was difficult to get—till now.

All the student needs to do today, is download the HashLearn app, on a phone, from Google Play, select the topic (class 8-12, Physics, Chemistry, Maths or Biology or entrance tests like NEET, CET etc) and request connection to a tutor.

A qualified teacher (usually an IIT or BITS or AIIMS grad) will be on the line within 90 seconds and you can pose your problem... sending images of your work if required.

The tutor will solve your problem in an interactive session that typically lasts up to 20 minutes. An amount of Rs 30 is deducted by your service provider — Airtel, Vodafone, Idea, Reliance, Aircel or Tata —as payment.

Remember the revolution that the shampoo sachet wrought in India in an earlier era? Why buy

a big bottle when all you wanted was enough for one bath? The co-founders of HashLearn — Jayadev Gopalakrishnan and Gokul Janga — have applied the same principal to high school tutoring in the science subjects.

If you want to ensure unlimited access to tutors across subjects for a month, HashLearn charges Rs 333 per month—appropriately called the Infinity option.

(IndiaTechOnline)

into zombies or bots. The word Botnet is coined from two words ‘robot’ and ‘network’.

These are used to infect large number of PCs, which are often controlled through a server.

Cyber-criminals see golden opportunities in the 2016 Olympic Games to launch Phishing attacks. Phishing is an attempt by an individual or group to solicit personal information from unsuspecting users by employing social engineering techniques.

Phishing emails are crafted to appear as if they have been sent from a legitimate organization or known individual. These e-mails often attempt to entice users to click on a link that will take them to a fraudulent website that appears legitimate. The user then may be asked to provide personal information, such as account usernames and passwords that can further expose them to future compromises.

With the high demand for Olympic Games, criminals have sensed this opportunity to create many fake websites by registering such domain names containing “rio” and “rio2016”. According to the Wall Street Journal, there is an underground market for SSL certificates, which ensure a secure connection between a server and a web browser helps the sites look legitimate.

The solution is to use a trustworthy AntiVirus and Anti-spyware tool on regular basis, which will protect your system from all kinds of Malware attacks. Always download apps from their official website or Google Play Store instead of unknown sources because many apps store are still offering the app. Download applications of a reliable app developer. In addition, check the user ratings and reviews of the app before download.

There is no hundred percent fool proof way to surf the Internet, but a little care and caution will ensure that you survive the Olympian assaults that will inevitably, and sadly be made by Internet criminals at a time like this.

IndiaTechOnline

Read, Kindle-y light!

Just this year, Amazon has swung from its costliest e-book reader to its cheapest! While the Kindle Oasis launched just 4 months back, set you back some Rs 24,000 and took the product out of the range of many potential buyers, the new Kindle, in the same 6-inch screen size, costs Rs 5,999, weighs slightly more at 161 grams, offers the same modest storage — 4 GB — accesses the same online book store of some 3 million titles, with half a lakh of them priced from Rs 100 to Rs 300.

So what are you missing for the asking price that is one fourth of the Oasis? Only one feature -the built-in light of the Oasis that leads you read in the dark. We are guessing that canny Indians with a keen sense of paisa vasool will buy the new cheaper Kindle and add a clip - on LED light for a couple of hundred rupees.

Don’t be misled by Kindle calling itself a 6 -inch reader:: The actual size, if you go by the diagonal, which is how phones and TVs rate themselves , is more than 7 inches. We like the size that Kindle has standardised on—it feels like a paperback book and one can easily hold it in one hand, while reading in bed.

This is a WiFi model but we notice Kindle still buries its browser deep among its settings and tends to nudge you towards its own bookshop. In fact you can’t even begin to use the device till you signed up for an Amazon account— your online shopping ID will do.

Kindle’s other reader-friendly, font-adjusting, page-turning features are all here and as a product, we rate this new model as the most compellingly priced Kindle in ten years.

IndiaTechOnline

Pune-based Screen Magic, finds biz in SMS

Their SMS solutions bring mobility to enterprise communications

BY V SUDHAKSHINA

Short Messaging Service or SMS is a technology that is almost 25 years old. The first SMS message was sent on December 3 1992, over a GSM network of the British telecom company, Vodafone, from a personal computer, by a Neil Papworth of Sema Group (now Mavenir Systems) to Richard Jarvis of Vodafone who was using the bulky handset of those times. The message read: “Merry Christmas.” The ‘short’ part, refers to the maximum size of text messages — 160 characters.

Though challenged by alternative messaging services such as Facebook Messenger and Whatsapp, SMS continues to reign as the world’s most popular texting technology: it has over 4 billion active users — that’s 8 out of 10 phone owners. The main reason of course, is that you don’t need an Internet connection as the social media challengers require: all you need is a phone and a simple prepaid or post paid

subscription to text around the world.

The overwhelming part of this text traffic is personal — but there is a miniscule (as yet!) usage by corporates. Enterprise SMSmessaging, also known as application-topeer messaging (A2P Messaging) or 2-way SMS, and are mainly focused on what is known as CRM or Customer Relations Management; delivering service messages like parcel-delivery alerts, real-time notification of credit/debit card purchase confirmations to protect against fraud, and

appointment confirmations. Enterprise SMS growth has been very slow — at around 4 percent per annum (Wikipedia data) . But one Pune-based company is determined to change this for the better — and persuade enterprises that texting can be a cool business tool.

At its headquarters in the Range Hills area of Pune, a young team of over 80 developers at Screen Magic, have crafted solutions to address its core mission: Enable mobility in enterprises through scalable, robust, web

and mobile products. The company provides Business Texting Solutions on Cloud-based CRM’s: from selecting SMS service provider to sending single and bulk SMS and tracking campaign success. Their goal is to help businesses integrate and streamline their communication process.

Found seven years ago by a duo of grads from IIT Bombay —Nitin Seth ( CEO) and Sandip More (CTO), Screen Magic has partnered with some marquee names in the business of customer management: Salesforce.com, Oracle Cloud — and India’s own Zoho.

Its solution SMS Magic is what is known as a ‘native’ app and arguably the number one texting application at the Salesforce Appexchange.

The Chennai based Zoho’s business tools including ZohoCRM and ZohoNotes are very popular in many geographies and Screen Magic has a version of SMS Magic specially for Zoho CRM users. Last week when Zoho hosted a launch event for an upgrade to its CRM suite as well as a developer platform, Screen Magic’s Sales Director Karan Seth was on hand to demonstrate how smoothly the two companies had morphed their products to work together in a client site.

IndiaTechOnline

Accessory reviews Binge On! The CloudX Pro Gaming Headset is made for marathon gaming sessions A serious gamer knows how crucial it is to have a good pair of gaming headphones. It’s not just the sound quality: it needs to be comfortable to wear, for those long gaming binges. Keeping this in mind HyperX, a division of Kingston Technology, recently launched its CloudX Pro Gaming Headset for Xbox in India.

The headset has 53mm drivers and allows users to adjust volume inline, without going into console settings. It comes with two interchangeable memory foam ear cushions with padded leatherette. There’s also a removable microphone — a definite plus, as users can attach it as and when required.

The headset has an aluminum frame with a closed back design and comes with a hard shell carrying case. Although HyperX has specifically designed the headset for Xbox, it also offers compatibility with mobile devices and other consoles. We tried out these headphones and found that they are really light and fit easily over your head. The audio performance was also immersive. The HyperX CloudX costs Rs. 9,999 at online and retails stores in India.

This power bank does double duty Kingston Mobilite Wireless Pro combines two must-have phone accessories With mobile phone apps sucking power and eating up space like nobody’s business, what are the two must-have accessories of every moderate-to-heavy smart handset user? A place to store app file overflow, and a way to recharge a device that dies on you.

Kingston has had the happy thought to combine these two essential accessories into a compelling, powerhouse of a package. The Mobilite Wireless Pro looks and feels like any mid- range power bank—it is that of course, offering 6700 mAh battery with a 2A output. But it also houses within itself, 64 GB of additional Flash storage—which would double or triple the onboard storage of most mobile phones. What’s more, it is wireless enabled. This means that once you download a special Android or iOS app on your phone, you can transfer files between the phone and the Mobilite, wirelessly — or even back up your phone’s files for safety. In addition to a USB slot, they have thoughtfully provided an SD card slot and an adapter that lets you plug in a microSD card in the same slot, so that you can directly transfer files to and from your phone’s plug in storage cxard. The SD slot also takes the cards that fit into digital cameras - easy to download if the camera card is full.

As a bonus, the device also sports an ethernet or WLAN port, so it can also double as a wireless access point.

A lot of useful phone-friendly functionality for the asking price of Rs 8999. If you don’t need the 64 GB storage and are OK with a slightly lesser battery capacity of 5400 mAh, Kingston has also launched the cheaper Mobilite Wireless G3 for Rs 4999.

Vishnu Anand/IndiaTechOnline

IT is like that...

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY AUGUST 6, 2016

“Just like blood donation human milk donation is supreme donation. With this mobile human milk collection unit no needy baby shall remain devoid of human milk.”

— Ajay Chandanwale, Dean, Sassoon General Hospital

“There is no good or bad terrorism. Terrorism is terrorism. There should be no glorification or eulogising of terrorists as martyrs.”

— Rajnath Singh, Home Minister

She is their ‘English Saviour’ For the 60 girls coming to Pune from villages to study and excel, learning the foreign from Isha Parekh is inspiring in letter and spirit

‘Every underprivileged child is special’ Says founder of Care Foundation Emmanuel Public School for underpriviledged kids

BY SALONEE MISTRY @SaloneeMistry

TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly

These sixty girls, who hail from rural areas and have moved to Pune to study, love their 17-year-old teacher Isha Parkhi, who has come as a saviour to overcome their English learning fear. They come to Pune for better educational opportunities that will land them a decent job, and help them Isha Parkhi take care of their families back home. While they score good marks in many subjects, English is the main drawback for students from Marathi medium as it is a foreign language.

While a normal teaching programme adopts the natural order of listening, speaking, reading and writing in their teaching schedule, for these students each skill cannot be neglected. It needs a lot of attention from the teacher and the student because it is necessary in academic and professional life.

“I went to an English medium school and had the best of education. When I decided to take a gap year I wanted to do something that would help the society

The message on the Facebook wall reads “What a joy to serve food to 350 precious children along with Harbinder Kaur at Care Foundation Emmanuel Public School, NIBM Road, Pune. Felt really good.... Care Foundation Emmanuel Public School gives English medium education and serves a wholesome meal to 350 underpriviledged children.” The words express the contentment of serving society.

NGO Care Foundation started Emmanuel Public School at Chandan Gardens, off NIBM Road in Kondhwa in Bakhtawar Singh 2007 to provide education to underprivileged children in the neighbourhood. With two children, the school has grown to 300 children and classes are from Standard I to VIII. The school’s founder chairman Bakhtawar Singh said, “Education is of paramount important in our country.

And teaching needy kids is the least that we can do. We emphasise on holistic

The students of Isha Parkhi loves to share their experiences in the class held at Vidyarthi Sahayak Samiti hostel hall on FC Road

at large. I contacted Vidyarthi Sahayak Samiti that has been running hostels for the past 60 years for students who come to the city to study. I requested the social organisation to allow me teach English to these hostelites and they readily agreed,” Parkhi said, adding that she takes classes in a hall at the hostel on Fergusson College Road.

Parkhi tries to make her classes as creative and fun for her 60 girl students.

The girls are divided into three batches according to the college year that they are in. It helps her plan classes better as some them are studying in Pune for long and know the language a little

better than the newcomers. She has chosen to teach English only to girls as she wants to develop a rapport with them. “Once you develop trust with the girls, you can help them succeed in life. I am taking classes for the past one and a half month and the positive change that I see in these girls makes me proud,” she said.

“We have a lot of resources at our disposal but don’t make the best use of them. While I know that what I am doing won’t make a big difference or get rid of the problem itself, it is my way of doing something about the situation. If everyone starts walking down this road, the change

The Green Crusader

An 81-year- old lady, with the brightest smile is leading a green revolution with the message, ‘ Your garbage is your responsibility’

BY RITUJA RAO @ritujarao Sudha Sarvotham Pai, a resident of Magarpatta City, is encouraging Puneites to lead a greener life. She often invites people into her home, which is a modern day green forest with mango, coconut, and fig trees rising high and many fruits and vegetables growing on the terraces.

Her garden boasts of flowers straight out of a fairy tale in various colours and hues. In a concrete jungle, her house is a gem, restoring nature one garden at a time.

What’s interesting is that this 81year- old grows her garden in waste generated in our daily household! Not a single scrap of waste leaves Pai’s house. She uses kitchen garbage and forms the compost that house beautiful ornamental plants on Pai’s terraces.

Th is compost does not smell and nourishes the plants a lot better than soil without fertilisers or chemicals. Her plants grow in old tin cans, soft drink bottles and even thermocol cartons.

Pai uses three methods for gardening — vermiculture, bio-culture and EM (effective microorganisms) process, which is converting kitchen garbage to gardens. She’s now considered an expert on waste management and is

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invited by other housing societies and environmental groups to hold lectures and inspire others to engage in nature.

It does not just stop here, Pai writes about her gardening adventures in her blog Garbage to Gardens (garbagetogardens.blogspot.in).

She lives and breathes nature, impacting the lives of her friends, family and neighbourhood to adopt more ecofriendly lifestyle. She said, “I write my blog to encourage people to work with nature, wherever you can, but more importantly, I want to get a response from the younger generation.”

She traces her green ideas to her childhood when she spent her holidays with her grandparents in a small village in Kerala. She said, “We lived in heaven, with green valleys. All our food was grown by us.

Everyone lived in harmony without the tensions of today’s modern lives.”

She grew up in Kochi and met her husband in the college where she was studying. They married in 1952, and moved to Dehradun as her husband was working in National Defence Academy (NDA). Her husband’s job profi le moved them around the country, and she left a beautiful garden everywhere she went. Her husband, Sarvotham Pai lovingly said, “If you keep your mouth open for

“If you keep your mouth open for too long, Sudha will plant a tree there too!”, says her husband, Sarvotham Pai

too long, Sudha will plant a tree there too!”. Every time he was relocated, his only request was for a house with a yard for his wife.

Sudha Pai calls herself ‘An observer of life’. “We do not have control over things. So whenever I can help something, I do it”, she recalled. Th roughout her life, wherever she found space, she made a garden. On her adventures with her husband all over the world, she left behind a garden everywhere she went. “Working with nature is an expression of spirituality for me,” she said. “People my age look for god, in temples, churches and mosques. Only if they took part in nature, appreciated and worked with it, they would live longer, healthier and more meaningful lives”, she added.

It seems there is no stopping this green crusader, whose latest project has been converting the Destination Centre in Magarpatta City into a ‘NoSmoking Zone’. It was a slow process, but she has been successful! With the help of Satish Magar, Chairman of Magarpatta Group, she was able to put up some sign boards prohibiting smoking and creating a small smoking zone, however, that wasn’t enough. She said, “I started walking up to people, talking to them, requesting them to not smoke in public areas. After some time, every time they saw me, they put out their cigarettes. It has now disappeared completely.” Furthermore, she has been able to stop all shops in Destination Centre to stop selling cigarettes. Who can say no to this radiant face on a mission?

At the age of 81, Sudha Pai sincerely believes that we are all bound by nature. She added, “Nature has inspired writers, lyricists, artists; It inspires me to lead a healthy life, it is the secret of my energy and my drive.” Her message to the world tangled up in their busy lifestyle is, “Keep up with progress and be aware of your civic, moral and social responsibility.” She added, “There’s no point in complaining about the government or authorities, we need to address the root cause and go back to our ancient way of lifeliving with nature.” tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

might just be round the corner,” she said.

It is when the girls walk up to her and ask her to get more books for them to read or perform well in the exercises that she gives them is when she knows that she is headed in the right direction.

Parkhi, who plans to go abroad next year for further studies, has decided to dedicate her time till then towards these girls. Believing that she works better on her own, she is not thinking of a team right now. “It is a time-consuming responsibility and requires total dedication, but the end result is worth it,” she said. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com

Emmanuel Public School at Kondhwa has facilities at par with contemporary educational institutions

development of the child and provide wholesome meal every day. Many volunteers visit our school and take part in the children’s recreational and vocational activities. Our mission is to give every child an equal opportunity to pursue a career of their choice. For me, every underprivileged child is a special child of God. A faculty at Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies, HGM Azam College, Emmanuel Mission School, Bethesda Bible Training Centre (Pune), and winner of National Award For Education Development 2010 and Mother Teresa Sadbhavana Award 2013, Bakhtawar Singh admits that he is more spiritual than religious.

“My school attempts to instill in kids the spirit of God’s love and a value system based on Godly principles, to help them become better citizens and human beings,” he said. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY AUGUST 6, 2016

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“There will be no Congress-mukt (India). We are a 131-year-old party, we have fought many battles... If our numbers are less in the other house (Lok Sabha), don’t think it will always be so.”

— Anand Sharma, Congress leader

No proposal now for reservation in higher judiciary NEW DELHI: There is no proposal being considered now to amend the Constitution to allow reservation in higher judiciary but the issue needs to be looked into at some point of time, government said.

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told Lok Sabha that he has requested Chief Justices of High Courts to give due consideration for people from backward classes, among others, while sending proposals for appointment of judges.

“The suggestions from various quarters/sources have been received for making reservations in higher judiciary and amending the Constitution.

“However, at present there is no proposal under consideration to amend the Constitution for providing reservation in higher judiciary,” Prasad said during Question Hour.

Referring to the issue whether there should be reservation, Prasad said, “kabhi vichar karna padega (it has to be thought about at some point of time)”.

Prasad said appointment of judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts are made under Articles 124 and 217 of the Constitution and they do not provide for reservation for any caste or class of persons.

“The government has, however, requested the Chief Justices of the High Courts that while sending proposals for appointment of judges, due consideration be given to suitable candidates belonging to Other Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Minorities and from amongst women,” the Minister said.

PTI

AAP govt to move SC, says fight is for democracy not supremacy Delhi HC judgement holds Lt Governor and not CM as administrative head

NEW DELHI: The AAP government said it will challenge the High Court order holding that the Lieutenant Governor is the administrative head of the National Capital Territory as it “undermined” the powers of the council of ministers given by the Constitution.

“We will move the Supreme Court against the HC verdict,” Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain said.

The Minister alleged said that the Kejriwal government has been prevented by the Centre from taking any action against corruption since it was formed.

A Delhi government spokesperson said that initial assessment of Delhi High Court verdict shows it has “undermined powers of council of ministers mentioned in the Constitution”.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadha said that the High Court verdict will be challenged in the Supreme Court, adding that “a democratically elected government cannot be undermined. This isn’t a fight for supremacy, but democracy”.

The High Court said that LG is the administrative head of

Guj HC quashes quota ordinance AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat High Court quashed a state ordinance on 10 per cent quota for economically backward classes among the unreserved category, in a setback to BJP government which had taken the step to pacify the agitating Patel community.

Terming the ordinance issued on May 1 as “inappropriate and unconstitutional”, a division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice VM Pancholi said that such quota is not a classification, as claimed by the government, but it is indeed reservation.

The court also observed that 10 per cent reservation for poor among the unreserved category takes the total quota beyond 50 per cent, which is not permitted as per the Supreme Court’s earlier decision.

The high court also said that state government gave the reservation to EBCs without any study or scientific data. The state government pleader requested the court to stay its order so that they can approach Supreme Court, following which the HC issued a twoweek stay on its order.

Petitioners Dayaram Verma, Ravjibhai Manani, Dulari Basarge and Gujarat Parents’ Association had separately challenged the ordinance announcing reservation of 10 per cent seats to candidates belonging to the unreserved category with family income cap of Rs 6 lakh annually in government jobs and educational institutions.

They said that additional 10 per cent

GST passage ‘historic’ P 12

Corridors of Law

Punjab Cabinet Minister Bikram Singh Majithia coming out of District Court having filed a defamation case against Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, in Amritsar

National Capital Territory and the AAP Government’s contention that he is bound to act on the advice of Council of Ministers was “without substance”.

The decision comes after months-long turf war between LG Najeeb Jung and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath dismissed

AAP Government’s plea challenging the Centre’s May 21, 2015, notification giving absolute powers to LG in appointing bureaucrats in the national capital. The court also quashed several notifications issued

by Kejriwal after returning to power last year, saying they were illegal as they were issued without concurrence of the LG. PTI

Survey to find number of people on drugs NEW DELHI: Government is conducting a national survey through the AIIMS to ascertain the number of people in the country who have taken to drugs, whose results are likely by 2018.

Informing members in Rajya Sabha, Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot said the national survey is being

conducted through an agency of AIIMS in Delhi and government will provide all support for the smooth conduct of this survey.

“The Ministry has recently assigned the work of conducting the national survey on the extent and pattern of substance use to national drug dependence treatment centre, All India

Action against those caught pants down One of the biggest setbacks for Anandiben Patel who resigned as Gujarat CM was the lack of tact and discretion when handling the Patel quota

reservation reduced the number of seats in educational institutions for candidates from unreserved category with annual family income of more than Rs 6 lakh.

They said the provision violates the Constitution as Article 46, which is about the directive principles of state policy, does not allow quota beyond the 50 per cent cap. The government pleader told the court that the reservation is actually “a further classification in the general, open, unreserved category” and does not violate either Supreme Court order or Constitutional provisions.

The state government, in its affidavit before the HC, said the ordinance does not violate provisions of the Constitution nor does it go against the SC orders.

PTI

Following is the chronology of events in the case related to the tussle between the Centre and AAP government regarding administration of the national capital. It started with lodging of an FIR in 2014 by the then Arvind Kejriwal regime against Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), Mukesh Ambani and others, including two then Union ministers, accusing them of “fixing” gas prices.

• May 2, 2014: RIL moves HC for quashing of FIR and challenging a 1993 notification of the Centre giving power to Delhi government’s AntiCorruption Branch (ACB) to probe union government employees.

• May 8: Centre moves HC against FIR against the minister contending that ACB has no powers or jurisdiction to probe.

• May 9: HC issues notice to Delhi government on the plea to quash FIR against the minister. HC allowed ACB to continue with its probe.

• May 20: HC asks Centre, RIL to cooperate with ACB probe.

• Aug 9: ACB tells HC that it has powers to lodge FIR in gas pricing case.

• Aug 19: ACB tells HC it cannot probe the gas pricing case against RIL and a former UPA minister as a July 23, 2014, notification of Centre has taken away its jurisdiction to investigate central government employees.

• Oct 16: Delhi gov tells HC its ACB can prosecute RIL and ministers.

• Oct 28: HC gives time to Centre to clarify on ACB power.

• Dec 4 : RIL argues in HC that State probing Centre’s decision on gas pricing is absurd.

• May 25, 2015: HC says ACB has jurisdiction to arrest policemen who come under Centre. It says the Centre’s May 21 notification limiting ACB’s powers was “suspect”.

• May 26: PIL in HC against Centre’s May 21 notification giving powers to LG to appoint bureaucrats in Delhi.

• May 28: Delhi govt moves HC on Centre’s notification on LG’s powers.

Centre moves SC against HC’s May 25 order terming as “suspect” its notification.

• May 29: HC asks LG to consider Delhi government’s proposals on shifting of nine bureaucrats from one post to another.

• Jun 10: HC refuses to stay MHA notification on ACB power.

• Jun 27: Delhi government moves HC to restrain LG appointee ACB chief M K Meena from entering anti-graft body’s office.

MUZAFFARNAGAR: Villagers in Jamalpur here will face legal action if caught defecating in the open.

The district administration has appealed the villagers to use the newly constructed toilets and not to defecate in open and warned that legal action would be taken against those relieve in open, Additional District Magistrate Sunil Kumar said.

The step came after some people of the village complained to the authorities that some locals are not using the toilets and relieve in open, he said.

In order to achieve defecationfree status, many villages are holding special awareness camps, besides doing social mapping. Houses without toilets, areas where open defecation take place and combined sanitary complex for women are marked in the map of the village.

PTI

Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi,” he said in a written reply.

Gehlot said the national policy on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 2012 has a provision for such a survey to be conducted every five years to study the change and pattern of drug abuse. He said the policy was framed in 2012 and “we felt the need for

an extensive survey as to the number of people who have taken to drugs abuse.”

“The survey should have been held every five years, but no such survey was conducted by the previous UPA government. At present, it is estimated that around 7.21 crore people are affected due to drugs,” the Minister said.

PTI

INNOVATION EDGE

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan witnesses a robot at an exhibition showcasing products and systems developed by various DRDO laboratories at Parliament House in New Delhi

‘Don’t refer uniform civil code to Law Com’ Vol-III* lssue No.: 08 Editor: Yogesh Sadhwani (Responsible for the selection of news under the PRB Act, 1867) Printed and Published by: Shrikant Honnavarkar on behalf of Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt. Ltd. CIN:U22200PN2014PTC151382 and printed at PRI – Media Services Private Limited CIN: U22222MH2012PTC232006 at Plot No. EL-201, TTC Industrial Area, MIDC, Mahape, Navi Mumbai.

Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt. Ltd. 1641, Madhav Heritage, Tilak Road, Pune-411 030, Tel: 020-41220010.

NEW DELHI: A Congress member in Lok Sabha opposed the government’s move to refer the matter of uniform civil code to the Law Commission and asked it not to “prick the conscience” of Muslims and drop the idea.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, MI Shanawas (Cong) said the Muslims have accepted the criminal laws in all matters and wondered why the government was “intruding upon” their civil laws when there were so many important issues facing the country.

“Why prick the conscience of

Muslims? The government should drop the idea,” he said, noting that Muslims believed in Sharia, the Islamic law, to be the law of the god.

Among other matters raised by the members was the issue of granting special category status to Andhra Pradesh, with YSR Congress Party, whose members have been protesting in the Well of the House on the matter, asking the government to respond to their demand and give a time line for its implementation.

As no reply was forthcoming, they staged a walkout.

Yogi Adityanath (BJP) raised the Bulandshahr gangrape case and said a similar incident had occured in Greater Noida, alleging that crimes against women were growing at an alarming in pace in Uttar Pradesh due to “criminalisation of politics”.

Amid strong protests by Samajwadi Party, which is in power in the state, Adityanath demanded a CBI probe into the incident.

Chirag Paswan (LJP) and Pappu Yadav, expelled RJD member, targeted the Bihar government over a recent incident of beating up of dalit

students.

Yadav also faulted the state dispensation for the ‘black law’, a reference to the strict prohibition law enacted in the state. “Such a black law resembles rule of Hitler and Ghenghis Khan,” Yadav rued.

KC Venugopal (Cong) protested over the way the CRPF looked after its dead jawans who laid down their lives fighting naxalites in Chhattisgarh, saying the body of a jawan brought to his home in Kerala was decomposing and sought a probe.

PTI

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY AUGUST 6, 2016

‘RAAM should be treated as Olympics’ P 14

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“Olympians should not consider winning medals as the ultimate prize, but instead encapsulate a civilisation in which solidarity takes precedence. It is possible to create a society based on the acknowledgment that everyone is a member of the same human family.”

— Pope Francis

Stop glorification of terrorists: Rajnath

SOGGY SPORT

In his address to the 7th SAARC Interiors Ministers Conference in Pakistan, Home Minister seeks action against terror-backing nations

BY ACHINTA BORAH ISLAMABAD: India delivered a blunt message to Pakistan asking it to stop encouraging terror groups and “glorification” of terrorists and also called for “strongest action” against nations supporting terrorism and their isolation.

Without mincing any words amid the strain in Indo-Pak relations, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said mere condemnation of terrorism and terrorists is not enough and that there are “no good terrorists or bad terrorists”.

Singh in his address to the 7th SAARC Interiors Ministers Conference said terrorism continued to remain the biggest challenge and threat to the

Pentagon blocks $300 mn military aid to Pak WASHINGTON: In a setback to Pakistan, the US has blocked USD 300 million military aid to it after Defence Secretary Ashton Carter declined to give a certification to the Congress that Pakistan is taking sufficient action against the dreaded Haqqani network.

In the absence of Congressional certification, the Pentagon has blocked disbursement of USD 300 million to Pakistan under Coalition Support Fund, which is essentially reimbursement money for the expenses made by Pakistan Army in support of US operations in Afghanistan.

“The funds (USD 300 million) could not be released to the Government of Pakistan at this time because the (Defence) Secretary has not yet certified that Pakistan has taken sufficient action against the Haqqani Network per the Fiscal Year 2015 National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) requirement,” Pentagon Spokesman Adam Stump said. Pakistan has reimbursed USD 700 million of the USD one billion they were authorised in fiscal year 2015 under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF).

The Washington Post, which first reported about it, described the withholding of US military aid to Pakistan as a “potential blow” to US-Pak ties.

PTI

region.

The current strain in Indo-Pak relations was apparently evident when Singh came face-to-face with his Pakistani counterpart Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan for the first time and the two leaders barely shook hands. The two leaders barely touched their hands, not even a formal handshake, before Singh moved ahead to enter the meeting hall.

Members of the Indian media, which came from New Delhi to report the conference, were not allowed to capture the moment or the conference and was kept at a distance by Pakistani officials, leading to a verbal duel between a senior Indian official and a Pakistani official. The Home Minister also skipped

the lunch being hosted by Khan after the meeting as the host had left the venue.

Speaking in Hindi at the conference, Singh said there should be “strongest action not only against terrorists or organisations but also against those individuals, organisations and nations who support terrorism. It also needs to be ensured that terrorism is not glorified and is not patronised by any state,” Singh said in a veiled dig at Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Singh’s comments came against the backdrop of Sharif ’s praise of Burhan Wani who was killed in an encounter in J&K on July 8 and his description of Hizbul Mujahideen commander as a martyr, much to India s ire.

“One country’s terrorist cannot be a martyr or freedom fighter for anyone. I also speak for the entire humanity — not just for India or other SAARC members in urging that in no circumstances should terrorists be eulogised as martyrs.”

Calling for isolation of countries or individuals who provide any kind of support, encouragement, sanctuary, safe haven or any assistance to terrorists, he said “strongest possible steps need to be taken not only against terrorists and terrorist organisations but also those individuals, institutions, organisations or nations that support them.

PTI

Russia says 7 killed in Syria rebel attack

MOSCOW: The Russian defence ministry said that seven people died in an attack by Syrian rebels in the battleground city of Aleppo using weapons loaded with a “poisonous agent”.

Lieutenant-General Sergei Chvarkov was cited by Russia’s TASS news agency as saying that the Nureddin al-Zenki rebel group launched weapons packed with an unnamed “poisonous agent” from an opposition-held neighbourhood to a government-controlled area of Aleppo.

Chvarkov, said that “as a result of this terrorist attack, seven people died and 23 were evacuated to hospitals in Aleppo with breathing problems and

airway burns.”

He said the Russian authorities have informed the United States, which backs the rebels, of the attack.

Moscow blasted criticism by Washington over its actions in Syria, saying it was “unacceptable” to demand restraint around Aleppo, the city divided between Syrian government troops and rebels.

“As soon as there is real headway in fighting terrorists, made by the Syrian government and army with our support, the Americans started... demanding that we stop fighting terrorists,” Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said.

AFP

A participant throws the ball during the Mud Olympics event at the North Sea tideland in Brunsbuettel, Germany. Since 2004 teams of different disciplines, such as mud soccer, mud handball and mud sledding, compete against each other

US, Japan call emergency UN meeting on North Korea UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council emergency meet held to discuss Pyongyang’s launch of a ballistic missile that for the first time landed in Japanese-controlled waters pressed for the Council to condemn North Korea after it test-fired a missile into Japanese waters.

North Korea fired two intermediaterange missiles simultaneously, but one appeared to explode on take-off, according to the US military.

The second missile landed in the Sea of Japan (East Sea), some 250 kilometers (155 miles) off Japan’s north coast and within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Britain’s Deputy Ambassador Peter Wilson said: “This is the first time that a DPRK missile has landed in the Japanese EEZ. I think this is something that the council should take extremely seriously.”

Wilson said the latest launch was “a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions” that prohibit North Korea from developing missile technology.

US Strategic Command said the two missiles were launched from a site in western North Korea.

The council has repeatedly condemned North Korea’s missile launches, but a US-drafted statement circulated last month following an apparent submarine-launched missile test was bogged down in discussion with China.

The council last adopted a statement condemning North Korea for two medium-range missile tests on June 23.

North Korea has been hit by five sets of UN sanctions since it first tested an atomic device in 2006.

AFP

Prachanda elected Nepal’s new PM

BY SHIRISH B PRADHAN KATHMANDU: Maoist chief Prachanda was elected by lawmakers as Nepal’s Prime Minister for a second time, promising to lead the nation toward economic development while working as a bridge between communities following deadly protests over a divisive new Constitution.

Though Pushpa Kamal Dahal better known by his nom de guerre ‘Prachanda’ (the fierce one) - was the only contender for the top post, he had to go through the voting as the Constitution requires the PM to prove support of the majority lawmakers in the House.

The 61-year-old CPN-Maoist Centre chief, known for his anti-India stance, was elected Prime Minister with 363 votes in favour and 210 against him. Out of a total 595 members, 22 did not vote.

He was backed by the largest party in the

House, Nepali Congress, constituents of the United Democratic Madhesi Front and the Federal Alliance and some other smaller parties.

Speaker Onsari Gharti announced Prachanda’s victory after the election.

Ahead of the election, Prachanda pledged to lead the nation toward economic development while moving ahead with the spirit of national consensus during his premiership.

“I pledge that I will unite everyone in the country...I have a responsibility to solve this problem. I feel that I have been put forward as a candidate to work as a bridge between (communities),” he told the House. Prachanda will take over as the 39th prime minister of Nepal. This is the second time Prachanda has become PM after his brief stint with premiership came to an end in 2009. He is also the only communist leader to become the PM of the country twice. The PM’s post had been left vacant since last month after CPN-UML chairman KP Sharma Oli tendered his resignation.

Prachanda won vote after Nepali Congress and CPN Maoist Centre signed a three-point agreement with the Madhesi Front to secure support from the Madhesi parties for their bid to form a new government led by him.

As per the agreement, the government-in-waiting would implement the Madhesi Front’s demands that include acknowledging those killed during the Madhes agitation as martyrs and providing free treatment to the injured besides amending the Constitution to redraw provincial boundary, while the Madhesi parties would support the new government.

PTI

Former British PM David Cameron’s 150,000 pounds wax work at museum has been moved into archives

BY ADITI KHANNA

LONDON: Former British Prime Minister 150,000 pounds wax work at Madame Tussauds here has been moved into the archives leaving the space of the Downing Street replica empty.

As a reflection of some of the post-Brexit turmoil in the UK, the museum confirmed this week that the fake No 10 door will remain without representation as the world-famous wax museum has traditionally only featured elected prime ministers.

“As a result of Theresa May

succeeding David Cameron as Prime Minister, Cameron’s Madame Tussauds figure has been removed from the World Leaders area of the London attraction,” Nicole Fenner, spokesperson for Madame Tussauds, told PTI. “As to whether we’ll be creating a figure of Theresa May traditionally, we haven’t featured likenesses of unelected Prime Ministers. However, it is still early days in May’s administration, but if, as it appears, she remains Prime Minister for the foreseeable future, we will review this policy and potentially fill the vacancy outside No 10,” she said.

May entered Downing Street last month after Cameron had stepped down as Prime Minister on June 24 the day the result of a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union (EU) was announced in favour of

leaving the economic bloc.

Former London mayor Boris Johnson, the star campaigner for Brexit and newly-appointed foreign secretary in Mrs May’s Cabinet, has survived the upheaval by keeping his spot at the wax museum at London’s Baker Street.

Meanwhile, Cameron likeness, which cost around 150,000 pounds to create, will remain in the attraction’s archive where the 132-year-old museum keeps all of the moulds, heads and hands of every figure ever made.

The Downing Street set is part of a wider “World Leaders” display, which most recently welcomed Narendra Modi to its collection.

“His figure has been extremely popular with guests since being launched earlier this year in April,” the museum spokesperson said in reference to the Indian Prime Minister.

Modi, dressed in a kurta and jacket with hands joined in namaste, stands besides present day leaders Barack Obama, Angela Merkel and Francoise Holland, as well as political heavyweights of the past like Mahatma Gandhi and Winston Churchill.

The heads of US presidential nominees Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are already prepared so the election winner can be installed in November. “#WaxClinton or WaxTrump?

Only one will be inaugurated @ MadameTussauds. We’ll find out on Election Day November 8, 2016,” the museum said in a tweet this week.

Madame Tussauds has featured elected world leaders ever since it was founded as a travelling show in 1802 by French artist Marie Grosholtz.

PTI

MADAMETUSSAUDS.CO.UK

Downing Street lies vacant at Madame Tussauds

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY AUGUST 6, 2016

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MONEY MATT ER S

“With over 1.3 billion people, obviously India is a big market. I think we needed to be here... It took us a little bit of time in particular because it is difficult to find good real estate locations for a luxury store in India.”

— Jean Cassegrain, CEO, French Luxury House Longchamp

Signpost

“Our newly launched Super TVs is a testimony to our commitment of bringing top-of-the-line devices and services to our users in India.”

— Tin Mok, Vice President, Le Holdings

GST passage ‘historic’ Government pumps FM Jaitley says rate to be optimum, time-bound rollout and taxes will reduce in future

Five lakh affordable houses in five years Real estate body NAREDCO said it will construct five lakh affordable houses in Karnataka in five years under the Centre’s ‘Housing For All’ scheme for providing six crore houses by 2022. “The construction will be taken up under the central government’s scheme which aims to provide six crore affordable houses to all by 2022,” National Real Estate Development Council President (Karnataka Chapter) Manoj Lodha told reporters. Lodha said the real estate body had also committed to about Rs 90,000 crore investment in Haryana.

As government looks to implement the ‘historic’ Goods and Services Tax (GST) from April next year, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the tax rate will be “optimum” even as there were indications that it may be higher than 18 per cent.

After Rajya Sabha approved a constitutional amendment to pave the way for rollout of GST, he said the tax rate will be decided by the GST Council, which will have Union Finance Minister and representatives of all 29 states.

“We are going to try to make it reasonably as quick as possible... it is always good to set stiff targets and try meet them, rather than have no targets at all,” he said.

Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia said the Union Government would want half of the states to ratify the bill within the next 30 days so as to allow GST Council to finalise the legislations that will set the rate and other terms. Jaitley said the government is targeting to bring the legislations — the Central GST Bill and the Integrated GST (GST) Bill — before the Parliament in the Winter Session of Parliament in November.

Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian, who had previously recommended a standard GST rate of 17-19 per cent, said while a GST rate of close to 22 per cent will put inflationary pressure, higher rate of 27 per cent will become totally self-defeating.

Adhia on the other hand said it would be “premature” to expect the GST’s standard rate to be 18 per cent saying it would imply significant revenue losses.

ALL SMILES: Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley with Ministers of State for Finance Santosh Kumar Gangwar and Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia at a press conference on the Goods and Services Tax in New Delhi

Central excise duty and state VAT taken together added up to 27 per cent currently.

“I think what you need is an optimum rate... Currently what the tax payers are paying is phenomenally much higher...

Now it will gradually slide down.

But even in the first instance it will come down,” Jaitley said.

The GST Bill passed by Rajya Sabha will have to go to Lok Sabha before it is sent to states for ratification.

On the impact of GST rollout on inflation, Jaitley said over the years, the tax rates will come down and hence the prices of many commodities will also decline.

“Over the long-term, tax rates will come down, and if tax rates come down then it is natural that many commodities will see lowering of prices. In the coming days, we will try that sooner we complete the roadmap and implement it,” he

said. Unveiling the roadmap for GST roll out, Adhia said the government is looking at April 1, 2017, as the target date for implementation and 60,000 officers would be trained on GST laws and IT infrastructure framework by March next year.

Citing media reports which gave examples based on 18 per cent GST rate, Adhia said: “I would advice that these are premature calculation, particularly in items like car.”

Dubbing passage of the GST Constitution Amendment Bill as historic, Jaitley said manufacturing taxes and VAT will come down with the new national sales tax but the same for services tax will be decided by states and centre. The GST, which will subsume over a dozen central and state levies including excise duty, service tax and VAT, is “perhaps the most important” tax reform, he said.

PTI

Rs 23K cr into PSBs In a bid to shore up cash-strapped public sector banks, the government has injected Rs 22,915 crore capital in 13 lenders including SBI and Indian Overseas Bank to revive loan growth that has hit a twodecade low.

This is the first tranche of capital infusion for the current fiscal and more funds would be provided in future depending on the performance of PSBs. In all Rs 70,000 crore in capital is to be invested over four years to contain risks in the banking industry.

Out of the Rs 22,915 crore, State Bank of India (SBI) will get Rs 7,575 crore, followed by Indian Overseas Bank (Rs 3,101 crore) and Punjab National Bank (Rs 2,816 crore). The other lenders, which have received capital infusion are Bank of India (Rs 1,784 crore), Central Bank of India (Rs 1,729 crore), Syndicate Bank (Rs 1,034 crore), UCO Bank (Rs 1,033 crore), Canara Bank (Rs 997

crore), United Bank of India (Rs 810 crore), Union Bank of India (Rs 721 crore), Corporation Bank (Rs 677 crore), Dena Bank (Rs 594 crore) and Allahabad Bank (Rs 44 crore).

The infusion will boost the government’s shareholdings in the banks, which have been under-capitalised compared with their private peers because of restrictions on their ability to sell equity to raise money.

The average Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) — or the ratio of a bank’s capital to its risk — for public sector banks stood at 11.6 per cent as of March 31, lower than 13.2 per cent for banking system as a whole. Basel-III regulations provide for bank to have a minimum capital ratio of 9 per cent by March 31, 2019.

Also, the surging bad loans and weaker profitability had compounded their woes.

PTI

A deserted bank as public sector bank staff go on strike to protest the proposed merger of associate banks with SBI and banking reforms announced by the Centre

Delayed tax reforms, RBI funds not for recapitalising PSU banks NPAs key challenges

BY MUNISH SHEKHAVAT

Delayed tax reforms continue to pose operational bottlenecks to streamlined movement of goods and services across India and the shadow of bad assets continue to haunt the Indian financial sector, according to Tata group Chairman Cyrus Mistry.

Mistry, who is the Chairman Cyrus Mistry of the homegrown automobile major, however, said there is a positive sign of a more mature and responsible economy.

“The continued delay of some of the tax reforms continue to pose operational bottlenecks in a more streamlined movement of goods and services across the country,” he said.

Mistry further said: “The shadow of NPAs continue to haunt the Indian financial sector even as the sector is all set to grow with new financial institutions.”

The banking sector non-performing loans (NPL) rose sharply in 2015-16 to over 13 per cent, or over Rs 8 trillion, as of March as a result of stricter NPL recognition standards.

Mistry, however, said despite 201516 being one of continued global volatility across different markets, the news was more positive for India with robust GDP growth, making the country one of the fastest growing economies worldwide.

The sustained start-up environment has also played an important role in bringing in global and domestic investment, opening up new opportunities and also helping to carry economic development beyond just the tier one cities, he said.

“Moreover, there is, rightly so, a greater thoughtfulness towards investing in new or emerging companies with a greater attention to the right business models. This is a positive sign of a more mature and responsible economy,” he added. On Tata Motors group, he said 2015-16 was a year of mixed results but it was important to note the return to profitability.

PTI

RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan has rejected suggestions for the central bank to infuse its surplus

BY DIPANKAR KUMAR

RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan had rejected suggestions for the central bank to infuse its surplus funds to capitalise ailing public sector banks — proposed

by CEA Arvind Subramanian — saying it is a “non-transparent” idea that can create “conflicts of interest”.

Rajan said RBI should continue paying as much dividend as possible to the government, which in turn should be recapitalising the public sector banks.

“The Economic Survey has suggested the RBI capitalise public sector banks.

This seems a non-transparent way of proceeding, getting the banking regulator once again into the business of owning banks, with attendant conflicts of interest,” he said.

The suggestion made in this regard in the latest Economic Survey, prepared by Chief Economic Advisor Subramanian, is has reportedly found traction with the government, though there is no

official word in this regard as yet. Rajan, however, said rather than this, RBI should pay as much dividend as possible to the government, which over the past two years has run into billions of dollars.

Rajan, who will return to academia after his three-year term at RBI ends on September 4, added that RBI has paid all of its surplus to the government for the last three years.

In 2013-14 the RBI had transferred a surplus of Rs 52,679 crore to the government, which in 2014-15 rose to Rs 65,896 crore. The surplus transfer in 2010-11 was much lower at Rs 15,009 crore.

According to a media report published days after Rajan’s surprise decision, the government is mulling to use up to Rs 4 trillion of RBI capital.

The Governor stressed that the government should continue to capitalise its banks and clarified that a higher dividend payout by RBI and bank-recapitalisation should not be linked.

If the government cannot arrange the required capital, Rajan suggested issuing to the banks “government capitalisation bonds” in exchange for equity. “The

banks would hold the bonds on their balance sheet. This would tie up part of their balance sheet, but would certainly be capital,” he explained.

Till 2007, RBI was holding nearly 60 per cent stake in the public sector lender SBI on behalf of the government.

However, this stake was transferred to the government after amendments to the relevant acts, as it was felt that it was inconsistent with the principles of effective supervision that the regulator (RBI) was also an owner of a bank (SBI).

In the Economic Survey, Subramanian, who is among those being speculated in race to succeed Rajan at RBI, had first spoken about deploying the RBI’s capital to bolster the state-run banks’ buffers.

Lauding the efforts taken by the

Raghuram Rajan

government to take action against wilful defaulters, Rajan said the RBI has created a monitoring cell for early reporting of frauds to investigative agencies.

“We should send the message that no one can get away, and I am glad that the Prime Minister’s Office is pushing prosecution of large frauds. The RBI has set up a fraud monitoring cell to coordinate the early reporting of fraud cases to the investigative agencies,” he said. He further said quick and effective investigation by the agencies is very important to check frauds.

Rajan said the sight of a banker sitting along side an investigative agency will send a strong message to the borrower and make him cough-up the money owed. “Those who have diverted money out of their companies, especially into highly visible assets abroad, a stern message sent by bankers sitting together with investigative agencies should help send the message that the alternatives to repayment can be harsh.” Rajan said RBI has given a lot of flexibility to banks to deal with genuine cases of loan losses with measures like 5/25 scheme of rescheduling loans, but warned about its misuse.

PTI

‘We look forward to more investments from Russia’

BY RAJESH RAI How was your recent visit to Russia? What are the key takeways from this visit?

Sitharaman: I met with Russian Prime Minister. Chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra were also there.

Other than talking about India, Russia bilateral trade issues, I had raised the issue of Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) with which we are trying to have a free trade agreement (FTA).

Each CM spoke about their respective states as investment destinations. Rajasthan talked about opportunities in tourism sector. Maharashtra talked about Bollywood, about dubbing Russian films in Marathi and Hindi and the AP CM spoke about role of Russia in building Amravathi, the new capital of the states. Russia will be the partner country in India’s engineering sourcing exhibition in March 2017 in Chennai.

Tell us more about the India-EEU FTA? Russia is the biggest partner in that group. The joint study group (which was set up to look at

the feasibility of a FTA) got into every aspect and the report has been submitted by them.

Our comments have been given, their comments are awaited. The individual countries will have to look at the report and the moment their comments come in, we can start the negotiations for actual FTA signing. So a concrete and major step will be to start actual negotiations. That is an union like European Union. So negotiations will have to happen. We hope to start that process.

The government has announced several relaxations in the foreign direct investment (FDI) norms. What impact do you see on the FDI Inflows?

There is lot of interest being evinced by foreign investors. We have liberalised FDI in several sectors including defence. Look at the inflows, both FDI and FPI are very healthy and therefore interest of investors in the sectors that we have eased out through the FDI policy keeping in line with the Make in India are all absolutely consistent and flows are coming in reflective of the changes.

What about FDI in defence?

Sitharaman: There are lot of interest by foreign investors.

What is the progress on the commerce ministry’s proposal to relax visa regime of India?

Nirmala Sitharaman

Sitharaman: We have been recommending that in order to improve tourism, in order to improve certain service sectors whether it is medical tourism or other people come here to get world class affordable treatment. For general tourism and also for people who come here as part of the services sector whether it is from IT or ITeS services, we from the ministry wanted e-visas to be provided and visa on arrival to be provided so that it becomes less cumbersome and it can help in promoting services sector and tourism. So that is the recommendation which has gone from our ministry. The very clear idea is promoting tourism and enabling medical tourism facilitated. We have sent it off to the Home Ministry because they have to consider from internal security point of view.

Is the issue of FDDI (Footwear Design and Development Institute) resolved?

Sitharaman: I had spent a lot of time in this. I want this issue to get a fair solution and student should not be put to difficulties. But this problem is an inherited problem. November 2014,

we got the problem and it was a very bad and unjustifiable decision. The students of 2012-14 batch are facing lot of problem. But we working at it. We are also taking the advise of the Prime Minister’s Office. We are working to have a deemed university status for them. But there are rules governing deemed universities as in what is the endowment requirement for them, how many faculty should be there, what kind of lab should be prevalent etc? Everything about who can qualify for deemed university is being looked into by the HRD Ministry. They are giving us guidance, post us fulfilling that requirement,... so work is happening.

PTI: What is the progress on India-EU FTA? How the talks will go after Brexit?

Sitharaman: In Europe, our major trade was with and through Britain. Now that they are out, our FTA negotiations with EU will have to be re-calibrated to accommodate that change. UK minister was here for a preliminary discussion on FTA with UK separately.

PTI Features

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY AUGUST 6, 2016

WATCH OUT THE BROKEN ROADS TOUR

Deccan Harvest is launching its new F&B menu and invites all them close buddies for the Cocktail Buddies event where the bartender Rocky the Bar Jockey will give away a long list of mind-boggling cocktails as Samplings and get you and your friends tipsy without a hiccup.

When: August 7 Where: Deccan Harvest, Hadapsar

FOR THE LOVE OF JAZZ

EXPERIENCE LIVE ART AND MUSIC

BAKES, BITES AND CURRIES Nitesh Hub is bringing Bakes, Bites and Curries of the World, a festival celebrating food and chefs. There will be a cooking competition that will have aspiring and upcoming chefs, cooking their hearts out - showing off to the audience their skills in rustling up global bakes, bites and curries. The cook off will be judged

by Chef Altamash from five star hotel Ritz Carlton in Bangalore who will also demonstrate his special dishes.

The festival will also entail many fun activities during like Open Mic, workshops, celebrity chef demos, potter’s wheel, drumming sessions, zumba, spot games, art and craft workshops and more.

When: Till August 7 Where: Nitish Hub, Koregaon Park

Live painting is a fascinating form of performance art and a spectacularly creative attraction. Tilting Art Gallery at Ishanya brings to you a week filled with inspirational art and music by hosting live art sessions on extravagant canvas of 22 X 22 ft.

Music has always been one of the biggest inspiration for any art form, and to embark the spirit, live art by acclaimed artist, Vartan will be conjoined with live musical evenings.

For those of you who like music can jam with fellow musicians, the rest of you can experience the charisma of live painting session on a huge canvas.

When: Till August 7 Where: Tilting Art Gallery, Ishanya, Yerawada

WEEK THAT WAS

METALLICA TRIBUTE

COCKTAIL BUDDIES

Deccan Harvest-Magarpatta is known for hosting trending Worldly Events and adding experiences to the eat out culture. This Friendships Day

Pune was recently ranked 397 out of 407 in a survey conducted under the Swachh Rail Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan. We ask Puneites for their take on the issue Sameer Joshi Travel Company Proprietor Pune railway station being rated at the bottom of a survey recently conducted for cleanliness is not really a surprise to me and should not be to anyone else either.

I personally feel that we Punekars are responsible to some extent since all we do is point fingers at others, in this case the government and we rarely do anything ourselves. A simple example is that most of us will complain there are no dustbins or there are less dustbins, but do we bother to carry our own garbage back home with us? No! We just dump it there itself saying government should provide more dustbins.

The Government can do only this much and the rest is up to each and every citizen to follow basic civic sense and act accordingly. If the so called educated people start behaving like they were actually educated, Pune railway station would be one of the cleanest in no time.

Tanvi Deshpande PR Professional Pune Station is really a disgrace to our lovely city. Last year I was travelling to Goa and the train was three hours late and there wasn’t place on the platform to sit.

There needs to be strict action against people sleeping on the platforms for hours together. Many a times when I have come back from Mumbai in the evenings, most platforms are full of people sleeping on them. This leads to hygiene issues too. The resources made for a limited number are being over used.

Jheel Khera Baker Well a station is among the first places a passenger lands at when he arrives in a city. Pune is known for its beauty and the station surely doesn’t give that picture. Beggars, garbage and the stink all adds up to the title of it being a dirty station. Nagpur station on the other hand is very clean and is a place where Pune should take inspiration from. Here trains from all over the country pass and still its clean and pretty well maintained. A small station like Ajani in Nagpur is cleaner than our very own Pune station.

We must get rid of all the beggars and hawkers to begin with.

High Spirits is paying homage to Metallica, the most consistently innovative metal band of the 1980s and ‘90s with a tribute by Teemeer and the Cirkle. The Mumbai-based musicians are quite popular across the country for their flawless, massive Metallica tributes.

When: August 7 Where: The High Spirits, Koregaon Park

Kushal Shah Student The Pune Station is absolutely horrible. In my personal experience I’ve seen rats crawling all over and there is a complete disregard of hygiene present there. We can’t blame it all on the government or the station authorities either cause it’s us the people who are simply adding fuel to this fire. Littering is on full display here. The worst part is that to change this a huge mentality change is required and whether we like it or not it is going be tough to see that change.

The Railway Protection Force on July 30 arrested three women who used to ‘let loose’ monkeys on train coaches to frighten passengers who did not give them alms. The animals were also rescued from the accused’s possession with the help of forest department authorities. According to the RPF officials, Puja Ghadge, Bheema Ghadge and Sukanthabai Ghadge of Bhaskar Nagar in Kalwa were arrested. Ghatkopar RPF SubInspector Brijesh Singh said, “We were getting complaints from passengers using trains that passed through Kalwa and Mumbai CST stations that some women used to ask for

PUNE MAN CHEATS DEATH

alms and on refusal ‘leave’ monkeys inside the compartments earmarked for handicapped persons. They used to target commuters during noon.” Singh said that one commuter Nitin Gaikwad on Saturday called helpline 182 and alerted RPF about three women with three monkeys harassing passengers.

MAN STEALS MERC FROM MARRIOTT PARKING LOT

A pleasurable evening turned to nightmare, when a couple’s MercedesBenz was stolen from the parking lot of the five-star JW Marriott Hotel on SB

Road, on July 29. Chaturshrungi Police Station Sub Inspector and investigating officer VM Koli told that the car was priced at Rs 85 lakh belongs to Pritam Kinra, resident of Baner. Kinra had given the car keys to the valet for parking and was given a token in return. The couple also found that even the car keys was missing from the shelf.

The police reached the hotel after the couple filed a complaint. In the car was an Apple laptop worth Rs one lakh.

PIC

OF

Pune had a wet start on August 3, with excess rainfall disturbing civic life in some of the areas. With heavy rains lashing the city, several areas were flooded. To make matters worse authorities released water from Khadawasla dam which was full to the brim. Several roads around rivers were flooded and traffic cops had sealed several bridges. One such motorist had a narrow escape. The unidentified man was trapped in his car as the water level kept rising. The incident occurred post noon on Baba Bhide Bridge, Narayan Peth. A man who was in his Maruti Zen got locked inside his car. As the water flow intensified, his car started moving towards the river due to the current. Bystanders witnessed the incident and rushed to aid the man as the car sank further. A group of men jumped into the water and somehow managed to stop the car from going into the river. Over the next few minutes, the group pushed the vehicle towards a dry area. Through this all, the unidentified man remained locked in the car.

They got him to a dry patch and even managed to get him out of the car.

RAHUL RAUT

‘MONKEY GANG’ BUSTED

E WE K

You do not want to miss the International Beer Day madness at your favourite neighbourhood pub, The Irish House. Take your pick from Corona, Hoegaarden, Amstel Light, Fullers London Porter, Birra Morreti, Brody’s Bourbon, and lots more options as you grab this chance to try a range of International beers at a great price.

When: Till August 31 Where: The Irish House, Viman Nagar

VOX POPULI

THE

SHARE YOUR BEER CRAZE

The initial edition of The Broken Roads Tour will bring you two great bands to the High Spirits stage this Sunday.

Last Remaining Light is an energetic and intense new sound that has come together in early 2014. The band came out of the alternative music scene in Mumbai when Siddharth Basrur, Adil Kurwa and Anurag Shanker got together to create a new breed of sonic ideas. D’s Kitchen is a four-piece rock band from Bangalore. Formed in early 2014 by three college students with a focus on simple songwriting, emotive instrumentation and powerful vocals form the foundation of the band’s arresting sound.

When: August 7 Where: The High Spirits, Koregaon Park

The Pune Jazz and Blues Club continues its tryst with this month’s event session on Different Strokes – where a presentation will showcase popular jazz and blues standards along with a few well-known classics rendered by different artistes. This will include instrumental as well as vocal numbers. The artists showcased in it are mainstream jazz performers as well as non-standard jazz artistes playing off the beaten track.

When: August 7 Where: Gyaan Adab, Kalyani Nagar

PUNE

DANGEROUS TRAVEL: A cyclist holding an umbrella and riding on the road in Deccan area

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY

EDITOR

LETTERS TO THE

JULY 30, 2016 PUNE

The city is protected THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JULY 30, 2016

more such cases around me, because I sincerely believe that good people exist and this is a proof.

-Mrunal Vitthal Deshpande

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY

PUNE

JULY 30, 2016

PUNE

We all need a helping hand, someone to see us through difficult times. But there are those who need help urgently, as a delay may mean the difference between life and death. At such times, what is needed is an individual or a group of people, who will go to the extent of putting their own lives at risk, to rescue a fellow human being. It takes a special breed of person to rescue someone who is lost or injured on a trek, drowning in a river, or forced into a life of sexual slavery... and thankfully there exist such angels of mercy to come to their help

A picnic or trek can turn into a nightmare when things go wrong, falling into a river may mean certain death for the victim, and being forced into prostitution is like a life sentence, unless there is someone who cares enough to rescue you from such an ordeal

BY ASHISH PHADNIS, DNYANESHWAR BHONDE, TUSHAR RUPANAVAR & ROMIL KOTHARI @TGSWeekly

H ‘We have been able to save several lives and that’s a reward in itself ’

I

n recent years, there is a growing number of incidents about picnickers and trekkers getting lost, falling into ravines and gorges, drowning in lakes or dams, or being washed away by flooded streams. At such times, timely help and rescue can make the difference between life and death. Besides the police, there are groups of experienced trekkers who volunteer to come to the aid and rescue of the victims of such misadventures.

Shivdurga Mitra, a trekking and adventure club of Lonavla, has been regularly involved in the rescue work at tourist sites including the dangerous Bhushi Dam, during emergencies for over three decades.

The club members have provided a lifeline to many people in danger and distress, when the government machinery has shown up to be ineffective or non-existent.

Founded by Sunil Gaikwad in 1980, the aim of Shivdurga Mitra was to promote trekking, rapelling and similar adventure activities. Over the years, the club and its members have come to be well-known for their rescue operations. The club has carried out more than 350 rescue operations in the last decade. They have not just helped out humans, but the club members have also been involved in the care and protection of wild life and animal rescue operations.

There are a number of forts in the Lonavla area, including Rajmachi, Dhak, Lohagad and Visapur, which are popular destinations for trekkers and tourists, especially during the monsoons. Owing to the wet conditions, when rivers are in spate and lakes and dams are overflowing, accidents are likely, especially with the unwary or inexperienced

tourists. Th irty to 50 tourists die every year in such mishaps on an average. It is during such emergencies when the experienced trekkers of Shivdurga Mitra are often called on to come to the aid and rescue of the people in danger.

“We have been doing this job for decades.

Even police officials ask us for help, as they are not equipped or know how to climb down into a gorge, and pull out victims from inaccessible spots. Our members are well-versed with the area, and we also know the most accident-prone spots. With our

knowledge of the terrain and experience, we are able to track missing trekkers from the most remote of places,” said Rohit Vartak of Shivdurga Mitra.

Making one’s way through dense forests, remote and inaccessible valleys, unexpected streams and water bodies, and a thick cover of fog, are hazards that a rescue team may have to face in the course of a mission, and time is of the essence in an emergency, so reaching the accident or rescue spot swiftly is of the utmost importance. Since Lonavla is overcrowded with tourists during the

monsoon season, the traffic congestion of the roads is an issue that proves to be an obstacle during rescue operations. In the most recent tragedy, when three college students drowned in a pond at Korigad fort, the rescue team was trapped in traffic for quite some time.

“There are two types of operations. One is a search operation, where death has occurred and bodes have to be retrieved from remote or inaccessible places. The second is a rescue operation, where people are trapped and are unable to make or find their way to safety.

In the latter, timely help is crucial. We must reach the trapped people, assure them that they will be safe, and if required, transport them to the nearest hospital for medical care.

We have been able to save several lives on our missions, and that’s a reward in itself,” said Rohit.

The club has maintained records of its rescue operations and other activities since 2005. It also provides training to youths for rescue missions. The club’s team includes over 200 volunteers, who are always available in case of an emergency. The club also provides training in rapelling, valley crossing and rock climbing.

The challenges that the club now faces are mostly infrastructural and financial.

Rescue operations cost money in terms of transport, man hours and material costs.

“We organise summer camps, adventure activities for corporate groups and the money is used for rescue operations. But it would be a big help if we received proper funding to enable us to carry out such mission more effectively,” said Vartak.

Saving lives is his mission in life and he expects nothing in return

e is ever alert 24x7, and when he is called by citizens, friends or the police about someone drowning in the Mula Mutha river, he drops whatever he is doing, and rushes to the rescue of the person in distress, and he does not expect anything in return.

Rajesh Kachi, 46, of old Topkhana, Shivajinagar, has saved more than 70 lives over the last 22 years. He earns a living as a fast food vendor on Dengle bridge, on the Mula Mutha river.

His life-saving mission began when he was 19 years old. “One day in the wee hours I heard the cries of a young girl calling for help. My friends and I reached the spot, and saw the young girl holding on to a bush to keep from being swept away by the rushing waters of the river. My friends thought she was a ghost and fled from the spot, but I put my fears aside, and pulled her out of the water. She had tried to commit suicide as her parents had arranged her marriage to someone without her consent. I took her to her parents, who were so grateful, that they called me a god man,” said

Kachi.

Shankar Kale, 43, of Manjri, fell into the river from Shivaji bridge on February 17, 2016, and got stuck in

the mud, into which he began sinking.

It reached his face and he was unable to breathe. Kachi was the one who saved Kale, and took him to Sassoon Hospital.

“Kale and his family members met me in June and their gratitude touched me,“ said Kachi.

Kachi also saved 30-year-old Shankar Ravale of Nigdi, who tried to commit suicide by jumping from a bridge near the PMC. On August 18, 2013, 75-yearold Sushila Kelji from Indira Nagar jumped into the river from Shivaji bridge, as she was being harassed by her son and daughter-in-law. Kachi and his friend Shravan Pathak saved her from drowning and handed her over to the Shivajinagar police, who summoned her son, who agreed to take her back.

On February 13, 2015, a buffalo got stuck in a drainage chamber on the riverside in Deccan area. Kachi jumped into the chamber and helped pull out the buffalo.

For his noble deeds, Kachi has been honoured with more than 20 awards by the police and social organisations.

BEFORE

Mental Health needs state attention

AFTER

A friend in need for the sick, abandoned and stray animals of Pune

A

nimal lovers, who have pet animals in their homes, are common. Not so common are those who feel and go out of their way to care for stray animals, or any animal in distress and in need of tender love and care.

There are a number of dedicated animal welfare organisations, which are well-organised and also receive funds to carry on their activities. Then there are other voluntary organisations, that do not rely on any outside source of funds, but care for animals enough to devote time, energy and even money to lavish their care and love on stray and abandoned animals, which are most in need of shelter and protection.

Neha Panchamiya and Tanya Kane run RESQ , an organisation that they set up in 2007, to take care of stray animals. Over the course of nine eventful years, Neha and Tanya’s initial concept has evolved beyond their imaginations, and RESQ is a beehive of activity these days, receiving more than 100 calls a day from citizens asking for their rescue service.

The duo happened to come upon a dog affl icted with viral distemper, which is a grave systematic neurological disorder, in 2007. Try as hard as they did, they were unable to find a place which would take in the sick animal, or give it some much needed medical care. Th is was the catalyst that motivated them to start RESQ , their own animal rescue organisation.

Neha and Tanya interned with various veterinary hospitals to gain a knowhow of how to provide medical treatment to animals, the knowledge which they pass on to all their volunteers.

They set up their animal hospital at Hilltown, Paud Mulshi Road, in 2015. They raise their own funds which enables them to treat animals free of cost. It is a wellorganised operation that Neha and Tanya run, and their team includes veterinarians, ambulance drivers, coordinators and volunteers.

There is proper procedure and guidelines that come into play during an animal rescue operation, which starts with any citizen calling the RESQ helpline, or even one of their own volunteers coming across an injured animal.

The caller or volunteer is told to stay with the injured animal till the RESQ team arrives with an ambulance if

Tanya Kane

necessary to transport the injured animal to the hospital, or the volunteer provides on the spot medical attention.

The hospital provides nursing and medical care, as well as primary service such as vaccination, neutering and marking the animals. Animals are released in their original habitat or put up for adoption after recovery.

The RESQ mission is not restricted to just stray dogs, but they now undertake the care and rescue of all animals, be it cats, goats, birds and even horses, pigs and elephants.

“One of the most challenging cases we handled was Hulk, an Indian breed dog who had gruesome facial injuries, where even his skill bone was damaged and his brain exposed. There were maggots in the horrible wound.

Actually his condition was so bad that our veterinarian told us that it would be best to put him out of his misery. But we continued his treatment and hoped that he would recover.

It was like a miracle that he eventually did. The wounds have healed, and he looks perfectly find now. Of course, our shelter is now his home,” said Fiyana Elavia, RESQ centre Director.

Fiyana told us the story of a piglet they rescued recently, on July 19, and who they have christened Peppa. Even she had a head wound crawling with maggots and one of her eyes was ruined. She was so weak she could not stand on her legs, and her body was crawling with lice. In her injured state she was prone to bite any one who touched her. But the love and care she was showered with at the shelter has brought about a positive change. Peppa is now able to walk, she is eating well, and even responding to gestures of affection with a wag of her tail. She is on her way to recovery.

The RESQ team conducts monthly sessions at schools and colleges, to spread awareness about caring for animals, and also train volunteers. They educate youngsters and advise them not to abandon animals on the streets after caring for them, about unethical breeding of dogs and many other matters.

In the meanwhile, all and any of the abandoned and stray animals of Pune have a friend in need in RESQ , at all times.

A ray of hope for girls and women forced into prostitution

H

uman trafficking is as prevalent in India as it is all over the globe. Pune city is no exception as minor girls are brought here from rural areas, other states and even from countries like Nepal and Bangladesh, by agents on the pretext of a job, and then sold to brothels in the notorious Budhwar Peth area. There are as many as 560 prostitutes on the records of the social security cell of Pune police, who are unable to control this prostitution racket on their own. Individuals and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who work in the red light area, help the police rescue such minor girls and women forced into this profession, and even provide them food and shelter.

Parshuram Mahadev Bansode, 32, has completed his Master of Social Work (MSW) and started

rescuing girls forced into prostitution. He was associated with the NGO Freedom Project India. He has a network of informers in the red light area.

“I have been working in the red light area since my MSW college days. Actually it was my project of MSW education which introduced me to this.

Human trafficking is a serious problem in our country.

I decided to work to rescue girls and women forced into prostitution. I visit the red light area of Budhwar Peth regularly, and so I know when new girls and women are brought in. We also have informers who tip us about new girls and women brought here. We investigate where they are from, their names, who brought them, their age, education, family, and make detailed reports on minor girls as well as women forced into prostitution. The reports are forwarded

to the social security cell of Pune police. The police then set up rescue teams under a police inspector, two witnesses, a woman constable and our members. We conduct raids, verify all the facts and then the police take into custody the minor girls and women. They register cases against the agent/person who brought these girls and women and arrest them. The case goes to court, while we keep the rescued girls and women at our shelter in Hadapsar. We teach them tailoring work, and English. We make social investigation reports and find jobs for them to enable them to support themselves. Till date we have rescued 16 minor girls from Budhwar Peth area,” Bansode said.

Prakash Yadav of Akhil Devdasi Sanstha and Kumar Bhore of Rescue Foundation Home also work in rescuing girls and women forced into prostitution.

Neha Panchamiya

RESQ team at their shelter at Hilltown, Paud Mulshi Road

HELPLINE TREKKING RESCUE Shivdurga Mitra Rohit Vartak, Lonavla - 8983578221 Onkar Oak, Pune - 9922452931 Rahul Sonawane, Nashik – 9011109174

ANIMAL RESCUE RESQ, Pune - 9373888500 People For Animals - 9890044455 IHS Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, Katraj - 020 2437 0747

HUMAN TRAFFICKING Freedom Project India Parshuram Bansode - 9970244745 Akhil Devdasi Sanstha Prakash Yadav - 9850838683

LIFE GUARD Raju Kachi, Shivajinagar (8605566753)

The spotlight story about Guardian Angels brings a ray of hope, among the many disturbing stories we read.

Each subject in the story is unique, inspirational and commendable. It is very good to know that we live among such selfless people who put others before themselves. The particular case about Parshuram Bhansode of Freedom Project India, rescuing minor girls and women forced into prostitution is a great step for Pune City. Similar all other cases of animal rescue, Trekking Rescue and life guard come as a freh story of hope. Additionally, it was a great idea to put the contacts to all these teams on paper, because the city really needs them. This story has inspired me to find

The story about Yerwada Mental Hospital throws light on a clenching issue ignored by authorities for far too long. For an issue as delicate as mental health, there must be no delay in administrating support. If patients are admitted for months on end, it is a loss of resources for other prospective patients and delay in recovery of current patients. A hospital needs adequate staff to handle the volume of patients they receive. Given the level of unemployment, there is a potential of creating more jobs where there is a clear need. Anyway there are very few mental hospitals around the city and even the ones that are operational do not have enough staff. I can imagine the inconvenience to the patients and their families. It is time, we as a society, raise a voice for mental health needs and patients.

-Reshma Tambuwala

Lighthouse Project “The government had planned road safety measures for expressway after 17 people died in the accident on June 5. There is no word about this implementation. A drive against speeding was conducted and after a few days, the drive folded up.”

—Vivek Velankar, Convenor, Sajag Nagrik Manch

Josh Software: Putting web solutions ‘on the rails’ P10

Centuries- old tag no justification: SC P12

Lighthouse for youth to attain their dreams The first batch of PMC Lighthouse project has completed the two-week foundation course, and will now be sent for skills training

TGS asked the first batch students about the Lighthouse role in meeting their goals A dream come true

BY TUSHAR RUPANAVAR @tusharrupanavar The Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC’s) Lighthouse project, to ensure employment to the urban poor living in PMC limits, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the click of a button, on June 25, at an event marking one year of the Smart City Mission, at Balewadi. The first batch of 23 students of Aundh Lighthouse Centre have completed the two-week foundation course, and are ready to enrol in the next round of the programme, that is skill training. Through this foundation course Lighthouse teachers counselled each of the 23 students, noted their interests, likes and skills they possessed, and have accordingly made interest report cards of every one of them. These youths will now be sent for training in the skill of their interest.

During training, the Lighthouse team will keep in contact with all of them, and also help them get jobs, and start their own small scale businesses.

The Lighthouse project started

by PMC with the help of Pune City Connect (PCC) organisation to institutionalise a forum for industry and government, to work collectively with citizens towards the development of the city. The theme of Lighthouse is to provide the underprivileged youth of Pune a chance to explore possibilities to enhance their skills and pursue meaningful careers. With Pune city being selected in Modi government’s Smart City Mission, developing

The first batch of 23 students of the Aundh Lighthouse Centre have completed the two-week foundation course

citizens’ skills and providing them jobs or make entrepreneurship condition for each section of society is one of the tasks of the Smart City Mission. PMC Commissioner Kunal Kumar started the Lighthouse project. Aundh-BanerBalewadi area will be develop firstly under Pune smart city project, so the first Lighthouse project was started by PM Modi on June 25.

Aundh Lighthouse head Amruta Bahulekar, who is a TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences) post graduate, said, “This is our first batch of 23 students which started on June 27. They have now completed their foundation course of two weeks. During these 15 days, we have worked on self discovery, interests and likings of students. We helped them discover livelihood options which will enable the emergence of his/ her full potential. For example, a girl who loves cooking, may use her innate skills to the optimum by becoming a cook and perhaps in time could own her own hotel. We have Counsellor Manjiri Takale who personally counsels each and every student, and recognises their area of interest and liking. We made their interest cards, and give

them training accordingly. We have community engagement hall, computer lab, library and augmented virtual reading instruments at the centre, and everything is accessible to students.

We also showed motivational movies to these students every Saturday. Now these students have decided on his/her preferred vocation, the next step will be to acquire the necessary skills. For that we have linked with some organisations that will give them skill training. There will be an array of courses ranging from home chef and nursing to IT enabled skilling and other employability enhancement programmes. In addition there will be a skills university and several of the programmes offered there will offer a certificate or a Bachelor of Vocation (BVoc.) degree on completing the course. In certain cases the courses may be offered through online mechanism. We also had arranged field visits for these students. Some corporates are attaching with us as they need skilled persons. We try is to fit in these students according to their interests. We also will help students get internships and placements as well. The youth from Lighthouse will definitely get jobs, start their own enterprises, or move on to higher education.”

Counsellor Manjiri Takale, who did an MS in Counselling and Psychotherapy, said, “I took interest tests of each and every student. Through these we came to know about their area of interest, likings, understanding level, IQ and background. Later we worked on boosting their confidence. We saw how they were working in their interested fields and achieving their goals. We are going to take their follow-ups after 15 days, a month and after six months.

Students will remain in touch with us through alumni meets, even after they

A Raj Kapoor film title

complete their courses and get jobs or start their own businesses.”

Riya Singhai, who visits slums and appeals to the dwellers to join Lighthouse, said, “Initially I use to go to Ambedkar, Indira and Kasturba slums, and appeal to the residents to join Lighthouse. We get great support from them. We need not say more about Lighthouse after this first batch.

Youths and citizens are coming to and enrolling in Lighthouse on their own.

In the coming days, there will be a rush for admissions at Lighthouse. We will make our work a success.”

Lighthouse Chief Executive Officer Ruchi Mathur said, “We are getting great response from citizens for Lighthouse. We had started the foundation course at Aundh on June 25. Now these students have completed their foundation course. We will conduct their counselling, through which we will come to know their area of interest and their liking. Accordingly we will send them for certificate skill programmes of their choice. Then Lighthouse with some corporate companies will look for placements for these students. Our target group for Lighthouse is students from poor economical families/background who are not getting proper guidance and school/college dropouts. There are jobs available in the market but they are not getting proper skilled persons. We will try to groom such skilful people, who need jobs or want to pursue their own small scale businesses. Through Lighthouse our aim is to provide them all facilities to reach their dreams.

On July 13 we started the second Lighthouse at Yerwada, and eventually each of the 15 wards in Pune will have a Lighthouse in the coming days.” tushar.rupanavar@goldensparrow.com

Rahul Dipak Jangam, 19, of Indira Vasahat slum, is studying F Y BCom at Wadia College. Rahul’s father died when he was a child, and his mother has looked after him and his education. Rahul got to know about Lighthouse when Aundh Lighthouse head Amruta Bahulekar visited Indira Vasahat, and spoke about it.

Rahul wants to learn computers and wants to start his own cyber cafe at Indira Vasahat.

About Lighthouse, Rahul said, “My mother has looked after me since my father died. She works as housemaid to run our family.

So I want to begin my career as soon as possible. Amruta tai told us about Lighthouse but I did not take it seriously, as many had come to our slum with such schemes. But when I saw the Lighthouse activities at Aundh, I enrolled in Lighthouse. I wish to do a computer course but I do not have the money.

Amruta tai said that I could do computer courses here at Lighthouse. It was like a dream come true for me. Tai teaches us computers daily. Initially I was very shy while speaking in front of people, but Amruta tai has taught us how to speak on stage. Now I can speak fluently in front of people. In college they teach us only the syllabus but not how to speak in public, how to appear for interviews, which we are taught at Lighthouse. Studying in Lighthouse is very interactive. They provide us free laptops, books, conduct soft skill development programme. I am sure I can make my dreams come true with the help of Lighthouse.”

Interesting teaching and non-stressful atmosphere Ratna Arjun Lavgire, 30, dropped out of school in standard X when she got married. But when she joined Lighthouse, she saw the possibility of learning Marathi transcription. Ratna loves the Marathi language and literature.

Ratna said, “I am standard X fail. I want to learn transcription and make a career in translation.

A few days ago I came to know about Lighthouse. I joined immediately. The teaching in Lighthouse is very interesting and without stress. The atmosphere at Lighthouse is helping me fulfil my aims and goals. Now with the help of Lighthouse, I am sure that I will be able to achieve my dream. The Lighthouse counselling and teaching is very scientific in nature.”

Instilling confidence Deepti Borate, 22, studied up to standard X but had to leave school because of personal reasons. She loves cooking and wanted to start her own biryani house.

Deepti said, “Cooking is very close to my heart.

I want to start my own biryani house but I did not have the guidance to achieve this. When I joined Lighthouse, they gave me confidence that I could start my own biryani house. I attend each and every session of Lighthouse, daily from 11.30 am to 4 pm. Amruta tai knew of my interest in cooking and asked me to make pulav for them. In the foundation course they find out our interests, likings and boost our confidence during the two weeks. Now they are sending us for professional courses according to our own interests. During the skill courses, the Lighthouse team will remain in touch with us two days in a week. They also plan to get us jobs in our chosen fields.”

Cash-strapped KCB turns

A was said aboutblind theeyeSmart Cityrent towards unpaid forlot a railways initiative Project and it is good to know that its Lighthouse Project is operational and successful. The story about the Aundh Lighthouse Project is a good read and shows that the taxpayers money is being used for a good cause. I really hope that the second stage at Aundh is successful. The testimonials from the students at Aundh, is a great attempt at capturing the progress. I hope that TGS continues to follow up on the Yerwada Lighthouse Project and the further stages of this scheme. I hope Pune railway division resorts to night lookouts, to ensure clean and orderly station premises

BY SUSHANT RANJAN @sushantranjan

The repeated public announcements warning passengers against littering have failed to ensure a swachh Pune railway station. Finding that only daytime vigil wasn’t enough, the Pune Division has now taken up night lookout too, with the help of a squad aptly named ‘Jaagte Raho’. The squad, like Tejas Squad, is keeping an eye on litterers, smokers and ticketless travellers, and intruders, to keep the station premises clean, safe and pleasant for the visitors.

The squad comprising of seven

personnel from various departments of railways takes the round of station premise between 10 pm and 6 am, and endeavours to keep a check on nuisance creators.

In the last two weeks, since the squad worked on the ground, it has managed to catch as many as 805 violators, and also collected Rs 1,60,830 in fines from them.

“Although Tejas squad has proved quite effective, we realised that there was a need for night vigil as well as it’s a known fact that many people use the station area as a night shelter, a sarai.

There are others who decide to skip buying a ticket, thinking of the relaxed

Members of ‘Jaagte Raho’ squad at Pune Railway Station

norms of checking. Keeping in mind all this, we decided to run this ‘Jaagte Raho’ campaign, which been quite successful,” said B K Dadabhoy, Divisional Railway Manager, Pune, adding that the squad takes immediate action against the violators, thereby instilling fear among potential violators.

The Jaagte Raho squad consists of two ticket checkers, two personnel from Railway Protection Force, two senior officers and one officer from the commercial department.

Officials said that Tejas Squad too has proved to be very useful, as there has been a visible difference in the cleanliness scenario at the station.

Officials said that since its inception, Tejas Squad had caught 2205 violators and collected Rs 5,80,355 in fines from them.

“Our approach is not to merely fine the person. We point out his mistake, and then make him aware that it is going to cause nuisance to him and his loved ones and then only we make him pay the penalty. If someone spits or litters, he has to know that he has committed a mistake. So it’s awareness coupled with enforcement,” said a senior officer with the Commercial Department. sushant.ranjan@goldensprarrow.com

KCB members not concerned about not receiving rent from 41 of its properties for a decade, amounting to losses that run into lakhs of rupees per annum

BY VICKY PATHARE @Vickypathare2

The Khadki Cantonment Board (KCB) has not received rent for its 41 properties for almost a decade. It’s surprising that the KCB which constantly complains about the lack of funds for development of the board area, is not concerned over the loss of revenue from the property dues. According to the officials, this delay in revisions means that the KCB treasury has been collecting just Rs 37,560 instead of around Rs 3,07,560 per annum as rent for its properties.

The KCB jurisdiction is divided into eight wards. In the year 2003, around 43 structures were constructed in all the eight wards with the help of the Member of Legislative Assembly funds. These properties were given on annual nominal rent of Rs 1/per sq foot. The properties were allotted to various social bodies and even individuals at nominal rates for various social purposes like study halls, libraries, gymnasiums, community halls etc, excluding functions.

KCB revenue department head Bhagirath Sakale said, “Since the year 2006 we are not receiving rent from these properties. Only three properties pay the rent regularly and the rest are just taking KCB for a ride. KCB has not yet

The rented property at Range Hills

taken any action against these property holders. Soon action would be taken against these people and the properties would be seized and re-auctioned.”

However, all the 40 health club officials collect admission fees, membership fees, and monthly fees without fail, but only to fill their own pockets. The KCB which could have earned Rs 3,07,560, receives just Rs 37,560. As much as Rs 36.56 lakh towards rent is yet to be received from these rented properties from 2006.

During these years the KCB has not served a single notice, conducted a raid or evacuated the premises.

“Most of the properties are also rented to third parties to conduct programmes.

Vaishali Pahilwan

KCB Corporater Vaishali Pahilwan alleged that it is the loss of the board only due to the negligence of the board members. “The gymnasium located at my ward number 6 is functional without paying rent for a decade. This people rent the hall to third party. They charge around Rs 3,000 to Rs 4000. In spite of bringing this malpractice to the notice of the President of KCB, the officials turn a blind eye towards it.”

“A committee has been established to look into the matter is the reply I am getting,” said Pahilwan. I have written to the Director General Defence Estate, Delhi, General Officer Commanding in Chief and the President of India to look into the matter. vicky.pathare@goldensparrow.com

the students can apply these skills in their real lives. The approach of TGS to this story is very detailed and laudable -Vikrant Mahajan

Ruthless Murders The story about death of stray dogs in Saswad was very disturbing and reveals the ugly truth about animal cruelty. It is a brilliant approach to a story that could’ve gone unnoticed by the local media. The pictures accompanying the story have a very huge impact on the reader’s mind. At present, we are hearing many stories about animal cruelty and that too at an alarming rate. Stray dogs shouldn’t be treated inhumanely just because they do not wear a collar. An animal is an animal and we cannot have different standards for animal rights. City based NGOs and animal rights activists should look into this matter and the culprit should be found.

-Vishal Gupte

Pune’s Hidden Marvels The story about discreet eateries is

a very surprising and a great find! It has sorted my weekend and my friend circle was very happy to discover these. After reading the story, I visited Arirang and New Friends, and these are absolutely fantastic.

Hidden behind the city’s glamourous fine-dine scene, these places thrive on word-of-mouth. They have preserved their customs and their hospitality. It is true that sometimes, less is better.

The fact that they keep themselves away from mainstream advertising, adds to their charm. I had a brilliant experience and I am on a personal mission to discover more places for myself. After this experience I now intentionally visit smaller places, because you never know what you will find!

-Rajesh Rathod

Write to Us

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

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY AUGUST 6, 2016

PUNE

SPORTS

“We wanted to win this Test match. we were in great momentum and the conditions were such that it could have been different if we had probably bowled more. ” — Anil Kumble, Indian Coach

Signposts Neha Pandit to lead Pune district team Neha Pandit will captain Pune district team for the senior inter-district and open state championship to be held at Aurangabad from August 8. Shruti Mundada, Revati Devasthale, Mudra Dhainje, Manasi Gadgil, Arya Bhivpathaki, Abhishek Kulkarni, Sameer Bhagwat, Varun Khanwalkar and Nishad Dravid are the other members of the team.

Harmony Club bags championship Harmony Club won the overall championship with 144 points in the recently held state level aquatic championship. Champion Club finished second with 121 points. Mihir Ambre and Riddhi Hagawane were adjudged the winners in the under-16 boys’ and girls’ categories respectively. In the women’s, Akanksha Buchade emerged winner.

Vedant wins rapid chess tournament Vedant Pimplekhare won the 16th edition of MJ Trophy Sunday Rapid Chess tournament. He garnered 6.5 point to finish first. He was followed by Aniruddha Deshpande (6 points). Vaibhav Barhate and Jitendra Patil finished third and fourth respectively with 5.5 points each.

‘RAAM should be treated as Olympics’ Says Pune-based athlete Chaitanya Velhal, who is aiming to become first Indian solo rider in this ultra cycling event

BY ASHISH PHADNIS @phadnis_ashish Pune-based professional cyclist Chaitanya Velhal recently completed the Ironman event in Zurich, Switzerland. Though, he wasn’t satisfied with his performance, it was a learning experience for him, ahead of his preparation for RAAM, the world’s toughest ultra cycling event.

Chaitanya had planned to finish the Ironman triathlon in eight hours, but some rookie mistakes and miscalculations affected his performance and it took him ten hours to cross the finish line.

“It was my first event and right from hot weather and rolling terrain I faced several obstacles. Firstly, I wasn’t aware of the latex swimsuit and thus took more time to finish the swimming segment. Then in a hurry I forgot to carry my energy gel and I had to wait for the next feeding point, which was 30km away. Cycling being my prime event, I tried to cover the gap and I feel I pushed too hard, and it eventually affected my running. Overall, pressure kept mounting but I somehow managed to finish it,” he said.

Chaitanya, who is a full time athlete sponsored by MultiFit Gym in

‘Helping out kids gives me satisfaction’ Says city paddler Manthan Shah who is working for two different NGOs in Pune to find rural talent TGS NEWS SERVICES @TGSWeekly

can be a future table tennis player.

What I have observed is that these kids are well suited for physical games like wrestling and boxing. They have a good build and their constant struggle to survive gives them an edge with a killer instinct. So far we have recommended three names.”

In the recently concluded Vilas Javdekar Trophy PYC 4th Pune District Ranking Table Tennis Tournament, Manthan fi nished with a double crown. In the youth category, he defeated Shounak Shinde 4-1 after being 0-1 down in the fi rst game.

Later in the men’s fi nal, he prevailed over Anurag Gote 4-3. Manthan was leading comfortably with a 3-0 lead, but Anurag didn’t let him have that easy and bounced back strongly to equalise the score. In the decider, Manthan was on his toes and with a classical display of forehand topspins, he annexed the title.

“I unnecessarily became defensive in the middle of the game and he grabbed that opportunity. Then the pressure kept mounting and I was making small errors. In the decider, I had nothing to lose, so I went all out and that worked,” he said.

Meanwhile, Gaurav Lohapatre and Vaibhavi Kher lifted the boys and girls under-18 titles. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

Pune, has been preparing for RAAM for the last two years. He feels that participating in the Ironman was part of his preparation, as cross training will help him get fitter and stronger.

“When I qualified for RAAM in 2014, I was eager to try out RAAM immediately. But I realised that RAAM must not be taken lightly.

It should be treated like an Olympic event. It requires years of hard work, training, preparation and planning.

I will participate in RAAM when I will be hundred per cent sure about my performance. Otherwise it’s just a waste of money and effort,” he says.

To get the feel of this elite event, Chaitanya went as a crew member for Joan Deitchman, a Canada-based pro cyclist three times.

“Joan’s attention to detail was amazing as her plan seemed foolproof, covering every minute detail. Th is was good learning experience for me, as I got to know what this race is all about. I scanned the road, the weather, the elevation and it will surely come handy when I will be riding on the same next year,” says Chaitanya.

In this year’s edition, Nashik’s pro-cyclist Srinivas Gokulnath attempted for solo category but

DSK Shivajians ropes in coach Barry Knowles

unfortunately he couldn’t finish the race. Interestingly he is a good friend of Chaitanya, and when asked what he has he learnt from this incident, he said, “Like I said, preparation plays a crucial role. It may be harsh to say this, but he was not prepared to take on this mighty task. It was kind of a hurried decision to take part.

However, he gave some good tips about what should be avoided.”

Born in a middle class family, raised and educated in Pune, Chaitanya was an average kid in school and college. He tried his hand at a range of sports but never really excelled in any to make it a profession. After graduation he did a Master’s course in Biotechnology in Australia. Th is was the place where he fell in love with cycling.

Coming back to India, he started working as an assistant professor in Agriculture College of Pune. But to pursue his dream of being a procyclist, he quit his job.

“That was one of the hardest things I ever did. My family and friends had doubts over this decision.

There was no other income source.

However my cycling continued. I soon got an opportunity to join a gym named Multifit. I found like-minded and passionate people at Multifit and they supported my cycling,” Chaitanya said. ashish.phadnis@goldensparrow.com

RUN WITH YOUR TEAM

TGS NEWS SERVICES @TGSWeekly DSK Shivajians Football Club appointed Barry Knowles as assistant manager. Barry will join Dave Rogers’ backroom staff, which will oversee the fi rst team for all forthcoming tournaments and the I-League.

The Englishman brings with him a wealth of coaching experience. His last job was at Pune-based Bharat FC, as Technical Director and assisted the club’s First Team in their maiden season in the I-League (2014-15). Barry’s vast experience as a youth development coach spans across a host of English clubs which include Everton FC, Wigan Athletic, and Blackpool FC. He joined Wigan Athletic after two years of youth development at Everton FC. In 2000, he then was appointed as the Head of Youth Development at Blackpool FC where he re-structured the club’s youth policy.

Following his successful stint at Blackpool FC, the Englishman was recruited by The Football Association (The FA) as their Talent Identification Head, where he also oversaw the development of players. Following his stint at the FA, Barry worked as a player and team profi ler for Sheffield Wednesday, a Football League Championship club. The Englishman then moved to the Indian sub continent and joined Bharat FC. Barry, who will join the club for its pre-season in August 2016, said, “I have closely observed the increasing development of DSK Shivajians FC and the Liverpool FC International Football Academy in India and after speaking to Dave about his vision for the club, I did not hesitate to take up his offer of becoming his assistant manager. I am honored and privileged to be given a chance to be a part of the club’s exciting future and I am confident that I will be able to contribute to the development of players and the club as it sets on a new journey.”

DSK Shivajians Football Club, who head into their second season in the I-League, will be aiming to better their 9th place fi nish last year and believe that Barry Knowles and his vast technical expertise will certainly help the development of the fi rst team. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

3 EDITION

PRESENTS

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Sports persons always tend to offer a helping hand to other sectors of society. There are numerous sports celebrities who have donated money to charity. It’s not always about money, as some devote their time for the underprivileged.

Pune’s table tennis player Manthan Shah is one of them. The recent School International bronze medallist has taken time out from his rigorous training session to help rural kids. For the past six months he has been working with Tiny Monkey Stage, a Pune-based NGO run by Sudarshan Mahajan. Along with this, he is also a volunteer for Teach For India, another NGO, which is working to end educational inequality.

“Being a sports person, my role is to search for talent in rural and underprivileged kids. We then recommend their names to Krida Prabodhini in Pune and on that basis, the kids are likely to get absorbed in their sport enrichment program,” said Manthan.

Asked whether he has come across any naturally talented table tennis player, he said, “Table tennis is more of a skill-based game, and it requires grooming for years. So it’s not easy to point out that this kid

“ There is no particular person who is a favourite. Anybody can beat anyone and it is all about giving your best on that day.

Adapting to conditions is important” — P V Sindhu, Indian Shuttler

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