PAGES: 16+16 (TGS LIFE) | PRICE: `5
PUNE, SEPTEMBER 5, 2015 | www.thegoldensparrow.com
at aring ’re st t They goals, no r s bigge ter screen u comp
ing aside are steppof the corner ad those who on inste banker to an includes nt their passi le now investme of peop er to pursue ing list being an A grow corporate ladd ey from journ from the does one to find out on office. Howist? Read agricultur
mbEr 5, PUNE, sEPtE
m ensparrow.co hegold 2015 | www.t
TGS LIFE
They’re staring at bigger goals, not computer screens
MUMBAI
Fashion designing students booked for blowing smoke on a puppy P2
Crowning
GLORY
Puneri women booked for attempting to set a car on fire
Police say that a petty dispute between the car owner’s wife and the two accused led to the incident PICS BY RAHUL RAUT
Rinki Punjabi
Abhijeet Singh Rajpal (inset) and his Alto car
BY GITESH SHELKE @gitesh_shelke Military Police (MP) personnel on their routine rounds, came upon a startling scene late on Tuesday night. Two women in their early 20s were trying to set a car on fi re outside Hollywood Gurudwara. They had doused the car’s tyres with two bottles of fuel, and were about to pour the contents of another five-litre can of fuel on the vehicle. The MPs who caught them in the act, identified the wannabe miscreants as Rinki Punjabi and Payal Shah. Their story, as it unfolded, even shocked the hardened Cantonment police station staff. The car owner Abhijeet Singh Rajpal (33) and Rinki (23) both live at Jedhe Park Society in Rasta Peth. Rajpal’s wife Nirmar, Rinki and Payal, according to the police, used to be the best of friends not too long ago. However, Rajpal’s family did not approve of the friendship as the two women used to “interfere” in Nirmar’s family issues. “We didn’t like it when she interfered in our family matters. She held a grudge against us when we told her to stay away. In the last couple of months since their friendship broke up, they have been harassing
us continuously,” said Rajpal, when contacted by TGS. Initially, Rajpal found his car wipers and side mirrors broken. One day he was shocked to see the windshield of the car severely damaged. “I reported the issue to Samarth police station and lodged a complaint against unknown person,” he said. Days later, clothes from Rajpal’s house were stolen. The family was completely clueless but suspected Rinki to be behind all this. On Tuesday, however, the situation took an ugly turn. “We were at Hollywood Gurudwara to attend a function. When we came out, I saw cops clicking pictures of my car. I inquired only to be told that two women had tried to set my car ablaze and that Military Police had spotted them in time. I rushed to the police station, where the two women had been held,” said Rajpal. “Clearly their intention was to harm us,” he added. Rajpal gave a detailed statement to Cantonment Police, who registered a case under Section 285 of the Indian Penal Code - Negligent conduct with respect to fi re or combustible matter. The Act states that ‘whoever does, with fi re or any combustible matter, any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life, or to be likely to cause hurt or injury to any other person,
Payal Shah
or knowingly or negligently omits to take such order with any fi re or any combustible matter in his possession as is sufficient to guard against any probable danger to human life from such fi re or combustible matter, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both’. Barkat Mujawar, senior inspector at Cantonment Police station said, “The Military Police caught two women pouring petrol on an Alto car that was parked outside the Hollywood Gurudwara at around 10.30 pm on September 1. We booked them and produced them before court.” Rinki and Payal were both released on bail. Despite repeated attempts and a visit to Rinki’s house, the two accused were not available for comment. Meanwhile, the Rajpals are living under constant fear. “We do not know what is coming our way next,” concluded Rajpal, who is a bank employee. gitesh.shelke@goldensparrow.com
CITY
From tourist wonderland to mosquito lair P5 PICS BY ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
The Puneri Pagadi has made a comeback as a headgear of distinction but only a handful of makers remain of this traditional craft
See Spotlight, p08 & 09
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2015
PUNE
mUMBAI Do not hurry to file income tax returns P 14
“This is the third consecutive year that Marathwada is reeling under a drought. We need to set up fodder camps, find work for labourers and do water and loan restructuring.” -Raosaheb Danve, State BJP President
Fashion designing students booked for blowing smoke on a puppy
The students of National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kharghar tossed their three month old labrador like a ball and often blew smoke on its face. They shot videos of their acts and put them up on social networking sites
Three students of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT),
Kharghar, Navi Mumbai have been booked for torturing a puppy. The trio would allegedly smoke up and blow smoke at the three month old pup. The incident came to light after one of their
Railway man combines passion with education to teach for free
(Clockwise from left) Victim puppy; (from left) Rohit Panchpal, Suryanshu Raj and Narendra Singh at Kharghar police station and online video grabs of their acts
hauled to Kharghar police station in Navi Mumbai. They were booked under section 119 of the Bombay Police Act - whoever in any place1cruelty beats, goads, overworks, ill-treats or tortures, or causes procures to be cruelty beaten, goaded, over-worked, ill-treated or tortured any animal, shall, on conviction, be punished with
PTI
TGS News Service @TGSWeekly
classmates saw videos of their acts on a messenger service and alerted animal activists. “A female classmate of the three accused got in touch with us and told us about they had been posting videos of them smoking up and then blowing smoke at the puppy. We saw the videos and were aghast. They also tossed the puppy around like it was a ball,” said Abhishek Soparkar, co-founder of the NGO Youth Organisation in Defence of Animals (YODA). Volunteers from YODA and PAWA India, another animal welfare agency, swung into action. They contacted local cops and on Thursday traced the address of Narendra Singh, who had posted the videos on Snapchat. But Narendra was not at home. Next they went to his college and found him. Narendra told them that two others in the videos were his friends. While Rohit Panchpal was his flatmate, Suryanshu Raj was in his class. The trio used to spend a lot of time at Narendra’s flat. “Narendra had bought the labrador puppy a month ago for Rs 9,000 from a pet shop in Nerul, Navi Mumbai. For them the puppy was nothing more than a toy. They confessed that they would play catch-catch with the puppy,” said Pooja Sakpal, co-founder of YODA. Once Narendra had confessed, the animal activists got in touch with Suryanshu and Rohit. The trio was
imprisonment which may extend to one month or with fine which may extend to Rs 2,500, or with both. “We have now rescued the puppy and taken it in our custody. The trio has given an undertaking that they will never indulge in any such practice ever again,” said Soparkar. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
Govt issues fresh guidelines to police on sedition charge In fresh guidelines to police, the Maharashtra government has asked it to rule out any ambiguity during invocation of IPC section pertaining to sedition and not to invoke it against those trying to bring change in government through legal means without hatred and contempt. The guidelines on IPC 124-A have been issued with regard to the assurance given to the Bombay High Court in the cartoonist Aseem Trivedi case. The assurance was given in the HC while sedition charges were dropped against Trivedi, who was arrested by Mumbai Police in 2012 for drawing cartoons that allegedly insulted the national emblem and Parliament. The guidelines have been issued on August 27 in accordance with assurance in the HC that the government would come out with a circular indicating limitations and parameters of 124 A of Indian Penal Code, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) K P Bakshi told PTI. “Powers to invoke different sections of IPC are with the station officer. Government can issue guidelines, hence, we have done so to avoid confusion among different police stations,” he said. As per government circular issued on August 27, the guidelines ask police to bear in mind that sedition clause of IPC can be invoked against whoever, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representation or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, dissatisfaction and provoking violence against the Central or State government. Section 124-A will not be invoked against those trying to bring change in government through legal means without hatred and contempt, the circular said. PTI
BOOST STATE SECURITY
Chemical and Metallurgical Superintendent Anil Mahendru has been giving coaching to wards of Railway employees and others for over 25 years, winning respect and appreciation A 50-year-old railway employee here has been doubling up as teacher for many needy students and children of his colleagues for past three decades, helping them crack competitive exams while selflessly pursuing his passion of imparting free education to all. Anil Mahendru, who is currently working as a Chemical and Metallurgical Superintendent at Railways’ Matunga workshop, has been giving free coaching to wards of Railway employees and others for over 25 years, winning respect and appreciation for the noble cause. “In my early days in 1980, when I myself was a student, I started taking tuitions for money to meet the expenses of my family, but when I joined Railways in 1988 and got a permanent source of income, then I
Anil Mahendru
started to teach for free,” he said. Even Railway officers and Union leaders helped Mahendru by providing sufficient space in the Railway premises to continue his philanthropic work. An expert in Maths and Science subjects, Mahendru is also a well known leader of Central Railway
Mazdoor Sangh (CRMS), a leading union in Central Railway. According to Mahendru, who tied the knot with one of his pupils in college days, he has provided free coaching to over 1,000 students mostly children of fellow railwaymen. And out of them almost 800 have cracked competitive exams including those of Railway Recruitment Board National Defence Academy (NDA) and several banks, he claimed. Mahendru’s need to reach out to underprivileged students took another turn in 2000 when he was posted at Parel workshop in Mumbai where he decided to coach aspirants of Railway and other exams and began taking marathon classes at Matunga, Parel, Bhusaval, Pune and Nashik regularly. PTI
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis walks in the ordnance store during inauguration of the Reserve Police Inspector Office and launch of traffic E-challan application at Nagpur district police headquarters, in Nagpur
Take steps to stop Mum remains costliest city for travellers custodial deaths: HC Expressing concern over Maharashtra accounting for the highest number of custodial deaths in the country over the last 15 years, the Bombay High court asked the state government to take immediate preventive steps. “Apply your mind....ensure that custodial deaths do not occur,” said the division bench headed by Justice VM Kanade. The court was hearing a petition alleging death of a minor, Agnelo Valdaris, in Wadala police lockup last April. Advocate Rebecca Gonsalves, representing CBI, said the agency had sent an investigation report to its headquarters in Delhi for approval. The bench gave two weeks’ time to CBI to submit the report to the court. “We expect a positive response from
CBI,” it said. “It is shocking to note that even after orders were passed by the High Court in August last year, the incidents of custodial death are on rise in Maharashtra. We have observed that the victims of custodial death are those who are held for trivial offences,” the judges noted. The bench had said in an earlier order that as far as possible, interrogation should not be conducted at night. Advocate Yug Chaudhry, acting as amicus curiae (friend of the court), pointed out the data by the National Crime Records Bureau which says that between 1999 and 2013 there were 333 custodial deaths in Maharashtra - over 23 per cent of all the custodial deaths in India. PTI
With more travellers and higher consumer spending in key areas, overall hotel prices went up in the first six months of 2015 and the commercial capital of the country recorded the highest rise of 5 per cent with an average of Rs 8,091 per night, a report said. “In India, overall hotel prices paid by all travellers saw a marginal rise of 2 per cent in the first six months of 2015, to an average of Rs 6,411 per night,” according to the latest Hotel Price Index (HPI) from Hotels.com. It said, Mumbai, known for its buzzing night life recorded the highest rise of 5 per cent with an average of Rs 8,091 making it the city in India where travellers paid the most in the first half of 2015. In the first half of 2014, the travellers paid an average Rs 7,694 per night, according to Hotels.
com data. More travellers, higher consumer spending in key areas and strong currency fluctuations have all contributed to this result, it said. The HPI is a regular report on hotel prices in major destinations across the world, tracking the movement in prices that people actually paid for their accommodation and providing valuable insight into the reasons behind these changes. The data is drawn from bookings made on the hundreds of thousands of hotels on the Hotels.com websites worldwide. Delhi, the city with heady mix of forts and food, retained its second spot despite a fall of 3 per cent with an average of Rs 6,677 per night. Kolkata, which saw two per cent decline in prices came in number four position with Rs 6,263 per night
compared to same period last year at Rs 6,367. Hyderabad, which saw a fall of 3 per cent at Rs 5,339 per night compared to Rs 5,482 in the same period last year, was the eighth expensive city of the country, the report said. While cities like Bengaluru and Pune both had a marginal rise of 3 per cent, Goa, which recorded the highest rise of 12 per cent last year, saw a minimal rise of 3 per cent with an average of Rs 5,940 in the first half of 2015. Chennai saw no change in price variation for hotel accommodation in the first six months of 2015, compared to the same period last year. However, Jaipur continues to serve best value among the cities analysed with an average of Rs 5,062 despite a rise of 4 per cent. PTI
Mumbai, known for its buzzing night life recorded the highest rise of 5 per cent with an average of Rs 8,091 making it the city in India where travellers paid the most in the first half of 2015
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2015
PUNE
“To prepare the draft, the civic administration will pay the firm over Rs 2 crore. We are expecting the smart city plan to be ready in 100 days.” — Ashwini Kadam, head of the standing committee
Bihar poll battle intensifies P12
State hampers growth of disabled NGOs accuse district administration of apathy regarding study material for visual- and hearing-impaired students at government-aided schools Rahul Raut
Kalyani Mandke, the Director of Suhrud Mandal, with some of the books they have published
PRIYANKKA DESHPANDE @journopriyankka
Rahul Raut
The district administration’s apathy towards using study material for visual- and hearing-impaired students at government-aided schools for the disabled has proved to be a setback for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in the educational sphere for the disabled. Representatives of NGOs claim that the district Social Welfare Department staff ignore and even avoid them, when they go there to seek permissions to provide study material to the disabled students at government-aided schools. Kalyani Mandke, who is the Director of Suhrud Mandal, herself visits the district Social Welfare Department and the State Commissionerate for Persons with Disabilities, to provide books for hearing-impaired students. Suhrud Mandal has been striving for the welfare of visually-impaired students for 43 years. “We have published Marathi subject books for hearing-impaired students of standards I to IV, that adhere to the Balbharati (State government bureau for text books production) syllabus. These books have lots of illustrations to make the text easily understandable for hearing-impaired children. But the district administration has rejected
our idea of distributing these books to gover n mentaided schools even without scrutinising them,” Mandke said. M a n d k e claims that Niranjan Pandya Suhrud Mandal supplies these books on a ‘no profit, no loss basis’, and that the administration can acquire the books from the non-salary grants reserved for schools. “We
handed over the books to the district social welfare officer for his perusal, but I am sure he has even opened the,” Mandke said. She says that officials at the district and state levels have been avoiding her since June. The National Federation of the Blind, Maharashtra (NFBM) has published a digest in Braille for all subjects except maths for students of standards VIII to X. But hampered by the administration’s lethargy, the digests are distributed only to students of Jagriti School for Blind Girls, which is run by the NFBM. “Government-aided schools for the blind only cater to students till standard VII, as post this they have to enrol in regular schools. It is difficult for students to cope up with the studies, and they depend on recorded study material mainly,” said Gajanan Magar, Project Co-ordinator of NFBM. In view of this, NFBM provides study material in Braille to the students. “Government officials make us run from pillar to post. The district level officials send us to the Commissionerate for Persons with Disabilities to seek their permission, and the Commissionerate staff, in turn, say that it is not in their hands, and advise us to contact the concerned department in Mantralays,” Magar said. The Poona Blind Association for Men (PBAM), Hadapsar, has one the largest Braille presses in Pune, as well as a talking library. But Niranjan Pandya, Director of PBAM, says that the government officials never bother to contact PBAM. “The district administration officials are aware that we have better facilities at PBAM
The Pune Blind Men’s Association talking library is a boon for the visually-impaired
The right to pee stops here The District Court in Pune has kept many washrooms under lock and key
reserved for judges.” After showing the photographs of locked toilets, she said, “They sometimes lock these rooms. But even then, the ones on the ground floor and the first floor are open most of the times.” “Some visitors dirty these washrooms as they don’t flush, dump filthy stuff and in some cases even steal the taps. Locking up has helped in keeping them clean.” With the number of washrooms in the court complex acutely less as compared to daily visitors, barring this basic access to the general public by keeping washrooms locked leaves much to be justified. gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com
The District Court premises in Pune
BY GARGI VERMA @missgverma The District Court in Pune is serious about locking up its premises. Not just doors and gates, even washrooms are locked throughout the day, with only court employees having the keys. The court complex at Shivajinagar houses the district court, the judicial magistrate’s court and several other courts in two buildings. While the old building has no washrooms, the new building has four on each floor. Out of these 16 washrooms, two on each floor are reserved for judges, lawyers and employees. Six of the remaining eight are almost always under lock and key. The remaining two, on the ground floor, that are open are marked for the disabled. People who visit the court premises regularly say that one needs to either have a friendly lawyer or a strong bladder to ‘hold it’. On the condition of anonymity, a woman confessed, “We need to sweet talk the employees to either let them give us the key or open the washrooms for us.” The court authorities deny this. Registrar MM Kawathkar said, “All the washrooms are always open except the ones
which are available for all visuallyimpaired students,” he said. Pandya has been honoured with a Padma Shri by the government for his unstinting efforts for the visually-disabled. “I have had the opportunity to travel all over the world in connection with my work for the visuallyimpaired. In other parts of the world, it is the social welfare departments who connect with the NGOs and include them in projects for the disabled. That is how public-private partnerships should function. Here it is the other way round, and we have to convince government officials to provide facilities for the disabled,” Pandya said.
Official view District social welfare officer Sanjay Kadam, however, denied all the allegations. He said that countless organisations claiming to be NGOs approach him and insist that we use their study material. “But such study material is extra-curricular and there are significant discrepancies between the Balbharati syllabus and such study material,” Kadam said. Even the matter in the study material has not been studied or approved, which raises the possibility of controversy. “I send representatives of NGOs who want to sell us their study material to the Commissionerate. But I am sure that
Visually-impaired students with a Braille publication
the officials there will not give them permissions,” Kadam said. priyankka.deshpande@goldensparrow.com
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2015
PUNE
“Our target this year was to plant 8.94 lakh saplings. So far, we have planted about 5 lakh saplings. Unless we get some good rains, we will not be planting any more trees this year.” — Satyajit Gujar, Deputy Conservator Of Forests
Over 45K register for Modi’s Silicon Valley reception P10
OROP row: Veterans accuse govt of ‘shifting goalpost’ P12
Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore keen on mediating to defuse FTII impasse
Rahul raut
A ray of hope for FTII students By Gargi Verma @missgverma As the Film and Television Institute of India students’ strike creeps towards the 100-day mark, there was a small ray of hope that the deadlock could be defused before that day dawns. On the 83rd day, Wednesday, September 2, the students were informed by Director Prashant Pathrabe that Minister of State Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore had expressed an interest in meeting with and starting a fresh dialogue between the students and the ministry. On September 1, the students had sent a to Rathore seeking his appointment to restart discussions over the core issues of transparent appointments and removal of the five members of the FTII Governing Council, including Gajendra Chauhan. “Since we are still at the same juncture, we urge the ministry to reconsider a round 2 of talks,” said Ranjit Nayar, a student representative. “The government really needs to take cognizance of the fact that the students have been out of their classes for over 80 days, rather than resort to sending police to the campus,” said Ajayan Adat, a 2008 batch student. The students are waiting for more clear-cut indications about the proposed meeting. Student body head Harishankar Nachimutu said, “We have only received verbal information from the director. Neither the topic nor the nature of discussion is clear. We are, however, finalizing our panel for this meeting.” Month’s reprieve Earlier, the ministry had granted a onemonth breather to the 82 staffers whose contracts were declared to be ended on September 1, by Pathrabe. The students had vehemently opposed the dismissals, termed it as an arm-twisting maneuver. “We are talking about people who provide for their families with the meagre income. They are not just skilled staff, but they are also teachers who teach the students nuances of the trade. They were never involved in this strike, but only sought to protect themselves against such action. On one hand, the government wishes to build confidence, and on the other hand, they take such drastic action against the weakest section of workers on campus,”
said Vikas Urs, a student representative. “We were assured by the three-member delegation that the staff would not lose their jobs. Then why is this happening? The director clearly told us that until he got word from the ministry, he could not do anything. When will the ministry speak out? When it is too late?” he said. However, on the evening of September 1, the director informed the students and the staff that a month’s extension had been granted to the 82 staffers. Hunger strike Moved by the plight of the staff, some of whose families have been FTII employees for three generations, Satheesh, a 2013 batch camera student, launched a hunger strike to protest the contract terminations. While the students supported him, some faculty members tried to talk him out of it. Priyankar Basu, his batchmate said, “Satheesh has been actively involved in the strike, but he was disturbed by the decision to sack the staffers and wanted to do something about it. When Pathrabe declined to meet him or hear us out, he resorted to the hunger strike.” However, Pathrabe
spoke to Satheesh, and assured him that something would be worked out. Satheesh called off his fast after the director announced the one-month extension of contracts.
at the earliest. Suneel Gokhale, kin of the freedom fighter Gopal Krishna Gokhale, has also written to the ministry, supporting the FTII students and their demands.
Khan Committee report The report prepared about the situation at the FTII by the threemember delegation led by S M Khan was submitted to the ministry on September 2. While its contents were not made public, it is expected to bring a thaw to the situation.
Screening of FTII films cancelled For the first time, the Film Division has cancelled the screening of films produced at the FTII. Three films depicting the ongoing strike and the rationale behind it, named ‘Strike: Day 70’, ‘Feel in the blanks’ and ‘Level 0’ were selected to be screened at the fd Zone, a film screening event held by the Film Division on September 4. “They informed us on Wednesday that they could not screen our movies as the strike is still going on, and it would not be correct to show the viewers films about the strike,” said Ajayan Adat, student representative. “This whole thing reeks of political oppression. It justifies our strike, as
The Khan committee report was submitted to the ministry on Sept 2
External support While the students were considering and deliberating over filing a petition in the Bombay High Court over the issue, a city based Supreme Court lawyer filed a petition over the FTII affair, demanding the court’s intervention to solve the matter at the earliest. Advocate Vineet Dhanda filed the petition on August 29, demanding that classes be resumed
Finally a corporator holds area meeting MNS leader More takes the lead in holding his first area meeting with residents of his ward By PRIYANKKA DESHPANDE @journopriyankka Keeping an eye on the Municipal Corporation elections scheduled for 2017, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena group leader in PMC and corporator of Hadapsar, Vasant More conducted his first area meeting with the residents of his ward. It was the first area meeting conducted by any corporator since the PMC election was held in 2012, except for Dr Siddharth Vasant More Dhende who has been regularly conducting area meetings in his ward of Yerawada. The Golden Sparrow in its June 13 edition, had highlighted how corporators were evading the area meetings which are mandatory as per the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation and Municipal Council (Amendment) Act, 2009. However, three months after TGS extensive reporting of the issue, More has taken the initiative and held an area meeting at Katraj-Kondhwa Road in the presence of 14 PMC officials, including Deputy Municipal Commissioner
The first area meeting held by corporator Vasant More from Hadapsar
Suresh Jagtap. “Although it was too late to start the initiative, it is appreciated that More has thought of conducting a meeting, unlike other corporators,” said Rajendra Bhaskare, a resident of Katraj. Some of the Katraj area comes under the Hadapsar ward. Bhaskare said that he attended the area meeting and gave his application to More for installing pavement blocks in his housing society. “We have developed earthworm fertiliser project in our society for which the residents have paid Rs 3.51
lakh from their own pockets. However, the project needs the installation of pavement blocks, and we, the members of Ganga Osian Park Society, have asked More to get the work done for us,” Bhaskare said. Vidya Nagar resident Pradnya Kulkarni said that the street lights in her area have not been working for some time and the area meeting was the proper platform to voice such civic problems. “The street lights in Gokul chowk have not been working for a long time. This has given rise to numerous incidents of thefts in the area,
which are a major concern for residents. The other residents in my area and I have demanded the installation of CCTV cameras at Gokul chowk,” said Kulkarni. She feels that such area meetings should be held regularly, instead of the politicians visiting the voters once in five years to seek their votes. Dr Prakash Saswade, who is a member of the senior citizens group of Utkarsh Society near Katraj lake, have submitted an application during the area meeting. “The 30 foot main road near Katraj lake where sieves has been placed to drain off the rain water, is causing accidents. I have submitted my application regarding arrangements to remove those sieves from the road,” Saswade said. Discussing the first area meeting he has held since being elected in 2012, More said that he has already started working to resolve people’s grievances. “Around 300 residents of my ward turned up for the meeting. Forty-two of them submitted written applications regarding their problems, while others talked about their problems. Besides the water problem and non-functional street lights, Sandip Tupe who lives nearby, mentioned that there was no access road to his basti,” said More. He visited the spot the next day. However, he refused to comment on the delay in conducting the area meeting. priyankka.deshpande@goldensparrow.com
this superfluous control is what we are fighting against,” he said. The screening of the three movies happened at a private auditorium at Prabhadevi, along with a public screening at FTII Campus on the same date. Letters for PM As the nation is gearing up to celebrate Teachers Day on September 5, the students at FTII have thought of celebrating it with a twist. “We have urged people across the country to either post or email us letters addressed to the Prime Minister regarding their concern over the problems afflicting the country’s educational institutes including FTII and higher education in general. We will compile all the letters and send them to the PMO,” said Raju Biswas. “We are also planning to create a live human art installation, where each letter will be randomly read by the students and bystanders to voice our shared concern, on September 5. We will also stream this event online live, so that more people can become a part of it.” They have also planned a whole day event where eminent scholars, including renowned journalist
P.Sainath will have interactive sessions with the students. About the strike The FTII students have been protesting against the appointment of actor and BJP member Gajendra Chauhan’s appointment as chairman and four other members of the Governing Council, since June 12. They have received support from bigwigs of Indian cinema as well as student bodies across the country. About FTII The Film Institute of India was established in 1960 on the erstwhile Prabhat Studio premises in Pune. The institute was renamed ‘The Film and Television Institute of India’ in 1971. The Television Wing, earlier located at the Mandi House, New Delhi was shifted to Pune in the early 70s, bringing together the training in film and television under a common roof. The institute offers several post graduate diploma courses in cinematography, screenplay writing, direction, sound design, video editing, TV direction, among others. gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com
Alternate days water supply from Monday
With rains still playing truant, water cuts to be imposed in city from Monday By Gitesh Shelke @gitesh_shelke The administration, on Friday morning, has decided to impose water cuts in the city from Monday onwards, and residents will get water on alternate days. The decision was unavoidable in face of the scanty or non-existent rainfall in the catchment areas of the dams supplying potable water to the city, A meeting of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) representatives, Irrigation department authorities, and Revenue officers was held by the District Guardian Minister Girish Bapat. Speaking to mediapersons after the meeting, Bapat said that the city requires 1200 mld of water every day. However, owing to scanty rains, it has been decided to take 850 mld of water per day from the Irrigation department. “This amounts to a cut of 30 per cent and with this, water can be made available throughout the year,” he said. The water cuts will be imposed from Monday and an area-wise timetable will be announced in the
Dropping water levels at Panshet Dam
next 24 hours. With the cuts, the city will now require 9.9 TMC of water for the year. The current plans have been resorted to after taking cognisance of the current water level in the dams. If situation improves by the end of September, and there are adequate rains, fresh plans will be made. “The situation will be re-assessed at September end,” he said. PMC also plans to curb any wastage of water at construction sites. The authorities will also check water availability from the Mulshi and Varasgaon dams. gitesh.shelke@goldensparrow.com
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2015
The government’s notification announcing the MHTCET scheme(a common entrance test) from 2016-17 onwards makes no mention about the decision not to give weightage to the standard XII state board exam score. — Vivek Velankar, RTI activist
PUNE
Yuan devaluation and its fallout
Pollution, the silent killer stalking Indian cities
P14
P11
From tourist wonderland to mosquito lair The Mughal Garden on Sinhagad Road has lost its splendour owing to gross neglect regarding its upkeep by the Pune Municipal Corporation pics by Rahul Raut
The fountains, which are not functional any more
BY PRIYANKKA DESHPANDE @journopriyankka There is moss on the surface, and a foul odour emanates from the water fountains, the rose plants have withered for lack of care, and the light show that Sumant Vidwans is supposed to dazzle is dark and non-functional... welcome to Pune’s Mughal Garden, which has been created on four acres of land at the Pu La Deshpande garden on Sinhagad Road. Designed on the lines of the
Mughal Garden at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, the city’s replica which entailed an expenditure of Rs 2 crore, has Mughal-style terraced lawns, fountains, water bodies and walkways.
But now, instead of being the crowdpulling attraction that it was meant to be, has deteriorated into an eyesore. Pune Municipal Corporation staffers blame the state of the prestigious garden on the Garden Department authorities, who have neglected its upkeep. “When the garden was opened in 2012, 15 workers were assigned to tend to both the gardens by a private contractor. But of the 15, there are now just three workers, who also are responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of Nana-Nani Park in Sarita Nagari and Vadgaon Canal Park,” said Kailas Bhalerao, who has the charge of maintaining the garden. The three workers are from the PMC itself, as the civic administration has not sought tenders for the garden’s upkeep from private agencies since last year. Bhalerao said that the light show has been non-functional for the last four months. “The light show was the major attraction of the Mughal
Garden, and it attracted big crowds even in the evenings on week days. But the lights have not been working for the last four months, and this has caused a big drop in Swapna Jadhav the number of visitors to the garden,” Bhalerao said. The water at the fountains has not been cleaned on a regular basis and the foul, swampy odour is also putting off visitors, he said. Bhalerao says that except for the visitors brought in on the Pune Darshan buses, there are hardly any others who come to the Mughal Garden. “Most people prefer going to the Okayama Friendship Garden, Bhalerao said. His written pleas to the PMC Garden Department regarding the state of the garden have fallen on deaf ears. “I have been writing to the PMC Garden Department regularly about the maintenance of the garden. What more can I do?” Bhalerao said. TGS team who visited the garden found withered rose bushes, the lawns in need of mowing and watering, garbage afloat on the water bodies, and some of the fountains were not working. Mundhwa resident Sumant Vidwans said, “When I first visited the garden in 2013, it was a wonderful experience with everything well tended to, and the lit-up fountains. On a recent visit, I was shocked at the sorry state of the garden, which is in urgent need of care and maintenance. What’s the point of coming to the
HC demands apology from striking lawyers
Scenes from the past, when the Mughal Garden was a symphony of lights and colour
garden when it is like this? The civic authorities responsible for its upkeep should be questioned in this regard,” he said. Vishrantwadi resident Swapna Jadhav is a regular visitor to the garden, and thinks that the stagnant, moss-covered water ponds could pose hazards as breeding sites for mosquitoes. “My son was mesmerised by the colourfully lit-up fountains, and he wanted me to bring him to the garden whenever I could. I am shocked and disappointed that the garden is so badly neglected and the water fountains are now infested with
mosquitoes,” she said. Ashok Ghorpade, who heads the PMC Garden Department, however, seemed to be unaware about the Mughal Garden situation, and told TGS that he would ask his staff before making any comment. A little later he confirmed that the water fountains were covered with layers of algae. “I am personally looking into the upkeep and maintenance of Mughal Garden,” Ghorpade said, and said that the light show would commence once the necessary driver for the lights arrived from Kolkata. priyankka.deshpande@goldensparrow.com
t aring a t s e r ’ They ls, not a o g r s bigge screen r e t u comp
All but three city lawyers from two Bar Associations have tendered apology affidavits
aside stepping who are ad of the corner des those ste now inclu their passion in ent banker to an le op pe ue g list of investm to purs A growin rporate ladder y from being an co from the does one journe d out fin ow office. H rist? Read on to agricultu
Rahul Raut
5, 2015 PtEmbEr PUNE, sE
rrow.com oldenspa | www.theg
The issue is whether the PBA office bearers will tender an apology
said that the “the office bearers could not persuade the other three advocates, who are the members of the Managing Committee to file similar affidavits”. Identified as Advocates Pravin S Gore, Omkar Arte and Omkar Pawar were issued notices by HC asking them to tender apologies. “Everybody had been informed about the HC order and everyone filed the affidavits. Why the three lawyers didn’t, is their personal matter,” said Girish Shedge, President of Pune Bar Council. When TGS contacted Advocate Gore, he said, “We were not on duty when the strike was called off. My wife had just delivered and I was on leave. Pawar was out of station and Arte was ill.” Advocate Pawar added, “After we resumed, the issue skipped our minds. We were so involved with our cases that we overlooked the issue of filing the affidavit.” The trio added that they are yet to receive notice from HC. “Once we receive the notices we will decide on future course of action,” the trio said. The case is scheduled to come up for hearing on Monday, September 7. gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com
t m en n i
A song brewed over filter coffee
ge ul
A treat for all Pani Puri addicts
In the issue Nigh t
Oka and Justice Revati Mohite Dere asked the lawyers if they were willing to apologise for going on strike. “The issue is whether the office bearers of the Pune Bar Association are willing to tender an apology for committing the breach of the law laid down by the Apex Court. The other issue is whether the office bearers are willing to give an undertaking on oath that in future, they themselves will not indulge in any such activities and they will not encourage anyone else to engage in such activities,” stated the division bench in their July 6 order. Over the next few days several office bearers of Pune Bar Association and Pune Family Court Bar Association tendered their apologies and filed affidavits in HC. On August 6, counsel representing Pune Bar Association told the court that all but three lawyers from their committee had filed affidavits of apology. The senior counsel
i nd
by Gargi Verma @missgverma Two months after the lawyers strike in Pune came to an end, the saga is far from over. The Bombay High Court has taken suo moto cognisance of the strike and demanded an apology from the lawyers. While most of the office bearers of two separate Bar Associations in the city have tendered apologies, three lawyers haven’t done so yet. The lawyers in the city went on a strike from June 19 demanding for a bench of the HC in the city. The strike had brought work to a standstill at both the district and family courts. On July 3, HC took suo moto cognisance of the strike and issued show cause notices to lawyers why the action under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 for committing criminal contempt should not be initiated against them. On July 6, the strike was called off. The HC bench of Justice AS
Ent e r ta
With this issue
fe Li
Meet the party guy
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2015
PUNE
“Three people who preached rationalism are killed in daylight and police are unable to find the killers.The Prime Minister must tell the country about his government’s take on these killings, which are no less than a terrorist attack.” — Hamid, Narendra Dabholkar’s son
This is where I belong P 15
Love it, hate it, you cannot ignore it
For the first time ever, one billion people accessed Facebook in a single day. It simply means that one in seven people on Earth used the social media site to connect with friends and family BY ZAINAB KANTAWALA & SALONEE MISTRY @TGSWeekly In its 11 years of coming to being, Facebook has not only helped people to connect but has also changed their lives in many ways. Whether it was his sheer luck, a vision, a skilful execution, or the combination of all, Mark Zuckerberg’s brilliant invention has
embedded into our lives in such a way that we cannot think of an existence without it anymore. Recently Facebook crossed an important milestone. For the first time ever, one billion people accessed Facebook in a single day. It simply means that 1 in 7 people on Earth used the social media site to connect with friends and family. “When we talk about our financials, we use average numbers, but this is different.
ADOPTING STRAYS GET ONLINE PLATFORM
Motopaws founder Shantanu Naidu, 23, uses Facebook to create awareness and change public opinion about stray dogs in Pune. “I have always been the sort who would rescue puppies from streets and bring them home. Being around dogs and taking care of them is almost like a family value. A few of us came together and have managed to find homes for 25 strays, and this was only possible with the help of Facebook,” he said. He networks and provides an ‘information-exchange’ platform on
Facebook for adopting stray puppies, dogs, kittens and cats. “We work in association with the Pune branch of Animal Welfare Community, which is also active on Facebook. We post pictures of puppies and other information. We get around 100 responses a day, with two to three people willing to adopt them. The response we get with the help of social media is overwhelming. We even try to solve the misconceptions that people have about strays through Facebook,” he said. Th is medium has not only given the cause the much-needed visibility but has also helped them find a loving home for these faithful animals. “Before one can adopt a dog, they have to go through three levels of interviews. We have to ensure that the puppy is going to a home where he/ she will be welcomed as their family member. We do background checks of adoptive families; visit their homes to check if they are genuinely prepared to welcome a puppy in their lives”, he said.
This was the first time we reached this milestone, and it’s just the beginning of connecting the whole world. I’m so proud of our community for the progress we’ve made. Our community stands for giving every person a voice, for promoting understanding and for including everyone in the opportunities of our modern world,” Mark posted on Facebook. Facebook unquestionably has become one such medium that help us
connect with the world better. It has helped us nurture the relationships with those we love, helped people find job, support a cause, and build a society that reflects our values. “Thank you for being part of our community and for everything you’ve done to help us reach this milestone. I’m looking forward to seeing what we accomplish together,” he added. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
A FRIEND REQUEST AND A HAPPY ENDING It was a match made on Facebook for Aniket Kadam (26) and Neha Verma (23) who met on the social networking site about three years ago. Not quite remembering how their paths crossed, the duo started chatting on Facebook after Neha sent him a friend request. They started chatting, fell in love and after a year and a half of being together virtually, they decided to tie the knot. The couple met only once before getting married. “Our parents were not supportive of our marriage as we both come from different cultures, values and upbringing. Hence, we went ahead and did a court marriage,” said Aniket. The couple had an arranged marriage six months later. It has been a year and a half now and both of them are living a happy married life. For Aniket, Facebook played cupid finding him that one person he could stay happy with for the rest of his life. He could not be more thankful.
I know you get millions of messages a day. I just |wanted to send you a quick thank you for creating such an amazing site, especially messenger. My husband is in the army and is currently deployed. Messenger is the only way we are able to stay connected to during these deployments. Our children are able to see their father and that makes it a little easier while he’s gone. Of course we’re not the only military family messenger keeps connected. On behalf of all the lonely military spouses, Thank you again. Have a good day sir! — Asheda Felts McKoy Thank You Mark... My 80 year old Mother that is bedridden, has friends all around the world now.... She is no longer confi ned to her 4 walls... she enjoys her day chatting and looking at pictures, and receiving and sending post.... She now has something to new to talk about and engages in conversation... She is happy... — Sharon Boone Facebook has connected me with my biological family and has allowed me to get the answers that I needed to end the feeling of resentment I had from not knowing the whole truth. My life is so much better now smile emoticon love you mama — Keonna Ball During Typhoon Haiyan that devastated many places in the Philippines esp Tacloban, we would not have known that my brother-in-law & his family were alive & safe without Facebook. I coordinated their evacuation via Private Message on FB with their son who is based in London. Congratulations & thank you, Mark! — Angie Salanio Thanks for your Facebook idea Mark. It’s not just ‘social’ for us. It has been main source of information from my country (Myanmar) both for people outside and inside the country where to travel around is not feasible all the time for many of us. With Facebook, we have got information from every corner of the country. Dictators cannot cheat us. We are no longer in the dark. We know where we are and we are able to think ‘what next?’ because of Facebook. That’s why dictators are scared of Facebook and try to ban in their countries. At least we can still use it under the name of ‘democracy’ although it is ‘pseudo’. — Aung Tun Oo
HIS POST TO FAME AND RECOGNITION It took a series of Facebook posts and one video uploaded on the social networking site to change Arjun Menon’s life. Th is 26-year old travel photographer started following his passion three years ago when he was interning with other travel photographers. A year later he started off on his own. With the vision to showcase the unexplored terrains of India, Arjun started documenting his travels as a personal project. He released a time lapse video exploring India on Facebook in October last year. The video went viral, did amazingly well and has
Facebook to the rescue
given Arjun the recognition and fame that he had not planned for. “The reaction to the video came as a surprise. I had not expected it to do so well. I was getting appreciation from all over and proposals to even fund my future projects. Facebook has changed so many things for me,” said Arjun. Following the video going viral on Facebook, Arjun was featured by several publications, and was also invited to give a TEDTalk in Bengaluru. He is working on his second video that he hopes will be released by February 2016.
Many share horrifying stories about my home country Syria and what’s wrong in the world. But through Facebook I have found amazing stories of hope and got inspired by incredible human beings coming together to care for each other. Without Facebook we would be stuck listening to mainstream media and the sensationalized one sided story. Facebook has given everyone of us a voice, and enabled the weakest among us to reach as far and wide as the strongest. On Facebook we discover the beautiful, the surprising, the incredible, the amusing, the funny, and what matters most for the people in our lives that matter most, and we can make difference for people we may never meet with a post, and that is just remarkable. Thank you Mark, and thank you Facebook. — Hussein Hallak I am From INDIA... At 2 years ago , There was riot and normal Phone communications were down... At that time i was communicate my family through Facebook...!!! Thank You So much Facebook... —Shah Jaivik
NFAI approaches defence Not so rosy for Rosary group forces for rare old war footage ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
The National Film Archives of India (NFAI) has approached the defence forces and other organisations offering to restore and archive rare old war footage that they may have in their possession. Senior officials in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, under which the NFAI functions, said that the letters had been written to the defence forces seeking footage of fi lms or other rare footage which may not be classified so that they can be preserved for posterity. These fi lms are of immense value and can also be exhibited, the officials added. NFAI Director Prakash Magdum confi rmed that letters had been written to the armed forces as well as various other organisations so that they can share the fi lms that are available to them. “We have written to the armed forces and we have written to them offering that we can digitise the fi lms and footage available with them. We have also approached other organisations like ISRO asking them to share the fi lms they may have so that we can preserve them,” Magdum said. The NFAI may get lists of rare
Rosary group’s Aranhas booked by police over furnishing forged documents to procure loans BY GARGI VERMA @missgverma
fi lms or footage available with these organisations after which some of them will be chosen for archiving and preservation, officials said. They said one of the main objectives of Pune-based NFAI is to trace, acquire and preserve for the use of posterity the heritage of national cinema and a representative collection of world cinema. They added that apart from feature fi lms, the NFAI also archives nonfeature fi lms, recordings, photographs
etc.
Officials added that the NFAI had recently managed to acquire the fi rst talkie version of the 1935 cult movie “Devdas” directed by P C Barua, which was till now available only in Bangladesh. The fi lm was available with Bangladesh Film Archive and after efforts by NFAI, a copy of the said fi lm (in DVD format) was brought to the country, the officials said. PTI
The city-based Rosary Education group has been booked by the Cantonment Police station for procuring loans over allegedly forged documents of collateral, on the night of September 2. The police lodged an FIR on the complaint of the Cosmos Cooperative Bank, from which Vivek and Vinay Aranha, the owners of Rosary Education group, availed a loan of Rs 20.44 crore, allegedly on the basis of forged documents. The FIR also mentions that they had availed a loan of Rs 46.5 crore earlier, and had stopped paying the installments midway, constituting a default. Cosmos Cooperative Bank Managing Director Vikrant Ponkshe, “The Aranhas defaulted on us as they stopped paying the installments of the loan of Rs 46.5 crore. When our recovery department looked into their accounts, we figured that one of the documents in another loan proclaimed a property, at Talegaon, to be nonagricultural land when it wasn’t so. This property was relisted as something else
for a different loan as well. So basically, the collateral was flawed and the documents were forged.” The bank sent constant reminders to the Aranhas but when no reply was received, they moved the Economics Offence Wing of Pune Police. Ponkshe said, “We have been working on this case for 5-6 months. But the case was filed recently, when we realised that nothing was working.” Sources in the bank, said off the record that the delay in lodging the complaint was because of the Vivek Aranha’s long-standing relationship with the bank. However, the problems started when Vinay Aranha, son of Vivek Aranha, started handling the accounts. Even though the FIR was lodged on September 2, no arrests have been made yet. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone II) Sudhakar Pathare said, “The case was lodged just two days ago. We are still in the process of investigation and the police inspector (crime) is looking into the issue. Gargi.verma@goldensparrow.com
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2015
“Who gets reservation can’t be settled through street protest. But police brutality against protesters is just not on. Nor is counter-violence. Reservation is a serious issue. Both the sides should act patiently.” — Yogendra Yadav, Swaraj Abhiyan Founder
PUNE
“Youths should take responsibility in carrying forward the rich cultural heritage of their respective tribes.” — JP Rajkhowa, Governor, Andhra Pradesh
A couple’s belief changed young lives, wins smiles
Happy to have green fingers Green Brigade Group gives Baner residents opportunity to learn about growing plants and fruits in open and terrace gardens
Yunus and Durriya Shipchandler’s desire to spend their retirement years with destitute children has given orphan girls security, hope and faith in their future BY JAMES MATHEW @mathewthejames
thought of starting an orphanage on the outskirts of city. I visited other cities like Bengaluru and Dehradun but settled for Pune as land price was cheaper. I bought the 11-acre property at Garade Dharan in 1997. It was rocky land with no proper accessible road. I started the Sai Ashram orphanage for girls in 2000.”
Coming from humble beginnings, Yunus Shipchandler, 55, always valued life and its purpose. And Sai Ashram located at Garade Dharan, Garade Village, off Kondhwa-Saswad Road, about 25 kms from city, is a modest example of giving back to society. The blooming faces of ten girls who stay at the orphanage reveal their happiness at finding a home. PAIN AND RESOLVE Citing a sorrowful incident that took place in his life 35 years ago, Yunus said, “While having food at a stall in Bhendi Bazaar in South Mumbai, I saw a dog and a street urchin in rags running to pick a food morsel that fell from the stall. The stall owner shouted at the boy and allowed the animal to eat the
fallen food as it was his pet. There I made up my mind to do something in my life for the poor.” FAMILY BOND Hailing from Surat, Yunus joined the shipping industry as it did not require high qualifications but many months away from
‘We used to ride on donkeys’ “As there were no proper approachable roads, we hired two donkeys to take us to Garade Dharan. It is a memorable experience.” — Janamraj Jaishe, hailing from Nepal, has been associated with Yunus since Sai Ashram started
home at the seas. He married homeopathist Dr Durriya and they have two children, Shannoy Shipchandler, who is a secondyear-environmental science student at Fergusson College and Sarah Shipchandler, a standard IX student at Mansukhbhai Kothari National School, Kondhwa. Long voyages at seas with some trips keeping him away from home for two years took a toll on Captain Yunus’ family life. “I decided to take up administrative responsibility when my son called me ‘uncle’ when I returned from one of the long trips,” he said. FUTURE PLANS Yunus and Durriya planned their future but with a desire of doing their bit for society. “We
TOIL AND SWEAT The transformation of rocky terrain into lush, green and fertile fields is the result of Yunus’ belief in nature and his rule to not disturb environment. “We should just leave saplings to feed for themselves like it grows in forests. Watering plants leads to weak roots and short lifespan. SMILING FACES Sai Ashram became the home for 17-year-old Babita when she was just two. Left by her mother and allowed to beg by his father, who used to leave her on footpath and sold combs in Mumbai local trains, Babita is a happy girl now. And scoring 83 per cent in SSC exam is just a step towards her determination to find a secure future. “Mathematics is my favourite subject,” said Babita, who is an inspiration for the other nine girls who stay with her. james.mathew @goldensparrow.com
A humble venture to empower women
Wanting to do something for those who weren’t as fortunate as them, Rucha and Archana found quilt making an entrepreneurial opportunity
Rucha Kulkarni (left) and Archana Jagtap (centre) teach women about colour combinations and patterns for sewing quilts
BY SALONEE MISTRY @SAL0412 The afternoon air in the third floor hall of thirty-one-year-old Archana Japtap’s house is fi lled with laughter and chatter. The women of this room are happy to be part of a mission that has made them see their selfworth in a positive way. By sewing quilts (godhadi), the women have stitched a way to take responsibility for their lives. The colourful sari cut-outs sprawled across the floor also reflects their new-found vibrant life.
found the works carried out for upliftment of poor and destitute by helping them achieve socio-economic independence and empowering women a fulfilling calling. Archana’s desire to empower women took a step towards fruition when she meet concept-based visual artist Rucha Kulkarni (29) at one of the NGO meets a year ago. Both shared a similar dream. The duo brainstormed on many options before choosing the work of making quilts.
The duo discussed many options before choosing the work of making quilts
THE FIRST SPARK Archana was happy to find her husband’s family in Kondhwa Budruk open to the idea of womenfolk working outside the family ambit, unlike many of her neighbouring households. She joined an NGO that helped women acquire livelihoods with dignity. She
BANKING ON TRADITION As finding a low-cost employment model was their target, the duo studied the lives of villagers. “We found that women in villages are weaving and stitching quilts from used saris and other old clothes for their families for generations. And this ‘reusing’ does not need much funds. Many women in cities make
such quilts as a hobby,” said Rucha. “We started ‘Quilt Culture’ six months ago with the objective to empower women to become financially independent. Most of the women that we met in the suburban areas of Kondhwa Budruk liked the idea as they could either gather at one place to learn quilt making or sew them at home after taking materials from us,” said Archana. Rucha and Archana collect orders, decide the patterns for quilts, provide material to women and deliver the finished products to buyers. They hope that in a few years the women will manage the business on their own. “It is about understanding the process and creating a solid foundation. Once that is achieved the way ahead is easy. We are helping create this base,” said Archana. The duo, living in the same locality, are encouraging these women to become financially independent.. MASTERING THE ART Rucha helps them understand the chemistry of colours. Th rough discussion the women are encouraged to come up with designs and patterns that they think might appeal to buyers. The six-month-old venture has been quite a pleasant change for many women who have opted to join it. For most of them who are confined to their houses because of family restrictions, this part-time job is a way to break free. Archana has a degree from Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce (BMCC) in journalism, while Rucha is a fine arts graduate from Bharati Vidyapeeth University. About 30-35 women work with them with some sewing quilts at home and others visiting the workshop space made available to them at the third floor of Archana’s house. The initiative is also an effort by Rucha and Archana to bring back to the urban setting the dying art of quilt making. salonee.mistry@goldensparrow.com
Members of the Green Brigade Group, share their gardening knowledge at Aditi Gehani’s terrace garden. (From left) Smita Bakare, Sucheta Patil, Aditi Gehani, Archana Shelke, Sheela Kocher
BY EKTA KATTI @Ektaak There is nothing more satisfying than cultivating and consuming home-grown vegetables, herbs and fruits. And the 20 gardening enthusiasts of Green Brigade Group (Baner) have been bringing the neighbourhood communities together, to grow edible and non-edible plants, to exchange ideas, seeds and saplings and plant knowledge. Nature lover Sonali Rao, 40, who founded the group nine months back, said, “It’s a loosely formed group with people from all walks of life and ages but having a common interest – exploring terrace gardening. We meet every fortnight at each other’s terrace gardens or at the gardens of our housing societies.” JOY OF SHARING The group’s mission to do its bit to preserve the present surrounding greenery has helped them bond and share their happiness and joy. “Giving information about gardening gives me satisfaction as I feel that I am adding to the greenery,” said retired IMD officer, Sheela Kochar, 63, of the group who harvests papaya, fig, sapota (chikoo), brinjal, chilli, apple, lemon and other plants. Known as ‘strawberry queen’ in the group, Aditi Gehani, 36, also cultivates fenugreek,
spinach, capsicum, tomatoes and aloe vera. “We share our study on saplings with others,” she said. Sonali said, “Gardening is like nurturing babies. I am proud of all my plants, particularly basil, salads and large tomatoes. Aditi who grows strawberries in the balcony of her house has helped me in keeping the plants healthy.” HEALTHY LIFESTYLE Right from their tiny farms to the plates, these group members know exactly what they are eating. The group promotes organic food and believes in using home compost as manure. “Serving your family chemical-free veggies and fruits gives a sense of achievement,” Sheela said. Proudly showing her red capsicums, Archana Shelke said, “This is something I am really proud of. I am happy that my family gets fresh capsicums every now and then.” “Most of us share saplings and sometimes get it from nurseries. We work with seeds, saplings, cuttings and sometimes, there’s even wild growth from composted materials. As most of us live in apartments, it would be good to grow even one plant in our balconies or terraces. In that way, the city would breathe easier, look prettier and eat healthy food,” Sonali said. ektaakatti@gmail.com
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2015
Crowning
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY
PUNE
SEPTEMBER 5, 2015
PUNE
The Karambelkars
GLORY The Puneri Pagadi has made a comeback as a headgear of distinction but only a handful of makers remain of this traditional craft
PICS BY ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
T
he Karambelkar family has been making pagadis for 55 years. Milind Karambelkar, who heads the family business, has a positive and immensely optimistic view regarding the family trade, believing that the Puneri Pagadi has made a huge comeback today, and it is regarded as a trendy
The Jadhavs
V
GITESH SHELKE & HEENA GROVER-MENON @TGSWeekly Janmashtami marks the beginning of the festive season, when Pune and its citizens gear up for celebrations galore. Shopping is a huge and essential aspect of any festival, and naturally there are glitzy goods, be it household articles, electronics, sweetmeats or clothes. The raksha-bandhan rakhi spree is over, and now here come the resplendent Radha-Krishna outfits, and the shopping for Ganesh idols has begun as well. Amidst all the festive wear,
Puneri Pagadis today
there is an article that is intrinsically, essentially Maharashtrian, that gives its wearer a stately and regal aura harking back to a fabled bygone era. It is none other than the unique and distinctive ‘Puneri Pagadi’. The pagadi is doing splendidly on the sales front, but the numerical ratio of the artisans who make this eye-catching headgear is remarkably low. But the pagadi-making is a centuries-old tradition, its art and craft handed over from one generation to the next with the utmost skill and care to ensure that the legacy continues in its purest form. But the rapid changes in lifestyles and couture have taken their
toll, and the pagadi is no longer an item of daily wear, but rather an exclusive clothing accessory reserved for special occasions. Naturally, the pagadi-makers have had to look for alternative means to earn their livelihood along with their traditional business. And just as what has happened with the Kolhapuri chappal trade, quite a few of the pagadi-makers are on the verge of extinction, since the new generation of heirs are being drawn to the infinite number of professions and occupations that the tech-oriented age has thrown up, turning their backs on their age-old familial craft. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
irendra Vishwas Jadhav, the proprietor of Jadhav Natya Sanskar in Narayan Peth, has been in the pagadi business since 1949. “My grandfather Madhavrao Jadhav, who was a theatre artist, started the costume business when he was working with Prabhat Theatre. He used to rent out costumes to theatre artists,” Virendra said. Though he made pagadis of different types, Madhavrao’s fi rst love was the Puneri Pagadi. “He learnt the art of making a Puneri Pagadi from an old theatre artist,” he said. Madhavrao even supplied Puneri Pagadis to the actors of the play ‘Ghashiram Kotwal’. “Red is the traditional colour but now people want pagadis made from satin and silk with Paithani zari work,” Virendra said. But designing a custom pagadi can take five-six days depending on the intricacies. “Pagadis with gold plated strings or diamonds cost a lot more,” he said. Jadhav says that he sells about 100 pagadis a month on average. The average pagadi cost Rs 450, and the cost of custom pagadis depends on the ornamentation and materials. “Way back in the past, the pagadi was the mark of an intellectual, but today it is like a fashion accessory that anybody can wear,” Virendra said. But the pagadi has also acquired an aura of glamour, he thinks.
yet traditional clothing accessory. “The Puneri Pagadi was a signature and daily use article of men’s wear during the times of Balgangadhar ‘Lokmanya’ Tilak, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade and their ilk,” he said. Th ings have changed and how, as today the pagadi if offered
as a memento to persons of distinction, who has served society, as a unique birthday present, or as a mark of honour to dignitaries at public functions and celebrations. Milind’s father Raghunath started and flourished in the pagadi-making business, with his shop at Narayan Peth, and as expected, the son took hold of the reins of the business after the founder’s death. Milind employs eight women workers in his pagadi-making workshop, and business if very good, he says. Milind has observed a sea change in the pagadimaking process over the past decade. “A century ago the pagadis were made from cloth that the artisans rolled on their knees or on a wooden mould. These days we use fibre or Plaster of Paris (PoP) to shape the paper mould. The cloth is then stitched on to the paper mould and the frills are then stitched on,” he said. The fi rst moulds were used 80 years ago. While only cotton cloth was used in the bygone era, today satin, silk, southern silk and other materials are in great demand. Red was the dominant colour for a pagadi then, but now pagadis are made in a whole spectrum of colours, such as magenta, purple, gold, green etc. But, red remains the traditional colour, Milind says. A worker may make three pagadis in a day, or one pagadi can take three days to make. “It all depends on the kind of design and specifications that the customer wants,” he said. Even the length of cloth to make a pagadi varies according to the size. And the size of the pagadi depends on the size of the wearer’s head. But on an average, a pagadi requires a 1.5-1.75-metre piece of cloth, that is eight inches wide. The cost of Karambelkar pagadis range from Rs 400 to Rs 2400. “The prices rise in accordance with the quality of cloth, the number of frills, and the use of precious metals like gold,” Milind said. The Karambelkar pagadis have adorned the heads of scores of celebs and dignitaries like Aamir Khan, Rahul Gandhi and Sharad Pawar. Among their regular customers are the Kirtankars from Pune, Satara, Kolhapur and Ratnagiri districts. Milind is buoyed by the rising sales graph for the Puneri Pagadi. “Pagadis are gifted to elders, or as a mark of honour at felicitation functions,” Milind said.
The Murudkar Zendewales
M
urudkar Zendewale is a kind of landmark in Budhwar Peth. Th is Puneri Pagadi shop is now run by the third generation of the family. Girish Murudkar Zendewale’s great grandfather Shankar Ramkrishna Murudkar was greatly influenced by Lokmanya Tilak, to the point that he sport a similar bushy moustache and a Puneri Pagadi. Pagadi-making is far more than just a means to earn a living for Girish and his family. “It is no less than an honour for us to make
the pagadi,” he said. According to the changing fashion mores, the pagadi has become an article of clothing that has come back into fashion for the new generation. “But we maintain our tradition even while making allowances for modern trends,” he said. Girish has had the opportunity to attend the Pune-France Cultural Exchange Programme. “I travelled to France with a cache of Puneri Pagadis, that were used to felicitate French citizens, who were thrilled with the regal headgear. It was an honour,” he said. In the past they used Batti, which is a cotton cloth, to make pagadis. “The cloth was doused with water and then rolled over the knee or on a wooden mould to make pagadis. Now we use newspaper moulds in the pagadimaking process,” he said. The Murudkar Zendewales made an ultra exclusive Puneri Pagadi for the Shrimant Dagduseth Halwai Ganesh idol a few years ago. “The cost of the pagadi ran into a few lakh rupees,” he said. The pagadi is mainly used on special occasions but people want
Origin
T
he history of the Puneri Pagadi dates back to the early 18th century. Considered to be a symbol of pride, honour and prestige in Pune, the Puneri Pagadi was given a distinctive status by Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade, aka Nyayamurti Ranade, who was among the fi rst to wear it. Th is iconic headgear is synonymous with Puneri heritage and culture, having been worn by leaders and persons of distinction such as Lokmanya Tilak, J S Karandikar, D D Sathye, Tatyasaheb Kelkar and Datto Vaman Potdar, who continued to wear the pagadi regularly till as recently as 1975. The pagadi gained its status as a symbol of outstanding reputation during the time of Lokmanya Tilak, and
it became a ‘sine qua non’ for the elite class, educationists and people in legal profession representing intellectuality. The pagadi also got a boost of fame and popularity after the staging of Vijay Tendulkar’s riveting play ‘Ghashiram Kotwal’, that was written in response to the rise of the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, in 1972. The political satire, written as historical drama, was based on the life of Nana Phadnavis, who was one of the prominent ministers in the court of the Peshwas of Pune. Over recent years, the pagadi has gained prominence, and is frequently used on special occasions such as wedding ceremonies, and traditional events at schools and colleges. Youngsters also wear pagadis while
performing the Gondhal art form. Being a symbol of honour, the pagadi is used as a souvenir to felicitate guests of honour at special events. It of course, is used in period fi lms and theatre.
Geographical Indication tag for pagadi
G
anesh Hingmire, Chairman, Great Mission Group Consultancy, which promotes intellectual property rights, fi led an application in 2008 on behalf of the 10-member Shree Puneri Pagadi Sangh, who had applied to the Geographical Indication Registry to get a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the pagadi, to make it recognisable and to preserve its identity, Consequently, on September 4, 2009, the Geographical Indication status was granted to the Pune-centric headgear and it became the official cultural identity of Pune. Once the pagadi got the Intellectual Property Right (IPR), the sale of any turban made outside Pune became illegal. “We began this task to protect the identity of Pune. We gathered all the relevant data and concluded that the pagadi was a symbol of pride and honour. It also had a pivotal role during India’s freedom struggle, when stalwarts like Lokmanya Tilak wore this headgear to create their own identity,” said Hingmire Another key objective of registering the pagadi was to replace the convocation hood with the Puneri Pagadi in Pune University. “But irrespective of numerous requests to the heads of education, no one has addressed our demand. But that has not deterred us from trying, since the pagadi deserves its place as the official headgear in the varsity,” he said.
Puneri Pagadi then and now
I
n the 17th century, the Koshtis, one of the 12 classes of people living in Pune were in the profession of making the Puneri Pagadi. They used to visit houses of people who wanted the pagadi on a fortnightly basis and used to make them at their houses. The pagadis were made in a special way during that time with the help of their heads, knees or wooden logs as a base. The fabric - mostly soft cotton or silk – used to be around 65 feet in length and nine inches wide. The colour of the pagadi was predominantly red, which was extracted by soaking the stem of the Parijat flower in water overnight. After the colour was extracted, the soft cotton fabric was dipped in the red water and then draped into a pagadi, using the knees as the base, and set aside to dry to get its permanent shape, without the use of thread for stitching. Once it was made, people could wear it for as long as 15 days after which the ‘Koshtis’ would be called again to renew it. Over time, the pagadi has undergone considerable change. Pagadis are now made by stitching the folds of the fabric instead of using starch. Although red is still the most preferred colour, natural colours from flower extracts have made the way for readymade coloured fabrics.
The pagadi consists of six main elements KOKA: The upper posterior protruding part of the pagadi, the making of which is very important. It’s the koka that defi nes how expensive and classy the pagadi is. MATHA: A fl at surface sliding from the koka is matha. GHERA: A thick strip of fabric surrounding the pagadi from all sides. Its circumference depends on the size of the wearer’s head. KAMAL: It is a part of pagadi which covers the forehead and provides protection from sun and heat. pagadis made of fancy materials these days. Another trend is pagadis for Ganesh and Vitthal idols. “Not just the mandals but we even have household customers for such
The Devales
pagadis,” he said. The Murudkar Zendewale pagadi prices begin from Rs 250, and like the Dagdusheth one, it can run into astronomical sums of money.
JARTAR: A dangling golden colour ribbon adjacent to koka, it is placed on the right side of the forehead. Earlier, it was made of gold, but now it’s made using synthetic fabric. ASTER: The fabric which is used to cover the inner surface of the pagadi.
…and now
T
he Devale Phetewale shop is in an ever crowded lane near Pasodya Vithoba mandir in Budhwar Peth. Rajendra Devale is the third generation heir to the family business, who employs three workers to make Puneri Pagadis. “My family has been in the pagadi-making business for over 60 years. But I am probably the last one in the pagadi business line as I have no one to hand over the business to. My daughter is a doctor,” he said. Though less than spectacular, the Devale shop holds a special and niche aura when it comes to the Puneri Pagadi. “We have been catering to the needs of Puneites ever since I can remember. All my family members were involved in the pagadi-making in the past, but I run the show single-handedly now,” he said. Most of Devale’s customers order Puneri Pagadis during Ganeshotsav, for poojas and other religious ceremonies. I make custom pagadis as well but people also just pick up the pagadis available with us to be given as gifts,” he said. Devale has preserved four pagadis his father and grandfather had made. “These kind of pagadis are not made any longer, as they demand intricate skill, not to mention loads of patience. In the old days they used huge swathes of cloth, of 80 hand lengths. But now we make pagadis from less than two metres of cloth,” he said. Devale sells 40 pagadis a month on average. “Business has picked up in the last two-three years. I can’t pinpoint one particular reason, but lots of people buy pagadis as souvenirs, aside from those who use it in theatre,” he said. Devale also caters to royal families across the country. “I get orders regularly from Shinde family of Gwalior (the Scindias), Chhatrapati Udayan Raje, Kolhapur’s royals and many others,” he said.
At first, the Plaster of Paris dye for the mould is made
Wet paper pulp is placed on the dye. After drying, it takes shape of the dye
The mould is then covered with different layers of fabric
The final product. Pagadi is ready to don
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2015
tECH/start-up
PUNE
State-run Chinese daily questions ‘Gujarat model’ of development
A twillionaire is a twitterer with a million or more followers. http://didyouknow.org/
P 13
Over 45K register for Modi’s Silicon Valley reception Organisers would put all the 45,000 names for a computerised draw of lots, which would ensure the 18,500 strong audience at the SAP Arena in San Jose has representations from all walks of life BY Lalit K Jha WASHINGTON: Over 45,000 people have signed up to listen to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to IndianAmericans in Silicon Valley on September 27, organisers have said. “The final list of the 18,500 people who will get a chance to hear Prime Minister Modi speak live at the SAP Arena in San Jose on September 27 is yet to be decided,” Indo-American Community of West Coast said in a statement yesterday. For this, in coming days organisers would put all the 45,000 names for a computerised draw of lots, which would ensure the 18,500 strong audience at the SAP Arena in San Jose has representations from every section and segment of the society, state, age groups and gender. “The current list of registrants spans the gamut of social, religious, and professional spheres. From taxi drivers and farmers to
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
professionals and CEOs of large companies, the excitement being felt in the Silicon Valley is unprecedented,” said Naren Gupta, a venture-capitalist and entrepreneur, who
serves as the co-chairman of the Indo American Community of West Coast (IACWC). “With Silicon Valley as the center of innovation, we are all very excited about the possibilities that exist for India under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. He has outlined several key initiatives, including digital cities, alternate power and cleanliness that requite innovative approaches,” he said. “We want to give back to our homeland, we will give back to our homeland, and we plan to engage in thoughtful dialogue with the Prime Minister about best ways to make a difference,” he added. Given his push for clean energy, his drive to digitise India, and his plans to empower the people of his country, Modi’s presence in the Silicon Valley, the hub of technology and innovation, is considered by many to be a natural step towards taking India on the path to overall development, a media statement said. PTI
Adult iq of premature babies can be predicted by age two Assessing two-year-olds who were born very pre-term will provide good prediction to what their adult IQ will be Intelligence Quotient (IQ ) of adults born very premature or of very low birth weight can be predicted when they are just toddlers, a new study has found. In contrast, the research results found that the IQ of adults who were born full-term could not be accurately predicted till the age of six. Previous studies have linked very premature birth and very low birth weight with impaired cognitive function from childhood and throughout adulthood. However until now it wasn’t clear how soon adult IQ can be predicted in these children. “We believe this is the first time a research paper has looked into the prediction of the IQ of adults over the age of 26 who were born very premature or with very low birth weight,” said Dieter Wolke, professor at the department of psychology and Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick in UK.
“The results indicate that assessing two-year-olds who were born very preterm or very underweight will provide a reasonably good prediction to what their adult IQ will be,” he said. Across all assessments within the study very premature and very low birth weight children and adults had lower IQ scores than those born full-term, even when individuals with severe cognitive impairment were excluded from the comparisons. The study was conducted in Germany and followed children from birth into adulthood who were born between 1985-86. The data gained on cognitive function were assessed with developmental and intelligence tests (IQ ) at five and 20 months and at four, six, eight and 26 years of age. Two-hundred-and-sixty babies born either very premature (before 32 weeks) or with very low birth weight (fewer than 1.5 kg) were compared with 229 babies who born
This is the first time that research has looked into adult IQ matters
New app can tell whether you are a lark or an owl A new smartphone app that measures mood and brain power can help you discover what time of the day your brain works best. The app, Moo-Q , asks users how positive or negative they are feeling for instance whether they are awake, nervous, or happy - and then records how well they perform in mental tests that measure processing speed and memory. “If you notice your brain test scores are highest early in the day, you might be well advised to undertake important tasks that require a bit more brainpower first thing in the morning,” said Sophie von Stumm, from Goldsmiths, University of London, who developed the app with her team. “Our app will also help alert you to changes in your brain over time, in memory or processing speed, and it can even help you to exercise your brain - something everyone should do,” Von Stumm said. PTI
Previous studies have linked very premature birth and very low birth weight
full-term. Their results were not sex-specific, related to income or education, and were compared to the control group of adults who were born healthy in the same obstetric wards. “Some children born very premature or with very low birth weight score low on cognitive tests but beat the odds and improve into adulthood,” said Wolke. “However many with persistent problems can be detected in the second year of life,” he said. “Early identification of cognitive problems in these children may help to plan specialised therapeutic and educational interventions to help them and their families,” Wolke added. PTI
NEW DELHI: Within weeks of Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing ‘Start-up India; Stand up India’, the Commerce and Industry Ministry has started fleshing out a framework to encourage start-ups and boost job creation. The structure will act as a complete and full ecosystem for start-ups. The final framework, for which the ministry is working overtime, is expected to be unveiled in November. “It will include hand-holding for all things related to them, which includes mentoring, linking companies with universities and institutions, giving marketing support, consultancy on intellectual property rights and providing easy regulatory mechanism for them so that they do not have to run from one door to another,” a government official told PTI.
Listening to music during surgery reduces pain, anxiety Listening to music before, during and after surgery reduces people’s pain, anxiety and need for painkillers, according to the most comprehensive review of available evidence so far, scientists say. Led by Queen Mary University of London, the study team analysed the results of 73 randomised controlled trials looking at the impact of music on postoperative recovery, compared with standard care or other nonmedical interventions such as massage. The systematic review involved nearly 7,000 patients in total and the findings confirmed, for the first time, the link between music in the operating theatre and a significant reduction in postoperative pain, postoperative anxiety and the need for postoperative pain relief medication. Researchers analysed data on adult patients undergoing a variety of surgical procedures, with or without anaesthesia, to any part of the body. The only exclusions were surgery on the central nervous system, head and neck (because of potential hearing impairment). Choice of music, timing and duration varied in all the studies analysed, and evidence showed these factors made little difference to the outcome. Music was effective even when patients were under general anaesthetic, according to the results published in The Lancet. “Currently music is not used routinely during surgery to help patients in their postoperative recovery,” said Dr Catherine Meads, who led the study at Queen Mary University of London but is now based at Brunel University London. “The lack of uptake is often down to the scepticism of professionals as to whether it genuinely works, and of course issues of budget and the integration into daily practice. “We hope this study will now shift misperceptions and highlight the positive impact music can have,” Meads said. PTI
Hyderabad police unveil body-worn cameras Ensuring a people friendly approach by enforcing officers towards traffic violators, the Hyderabad Traffic Police (HTP) launched ‘Body Worn Cameras’ for the first time in the country. Telangana Home Minister Nayini Narasimha Reddy, who launched the initiative by issuing 100 ‘Body Worn Cameras’ to the front line officers said this is for the first in the country that traffic officers will be equipped with such an equipment. “This initiative is in the direction of developing friendly policing in Hyderabad and the use of technology will improve transparency and accountability in Traffic Management,” the Minister said, adding after formation of Telangana state last year there have been marked changes in the police system. Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Jitender said this project was started on a pilot basis in August last year by issuing four ‘Body Worn Cameras’ to the traffic officers. After successful implementation, 100 new ‘Body Worn
Detailed framework for start-ups
Cameras’ have been acquired by the Hyderabad Traffic Police to monitor the Traffic Enforcement system, he said. Elaborating on ‘Body Worn Cameras’, the top traffic cop said it is user friendly, having stud moving clip for wearing on the body and simple one click record. Citizens, when caught for any traffic violations by traffic cops can notice the recording on the front facing LCD screen. “Protected files and encrypted log of events makes it free from manipulations,” Jitender said, adding this will enable socially desirable behaviour by traffic officers and public during their interactions. In the conventional practice of enforcement, there were many incidents of arguments, assaults and misbehaving between the commuters and cops. Subsequently, on the other end, there was no evidence on record to establish the guilt (of violators) and it badly ruined the image of traffic cops, he said. PTI
Twitter may give ‘voice’ to speech impaired Social networking website Twitter may help people with speech disabilities share information and feel more included by giving them a ‘voice’, researchers say. New research by University of Newcastle suggests that Twitter is an important tool for adults with speech disabilities from stroke, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, autism and motor neurone disease. According to lead researcher Associate Professor Bronwyn Hemsley, many of them who use assistive technologies already knew how to make their communication short and succinct and therefore, tend to flourish on Twitter, ‘skynews.com.au’ reported. “Often, people with little or no functional speech find that listeners try to finish their sentences for them or speak on their behalf,” she said. “They’re used to crafting short messages carefully. In many ways, Twitter might level the playing field, liberating users from stereotypes,” said Hemsley. PTI
APP WORLD
Bank on these and hit the road Traffline
IOS/Android: Free Traffline is India’s first city travel App providing live road, traffic and car parking information for your city. Find real time traffic information, best routes and road alerts. Save fuel, time and effort by planning your journey in advance. Know the distance between any two places and time taken to reach your destination. Find all the free and paid car parking spots before you get there. Find all this information on maps too. Also get quick alerts and notifications on your route or easily report accidents, traffic jams etc. Get alerts directly from the Traffic police. Use our cool newsfeed feature to interact and discuss things with fellow users and like, comment and even share it on your favourite social network.
IonRoad
Android: Free iOnRoad improves driving in real time using the power of advanced smartphones. The app uses the smartphone’s native camera, GPS and sensors to detect vehicles in front of the host vehicle, alerting drivers when they are in danger. Their Visual Radar maps objects in front of the driver in real-time, calculating the driver’s current speed using native sensors. As the vehicle approaches danger, an audio-visual warning pops up to alert of a possible collision, allowing the driver to brake in time.
Moo - Live Road Traffic IOS/Android: Free This is the most simplest Live Road Traffic App you can get on the market. Check the road traffic live at your work place and neighborhood. Ignore all the boring traffic update feeds or complicated and messy map. Moo - Live Road Traffic is using the latest Google Map V2 engine giving you the most comfortable traffic viewing experiences. You can snap shot the traffic and share at your Facebook wall to inform your friends and family.
HERE Maps
IOS/Android: Free With HERE, you can plan your journey ahead of time and save a map of your destination right on your phone. With maps for more than a 100 countries around the world, you’ll never be lost — even when offline. See exactly where you are and find the best way around with a route planner that shows you driving, public transport and walking options at a glance. When you’re ready to head out, turn-by-turn, voice-guided driving and walk navigation takes you right to your destination or use our public transport maps and schedules to get around by train or bus. With HERE, your maps are always loaded and ready to use, and you never need to rely on an internet connection.
Traffic Fines India
IOS/Android: Free This application is, arguably, the most practical one in this list. Traffic Fines India has updated information about various traffic offences and fines one has to pay. It also has information about the relevant sections of the Motor Vehicle Act for various traffic rule violations. It can even be used offline. At least you can be sure of having paid right for you sins. 80 per cent of Traffic Offenses in Indian cities have their fine amounts set to Rs.100 only. In our ignorance, we pay a lot more! Use Traffic Fines India and never pay a bribe again.
ENVIRONMENT “Maintaining and improving the quality of forests is a major challenge. We must ensure that degraded forest must be converted into moderately dense forest in 10 years and moderately dense forest must be converted into dense forests in 5 years.” — Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar
H EALTH
Scientists have found that gorillas can learn new vocal and breathing-related behaviours, a finding that may change the perception that humans are the only primates with the capacity for speech. Koko the gorilla - which has spent more than 40 years living immersed with humans at The Gorilla Foundation - is best known for a lifelong study to teach her a silent form of communication, American Sign Language. But some of the simple sounds she has learnt may change the perception that humans are the only primates with the capacity for speech. In 2010, Marcus Perlman
and heart attacks. The Indian capital averaged 153 micrograms per cubic metre in 2013, the President was warned quoting the World Health Organisation (WHO). India is home to 11 of the top 20 most polluted cities in the world, according to WHO data. The worst US city comes 162nd in the list. A recent random survey by a hospital, found 25 per cent of Traffic policemen in Delhi suffering from
Threat to Himalayan ecology
NATION
CITY
Get your voice heard on NetaG P6
No damaged goods please P3
GRANDCHILDREN SUE THE COMPLETE MAN
PAGES: 16+16 (TGS LIFE) | PRICE: `5
PUNE, MARCH 21, 2015 | www.thegoldensparrow.com
PAGES: 16+16 (TGS LIFE) | PRICE: `5
PUNE, MARCH 14, 2015 | www.thegoldensparrow.com
Dr Vijaypat Singhania’s grandchildren from his estranged son Madhupati have moved Bombay High Court seeking their share in ancestral property. They have filed a suit against their grandfather, father, mother and Raymond Limited. Detailed story on p7 TGS LIFE
When hunger strikes past midnight
NATION
CITY
Bakery worker’s daughter gets her wings P 12
Why are traffic cops taking selfies these days? P3
DITCH THE
AUTO,
HAIL A
CAB
GAUTAM SINGHANIA
or long distances (depending on their mood), overcharge or ask for obnoxious fares, often refuse to ply by meter – the list is endless. TGS Team members decided to give the ‘victimised’ autorickshaw drivers a chance. Five members of the team tried hiring rickshaws for distances
Intentions of Dr Singhania were ‘malafide and illegal’ with a motive to grab the share of Madhupati and Anuradha as well as grandchildren and to achieve the same he directed that his son and daughter-inlaw move to another country ‘instead of Collectively Pune Municipal continuing to stay in India with the family.
DEHU
6
Corporation, PimpriChinchwad Municipal Corporation and Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited have spent `1,816 crores on constructing dedicated corridors and flyovers along major routes, erecting bus shelters, and buying buses. Despite this not a single route is operational or has succeeded in years. Citizens residing in twin cities continue to cry foul over pathetic public transport system. And from the looks of it nothing is going to change in near future. See Spotlight on p8&9
CHINCHWAD BHOSARI
4 THERGAON HINJEWADI VILLAGE
KALEWADI FATA
WAKAD
DIGHI
NASHIK PHATA
5
LOHEGAON
DAPODI 50
PIMPLE GURAV
WAGHOLI
3 4 BANER
VISHRANT VIMAN WADI NAGAR YERWADA
AUNDH
2
SANGAMWADI PASHAN
AH47
WADGAON SHERI
MUNDHWA
SHIVAJI NAGAR
GHORPADI
9
BAVDHAN
CAMP
HADAPSAR
KOTHRUD
SWARGATE PARVATI
WANOWRIE
1
NANDED AMBEGAON BUDRUK
KONDHWA
UNDRI
KATRAJ
4
Had it not been for a Pune-based activist everybody had forgotten about a film on Lokmanya Tilak commissioned in 2001 by Central Government at the cost of 2.5 crores. Three years after Vishnu Kamalapurkar raised questions about the film,
said director of the school, who
fi led the FIR and kept in touch with “We are feeling the investigating officer and public prosecutor The director is let down by the PUNE, MARCH 14, 2015throughout. | www.thegoldensparrow.com yet to get a copy of the order. prosecution The case dates back to February 2013 when some of the students and the system. studying in class five walked up to their class teacher and alleged that It is upsetting their creative writing sir had touched because we do them inappropriately. The class teacher in turn informed the principal and not how to face management. School authorities spoke to several other students and the parents and found that 22 girls in all had levelled similar allegations. Director of the students who school approached Chaturshrungi came forward police station and lodged an FIR under the Protection of Children from to give their Sexual Offences Act (POCSOA). The investigation was carried out by statements.” DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL
ALANDI
AKURDI
RAVET
Sab golmal hai...
The creative writing teacher from a reputed school in Baner was booked and arrested in February 2013. A special court acquitted him on the grounds that police bungled up in collecting evidence
RITU GOYAL HARISH
CHIKHALI
KIWALENIGDI
~ Suit filed by the siblings
Precious man hours are lost every day at Hinjewadi just because planners forgot to make more entry and exit points. Over a decade after Hinjewadi was planned to house country’s best IT firms and saying is true. But what they are not telling us or willing to talent, planners have finally woken up to the plight of citizens. concede is that their enemy lies within. Their enemy number one They have now planned five alternative roads. But the authorities is not private cabs but members of their own ilk – many of whom are in no hurry to complete them. See spotlight on p8 & 9 are rude, refuse to ply short
The case created ripples across the city. A teacher was accused of sexually abusing 22 students all from fi fth standard of a reputed school in Baner. In February 2013, Chaturshrungi police registered a case of sexual abuse against the creative writing teacher and arrested him immediately. Two years after the cops went all out to claim that they had a watertight case, the teacher has been acquitted by a Special Court. The court ruled that the prosecution made out a weak case. The management of the school and parents of students are not only disappointed but also irked with the outcome. “We are feeling let down by the prosecution and the system. It is upsetting because we do not how to face the parents and students who came forward to give their statements. We believe we were on the right,”
Parents teach them more than exams do P 10
`1,816 1,816 crores spent on BRTS,
~ Suit filed by the siblings
What a mess!
Teacher booked for sexually abusing 22 students acquitted
COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS
CITY
Truly, a tree lady P4
And yet no respite for commuters
DR VIJAYPAT SINGHANIA
Madhupati Singhania (57) and his wife Anuradha (54) with their children Ananya (29), Rasaalika (26), Tarini (20) and Raivathari (18)
Rickshaw unions across the city want us to believe that private cab service providers or radio cab operators, as they are popularly known as, are villains. Around 12,000 radio cabs have made their lives miserable for 50,000-odd autorickshaw drivers in twin cities of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. The auto drivers want us to believe that corporate houses with deep pockets behind the cab services are eating into their share. Essentially poor rickshaw drivers are getting poorer because of stiff competition from private cab operators.
While Gautam Singhania ‘in a span of 14 years as CMD of Raymond Limited has built a personal net worth of `1.4 billion, Madhupati belonging to the same family was struggling to settle down in a new country, educate his children and make a new life.’ Gautam and his family led a luxurious life ‘with fancy cars, private jets, yachts and expensive holidays.’
RAHUL RAUT
While the edit rate of the acid rain article was less than the edit rate of the evolution and global warming articles, it was significantly higher than the non-controversial topics, researchers said. Across the board, politically controversial scientific topics were edited more heavily and viewed more often. “Wikipedia’s global warming entry sees 2-3 edits a day, with more than 100 words altered, while the standard model in physics has around 10 words changed every few weeks,” Wilson noted. “The high rate of change observed in politically controversial scientific topics makes it difficult for experts to monitor their accuracy and contribute time-consuming corrections,” he said. “As society turns to Wikipedia for answers, students, educators, and citizens should understand its limitations when researching scientific topics that are politically charged. “On entries subject to edit-wars, like acid rain, evolution, and global change, one can obtain - within seconds - diametrically different information on the same topic,” said Likens. PTI
TGS LIFE
Run for... yourself
ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
Wikipedia entries on politically controversial scientific topics such as global warming can be unreliable due to information sabotage, a new study has claimed. Researchers analysed Wikipedia edit histories for three politically controversial scientific topics (acid rain, evolution, and global warming), and four non-controversial scientific topics (the standard model in physics, heliocentrism, general relativity, and continental drift). “Wikipedia’s acid rain entry receives near-daily edits, some of which result in egregious errors and a distortion of consensus science,” said Dr Gene E Likens, President Emeritus of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies and a Distinguished Research Professor at the University of Connecticut. In an effort to see how Wikipedia’s acid rain entry compared to other scientific topics, Likens partnered with Dr Adam M Wilson, a geographer at the University of Buffalo. Using nearly a decade of data, Likens and Wilson teased out daily edit rates, the mean size of edits (words added, deleted, or edited), and the mean number of page views per day.
Efforts are on to explore the possibility to provide agro-meteorological forecast to farmers at the sub-district level, the government said. “We are fully equipped to forecast weather... and our services are world class. We are in the process of improving it further,” Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Minister Harsh Vardhan said during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha. Noting that improvement of weather forecasting services was a continuous process, he said “research efforts are initiated by ESSO-IMD to explore possibility of generating sub-district scale agrometeorological forecast with acceptable level of verification skill in a pilot mode.” At present, ESSO-IMD does not provide forecast and advisory services at the block level. The Gramin Krishi Mausam Seva (GKMS) of Earth System Science Organisation (ESSO)India Meteorological Department (IMD) has been providing crop specific advisories to the farmers at the district level twice a week. Vardhan replied in the negative when asked whether IMD is unable to provide seamless services on account of shortage of staff and obsolete equipment. PTI
PAGES: 16+16 (TGS LIFE) | PRICE: `5
PUNE, MARCH 28, 2015 | www.thegoldensparrow.com
ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
Wikipedia wrong on global warming
Govt to provide agro-met forcecast at local level
THANK GOD IT’S S AT U R D AY
PICS ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
Himalayan Environment Studies and Conservation Organisation has been supported by the Department of S&T
of Himalayan ecosystem. Several initiative have been taken for protection and development of Indian Himalayan Region,” the minister said. He said that the Himalayan Environment Studies and Conservation Organisation has been supported by the Department of Science and Technology with an objective to build popular opinion for a common road map to restore health of Himalayas by involving community and research institutes. They also review the status of different resources in Himalayas like forest, water, soil, glaciers etc and to assess the current livelihood practices and explore other possibility especially ‘eco-preneurship’. PTI
ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
The Himalayan ecology is under threat due to development activities in the area, as per studies undertaken by Himalayan Environment and Development. the government said. “Studies undertaken in different parts of Himalayan Environment and Development have indicated increasing threats to Himalayan Ecology due to fragility of Himalayan Ecosystem and various anthropogenic activities,” Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said in a written reply in Lok Sabha. “The need for sound environmental policy for the Himalayan region has been made from time to time by several stakeholder organisations. The Ministry accords high priority to protection and development
Koko the gorilla has spent more than 40 years living immersed with humans at The Gorilla Foundation
Supriya Bhoite from Chaturshrungi police station. Contd on p4
advance, and second instalment was to be released after completion of certain formalities. The very next year second instalment was also disbursed. Cut to October 2012 – Kamalapurkar fi led an RTI with chief public information officer (CPIO) of Ministry of Culture seeking information about the fi lm on Tilak. The CPIO was clueless about the project and sought information from
ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
pollution. When US President Barack Obama was in India as guest at its Republic Day parade this year, Delhi’s worsening air quality made headlines in the world media. “Mr President, world’s worst air is taking 6 hours of your life,” said a wire agency report. Delhi has the world’s worst levels of PM2.5, tiny toxic particles that lead to respiratory diseases, lung cancer
breathing disorders. During the survey conducted to mark the World Asthma Day, the hospital screened 160 men of Delhi Traffic Police. Some of the major pollutants that affect the health are: Carbon Monoxide, Sulphur Oxide, Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen Oxide, Ozone and Particulate Matter (PM). What is PM2.5? Particles less than or equal to 10 micrometres in diameter (thinner than a hair strand) are so small they can get into lungs potentially causing serious health problems. During President Obama’s visit to Delhi, pollution levels of PM2.5 averaged between 76 and 84 micrograms per cubic meters which, experts said was equivalent to smoking eight cigarettes a day. Air pollution slashes life expectancy by 3.2 years for 660 million Indians who live in cities. A study by The Lancet in 2012 ranked air pollution as one of the biggest killers in India. Besides capital Delhi which topped air pollution, other cities that were ranked as having high pollution levels are: Amritsar, Ludhiana, Nashik and Mumbai. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has slammed the Central and the state governments on the issue of deteriorating air quality. PTI Feature
started research work at The Gorilla Foundation. “I went there with the idea of studying Koko’s gestures, but as I got into watching videos of her, I saw her performing all these amazing vocal behaviours,” said Perlman, now a postdoctoral researcher at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Scientists believed that the calls apes make pop out almost reflexively in response to their environment - the appearance of a dangerous snake, for example. The particular vocal repertoire of each ape species was thought to be fi xed. They did not really have the ability to learn new vocal and breathing-related behaviours. These limits fit a theory on the evolution of language, that the human ability to speak is entirely unique among the nonhuman primate species still around today. “Th is idea says there’s nothing that apes can do that is remotely similar to speech,” Perlman said. “And, therefore, speech essentially evolved - completely new - along the human line since our last common ancestor with chimpanzees,” said Perlman. However, Perlman and collaborator Nathaniel Clark of the University of California, watched Koko blow into her hand when she wanted a treat, blow her nose into a tissue, play wind instruments, huff moisture onto a pair of glasses before wiping them with a cloth and mimic phone conversations by chattering wordlessly into a telephone cradled between her ear and the crook of an elbow. Koko can also cough on command. PTI
ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
Air pollution slashes life expectancy by 3.2 years for 660 mn Indians who live in cities
PUNE
Are apes capable of speech? Think again
The government has admitted that 38,000 people have died in the country over the last nine years due to causes linked to air pollution. Delhi has the notorious distinction of being one of the most polluted cities in the world
35,000 deaths over the last little less than a decade. Highest - 6423 in West Bengal, 3768 in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. These are not figures of deaths in Naxal violence. These people have died of Acute Respiratory Infection, ARI for short. They can also be called deaths due to air pollution. The government has admitted that 38,000 people have died in the country over the last nine years due to causes linked to air pollution. The capital Delhi which has the notorious distinction of being one of the most polluted cities in the world has 1557 deaths because of air pollution. As per the data released by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, as many as 3.48 crore cases of respiratory infection were reported in 2014, which means that 95,000 Indians of all ages were reporting ARI every day. Although international studies have attributed far more deaths due to air pollution in India there was rare official admission that pollution could be causing deaths on a large scale. Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic bronchitis are some of the diseases caused by exposure to increasing air
SEPTEMBER 5, 2015
“Agenda 2030 aims high, seeking to put people at the centre of development; foster human well-being, prosperity, peace and justice on a healthy planet.” — Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General
Pollution, the silent killer stalking Indian cities BY VIJAY S SATOKAR
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY
PUNE, MARCH 21, 2015 | www.thegoldensparrow.com
PUNE, MARCH 28, 2015 | www.thegoldensparrow.com
Hum
Fourteen years later, there is no sign of the fi lm. Vishnu Kamalapurkar, Pune-based activist, sought details of the project in 2012 from the Central Government only to be told that they had no records left, the concerned ministry had been wound up, and that fi lm-maker could not be traced. Essentially, the government acceded that it had been duped of `2.5 crores, the sum that was transferred to the fi lm-maker. It has taken Kamalapurkar three years since he sought details about the fi lm under Right to Information Act to get the government to launch a fullfledged investigation. Dhumale has
receiving his RTI finally been traced by the government with the help of police and claims that the fi lm will be released in “next two to four months”. He still hasn’t answered several questions raised by the government about the script and the star cast. It all started in December 2001, when Commemoration Bureau under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture commissioned a fi lm on Lokmanya Tilak. A sum of Rs 1.25 crores was paid to Dhumale immediately as an
Saath Saath
When
HUNGER STRIKES past midnight
A family that prays together stays together. Pune’s joint families on why they agree to disagree
TGS takes a night trail around the city to look for places that will silence a grumbling tummy in the dark of night
The Kamdars
Run for…
yourself
Puneites are running to fight depression, lethargy, even physical disadvantage. Marathoners are taking over the street and making the city fitter than it has ever been
PUNE’S FIRST WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY Invitation Price
`5
Annual Subscription
`199
TO SUBSCRIBE
Contact : 02024450705 (during office hours only) tgs@goldensparrow.com
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2015
PUNE
“The border remains alive and active due to the frequency of ceasefire violations and infiltration bids by our western neighbour. Recent incidents of terrorist violence are clear pointers to the attempt to extend the arc of violence to other areas.” — General Dalbir Singh Suhag, Army Chief
breakthrough! PTI
Bihar poll battle intensifies
Trying to stay alive on Pune roads P 15
Bihar is no ordinary state. It is such a politically sensitive and crucial state that it has started movements that have changed the course of politics in the country. Jaya Prakash Narayan’s total revolution started from the state which changed the politics of the country and brought the first non-Congress government at the Centre nearly forty years back. Now the state will soon be witnessing an Assembly polls that would indicate which way the political winds are blowing as a high stake battle between the alliances led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to take place. The schedule for the elections is set to be announced next month but the poll bugle has already been sounded. It will not be an ordinary election given the fact that the rival sides are leaving nothing to chance to come up the winner. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is banking much on Bihar to show to the world that his charisma is intact and that he could pull up a handsome win despite heavy odds. Nitish Kumar is equally determined to blunt the Modi campaign to emerge as one of the key leaders of the antiBJP forces. Modi has made his first move by announcing a Rs 1.25 lakh crore
Congress President Sonia Gandhi being welcomed with a garland along with Bihar Chief Minister and Senior JD(U) Leader Nitish Kumar and RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav during the Swabhiman rally at Gandhi Maidan in Patna
package for the poll bound state at a tally there last week to project himself as the man of development in the state that has remained backward and is yearning for development. A rally of the Lalu-Nitish alliance is planned next week which will show how the ruling alliance in the state is prepared or unprepared for the polls. While Nitish is the CM candidate of the JD-U- RJD-Congress alliance, BJP is not projecting any CM candidate and going to the polls under the leadership of the Prime Minister. Despite being the land of Gautam
Kandhamal infant deaths hit 154 mark
It shows the abysmal state of infant and child health care in the tribal-dominated district BERHAMPUR: As many as 154 infants died in different hospitals in Kandhamal between April and July, reflecting the abysmal state of infant and child health care in the tribaldominated district, which did not have even one paediatrician till last month. Of the 154 infants who died in different hospitals in the district during the four-month period, 62 were admitted to Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) at the district headquarters hospital in Phulbani, an official said. In 2014-15, the SNCU saw 142 deaths. Altogether 1,069 infants were treated at the unit, the official said. The deaths were attributed to low birth weight, lack of preand post-natal care, premature delivery, and reluctance among some tribal communities to go for institutional delivery. Infant mortality rate (IMR) in the district stood at 58 per 1,000 live births as against the state average of 51. Despite the abysmal IMR, the district did not have a single paediatrician till last month. Three paediatricians joined Phulbani
hospital recently after Kandhamal Collector Yamini Sarangi wrote to the state government, requesting for doctors after 26 infants died in SNCU in May. Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Sapaneswar Gadanayak admitted to the sorry state of affairs. There are no paediatricians in 12 community health centres, two area and sub-divisional hospitals in Baliguda. The district needs at least 19 to ensure proper child care, he said. The critical cases are referred to the 12bed SNCU at Phulbani. It has a warmer, oxygen cylinder and a few other essential equipment, the official said. “We are trying to convince the tribals to go for institutional delivery. Last month, a tribal woman near Daringbadi refused to go to hospital even after being provided an ambulance. She delivered a baby at home. She was then taken to the hospital due to excessive bleeding, but the child died on the way,” the CDMO said. PTI
62 were admitted to special newborn care unit at hospital in Phulbani
Buddha and Mahaveera, Bihar has remained embroiled in caste and communal politics and attempts are being made to polarize it by rival sides. The preferences of the forwards and the backwards also make the state an interesting poll story. The Left parties will be fighting the elections on their own apparently realizing that the Nitish- Lalu Prasad duo are unlikely to given them much importance despite projecting the poll battle between them and BJP as one between secular and communal forces. NCP and its leader in the state
No scope of change in triple talaq system: Qureshi Md Mazhar Saleem LUCKNOW: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) haa said there was no scope of change in the triple talaq system and rejected the suggestion by some community outfits for building a consensus on making a three-month period mandatory before finalisation of divorce. Though as per Quran and Hadith, “triple talaq” is a crime, but once said the process would be considered complete and cannot be changed, AIMPLB Spokesman Maulana Abdul Raheem Qureshi told PTI. He said through news reports he has come to know that the All India Sunni Ulema Council had written a letter to the Board along with Deobandi and Barelvi sects that if there was any scope in Islamic law then “talaq” said by a person thrice in one go, should be considered as said only once. “Though the AIMBLP has not received any such letter as yet, but we do not agree with the suggestion.We have nothing to do with what happens in other Islamic countries. What is happening in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Sudan and other countries. We do not look into it. What we follow is what Quran Sharif, Hadith and Sunnat has said,” he added. Though saying talaq thrice in one go was not considered good in Islam, the process is considered to be complete. The AIMPLB had sent a questionnaire to Ulemas across the country in which it was asked whether any penalty could be imposed on a person giving triple talaq or not. PTI
Tariq Anwar have been left in the lurch by the JD-U-RJD- Congress despite all the four parties fighting the Lok Sabha elections unitedly in the face of a surging Modi wave. Pulls and pressures are also galore in the BJP- led alliance which has so far not finalized the seat sharing among allies at a time when parties led by Upendra Kushwaha and Ram Vilas Paswan are seeking a larger slice of the cake. Bihar Assembly has 243 seats and a section of the BJP wants the party not to give much seats to the allies so that no one can create problems in a delicate post-poll scenario. A sulking Shatrughan Sinha has been creating problems for the BJP by cosying up with Nitish Kumar as also Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, two bête noires of the Prime Minister. BJP also has to decide ways and means to make inroads into the Lalu-Nitish votebank. Congress, which once hold sway over the state, has been out of power in Bihar for the past 25 years in the wake of the Mandal and Mandir surge that has marginalised it completely. Surprise plans of Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM to enter the poll fray for the first time is being viewed as an attempt to break the Muslim vote bank that out and out belongs to the Lalu Prasad-Nitish Kumar alliance. Till two months back, Owaisi was saying that he would stay away from Bihar and focus on Uttar Pradesh. PTI
Metro workers jubilate after a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) breaks through at Chickpet Metro Station in Bengaluru
OROP row: Veterans accuse govt of ‘shifting goalpost’ NEW DELHI: Deadlock over ‘One rank One Pension’ (OROP) persisted with agitating ex-servicemen accusing the government of “constantly shifting goalpost” and not coming out with any “concrete proposal” to resolve the issue. Some sections in the government were also giving misleading figures about financial ramifications in implementing the scheme, they alleged. Asked what would be their reaction if the government unilaterally announces OROP as per its own conditions, Anil Kaul, media adviser to the United Front of Ex-Servicemen, said, “We will not accept it if it is against the agreed definition of OROP.’ On their protest rally in pollbound Bihar, Captain V K Gandhi (Retd), general secretary of Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement, said, “We are not taking a political stand. But we will urge people to vote for a party which will fulfil their promises”. The veterans, whose agitation entered the 81st day today, said government has sent seven mediators to talk to them but all had come with “different concessions”. “Where do we go for negotiations. People from the government offer one thing and the next day another person comes up with another statement. They are constantly shifting goalpost. There is no clear signal of intent from the government or any concrete proposal,” said Kaul. “We are not asking for three
PTI
By Sunil Gatade
PTI
The poll bugle has already been sounded. It will not be an ordinary election given the fact that the rival sides are leaving nothing to chance to come up the winner
Social activist Nafisa Ali extending her support to ex-servicemen agitating for ‘One Rank One Pension’ (OROP) at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi
per cent increment. This is a misnomer being floated,” he said. Kaul said that cost of implementing OROP will come to around Rs 8,294 crore which he said was worked out by “three service pay cells and figures estimated by the Ministry of Defence. Why is there ambiguity now. Something must be wrong somewhere.” He claimed that the pension equalisation will only cost around Rs 33 crore annually. “The total amount of Rs 33 crore annually is nothing and our basic demand is that no junior should draw more pension than his senior,” he said. The OROP has been stuck for a while despite hectic back channel talks between the government and the veterans.
The veterans have been insisting on pegging the base year at 2013-14 with implementation date of April one, 2014. But government had initially wanted the pay out date be pushed forward from April 1, 2014 to April 1, 2015, a proposal rejected by the veterans. In subsequent talks, the government had pushed the payout date from April 1, 2014 to September 1, 2014,the veterans had said. Close to 26 lakh retired servicemen and over six lakh war widows stand to be immediate beneficiaries of the scheme, which envisages a uniform pension for the defence personnel who retire in the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement. PTI
India acknowledges Pacific island allies By Pallab Bhattacharya Vol-II* lssue No.: 12 Editor: Yogesh Sadhwani (Responsible for the selection of news under the PRB Act, 1867) Printed and Published by: Shrikant Honnavarkar on behalf of Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt. Ltd. CIN:U22200PN2014PTC151382 and printed at PRI – Media Services Private Limited CIN: U22222MH2012PTC232006 at Plot No. EL-201, TTC Industrial Area, MIDC, Mahape, Navi Mumbai. Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt. Ltd. 1641, Madhav Heritage, Tilak Road, Pune-411 030, Tel: 020-2432 4332/33.
India’s outreach to 14 South Pacific island countries by hosting a summitlevel meeting in Jaipur in Augustend was predictably dominated by discourse on climate change and how New Delhi can help them to avert the catastrophic consequences from that change. That was in keeping with the biggest issue confronting with these countries which have suffered from effects of climate change and rise in sea level and could face extinction if
the global warming continues. Two of the world’s most climatically vulnerable low-lying island countries nations, Kiribati and Tuvalu, are little more than three feet above sea level and could disappear in the coming decades, environmentalists fear, if the present rate of greenhouse gas emissions continues leading to a rise in the temperature by four degrees by the turn of the century and the sea level rises further. Frequent storms and cyclones and tidal surges batter these islands damaging their fledgling economies, developmental efforts with
meagre resources and the fertility of land is reduced due to intrusion of saline water of the sea which makes cultivation of crops extremely difficult. There are primarily three reasons why India reached out to the South Pacific island countries. One, this is a region where China, with its bulging money bags, has already made inroads; secondly, India is trying to get these small countries’ backing for its stand on resisting binding carbon emission cuts by promising various development projects and green technologies to shore up their mitigation and adaptation
efforts and thirdly, New Delhi has sought their support for permanent membership in an expanded UN Security Council in return for a place in the same for um for these island nations. On issues of climate change and reform of the Security Council, India realises the importance of these Pacific Islands as valuable allies. India’s stand on the twin issues was clearly articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he addressed the summit of the Second Forum of India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) on August 21. PTI
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2015
“As a neighbour and friend of India and Pakistan, China calls on the two countries to exercise restraint, manage the situation through dialogue and consultation, properly deal with relevant differences and stay committed to peace and stability of South Asia.” — Hua Chunying, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson
Weightlifting still shrouded by tainted veil P 16
State-run Chinese daily questions ‘Gujarat model’ of development Citing Patels’ reservation agitation, it states that fast-growing Indian states cannot save themselves from communal violence
Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, stands with from left, former Chinese President Jian Zemin, former Chinese President Hu Jintao and China’s Premier Li Keqiang during a parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of Japan’s surrender during World War II, in Beijing
BEIJING: A state-run Chinese newspaper has used the opportunity of recent violence during the Patels’ reservation agitation in Gujarat to question the “Gujarat model” of development.
“If the Gujarat model was so successful and so transformative, how could this caste-centric mobilisation erupt and end so violently? Why should other states buy into the rhetoric?” an op-ed article in the
ruling Communist Party-run ‘Global Times’ said in a rare critical commentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “The current upheavals also call into question the image of a prosperous and vibrant Gujarat that Modi tried to sell to the world,” it says. While Modi and some others believe that the 2014 elections were about the economy alone, caste politics still prevails, the article says. Questioning Modi’s mantra that development is “the only solution of all problems,” the article said such rhetoric has failed to console Gujarat’s minorities once again. “Economic development won’t solve all problems. The fact is that fast-growing Indian states cannot save themselves from communal violence, let alone those which are struggling in poverty,” it says. “If police inaction caused widespread violence in 2002, it was the excessive use of police force that plunged the state back into violence 13 years later,” it says. “Will development solve all problems? Can social problems be solved if the
Union Carbide accountable for water pollution: victims BY Yoshita Singh NEW YORK: Union Carbide Corp (UCC) is responsible for water pollution that continues to foul local wells at the site of the 1984 Bhopal Gas Disaster, the world’s worst industrial tragedy, lawyers representing communities living near the plant have argued in a US federal court. “The Plaintiffs have provided substantial evidence that demonstrates UCC’s responsibility,” said Richard Herz, Senior Litigation Attorney for EarthRights International (ERI), which represents the plaintiffs. “Two leading experts concluded that UCC’s technology and waste disposal strategy for the plant was
improper for the site, and caused the water pollution that we still see today.” The arguments were made in the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit yesterday. Over a year ago a federal district court here found that UCC could not be sued, despite compelling evidence that UCC caused the harm. Additionally, the manager who oversaw the construction of the plant confirmed that he worked for UCC, not for the Indian subsidiary that officially operated the plant in Bhopal. But the federal district court ruled that UCC was not sufficiently involved in the acts at the plant and that the project manager actually worked for the subsidiary.
PUNE
Pak says almost all Uighur militants eliminated BY KJM Varma BEIJING: Pakistan has assured its allweather ally China that its military operations have eliminated from its territory “almost all” Uighur separatists, who have sneaked into the country from China’s restive Muslim- majority Xinjiang. A military operation against “extremist and terrorism” had been “successful in eradicating the terrorism from our country”, President Mamnoon Hussain told his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. “It has also been very helpful in eliminating the ETIM (East Turkistan Islamic Movement) element from our country,” said Hussain, here for commemorations marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. economy simply grows? Obviously, the answer is more complicated than such a simple solution of development,” the article says. PTI
Geeta’s lawyer wants DNA test to fix parentage
KARACHI: Geeta, the deaf and mute girl stuck in Pakistan for over a decade, should undergo a DNA test along with five Indian families which claim to be her guardian, her Indian counsel said here even as he accused India of not extending cooperation for her quick repatriation. Social worker and lawyer from Haryana, Momineen Malik, who filed a petition in a court here to seek the custody of the 23-year-old girl, told media that he wanted the DNA test done of five families in India, which have claimed that Geeta was their relative. The blood test would help determine her parentage, he said as he claimed the Indian government is not cooperating with him and that he did not receive any help from New Delhi for Geeta’s quick repatriation. Chief Justice Faisal Arab of the Sindh High Court (SHC) postponed hearing of Geeta’s case due to death of senior lawyer Abdul Hafeez Pirzada. Malik filed an petition under Section 552 of Pakistan’s Criminal Procedure Code, which empowers the judge to compel restoration of abducted women and girls. Geeta, who has been stranded in Pakistan for the last 13 years, is currently living under the care of the Edhi Foundation charity here. Sources said as a goodwill gesture, Pakistan had made an offer to India of sending Geeta in a special plane along with its National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz when he was to travel to New Delhi to hold talks with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval on August 24. The sources, however, claimed there was no response from India. The NSA-level talks, the first-ever, were also called off, prolonging Geeta’s stay in Pakistan for an indefinite period. PTI
AP/PTI
ACROSS THE bORDER!
Since the plaintiffs believe that the district court improperly disregarded evidence of UCC’s responsibility, they appealed to the Second Circuit. In December 1984, poisonous gas from the Bhopal chemical plant enveloped nearby communities, killing thousands. The water pollution here is unrelated to the gas disaster, but has been leaking from the same plant ever since it was shut down afterward. Marco Simons, ERI’s General Counsel, added, “These families have been living with Union Carbide’s pollution for decades. We remain committed to seeking the justice that they deserve.” PTI
A child being helped cross from Serbia to Hungary through the barbed wire fence near Roszke, southern Hungary. Round the clock, thousands of refugees cross daily along the approximately 110-mile (175-kilometre) border with non-EU member Serbia to the south
Humans used ceremonial sounds at funerals 15,000 years ago
Ufos freak out bears too: study
Human ancestors living in modernday Israel about 15,000 years ago used ceremonial sounds to summon the community together at funerals, much like church bells, scientists have found. They decorated graves with flowers, held ceremonial meals before their funerals and now a new study shows the Natufians who lived 15,00011,500 years ago also created massive mortars that were used to pound food at their burial ceremonies. The pounding sound of these large mortars informed the members of the community that a ceremony was underway. “The members of the Natufian culture lived during a period of change, and their communal burial and commemorative ceremonies played an important role in enhancing the sense of affiliation and cohesion among the members of the community,” said Dr Danny Rosenberg and Professor Dani Nadel, from the Zinman Institute of archaeology, University of Haifa. The Natufians were among the first humans to abandon the nomadic lifestyle and settle in permanent communities, including the construction of buildings with stone foundations, researchers said. It is even possible that they engaged in initial forms of cultivation.
If an unidentified flying object (UFO) suddenly appeared in the sky, it’s likely your heart would beat faster, and now, researchers have found that the same is true for bears. The UFOs in this case are actually unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which have become increasingly valuable to wildlife researchers, allowing them to observe animals, including endangered species, in their natural settings from long distances and over difficult terrain. Until now, researchers thought the animals were taking these encounters in stride. But new study by researchers from the University of Minnesota shows that despite the bears’ calm demeanour when in the presence of UAVs, their heart rates soar, a sign of acute stress. “Some of the spikes in the heart rate of the bears were far beyond what we expected,” said Mark Ditmer, postdoctoral researcher in the university’s Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology. “We had one bear increase her heart rate by approximately 400 per cent - from 41 beats per minute to 162 beats per minute. Keep in mind this was the strong est response we saw, but it was shocking nonetheless,” said Ditmer. The researchers fitted free-roaming American black bears living in
The Natufians who lived 15,000-11,500 years ago also created massive mortars that were used to pound food Courtesy: University of Haifa
A huge mortar that the Natufians used to pound food at their burial ceremonies
They were also among the first human cultures that established cemeteries - defined areas in wish burial took place over generations, in contrast to the random burial seen in more ancient cultures, they said. They were the first to pad their graves with flowers and leaves, and researchers from the University of Haifa have recently found evidence of large banquets held by the Natufians
during funerals and commemorative ceremonies. Over the years, numerous tools have been found at Natufian residential and burial sites, but relatively little attention has been paid to one of the most remarkable types of tools: large boulder mortars, some of which are almost a meter high and weigh 100 kilogrammes. “These are the largest stone
artifacts that were hewn during this period in the Middle East, and indeed they are much larger than most of the stone objects that were hewn here in much later periods,” Rosenberg said. “These boulders have been found at Natufian sites in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Israel, so that they clearly had a regional significance,” he said. The researchers argue that the giant boulders can be seen as part of a broader Natufian phenomenon connecting different areas through a single system of ceremonies and beliefs. Against the background of what is already known about Natufian burial customs, they concluded that the boulders also played a central role in these ceremonies, seeking to reinforce collective cohesion and identity. The food ground by the boulders played a social or ceremonial role, similar to familiar contemporary functions. The pounding on or in the boulders could be heard at a great distance, and may have served to announce the holding or the beginning of the burial ceremony, thereby informing the members of adjacent communities that an important ceremony was taking place - much like church bells. PTI Feature
northwestern Minnesota with Iridium satellite GPS collars and cardiac biologgers. The collars sent the researchers an email with each bear’s location every two minutes while the bio-loggers captured every heartbeat. Then Ditmer and his colleagues programmed a UAV to fly to the bear’s most recent location. In the end, the researchers were able to analyse their data very precisely to find out what hidden effects their UAV flights - which lasted only a brief five minutes due to battery life and other logistical constraints - might have had on the bears. In 18 UAV flights taken in the vicinity of four different bears, individuals only twice showed any major change in their behaviour in response to the UAVs. However, the bio-loggers showed consistently strong physiological responses. All of the bears in the study responded to UAV flights with elevated hear t rates. Fortunately, the bears recovered very quickly. “Without the use of the biologger, we would have concluded that bears only occasionally respond to UAVs,” Ditmer said. The researchers said it will now be important to consider the additional stress on wildlife from UAV flights when developing regulations and best scientific practices. PTI Feature
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2015
PUNE
MONEY MATT ER S
“We are trying to bring down India’s high inflation rate while navigating complications like manufacturers who are hurt by higher interest rates and a stronger currency.” — Raghuram Rajan, Reserve Bank of India Governor
Signpost
“Sales were led by a strong youthful product portfolio showcasing customers’ continued aspirational preference for new and exciting models even in these challenging times.” — Rakesh Srivastava, Hyundai Motor India, Senior VP
Yuan devaluation and its fallout
The ripples of the global turmoil were also visible in the currency market. The rupee fell the most in 23 months to hit two-year low of 66.64 against the US dollar BY CHANDRA SHEKHAR
Govt manages to sell IOC stake amid stock market bloodbath The government has successfully sold 10 per cent stake in Indian Oil Corporation and raised Rs 9,300 crore, the biggest disinvestment so far in the current fiscal, taking the PSU stake sale kitty to over Rs 12,600 crore. The stake sale was particularly important as it happened on August 24 -- the day when the stock markets witnessed bloodbath and the BSE Sensex tanked 1624 points to 25,741.56-- its lowest level since August 2014 -- and nearly Rs 7 lakh crore getting wiped out from the investors’ wealth. Fears of Chinese slowdown and Yuan devaluation riled the Asian markets, and the contagion spread to Europe and US markets as well and August 24 became a ‘Black Monday’ for worldwide stock markets. State-run insurance behemoth LIC had to pick up 86 per cent of the 24.28 crore IOC shares on offer as both retail investors shunned the stake sale picking up less than onefifth of the quota reserved for them. The bids came in for 28.74 crore shares or 1.18 times of the offer for sale (OFS) of 24.28 crore shares. The share sale helped the government get about Rs 9,379 crore. The stake sale happened on a day when global meltdown wiped away a massive 1,624 points from the BSE Sensex. PTI
Sudden devaluation of Chinese currency yuan, which sent the stock markets the world over in a tizzy, will have short-and long-term implications for India and the economic planners in New Delhi and Mumbai will have to come out with a credible strategy to deal with the emerging challenges, on both domestic and external fronts. Although the problem has been brewing for quite some time, it erupted on August 24. As witnessed elsewhere, Indian stock markets too saw a bloodbath with BSE’s benchmark Sensex and NSE’s broad-based Nifty plunging sharply. Sensex declined by 1,624.51 points at 25,741.56 — its lowest level since August 2014 — wiping out Rs 7 lakh crore of investors’ wealth. Similar movement was observed on National Stock Exchange (NSE). The ripples of the global turmoil were also visible in the currency market. The rupee fell the most in 23 months to hit two-year low of 66.64 against the US dollar. Seeking to calm jittery investors, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and other officials of the Ministry and vowed to push ahead with reforms agenda and increase public spending as part of drive to boost growth and strengthen economy. During the meeting Modi reiterated that economy was stable and problem was external and not internal. He said that the economy was stable, though admitted that more was needed to be done to strengthen it. “We will keep watching the situation and respond when required,” Jaitley said but ruled out any bailout package for the time being. “Prime Minister is of the opinion that in order to further strengthen our economy, we should take more steps,” Jaitley said, adding there will be no change in the strategy and the initiatives to attract investors will continue. He further said more discussions will be held “very shortly” with financial institutions, private and public partners to firm up “measures to attract investors and use the situation as an opportunity.” The Prime Minister, he added, was also
Investors react while watching the downfall of stocks as BSE Sensex fell over 1,000 points in early trade because of sudden devaluation of Chinese currency yuan
keen that the present global crisis should be converted into an opportunity for India. “We are not talking of any packages as of now as our internal fundamentals like industrial production, capital and public expenditure have improved,” Jaitley said, adding normal reforms in the pipeline will continue. According to the Minister, the market crash was “transient and temporary” and expressed the hope that the situation would stabilise as domestic macroeconomic indicators were strong. “There is not a single domestic factor in India which has either contributed or added to it. These are external factors. I have not the least doubt that this turbulence is transient and temporary in nature. Markets will settle down,” he said. Jaitley said that although the downward trend in the stock markets started on August 11 after devaluation of currency by China, “but we were able to hold on at the last till last week... today (Monday 24, August, 2015)) we have been quite adversely affected. Since
China has been contributing 50 per cent to global growth in past few years, it is obvious that uncertainty will shake the markets.” The Minister also stressed that but for the impact of currency and stock markets, “all other parameters are on sound footing. Oil and commodity prices are declining which is favourable.” He expressed the confidence that growth projection of 8.1 to 8.5 per cent for the current fiscal, even in this global adversity, was going to be broadly maintained. “PM was of the opinion in given scenario we can maintain growth figures at reasonable level... Our internal situation is strong. We had a reasonable monsoon, services sector is doing well, IIP has picked up and demand will also pick up... As this transient trend calm down a little, it is then for India to convert this into opportunity,” Jaitley added. But the fact remains that devaluation of yuan and also the decision of the Chinese central bank to cut interest rates will have implications for India. PTI
PM said Indian economy was stable and the problem external
FINANCIAL CORNER
Do not hurry to file income tax returns BY SARANSH DEY @Casaransh
The frenzy of filing income tax returns has taken over everyone. Emails flooded with deadline alerts and repeated reminders from consultants are likely give a common taxpayer mental stress. The article this week will tell readers to calm their nerves and look at filing income tax returns as a holistic exercise. It would sound alarming when a professional tells you should not rush to fi ling returns before its due date. I have reasons to justify it. One of the reasons is companies that issue you Form 16 and Form 16A are usually subject to audit and have to fi le their returns by September 30. Th is means that any oversight or mistake in your tax ca lcu lations by your employer or your payer will most probably come to light by September-end. Till then most of us fi le our returns and end up in a soup if calculations change drastically. I have also noticed that sometimes banks err in interest calculations and TDS and this is rectified usually by September. Common taxpayers face an issue of under-reporting or overreporting of their income if they have gone ahead based on the data available on 26AS as on the date of fi ling. Most of us do not check the data as per 26AS and as per return after it is fi led. Th is creates confusion and end in receiving notices from IT Department for no fault of taxpayer. Sometimes excess income and TDS is credited to your account and then rectified by the payer by September. But if you have declared the same as your income per 26AS,
Bandhan: Another private bank is born in India
Bandhan Financial Services Pvt Ltd has become first microfinance firm to get bank licence BY SUBHASHIS MITTRA
India’s exports continue to be in negative zone BY RAJESH RAI The country’s merchandise exports continue to be in the negative zone since last eight months. Contracting for the eighth straight month, the exports dipped by 10.3 per cent in July to USD 23.13 billion, pushing the trade deficit to USD 12.81 billion. In July 2014, the merchandise exports had amounted to USD 25.79
billion. The last time exports registered a positive growth was in November, when shipments expanded at a rate of 7.27 per cent. Experts fear that exports may suffer in the coming months on account of the impact of devaluation of the Chinese currency. Due to this, Indian products may lose competitiveness in the global market. PTI
After a little more than a decade, a new private bank is born in India Bandhan Bank Ltd. Yes Bank Ltd and Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd were the last to enter the banking space in 2004. Inauguration of Bandhan Bank ushers in a new era in country’s financial sector, which will now see innovation taking the centre stage to reach out to the unbanked population. A new bank is always welcome as a large slice of India’s 1.2 billion population does not have access to formal banking services. Rightly, Bandhan Bank Ltd garnered a record Rs 80 crore in deposits by opening 60,000 new accounts on its fi rst day. Th is is the fi rst bank to come up in eastern India after Independence. The east and the northeast are the most under- banked regions in India. Out of around 126,000 bank branches, the east accounts for 16 per cent, and the northeast only 2.6 per cent. West Bengal, the fourth largest state in India by population, where Bandhan Bank has its largest branch network, accounts for 5.62 per cent of bank branches, 6.22 per cent of deposits, 4.67 per cent of credit and for every Rs100 the banks mobilise in this state, Rs58 is given as loans. Currently, Kolkata houses
three banks. Allahabad Bank, the oldest of the three, was set up in Allahabad in April 1865 by a group of Europeans. United Bank Chandra Shekhar of India has its Ghosh origin in United Bank of India Ltd, formed in 1950 with the amalgamation of four banks. UCO Bank was set up after the historic Quit India movement in 1942. Their combined branch network was 7,735 in fiscal 2014, less than 9 per cent of the 39 listed banks’ nationwide branch network; they have a little over a 6 per cent share of deposits and less than 6 per cent of loan assets. Bandhan Financial Services Private Ltd has become the fi rst microfinance fi rm to get a bank licence. It is also one of the youngest entities to be allowed to enter the banking space. Bandhan Bank will primarily cater to the unorganized sector like daily wage earners and women running small businesses — the segments that had been its borrowers for a decade. As a bank, it will also offer savings,
remittance and insurance services. The company said this is recognition of the microfinance sector and their hard work to reach unbanked areas and provide financial services. “We will be able to offer fullfledged banking services to the poor people,” Bandhan Chairman Chandra Shekhar Ghosh said. Set up in 2001 by Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, Kolkatabased Bandhan began with a focus on working with “socially disadvantaged and economically exploited women.” After India embraced economic liberalisation following a severe balance of payment crisis, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) opened the doors for a set of new banks in January 1993. It received 113 applications, many from large industrial houses. RBI’s decision to grant preliminary banking licences to infrastructure financing fi rm IDFC and microfinance institution Bandhan marks a cautious beginning. From among 25 applicants that included corporate heavyweights ADAG Group, Aditya Birla Group and Bajaj Group, the RBI gave inprinciple approval to just two entities. The RBI has also agreed to consider the application of India Post in consultation with the government and advised other applicants to apply afresh. PTI Feature
which most tax consultants do, you end up showing income that is not yours and receiving a demand letter. Many argue that revision of the return is possible if you fi le before the due date. But even revision has a cap of two assessment years after the current assessment year and the fi rst demand that you receive may very well be at a point that does not allow such revision. The fi ling of returns on the due date is most important for people who have losses to carry forward in returns. Losses cannot be carried forward if return is not fi led on due date. For others, I suggest to wait, let the companies finish their audits and issue proper Form 16 and then fi le your returns. Another blunder that most salaried people make is to fi le returns only on the basis of their Form 16. Yes, Form 16 are a decisive proof of your income, but good business practice states that even a salaried employee should ask his consultant to make a balance sheet for him. Balance sheet plots all your investments, bank balances, liabilities and assets in concise format. It forces your tax consultant to look into transactions that you may not know have income tax implications. Most consultants will tell you that it is not required for the returns. But balance sheet and in some cases profit and loss account is required for your financial management. Having a balance sheet in salary case also helps you get loans from bankers on priority. In case of any inquiry by the Department on assets owned by you or your family, balance sheet will help justify everything you own. Returns fi ling should not be perceived only as an exercise to comply with income tax law or only for your bank loan purposes. It is an exercise to determine your financial stability, growth and monetary achievements for the year. saransh@goldensparrow.com
Trying to bring back Maggi by end of this year: Nestle India BY SHRUTI VERMA KHARE Bolstered by the Bombay High Court order overturning ban on Maggi, Nestle India plans to bring back the popular instant noodles back in the market by end of this year subject to certain clearances. The company, which has taken a hit of Rs 450 crore, including destroying over 30,000 tonnes of the instant noodles since June when it was banned because of alleged excessive lead content, says it will continue with the existing formula of the product and not change the ingredients. “We will try and target something that is better than that. My desire is to do it before that but let’s see,” Nestle India Managing Director Suresh Narayanan told PTI in an interaction when asked whether Maggi noodles could be back in the market by start of the next year. He said as per court directives, this quarter it would go in for testing of Maggi samples at three independent laboratories in Punjab, Hyderabad and Jaipur which are accredited with National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). “By the time we get everything done (all clearances), it will be middle of September. I can tell you this quarter no, unlikely. Subsequent quarter, we will try (to bring back Maggi),” Narayanan said. PTI
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2015
“ Traffic wardens and security guards have been deployed at junctions and bus stations. The BRTS will cut down travel time, congestion and pollution.” — Shakuntala Dharade, Mayor PCMC
PUNE
“I have asked for details about water supply and the effect of water cuts. We wil check on how the cuts can be imposed properly so that the people do not suffer much.” — Kunal Kumar, municipal commissioner
Trying to stay alive on Pune roads Aside from the congestion, one has to deal with unruly road-users who pose a threat to the safety and wellbeing of law-abiding citizens As someone who lives in Pune, I do my share of commuting in and around the city. Compared to the last millennium, or even a decade ago, the roads are, of course, far more congested due to the overwhelming numbers of new vehicles that come on to the streets with each passing day. The road infrastructure has nowhere near kept pace with the flood of new Prashant Waghmare vehicles and road-users, and the feeble attempts by the municipal corporation in the form of a handful of flyovers has not even begun to address the problem. I would much rather use public transport if there was an affordable and efficient one available, but the PMPML bus service is by no stretch of the imagination anything like reliable. The autorickshaws, if I could afford the fares, are also not a feasible means, because most
of the drivers are unbelievably uncouth and a little like Lord Falklands, who will only take you if you are going their way. I have no option then but to drive myself wherever I have to go. Even if I accept the abovementioned situation and cope with it, there is yet another and larger problem I must confront each day, and that is the unruly and lawless attitude of a majority of Pune’s road-users. Most people seem to ignore the red lights at traffic junctions, unless there is traffic cop or two lurking around. The zebra lines are freely encroached on, to the point that before the light turns green, some vehicles are in the middle of the road almost, obstructing the legitimate flow of traffic. Driving and riding on the wrong sides of the road, entering one-way zones and other such infringements are also very common on Pune’s roads. Not only are these road and traffic etiquette breakers endangering their
own lives, but those of others as well. Why are Puneites in such a hurry that the two-wheeler riders encroach on the pavements meant for pedestrians? It is an ordeal enough to deal with the congestion, but such unruly behavior by so many vehicle users is an aggravation I can do without. What is more, such traffic lawbreakers are also the most arrogant, aggressive and are ready to start a fight at the slightest provocation. It is hard to believe that Pune, which was once known as a city of culture and courteous people, is now home to such hordes of hoodlums and antisocial elements. Th is problem is not in certain areas but I see it all across the city. Seeing the already abysmally low ratio of policemen and citizens, it is no use hoping that law enforcement will be the answer to the hoolganism on Pune’s roads. A smart city can be made by smart citizens, and Pune’s roads are home to more un-smart rather than the desirable kind, that’s the truth.
CITIZEN JOURNALIST
This is where I belong Being educated here right from school onwards, Pune has unknowingly clasped me in its embrace, and I never want to let go
I was born in Kolkata but I moved to Pune soon after. I studied at St Anne’s School, and then went on to get higher education at the Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce (BMCC) and Prachi Kaushal Symbiosis. Having virtually been raised and brought up here in Pune, I think I qualify as an ‘assal’ Puneite. Pune is known as a prime education destination for a long time and I can vouch for it whole-heartedly, knowing the academic life of Pune fi rst-hand. Th is is a great place to get a quality education, which is the reason why the student population of Pune, includes people from all over the country and planet. These eminent educationists
LETTERS TO THE
EDITOR
from the Medicine, IT, Engineering, Management, Fine Arts fields have put Pune on the global map. In parallel, Pune has in recent years emerged as an industrial hub, being home to some of the best national and international corporate houses. The booming IT and BPO sectors have transformed the attitudes and lifestyles in the city beyond
recognition. Amid all the growth and development, the heart of Pune remains essentially the same, what with the dominant Maharashtrian culture, ethos et al. It still retains the quaint old-world charm of the wadas, while the developing areas of the city are like a metropolis, with glittering high-rise apartments, malls and commercial complexes with top notch amenities. Pune’s skyline is truly eclectic. Among its distinct charms, is the temperate climate, which prevails almost all year round, except for the summer months. There are lots of things to do when I have the time, be it shopping, entertainment or just going out for a meal with friends or family. Besides the streets strewn with food stalls, the city is also home to an unending bevy of hotels and restaurants, and one can sample cuisines from around the world alongside traditional Maharashtrian fare. It is now my home, and I know that this is where I belong. I have also got used to the downsides such as the growing congestion, lack of public transport, the bad roads and pollution. For me, Pune is the best city in the country.
NON-NATIVE
PAROLE
Pension scheme for war veterans One Rank One Pension (OROP)
Where shanties and slums lie in the shadows of five-stars and high-rises, Pune is a portrait of immense diversity Pune is a town, which, as it has developed over the years, has embraced diversity. Some may think of it as a kind of hotch-potch city, with the cityscape varying from area to area. In some places, there are shanties and slums almost next door to plush housing societies and five-star hotels. And in the old areas of the city, the skyline hasn’t changed much at all. For people from foreign shores like me, the Koregaon Park, Camp, Kalyaninagar and such areas have the right, cosmopolitan air, and one can feel instantly at ease in the familiar environment. Osho Gardens and Osho International Meditation Resort are places to seek inner peace through meditation and I have had stimulating experiences there. Autorickshaws are my usual mode of travel, but I also love to stroll around. I have discovered a number of hangouts around Koregaon Park that serve the kind of food I really like. In my stay here, I have had the time to look around the city and even the outskirts and beyond, like the Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani holiday spots and picnic
destinations like Lonavala and Sinhagad fort. I came to Pune to pursue higher studies, and now that I have settled in, I can actually consider living here. I have made friends that will stay with me for life. The helping nature of people here is something that keeps me Imelda Baselote, rooted here. Italy I have l i v e d here long enough so that now the things that used to bother me initially are just familiar obstacles that are not hard to overcome. The streets are always congested with traffic and the pollution keeps getting worse. I am not sure if anybody is doing something to ease these problems because once they reach the point of no return, it will surely affect the city and its inhabitants adversely. I am just keeping my fingers crossed.
FROM FOREIGN
SHORES
RTI may be the answer to corruption Building bridges
While former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan feels that the Right to Information Act (RTI) will not help curb corruption in politics, logic suggests that it might. The RTI is designed to enable the common man get a better understanding of government functioning or any other sector for that matter. It is to ensure transparency and force those under its purview to think before taking actions they will be held responsible and answerable for. RTI, therefore, could reduce corruption as expenditures can be kept tabs on and electing the right candidate will also become easier. —Kaushik Bapat
An ever-changing kaleidoscope
is an important issue for exservicemen. We had hoped for a government announcement regarding implementation of OROP, but the talks have not reached a conclusion. The government seems to have neglected the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives while defending this nation’s borders. Some of the veterans had been on the battlefield during World War II. They have staged a protest for 75 days and have undertaken a fast unto death, but to no avail. On the occasion of the golden jubilee of the 1965 Indo-Pak war, I remember the NDA alumni who made the ultimate sacrifice of their lives in service of the country. One of them was Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, who a posthumous recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest military decoration for valour. — Lt Col Jayashree Baxi (retd)
The women of Bridge Pune forum need to be lauded for undertaking the task of bridging the gap between NGOs and the people. Th is is very generous on their part to devote time and effort to bringing together the common man with the right NGO. Their intentions are praiseworthy in this day and age when one is so caught up in one’s own affairs that giving others’ needs a thought never comes to mind. They may not have got their hands dirty or contributed lots of money, but they are setting a fine example. — Sheetal Morat
The criminal nexus Officials at Yerwada jail are rightly worried that the notorious criminals lodged at their facility may form new alliances, which may lead to more criminal activity. They should place restrictions on visitors to the jail. They should screen the inmates when they meet and record their conversations, for security reasons. In fact these things must be done. —Vrushali Sanghvi
For civilised law enforcement The two police constables who beat up a teenage girl in broad daylight, in full public view, must be regarded as
a case of police brutality. Even if the police personnel were on patrolling duty in an area where residents had complained of the presence of sex workers, it was their responsibility to carry out their duty in a more civilised fashion. Instead, they started roughing up the victim even without ascertaining her identity or intent. Th is incident reflects badly on the attitude of the police force towards who they presume to be lawbreakers or criminals. I am sure that the training they receive before being absorbed into the police force instructs them thoroughly in the procedures to be employed while accosting a suspect. No matter what the situation, it is the duty of the law enforcers to exhibit a human and humane side when they deal with other human beings. Of course, the kind of people who take to a life of crime, are also more prone to violence and such. But still, that is no excuse for police constable to behave they way that they did in the incident reported in this newspaper. — Shruti Sonaghi
Don’t leave them in the lurch It is laudable that the Pune Municipal Corporation intends to construct a school building on the plot reserved for the purpose at Navi Sadashiv Peth. But the civic authorities should have issued eviction notices to the residents
of the plot immediately after reserving the land in 1987. Now this matter has taken an unwanted turn because the PMC ignored a timely warning to the residents. The people who have been staying there for 80 years and their rehabilitation should also be considered now. The oversight by the authorities have led to a situation that has become very complicated. But there is sure to be a solution to the issue without just a pointblank eviction order that eliminates the residents without a thought for their future. After all, they are human beings and they are not so well off that they can pack their bags and start life afresh in a new place. They would not be living in hutments if they had a better option. I hope that better sense prevails and the PMC does the right thing. — Kedar Th ore
The blame game The largely incomplete Aadhar and ration card linkage work is a glaring and distressing example of the shoddy and incompetent work that the district administration and government get away with. Why can’t they go about it systematically and thoroughly? Their fi rst responsibility was to make sure that the citizens were properly informed about the linkage work, and the appropriate centres that citizens should have to go to for the same. Blaming it now on citizens’ apathy is an excuse that we cannot swallow. Why do we elect people as representatives
to the local civic bodies and to the state and central government, if not to execute their duties in an orderly and organised manner? For too long has the common man in India been subject to administrative and governmental apathy and inefficient functioning. All the revenue we pay the government as taxes, gives those in authority immense resources to be able to do jobs such as the card linkage work in error-free and conscientious manner. But what we get instead is slipshod work and passing the buck of responsibility to the citizens, blaming us for apathy. When will things change, if ever? — Vijay Kamat
Write to Us Letters to the Editor may be emailed to editor_tgs@goldensparrow.com, editor_tgs@gmail.com or mailed to The Editor, Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt Ltd, 1641 Madhav Heritage, Tilak Road, Pune-411030.
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2015
PUNE
SPORTS
“Sri Lankan team was a very weak side. Indian team should have destroyed them. What’s the fuss all about? Let’s not go overboard for goodness’ sake.” — Bishan Singh Bedi, former India captain
“I just don’t have time to be brought down. I have too many things to do. I have Grand Slams to win. I have people to inspire.” —Serena Williams, tennis player
Weightlifting still shrouded by tainted veil
4-5 hours daily on power workouts. But it’s all in vain if we can’t afford a nutritious diet and supplements. We need a support system to take care of all needs, right from training to diet. If that happens, we can sure to dominate,” said Ganesh Jagtap, who is a second year MA student at SP College. He started weightlifting two years ago and in the fi rst year itself, he impressed at the All India Inter-university competition at Udaipur, Rajasthan, and the national tournament in Himachal Pradesh. He is now aiming for a medal at the inter-university games, and also hopes to represent India at an international tournament. Srikant Chavan is another promising player from Pune. Originally from Solapur, Srikant is studying at SP College. He has been inspired by his elder sister Mohini, who is an international weightlifter, who has qualified for the Commonwealth tournament in Pune. “She is a great inspiration. I learn a lot from her competition videos. She has been training in Punjab for the last two years, so we have not interacted regularly. But I dream of winning a medal at the international level,” said Srikant, who recently won a title at an inter-college competition. ashish.phadnis@goldensparrow.com
Srikant Chavan is training hard under the guidence of his coach at SP College
The sport of weightlifting has lost its sheen owing to doping scandals, but canny marketing and promotion could bring the sport back to its glory days
Ganesh Jagtap
Signposts Double crown for Chinmay Datar Pune’s Chinmay Datar won a double crown in the Sharda Centre district ranking table tennis tournament recently. Datar, who was top seed in both the youth and men’s categories, justified the ranking by winning both titles. In youth boys, he defeated Anurag Gote, and went on to beat Sanat Bokil 4-0. Meanwhile, Devika Bhide registered a 4-2 win over Vaibhavi Kher in the women’s final.
Pune shuttlers win state title Pune district team won the Maharashtra state senior inter-district badminton championship held in Mumbai recently. In the final, Pune defeated Mumbai Suburb 3-1. Shubhankar Dey, Neha Pandit, Revati Deosthale and Shruti Mundada were instrumental in Pune’s win. In the semifinal, Pune defeated Thane 3-1. Varun Khanwalkar and Sameer Bhagwat lost the men’s doubles in both encounters.
Snehal wins ITF juniors Fifth seeded Snehal Mane won the singles title and emerged runner-up in the doubles event at the Petit Camp Cup Under-18 Grade 4 ITF championships played in Mauritius. Mane, who is currently ranked 678 in the world, is a member of the MSLTA Vision Programme and supported by Lakshya-Bharat Forge, upset top seeded Julia Vulpio of the Dominican Republic 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 in the final. This is Mane’s first title in two years.
BY ASHISH PHADNIS @phadnis_ashish
years,” said Vikrant Adhav, the association vice president.
Weightlifting is popular in India, understandably so, as it is the only individual sport where Indian has claimed the most medals at the Olympics. However, doping scandals have tainted the sport, owing to which the common man views weightlifting itself and the weightlifters with a certain scepticism. To change this mindset, what is needed is the promotion of weightliftng at the grassroots level. Local sportspersons and coaches feel that adequate marketing and media support can help raise the sport to its level in its golden era, feel in Pune. The city will be hosting the Commonwealth Junior Weightlifting tournament at Balewadi, from October 11. It’s unfortunate that no city athlete has been included in the Indian squad, but the tournament is certain to boost weightlifting in a big way in Pune. “Pune has a long tradition of weightlifting and the Pune district association was formed in 1962. It was the golden era of weightlifting in the city when lifters dominated state and national tournaments. But the sport went into hibernation for almost a decade, between 1998 and 2008. But our new office bearers have taken up the challenge with new zeal, and we are sure that we can be cement our dominance in a few
LOW POINT Elaborating on the downfall if weightlifting in the city, Adhav said, “During the era of Bapu Ganla and Jagdish Pendharkar, who had represented India at the Asian Level, the sport had tremendous support. SP College, Maharashtra Mandal, Fishers Gym and Surya Gym groomed quality players. We even had lots of players coming in from rural areas, especially Wadgaon Maval. It was like almost every house in Maval had at least one weightlifter, like every house in Bhawani produces a boxer. But after Ganla and Pendharkar’s departure, there was no one at the helm to nurture the sport. Another major factor was the growing popularity of body building, which was getting lots of media coverage, sponsors and political support. As a result, weightlifting remained in the doldrums. There were just a handful of lifters participating in competitions, and the scenario remained unchanged till 2008.” CHANGING SCENARIO The situation is changing, thanks to the combined efforts of association members and the support of former players, some of whom hold top jobs at companies. “Corporates are now sponsoring
weightlifting events. We now can conduct almost two events every month, including inter-college and zonal and open tournaments. We have more than 130 lifters in the city, most being in the 14-20 age group. Th is is a promising sign. Our lifter Shubham Todkar has performed impressively, and he is a potential medal prospect for India. Th is has been a remarkable story of growth in the last few years,” said Adhav. “The Balewadi sports complex has turned out to be big boon for local players. They can avail of hi-tech training, which involves heart rate, BMI and other parameters. Lifters at the college level generally practice on generations old heavy iron bars. But the international quality bars at Balewadi are helping them improve their performance. Most importantly, they get all this free of cost. Manik Thosare, who is the deputy director of the Balewadi complex, happens to be a former weightlifter, and he is keen on its evolution,” he said. THE DIET FACTOR Though there is money coming in, the lifters have several hurdles to cross, the main one being the diet. “Weightlifting is an expensive sport while most lifters have poor financial backgrounds. But thanks to a never-say-die spirit and capacity for hard work, they put in as much as
‘Futsal can be helpful in boosting the football culture in Pune’ Ongoing maiden Futsal national championship in Balewadi comlpex is attracting huge crowds TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly Most amateur footballers are unable to cope with the rigours of professional training, nor are they fit enough to play for 90 minutes on a full-length football ground. Futsal is the answer, which, with its shorter format, can promote football culture among the residents of Pune in a big way, says Hrishikesh Baravakar, tournament director of the fi rst ever DSK Futsal National Championship. On the sidelines of the ongoing tournament at Shiv Chhatrapati sports complex in Balewadi, Baravakar said, “Futsal is popular in European countries and top stars like Lionel Messi enjoy the fun and thrills of this format. However, the game is yet to take root in India. The national championship is a step towards promoting football through this shorter format.” Baravakar, who is also the director of the city based Green Box Recreation, said that Futsal was catching up quickly among enthusiasts, owing to its speed and the shorter duration of matches. It is becoming extremely popular with youngsters and young professionals. Teams from eight states are taking part in the national tournament, including hosts Mahaveer Maharashtra, supported by Rajeev Kirloskar, besides Mumbai Mavericks, Tamil Nadu Titans, Gujarat Lions, Goa Gills, Chandigarh Colts, Karnataka Kingfishers and Assam Rhinoz. The winners will get Rs 50,000 in cash along with a trophy, while the runnersup will get Rs 20,000. The 10-member state team consists of Naved Shaikh, Vijayan Arland, Mohit Tyagi,
Mayur Shelar, Azhar Khan, Nikhil Narayan, Sangram Lonkar, Sohail Shaikh, Allan Charles and Pritam Singh. “Our plan is to popularise the game in schools, and to encourage youngsters we have also going to conduct a junior league. Every
junior team is conjoined to the senior team. They can learn from the seniors and we are likely to discover some talented footballers from among them,” said Baravakar. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
ABOUT FUTSAL Futsal is a shorter format of football, played on a smaller field, mainly indoors. At Balewadi, the matches are held in the weightlifting arena. It can be considered as a version of five-a-side football. The name Futsal is derived from the Portuguese term ‘Futebol de salão’, which means room football. The sport was evolved in Brazil, in the 1930s. The game is played on a hard court surface delimited by lines. Even the ball is smaller and bounces less. The duration of a match is reduced to two halves of 20 minutes each.
YORK BARBELL - A TRADITION
The York Barbell is one of the oldest of weightlifting equipments. Bob Hoff man, known as the father of world weightlifting, bought the Milo Barbell Company and founded York Barbell in 1932. These barbells are still in use and weightlifters at SP College, Pune still train on them. “It’s probably one of the oldest bars in India. The barbell is properly maintained and it’s very thrilling to use them,” says lifter Gorakh Narute.
5000 shooters to gun for glory in championship TGS NEWS NETWORK @TGSWeekly Over 5000 shooters will be seen in action in various categories during the 5th edition of the Gun For Glory shooting championship, which begins at Shiv Chhatrapati sports complex in Balewadi on Sunday. The main event would be ISSF and National Rule 10m rifle and pistol for men and women in junior and youth category, in which noted shooters like Pooja Ghatkar, Samresh Jung, Annuraj Singh, Anisa Sayyed, Dipali Deshpande, Ravi Kumar and Mampi Das are participating. Individuals from the corporate sector can participate in the corporate championship category. “Th is is probably largest number of participants for any shooting championship in India. We have received 4000 entries so far and another 1000 shooting enthusiasts are likely to participate,” said Pawan Singh, director of Gun for Glory Shooting Academy. Th is year the championship will be telecast live by the DD Sports channel. Another feature of this competition is that newcomers will also get the opportunity to use the Walther pistol. Apart from the attraction of some wellknown shooters, this year’s edition will feature a special talent hunt drive, hosted by the Gagan Narang Sports Promotion Foundation. “We will be screening more than 2200 children in the 11 to 15 age group during the talent hunt. The top 50 children will be given Level 1 training absolutely free. The top 20 children who perform well in Level 1, will also be provided Level 2 training. The top eight thereafter will go to Level 3, the top six will be eligible for Level 4, and lastly, the best two will be shortlisted for a free international level training programme,” said Singh. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com