The Golden Sparrow on Saturday 20/06/2015

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PUNE, JUNE 20, 2015 | www.thegoldensparrow.com

Game of cards

CITY

Homeschoolers protest against state’s decision to ink their children P3

CITY

Impasse continues at FTII P4

No FIR means no crime:

Pune Police Mantra The sole objective of cops in Pune seems to be keeping the crime records, not crime, as low as possible. Police officials will do almost anything to dissuade a complainant from registering an offence See Spotlight, p8-9

Kissa kursi ka

After months of struggling to get a better seating arrangement at work, Trupti Bhosale thought it better to switch jobs rather than break her back

BY Bapu Deedwania An employee with an IT company has applauded her current employer for being employee-friendly on a social networking website. While it might not seem unusual for an employee to appreciate the workspace online, Trupti Bhosale’s story brings to light how even small things matter. A resident of Pune, the technical specialist with Infosys has said that it saddened her that her previous employer did not take her seriously. After four-and-ahalf-years of being employed at Tech Mahindra, Bhosale left the company disheartened and disappointed. In fact, the reason she left her previous job was a troubling chair.

For Bhosale, it wasn’t just a request for a better chair, but it was a matter of fitness, something she takes quite seriously. Despite being caught in a battle with the administration, she decided to continue to demand a ‘better chair’ to assuage the problem of her back pain.

The 30-year-old, who worked as an associate technical specialist at Tech Mahindra until August, 2014, developed a back pain a year earlier.

She immediately consulted doctors and followed the medication as well as exercise regimen prescribed by them.

“I underwent every test, including an MRI, as suggested by the doctors,” said Bhosale. Dr Shailesh Hadgaonkar, Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon at Sancheti Institute and Dr Anand Gangwal, Consultant Sports and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist, were amongst the doctors she consulted.

Yet, after an off-site assignment in UK, when Bhosale returned in January 2014, the back pain had increased. By the end of February, she says, the pain was worse. This time she sought an appointment with Dr Rajeev Sharangpani, who runs an Ergonomic Clinic in the city. Bhosale says she continued with the treatment and exercises Dr Sharangpani had suggested, apart from paying attention to her daily schedule to see if there was anything that aggravated the back pain. “I noticed that the chair I was spending the maximum hours of the day on, did not have a lower back support and could have been one of the reasons for the pain. I thought that may be changing the chair could help

me,” she said.

Bhosale requested for a change of chair with the human resources personnel and other administrative officials in May 2014. Despite repeated chain mails and assurances that her request will be looked into, Bhosale was not given a better chair and her unplanned leaves increased. “I also put this on mail, as my manager raised concerns about my unplanned leaves.

I sat on my knees often, popped pain killers to keep the pain at bay, also requested that the company should get a certificate if the chairs we used were ‘ergonomically correct, in desperation also asked if I could bring in my own chair... as I was indeed facing a condition here,” she said.

While Bhosale had, by now, undergone several medical tests, officials at Tech Mahindra were insistent that she undergo an X-ray. “I did tell them that I have all my medical records including an MRI done in this regard and I can furnish everything before them for their perusal but, in the end, I gave in their demand for an X-ray. I agreed to get an X -ray done,” she said.

Contd on p4

Lights out for dance floors

City police to crack down on hotels, clubs and restaurants running dance floors without permits See p3 Photograph for representation only

TGS LIFE

MUMBAI

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JUNE 20, 2015

PUNE

“The Metro-III project is for Mumbai and Mumbaikars.

Suburban trains will be decongested and we will be able to save 15-20 invaluable lives daily that we lose today.”

- Ashwini Bhide, Managing Director, Mumbai Metro Rail

Computer stolen from CID HQ P4

Fashion Street strikes work Civic authorities deny their demand to put up tarpaulin sheets in front of their stalls

Three suspects arrested and booked for culpable homicide and poisoning

TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly It’s a season of strikes and protests. On the day that autorickshaws went off the streets of Mumbai, another group of people were getting ready to strike work. Known for feeding the style fancies of the middle class, hawkers at Fashion Street went on a strike from Wednesday. They were protesting against stringent action taken by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) or BMC. The 395 hawkers have been wanting to put up tarpaulin sheets in front of their stalls for a while now. However, the civic officials have come down heavily on them, not allowing them to go beyond the area allocated to them.

“For a while now BMC officers have been harassing us. Every monsoon we put up tarpaulin sheets in front of our stalls. We give a letter to the civic body, seeking permission and express our willingness to pay the prescribed fees. For years this has been happening. Th is year, however, BMC is not allowing us to do anything at all. Our business is getting affected as customers are getting drenched,” said Mohammed Sohail Shaikh, head of the stall owners association at Fashion Street. He explained that in the last three weeks, BMC has intensified action, not only taking away their

Mumbai hooch toll rises to 33, 9 critical

The everyday buzz on Fashion Street is missing as the vendors shut shop to protest against what they call harassment by BMC

sheds but also ‘snatching wares’ from stall owners.

Each of the stall owners has been allotted a 1m x 1m pitch on the footpath on Mahatma Gandhi Road, better known as Fashion Street. The stalls are expected to not cross the demarcated area. Often the vendors are seen encroaching on the footpath in front of them. Moreover, other than registered stall owners, random hawkers spring up in the open area.

BMC now has made it clear that

they have zero tolerance towards such extensions and encroachments.

“We have promised that we will stick to our demarcated area. Just let us put up the tarpaulin sheets in the front so that our customers do not get wet.

Also, our wares tend to get wet when it is windy. The BMC is just not ready to listen. When it comes to shops and big retailers, BMC does not even think twice before issuing permissions, but for us all the rules apply,” alleged Shaikh.

On the second day of their

strike, the stall owners met BMC commissioner Ajoy Mehta along with BJP MLA Raj Purohit. The civic authorities, however, refused to entertain any of the demands. “We will continue the protest till we are allowed to put up sheds in front of our stalls,” announced Shaikh.

The street market, which has been in existence for several decades, is known for selling export surplus garments at throwaway prices. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

Heavy rains bring Mumbai to standstill

MUMBAI: The death toll in the hooch tragedy here has gone up to 33 even as nine victims continue to be critical, police said today.

While 13 people died last night in the tragedy that struck on Wednesday, the casualty figure rose to 33 as per the latest update available, said Mumbai Police spokesperson Dhananjay Kulkarni.

He said the police have arrested three persons in this regard and booked them under sections 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 328 (causing hurt by means of poison, etc. with intent to commit an offence) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of IPC. The accused have been identified as Raju Hanmanta Pascar (50), Donald Robert Patel (47) and Gautam Harte (30). Kulkarni, however, did not give any details on the course of investigation, saying that Crime Branch is handling the case. The incident occurred at Laxmi Nagar slum near Gamdevi Jurassic park in suburban Malad.

Kulkarni had said details like the kind and make of the liquor, where it was brewed and the number of people who drank it will be known after investigation.

Investigators are yet to find out the total number of those who had consumed the spurious alcohol sold in

one of the shanties in a slum in Lakshmi Nagar area.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis last night ordered an inquiry into the incident and directed officials to submit a report within two days.

On Thursday, 13 people who were hospitalised after complaining of stomach ache and dizziness died in four hospitals. Most of those dead are labourers residing in the vicinity of the shanty where the hooch was sold.

PTI

Cancellation of local train services leaves thousands of commuters stranded MUMBAI: Normal life in Mumbai was today thrown out of gear as torrential rains battered the city and its suburbs resulting in cancellation of local train services leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

There seems to be no let up in the situation with the Meteorological Department predicting heavy to very heavy monsoon rains in some areas.

In the early hours, thousands of commuters leaving for offices were caught unaware on reaching the suburban railway stations as trains were being cancelled due to waterlogging of tracks following heavy downpour since last night.

As services on all three railway lines -- Central, Western and Harbour

-- were cancelled, harried commuters rushed to catch buses, taxis or any other mode of transport available to reach their destinations, which resulted in massive traffic jams at many places, exacerbated by inundation in low-lying areas.

With Central Railway cancelling its services on CST-Thane section on the main line and Harbour line as well, commuters got stuck at suburban platforms.

The Western Railway services which were initially running late by 10 to 15 minutes, were later cancelled.

The rains resulted in waterlogging in almost all low-lying areas of Mumbai and its suburbs.

“Thane-Karjat/Kasara and Vasvhi-

Panvel Shuttle services and transharbour services are running,” said Central Railway PRO A K Singh.

“Our supervising staff are alert and as soon water level recedes, services would be resumed,” he said.

According to information given by the control room of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), water-logging is reported in areas like Kurla, Chembur, Tilak Nagar, Andheri, Parel, Lower Parel, Thane, Navi Mumbai and Dombivili.

An IMD forecast at 0800 hours today said, “Intermittent rains/shower would occur in the city and suburbs.

Heavy to very heavy rains would occur in some areas.”

The average rainfall recorded in 24

hours ending 8 AM today is -- City 188 mm, Eastern Suburbs 155 mm, Western Suburbs 172 mm while the high tide (4.47 metres) is expected at 2:29 PM. According to a statement issued by BMC, as many as 120 suction pumps have been pressed into service to drain out water in low-lying areas.

Meanwhile, Civic Commissioner Ajoy Mehta appealed to citizens to not send their wards to school as heavy rains are predicted. “Very heavy rains are expected today. So I have issued advisory for school children to stay at home,” he told PTI. Sources said long distance trains are bunched up outside Mumbai as they are not getting signal to enter the city due to water-logging.

PTI

Police inspect the spot where alcohol made after 33 people died and several under treatment after consuming spurious liquor at Malwani in Mumbai on Thursday

Mumbai has become more expensive: Mercer Survey

BY YOGESH SADHWANI @yogeshsadhwani

The cost of living in Mumbai has gone up as compared to last year. This was found in the Mercer’s 21st Annual Cost of Living Survey 2015. The survey includes 207 cities across five continents and measures the comparative cost of more than 200 items in each location, including housing, transportation, food, clothing, household goods, and entertainment.

In the current survey, Mumbai has climbed up to 74th spot from 140th last year. It is ranked higher and is more expensive than cities like Dallas (77), Munich (87), Luxembourg (94), Frankfurt (98) and Vancouver (119).

According to the survey, the city has climbed up in the ranking due to “its

rapid economic growth, inflation on the goods and services basket and a stable currency against the US dollar”.

Mercer survey states that Mumbai has witnessed higher inflation over the last one year as compared to other metro cities, higher cost of fuel, transportation, increased prices of food items, home services and rentals, impacting the cost of living in Mumbai.

In India, Mumbai is followed by New Delhi (132) and Chennai (157), which rose in the ranking by 25 and 28 spots, respectively. Bangalore (183) and Kolkata (193), the least expensive Indian cities, climbed in the ranking, as well.

COSTLIEST CITY IN THE WORLD Of the 207 countries surveyed, Luanda,

the capital of Angola, has been rated the world’s costliest city to live in, for the third consecutive year by Mercer’s Cost of Living Survey 2015, unveiled today.

Hong Kong (2), Zurich (3), Singapore (4) and Geneva (5) top the list of most expensive cities for expatriates. Tel Aviv (18) continues to be the most expensive city in the Middle East for expatriates.

Asian cities dominate the top 10 costliest cities rankings along with major cities in Switzerland in the report.

The world’s least expensive cities for expatriates, according to Mercer’s survey, are Bishkek (207), Windhoek (206), and Karachi (205).

Many Indian companies with operations in Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries remained concern in 2014 over the devaluation

of currencies in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan, as it had a direct impact on the cost of living and purchasing power parity.

Moscow (50) and St Petersburg (152) dropped 41 and 117 spots, respectively, as a result of Russia’s ruble losing significant value against the US dollar, lower oil prices, and a lack of confidence in the currency following Western sanctions over the crisis in Ukraine.

Mercer’s authoritative survey is comprehensive, and is designed to help multinational companies and governments determine compensation allowances for their expatriate employees. Keeping New York as the base city and measuring currency movements against the US dollar, all the cities are compared against it. Currency fluctuations and the impact of inflation on goods and services have influenced

the cost of expatriate programs as well as the city rankings.

AMERICA Cities in the United States climbed dramatically in the cost of living ranking due to the strengthening of the US dollar against other major currencies. While New York (16), the highest-ranked city in the region, remained the same as last year, cities on the West Coast, including Los Angeles (36) and Seattle (106) climbed 26 and 47 places, respectively.

Among other major US cities, Chicago (42) moved up 43 places, Washington, DC (50) moved up 42 places, Honolulu (52) moved up 45 places, and Houston (92) moved up 51 places. Cleveland (133) and Winston Salem (157) were among the less expensive cities surveyed for expatriates in USA.

EUROPE Aside from cities in the United Kingdom, Western European cities dropped in the rankings mainly due to the weakening of local currencies against the US dollar. While London (12) remained steady, Aberdeen (82) and Birmingham (80) rose in the ranking. Paris (46), Vienna (56), and Rome (59) fell in the ranking by 19, 24, and 28 spots, respectively. Despite moderate price increases in most of the European cities, European currencies have weakened against the US dollar which pushed most Western European cities down in the ranking.

Additionally, other factors like the Eurozone’s economy, falling interest rates, and increasing unemployment have impacted these cities. yogesh.sadhwani@goldensparrow.com

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JUNE 20, 2015

“PMC has asked private hospitals and pathology labs for data of patients but they do not submit daily reports of dengue, malaria and other communicable diseases. We have initiated pre-monsoon preventative work, and there will be less cases this monsoon.”

— ST Pardeshi, Medical Officer of Health, PMC

Tax evaders will be prosecuted: CBDT P14

Lights out for dance floors City police to crack down on hotels, clubs and restaurants running dance floors without permits

The city police have decided to crack down on restaurants and venues in the city that have provided dance floors without legal permits, where their customers are allowed to dance to music.

Joint Police Commissioner Sunil Ramanand said that such places will now be raided, instead of the previous method of levying fines and filing compounding offences against them. “Besides the five star hotels and some clubs and restaurants who have legal permits for their dance floors, all the other establishments are running dance floors without the necessary permits,” he said.

Ramanand said that these places are evading entertainment taxes and violating laws. “They are in violation of the Performance License, and places which do not have the proper documents and permissions will be raided,” he said.

There were five legal entertainment establishments or pubs in the city having dance floors. However, licenses of these places were revoked in December 2014, after which there are no legal dance floors in the city.

The five legal dance floors or discotheques in operation, till December 2014, were Le Meridien, JW Marriot on Senapati Bapat Road, Hotel Westin, Hotel Oakwood Premier in Mundhwa, and Pancard Club. “These places are not allowed to function as discotheques or dance floors after the government orders were received,” he said.

After banning dance bars in the state, the state cabinet decided to prohibit dance performances in fire star and other hotels where dance floors or discotheques were functioning.

With this, the Maharashtra government removed the bias that Supreme Court had pointed out in the legislation.

BY PRIYANKKA DESHPANDE @journopriyankka

Pancard Club in Baner (above) and JW Marriot on Senapati Bapat Road (below) were some of the hotels that had legal dance floors or discotheques in operation till December 2014

The government confirmed that the law will effect a total ban on dance bars and dance performances at five star hotels. However, this does not extend to family parties and orchestras.

Ramanand said that such places disturb the peace in their vicinity, especially on the weekends, on Friday and Saturday nights. The deadline of closing the premises is 12 midnight.

“No establishment is allowed to function after midnight. The police will raid places functioning after the 12 midnight deadline,” he said.

In March 2015, the Bund Garden police raided a dance floor located in the five star Le Meridien, which was functioning past midnight.

While owner of such premises accuse the police of unnecessary harassment, Ramanand said that these places are illegal and will not be allowed to operate. “Their argument of harassment does not hold any water,” he said. gitesh.shelke@goldensparrow.com

Homeschoolers protest against state’s decsion to ink their children PIL filed against state’s decision to put ink marks on forefingers of kids studying at home

due to personal reasons. The inkmarking, which will stay for a month, isn’t an ideal way as we are dealing with children who are easily impacted.

A black mark on their index finger nail even for a month shall make them and their parents an object of general discrimination...,” read the PIL.

(From left, front row) Sushma Sharma, Sachin Desai and Aseem Sarode with some of the petitioners at Nagpur after filing the PIL on June 17

BY RAJIL MENON @RajilMenon Maharashtra government’s resolution (GR) on conducting a survey of ‘out-of-school kids’ has found opposers in letter and spirit. State government under its Right To Education (RTE) charter released a GR on May 20 to conduct a one-day census of ‘out-of-school kids’ on July 4.

NGOs working in education sector have challenged the resolution issued by school education and sports department, contending that it blatantly violates children’s human rights. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 enjoins the state to ensure free and compulsory education to all children in the age group of 6 to 14 years. Hence, the survey will cover children between this age group who have never attended schools, dropped out before completing elementary education, not admitted to school, left their primary education in midst or children who have been absent in school continuously for more than a month.

Surveyors are ordered to put indelible black ink on the forefinger of children for easy identification and nondeniability by children or their families later.

Sarode Sachin of Life of Nai

Woman power to check power thefts

The all-woman squad has proved its worth by effecting large revenue recovery and detecting power thefts for state owned electricity provider

BY GITESH SHELKE @gitesh_shelke

THE OPPOSERS On June 17, advocate Aseem representing Sahyog Trust, Desai of Syamantak University Programme, Sushma Sharma

PUNE

Talim in Sevagram, Samiksha Godse of Lokbiradari Prakalap (Hemalkasa) and four others working in non-formal education sector have filed the PIL raising objections on interpretation of RTE by the government, on which GR of May 20 was issued.

A division bench comprising Justice Bhushan Gavai and Justice Indira Jain on Wednesday issued notices to school education department, ministry of human resources development (MHRD), Delhi-based department of school education and literacy, and chairman of National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), asking them to file a reply.

THE CONTENTION While out-of-school children generally denote student who are not receiving any education, the term doesn’t exclude students who either attend open schooling or are home tutored. A sizable population of students are living in the fear of black ink on July 4, only because their parents chose an alternative method of education for them.

“As per the Government Resolution, children going to CBSE schools or neighbouring government schools are in school and in that context NIOS children would be considered not going to school or out-of-school children whereas they are receiving education,” Desai said. “We are contesting the marking on students’ forefinger who are home tutored or attend open schooling

THE FLAW The GR doesn’t take into account students of NIOS. The petition quotes a whopping figure of 27,320 learners between 6 and 14 years who have successfully passed all the three levels of Open Basic Education (OBE) programme under NIOS in the past four years. The petition also gives reference to suggestions of Justice Usha Mehra Commission constituted by the Government which are in favour of open schooling and also underline the real importance and interpretation of the word ‘education’, not limiting it to formal conventional types of schooling.

According to Sarode, the Government first needs to differentiate between children who want to attend school but cannot because of circumstances and inaccessibility and between parents who have made a very educated decision for their children to not attend formal schooling. The petition clearly states that the contest is not regarding the idea of the survey, but its method.

DECISION AWAITED Samikha Godse-Amte, one of the petitioners, said, “Doing such a survey for just one day and that too during the start of an academic year is just symbolic. This process of identifying such students has to be ongoing as the dropout can continue to happen even after this ‘drive’ on July 4. This survey should happen after Diwali vacations when most students drop out.”

High Court has asked the education department to respond. The response that shall decide the fate of thousands of homeschoolers is much awaited by parents and institutions working towards building the alternate education environment in the country. rajil.menon@goldensparrow.com

Forty-year-old Varsha Gaikwad is a Deputy Engineer, and the leader of the Damini squad, an all-woman team established by Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MAHADISCOM) in 2009, to cross-check and control meterreading duties. Varsha’s team includes three other women, who also are assigned the task of checking the electricity meters of the consumers in Sindh Society, Aundh. They are included in the list of IT department of MAHADISCOM for using faulty power meters. The Damini squad has recovered revenue amounting to Rs 12.70 crore, in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, in the last couple of years, the maximum revenue recovery among all circles.

“We recovered maximum revenue of Rs 10.22 crore since 2013, from consumers running faulty power meters,” said Varsha, who has not had any untoward experiences in the course of her job.

“Apart from my assigned duties, we have also brought to light six cases of power theft in Bhosari area since the last two years,” said Varsha. She informed that they had detected power theft to the tune of Rs 61 lakh in the last two years. “The Damini squad thereafter inform the MAHADISCOM flying squad, who take the follow-up action regarding the power theft,” said Varsha.

Varsha is in charge of the Ganeshkhind circle, which covers Kothrud and Shivajinagar areas in PMC limits, and Bhosari and Pimpri in PCMC area. “Our circle has 8.5 lakh consumers, of which 3000 consumers receive erroneous bills due to their faulty meters,” Varsha said.

Assistant Engineer Nayana Mali, 30, finds

Damini squad at work, checking power meters

being on the Damini squad a novel experience, from her earlier clerical task at the Rasta Peth MAHADISCOM branch. “Being an Electrical Engineer, I always dreamed of working in the field, and Damini squad offers me the scope to put my engineering knowhow to use, in a generally male dominated area,” said Mali, who joined the Rasta Peth circle a month ago.

“Besides recovering sizeable revenue from consumers, the squad has also put a stop to incidents of consumers locking their power meters to reduce billing amounts,” Mali said. The Rasta Peth circle covers Rasta Peth, Bund Garden, Ahmednagar Road, Parvati and Padmavati. The squad has revenue to the tune of Rs 2.48 crore since 2013.

The Damini brief MAHADISCOM established the Damini squad when discrepancies in the functioning of outsourced agencies appointed for meter reading came to light. “Besides the huge revenue loss due to the discrepancies, consumer complaints regarding billing were on the increase. The all-woman Damini squad has served its purpose exceptionally well regarding revenue recovery and power theft,” said Nishikant Raut, MAHADISCOM’s Pune PRO. Security is a top priority and MAHADISCOM has also appointed a security guard for the Damini squad and has provided them a vehicle to carry out their duties. priyankka.deshpande@goldensparrow.com

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JUNE 20, 2015

PUNE

“High Court judgement has enabled PMC to complete the project of recycling water. The project would provide water that can irrigate 20,118 hectares of agricultural land, ensuring sufficient water for the city.”

— Girish Bapat, Guardian Minister

CSR meet focuses on ways to serve needy

Beat this! India stands third in 2013 global doping report

P10

P12

Impasse continues at FTII

Boycott of classes continues as students refuse to back down from protesting the appointments of Chauhan and four others

by Gargi Verma @writomaniac The Mahabharat sparked off by the appointment of the reel world Yudhishtir, Gajendra Chauhan at the FTII, Pune on Friday shows no signs of waning any time soon. The FTII Students’ Association is protesting the appointment of Chauhan and four others, namely Anagha Ghaisas, Narendra Pathak, Pranjal Saikia and Rahul Solapurkar to the governing council. This is not the first incident of students agitating against moves of the central government, but there is a keener edge to the students’ ire, and even their language is more strident this time around.

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry had, on Tuesday, June 9, appointed actor Chauhan, known for his performance as Yudhishtir in the Mahabharat TV series, as chairman of the institute. The students were informed of this on the following Thursday evening, and on Friday the FTII campus reverberated with vehement protests. “We don’t need a karyakarta chairman. We are striking for a better day,” read one of the many slogans dotting the walls of the institute. Students deserted their classes

by proposing to talk inside and voiced momentary support for the students.

He later, however, expressed his helplessness and refused to take a stand.

Amidst a flurry of activity, while many industry stalwarts along with various student bodies pledged support to the cause over the past week, the student body has maintained that their main demand remains the same.

“We do not want Gajendra Chauhan as the chairman, that’s certain,” said Rakesh Shukla, member of the students’ association and a final year direction student. Another member of the association, Ajayan Adat, a final year student from the sound designing department, said, “The chairman is the one who takes decisions about the syllabus, the basic policies of the institute and even the selection procedure. He needs to be inspirational and needs a basic understanding of what we do here. No government till date has had such a direct approach in appointing someone at such a position.

We don’t need a ‘ministry puppet’.”

While the I&B Ministry has not made a direct statement, they have communicated through an official letter, inviting the students for a dialogue, if they call off the strike. The students have decided against calling

students performing a street play in FTII campus

and took to the gates, carrying placards and chanting slogans against PM Narendra Modi, I&B minister Arun Jaitley, and Chauhan. Students also formed a barricade at the gate, barring entry to everyone, including the FTII director DJ Narain. However, Narain eventually gained access to the campus

off the strike, but they are going to seek an appointment for a dialogue with the ministry.

Meanwhile, life around the campus has changed considerably for the students. “We are pretty new to this,” said Ranjit Nayar, a final year student.

Life in protest The gates of the FTII, unlike other institutes, are splashed with handpainted posters. Every available surface on the institute’s walls is painted with slogans, quotes of philosophers like Camus, as the angst of the students is poured out in words.

The straight walk from the main gate to the wisdom tree, also known as Ghatak’s tree, affords one view of the witty, sarcastic and mindful graffiti done by the students on the walls and roads. The artists soon come to view, latest by 10, gathering around the tree; many of them have their make-shift beds under it. Soon drums, dholkis, daflis and djembe materialise. They seldom go quiet, only when there’s an important announcement to be made

by Rakesh Shukla, known as Shukla ji, the general secretary of the students’ body, generally for the media.

The frenzy dies down only post 9:30 pm when the gathering slowly disperses for dinner. But this doesn’t call for the end of the day. After dinner, the students’ association sits with all the students and discusses the strategy, issues, demands and outcomes. This meeting generally lasts till 4:00 am when the students finally call it a day, only to start afresh with renewed vigour next day.

Innovative methods Unlike the usual protests, FTII students don’t just believe in placards and slogans. “We have tried to make the protests mirror our work and ideologies,” says Neelmoni, a final year (direction) student. The protest methods keep changing, every day and every hour even. When the slogans are not being chanted, an impromptu jamming session is generally ongoing with Ajayan, Devas or Rohan.

Sometimes alumni join in and a guitar or two is brought out. “When the media is not here to speak with us, we sing songs and just have fun out here,” says Lavanya, a final year student of editing. The association had even organised a street play along with the Swatantra Theatre group on Wednesday, day 6.

Support These innovative methods are never short of people. Various groups of people have extended solidarity and someone or the other is always present.

The protestors are also encouraged by the little kids of the workers living on campus.

While various industry stalwarts like Kalki Koechlin, Santosh Siwan

and Sachin Khedekar have already supported the students’ cause, guest lecturers Madhu Apsara and Neeraj Voralia cancelled their classes to show solidarity with the students. Many members of the society, like Jahnu Barua, have openly supported the cause of the Students’ Association. Madhu Apsara, speaking in support of the students, said, “Gajendra ji is asking us to trust his capabilities, but the kind of nondescript work he has done makes one wonder if he is capable. Moreover, that is not a criterion for one to become the Chairman of an institute like FTII.” FTII alumni body GRAFTII members also arrived on Thursday, some like eminent screenplay writer Raaghav Dar, with family. The arrival of the alumni who have cordial ties with juniors, changed the atmosphere under the wisdom tree from a tense situation to one of camaraderie. The alumni and current students, while updating each other about their lives, also exchanged news about old teachers; old jokes were renewed and the media was almost forgotten.

Student bodies from around the city and the country have also joined the protests. Fergusson College, Gokhale Institute of Political Science and even the Pune University student bodies have expressed solidarity.

Student of Environmental Studies in Pune University, Abhilasha, said, “This violation of institutional autonomy is a very grave issue. In a democratic country, college students need to have democratic rights as well.

The government is slowly and steadily putting their agents everywhere.

We have to join hands to fight this.”

From across the country, TISS, JNU and SRFTI along with APSC from IIT-Chennai have extended their support. JNU Student Union and All India Students Association members had even protested in front of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry on June 16. “We only retreated because the ministry confirmed that they are open for dialogue with the FTII students.

We will continue our outreach and support,” said Ashutosh, President of JNUSU. FTII is also getting a lot of online support. After their Facebook profile was disabled, possibly due to a technical glitch, a new page was made, liked by almost 3000 people. #Supportforftii has been trending on twitter since day 1 of the strike.

Political support

Kissa kursi ka

Contd from p1

In June 2014, Bhosale decided to get in touch with Anand Mahindra over social network. “He immediately deployed a team to look into the concern. Yet, nothing helped. I wrote to him as well highlighting that, despite a positive response initially, nothing was done. Since I went to an ergonomic clinic to get treated, I did not have an X-ray, but my doctor’s prescription stating that I have a back problem wasn’t enough to get a better chair,” she said.

Finally, Bhosale thought it better to resign. “I was frustrated and did not know what to do. I hoped that tendering the resignation would make my seniors believe that I do have an issue with my chair and that needs to be resolved,” she said. She proceeded on medical leave on the advice of her doctor, apart from practicing pranayam and other exercises to keep fit. During this time, Bhosale cycled through Khardung La Pass with a group. “I want to do all of these activities, which is why I am even more conscious and cautious about anything that can affect my back,” she said.

Bhosale says that she was shocked when she was informed that August 5, 2014, would be her last working day. “It wasn’t a question of whether I regretted resigning. I was shocked that my resignation, which I had not even put for process, was being accepted. But since processes are sacrosanct, I was simply told that I my first resignation in the system was enough for them to consider the same. I was told that

what else I was expecting when I was insistent on getting the chair changed,” she told The Golden Sparrow, adding, “I did write to Mr Mahindra about losing this battle of righteousness so that he is aware about what happens when a Tech Mahindra employee asks for a better chair that can suit his/her physical structure,” she explained.

What happened next?

After her stint with Tech Mahindra, Bhosale secured a job with Infosys.

Recently, she was moved to an office where she had to use a chair, which was akin to the one she had a problem with at her previous company. “Within

a week of sitting on that chair the pain was back. I soon realised that the chair is the reason and raised a request to change it. The administrative person contacted me on the same day to understand my problem. I explained it to him and he suggested that I visit the physiotherapist, who sits in our campus.

I knew no physiotherapy would help me, yet I underwent the sessions. These sessions cost Rs 400 per session, at a private clinic. On the Infosys campus, I did not have to pay a penny. But the pain did not go because I was still sitting on the same chair. I called the administrative person again and told him to provide the chair because nothing

Company Speak Tech Mahindra Tech Mahindra takes prides in the fact that it has been a successful, equal opportunity employer for many years now. Our 100,000+ associates across 60 nationalities work in great harmony and we invest serious time and resources towards Associate Welfare, running intense in-house programs such as Josh (fun and connect events) and WoW (Wealth of Wellness) across all our locations.

We are aware of this case and would like to state that it was addressed to the best of our abilities. Our records indicate that she has not chosen to go through a medical check-up by our doctor. However, we are very pleased to know that her issue has since been resolved and we wish her the best of health at all times.

Infosys Needless to say, it’s very encouraging to see employees appreciate the company’s initiatives.

The FTII-ians want their protest to mirror their work and ideology and therefore resort to novel methods which keep changing by the day and hour

Students of FTII claim that they are not politically inclined and thus are not going to give a platform to any political party. “We welcome everyone.

Drop your banners and support us as individuals. Otherwise, you are free to protest outside the campus, not with us. We will not let FTII become a political battleground,” said Ranjit Nayar. “FTII in general is a very open and tolerant space. We aren’t against anyone’s ideology, we are trained to respect all viewpoints. So, our fight is for a just reform. We don’t want any political colour tainting this. We have even floated a #nocolour hashtag on social networking sites for this reason.

We aren’t against any colour, we are against degradation,” said Lavanya.

the longer run, somehow, makes the tense faces break into excited smiles and the protests restart with a vigorous zeal again.

Government’s approach The government has shown a pretty lukewarm reaction to all of this. While they have recently asked the students to stop the strike to initiate a dialogue, their representative, director Narain is even apprehensive that serious action can be taken against the striking students and the entire institute as a whole. “Students and alumni should understand that a strike will not lead to any solution. For a dialogue, a compromise needs to be made from both sides. The ministry might not reconsider its appointment,” he said.

The ministers have made no public statements yet.

Harishankar Nachimuthu, president of the FTII Students Association, is optimistic about the government giving in. “Even if they don’t, we are up for a long fight. We will see this to the end,” he says. The idea of

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 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.

The FTII is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Government of India. Its policies are determined by a Governing Council. The latter appoints the director of the institute. gargi.verma@goldesparrow.com

Who is Gajendra Chauhan?

Chauhan’s main claim to fame has been playing the role of Yudhishtir in the television series Mahabharat.

He has been an active member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for several years. The 58-year-old actor has been on the party’s national executive for two terms and has also served as joint convener for culture in the party.

He has also acted in several B-grade movies and in his own words, “is 600 episodes old”.

Computer stolen from CID HQ Drug addict from nearby slums suspected of the theft by gitesh shelake @gitesh_shelke else would help. I got another chair on the same day. I got the chair within 5 days of raising the initial request and my pain was gone,” Bhosale said. bapudeedwania@gmail.com

Medical speak Dr Sharangpani emphasised on the need for a proper chair for anyone who is engaged in prolonged activity of talking, writing, working on computer, etc. “The back rest of the chair is an important thing. Often people take it for granted. People like Trupti, who face lower-back pain, have to be even more careful about their posture. There are various factors that can aggravate a lower back pain and, if you take into account these factors, you can cure the back pain with the right set of exercises, posture, medical treatment and precautions,” he said.

According to Dr Sharangpani, the posterior should be in an alleviated state as compared to the knee. The knee should be relatively at a lower level when one sits. “In Trupti’s case we had recommended the same. I had instructed her to take a look at the chair on which she sits. Later, she also used a pillow to help her sit in the alleviated posture, as recommended. One cannot ignore the importance of a chair, especially when you spend nearly one third of your day on it. It seems trivial, but it is an important tool that goes a long way in ensuring a fit back,” he said.

A desktop computer was stolen between Sunday night and Monday morning from the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters in Shivajinagar.

The CID officers have lodged a complaint with the Khadki police station in this regard, after the theft came to light on Monday morning.

Khadki police station told The Golden Sparrow that a drug addict from the neighbouring slums is suspected of the crime. “Police are searching for the suspect,” police said.

The culprit is a resident of one of the two slums adjacent to the CID’s historic Patkar Plot and Patil Estate premises.

It is not known what data the stolen computer holds, nor to which CID branch it belongs to. The premises are home to ULC scam investigation team office, centenary hall, and office of Prevention of Atrocities against Women (PAW), the railway Superintendent of Police office, State Intelligence Department, and the city Crime Branch’s Economic Offenses Wing (EOW) office.

The premises have 24X7 security

arrangements, and has ah guard room and a control room.

Additional Director General of Police and state CID chief Sanjay Kumar said that on that particular night there was no security guard present. “The theft came to light only on Monday morning,” he said, and added that there was no data loss. It has been decided to bring in guards from the railways. “They will monitor the security of the entire premises,” he said.

The CID headquarters is an over 100 years old heritage structure. The CID headquarters moved to the new premises on Pashan Road four years ago. But it is still considered a part of the headquarters as it manages affairs of the entire state. gitesh.shelke@goldensparrow.com

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JUNE 20, 2015

World Bank: 400 million lack access to health care

“We feel the decision to allow radio cabs and rickshaw service was taken in haste. To protest this we had recently implemented a successful daylong strike. It will be unjust to stir again and make passengers suffer.”

P11

—Nitin Pawar, Convenor, Rickshaw Panchayat

PUNE

Greek pensioners are squeezed as creditors want more cuts P14

Encroachers back on streets with a bang Tall claims of PMC of effectively removing illegal structures fall flat when unauthorised constructions crop up again

Shivaji Nagar BEFORE

BY RAJIL MENON @RajilMenon It seems encroachers have the fi nal say to set shop. Soon after an antiencroachment drive was conducted

by Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), they were back with their paraphernalia. And it was business as usual for them, eating their away through corridors, pathways and public utility spaces, displaying their goods and articles. The demolition drive has been ineffective in checking the encroachers.

Despite a major ongoing demolition drive by PMC, illegal encroachment are once again mushrooming on the same spots where they were demolished.

Shopkeepers have encroached upon public utility land and footpaths by extending their shops, installing signboards and displays. Some eateries have placed tables, chairs and awnings outside their shops.

With Deputy Municipal commissioner Madhav Jagtap heading the encroachment and unauthorised construction demolition department, PMC managed to free considerable public utility space in the city by carrying out surprise drives every day.

The focus was areas within 50-metre radius of bus stands, bus stops, schools and hospitals.

With the encroachers back, the much-hyped drive turns out to be nothing more than a damp squib.

The TGS Team covered four demolition drive spots — Shivajinagar, Swargate, Viman Nagar and Law College Road — only to fi nd that shopkeepers have rebuilt the demolished structures. rajil.menon@goldensparrow.com

AFTER

O

n April 17, PMC demolition squad swooped down on shops in this area. The team removed the tin roofs and exhaust vents that Dragon eatery near Om supermarket put up in front of the shop. The shop owner put back the removed structures within hours after the drive. Using JCB, the civic administration had pulled down illegal extensions carried out by shops near Om supermarket.

Eatsome had put burners, installed piped gas cylinders on iron stand and placed commercial cylinders in front of their shop. These demolished structures were back within days.

Law College Road

T

he Cafe Coffee Day outlet saw its chairs, tables and colourful table umbrellas placed outside confiscated by PMC encroachment removal department on June 5. And the popular hangout place replaced the seized furniture with new ones within days.

To effectively deal with encroachments, PMC has formed three teams — rehabilitation, survey and removal squads, but encroachers seem to have no fear of the authorities, and have rebuilt the demolished structures. No measures seem to have been taken to protect the demolition sites to ensure that it remains free of encroachments.

One of the junior civic staff, on the condition of anonymity, said, “Senior officers are well aware of the development, but turn a blind eye as encroachers grease their palms. When these illegal structures come up again for everyone to see, the question of them (authorities) not knowing does not arise.”

“It is a great loss to the exchequer and public money if encroachment reemerges. That would be sheer waste of manpower, machinery, time, energy on demolition. The same process would be repeated again,” he said.

Cop hauled up for calling superiors

BY GITESH SHELKE @gitesh_shelke DCP Sudhir Hiremath has issued a show cause notice to constable Dilip Jadhav posted at Hadapsar police station, for making a distress call to him late Tuesday night.

Jadhav claims that senior inspector Rajendra Mohite abused him in the presence of others in the police station. After the incident, Jadhav called up the control room, but the personnel there refused to acknowledge his complaint. He then called up the DCP. The DCP said that Jadhav had called him late in the night, which he found to be inappropriate.

“I took his call, but he should have followed protocol,” he said. When contacted, Jadhav admitted that he had called the DCP. “What could I do, since I was abused on the police station premises?

Calling the control room was futile as they told me to call my DCP,” he said.

Inspector Rajendra Mohite said that Jadhav was not doing job well.

“A wine shop owner had approached us with an allegation of extortion against a local goon.

Instead of registering an FIR, Jadhav was taking it down as a non-cognisable offence. I ordered him to make the necessary changes in the complaint,” Mohite said.

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Swargate

AFTER

BEFORE

P

MC faced opposition from stall owners and political leaders when it started its anti-encroachment drive near Swargate bus depot on June 10. With the help of a JCB, the civic administration razed around

Viman Nagar

30 stalls. Majority of the stalls sell cellphone accessories, snacks, footwear, bags and saloons. The drive was halted following deputy mayor Aba Bagul’s intervention. Jagtap said, “These shops have been razed because

they were illegal. The owners violated rules by either giving the stall on rent or making someone else to run it.”

All the razed stalls were back the next day.

AFTER

BEFORE

C

ivic body used gas cutters to remove iron rods put up by Dilli Dhaba hotel that had extended the shop by placing chairs, tables, fans and refrigerators, besides cordoning off the area using wooden fence. The anti-encroachment team on April 19 also removed tin roofs, makeshift electric connections and lighting arrangements put up shops in this area. People visiting these spots now may not believe the demolition drive as all the razed structures were back within days and it is business as usual. Even the shops at Roshma Residency that faced demolition have rebuilt their illegal extension.

TECH

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JUNE 20, 2015

PUNE

While it took radio 38 years, and television a short 13 years, it took World Wide Web only 4 years to reach 50 million users.

- http://www.wtfdiary.com/

Brothers of ‘wolfpack’ step out of their world P 13

‘Walk to work’ IT towns in state soon The govt hopes to attract investment of Rs 50,000 crore urban areas would be trained through modules developed by well-known institutions,” Fadnavis said.

The new policy also incorporates Animation, Visual effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) policy.

It confers the status of IT industry on AVGC parks.

Animation, visual effects produced in the state will be given

entertainment duty concessions upto Rs 2.5 crore, while the animation fi lms produced in the state will get 100 per cent entertainment duty waiver.

Th is is the state’s fourth IT and ITES policy, Fadnavis said.

The fi rst policy was introduced in 1998, followed by updated versions in 2003 and 2009. At present, 7.5 lakh people are employed in the sector in the state, the CM added.

The new policy rationalises definition of IT support services, and introduces a ‘negative list’, to exclude malls , cinema theatres, residential apartments, etc.

A maximum of 20 per cent built-up area (excluding parking area) will be permitted for support services in IT parks.

Additional FSI upto 200 per cent of the existing permissible FSI has been proposed.

The Chief Minister said the government’s endeavour was to make IT sector in the state comparable to that in Bangalore and Hyderabad.

“There is no FSI restriction i n Hyderabad.

We have lost out to Bangalore and Hyderabad in AVGC sector. Space creation is needed in IT. Space is the issue. Leasing on rent is not affordable in the state,” Fadnavis noted.

PTI

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

P 15

HackerOne turns hacking into legit, lucrative work

APP WORLD

Shopping at your finger tips PETER EARL MCCOLLOUGH/THE NEW YORK TIMES

Maharashtra government’s new ITES policy proposes integrated IT townships generating employment for 10 lakh people MUMBAI: Maharashtra government’s new Information Technology (IT) and Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES) policy proposes integrated IT townships with ‘walk to work’ concept which envisages people living and working in the same area.

The government hopes to attract investment of Rs 50,000 crore and generate employment for ten lakh people in the IT sector with the new policy.

Addressing a press conference after the weekly cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the new policy.

The proposed integrated townships would be spread over 10-25 acres.

“For integrated IT townships in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan-Dombivali, Mira-Bhayander, Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporations and Ambernath Municipal Council limits, the permissible FSI would be 2.5.

Elsewhere the FSI will be 2 with a premium.

The premium will be used for developing critical infrastructure related to IT parks,” he added.

The government is also proposing to develop ‘rural BPOs’ to ensure penetration of information technology in rural and semi-urban areas and providing jobs locally, he said.

“Rs 2.5 lakh would be given for setting up rural BPOs. About 50 youths from rural and s e m i -

More local trains are the need of the hour

From left: HackerOne founders Michiel Prins, Jobert Abma, Alex Rice and Merijn Terheggen, and investor Bill Gurley with Benchmark Capital Partners on the roof of Benchmark’s offices in San Francisco, May 21, 2015. HackOne aims to become a mediator between companies with cybersecurity issues and hackers who are looking to solve problems rather than cause them

BY NICOLE PERLROTH SAN FRANCISCO: In 2011, two Dutch hackers in their early 20s made a target list of 100 high-tech companies they would try to hack.

Soon, they had found security vulnerabilities in Facebook, Google, Apple, Microsoft, Twitter and 95 other companies’ systems.

They called their list the Hack 100.

When they alerted executives of those companies, about a third ignored them. Another third thanked them, curtly, but never fi xed the flaws, while the rest raced to solve their issues. Thankfully for the young hackers, no one called the police.

Now the duo, Michiel Prins and Jobert Abma, are among the four co-founders of a San Francisco tech startup that aims to become a mediator between companies with cybersecurity issues and hackers like them who are looking to solve problems rather than cause them. They hope their outfit, called HackerOne, can persuade other hackers to responsibly report security flaws, rather than exploit them, and connect those “white hats” with companies willing to pay a bounty for their finds.

In the past year, the startup has persuaded some of the biggest names in tech - including Yahoo, Square and Twitter - and companies you might never expect, like banks and oil firms, to work

with their service. They have also convinced venture capitalists that, with billions more devices moving online and flaws inevitable in each, HackerOne has the potential to be very lucrative. HackerOne gets a 20 per cent commission on top of each bounty paid through its service. “Every company is going to do this,” said Bill Gurley, a partner at Benchmark, which invested $9 million in HackerOne. “To not try this is brain-dead.”

The alternative to so-called moderated bug bounty programs is sticking with the current perverse incentive model. Hackers who find new holes in corporate systems can, depending on their severity, expect six-figure sums to sell their discovery to criminals or governments, where those vulnerabilities are stockpiled in cyberarsenals and often never fi xed. Alternatively, when they pass the weaknesses to companies to get them fi xed, the hackers are often ignored or threatened with jail.

In essence, the people with the skills to fi x the Internet’s security problems have more reasons to leave the Web wide open to attack.

“We want to make it easy and rewarding for that next group of skilled hackers to have a viable career staying in defense,” said Katie Moussouris, HackerOne’s chief policy officer, who pioneered the bounty program at Microsoft.

“Right now, we’re on the fence.” © 2015 New York Times News Service

Tipping point in transit has been reached Technologies that are the future of automobile transportation are already available, for a high price, on the road today

One sunny morning a few weeks ago, I slipped into the inviting cockpit of a Mercedes-Benz S550 sedan, a ride equipped with massaging front seats, reclining back seats, a head-up display worthy of a fighter jet and more speakers than a political convention. At $136,000, this was a car fit for a rap star or a European Union functionary, of which I am neither (yet).

Instead, I write about the future, and embedded in the S550 are a host of technologies that roughly approximate the future of automobile transportation already available, for a high price, on the road today.

For decades, pundits and theorists have been expecting a future in which cars drive themselves, and companies like Google have been testing advanced versions of these systems for several years.

But the S550 - some of whose selfdriving features can be found in other luxury automobiles, including Cadillacs, Volvos and soon the Tesla Model S - shows that in many ways, the future of transportation is already here, and it is evolving at a pace that would surprise even the most optimistic enthusiasts.

And today’s semiautonomous road car isn’t the only sign that transportation is changing quickly. Because of on-demand services like Uber, the very idea of owning

JASON HENRY/THE NEW YORK TIMES

BY FARHAD MANJOO

FILE — A roof-mounted camera on a Google autonomous car in Mountain View, California, May 13, 2014. The future of driving is in many ways already here

a car is being undermined.

Observers say that advances in transportation may be especially apparent in cities, where technology is creating an emerging multitude of options, from apppowered car sharing and car pooling to new modes of driving and parking to novel forms of short-distance travel and private jitney buses with seats allocated by phone.

Communication systems and sensors installed in streets and cars are creating the possibility of intelligent roads, while newer energy systems like solar power are

altering the environmental costs of getting around. Technology is also creating new transportation options for short distances, like energy-efficient electric-powered bikes and scooters, or motorcycles that can’t tip over.

“Cars and transportation will change more in the next 20 years than they’ve changed in the last 75 years,” said M. Bart Herring, the head of product management at Mercedes-Benz USA. “What we were doing 10 years ago wasn’t that much different from what we were doing 50 years

ago. The cars got more comfortable, but for the most part we were putting gas in the cars and going where we wanted to go.

What’s going to happen in the next 20 years is the equivalent of the moon landing.”

Herring is one of many in the industry who say that we are on the verge of a tipping point in transportation. Soon, getting around may be cheaper and more convenient than it is today, and possibly safer and more environmentally friendly, too.

But the transportation system of the near future may also be more legally complex and, given the increasing use of private systems to get around, more socially unequal. And, as in much of the rest of the tech industry, the moves toward tomorrow’s transportation system may be occurring more rapidly than regulators and social norms can adjust to them.

“All the things that we think will happen tomorrow, like fully autonomous cars, may take a very long time,” said Bryant Walker Smith, an assistant professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law. The technologies pushing rapid changes in transportation are similar to those altering much of the rest of the world: sensors, smartphones and software.

The sensors help cars, roads and other elements of modern infrastructure become aware, letting vehicles keep track of other vehicles and the roads around them.

2015 New York Times News Service

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THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JUNE 20, 2015

“With bond issuances of close to $6 billion outstanding post this issue, Bharti now has a well-established credit curve across tenure buckets and currencies.”

— Harjeet Kohli, group treasurer, Bharti Airtel

Signpost Chinese business body to set up textile park in Gujarat AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat government has said that a Chinese business association has decided to set up a textile industrial park in the state in near future. A delegation of China Association of Small and Medium Enterprises Industry (CASMEI) met Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel at Gandhinagar and discussed various aspects related to the setting up of park in Gujarat, an official release said. The meeting between CASMEI vice chairman Shen Gaohua and deputy secretary general Guo Zhixin, and Patel is the result of her recent China visit where an MoU worth Rs 1.6 billion was signed.

PTI

‘Uber drivers are employees, not contractors’ SAN FRANCISCO: In a decision that could have major implications for Uber, the global start-up providing ride-sharing service, a California labour board has ruled that the firm’s drivers are employees, not independent contractors. In the ruling by the state’s labour commission, Uber was ordered to reimburse one of its drivers, Barbara Ann Berwick, more than USD 4,000 for employee expenses.

The ruling has been appealed in court and would only impact Uber drivers in California. But if the case ends up applying to Uber’s global operations, it could potentially take away one of the underpinnings of its business model, which considers drivers as independent contractors.

PTI

Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises Ministry aims to make the khadi market more trendy and appealing to youth and generate employment opportunities

3D-print bridge to be built by robot

The bridge will be the first ever large-scale deployment of the technology

The bridge is to be built by engineering start-up company MX3D across an Amsterdam canal, the first-ever in the world

THE HAGUE: A Dutch start-up has unveiled plans to build the world’s fi rst 3D-printed bridge across an Amsterdam canal, a technique that could become standard on future construction sites.

Using robotic printers “that can ‘draw’ steel structures in 3D, we will print a (pedestrian) bridge over water in the centre of Amsterdam,” engineering startup company MX3D said in a statement, hoping to kick off the project by September.

The plan involves robotic arm printers ‘walking’ across the canal as it slides along the bridge’s edges, essentially printing its own support structure out of thin air as it moves along. Specially-designed robotic arms heat the metal to a searing 1,500 degrees Celsius (around 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit) to painstakingly weld the structure drop-by-drop, using a computer programme to plot the sophisticated design.

“The underlying principle is very simple. We have connected an advanced welding machine to an industrial robot arm,” said the bridge’s designer Joris Laarman.

“We now use our own intelligent software to operate these machines so they can print very complex metal

“Vodafone has increased its exclusive retail footprint by rolling out 17 stores and 200 mini stores. We remain committed to continue in bringing the best class and services.”

— Ashish Chandra, Vodafone India business head, Maharashtra

Trendy khadi denim wear launched NEW DELHI: The popularity of swadeshi fabric khadi has reached a new level, especially among the young India, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to ‘buy and promote khadi’. Th is year, especially after the prime minister’s message, the government outlets run by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) have also showed a rise in sales.

With the government making efforts to provide financial assistance to those interested in joining this industry, budding entrepreneurs should grab the opportunity.

Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) Ministry has launched khadi denim designer wear to make khadi market more trendy and appealing to the youth.

Denim jeans, jackets, skirts and bags designed by NIFT graduates and other professional designers will be available at the exhibition-cum-sale centres at the khadi shops, an official statement said.

It also said that under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), a window will be opened at these centres, which will sell products made by micro entrepreneurs from all over the country.

“In the fi rst phase, micro entrepreneurs from North East Region along with khadi institutions will be displaying their products in the

shapes which can differ each time,” Laarman said of the project also involving the Heijmans construction company and Autodesk software.

So far, the robotic arm has been used to print smaller metal structures, but the bridge will be the fi rst ever large-scale deployment of the technology, MX3D spokeswoman Eva James told AFP. It is hoped that the bridge will be a fi rst step towards seeing the technique used on construction sites, especially those involving dangerous tasks.

The technique also removes the need for scaffolding as the robot arms use the very structure they print as support. The designers are now in talks with the Amsterdam city council to find a site for the project which they hope will be completed by mid-2017.

“I strongly believe in the future of digital manufacturing and local production,” said Laarman. “It’s a new form of craftsmanship.”

“Th is bridge can show how 3D printing has finally entered the world of large-scale functional objects and sustainable materials,” he said.

Amsterdam city council spokeswoman Charlene Verweij told AFP the Dutch capital was supporting the project.

AFP

FAB FABRIC Scheme for enhancing productivity and competitiveness of khadi industry had been undertaken by KVIC by opting for the market development assistance (MDA) programme instead of the earlier rebate system (where discounts were directly offered to customers).

According to the Labour Ministry of India’s quarterly surveys India’s textile industry created the highest number of jobs, even more than IT in the first quarter of this fiscal year.

Sale of khadi products have increased by over 60 per cent after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to buy at least one khadi garment

PMEGP windows,” it added.

Products like cane, bamboo, munga silk, and andi silk and other handicraft items will be available at the shops.

Sale of khadi products have increased by over 60 per cent after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to buy at least one khadi garment, MSME Minister Kalraj Mishra said. “...the appeal made by the Prime Minister in his radio address ‘Mann Ki Baat’ to buy at least one khadi garment.

As a result of the appeal, the sale of

PUNE

Khadi increased over 60 per cent,” an official statement quoting the minister today said.

On October 3 last year, Modi had advocated for use of khadi products as a homage to Mahatma Gandhi. He had impressed upon people to use at least one khadi product, may it be a handkerchief or even a bedsheet.

Emphasising on the need to manufacture not only market oriented but also product oriented khadi, he said there is growing demand of khadi in foreign countries as well.

PTI

Listing norms for start-ups soon

The final norms, which would be presented for approval from the Sebi’s board later this month, have been finalised NEW DELHI: To attract technology start-ups to the domestic stock markets, regulator Sebi is set to make their listing and fund raising requirements easier.

The final norms, which would be presented for approval from the Sebi’s board later this month, have been finalised after taking into account suggestions from all stakeholders to the draft guidelines released in March, sources said.

Asking technology start-ups founded by Indians to remain within the country, Sebi Chairman UK Sinha, last weekend, promised an easier set of regulations for them to get listed and raise funds from the domestic stock market.

“We are going to take a decision very soon in this regard. We are looking into how to make it easier for them to raise money,” Sinha had said.

The new norms are expected to help start-up companies raise funds within India and stop their fl ight to overseas markets.

“What is happening today is most of these start-ups, who have been reasonably successful, they are getting attracted to the New York Stock Exchange or Singapore Stock Exchange,” Sinha had said.

“They do not want to get listed here for varieties of reasons. They are

getting attracted to foreign markets.

Our effort is to provide a mechanism that they get listed in India itself, for the benefit of the country and for the benefit that the country’s start-ups remain within the country,” he had added.

Under the new norms, the entire pre-issue capital is expected to be locked-in for a period of six months for all shareholders.

At present, promoters are required to offer a minimum of 20 per cent of post-issue capital as lock-in for a period of three years.

Besides, Sebi is expected to make easier disclosure norms for start-up listings. While fi ling the draft offer document with the capital market watchdog, such fi rms will only need to disclose broad objectives in line with the major international jurisdictions. Sebi has already made it easier for the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to raise money from capital markets.

“SMEs are primarily dependent on bank loans today and we know that banks have their own limitations.

We have created separate platforms for SMEs at the two top exchanges BSE and NSE. We have balanced the requirement of safeguarding the investors and also facilitating the fund requirement of the SMEs,” he said.

PTI

The new norms are expected to help start-ups raise funds in India

Viridian Group, ESpark form JV to support start-ups in India NEW DELHI: Viridian Group has formed a joint venture with UK-based Entrepreneurial Spark to support startups in India earmarking fund of up to USD 300 million for the purpose.

The JV, Viridian-ESpark will offer an 18-month accelerator programme to budding Indian entrepreneurs besides providing funding support.

“The USD 300 million is going to be for building the ecosystem, for investing in the entrepreneurs. It is what you call a mega fund,” Viridian Group Global Head (Venture Strategy) Murali Hariharan said.

The selected start-ups will work with a team of global business enablers, external mentors and experts with enormous experience in their domains - on all aspects of starting and running successful companies, he added.

When asked by when the fund would be invested, he said: “It depends on when they require funding, it is a function of each of the entrepreneurs that come to us. By case that we will look at. Th is money is the support money.”

The joint venture aims to facilitate access to seed capital, subsequent funding rounds and access to markets through various other platforms.

Besides, the start-ups will also have access to high quality infrastructure and office space alongside international exposure, targeted events, networking sessions and pitching sessions with investors.

A Business plan contest run by the Viridian Group at the Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2015 attracted more than 140 entries from the Indian entrepreneurs, out of which 23 have already been shortlisted for the accelerator programme.

ESpark-Viridian plans to set up acceleration centres in key entrepreneurial hubs such as DelhiNCR, Bangalore, Pune, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Cochin, Chennai, Chandigarh and Kolkata.

“The fi rst centre will go online on August 18. We will start it in Ahmedabad. We see a tremendous amount of energy in the ecosystem there, lot of entrepreneurs who want to grow from there,” Hariharan said.

PTI

THE FASTEST READS ON THE WEB

We have more hooning and sliding action on our YouTube channel. Subscribe and comment.

Four cylinders, four doors, all-wheel drive. The CLA 45 AMG and Evo X misbehaving around the hills.

Wet conditions and the Jaguar V8 R Coupe addup to an impossibly fun afternoon spent mostly sideways.

We went to the top of the world in an insane rally Thar and a Suzuki V-Strom 1000. We came back too.

Look our for the alive logo in the magazine to watch the action unfold

Going back to when Toyota’s were cool, we drive a custom Supra with a big turbo and come away scared, and maybe a bit wistful.

w w w. a l iv e a r. c o m

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JUNE 20, 2015

Made me wait six hours and filed an NC

O

n Wednesday night, Prithviraj Mane, 32, was heading home when he got beaten ruthlessly by a group of men. The techie residing in Viman Nagar was driving when near Bishop’s School he came across a group of men walking in the middle of the road. He honked hoping that they would move.

Instead the men got offended and hurled abuses at him. He made the mistake of responding. Mane told the boys that if they had a problem with him, they should accompany him to the police station.

Even before he could realise what was happening, one of the men grabbed him. The men punched him and rammed his head against a pillar. The techie was kicked around. On seeing the commotion, some of the passersby intervened, only to be told to move on.

One of them called up the police control room, which rattled the attackers. The men fled from the spot.

Mane held on to one of the attackers, hoping that the cops would be able to nab the rest later. The man, however, bit his arm and fled. Badly bruised and with deep gash on his head, Mane waited for the police from Ramwadi Chowkey, barely 100 metres away to arrive. What happened next was worse than what he had already been through.

The cops took him to the chowkey, inquired about the scuffle and asked him to forget that it ever happened. The policemen were reluctant to fi le a complaint. On duty head constable A M Palande told Mane that it was a minor case, and that nothing would really come of it. His logic was that the attackers would never be identified and arrested.

On hearing this, Mane, who was determined to get his attackers arrested, called up his uncle, an assistant commissioner of police in Solapur. Palande also spoke to the uncle but refused to budge. Mane, however, held his ground and insisted on an FIR. A good two hours later, the cops told him to go to Sassoon Hospital for a medical check-up after which they would see if it called for an FIR. After spending over an hour at the hospital, Mane returned with a medical certificate which said that his injuries were of a serious nature. His wound had to be stitched up and other bruises dressed. Th is essentially meant that cops would have to fi le a case under section 325 (punishment of seven years) of the Indian Penal Code.

Once back at the police station, the cops saw the medical certificate and tried convincing Mane one last time to not insist on an FIR. Th is time inspector Sandeep Ankush Jagdale, who was on night duty too joined in to convince Mane, but to no avail. Inspector Jagdale told Mane that he had been beaten up too at the same spot and despite being a cop did not press charges. With Mane refusing to relent, the cops recorded his statement. They asked him to leave, and to return next day to collect a copy of the FIR. On Thursday, Mane went back only to get a non cognisable complaint copy. The cops had diluted the charges and booked unknown accused under sections 323 and 504 for assault and intimidation.

Since it was registered as a non cognisable compliant, the cops would not have to investigate it or fi le any paperwork.

Issued lost certificate instead of registering a case of theft

T

his is one of most commonly used techniques used by Pune cops to underplay crime rate in the city. Each time a person’s cell phone is stolen or snatched, cops refuse to fi le a theft case. Instead they insist on issuing a lost certificate. Th is way, the person is able to get a new SIM card and cops are able to keep cases of theft under control on paper.

Take the case of Pratik Shirsath, a civil engineer.

Eight months ago his cell phone was stolen while he was at a study session with his friends in Akurdi. He approached Nigdi police to fi le a complaint of theft of his phone worth Rs 12,000. “I was told to fi le a missing complaint instead of a theft complaint. They suggested that a theft complaint will not help as it is a long and tedious procedure. On the other hand, a property missing one is quick and the action is almost

immediate. They assured me that the phone will be found in no time once it is kept on tracing system,” said Shirsath. Months later, the 23-year-old is yet to hear from the cops about his cell phone. Clearly they took him for a ride.

Shirsath is not the only one. Thousands of people, whose cell phones are stolen, are treated this way. Th is is obvious from the fact that mere 76 cases of mobile thefts were recorded in 2013, and the number rose to 147 in 2014.

Another ruse often deployed by cops to dissuade those who insist on FIRs, is to ask for an affidavit. When a person whose phone has been stolen approaches the cops and insists on registering an FIR, they ask him to come back with an affidavit stating the value of the phone and other details.

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY

PUNE

JUNE 20, 2015

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No FIR means no crime:

They asked to prove that crime had taken place

Pune police just doesn’t care about cases of sexual abuse

Pune Police Mantra I The sole objective of cops in Pune seems to be keeping the crime records, not crime, as low as possible.

Police officials will do almost anything to dissuade a complainant from registering an offence

I

t’s supposed to be a simple process. If you are a victim of a crime, you just need to approach your local police, narrate the incident, file an FIR or NC, and leave the rest to the cops. At least that’s what the Supreme Court of India ruling of November 2013 states. However, here in Pune, the order has little or no bearing. Cops will do almost anything do shirk their responsibility.

They regularly indulge in a practice commonly known as burking.

Visit any of the 37 police stations or attached chowkeys and you come across cops engaged in animated conversations with the complainants.

In most cases they are trying to convince, and at times even force the victims to forget about the case. Their sole aim seems to be ensuring that their paperwork is minimal.

And they are willing to go to any extent to dissuade the victims from registering a First Information Report. In a recent case of theft from a marriage hall, they were prompt enough to ask the complainants to prove that the crime had taken place. The cops asked the family to get CCTV footage of the occurrence and only then would they consider registering a case. As per the law, when a person walks into a police station and reports a cognisable crime, cops are supposed to register a case and start investigating.

In another case, a techie was severely thrashed by a bunch of thugs over a petty issue. The bleeding man sought help from the cops, who instead of going by the book and registering a case of grievous injury,

They praised me for my alertness but refused to file FIR

A

made him wait for over six hours.

Through those six hours, at least three different officers tried convincing the injured man that there was no point in filing a formal compliant as they would never be able to trace the accused. This, despite there being eye witnesses. One of the ‘on duty’ cops went to the extent of narrating how he had been assaulted at the same spot not so long ago, but did

not pursue the case as the locals in the area are notorious and known for such crimes. When the man stood his ground, they filed a non cognisable case, which meant they would not have to investigate the case.

Similarly, there are several cases of rape, abuse and sexual harassment, which are seldom recorded in police registers, or registered only after a lot of pressure, weeks after the

occurrence of crime. This is just to keep official crime record low.

As for cell phone thefts, bank and online frauds, the cops here just do not care. This is evident from their official records which show that mere 87 cases of cell phone thefts have taken place this year.

With almost every person who has ever been to the police station in Pune, narrating similar tales,

Cops thrashed the accused but refused to file an FIR

I

A

n April this year, the Shroff family was devastated. Two gold rings and one lakh rupees in cash were stolen from their daughter’s wedding reception at Sheerji Banquet in Kondhwa. After verifying that the bag containing all the gifts wasn’t misplaced, Dilip Shroff approached the local police to register an offence. However, to the 52-year-old’s surprise, the cops asked him to prove that the offence had indeed taken place.

The resident of Camp was asked to produce bills of the two gold rings that were stolen. Shroff tried to reason with the cops on duty that since the rings were gifts, he would not be able to produce the bills immediately. The cops then asked him to get CCTV footage from the banquet to prove that somebody had stolen the gifts. Dejected, Shroff left the police station, unable to fi le a complaint. It has taken him over a month to finally get the footage that the cops asked for. He is hoping that this time around the police takes up his case.

n March this year, Dhruvin Shah and two of his friends stepped out for a snack late in the night at a restaurant near Nal Stop. When they were about to leave, they requested the owner of a bike parked behind theirs to make way so that they could get their vehicle out. The owner was too drunk to care and started hitting Shah and his friend Umakant Yalande. Several others joined the man and beat up Shah and Yalande ruthlessly for the next few minutes. Somehow, the two managed to flee from the spot and called the police control room.

“A young officer and his team met us on the way and took us back to the eatery. We pointed out the men who had thrashed us. The cops managed to nab the four accused and brought them back to Deccan police station,” said Shah, whose wallet, mobile phone and bike keys had been taken away by the men during the bashing. Once at the cop station, the cops beat up the four accused and managed to get the others, who had fled. “Over the next hour or so, the accused returned my belongings.

The cops thrashed them pretty badly and made them regret what they had done to us. During all this, I kept telling the cops that I wanted an FIR registered against the accused. Both my friend and I were bleeding from the beating, plus our belongings had been stolen.

The cops could have charged them for assault and theft. However, the police simply refused to fi le a case,” said Shah.

He added that the cops spent the next hour convincing Shah and Yalande that fi ling a case was a bad idea.

“The policemen kept telling us that a case would only mean that we will have to keep coming back to court for hearings. They also said that the accused were too young to be booked for such a serious offence. The cops refused to budge and asked us to leave. Left with no option, we consoled ourselves with the fact that at least the men who beat us had learnt their lesson,” said Shah.

it is about time, seniors in the disciplined force pick up the rule book and punish the errant cops.

As per section 166 A of the Indian Penal Code, any cop who fails to take cognisance of a serious crime is liable to be ‘punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to two years and shall also be liable to fine.’

They won’t act because accused is powerful

shwini Zambare was almost at the receiving end of a bank account fraud in January this year. Within minutes of opening a new account in Union Bank of India, she received a phone call from an unknown number. The man claimed to be the manager of a bank and requested Zambare’s account details. He justified his request by saying that since there had been no activity on her account, the bank was missing out key details which he would fi ll out for her to finish the formalities. He told Zambare that she had not changed her banking passwords for a long time now and so this process was necessary.

Zambare’s salary account, which was in a different bank, had been closed after she quit her job and the new account had been opened a mere 30 minutes prior to the phone call. Realising something was amiss, Zambare asked the person for the bank from where he was calling, which he refused to disclose. He repeatedly asked for information about her bank account and passwords, and when Zambare still did not divulge any information, he disconnected the call. A few hours later, Zambare went to the Dattawadi Police Station to fi le a complaint. “I was alert and did not fall into the trap.

I did not want others to fall for it and become victims of fraud.

Hence I thought if the cops nab the caller, several people would be saved,” said Zambare. At the police station, the situation was far from what she hoped for. The inspector on duty refused to register her complaint. He said that they get several such complaints and that it is generally impossible to find the culprit as the SIM cards are almost always stolen.

He congratulated Zambare on her sharp mind and that was it. Till date no complaint has been registered.

registered. It happened 11 days after the incident,” said Pawar, who has now fi led a criminal case against the inspector and sub inspector involved in delaying the FIR. In another case, Pawar met with similar reluctance on the part of officials at Rajgad police station. Th is one involved a three-year-old boy who had been sexually abused. “His parents came to know about the abuse and took him to a public hospital.

They approached the cops for fi ling an FIR, only to be driven away. When I came to know and approached the local cops, they were too callous to care. Finally I approached the higher-ups and got the FIR registered four days later,” said Pawar. In this case too, she sought action against two cops, who refused to act in time.

The latest involves a 14-yearold girl who had been raped while staying at a shelter home. “The cops received an anonymous letter telling them about the girl who was pregnant. As per the law, the cops should have verified the information and registered a case immediately since the victim was a minor. However, they did not do so. When I got involved, I insisted that they fi le an FIR. A good year and half after the girl was abused, the cops finally fi led a complaint,” explained Pawar.

The activist says she comes across such cases quite often.

“Police here is not really interested in fi ling cases of women and children. They care only if they see an opportunity to make money in such cases,” said Pawar.

SC RULING

BURKING Burking is a process by which the police keep the crime records low. Instead of registering FIRs where they are warranted, cops tend to file non cognisable offences or not register them at all.

According to the Supreme Court of India, burking of crime leads to dilution of the rule of law in the short run; and also has a very negative impact on the rule of law in the long run since people stop having respect for rule of law. Thus, non-registration of such a large number of FIRs leads to lawlessness in society.

A

26-year-old advertising professional has approached the local police and commissioner’s office multiple times. The resident of Market Yard is being constantly harassed by a police officer’s son. “I used to know the guy a few years ago. He fi rst broke into my house and stole my credit card. He used the card to shop for Rs 75,000 worth of goods.

When I went to the police station, the cops said that they would ensure that I got my money back. They did not fi le a case and instead asked me to settle the matter. After a lot of running around I did my money back, but a formal case was never registered by the cops,” said the victim.

As if that wasn’t enough, now the woman has been frantically seeking help from the cops. The same person has been stalking her. “He started harassing me and made lewd calls. I approached local police but they did not do anything. Finally, I had to approach the commissioner’s office. Th is was three years ago. After the commissioner’s personal intervention the calls stopped for a bit. But they have started again,” said the advertising professional.

Th is time around, the victim has made several calls and trips to the local police station and women’s cell but to no avail. “I know just because the accused in a senior police officer’s son, the cops won’t act. These days each time the person calls me, I simply switch off my hone for several hours and stay alert when I step out.

What choice do I really have?” said the victim.

njali Pawar, a noted activist from Pune and president of NGO Sakhee, gets into tiffs with the cops almost every second day.

Most of these fights are over cops not wanting to register cases.

Pawar hears about a lot of cases of sexual abuse from women and children. Her idea is to get the victims justice and take each one of them to a logical end. “I face hurdles at the very fi rst step.

The cops are reluctant to even fi le complaints. I have handled cases where the police has taken anywhere between a week to even a year to fi le FIRs,” said Pawar.

She cites several cases where cops have shirked their responsibility. One of them involved a minor girl who was raped, and who approached the Loni Kalbhor police station to fi le a complaint. “The girl was turned down on the fi rst day because the cops were heading out for lunch. The next day she went back, but the cops drove her away on the grounds that she had come alone, and needed to bring her parents along. When she went back with her parents, they humiliated her. Instead of consoling her and taking down the complaint, they made really dirty remarks. She did not dare to go back to the police station after the experience,” explained Pawar.

The activist got to know about the case and rushed to the police station. Initially they drove Pawar away as well on the grounds that it was a routine molestation and not a rape case. “I traced the victim and took her back to the police. I refused to budge and got the FIR

AUTHORITY SPEAK

In November 2013, a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court held that registration of First Information Report is mandatory under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, if the information discloses commission of a cognisable offence and no preliminary inquiry is permissible in such a situation. The Supreme Court issued the following guidelines regarding the registration of FIR. (i) Registration of FIR is mandatory under Section 154 of the Code, if the information discloses commission of a cognisable offence and no preliminary inquiry is permissible in such a situation. (ii) If the information received does not disclose a cognisable offence but indicates the necessity for an inquiry, a preliminary inquiry may be conducted only to ascertain whether cognisable offence is disclosed or not. (iii) If the inquiry discloses the commission of a cognisable offence, the FIR must be registered. In cases where preliminary inquiry ends in closing the complaint, a copy of the

entry of such closure must be supplied to the first informant forthwith and not later than one week. It must disclose reasons in brief for closing the complaint and not proceeding further. (iv) The police officer cannot avoid his duty of registering offence if cognisable offence is disclosed.

Action must be taken against erring officers who do not register the FIR if information received by him discloses a cognisable offence. (v) The scope of preliminary inquiry is not to verify the veracity or otherwise of the information received but only to ascertain whether the information reveals any cognisable offence. (vi) As to what type and in which cases preliminary inquiry is to be conducted will depend on the facts and circumstances of each case. The category of cases in which preliminary inquiry may be made are as under: • Matrimonial disputes/ family disputes • Commercial offences • Medical negligence cases

• Corruption cases Cases where there is abnormal delay in initiating criminal prosecution, for example, over three months delay in reporting the matter without satisfactorily explaining the reasons for delay. The aforesaid are only illustrations and not exhaustive of all conditions which may warrant preliminary inquiry. (vii) While ensuring and protecting the rights of the accused and the complainant, a preliminary inquiry should be made time bound and in any case it should not exceed 7 days. The fact of such delay and the causes of it must be reflected in the General Diary entry. (viii) Since the General Diary/ Station Diary/Daily Diary is the record of all information received in a police station, we direct that all information relating to cognisable offences, whether resulting in registration of FIR or leading to an inquiry, must be mandatorily and meticulously reflected in the said Diary and the decision to conduct a preliminary inquiry must also be reflected, as mentioned above.

Sunil Ramanand, Joint Police Commissioner “In some cases, it has been observed that the crimes have been diluted. I have issued a notification to all the police stations to register complaints without diluting the facts or the sections of Indian Penal Code applicable.

A cognisable offence must be registered as cognizable. It cannot be diluted as a non cognisable offence.

It has come to my notice that in some cases people who have been robbed have been asked to submit affidavits. The cops must not demand affidavit while registering a theft case or in any other circumstances, from the victims.

I am not afraid of crime records looking bulky or crime rate going up on paper merely because police stations have started taking FIRs diligently. Complaints must be registered as they come and without any delay. Also appropriate sections must be applied.

I have displayed my cell phone numbers at all the police stations and people can call me anytime.”

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JUNE 20, 2015

PUNE

“BJP government has refrained a real Hindu activist like me from entering Goa although every Indian citizen has freedom of speech and expression. On one hand, anti-nationals like drug mafia, Taliban are allowed entry in the state, a patriot like me is disallowed.”

— Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik

Curious midlife crisis for entrepreneur P13

CSR meet focuses on ways to serve needy

(From left) Kirloskar Pneumatic Company general manager (health and CSR) Suresh Mijar, Forbes Marshal section manager (CSR) Bina Joshi, UN Global Youth Ambassador and NGO Roshini founder Pravin Nikam, Softspin Group of Companies chief promoter and managing director Vinay Sathe and Youth League Recreation Centre (Buldhana) director and trustee Harshwardhan Agashe took part in panel discussion organised by AIESEC

AIESEC meet provides platform for corporates, NGOs and volunteers to chalk out plans to fulfill genuine human needs TGS NEWS NETWORK @TGSWeekly The corporate social responsibility (CSR) summit organised by international student-run organisation AIESEC (formerly known as International Association of Students in Economic and Commercial Sciences), at the MCCIA Towers on Senapati Bapat Road recently, defined the relationship between corporates, NGOs and volunteers in serving society.

Corporate representatives, NGOs and people working in the social field discussed ways to make life better for the needy.

Kirloskar Pneumatic Company general manager (health and CSR) Suresh Mijar said, “For Kirloskar, people come first but society before that. The company has been carrying out programmes in health, hygiene, sanitation, water, education and

skill development, and mother and child development much before the government laid down the mandatory two per cent allocation of companies’ net profits on eligible activities for CSR under the Companies Act, 2013.”

Highlighting the growth of CSR activity in the company, Mijar said that now these activities are based on themes and HR is not handling such social programmes.

“With active participation by higher-ups, the number of staff involved in CSR activity has grown from 750 nominated members and 21 programmes in 2010-11 to 7,513 devoted staffers and 185 activities in 2014-15,” he said, adding that as most of these works towards society have an emotional quotient, democratising the process helps in churning out committed volunteers.

Sometimes, quantifying a CSR activity becomes difficult but it is necessary for a business establishment.

questions that we received while asking the students of standard VII to fill questionnaire without giving their personal details were about sex.

CSR should involve programmes that provide sex education to students from a young age. Africa was able to

YOUTH MOVEMENT AIESEC hosted the first CSR Summit at the MCCIA Towers on June 13, 2015. It has launched Project Swach (for better environment), Project Shiksha (for better education) and Project Swaasth (for better healthcare).

The panel members spoke about working towards inclusive growth and uplifting weaker sections of the society through effective CSR activities.

“AIESEC as a youth centric organisation works towards simplifying CSR for firms and provides an ideal platform for stakeholders,” said AIESEC Pune president Gorkey Patwal.

ABOUT AIESEC AIESEC is a student and recent graduates-run organisation. It is an international platform that enables young people to explore and develop their leadership potential. It is present in more than 125 countries. AIESEC Pune is a 28-yearold local chapter and provides an international platform for students and recent graduates of the city of AIESEC to explore and develop their potential. AIESEC believes that developing responsible global leaders is the most pressing issue in society today and encourages youth to be adept leaders.

check rising AIDS cases after the introduction of sex education for sixyear olds.”

UN Global Youth Ambassador and NGO Roshini founder Pravin Nikam said that any person with a will to better society can succeed. “I started Roshini with zero fund and we deliberately decided to not register it during the initial years. It is running on members’ voluntary contribution. For us, working for society is not a ‘Friday morning event’ or a ‘balance sheet’.

Forbes Marshal section manager (CSR) Bina Joshi said that social activities makes business sense for companies as the development of neighbourhood means satisfied customers and clients. “CSR should not become glamourous as photo shoots, magazine launches and oneday events fail to serve the purpose,” she said.

Questioning the mission of various NGOs, she said that these social bodies should always be apolitical, devoid of any ‘hidden agenda’ and should never over-claim on targets.

Calling himself a ‘misfit’ in the

a secular exercise?

PTI

Badal for promoting ethos of secularism

“A social programme can be assessed in terms of its reach, perception (whether the beneficiary is happy?) and recognition by industry associations.

Citing an incident to stress the importance of sex education in schools, Mijar said, “The maximum

To mark 350th foundation day of Anandpur Sahib Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has pitched for observing the “martyrdom day” of Guru Teg Bahadur at the national level saying it would help in promoting the ethos of “secularism” and “socialism” in the country.

Addressing a gathering on the inaugural day of celebrations to mark 350th foundation day of Anandpur Sahib here, Badal said that the ninth guru who founded this holy town was an epitome of socialism and secularism as he sacrificed his life for the sake of preserving human rights in the country.

“Observation of the martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur would not only be a humble tribute to the great Sikh Guru, it would further cement the ties between people on the other,” the CM said adding that “the life and

philosophy of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur is a lighthouse for all us”.

Terming the foundation stone of Anandpur Sahib as a “revolutionary step in the annals of Indian history”, the Chief Minister said that the foundation of socialism and secularism was laid on this sacred land by the great Sikh gurus.

The Chief Minister said that that the state government has spend nearly Rs 1000 crore for perpetuating the rich legacy of state by creating a network of several magnificent memorials Virasate-Khalsa, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur War Memorial, Chotta Ghallugara and Vadda Ghalugarra memorials.

Badal also said that the sole aim of constructing these memorials was to keep our younger generations abreast with the glorious and rich cultural and historic legacy of the state.

PTI

Muslim girls practicing Yoga in a school in Surat

J&K government forms village education committees PTI

Kulgam: Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mufti Mohammad Syed addressing students during his visit to Girls higher secondary school Kulgam of South Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir government has formed hundreds of Village Education Committees (VEC) to encourage synergetic government-community partnership to achieve the objective of universalisation of elementary education.

“The Village Education Committee (VEC) Day was observed throughout Jammu and Kashmir to formally constitute Village Education Committees for the schools under Sarva Shikhsha Abhiyan (SSA),” an

official spokesman said.

“The objective of constituting VECs is to encourage synergetic government-community partnership to achieve the objective of universalisation of elementary education,” Education Minister Naeem Akhtar said.

The Minister said the constitution of VECs is aimed at giving community ownership to educational institutions as it functions as a part of the social system.

“VECs play significant role in micro-planning, they prepare the school development plan including requirement of buildings, toilet and drinking water facilities,” he said.

Akhtar said the VECs play major role in bringing positive attitudinal change in people towards education

and in mobilizing the community and motivating parents/guardians to send their children to schools, especially girls and children from disadvantaged groups.

“They will be also responsible for school construction and maintenance, purchase of materials, school mapping and micro-planning exercise, preparation of Village Education Plan and monitoring the school management as well as teacher performance,” he added.

He said the VECs would be conducting periodic meetings to ensure cooperation of the community in smooth functioning of the local educational institutes, assist the Headmaster in transparent and effective utilization of grants released

to schools and monitor enrolment of all school-age children.

They will also ensure cent per cent completion of elementary education of all children, monitor academic performance of children, attendance and quality of education, involvement in appointment of Education Volunteers (EVs) for EGS and Alternative and Innovative Education centres as per guidelines and directions of District Education Committee, the minister said.

Each VEC has local Panchayat representative, Headmaster of the school, representative of local Self Help Group, local educationists, local parents and other eminent locals as its members, said the spokesperson.

PTI

midst of corporates, NGOs and volunteers, Youth League Recreation Centre (Buldhana) director and trustee Harshwardhan Agashe said that serving society for him was born out of necessity.

“Seeing the need to educate the poor as all schools during that time were only for the influential class, my parents started the school in remote Buldhana in 1954. It became a part of international education movement United World Colleges. Later, we set up an orphanage in 1998, shelter for orphaned animals and centre for unwed mothers. We never asked for funds as villagers voluntarily contributed after seeing our work. We collected Rs 4.6 lakh in six days from villagers for starting the centre for unwed mothers,” he said.

Softspin Group of Companies chief promoter and managing director Vinay Sathe said that corporates and NGOs should collaborate more with the government as the latter has a wide reach despite their poor record in this field.

Asking for a change in government norms, Sathe said, “The 12 children of a remote village near Lonavla cannot get school education as 20 is the minimum student strength for starting a zilla parishad school. Business houses and NGOs should fill this gap.”

Pointing out the importance of volunteers, he said that NGOs are held back by its defined programmes and corporates cannot reach the streets.

Hence, it is volunteers who have to act as the bridge.

The speakers said that the involvement of youth in volunteering should never be an exercise to give weight to their CVs but it should be sincere participation as NGOs suffer when volunteers leave a project. They said that volunteering is an act of self-education. They also spoke about working towards inclusive growth and uplifting weaker sections of society through effective CSR activities. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

Indian citizenship to 4,300 Pak, Afghan refugees As a first step to grant Indian nationality to nearly two lakh refugees from neighbouring countries, the NDA government has given citizenship to around 4,300 Hindus and Sikhs from Pakistan and Afghanistan in one year.

During the entire tenure of UPAII, the figure stood at 1,023.

The citizenship to these refugees have been given at the initiative of Home Minister Rajnath Singh following BJP’s declared policy that India is a “natural home for persecuted Hindus” who will be welcome to seek refuge.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had, during the Lok Sabha election campaign, said that Pakistani and Bangladeshi Hindu refugees will be treated like any other Indian citizen.

There are around two lakh Hindu and Sikh refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan currently living in India.

Ever since the Modi government assumed charge in May 2014, nearly 19,000 refugees have been given long-term visas in Madhya Pradesh.

Around 11,000 long-term visas were given in Rajasthan and 4,000 longterm visas were given in Gujarat, official sources said.

In April, the Home Ministry had rolled out an online system for submission of Long Term Visa application and for its processing by various agencies.

The decision has been taken to address the difficulty being faced

by Hindu and Sikh minorities of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who come to India with the intention to settle permanently.

There are about 400 Pakistani Hindu refugee settlements in cities like Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Jaipur.

Hindu refugees from Bangladesh mostly live in West Bengal and northeastern states.

Sikh refugees mostly live in Punjab, Delhi and Chandigarh.

PTI

ENVIRONMENT “In order to recognise hard work of ragpickers towards keeping the society clean, the Environment Ministry has decided to roll out an award for them next year onwards”.

— Prakash Javadekar, Environment Minister

H EALTH

The cost of healthcare is forcing many people into poverty, the World Bank and World Health Organisation say

Workers wearing protective gears, spray antiseptic solution as a precaution against the spread of MERS, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, virus at the Sejong Culture Center in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, June 16, 2015

People could be forced into or pushed further into poverty by health care costs

For some kinds of services, well over 80 per cent of people have access, the report says.

And it said that the impoverishing impact of catastrophic health expenses has diminished over the past decade.

“However, there is still a long way to go on the road to UHC, both in

Responsibly Grown can grant a farmer who does not meet the stringent requirements for federal organic certification the same rating as an organic farmer, or even a higher one

Farm workers, with organic Yukon Gold potatoes that were harvested at Tom Willey’s farm, in Madera, Calif, June 9, 2015. Willey contends that Whole Foods is quietly conveying that conventionally grown produce is just as good or even better

Whole Foods Market and organic farmers have long had a symbiotic relationship.

The grocer has helped stoke the American appetite for organic products, building stores that are essentially showcases for organic fruits, vegetables and flowers tagged with the names of the farmers who grow them.

But that mutually beneficial relationship is now fraying, as Whole Foods faces increasing competition from mainstream grocery chains and as organic farmers find more and more outlets for their produce.

Now, some organic farmers contend that Whole Foods is quietly using its formidable marketing skills and its credibility with consumers to convey that conventionally grown produce is just as good - or even better than their organically grown products.

Shoppers can choose from fruits and vegetables carrying the designation of “good,” “better” or “best.”

The longtime suppliers to Whole Foods are complaining that the program called Responsibly Grown can grant a farmer who does not meet the stringent requirements for federal organic certification the same rating

PUNE

Panel to frame rules for anti-spitting plan MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said here that a cabinet sub-committee headed by health minister Deepak Sawant would frame rules regarding setting up of an enforcement agency to implement the proposed anti-spitting law.

The law envisages social punishment for those spitting in public.

Fadnavis was speaking to reporters after the weekly meeting of the cabinet.

The committee comprises water supply minister Babanrao Lonikar, FDA minister Girish Bapat and school education minister Vinod Tawde. The committee will submit its report in a month’s time and the government may introduce the bill in the monsoon session of the state legislature.

Fadnavis also announced that Rohit Deo has been appointed as associate advocate general. Dev had earlier served as associate solicitor general at the Centre.

The cabinet also decided to implement the World Bank-funded national cyclone risk mitigation project in the five coastal districts of Mumbai, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg and Palghar.

Construction of temporary shelters, jetties and setting up a forecast mechanism will be undertaken in these districts.

Electricity cables will be laid underground to avoid power outage during the cyclone.

PTI

Eating nuts can lower risk of death

Organic farmers object to Whole Foods rating system

BY STEPHANIE STROM

JUNE 20, 2015

“Some ayurvedic medicines have been found to have high levels of metals, including lead. Patients have symptoms of neuropathy such as tingling, numbness or weakness in the legs or hands.”

— Sudhir Kothari, senior neurologist

World Bank: 400 million lack access to health care WASHINGTON: Some 400 million people worldwide lack access to essential health services, and the cost of healthcare is forcing many into poverty, the World Bank and World Health Organisation (WHO) have reported.

A new report by the bank and WHO on tracking universal health care (UHC) coverage said more people than ever around the world, 80 per cent, have access to key health services.

Universal health care, the two institutions say, encompasses services that should reach everyone regardless of socioeconomic level: family planning, antenatal care, skilled support when giving birth, child immunisation, TB treatment, HIV antiretroviral therapy, improved water sources and improved sanitary facilities.

But hundreds of millions are reached by only a few of those services.

In addition, in low and middle-income countries, six per cent of the people were at risk of being forced into or pushed further into poverty by health care costs.

“This report is a wake-up call: It shows that we’re a long way from achieving universal health coverage,” said Tim Evans, senior director of health, nutrition and population at the World Bank.

“We must expand access to health and protect the poorest from health expenses that are causing them severe financial hardship.”

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY

as an organic farmer, or even a higher one. Conventional growers can receive higher rankings than organic farmers by doing things like establishing a garbage recycling program, relying more on alternative energy sources, eliminating some pesticides and setting aside a portion of fields as a conservation area.

“Whole Foods has done so much to help educate consumers about the advantages of eating an organic diet,” five farmers wrote in a letter sent recently to John Mackey, the co-founder and co-chief executive of Whole Foods. “Th is new rating program undermines, to a great degree, that effort.”

Tom Willey, who has been farming organically for more than 40 years in and around Madera, California, and others say the program is a subtle way of shifting the costs of a marketing program onto growers.

“The reports we’re getting from speaking to farmers around the country are that they are spending anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 to comply

with this program,” said Willey, one of the farmers who signed the letter.

The fact that Willey and other organic farmers, all of whom played significant roles in determining the federal regulations, are speaking out publicly is yet another indication of how much competition Whole Foods is facing from mainstream grocery chains like Safeway, Wal-Mart and Costco, not to mention farmers markets and food co-operatives.

Mackey, in a conference call in May, acknowledged the impact the rising demand in organic foods was having on his company.

“We’re doing all we can, but the reality is, there’s more competition,” he said. “Everybody is jumping kind of on the natural- and organic-food bandwagon, and that’s really, frankly, due to our success.”

Costco has become the biggest purveyor of organic foods, selling some $4 billion worth in the past year, compared with an estimated $3.6 billion in organic sales at Whole Foods, according to Kelly Bania, an investment analyst at BMO Capital Markets.

Wal-Mart, which already had a robust organic business, announced last year that it was expanding the category, and General Mills and Campbell Soup have both announced intentions to expand the organic pieces of their businesses substantially.

To compete with stores offering goods at lower prices, Whole Foods has announced plans for a new store concept named for its private label line, 365, which will also sell some branded goods mainly aimed at millennial shoppers. The company has not said whether it planned to offer organic produce in the new stores. ©2015 New York Times News Service

Whole Foods faces challenges from mainstream grocers

terms of health service and financial protection coverage,” the report said.

The new report seeks to define UHC, in terms of measurable essential services, to be able to assess how governments and communities are performing.

AFP

LONDON: People who eat at least 10 grammes of nuts or peanuts daily have a lower risk of dying from several major causes of death than those who don’t consume nuts or peanuts, a new study has claimed.

The reduction in mortality was strongest for respiratory disease, neurodegenerative disease, and diabetes, followed by cancer and cardiovascular diseases, according to researchers from Maastricht University in the Netherlands.

Peanuts show at least as strong reductions in mortality as tree nuts, but peanut butter is not associated with lower mortality, researchers said.

The study was carried out within the Netherlands Cohort Study, which has been running since 1986 among over 120,000 Dutch old men and women, ages 55 to 69. Nut consumption was assessed by asking about portion size and frequency of intake of peanuts, tree nuts, and peanut butter.

AP

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JUNE 20, 2015

PUNE

“We all know Lalit Modi has been accused of financial impropriety, including money laundering. Helping a person like Modi will only encourage all sorts of people indulging in such activities. So I think, a strong action must be taken in this regard.”

— Somnath Chatterjee, former Lok Sabha speaker

Beat this! India stands third in 2013 global doping report Rule violations study released by WADA finds 91 sportspersons testing positive for banned substances New Delhi: India may be considered a sporting minnow but in terms of doping by its athletes, it has been ranked third behind Russia and Turkey in a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Report for 2013 with as many as 91 from the country testing positive for banned substances in that year.

According to the 2013 Anti-Doping Rule Violations Report released by the WADA recently, Russia has maximum number of dope offenders with 212 testing positive while the figures for Turkey and India were 155 and 91 respectively. Of the 91 Indians, 20 were women athletes.

France came a close fourth with 90 dope cheats in the report compiled by the WADA based mainly on the information received from National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs).

The comprehensive report, which dealt with testing of 2,07,513 samples, covered 115 nationalities and 89 sports.

If the four non-analytical AntiDoping Rule Violations (ADRVs) are taken into account, India has 95 ADRVs, fourth in the WADA list behind Russia (225), Turkey (188) and France (108).

Russia had 13 non-analytical ADRVs, while the corresponding figures for Turkey and France were 33 and 18 respectively.

Photograph for representation only

WADA said the report on doping was the most comprehensive statistics offered till date

Non-analytical ADRVs refer to cases that do not involve detection of a prohibited substance by a WADAaccredited laboratory but instances like failure to submit to a test, possession, use or trafficking of a prohibited substance following an investigation by athletes and support personnel.

In all, 1,953 athletes across the globe committed anti-doping rule violations out of which 1,687 were actually caught for using banned substances while 266 violated other rules (non-analytical ADRVs).

Among sports disciplines, track and field athletes lead the Indian dope cheats with 30 (28 sanctioned after testing positive with two of them committing

Ramzan: Diabetics, heart patients told to consult doctors KANPUR: For the upcoming month of Ramzan, doctors have urged people suffering from diabetes and heart ailments to fast only after consulting physicians as the fasting period would last for over 15 hours this time.

The fasting period would last for 15 hours and 25 minutes this Ramzan which necessitates special health precautions by the patients suffering from diabetes and heart ailments, Dr Sudeep Kumar, Senior Heart Specialist at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI), told PTI. The patients should consult doctors before fasting. They should also get their medicine dose increased and see a doctor immediately in case of any problem, he said.

Kumar said those who have suffered a minor heart attack can fast as research has showed that such people are at an equal risk while fasting as in normal days. However, they should be careful with what to eat and increase their medication after consulting the doctor if required, he said.

Kumar said those who have suffered a major heart attack and who have undergone a bypass surgery, should not

keep fasts as they would have to take medicine many times a day and also need the water level in their body to be maintained. Such patients should fast only after consulting their doctors.

“People suffering from Type 1 diabetes, who take insulin, should avoid fasting as without its intake their blood sugar level would increase and condition would deteriorate,” he said.

Kumar said people suffering from Type 2 diabetes should observe utmost care if they wish to observe the fast and advised them to change their eating habits and advised that they should eat in sufficient quantity in the morning and keep their medicines with them. Kumar further said such patients should not eat fried food and should eat non-vegetarian food in moderation.

At iftaar (breaking of the fast), such patients should eat in small portions and should keep having fruit juice and light eatables, after which they should immediately take their medicine, he said. Diabetics should eat something only after an hour of breaking the fast, he said, adding they should eat light food, like vegetable, bread and salad.

PTI

The fasting period would last for 15 hours and 25 minutes this year

non-analytical Anti-Doping Rule Violations) out of a global total of 280.

Weightlifting comes second with 19 from the discipline caught for doping with nine wrestlers committing AntiDoping Rule violation. Other sports which contributed in the doping shame are powerlifters (8) and bodybuilding (8), judo (7), boxing (4), aquatics (2), cycling (2), kabaddi (2), cricket (1), football (1), taekwondo (1), volleyball (1).

Among the NADOs, India’s National Anti-Doping Agency recorded 93 adverse analytical findings — the third highest — out of 4274 samples it tested in 2013 but three were exonerated later by anti-doping disciplinary and appeal panels, leaving 90 cases of Anti-Doping

Intellectuals attack jingoist sentiments NEW DELHI: A group of eminent intellectuals have expressed deep concern over the the “thoughtless articulation of jingoist sentiments” by high-level representatives of the government and BJP in the wake of the army operation in Myanmar and urged it to disassociate itself from them.

They also asked the goverment to take advantage of the first opporunity available for resuming dialogue with Pakistan. The statement did not refer to any minister but was apparently referring to remarks of Minister of State Rajyavardhan Rathore suggesting that Indian could carry out surgical strikes across the border in Pakistan after the Myanmar strike.

“We are profoundly disturbed by the thoughtless articulation of jingoist sentiments by high-level representatives of the government, prominent spokespersons of the ruling party and strategic thinkers and experts associated with the think tanks close to policy makers, following the Indian army’s seemingly successful operation against the militants in the north east along the Indo-Myanmar border.

“We are deeply concerned about its dangerous implications for peace and security in South Asia and for relations with our neighbours, particularly Pakistan,” said the statement by the group including journalist diplomats, jurists and journalists. The signatories included Kuldip Nayar, Muchkund Dubey, Justice Rajindar Sachar, Mrinal Pande, Manoranjan Mohanty, Zoya Hasan, John Dayal, ND Pancholi, Mohammad Salim Engineer, Seema Mustafa, Jawed Naqvi and Sumit Chakravartty.

PTI

Rule Violations. The NADOs of Russia and Turkey reported ADRVs of 184 and 144 out of 14,582 and 1,527 samples they respectively tested. The WADA said that the Report was the most comprehensive statistics offered till date.

“WADA is pleased to provide the most comprehensive set of doping statistics to-date. This new ADRV Report, when combined with the Annual Testing Figures Report, will be of value to anti-doping community’s efforts to protect clean athletes in every country around the world,” WADA Director General David Howman said. WADA President Sir Craig Reedie said doping remains the biggest threat to integrity of sport.

PTI

Pensioners’ paradise to thriving metro P 15

Artists Kher, Kallat in Australia show NEW DELHI: Mahatma Gandhi’s speech delivered on the eve of the famous Salt March has been transformed into a giant installation by Jitish Kallat, who is among 20 artists from Asia participating in the ‘Go East’ exhibit in Australia.

The Mumbai-based artist has created a vast field of bone-shaped letters that spell out the Bapu’s speech delivered on the eve of the historic 1930 Salt March.

The sculpture ‘Public Notice 2’ displayed at the entrance of the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) has been sourced from the Contemporary Asian Art collection of Australian philanthropists Gene and Brian Sherman.

Kallat renders Gandhi’s entire speech in fiberglass fabrications of bones that are shaped like alphabets, and placed on rows of shelves. Organisers say it is an inspiring homage to the human rights and social justice movements of the 20th century.

“In today’s terror-infected world, where wars against terror are fought at prime television time, voices such as Gandhi’s stare back at us like discarded relics,” Kallat said.

‘Public Notice 2 is the second of three works, that comprise the text of speeches delivered by three prominent personalities in Indian history.

The first in the series comprises the Tryst with Destiny address by the India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru while the last is Swami Vivekananda’s historic speech in Chicago in 1893.

The ‘Go East’ collection, which

Mumbai-based artist Jitish Kallat has created a vast field of bone-shaped letters that spell out the Bapu’s speech delivered on the eve of the historic 1930 Salt March

puts together 31 artworks from 10 countries including India, China, Indonesia, Japan, Tibet, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, is being showcased at the AGNSW and the Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation in Paddington (SCAF).

The artists’ practices range from installation and performance to photography and sculpture.

AGNSW Director Michael Brand said ‘Go East’ celebrates a significant collection created by two individuals renowned for their long-standing commitment to the visual arts.

“The creativity that results from public art museums and private collectors working together in this way is full of powerful possibilities, which bring great benefit to civic life,” Brand said in a statement. Delhi-based Bharti Kher’s ‘Portrait of a lady II’ (2012) in cement and saris is also on view.

PTI

Onus put on Pakistan to create environment for improving ties

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley stresses that while India is firm on normalising ties, it is Pakistan’s provocations that are thwarting the process

by Yoshita Singh NEW YORK: India has said its message to Pakistan is “very loud and clear” that it is interested in normalising ties but the onus of creating an environment for improving relationship depends on the “kind of provocations” that comes from its neighbour.

Addressing investors, analysts and business executives at the thinktank Council on Foreign Relations here yesterday, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently spoke to his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif. “(With) Pakistan, the border frequently becomes tensed where there are exchanges on that border. I think the message in the context of Pakistan is that India is interested in improving the relationship with Pakistan and therefore the onus of responsibility for creating an environment in which the relationship can grow would also depend much more on Pakistan and the kind of provocations which come from there,” he said.

“This message that we are interested in normalising our relationship with them or at least improving our relationship with them and (that) the onus is on Pakistan for this purpose is very loud and clear,” he said during the discussion with former US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, who asked him

New York: India’s Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, centre, gavels the market closed after he rang the closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange

about India’s foreign policy priorities.

Pakistan and India have been involved in a war of words recently with leaders from both sides exchanging sharp comments after Prime Minister Modi’s critical remarks about Pakistan during his Dhaka visit and in the wake of India’s military action in Myanmar.

Jaitley brought the issue of Pakistan at the end, after listing India’s “excellent” ties with its other neighbours such as Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

“There was a time, not so long ago, where India was in the midst of a disturbed neighbourhood and a number of problems of that disturbed neighbourhood was spilling into India,” he said, adding that Modi took an unprecedented decision to invite the

heads of government of the SAARC nations for his swearing-in ceremony at New Delhi last year.

“This turned out to be a very correct and a very positive move and since then we have not looked back,” he said.

On India’s relations with China, Jaitley said Modi has particularly developed an “excellent relationship” even with the Chinese leadership.

“We have a boundary issue with them and the boundary issue is unresolved. There are other several issues relating to China which are issues of our concern but at least the tense situation around the boundary does not exist,” he said, adding that economic and trade relations with Beijing have also become “fairly normal.”

PTI

Siachen, ships feature in Yoga Day fest Vol-II* lssue No.: 01 Editor: Yogesh Sadhwani (Responsible for the selection of news under the PRB Act, 1867) Printed and Published by: Shrikant Honnavarkar on behalf of Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt. Ltd. CIN:U22200PN2014PTC151382 and printed at PRI – Media Services Private Limited CIN: U22222MH2012PTC232006 at Plot No. EL-201, TTC Industrial Area, MIDC, Mahape, Navi Mumbai.

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NEW DELHI: Not to be left behind, the armed forces have planned yoga sessions on board warships and even at Siachen, the world’s highest battlefield, to celebrate the first International Yoga Day on June 21.

“From Kashmir to Kanyakumari,” a senior Army official said when asked if the force was planning events for Yoga Day. He said that nearly 500 troops at the Siachen base camp -- about 12,000 ft above sea level -- will carry out yoga to mark the day.

The Navy too has plans for Yoga

Day and aims to do “Yoga across the oceans”.

“Yoga sessions would be carried out on all our ships and installations.

It is an international day. Like we observe World Environment Day, we will also celebrate the International Yoga Day,” an official said.

Indian Navy units located as far as the Mediterranean Sea in the West, the Western Pacific Ocean and the Southern Indian Ocean will participate in the event.

India will lead 191 nations to mark the IYD on June 21, highlighted

by a mega event here on Rajpath where armed forces, NCC cadets and government officials are scheduled to perform ‘asanas’. Around 35,000 persons are expected to take part in the event.

The UN General Assembly had in December last year adopted an Indialed resolution, supported by over 175 UN member states, declaring June 21 as ‘International Day of Yoga’, recognising that “Yoga provides a holistic approach to health and wellbeing”.

The day will be observed in over

251 cities in 191 countries across the world and the Indian missions and diplomatic posts have made arrangements for the celebrations.

The Navy in a statement said it was motivated by the words of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that “Yoga is an invaluable gift of ancient Indian tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action, restraint and fulfilment, harmony between man and nature, and a holistic approach to health and well being”.

PTI

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JUNE 20, 2015

PUNE

“People I had appointed to office would walk across the street, they were so afraid of the new regime in Arkansas, and would not shake hands with me. My career prospects were not particularly bright.”

— Bill Clinton, former US president

Punekars are attached to their roots P 15

The six brothers were locked up in their apartment for most of their lives

good about it. What I can say is, I do not wish that for any family in the world.”

Five years ago, Moselle, a burgeoning filmmaker - this is her first feature - spotted the six brothers, then

by CARA BUCKLEY ages 11 to 18, wandering the streets of the East Village.

Much has changed in the Angulo Ponytailed and striking, with family since Crystal Moselle finished noble features and soft brown eyes, filming its extraordinary tale for the boys looked like otherworldly her documentary, ‘The Wolfpack’. iterations of one another. Puzzled at After being locked up and isolated in having never seen them before in her their Manhattan apartment by their neighbourhood, Moselle asked if they domineering father for most of their were brothers. Shyly, they replied lives, all six Angulo brothers now freely that they were, adding, Moselle journey outside. They have friends, jobs recalled, “We’re not supposed to talk and Facebook pages. They travelled to to strangers.” But curiosity overcame the Sundance Film Festival, where them after they learned that Moselle the film won the grand jury prize in was involved in a medium they were January; visited their mother’s family besotted with: film. in Michigan; and filmed an art movie Over the next few months, Moselle for Vice. One has moved out; another befriended the boys and began filming has a girlfriend. Four have lopped off them as they partook in a cherished their perennially pastime: painstakingly long hair.

The re-enacting scenes from youngest two not their favorite movies, like only changed their ‘Reservoir Dogs’ and ‘The surname to their Dark Knight’. She found mother’s maiden their creativity astounding: name (she has done They used construction the same), but they paper, cereal boxes, all have also chosen manner of tape, paint and new first names. even yoga mats to create Yet for all these elaborate costumes and bright spots, the sets. They also were not film raises questions remotely jaded: “They had - Narayana Angulo about something the this openness about them brothers are trying that you don’t see every day to put behind them: in New York,” Moselle, 34, unsettling parts of said. their past.

It wasn’t until half a year later that “What’s done is done, so I just Moselle learned why the brothers were don’t think about it right now,” such avid film fans: They had spent Narayana Angulo, who is 22, said in most of their lives indoors, cloistered in an interview. “Of course I feel nothing a four-bedroom, 16th-floor apartment

Christian Hansen/The New York Times

Brothers of ‘wolfpack’ step out of their world

“What I can say is, I do not wish that for any family in the world.”

The sibling subjects of a the new documentary ‘The Wolfpack’, from left: Mukunda, Bhagavan, Govinda, Narayana, Jagadisa and Krsna, in New York, May 16, 2015. Locked up in their Manhattan apartment, they developed an intense bond with the movies

in a public housing complex on the Lower East Side. Since moving into the apartment with his wife, Susanne, and their growing brood in the mid-’90s, their father, Oscar, fearful of drugs and crime in the city, had forbidden his family from freely venturing out. People were ill-intentioned and dangerous, their father told them, and not to be trusted. “I don’t want them to have the pressure, the social pressure,” he says in the film, adding that he wanted his children to not be “contaminated by drugs or religion or philosophy, but to learn who they are.”

So he kept the door locked, a ladder shoved tightly against it. They lived on

welfare, with only their father going out, often just for food.

“When you’re young, you don’t know why things are the way they are,” said Govinda Angulo, who is 22 and Narayana’s fraternal twin. “You just accept it.”

Susanne, who home-schooled the children, said she felt powerless against her husband’s dictums.

“I felt like I didn’t have control over my choices,” she said.

Yet her husband liberally supplied his family with copies of movies classics, blockbusters and indies which became the boys’ window onto the world. It also helped them open up

to Moselle, whom they met on one of their first ventures out together.

“She’s somebody who shares the same passion as we do,” Govinda said.

“We feel that she’s coming from a good place.”

The singular path of the Angulos began in the late ’80s, when Susanne Reisenbichler, a free spirit from the Midwest, met Oscar, an aspiring Peruvian musician, on a trail to Machu Picchu. They fell in love, moved to West Virginia, then California, then finally New York City, where they secured the sprawling public housing apartment for their growing family. Their firstborn was Visnu, a developmentally challenged girl, followed by the six boys. Hare Krishna devotees, the parents also gave the brothers Sanskrit names; from oldest to youngest they are Bhagavan, Govinda, Narayana, Mukunda, Krsna and Jagadisa.

It was Mukunda, the third youngest and a natural leader, who, in April 2010, at 15, first defied his father’s orders and slipped outside.

He was wearing a homemade mask modeled on the one worn by Michael Myers in ‘Halloween’. Later he said he figured it would keep his father unaware should they cross paths.

Discomfited shopkeepers called the police, who picked Mukunda up, and, after he would not respond to their questions, took him to Bellevue Hospital Center, believing him to be mentally ill. He was returned home a week later.

According to the family, the city’s Administration for Children’s Services was alerted and looked into the household situation. After surmising that nothing was seriously awry, the family said, the agency decided that the youngest three needed

more socialisation, so those brothers attended therapy at a nearby nonprofit for a year. (Citing privacy regulations, neither the city agency nor the nonprofit would confirm involvement; also the Department of Education would not say whether there were records of them having been home-schooled.)

After the brothers met Moselle, she became a guide for them on how to interact with others. (“Ask them about their favourite movies,” she advised.) Steadily, the boys, who each come across as strikingly genuine, selfaware, generous and perceptive, met more people and realised that their father’s paranoid depiction of outsiders did not ring true. “Nobody’s perfect, and not everybody has ill intentions toward you,” Narayana said. “You can’t think that way about people.”

The balance of power also tipped in the house: The brothers, and their mother, who has since bought a car and redecorated her bedroom, now have the upper hand.

“It’s been a big release for Mom,” said Govinda, who last year moved to an apartment in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, and is the only one to move out.

“She’s ultimately the hero because she kept the love, and we held each other tight.”

The rest of the family members, Oscar included, still live together, yet, save for Bhagavan, none of the boys talk to their father any more.

“I want to move forward, and I don’t want to move back,” said Mukunda, who is now 20 and working as a freelance production assistant. “I feel if we start going back to the old way of talking, I won’t be able to move forward with my life.” © 2015 New York Times News Service

by DENNIS OVERBYE

PICO DE ORIZABA NATIONAL PARK, Mexico: Dr Sheperd Doeleman’s project to take the firstever picture of a black hole wasn’t going well. For one thing, his telescope kept filling with snow.

For two weeks at the end of March, Volcan Sierra Negra, an extinct 4,570-metre volcano also known as Tliltepetl in southern Mexico, was the nerve centre for the largest telescope ever conceived, a network of antennas that reaches from Spain to Hawaii to Chile.

Known as the Event Horizon Telescope, its job was to see what has been until now unseeable: an exquisitely small, dark circle of nothing, a tiny shadow in the glow of radiation at the centre of the Milky Way galaxy. There, astronomers think, lurks a supermassive black hole, a trap door into which the equivalent of 4 million suns has evidently disappeared.

If Doeleman and his colleagues succeed, the images they capture will be in textbooks forever, as definitive evidence of Einstein’s weirdest prediction: that space-time could curl up like a magician’s cloak around massive objects and vanish them from the universe. In short, that black holes - objects so dense that not even light can escape their maws - are real. That space and time as we know them can come to an end right under our noses.

Conversely, they could produce evidence that Einstein’s theory of

gravity, general relativity, the rule of rules for the universe, needs fixing for the first time since it was introduced a hundred years ago.

Astronomers today agree that space is sprinkled with massive objects that emit no light at all.

Theorists, including Stephen Hawking, are still arguing about just what happens inside a black hole and the ultimate fate of whatever falls in.

Nearly every galaxy seems to harbour one of these dark monsters, millions or even billions of times as massive as the sun, squatting at its center. Black holes lie with their mouths open, and when something - a wayward star or gas cloud - falls toward it, it is heated to billions of degrees as it swirls in a doughnut called an accretion disk around the cosmic drain. Black holes are sloppy eaters, and when they feed, jets of X-rays and radio energy can be squeezed from the accretion disks. Astronomers believe this is what produces the energies of quasars, brilliant beacons in the cores of galaxies that far outshine the starry cities in which they dwell.

The centre of the Milky Way, 26,000 light-years from here, coincides with a faint source of radio noise called Sagittarius A. Astronomers tracking the orbits of stars circling the centre have been able to calculate that whatever is at the centre has the mass of 4 million suns.

If this is not a black hole, no one knows what it could be. © 2015 New York Times News Service

Meridith Kohut/The New York Times

Scientists inside the Large Millimeter Telescope check for ice on its dish, which prevents the instrument from connecting up with other telescopes, at Pico De Orizaba National Park near Ciudad Serdan, Mexico, March 24, 2015

The trappings of success were weighing him down, a midlife crisis - in reverse

by LAURA M HOLSON

For a time, he lived on an 8-hectare estate in Bedford, New York, overseen by a butler whom he paid $50,000 a year, and he hosted grand parties for 60 guests or more.

They swam in his pool, waged paintball wars in the woods and played padel tennis on his private court.

With no family or boss to answer to, he was able to go skiing in Utah on a whim, working whenever he wanted to, as long as he had decent Wi-Fi and a robust cell signal.

Sometimes, when he was restless, he would go for drives in his $300,000 McLaren sports car. On weekends he might crash at his $13,000-a-month Manhattan pied-à-terre near Madison Square Park. He booked late-night tables at chic restaurants and dined in the company of beautiful, intelligent women.

But as he approached 40, Fabrice Grinda, a French technology entrepreneur with an estimated net worth of $100 million, couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. Somehow the trappings of his success were weighing him down.

He was having a midlife crisis - in reverse.

“People turn 40 and usually buy a shiny sports car,” Grinda said during an interview in a penthouse suite at Sixty LES, a downtown boutique hotel.

“They don’t say, ‘I’m downsizing my life and giving up all my possessions to focus on experiences and friendships.’”

But that is exactly what Grinda did. He moved out of the Bedford house in December 2012, ditched the city apartment and got rid of the McLaren. He donated clothes, sports equipment and kitchen utensils to the Church of St Francis Xavier in Lower Manhattan. He gave his furniture to Housing Works, and he packed a Tumi carry-on suitcase with 50 items.

He dubbed it “the very big downgrade”: He was going to travel the world, working on the fly while staying with friends and family. He was purposely arranging things so that he would have a chance to focus on what was meaningful in life.

Aaron Richter/The New York Times

Black holes, the Curious midlife crisis for entrepreneur unseeable mystery

Fabrice Grinda, who is worth an estimated $100 million, outside his hotel room in New York, May 29, 2015. As he approached 40, Grinda ditched his 20-acre estate and $300,000 sports car in search of an elusive happiness

“When I looked back at the things that mattered the most to me,” he said, “they were experiences, friendships and family - none of which I had invested much in, partly because I was too busy, and partly because I felt anchored by my possessions.”

He assumed everyone would be happy to see him. But as Benjamin Franklin wrote, “Fish and visitors stink in three days.”

His first stop was Miami. Grinda stayed with a childhood friend, Olivier Brion, at the home he shared with his wife, Hélène, and their toddler.

Soon after his arrival, there were problems. For one, there was the matter of Grinda’s bearing. “He is very loud when he talks,” Brion said.

Grinda also wanted to play tennis after his friend got home from work, which left Brion hobbling and sore from their furious two-hour matches.

There was also an issue with Grinda’s suitcase wardrobe. “My wife was doing his laundry,” Brion said. She also took on the chore of making his bed in their small guest room.

The visit lasted all of one week.

“It was a disaster,” Grinda said. “By the time it’s 10 pm, they were dead and

exhausted and going to bed. I was just getting started.”

Born in suburban Paris in 1974, Grinda graduated from Princeton in 1996 with a degree in economics. He worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company for two years before moving back to France to found an online auction company funded by business magnate Bernard Arnault. Grinda sold it in 2000.

He returned to the United States, where he co-founded Zingy, a mobile phone ringtone and game maker, which fetched $80 million in a 2004 sale. After that, he was a founder of OLX, a Craigslist-like service that has become one of the largest global classified websites.

Now he is an entrepreneur and angel investor, with more than 200 investments to date. He visits startups in Berlin, Paris, New York, San Francisco and other cities.

After his fiasco with the Brion family, Grinda tried his luck in Paris, staying at the apartment of a cousin, Cyril Lejeune, who is a banker.

Grinda spent afternoons in the living room, tapping away at his computer between business calls, and

his suitcase wardrobe again proved a problem. “He would not have enough clothes, so he’d borrow mine,” Lejeune said.

It was a three-day visit.

In all, Grinda said, he stayed with about 15 friends and family members in the first months of 2013.

Once he realised his days as a roving houseguest were numbered, Grinda decided to shift his approach: He kept travelling, but now he was renting apartments on Airbnb or staying in luxury hotels.

That posed problems, too.

Occupancy rates are high in the cities where he worked for several weeks at a stretch.

He hatched a new plan: His friends and family members would come to him. But Grinda forgot to consider that not everyone lives as he does.

For one thing, he had scheduled the Anguilla vacation during the school year, which meant friends with children couldn’t make it. About 50 people made the trip.

After that setback, he settled on a compromise. Now, he holds two parties - at Christmas and during the summer - in Cabarete, Dominican Republic, where he recently became a resident (it has a low tax rate). The cost: About $25,000 per party, he said.

Last August he celebrated his 40th birthday there, surrounded by friends and family. Grinda said he has learned a lot from his very big downgrade.

He reconnected with old friends, and rekindled his relationship with his father.

“We spent time talking about his life,” he said. And he is no longer against the idea of having a fixed address; he said he is in negotiations to buy a two-bedroom apartment on the Lower East Side, which he plans to rent out when he is not in town.

He recently split up with Otilia Aionesei, a former model who works at a technology start-up, whom he had been dating, off and on, for two years.

The sticking point was their lack of a shared home.

“My home is where I am,” he said.

“And it doesn’t matter if it is a friend’s place or a couch or the middle of the jungle or a hotel room on the Lower East Side. But I realise that most of humanity, especially women, don’t see it that way.” © 2015 New York Times News Service

MONEY MATT ER S

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JUNE 20, 2015

PUNE

“Mobile is one of our key focus areas and in a span of just two years, the medium has proved to be one of the biggest growth drivers for the company.”

— Rohit Bansal, co-founder, Snapdeal

“Increased demand for Indian spices in the international market is a testimony to their unmatched quality and escalating faith in their sustainability.”

— A Jayathilak, chairman, Spices Board

Tax evaders will be prosecuted: CBDT

Signpost

NEW DELHI: The menace of tax evasion is “spoiling” the culture of compliance in the country and the Income Tax department will ensure that chronic evaders are not able to get away without facing court cases, a top CBDT official on Tuesday said.

“We try to ensure that our tax regime remains non-intrusive... but there are certain people or cases against whom intrusive action is required.

Because not everybody is willingly compliant. We have the powers of search and seizure under the Income Tax Act... we all know that there is large tax evasion happening in certain cases and we have to use that power of search and seizure (to clamp them down).

“We just don’t want to get penalty CBDT Chairperson Anita Kapur is determined to penalise and even prosecute tax and unpaid tax from the evader. We evaders, to keep the compliance culture intact don’t want to do that. Because, for us, tax evasion is not only a menace in that sense, it is also spoiling the done once the taxman comes calling bracket every month. entire compliance culture (in the with a search or a survey. We don’t “I am just trying to say that there country) because the people who are want that message to go,” she said. has to be deterrence against tax tax compliant feel that the system is “Our focus should not be collection evasion. If my officer is not harsh on unfair,” Central Board of Direct Taxes and it should be taken to a logical a tax evader then I think, you would (CBDT) Chairperson conclusion which is agree, he or she is not doing their job Anita Kapur told that an evader not only properly. There is a law in place and reporters here. pays penalty (on the there is no place for compassion in law.

CBDT is the apex tax evaded) but also be Law has to be forced fairly and evenly,” policy making body of prosecuted,” she said. .

Kapur said. the I-T department.

Unveiling the The tax boss said certain tax She added there department’s plan of evaders have the capacity to “create are chances that by making the life of tax noise” and say that the I-T department witnessing such a evaders tough in the is harassing or terrorising him or lax system of tax coming days, Kapur said her but a compliant taxpayer keeps enforcement, even a new and intelligent “silent” and goes according to law as compliant taxpayers database to keep a check they believe a good tax regime is their would “waver” from on such instances will democratic right.

- ANITA KAPUR their duty saying why be brought out later “It is this belief that we have to live should they pay taxes this year and made fully up to,” she said. when others can skip operational by 2016.

Kapur added the I-T department, it. Kapur added that “It is called the at present, was bringing only 1 per cent “demonstrative action” by the taxman Income Tax Business Application and of cases under the scrutiny category is required against evaders. once ready, it will vastly improve the and it was trying to bring in a regime “Th is (not catching the evader) will data mining and business intelligence where a taxpayer will have the least encourage a system where a person of the department and the taxman. human interface thereby reducing who is outside the tax system will It will be a robust database which instances of corruption and emergence continue to remain outside the tax will include all sorts of financial of a grievance. system,” Kapur said adding there was transactions data of an entity including The Chairperson added that the a large tax constituency which is not human intelligence collected on a Non-fi lers Monitoring System (NMS), covered under the Tax Deducted at person or entity,” she said. aimed at tracking those entities which Source (TDS) regime like for example Kapur also said the department skip fi ling their returns, will be small traders. was on a drive to widen the tax net continued till it achieves the desired “Such people do not fi le the return and is aiming to bring in as many as 25 result. and wait thinking something would be lakh new assesses under the taxpaying PTI

Government okays 16 FDI proposals worth Rs 6,751 cr NEW DELHI: The government on Wednesday approved 16 foreign investment proposals, including those of Torrent Pharmaceuticals and Star India Private Limited, amounting to Rs 6,750.86 crore. “Based on the recommendations of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB)...

Government has approved 16 proposals of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) amounting to Rs 6,750.86 crore,” Finance Ministry said in a statement.

The proposals were cleared during the FIPB meet on May 28, it added.

A total of 21 proposals were deferred during the meet and six were rejected.

FDI proposals of Stericat Gut Strings Pvt Ltd, BASF Chemicals India Private Ltd, Ordain Health Care Global, TRIF Kochi Projects, TRIF Real Estate and Development Ltd, Berggruen Real Estates and Today Magazines Lifestyle were approved. Those in deferred list include Kotak Mahindra Bank, Reliance Globalcom Ltd, Bermuda, Celon Laboratories, INX Music Private Limited, Eros International Media, NTT Communications India, Hathway Cable and Datacom and DEN Networks.

“There is large tax evasion in some cases.”

High-net-worth households on the rise in India

Economic expansion of China and India is driving growth in wealth in the Asia-Pacific region

NEW YORK: India is home to the fourth largest number of ultra-high-networth households that have more than 100 million dollars in private wealth, according to a new report topped by the US. The Boston Consulting Group’s ‘Global Wealth 2015: Winning the Growth Game’ report said continued economic expansion of China and India was driving growth in wealth in the Asia-Pacific region.

The US remains the country with the largest number of ultra-high-networth (UHNW) households at 5,201, followed by China (1,037), the UK (1,019), India (928) and Germany (679) in 2014, it said.

India’s UHNW households grew manifold from 2013 when the number stood at 284.

The private wealth in the AsiaPacific region expanded by a steep 29 per cent in 2014 to reach USD 47 trillion, enabling it to overtake Europe (Eastern and Western Europe combined) to become the world’s second-wealthiest region, the report said.

With a projected USD 57 trillion in 2016, Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan) is expected to surpass North America (a projected USD 56 trillion) as the wealthiest region in the world and will be the largest pool for client acquisition.

“At such a pace, the region is expected to overtake North America as the world’s richest region in 2016, with USD 57 trillion in private wealth,” the report released yesterday said.

The region is also projected to hold 34 per cent of global wealth in 2019.

With a projected annual growth rate of almost 10 per cent, private wealth in Asia-Pacific will rise to an estimated USD 75 trillion in 2019.

Growth in wealth in the AsiaPacific region was driven heavily by the continued economic expansion of its two largest economies China and India, the report said. Private wealth in China and India also showed solid market gains driven mainly by investments in local equities, it said. China’s equity market rose by 38 per cent and India’s by 23 per cent, it added.

PTI

Austerity policies have driven more Greeks out of the workforce and into the pension system

BY SUZANNE DALEY

ATHENS, Greece: Vasiliki Meliou did not want to retire at 53, but she had little choice, she said, after the stateowned bank she worked for was sold three years ago.

To stay at the bank carried the risk of being laid off, and with Greece’s unemployment rate above 25 per cent, she doubted she would ever find another job.

So she took advantage of an earlyretirement provision, joining tens of thousands of other public servants who took economic refuge in Greece’s underfunded pension system.

“It’s not what I wanted,” she said, “but I could see I was being junked.”

Greece’s big creditors - other eurozone countries, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank - have done little to solve the problem. Instead, they have imposed deep cutbacks on pensions, as much as 48 per cent in some cases, and further weakened the pension funds by, among other measures, pressing them to accept huge losses as part of the country’s debt write-down.

Now, even as their austerity policies have driven more Greeks out of the workforce and into the pension system, the creditors are seeking deeper cuts still.

Meliou, who started working at the bank at 18, has already seen her

EIRINI VOURLOUMIS/THE NEW YORK TIMES

Greek pensioners are squeezed as creditors want more cuts

Pensioners play cards in Zappeion Park, in Athens, Greece, June 6, 2015. Even as austerity policies have driven more Greeks out of the work force and into the pension system, the country’s big creditors are seeking deeper cuts still to retiree’s pensions

pension payments cut 35 per cent. She says she sometimes cannot sleep for fear of what might happen next.

As it confronts creditors over its huge debts and how best to recover from a still-crippling downturn, Greece’s left-wing government faces few problems that are more substantively and politically daunting than how to meet pension promises to retirees.

In the latest round of negotiations, Greece’s creditors are demanding that Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras make further cuts in pensions as a condition of continuing to help Greece pay its enormous debts.

Tsipras and his radical-left Syriza party, elected on a promise that they would reject continuing austerity demands by the creditors, are flatly

refusing, saying that additional cuts would lead to a humanitarian crisis and cast another blow to a flailing economy, reducing consumer spending power at a time when it is desperately needed.

In an interview published recently by the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Tsipras suggested that a deal on Greece’s debt was within reach if the creditors scaled back their demands for cuts to pensions and other social services.

“There just needs to be a positive attitude on alternative proposals to cuts to pensions or the imposition of recessionary measures,” he said.

The problem is that much more difficult because Greece, like most European nations, has an aging population, meaning it has relatively

fewer young workers to help pay the bills for the growing numbers of retirees. The imbalance is made even worse by the chronic unemployment among young people since the financial crisis started in 2008.

Recent government figures indicate that nearly 45 per cent of Greek retirees live at or below the poverty line. About 60 per cent get pensions of 700 euros a month or less.

Still, pensions eat up a big portion of the government’s budget, equivalent to about 16 per cent of the country’s shrunken gross domestic product, up from 13 per cent in 2009, making it proportionally the most expensive pension system in Europe.

Panagiota Stathopoulou, 55, who retired recently after working 30 years in an unemployment office, said her

pension was supposed to have paid out 900 euros a month, but it had been cut to 700 euros. Still, she said, when she looks around her, she feels guilty about having even that much.

At the grocery store recently, she was approached by an old man who asked if she would buy him some food.

Like many other retirees, she scrimps so that she can also help one of her children financially. Her daughter’s husband has a job, but he often is not paid.

Greece’s creditors pushed the country to overhaul its pension system early on, pressing it to merge the funds and to limit early-retirement benefits that could seem overly generous to outsiders, such as exemptions that let hairdressers retire at 50.

But this enormous bureaucratic undertaking has created its own problems, particularly at a time when the number of government employees was shrinking.

Reliable data on the state of the Greek pension system does not seem to exist. Platon Tinios, an economist and pension expert at Piraeus University, points out that despite a wave of early retirements, the latest official data suggests that there are 2.65 million retirees today, fewer than the 2.7 million in 2013.

“That just defies explanation,” he said. “They don’t know what they are doing.”

One explanation may be that there is a backlog of more than 400,000

pension applications, some of which have been in the pipeline for three years, government officials have said.

However bad the problems are now, Tinios said, the situation is likely to get worse. The limits on early retirement in 2010 did not include people who were already vested, he said, meaning that the flow into the system will remain high for years to come. Women who took early retirement, most of whom had lower-paying jobs, will find themselves with small or shrinking incomes for the rest of their lives, he added.

“The system is a ticking time bomb,” he said.

After months of negotiations between the Tsipras government and Greece’s creditors, in which pensions appeared to be a central sticking point, the two sides unveiled dueling proposals recently on a range of issues that could hardly have been further apart.

The creditors want to establish substantial earlyret i rements penalties for those who still choose the option, and to cut existing pensions even more even the smallest ones. The proposal also demands further unifying the funds and establishing a closer link between contribution and benefits, most likely setting the stage for yet more cuts. © 2015 New York Times News Service

Greece’s creditors wanted an overhaul of its pension system

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY JUNE 20, 2015

“PMC efforts on solid waste management and sanitation management have recieved appreciation from the Union government. These can be implemented in other cities of the country.”

— Kunal Kumar, Municipal Commissioner

PUNE

“The number of dog bites cases have increased in the city.

Hence the proposal seeking to appointment three agencies to carry out sterilisation was approved immediately.”

— Ashwini Kadam, chairperson, standing committee

With a growing number of passengers and inadequate number of trains, railway commuters are switching to their own two-wheelers and cars

I commute by local train to and fro between Chinchwad and Shivajinagar almost everyday. It saves me a lot of time and I don’t have to go through the hassles of traffic jams.

But I am totally disappointed with the kind of service government is providing. It’s really getting intolerable now. I travel fi rst class, and even after paying much more for a fi rst class ticket, I don’t get place to sit or even stand properly. The general class people travel in the fi rst class bogie and occupy the seats.

Male passengers are standing at the door, and there is no security for women at all. I have never seen a ticket checker in the train for the last four months.

The train timings and the

Prathamesh Hendre

frequency of local trains is bad. There is a train every 45 minutes or an hour, and that too never comes on time.

The government and railway officials are sleeping and we are compelled to suffer.

There is an urgent need to increase the frequency of trains as the number of commuters has increased considerably.

The city and its neighbouring areas are developing fast and most people, be it students, workers and women, rely on local trains.

CITIZEN JOURNALIST

At the peak hours it gets difficult to even climb on a train. So many youngsters even glide on a handle or bar, whick makes the travel more risky.

If a person misses a train, there is no option but to wait for at least an hour for the next train. Such long waits are ridiculous for short distances like Shivajinagar and Khadki. One would rather travel by their own vehicle than waste 60 minutes of their time.

As the frequency of local trains is poor, many people travel to Pune using two-wheelers or cars. The condition of the roads is abysmal. So the frequency of local trains should be increased. It would boost development and help to decongest the roads.

Fast locals are an utmost requirement. Th is will help people to reach faster and also boost people to travel by rail. A few trains can stop at Pimpri, Khadki and other junctions where passengers are expected.

Those who face the problem do not have the time to resolve it. Passengers are in a hurry to reach office or home.

And no one cares to bring up the issue with the authorities. In the long run, the railways and government will be the losers. Th is issue should be addressed now.

RAHUL RAUT

More local trains are the need of the hour

With its rapid development on all fronts, Pune is poised to become a world class city

Indu Nair

I converted from being a Bangalorean to a Punekar pretty fast. I shifted here around five years ago, for work reasons. Pune is a wonderful place; it’s the Oxford of the East, with a soothing climate and lush greenery in most of the city, that has been preserved despite the ever growing urban population.

Pune’s atmosphere has never changed radically unlike other places: it’s always calm and slow here.

I am amazed to see how many people use cycles.

I work in an IT company and many of my colleagues cycle to work every day.

Its amazing how Puneites care about the environment and do whatever they can to preserve the environment.

Enjoying life seems to be motto for business people here, more than earning money, as the markets are closed during

afternoon hours. You walk on the street after 2pm and the streets will be all empty, the shopkeepers are all gone for an afternoon nap.

The slow paced life is what sets the city apart from the others.

I am a hardcore foodie, and I have tasted all special cuisines here. The best is the missal here.

The Puneri spicy misal is a treat for your taste buds. Chitale’s bakarwadi and chakka are the best, and there are other food items that are unique to Pune. I am also fond of the shrewberry biscuits and chocolate walnut cake at Kayani bakery.

No matter how modern the city gets, Punekars are still attached to their roots, traditions and culture.

People have time to celebrate life with

PAROLE

EDITOR

enthusiasm, be it the palkhi procession, or dhol-tasha during Ganesh Utsav. Pune comes alive with music and celebrations for every occasion. I have visited Dagdusheth Ganpati and Kasba Ganpati, and their decoration is simply amazing.

But one thing that the city lacks in is a good public transport system. It is difficult to manage without your own vehicle here. Most autorickshaw-wallahs overcharge and do not go by the meter. Some of them are even rude.

The buses are overfull and their frequency is very low. Till now I haven’t been able to figure out which bus goes where.

Besides all these Pune still remains my favourite city. Even if I go out at midnight, I feel safe and secure. Pune is growing out of the shadow of its much bigger neighbouring city of Mumbai.

city which is vibrant, home to a cross-section of industries, an education hub that is poised to become a world class city.

However, it has to address issues of pollution, traffic and public transport among others. The IT boom usurped land meant for gardens and parks.

SHORES

Give deserving sportspersons their due The stigma of HIV is hard to erase

Talents like Chanda Udanshive and Sourabh Patil should be given a place to stay in a hostel and offered training with a stipend to support themselves and their families. Scholarships should be given to sportspersons who reach even district level of any sport. It’s really shameful on the part of our authorities that these people are not even given the recognition that they deserve.

—Vidhi Goyal

Lessons to learn from Maggi ban The story ‘This is why India doesn’t perform well at Olympics’ reveals the deplorable condition of our sportspersons and lack of financial aid provided by the authorities. On one hand they have all the money to splurge on cricket, while on the other hand, there are others sportspersons who do

Thahchuyen Doan

FROM FOREIGN

NON-NATIVE

LETTERS TO THE

Born and brought up in Thailand, I never thought that I would venture out of my country ever. I chose Pune to pursue higher education. The rolling hills around the city, the trees along the roadsides, the people... I love everything here.

My fi rst day in college day was fi lled with excitement and trepidation. The classroom was big and fi lled with students. I sat at the back, as I didn’t know anyone. Over the course of the day, I met my classmates and I was overwhelmed by their friendly nature. My friends taught me the ways and customs of Maharashtra, and made me familiar with its culture and social fabric. It’s been four years and today I consider myself an integral part of the institute and the city.

It has made a mark across the globe as a RAHUL RAUT

Despite the rapid development and modernity, tradition and culture are preserved in this city

RAHUL RAUT

Punekars are attached to their roots Pensioners’ paradise to thriving metro

not have basic necessities. These are the real heroes, as they have to fight the odds to achieve their dreams. I was really saddened by what Amol Karche had to go through even after winning the World Cup last year. He was not even paid his dues for playing the series nor did he receive any appreciation.

The article on how moms in the city are replacing Maggi with healthy home-made goodies was an interesting read. Being a mother, I have always dissuaded my daughter from instant foods. Easy-to-cook food may be a great time-saver, but could be harmful to health. I totally agree with Prerna, that instant foods like Maggi are not a long-term healthy solution. Homecooked food has great nutritional

value. We should learn from the Maggi controversy, and opt for snacks like pohe, shira, puri-bhaji etc, instead of ready-to-eat instant foods.

— Hemanshi Mittal

The story on an HIV patient’s condition made public by his own family was shocking. Even after so much awareness being created, it is really appalling that people still behave in such a way. The victim is petrified to an extent where he is not willing to even step out of the house. His own sister has disowned him and has been distributing pamphlets about him.

How can people in our society be this cruel? The authorities should help him out and get him counselling for the trauma he has been through.

Being identified as HIV-positive must have been a devastating experience for this person.

The family should support him and care for him just like any normal person, and not treat him like an outcast.

— Prashant Garg

Makeover magic The story on women getting a makeover just to get their pictures clicked was an interesting read.

Women will go all-out today to look good on social media and get all the likes they can on their profi les. It’s amazing to see the transformation.

They all look glamorous after the makeover, be it the hair, the skin, or the clothes. The makeover has boosted their confidence. I’m thinking of getting a makeover too.

— Purvi Joshi

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 JUNE 20, 2015

PUNE

SPORTS

““Indian Super League (ISL) and the I-League should not be merged. If it does, the ISL will lose its charm. It has helped garner more interest in youngsters and helped football.”

— Former India football captain Bhaichung Bhutia

“I had some great battles with Sachin Tendulkar. In fact, the Indians still haven’t forgiven me for getting him out in the 2003 World Cup final.”

—Former Australian speedster Glenn McGrath

Combatants’ team-building formula pays off Coach Jayant Gokhale’s physical regimen as preparation pays dividends as last year’s runners-up claim Maharashtra Chess League crown

The victorious Thane Combatants team along with team owners posing for the shutterbugs with the trophy. (R) Team members enjoying outdoor activity as part of their team building programme

BY ASHISH PHADNIS @phadnis_ashish Chess is an individual sport, and the preparations for a tournament involves hours of working out one’s tactics, plans and moves – and this can result in mental fatigue. But if chess players’ tournament preparations involved football, trekking and other such team building physical activities, it sure would be a novel concept.

But that concept is exactly what Thane Combatants, a team that

Signposts Double crown for Siddhant Banthia Pune tennis star Siddhant Banthia won a double crown in the National Series tournament at Ahmedabad recently. Top seeded Banthia defeated Gujarat’s Megh Patel 7-6 (4), 6-1 in straight sets. Later in the doubles, he paired with Patel to prevail over Mrutunjay Badola and Abhimanyu Vhannam Reddy 6-3, 6-0. Banthia is a student of Bishop’s Co-ed School, Kalyaninagar.

Meanwhile, Pune girl Shivani Ingale along with Karnataka’s Rashmika Rajan defeated Vaidehi Choudhary and Prikal Singh 6-1, 6-0 in the girls Under-16 doubles final.

Darode Jog Trophy TT from June 24 Table Tennis Promotion Foundation will conduct the Darode Jog Trophy district ranking table tennis tournament at Sanmitra Sangh hall, Kothrud from June 24. This is the second district ranking tournament of the season. The draws and schedule will be displayed at the venue one day before the championship begins. Madhukar lonare will be the Chief Referee for the tournament. Those interested in participating can submit their entries at rohit_chaudhary@rediffmail.com, or contact (9823294372 for details.

Jagdale, Akhade shine for Cadence A 93-run innings by Saurabh Jagdale and an all-round performance by Omkar Akhade (41 runs, 3 wickets) helped Cadence Cricket Academy beat MCA President XI in the Under-19 invitational cricket league at Poona Club ground. Cadence declared their first innings for 369-7. Paras Ratnaparkhi (79) and Vishal Bhosale (56) also contributed to the total. Later they wrapped up President XI for 215. Siddhesh Warghante picked up two wickets.

With this win Cadence won the tournament with 17 points.

features in the Maharashtra Chess League, has adopted. Team coach Jayant Gokhale was looking for a new approach to preparations instead of the traditional ways, and he thought of involving the team in a host of fun activities.

It has paid dividends, since the team, which finished runners-up in the last edition, emerged winners of the third edition of the league. They held their nerve in a pulsating, high pressure final to defeat Ahmednagar Checkers 4-2 at the PYC Hindu

Gymkhana, this week.

Th is is the fi rst title for the MEP Infrastructure-owned team.

The team rallied magnificently against their defiant opponents, with talented teenagers Aravindh Chithambaram and Abhimanyu Puranik paving the way to glory, with their superb wins against Abhijeet Gupta and Rucha Pujari respectively.

As expected, Soumya Swaminathan defeated Aakanksha Hagawane. Eesha Karavade drew against N R Vignesh, and M R Lalith Babu drew against

Yuga claims triple crown at state-level aquatic meet Swejal Mankar grabs rich haul of two golds, and a silver and bronze TGS NEWS NETWORK @TGSWeekly Pune swimmers expectedly dominated the Junior State Level Swimming Championship held recently at Shiv Chhatrapati sports complex in Balewadi. However, it was Yuga Birnale who stole the limelight with three gold medals in the girls’ under-17 category.

Yuga, who trains with coach Bhupendra Achrekar at Harmony Club, won the 100m backstroke and went on to win the 200m individual medley title, setting a new meet record. She clocked a time of 2 minutes and 37.95 seconds. The previous record was set by Mumbai’s Kanchi Desai (2:39.29). On the final day of the championship, Yuga emerged winner in the 200m backstroke, clocking 2 min 33.87sec.

City swimmer Siddhi Karkhanis also brought home a gold medal for the hosts, winning the 200m butterfly stroke event. She clocked 2 minutes and 41.28 seconds to beat Radhika Gavde of Mumbai.

In the boys’ segment, Swejal Mankar won two gold medals, a silver and bronze in the boys Under-17 category amidst stiff competition from the Mumbai swimmers. Mankar won

Yuga Birnale

gold medals in the 100m backstroke and 50m breaststroke events. In the 50m event, he set a new meet record, clocking 31.65 sec. His bronze medal came in the 50m freestyle, where he trailed Viraj Prabhu (Thane) and Ishan Mishra (Mumbai). Mankar finished second in the 200m individual medley event. Jason Smith of Mumbai set a new meet record, with 2 min 13.92 sec, and Mankar was close behind with 2 min 18.54 sec.

In the Under-10 boys age group, Anvesh Prasade impressed with two gold medals. In the 50m butterfly event, he set a national record, clocking 32.31 sec. He was followed

by Rounak Sawant (Mumbai 36.51s) and Ishant Kashikar (Mumbai 36.92s).

Later in the 200m individual medley, he finished fi rst with a timing of 2 min 53.93 sec. His performance earned him an individual championship, with 26 points in his age group. Prasade also trains with Achrekar at Harmony Club.

“We have high hopes for Yuga and Anvesh in the upcoming Junior National meet to be held at the same venue next month. Yuga is a seasoned swimmer at the national level and we can expect a podium finish from her,” said their coach Achrekar.

In the last edition of national meet, Yuga had grabbed three silver medals and one bronze medal. She was also part of Maharashtra team which won gold medal in the 4 X100 medley relay event held at Madhya Pradesh. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

Shyam Sundar. However, Ratnakaran lost his tie against Shardul Gagare.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY Though chess is a mind game, physical exercise is a must for players to be in top shape. Coach Gokhale therefore, puts GMs, IMs and high ranked players in a regular regimen of football, trekking and other physically demanding activities.

“A sound mind in a sound body, they say, and I was determined to inculcate the importance of physical exercise in our players. So I made sure that all our team members arrived in Pune a few days before the tournament. As it happened, all of them were completely supportive of my idea, and joined in the workouts with great enthusiasm,” said Gokhale.

“In fact, the players were so thrilled, that we carried on playing football even during the tournament.

It was a kind of stress-buster for them and helped them face new challenges with a fresh mind,” he added.

TEAM BUILDING Team building is not part of the regular chess routine. But for a tournament like this MCL, team work plays a crucial role, Gokhale believes.

“Normally, players don’t even train together, as they don’t want to expose their strengths or weaknesses to others. However, this time our teambuilding exercise worked out really well, and the entire team prepared for the tournament like a single unit,” he said.

Asked why team effort is needed in an individual sport like chess, he said, “In a league format, team work is essential. Though everyone plays for a win, sometimes holding up a position

against a rival team’s strongest player is equivalent to a win. Secondly, in every match three players play with white pieces, and three with black. So, it’s a crucial part to decide who plays with white and who with black. WGM Eesha and Lalith Babu said they would play all their matches with black pieces.

Th is helped CM Abhimanyu, as he is a strong player with white.”

TEAM SELECTION Choosing the right players is the key to success, and Thane’s strategy started right from the auction process.

“In the last two editions, our women players didn’t perform up to expectations, which was a concern. So this time, we were looking for strong women players, and we were fortunate to have WGM Eesha Karavade and former junior world champion WGM Soumya Swaminathan. Th is move paid rich dividends, as both of them

performed brilliantly,” said Gokhale.

Eesha played an anchor role for the team though she faced strong opponents in most of her matches.

In the second round, she held world number 2 GM Koneru Humpy, and later GM Vidit Gujarathi. Meanwhile, Soumya kept winning crucial games, and was rightfully named the best women player of the tournament.

However, the performance of GM Aravindh Chitambaram of Tamil Nadu caused some jitters in the camp. The 16-year-old is India’s latest grandmaster and has proven himself on numerous occasions. But in the league, he lost his fi rst three matches.

Luckily for the team, he peaked at the right time to defeat GM Abhijeet Gupta in a high-powered game, which ultimately made the big difference in the scoreline.

The youngster showed guile and craft to use the time advantage, blitzing out moves and giving Gupta occasion for deep thought. Eventually he forced Gupta into a blunder, and Aravindh’s double rooks and knight wove a checkmating net on the 33rd turn.

So thrilled were team owner Sachin Awasthee and coach Gokhale, that they lifted Aravindh up on their shoulders, to celebrate his triumph.

“My game plan was simple; keep playing, keep playing speedily and in the end Gupta blundered,” said Aravindh.

Meanwhile, Abhimanyu Puranik, who was the only player retained by the team, defeated Rucha Pujari in the final.

“It was a complicated game and the extra pawn made all the difference,” he said. ashish.phadnis@goldensparrow.com