The Golden Sparrow on Saturday 20/09/2014

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PUNE, SEPTEMBER 20, 2014 | www.goldensparrow.com

CITY

PUNE’S PEOPLE WITH A PURPOSE

SPORTS

Citizens extend helping hand to flood-hit J&K P3

Treating schizophrenics... with love P2

Roll all in and roll a few P 15

HA staff, families to boycott Maha polls

BY ARCHANA DAHIWAL @ArchanaDahiwal

Balewadi Sports Complex

Bring Back

There’s very little sports happening at the massive Shiv Chhatrapati sports complex in Balewadi, even as it struggles for funds. Sports enthusiasts and experts suggest a way out See Spotlight P7

Mojo

the

The 1,100 workers of Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd (HAL) and their families have decided to boycott the October 15 assembly polls as neither the central nor the state governments have taken action to revive the sick public sector unit at Pimpri.

The workers have not received their salaries for the last ten months.

General Secretary of the Hindustan Antibiotic Mazdoor Sangh (HAMS) Sunil Pataskar said that while workers in other units

in the industrial belt were looking forward to receiving festival bonuses, here, the public sector employees were struggling to get their salary dues. “The government has been offering false promises and has not been taking any concrete steps for the revival of the unit,” he said, adding that the employees had decided to boycott the forthcoming assembly polls.

As a part of their campaign, the union representatives have written numerous letters to the Modi government while the HA school children have conducted a signature campaign to draw attention to the plight of their parents.

Continued on p 10

Mhada Pune offers `986 cr to HA for land

Scotland votes ‘No’ to independence EDINBURGH: The “No” campaign won the Scottish referendum on Friday to keep the territory within the United Kingdom.

Chief Counting Officers Mary Pitcaithly and Sue Bruce for the city of Edinburgh announced that 55.42 per cent of the Scots voted against call for independence while 44.58 per cent voted in favour, Xinhua reported.

With a turnout of 84.48 per cent, vote

ON

counting started immediately after the polling stations closed Thursday night. The referendum was overseen by the British Electoral Commission, an independent elections watchdog and regulator of party and election finance.

This is the first Scottish referendum for independence in Britain’s history and official figures showed that about 97 per cent of those eligible to vote in Scotland signed up to vote in

the referendum, which was the biggest poll in Scotland’s history.

If a simple majority of Scots voted for independence, Scotland would have become independent on March 24, 2016, after a period of negotiations with the rest of Britain, according to the white paper, ‘Scotland’s Future’, published by the Scottish government on November 26, 2013.

IANS

BY ASHOK BHAT The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada), Pune has offered `986 cr to HAL towards the sale of its land in two separate deals.

According to Mhada chairman Ankush Kakade, the deal is in the final stages at the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilisers.

Mhada has the mandate to create affordable housing, especially for middle and low income groups and economically weaker sections of the society.

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Kakade said that while Mhada has to depend on municipal corporations and the state government for its land requirement, it has decided to procure land privately to meet its requirements. The housing development authority is keen to secure 65 acres of HA land. Efforts towards this were launched by Pune Mhada’s outgoing CEO, Rajendra Nimbalkar in October 2013.

Nimbalkar had received the approval of the state government for this proposal and had then approached the central government authorities in this regard.

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THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2014

In perfect harmony with nature P4

PUNE

“The“Th inhabitants e rich in India of Anandwan need to findare their bound owntogether conscience; by a friendship of pain.

All residents of We Anandwan arethein to give a little of what they earn. must learn someart ways disabled or shunned society. Thus, there of giving before the art ofby living!” is a sense of belonging-ness Anandwan, where the —Bindeshwar Pathak,infounder, painSulabh is shared by everyone.”

International — Dr Vikas Amte

The new-age Band Baaja Baraat P6

Treating schizophrenics... with love ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

Amrit Bakhshy, president of Schizophrenia Awareness Association (SAA), believes a rehabilitation centre can help schizophrenic patients lead a 95 per cent normal life

BY ANJALI SHETTY @shetty_anjali

condition, rehabilitation centre, self-help groups and advocacy. The association aims at creating an environment that is There are many clichés about friendly for schizophrenics in society.

“The biggest challenge we face is perSchizophrenia and the people suading or convincing families to send suffering from this disease. the concerned to rehabilitation centres Schizophrenia Awareness Association or for consultation. Family acknowledge(SAA) is working towards creating ment will help schizawareness about it ophrenic patients in and making the lives the long run,” said of patients better.

Bakhshy. He pointed “Schizophrenia out that addressing cannot be cured but symptoms and imit can be definitely mediate action helps prevented and conkeep the condition trolled like diabetes under control. and blood pressure,” The association said Amrit Bakhshy, has a clean, homepresident of Schizolike centre for phrenia Awareness patients in Dhayari, Association (SAA), - Amrit Bakhshy where 25 individuals while talking to The are being treated with Golden Sparrow on various therapies.

Saturday. “Unfortu“Twenty-five is nately, even today, a very small number considering that going to a psychiatrist or acknowledging we have a population of around seven to a medical condition in the family is coneight crore and just 5,000 psychiatrists. sidered a stigma,” Bakhshy added.

We are working towards identifying Founded by Dr Jagannath Wani in more patients to help them lead a normal 1998 in Dhayari, Pune, SAA is currently life,” said Bakhshy. run by a group of dedicated and earnest At the centre, patients are treated members. SAA divides its work in four with music and dance therapies along ways namely, creating awareness on the

with familarising them with basic skill sets like embroidery, sketching, gardening and organic farming. “This is no hospital or medical institution. It is a home-like environment for them to feel comfortable unlike asylums that are always on the outskirts of the city

•

•

With more and more girls now getting into schools there is a consensus that life skills education as piloted under the project should get integrated into schools so that all children, boys and girls, get the full benefit of such a critical intervention.

Once it gets embedded into the regular curriculum of the school the need to conduct sessions within communities of an ‘ad hoc’ basis could be reconsidered.

Schools are also seen as the best route through which life skills education can be universalised in an effective way.

Group (AGG). She, the ‘Prerika’, then imparts the learning to the AGG and builds a force within the community through which adolescent girls are empowered. They address social issues, initiate savings and enterprise and participate in village development,” a UNICEF official said.

Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development and Administration (YASHDA) provided technological support for this programme. “Besides UNICEF and YASHDA, the Women and Child Welfare Department and Human Resource Department too have extended support. Although, currently the concentration is in Marathawada region, it aims to spread across the state,” said Sumedh Gujar, who looks after the project. manasisaraf@gmail.com

anjali.shetty@goldensparrow.com

TO SUPPORT, CONTACT Kamalini Kruti Bhawan, 14, Ganesh Nagar, lane B30-31, Dhayari Road, Pune 41 Email: saa.help@gmail.com Phone: 02064700920, 24391202

BY GITESH SHELKE @gitesh_shelke The man behind the ‘Gyan Key’ project, social entrepreneur and CEO of Rural Relations, Pradeep Lokhande plans to start 35 libraries per day in rural schools across the country with the monetary aid from a donor.

“A prominent businessman from the city, Prakash Chhabria, managing director of Finolex Industries, has provided substantial funds for the project. With this we will start 35 libraries per day in schools,” Lokhande said while speaking to The Golden Sparrow on Saturday.

In the last five years, Lokhande has established 1,255 libraries in public or Ashram schools located in rural parts of the country.

The library known as ‘Gyan Key’ was introduced by Lokhande to inculcate reading habits among the adolescents in rural parts.

“Barring text books, children in the remote schools hardly get any reading material. Thus, we are trying to inculcate reading habits among the secondary school students,” he said.

A marketing analyst for private companies on rural markets, Lokhande has travelled extensively in rural India and his postcards are very popular among the villagers, which discuss ideas and concepts. He provides a set of 180 or 200 books in Marathi or other local languages per library. The size of the library depends upon the donor. “Generally people want to donate to the schools from where they had received their primary or secondary education,” he said.

These libraries are opened in the village schools. The villages should have a population of 2000 to 10,000 individuals.

The libraries have been set-up in the villages of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and other states.

“With each book, I provide a post card. The intention is simple, the student must write, put his/ her thoughts after reading the book and the post card can be sent to the person who financed the library,” he said.

“This gives proper feedbacks and follow-ups.

So far, I have received 94,000 feedbacks from the students and majority of them are in the form of book reviews,” he said, adding that exposure is needed for better understanding. “Though, only two per cent students read these books, I think it is an

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

More schools need Deepshikha Life Skills programme

amenities because that will get us more patients. Family members normally find it difficult to pick and drop them,” said Bakhshy, who said that getting dedicated volunteers is also a challenge.

Social entrepreneur Pradeep Lokhande plans to expand the‘Gyan Key’ library movement in rural India IANS

UNICEF India Ambassador actress Priyanka Chopra with girls during a visit to see implementation of Building Young Futures Programme ahead of International Youth Day at Chandrapur in Maharashtra

and near jails. They are not inmates or dangerous and it is high time we treat them like one of our own,” he said.

SAA plans to introduce more skill sets for patients. They charge Rs 1,200/ month and also provide a pick-up and drop facility. “We need more transport

Promoting reading habits among rural children

Under UNICEF’s Deepshikha programme, young girls are given life skills training to educate other teenage girls

•

Patients are branded as ‘mad’ and are rebuked and ridiculed by uncultured people. This pushes such unfortunate victims of severe mental disorder deeper into the process of desocialisation, which later affects the patient’s social rehabilitation after treatment. So, help is needed from volunteers and families to ensure that the treatment starts at the right time and patients are not ignored.

President of Schizophrenia Awareness Association, Amrit Bakhshy interacting with members

Young girls changing lives of others

Age is never a barrier when you are determined towards your goal and 18-year-old Madhuri Tukaram Kinnake proves this. Hailing from a small village called Kusal in Chandrapur district she is ‘Prerika’ (an inspiration) for girls of her age.

Her work includes convincing the parents and others to stop child marriages, allow girls to pursue education and give secrets to adolescent about health and hygiene. Marthawada region still has the highest number of child marriages. Many girls are married off before 18. But thanks to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF’s) Deepshikha programme, many such girls have been saved.

Under the ‘Building Brighter Futures’ initiative, UNICEF piloted a life skills education programme for adolescent girls. This pilot project was implemented between September 2008 and January 2012. “Deepshikha life skills modules have been developed to provide life skills training along with certain critical messages related to growing up, gender, education, nutrition, menstrual hygiene, reproductive and sexual health, rights and responsibilities, and financial literacy which is necessary for the holistic development of the children,” said an official from UNICEF. “During Deepshikha, we realised that outof school support needs to be complemented by the in-school support with linkages to the existing education system to create a holistic life skills learning environment and to strengthen the adolescent and gender programming. And thus phase II was launched in 2012,” she said.

Under this project an adolescent girl from a village is chosen to undergo training. After this she goes back to her village to form an Adolescent Girls’

Schizophrenia is often characterised by abnormal social behaviour and failure to recognise what is real. Common symptoms include false beliefs, unclear or confused thinking, auditory hallucinations, reduced social engagement and emotional expression and inactivity.

What kind of help is needed most?

“It is a home-like environment for them to feel comfortable.”

BY MANASI SARAF JOSHI @GargiManasi

What is Schizophrenia?

Pradeep Lokhande

achievement. I want to enhance their thinking capacity. Over 60 per cent girls respond through post cards,” he said. Earlier, the work of setting-up of libraries was going at a good pace but now it will expand to 35 libraries per day.

When asked, which are the most favourite books of children from rural areas, Lokhande said ‘Napas Mulanchi Gosht’.

“Many students do not like to study and thus, the book relates with them,” he said.

The donors for the project are principally women and the funds are collected as part of the Non-Resident Villager

“Though, only two per cent students read these books, I think it is an achievement.”

(NRV) Movement. “No money is involved in the project. We just act as a bridge to bring the two worlds together,” he added.

Lokhande feels that despite working hard on the project, there is a lack of trust among the villagers. “People think that after setting up any library, I will come to sell something costly to them. People must trust that the project is good for their children,” he said.

New computers for schools Earlier, this socially-conscious entrepreneur used to donate used computers to schools. However, after receiving monetary aid from donors, new computers equipped with the latest softwares are supplied to rural schools. Each selected school gets five new computers. gitesh.shelke@gmail.com

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2014

PUNE

Till 1960, Pune was the second capital of the state and the monsoon session of the State Legislature was held here.

Spicer varsity and its 100-year-old legacy P8

Lifestyle changes can help in matters of the heart P11

Citizens extend helping hand to flood-hit J&K Many social organisations, NGOs and volunteers from the city are carrying out relief measures for the victims of Jammu and Kashmir floods, the worst in the state in 60 years Aseem Foundation to adopt villages Aseem Foundation has decided to adopt Chakura from Pulwama district and Samthan from Anantnag district, in Jammu and Kashmir. The first batch of volunteers will leave for Srinagar on September 19, with an aim to aid 2,000 villagers. The foundation is calling for donation of medicines, drinking water, water purifiers and solar lamps. For details, contact Sandeep Tambe 9422509753, Sai Barve 9422578794 or Niruta Killedar 8275875956.

Sarhad needs more women doctors Sarhad helpline is actively involved in helping the flood victims of Jammu and Kashmir. In the coming week, the social organisation will be sending a team of 11 doctors under the guidance on Dr Rajendra Jagtap to the Valley.

However, there are only a few women doctors in the team. “Many women

nounced a contribution of `20 crore for the Prime Minister National Relief Fund. The company contributed the amount for providing relief in the flood ravaged areas of J&K. Bajaj Auto chairman Rahul Bajaj said, “The state of Jammu and Kashmir has seen unforeseen disaster and damage to property and infrastructure worth crores of rupees. We feel the grief of our fellow citizens in the state and they need our help at this critical time to come out of this tragedy and to rebuild their lives.”

and children have fallen sick in the region. We need women doctors who are willing to treat these patients,” said trustee Shailesh Vadekar. Sarhad has rescued more than five hundred flood-hit families at Jammu and Kashmir. Along with Swanand Adventures, Pune City Congress, Arihant Education Foundation, they have sent medicines worth one lakh and 25,000 bottles of drinking water. On September 15, Sarhad chairman Sanjay Nahar and co-ordinator Sanjeev Shah left for Jammu and Kashmir with life supplies.

IRC’s call for donations The Maharashtra branch of The Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) has urged citizens to make donations towards the flood victims. Donations will be accepted through cash or demand drafts drawn in favour of ‘Indian Red Cross Society Disaster Relief Fund.’ Mail your contributions to Honorary Secretary, Indian Red Cross Society, Pune branch, 593/2 Rasta Peth, Pune – 411011. For details contact 26068974 or 7304922244.

Bajaj Allianz starts helplines

Hope Creators, a city-based creative firm, is coordinating with the Indian Army in relief efforts. Their message reads “‘Hope, Faith & Courage’ Indians! We are helping the J&K flood victims. We have coordinated with “The Indian Army, Pune” for the cause. If you have any old blankets or wish to donate some amount, do it for sure! We’ll send you contacts of people who are helping in every area.

Connect with them and donate! For details, contact - Gaurav 7798345692

PMC sends engineers to Srinagar The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has extended a helping hand to its Srinagar counterpart as the floods have paralysed the water sup-

Civic chief lists steps for better waste mgmt

BY RITU GOYAL HARISH @ritugh Newly-appointed municipal commissioner Kunal Kumar has launched a four-point action plan to deal with the worsening garbage management problem in the city.

On September 13, Kumar laid down a four-point agenda to tackle the solid waste management (SWM) problem. The civic chief was speaking at an interactive session conducted at the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) on the issue of SWM. Information, Education and Communication (IEC) and awareness amongst citizens is the first priority he said. He proposed the formation of a working group to figure out ways and means of improving communication, spreading awareness and highlighting the existing best practises of the city.

“We should use technology to reach out to people and have toll free numbers for complaints, etc” he said.

Kumar sought the help of MCCIA to bring in more CSR resources for this.

Garbage segregation at source was the second important step, he said and those who don’t segregate at source as per the directives of the Supreme Court should be penalised. The third step is the effective use of technology while the fourth is good SWM governance.

AJIT NIMBALKAR retd chief secretary, Govt of Maharashtra

MAJOR GEN (RETD) SCN JATAR President, Nagrik Chetna Manch

It is clear that the issue of garbage management has to be dealt with at the local and federal levels. Fixed targets should be set and there should be constant revisiting of the targets. We have realised in this interaction that this is not the issue of PMC alone but concerns the whole city.

The biggest challenge is that the awareness of segregation at source is an issue. Citizens are not aware that money is being paid from their taxes to ensure smooth collection by outside agencies. It is also important to bring agencies like MPCB on board for this issue.

We suggest that PMC should ensure all reusables, recyclables and items from which energy recovery is possible are segregated at source.

SATISH KHOT President, National Society for Clean Cities The interaction was a good beginning. Even though Pune has been acclaimed in the past for SWM, there is still a lot we have to do.

LAKSHMI NARAYANAN General Secretary, Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat I look forward to working closely with the municipality towards developing a policy that ensures consistent, uniform, environmentally sustainable, socially sensitive and economically robust systems of SWM are set in place.

SAROJ BADGUJAR Deputy Director, Janwani - MCCIA This was a very interactive workshop and has helped provide guidelines for developing roadmap for SWM in Pune.

Janwani has been working with PMC on replication of zero garbage project in 20 prabhags. This has contributed significantly in increasing doorstep waste collection, percentage of segregation and reduction in community bins.

ritugoyalharish@gmail.com

What Citizens Must Do • Segregate dry and wet garbage at source • Ensure that their housing society has provision to compost wet waste • Spread awareness about segregation

Pune municipal commissioner Kunal Kumar (centre) at the interaction between NGOs and citizens on solid waste management at MCCIA

1. What are the challenges faced

by Schzinophrenia Awareness Association?

TGS Quiz Contest

A

No. 14

2. What prompted Shrikant Mundada to start Hruday Mitra foundation?

3. What was the idea behind starting Footloose?

nswers to the following 10 4. What kind of help does Puneite Saba questions are embedded in the Poonawala expect us to send for the stories fea tured in this edition. Send J&K flood victims? us the correct answers at contest.tgs@ gmail.com and be one of the three lucky 5. Who did sitarist Shakir Khan learn winners to receive gift coupons. music from?

6. Who is the brain behind The Style Potli?

7. What was the theme for ‘The Crawl 2’?

8. Which was the first book translated by author Leena Sohoni?

9. Which four-wheeler does fitness professional Tushar Ramanan own?

10. What is the name of the company run by artiste Daniel Fernandes?

Contest # 13 Contest # 8winner Vidisha Chirmulay winners

ply and sewage treatment machinery in the Valley. A team of five engineers — superintend engineer VG Kulkarni, executive engineers Pramod Unde and Mandar Sardeshpande, assistant engineer Rajendra Shinde, junior engineer Bhimrao Pawar — have

reached Srinagar to assist the Srinagar Municipal Corporation.

Bajaj Auto contributes to PM fund Two-wheeler major Bajaj Auto an-

The Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance, which services more than 65,000 life policies in flood-hit J&K, simplified the claim settlement norms for victims in the flood-hit state. The insurance major announced helpline numbers for the flood-affected for all claim related queries and set up a special team to handle these cases on a priority basis. Customers can contact at Jammu Office - 0191 2477 535/ 538/ 196, Raman Kumar (State HR) - 09596621234, 0191 2475164.

They can also reach out to Rebecca Nunes 020-66089926, Saroj Das 020-66439007.

editor_tgs@goldensparrow.com A TGS MARKETING INITIATIVE

Making a difference through social message creatives Dear Readers, The Golden Sparrow on Saturday has invited Pune’s advertising and creative fraternity to participate in

a Social Message Creatives initiative.

The G&G Media Pvt Ltd’s creative is against child labour. The firm is

headed by Manoj Gugale. The local branch head is Vivek Kuber. The artwork is prepared by the firm’s artist Neha Hire.

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2014

Anaida finds creative outlet in leather works P9

Signposts 14 lakh accounts opened under PMJDY

“The need for health lessons is critical as the basic knowledge of nutrition and hygiene is scarce. I have only one dream: that of a better world for children.”

—Sashwati Banerjee, Managing Director, Sesame Workshop India (SWI)

In perfect harmony with nature About 1000 families at Roseland Residency, Pimple Saudagar do not use plastic bags; conserve water and energy under their green initiative

BY ARCHANA DAHIWAL @ArchanaDahiwal Being environmentally responsible is now a vital aspect of being socially responsible which can bring about a great change in the society. This is what residents of Roseland Residency at Pimple Saudagar are practising. They have adopted an ecofriendly way of living.

Roseland Residency, which comprises 1180 flats, is committed to promoting and implementing the best practices of sustainability. Sharing his view with The Golden Sparrow on Saturday, chairman of the society, Santosh Maskar, said, “We really feel proud that we adopted an eco-friendly culture in our society.”

The housing society is implementing

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

The implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) scheme was a great success in Pune district with the opening of 14.42 lakh accounts. The target set was for 12.50 lakh accounts.

S Bharatkumar, general manager and convener, State Level Banker’s Committee (SLBC) said that 7177 camps were conducted under the scheme in rural and urban centres. During a meeting conducted at Bank of Maharashtra’s head office on September 9, Anandrao Patil, director, Department of Financial Services (DFS), praised the lead district managers for effective implementation of the scheme.

Later, Patil personally interacted with the business correspondent agents and corporate business correspondents. He noted down their problems about connectivity, cash related transactions and queries in respect of benefits to be received under the scheme.

‘My heart bleeds for those who have suffered most’ P10

destroys the green belt. Then it came up with a unique initiative of distributing a ‘reusable shopping bag’ to each and every household with a social message printed on each bag, thus discouraging the use of polythene. ” (From left) Chairman of the Roseland Residency Santosh Maskar showing Roseland Google Group on his cell phone. The society residents are self-sufficient in terms of water as they have successfully implemented the rainwater harvesting system. They also use reusable shopping bags to discourage the use of plastic bags under their green initiatives

Baba Amte’s 100th birth anniversary Anandawan Mitra Mandal is organising a get-together on September 21, at the auditorium of Modern College of Science, Arts and Commerce. On this occasion, which marks Baba Amte’s hundredth birth anniversary, the organisation will give monetary aid to help 25 social organisations in purchasing food items. Earlier, in June, the organisation donated 10,000 books to the needy schools.

Aniket Amte will preside as the chief guest for the function.

PUNE

several programmes that save energy and water. A notable feature is the implementation of the rainwater harvesting system. The residents say, “We are happy that in the last four years we didn’t order a single water tanker. We are self-sufficient at least for water.”

The residents realise the need to

save precious resources like electricity and water. They decided to invest on rain water harvesting (RWH). In 2010 - 2011, they started recharging one of the borewells.

Maskar, who is also the director and co-founder of Sarvasha System, a software firm, said, “We selected the borewell with the lowest water level in peak summer. Our execution got over just before rains and to our surprise the water level in the same borewell increased threefold. Through the rainwater setup we collected water from the terrace coming down through four outlets of

the two wings and recharged the low capacity borewell with it. This pilot project gave us confidence on rainwater harvesting and we decided to roll it out for other borewells as well. Today we have connected all borewells with the rainwater setup. The entire project helped recharge the ground water, thus providing us 24x7 water supply.”

In 2012-13, with their ‘Energy Conservation Project’ in association with SavEn India Energy Management, the society saved 91,389 units (KWh) of electricity. They have prevented 68 tons of CO2 equivalent emission, which

is the equivalent of 344 trees offset.

They have saved Rs 103,390 in energy expenses. This saving is expected to rise to Rs 310,000 next year. All this has been achieved without making any investment from Roseland Residency.

This has inspired other societies too.

Apart from this, under their green initiatives, the residents have also stopped using plastic bags. The society management fi rst started this initiative through emails and through Roseland Google Group to create awareness on hazards of plastic and polythene bags and how it adds to pollution and

archana.dahiwal@goldensparrow.com

Awards & recognition 1. Recognised as a ‘Green Society’ for successful implementation of eco-friendly initiatives 2. Planted 2500 trees in the surroundings 3. Bagged ‘Radio City Star Society Award’ recently 4. Its green initiatives like reusable shopping bag, rain water harvesting, energy management and optimisation, annual plantation drives were showcased at Infosys, Pune ‘EcoShow-Tell and Inspire Event’

Motorists suffer due to misleading P1/P2 board For litter-free Sinhagad TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly

TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly

To make the scenic Sinhagad fort free from polythene and plastic waste, the Lions Club International initiated a drive called ‘Zero Plastic Sinhagad’ on August 31. Under this initiative, the club members will visit the fort every Sunday to empty the dustbins at the site.

On that day the club members assembled at the foothill with buckets, plastic gloves, sticks and sacks. They chanted slogans like ‘Plastic, plastic,

Vehicular movement is increasing A poorly maintained P1/ P2 parking signboard in the lane near ICC Trade Towers, off Senapati Bapat road has been misguiding motorists resulting in the jamming of their vehicles for no fault of theirs.

Many motorists have been parking their vehicles as per this signage, thinking that they are abiding by the law. However, much to their shock and disappointment, roving traffic constables have been clamping jammers on their vehicles stating that the board is wrongly positioned and that their vehicle is wrongly parked.

When asked about this, city traffic planner Shriniwas Bonala said the responsibility of putting and maintaining the traffic signs boards rests with the various ward offices.

He said that sometimes these boards are removed by miscreants or they suffer damage and are bent due to collision of high speed heavy vehicles. This then misleads drivers who get fined for no fault of theirs. Bonala suggested that aggrieved residents can inform the ward officer of the area to have the problem rectified.

The problem caused by poorly maintained P1/P2 boards stands compounded by the lack of insufficient public parking lots, forcing citizens to park on the roads.

In the SB Road area, citizens can seek redressal from Aundh ward officer Nitin Udhas on telephone: 9689931499 / 25507100.

This four-wheeler has been fined for wrong parking because of the confusing signboard.

(Below)The lane next to Senapati Bapat Road near ICC Tower, where the parking facility has been provided by the municipal authorities but signboards are misguiding people

editor_tgs@goldensparrow.com

Members of the Lions Club International collecting plastic waste at the Sinhagad fort

Letters to the Editor

TGS is interactive Our newspaper is interactive and you are welcome to write in to our various segments: • Letters to the Editor email: editor_tgs@goldensparrow.com; editor_tgs@gmail.com By post: The Editor, The Golden Sparrow on Saturday, 1641 Madhav Heritage, Tilak Road, Pune-411030, (Best letter gets a weekly prize) • Articles for the Relationships page: relationships@goldensparrow.com, relationships.tgs@gmail.com • The Way Forward with Compassion & Hope: wayforward@goldensparrow.com • Want to become an entrepreneur? For mentoring advice, write to our associates: mentoring@pune.tie.org • Get weekly events listed: listings.tgslife@gmail.com

no plastic!’ and ‘Zero plastic Sinhagad, karenge karenge!’. The volunteers also placed garbage bins near the eateries and urged vendors to keep the area litter free.

“We hope this does not end up becoming a ceremony,” said Club secretary Rajkumar Saini, emphasising on the continuity of the event every Sunday. “For the past eight years, Lions Club International has been working towards keeping the environment clean and green,” said Anil Mandrupkar, president, Lions Club Eco Friends. editor_tgs@goldensparrow.com

editor_tgs@goldensparrow.com

What is being done about the dowry menace?

The very popular Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) show hosted by the evergreen Amitabh Bachchan is a favourite programme keenly watched by many. All types of contestants mostly youngsters and a few elders get to the coveted ‘Hot Seat’. Quite a number of young girl contestants get to the Hot Seat. While telling their bio-data and aspirations many of them disclose heart-rending stories regarding the matrimonial scenario. Whenever a marriage is to be arranged the following drama emerges: The boy’s party insists and demands five-star accommodation for the entire groom’s cavalcade. A list of their wishes is handed to the bride’s party detailing the variety and types of dishes to he provided for lunch and dinner, gifts for the family, transport arrangement and other sundry requirements. The girl’s qualification

Do we interact with our corporator?

and education count for nothing.

These are not demanded directly but by innuendos and subtle hints. A normal middle class family with a single breadwinner can never afford to fulfi ll these outrageous demands. Inspite of strict anti-dowry laws this insidious practice prevails unabated. Are our women’s organisations listening? What is being done about this menace?

—Shanmugam Mudaliar (Gets Best Letter prize)

Thank you for your article on Pune’s Zero Stone

I must congratulate you and your team on the fantastic work you are doing through The Golden Sparrow on Saturday. After a long time, I have enjoyed reading a newspaper which inspires positivism. We (friend Ashok

Captain and self) maintain (rather used to) a blog called puneheritage.org/com.

The idea was to document and record heritage sites and cultural practices for public knowledge and hope it creates awareness amongst people. I have been contemplating to start the activity again for the love of it.

— Vaishali Gadgil

Participatory budget planning needs to be more interactive and this will ensure that citizens in each ward in the city can directly meet the representative. We just talk about the central government but usually ignore the local bodies. We have more accessibility to our local corporator and need to interact through the social media and create a bond. We do pay taxes but rarely bother about the final journey of the same. Right questions need to be asked and citizen groups can ensure that the right plan is implemented. To ensure that our taxes are not wasted on inane schemes, city residents need to form groups to meet the corporators. In the past there were no interactive tools but

the concept of social media interaction can be a useful tool.

- Sunil Melwani

Write to Us Letters to the Editor may be emailed to editor_tgs@goldensparrow. com or mailed to Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt Ltd, 1641 Madhav Heritage, Tilak Road, Pune-411030.

The Best Letter of the Week will receive a special gift from Venus Traders, Pune’s finest stationery departmental.

TGS Marketing Initiative

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2014

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Gokhale Constructions give homebuyers nine reasons to smile on Navratri Company will launch nine housing projects coming up at different parts of the city on the nine days of the festival

BY TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly City-based real estate firm Gokhale Constructions has lined up the launch of nine projects spread over the nine days of Navratri. The firm will be launching one housing venture each day of the festival, beginning September 25.

All the nine ventures are coming up in

different parts of the city. The USP of the group is quality construction. Speaking at a press conference, Speaking at a press conference, Gokhale Constructions director Poonam Gokhale said, “This is our second year of launching nine projects in nine days. This distinct initiative will offer homebuyers a wide range of options.

Our launch will start from September 25, the Ghatasthapna day.”

The initiatives include re-development

Rahul Raut

Gokhale Constructions CMD Vishal Gokhale and director Poonam Gokhale at the launch event

projects (bungalows and society), bungalows on plots and building complexes in some of the best locations in the city. Among the nine projects, seven are in the city, while the others are in Wakad and Pirangut.

The company’s biggest project is ‘Waves’ at Wakad. The flats are between 3,000-4000 sq ft and will be launched in phases. The main attraction of this project is that it is next to upscale locations like Baner and Aundh.

Moreover, it is next to the Express Highway and IT parks. In Phase I, 70 per cent of the projects has been completed and 80 per cent booking is done. There are about 250 flats in

the project and around 180 have been delivered.

The remaining will be handed over this year.

These flats are priced between `53-60 lakh.

The Briz Phase II constructions at Kasar Amboli near Pirangut will have smart value homes, commercial spaces, shops and offices.

The 610-969 sq ft flats are priced between `2530 lakh. The other seven projects are Shree Gajanan Prasad (Prabhat Road), Suyasha and Shreephal (Mayur Colony), Padmavati and Prachikrupa (Dahanukar Colony), Vandanshree (Rambaug Colony) and Vidnyan Vishwa (Senapati Bapat Road.)

editor_tgs@goldensparrow.com

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2014

Dealing bravely with Ataxia P 11

The first emoticon is commonly credited to Kevin Mackenzie in 1979, but was rather simple and didn’t really look like a face www.makeuseof.com

Lasker winner calls for more genetic testing in cancers P 13

The new-age Band Baaja Baraat

‘Footloose No More’, started by Mumbai-based brother-sister duo, Abhishek Agnihotri and Varsha Vadhyar, has completed five years. Having started its events in Pune in 2012, the group has already seen four marriages. Ishani Bose has the story..

TGS NEWS SERVICE @ishani_bose Austrian composer, Franz Schubert, said, “Happy is the man who finds a true friend, and far happier is he who finds that true friend in his life partner.” Finding a life partner has become more difficult today.

While most eventually resort to matrimonial sites, Mumbai-based brother-sister duo, Abhishek Agnihotri and Varsha Vadhyar, started a new-age marriage platform called ‘Footloose No More’ for people to find their mates in an unconventional way.

Footloose No More dates back to 2009.

“We had already crossed 30 and our friends would often tell us that we would never find a match. We knew we did not want our parents to look for a partner for us. We were also against meeting people on matrimonial sites as there is no way of knowing whether the person you’re interacting with, is genuine,” said Varsha.

She said that they were looking for fun, educated and like-minded people. “My brother Abhishek was getting suggestions of joining Salsa classes to meet women, when he did not even like dancing and I did not want to date anyone from work as that would eventually lead to complications. All this left us with little to no options

and thus frustrated but unwilling to give up, we started a Facebook page called ‘Footloose No More’, on August 22, 2009, which was initially an open group.

Within a week the page garnered about 250 likes,” she said.

‘Footloose No More’ is an offl ine group, where members are allowed in only after they submit all the necessary documents, authenticating their identity. After getting registered on the website—www. footloosenomore.com, the person will be allowed to attend events organised by the group to like-minded people. “We organise events like Sunday brunches, Karaoke nights, cricket matches, treks etc, where one can get to meet interesting people from different backgrounds,” said Varsha, who met her husband, Prashant on the same platform.

‘Footloose No More’ branched out to Pune in 2012, and since then the group has already witnessed four marriages. One such couple is 37-year-old Mumbai-based Rinkal Mahendra, who tied the nuptial knot with a Pune lad George Joseph in November last year. “I had to travel to Pune quite often due to work and as I was a member of ‘Footloose No More’ in Mumbai, I started attending events in Pune as well. I searched on the group’s website and drew up a list of men between 35 and 45.

That’s how I stumbled u p o n

The group is also planning to increase the frequency of events in Pune and diversify its activities to Bangalore by the end of the year.; (below) Rinkal and George on their wedding day

George’s profi le. We started chatting and meeting each other,” Rinkal said. The two fi rst met in July 2013 and after a few months tied the knot. “I had already crossed my biological threshold and knew that I could never have a child of my own. Th rough this marriage I have not only got a wonderful and understanding life partner but also an eight-year-old daughter. George’s fi rst wife had died in an accident and he had been rearing his daughter all by himself. Thanks to ‘Footloose No More’, I have got a family I had always wanted,” she said. The group is also planning to increase the frequency of

events in Pune and diversify its activities to Bangalore by year end.

Why the name “Footloose No More” “There is a phrase that goes, “Footloose and fancy free”, which is for those people who do not want to be bound by any attachments and want to lead an independent and carefree life. Footloose No More hence is for those people who want to settle down in life, have children and a family of their own,” said the duo. ishani.bose@goldensparrow.com

The two essential prerequisites to join the group are a) the members have to be 27 years of age and b) they should have a Facebook profile, which should not be newly created. The Facebook profile should have all the necessary information.

If the details are found fake, he/she will be disqualified. The group has had instances in the past where people have lied about their age, relationship status or have behaved in a sleazy way for which their profiles have been deleted from the forum. The forum has single parents, divorcees, unmarried men and women, who haven’t found themselves a spouse, as members.

Intel launches kids’ tablets in India and exciting solution for kids,” Sandeep Arora, Intel South Asia director, marketing, said.

Bharat Gulia, co-founder of Metis Learning Solutions, told the company has done a pilot project for the tablet with 500 children.

“We have spent 2 to 3 years creating this and building solution. It is very important to give kids something that is

TECH GURU

BY SORAB GHASWALLA This is an interactive column. Like today, every week, we will be replying to technology and internet related queries sent in by readers. You may email your questions with the subject line ‘Tech Guru query’ to tgstechguru@gmail.com

Slow computer?

Here’s how to turn it into a sprinter again

How to join Footloose No More

California-based chip-maker Intel and Metis Learning Tuesday launched a tablet for children aged 2-10 priced at Rs.9,999, an official said here.

“The technology landscape is changing in India. Tablets can be used as a learning tool. The kids tablet Eddy, combines an ideal balance of performance and battery life coupled with strong learning content to provide an innovative

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engaging. These years of their lives are the best potential years,” he said.

Eddy comes with Android 4.2 and has an internal storage of 16 GB and can be expanded up to 32 GB. It comes pre-loaded with over 160 learning apps selected by educators and experts to accelerate a child’s social, emotional and cognitive development.

The size of the tablet market in India

is 4 million and of that 10 percent is the children’s tablet market.

“We are trying to tie-up with schools and pe-schools for this tablet.

Especially pre-schools are showing a lot of interest,” Gulia said.

Eddy will be available in e-commerce portal Amazon for around a month, following which it will be available in retail stores, he said. IANS

Mumbai dabbawalas: A success model since 1890 Pawan Girdharilal Agrawal is the CEO of the renowned Mumbai Dabbawalas. In his TED talk, he spoke about the distinct and unique characteristics of this globally successful business model TED is a global platform where people from different fields come together and speak for 18 minutes or less about their respective disciplines. It was started in 1984 by a non-profit organisation called Sapling Foundation, under the slogan — Ideas worth sharing. Initially it organised conferences where matters related to technology, design and entertainment merged, but today it includes varied topics such as business, photography, art, science and the like.

ISHANI BOSE @ishani_bose To run any business successfully, one requires, passion, resilience, hardwork, commitment and consistency.

If there is one such business model which has been showcasing each of these attributes in their working since 1890, it is the Mumbai Dabbawalas, said Pawan G Agrawal, president of the Mumbai Dabbawala Education Centre at TEDxSSN conference in 2011.

“People usually consider dabbawalas to be caterers but they are not. It is not an easy task to meet the deadline and deliver home cooked food to over 2,00,000 people on time with an error percentage that is as minimum as one in 16 million transactions. With the 5,000-odd workforce of Dabbawalas not even completing their tenth standard, they struggle each day to meet the deadline and have been providing quality services to their customers, against all odds for the last 123 years,” Agrawal says.

Recounting the journey of the Dabbawala system since its time of inception, Agrawal says, “The

dabbawalas strive hard for almost nine hours a day, travelling across Mumbai. With no technological assistance, the efficient and disciplined dabbawalas are prompt in delivering the ‘dabbas’ to the respective destinations without any delay,” he explains.

The Mumbai Dabbawalas have an organisational/heirarchical structure that includes the president at the top, followed by the Vice President, General Secretary, Treasurer, nine directors, 800 mukaddams and 5000 members. “Mukadams are nothing but the groups of dabbawalas. Whoever is the oldest in that group is the leader of that particular group and he is expected to control all the activities of the group and its members. These leaders don’t earn a single rupee extra but they still dedicate their time and efforts in religiously handling the workings of the group,” Agrawal says.

The dabbawalas are so disciplined that they are always seen wearing their white cap and carrying their ID cards, They neither drink alchohol or smoke during their working hours. “If they are caught drinking during their duty, they will be charged Rs 500.

Similarly they will have to pay Rs 100 as fine if caught smoking; Rs 25 each if seen without the white cap and ID cards, and Rs 1000 if they take leave without any prior intimation. If this continues two-three times, they will be sacked,” Agrawal says, adding that the dabbawalas are so disciplined that they have zero attrition rate and that there has been no discipline issues in the last 123 years. ishani.bose@goldensparrow.com

Over time, a computer starts behaving like a human being. With age, it slows down, acquires a good measure of unwanted fat (software), occasionally suffers from memory problems and is sometimes laid low by a virus attack.

Fortunately, all these problems can be rectified, and the computer’s functionalities can be restored to mint condition, unlike a human’s.

Take the slowing down of a computer, for example.

Over time, these machines start behaving like an arthritic-inflicted, 70 plus man. Booting up becomes slow, so also Internet browsing. What’s gone wrong?

I shall touch upon the 2-3 major reasons, though this list is not comprehensive by any measure.

Installing any amount of software is not the way to go. Then, of course, in the modern times we live, malware could be another reason for the slowdown. Or lack of memory. Like for humans, there are preventive and curative measures that can be implemented to keep your computer in “the pink of health.”

Take only as much as you want: Constant downloading of programs takes its toll. Decide whether you really need that program? Drive-by installations make downloading doubly off-puttingsince more often than not, while you are installing one program, another, too, gets into your PC. So take only what you want.

Get more memory: Unlike our brains, a computer’s memory can be enhanced by adding more Random Access Memory (RAM). If you are the kind of bloke who uses too many applications simultaneously, get a RAM upgrade, if your computer’s configuration permits. There’s always space for more RAM. Defrag: It`s surprising how a huge chunk of PC users have never heard of this. Although today`s machines are more sophisticated than their yester-year counterparts, you still need to defrag your computer`s hard drive. All files that you save are not stored in a sequence. Instead, major chunks of the disk are occupied randomly by these files.

The defragmentation of your drive evens it out, storing all your files in continuity. Like I said, for today’s PC, it may not be required as often but for a slow PC, this could still be beneficial.

Watch out for malware: This is one of the most common reasons for your computer’s slow speed. Do read up my previous Tech Guru columns to understand how a virus can make a backdoor entry into your computer.Give your PC a good anti-virus wash. Use any of the PC anti-malware utilities offered

by Norton, Bitdefender, among others, for this.

Get rid of temp files: Not many know this but temporary files affect your PC`s speed. These are browser files, (downloaded to a temp folder when you connect to the Net) or those that are left over when you have installeda new application. In ideal conditions, these should be deleted once the installation is co mplete but does not happen. You need to go to your Temp folder and delete them physically.

There’s a popular tool (which I use, too) called CCleaner (piriform.com/ccleaner) for Windows and Mac. It cleans up your temp file and frees up space. On an average, run it once a week.

Check hard drive: Check your hard drive. If it is 85 per cent full, start freeing up space or upgrade to a better, faster drive.

Now, if you don`t want to do any of the above, there are software available that promise to do it for you.

There’s Norton Utilities available for Rs 2099 (http:// bit.ly/1tTMo6z), another by QuickHeal, PCTuner3 for Rs 499(http://bit.ly/1lOAa9U), and one by AVGcalled AVG PCTuneUp for Rs 799 (http://bit.ly/1D98fgK).

(Sorab Ghaswalla is a former old-world journalist who now wears many hats, entrepreneur, Internet consultant, Online Marketer, new media and technology journalist, and the Editor/publisher of four sites of his own, all related to the Internet, smartphones, start-ups and the Internet of things.

You may find him at www.newagecontentservices.com) (Disclaimer: The Tech Guru column is more in the nature of a reader-initiated, advisory feature. Readers are urged to check or confirm for themselves the features of all hardware/ software mentioned here before making a purchase. Prices quoted are indicative and not final, and subject to availability of product/service. This newspaper nor this column shall, in any way, be liable for any physical, personal or monetary damage/losses arising out of advice given herein.)

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2014

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Bring Back

There’s very little sports happening at the massive Shiv Chhatrapati sports complex in Balewadi, even as it struggles for funds. Sports enthusiasts and experts suggest a way out

Mojo

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

the

BY ASHISH PHADNIS @phadnis_ashish Around the world over, stadiums and multi-sports complexes are built to host major sporting events like World Cup or Olympics. However, after the initial hype, the utility of these massive stadiums seems to fall off dramatically.

Pune’s Shiv Chhatrapati sports complex in Balewadi is no exception.

The multi-purpose sports complex, built to host the National Games (1994) and reconstructed for the Commonwealth Youth Games (2008), has always been a challenge for the sports directorate to run it to its maximum utilisation. The Centre and the state government have spent `450 crore on this complex.

Even though the venue has seen a few international events like World Junior Table Tennis (2008), Junior World Volleyball Championship and Asian Women’s Under-16 Basketball Championship (2009), Rollball World Cup (2010) and international friendlies (football) in 2011, the debate is still on whether the infrastructure was truly worth the huge financial costs.

Moreover, the government faced criticism when the venue was rented out to host marriages and other non-sporting activities, while sports associations were forced to shift their tournaments elsewhere due to unaffordable rates. But, the officials remained fi rm on their stance and defended the decision by saying it indirectly helps sportspersons.

“The amount generated by commercial events is used for the maintenance of the complex, so that we can afford to give the venue to sports association at a reasonable rate. We always give priority to sports events and ensure that they are not hampered by commercial events,” said the complex’s incharge Manik Thosare.

How should one deal with such a situation?

The Golden Sparrow on Saturday discussed possible solutions with some leading sports enthusiasts in the city.

lively and attract more people. Th is is the way to create sports culture.

Aniruddha Deshpande, president, Poona District Metropolitan Badminton Association

I don’t think just academies or hosting tournaments will help in revenue generation. The government should not extract money from sportspersons or academies. Running the facility like a sports club could generate revenue through annual membership. If Residency Club, Deccan Gymkhana and Club Solaris can earn around three crore annually despite their small premises, Balewadi complex with its huge area and international quality stadium can generate more than `15-20 crore a year. And the facility at the stadium can be given to sports associations and academies at a nominal rate

Balewadi sports complex could serve as a sports university. The university would house a full-fledged schooling and college infrastructure and facility, including physical training, sports psychology and management.

Sunder Iyer, member of Lakshya, a non-profit sports organisation Making Pune a sports city is a challenge, and effective use of Balewadi complex would be a value addition to it. But the problem is that the stadium is still considered as out of town. Such a complex in Mumbai would have been very popular. Lack of public transport is a major obstacle for the stadium to attract crowd. Even the local players won’t rely on the public transport as they know that they won’t reach on time for a match, unless they have private vehicles. So our fi rst priority should be to improve the public transport.

Secondly, the venue should be a happening place. The present Balewadi complex is a dead place with no food outlet or hang-out facility. It should become a sports hub, with the complex having sports malls, food joints, coffee shops and walking plazas. We can restrict vehicle movement and rent out cycles. Spectators can hang-out at a coffee shop, try out at the shooting or table tennis areas and have dinner with family after playing the games.

Even mega events like Olympics or World Cup can be screened at an open theatre. The venue will become

Bhushan Singh Thakur, international table tennis player

1994

Constructed in for National Games

Th e Balewadi sports complex is under criticism for being under-utilised.

What’s your take on that?

I must say that this was but obvious. When such a huge venue is constructed without a long-term plan, it is bound to happen. It has been seen the world over that the infrastructure built for big events turns out to be a white elephant: a costly project whose maintenance cost outweighs its tangible benefits.

We should always ask whether they provide the long-term benefits that could justify their inflated costs.

Building the Balewadi complex is total wastage of money.

THE CENTRE AND STATE GOVT SPENT MORE THAN `450 CRORE ON THIS COMPLEX

Shekhar Khasnis, swimming coach From a daily rate, the officials can rent

Th e director claims that it is necessary to meet the ends.

Let’s get clear on this point. Th is is not a money-making business and if it is then it is a wrong approach to running a sports complex. If the government claims that they want

to use the venue to create sports culture then they shouldn’t worry about revenue.

the venues on monthly basis. Th is way it would be easier for sports organisers to conduct training camps, summer camps or tournaments. In addition, they can have tie-up with schools or corporate groups. With the venue in proximity of Hinjewadi IT sector and colleges like Indira Open School, MITCOM and Moze Engineering, the complex could get a huge response if the facility is open for the common people. ashish.phadnis@goldensparrow.com

What can be done?

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Partial privatisation Start a sports university or college Screening of major sport events like World Cup, Olympics Sports mall; equipment retail shops Family sports activities Open a website and online bookings

Balewadi Complex could follow the MCA fund-raising plan

BY ASHISH PHADNIS @phadnis_ashish

The pitiable condition of the shooting range shows the ‘negligent and lethargic’ attitude of the sports complex management

What should now be done to justify the money already spent?

I feel they should utilise it by giving out the place for more academies than the present handful.

A centre of excellence should also come up in Balewadi as many Indian athletes go abroad for training and we call foreign coaches to train our players. Such a centre will provide us an opportunity to build our own team of good coaches and support staff.

Bhishmaraj Bam, sports psychologist, is of the opinion that before constructing such a huge infrastructure a long-term plan should be ready. Excerpts from an interview with Ashish Phadnis

2008

Reconstructed in for Commonwealth Youth Games

The venue hosted a few international events like World Junior Table Tennis (2008), Junior World Volleyball Championship and Asian Women’s Under-16 Basketball Championship (2009) and Rollball World Cup (2010)

‘Long-term planning is the key ’

Can you elaborate this point?

After building the stadium in 1994, the authorities again spent `450 crore for the Commonwealth Youth Games. I don’t think the money spent was worth it. And now they are struggling to maintain it. I wasn’t surprised when they started renting out the venue for marriages and other non-sporting events.

IN A MESS: The velodrome (cycling track) at Balewadi sports complex, the only such facility in the state, lies in a state of neglect. The cement track was built for the 1994 national games, and it was last used only for that major sports event. The cyclists of Krida Prabodhini, the residential school for sportspersons, are forced to practice on this unsafe track that has developed bumps on the corners over the years. The players are forced to move to Delhi for training before taking part in any major tournament.

So, this centre of excellence should function like a sports university?

Yes. Sports today is not just limited to the field game. There are many other disciplines involved such as sports management, sports psychology, sports nutrition, sports conditioning, sports medicine, sports technology and sports law, which play a vital role in determining the players’ performance on field.

Balewadi would be the ideal venue for such facilities. Various courses in these disciplines can be developed that will provide scientific and up-to-date knowledge to those interested in making a career in sports. Th is initiative will open up various career opportunities as sports today has become a multicrore industry. ashish.phadnis@goldensparrow.com

State of neglect 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Rates too high as compared to local venues High maintenance cost No drinking water, no food courts Lack of public restrooms, toilets Most of the venues not fully functional No convenient public transport service

Academies in Balewadi 1.

2.

3.

4.

Maharashtra Government’s Krida Prabodhini Olympian Gangan Narang’s Gun for Glory shooting academy Olympian Nikhil Kanetkar’s badminton academy Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association’s School of Tennis

Home ground for

Maharashtra Cricket Association’s (MCA) new stadium at Gahunje has a few similarities with the Shiv Chhatrapati sports complex in Balewadi. Both stadiums, built at a whopping cost, later turned into a white elephant lacking financial flow and crowd pulling events.

MCA’s stadium was built on the outskirts of Pune at a cost of around `300 crore in 2012. With the stadium missing its 2010 completion deadline, it lost the opportunity to be one of the venues of World Cup cricket matches in 2011. Indian company Sahara India Pariwar bought the naming rights of the stadium and was the homeground for their Indian Premier League (IPL) team – Pune Warriors India. The venue hosted the 2010 season of the league and the first 20-20 international match at the stadium was played between India and England in December same year.

Next year, the stadium hosted first oneday match between India and Australia.

However, in 2013, Pune Warriors India withdrew from the IPL over financial differences with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the franchise was officially terminated by the BCCI. The stadium suffered another blow when Sahara paid only a part of the `200 crore that it had promised when acquiring the naming rights.

FINANCIAL CRISIS

FC Pune City (football) in Indian The stadium which was Super League once a happening place, • has turned idle now, Pune FC (football) in I-League except for the few Ranji • Trophy matches, which Puneri Paltan (Kabbadi) in hardly attracts spectators.

Pro Kabaddi League Secondly, the association is • facing severe financial crisis, Pune Marathas (American resulting into reduction and football) Elite Football pay cut for the staff. The primary League of India cause of the crisis has been the

dispute which currently is the subject of litigation in Bombay High Court -

between the MCA and Sahara Group.

THE SOLUTION To cope up with this crunch situation, MCA president Ajay Shirke came with an expansion plan. To meet the financial demands, the association has planned to convert the venue into a multi-equipped club offering facilities like multi cuisine restaurants, health club and fitness centres, residential rooms, swimming pool and spa, indoor and outdoor sports including badminton, tennis, table tennis and squash, banquets, meetings, receptions and other recreation facilities.

“We have been working on several fronts to restructure the financial situation. Reduction of expenses was one of them. We managed to do it successfully, but it has limitation.

Therefore, we have come up with a scheme for fund raising. Apart from the cricket stadium, MCA has got large infrastructure in the proximity of the ground, which is still unused. Our efforts are to use that infrastructure by offering a club-like association ship (not membership) to a restricted number of people,” said Shirke.

According to a new scheme, the association ship will be offered to 450 individuals and 50 corporate groups for `5 and `10 lakh respectively. It is expected that MCA would earn around `28 crore with this new venture. And interestingly, they haven’t interfered with the sports’ sanctity.

“The pitch and ground is strictly out of bounds for the associates.

Secondly, they won’t get any free passes for any international event held at the venue. We are against the free pass culture. However, they will get three tickets per member, for every event at a concessional rate, before the ticket sale is opened to the general public,” Shirke said.

It seems, there is a paved way for the Balewadi officials, about how the things can be done. ashish.phadnis@goldensparrow.com

ED UCATION “Studying within the four walls of a class does not make students engineer. A mechanical engineer need not be only a mechanical engineer. He should have knowledge of electronics.”

— Dr Shubha Pandit, Principal, K J Somaiya College of Engineering

Signposts

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY

CARE ER

SEPTEMBER 20, 2014

“The motivation for internationalization is to improve the quality and competitiveness of education and research.”

— Sanjay Dhande, Director, Mahindra Ecole Centrale

CoEP’s MindSpark taps young talent

The birth anniversary of Anagrika Dharmapala is celebrated as Pali Day, on September 17. On this occasion The Pali Department at Savitribai Phule Pune University organised a cultural programme. It was attended

by MG Dhadfale, Sanskrit and Prakrit languages expert and Gautam Chabukswar, ex-deputy mayor, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.

Leadership development camp About 45 visually impaired students turned attended the leadership development camp organised by the Rotary Club of Pune North-east, at Koregaon Park, on September 14.

The camp was inaugurated by Sunita Lobo, president, Rotary International District. Leadership expert, Datta Deshkar, guided the participants with leadership ideas.

BY MANASI SARAF JOSHI @GargiManasi “We cannot solve problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”

—Albert Einstein.

Taking inspiration from these words, the students of the College of Engineering, Pune (CoEP), have for the fi rst time involved secondary school students for ‘MindSpark’, the second biggest technical fest of the country. The theme of the threeday festival that began on Friday is ‘Innovation beyond boundaries’.

This year’s fest is based on the need of innovation in our daily life. Advisor faculty for MindSpark, MK Ranjekar said, “A teenager, through a simple experiment of colouring the last pins, showed us when the paper stapler needs to be refilled.” He highlighted another incident of a boy from secondary school, who had this question as why does the cooking pot of a solar cooker has to be black, while the plants that produce food through the Sun are green.

“Th is is thinking beyond boundaries. While planning this fest, which is entirely organised and

RAHUL RAUT

The second biggest technical fest of the country, CoEP’s Mind Spark kicks off with a belief that innovation is hidden in every person

Pali Day celebrated at Pune varsity

executed by the students, these two incidents were imprinted on their minds,” said Ranjekar. Probably, this have made them to tap and approached these school and junior college students as they believe that innovation is hidden in every person.

“The preparations for this festival started in July. We conducted many workshops in different cities like Aurangabad, Latur, Nashik, Solapur, Kolhapur and Pune for the school students,” said the students’ head

Students of CoEP preparing for their most awaited annual event, MindSpark, the second biggest technical fest of the country

In Numbers Number of exhibits: 52 Workshops: 12 Talks: 3 Participation from over 250 colleges Expected footfall: Around 15,000

Chinmay Tadwalkar. They had prepared a test paper for them to check their technical aptitude.

“In the test paper we asked them questions which were related to daily life. The participants have to have the innovative and practical ideas to solve these problems,” said Chetana Pawar, media head, adding, “the questions were like, how would they solve the traffic problem of the city or road management.”

MindSpark introduces few events every year. Th is year they introduced

UNVEILING OF MASCOT For the first time, the event will have a Mascot Sparcus. The Mascot will be the face for the event.

Festival Goal: To be in sync with the industry for the betterment of the lives of millions.

‘Genius Junior’, ‘Lan Sam’, ‘Innovision and Chemistry Quiz’. Innovision includes new ideas which can be practically used, Genius Jr to have school students solving the problems or task, Virtual IPL auction or Bidzkrieg, which means the team has to invest the cash in the best possible way to assemble the perfect team. Lan Sam for gamers.

Interestingly, though the event is entirely organised and conducted by the students including handling the expenses, accommodation and food of

the participants, the CoEP students do not participate in it. “We have rolling trophy for this event, but we never participate in it just to keep the transparency,” said students.

“The fest, which is the brain child of CoEP director Anil Sahasrabudhe, was started in 2007. Earlier, the college had fest of each department.

College has some nine departments, so instead of celebrating nine various technical fests, Sahasrabudhe initiated this MindSpark,” said Ranjekar.

MindSpark picked up the pace in 2010 and it became a popular and the most sought after event.

It is a unique platform that allows young engineering minds to showcase their brilliance.

The event is the amalgamation of all branches, said Ranjekar, who himself is the microbiologist, but is the advisor to the fest. “Today, we not only need technical things to solve problems, but these solutions have to be in sync with the nature,” he added.

Students said, “Sometimes, the simplest of ideas are the most difficult to execute than the most complex ones. The rapidly developing socioeconomic norms do not demand large cumbersome designs. Instead, what we need today is innovation at the most basic level to tackle the problems that we face.” manasisaraf@gmail.com

Spicer varsity and its 100-year-old legacy

MIT student wins elocution contest

From a small educational establishment, Spicer has expanded into a full-fledged university adding successful chapters in the field of education

Manoj Yadav of MIT College of Education won the first prize at Dr Shamrao Kalmadi Memorial State Level Elocution competition held at Kaveri College of Science and Commerce, on September 11. He received a rolling trophy, prize money of Rs 5,000 along with a certificate and a memento. A total of 47 students from the state participated in the competition. “With such competitions, the art of speaking will live and flourish,” said Jayant Umranikar, former Director General of Police, who was the chief guest during the prize distribution.

BY MANASI SARAF JOSHI @GargiManasi Spicer Adventist University, the first private varsity in the State, will be completing its 100 years on July 12, 2015.

The university’s vice-chancellor Justus Devadas spoke to Manasi Saraf-Joshi about the rich history of the institution and future plans.

BLC wins moot court competition

RAHUL RAUT

Balaji Law College (BLC) won the PB Gajendragadkar Inter-College Moot court competition held on September 15. Gitanjali Balkrushnan of Balaji Law College won the best student advocate award. Amjeeth MA and Aboli Kherede also represented the college. A total of 15 colleges participated in this competition.

PUNE

Spicer University’s vice-chancellor Justus Devadas

EXCERPTS: What started as a college is now a university. How has been the journey?

The journey has been wonderful.

We started with only 15 students at Coimbatore on July 12, 1915.

Today we have over 4,500 students from across the world, to be very specific, from 25 countries and all states of India. Started as South Indian Training Institute under the Seventh Day Adventist, Spicer today is renowned name in educational arena. The aim was to have an educational institute for economically backward students.

RAHUL RAUT

I am a final year student at DE Society’s Brijlal Jindal College of Physiotherapy, Fergusson College. Bachelors of PT is a four and half year course, which includes four years of academics and half year internship. The first year has all MBBS subjects while the second year gives a more clinical exposure with subjects like Pathology, Microbiology and Psychology. Third year has subjects like Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Medicine, Surgery and final year has Physiotherapy related subjects. We start going to hospitals daily for clinical exposure from second year onwards.

Our college, DESBJCOP is affiliated with Sassoon Hospital, KEM Hospital, Tarachand Hospital, Sahyadri Hospital, Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, Rao Hospital, MJM Hospital. We also have a small OPD in college, where special school children and patients come for Physiotherapy treatment. During six months of internship, we work for one month at each hospital. Clinical practice and experience is very important in Physiotherapy. After completing Bachelor’s degree for 4.5 years, Master’s degree in Maharashtra is for three years, while in other colleges of the country it is for 2 years.

By doing specialisation we get a good clinical experience in the field we have chosen. Masters

programmes include Neuro Physiotherapy, Paediatrics, Geriatric, Musculoskeletal, Orthopaedics, Sports, CardioPulmonary and Community Based Rehabilitation. I am also a trained Bharatnatyam dancer and performed my Arangetram two years ago. I started learning Yoga when I was in Class VIII and continued it even after I started doing Physiotherapy. I selected this field of paramedicine because I could relate dance and yoga with it. I can pursue both dance and physiotherapy. Yoga is also of great help to me while treating different patients especially those with back pain as certain aasanas help the patient in correcting the posture.

My area of interest is Orthopaedics. I intend to pursue Masters in Physiotherapy in Orthopaedics. It is an upcoming field especially for girls, with a very good scope both in India as well as abroad. Sports Physiotherapy is also gaining popularity in India and has a great scope in Australia, USA and Germany. Students interested in Physiotherapy have to opt for Biology after Class X and should prepare well for the MH-CET which is the basic criteria for admission. A score of about 120 is required for admission. Students have to be focussed, willing to help patients, treat them with passion, study and work hard.

(As told to Ishani Bose)

University at a glance Students strength: 4,374 Campus area: 70 acres No. of students in college: 350 Offers education: From KG to PG EARN WHILE YOU LEARN Every student has to work for five hours per week for which he is paid a token amount. Economically weaker students can work up to 40 hours/week to pay for their academic fees.

Become solution focused

I can relate dance and yoga with Physiotherapy

BY MOHANA SOWANI

faculty and a Law school for the students.

What are your thoughts on the occasion of the centenary year?

We feel honoured with the recognition of being the first private university in the state. At the same time I want to dispel the notion that private varsities are for money making. We have been serving to the educational needs of thousands of students with the motto of providing a home away from home. manasisaraf@gmail.com

Life’s Lessons

Pursuing My Career

Mohana Sowani, a final year student of Physiotherapy, intends to treat orthopaedic patients through dance and yoga

Tell us something about the earliest years of this institute.

As I said, we started in Coimbatore but because of the frequent outbreaks of plague we shifted to Bangalore in 1919.

Various departments like agricultural farm, poultry, and carpentry were introduced here. The institute was renamed in honour of Elder William Ambrose Spicer, an early Adventist pioneer in India. But then it was realised the place was not very convenient to the students from other parts of country.

Hence, it was decided to shift to Pune, which is centrally located, in August 1942. Here, the campus has been in Aundh, since its inception.

What new courses does it plan to offer?

We offer seven post-graduate degrees and several undergraduate degrees in subjects like Theology to Computer Science, Western Music to Business and more. Now, within two years we will be starting courses in public health, leadership and counselling. Besides, we are also planning to start an Engineering

A very famous saying goes that successful people don’t do different things but do things differently. Thus, while a majority of people focus on their problems and frustrations relating to these problems, people who are smart and creative focus on solutions.

These people are constantly thinking of solutions to the problems around them. Even if they cannot overcome the problem entirely, surely they do succeed in making a difference, howsoever small it may be. Sometimes they even surprise themselves by making a difference that’s so significant that the society at large benefits from their initiative.

Craig Harper who authors a blog, lifehack.org lists this as among the important habits of successful people.

What are their other habits that all of us can benefit from?

Successful people, says Craig, look for and find opportunities where others see nothing. Indeed, all the inventions and innovations that have made life better for all of us stem from this trait.

Successful people are self-driven and very consciously take responsibility for their successes and failures.

Thus, they focus on creating their own success rather than hoping that the world will change for the better and make them happier.

As a part of their positive and optimistic approach to life, they see complaining as a “waste of energy”. Also, complaining is to be avoided because it drains you emotionally and puts you in a “negative and unproductive state”.

They may not have the best brains in the world, but they do know how to make the best of it. As they say, if God gives you a lemon, make a lemonade out of it!

Successful people are always busy, productive and proactive. Even when they are contemplating, it’s always in a positive manner and not in a negative manner that will tend to depress them.

These people are highly ambitious and don’t hesitate to shoot for the stars.

That way, they will at least reach the tree tops, if not go a little higher in life!

Early in life, successful people achieve a sense of clarity on what exactly they want out of life. They tend to value time and use it as a precious resource, without wasting any of it.

Thus, they act fast and don’t procrastinate or worry too much about failure. What is it that they say about failure? That it is stepping stone to success provided you learn lessons from it and don’t repeat your mistakes. editor_tgs@goldensparrow.com

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY PUNE

“The Luna is responsible for many innovations and firsts in the Indian auto sector. For this, we took inspiration from diverse unconnected areas.”

— Arun Firodia, chairman, Kinetic Group

Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) will hold a three-day programme ‘Intricacies of Contracts: Simplified’, at Shankar Natu Hall, MCCIA, SB Road from September 22. The timing are from 5 pm to 8 pm. The event will acquaint participants with basic principles of contract law, its provisions, obligations and securities. LegaLogic Consulting co-founder Dr Vivek Sadhale and ILS Law College professor, Dr Nilima Bhadbhade will be speaking at the programme. For details contact Kiran Joshi (25709182/25709000).

Fear of loss drives entrepreneurs

START-UP MENTOR

Loss aversion or fear of losing one’s salary at a full-time job, along with its prestige is what drives most entrepreneurs and not a love of risk.

According to a study, entrepreneurs are also concerned about what they might lose in the transition from steady employment to start-up. An entrepreneur’s concern about loss aversion correlates with entrepreneurial effort. In other words, entrepreneurs who put a high stake on avoiding loss - more so than acquiring new gains - worked harder. “There is a view that entrepreneurs are often overconfident gamblers, who thrive on risk, yet there is little evidence to support this view,” said professor John Morgan from the University of California - Berkeley in the US.

Vishwas Mahajan

Charting own path on biz growth story Swipe Telecom founder and CEO Shripal Gandhi’s 31 models of hi-tech tablets are popular in Rajasthan, Punjab, southern states and Gujarat

A young company that aspires to redefine the way Indians view technology and innovation is based out of Pune and its founder is a man with vision, focus and an endearing earnestness. The Golden Sparrow on Saturday (TGS) caught up with Shripal Gandhi, founder and CEO of Swipe Telecom, to find out what made his start-up burst into the big league.

Two years old, over `150 crore in revenue, `30 crore VC investment, more than 31 models of high technology tablets - 23 of them for the first time in India, number 1 tablet brand in Rajasthan and Punjab, number 2 in the South and inching upwards steadily in Gujarat.

Hyperventilating figures to some is reality to one. Swipe Telecom, founded in 2012 by 33- year-old Shripal Gandhi, is a manufacturer of high technology products – tablets and fablets, in particular – and aims to bring the most innovative tech solutions to Indians at amazingly low prices.

“We have chosen to stick to tablets and fablets and from the start were clear that we don’t want to make ‘me too’ devices, or low-end phones,” said Gandhi, who was named CNBC Young Turk in 2013.

A chemical engineer from UDCT (University Department of Chemical Technology), Mumbai, Gandhi went to the US in 2003 on a fellowship and after completing post-graduation opted

Opportunities in health and wellness industry

This feature is a collaboration between The Golden Sparrow on Saturday and The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), the world’s largest nonprofit network of entrepreneurs. For additional questions about your entrepreneurial challenges, write to mentoring@pune.tie.org

After 20 years of my career in IT services, I am motivated to start on my own. I like human physiology and have pursued formal education on the side while I was working. My idea is to start a stress management and therapy consulting firm, please advise next steps.

— Ashish Raje

your offerings. Productisation would mean you break down your offering into specific products. For example: a twohour workshop, weekly training session or a one-on-one counselling session.

This will allow the customer to choose their desired package/packages.

Dear Ashish, It is good to know that you are itching to do something of your own in a field that you like. You have taken steps to equip with the skills for what you think will be your future career. I assure you that you have made a great beginning.

Many people are unhappy with their jobs but are unwilling to take the next step forward and prepare themselves to start on their own. So, you deserves kudos.

Now let us look at your planned business. You have indicated that you would like to conduct stress management related therapy. On a macro level this is a good business because its market is expanding with more people facing stress due to many reasons, including competitive economy, deskilling/ reskilling, attrition etc. Health and wellness is a large market opportunity.

Now to specifics — it is important to identify what exactly would be your offerings and for whom.

Delivery channel: You have stated 3 in our previous discussion that you want consulting as primary delivery

Identify your customer: Based on 1looking our discussion you said that you are at two types of customers:

a. Middle management of IT and other knowledge services organisations that, in your own experience, are stressed. b. Students of standard X, XII and those who appear for competitive exams and also their parents.

I think this a good starting point for your market definition. Deeper understanding of the narrow space you want to operate is important.

Your product: This is where you 2 would need to go out and identify the right product you will market to

them. By saying that you offer a general consulting or a therapy may not be good enough. It might be a wise to productise

to work with a start-up in Silicon Valley.

It was with his next job he says he had enormous learning. “I had taken a 35 per cent pay cut to work with an ex-boss on his new venture. The luxuries of Silicon Valley were not as important as the idea of doing something innovative,” he said.

This job also brought him back to India. He was always clear about his intention to return to India even before he left to do Masters in Science (MSc).

“I didn’t want to settle there.” The fiasco of the Aakash Tablet became a trigger point and Gandhi eventually started Swipe in 2012.

The three key dictums Swipe follows are – Disruptive Design, Disruptive Technology and Disruptive Price – which are evident in their products. In 2012, they launched India’s first 3D tab for kids. They’ve also launched the slimmest tab and India’s first calling device in a tab that is under Rs 10,000.

The company recently launched its newest device that is touted to ‘digitise education’. Christened Swipe Chanakya, the handheld will have pre-loaded content for ICSE, CBSE and state board, from standard I-XII, including

BY RITU GOYAL HARISH @ritugh

channel. I feel that using this channel alone would limit your scalability. I would urge you to look at an interactive community website, a blog, anything like webinars and seminars and also, one to many coaching sessions as possible delivery channels to your customers.

This will create an engagement with your customers at a larger level and will allow you to scale your business.

4

Awareness of your product in a marketplace: Having defined the product, the channel and your customer base, the next step would be to identify how you would make your target market aware of your product. There are several ways you could do it. Social media and one-on-one or referrals is a good option.

Also look at some free offerings. Many times your prospective customer base is unaware of their own problems, and your awareness campaign would help get clients. This could be a door opener for deeper engagement with customer base.

The pricing: I believe offerings like 5 this will have to deliver a lot of freebies initially. That way, the customers are made aware and they seek your premier offerings. These could be specialist workshops or one-on-one sessions.

This is called ‘freemium’ pricing model.

Positioning yourself as a thought leader in the space that you are going to operate in will help get business. Do take a look at some of these and create a business plan. Be prepared to be surprised and be ready to change as you see your customers responding. Good luck!

Vishwas Mahajan, president of TiE Pune Chapter, answers real life questions of entrepreneurs

animated lesson plans, 3D models, Q&As etc. for a price as low as Rs 5,999. Swipe has also worked on several projects in the non-profit domain with the Melinda & Bill Gates Foundation in Bihar and Jharkhand and UNICEF in Rajasthan. “The central idea has been to use technology in education,” he said.

An astute businessman, Gandhi comes from humble origins and grew up in Ichalkaranji. He recalled his mediocrity as a student ‘who would score 48 per cent at best.

“A teacher who became my anchor changed my life when I was in standard VII. He helped me realise my potential,” he said about the schooldays. Gandhi scored 99.33 per cent in standard XII, and his single minded focus has helped him achieve his goals.

“Vision alignment is necessary. Also it is important to believe what you’re doing is right and hang on to it,” said Gandhi, whose brainchild has grown to 118 members from a five-member team in two years.

“More than all else, it is important to value what you have” he said. ritugoyalharish@gmail.com

MOVING THE BUSINESS FORWARD • The dismal status of the Aakash e-learning project gave Shripal Gandhi the idea to make tablets high in innovation and quality for nominal price • Pune-based VC Mantra Ventures invested `55 crore in the company in 2012 • Swipe Telecom raised `30 crore in venture capital (VC) funding from Kalaari Capital in 2014

Anaida finds creative outlet in leather works

BY BARNALEE HANDIQUE @barnalee

Colourful wall mountings made of leather catch the eye when you enter Anaida Paravaneh’s studio.

The paintings inspired by Persian miniatures and Moulana Muhammad Jalaluddin Rumi, Omar Khayyam, and Khaja Shamsuddin Mohammad Hafiz’s poetry depicts spirituality and everyday life of people. Anaida carves, paints and calligraphs on to bring to life the intangible aspects of life.

Anaida joined the hospitality industry after working in the entertainment business for 18 years as a creative director, consultant and branding. She performs in musical concerts in the country and abroad, but likes to carve on leather.

The former pop star took to leather carving 20 years ago when she visited

to a bedridden friend, and found leather artworks on the walls and tables of his house.

“I used to visit him often with my martial art teacher for energy healing treatment. He was an expert in leather carving and I asked him to teach me the basics. Seeing my eagerness, he obliged and would sit on a chair and teach me for two hours. These sessions went on for almost a year,” she said.

Later, Anaida developed her own

CREATIVE SUCCESS 1) 2) 3)

style and design, and leather carving became her new creative outlet.

She uses raw leather that she procures from manufacturers. “It is easier to carve on raw leather which is not cured or treated. I treat it after completing my carving, painting and calligraphy as it doesn’t shrink and

Anaida makes 2-3 pieces a year Her leather works’ price starts from `50,000 She is looking for an investor to popularise her works and go commercial

lasts long,” she said. Having yet to name her brand, she takes personal orders from niche art and private collectors. She had carved a guitar belt for ‘Air Supply’ band member Graham Russell. barnalee.handique@goldensparrow.com

Entrepreneurs get a free online platform

With this issue

StartupWave is India’s first online free-to-use incubation platform for smaller cities ISHANI BOSE @ishani_bose Starting a business is not an easy task, especially in a small city.

Gaining access to mentors and initial capital, can be quite a tough task. However, StartupWave (http: //www.startupwave.co/ beta/), India’s first online free-touse incubation platform aims at easing the process.

Perhaps that is why, the virtual incubation platform, that was started in April as a test pilot project, has got over 190 entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurs are from across the country especially cities like Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Bhubaneshwar. Their business ventures are still in the ideation or pilot stage.

StartupWave has been conceptualised by Intellecap, (a company with its headquarters in Hyderabad) in partnership with the UK government’s department for international development)

in India and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit on behalf of the German ministry of economic cooperation and development.

This platform strives to help startups at every stage — whether it is in the idea, pilot, or growth stage — by giving guidance, training, foundation to one’s business and access to angel funding. About 20 per cent of these start-ups hail from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. It has in total, about 20 mentors and 25 partner incubators, five from low income states.

“StartupWave aims to ‘democratise incubation’ and is a one-stop service, providing a blend of virtual and in-person support to take start-up enterprises from idea to investment stage,” said Ipshita Sinha, manager, Intellecap, who is developing the Startup Wave platform. ishani.bose@goldensparrow.com

RE

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Pop-up fun

S PAGE EW I V

In the issue ON TH EI N

3-day programme on contract law

ON TH ER E

Signposts

“CommonFloor.com was started in 2007. We have today grown to become the largest players in the apartment management software segment and are currently present in 120 cities across the country.”

—Sumit Jain, co-founder, CommonFloor.com

ON THE FE AT U

SEPTEMBER 20, 2014

Not so Khoobsurat

PAGE GE UL D

Continental escape

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2014

PUNE

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Fortnightly Market View: A Step Back, To Move Forward P 14

“When we studied Ganga from source to where it merges in the sea, we found one third of industrial waste, two third of agricultural waste and one third of domestic waste being discharged into the river untreated.”

— Prakash Javadekar, environment minister

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‘My heart bleeds for those who have suffered most’

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The fury of nature in Kashmir has taken a tragic toll on the lives of humans and animals says Saba Farooque Poonawala as she recounts the days she and her family were stranded in a hotel near Dal Lake

BY SABA FAROOQUE POONAWALA

Saba’s mother preparing food for the family from a makeshift kitchen on one of the top floors of the hotel as the ground floor was submerged in floodwaters

Flood washes away Omar’s hope of repeat mandate

BY AASHA KHOSA

HA employees, families to boycott assembly polls Contd from p1

Pataskar added they were extremely hopeful after a meeting with the Union minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers Ananth Kumar in June, but this soon gave way to disappointment. Kumar had assured that he would work out an Rs 495 crore revival package. There is as yet no sign of this, Pataskar said.

Established in 1954, HA was popular for the bulk manufacture of penicillin. The company was declared sick in 1997 and referred to the Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR).

The company has 270 acres of prime land on both sides of the old PuneMumbai highway which includes 100 acres of factory premises, 100 acres of township and 70 acres of vacant land.

Banks threaten to seize HA land to recover loans The Punjab National Bank is among those banks to have served a notice to Hindustan Antibiotics threatening to take possession of the company’s assets including land to recover loans. The company owes various banks almost Rs. 200 crore in dues. It owes Rs. 77.15 crore excluding interest to the Punjab National Bank alone.

Development of this property can yield more than Rs.20,000 crore in revenue besides generating jobs and boosting the local economy according to a proposal submitted to the government.

IN THE

NEWS

are for help. We have learnt so much from this experience. Most of all to give and help both humans and animals without expecting anything in return.

My plea is to encourage people there to please take notice that the animal kingdom is suffering too and, as much as humans, they need help too.

We were evacuated on September 12, taking with us just two handbags.

I made jholas out of dupattas and we put our basics in them. The shikaras took us towards Raj Bhavan. There was no difference in the water level between the Dal Lake and the main road and it looked like our boat was floating in an ocean.

We reached Raj Bhavan from where we were air lifted in army helicopters and taken to the army airport. From there we left for Delhi, and the next day took a flight back to Pune.

We have been fortunate to survive the entire episode, but there are many still stranded and plenty more yet to be traced. The people there are in need of clothing as winter is approaching too. Women and kids are in need of toiletries; food is a necessity for both humans and animals. There are several organisations helping.

On a personal level, since we have been through the entire ordeal, we are trying to do our bit by collecting clothes, etc and sending it there to our family members who stay in Kashmir. Everyone needs to help. The smallest effort made here by us, can be beneficial to many suffering there. I want to bring about awareness that the animals are suffering a great deal there and along with the people, their deplorable condition needs to be taken into account as well. editor_tgs@goldensparrow.com

“We have learnt so much from this experience.

Most of all to give and help both humans and animals.” climb up, and it did.

I urge everyone out there to help the victims be it animals or humans. We humans have a voice, but these creatures can’t talk. They can’t tell us verbally how they are feeling and how desperate they

Catch up with Pune’s major developments as the week comes to a close

Mashelkar to head Swachh Bharat campaign RAHUL RAUT

NEW DELHI: If public anger in Kashmir Valley over government’s absence from the scene of the catastrophe is any indication, Omar Abdullah’s party the National Conference may have just scripted its own eclipse from the political scene in the floods that have left a trail of death, destruction and chaos across Kashmir.

“The last favour Omar Abdullah can do to the people is to get out of the scene,” said Nayeem Akhtar, spokesperson of the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Front, the main challenger of the National Conference in state elections which are due in two months. Nayeem, like thousands of Srinagar residents was caught in floods and did not receive any support from the state government.

Though PDP is yet to take a stand on continuation of Omar Abdullah, sources said the party would pitch for elections in December, obviously to make most of the public anger against the NC regime.

“Right now, we are busy in relief work,” Nayeem told Firstpost. A National Conference leader close to the chief minister said, “We should forget about elections till at least six months and get on with massive reconstructing work – it will take at least this much time.”

Omar’s party, the National Conference, has simply gone into hiding.

While Congress is at least desperately trying to join the army of volunteers, the National Conference is conspicuous by its absence. Many are angry that in the initial days of the crisis, Omar Abdullah had tried to pass the responsibility of handling the aftermath of floods to the Centre. “Five ministers rushing to Delhi to ask for aid from the prime minister was the most shameful thing,” said Farooq Khan, who is overseeing BJP’s relief operations in Jammu. “Omar Abdullah could have spoken to prime minister through video conferencing. Modi would not have refused an interview to the chief minister,” Khan said.

(Copyright: Firstpost.com)

One day we heard the faint roar of arriving helicopters and the moment that happened my brother-in-law, We went for my sister’s brotherHashim, ran up to the attic and started in-law’s wedding in Srinagar, waving at the helicopters for help. We Kashmir and were staying at Hotel had no connection with the outside Brown Palace which is owned by world. There was no electricity or them. The first few days were wonderful. cellular network; thankfully each room Kashmir with all the beauty it had had a candle. I would burn the candles to offer. Yes, there was rain, and we sparingly in the evenings so they could did hear that water was causing a be used so we could see and move little problem in certain areas, but our around. hotel, located on Boulevard Road As soon as it was sun down, I and right opposite Dal Lake did not face could hear the dogs cry. The cries were any problems. so loud and piercing, FIRST-PERSON We even saw two it only made me pray rainbows on a single day! than usual. I am ACCOUNT longer Overnight, the water levels an animal lover, especially had begun to rise, so we dogs. Their cries made made arrangements for two bunds at the my heart melt and weep entry to the hotel. with them. One night, while I tried to Thankfully because we were sleep, I heard a dog cry which didn’t preparing up for the wedding, we seem to come from too far away. had sufficient supplies of bottled As time went by, the cry became water and basics to see us through more tired and helpless. Then I heard for a few days when supplies were sounds like something was splashing cut-off. One morning we woke up to in the water. Making my way through see that the water had entered the the darkness, I reached the window, hotel premises and that’s where the and in the moonlight saw a dog in our trouble began. premises desperately trying to find We were 53, including hotel guests ground. It swam for a long time. I and family. All the 14 of us who stayed wanted to do something, anything at all in our block had to vacate from the to help. But I was stranded myself. We ground and level one up to level two both were helpless. as the water began to enter the hotel I came back to bed with a rooms. For the next few days our meals heavy heart and prayed for the were extremely basic like rice with salt longest time asking God to please and turmeric - the basics we could get make that innocent animal make hold of in this short time. On some days it through daylight. The next day, we had boiled eggs and as we looked out on my request, Hashim took a of the window, the sight was turning plank of wood from the bed and increasingly depressing with the rising into the water with some food on it water level. only hoping that the dog would

Massive arms haul

by Pune police

Dr RA Mashelkar

Eminent scientist and former director general, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Dr Raghunath Anant Mashelkar, will head the experts panel to recommend the best technologies for prime minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Swachh Bharat’ national sanitation campaign.

The central government has formed a 19-member expert committee which will examine the best technologies on sanitation and water that can be scaled up on a sustainable basis in various states. Affordability, sustainability, scalability and quality will be the main criteria for selecting the relevant technologies. The terms of reference include achieving Modi’s ‘Swachh Bharat’ goals by 2019, with an emphasis on areas like potable water and sanitation. The environmental impact of each technology will also be taken into consideration. Mission Swachh Bharat aspires to realise Gandhiji’s dream of a clean India through ‘jan bhagidari’ (people’s participation). Together, we can make a big difference, Modi had tweeted. Dr Mashelkar was conferred with the Padma Shri in 1991, Padma Bhushan in 2000 and Padma Vibhushan earlier this year.

ILS Law College wins Purushottam Karandak award A one-act play ‘Chitthi’ presented by a team of students from ILS Law College won the 50th Purushottam Karandak trophy in the prestigious inter-collegiate one-act play competition held at the

on Saturday. On display are dinosaurian bones and eggs, oldest Indian remains of multi-cellular animals and other exhibits. The ARI, after the Geological Survey of India, has the largest collection of invertebrate fossils in India.

The students of ILS Law College after winning the 50th Purushottam Karandak in the prestigious inter-collegiate one-act play competition

Bharat Natya Mandir last week. The Hari Vinayak Karandak was won by runners-up GH Raisoni College of Engineering for their play ‘Hiyya’ while the Sanjeev Karandak for the third runners-up went to MIT College of Engineering for the play ‘Malabh’.

Well-known theatre and fi lm actors Mahesh Manjrekar, Sanjay Mone and Sonali Kulkarni had judged the competition. The Best Overall Acting award went to Arpita Ghogardare for her lead role in ‘Chitthi’. Her teammates Dynanratna Ahiwale won the award for best actor and Apurva Bhilare won the award for best direction.

to maintain its strength in the region that contains fringe villages. It is the first time that a corporator from the 23 fringe villages of Pune was selected to the prestigious post. The Congress

Dattatray Dhankawade

Abba Bagul

Mayoral election ‘signals’ assembly polls

picked Bagul who is popular in Parvati constituency as there is a possibility of exchange of constituencies Chinchwad (from Congress to NCP) and Parvati (from NCP to Congress).

Even as the seat-sharing logjam between the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) alliance for the October 15 assembly polls continues, the ruling parties are keeping all options open by electing Dattatray Dhankawade (NCP) as the city’s new mayor and making senior Congress corporator Abba Bagul as his deputy. With the mayoral post getting reserved for the open category after 14 years, NCP chose Dhankawade who hails from Dhankawdi in Khadakwasla constituency as it wants

Rare fossils on display More than 500 fossils, some dating back almost 2,500 million years, are put on public display by the Agharkar Research Institute’s (ARI) Geology and Palaeontology Group as part of the institute’s golden jubilee celebrations.

The exhibition, that began at the institute premises on the Gopal Ganesh Agarkar Road on Friday, is on till 5pm

About 12 countrymade revolvers and 62 live cartridges were seized by the police after arresting five men, including a history sheeter. This is the biggest arms and ammunition seizure by the Pune crime branch this year. The Unit IV of the crime branch made the arrest. The arrested suspects hail from Ahmednagar, Aurangabad and Pune districts. The arms and ammunition seizure is worth `6 lakh. The police had seized seven fi rearms and 24 live cartridges in May, and Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) Pune unit had recovered a cache of illegal arms from Pune and neighbouring districts in August.

Terin to lead Indian volleyball team in Asian Games Volleyball player Terin Antony will lead the Indian women’s team in the Asian Games, to be held at Incheon, South Korea, from Saturday. Terin, who plays for Central Railways, has been training at Deccan Gymkhana with coach Devidas Jadhav. Deccan Gymkhana’s coach Vaishali Fadtare has also been selected as the assistant coach of the Ind ia n team. Nirmal Tanvar and Priyanka Khedekar are the other city players to take part in the games.

Terin was part of the Indian team that recently won gold in Lusofonia Games held at Goa.

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2014

PUNE

“To train one doctor in AIIMS, the country spends `8 crore to ``10 crore. But large number of trained medicos are leaving India for lucrative career abroad.”

— Dr Harsh Vardhan, health minister

“It’s interesting that I had such a close relationship with my grandfather.

With your grandparents you have a feeling that you can say or do anything, and they will support you. That’s why you have this kind of connection.”

— Novak Djokovic, Serbian tennis player

Lifestyle changes can help in matters of the heart

The Way Forward With Compassion & Hope

There’s enormous strength in forgiveness

Naturopath Shrikant Mundada’s heart ailment awareness is through alternative therapies

Losing his father to a heart ailment twenty years ago spurred naturopath Shrikant Mundada to know more about issues related to the heart, and launch a charitable trust that helps the underprivileged to raise funds for treatment of heart ailments in 1994.

Mundada, 50, found that most people are ignorant about heart disease, the symptoms, risk factors and prevention. Mundada’s Hriday Mitra Pratisthan has helped many who required heart surgeries.

Mundada has published a book that guides patients and families on how to get donations for heart surgery. Around 20,000 copies of the book are already sold and 15,000 patients have benefited from the book.

“Apart from managing the medical expense, people are also unaware of the severity of a bypass surgery. They blindly follow whatever the doctor recommends.

Some even dread the very mention of surgery and refuse to undergo the operation,” he said.

“I was looking for an alternative medical treatment for heart ailments and came across the benefits of bottle gourd propagated by Dr Manu Kothari, former anatomy head at the KEM Hospital. Dr Kothari’s line of treatment has benefitted many patients in Vidarbha areas. I was not convinced but decided to pursue a diploma in naturopathy,” said Mundada, who introduced natural supplements that helps in reversing effects of bypass surgery.

Naturopathy involves complementing natural medicines with allopathic medicines and it is useful for those who want an alternative to surgery.

Mundada’s programme ‘reversal of heart attack’ has benefitted over 500 patients in the past four years.

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

ANJALI SHETTY @shetty_anjali

The naturopath is not against allopathy and requests patients to continue their prescribed medication while undergoing his programme.

“We ask patients to include bottle gourd juice, cinnamon, stevia, flax oil, aloe vera and wheat grass in their diet.

The intake of non-vegetarian foods, alcohol and tobacco has to be avoided completely,” said Mundada.

So, how does this process reverse a heart ailment?

“Our programme helps you live a healthy life with no operation or surgery.

A bypass surgery opens blocked artery to increase blood flow to the heart and

our programme does the same through a natural process by helping in controlling cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes and weight,” he said.

He also publishes an annual magazine Hriday Mitra, runs the Hriday Maitri Heart Club and Hriday Maitri bypass club for generating awareness about heart ailments, and holds free health check-up camps.

Maruti Chayal, 55, was suggested implantation of a pacemaker by doctors before he visited Mundada. He was advised a diet chart and within a few months his health condition improved. anjali.shetty@goldensparrow.com

For a healthy heart

this,’ he thought. ‘He is the one who tells us not to even mention women but now, he not only touched her but actually carried her on his shoulders!’ He was highly disturbed but refrained from confronting his teacher, tossing the matter within himself.

Unable to contain his agitation after some time, he made bold and asked his teacher how he could break the ashram discipline and yet be so unconcerned. “Can you recall what I did,” the teacher asked. “You picked up the girl.” “Then?” “You carried her on your shoulders across the stream.”

“And then?” “You put her down and she went her way.” “That’s right,” smiled the teacher. “After crossing the stream, I put her down.

Why are you still carrying her on your shoulders?

Forgiveness is not pardoning, forgetting or condoning. It is simply letting go. When I forgive someone, I’m actually forgiving myself for being foolish or vulnerable enough to get hurt. Why carry the burden and suffer? Don’t you think it is better to let go and move on in life?

Annual Subscription

`199

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

H EA RD.

ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR

BY RITU GOYAL HARISH @ritugh

learning. Apparently, it has no practical value.

Doesn’t it? Who benefits by carrying grudges? Is it not like anger, epitomised by the act of picking up a live coal to throw at someone? Who suffers? Is it necessary to suffer thus? Can we seek an alternative to this suffering?

There is an old story of an ashram with rigid tenets of conduct which included not having any contact with or even referring to women and all disciples were exhorted to follow this tenet implicitly. One day, the teacher and a disciple had to walk to another village. They had to cross a stream in their path.

As they neared the stream, they saw a young woman too approaching the stream from their side but hesitating to cross. When the duo reached the stream, the teacher picked up the girl and carrying her on his shoulders, crossed the stream. When he put her down on the other side, she thanked him and went her way while the teacher and his disciple pursued their path.

The young student was aghast. ‘How can the teacher do

`5

Dealing bravely with Ataxia

Vilas Shinde, 39, has not allowed the debilitating disease called Ataxia overpower his spirit. He fights a battle for dignity and survival every day.

Shinde’s life of resolve involves doing Pranayama for about an hour and a half after waking up at 6.30 am. And he has followed this routine for the past 10 years. He spends 2-3 hours making bags out of newspaper, an activity he struggles with but his determination to reach the number in his head – 400-500 bags in 10 days – sees him through.

“I use numbers for all my activities.

I know that in 2.5 minutes I can do 100 Bhastrika pranayama,” said Shinde whose active, alert mind is trapped in a body that can’t keep up. He was diagnosed with Ataxia when he was 15 years old.

Shinde rides a three-wheeled cycle ‘to go to the saloon etc’. He likes to read and write although both activities have become difficult lately given the advanced stage of Ataxia.

His insistence on walking and doing yoga has helped him stay away from the confines of a wheelchair.

Shinde and his widowed mother live in the family quarters of Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd, HA Colony, in Pimpri allotted to his elder brother. Sometimes the sense of being a burden on his brother who has his own family and growing children weighs heavy on his mind.

“I manage to eat two meals a day but it is difficult,” he said.

Shinde makes about 1,000 paper bags per month, which fetches him approximately `2,000, his contribution to the household expense. He tried to gain employment but his disability is a

H

ow many of us hold on to a grudge or a hurt long after the event? We carry it for weeks, months, years and even decades. It works on our minds. It is a thorn in our flesh. We often seek retribution or revenge and clothe it in the garb of justice. Can there be another take on this issue?

I’m not a religious person for I believe religion has been one of the most divisive forces on earth.

Yet, I have gone through a few religious tomes and accept that they do contain practical wisdom. I have been particularly fascinated by the Christian virtue of forgiveness, immortalised by the last words of Christ: “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do.”

I know it sounds lofty and admirable but when it comes to actually forgiving someone, we mostly sing a different tune. We want vengeance. The prevailing theme, be it a novel or movie or even some of the systems that claim to dispense justice is, “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”

Forgiveness is enshrined in one of the obscure pages of academic

Invitation Price

• Reach Shrikant Mundada on www.heartfriendly.org • Hriday Mitra Pratisthan organises lecture series, seminars, workshops, gathering of bypass patients, high blood pressure and cholesterol patients, publishes books on heart diseases, releases audio/visual CDs on how to avoid heart diseases and holds free health check-up camps

Vilas Shinde’s day begins with Pranayama and he makes 400-500 paper bags in 10 days

Is a problem bothering you and you are unable to decide what to do? Write in to us at wayforward@goldensparrow.com for advice and suggestions from C Ravindranath

What is Ataxia?

Ataxia is a rare, fatal, neurological, progressive and degenerative condition that affects the Cerebellum. This condition causes loss of coordination of body parts. Typically balance and coordination are affected first. Walking becomes difficult and impaired coordination of the arms and hands affect a person’s ability to write and eat. As time goes on, Ataxia can affect speech and swallowing. As of now, this condition has no known cure. In our country there is stigma attached to the condition due to the genetic nature of some forms of the disease. Ataxians are also often mistaken for being drunk or mentally disabled.

Help as a volunteer Support - Take patients for physiotherapy or educational classes, rehab programmes. Offer jobs they can undertake without travel. Arrange TV/ radio shows to raise awareness. Buy/promote Shinde’s paper bags Celebrate – Take patients on outings like movies, parks etc. Some patients are only 7-9 years old Share – Patients of other debilitating diseases can share experiences of positivity and comfort with a call or personal meeting Contact Pune’s first self-help group for Ataxia, Ataxia Awareness Charitable Trust on +91 937 1234 074. Read their blog onhttp:// puneataxiasupport.wordpress.com/

huge drawback.

“We don’t fall under any category.

Disabilities benefits don’t apply to us.

We don’t have dignity and are left to struggle all through our life,” he said.

His mother is his pillar of strength

but often gets depressed owing to his condition. “But I tell her, I want to live and she shouldn’t feel bad about my life,” he said displaying strength of character that is rare and inspiring. ritugoyalharish@gmail.com

PUNE’S FIRST WEEKLY NEWSPAPER

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TH E EDIT PAGE Who is dirty? The one who makes dirt or the one who cleans it?

- Acharya Vinoba Bhave

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2014

PUNE

Editor’s pick

Pune’s garbage crisis: Aren’t we at fault?

Wouldn’t the citizens of any comparable city in Japan, Europe or America be ashamed of themselves with the ugliness of stinking garbage heaps outside the ICC Trade Towers where the MCCIA and Janwani have their offices? Or in Model Colony which is also famed for the Lakaki Lake and the SL Kirloskar bungalow?

Or for that matter, in any pocket of this great city?

It is very easy for us to blame the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) for poor garbage management - and this is precisely what we do in our drawing room conversations when Pune turns into a stink pot. Th is has happened from time to time whenever the pollution-hit villagers of Uruli Devachi have prevented Pune’s garbage trucks from unloading in their vicinity.

However, who is really at fault? Is the PMC to be blamed entirely or are we the people also at fault - journalists, politicians, teachers, engineers, intellectuals and others who have been mindlessly violating the norms set for better garbage management?

We throw rubbish out of our windows be it at home or while travelling; we demand the environmentallyhazardous plastic carry bags from vegetable vendors, kirana shops and other retail outlets; we don’t segregate dry and wet garbage at home and fi nally, our housing societies don’t have kitchen waste processing pits which could not only provide manure for the society’s gardens but also reduce the burden on the civic infrastructure.

Last Saturday, Pune’s newlyappointed municipal commissioner Kunal Kumar inspired a gathering of community leaders when he showed commitment and presented a four-point agenda to tackle the city’s solid waste management (SWM) problem.

Kumar, who was speaking at an interactive session organised by the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) said there was a need to create mass awareness, highlight the best practices in the city, insist on garbage segregation at source and penalise those housing societies that violate the set norms.

While Kumar has promised to drive this initiative through the PMC, it is now the responsibility of every thinking citizen of Pune and every housing society to voluntarily participate in this movement.

As responsible citizens we need to segregate garbage at home; minimise - if not eliminate - the use of plastic carry bags and ensure that our housing societies have composting pits to process kitchen waste.

A willingness on our part to take these steps would show dramatic results that all of us would be proud of.

Lot to learn from Roseland Residency Th is newspaper wishes to join hands with Infosys, Pune and Radio City who have already applauded the spirit of citizenship shown by the residents of Roseland Residency at Pimple Saudagar, a suburb under the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC).

Th is housing society with about 1,000 families has voluntarily adopted a set of clean-and-green eco-friendly principles that ought to be taken note of by one and all.

As reported in this edition, the residents of this housing society have given up the use of plastic and polythene bags and have even set up a ‘Roseland Google Group’ to spread awareness about the hazards of plastic and polythene. Cloth bags with a social message have been distributed throughout the society to serve as an alternative.

Roseland Residency has successfully installed rainwater harvesting systems that have helped recharge existing borewells and save money by discontinuing dependence

on water tankers.

The society has saved nearly one lakh units of electricity through the judicious use of power and energy-saving strategies. Respect for the environment is the underlying theme during all festivities and celebrations at this housing society and only eco-friendly materials are used in the decorations.

These are just some of the various green initiatives at this society. More than anything else, it reflects a positive, constructive, proactive and solutions-based approach of the residents of this society - precisely the very same spirit that constitutes the ethos of this newspaper.

More and more citizens need to align with this constructive mindset and then influence their housing societies to participate in this movement and make a difference.

Undoubtedly, the example set by this housing society is worthy of emulation by other residential colonies across the city.

Vol-1* lssue No.: 14 Printed and Published by: PRI – Media Services Private Limited CIN: U22222MH2012PTC232006 on behalf of Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt. Ltd. CIN:U22200PN2014PTC151382 Printed at Diligent Media Corporation Ltd., Plot No. EL-201, TTC Industrial Area, MIDC, Mahape, Navi Mumbai.

Published at Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt. Ltd. 1641, Madhav Heritage, Tilak Road, Pune-411 030, Tel: 020-2432 4332/33.

Editor: Abhay Vaidya (Responsible for the selection of news under the PRB Act, 1867)

Cartoon by: Vaijnath Dulange

Xi visit brings new opportunities

BY VIJAY KRANTI

Irrespective of the final outcome of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s maiden visit to India, it surely marks a unique and qualitative change in the India-China relations. Hitherto, this relationship has been known more for its vocal than the real, vital content.

Observers of India-China relations who had got used to watching India as the passive and docile partner in the diplomatic intercourse between two Asian neighbours, are pleasantly shocked to notice Chinese leaders going out of their way to please India since the Narendra Modi government was inaugurated in May this year.

India’s every single Chinese guest in the past six decades since Jawaharlal Nehru to Manmohan Singh made it a point to give enough reasons to his hosts to be perceived as a bully banging New Delhi’s doors with a list of impolite do’s and don’ts. But Xi appears to have left no stone unturned to present himself as the real Santa Clause at the doors of a four-monthold Modi government this time.

With his bag full of goodies like investment in bullet trains, industrial parks, twin-city projects, highway construction offers and investment in every perceivable field, the Chinese president looks bent upon outmatching his bête-noir Japenese Premier Shinzo Abe in pleasing and making Modi happier.

As icing on the cake, Beijing has already announced that China is ready to sign cooperation agreements with India in fields like climate change, energy production, food security, antiterrorism, culture, tourism and even fi lm industry. If Chinese media is to be taken at its face value, Xi would be too happy to outplay Japan’s offer of $35 billion investment in India by $100

IANS

Pune has an enviable profi le as a prominent educational hub in the country with some eight universities, as a leading IT centre, the cultural capital of Maharashtra, headquarters of the Southern Command and a centre of science, technology and industry with many R&D labs, small, medium and large industries.

No other city in the country can boast of such a dynamic mix of people, professions and pursuits. Why then is this city of learned and prosperous people unable to effectively manage the 1,600 tons of rubbish that it generates every day?

billion - an impressive factor of three - in coming five years.

Architects of this new found hope on both sides of the Himalayas deserve due appreciation for this pleasant turn to an otherwise sad chapter of modern Asian history. But all said and done, there are a host of complex and simmering issues between the two countries, and these are too crucial to be pushed under the carpet. If left unattended, any of these issues has the potential of singularly derailing the already delicate relations between the two Asian giants.

Some of the issues on the top of this list that make India an apprehensive and reluctant partner in its dialogue with China, include: • The unending border dispute and regular incursions into Indian borders by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) • The use of Pakistan as Beijing’s proxy to hold up India in her tracks • China’s ambitious designs over river waters from Tibet • Developing Tibet into a formidable garrison against India • Support to separatist and antiIndia extremist outfits by Beijing • Overwhelming trade gap between

the two countries An altogether new and promising factor in the unfolding new era of India-China relations is that both sides today enjoy the stewardship of strong leaders with reasonably stable governments at their command.

One hopes that Chinese leadership has realised by now that dealing from a strong position with weak, or even almost non-entity governments in New Delhi - like the recent one under Manmohan Singh - may give a position of advantage to China in dealing with India. But such an imbalance has only proved detrimental towards developing a mutually trustful and respectful relations.

Although the relations between two nations don’t exclusively depend on the two leaders alone, yet it is true that two strong and well meaning leaders on both sides can prove very effective in creating a comfortable meeting space to take the relations ahead.

There is no doubt that the economic and financial goodies in Xi’s bag are very attractive and welcome for Modi’s India that has decided to take India on the highway of economic and industrial growth. To say it in simple words, it is mainly the economic support from a cash-rich China to an ambitious India

The art of meditation

BY ANIL K RAJVANSHI

calf has become so small that it sits on my palm.” The guru advised the disciple Meditation has been practiced since to continue meditating on the calf. After antiquity and tomes have been written some time when the Guru visited the on it, the classical being Patanjali Yoga disciple again he was crying and said Darshan. So there is nothing new that that now the calf has grown so big that one can say about it, except that what it reaches the sky. The guru knew that I present is based upon my limited the young disciple was on the correct experience. I do hope some of the path. He told him to continue further readers will find it useful. on the same path. Many years passed by Meditation is basically a focus on before the Guru went to see his disciple. single thought for a long time. This is From the disciple’s face the guru knew what Patanjali talks about in his Yoga that he had obtained happiness and Darshan. It could be a thought on any had reached his destination. After subject or object, for example even on a great difficulty he was able to shake the mundane thing like samosa! disciple out of his Samadhi. On Patanjali describes deep being asked how he feels, the meditation as Sanyam where disciple replied, “Sir you, I, calf, contemplation, reflection and sky and God are the same!”

Samadhi are brought to bear on Hence any idea or subject single object or subject. if thought about for a long time Shri Ramakrishna, the can result in reaching God Indian saint used to tell an Head including samosa! The interesting story on this. A young main thing is to focus on the boy went to a Guru and asked him object. Also we should try to THINK how he can see God. The Guru focus on positive things. Brain immediately saw that the boy was is a transmitter and receiver of an enlightened soul but too young to be thoughts and hence focus on negative educated in the abstract knowledge of thoughts or about harming somebody Vedas and Upanishads. He asked the boy can bring negativity to one’s mind and whom he loved most. The boy replied interferes in the process of meditation.

“My calf. I play with him all the time.

One can meditate at any place He is my true companion”. The guru or in any position. However, a asked the boy to think and meditate on good way to meditate is to sit in an the calf. After some months the Guru upright position, close the eyes and went to see what his young disciple had think about the subject. The mind achieved and found him crying. “I am initially will not remain focused for losing my mind,” said the disciple. “The more than a few minutes.

When the mind starts wandering one needs to gently bring it back to the object of meditation. Never do it violently because the mind has the tendency to rebel against force! Initially a person will be able to focus for a few minutes, but when practiced daily the duration will start increasing and eventually one can easily meditate for a couple of hours at stretch.

In the initial stages if you meditate deeply for 10-15 minutes there is a tendency to go to sleep. This is because meditation is very relaxing and therefore sleep results. Hence it is necessary to meditate while sitting. For older people who have difficulty in sleeping, meditation is a good way to induce sleep. Thus there is no holy, spiritual or correct idea or subject to meditate on.

Anything can be meditated upon except the negative things. As the meditation progresses the first thing a person will notice is that his/her concentrating power has increased. Secondly, overall mental health and general well being results. There are a large number of scientific studies done all over the world telling about the benefits of meditation.

So my dear readers, anybody can do meditation. And as Patanjali has said a person goes into Samadhi as a fool and comes out as a genius! © Anil K Rajvanshi The writer is Director, Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute, Phaltan, Maharashtra. He may be reached at anilrajvanshi@gmail.com

which holds great promises for giving India-China relations an “orbital jump” as Ajit Doval, special envoy of Modi to the Chinese President, has put it.

It also goes without saying that thanks to its deep pockets, China can very easily outmatch Japan on this front. But it will be too naive to presume that the competition between Shinzo Abe and Xi Jinping is just as simple as one of luring the beautiful woman with a fatter wad of money.

After all, all the financial and technological aid that Modi’s government needs today are also available from a host of friendly countries, albeit at a little higher market price than what China offers.

Finally, it is a host of fears, apprehensions and anxieties facing New Delhi in her relationship with Beijing that have to be properly attended to by Xi and his comrades to win over the hearts of India. Bullying behaviour of the PLA on the Indian borders at Chumar in Ladakh on the eve of Xi’s visit has only underlined these Indian fears as serious and real.

Finding an amicable and mutually respectful solution to all these irritable issues is a common challenge before the two great leaders of two great neighbours. For Modi government the real challenge is to preserve this bonhomie between the two Asian rivals for at least a decade, if not longer.

For, India needs at least one peaceful, un-distracted and un-disruptive decade of economic and industrial development to have a sure foothold on her bullet train to a strong and prosperous future. Xi’s visit can prove a useful opportunity.

(Vijay Kranti is a senior journalist and a keen observer of China and India-China relations. The views expressed are personal. He can be reached at v.kranti@gmail.com)

Limericks of the week

BY C RAVINDRANATH

The interest was well maintained Till the end, hopes retained To us, Davis Cup Was Tantalus Cup At the bottom, we remain sustained The country’s for Kashmir But I find it rather queer That sacrifice Cuts no ice With those immersed in their beer We dig up the past with ease With pleasure, torment and tease We argue and bet And just can’t let Our ex-PM live in peace.

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2014

PUNE

Indians seeking a record medal haul P 15

“India and China can create opportunities for the world. We need to take our strategic partnership to higher levels. We have common development goals, it is important that we deepen the alignment of our development strategies.”

— Chinese President Xi Jinping Rina Castelnuovo/The New York Times

Mary-Claire King, (left) the American geneticist who identified a gene that increases vulnerability to breast cancer when in its mutated form, and Ephrat Levy-Lahad at the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem

Lasker winner calls for more genetic testing in cancers One of the receipients of the award Mary-Claire King recommends every woman to go for testing during pregnancy The Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation awards - often called the ‘American Nobels’ in medical science - were announced September 8, and one of the winners used the spotlight to call for dramatically widening the use of genetic screening for breast and ovarian cancer.

The recipient, Mary-Claire King, 68, of the University of Washington in Seattle, is one of five scientists being honoured; she won the special achievement award for “bold, imaginative” scientific and human rights accomplishments. King discovered BRCA1, a gene that in a mutated form increases vulnerability to breast cancer. In a separate branch of her research, she developed and used DNA strategies to reunite missing persons with their families of origin. Her proposal, summarised in an article for The Journal of the American Medical Association that was timed to coincide with the Lasker announcement, calls for screening all American women 30 or older for cancer-causing genetic mutations, regardless of their race or ethnic background.

That would be a radical departure from current guidelines, which discourage screening for these mutations unless a woman either already has a diagnosis of cancer or has a clear family

history of breast and ovarian cancer.

“We recommend that every woman in of any race or ancestry be offered this opportunity when she’s in the midst of childbearing or beginning childbearing,” Dr King said in an interview. “You only need to be tested once, and the vast majority of women will not have a mutation and can go about their life. The actual cost is minimal.”

“But women who do learn they have a mutation that’s comparable to Angelina Jolie’s and confers very high risk can begin to think about what that means and be referred to a highrisk clinic” to develop a prevention plan, she said. A common recommendation is to have the ovaries removed by age 40, because ovarian cancer is difficult to diagnose early and, removing the ovaries may reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Michael Watson, executive director of the American College of Medical

Genetics, said medicine was already “rapidly moving” toward genetic screening in healthy patients, although there are “still gaps in our system to be able to do that effectively.”

Patients must have good counseling about the potential benefits and drawbacks of testing, and how to evaluate risks that are based on percentages, experts said.

Many expressed concern about the costs and the potential harm of the tests.

King estimated that the first round of universal screening of all women 30 and older would identify 250,000 to 400,000 American women with harmful mutations in BRCA1 or a second gene, BRCA2.

Critics may object that “women aren’t ready for this,” she said. But she argued: “Why should women be protected from information that will empower them and allow them to control their lives? We don’t need that kind of protection.”

King became interested in genetics

Ovarian cancer is difficult to diagnose early and, removing the ovaries may reduce the risk of breast cancer

while doing graduate work in statistics at the University of California, Berkeley, in the late 1960s. She took a genetics course and realised that mathematics held a key to solving a number of biological puzzles.

In 1974, when few scientists believed that inherited breast cancer could be linked to a single mutated gene, and years before other scientists developed highspeed automated techniques to analyse the molecular sequences now used to identify such mutations, King relied on her mathematical knowledge to hunt for a hypothetical breast cancer gene.

She analysed data from more than 1,500 families in which women received new diagnoses of breast cancer at age 55 or younger. She concluded that 4 percent of the families carried a single mutant gene that predisposes both women and men to the cancer even without environmental exposures or lifestyle risk factors. Then she analysed the DNA of 329 relatives in 23 families with 146 cases of invasive breast cancer.

By 1990, after testing 173 markers in a technique known as linkage analysis, she focused on a section of Chromosome 17 as the likely area to contain the normal BRCA1 gene. Later, other scientists isolated the mutated BRCA1 gene and identified BRCA2. © 2014 New York Times News Service

Detained, tortured by separatists in Donetsk Women in Donetsk gather at the Security Service HQ to try to learn the fate of their missing sons and husbands CARLOTTA GALL

men who have brought with them more than a hint of old Communist and DONETSK, Ukraine: For Soviet methods. months as this region slipped deeper In a routine that is reminiscent of into war, with armed gunmen on the worst of the Stalin era, women in patrol and artillery shells slamming Donetsk now gather at the corner of into the regional capital daily, the Security Service headquarters, the Alexander and his wife Olga had successor of the KGB, to try to learn the learned to take precautions. With people fate of their missing sons and husbands. disappearing from the streets every “As far as illegally kept people, I don’t week, they usually went everywhere know about such people,” Boris Litvinov, together, and when apart kept in chairman of the Supreme Council of the constant touch by cellphone.

Donetsk People’s Republic, the second But Alexander never thought he most senior separatist official in the would run into trouble. A trained region, said at a news conference. electronic engineer, at 49 he had lived When Alexander failed to arrive in the Donetsk region for 40 years and on the bus, Olga began a frantic search, had worked for the last 20 as a smallfearing the worst. The bus drivers time merchant with his wife at the city’s and people along the route denied open-air market. A slight man with a seeing anything. She called and visited wiry strength, he looks like an ordinary government offices. Some took her worker in casual clothes. details but nothing ever Luckily for him, he was came of it. For days, fit. “He does not drink or the prosecutor’s office smoke,” said Olga, who was closed, and when it like her husband would finally opened she found not give her last name out it staffed by a volunteer of fear for her safety. and renamed the NKVD, He was on his way the name of the notorious home from the market on Stalinist-era secret police.

August 10, and had just Alexander was changed buses and taken handcuffed by his captors, out his cellphone to call who taped his eyes and Olga so she could meet the pushed him into the trunk bus. It was midafternoon of a car. “They brought me and there was just one to a building, but I could - Boris Litvinov other passenger on the not see anything because bus, a young woman. my eyes were bound,” he “Two men got on the bus, one in civilian said. A few more people arrived and clothes and one in military fatigues,” then the beating began. “They stood Alexander recounted. The men were in a circle kicking me,” he said. “They members of the Donetsk People’s poured water on my face,” he said. By Republic, the separatist movement that evening they tired of their work. “They began an armed insurrection in April. said I was small but did not feel pain,” The man in civilian clothes Alexander recalled. “They realised I was demanded Alexander’s phone. They maybe the wrong person. I could hardly ordered him off the bus and told him he breathe and could not talk and so they was being detained. “Either you come took me to their small hospital,” he said. with us or I shoot you,” one of them said.

“I was there for 12 days. Even the people Although few people dare to on that base were angry that people had talk openly about what is happening treated me like that.” in the Donetsk region, extrajudicial That was when an acquaintance abductions and detentions have become serving with the Donetsk People’s commonplace. Since demonstrations Republic recognised him. He vouched against the government in Kiev, the for Alexander and eventually got him capital, began in March, the region released. Sixteen days after he was has evolved into a strange secessionist detained, they drove him out in a closed state run by a collection of pro-Russian van and dropped him at a bus station political and military types, among with money for the fare home. them former Communists and KGB © 2014 New York Times News Service

“As far as illegally kept people, I don’t know about such people.”

Hitting a brake on texting to minimise road accidents MATT RICHTEL People know they shouldn’t text and drive. Overwhelmingly, they tell pollsters that doing so is unacceptable and dangerous, and yet they do it anyway. They can’t resist. So safety advocates and public officials have called for a technological solution that does an end run around free will and prevents people from texting in the first place.

That’s where Scott Tibbitts comes in. A chemical engineer who built a company that made motors and docking stations for NASA, Tibbitts, 57, spent the past five years coming up with a novel way to block incoming and outgoing texts and to prevent phone calls from reaching a driver.

He wasn’t some crazy inventor or relentless self-promoter acting on his own. To bolster his engineering solution, he struck a partnership with two heavyweights: American Family Insurance, which agreed to invest in the technology, and, even more important, with Sprint. It agreed to allow Tibbitts’ company, Katasi, to use

its network to stop texts. It was a kind of holy grail, safety advocates gushed, a first for a US phone carrier. The product was being completed in February for a summer start - “a huge deal,” as it was characterised

by David Teater, senior director for transportation initiatives at the National Safety Council, which works to curb distracted driving.

The story starts with tragedy. On May 8, 2008, Tibbitts, who lives and works in Boulder, Colorado, drove to Denver for a business meeting. When he arrived, he discovered that the executive with whom he was supposed to meet had been killed that very morning in a car crash caused by a teenager, who, Tibbitts was told, was texting.

The death of the executive led Tibbitts to seize on distracted driving as his next entrepreneurial challenge.

Adding incentive, he had two children who were about to reach driving age.

He immediately identified an engineering hurdle: To shut down a driver’s phone, you have to know that the person is driving. “How do we know the person is driving and

Insurance companies are now using telematics to measure driver behaviour

Kevin Moloney/The New York Times

The telematics box sends a wireless message that the car is moving. The phone sends its own message about its location

Scott Tibbitts, left, has developed a system that uses a small black box, plugged in under a car’s steering column, to block incoming and outgoing texts and prevent phone calls from reaching the driver. Mr. Tibbitts’s son, Ryan, is at right.

not riding a horse or is a passenger on a bus?” he said. “How the heck do we do that?”

In January, in a parking lot in Boulder, Tibbitts huddled in the back seat of a 2002 Mazda Protégé to show off his solution. The car belonged to his son, Ryan, 20, who sat in the driver’s seat. Ryan reached pulled out a small square box that had been

plugged into a port under the steering column. The port, called OBD 2, comes standard in cars built since 1996, and the black box plugged into it is part of a booming business called “telematics” - so named because it combines telecommunications and mobility. Ernst & Young predicts that by 2025, some 88 percent of new cars will have telematics and thus become

so-called connected cars. There are many reasons for connecting a car to the Internet. Cars that can send and receive information allow for remote diagnostics by technicians or for enhanced navigation services.

Many of those applications are not yet developed, but insurance companies are now using telematics to measure driver behaviour - do you speed or slam on the

brakes? - and applying that information in setting insurance premiums.

Telematics also help Tibbitts shut down the phone. The telematics box sends a wireless message that the car is moving. The phone sends its own message about its location. Both sets of information - from the car and phone - are sent to Katasi’s servers. Then, an algorithm weighs the incoming data with other information, like the location of the phones belonging to all the people who drive the car and the starting point of the trip; if the trip starts at Junior’s high school, and mom’s and dad’s phones are at work, the driver has been identified - Junior is driving.

So what happens when husband and wife share a car and Katasi’s servers say that both are in the car at the same time with their phones? Which one is driving? At that point, Katasi generally doesn’t block the messages on the assumption that the passenger will prevent the driver from texting.

The system is capable of blocking calls, email and other data, but initially the plan was to block texts.

In 2010, American Family Insurance got wind of his project and was intrigued. The company eventually invested $1 million in Katasi. Curt Davies, head of the connected-car team at American Family, was enthusiastic: “You don’t need to download an app. You start driving” and the technology “stops a text or call from getting to your phone.” © 2014 New York Times News Service

MONEY MATT ER S “The government has done a brilliant job on foreign policy and is using it as an effective tool for economic policy as well because we are going to see a lot of interest from global companies.”

— Uday Kotak, MD, Kotak Mahindra Bank

Signposts

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2014

“The economic potential for India remains strong, with the growing population and rapidly expanding middle class – it presents opportunities for business.”

—Sandeep Uppal, MD, HSBC India

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Have Achhe Din for auto industry begun?

With car sales recording 15% growth and two-wheelers 19% higher sales during August, the beginning of this year’s festival season has brought cheers to this sector

BY DEBASHIS BASU

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Last fortnight, I had suggested that the market may undergo a short-term correction. The Sensex was at 26,638 two weeks ago. It is now at 27,061.04, about 300 points higher over a twoweek period. Even though investors have pushed the market higher, the indices have found it hard to make much advance. My view remains the same—we are due for a small pullback.

This should take us to the 26,000 region on the Sensex and possibly a bit lower.

While discussing valuation, last fortnight, we looked at the forward PE of the Sensex based on consensus estimates. By that estimate, the Sensex is not overvalued. Especially since the economic benefits of a more decisive government are about to flow. But there is a problem with consensus estimates.

It’s a forecast of a bunch of stock analysts and, usually, stock analysts are bad at forecasting.

So, while relying on consensus estimates is fine to get a sense of where the market could be headed in the bestcase scenario, one should also look at market valuation based on the trailing four quarters of earnings per share (EPS) and the current PE ratio, based on this EPS. This is called trailing PE, as opposed to forward PE used in earnings estimate. And here is what the trailing PE ratio tells us now. The trailing PE ratio for four quarters is about 22. In a bull market, this ratio can be as high as a 23-25 before a meaningful decline takes place. Since the Nifty PE is not close to such overvalued level, we think more gains are in store after a shortterm dip.

If the market does decline a bit more over the short term, we expect a new rally to develop that could take the indices to a new high, marginally

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BY MONEYLIFE DIGITAL TEAM

August 2014 proved to be a splendid month for Indian auto industry, which witnessed strong volumes across all segments, except light commercial vehicles (LCVs). During the month, car sales recorded a volume growth of 15% while two-wheeler continued its upward march with 19% higher sales.

“Volume growth is likely to improve further as economic growth recovers. On a year-on-year (yoy) basis, September will likely be very strong month, as the festival season (Dussehra-Diwali) is largely bunched up in October this year as compared with the October-November period last year,” says Nomura in a research note.

According to CARE Ratings, major OEMs have announced new launches especially in the passenger vehicle and two-wheeler segments. It said, these launches and the upcoming festival season should augur well for the channel and help in sales growth and improvement in credit profi les of the dealerships.

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Moneylife Foundation was chosen for the 10th MR Pai Award for its work in advocating and securing the interest of consumers, savers and investors. Moneylife Foundation was honoured with the prestigious MR Pai Memorial award, this was the 10th year of the award.

Sucheta Dalal and Debashis Basu, Founder-Trustees received the award from Dr Deepali Pant Joshi, Executive Director of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The award was instituted in memory of MR Pai, a well-known crusader for consumers rights, especially in banking and telecom, by the Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank Ltd (PMC Bank) and carries a citation and a monetary award of Rs1 lakh.

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Moneylife Foundation gets the 10th MR Pai Memorial Award

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The Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) celebrated its 80th Foundation Day on September 16. The bank’s chairman and managing director (CMD) S Muhnot briefed about the consistent progress of the bank at a function held at Pune. He emphasised on how BoM is serving all the strata of people of the country, true to its common man’s bank tag with dedicated customer service, IT initiatives and customer centric products that resulted in multifold quantitative and qualitative business growth. Many personalities from the city attended the programme.

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Bank of Maharashtra celebrates 80th foundation day

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Bank of Maharashtra’s CMD S Muhnot addressing the gathering

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A Step Back, To Move Forward A short-term decline and then a rally?

higher than the current high. Of course, most good-quality stocks present in the indices are already expensive; so the indices may have to be pushed up by stocks that have languished so far, if we are to get a new high. Can stocks like National Mineral Development Corp,

“Unfortunately, we notice continued lack of visible action from the government to fix the public sector companies”

PUNE

National Thermal Power Corp, Bharat Heavy Electricals, Jindal Steel or DLF push the NIfty up?

Unfortunately, we notice continued lack of visible action from the government to fi x the public sector companies. If the Modi government moves in that direction, the market will certainly make another big leap. Until then, we will have to depend on the same four horses—pharma, consumer products, finance and software—to pull the market up.

Meanwhile, as happens in major bull markets, we see rampant speculation going on and punters having a field day. Tips available on Internet forums and Twitter are yielding 50%-100% returns in a matter of days and weeks.

Stay away from them. These tips will make money for you for some time but, one fine day, they will stop working and inflict large losses when you find yourself saddled with poor-quality stocks locked in lower circuit. @moneylife

To encourage automobile sales, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government reduced excise duty on automobiles in the Interim Budget.

This concession was extended by another six months, till 31 December 2014 by the Narendra Modi government in its pre-budget announcement.

Two-wheeler strong run continues During August, two-wheeler segment continued its strong run and reported a health growth of around 19%. Bike volumes increased 14% while scooter sales jumped 30% during the month.

Festive season offers Maruti Suzuki is offering regionspecific festive accessory packs, which includes a selection of five or more accessory options for the customer to chose. Datsun Go is offering benefits of about Rs38,000 to customers during the festivals. Renault was offering an extended warranty of 2+2 years or 80,000 kms besides assured gift and free insurance on the RxE variant of its Duster, SUV. @moneylife

CREDIT SOCIETY OPENS 150TH BRANCH

The staff of Lokmanya Multipurpose Co-op Society Ltd’s 150th branch pose after the inauguration of the branch at World Trade Centre, Kharadi last week

Pass on your assets to your kith and kin without hassles

As the saying goes, ‘‘in this world, nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes”. So let us prepare ourselves and make life easier for our children when we leave this world for good

BY GURPUR 1st October every year is observed as “World Elders Day” and this year too a number of elders’ organisations celebrated the day in their own way in India as well. All the elders of today have worked hard during their working years and would have invested their savings in various assets, which would help them to live a life of dignity during the second innings of their life.

During our working life, it is possible that many of us have had no time to look in to our personal matters, as we were engrossed with the day-to-day humdrum of busy life and the rat race of reaching deadlines everyday. But when we reach the stage of being considered as a senior citizen, it is desirable that we ensure that those assets that are left over after meeting our needs during our life-time, are passed on to our kith and kin or to anyone whom we desire to give away, smoothly.

Why plan for a smooth pass over of our assets?

As is well known, the quality of service that we receive whether in public or private sector leaves much to be

desired. There is no consciousness to put customers’ interest first and there is no sensitivity to the problems encountered by customers, so much so, even when we are alive we find it difficult to get back our own money, whether it is from banks or insurance companies, resulting in our having to fight for our own rights all through our life. So what better service can we expect to get when we are not around to fight for our rights? As the saying goes, “in this world, nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes”. So let us prepare ourselves for the inevitable and make life easier for our children when we leave this world for good. Proper planning allows disbursement of our estate to the right beneficiaries.

Where to start?

The first thing to do is to prepare a list of all your assets and liabilities, if any, including bank accounts, deposit accounts, insurance policies, mutual funds, stocks and shares, bonds and debentures, post office deposits, PF accounts, and any

other deposits like security deposit for telephones, electricity, water, gas etc.

Once this list is prepared, if you find that any of these accounts are no longer used, it is time to consolidate all these accounts into to one or two accounts, by closing those accounts which are not being actively used. While closing the accounts, ensure that there are no standing instructions given for any payment from those accounts, like payment of telephone, water, electricity bills, etc through the electronic clearing system (ECS).

Once consolidation of all your accounts is done, there are three methods by which you can smoothly pass on your assets to whom you desire to give by complying with the following.

Though making a will is the best option to pass on your assets according to your wishes, if you do not wish to make a will, you can at least follow the first two options which will reduce the hassles considerably to your heirs.

1.

By making all your bank accounts, deposits accounts, etc as joint accounts.

2.

By making nominations to all your accounts, policies, etc if not done already.

3.

By making a will to bequeath your assets to anybody as per your wishes.

Conversion of all your bank accounts into joint accounts is the easiest thing to do, if they are not already held in joint names. If your accounts are presently in a single name, it is possible to add up to three more names into your existing accounts without closing the accounts. Normally spouse’s name is added to the account, if one wishes to leave every thing to the spouse. But it is not necessary to add names of only relations to your account. After adding a name, the deposits and balances in your account continue to be your property.

Even for tax purposes, the first account holder is considered as the owner of all the assets, and s/he has to offer for tax income received on a joint account.

While adding the names, it is possible to ensure that only the first depositor operates the account by stipulating the operating instructions as “No.1 or survivor” with the consent of all the depositors, though where the joint depositor is the spouse, you can stipulate the operation of the account as “either or survivor”. In the case of retired public servants, earlier it was mandatory to open a single account in the name of pensioner only but recently this condition has been relaxed and you can now get your pension to the joint account with your spouse, whose name can be added if you have a single account even now.

Read Planning your legacy can be a complex affair Making a nomination is the next best thing to do, as this will facilitate expeditious settlement of claims and minimize hardship caused to the family members in case of death of the depositors. It is therefore advisable

to make a nomination in all your bank accounts. Only one person can be appointed as a nominee for each deposit and or each account and the nominee need not be a relation of the depositor. The nomination once made can be cancelled and you can nominate another person whenever you wish to change the nomination. Another advantage of nomination is that it does not require the consent or the signature of nominee, and all nominations can be kept confidential if you so desire.

The following rules may, however, be borne in mind while making the nomination: a) Any variation or cancellation of a subsisting nomination can be made either for a single account or a joint account, but in the case of joint accounts only with the consent of all the surviving depositor(s) acting together. This is also applicable to deposits having operating instructions “either or survivor” b) In the case of a joint deposit account, the nominee’s right arises only after the death of all the depositors. c) Nomination is the process of appointing a person to take care of your assets in case of eventualities.

According to law, a nominee is a custodian of the assets and not the owner of the asset. A nominee will hold the amount as a trustee and will be legally bound to transfer it to the legal heirs whose names are mentioned in the will.

If you have insurance policies in your life which are yet to mature, it is advisable to take care of the following: a) Ensure that proper nomination has been recorded in the policy.

If you wish to change the existing nomination, it is possible to do so by filing a request with the insurance company.

b)

The age of the assured has been admitted in the policy as this is crucial for settlement of claims on the policy. c) Ensure that all the premiums have been paid up-to-date and the policy is in force.

If your assets include stocks etc it is desirable to convert all these assets in dematerialised (demat) form by opening a demat account with a depository, if not already done. The advantage of having all these investment in demat form is that transfer of the entire portfolio of these assets to your nominee or the legal heirs can be very easily done by complying with the requirements of the single depository, instead of submitting multiple claims to different companies where you have your investments.

If you decide to open a new demat account now, it is better to open the account in joint names with your spouse, as unlike bank account, there is no provision to add any name later in a demat account. Besides, please ensure that you make a nomination for such demat account also for smooth change over to the beneficiary.

Making a Will: It is still advisable to make a will as it will help you to dispose of your assets according to your wishes. By means of a will, you can apportion your property among your children according to their needs, like making greater provision for a handicapped child, or give a part of your property to charity, etc. In the absence of a will, the property of the deceased will pass on to the legal heirs in accordance with the laws of inheritance applicable to him.

Moneylife Foundation holds seminar on personal finance, wills, nominations and transmission in Pune (The author is a banking analyst, and writes for Moneylife under a pen-name ‘Gurpur’)

SPORTS

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2014

PUNE

“ We have worked hard on our shortcomings during camp and are very confident about our strengths. We can reach the finals and are confident that the gold is in our reach.”

— Indian women’s hockey captain Ritu Rani

“ I have just participated in one Asian Games in which I won a team bronze. But I will definitely try my best to win an individual medal in Incheon. ” — World Cup silver medalist archer Deepika Kumari

Contingent of 679 including 516 athletes and 163 coaches feature in 2014 Asian Games, South Korea India is seeking a record Asian Games medal haul despite a chaotic build-up with their jumbo squad slashed at the last minute and with top athletes either injured or opting out.

And despite the problems, India bullish about their prospects at the Asian Games, a 36-sport spectacular in Incheon, South Korea which will open on Saturday.

Star boxer Vijender Singh is out injured, while Olympic medal winning wrestler Sushil Kumar and India’s number one tennis player Somdev Devvarman are both concentrating on other competitions.

India will not even compete in its strongest sport, cricket, because the BCCI refused to take part in multidiscipline events.

Organisational headaches are not new to India, whose athletes marched under a neutral flag at this year’s Winter Olympics following the suspension of the Indian Olympic association.

India may also suffer from the loss of cue sports, chess and roller sports, the source of eight of their medals in Guangzhou, which are no longer part of the Asiad schedule.

Five of India’s 14 gold medals in 2010 came from track and field, but they fared poorly at this year’s Glasgow Commonwealth Games where discus-thrower Vikas Gowda was their only winner.

India’s first and only Olympic individual gold medallist, Abhinav Bindra, leads a strong shooting squad even though China and hosts South Korea are runaway favourites in most events on the ranges.

At Guangzhou, India managed to win just one gold medal in shooting through double-trap marksman Ronjan Sodhi.

But the hockey team’s Australian coach Terry Walsh, encouraged by their second-place finish in Glasgow, is hoping to end the country’s Asian Games drought in a sport it once ruled.

The eight-time Olympic champions have won the Asiad title twice, both times in Bangkok in 1966 and 1998.

In comparison, arch-rivals Pakistan have eight golds to their credit. As an extra incentive, the winner of the 10-nation hockey competition will gain a direct entry to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

There is at least one sport in which India will shine - kabaddi, the home-grown wrestling-style discipline in which they have won every Asiad title so far.

India bank on Saina, Sindhu Indian badminton is banking on PV Sindhu, a semifinalist at the recent world championships, and world number seven Saina Nehwal to break China’s stranglehold in the sport. Saina and Sindhu will lead Indian women PC Thulasi, Tanvi Lad and Ashwini Ponnappa - while Commonwealth Games champion Parupalli Kashyap will take charge of the men’s squad.

Competition will be tough for Saina and Sindhu as, unlike in the Olympics, there will not be any limitation of the number of Chinese participants. World No 1 Li Xuerui, Asian Games champion Shixian Wang and former World

IANS

Indians seeking a record medal haul

Competition will be tough for Saina (above) and Sindhu as, unlike in the Olympics, there will not be any limitation of the number of Chinese participants. (Left) Mary Kom

Champion Yihan Wang will be top contenders for the medals. To upset any of them and bring back a medal for India will a big achievement, especially for a country which has not seen a medal from the discipline since 1986. This is possibly India’s best chance to break the jinx.

Hopes on Yogeshwar in wrestling With the untimely pull out of Sushil Kumar, all eyes will be on London Games bronze medallist Yogeshwar Dutt as India will be hoping to break a 28-year-long wait for a gold medal in wrestling. The wrestler, who had also skipped the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, had won the bronze in the 2006 Doha Asian Games.

Kartar Singh was the last Indian

to win gold in Asiad wrestling - in 1986 in Seoul. This year too, the India contingent is particularly strong boasting the likes of five-time Commonwealth champion and Asian Games bronze medallist Ravinder Singh, Asian champion Krishan Kumar Yadav, World Championship bronze winner Sandeep Yadav, Asian Championship bronze medallist Manoj Kumar and Arjuna Awardee Dharmender Dalal.

Weightlifters looking to build on their new-found clean status India’s weightlifters will be looking to build on their new-found clean status at the Asian Games in Incheon after bagging 12 medals at this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Roll all in and roll a few

World champion Pankaj Advani justified his top billing with his usual clinical display

Dharminder Lily beat the talented Laxman Rawat in an extremely tense match that could have gone either way. In the deciding frame Rawat was eight point up when he missed a brown ball. Seizing the opportunity, Dharmendra turned the tide with a brilliant 22-point break.

Finally Brijesh Damani showed a superb allround game and remained unbeaten to book his spot at the event in Mumbai.

Though, Rawat and Varun Madan did not qualify for the big event, but they have certainly impressed with their performance and they would be the players to watch out for in the future.

No easy task for women boxers MC Mary Kom and L Sarita Devi, two of the three Indian boxers in the

(credit: Firstpost and IANS)

A fly-on-the-wall report of the biggest table tennis tournament India has hosted in recent times Aniruddha Rajandekar

PUNE: Snooker has always been a very popular sport in the United Kingdom and for the last few years we have seen its popularity growing by leaps and bounds in India too.

PYC Hindu Gymkhana in Pune had the privilege of hosting the top snooker talent in India for selection of wild card entries into the prestigious Indian Open to be held in Mumbai in March 2015. With this the club has further enhanced their reputation as a major venue for the elite snooker and billiards tournaments in India.

Snooker lovers from Pune and nearby places had the golden opportunity of seeing the likes of World champion Pankaj Advani, former Asian champion Alok Kumar, Manan Chandra along with the trio of Kamal Chawla, Faisal Khan and Dharminder Lilly, who won team gold medal in the recently-concluded Asian Snooker Team championship in Pakistan.

Having stalwarts like Geet Sethi and Yasin Merchant coming down to Pune to watch a few matches, not only encouraged the players but also inspired the budding snooker players in the audience, to have these greats amongst them.

The tournament’s favourite Advani justified his top billing with his usual clinical display, qualifying for the wild cards remaining unbeaten. The youngsters who impressed one and all were Neeraj Kumar, who put Pankaj in a tight spot in their opening match and later went on to beat the fancied Manan Chandra.

Faisal Khan came back from a lackluster performance in an earlier match to beat India No2 Kamal Chawla in the knockout round.

Interestingly the Railways employee has achieved similar feat four months back when he outclassed Chawla in Open Invitational snooker tournament final in Delhi. Chandigarh’s Sumit Talwar also impressed with his comeback to beat veteran Alok Kumar in a marathon four-hour match. In the decider frame, Alok was leading led 31-7, but with a timely 46-point break earned Talwar a place in the Indian Open.

Women’s hockey team confident The Indian women’s hockey team is led by captain Ritu Rani (184 caps) with Deepika (131 caps) as her deputy and under the stewardship of chief coach Neil Hawgood. India will start their Pool A campaign against Thailand Sep 22 before taking on China Sep 24 and Malaysia Sep 26.

event, have world championships on their resumes – multiple championships in Kom’s case - and own a bundle of gold medals from the Asian Boxing Championships as well.

There are, however, a few wrinkles that might make their task tougher. The ban and then expulsion of India’s boxing federation has meant Kom has not fought internationally since the 2012 Olympic Games. Sarita did win the silver at this year’s Commonwealth Games but that is her only taste of competition over the same time period. Complicating matters further, both women are fighting at heavier weights than the ones in which they have fought for most of their careers.

The Tiki-Taka of Asia

The final leg of qualifying for the prestigious Indian Open snooker tournament was a treat to watch for city cueists

By Rohit Nargolkar

In 2006, Indian lifting hit a nadir when a 12-month ban was imposed on the national federation after four athletes tested positive within a year, forcing them to miss the Doha Asiad completely.

Overall it was an amazing turnout at the event which again shows the growing popularity of this sport. By bringing the top players under one roof, holding such tournaments is one of the best ways to promote and develop this sport in India.

Knock-out results: Dharminder Lilly (PB) bt Laxman Rawat (Mah) 4-3, Neeraj Kumar (Rly) bt Manan Chandra (PSPB) 4-1, Pankaj Advani (PSPB) bt Rafat Habib (Rly) 4-0, Faisal Khan(Rly) bt Kamal Chawla (Rly) 4-2, Sumit Talwar (Chd) bt Alok Kumar(PSPB) 4-3, Brijesh Damani (PSPB) bt Anuj Uppal (Del).

MALAY DESAI Within a fortnight of Mumbai’s NSCI indoor stadium playing a spectacular host to the Pro Kabaddi League finals, its disco look was replaced by bright white lights, a new rubbery turf was laid, to hold a dozen or so table tennis tables, and its bleachers went eerily vacant.

The 20th Asian Junior Table Tennis Championships were in town, and it was a magnum opus for the niche fraternity that plays and follows the sport in India. Table tennis is Asia’s number one sport, (sounds like a mean feat until you realise it’s thanks to the numbers of China alone), and it is dominated by China in a way no other sport might be dominated in the world.

Their young paddlers would arrive at the practice area at the earliest and would train for two to three hours at a stretch– something Indian players simply stood and admired from the sidelines.

The results weren’t shocking then, that China swept four of the six big medals, and the farthest India went was pre-quarters in the Junior Girls stage. The monotonous ping-pong noise for five days in a row might have got to me had I not sought colour, i.e. spotted peculiar behaviours and chatted up a crosssection of Asians.

The visiting contingents moved about reticently, in groups, and wouldn’t go up to Indian officials until their dire primary need crept up –WiFi. A fluctuating network and changing

passwords left many children hapless, Skype-less and making forced enquiries.

Another unifying factor, especially with the Chinese, Taiwanese and Japanese contingents was their relief at McDonald’s food.

Summary: you give a 13-year-old some WiFi and McDee’s burgers, they’d adjust in every possible foreign environment. Why, even some of us would do the same.

Table tennis could be dull to watch for days on end but it holds much intrigue to wow true sports fans. I learnt this, for instance – that a table tennis ball (which is in the news for the global body having hiked prices) can reach speeds up to 9,000 RPM, which roughly is faster than a McLaren F1 car.

Stand by a table with two Asian pros playing and you’d realise how lightening fast a game can go, and how tiny factors such as the a/c flow and the angle of one ‘ship can impact a shot and therefore the result.

With the nose for human interest that I have developed meeting sportspersons from different fields, I found fascinating stories at the tournament. Like how Kanpur’s Abhishek Yadav’s parents have shifted to living in a school canteen just so he reduces travel time to practice; or a key to the grip of the Chinese over the sport their paddlers getting to attend school just three days a week to hone their TT skills.

Or my favourite, how a 15-year-old Fatemeh from Iran, like her girl teammates, does not get to improve her game because she is forbidden to play with boys back home.

(Curbed my urge of giving the stunningly pretty child a high-five after a tough game) I, like most of you, will only pick up a paddle at a holiday resort. But when I do, I’m going to have immense respect for a whole generation of Asian children.