The Weekly Observer Volume 16 Issue 6
An IIJNM Publication
Organized chaos on city’s Outer Ring Road
BU’s faculty crunch leaves students perplexed By Prabhakar Kumar prabhakar.t@iijnm.org
By Shannon Ridge Court shannon.c@iijnm.org
BENGALURU- The Outer Ring Road is designed as a fourlane road, but it takes the load of six-lane traffic, with vehicles using the service roads on each side. HAL Traffic Police confirmed 35 fatal accidents, 39 fatalities and 138 nonfatal accidents recorded have taken place on the ORR from January to 31st May this year. The Outer Ring Road was built to ease traffic movement in the city, but ironically provides some of the biggest traffic jams. During peak hours those commuting from Maratahalli Bridge to Ecospace may find themselves stuck in traffic 2-4 hours at a stretch. There has been an increase of 84 lakh vehicles in the city when there is space for only 22 lakh, said HAL Traffic Inspector S.R. Chandradhar. In addition 2,500 vehicles come into Bengaluru each month and 6,000 buses run on the roads each day. The Outer Ring Road is a 62 km long stretch that runs around the perimeter of Bengaluru. Developed by the Bangalore Development Authority, different sections were opened progressively during 1996 and 2002. The ORR was envisioned as an expressway with overpasses at every junction, a prohibition on right hand turns and free left hand turns – all allowing free and contin-
Friday, 30 September 2016
With traffic signals spoilt, traffic pours in from all corners on Marathalli Bridge.
uous flow of traffic. ”With more tech parks coming up along the ORR, accidents could become more frequent. Hebbal to Silk Board junction has a problematic stretch for about 19 kilometres. There are nearly 200 firms in the vicinity which has lead to the decrease in the average speeds for vehicles to about 25 per cent, “said police inspector S.R. Chandradhar. “The IT belt has over 1,400 companies spread across Maratahalli and Bellandur junctions near Sarjapur Road, Mahadevpura, ITPL and Hope Farm in Whitefield.” he added. Chandradhar said “Last year,
the traffic police informed the BBMP about 38 locations within the city that needed footbridges, opposite Kala Mandir and Innovative Multiplex at Maratahalli and at Hosakerehalli, all on the ORR. We have made recommendations for skywalks near malls.” Companies that operate out of Ecospace and Prestige Tech Park are witness to thousands of vehicles during peak hours. The pile up at the Silk Board Junction stretches to Sarjapur Road and at KR Puram up to Maratahalli, making the stretch treacherous. There are no arterial roads connecting to Whitefield. “
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BENGALURUBangalore University is facing a shortage of teaching staff as it has only 365 teaching staff against 590 sanctioned teaching posts. Bangalore University, in its last Academic and Administrative Audit (AAA) carried out by a committee in 2014 headed by Prof. B. Hanumanaiah, stated the above mentioned figures. The report further states that out of 1,171 sanctioned posts for non teaching staff, only 731 remain filled. This amounts to about 38 per cent shortage of teaching and non-teaching staff in the university. According to the latest data available, department of Kannada Studies has 15 sanctioned posts but 13 of them are lying vacant. In the department of Civil Engineering, 24 posts out of 58 remain
empty. Similarly, in the Electronics and Communication Engineering department, 15 out of 23 posts require permanent teachers. Shortages are witnessed in several other departments including the department of Mathematics and department of Studies in Communication. On the contrary, there are departments such as the Hindi, Urdu and History where the number of teachers is one more than the sanctioned teaching posts. Prof. B. Thimme Gowda, the Vice-Chancellor of Bangalore University said “All posts should be filled by permanent teaching staff for smooth conduct of academic affairs in the university.” He also mentioned, “Recruiting teachers permanently is not in our hands.
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The Bangalore University faces a shortage of teachers in the Electronics and comunication department whereas there are extra teachers for Hindi, Urdu.
Thirsty throats at Rajendra Nagar By Azmia Riaz azmia.r@iijnm.org
KORAMANGALA-Rajendra Nagar is a colony where small houses stand lined up beside a canal that is overflowing with waste. The streets are crowded with screaming children and meandering cows. Children skip over mounds of cow dung and play frantically beneath strings that hang above them, bending under the weight of a dozen wet clothes. The air is heavy with the pungent smell from the canal that residents have already got used to. They point to half empty water tanks outside each of their houses. There has been no water for more than two days. Dry spells are not new to Rajendra Nagar residents. The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) have introduced different services to various categories of slums. Its Social Development Unit
Streets of rajendra nagar are crowded with children and wandering cows.
“assumed the responsibility of reducing slum dwellers reliance on public taps by offering them the options of either individual or shared connections. In many slums people had also connected illegally to the system and had been enjoying free water.” The BWSSB has set up individual motors that pump Cauvery water into various homes. Half of the houses have pumps installed and
tanks to save excess water. However, the supply continues to be erratic. Many families complain that the water they receive is contaminated. New arrivals Sridhar and his family say that all six of their children have already been hospitalized in just two weeks of their move to Rajendra Nagar. Residents along the street were quick to fetch their medical bills as proof of illness stem-
ming from contaminated water. Diseases like jaundice and dengue have becoming common, they say. Philomena, a real-estate agent, who has lived in the area for most of her life says, “My sister’s daughter has been getting ill on and off for months now. I have no doubt that it is because of the water.” Most of the residents have been treated at the Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Charitable Hospital in Halasuru where they receive free treatment. Dr. Kadam, the vice chairman of the hospital, confirms that the patients are undoubtedly affected by their living conditions. Outside his office, patients complain that their medical bills have surpassed their means. Officers in the BWSSB service station and the Cauvery Bhavan are largely unaware of the situation. They insist that most of the houses in the area are covered. An Official at the Cauvery Bhavan office explained that most residents are late
to pay their water bills. He further explains that, “We have installed bulk meters in addition to the individual water meters in every house to measure the amount of water that is being utilised by each house and the slum as a whole. Some residents remove this meter to avoid billing. When the meter is removed, contaminated water from the surrounding sewage makes its ways into the pipeline. How could this not lead to diseases?” The sixth Sustainable Development Goal is to “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.” The World Bank estimates “21% of communicable diseases in India are related to unsafe water. Diarrhoea alone has caused more than 1,600 deaths daily.” Water availability and sanitation have improved in the country, but a lack of uniformity in the implementation of schemes remains.
BENGALURU
THE OBSERVER
FRIDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER, 2016
METRO
Business Briefs by Press Trust of India 'Rush' of blackmoney declarants on last day under the one-time compliance window, peaked across various Income Tax department offices with the CBDT indicating the collections may touch Rs 40,000Rs 50,000 crore.
Samsung said it would resume sales of new Galaxy Note 7 smartphones in South Korea this week, hoping to turn the page on the troubled device after an ongoing global recall prompted by battery explosions.
As part of the 'Google For India' programme, the company announced five new launches including Google Station, YouTube Go, Google Assistant in Hindi, Google Play in low bandwidth (2G) and new Chrome browser.
192 child sexual abuse cases reported in the city in 2016 By Ilona Dam ilona.d@iijnm.org
BENGALURU- The number of sexual offence cases involving children in 2016 has steeply increased and is likely to cross the total number of cases registered in 2015. In the first six months of 2016, Bengaluru police have recorded 192 cases of sexual child abuse in the city, in comparison to 140 cases during the same period in 2015.
“It is through social media sites that children are exposed to objectionable material, which they tend to internalise,” she added, recalling a recent incident in which a child from the 3rd grade was raped by her classmate at a reputed school in Bengaluru. “Afraid of the consequences, the girl was hesitant to discuss the incident with her parents,” said Rakshita. When the case finally came to the notice of school author-
Saraswati Bai senior counsellor Woman and Child Helpline Cell. Children who haven’t received proper counselling following the abuse show signs of depression. “Some parents completely refuse to come for the counselling sessions, or tend to ignore the advice given to them,” said Rakshita. “Many children have wanted to commit suicide and their attempt to do so was clearly visible though the marks on their wrists,” she added.
Continued from Page 1 (BU Faculty...) Since we have few permanent faculty, we recruit guest faculty temporarily on a contract basis who are paid through university funds.” According to a report in The New Indian Express, a circular issued by the state government in 2003 banned direct recruitment by the university. Shivraya, 26, a PhD student at the department of History in Bangalore University says, “The number of teaching staff in most of the departments under the university is not sufficient. These teachers don’t have enough teaching experience and their knowledge doesn’t match the standard with regard to the experience and wisdom of the permanent teachers,” he added. Sri Basavaraj Rayareddi, Minister for Higher Education in Government of Karnataka was not aware of the shortage of teachers in the university. “I have not been contacted by the university in this regard”, he
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In the report released by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) earlier this year, a total of 3149 cases were registered in 2015 in the country. In Karnataka alone 169 cases were registered in 2015, where the offender was a family member. The report revealed that Karnataka occupies the third spot amongst states with the worst crime rate under Protection of Children against Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). The report highlights that neighbours are the most probable offenders when it comes to child sexual abuse. For instance, a particular case involved a 13-year-old girl who lived with her grandmother while her parents were at work. “The grandmother’s 16-year-old neighbour befriended the girl. One day he offered to drop her at a marketplace close by, but instead took her to an undisclosed location where he and his friends raped her,” said P. Rakshita, a counsellor at the Woman and Child Helpline Cell in the police commissioner’s office on Infantry Road. Eventually the girl did tell her family and reported the case. A number of factors have contributed to the rise in child sexual abuse, such as increased exposure to social media websites, mentioned Rakshita.
ities, the teachers supported the boy. Around 59 per cent of children have already used a social network site by the time they are 10, and 43 per cent have messaged strangers online by the age of 12, a study conducted by The Social Age study by knowthenet.org.uk revealed. In many cases parents fail to report the incident altogether. Kanak Laxmi, head inspector at the City Crime Records Bureau (CCRB) said that for many families, reporting such incidents was “an act of shame.” “They would rather lay the blame on their child than damage their reputation,” said Laxmi, adding that in several cases it is the family members themselves who are the offenders, and reporting and testifying against the family is embarrassing. Another concern in many urban families is that parents often leave their children at home alone for long periods of time while they work. “Children are left alone at home, or with domestic help who have little power to protect the children, or stop them from watching things that their age does not permit,” women counsellor Rakshita said. “Working parents need to keep check on their wards constantly, especially in today’s world with increasing number of crimes,” said
Saraswati Bai mentioned, “Sex abuse can severely affect the development of a child and counselling at the right time is paramount.” In its endeavour to curb sexual offences against children, the Women and Child Helpline Cell has started counselling sessions in government schools. “We were overwhelmed by the response we got. Children are willing to share so many things related to sexual harassment,” said Rakshita, adding that the Cell is spreading awareness amongst children and their parents about sexual offences and the need to report them. “Reporting the crime is absolutely essential,” says Bai. In addition to that, Bai advises parents to be constantly involved in the child’s life and keep a check on the people he or she meets regularly. “Create an environment at home where the child feels free to talk about such things,” Bai further said. Bai says schools should hire counsellors whom the children can talk to about such cases. Children need to be trained to be on their guard all the time, Bai said, perhaps by training them in self defence. Other ways in which child sexual abuse can be curbed is through increased participation of NGOs and Children’s Welfare Centre in rescuing such children from the grip of sexual offenders, said Rakshita.
“Often there are vehicles parked near the bus stops and the buses are forced to stop in the middle of the road” Chandradhar mentioned. He added “buses often stop before they reach their destined stations and thus encourage congestion and holds up traffic.” Traffic police, said Chandradhar, have charged 54,000 BMTC buses this year. “We seize their driving license and issue suspensions. As per the rule of the BMTC, bus drivers are not allowed to carry any money other than what they collect through tickets so it is not possible for them to pay fines.” “Traffic cannot be reduced. We are also having issues with recruitments and staff. The need of the hour is to decongest traffic and the solution is to build an exclusive IT corridor for Whitefield which is in the hands of the BDA.” The HAL Police inspector also confirmed that six skywalks are being used on the 62 km-long outer ring road. Commuters on the Marathalli Bridge say the traffic signals have not been working in the Maratahalli-Sarjapur ORR for over a month, which only adds to the chaos and vehicles violating traffic rules.
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said. “The university is an autonomous body which takes its decision itself and we do not interfere in its functioning,” he added. Prof. Surender Kumar, Head of Department of History at Patna College, Patna University, Bihar said “Insufficiency of teachers leads to deterioration in quality of education as the guest faculty members do not have knowledge at par with the professors.” He pointed out another loophole within the issue as he mentioned “guest teachers are paid less than permanent staff which might develop an inferiority complex, and therefore might not put the required effort into teaching.” Apart from the insufficiency of teaching and non-teaching staff, there are other shortcomings which have also been highlighted in the AAA report. There is lack of proper washroom facilities and shortage of computers in several departments of the university.
Nikhil Nair, a commuter travelling near Embassy Tech Village in Bellandur said “Vehicles are seen half way through the intersections before the lights turn green.” Nair also mentioned “It is important to create pedestrian facilities on fast mobility corridors, including flyovers. Lack of good service roads intersecting the ORR causes congestion.” “I don’t understand why there are few underpasses along the flyovers. It would go a long way in solving traffic woes,” said commuter Jedidiah Arul. “Traffic is caused due to poor road connectivity as there is generally one single road connecting a host of big localities. Supposing someone from BTM, Electronic City, HSR, Sarjapur wants to reach Whitefield? They are forced to take the ORR for there is no other major road connecting these destinations.” said Christ University student and commuter, Nikhil Pai. The BBMP, BDA, DULT (Directorate of Urban Land Transport) and BMTC have worked to approve special lanes and a route for buses but a design is yet to be implemented on how the system will function. The BDA is working towards designating bus lanes and barring buses from plying the flyovers.
In Memory of Our Favourite Villain- Dick Dastardly
BENGALURU
THE OBSERVER FRIDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER, 2016
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METRO
THE CITY BREATHES SMOKE
15-year-old vehicles violating pollution levels By Mrigakshi Dixit mrigakshi.d@iijnm.org
BENAGLURU-The metropolitan city accounts for the population of about 11.5 million in 2016, according to the recent census estimates. With total number of vehicles registered by Road Transport Office (RTO) amounting to 1.5 million. Pollution is a constant battle the city has been facing in recent times. The major sources of air pollution in the city are transport (42%), road dust (20%), industries (14%), construction (14%) and domestic (3%) according to the data provided by Karnataka Pollution Control Board (KPCB). “KPSCB has setup around 12 pollution monitoring spots in different areas of the city; after the check, it has been found that a large part of rise in pollution is caused by 15year-old vehicles,” said C. Mallikar-
jun, Joint Commissioner for Transport (Environmental and e-Governance). The KPCB conducted a pollution check drive between June and July 2016 and found that diesel vehicles like trucks and cars are one of the major factors for depleting air quality followed by petrol driven vehicles. Mallikarjun added “Most of the 15-year-old vehicles face problems related to the failure of carburettor and require more fuel which leads to an increase in the pollution levels. Every year we conduct a pollution check drive. During that time, they maintain their vehicles but for the rest of the year, the vehicles are neglected by the users adding to pollution.” “The 15-year-old vehicles are more often bought by second hand vehicle users. Despite efforts of maintaining the vehicles by replacing old parts with unauthorised
parts, many parts are not available in the market thus further deteriorating the vehicles’ condition which usually is not paid heed to. Two stroke vehicles emit more smoke and there are about 65-68% 15year-old vehicles on road at present,” he said. According to the RTO there are
about 5.5 lakhs, 15-year-old vehicles with about two lakhs accounting for 15-year-old bikes and auto rickshaws. “The other factors that further deteriorate the condition of the 15-year-old vehicles are bad roads and potholes around the city. Due to these the vehicles require more servicing and repair,” said
Ram Krishna, Head Constable of traffic police at the Cubbon Park police station. Mahendra Singh Thakur, who owns two such vehicles, a Fiat Premier Padmini and Maruti Suzuki esteem, 1997 model, says “I regularly look after the maintenance of my cars and do not drive them often as they are precious to me and I want to keep them forever.” The burgeoning of the vehicles on road is leading to a constant rise in pollution levels. The government and National Green Tribunal are contemplating on a ban on vehicles older than 15 years to protect the environment. Vehicular pollution also has a major effect on human health as it increases the carbon monoxide content in the air. Inhaling the particulate matter can lead to bronchitis, asthma and several other respiratory disorders.
Blanket of pollution gives rise to respiratory infections By Sonal Agarwal sonal.a@iijnm.org
BENGALURU- The cases of acute respiratory infection have almost doubled from the year 2011 to 2014 in the state as per the Socio Economic Statistical Information about Health in India by India Healthstats. The present air pollution condition in the state can be cited as the reason behind this rise. The cases of acute respiratory infection have almost doubled from 1629997 cases in 2011 to cases in 2014 in Karnataka according to the India Healthstats A review named Air pollution and infection in respiratory illness published in 2016 in British Medical Bulletin of Oxford Journal discussed the relationship between air pollution and respiratory infection. It claimed that acute respiratory infections are the leading cause of the global burden of disease. Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) claims that the air quality indices of major cities in Karnataka ranges from good to moderate Air Quality Index (AQI) in 2015. Data on AQI by the Kar-
nataka State Pollution Control Board shows that major contributor to the AQI in Bangalore are sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Sulphur in fumes combines with oxygen in the air to become sulphur oxides which is harmful to both health and environment. High concentrations of Sulphur in fuel may lower the efficiency of pollution control systems in a vehicle. Moreover, Sulphur may affect vehicles by poisoning the catalyst that could lead to higher emissions of Nitrogen
Oxides, said Call to Action Report published by India Environmental Portal published in 2011. “Indian fuel standards are still five to eight years behind the other countries,” said the report Improving Fuel Quality: Comparing India’s program against global benchmarks by International Council of Clean Transportation. While Japan and Europe reduced the sulphur content in diesel from 50 ppm (parts per million) to 10ppm in the years 2006 and 2008 respectively, India is still using 350 ppm of sulphur in most
part of the country and only 20 cities are using the Bharat IV emission standards with 50 ppm of sulphur from 2011. This is equal to the Euro IV emission standards. In Karnataka, only Bangalore has diesel with 50ppm sulphur and rest of the state uses diesel with 350ppm. US had also reduced its sulphur content in diesel in 2006 from 500ppm to 15ppm. The report further adds that the reason behind this delay in India’s case is additional refining costs associated with Ultra Low Sulphur Fuels. There are several
costs involved in the process, like investments in new or upgraded process capacity and support. Retired General Manager of Oil and Natural Gas Company (ONGC) Shree Prakash Goyal said, “There is no uniform standard of emission throughout the country. This is because installing new machinery for better quality of diesel requires investment. There is a big difference in population size of major cities and small towns. If it is calculated, then the pollution generated by low quality diesel in small towns would be equal to the pollution generated by higher quality diesel in the big cities.” “Attempts are being made to achieve Bharat- V and BHARATVI, but it will take time as the machineries installed have to be replaced and refineries have to be upgraded. These days’ vehicle companies are making upgrade engines which only work with high quality of diesel.” Goyal adds.
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THE OBSERVER
FRIDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER, 2016
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Hero of the Bygone Era Twitter This Week
This 2nd October, urging all of you to contribute towards creating a Swachh Bharat. #MyCleanIndia - Narendra Modi,PM My friend, Pakistan did not even take back bodies of your soldiers in Kargil. India's forces buried them. Remember that, then tweet fiction. - Barkha Dutt
Gandhi at his spinning wheel By Chhavi Nagpal chhavi.n@iijnm.org
October 2, 1869 was the birth of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, fondly known as ‘Bapu’ (Father of the Nation). Idolised for his integral role in the independence struggle of the nation from the British, Gandhi was also the major force behind the spread of the Indian National Congress through the length and breadth of the country. He even released several papers as a journalist and worked on his weekly newspapers for nearly 40 years of his life. He launched newspapers in Hindi, Gujarati, and English- Indian Opinion, Young India, Navjivan, and Harijan. Killed by Nathuram Godse on 30th of January, 1948 in the anger of the partition of India, 68 years
later, Mahatma’s birthday- Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated with immense joy, pomp, and respect throughout the nation. Maybe forgotten for the other 364 days, on 2nd October, his memory evokes patriotism, a sense of freedom, and happiness in all. His birthday is a national holiday, all government offices, post offices and banks are closed. Businesses and organizations may either have reduced opening hours or be closed all day. It’s a nationwide dry day and all liquor shops are closed too. Schools hold celebrations with prayer meetings, sing songs about peace and truth, kids dress up as Gandhi Ji, recite poems, have essay competitions, art and science exhibitions, and discuss the
Gandhian philosophy or way of life. People hold film screenings and book readings on him or related to his philosophy. Memorial ceremonies are held all over the nation, people also hold a prayer meeting and pay homage, in presence of Prime Minister and President of India, at his statue at Raj Ghat where he was cremated. In his honour, and following his noble deeds, the Government of India has implemented several schemes under his name, the most prominent of which is Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005. Mahatma Gandhi’s vision was of independence for all, of honest work, to give all citizens right to equal
work and opportunities, and this Act carries that vision forward. The Act guarantees that any adult who applies for employment in rural areas has to be given work on local public works within 15 days. If employment is not given, an unemployment allowance has to be paid. The employment guarantee is of 100 days per household. The main objective is to protect households from poverty and hunger. MGNREGA is not just a scheme, it is a tool of socio-economic change. Every year, October 2 brings with it a sense of gratitude, a touch of patriotism, and a pinch of horror at the sacrifice made, all for the freedom of the nation by the Father of the nation.
This Month, That Year The month of October has held its own throughout history and in certain years has marked the most crucial of events. We bring to you some of the most important events that took place in October throughout history. October 2, 1975 - Japanese Emperor Hirohito made his firstever visit to the White House. October 3, 1932 - Iraq gained independence from Britain and joined the League of Nations. October 4, 1830 - Belgium gained its independence, after having been a part of the Netherlands since 1815. October 5, 1986 - Former U.S. Marine Eugene Hasenfus was captured by Nicaraguan Sandinistas after a plane carrying arms for the Nicaraguan rebels (Contras) was
shot down over Nicaragua. This marked the beginning of the "IranContra" controversy resulting in Congressional hearings and a major scandal for the Reagan White House after it was revealed that money from the sale of arms to Iran was used to fund covert operations in Nicaragua. October 7, 1940 - During World War II in Europe, German troops invaded Romania to take seize strategic oil fields. October 12, 1492 - After a 33day voyage, Christopher Columbus made his first landfall in the New World in the Bahamas. He named the first land sighted as El Salvador, claiming it in the name of the Spanish Crown. Columbus was seeking a western sea route from Europe to Asia and believed he had found an island of the Indies. He thus called the first island
natives he met, 'Indians.' October 13, 1943 - Italy declared war on its former Axis partner Germany after the downfall of Mussolini and collapse of his Fascist government. October 14, 1912 - Former President Theodore Roosevelt was shot by a fanatic while campaigning in Milwaukee. Roosevelt was saved by his thick overcoat, a glasses case and a folded speech in his breast pocket, all of which slowed the bullet. Although wounded, he insisted on making the speech with the bullet lodged in his chest and did not go to the hospital until the meeting ended. Roosevelt, a rugged outdoorsman, fully recovered in two weeks. October 15, 1991 - The U.S. Senate confirmed Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court by a 52-48 vote following several days
of tumultuous hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee concerning sexual harassment charges made by a former aide. Thomas became the second African American to sit on the Court, replacing retired Justice Thurgood Marshall, an African American. October 16, 1853 - The Crimean War began after the Turkish Ottoman Empire declared war on Russia, Britain, France and portions of Italy allied with the Turks against Russia. It became the first war observed up close by newspaper reporters and photographers. One of the battles was immortalized in Tennyson's poem, The Charge of the Light Brigade. Amid poor sanitary conditions, disease killed many wounded French and British troops. British nurse Florence Nightingale then pioneered modern-style sanitation methods, saving many lives.
Construction precedes development with deficit civic services. Collective spot visits drive collaborative solutions and generates awareness - Kiran Bedi Like there was satyagraha to free us from colonialism, today there has to be Swachhagraha -Smriti Irani Dear Pakistan, just to be clear, today you killed your own people. By attacking us first and compelling us to retaliate. #SurgicalStrike -Chetan Bhagat
The Observer Staff Editor-in-Chief : Abhishek Mitra Deputy Editor : Ilona Dam Copy Editors: Ashima Choudhary and Shannon Ridge court Photo and Layout Editor : Chhavi Nagpal Social Media : Konica Kamra and Prabhakar Thakur Reporting Staff : Sonal Agarwal Mrigakshi Dixit Azmia Pallabi Sutar