First India-Ahmedabad Edition-29 July 2020

OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD

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ALERT AHMEDABAD l WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020 l Pages 12 l 3.00

COVID-19 UPDATE

WORLD

6,60,140 1,67,73,553 CONFIRMED CASES

DEATHS

MAHARASHTRA 14,165 DEATHS 3,91,440 CASES

DELHI 3,881 DEATHS 1,32,275 CASES

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RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 244

INDIA

34,224 15,31,783 DEATHS

TAMIL NADU 3,659 DEATHS 2,27,688 CASES

CONFIRMED CASES

GUJARAT

2,372 DEATHS

KARNATAKA 2,057 DEATHS 1,07,001 CASES

57,982

CONFIRMED CASES

RAJASTHAN 644 DEATHS 38,636 CASES

GOVT BOUNCER! TELLS GOVERNOR IT WANTS SESSION FROM JULY 31!

Will revised proposal be 3rd time lucky? ‘Waited for right time to HC to hear teach Gehlot a lesson’ Dilawar’s twin —PHOTO BY SUMAN SARKAR

petitions today

Nizam Kantaliya

KISSA KURSI KA In what can be termed as a dramatic irony, this man dragging chairs on his rickshaw while passing through the Chief Minister’s Residence, speaks volumes about the current political situation that Rajasthan is embroiled in.

Naresh Sharma Jaipur: Hours after Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot chaired a Cabinet meet, the state government on Tuesday sent a revised proposal to Governor Kalraj Mishra seeking Assembly session from July 31. The Cabinet discussed the points raised

by Governor and said it is sticking to its demand for holding the session from July 31.

Responding to Governor’s query about safety in light of Covid, the government said, “It is prerogative of the Speaker.”

Transport Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas said a discussion was held for the reply to be sent regarding the three points raised by the Governor.

“The Cabinet wants the Assembly session from July 31.

Kalraj Mishra Turn on P6

Jaipur: Rajasthan BJP MLA Madan Dilawar on Tuesday filed two writ petitions challenging the assembly Speaker’s decision to reject his complaint against the merger of six BSP MLAs with the Congress.

Meanwhile, both the petitions will be heard in the High Court on Wednesday and have been listed in the single bench of Justice Mahendra Kumar Goyal.

The first petition was filed on Tuesday morning against Turn on P6

Aditi Nagar

New Delhi: Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had “unconstitutionally” merged six MLAs of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) with the Congress in Rajasthan, he did the same in his earlier tenure too, for which we wanted to teach him and his party a lesson, alleged BSP chief Mayawati on Tuesday.

She added that her party could have gone to courts earlier but decided to wait for the “right opportunity”. “In Rajasthan, after elections results, BSP gave uncondi-

J&K LG GC Murmu

holding of polls, the EC in a statement said it “takes exception to such statements and would like to state that in the Constitutional scheme

of things, the timings etc. of elections is the sole remit of Election Commission of India.”

The Commission also referred to similar statements of the LG reported by various media outlets in November last year and June this year.

“It would be proper for authorities other than the Election Commission to refrain from making such statements which virtually tantamount Turn on P6

Ashok Gehlot a lesson.

Now we have decided to go to the Court. We will not let this matter alone.

Turn on P6

Mayawati

HC SEEKS GOVT RESPONSE ON PLEA OPPOSING PROBE AGAINST SHEKHAWAT Jaipur: Rajasthan HC on Tuesday sought response from the state government on a petition challenging a lower court order directing investigation against Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and others in a scam case. The HC, however, did not issue a stay restraining the order of the lower court asking SOG to investigate Shekhawat’s role in connection with the Rs 884 crore Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society scam.

PRIYANKA GANDHI Undeclared spokespersons of the BJP have issued a whip in support of the BJP. But, this is not a whip but a clean chit to those who murder democracy and the Constitution.

Ashok Gehlot

Election Commission objects A GUST OF WIND to speculation on J&K polls ARRIVES TODAY! New Delhi: The Election Commission on Tuesday took “exception” to the reported remarks of Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor G C Murmu on timing of polls in the union territory, and said in the constitutional scheme of things, only the EC is authorised to decide on the poll schedule.

Taking note of a media report which quoted Murmu on the delimitation exercise in J&K and

tional support of all its 6 MLAs to Congress.

Unfortunately, CM Ashok Gehlot, out of his malicious intent and to damage BSP, merged them with Congress unconstitutionally. He did the same even during his earlier tenure,” Mayawati said.

“BSP could have gone to the court earlier too but we were looking for the time to teach Congress party and CM

IAF chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria would be visiting Ambala on Wednesday to receive the batch of first five Rafale combat aircraft arriving from France. The five Rafale fighter jets were seen being re-fuelled mid-air from a French Air Force tanker, and the pictures taken at 30,000 feet were posted on Twitter by the Indian embassy in France. The Indian Rafales are expected to take off from Al Dhafra in UAE at around 11 am IST and reach Ambala by 2 pm, sources said. The weather and other conditions are at the moment looking good and it is expected to reach the Ambala air base on time.

The backup base for the arrival of the aircraft in case there is a weather issue in and around Ambala would be the Jodhpur air base.

Rafale fighter jet being refuelled mid-air on their way to Ambala from France.

Now, get COVID-19 treatment at `5,700 in general wards of pvt hosps 24 HOURS: 1,108 CASES, 24 DEAD, 1,032 DISCHARGED TOTAL: 57,982 CASES, 2,372 DEAD, 42,412 DISCHARGED Haresh Jhala Gandhinagar: Gujarat witnessed another record high of 1,108 new cases on Tuesday.

With the steady dayon-day rise in the number of cases, the state seems to have

realized that more beds will be required in the coming days.

So, it has fixed the cost of treatment in private hospitals designated for COVID-19.

According to a state health department circular, the per-diem

Members of a medical team take nasal swabs from BRTS passengers, at the Shivranjini stop in Ahmedabad, to test for COVID-19.

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

charges for a bed in a ward have been reduced to Rs5,700, while a High Dependency Unit (HDU) will cost Rs8,075.

Similarly, a bed in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) ward will cost patients Rs6,000 per day and HDU in an ICU, Rs 8,500. Isolation plus ICU will cost Rs14,500 a day, and ventilator isolation ICU will cost Rs19,000.

These charges cover two meals, breakfast, evening tea and snacks, nursing-room

charges, cost of PPE kits, N95 masks and all routine medicines.

They do not cover tocilizumab, remdesivir, flavipavir and higher antibiotic medicines.

Special doctors’ visits and laboratory charges will be Rs1,500 and Rs3,500, respectively.

The 1,108 new cases came from 32 districts and eight municipal corporations. Again, Surat accounted for the highest number with 293: 199 were from the city and 94

from rural areas.

Ahmedabad had 156 cases, Vadodara, 91, Rajkot, 79, Gandhinagar, 44, Dahod and Bhavnagar had 38 each, Banaskantha had 34, Surendranagar, 32, Amreli and Jamnagar had 26 each, and had Navsari 21.

The state government tested 22,248 samples. There are now 13,198 active cases in the state as on Tuesday, including 87 patients on ventilator support.

Turn on P6

NEWS AHMEDABAD | WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020

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Andhra bulletin reveals holes in Guj claim on positive cases

SAYS HIGHER THAN NATIONAL AVERAGE AP Govt says Gujarat’s PMPD testing is 366, and not the 391.90 that the health dept announced

Haresh Jhala Gandhinagar: The government’s recent tactic to use its health bulletin to compare itself favourably to other states has backfired, with the Andhra Pradesh health bulletin highlighting the fact that Gujarat’s positivity rate is higher than the national average.

The Andra Pradesh state health bulletin of July 27 says that Gujarat’s positivity rate is 8.69, whereas the nation’s positivity rate is 8.54. Among the states, Maharashtra’s has the highest positivity rate of 19.9, while Telangana is next with a positivity rate of 15.30. Rajasthan (2.60) and Kerala (2.83) have the two lowest positivity rates in the country.

Given that the positivity rate is the percent-

age of people who test positive for the virus of those overall who have been tested, testing numbers become very important.

On average, India has conducted 12,117 tests per million population.

Andhra Pradesh tops this list with 31,581.

Tamil Nadu is next, with 30,538. Madhya Pradesh has the lowest number, at 8,312.

Gujarat has the thirdlowest number of per million tests, at 9,883, according to the bulletin.

This indicates that the state is showing a higher than average positivity rate despite a dismal amount of testing. Worse, testing data from the Andhra Pradesh bulletin differs considerably from the data handed out by the Gujarat health department, which on Monday

—FILE PHOTO

said the state had conducted 10,189.40 tests per million.

This also means that Gujarat’s per million per day (PMPD) figure, which the government put at 391.90 on Monday,

could be as low as 366.

In contrast, based on the Andhra Pradesh bulletin, the highest PMPD testing has been carried out in Andhra Pradesh (1,169), followed by Tamil Nadu (1,131). The

national average is 448 PMPD. Even Maharashtra, with its low number of tests per million, has a PMPD figure of 560.

In addition, as reported previously, the Guja-

rat government becomes more opaque when sharing information when it feels it is in a defensive position.

While choosing to focus on active cases or PMPD, it has not been

releasing details regarding sample testing—possibly because doing so would paint it in an unflattering light.

Tamil Nadu, for instance, has conducted the highest number of tests, having tested 23,51,463 samples.

Maharashtra has tested 18,90,256 samples.

Gujarat, on the other hand, has tested 6,67,844 as of July 27.

Madhya Pradesh, which has 27,800 positive cases, has conducted 30,327 more tests than Gujarat, despite having 26,547 fewer cases than Gujarat’s 56,874 positive cases. A Delhi government press release states that it has conducted 50,435 tests per million.

Gujarat’s Principal Secretary (Health) Jayanti Ravi has gone on the record multiple

times to assure the people that the state is sharing data without manipulation. Yet, its bulletin is nowhere near as detailed as that of Karnataka— another BJP-ruled state.

Karnataka’s daily health bulletin not only announces how many samples are tested, but it also gives a break-up of how many samples were tested using RTPCR and Rapid Antigen Detection tests.

The Delhi state government gives such details on a daily basis and goes a step further to include a detailed breakup of total beds, and the number of available and occupied beds, including those in COVID-care centres.

The Gujarat government, on the other hand, seems content to play its cards close to its chest.

Public health more important than ‘Tadipaar’ man seeks approval religious sentiments: Gujarat HC for car rally in Gandhinagar First India Bureau Ahmedabad: The state high court, while disposing off with petitions concerning the Rath Yatra, observed that public health should always receive priority over religious sentiments and feelings. The court also directed the state administration to look into such requests and ensure that they abide by the law and guidelines.

It stated, “During the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, public health is the top priority, and in such a situation there is no need for discussion about issues with religious leaders or their followers.”

ADVOCATES ALLOWED TO MEET CLIENTS

The court added, “In such hours, it is crucial that public health is given pref-

erence over religious sentiments and feelings. Whether to grant permission to

the Rath Yatra or any other religious processions or functions is the state government’s prerogative.

But when an application for any such permission comes before the administration wing, they should adhere to the law and administrative notifications. It is important to assess the situation on the ground while granting or rejecting permission.”

On the eve of Rath Yatra, petitioners had moved to the state high court, pleading for approval of permission for the procession. But, the court had not allowed any Yatra procession to be conducted across the state.

Gargi Raval Gandhinagar: The former sarpanch of Laval village in Matar taluka of Kheda district, 33-year old Mahipatsinh Chauhan has been declared a tadipaar in six districts. Chauhan, who was banned from entering six districts of the state, recently shifted to Gandhinagar. Now, he has requested permission from Gandhinagar police for a celebratory rally to be held on August 4.

The application submitted by the former sarpanch, takes a jibe at the ruling party by stating, ‘The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has immunity from the po-

Mahipatsinh Chauhan

lice.’ He also mentioned that a few members of the Sarv Samaj Sena Gujarat wanted to honour him since he has been declared a tadipaar. “To honour me, my supporters want to hold a bike and car ral-

ly. Is it necessary to initiate a Section 107 case against me for requesting permission? If it is, then I will start preparing for that,” he wrote in the letter.

He further stated that if having a lotus symbol (the symbol of the BJP) was necessary to acquire permission then his supporters were ready to do that as well. “These days no one is being granted permission but, if you have the lotus symbol then it can easily be approved. Recently, a car rally was organized in Surat for CR Patil (who is the new state unit chief of the BJP). Moreover, I have learned that Section 188 of the Indian

Penal Code (IPC) is not applicable if a large gathering is conducted under the aegis of the lotus symbol. I wish to be a part of the rally my supporters want to hold on August 4, so please do the needful,” he declared.

Talking to First India, Chauhan said, “I have been performing social service. In the past, I had raised my voice against private companies who were exploiting their labour force. The workers got justice and as a reward, the local police filed three cases against me and prohibited me from entering six districts adjoining Kheda. I have recently moved to Gandhinagar.”

HIGHER PENALTY

RUPANI GOVERNMENT INCREASES FINE FOR MASK VIOLATIONS TO `500

First India Bureau

CM VIJAY RUPANI

Gandhinagar: Not wearing a mask in public just got more expensive. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Tuesday announced that violating mask norms and spitting in public would both attract fines of Rs500 beginning August 1.

The 150% increase from the current penalty of Rs200 for these offences comes a day after the high court observed that the state should be more strict with those not wearing masks while going out in public.

With the number of COVID-19 cases increasing steadily, Rupani and

Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel plan to visit Rajkot and then Vadodara on Wednesday to take stock of the situation there.

Realising that people will wear masks only if they are affordable, the government has also announced that face masks will now be available at all Amul parlours at a cost of Rs10 for a pack of five masks.

In the past, the government had stepped in to make three-layer masks available at Rs10 each and N95 masks at Rs 65 each.

However, there were later allegations that the state or Amul made

a profit of Rs20 per N95 mask, which was retailing elsewhere for Rs65.

Rupani also discussed a relief package for street ven-

minister and party president that the state had launched a package some time ago, under which cooperative banks are

Speaker conducts random checking in Assembly; Chief Minister, DyCM on one day visit to Rajkot, Vadodara dors with Central Minister for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri and BJP national president JP Nadda, which was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Rupani informed the Union

giving loans of Rs 1 lakh to small businessmen, where borrowers only have to pay 2% of the interest, with the state paying the rest. Borrowers have three years to repay the loan

The state government has indicated that small business enterprises and street vendors would benefit from a Rs5,000 crore package.

Rupani had a meeting via video conference with the United Kingdom’s Minister of State for South Asia Lord Tariq Ahmad, during which they discussed renewable energy.

On the same day that Rupani hiked the fine for not wearing masks in public, Assembly Speaker Rajendra Trivedi conducted random checks around the Assembly. He found four employees not wearing masks, and

fined them Rs500 each.

He also sent two staffers--who had reported for duty despite being unwell--back home and issued them a notice.

Trivedi also announced that any employee caught without a mask for a second time would be fiend Rs1,000. Further, he visited Leader of Opposition and Assembly Secretary DM Patel in office.

Meanwhile, BJP state unit president CR Patil paid a courtesy visit to Governor Acharya Devvrat.

This is his first such visit since he was appointed as president of the party’s state unit last week.

GUJARAT AHMEDABAD | WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020

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MBBS students challenge COVID-19 duty circulars in HC

03

Surat to set up 100 centres for nCov testing

The state govt and two A’bad medical colleges had issued orders for mandatory service in nCov wards Haresh Jhala Ahmedabad: In response to the state’s decision to make it mandatory for medical students to serve in COVID-19 wards amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, around 146 third-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) students of NHL Municipal Medical College and LG Medical College have filed a petition in the state high court pleading it to declare the circulars issued by the government and the NHL Municipal Medical College management void.

The students have complained that the state health department

The students have no objection in serving and discharging duty in COVID-19 wards.

There are 3rd-year students already serving in Surat, because it was voluntary. Whereas, the circulars issued by medical colleges and the state are discriminatory, manifestly arbitrary, and lack an application of mind.

—The petition —FILE PHOTO

A protest by medical students.

and both the medical colleges issued circulars on July 17, 22 and 23 respectively. The circulars compelled third and final year medical students to compulsorily

work as ‘Corona Sahayaks’ as part of their professional medical and para-medical degrees.

The resolution had been passed in the exercise of power under the Epi-

demic Diseases Act, 1897 and the Gujarat Epidemic Diseases, COVID-19 Regulation 2020.

The petition further submitted that the NHL Municipal Medical Col-

lege circular made the service compulsory and also warned students against not complying with it. If any student failed to follow the order, then their entire term of

the third- year will not be considered and hence, they will not be considered eligible to appear in the final year university MBBS examinations.

The prayer of petitioners is that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the first four months have already been wasted.

Now, the students have been left with only 4 to 5 months left to prepare for final exams that are likely to be conducted in December or January.

Even if the exams are delayed for another 2-3 months, there will not be enough time for students to prepare for the tough examinations.

The petitioners have pleaded to stay the circulars and quash them by declaring them illegal and unconstitutional.

Principal suspended after city-run school calls students to campus amid shutdown

First India Bureau

Ahmedabad: Despite clear instructions from the state government to not conduct classes or examinations in schools and resume the academic session virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a school run by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) at Ellisbridge had called students to the campus on Tuesday.

Notably, the students enrolled in school numbers 7 and 8, are resi-

dents of the Gulbai Tekra slum. Since the dwellers there are mostly underprivileged, they do not have access to online education. Therefore, their teachers were asked to visit the students’ homes and instruct them as per the curriculum. On July 28 and 29, the kids were slated to sit for an assessment examination.

Sources said the students asked to take the exam in a classroom with closed doors and windows. The episode was revealed by the Congress party, who de-

Students were called in to school to sit for an exam.

manded action against higher authorities.

When Congress representatives reached the school and sought an explanation regarding

the students gathered, the teachers came up with the excuse that they had been called to collect new textbooks.

Later, it was learned

PIL seeks ban on loudspeaker azan First India Bureau Ahmedabad: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed before the state high court pleading to ban loudspeaker use by mosques. The petitioner also pleaded for interim relief, where he prayed to direct mosques across the state to stop using loudspeakers until a verdict is passed.

A resident of Gandhinagar, Dr Dharmendra Prajapati has moved a petition submitting that

—FILE PHOTO

Ahmedabad: A general board meeting of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) was held online on Tuesday, wherein Jamalpur councillor Shahnawaz Shaikh raised concern over the number of COVID-19 deaths. He stated that around 20,000 people had died in the city over the past four months.

“I have a primary report that more than around 20,000 people have succumbed to novel coronavirus in the city in a span of four months.

However, only around 1,500 deaths have been recorded in the list of those deceased due to COVID-19,” he said, “If not everyone (of the 20,000) died due to COVID-19, then what was the reason for their deaths? I want the civic body to declare a complete list of age, gender and disease of those deceased in the city over the past four months online.”

Councillor JD Patel from Bapunagar, said, “The in-charge medical officer Dr Bhavin Solanki has not been revealing information to people.”

First India Bureau

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

Reveal four months’ death data online: AMC councillor

all people have the freedom to practice their religion. But, Prajapati also stated that there is a mosque in his neighbourhood, which regu-

larly uses loudspeaker for azan. He termed it, “a noise that creates pollution and tortures people at large.”

The petitioner sub-

mitted that he had filed a complaint with the local police station and even with the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) to initiate action. However, no steps have been taken in this regard, he said.

Prajapati further submitted, “During the day, the loudspeakers are used five times, from 5 am to 9 pm. It is intolerable for the public.”

Notably, a similar petition to ban the use of loudspeakers was rejected by the Allahabad High Court.

that the school Principal Priti Pande had been suspended immediately.

Manish Doshi, chief spokesperson of the Congress party, said, “This is sheer negligence on part of the BJP. We came to know that a verbal order was given by the school administrator to run the school.

Appropriate action must be taken against the person who has issued such an order.”

Lagdhir Desai, the school administrator was busy with a video conference when contacted by First India.

—FILE PHOTO

Surat Municipal Corporation.

Ruchi Thakkar Surat: In order to equip itself to tackle the rapidly escalating COVID-19 situation, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has now decided to set up for COVID-19 testing at private hospitals, laboratories and clinics of general practitioners as well. As per reports, over 100 Sars-CoV-2 testing centres will be built in Surat city and district.

The local administration will soon commence preparations for COVID-19 testing centres on a war footing in Surat.

This initiative will enable people to get tested for novel coronavirus at locations near their homes at a minimal cost of up to Rs700.

Despite creating a four-stage map to combat the virusRapid Antigen Test facility, Dhanvantri Raths, door-to-door health survey, the 104

Helpline, the local civic body has proven unable to control the situation, with Surat registering a new COVID-19 record every day.

Meanwhile, SMC has also deployed more Dhanvantri Raths in hotspot areas of the diamond city such as Katargam, Limbayat, Varachha to help detect COVID-19 cases. Currently, Surat has over 118 Dhanvantri Raths, with Katargam accounting for the highest number of Raths at 21.

Dr Dipak Singhal, doctor of a Dhanvantri Rath deployed in the Central Zone, said, “If we find a patient with severe illness we send him to the Civil-SMIMER Hospital. And if there is someone who has mild symptoms, they are treated under home isolation. All this effort has been made to free people from fear of getting tested and detect the maximum number of nCov cases.”

GUARDIAN OF THE DARK

A solitary watchman takes a bicycle ride at the foot of Nehru Bridge in Ahmedabad as the rest of the city stays indoors in keeping with COVID-19 protocols. —PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

TALES OF THE WILD

This Global Tiger Day, city boys announce film on the big cats ‘For the Stripes’ chronicles the relationship between the human and animal residents of Ranthambore l

First India Bureau Ahmedabad: The world of big cats is amazing to witness.

With the rising conflict between mankind and wildlife, there is a dire need to documents what is happening. With this intention, the duo of Aay-

ush Dudhiya and Divya Bhagia has announced an upcoming documentary of the tigers of Ranthambore, and the people who live near them.

Ahead of Global Tiger day on Wednesday, Dudhiya and Bhagia announced ‘For the Stripes’—a 28-minute

A poster for the upcoming film.

nature film, chronicling the tale of the residents of Ranthambore and their intricate relationship with the tigers of the Ranthambore National Park. “It explores the nuances of our relations with wildlife and its impact on our culture,” Bhagia said.

Their first film, ‘Wheeled Wings’, has been critically acclaimed and screened at 14 film festivals across the world. With their new film, they

present a story that offers a deeper perspective of synergy, balance, and harmony.

‘For the Stripes’ raises several unconventional questions about the way we interact with the non-human life around us. It also captures the intertwined universe of wildlife, humankind, history, and art. The film also features the story of a local artist from Ranthambore.

Imamuddin, a deaf

and mute painter, has been contributing to the conservation of wildlife through his art. Through his work, he has become a voice for the tigers, furthering the cause begun by the Government of India via Project Tiger in 1973. This film finds its core values reflected in Imamuddin’s art.

The filmmakers, who released a poster for the film on Tuesday, are looking forward to screening at international film festivals.

PERSPECTIVE AHMEDABAD | WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020

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04

Almost everyone in faculty is promoted in Indian universities. DU started the damage in 1970

TODAY, DELHI UNIVERSITY HAS BEEN RELEGATED TO THE BACKWATERS OF ALL GLOBAL RANKINGS, WITH A SIMILAR STORY PLAYING OUT IN UNIVERSITIES ALL OVER INDIA. BUT THERE IS A WAY OUT managed to gain undeserving and automatic promotion to a full professorship.

DINESH SINGH Former Vice Chancellor, University of Delhi

I

There are several factors that have contributed to this universal decline. One of them has its roots in an action that was unwittingly initiated at the University of Delhi in 1970, and which was readily and unthinkingly adopted by universities around the country over that decade

ndian universities have suffered immensely due to the combined impact of rotating headships and near-automatic promotions for all. It started in 1970 at the University of Delhi. Now, almost everybody gets promoted regardless of merit, and heads of departments are appointed by rotation so all promotees get to be HOD without being qualified or suitable.

But not too long ago, the University of Delhi would have easily secured very high rank in any global ranking system. During the 1950s and the 1960s, it had reached a pinnacle in terms of its academic standing. The roll call from those years boasted of distinguished names such as D.S. Kothari and A.N. Mitra (Department of Physics), P. Maheshwari and B.M. Johri (Botany), B.R. Seshachar and M.R.N. Prasad (Zoology), M.N. Srinivas (Sociology), V.K.R.V. Rao, K.N. Raj, Amartya Sen, A.L. Nagar, S. Chakravarty, and J.N. Bhagwati (Economics), T.R. Seshadri (Chemistry), S.R. Ranganathan (Library Science), U.N. Singh (Mathematics) and Nagendra (Hindi). And this list is by no means exhaustive.

Unfortunately, as things stand today, Delhi University has been relegated to the backwaters of all global rankings. However, such a rise and subsequent decline is not peculiar to just Delhi University. Almost every university in India has a similar story.

WHEN MERIT WASN’T JUST A TERM There are several factors that have contributed to this universal decline. One of them has its roots in an action that was unwittingly initiated at the University of Delhi in 1970, and which was readily and unthinkingly adopted by

universities around the country over that decade.

Until 1970, all academic departments of Delhi University were headed in similar fashion by professors of great eminence. It helped greatly that they were at the helm for a significant number of years, which enabled them to provide sustained momentum and direction to their departments.

Of course, there was a downside to this arrangement. Sometimes, personal prejudices and even highhandedness would creep into the decisions and actions of those heading a department. But overall, they discharged their responsibilities meritoriously. One of the most important consequences of their stewardship was the fact that, in order to be able to acquire an academic position or gain promotion in any department, an individual needed strong credentials because genuine merit was the main criterion. In varying degrees,

BUT A MARKED DECLINE BEGAN TO SET IN AT DELHI UNIVERSITY WHEN, IN 1970, IT SUDDENLY SWITCHED TO A SYSTEM WHERE DEPARTMENTAL HEADSHIPS WERE ROTATED AMONG ALMOST ALL FACULTY — REGARDLESS OF MERIT — AND THAT TOO FOR THE SHORT DURATION OF THREE YEARS

such a situation was prevalent in most universities across India.

DU’S DEBILITATING ACT But a marked decline began to set in at Delhi University when, in 1970, it suddenly switched to a system where departmental headships were rotated among almost all faculty — regardless of merit — and that too for the short duration of three years.

Soon, this measure began to be adopted by almost all Indian universities. It had a detrimental effect since

more often than not, a departmental head would be unequal to the task of adhering to high standards — both academically and administratively.

To compound this problem, the University Grants Commission (UGC), in 1982 and under severe political pressure, implemented a system of promoting academic faculty — ‘Merit Promotion Scheme’ — which, in practice, resulted in automatic elevation of all and sundry on the basis of length of service — a minimum of eight years.

There are other reasons but rotational headships and automatic promotions are common factors responsible for the decline of India’s various universities. It is no coincidence that the Indian university system has suffered immensely since the 1980s, when these twin measures took effect. Academic merit has been severely neglected as a consequence. Many faculty members who would ordinarily have retired at lower positions are now assured of being appointed as full-time professors and become heads of departments in due course of time.

Ordinarily, several of them would not be appointed to any position but that is where an ineffective head of a department succumbs to unwelcome pressure. The HoD knows that he or she could be at the receiving end post retirement. More often than not, this also results in academics who are not wellqualified being anointed as chairs of their respective departments, only because they

WELCOME TO THE CURIOSITY ECONOMY

I

n 1954, when television sets were just becoming widespread in American homes, Alfred Hitchcock made “Rear Window.”

The film portrays L. B. “Jeff ” Jeffries, a magazine photographer played by James Stewart, stuck at home in a wheelchair with a broken leg, whose only entertainment is gazing through his window and observing his neighbors’ private lives in their homes. “First I watched them to kill time,” Stewart tells the viewer, “but then I couldn’t take my eyes of them, just as you wouldn’t be able to.”

The film is a subtle allusion to the new medium of television that would soon change the world. Using the window as a metaphor, Hitchcock depicts the effects of television on pri

CURIOSITY AND THE NEED TO STAY INFORMED HAVE PUSHED HUMANITY TO CONSTANTLY IMPROVE ITS COMMUNICATION METHODS vacy and, most importantly, people’s curiosity about each other. Hitchcock anticipated the cultural shifts to be brought by the effects of television on American society in those times.

Watching one’s neighbors through a rectangular window is not much different from watching TV on a couch. In this sense, Hitchcock anticipated the effect of the couch potato, which has now become common

in the English idiom.

But Hitchcock’s artistic foresight went further than that. He foresaw something more profound, namely the intersection between human curiosity and a new form of communication technology that was television. Today, in the age of the smartphone and social networks, this intersection is even more visible and can easily be called the curiosity economy.

GLOBAL VILLAGE Since the heyday of television, human curiosity has driven technology further.

The post-TV age made entertainment portable and put it in our pockets. There is a reason smartphone screens have been getting larger, not smaller, over the years. If television meant watching random, unknown people on a wide screen, the smartphone allows us to observe our neighbors on social me-

dia. This makes social media much more engaging and personal than television. Teens today can survive without TV, but they can barely do without their phones. A study last year found that people will have to be actually paid around $1,000 to quit Facebook, even after the Cambridge Analytica scandal that exposed the internet giant’s abuse of user data.

The smartphone era is

sometimes referred to as the attention economy, where tech companies treat human attention as a scarce commodity and bombard us with push notifications and updates. But our attention is fueled first and foremost by our curiosity and the desire to know what others do and say.

In the curiosity economy, it is no longer enough to interpret the content of a book for oneself — Kindle now allows you to do it “together” with other people.

It gives clues as to what the public, not the individual reader, perceives as worth noting. Even listening to music is not always private.

The music-streaming platform Spotify has the “social” option always on by default so friends can always see what music you are listening to.

FOR FULL REPORT LOG ON TO WWW.FAIROBSERVER.COM

COURSE CORRECTION It may be argued that a vicechancellor has the powers to prevent near-automatic promotions but as the records show, very few of them have shown any desire or commitment to implement stricter standards. Similarly, vicechancellors dare not interfere in the business of headship by rotation even when they have some leeway in this regard because the practice is heavily entrenched. This too could be alleviated to a large extent if vice-chancellors were appointed with great care and then granted longer tenures subject to performance.

This is not to say that promotion for faculty should be abolished altogether. The point is to shun inbreeding at entry-level appointment and make merit the only criterion. Standards need to be set in the appointment process at every level and that could begin with appointing good and deserving individuals as vice-chancellors.

I have often argued that any university in India or abroad with a proven track record has progressed largely because of its vice-chancellor, who not only enjoyed total freedom but had their tenures extended for longer periods to achieve what they had set out to. Maurice Gwyer served at Delhi University for 12 years and many of the eminent faculty were brought in at a young age during his tenure. The same happened during Robert Goheen’s distinguished tenure at Princeton University.

But all such examples are in the past. It’s time Indian universities revisited their glorious days by bringing back some of the traditions from the yesteryears. Appointment of deserving vicechancellors can be the starting point.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Top

TWEET Dharmendra Pradhan @dpradhanbjp Tiding over the disruptions caused by the #Covid_19 pandemic, India’s formal sector is showing strong signs of revival.

Increase in situation vacants on job-boards in July has brought more reasons to cheer for job seekers across several sectors.

Mallikarjun Kharge @kharge K’taka has had 5000 corona +ve cases/day for 4 days in a row.

People are finding it difficult to get access to ambulances,beds & medicines. Govt has lost the plot & need to set their priorities right.They should have a single minded focus on combating the pandemic & nothing else

Spiritual SPEAK

As the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

—Psalm 103:12

Vol 1 Issue No. 244 RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208. Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Bhaskar Printing Planet Survey No.148P, Changodar-Bavla Highway, Tal. Sanand, Dist. Ahmedabad.

Published at D/302 3rd Floor Plot No. 35 Titanium Square, Scheme No. 2, Thaltej Taluka, Ghatlodiya, Ahmedabad. Editor: Jagdeesh Chandra, responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act

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‘Govt working to attract FDI in ‘Troops disengaged on most of India-China border’ Infra to address liquidity crunch’ Vaishali

New Delhi: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday, said the government is making efforts to attract FDI in infrastructure sector to address liquidity crunch faced by the COVID-19-hit economy.

The Road Transport, Highways and MSME Minister also said that talks are on with various pension funds, insurance funds and financial institutions.

“Infrastructure is the most economically viable industry. The internal rate of return of projects is very good.

“We are trying to get FDI (foreign direct investment) in Infrastructure as it is 100 per cent allowed. We are trying to bring Insurance Fund, Pension Fund etc, while talks are on

We are trying to get FDI (foreign direct investment) in Infrastructure as it is 100 per cent allowed. We are trying to bring Insurance Fund, Pension Fund etc, while talks are on with the World Bank, ADB. We are moving fast in that direction.

—Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister Economy is passing through a crucial phase, Nitin Gadkari said.

with the World Bank, ADB. We are moving fast in that direction,” Gadkari said, addressing a webinar on Road Development in India.

Urging private players to join hands with the government, he said the economy - hit by coronavirus - is passing through a crucial phase

and requires liquidity.

At the same, COVID-19 crisis should be turned into an opportunity as the world is now recognising India as a good place for investment, he said, adding the government has taken a policy decision to offer projects only after 90 per cent land ac-

for Road Transport & MSME

quisition and regulatory clearances like forest and environment.

“In infrastructure, we are trying as to how we can get maximum investment.

Today, there are huge opportunities in highways, power, transport, water, communciation and other sectors,” he said,

No time capsule in Ayodhya Ram Mandir foundation, says VHP leader Ayodhya: No time capsule will be immersed in the foundation of Ram temple at Ayodhya on August 5, the foundation-laying day.

The general secretary of Ram Janma Bhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader, Champat Rai, said the time capsule was pure imagination on the part of a few people. He said that such a thing was never discussed in any meeting of the trust and there are no such plans.

Earlier it was reported that a time capsule made of steel would be

MORARI BAPU GIVES RS 5CR

Workers clean Ram Ki Pauri ahead of the foundation laying ceremony of Ram temple in Ayodhya. —PHOTO BY PTI immersed in the foun- the capsule. The VHP dation of Ram temple at leader said all this is Ayodhya. The entire fake and has no base. history of Ram Janma The then Prime MinisBhoomi temple move- ter Indira Gandhi carment and other infor- ried out a similar exermation would be docu- cise at Lal Qila in 1973. mented and inserted in —ANI

New Delhi: Spiritual leader Morari Bapu announced a donation of Rs 5 crores to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust, from his Vyaspeeth, for the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on August 5, according to Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, the president of the Ram Temple trust.

India is proud of its tiger assets, has 70% of world’s big cats, asserts Javadekar New Delhi: Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar released the report of the Tiger Census on eve of Global Tiger Day. “India is proud of its tiger assets. The country today has 70% of the world’s tiger population. We are ready to work with all the 13 tiger range countries in their actual management of tiger reserves,” Javadekar

said while speaking at a function at the National Media Centre, New Delhi. “At the international level, we have a lot of soft powers, but one soft power is that the country has animals. India has 30,000 elephants 3,000 one-horned rhinos and more than 500 lions,” he added.

MoS Babul Supriyo was also present at the event. —ANI

Prakash Javadekar and Babul Supriyo release a book on the eve of International Tiger Day 2020 in New Delhi. —PHOTO BY ANI

Thrice meetings were held to send proposal to Governor, while half a dozen meetings were held this month itself.

Cabinet meetings were held on July 22, 24, 25 and 28. Meanwhile, on the issue of 21-day notice required for calling the session, the minister said that 10 days have already passed and asked why did the Governor not give a date if he is talking the notice. He said that if the Governor rejects the proposals now, the further course of action will be decided.

“We have no competition with the Governor, he is the head of our

family,” Khachariyawas said. When asked about the agenda of the session, he said that it is for the Business Advisory Committee of the Assembly to decide.

Regarding seating arrangement as per social distancing norms in the Assembly, the minister said that it was for the Speaker to look after.

Targeting the BJP, the minister said that the party has made it a prestige issue. “They want to topple the state government and have made it a prestige issue,” he said.

“The BJP stands exposed. They are changing their statements,” he

adding industrial development and job creation was not possible without propelling infrastructure.

Gadkari also stressed the need to bring down logistics costs and said that Rs 1 lakh crore Delhi-Mumbai Expressway will result in reducing the travel time between the two metropolises to barely 28 hours resulting in lesser logistics cost by way of enhanced cargo movement in lesser time.

“There is huge potential in alternative fuel and electricity. I have just purchased an electric SUV. Our petrol expenditure which was Rs 12-13,000 per month has now slashed to Rs 600-Rs 800 per month, while charging can easily be done,” the Union Minister said.

—With Agency inputs

Beijing: Chinese and Indian troops have ‘completed disengagement’ on most parts of the disputed border between their two countries, China’s foreign ministry said Tuesday, after violent clashes broke out earlier this year.

Tensions soared between the world’s two most populous nations in June after the deadliest fighting in decades erupted between Indian and Chinese troops on the Himalayan border.

“The situation on the ground continues to cool down and de-escalate,” foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a regular press briefing.

“The frontline border troops of the two countries have already completed disengagement at most places,” he told reporters in Beijing.

Wang said the two

The situation on the ground continues to cool down and deescalate.The frontline border troops of the two countries have already completed disengagement at most places.

—Wang Wenbin, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman

sides were preparing for a fifth round of talks between military commanders at an unspecified date.

After the clash on June 15, Chinese and Indian officials met and agreed to take steps to ease the situation.

But the nucleararmed neighbours have continued to reinforce border between Ladakh & Tibet. India has deployed thousands more troops & is conducting extra military flights over the mountainous region. —Agencies

IN THE COURTYARD MUM AIRPORT SCAM CASE New Delhi: The ED carried out raids at multiple locations belonging to Hyderabadbased GVK Group, company that runs Mumbai airport, and its promoters in connection with its money laundering probe in alleged irregularities worth over Rs 800 crore in the develop-

ED raids GVK Group offices ment and maintenance of the airport, two officials familiar with raids said.

They said the searches were primarily conducted in Mumbai and Hyderabad offices of GVK as well as the office of Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) - the Joint venture which runs

the Mumbai airport.

The probe agency had registered a case under PMLA in the

first week of July on the basis of a CBI FIR lodged on June 27.

The FIR named 13 people - including the Chairman of GVK Group, GVK Reddy the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), and several companies that were given contracts at the airport. —Agencies

VIKAS DUBEY ENCOUNTER

RESTORATION OF 4G INTERNET IN J&K

New Delhi: The SC dismissed two petitions seeking directions to replace retired DGP KL Gupta from the three-member commission probing the death of eight cops in Kanpur and subsequent encounter of history-sheeter Vikas Dubey and his associates.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India, Sharad Arvind Bobde was hearing two petitions seeking directions to remove DGP KL Gupta from the three-member commission headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice

New Delhi: The central government submitted before the SC that it will verify the media reports of Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor GC Murmu suggesting the restoration of 4G internet in the Union Territory.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, senior lawyer for the central government, told a bench headed by Justice NV Ramana, that it will verify the reported statements of LG Murmu. Mehta said that he has received a rejoinder by the petitioner, Foundation for Media Pro-

SC junks pleas to remove probe panel member

(R) Shashikant Aggarwal.

The petitioner and l aw y e r - i n - p e r s o n Ghanashyam Upadhayay moved the apex court and sought the replacement of retired DGP KL Gupta alleging biasedness in case. Upadhayay submitted that Gupta had supported the police version in the matter. —ANI

Verify reports of LG proposing restoration

fessionals, (FMP), on a counter-affidavit filed by the Centre.

Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for the petitioner, said that they had received the Counter very recently and pointed out that the Lt Governor has reportedly said that 4G internet should be restored in Jammu and Kashmir. —ANI

FROM PG 1 Govt bouncer!...

The proposal which was sent earlier for calling the session is our legal right and we are sending it again to the governor,” he told reporters.

“The governor’s questions are simple and we discussed their reply. He has no right to be raising queries yet we are giving the reply,” he said.

Khachariyawas also said that the government wants no confrontation with the governor and hoped Mishra will now accept the Cabinet proposal for calling the session. So far 4 cabinet meetings have been held in a span of 7 days.

said. After Rajasthan, the minister said the party wants to target West Bengal, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.

The Rajasthan governor has returned cabinet recommendations for calling the assembly session twice with some points.

HC to... a communication received from the Assembly secretariat on Monday that the complaint has been decided and rejected by the Speaker, the counsel for Dilawar said.

“Today, we got a detailed order of the Speaker. Thereafter, we filed a second petition

challenging the detailed order,” the counsel said.

In the fresh petitions filed on Tuesday, the MLA challenged validity, legality and correctness of the Speaker’s July 24 order on his complaint filed in March. In his complaint to the Speaker, he had prayed that the BSP MLAs be disqualified from the Assembly under para 2 of 10th Schedule of the Constitution. Dilawar has alleged he was not heard by the Speaker before he decided his complaint on July 24.

—With Inputs from PTI

Supreme Court,” she added.The BSP chief further reiterated that the party has asked the six MLAs to vote against the Congress government led by Ashok Gehlot if a trust vote takes place on the floor of the Rajasthan Assembly, failing which “their party membership will be cancelled”.

“Ulta-chor kotwal ko daante they (Congress) themselves indulge in wrongdoing and then accuse us,” she further said.

‘Waited for...

Election Commission...

We will go even to the

to interfering with the

Constitutional mandate of the Commission,” the statement said. The poll panel said before deciding the timing, it takes into consideration all the relevant factors, including topography, weather, sensitivities arising out of regional and local festivities in the areas where the election is to take place.

Now, get...

With 24 fatalities reported in the past 24 hours, the death toll is now 2,372. The state claims to be doing better than 10 others in terms of active and new cases in a single day. It

has also claimed that per million per day testing of the state is 342.27.

Vadodara tested 637 samples, of which 91 came back positive.

There are 953 active cases, with 143 patients on oxygen support and 38 on BiPAP machines.

As many as 43 more inmates of the Vadodara Central Jail have tested positive; all 60 are now being treated at SSG Hospital. Meanwhile, 548 COVID-19 patients are being treated at Surat Civil Hospital. Of these, 14 are on ventilator support, 53 on BiPAP machine and 397 are on oxygen support.

TALKING POINT AHMEDABAD | WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020

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World Tiger Day is celebrated on July 29 every year to raise awareness about a gradual decline in tiger population leaving them on the brink of extinction, and to encourage tiger conservation. International Tiger Day was established in 2010 at Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit in Russia. At the summit, governments of tiger-populated countries vowed to double tiger population by 2020

N

inety-seven percent. In the last 100 years, tiger populations have declined that dramatically, from 100,000 to as few as 3,200 in the wild today. And it’s humans—through rampant poaching and habitat destruction—who are driving these big cats to extinction.

Bringing tigers back from the brink takes commitment on a global scale. Faced with this challenge, tiger range countries took a stand and set an ambitious species conservation goal: double the number of wild tigers by 2022—the next Year of the Tiger. The goal is called Tx2.

Saving tigers is about more than restoring a single species. As a large predator, tigers play an important role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Every time we protect a tiger, we protect around 25,000 acres of forest— forests that sustain wildlife and local communities and supply people around the world with clean air, water, food, and products. By saving tigers, we show the world that conservation and development can go hand in hand. Tx2 is a model of conservation for other species too.

And it protects natural resources, contributing to a positive future for people, for wildlife, and the planet.

An effective conservation tool In 2010, the governments of the world’s 13 tiger range countries gathered and created the Global Tiger Recovery Plan, outlin-

ing how each country could reach the Tx2 target. Species and conservation experts, including WWF, played a key role in developing the plan and continue to ensure it is put into practice. With governments, scientists, rangers, communities, and others, we are working to ensure tiger conservation is given the priority and investment it requires.

Measuring success One of the biggest threats to tigers today is poaching. Wildlife crime has reached critical levels globally, with an underground market worth an estimated $19 billion annually. From the whiskers to the tail, every part of a tiger can be traded, making them a lucrative target. Governments around the world must combat poach-

ing if tigers are to have a future.

Nepal has already proved that zero poaching is possible with a professionalized approach to wildlife protection.

Over the last century, tigers have also faced massive habitat loss. But we know that given adequate space, prey, and protection, wild tiger populations can increase. Habitats for a strong tiger population—with optimal conditions for tigers to breed and thrive—have now been identified and are the focus of Tx2 efforts.

In order to measure progress toward our goal, tiger range countries must survey their tiger populations. Bhutan recently conducted its firstever national tiger survey, counting 103 tigers.

Earlier this year, India’s latest tiger census showed a rise to 2,226 tigers from only 1,706 in 2010. And Amur tiger numbers in Russia increased to as many as 540 in the last decade, while recent cameratrap footage captured the first video evidence of Amur tiger cubs inside China.

Working with governments, communities, and other organizations, WWF is building a future in which tigers can thrive.

Our efforts include training rangers, tackling the illegal wildlife trade, and developing conservation standards and technology to achieve zero poaching. Together we can help tigers rebound and continue to in-

crease in number, by 2022 and beyond.

Why it matters balanced ecosystems Tigers are more than just magnificent animals—they’re also crucial for the health of their habitats. As top predators, tigers keep popu-

lations of prey species in check which, in turn, maintains the balance between herbivores and the vegetation upon which they feed.

Investing in securing the tiger’s future will also protect thousands of other species that share their habitat in some of the most biodiverse areas on earth. These balanced ecosystems are not only important for wildlife, but for people, too.  SOURCE: AGENCIES  CONCEPT: DIVYA HEMNANI  DESIGN: SITARAM SHARMA

07

Don’t be satisfied with your success - keep on striving. On the other hand, be content with your achievements.

2ND FRONT

—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor, First India

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Hiccup!Guj puts PM's food project in cold store It would cost the State Government only ` 41 crore, but it is not providing chana to the poor under the PMGKY Shishir Awasthi Ahmedabad: The World Bank has granted a mammoth Rs 17,100 crore to India for food security under the much-touted Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY), but it is the Gujarat Government that is shying away from implementing it in the right earnest.

It has come to light now that chana (chickpea), a crucial food item meant to provide protein under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), is not being provided to the 68 lakh ration card holders in

Gujarat. Also, there appears to be no indication of providing food allowance as an alternative, which wouldn’t cost the State Government more than Rs 41 crore as provisioned under the NFSA. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had declared PMGKY to continue up to November 2020 with a promise of free rations and cereals. Under this scheme, every below poverty line (BPL), poorest of the poor Antyodaya cardholders and those categorised as priority households identified under NFSA are to be given free

GOVT APATHY

The Gujarat Government has not been distributing protein supplement chana (chickpea) to the poor.

3.5 kg of wheat per person, 1.5 kg of rice per person and one kg of chana (chick-

pea) per ration card each month.

The Gujarat Government’s Resolutions

(GR) of July 15, 2020, passed by the department of food and civil supplies, state that all

these items would be given free of cost to every household under PMGKY. It also allo-

cates specific budget for these items, stating the amount would be given by the Central government, and the shortfall would be filled by the State.

However, the government changed tack and decided not to give chana. “Ever since the foodgrains distribution began on July 23 , the Right to Information helpline of the Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pahel (MAGP) was flooded with phone calls to know the reason,” according to Pankti Jog of MAGP. She added, “Since the advertisements of PMGKY mention

BCA’S FITNESS CAMP OFF AFTER Schools’ Twitter show claims PLAYER’S KIN CONTRACTS nCOV parents with them on fees First India Bureau Vadodara: A pre-season fitness camp of Baroda Cricket Association has been suspended after the brother of a player tested positive for coronavirus.

“As a precautionary measure, we have decided to suspend the offseason training camp,” BCA secretary Ajit Lele said. Lele said players like Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya were not participants in this camp as they had chosen to do their own training at another ground in Vadodara.

The BCA had organised

Baroda Cricket Association has put off pre-season training sessions after a player's brother contracted Covid-19.

the fitness camp at Moti Bagh ground in batches of 10 players. The association had only al-

lowed those players who lived in non-containment zones.

When the players

VADODARA MAN HELD FOR ORAL TRIPLE TALAQ TO WIFE First India Bureau Vadodara: Vadodara police on Tuesday booked a man for cruelty to his wife after he allegedly pronounced triple talaq in contravention of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019.

A complaint with the Wadi police that the complainant, Azima Banu, 25, and Jabeer Hussain Shaikh got married in 2015 and had a “peaceful” first year of married life. “A year lat-

er, she found that her husband was having an extramarital relationship. When asked, he admitted that he was planning to marry the woman he loved.

When she refused to give her consent to her

husband’s second marriage, he became abusive,” said inspector KP Parmar of Wadi police station. On July 20, they had a fight and her husband uttered the word talaq nine times. “Then he asked her to leave stating that their talaq had been formalised,” Parmar said. Azima, who works as a domestic help, moved to her parents’ home in the Wadi area. Shaikh has been harassing her and threatening her with physical harm.

entered the ground, they had to undergo thermal screening.

Also, the players had to regularly update about their health to the officials. “The batches started from morning 7 am.

We have obviously advised the player whose brother has contracted the virus to take care. And those who have come in contact with that player have been told to undergo isolation in their respective homes. The association is in touch with all players,” Lele said.

First India Bureau Ahmedabad: Continuing its struggle with the Gujarat Government over charging of fees, the Ahmedabad-based Association of Progressive Schools (AoPS) has stormed the Twitter with their #SaveOurSchools campaign trying to claim that the parents were with them.

The association has claimed that the campaign received “huge response” on Sunday with more than one lakh tweets,

it was trending on the fourth position nationally, number five in Mumbai/Bengaluru and number one in Gujarat Twitter.

“We received tremendous support from parents and other sections of the society backing

the various initiatives taken by the self-financed schools for students’ education during the pandemic. A large number of parents had shown their disagreement with the government order against levying of fees till normal classes resume,” Manan Choksi, Past President and Member of AoPS, claims.

The campaign aims at exerting pressure on the State Government to take a favorable decision that is suitable to all the sections of the education fraternity.

SEEKING BLESSINGS

Newly-appointed Gujarat BJP President CR Patil on Tuesday called on Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat as a courtesy visit after being entrusted with the new responsibility of the ruling party in the state.

three items, people were annoyed when chana was refused to them by the Fair Price Shops.” The MAGP activists checked with several district supply officers across Gujarat to find that the decision of cancelling chickpea distribution was taken at the last moment in Gandhinagar, and that they only received SMS’s informing this.

“When we contacted food and civil supplies officials, they agreed that the decision had been taken, but they refused to give any reason,” Jog said.

Guj ATS seizes 5cr old notes First India Bureau Godhra: The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad has seized as many as 5 crore old currency notes from Godhra and arrested two persons. Among the seized notes are Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denomination notes.

Of this, notes worth Rs 2.5 crore are of Rs 500 and as many of Rs 1,000. The ATS has claimed this to be its biggest operation in the State. A team of ATS and Surat SOG seized 80 old currency notes from a house at Rani Lake in Lalgate police station area of Surat.

This includes 57 notes of 500 and 23 notes of Rs 1000.

One person was arrested in the case. Based on the information, the house of Faisal Chandiwala, who lives in front of Rani Lake in Lalgate police station area, was raided. Later, the rest of the notes were recovered from Godhra, ATS sources said.

EXISTENTIAL CRISIS?

An ‘Indian’ battling charge of a Bangaleshi in High Court 

Shaikh’s advocate argues he has Aadhar Card & CAA grants citizenship to those living before 1987 in India

Darshan Desai Ahmedabad: The Citizenship Amendment Act promises legitimate citizenship to those living here for over three decades, but the Gujarat High Court is handling a curious case where a 40-year-old person claimed to be an Indian is in the custody of the Special Operations Group (SOG) on charges of being a Bangladeshi infiltrator.

The issue came up on

Tuesday in a Habeas Corpus petition filed by Rashida Sidikbhai Shaikh for her son Amir Shaikh, who was arrested by the SOG of the Gujarat Police on the suspicion that he was a citizen of Bangladesh. He was arrested on June 18, 2020, on the charge that he was staying illegally in India and he continues in the SOG’s custody.

Advocate Anand Yagnik, appearing for the petitioner, submit-

ted that Amir Shaikh is not a Bangladeshi citizen but an Indian Citizen and even holds a valid Aadhar Card issued by the Central

Government.

Yagnik went on to argue that even if it was assumed that Shaikh was indeed a Bangladeshi citizen, the Citi-

zenship Amendment Act provided that a person born before the year 1987 shall be considered as a citizen of India.

He added that in this case, it was an admitted fact that Amir Shaikh is 40 years old and so “It cannot be said that he is not the citizen of India.” Yagnik also cited the Aadhar Card with Shaikh.

Secondly, Shaikh’s counsel further argued that no law in India allowed the SOG to keep any foreigner in its custody. “At the most, Shaikh can be sent to Central Jail,” Yagnik con-

tended. A Division Bench comprising Justice Sonia Gokani and Juistice NV Anjaria acceded to the request of the petitioner that her counsel be permitted to meet Shaikh at an independent place. The objection to this by Public Prosecutor Mitesh Amin that the advocate should be allowed to meet Shaikh only in presence of police authorities since he was actually a Bangladeshi was ruled out.

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The one thing that I love doing is working to make my jewellery brand better with every passing day- it’s extremely close to my heart. Another thing that I love is motivating people- it not just benefits them, but it also makes me feel that I have helped someone and that gives me inner satisfaction and peace.

I’m a content creator, and I LOVE creating content- this gives me happiness. Making videos relating to dressing up, showing hauls is what I love and gives me peace every single day.

KANIKA RANA, Gujarat

ASHLESHA AHLUWALIA, Rajasthan

MAIN MERI FAVOURITE From being taught that ‘self-love’ is bad and should be avoided, to ‘self-love’ is critical to life, self-analysis and psychology have definitely taken a U-turn!

NEHAL NAYAR

nehal.nayar@firstindia.co.in

D

uring my childhood, any kind of thought of self-motivating praise like “I am awesome! I can do it! I don’t give up!” were usually frowned upon.

It gives me great pleasure to see the ‘SELF’ being celebrated.

I firmly believe that if we don’t love ourselves, we will not be able to believe in our abilities which will lead to unfulfilled dreams and failure.

And loving oneself does not mean being self-obsessed, in fact, it is the opposite! When you are secure about who you are, then you have so much more to give to others, be it appreciation, love or support. If I am floundering in self-doubt what can I give to others?

Remember Kareena Kapoor in the movie ‘Jab We Met’ saying, “Main apni favourite hoon”. That is the spirit.

Try and see the positive in yourself and avoid those who pull you down.

A person who tells you your faults in a positive way and supports you to overcome them is a friend and has to be nurtured but on the other hand, a person who just drags you down lists your faults making it personal and leaves you with a bitter taste is

A still from ‘Jab We Met’

best avoided.

Encourage yourself ! Develop your thoughts and make concrete plans to realize your dreams. Map your progress. Be kind to yourself, if you have fumbled, do not label yourself

a failure. Allow yourself some breathing space.

Write down your achievements, started that long-delayed daily walk- pat yourself on the back for every 500 meters added!

When unpleasant memories crowd you take a deep breath, listen to your favourite music and learn to say a tender firm goodbye to them! Self-encouragement is something we all need today. Meditation and mindfulness can help you get there faster.

Be kind and compassionate, to yourself and others! Hold the thought that you are responsible for your happiness, nobody else. Sift through the things which come on to you, what to keep safely, look at and what to send flying far! If you will not fight for yourself, who will?

City First got in touch with it’s readers from Rajasthan & Gujarat to see what is that one thing they do for them self which gives them happiness.

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AHMEDABAD | WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020

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HAPPY B’DAY SANJU BABA GURMAN SINGH cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

S

anjay Dutt has created his history. It was the resilience that didn’t let the storm sweep him away. Even at his 61st birthday, he still has the swag, style, and subtle the sexiness that comes with the streaks of salt and pepper, which he wears with pride. He is an Indian actor, author, film producer and has acclaimed several awards, including two Filmfare Awards and three Screen Awards. Till now Dutt has acted in 187 films, ranging from romance to comedy genres and established himself as one of the most popular Hindi film actors of the later 1980s, 1990s, 2000s & 2010s.

Sanjay Dutt made his Bollywood movie debut with the box office hit Rocky in 1981.

Later, he went on to star in Vidhaata, the highest-grossing Hindi film of 1982 along with the super hit Main Awara Hoon (1983). The crime-thriller Naam (1985) proved to be a turning point in his career, his successes continued in the 1990s, with films such as Sadak, Saajan, and Khal Nayak for which he was also nominated in the Filmfare Best Actor Award category. He also won accolades for playing an army officer in Mission Kashmir (2001), a soft-hearted goofy gangster in Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.(2003) and its

sequel Lage Raho Munna Bhai(2006). He also hosted season 5 of Bigg Boss (2011—2012). Dutt has always followed his father ustaad’s and made his dad proud when he regained his superstardom and stood by his dad’s saying “Mera Beta Koi Guzra Huwa Waqt Nahe

Hai… Jo Laut Ke Wapas Nahe Aasakta”, when his biopic ‘Sanju’ came it helped him in rejuvenating his lost fame.

Once again Sanjay Dutt has proved his versatility by playing the roles like ‘Bhairo Singh’ a true and supportive friend for Rajkumar Hirani’s Indian satirical comedy-drama PK, supervillain ‘Afghan king Ahmad Shah Abdali’for

Ashutosh Gowariker’s period drama Panipat and Combo of Police wala gunda for Hindi-language action film K.S. Ravikumar’s ‘Policegiri’.

FA CE OF TH ED AY

Sanjay Dutt

YOUR DAY Horoscope by Saurabbh Sachdeva

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

Feeling abashed by someone else’s behaviour is not right everyone is responsible for their only karma so why care. Everyone worships money but not you, you value sentiments, affection, respect, love before anything else. You are always available for your parents.

Abstaining yourself because you don’t think you are worthy is not right, self love is the most important thing. You believe in etiquettes and a good demeanour and you don’t take both of these lightly. You may have some naughty thoughts about your lover today.

Bountiful opportunities are there for you but you need a sight for observe. You help people and then forget but those people don’t and one such person will come back returning your favour big time. You may start a new business related with the essential items of day to day life.

Contradicting someone’s views on professional front special that of your boss’ may not be seen correctly rather choose a gentle way to communicate your ideas later. You need to change your way of approaching a situation as attitude can make or break the whole game.

MAR 21 - APR 20

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

Cultivating harmony in relationships isn’t easy, it requires lot of hard work and also a nice positive behaviour. Your reputation is all that you care about sometimes. You have to really avoid bad food habits. Now is the time to invest your hard earned money in properties.

Marketing your products or the service that you are offering in your business should be your primary task. Extraordinary personalities are not built overnight, you have to keep polishing yourself and that how to stand out. You will answer all your unanswered questions of your lover.

Apprehensions and assumptions are waste of time if you are confident about yourself and your actions. You are all time concerned about your kids and thats not right, you must have a life of your own and you should do something to take your mind off them sometimes.

Judiciously spending money is an act of wise specially in times like now.

You are a ray of hope in your family who will change the situations. You are inclined towards joining a government service. An extraordinary mind leads to inventions, you may be one.

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

AUG 24 - SEP 23

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

You live to see your near and dear ones smile, all the money that you earn and all that you do is to make your life and their’s as heavenly as possible.

You don’t trust anyone easily and you can smell cheaters from distance, you are very smart. You know ways to make someone fall in love with you.

Vigour is not something you were born with but its is something that you have worked on and got it.

Continue walking on the path that you are chasing and you will reach your destination. A gift from your lover will make you cry. You love to make food for others.

Dexterity will make you super duper rich someday.

You will give someone money without any expectations of getting it back. You are mentally very stable and nothing can effect you. A good guidance can make or destroy someone’s life so be wise before advising someone.

Indulging in making someone’s career is very exhausting and there is always a risk whether someone will reward you for it or abuse. Don’t be harsh with your family because of too much office work learn to separate your personal and professional life.

NOV 23 - DEC 22

VAISHALI PRADHAN, Model

APR 21 - MAY 20

DEC 23 - JAN 20

JAN 21 - FEB 19

FEB20 - MARCH 20

ETC www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia

AHMEDABAD | WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020

COVID-19 ALERT

WELCOMING WILLA

C

ongratulations to Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner who just welcomed their daughter Willa Jonas to the world. The 24-year-old Game of Thrones star and her 30-year-old Jonas Brothers musician husband reportedly welcomed their newborn on Wednesday (July 22) at a hospital in Los Angeles.

Previously, when their baby news was leaked in February 2020, Sophie and Joe wanted to keep it as quiet as possible. “The couple is keeping things very hush-hush but their friends and family are super excited for them,” a source said at the time. A second insider added, “Sophie has decidedly been choosing outfits to wear on and off the carpet to accommodate her changing body.” At the four-month mark of Sophie’s pregnancy, a sources said Sophie and Joe are extremely excited, adding that everyone is ecstatic and so happy for them.

—Agency

Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner

D

Doja Cathas

oja Cat has just confirmed that she tested positive for the coronavirus disease, just months after she said the virus was just a “flu” and that she wasn’t afraid of getting it.

The 24-year-old Say So rapper went on Instagram Live back in March and said, “I’m gonna get corona and then I’m gonna get

a Corona, cause I don’t give a f–k about the corona, b***h. It’s a flu!”

Now, Doja Cat revealed in an interview that she had the virus.

“I got COVID. Honestly, I don’t know how this happens but I guess I ordered something off of Postmates and… I don’t know how I got it but I got it,” she said. Doja said that she is thankfully feeling “OK now. It was a four-day symptom freak out but I’m fine now.”

Last month, Doja made headlines after being accused of making some racist comments. The rapper reacted to the claims by releasing a statement via Instagram regarding her participation in racist chat rooms. She addressed issue with a tweet.

—Agency

‘Protection of

World Nature Conservation

DAY

Natural Resources’

‘C

limate Warrior’ and actor Bhumi Pednekar marked the World Nature Conservation Day on Tuesday by urging people to become environmentally conscious by changing their daily habits.

Pednekar shared the message on environment conservation by sharing before an after posts of different places of the country where plantations were conducted. “Let it grow, let it breathe,” she wrote in the caption indicating the need to let the natural flora of the country grow. “Imagine a clean and green world where we all live together as one big happy family!!

It’s important to protect what nature gives us,” she wrote in the caption.

Pednekar had last year launched her nature protection initiative of ‘Climate Warrior.’ As a part of the initiative, the Saand Ki Aankh’ actor keeps launching new campaigns to save the environment. World Nature Conservation Day is observed on July 28 every year with the aim to spread awareness about the natural resources of the planet. —ANI

11

S

haring several pictures of herself in nature’s lap, actor Anushka Sharma on Tuesday marked the World Nature Conservation Day by urging people to protect and preserve the environment.

She took to Instagram to share the pictures along with a long note dedicated to environmental conservation. “A healthy environment is the foundation for a stable and productive society. Our lives, what we breathe, where we live, what we eat and our species’ and other species existence is directly related to Mother Nature,” the actor-turned-producer wrote in the caption.

“As human beings, the steps towards conservation is being respectful, providing co-existing in harmony with Nature. We all must participate to protect,

Katy Perry

One of her posts

conserve and sustainably manage our natural resources,” she added.

The actor called for more consciousness towards climate change. she wrote.

—ANI

Good news-bad news

K

aty Perry has had a busy 2020, to say the least!

On the personal front, the singer and her fiance Orlando Bloom will soon be embracing parenthood as Katy’s due date is already here and she could welcome her baby girl any day now. On the work front, besides releasing impressive singles like ‘Never Worn White and Daisies’, Perry was all set to release her sixth studio album Smile on August 14. However, those plans have now been changed as revealed by the singer herself.

Taking to Twitter, Katy shared in a series of tweets as to why Smile has been pushed back by two weeks from its original release date. “Welp.

I hate to throw this bad news at you like a pie in the face...but if there’s anything 2020 taught me, it’s to not get too attached to plans and be malleable. Due to unavoidable production delays, my album #SMILE will now be released two weeks later on August 28,” Perry tweeted but made sure to make up to her fans in the most Katy Perry way possible.

—Agency

Anushka Sharma

The Right Way! ... her post

W Bhumi Pednekar

ith the number of coronavirus cases skyrocketing in the country each day, Bollywood’s diva Malaika Arora through an Instagram post taught people the right way to wear a mask amid the pandemic.

The Instagram post featured the ‘Chhaiya Chhaiya’ actor wearing face

Malaika Arora

masks in three ways, two of which were the wrong ways to wear the mask. In one of the pictures, Malaika was seen wearing a mask around her neck, in the other one she is seen wearing it around her mouth and in the third one she is seen wearing it over her mouth and nose.

“Please wear a mask n wear it the

correct way. Protect urself and others @my_bmc,” he wrote in the caption.

India on Tuesday reported 47,704 more COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the country’s count of coronavirus cases to 14,83,157, informed the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

—ANI

CITY BUZZ www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia

Dr SEEMA SHARMA

Assistant Professor, IIS University

G

lobal Tiger Day often called International Tiger Day is observed on 29 July every year. It was founded in Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit in Russia in 2010. The goal of the day is to promote a global system for protecting the natural habitats of tigers and to raise public awareness and support for tiger conservation issues.

In India, Tiger is considered a national animal. India launched ‘Project Tiger’ in 1973 for tiger conservation. India has the maximum population of tigers in the world.

The number of tigers in India was 2226 in 2014. According to the latest data, the number of tigers in India is now 2967. India is leading

the way in tiger conservation globally.

According to research, 6 out of 9 species is the ratio of still existing tigers in the world. A lot can be done to save their lives. Let us pledge the following : “Not to cut down the forests for our needs”.

“Let us help save forests hence saving the natural habitat for Tigers”.

“Lets us make efforts to control the climatic changes. A decrease in tigers can lead to an increase in the heat after the melting of ice, eventually rising the sea levels.

It can also increase in the Sea levels is wiping out the Sundarbans (mangrove forests). Controlling the climate changes will help us save Sundarbans, the largest habitat for Royal Bengal tigers.

Wildlife Sanctuaries are bigger spaces and when amongst nature, tigers are much at home than being caged in a zoo. Hence encourage more Sanctuaries and natural reservoirs.

NEHAL NAYAR

nehal.nayar@firstindia.co.in

W Dr CP Joshi

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

CITY FIRST

B

asically a professor, an intellectual and a philosopher Dr CP Joshi, the straightforward Speaker of Rajasthan Assembly turns 70 today. The professor of psychology and former Union Minister hails from the holy town of Nathdwara and started his political career as president of Mohanlal Sukhadia University (MLSU) student union.

Very recently Joshi was in the national headlines for his unusual courage and conviction to challenge the High Court order restraining him from taking action against rebel Congress MLAs, in the Supreme Court. It doesn’t matter that circumstances later virtually forced him to withdraw his plea in the Supreme Court.

Joshi knows the political history of the state from cover to cover, has a strong grasp on most the booth-level politics too and he is a rational man rarely giving in to emotions which is the reason that CM Ashok Gehlot often turns to him for advice! His knowledge is respected by his opponents as well, in 2008 when Vasundhara Raje became CM she invited experts from various fields to discuss her vision for the state and CP Joshi was the only one from the Congress in that meeting, it is said.

Joshi is a man who always puts the party first, one can only imagine his disappointment when he lost by one vote in 2008 despite leading the Congress to victory as the party president but within an hour he shrugged it off and was at the party office for the celebration. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

ords have a lot of power and they play a very important role in everyone’s lives. A study by Dr Gail Matthews says that you are 42% more likely to achieve your goals and dreams by simply writing them down. Rashmie Pathak from Gurugram had started her own brand ‘Soul Thread’ in 2019 focusing on word affirmations and eventually motivating people to be their best self and achieve their dreams by just looking at their wrist.

On being asked about how she came up with the concept, Rashmie stated, “This concept is purely based on word affirmations and power of words.

It is a custom wrist band that reflects your purpose/intent or belief in the form of a word.

It literally works as a visual reminder of your dreams and goals, or what’s important for

12

Global Tiger Day: A tiger conservation initiative

POWER OF WORDS Rashmie Pathak

you or who you truly are.”

There are times when people don’t really know about the word that would be suitable for them. To make this easier, Rashmie has stated a fine theory. She said, “Finding that one word is little tricky but not difficult- Just divide your life into three sections: Roses- the things that you are absolutely proud of in your life; Budsthings that you want to grow or build on; Thorns- things that you want to let go. Now, out of this list, identify the top 2-3 things that deserve your focus, and what’s that one word which can bring you closer to your goal, is the word for you.”

The Soul Thread

DRAMATIC SOCIAL

MESSAGE Poster of ‘Jurm Aur Kanoon’ Poorvika Agrawal

C

AHMEDABAD | WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020

hange is the law of nature and this is very necessary too. Mahatma Gandhi once said that if you want a change, first you have to change yourself. The short film ‘Jurm Aur Kanoon’ directed by Pratham Sharma is also filmed to bring changes in society. With a social message, this mono acting film recites a conversation between a policeman and a hooligan. The story revolves around the transfer of a policeman to a new police station. The local hooligan Sultan asked the newly transferred office bearer to visit his house ‘Saltanat’, where both had a dramatic and hot conversation.

In the short movie of about 10 minutes, the director tries to divert the nature of evil things towards good. When the police officer enters the residence of Sultan, he also keeps the ‘paan’ in his mouth and tries to speak the dialogue like Amitabh Bachchan.

So for a second, the image of Bachchan clicks in the viewer’s mind after the dialogue was delivered. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

DURING THE DAY! GUJARAT: MD National Chemical & Pharmaceutical, Sanjay Ghorawat was felicitated by Commanding Officer Ahmedabad, Rajesh Kumar on Tuesday at Ahmedabad Airport for his continuous work of providing medical assistance to more than 4000 CISF officers at Ahmedabad, Chennai, Bhopal and Guwahati airports.

Among the duties of CISF are guarding sensitive governmental buildings, the Delhi Metro, and providing airport security. It provides security cover to 300 industrial units, government infrastructure projects and facilities and establishments located all over India. Industrial sectors like atomic power plants, space installations, mines, major ports, airports and hydroelectric/ thermal power plants owned and controlled

by Central Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), and currency note presses producing Indian currency are protected by CISF.

Reeshant Singh Narwat

Making the

country proud CITY FIRST

C

ricketer Reeshant Singh Narwat from the Pink City, who is a part of Saint Brice Cricket Club- France, has recently become the brand ambassador of Valiant, a brand in France.

Reeshant has always wished of being a national level Cricketer since his school days.

Not just this, he has always been a part of social services, something he has been inspired for, from his parents. He is a true environmentalist and has been concerned about nature since the very beginning- he has planted about 5,000 saplings till now along with his friends and colleagues. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

HAPPY B’DAY!

RAJASTHAN: A Jaipur based renowned Singer Manju Sharma wooed Lord Indra through the songs of Sawan on Monday. She started with ‘Mahara Lahariya Ra Nau 100 Rupiya Rokda Sa’ to spread the colour of Rajasthani culture. Pawan Dangi accompanied Manju during the event.

The efforts were highly appreciated by the audience.

IAS Pradeep Kumar Borad celebrated his birthday on 28 July, Tuesday. We wish him all the best!