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O HERALD O The Voice of Goa — Since 1900 panjim, mOnday, august 30, 2010

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India: Amitabh harassed by blogger Pg 9

Business: Gold prices set to Pg 13 touch ` 20k

pRiCE Rs. 3.00 (air surcharge Rs. 1.50) pages 18

Sports: Hamilton wins Pg 18 Belgian GP

PAK CRICKET IN A FIX

Sting exposes players in ‘spot-fixing’ PTI LONDON/KARACHI, AUG 29

I had rather be hissed for a good verse than applauded for a bad one.

— Victor Hugo

IN BRIEF 5 security personnel killed by Naxals Over 100 armed Naxals attacked security forces conducting search operation in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district Sunday morning, killing five personnel, including three from BSF, and injuring one, police said. At least three naxals are also believed to have been killed in the exchange of fire, Additional Director General of Police Ramniwas said. He said 77 security personnel were out in the jungles for “area domination” exercise. – (PTI)

Separatist leader Reshi arrested Senior separatist leader Mohammed Shafi Reshi, also touted as the brain behind issuing of their ‘protest calenders’, was arrested on Sunday along with his five associates inflicting another blow to proPakistan hardliners in Kashmir. Reshi was arrested from Baba Demb area in the city when he was shifting his hideout. – (PTI)

Pranab defends Mamata stance on Azad killing PTI KOLKATA AUG 29

Defending Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday said he found “nothing wrong” in the key UPA ally’s statement that the killing of top Maoist leader Azad was not correct.

Mukherjee, a senior Congress leader, also said there was no reason to suspect that the Railway Minister’s party had links with the Maoists if she thought that the Naxal problem can be negotiated through dialogue.

“I don’t think so. We had a detailed discussion with the Prime Minister, Home Minister and Mamata Banerjee and she has explained her position”, he said when asked whether Banerjee, being part of the UPA government, was unjustified in saying that the killing of Cherakuri Rajkumar alias Azad was not correct.

Banerjee at her Lalgarh rally in West Bengal on August 9 had said Azad’s killing was “not correct” sparking a controversy and she also faced flak from the Opposition. Azad was killed by Andhra Pradesh Special Intelligence Branch at Adilabad district on July 2 allegedly in a fake encounter.

Yet another scandal rocked Pakistan cricket on Sunday engulfing its captain Salman Butt, brilliant pace duo of Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir and four other players, leading to the arrest of a bookie in London and questioning of the players by the Scotland Yard after a tabloid sting.

Scotland Yard detectives visited the Pakistan dressing room immediately after the third day’s play to question the players after the tabloid sting operation exposed ‘spot-fixing’ and the alleged nexus between the players and bookies.

“Scotland Yard detectives had visited the team hotel where they had taken statements of captain Salman Butt, fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir, and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal,” Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed told PTI. The ‘News of the World’ tabloid alleged that a Pakistani man Mazhar Majeed, who is now under arrest, had paid bribes to the players to bowl no-balls in the series and the Lord’s Test.

The video evidence that the tabloid has presented also shows Majeed talking about his links with Indian bookies.

“I deal with an Indian party.

They pay me for the information,” Majeed is quoted as saying.

The International Cricket Council said it was aware of the developments but made it clear (Continued on page 10)

EC to tighten screws on flow of poll money HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, AUG 29

The Election Commission of India has expressed skepticism over recent practices by few candidates who secretly infringe the ‘upper spending ceiling’ of the expenditure limits during election, an ECI official said.

“The Election Commission is concerned that there should not be unaccountable expenditure.

The deliberations will also be made on how candidates should not be allowed to break the election expenditure clandestinely,” ECI Director General Akshay Raut said at a press briefing on Sunday.

He further said that the zonal conference of Chief Electoral Officers of eleven states and Union territories on August 31 in Panjim will review the above situation, which will be presided over by Chief Election Commissioner of India Dr S Y

Qureshi and ECI V S Sampat.

The conference will interestingly also highlight the concern on the trend of paid news/reports during elections. The DG said that ECI is set to keep a watch over such illegalities, as well. “Media and political parties play significant role in the fair election practices. CEOs have to do their best to deal with the problem and hence they are already issued assets of guidelines on June 8,” he added.

Raut said that ECI is committed to have perfect electoral rolls and it will ensure that every individual above the age of 18 years are on the voters list to participate in the election process.

The ECI team will host a diamond jubilee photo exhibition on Monday.

PHONES CONFISCATED

Scotland Yard officials have confiscated the mobile phones of the captain Salman Butt, and bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif, after questioning several key players in the team.

THE INDIAN LINK

Majeed said there are no major activities when the “Indian market is not open”.

Majeed claims to know bookmakers in India. “I deal with an Indian party. They pay me for the information.”

NO-BALLED: Mohammad Aamir and Mohammad Asif

New video shows two players meeting bookie PTI LONDON, AUG 29

More video footage which could implicate two new players of the Pakistan cricket team in allegations of corruption was released by British tabloid ‘News of the World’ tonight.

The video shows arrested bookie Mazhar Majeed taking cash from the undercover reporter of the tabloid and putting it in a jacket.

Test against England at Lord’s exactly when he had predicted.

Mohammad Aamer the man-of-the-series, and Mohammad Asif, delivered the blatant no-balls at the exact points in the match agreed with the alleged fixer.

Majeed is seen telling the undercover reporter that he needs to pay 10,000 pounds in advance before Pakistani players could be introduced to him.

The reporter then gives Majeed 10,000 pounds and the two drive to a hotel where the Pakistani team is dining. He then introduces the reporter to two Pakistani players — Umar Amin and Wahab Riaz.

(Continued on page 10)

The bowling of a no-ball when a bowler’s front foot passes entirely over the popping crease - is not likely to make any highlights.

But the different aspects of a game that are now available to be bet on, means it could be very financially significant for the betting world.

Spot-betting is a type of gambling on markets that are effectively “games within games”.

This could be things such as the runs scored in a specific 10-over period, the number of catches in an innings, the number of runs scored by a specific player or the number of no-balls in an innings.

Being able to accurately

predict even small parts of the game is potentially very lucrative.

In this form of betting, not only the bet itself but also the size of the stake won or lost are determined by events on the field.

For example, a bookmaker may make a forecast on the number of runs scored in an over and gamblers bet on whether that prediction is too high or low.

Their winnings or losses will correspond with the difference between the runs actually scored and the bookmakers’ forecast.

An unexpected run of either good or bad form can therefore win or lose fortunes.

THE RESULT Pakistan lost the fourth Test match by an innings and 225 runs — their record Test loss — with more than a day to spare here on Sunday for a 3-1 series defeat.

It’s mix & match at Betalbatim! aides, including Zilla Panchayat members, sarpanchas were present in strength. Dr Hubert Gomes, who has announced to contest the coming Assembly polls from Benaulim was a prominent figure on the dais.

So was Avertano Furtado, who is seen a probable candidate against PWD Minister Churchill Alemao in Navelim.

“There’s nothing political in my presence at Betalbatim today. The organisers as well as the people just invited me as a Guest of Honour and I accepted the invitation”, remarked BJP MLA Damu Naik.

Incidentally, Naik had shared the dais with MP Sardinha and CWC member Luizinho Faleiro at the football finals at Fatorda last Sunday.

The South Goa MP did not Mickky Pacheco’s partner Viola (left) seen with MP Francisco Sardinha, BJP MLA Damu Naik, ZP think anything wrong over his Member Nelly Rodrigues and others at the Betalbatim football finals on Sunday. Photo by Savio Dias presence at the Betalbatim fiHERALD REPORTER heavyweights under one ban- Naik, UGDP secretary general nals. “Pacheco belongs to the MARGAO, AUG 29 ner at the Fatorda grounds, a Anacleto Viegas and several NCP and I belong to the ConPolitics make strange bedfel- football final at former Tourism personalities, including prob- gress. The Benaulim MLA is lows, they say. But, welcome Minister, Mickky Pacheco’s able candidates against Con- supporting the government. to Salcete, where football home turf of Betalbatim or- gress leaders under one Besides, he is my friend. He has supported me for my elecbrings together disparate po- ganised in memory of Joao banner. litical groups together, almost Francisco Pacheco on Sunday Pacheco was conspicuous tions. If Pacheco wants anyevery Sunday. brought Congress MP Fran- by his absence as he is report- thing from me, I will always (Continued on page 10) If last Sunday saw Salcete’s cisco Sardinha, BJP MLA Damu edly in the USA, but his close

suspended based on Martins’ report.

Sources stated that Abhijit, who is now lodged back in prison, was non active member of the ploy. “He escaped with two others as he got a chance but he is not an active member,” a senior officer stated.

The inquiry has suggested that there should be two ring police security for this vital jail.

“In absence of police security, there should at least be private security manning it,” official said.

Also the structural fault, which is not considered during the construction of jail, has been pointed out in the report.

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, AUG 29

SADA SUB JAIL: The writing is on the wall

are still at large.

The initial inquiry in the incident was conducted by Deputy Collector Levinson Mar-

Britain’s News of the World newspaper reported it gave 150,000 pounds to a middle man in return for details about three “no balls” which later were bowled by Pakistan players during the fourth and final

WHY NO-BALLS WERE SIGNIFICANT?

Sada sub jail faulty: probe The inquiry into the Sada sub jail break has blamed the faulty structure of the jail and absence of proper police security. A confidential report submitted by the Additional Collector Prasanna Acharya to Home Department has said that there should be additional police security ring for this sub jail at Vasco.

The inquiry was instituted after three inmates – undertrial Abhijit Patil and convicts Hitler Fernandes and Seby Ferrao escaped by digging a hole to the cell toilet on August 4.

Acharya confirmed that he has submitted the report but refused to divulge any more details. While, Abhijit is arrested, two others who have earlier records of jail breaks

SPOT-FIXING ON NO-BALLS

tins while Acharya was assigned the task of conducting detailed inquiry into this incident. Four jail officers were

ON PAGE 2 Nigerian’s suicide bid tip of the iceberg

650 Indians on Interpol’s ‘wanted’ list PTI NEW DELHI, AUG 29

The number of Indians or people of Indian origin on Interpol’s ‘wanted’ list is on the rise with 656 of them getting red-alert notices in little over five years.

The global crime monitoring organisation has issued 656 redalert notices against Indians or people of Indian origin between January 2005 and May 2010, generally for crimes committed in countries other than India.

A highest of 150 red notices were issued last year while the number stood at 75 in the first five months of this year.

Many of these wanted people are involved in terrorism or serious crimes like rape of a minor.

A red alert or red corner notice obliges immigration and police forces of all member countries to arrest the person.

CAT: unique questions for each candidate PTI NEW DELHI, AUG 29

With an aim to bring about greater accuracy and international standards to the Common Admission Test (CAT), the agency organising the examination has planned to introduce different sets of question papers from this year.

“Each question paper will be a little different from the other, but its evaluation would be done on the same scale,” Managing Director of Prometric, Soumitra Roy said.

“Since each question paper will be different, it might be possible that some questions are tougher than others. We’ll keep this in mind while conducting evaluation,” informed Roy. He said the agency has made special arrangements to maintain accuracy and impartiality while testing stud e n t s i n t h e C AT 2 0 1 0 examination.

The CAT examination will be held between October 27 and November 24 in 33 cities in the country. The duration of the exam will be two-anda-half hours. The results will be declared on January 12, 2011.

Last year, the CAT exam was held online and had reported several technical glitches, raising doubts about the new method.

India denies Chinese taking away maps PTI NEW DELHI/BEIJING, AUG 29

India on Sunday sought to play down an incident in which some Chinese entered into the Indian pavilion at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai and took away brochures that contained map of India.

An External Affairs Ministry spokesman in New Delhi said, “there is no factual basis to this report” which stated that officers of China’s Public Security Bureau (PSB) marched into the Indian pavilion, taking away the maps showing Arunachal Pradesh as part of India, a fact that Beijing disputes.

“There has been no interference in the functioning of our pavilion at Shanghai Expo,” the spokesman said.

You are right sir! Arrest him for using those deadly drugs, I’m innocent -- only selling them.

OHERALDO

GOA

Pg 2

GOA, MONDAY, 30 AUGUST, 2010

civic forum Garbage rosy picture?

John Eric Gomes, Porvorim

The Adhoc Committee on Civic Administration made scathing comments on garbage control in Goa. It is reported that the government's reply paints a rosy picture confirming all landfill sites identified duly authorised by the Pollution Control Board, all necessary steps are taken and Rs 3540 crore grants are made to Municipal Authorities! Where are all these crores and the garbage control efforts going? Facts belie action taken/will alleviate the problem.

Entrance to Panjim city from Mandovi bridge and it's market garbage control systems have lead to unbearable stink around those areas. The above photograph shows the state of affairs at Anna Purna Nagar, opposite Dina Housing Complex at Porvorim under Salvador do Mundo Panchayat. A little further, near the water tank is the open dumping ground of garbage under Penha de Franca, wherein the footpath is full of growth and unwalkable.

The cage for plastic bottles near the sports stadium is full of garbage, same thing outside the P&T Housing Society. A walk along inner roads under Soccoro Panchayat shows similar scenes!

Under Court and public pressure, funds are being made available and today garbage is being cleared and dumped God knows where. Areas cleared go back to square one after a few days.

The second photograph stating ‘No Garbage Zone’ is a big joke. The Voice of Villagers (VOV) have demanded a white paper for a consolidated garbage management policy and plan instead of the present adhocism, wastage of funds and non accountability of the authorities. Municipalities, Panchayats with their residents and all people coming to Goa, should be made to comply for a practical and permanent garbage control solution.

Restore exterior pavements Dr Joe D’Souza, Panjim

Last week, I met the Mayor of Corporation of City of Panaji to assert that the reduction of the pavement width by over 18 inches would be detrimental to the cause of handicapped individuals as well as senior citizens of Goa. The width of the pavements has been reduced by the engineering or technical cell without vision or foresight, making walking in Panjim an arduous task.

I first rang the warning bells when pavements along 18 June Road and opposite Sanyog Restaurant were reduced year ago.

Now the Panjim garden or the Garcia de Orte in the heart of the city areas is sought to be reduced, giving absolutely no chance for the pedestrians to walk outside the garden precincts.

Throughout the world, the parking of vehicles within the city is discouraged and made very expensive. It is surprising that our Mayor has instead favoured the commercial bosses’ decision of reducing the pavement to facilitate parking of vehicles. For months, I have been pleading with Engineers of CCP and also soliciting help of Ms Patricia Pinto, Social Activist, to ensure Panjim gets broader pavements.

It is miserable that the civil work of CCP around the garden is not ecologically sustainable and environment friendly. The absence of usable pavement along the Garcia de Orte is the last straw in the coffin. The presence of trees outside is beneficial, but reducing the pavement allowing no scope to manoeuvre or push wheel chairs or allow senior citizens to pass by without entering the garden, is a criminal approach. The CCP should restore the exterior pavement to its original form, in the interest of the senior citizens and the handicapped and not the commercial bosses using and parking cars within this congested city of Panjim.

Sorry state of roads Cedric Da Costa, Margao

In Margao, the roads go from bad to worse during the monsoons.

There are a record number of ex CM’s who pass through Margao and currently, the CM represents Margao. Yet, it is the same road every year that is badly potholed during the monsoons.

The eastern bypass on the national highway leading to Karwar around the Maruthi temple at Vidyanagar is in a bad shape.

The recently filled potholes by PWD sadly survived a few showers and have gone bad. The road that leads to the KTC junction at Margao near the civil and criminal court goes bad every monsoon and no matter how many times it is repaired, it barely lasts a few days.

Will the concerned authorities take note of it before any lives are lost?

Nigerian’s suicide bid tip of the iceberg VIBHA VERMA PANJIM, AUG 29

The attempt to commit suicide by a Nigerian sentenced for raping an Australian lady is just a link in the spate of attempt to suicides tried by prisoners in Goan jails.

Obi Okafor, 28, had tried to kill himself by consuming tablets at Central jail at Aguada on Thursday morning, last week.

This is the second attempt by this prisoner, who is reportedly violent in the jail cell causing extreme nuisance to the authorities.

Weeks earlier, notorious Israeli native drug dealer David alias Dudu Driham and an Indian prisoner Ramesh Jadhav, a murder convict in 2003 undergoing life sentence, twice attempted suicide at Aguada Central jail.

Many of them are saved by timely treatment at primary health centres or at govern-

ment-run hospitals and later referred to Institute of Psychiatric and Human Behaviour. But there are a couple of them including Anand Kambli and Maruti Tirumalli, who also attempted suicides, which proved them fatal.

As on date, nearly 10-15 jail inmates have attempted suicides by either strangulating, or tying a cloth material around their neck and attaching to cell roof pipes or fan, or even by slitting wrists with sharp objects. Not just these, what the jail authorities have to face is the prisoners’ wrath - aggressive behaviour.

A beach shack waiter Kambli was sentenced for life in connection with the brutal murder of an aged British lady Denise Higgins at Margao in April 2007.

He was found dead in Aguada cell’s toilet on April 1, 2010.

He shared the prison cell with

Canacona MLA calls for equipping Disaster Management panel suitably HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, AUG 29

Canacona MLA Vijay Poi Khot has called for fixing up priority list beforehand by the Disaster Management Committee to suitably equip itself in the event of disasters that may befall in any form.

Poi Khot was speaking at the installation, introduction and orientation programme for village level disaster management committees, organized by Disaster Management Committee (South) and Deputy Collector Canacona at Canacona on Sunday.

Poi Khot called for five years tenure to the appointed village level disaster management committees and issuance of identity cards for better interaction with the affected people and the administration.

“It is essential that a proper priority list is prepared and kept ready, considering various types of disasters that can befall on the society. The disaster committee accordingly follows it to avoid unwanted delay and chaos

at the last moment. The October 2 flood in Canacona is the wakeup call not only for Canacona, but to the entire State,” he said.

Poinguinim Panch Satish Painginkar said inspections should be carried out by concerned authorities within the minimum period and not after 5-10 days of the incident, which gives rise to immediate relief claims by non-affected people.

Aspiring candidate for the forthcoming municipal elections, Sanjay Komarpant, said over Rs 15 crore were collected by various groups, organisations, NGOs on account of assisting floods rehabilitation works, but only Rs 4.43 crore reached the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

There were also calls to find the reason of October 2 floods, some asked to upgrade the sick Community Health Centre at Chaudi to handle any future disasters, which may compel hospitalization of affected people.

Few others called for forming local teams at village level committee and provide suitable first

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, AUG 29

Shyam Anchal, who fatally stabbed his former employee on August 28, has admitted killing Sidaram alias Siddesh Alure, Panjim police said on Sunday.

Inspector Sandesh Chodankar informed reporters that Shyam, 25, admitted killing Siddesh to seek revenge for loss of job as a manager at a Dona Paula guest house.

“He has been remanded to 14 day police custody for thorough interrogation. We are yet to discover the weapon of attack he used,” said the inspector.

Siddesh Alure, 24, a native of Maharashtra was found dead with his throat slit, in the said guest house where he worked as a room boy. The alleged accused had also attacked the victim’s newly wedded wife Rajeshree before escaping from the scene of offence.

The victim pair had come down to Goa after their marriage on May 16 and stayed in

Panjim police escort murder accused Shyam Anchal to lock up.

Photo by Rozario Estibeiro

the basement of the guest house.

Panjim police earlier in June arrested Shyam for allegedly sending lewd text messages to an employee’s wife. He was subsequently sacked from his job.

The alleged accused, according to police, believed that Alure was responsible for the loss of his job and hence decided to take revenge.

On Saturday, Shyam came to meet the couple at the guest

house, which eventually led to an argument between the men.

He first attacked Siddesh in the absence of Rajeshree and later herself, who raised an alarm for help.

Shyam was earlier booked for murder and robbery in 2004.

He attacked and killed an Electricity Department employee at Old Goa Vithal Naik, 36, then.

However, he was acquitted for want of evidence in a trial that lasted for three and half years.

Alert neighbours foil robbery at Dabolim

Pravin U Sardessai, Adpai

Stephen Dias, Dona Paula

Accused Aziz Mohammed Ali Dharwadkar and Kiran Hanumanta Rajput along with Vasco PSI Filomena Costa and other police personnel.

HERALD REPORTER VASCO, AUG 29

An attempt by two youth to rob a house at Alto-Dabolim, Vasco, was foiled by alert neighbours on Sunday afternoon, before they were handed over to Vasco police.

Vasco police provided the names of the accused as Aziz Mohammed Ali Dharwadkar (20) and Kiran Hanumanta Rajput

Vardhan said that the authorities have approved a counsellor who regularly visits the jail cells and interact with prisoners.

“They are made to understand that they need to be confident and strong. But inspite of this they don’t respond and go haywire, then we shift them to IPHB for treatment. They are mentally agitated who show abnormal behaviour,” he added.

IGP stated that the extra curricular activities are also offered to the prisoners to divert their mind to a fruitful option.

One of the senior jail officers said that these attempts are to pressurise jail authorities or at times a ploy to escape while in transit. “The executive staff should be strict. But what we see in the jails is otherwise. The prisoners dictate terms to the staff,” he said.

The officer, who refused to get named, said that many of

(25), both residents of Motidongar-Margao.

It is learnt that Aziz is a habitual offender and his name has figured in different police stations in the State, while Rajput had recently appeared for IRB police recruitment drive and had cleared his physical test and interview successfully.

According to Vasco police, the accused gained entry into the

house through the rear door and while they were busy collecting valuables, complainant Ramdas Bandekar, who is residing in the neighbourhood, raised an alarm.

Bandekar was asked to take care of the house by its owner Laxmi Umer who has gone to her native place in Kerala.

When Bandekar went to the house in the afternoon, he noticed the door open. However, when he entered the house, the accused tried to escape, but they could not make it far.

The youth, who were playing in the open space outside the house, nabbed Dharwadkar when he tried to flee from the site on his Bajaj Platinum motorcycle (GA-08-J-4887), while Rajput, who was waiting for his partner, landed in the hands of local panch Hemant Fadte and his friends.

Both the accused were handed over to Vasco police.

Vasco police arrested the accused under Sections 454, 380, 511 r/w 134 of IPC and PSI Filomena Costa is investigating.

It may be recalled that in the last 48 hours, burglars have made their presence felt in Vasco by robbing a flat and two commercial establishments.

the prisoners, precisely foreigners are drug addicts and non availability of narcotics turns them violent.

Speaking to a renowned psychiatrist, who deals with related cases, told Herald that deprivation of freedom leads to stress.

“Effects of stress cannot be predicted…living organisms is put to intense stress and later if it continues, it develops into posttraumatic stress disorder (PSTD),” said the psychiatrist, wishing anonymity.

Besides, other conditions such as ‘adjustment disorder’ and ‘depression’, the psychiatrist said, is as a result of imprisonment. Moreover, if jail inmates are tortured, PSTD is faster.

“Even if a normal person is involuntarily detained or admitted in a psychiatric department for a long time, they tend to develop this disorder,” informed the doctor.

HERALD REPORTER VASCO, AUG 29

A 56-year-old employee of Urban Health Centre, Vasco died in a hit and run accident at Matvem-Dabolim on Sunday at about 12 am.

According to Vasco Police, Vinayak S Kerkar, who was working as UDC at Vasco Urban Health Centre, was grievously injured in the accident. He was rushed to Chicalim Cottage Hospital, where he was declared dead by doctors.

Kerkar was found along with his Bajaj Chetak motorcycle (GA-02-F -8144) on the road and police suspect that it must be a hit-and-run case. Vasco Police have registered a case and are investigating.

Sanguem councillors protest against partiality

SMC Chairperson Harsha D Sambhari and Councillors Sanjay Raikar, Zarina Bi, Sandesh Kossambe and Agnelo Da Costa wear black gowns in front of Sanguem Municipal Council as a mark of protest.

Photo by Alfred Fernandes HERALD CORRESPONDENT SANGUEM, AUG 29

Four-wheeler vehicles taking turns on the main road is a common feature at many locations in Ponda, including the most sensitive ones. During the process, nobody cares for the inconvenience caused to public at large, ultimately causing great problems for fellow travellers and pedestrians alike.

During peak hours, the situation goes out of control and even a single vehicle taking turn on the busy road is sufficient enough to create congestion and hardships to innocent travellers.

In the interest of Aam admi, it is absolutely necessary that such an undesirable practice ends on a permanent basis. The RTO authorities as also the traffic cell of Goa police need to initiate strict action in cases like those of above, so that hardships to public come to a standstill.

Not a single transport vehicle in CCP is in good shape, except of the Mayor. We can see them all rusty vehicles plying in the streets of Panjim, collecting garbage in every nook and corner in a pathetic condition. Recently, we noticed a dress code for their workers as they look shinning, but the CCP trucks are in deplorable condition and in very bad shape. The government should think of increasing the budget quota to look after these vehicles and also purchase new vehicles so that the garbage collection is not affected. The City of Panjim is already stinking with foul smell everywhere and the mosquitoes are breading all over the place due to the lack of cleanliness. It is high time that the Commissioner of City of Panjim takes at least an initiative of repairing and painting their vehicles.

aid and rescue tips to the members.

Deputy Collector Deepak Dessai informed that a State owned 25-member disaster rescue team is in the pipeline.

“Presently, we had to bring such a team from Pune. Besides, NUSI Maritime Academy has been approached to provide training and expertise to the team and also to the local volunteers. The file is in law department,” informed Dessai.

Sandesh Prabhudessai, an editor with a local channel, speaking as a guest speaker explained reasons behind the October 2 floods, the details he reportedly collected from experts like NIO Scientist Dr Shetye, etc.

“It is also essential that suitable measures are ensured on issues like deforestation, desiltation of rivers, erection of protection walls, identification of flood-prone areas, shifting of flood-prone houses to safer locations, etc, to avoid repetition of October 2 floods,” said Prabhudessai.

Murder accused admits crime

Avoid turns on road

Pathetic CCP vehicles

notorious UK based gangster Ajay Kaushal who was also found dead in his prison cell on March 23. Jail authorities are still investigating into the custodial death of Kaushal, who was tagged as most wanted criminal in UK and was loitering in Indian jail for several months waiting deportation.

A burly UK guy himself had planned suicide and furiously attacked jail staff twice. The fugitive had launched hunger strike since March 19, four days before he died while being transported to Goa Medical College and Hospital on March 23 night.

Inspector General of Prisons Mihir Varshan claims that this ‘suicidal tendencies’ are not unique in Goan jails. “These instances are noticed all over India. When these people become prisoners they are confined to four walls and hence mentally disturbed,” he said.

Health centre worker killed in hit-n-run

Five councillors of Sanguem Municipal Council (SMC) comprising Chairperson Harsha Dilesh Sambhari and councillors Sanjay Raikar, Zarina Bi, Agenlo Da Costa and Sandesh Kossambe protested in front of SMC on August 29 by wearing black gowns.

The protest was in the wake of Director of Municipal Administration (DMA) order dated August 20, where the DMA has approved and sanctioned work projects allegedly in five selected wards by ignoring the remaining five.

The five wards where the work projects sanctioned are represented by SMC Vice Chairperson Caitano Fernandes, Queroz Cruz, Romualdo Fernandes, Agnela Da’Costa and Suryadatt Naik with an amount of Rs 46,72,113 being sanctioned for the projects.

Ward wise allocation of the f u n d s a r e Wa r d N o 1 ( R s 9,73,168), Ward No 3 (Rs 11,59,716), Ward No 5 (Rs 16,64,648), Ward No 7 (Rs 5,34,168) and Ward No 10 (Rs 3,76,413).

The protestors told reporters that till date, Minister for Urban Development Joaquim Alemao has not discriminated while allocating work projects in the municipality. Irrespective of the councillors heading the ward, funds were sanctioned for the projects as per the list forwarded by the council.

“In the instant case, the three lists forwarded by the Municipal Council are allegedly ignored by the DMA,” claimed the protestors.

“A fourth list is prepared allegedly making a selection of work projects in the five wards and ignoring others,” the protestors alleged.

SMC Chairperson Harsha D Sambhari while reposing full faith in Alemao claimed that the minister must have been misguided by some councillors and men in his office in getting the present sanction order.

“Alemao will never act in a partial manner,” echoed Agnelo Da Costa and Sanjay Raikar.

Incidentally, the protestors are all the more sore over the recent sanction order as the elections are round the corner.

“When the project work commences in other wards, our voters will be disillusioned and we will have no answer to give them when we go to their houses to seek votes,” claimed Agnelo Da Costa.

He urged Alemao to consider the list forwarded by SMC and sanction work projects in the remaining five wards, as otherwise grave injustice will be done for the voters in their wards.

Use RTI info judiciously, urges commissioner HERALD CORRESPONDENT MERCES, AUG 29

Stating that applicants should not stop at using the Right to Information Act just to obtain information, Commissioner of Goa State Information Commission (GSIC) Afonso Araujo informed that the information obtained should be judiciously used to redress grievances.

Afonso was speaking at an awareness programme on Right to Information Act, 2005, organised by St Cruz Free Legal Aid Cell of V M Salgaocar College of Law in association with Santa Cruz Education and Action Movement (SCREAM) at Santa Cruz School Hall on Sunday.

Commending the St Cruz Free Legal Aid Cell and SCREAM for their role in creating awareness on RTI Act, Afonso said a practical awareness on the Act would go a long way in guiding the people in putting it to proper use.

Enlightening the gathering further on RTI Act, Afonso said it can be summed up in three groups, how to get information, where and in which cases information cannot be given and the consequences if the information is not given.

Elaborating the concept of RTI, Afonso said every government department has a Public Information Officer (PIO), who is duty bound to provide the necessary information even if he has to get any information from other departments.

“Just because some information has to be obtained from other departments, the PIO cannot tell the applicant to approach that department,” he added.

Stating that the maximum time frame for complying under the Act is 30 days, Afonso said that in urgent cases, the information has to be provided within 48 hours.

Afonso also made the people aware of the various situations where information cannot be given. Citing some examples, he said the PIO can refuse to provide info if it involves a person’s private life; if the info concerns the integrity and security of the nation; if it involves correspondence from foreign countries; if the info involves crime where the case is under investigation; if info of a private party that does not concern the public; if it affects copyright of a business, etc.

“If the PIO deliberately or intentionally doesn’t give information or gives wrong info, then he can be penalised under the RTI Act,” Afonso informed, but added “for that to happen, the applicant should make a written complaint to the State Information Commission, which will accordingly penalise the PIO or recommend further action.”

Later, Adv Sanford Facho interacted with the public and answered their queries on the RTI Act. He also informed that under the Act, two types of applications can be made viz general application and application where personal liberty is at stake.

Sanford explained the process that needs to be followed while applying for information under both the circumstances.

Vishwanath of St Cruz Free Legal Aid Cell also spoke on the occasion and explained in brief about their objectives.

He also threw light on the history of the RTI Act and stated that it is currently in force in 70 countries. Long before the Central Act came into force (on October 12, 2005), Goa implemented the same in 1997, he said.

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Dhargalim likely to lose privileged status HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, AUG 28

Though Dhargalim panchayat was able to draw huge grant-in-aid during last three years by virtue of being part of the constituency of Panchayat Minister Babu Azgaonkar, it is unlikely to enjoy similar privilege in the future.

With complaints of weaker panchayats growing louder about unequal distribution of grant-in-aid, some months back the department of panchayat

took the decision to allot at least one work annually to each qualifying weaker panchayat.

In the last few years, a precedent has been set that those panchayats falling in the constituency of the panchayat minister received larger grant-in-aid than weaker panchayats in other constituencies. Consequently, more desirable and needy panchayats were left out as their share of grant got diverted to those favoured by the minister.

Take for instance, Dhargalim panchayats – in 2007-2008 it received grant-in-aid of Rs 12.29 crore, in 2008-2009 it got Rs 1.71 crore and in 2009-2010 Rs 7.31 crore.

There are 189 panchayats in the State and most come under the bracket of weaker panchayats but none got grant-in-aid as high as Dhargalim panchayat in the last three years.

“We have decided that at least one work would be given to

Fish meal plant at Cutbona jetty faces stiff opposition

A gram sabha member makes a forceful point against the fish meal plant.

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, AUG 29

Fisheries department’s ambitious project to set up a fish meal plant at the Cutbona jetty was opposed tooth and nail by villagers of Velim and Ambelim on Sunday, with agitated villagers called for a dharna on September 1 in protest against the project.

While Velim villagers at the Sunday gram Sabha demanded scrapping of the land acquisition notification to acquire land admeasuring 30,000 sq mts, neighbouring Ambelim village offered their full support to the villagers of Velim in their battle against the proposed fish meal.

After much discussion, the Veilm gram Sabha members resolved to hold a day long dharna outside the Panchayat office in protest against the failure by the Fisheries director and the district Collector to meet the villagers and explain the project as scheduled.

The members demanded the presence of the Local MLA and Water resources Minister, Filipe Neri Rodrigues, along with the fisheries director and the collector on the day of the dharna to explain the fish meal project to the villagers.

They charged the fisheries

Goa Su-Raj backs Pilerne citizens on voter ID issue

department for pushing the fish meal plant without transparency and demanded scrapping of the land acquisition proceedings.

“We have decided to take out a morcha and hold a dharna on September 1 at 10 am against the fish meal plant proposed at Cutbona”, informed gram Sabha member Melson Luis.

Lambasting the Fisheries Director for ignoring the grievances of the village by refusing to come and hearing the people on the controversial project, Luis said the villagers have vowed to oppose the project as the fish meal plant is not just an environmental problem, but will cause an ecological disaster to the entire area. “The fisheries department had earlier acquired 90,000 square meters at the Cutbona jetty and now they want to acquire additional 30,000 square meters of khazan land for the fish meal plant”, Luis said.

Demanding why the Fisheries Minister Joaquim Alemao is imposing the fish meal plant on the villagers, gram Sabha members suggested to the fisheries Minister to take the project to his home village of Varca or to his Cuncolim constituency.

Sarpanch Reny Caeiro told

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

newsmen after the gram Sabha meeting that the members have unanimously resolved to opposed the fish meal plant at the Cutbona jetty and to hold a dharna on September 1 to to protest against the land acquisition process.

She stated that the villagers on August 15 had resolved to oppose the project tooth and nail on grounds that the fish meal plant at Cutbona jetty will result in environmental and ecological damage to the area, besides posing health hazard to the villagers.

“We had met the Fisheries Minister, Joaquim Alemao and made a strong case to sc Meanwhile, the gram Sabha meeting of the neighbouring village of Ambelim also discussed the proposed fish meal plant at Cutbona jetty.

After much discussion on the project, the gram sabha members resolved to offer all out support to Velim villagers fighting against the project.

Sarpanch Cruz Silva told newsmen after the meeting that Ambelim Panchayat had asked for information from the Fisheries department on the fish meal project, but lamented that nothing was heard from the department till date.

each weaker panchayat,” said Menino D’Souza, Director of Department of Panchayat.

Weaker panchayats are those whose annual income is less than Rs 15 lakh and are entitled to receive grant-in-aid from the department of panchayat.

Also, grant released to panchayats under Finance Commission (FC) will be allotted in equal proportion. All panchayats weaker or otherwise are entitled to receive grant under Finance

Panchayat by-polls peaceful

AMRESH PARAB MARCEL, AUG 29

The by-election for the two seats in two panchayats in Ponda taluka passed off peacefully without any untoward incident.

Vo t i n g i n Wa rd N o 2 i n T i v e re m - O rg a o Pa n c h a y a t recorded 81.60 per cent, while in Ward No 3 in Veling-PriolCuncolim Panchayat, the voting was 59 per cent.

It may be recalled that Gokuldas Naik of Ward No 2 from Tiverem-Orgao Panchayat had resigned after he was elected to North Goa Zilla Panchayat from Tiverem seat, while Shivdas Gaude of Ward No 3 from Veling-Priol-Cuncolim Panchayat got elected from Veling ZP seat.

In Tiverem-Orgao Panchayat, out of 462, 372 votes were polled (59%), while in Veling-PriolCuncolim, 463 votes were polled out of the 780.

In Tiverem-Orgao, three candidates in the fray are Jayesh Naik, Suresh Naik and Uvraj Naik.

In Veling-Priol, there are four in the fray. They are Chedo Vasant Gaude, Dasu Narayan Gaude, Mangaldas Gaude and M Khedekar. Counting will be held on Monday at 8 am.

OLD GOA CORRESPONDENT ADDS: The bye-election to Ward No 1 in St Estevam Panchayat passed off peacefully.

The seat had fallen vacant after former panch Seema Rohidas Narvekar was disqualified by the High Court in regard to the violation of Panchayat Raj Act three months ago.

Election to Ward No 1, which has been reser ved for OBC women, was held at the Government Primary School at AkhadaSt Estevam polling booth.

The Ward No 1 is having a straight fight between Manisha Shushant Volvoikar and Sanjeeta Santosh Tari.

According to reports, by afternoon, about 30 per cent voting was recorded at the lone booth in Akhada-St Estevam.

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat’s recent announcement to consider a separate district for Ponda taluka and nearby areas has evoked mixed reactions in the taluka.

Claiming that a small state like Goa did not need three districts, former minister Dr Kashinath Jalmi felt that a third district would put further financial burden on the exchequer.

“We already have two districts in the north and south. Goa is a small state and it would not be advisable to have a third district,” said Dr Jalmi.

“It will only increase the financial burden on the exchequer. We would need more manpower and hence more government jobs, a new building for the office of the collector and many other expenses.”

“I don’t think the formation of a new district would benefit people in an around Ponda taluka,” he added.

Former Ponda mayor and sitting councillor, Sanjay Naik, has, however, welcomed the move to create a new district, claiming that it would benefit people and promote development of the region.

“It will indeed help the populace to a great extent and will

Goan laws heavily loaded against minorities: Radharao

Selma Carvalho at the launch of her book “Into the Diaspora Wilderness” at the Ravindra Bhavan.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, AUG 29

Asserting that Goans are not denationalized but are forced to seek employment oversees for want of opportunities in the State, Adv Radharao Gracias has said that Goan laws are heavily loaded against the Catholic community and urged the government to enact laws which would help protect Goan NRI community from land sharks.

“We are not denationalized.

We are forced to run away from the state for employment. If you look at the statistics tabled in the House in the just concluded session, of the 11,000-odd government jobs given during the three-years of Congress rule, only 700 jobs were given to the minorities in Goa, even though Catholics and Muslims comprise 40 per cent of Goan population,” Gracias said, while speaking at the launch of Selma Carvalho’s book “Into the Diaspora Wilderness” at the Ravindra Bhavan here on Sunday.

“Those who are in power

tend to accommodate their own people and the minorities are put on the fringe. Where will our people go when you don’t give them jobs? They are forced to run away and then they are labelled as denationalized,” Gracias said, adding “We are discriminated by the Congress, which is voted to power by the Catholic community.”

Saying that the existing laws in Goa are of not much help to the Catholic community, Adv Radharao said the laws should take in account the needs of the people who leave the State for employment. “The laws are against the Catholic community.

There should be an amendment to the Tenancy Act to protect the properties of Goans staying abroad,” he added.

The former Legislator said the Law Commission should seriously consider recommending a Legislation to regularize constructions and protect purchasers from the builders.

“There is no law to protect Goans from land sharks. These

sharks are thriving on the hard earned money of Goans working abroad,” he said Commenting on the book, critic Augusto Pinto said he believed that Goans through emigration have become denationalized. “Literally, so many of them are not Indian nationals as they are nationals of Canada, America, Britain and have no clue of what India is like,” he said, adding “so what Portuguese could not do, emigration has done by taking Goan people away from India and taking them to other countries”.

Author Selma Carvalho said the book is basically a celebration of Goans and their contributions to the country they live in and for Goa. “It is a sort of history of their lives, starting from East Africa, Macau, UK and America. The history is told in a story fashion.

The book also delves into the factors that has compelled Goans to leave the State and about our economy and politics,” she added.

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, AUG 29

A 35-year old labourer from Orissa died after he came crashing down at the Ravindra Bhavan project site here on Sunday.

The labourer Kitu Singh was found dead and police believe that the labourer fell from the building last night.

A case of unnatural death has been registered by the Margao police. Further investigations are on.

Mixed reaction to new district proposal

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARCEL, AUG 29

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, AUG 29

The Goa Su-Raj Party has announced its solidarity to Pilerne Citizens Forum led by Adv Yatish Naik and others demanding the outright scrapping of the existing Photo Electoral Roll so that a new, more honest, proper and consistent electoral roll may be prepared for this State to cull the bogus voters and/or migrants enlisted in the electoral roll at the behest of influential politicians and/or dishonest enrolling officers.

General Secretary of the party Floriano Lobo, in a press note issued here, said that his party has written to the CEO, Altinho, Panjim that a delegation of the party executive members wanted to meet with the visiting Chief Election Commissioner, who will be in Goa on August 30 and 31.

The party wants to bring to the notice of the CEC the different procedures followed by every mamlatdar in Goa when the procedure to be followed to enrol /transfer/delete voters into/from the electoral roll is uniform and is prescribed in the guidelines set by the CEC. He said that his party wants to impress upon the CEC that for far too long, due to the hogwash electoral enlisting/deleting procedures followed by the CEO Goa through various mamlatdars, Goans are getting the government they do not deserve.

Also, he said, his party wants to ask the CEC as to how a person who holds the EPIC can be deleted from the electoral roll for reasons of not being present at the declared place of residence when the electoral officers/enumerators visit the place.

Lobo said there are set procedures to be followed to ascertain whether the person's name should be deleted or not.

Commission. There has been huge increase in grant released under the 13 Finance Commission for 2010-2015.

The State is set to receive Rs 92. 2 crore for this period with basic grant to the tune of Rs 59 crore and Rs 31.2 crore as performance grant.

The department has already received first instalment of Rs 4.2 crore this years and it has been released to panchayats and zilla panchayats.

Labourer falls to death

Doctors urged to be compassionate HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, AUG 29

Even as technical skill is important, compassionate attitude is another vital aspect needed in the medical field, eminent neurosurgeon Dr S N Bhagwati said.

The suggestion came during a brainstorming session organized by Goa Peoples’ Forum, Indian Medical Association and Geno Pharmaceuticals at Goa State Museum Auditorium on Sunday.

The lecture attended by medical students and activists including Satish Sonak, Subodh Kerkar and others also discussed on treatment and attention paid to a patient at Government and private hospitals. Dr Bhagwati, expressed apprehensions that Government and municipal hospitals are often overloaded with work and therefore they are unable to concentrate and fail to give enough time to listen to their patients.

The renowned neurosurgeon, who has held several higher positions at various recognised hospitals said that ‘brain needs to be cultivated and cultured being a complex organ.’ The seminar also suggested that yoga, specifically ‘pranayam’ is important for breathing helps circulate oxygen to brain and other parts of the body, as well.

save time travelling to North Goa Collectorate in Panjim. Development wise, regions coming under third district will also benefit. Being a third district, more funds will be available for developmental activities,” said Naik.

Shiv Sena has also welcomed the idea for having third district in Ponda. North Goa Shiv Sena unit chief Damu Naik said: “We are supporting the idea for having the third district, as it will help people and administrative work for the people will easy.”

Adv Narendra Savoikar said though the idea is good, but it has to come into force.

“No doubt having a third district will benefit people, but it has to come into practice. Just making announcements is of no use, unless and until it comes into effect. Ponda taluka has a unique identity and also a culture rich area, having a third district will surely help.”

Sources in district administration said once the third district is announced, then a separate building will be required. The present government administrative building at TiskPonda won’t suffice.

“Additional staff will have to be recruited. The third district could have two more talukas included and it will be up to the government to decide which areas should be included in the new district. Having a third district will also help in fund allocation. Works pertaining to land conversions, licences, allotment of government land and many other works will be done in one place if third district comes into force,” said sources.

Girl escapes molestation bid HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, AUG 29

A minor girl escaped molestation bid at Saligao-Pilerne late Saturday evening.

According to sources, the incident occurred when the girl along with her uncle was waiting at an LPG agency godown to collect a refill at Saligao-Pilerne.

Though the uncle-niece duo reached the godwon at 3.30 pm, they waited in vain till 8 pm, as the agency personnel did not turn up to release the refill till then.

As the pair was waiting at the godwon, four Indian tourists, in a taxi, stopped by to make some inquiries with the girl’s uncle, at around 8 pm.

While the girl’s uncle was answering queries from one tourist, another grabbed the girl and tried to pull her in.

Luckily, a truck happened to pass by the route then; fearing for their lives, the tourists, who had their number plate removed, made good their escape.

The uncle-niece duo refused to file a police complaint since they have to come to the same place for refill of gas cylinder.

However, the girl’s uncle blamed the gas agency for the molestation bid.

“It’s not just today, everyday is the same story. We are asked to be at the godown for delivery of cylinder at 3.30 pm and they don’t turn up till 7.30 pm or late. Nobody seems to be bothered to do anything about it,” said a parent.

Another villager, who was stranded from 4 pm onwards for a gas cylinder, said: “This is the fourth time and today also I have to go back without the refill.”

“The owner should at least fix a particular time to open the godown so that we don’t have to wait and spend our entire day as though we have no other work to do,” said the villager.

“This is a waste of time and money. The gas agency is supposed to give us home delivery, but they do not bother to give so,” said a villager.

Some villagers who had come for the refill of gas cylinders were seen stranded at the godown site despite the heavy rains.

However, efforts to contact the gas agency owner proved futile.

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S H O RT TA K E S Lygia bags award

PANJIM(HND): Lygia de Loyolla Furtado, Secondary Teacher, St Mary’s High School, Chinchinim, has been conferred ‘Best Teacher Award’ for the year 2010-2011 by the people of Chinchinim Trust.

She receives the Constance D’Costa Memorial awards by Lelly D’Costa and family and Rajesh Vilda Timblo, Prof C A Gomes Memorial Award by Esemeraldo Gomes and family and another by Nelson/Leena, Fideles/Aruna Pereira. She receives citations and cash of Rs 6,300 in recognition of her dedicated services to the students and village of Chinchinim, says a press release.

Bepari elected chief

Newly appointed Vasco Block Congress President Rehana Ismail Bepari congratulated by St Cruz MLA Victoria Fernandes.

VASCO(HR): Rehana Ismail Bepari was appointed president of Vasco Block Mahila Congress Committee by Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress President Monica Noronha Dias.

In the recently held Kranti Din commemoration function at Janta Vachanalay Hall, Vasco, St. Cruz MLA Victoria Fernandes handed over the appointment letter to Bepari.

Dias asked Bepari to submit the names of other office bearers of Mahila Congress members and members should be selected from various section of the society.

However, Bepari pledged that she would work to strengthen the organization in Vasco and mobilise more women workers in the party. She expressed her gratitude for Dias for appointing her as president and giving her an opportunity to work for the party.

Legal literacy camp

Adv Pavitra Naik addresses the students at Holy Cross Institute, Quepem.

Photo by Alfred Fernandes

SANGUEM(HC): The Quepem Taluka Legal Services Committee in association with South Goa Legal Services Committee recently conducted a legal literacy Camp for the benefit of school students at Holy Cross Institute, Quepem.

The camp was attended by the high school students and was conducted by senior Adv Vallabh Dessai, who spoke on persons entitled for legal aid. Adv Prakash Gauns Dessai guided the students on the laws pertaining to environment and Adv Pavitra Naik gave a gist on health and care.

School Headmaster Dr Uday Gaonkar compered the programme, while Rebecca D’Costa co-ordinated the programme.

Education camp organised

SANGUEM(HC): The Central Board of Education recently organized a two-day camp at Buter and Satpal Sancorda.

The camp was conducted by the officer attached to Central Board of Education Mohan Chand Ser. During the course of the two days long camp, talks and discussions were held on various topics, which included health, culture, nutrition and AIDS. The participants were also guided on topics relating to ‘How to educate Children’.

ZP member Rashmi R Lambor was the chief guest for the concluding function. Speaking at the valedictory function, Lambor complimented the Central Board of Education for conducting the programme in remote villages. “The villagers residing in the hinterland are in need of guidance relating to education, health and care. The two-day programme conducted in the village will be of immense help to the villagers,” she added. Participation certificates were presented to all the participants, besides a remuneration of Rs 200 each per participant.

Chayya Kamat proposed the vote of thanks.

Foundation Day held

CURCHOREM(HC): Government College of Arts & Commerce, Quepem, Associate Professor Bharati Parab said any institution grows due to strong drive of the members, an efficient principal who executes the ideas and dedicated teachers of the educational institution. Parab was the chief guest on the occasion of 24th Foundation Day of Smt C T Naik Higher Secondary School, Curchorem. On the occasion, Shri Satyanarayana Pooja was performed by Mr and Mrs Bhasksr Vast.

A competition on ‘Wealth out of Waste’ was also organized on the occasion. Akshay Naik of Std XI (MREEDA) bagged the first prize, while Karishma Naik of XII Arts and Ganadish Shelkar were awarded second and third prizes respectively. Arvind Dessai, Medini Kanekar and Ashwini Naik were the judges for the competition. Principal Vaman Bhandri welcomed the gathering and expressed his views on development of an institution.

Manisha Upadhye compered the programme, while Pralhad Dessai proposed the vote of thanks.

Function at Zantye college

MAYEM(HC): Sahitya Academy award winner Hema Nayak has advised the youth not to run after jobs and on the contrary called upon them to support agriculture and other traditional occupations. She was addressing the students of Narayan Zantye College Bicholim in one of its function held recently.

Arpita Gore, Judy D’Souza, Prof Pravin Sawant and assistant Prof Rajesh Amonkar also spoke on the occasion.

The needy students were distributed free books from the College library on the occasion. Saili Naik compered the function, while NSS Officer Paresh Lingudkar proposed the vote of thanks.

NCP condemns ragging incident at GMC

Nationalist Congress Party officials addressing the media at Mapusa.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, AUG 29

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Goa, has condemned the recent ragging incident that took place in Goa Medical College hostel and has demanded that government should take stern action against the culprits.

Addressing press conference at Mapusa, NCP Spokesperson Trajan D’Mello said the ragging case which came to the notice of GMC Management and police is only tip of iceberg.

“Ragging is taking place in some colleges and also in schools above primary level.

Government should therefore advise the managements of all the colleges and schools that they should not treat ragging as a child’s play,” stated D’Mello.

“Ragging creates severe psychological effect on the minds of the victims and sometimes it drives the student even to the extent of committing suicide and as such managements

Vanamahotsava celebrated at Dharbandora HERALD CORRESPONDENT SANGUEM, AUG 29

Jaycees of Usgao Tisk celebrated Vanamahotsava at Government Primary School, BhumikanagarDharbandora.

Darbandora ZP member Rashmi Rajan Lambor, who was the chief guest for the function, apprised the students of the need to plant trees.

“Sanguem region and neighbouring areas are devastated by mining activities and a large number of trees are cut by the mining companies in its pursuit for iron ore. To protect our environment and natural surrounding, we need to plant more and more trees,” said Lambor.

Other present on the occasion were Dharbandora Sarpanch Shamu Velingkar, PTA President Dina Naik, Shodan Naik and Jaycees President Rupesh Kudalkar.

The function ended with a vote of thanks by Jaycees President Ruppesh Kudalkar.

Vanamahotsava was also celebrated at Our Lady of Piety High School, Collem-Sanguem, by distributing saplings to the school students and the locals.

Over 50 saplings were distributed by ZP member Rashmi R Lambor at the function held in the school premises.

The saplings distributed were mostly fruit-bearing trees and ornamental plants. School Headmaster Fr Pio Furtado was also present on the occasion and thanked the ZP member for organizing the tree plantation drive in the school.

should view ragging cases seriously and take deterrent action,” added D’Mello.

He further informed that NCP has received several complaints from the parents stating that the managements of the schools are taking ragging issue lightly to safeguard the image of their institution.

“We have also received information from reliable sources that top bureaucrats are trying to influence the course of action to be taken against the culprits involved in the ragging incident that took place in GMC hostel,” claimed D’Mello.

“NCP desires that the government should not bow down before the pressures of the top bureaucrats and take stern action against the culprits to prevent recurrence of such incidents,” said D’Mello.

NCP State Vice President Ulhas Naik said NCP is getting good support from the people in Bardez taluka and hence to make

Photo by Anil Shankhwalker

roots of the party stronger, they have decided to hold a convention at Mapusa on September 5.

“The state minister for urban development, Government of Maharashtra, has been consented to be the chief guest for the convention. General Secretary and Spokesperson, Maharashtra, and Observer, Goa, Prakash Binsale will be the guest of honour,” said Naik.

Naik further said if the coalition with Congress party continues in Goa, NCP will field their candidates in four constituencies – Mapusa, Siolim, Saligao and Tivim.

“NCP is getting good support from the people of Porvorim and hence the party has decided to stake its claim on the newly formed Porvorim Constituency,” added Naik.

NCP senior Vice President Surendra Sirsat and General Secretaries Venkatesh Prabhu Moni and Rajan Ghate were also present at the press conference.

Legal Aid Clinic opened at Dharbandora VP

upcOming EvEnTS

HERALD CORRESPONDENT SANGUEM, AUG 29

PANJIM(HND): Lions Club of Loutolim will be organizing a Junior Orator contest for the late Avertano Furtado rolling trophy and other cash prizes on September 4 at Margao Municipal Hall. The competition is open to the students of all schools of Goa and they have to select any three topics from the following: Grading System: What are the benefits for the students, Tourism: How can we make it good for us, Indian First: How to fight forces of regional parochialism and Time Management: Why is it necessary.

Prizes: 1st prize Rs 10000 and late Avertano Furtado rolling trophy, 2nd Rs 5000, 3rd Rs 2000, consolation prize of Rs 1000 (courtesy Xavier Furtado – MD, Holiday Inn). Each participant will have to speak for 5 minutes.

For details contact Lion Jeevandas Borkar on 9552002878 or Lion Celso Dias on 9860606994 or Lion Antonio Quadros on 9923029197 or any member of the Club.

A free Legal Aid Clinic was recently opened at Dharbandora Panchayat in Sanguem taluka.

Adv Pandurang Parab inaugurated the Free Legal Aid Clinic in the presence of Sarpanch Shamu Velingkar, Adv Roopa Prabhudessai and Adv Udaynath Bicholkar.

The Clinic will remain open on fourth Saturday of every month for an hour from 9 am to 10 am, where free legal advice and due assistance will be given to the villagers on legal aspects and filing of various applications.

The Clinic is opened on the guidelines issued by the South Goa Legal Services Authority in association with Sanguem Taluka Legal Services Committee.

On the occasion, a Legal Literacy Camp was also conducted in the village. The Camp was presided by Adv Pandurang Parab and was attended by a large number of villagers.

The camp was addressed by Adv Udaynath Bicholkar, who guided the locals on the law pertaining to ‘Right to Information Act’ and various information that the villagers could sought under the Act. Adv Roopa Prabhudessai spoke on ‘Protection of Women and Children in need’, while Adv Parab gave an account of categories of people entitled to avail free legal aid to defend and file their cases before any courts in the State.

Earlier, Village Sarpanch Shamu Velingkar welcomed the people and gave introductory speech, while Deputy Sarpanch Sharmila Gaonkar proposed the vote of thanks.

‘Corporal punishment to school children banned’ HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, AUG 29

Child activist Dr Nishta Desai said corporal punishment to school children is banned as per Goa Children’s Act 2003 and if students are humiliated in classrooms or mentally abused by the teachers, then parents can lodge complaint with State Commission for Children, education department or non-governmental organizations.

Dr Desai was speaking as the keynote speaker at the MicroLegal Literacy Camp organized

by Taluka Legal Services Committee, Bardez, and District Legal Services Authority, North Goa, in association with Salgaonkar College of Law, Panjim at Holy Family High School, Porvorim.

“Under Central Act, the child sexual abuse has been treated as a Hazardous Act. There are two types of sexual abuse, severe abuse and grave sexual abuse. Punishment of two years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh can be imposed on the person committing sexual abuse,” said Dr Desai.

“In case of grave sexual abuse such as rape, etc, the convict can be imprisoned for 10 years with fine of Rs 2 lakh,” said Dr Desai.

Dr Desai further stated that every student is entitled for health card. Government doctors are supposed to visit the schools and carr y out the check up of the students

Child Activist Dr Nishta Desai addresses the gathering at Porvorim.

Photo by Anil Shankhwalker

mous complaint can be lodged with Goa State Commission.

There are many good provisions in Goa Children’s Act, but the same are not being implemented rigidly,” voiced Dr Desai.

Senior Advocate P Banaulikar spoke on the Right to Information Act. He said under this Act, any citizen can obtain information from any government department or the panchayats on any matter by making a simple application on a paper affixing a court fee stamp of Rs 10.

“The concerned authority is supposed to provide the information to the applicant within 30 days and if not provided, the applicant can file a complaint with higher authorities,” said Banaulikar.

Neha Shirodkar compered the function and also proposed the vote of thanks.

‘Farming community should emulate Chorao Club’

Patnekar: Retain teacher-disciple tradition

Chorao Farmers Club inaugurated its office in Chodan, recently. With this, the Club became the first Farmers Club in Goa to have its own office premises which has been possible because of funding from The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI - WRC) and the Toyota Foundation.

The office was inaugurated

by Satish Tendulkar, Director of Agriculture, Dr NP Singh, Director of ICAR and Arun Sandilya, GM NABARD Goa, and several other members of respective departments.

According to Arun Sandilya, “ The Chorao example is a good model for the other farmers clubs in Goa, many of which are either not functioning regularly, or are only recently formed”. The Club, which has introduced Red Kernel Rice and Chorao Mancurad Mangoes in Goa has been conducting innovative experiments in marketing to achieve

n For agriculture in Goa to be successful the government departments and the farming community needs to work together closely and as a team. Also the involvement of women in farming activities could lead to greater self sufficiency and success in its growth. greater profits for its farmer members.

Dr N P Singh said that, “… for agriculture in Goa to be successful the government departments and the farming community needs to work together closely and as a team.

He also stressed that the involvement of women in farming activities could lead to greater self sufficiency and success in its growth”.

Agricultural activity in Chorao seems to have recently seen an upswing, with several people resuming farming activity, according to the Club’s President, Premanand Mahambre. The membership of the two and half year old Club has is now in ex-

Photo exhibition

PANJIM(HND): The Chief Election Commissioner Dr S Y Quaraishi and Election Commissioners V S Sampath and H S Brahma will be inaugurating photo exhibition at Art Gallery of Entertainment Society of Goa on August 30 at 10 am. Later at 10.30, there will be a on "Sharing of Best Electoral Practices and on August 31 at 10 am CEOs Conference of West Zone at Goa International Centre, Dona Paula.

Seminar at Panjim

PANJIM(HND): V M Salgaocar College of Law in association with Asian School of Cyber Laws, Pune will be organizing a State level seminar cum workshop on September 4 from 10 am at Panjim. This will be followed by a certificate course.

Practicing advocates, law degree and other bachelor degree holders should register their name for participation with the college office by September 2.

Medical camp

PANJIM(HND): Lions club of Cortalim and Vidhyanagar Residents Welfare Association will be jointly organizing a health check up camp in association with Nusi Wockhardt hospital at Airway Public School, near MES College – Zuarinagar. The health check up includes ECG, testing of random blood sugar, blood pressure monitoring, computation of Body Mass Index (BMI), computation of Waist – Hip Ration and Doctor’s consultation. This camp is being organized as part of Lions International service activities.

The camp will be held on September 5 from 9 am to 5 pm at Airway Public School-Vidhyanagar near MES College – Zuarinagar. Interested persons desirous to undergo health check up should contact Dr R B Patil on tel: 9921346559 or club President G Subramanian on tel: 9881104640.

Book launch at Porvorim

PANJIM(HNB): Xavier Centre of Historical Research, Alto Porvorim, will launch the book ‘The Goan Voice of Reason’ authored

by Juino De Souza at Xavier Centre of Historical Research Complex on September 3 at 5.30 pm.

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat will release the book. The function will be followed by cocktails.

The book ‘Goan Voice of Reason’ is a stimulating work written by Juino De Souza, a lawyer, TV host and freelance writer in his inimitable style and demonstrates his ability to critically analyze and understand various issues pertaining the Goan society that need attention.

The book includes writings on law and order, politics, governance, education, social, cultural, legal and other issues that will certainly bring about awareness to all those who are concerned with safeguarding the interest of Goa. The public is invited to the function.

and issue them the health cards.

“However, this is not being followed strictly in most of the schools in Goa. The environment around the school should be kept clean. The child has got the right to good environment.

Those found guilty in not maintaining clean environment around the school can be fined from Rs 100 to Rs 1,000,” added Dr Desai.

“It is mandatory for the parents to accompany their children, below the age of 14, who are visiting the Cyber Cafes,” said Dr Desai.

“Children below 14 years are not supposed to be employed at home or any establishment.

If anybody comes across the child below 14 years, who is working in commercial establishment or any house, anony-

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, AUG 29

Junior Orator contest

cess of 110 members and it has been benefiting from credit support from NABARD and the Central Bank of India and also from schemes of the Agriculture Department for mechanisation.

The Club was also recently selected as Goa’s Best Farmers Club by NABARD. The Director of Agriculture stated that “…even paddy cultivation can be remunerative as outsiders are seeking land for cultivation in Goa. Unless local farmers show initiative they may find they have missed out on these opportunities for financial growth”.

More information about the Club’s activities are available on www.choraofarmers.com.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MAYEM, AUG 29

Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar has called upon the students to retain Guru-Shishya (teacherdisciple) tradition to achieve success in every sphere of their lives.

He was recently addressing the gathering on the occasion of a Guru Pournima celebration of Sateri Swar Shringar Sangeet Vidyalaya at Ladfe-Bicholim.

“Indian classical music, which is like a worship of God, helps forget sorrows,” said Patnekar.

Dramatist Digambar Parab, school Headmaster Ganesh Gawade, Panch Padmakar Malik, music teacher Krishna Chari and Vishnu Malik were present on the occasion.

On the occasion, Purushottam Malik, Ramesh Naik, Bharat Gawade, Datta Malik, Ulhas Chari, Rauji Malik, Hari Chari, Rajendra Chari and Sanju Malik worshipped their beloved teacher, followed by musical programme presented by the students.

Art of Living course

PANJIM(HND): Art of Living course designed by H H Sri Sri Ravi Shanker, will be organized at Sri Sri Management Studies, Borda, Margao from August 30 to September 4 from 7 pm to 9:30 pm.

The course has a breathing technique ‘Sudharshan Kriya’ which will be taught and is every effective for stress and stress induced ailments as depression, diabetics, hypertension, says a press release.

Interested persons should contact Dr Venkatesh Hegde on 9422063255.

Curchorem school holds PTA meet HERALD CORRESPONDENT CURCHOREM, AUG 29

The general body meeting of the PTA of Guardian Agnel Higher Secondary School, Curchorem, was held in the school hall.

Over 500 parents attended the meeting. Election was also held to elect members of the executive committee.

Martin Barbosa explained the duties of PTA executive committee and invited the parents to voluntarily offer their services.

It was also decided by the president/principal, Fr Frank Mendes along with the staff to have representation from each streams, both for Std XI and Std XII, to serve the students community better.

Accordingly, 12 new members were elected unopposed by the general body. They will in turn shortly meet to elect their chairman and vice chairman and other executive posts.

Principal Fr Frank welcomed the parents and explained in detail various requirements for school discipline and for imparting all-round education.

He urged the parents to give time and attention to their children, show their love and understanding and cooperate actively in the formation of their wards.

Speaking on the occasion, Fr Henry D’Souza thanked the parents for admitting their children in their school as they get something different and worthwhile studying under the Pilar Fathers.

He also introduce the resource person of the day, State Award winner for his bravery in nabbing two wanted criminals, Curtorim Police Inspector Siddhant Shirodkar, who later enlightened the parents on Anti-ragging Act and outlined what steps are to be taken by the Principal, parents and students to curb the menace.

He also urged the Principal to set up CCTV cameras in various strategic locations, which would help him give unbiased decision in case of occurrences of such incidents of ragging in the campus.

The PTA felicitated first rankers of the Board exams held in April 2010 in each stream with a certificate and cash scholarship.

The parents assured full support to the School magazine, which is planned as a fund raiser to provide computers, LCD projectors, musical instruments, staff room improvement, etc.

The school manager informed the parent that the talent of their children in writing short stories and poems will be showcased in a book to be released later this year.

“We are planning to release a CD/VCD on Ven Padre Jose Vaz, to whom this year has been dedicated in our Archdiocese,” said the manager.

The meeting was followed by an Open Session, where parents met respective class teachers of their wards and discussed about the progress of their wards.

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Bangalore Archbishop says Catholic Cow slaughter bill: K’taka CM condemns Guv for pressuring Prez Church against forced conversion HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, AUG 29

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has condemned the way Governor H R Bharadwaj and other Congress leaders are exerting pressure on President not to clear the cow slaughter bill.

Addressing a press conference in Belgaum on Wednesday, Yeddyurappa said: "BJP had no choice, but to launch people's movement in the state shortly to make the President and Centre to support people's demand to ban cow slaughter in the state."

"The Governor should have given his consent to the cow slaughter bill which was passed by the state legislature.

Instead of that, the governor needlessly sent the bill to the President to halt its implementation," alleged the chief minister.

"In order to ban cow slaughter in the state, I personally met the President asking her to clear the bill. The Congress

n The Governor should have given his consent to the cow slaughter bill which was passed by the state legislature. Instead of that, the governor needlessly sent the bill to the President to halt its implementation ---Yeddyurappa leaders are not caring the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi who was against cow slaughter. The leaders went to the extent of meeting the President to bring pressure on her not to give a nod to it," claimed Yeddyurappa.

He said the people would never support the views of the Congress party on the issue.

"To further make people aware of it, the BJP wanted to launch a people's movement to ban cow slaughter in the state," he said.

"There is no need for anyone to bother about what former Prime Minister Deve Gowda and his sons keep commenting about cow slaughter ban ei-

ther," he added.

Commenting on whether he would meet a delegation of Maharashtra BJP leaders who decided to meet him in connection with the boundary dispute between both states, Yeddyurappa said: "Let anybody come and meet me, I will abide by the recommendations of Mahajan Commission when it comes to settling the dispute."

"The Centre has already filed an affidavit with the Centre on border dispute case and commissions named by the government in the past too have given their verdicts on it. There is no need for anybody to rake up this dispute again. I will

BJP MLA’s anti-Christian remarks

Belgaum Bishop thanks CM for allaying fears of Christians HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, AUG 29

Bishop Peter Machado of Belgaum has thanked Chief Minister B S Yedyurappa for giving him and Christian community members a patient hearing and assuaging the feelings of the Christian community for the insensitive remarks made by Khanapur MLA Pralhad Remani in his Independence Day speech.

Bishop Machado has also thanked the BJP leaders who called on him expressing their apology to Pralhad Remani's remarks against Christians.

Though the chief minister requested the MLA to apologise to the Christians for his remarks, according to media reports it was understood that the MLA has refused to do so.

Bishop Machado is satisfied by the timely and immediate response of the chief minister and his graciousness to voice his annoyance at the damage caused to sentiments of the Christians, caused unnecessarily by his party MLA. All the same, Bishop Machado said: "We pray that God may forgive

Guv voices displeasure on MLA’s remarks HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, AUG 29

Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj has taken exception to the remarks of Khanapur BJP MLA Prahlad Remani regarding Christians and Christianity.

In a letter to the Chief Minister, Governor Bhardwaj has said that he was shocked to learn that at the Independence Day function at Khanapur Tahshildar's office, Remani had made inflammatory and provocative statements against Christians.

"It is clear attempt to spread communal hatred and the government must take stern action against the legislator," Governor Bhardwaj directed the State Government stating that the alleged statement is not only highly objectionable, but also violation of the oath of office.

MLA Remani and make him realise that as a public servant, he is representative of God for the all the people, irrespective of caste and creed."

"May the Almighty enlighten him to ask forgiveness of thousands of Christians living in the region peacefully, whose sentiments have been hurt by Remani's remarks," added Bishop.

"We are aware that there are many Hindus and Muslims who do not share MLA Remani's

views and Christians are part of this nation and we will surely serve and be even prepared to die for this nation. Mother Teresa, whose Birth Centenary is being observed today was a symbol of love and compassion for the poorest of the poor in this country," said Bishop.

"Likewise, we will continue to serve the country, especially the poor. God bless our country, our leaders and our people," he added.

Centennial birth celebrations of Mother Teresa celebrated in Belgaum

Fr Fidelino Araujo (center) and Fr Eusebio Fernandes during the Centennial birth celebrations of Mother Teresa at Fatima Cathedral, here.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, AUG 29

The Centennial birthday celebration of Mother Teresa, popularly identified as the Angel of the poor and destitute, was observed at Belgaum on Sunday.

Mother Teresa was born in Albania on August, 26, 1910, and later devoted her life to work for the deprived and destitute by setting up a home at

Kolkata 'Sisters of Charity', the congregation, the Catholic nuns founded by Mother Teresa has its homes in India and abroad.

The Catholic Church world over has declared the year in her name. Programmes promoting selfless service aimed at upliftment of the poor and destitute will be observed during this year.

Christians in Belgaum paid rich tributes to the great mother. Special prayer services were offered at all the Churches in Belgaum. Fr Fidelino Araujo, the director of the St Michaels Seminary, Macche, presided over the Eucharistic celebrations at Our Lady of Fatima Cathedral, here.

"Mother Teresa was the messenger of true love and compassion, appreciation, sufferings, hence we must emulate the values she has set in our lives by rendering our true service to the poor and the marginalized," he said.

The Centennial celebration of Mother Teresa has commenced in all the churches.

The Christians during this year would be devoting their time in rendering services to the poor, marginalized and the destitute.

Meanwhile, novenas for the feast of Mother Mary (also popularly known as Mount Mary and Our Lady of Health) commence at all the churches from Monday.

Karisma can’t play Kajol’s role in ‘We are family’: Kareena PTI MUMBAI, AUG 29

Bollywood star Kareena Kapoor, who essays the role of a stepmom in 'We are Family' dreads and dismisses the possibility of being pitted against her elder sister actress Karisma instead of Kajol in the upcoming film.

"No way... She (Karisma) can't do it, because in the film we are married to the same man!

Otherwise, both (Karisma and Kajol) are hands-on mothers.

They are the same when it comes to raising children," Kareena told PTI. Speaking about her experience working with Kajol, who

played her elder sister on screen in 'Kabhi Kushi Kabhi Gham', Kareena said they did not have many scenes together then, but "here we are on the same page with two powerful roles."

"My character Shreya is very complex and complicated. She is contemporary, forward looking and is awkward with children. The film can be described as a journey between two women who start out by hating each other, but come closer understanding and supporting each other due to unforeseen circumstances."

"It was an honour to be part of the film because the chal-

lenge to work with Kajol was exciting," the 29-year-old actress said contending that it will be a difficult choice for the audience to pick between the two.

Kareena said she bonded very well with Kajol, Maya in the film, who when diagnosed with a terminally ill disease has no option but to rely on Shreya as a stepmother to her three children. "We discussed life, relationships and movies during the outdoor shooting of WAF. It is an outdated thought that actresses cannot be friends. Over the years, she has remained the same... spontaneous, bubbly and full of energy. We got along well," Kareena said.

write a letter to the Maharashtra BJP unit and our party president (Nitin Gadkari) on this issue and ask them not to raise the closed chapter (boundary issue)."

"People in Belgaum, whether they are Kannada or Marathispeaking, are living in harmony and there was no need for anybody in Maharashtra to raise this issue," he said.

The chief minister further said he would hold a meeting of higher officials of all nationalised banks in Bangalore within four to five days in an attempt to convince them to extend agri loans to farmers at 3 per cent rate of interest.

"Already, loans at 3 per cent rate of interest are being extended to farmers by State Bank of India. I will write to the prime minister and union finance minister to help extend such loan facility to farmers across the country," he added.

K’taka Single Window scheme implemented in nine corporations

HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, AUG 29

Archbishop of Bangalore Dr Bernard Moras has stated that the Catholic Church is against any forced conversion.

He was reacting to the allegations made by BJP MLA Prahlad Remani (Khanapur) and expressed unhappiness as Belgaum South BJP MLA without going through the content of Remani's statement has supported him for not expressing apology to Christians.

"Catholic Church is against any forced conversion and we do not believe any forced conversions. We only proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ our Master and Guru. Conversion is the act of God. Forced conversion is not a conversion in the real sense. Real conversion is

the change of mind and heart," he stated.

Prahlad Remani in his official speech in Marathi on August 15 had stated "There are two things the British left in India, the first one is the partition of the nation and the second one is the seeds of Christianity that are being spread systematically by the Christians through there institutions."

"People must remain alert and watchful about the spread of these seeds of Christianity and followers of any religion including Hindus and others must weed out Christianity," he had said.

Archbishop Moras further said: "We condemn Remani's statements accusing Christians of forced conversion. If there are forced conversions, there is

Belgaum Christians laud SP’s role in protecting common man

HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, AUG 29

The Karnataka Single Window scheme aimed at extending all basic services to the citizens has been implemented in the jurisdictions of nine city corporations in the state.

This information was provided by principal secretary of e-administration, Administrative Reforms Department, M N Vidyashankar.

"The scheme has been brought into force in Bangalore, Shimoga, Mysore, Gulbarga, Tumkur, Mangalore, Bellary, Davangere, Hubli-Dharwad and Belgaum," informed Vidyashankar.

At a press meet in Belgaum, Vidyashankar said the Single Windows would accept electricity bills, mobile phone bills besides selling passport application forms.

"In the next some days, other facilities like railway reservation, property tax payment, issuance of birth and death certificates, water bills, bus tickets, etc, will also be made available through this scheme," he said.

He said at least 10 such single windows would be set up in Belgaum city alone shortly.

Bishop Peter Machado and others with former SP Sonia Narang during the felicitation.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, AUG 29

The Christian community of Belgaum has lauded the role played by former Belgaum SP Sonia Narang for championing her role in safeguarding the interests of the common man, particularly the poor and the disadvantaged.

Sonia was felicitated at a simple function at Bishop's House at Camp on Wednesday evening.

"While this may be good news for the Bangaloreans, it is surely not very welcome news for us, especially as you were one of the district officials who stood for values, principles and fairness. You reaching out to the poor and disadvantaged will surely be remembered," said Bishop Peter Machado.

"I am particularly grateful to you for your consideration and

courtesies shown to the Christian Community on various occasions and especially in our difficulties and problems," added Bishop.

"We wish to place on record our gratitude to you for your various interventions and good deeds in Belgaum. May God bless you in your future assignment and we pray for a special blessing for your family. You will be remembered and loved for long in Belgaum," said Bishop Peter.

Rev Shadrach and others paid rich tributes to Narang for her access to the common man in the district.

Fr George Lopez, Fr Joe Chenakala, Sr Mary, Sr Rosamma, Vijay Prakash, Adv Oscar D'Souza, Wilson Carvalho and prominent leaders from Christian community were present.

a law and let him have recourse to the law."

"We are happy that the Chief Minister as the head of the government has condemned the statement of Remani. However, it is unfortunate that Remani does not want to acknowledge. He has also expressed his gratitude to Governor Bhardwaj for his letter to the State Government demanding stringent action against Prahlad Remani," he said.

Meanwhile, Bishop of Belgaum Dr Peter Machado in a press release has thanked Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa for giving him and the Christian community members a patient hearing on Wednesday at Belgaum and assuaging the feelings of the Christian community for the insensitive remarks made by the Khanapur MLA Pralhad Remani in his Independence Day Speech "of weeding out the Christians from this country".

Though Chief Minister Yediyurappa requested the MLA to apologise to the Chris-

tians for his remarks, according to the media reports it was understood that the MLA has refused to do so.

Bishop Machado is satisfied by the timely and immediate response of the Chief Minister and his graciousness to voice his annoyance at the damage caused to sentiments of the Christians, caused unnecessarily by his party MLA. Bishop Machado said: "We pray that God may forgive MLA Remani and make him realise that as a public servant, he is representative of God for the all people, irrespective of caste and creed. May the Almighty enlighten him to ask forgiveness of thousands of Christians living in the region peacefully, whose sentiments have been hurt by Remani's remarks."

"We are aware that there are many Hindus and Muslims who do not share MLA Remani's views and Christians are part of this nation and we will surely serve and be even prepared to die for this nation," said Bishop Machdao.

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Court ruling soon, Ayodhya to come at centrestage PTI NEW DELHI, AUG 29

With a key judicial verdict on the original Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi title suit expected soon, the Ayodhya issue could again become a hot political issue.

Political parties, including the Congress and the BJP, are keeping their fingers crossed on its possible fallout, an issue that has even engaged the attention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

A special bench of the Allahabad High Court recently concluded the hearing related to ownership of a disputed land in Ayodhya to which Hindus and Muslims have made rival claims for over a century.

The Congress Core Group headed by Sonia Gandhi recently deliberated on the issue. Party leader Abishek Singhvi, however, declined to hazard any guess as to how things would play out.

"It is not only foolish but in-

deed irresponsible to speak on any judgement before delivery and especially on so sensitive an issue like Ayodhya," he said.

"We as a responsible political party and responsible citizen should not allow surcharged atmosphere and potential divis i v e n e s s e v e n b e f o re t h e judgement is delivered," he said.

Like all parties, BJP, which brought the Ayodhya issue to the centrestage of national politics sometime back, is also waiting for the verdict.

"As far as we are concerned, we believe that the matter of faith that Ram was born there, is not a BJP or RSS perception, but a perception across India and across all sections of society.

"Everyone would definitely like to see how court interprets this, the BJP has always said that the nation has to solve sensitive issues by taking everyone on

Govt offers cash to Naxals who surrender PTI NEW DELHI, AUG 29

Having achieved limited success in defeating the Maoists militarily, the government is now dangling attractive monetary rewards to those Naxalites who are willing to surrender with arms.

The Centre has asked Maoistaffected states to draw surrender policies similar to the one announced by it about a year ago that includes a package of nearly Rs two lakh if the Naxalite comes with arms.

The Central government's policy gives each surrendered Naxalite an immediate grant of Rs 1.5 lakh, a Rs 3,000 monthly stipend during vocational training for upto three years and even monetary incentives for surrender of weapons.

The Rs 1.5 lakh would be kept in a bank in the name of the surrendered ultra as a fixed deposit which may be withdrawn by him or her after completion of three years, subject to good behaviour to be certified by the authorities designated for this purpose by the states concerned.

The Home Ministry has conveyed to Naxal-affected states that apart from continuing armed operations, they must address questions of poverty and economic deprivation which apparently motivate many youths to join the extremist

ranks.

"A good and effective surrender and rehabilitation policy would definitely encourage many Maoist cadres to shun violence and surrender before the authorities. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary for each state to formulate one," an official said.

The Maoist-affected states have been advised to examine the surrender and rehabilitation policies of the Central government and Northeastern states.

The Home Ministry has also offered monetary incentives for surrender of weapons which include Rs 15,000 for depositing one AK-47 or AK-56 or AK-74 rifle.

Rs 25,000 will be given for each RPG or sniper rifle, Rs 3,000 for one pistol or revolver, Rs 1,000 for a rocket, Rs 3,000 for a remote control device, Rs 1,000 for improvised explosive device, Rs 3,000 for one mine, Rs 20,000 for a SAM missile and Rs 10,000 for a satellite phone.

The guidelines are applicable to those Naxals who surrender with or without arms.

"Though the Central government declared this policy a year ago, it has hardly been publicised. So, we are asking the states to formulate a policy and publicise it so that the message gets to the Maoists," the official said.

board. Let us wait for the court verdict," BJP leader Prakash Javadekar said.

However, another BJP leader Vinay Katiyar, a known Hindutva hardliner, said sensitive issues regarding faith and belief cannot be resolved in court and suggested that the government should make a law or build consensus on it.

"A mosque never existed there (in Ayodhya). This is a futile debate. This country and followers of Ram will never accept it (a court verdict that there was mosque)," he said.

"Lord Ram was worshipped there, is worshipped there and will be worshipped there. Nobody can remove Ram from Ayodhya," Katiyar said.

The All India Babri Masjid Action Committee (AIBMAC) also appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to explore ways to find out an out-of-court settlement.

Sonia all set to be Cong President for fourth term PTI NEW DELHI, AUG 29

Sonia Gandhi is all set to be reelected as Congress President for a record fourth term this week with the polls for the top party post likely to be an uncontested affair.

The last date for filing nominations for the election is September 2, a day on which several sets of nomination papers are expected to be filed on behalf of 63-year-old Gandhi.

The filing can either take place on that day, on which Janmashtami falls, or a day earlier with top party leaders including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Leader of the Lok Sabha Pranab Mukherjee and Gandhi's son Rahul Gandhi among those submitting the proposals.

The process for the election was set into motion two days back with the issue of notification.

Though the last day of the withdrawal of nominations is September 10, it will be clear whether Gandhi is going to be elected unopposed or not on September 2 itself.

Gandhi, who is also the UPA Chairperson, has ensured power for the Congress via the coalition route. She led a Congress-led alliance to victory in 2004 after eight long years of political wilderness for the party.

Rahul's fan page on Facebook has 67,921 followers PTI NEW DELHI, AUG 29

Rahul Gandhi is a hit on Facebook. He has a fan page following of 67,921 people which could be among the largest for any leader in the country on the popular social networking site.

Moreover, Gandhi's facebook account, which Congress says has not been created by him, has 4,999 friends listed in it.

It has photographs and videos as well as regular updates.

Rahul's sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra too has a fan page with 17,469 people listed as followers and another page named as "Priyanka Gandhi politician" having 163 followers.

Party President Sonia Gandhi has a page which lists her as an

author with 1,283 people liking it while another page with politician listed along with her name has 503 people who like it.

When contacted, Chairman of the Computer Department of the Congress, Vishwajeet P Singh,

went through the pages and accounts on Facebook and said some of the pages give information taken from Wikipedia and are "definitely" not created by the office of either Rahul or Sonia Gandhi.

"It has definitely not been done by the Computer Department," said Singh, adding it is very easy to set up a page and these are open forums.

Singh also dismissed the possibility of taking action as no one claims to have created the pages.

Asked whether such pages and the internet increase the reach of the party, the Congress leader said that the penetration of internet in India is not like that in the United States and it will take time to have the kind of impact which is there in the US.

Court expresses concern over misuse of Domestic Violence Act PTI NEW DELHI, AUG 29

A Delhi court has expressed its concern over the misuse of the Domestic Violence Act to settle civil dispute between sparring couples with the use of women

as "pawn" by the male relatives.

"The misuse and abuse of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 is a matter of serious concern for the courts which are required to be careful and ensure that a woman petitioner is not made a puppet or pawn in the hands of her male relatives so as to manipulate the Act and use it for ulterior motives," Additional Sessions Judge Kamini Lau said.

The court said the purpose of passing the welfare law was to protect the family value system and not to create a civil right.

"The provisions of special legislation in favour of women cannot be abused as the short cut for establishing a civil rights where none exists," the court said.

"The intent of the Act is to protect the value system and institution of family and save it from destruction. This being so, the provisions of the Act have to be

so interpreted to ensure that the existing family system is preserved," it said.

The court made the observation while dismissing an appeal of a woman who challenged an order rejecting her plea to be given a wholesome right to reside in a shanty also being occupied by her brother-in-law and sister-in-law.

"It is evident that the attempt of the appellant (woman) is to ensure the division of the property and create her independent right in the same under the garb of the present petition," the court said.

It also noted that the woman as well as her husband have "collusively" filed the petition by "camouflaging a dispute" and have sought the invocation of the Protection of Women from the Domestic Violence Act, 2005, with the sole object of seeking the removal of her brother-inlaw and sister-in-law from the property in question.

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Portuguese and international diplomacy

Vol No CX No: 219 Goa, Monday 30 August, 2010

G

With close to 250 million speakers, Portuguese is the fifth-most spoken language in the world, says ConsTAnTino XAVieR

The write fight

oa’s literary giant; Konkani’s only Jnanpith Award winner Ravindra Kelekar, who passed away on Friday, was first a Gandhian activist and freedom fighter. One who dedicated his life to Konkani, Goa and the nation at the tender age of 21, he participated in Goa’s struggle for Liberation, and for the cause of Konkani and the Goan identity.

He was born on 25 March 1925 in Cuncolim. His father, Dr Rajaram Kelekar, was a doctor who translated the ‘Bhagwad Gita’ into Portuguese. The momentous events of 18 June 1946, when Ram Manohar Lohia ignited the fires of the Goan revolution, ignited in him a firm desire to liberate his motherland from the Portuguese yoke when he was a student at the Lyceum in Panjim.

In 1949, he left Goa for Wardha, to be with noted Gandhian Kakasaheb Kalelkar, where he lived until 1955, when he was appointed as librarian of Gandhi Memorial Museum in New Delhi. Within a year, he gave up the job, started the weekly ‘Gomant Bharati’, in Roman script Konkani, and plunged into the freedom struggle. Imprisoned by the Portuguese, he remained in jail till the Indian Army liberated Goa in 1961.

Goa was free, but his struggles were only beginning. Ahead was the David-versus-Goliath struggle to thwart the determination of Goa’s popular Chief Minister Dayanand Bandodkar to merge the fledgling territory with neighbouring Maharashtra.

But as in the Biblical tale, the David of Konkani and Goa triumphed over the Goliath of Marathi and Maharashtra, in the historic Opinion Poll of 1967.

But there was still more to fight for. Ravindra-bab’s literary activism − to get the Konkani language its due status as an independent language, and not as just a dialect of Marathi − was ahead. This was not just a political struggle, but a literary one as well. And it was in this period that he wrote his finest − both books and works of advocacy − till in 1975 the Sahitya Akademi recognised Konkani as an independent language.

Fittingly, Ravindra-bab won the first Sahitya Akademi Award in Konkani for his travelogue, ‘Himalayant’ (In the Himayalas), in 1977.

From then till 1987 was a turbulent period of intense struggle, and of writing. As a father figure of the Konkani movement, he guided its leaders and the people. In 1987, the Goa Assembly finally declared Konkani to be the official language and, as a result, Goa gained statehood on 30 May of that year.

For Ravindra-bab, fighting and writing were two sides of the same coin. For him, the struggle ended in 1992, when Konkani was finally included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. As the doyen of the Konkani movement, he had declared this as its ultimate aim, and he announced his retirement from public life, to concentrate only on writing.

But there was much, much more in store for him. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship in 2007, followed by the Padma Bhushan in 2008 (the first resident Goan to win the award). In 2009, it was announced that he had been conferred the Jnanpith Award − India’s highest literary honour − for the year 2006. This was as much a mark of recognition for Konkani, taking its place with other modern Indian languages whose literary achievements merited the award.

The award was presented just a few weeks ago in the Kala Academy, where Ravindra-bab accepted it seated in a wheelchair.

But though his body was frail, his mind was sharp as ever; he warned that blind pursuit of English would only breed ‘bonsai’ intellectuals in India.

As is only appropriate, he was cremated with full state honours in his native Priol, where he lived ever since he returned to Goa from Wardha. That he saw Goa and Goans as one − regardless of caste or religion − was emphasised in the fact that Fr Alfred Almeida also offered final prayers to the departed soul. Ravindra Kelekar lived and died for Goa. Every Goan mourns him.

Drugs & the DGP Julius Carvalho, Dubai A few months back, Home Minister Ravi Naik and DGP B S Bassi had categorically denied that drugs are available in Goa. Now, on Herald, an unnamed senior narcotics bureau officer says that Goa is a drugs consumption point. If drugs are not available in Goa, how can it become a consumption point?

It would nice if the Home Minister and DGP can clarify clearly what they meant by drugs being ‘not available’ in Goa.

T

his week, Delhi hosts the annual Heads of Missions (HoMs) conference, a gathering of ambassadors and high commissioners that represent India in more than one hundred countries. If India wants to engage with the ‘Global South’ in a more meaningful way, it should recognise its Anglophone bias and consider developing relations with Portuguese-speaking countries, opening one more specific front in its foreign policy.

More people speak Portuguese as their native language than French, German, Italian or Japanese.

With close to 250 million speakers, it is the fifthmost spoken language in the world, and an official language in eight countries across four continents, of which six are in Africa (Angola, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde, Sao Tome and Principe) and one each in Europe (Portugal), South America (Brazil) and Asia (Timor Leste). It also remains an official language in Macau.

The language enjoys official status at several international institutions and regional organizations, including the European Union (EU), Mercorsur, the African Union (AU) and the Organisation of American States (OAS). There is an active movement to make it the seventh official language of the United Nations.

This immense Lusophone world is institutionalised in the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), founded in 1996. All eight Portuguese-speaking countries are its members.

Equatorial Guinea, Mauritius and Senegal are associate observers. The eighth summit, held last month in Luanda, marked the beginning of Angola’s first presidency over the organization.

India’s relations with Brazil have improved since President Lula came to power in 2003 – he has visited India three times. The BRIC country is a partner in India’s efforts to re-engage with the ‘Global South’, most notably the India-BrazilSouth Africa (IBSA) axis. Its high-growth economy offers several opportunities, from oil reserves to a booming industry and services sector that has already attracted Indian investment, especially in IT, energy and pharmaceuticals. Defence ties have bloomed, from exercises such as IBSAMAR to the acquisition of Embraer jets for VIP travel by the Indian Air Force.

Relations with Portugal have dramatically improved. Lisbon now hosts the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) office for Latin America. It can fa-

M

that could have taken them across the Goa border, but they stayed back in Kalay to make merry till the police came.

Cops arrested one, the scapegoat. Did they let the other escape? The question is, where were the cops searching while these jailbirds walked the distance, rode the train, and brought groceries and booze from the stores?

Could Mickky be right about the happenings inside the sub-jail? If he is, then why is he quiet about it now?

Ingratitude?

Cicero Lourenco, Curtorim The Raia Gram Sabha has passed a resolution that the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) should not go ahead with the construction of a Kabrastan at Sonsoddo. Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco was present.

Many residents of Raia have worked in Gulf countries, which are Islamic states.

Due to their generosity, they have built houses, educated their children and earned money.

Today, when the Muslim community is begging for a resting place for their community’s souls, how ungrateful are we? They should not misuse the Gram Sabha.

Raia residents should remember that Catholics are also minorities, just like our Muslim brethren.

Glestone Fernandes, Cuncolim Three jailbirds broke through the wall of Vasco’s Sada Sub-Jail, jumped over the gates, and walked along the tracks. One stayed back while the other two boarded a train

SMILE WITH SMITHA

Smitha Bhandare Kamat

tractive financial and tourist hub for Indian interests in East Asia.

A quick glance at India’s total trade with the CPLP countries indicates that despite global recession, it has grown four-fold in just five years, from $2.7 billion in 2005-06 to $11.8 billion in 2009-10, comprising 2.5 per cent of India’s total trade (up from 1 per cent in 2005-06).

Sceptics may point out that this is a diverse and geographically dispersed lot of countries.

But anyone who has lingered in the corridors of international diplomacy will recognise the persistent importance of language. For a Portuguese or Brazilian businessmen looking for investment opportunities in Bangalore, language poses a major hurdle and will continue to constrain India’s capacity to explore the full potential of relations with Portuguese-speaking countries.

China is well ahead in this regard, but there are several ways India could develop this niche diplomacy and catch up, especially given its strong historical links. Goa, Daman and Diu still have many Portuguese speakers, and there is no reason why India should not be entitled for associate observer status with the CPLP. Even China and Indonesia have expressed their interest.

India could also follow the example of the Macao Forum, instituted by China in 2008, as a

God’s love is Wonderful

any a times we feel that we are getting much less than we deserve. This thought makes us feel cheated, unloved, unappreciated. At such times, we feel that God is being partial or is unconcerned about our situations, even though we believe that we are serving Him well. Here is a story you may have heard, as it is akin to what we go through everyday in our lives and deal with the yardsticks upon which we assess the faithfulness, love and thoughts of God’s way of dealing with us.

There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind.

She disliked almost everyone, except her boyfriend who was very loving and always there for her. She would tell him, “If I could only see the world, I would marry you.” One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off after the operation on her eyes , she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend for the first time. He asked her, “Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?” The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn’t expected that. The thought of looking at his blind eyes the rest of her life, repulsed her and she refused to marry him. Her boyfriend left her in tears. A few days later, he wrote a note to her saying: “Take good care of your eyes, my dear; for before they

Rama Chodankar, by email

Scapegoat of Sada

cilitate India’s entry into Angola and Mozambique.

Indian investors are also keen on exploring opportunities in the energy sector, as Portugal is now the third-largest producer of renewable energy in Europe. Angola is a major trading partner in Africa. Five per cent of India’s oil imports come from Angola, but there is immense scope in other areas, from exploration and refineries to railways and specialised training. Angola is the world’s fifth largest diamond producer in value, and a source for India’s cutting and polishing trade.

Indo-Angolan trade has expanded more than 3,000 per cent in the last five years. At 9.3 per cent, Angola is forecast to be the fifth-fastest growing economy in the world in 2010.

Mozambique’s natural resources (coal and offshore gas) have already attracted investments from India, including ONGC and GAIL. It is one of the few African countries where India has been able to compete with China. The country’s strategic location on the East African coast offers an immense potential for closer military relations, allowing India’s Navy to develop its blue water ambitions.

Smaller Lusophone countries also offer opportunities. There are substantial oil and gas reserves in the Timor Sea, and oil reserves in Sao Tome and Principe, where important Indian investments are at stake (Reliance and ONGC). Macau is an at-

Wise Counsel

Slow Admin Tribunal People are seriously suffering because cases at the Administrative Tribunal are held up, due to some technical reason. For the last two years, the judge is not hearing surety cases.

The Judge appears not very interested in solving these cases, which are therefore taking a very long time. Can the litigants please get some relief?

ColoniAl ComeBACks

high-level ministerial meeting with all eight CPLP member countries. This dialogue has been identified as the major force driving China’s successful engagement with the Lusophone economies, with total trade expected to cross $50 billion this year.

In India, former Union Minister for External Affairs, Eduardo Faleiro, proposed a similar idea in 2009, calling for a “biannual structured dialogue” between India and the CPLP countries, possibly in Goa or Mumbai. With a business conclave, such an India-CPLP dialogue would create new synergies.

India could also explore Goa as an ideal host for Portuguese-speaking students and officials who are selected to visit India under various ICCR and ITEC programs. Linguistic and cultural barriers are the most frequent reason given by African grantees to explain their disinterest in scholarships or negative experiences in India. A Portuguesespeaking Angolan or Guinean would be certainly far more open to the idea of studying or training in Goa, than in hinterland Kanpur or Hyderabad.

India is already considering offering ITEC training in French. Why not in Portuguese?

Three CPLP countries – Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde, and Sao Tome and Principe – are among 11 (out of 53) African countries without an Indian diplomatic presence. Very few Indian diplomats or scholars speak Portuguese fluently, even though several Indian army and civilian officials have lived in Lusophone countries, like Atul Khare, who led the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor. Their experience would be a valuable asset.

The time for a more intense India-CPLP engagement seems to have come. Change is coming from the most unexpected quarter – sports. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) agreed in 2006 to become a member of the Association of Portuguese-Speaking Olympic Associations. Since then, Goa participated in the first two editions of the ‘Lusophone Games’. The IOA has backed Goa’s successful bid to host the third edition in 2013.

Both India and Portugal will most probably succeed in their bids for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council for the 2011-12 mandate. This opens one more channel for consultations; on the best way for India to diversify its foreign policy.

(Excerpted from an article on the website of the Institute for Defence Studies & Analysis: www.isda.in)

were yours, they were mine.” The man lost his eyes all for a girl who was not genuine .The girl behaved very selfishly, in contrast to the selfless act of her boyfriend.

This is how the human brain often works when our status changes. Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations. It amazes me how the human heart acts in some certain situations.

We reject how others treat us based on our faults, yet we do the same thing. Too many of us are unwilling to see the compassion, love, grace and care others give to us- for whatever reason - only to find that we reject the same things in others. An expression of love is not found in words, but in actions. Saying that you love someone is easy, but when you act on your love, you open the world- and even the possibility of spending your life with someone who loves you.

Now I understand the saying, “Love is Blind”. For real selfless love does not look at Love never sees the good or bad, ups and downs, ugliness and beauty. Human relations regularly change.

And , blessed are those who elicit unconditional love. When I first read this story, I cried, wondering how the girl could change so drastically, as I believe loving someone is eternal, no matter what.

Want foreigners to leave?

Svatantra Sarjano, Vagator

I was truly appalled on reading ‘New visa rules prove a harrowing affair for this retired foreign couple’ (Herald, 28 August) about the misadventures of Charles and Handrika Hayez, that too in a country that pretends to be famous for its hospitality.

Why is Goa doing everything in its power to get rid of foreigners? This is the impression one gets from the behaviour of our bureaucrats and their stupid rules. Why doesn’t our government provide people like this couple, which only wants to live here peacefully, some kind of ‘Resident Visa’ or ‘Lovers Visa’… that does not require an exit every six months?

I am in the same situation. After 34 years in India, I still have to go out periodically just to get a new visa. I calculated that in all these years, I must have spent over Rs30 lakh only to get myself new visas! I would have spent all that money here, in Goa, rather than on such stupid things, but what can I do if this is the so-called law?

That is why I want to suggest to our authority to create a new form of visa, at least for wanna be residents like this affectionate couple or for people like me, that works in Goa, write on the Herald, publish book in India, pay regularly a huge amount of taxes and for what? To be kicked out every six month so he can get a new visa!

If the Goa government manages a human way to deal with the visas, we will see thousands of people happily choose Goa as a place to spend their retirement. It will demonstrate that hospitality here is not just a word, but has a real meaning.

Michael Vaz, Merces Last week, it was revealed that six out of the top ten job providers in the private sector are Information Technology (IT) firms, with the top five giving nearly seven lakh jobs, despite the economic downturn. What about the IT scenario in our unique state of Goa? The IT habitat is in cold storage, after mindless opposition from retrograde segments.

The Adhoc House committee on IT has pulled up the government for doing nothing for the IT industries that were allotted plots at Dona Paula. Will any action be taken, or will the report be allowed to gather dust?

We have missed the bus, perhaps never to catch it again. Instead of endlessly wavering, it would be better to scrap the IT policy once and for all. Success comes to those who dare; not to those who dilly-dally.

Present tense, please

We must look back and think of our own life. What do we do for ourselves and others? We should learn to appreciate everything in our lives. In most cases, giving something to anther is an act of kindness. Giving away something so personal to an individual like his own eyes is a manifestation of God’s eternal love which we should share with one another. What an example of absolute faith on this boy’s part for the one he loved, not knowing its outcome is overwhelming. This is how God is with us, and we must thank Him for all the many benefits that have accrued to us already and the ones that are still to come.

Our world is very fast-paced and things sometimes change very rapidly. It’s nice to reflect sometimes on things that aren’t changing in life - that are consistent, lovely and even goofy. God has created each one of us for a special reason. God has blessed us in abundance.

Sometimes we are unaware of the blessings bestowed upon us.

The very fact that we exist in this world should make us happy. Al though, many of us have ceased to exist in this world, and in a world of our own world. We are definitely are made for happiness.

It is the ultimate point of our existence. When depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on your face and think: you’re alive and still around.

Letters to the Editor

Letter of the Day

IT as job provider

By Arlette Azavedo

Minister Jawaharlal Nehru did not do 49 years ago (Herald, 14 August). Since the government at the Centre as well as in Goa is run by the Congress, the CM should think about what he can do now, instead of blaming the late Prime Minister.

The Goan crab Stuart Cabral, Verna In today’s so-called civilised society, the common man is a punching bag. But punching bags are pummelled by boxers, while the common man is punched by his own fellow ‘aam admi’.

How many times have we seen the crab mentality – pulling another down the moment (s)he takes a progressive step forward. The common man always blames the government. (S)he should first realise that the ‘aam admi’ are themselves responsible for their fate.

Why traffic police?

Marcos Alemao, Varca

Aaron D’Silva, Porvorim

I wonder what Chief Minister Digambar Kamat is dreaming about what late Prime

As one travels on Goa’s roads, one wonders what is the actual purpose of the Traffic Po-

hungry, SC to govt’ (Herald, 13 August) would certainly be welcomed by those running fair price shops, who at the moment are looting the poor in broad daylight. In certain parts of Cuncolim, kerosene meant for the poor is being sold to fill diesel tanks and wash vehicles.

Often, wheat and other essentials become a rare commodity. Neither the department nor the local authority checks on fair price shops. Building godowns for free food in every district would give them the liberty to steal even more from the poor. ‘Loot and let loot’ is fully operational in broad daylight. The Supreme Court Illegal mining should first pass an order to check into Agniyah Shaikh, Margao irregularities in this department and punish The news report ‘Its official; Illegal mining those who sin against the needy. rampant in many states’ (Herald, 18 August), is hardly news. It is common text book BJP on fast track? knowledge that Orissa, Karnataka and Goa Jeorge Fernandes, Majorda are mining states.

How is it that the authorities never re- During the recent monsoon session, alised that illegal mining was being done Manohar Parrikar grilled the ruling party on a large scale? The miscreants have be- on live TV. Not just the Speaker, but most come richer by the millions. Our naxalites Goans will agree that the Leader of the Oppodon’t need funds from outside the country; sition was too smart for the ruling Congress. it is easily available at home, thanks to our We applaud the good work done by the sleeping authorities. I seriously think aloud BJP as opposition party. But the question – what are we independent from? is if the BJP would govern the state better if it was ruling. The main drawback it faces Mosque at Ground Zero in Goa is that the party is considered a Hindu fanatic entity.

Geraldine Patel, Tonca Today, every Goan should ask himself, I am amazed at the hullabaloo about this who are the people fighting for a Kabrasproposed mosque in New York. Does it tan? Being our Muslim brethren, are they mean there is no objection to an ‘Islamic not entitled to their birthright? Do those centre’? The centre will have at least a dozen who fight mining, mega-projects, CRZ toilets. Do white Americans not object to demolitions, and the regional plan have a Muslims urinating and defecating near common religion? The only factor that Ground Zero – only to them praying? brings them together is a social concern.

In Saudi Arabia, they consider mosques If the BJP is Hindu fanatic, then the Conto be no more than prayer halls. They are shut immediately after prayers, to prevent gress is anti-Goan. It has destroyed the them from being used to preach / plot / social and cultural fabric of Goa over the spread poisonous thoughts. Would Ameri- past few decades.

Organisations supporting social causes cans prefer an Islamic centre near Ground do not have religious affiliations; only Zero in New York without a mosque – which means no prayers, but plenty of conference halls Goan-ness. How can they reconcile with where ‘terrorists’ can, presumably, plot and preach? the so-called secular (but anti-Goan) Congress? When the BJP grills the ruling party in the Assembly, it gets support from ruling Looting in PDS party MLAs. Considering all this, could Glestone Fernandes, Cuncolim the BJP have a chance to be the next ruling The news report ‘Give free food grains to party in Goa? lice. We see them, especially at the end of the Mandovi bridge, with the whole and sole purpose of catching traffic violations and collecting fines. There is nothing wrong with that, but is it the only thing traffic cops should be doing? Shouldn’t their first priority be to ensure smooth movement of traffic by directing it?

We should not waste the precious time of these brave policemen for collecting fines. Hopefully, the next time I see a traffic policeman on the road, he will be there to direct traffic instead of just collecting fines

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GOA,•MONDAY, 30 AUGUST, 2010

opinionatEd Exhibitions promote awareness

By Jose MarIa MIranda

The traders in Margao have, for some time now, been protesting against the Kharedi Yatras and other exhibitionscum-sale that have been taking place in the city, claiming that these eat into their business.

While this could be true, the demand for a blanket ban on these exhibitions is certainly unfair and untenable, It will certainly not stand in a Court of Law. It is also certainly improper for the Chief Minister to stoop so low and get involved in such issues, and shamelessly state that he had tried avoiding a law and order problem. That only shows how little faith he has in the Police.

Yes, the Chief Minister would have been right if he had said that exhibitions at BPS Club cause traffic congestion and hence should not be allowed, unless parking arrangements are taken care of, inside the compound. But has the Chief Minister ever bothered about the problems of traffic that Madganvkars face day in and day out?

The Chief Minister had earlier intervened to encourage indiscipline among Municipal employees in Margao, when the gadget was to be introduced by the present Chairperson to instil discipline and prevent erratic attendance by the staff.

Will sale exhibitions stop in the capital and elsewhere if similarly the traders of these cities protest?

And will the people of Goa be deprived of having access to new products which though available in the market, may not be known to the consumers?

Some of the promoters of the exhibitions, have rightly pointed out in the past, that such exhibitions are platforms for consumer awareness and publicity, particularly of new products. It is here, that people become aware of various products that would come handy in their day-to-day chores.

However, consumers need to ensure that they are not taken for a ride, especially by those who do not have their establishments in Goa or are fly-by-night operators.

Such exhibitions, which, in recent times have been taking place several times in a year, should, however, not be held in the heart of the city, as it adds to the already existing traffic chaos. Though BPS Club in Margao is situated a few meters away from the main Padre Miranda Road, visitors’ vehicles occupy not only this road but many adjacent roads, causing traffic congestion and disrupting the free flow of traffic, with serious danger both to motorists and pedestrians. Perhaps the most suitable site for this type of exhibitions is next to the SGPDA market, where there would also be ample space for parking, without disturbing the normal flow of traffic. The Margao Municipal Corporation should concentrate on this aspect, rather than on whether exhibitions should be held or not.

The traders in Margao or elsewhere in Goa, need to understand that they cannot escape competition and that they will have to sell their products at competitive rates if they wish to stay in business. It is, however, true that unfortunately there is no quality control even on edible products in this Country and in this State. One can sell any and everything under the Sun, without being accountable to anyone. Gaddas moving and parked in the city are allowed to sell any eatables without any checks or control, or for that matter, any hygiene.

One is not aware what kind of oil is being used or how many times or even for how many days, the same oil is used, with grave danger to the consumers’ health. About washing of plates and utensils, the less said the better. But the Margao Municipal Corporation and the Health Department. for reasons well known to all of us, overlook these hazards.

There are also other products which, because of their poor quality, are being sold in the market at much lower prices than similar items. We could perhaps vouch that established traders in Margao Market will not compromise on the quality of products they sell. New traders may. But this cannot be the reason for a ban, unless malpractices can be proved. And it is here that the established traders need to play an important role in nabbing the cheats or exposing them.

Instead of opposing exhibitions, what the traders need to do, is visit the exhibitions and check on the illegalities being committed by the sellers, including sale of spurious or fake products and whether MRP and manufacture/expiry dates are in place. They have already been caught earlier for various malpractices. And therefore, it would not be difficult to eliminate some of them. The traders would have thus done a great service both to themselves and the consumers. It is also a well known fact that in most parts of the country, goods are often sold at much below the Maximum Retail Price (MRP).

This rarely happens in Goa. And that is perhaps the reason why, there are so many exhibitions in Goa and why so many people are attracted towards them. They sometimes offer new and better products and higher discounts. Goan traders will have to be more enterprising and deal with the competition by lowering their profit margins and providing more efficient and timely service. It is strange that some traders, particularly in Goa, are keen on only selling products of reputed brands but play truant when the time comes for repairs or service. To quote a single example: A fairly known company in Goa selling ACs has a ladder to fix the AC unit, but doesn’t have one to repair it and wants the client to provide it. Since after sales service in Goa leaves much to be desired, it is essential that dealers in Goa take this aspect into account while recommending the products to their clients.

warrants against two acquitted in 26/11 case PTI MUMBAI, AUG 29

A sessions court here has issued warrants against Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed asking the Uttar Pradesh police to produce the duo on September 23, as the Bombay High Court has admitted state’s appeal against their acquittal in the 26/11 terror attack case.

The warrants were issued on August 27 by Principal Sessions Judge M L Tahaliyani, who was also the trial judge in the same case.

The High Court had on August 12 admitted an appeal filed by Maharashtra Government challenging the acquittal of Faheem and Sabauddin in the 26/11 terror attack case. The Court also ordered that in view of admission of state’s appeal both the accused may be produced before a sessions court here.

Accordingly, warrants have

From this weekend, commuters can hope to reach Gurgaon from the city's shopping hub of Connaught Place in less than an hour as the Central Secretariat-Qutub Minar corridor is likely to be opened by that time.

The inauguration of the 12.53 km line will take place after the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety R K Kardam inspects the entire corridor tomorrow and Tuesday and give his mandatory safety clearance.

"The inspection date has been fixed for August 30 and 31," Kardam told PTI. Once the Central SecretariatQutub Minar corridor is opened and integrated with the existing 14.47 km Qutub Minar-HUDA City Centre line, it would drastically reduce travel time between Delhi and its satellite city of Gurgaon.

It will take less than an hour for commuters to reach the Millennium City of Gurgaon from the capital's shopping hub of Connaught Place once the line

becomes operational, as compared to at least 90 minutes by road.

The opening of the line will also allow Delhiites to enjoy a comfort ride from north Delhi to south Delhi and vice-versa as the Central Secretariat-HUDA City Centre (Gurgaon) line will be integrated to the existing Central Secretariat-Jehangirpuri corridor.

The entire 42 km from Jehangirpuri to Gurgaon will be covered in less than 90 minutes.

Sources said the line will be opened to the public in twothree days after the Delhi Metro gets the green signal from the CMRS. The line was scheduled to open by the end of August. This will be the second line where the DMRC will miss its originally-set deadline. Earlier, the Metro had missed the deadline on the Yamuna Bank-Noida line.

DMRC plans to run 60 trains on the entire stretch at a frequency of 3 minutes.

The Central Secretariat-HUDA City Centre line, built at a total

a case of firing at CRPF camp in Rampur, according to government’s counsel Ujjwal Nikam.

Under CrPC, when an appeal is admitted the High Court issues a warrant directing that the accused be arrested and brought before it or a subordinate court which may send him to prison pending appeal's disposal or grant bail.

When the matter comes up tomorrow, the High Court may fix a date for a day to day hearing of the state’s appeal and confirmation of death penalty imposed on Kasab.

Kasab was convicted for killing 166 persons with nine other accomplices of LeT on November 26, 2008 at various places in Mumbai.

He is lodged in the high security Central Prison at Arthur Road here and guarded by IndoTibetan Border Security personnel round the clock.

PTI SRINAGAR, AUG 29

On a visit here to assess the security situation in the Valley in wake of fresh violence, a senior Home Ministry official today said dialogue was the only way to resolve the Kashmir issue.

"Dialogue is the only way to resolve all the issues. The sooner the dialogue is initiated the better it is. There have been instances all over the world which have strengthened the belief that dialogue is the only way to resolve problems," U K Bansal, Special Secretary (Internal Security) in the Union Home Ministry, said.

However, he made it clear that he has not come to Kashmir to do spade work for initiation of a dialogue with separatists.

He also said it was not for him to say what the terms of the dialogue would be.

Bansal, who arrived here yesterday, had met Governor N N Vohra and discussed the overall

security situation in the state.

"Issues pertaining to security environment in the state figured during the meeting lasting an an hour," an official spokesman said.

Bansal said, "It is certain that you (separatists and protesters) have to come to the table for talks to resolve the issue. You cannot embark on a journey without a vehicle and dialogue is the vehicle for the solution," Bansal said.

Bansal did not agree with a reporter who said the Centre was delaying the dialogue.

"It is not the Centre which is delaying the talks. There are some factors for delay. These factors are coming in the way of initiation of a meaningful dialogue."

In reply to a question, he said, "It is never late to start... (dialogue)".

Bansal replied in the negative when asked whether he met any separatist leaders in the Valley,

Mishra hits out at Chidambaran BJP leader Kalraj Mishra today hit out at Union Home Minister P Chidambaram for his description of saffron terrorism as a threat to internal security and charged him with casting aspersion on the Indian ethos of which the saffron colour has been a symbol.

"Chidambaram has sought to give terrorism a religious colour by identifying the saffron terror as a menace to internal security and has insulted the age-old Indian ethos of which the saffron colour has been a symbol", he told reporters here.

The Home Minister should have come up with clinching evidence before making a sweeping remark about the saffron terror and implicate the faithfuls for which the saffron colour has been a religious symbol since ages, Mishra, a senior BJP National Vice-President said.

Chidambaram should be respectful to the national flag the tricolour - which depicts among others the saffron colour to showcase Indian's rich cultural traditions, the BJP leader said and demanded apology from the former.

Stating that the terrorism or the people associated with such activities has no colour or religion, Mishra urged the centre to take appropriate action in this regard instead of pursuing divisive politics by giving religious colour to the menace.

saying, "I have not come here to initiate dialogue with separatists or to do the spade work in this regard".

However, he said he met officials who are involved in the law and order situation.

To a question relating to revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Bansal said, "It is a decision to be taken at a highest level. The clearance in this regard will be given or finalised at a highest level".

Asked to give his assessment of the situation in Kashmir, Bansal said: "I am poorly equipped and it is too early to make any assessment - shortterm assessment. I have not come here to make any assessment or statement. I have come here to educate myself about the situation and report back."

About the issue of alleged threatening letters to the Sikhs, he said protection of Sikh community is the responsibility of the state government.

Curfew clamped in Srinagar

PTI PATNA, AUG 29

PTI SRINAGAR, AUG 29

FAREWELL TO ONAM: Karikali artis getting ready for the cultural procession, marking the end of week-long Onam celebrations in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.

Curfew was today clamped in parts of Srinagar, Kupwara and Kralpora towns and restrictions were imposed on people's movement in Hyderpora and Budgam towns in view of a shutdown call by separatists across the Kashmir Valley.

In Srinagar city, curfew was imposed in several areas under seven police stations -Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, Safakadal, M R Gunj, Bemina and Qammerwari, police said.

They said curfew will also remain in force in Kupwara and Kralpora towns of north Kashmir, while restrictions have been imposed in Hyderpora and Budgam towns in central Kashmir.

The hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, spearheading the ongoing agitation, has called for a complete strike and protests throughout the Valley.

Markets remained closed and all modes of transport was off the roads.

The Valley was rocked by violence following death of a teenager on June 11 after he was allegedly hit by a teargas shell near Rajouri Kadal area of old city. Street protests since then have claimed 64 lives.

As CWG nears, officials jittery over bird menace at IGI PTI NEW DELHI, AUG 29

Illegal slaughter houses and heaps of waste around the IGI airport aiding the bird menace are giving sleepless nights to Delhi government officials preparing for the Commonwealth Games in the city.

"The fear of bird-hit incidents (of aircraft) at the airport has always been a problem. But with the sports extravaganza just round the corner when lakhs of tourists are expected to fly to the city, we are giving special focus to combat it," a senior Delhi Environment official said.

The issue was discussed at a

Metro ride from Connaught Place to Gurgaon from this weekend PTI NEW DELHI, AUG 29

been sent to UP police as Sabauddin is lodged in Lucknow jail while Faheem is kept in Bareilly jail.

Both are entitled to seek bail after they are produced before a sessions court here, Crime Branch officer Ramesh Mahale told PTI here.

Meanwhile, the High Court would tomorrow hear the matter pertaining to confirmation of death penalty given to lone surviving Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab in the 26/11 terror attack case.

Kasab’s lawyers Amin Solkar and Farhana Shah have not yet filed appeal challenging the death penalty awarded to the Pakistani terrorist.

“We might seek time from the High Court tomorrow as the appeal is not ready,” said Solkar.

Faheem and Sabauddin are lodged in separate prisons in Uttar Pradesh in connection with

Dialogue only solution to Kashmir issue: Govt

cost of Rs 3,720 crore, is expected to add over 3.4 lakh people to the Metro system by 2011.

After the Gurgaon line, DMRC will have only two lines to complete before the Commonwealth Games in October.

They are Central SecretariatBadarpur and New Delhi-Airport Express Lines.

Vehicle parking for commuters on the Central Secretariat-Gurgaon line will be provided at the HUDA City Centre, IIFCO Chowk, Sikanderpur, Guru Dronacharya station, MG Road, Chattarpur, Sultanpur, Arjangarh, Ghittorni, and Green Park Metro stations.

Trial runs on the corridor are being successfully conducted and the civil structures are being checked to ensure there is no physical blockage during the movement of the train on the track.

The DMRC had also made the Chhattarpur Metro station, fully made in steel, last week to the public.

It has the biggest parking space among all Metro stations.

meeting of the Airfield Environment Management Committee (AEMC) on August 4 in which officials raised concern about bird-prone areas and illegal slaughtering in Mangla Puri, animal waste and open garbage dumping in Nasirpur, Mangla P uri and R K Puram besides other sites near the airport.

The IGI is said to be the most prone to bird hits among airports in the country, though regulations clearly state that no sewage or garbage should be allowed to accumulate within 10-km radius of it.

Delhi Environment Secretary

‘Sena not involved in ‘settlement’ issues’ PTI NAGPUR, AUG 29

Shiv Sena today denied involvement of party legislators in `settlement’ issues as alleged by NCP president and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar.

Pawar had yesterday alleged that the opposition parties in Maharashtra deliberately ask questions about builders' dealings in the Assembly and later approach the same builders and `settle’ the issues with them.

While denying Pawar's allegations, Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray today charged that Pawar was responsible for disposing off 285 plots of land in Mumbai, increasing the FSI (floor space index) to help builders in the city and also selling of land meant for government employees at Bandra.

Thackeray was here for a 'nonpolitical' programme where he talked about his love towards aerial photography as also on books and cartoons.

Dharmendra, chairman of the

committee, also noted that de-

spite repeated reminders, the civic bodies have failed to tackle the menace.

He said birds are entering the airspace over the IGI from technical area of IAF and nearby garbage dumping sites.

With respect to illegal sale of meat in nearby areas, MCD officials said that vending site allotment to them has been cancelled but accused the police of non-cooperation in taking on illegal meat sellers, the official said.

Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) too blamed MCD for failing to remove garbage

Confusion over age limit in nursery admission PTI NEW DELHI, AUG 29

While the mad rush for nursery admissions has begun in the national capital region, many parents are in a fix over the minimum age when their tiny tots should start their preschooling.

Majority of parents who seek their wards' entry in any reputed school are now left with one single question: "What is the age limit, three or four?"

The confusion has its origin in Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal's proposal earlier this year that the age limit for nursery admission can be increased from three to four years.

Many parents believe schools should act according to the Minister's proposal. But the fact is that the proposal has not yet been transformed into action.

Unaware of the reality, worried parents are now seeking advice from their friends and counterparts on social networking sites and other online forums.

"My son's date of birth is 14

Dec 2006. Is he eligible for nursery admissions this year?" asks Chitra in a posting on admissionsnursery.com, a popular online forum where parents share their angst and experiences related to kids' admission.

Vani Roy, a software professional in Noida, says: "My daughter was born in September 2007.

Is she eligible for getting into a nursery in this (2011-2012) session? Or, should we wait for the next session?"

Vani, who supports Sibal's proposal of making four years the minimum age for nursery admission, thinks her daughter is too young to go to a school now.

On the other hand, she also fears if she does not go for her child's admission this year, she may miss one year as most schools in NCR have set the age limit of over three years as on March 31, 2011.

Sumit Vohra, the creator of admissionsnursery.com, says they were receiving more than 50 such queries every day on their forum.

"There is huge confusion among parents regarding the age criteria, people don't know whether they should go for their wards' admission or wait for next session," Vohra told PTI. "If the government wants to increase the age limit in order to reduce the pressure on the kids, it should come out with a proper legislation," he said.

R P Mallik, chairman of Federation of Public Schools, which has around 300 schools under its ambit in Delhi, said raising of age limit was only a proposal by the HRD Minister.

"We shouldn't expect schools to follow mere proposals. There should be deliberations and regulations if indeed the government wants to increase the age limit," he said. Besides, Mallik said, Sibal's proposal was meant for Delhi schools and has no bearing on all institutions based in the NCR. When asked whether they are doing anything over Sibal's proposal, a senior HRD Ministry official said they are still looking into it.

dumped near Manglapuri Bus Terminal despite several instructions in this regard in the past.

Asking DIAL to install display boards with public message, Dharmendra also directed the MCD and police to book the offenders under the Aircraft Act, 1937 to dissuade people from throwing garbage in the open.

With only 35 days left for the mega event, he asked them to intensify the drive and conduct 15-20 raids in a month to prevent illegal sale of meat and register cases against the offenders.

Big B harassed by blogger

PTI

MUMBAI, AUG 29

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has filed a police complaint against an unknown person, who has been posting derogatory messages on his blog and sending him abusive texts on his mobile phone.

"There is a serious effort by a member that writes and comments on this blog to use language and expression that is abusive, filthy and utterly disgusting," the 67-year-old actor wrote on his blog.

The veteran actor who has now lodged a police complaint lamented the lack of cyber space laws in the country.

OHERALDO

Pg10

GOA, MONDAY, 30 AUGUST, 2010

Liberal party races ahead of Labour in Australia polls

5 policemen killed in clash with militants AFP MOSCOW, SEPT 29

PTI MELBOURNE, AUG 29

The Liberal party of Tony Abott today raced ahead of the ruling

Labor party after its candidate Ken Wyatt today became the first Indigenous person to be elected to the Australian parliament, even as the political deadlock entered the second week.

With the election of the Liberal candidate the party's score in the cliff hanger general elections have gone up to 73 seats, with ruling Labor party winning 72 in the 150-member House of Representatives.

Meanwhile, Wyatt became the first Indigenous person to be elected to the House of Representatives after grabbing Perth seat of Hasluck.

Australians voted in the country's first hung parliament in 70 years at the August 21 polls – delivering Tony Abbott's Liberal/National coalition 73 seats and Prime Minister Julia Gillard's centre-left Labor 72, but giving neither the 76 seats needed to rule.

According to an ABC report, Wyatt addressed racist hate mails he had received since the

election.

“I've had that all my life, growing up as an Aboriginal in the '60s, the '70s and the '80s," he said, adding, "What disappoints me is the work that's been done

by Reconciliation Australia, we've certainly moved forward and I've walked with so many great Australians.

"As an ordinary bloke, I've walked with people within our suburbs and our community and to some extent there will be people who have differences of opinion.”

“Let's move on from that what's more important is the way in which we move Australia forward and the thinking that we have and the society that we build on,” he said.

In congratulating Wyatt, Liberal deputy leader Julie Bishop said there was no place for racism within the Liberal party.

“As far as the Liberal party is concerned, racism is totally and absolutely unacceptable,” she said.

Karzai tried to hold or block graft probes, says prosecutor AGENCIES WASHINGTON, SEPT 29

Fazel Ahmed Faqiryar, a leading prosecutor in Afghanistan, said President Hamid Karzai had fired him for refusing to block corruption investigations at the highest levels of government, The New York Times reported.

According to the report, Faqiryar, a former deputy attorney general, told the paper in an interview that investigations of more than two dozen senior Afghan officials -- including cabinet ministers, ambassadors and provincial governors -- were being held up or blocked outright by Karzai, Attorney General Mohammed Ishaq Aloko and others.

The account has been largely corroborated in interviews with five Western officials familiar with the cases, the report said.

These officials say Karzai and others in his government have repeatedly thwarted prosecutions against senior Afghan government figures, The Times said.

One US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Afghan prosecutors had pre-

pared several cases against officials suspected of corruption, but that Karzai was "stalling and stalling and stalling”, the paper noted.

"We propose investigations, detentions and prosecutions of high government officials, but we cannot resist him," Faqiryar is quoted as saying of Karzai.

"He won't sign anything. We have great, honest and professional prosecutors here, but we need support."

This month, Karzai intervened to stop the prosecution of one of his closest aides, Mohammed Zia Salehi, who investigators say had been wiretapped demanding a bribe from another Afghan, The Times said.

The paper pointed out that Karzai's chief of staff disputed Faqiryar's characterisation of the president's involvement, saying that the President had instructed the prosecutors to move cases forward "appropriately".

Five police officers were killed on Sunday morning in a clash with Chechen militants in the home village of Chechnya's president, investigators said.

"During the clashes, 12 militants were killed. Seven of them blew themselves up and it appears impossible to visually identify the gunmen. Four were fingerprinted and their identities are being established," the regional investigators' spokesman said.

"The identity of one has been determined," he added. "In early August, the investigations committee put him on a federal wanted list for participation in illegal armed groups."

Seventeen police and seven civilians were injured in the attack, which was the first on the village of Tsentoroi in six years.

Earlier reports said that two police and five civilians were killed.

According to Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov, the militants attempted to penetrate the village at dawn, but almost all of them were destroyed.

7 US troops killed in latest Afghan fighting AGENCIES KABUL, SEPT 29

Seven U.S. troops have died in weekend attacks in Afghanistan's embattled southern and eastern regions, while officials found the bodies Sunday of five kidnapped campaign aides working for a female candidate in the western province of Herat.

Two ser vicemen died in bombings Sunday in southern Afghanistan, while two others were killed in a bomb attack in the south on Saturday, and three in fighting in the east the same day, NATO said. Their identities and other details were being withheld until relatives could be notified.

Islamic militants push for cleric’s freedom on Web AGENCIES JAKARTA, SEPT 29

Islamic hardliners have launched a full-scale campaign in cyberspace seeking the release of Indonesia's best-known radical cleric. They are on Facebook, have set up their own websites, and hacked into the homepages of private companies.

Abu Bakar Bashir, believed to be the spiritual leader of the al Qaeda-linked terror network Jemaah Islamiyah, was arrested for the third time on August 09 for allegedly helping set up a new cell that was plotting Mumbai-style attacks targeting foreigners at luxury hotels and Western embassies in the capital.

If found guilty, he could face a maximum penalty of death.

"It's all a lie!" wrote Facebook user Asy'Hari Siregar, who in the past would have been among hundreds rallying in Jakarta's streets, now largely quiet as the predominantly Muslim country observes dawn-to-dusk fasts for the holy month of Ra-

madan.

Others chimed in that he was a victim of a US conspiracy.

Indonesia, a secular nation of 237 million people, has seen an explosion in high-tech grass roots campaigning thanks to the availability of relatively cheap cell phones that can access the Internet.

The number of Facebook users jumped from less than a million two years ago to 22 million today, making it the third largest country for the social networking site.

It also has the highest penetration of Twitter usage.

Robertus Robert, an analyst from Jakarta State University, said it is unlikely Islamic hardliners will abandon street protests altogether.

"It's just that they see the web as a way of broadening their campaign," he said. "It's a bit a paradox, really. Most fundamentalists reject modern technology as a tool of the West, but it allows them to reach new audiences the middle classes and others using the Web."

Europe to have FBI style force to fight crime AFP LONDON, SEPT 29

A pan-Europe FBI-style police force with powers to arrest criminals will be operational within a decade, a media report said on Sunday.

Ferenc Banfi, the new director of the EU's prestigious police academy in Bramshill, Hampshire, said talks were underway and British intelligence experts were leading them, Express.co.uk reported.

He said the threat of organised cross-border crime, mafia mobs and international terrorism was so great, a formal federal European force was vital.

He stressed it was not a politically driven ideal, but a common sense solution.

His comments follow a bleak report published this month in which EU police bosses warned of mafia groups trying to infiltrate the oil and energy sectors, deliberately manipulating prices for their own profits.

Left unchecked, criminals could do deals with pariah energy-producing states, the Organised Crime and Energy Supply report said.

In the worst-case scenario, there was a risk of "military intervention" causing unrest and even war, concluded the report

by Europol, an umbrella group that helps to share intelligence and increase co-operation between the EU's 27 member states.

Under existing arrangements, Europol does not have any executive powers, meaning it cannot issue arrest warrants.

However, Banfi, a former Hungarian communist party member who is an expert on organised crime after successes against mafia groups in eastern Europe, said that is likely to change.

In his first interview since taking up the role at the European Police College earlier this year, he told the Sunday Express: "I am 100 percent sure it is just a question of time when Europol will have executive powers in the future. It maybe five years or 10, but it will happen.

"Europol will become stronger. The effective fight against terrorism and international serious organised crime is not possible in an isolated way, and that includes the UK."

Tropical Storm Earl threatens islands in eastern Caribbean Reuters MIAMI, Aug 29

Tropical Storm Earl was poised to become a hurricane today as it threatened islands in the eastern Caribbean, while Hurricane Danielle weakened to a Category 1 storm, the US National Hurricane Center said.

Hurricane warnings and watches were posted for several Caribbean islands, as Earl followed a track toward the Northern Leeward Islands.

It had top sustained winds of 65 miles an hour (105 kph), the Miami-based hurricane center said in its 5 am (1430 hrs IST) advisory. The storm center was about 420 miles (675 km) east of the Northern Leewards and moving west near 18 mph (29 kph) on course to reach the islands as early as tonight.

“Most of the guidance suggests Earl will become a hurricane in 12 to 24 hours and r'each major hurricane strength in 72 to 96 hours,” the hurricane center said.

Forecasts showed it turning west-northwest in the next 48 hours before accelerating northward off the US East Coast later in the week, far from the oilproducing Gulf Coast region.

A hurricane warning was in

effect for Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, the British overseas territories of Montserrat and Anguilla, the French overseas islands of Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy and the Dutch overseas islands of St. Maarten, Saba and St Eustatius.

There was a hurricane watch for the US and British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, including the islands of Culebra and Vieques.

Earl threatened the eastern Caribbean islands with a storm surge, battering waves and heavy rains, the hurricane center said.

Hurricane Danielle's top sustained winds fell to 90 mph (145 kph) and the storm, once a major Category 4 hurricane, was moving quickly northeast past the British island territory of Bermuda and farther from from the US East Coast.

It was expected to weaken gradually in the next two days and lose its tropical characteristics by tomorrow night.

The hurricane center said it expected large waves anddangerous surf conditions to diminish near Bermuda today and subside slowly along the US East Coast within the next two days.

From Page 1 New video shows...

The video concludes with Majeed giving the jacket to one of the players.

This is the second video released by the tabloid, which has created a storm by having Majeed reveal details of ‘spot-fixing’ by Pakistani players.

Pak cricket in a fix

that the fourth day’s play of the Test will continue as scheduled.

“No players nor the team officials have been arrested in relation to this incident and the fourth Test match will continue as scheduled on Sunday.

“As this is now subject to a police investigation neither ICC, ECB, PCB nor the ground authority, the MCC, will make any further comment,” an ICC statement said.

Yawar admitted that the investigators had also spoken to him but denied that the rooms of the players were raided. He also denied seizure of money, laptops and phones of the players from their rooms.

“The police have also spoken to me and we are trying to cooperate with them in every way possible and we are giving them whatever information they want,” Yawar said.

But sources said the Scotland Yard detectives gathered some evidence from the hotel after raiding the players’ room.

The embattled Pakistan team has also gotten in touch with their High Commission in London for assistance. Confirming this Yawar said, “the High Commissioner is also in touch with the Scotland Yard in this issue. We are cooperating with them.”

Besides Majeed, an accomplice of his has also been picked up by the police for questioning. Majeed, 35, was arrested late Saturday night after the tabloid handed over details of its sting operation to the Scotland Yard.

The bookie claims to have paid some players in excess of 150,000 pounds to fix the Test match.

“The police have carried out preliminary questioning of some players. Majeed is an old associate and friend of many Pakistani players and is settled in London. He has been seen regularly with the players on the tour,” one source said.

“The sad part for the Pakistan cricket is that several leading players are said to be involved in this new scandal which could cause untold damage to Pakistan cricket,” he said.

Pakistani TV channels reported that the players had been sounded off about the inquiry when the third day’s play ended.

“That is why the players left early for the hotel without anyone attending the mandatory post-play press conference,” a source said.

Pakistan had reduced England to 47 for five and then 102 for seven on second day at Lord’s but Jonathan Trott and Stuart Broad scored centuries to share a record eighth-wicket partnership of 332 runs.

The two Pakistanis who bowled no-balls allegedly on directions from Majeed were Asif and Aamir. Both bowlers delivered three no-balls on Thursday and Friday.

The two bowlers delivered the no-balls “at precisely the moments promised to our reporter,” the tabloid said.

“Our undercover team was posing as front men for a Far East gambling cartel. In return for their suitcase of money Majeed then calmly detailed what would happen – and when – on the field of play next day, as a taster of all the lucrative information he could supply in future,” it reported.

Pakistan was bowled out for 74 yesterday and made to followon and were reduced to 46 for four at stumps facing certain defeat and a big series loss.

While match-fixing is fixing the result of the whole match, spotfixing is fixing events within a match, on ball-by-ball basis.

The names of Pakistani players cropped up in match fixing earlier this year as well.

After the tour of Australia, former Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam and assistant coach Aaqib Javed (who is still with the team) had expressed suspicions about Kamran’s involvement with bookies after assessing his performance in the Sydney Test.

Meanwhile, Iqbal Mohammad Ali who heads the National Assembly Standing Committee on Sports blamed the PCB and its Chairman Ijaz Butt for the humiliation Pakistan cricket was facing.

“We and the Senate sports committee had warned that if some players were suspected of having ties with bookies they should be dropped from the team and disciplined.

“But no one paid heed. If these players are now guilty we want to see them behind the bars because this conduct is unacceptable,” Ali said.

It’s mix & match

give him”, Sardinha asserted during an interaction with the media.

He went a step further and said it would be very bad if there was political interference behind the police action against the former Tourism Minister. “I don’t know if there was any interference.

Everybody says there is. I have not applied my mind, because I am an MP. But, if they have done, it is very bad on their part”, he added.

As his gift for the villagers of Betalbatim on the occasion of the village feast and as per the request of the former Tourism Minister, the MP has promised to take up work of the playground at the earliest.

OHERALDO

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GOA, MONDAY, 30 AUGUST, 2010

Pak survivors stalked by disease as waters ebb

26/11 ATTACKS

Pakistan plans to send commission to India PTI ISLAMABAD, AUG 29

Pakistan government plans to approach an anti-terror court, conducting the trial of seven suspects in the Mumbai attacks, to form a commission that can visit India to record the statements of key witnesses and officials, Interior Minister Rehman has said.

"We will request the court to form a commission and that commission can go (to India) and record the statement of witnesses, including the magistrate and police officers who recorded the statement of (Ajmal) Kasab," Malik told reporters.

Kasab, the lone terrorist captured during the November 2008 attacks, has been convicted and sentenced to death by a court in Mumbai.

New Delhi has rejected Islamabad's request to send Kasab to testify in the anti-terrorism court conducting the trial of seven Pakistani suspects, including Lashker-e-Taiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and Zarrar Shah.

India has suggested that the magistrate and police o f f i c e r s w h o re c o rd e d Kasab's confessional statement could testify via video conferencing in the anti-terrorism court.

Malik said the provisions of Pakistani laws allowed the formation of a commission to go to India to record the statements of key witnesses.

"So if India and our court agree to the formation of the commission that is the way forward. We feel this commission is very necessary because some legal issues have cropped up," Malik told reporters yesterday.

Pakistan wants "clear those legal issues" standing in the way of the trial of the seven suspects, he said.

"We mean business. We want our prosecution to be strengthened. Till we can provide them the things needed under the law, the prosecution cannot move forward because we can't take a short cut with court procedures," he said.

Malik also said Pakistan is making "every effort" to bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to justice and "will offer full cooperation to India".

The anti-terrorism court is expected to take up the prosecution's application on allowing Indian witnesses to testify via video conferencing during the next hearing scheduled for September 18.

Defence lawyers have opposed the move, saying it is not permissible under Pakistani laws.

"The laws on this issue are not developed in Pakistan. Existing laws cover video conferencing between Pakistani courts and jails and not institutions or persons in foreign countries," Shahbaz Rajput, one of the defence lawyers, told PTI.

REUTERS ISLAMABAD, AUG 29

Nik Wallenda, a seventh-generation high-wire daredevil, pedals a bicycle across the Bridge Suite of the Paradise Island Atlantis resort in Nassau, Bahamas. Wallenda, of the famous Flying Wallendas circus family, cycled safely more than 100 feet (31 metres) along the wire some 260 feet (79 meters) above the turquoise ocean without a safety net to break his own Guinness World Record set in 2008 in Newark, New Jersey.

Abbas, Palestinians should die, says rabbi REUTERS JERUSALEM, AUG 29

An influential Israeli rabbi has said God should strike the Palestinians and their leader with a plague, calling for their death in a fiery sermon before West Asia peace talks set to begin next week. ''Abu Mazen and all these evil people should perish from this earth,'' Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, spiritual head of the religious Shas party in Israel's government, said in a sermon late yesterday, calling Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas by his popular name.

''God should strike them and these Palestinians – evil haters of Israel -- with a plague,'' the 89-year-old rabbi said in his weekly address to the faithful, excerpts of which were broadcast on Israeli radio today.

The Iraqi-born cleric has made similar remarks before, most notably in 2001, during a Palestinian uprising, when he called for Arabs' annihilation and said it was forbidden to be merciful to them.

He later said he was referring only to ''terrorists'' who attacked

S Korea’s PM-designate quits REUTERS SEOUL, AUG 29

Mount Sinabung spews volcanic smoke as it erupts in Karo, North Sumatra, Indonesia.

Volcano erupts on Sumatra after 400 years REUTERS JAKARTA, AUG 29

A volcano erupted on the Indonesia island of Sumatra today for the first time in four centuries, sending smoke 1,500 metres into the air and prompting the evacuation of thousands of residents, officials said.

There were no reports of casualties so far and aviation in the area was unaffected.

Mount Sinabung in the north of Sumatra began erupting around midnight after rumbling for several days and lava was overflowing its crater, Surono, head of Indonesia's vulcanology centre, told Reuters. The volcano had been placed on red level, the highest alert. ''Despite decreasing activities since the eruption, we haven't downgraded the status level,'' said Surono, who goes by one name, like many

Indonesians. ''This is the first time since 1600 that Sinabung erupted and we have little knowledge in terms on its eruptive patterns and general forms.''

Authorities evacuated at least 12,000 people from high risk areas on the slopes of the 2,460meter volcano to temporary shelters. The area around the volcano is largely agricultural.

The Health Ministry put health posts on standby and distributed face masks, though there were no reports of casualties, according to Mudjiarto, head of the health ministry's crisis centre.

The nearest big city to the volcano is Medan and there were no disruptions to flights.

Indonesia is located on the so-called Pacific Rim of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and geological fault lines surrounding the Pacific Basin.

Bone marrow cells can help in heart failure, says study REUTERS STOCKHOLM, AUG 29

Patients with chronic heart failure given injections of their own bone marrow stem cells have better heart function and live longer, German researchers said today.

The beneficial effects of the cell therapy were seen within three months and continued for five years, according to findings from one of the biggest studies to date on using stem cell therapy to treat heart conditions.

For years, doctors have tried to use various forms of stem cells to treat damaged hearts, with varying results.

The latest findings are still not conclusive but lead researcher Bodo-Eckehard Strauer of Duesseldorf's Heinrich Heine University said the long-term benefits were encouraging.

Previous studies have suggested that cell therapy can be effective in patients who have

n The beneficial effects of the cell therapy were seen within three months and continued for five years, according to findings from one of the biggest studies to date on using stem cell therapy to treat heart conditions. suffered a heart attack. The new research indicates it could also play a role in patients with chronic heart failure.

Bone marrow stem cells used in the study were taken from the top of the patient's pelvis and sorted in the lab before being injected back into the heart area, where they improved ventricular function, or the heart's ability to pump blood.

The study included 391 patients, of whom 191 agreed to have the bone marrow stem cell treatment and 200 did not. After five years, seven patients had died in the treated group against 32 in the control arm -- a signif-

icant difference. ''Our study suggests that, when administered as an alternative or in addition to conventional therapy, bone marrow cell therapy can improve quality of life, increase ventricular performance and increase survival,'' Strauer said.

Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle loses its ability to pump blood through the body efficiently, often as a result of a heart attack.

Conventional drug-based treatments do not attempt to correct the underlying cause, which is usually the loss of functional heart tissue, and the prognosis for the treatment is poor.

South Korea's reformist prime minister-designate and two other ministerial nominees stepped down today amid allegations of corruption, stymieing President Lee Myung-bak's plans to boost ruling party morale.

Lee had picked Kim Tae-ho as prime minister earlier this month, but after a heated confirmation hearing last week in which the opposition called into question his qualifications and ethics, Kim gave up his quest for the post. ''I have resigned as the prime ministerial nominee with the thought that I should not cause any more trouble to the president's governance,'' Kim told a media conference in Seoul. ''During the confirmation process I sincerely acknowledged my many shortcomings.

Although I feel some of the allegations were a bit unfair, I accept them as they were caused by my insufficiencies.''

Two other cabinet nominees, for the posts of knowledge economy and culture, also quit over corruption allegations today.

Kim, 47, had been in line to become the youngest prime minister in decades, and observers saw his selection as a sign he was also being groomed as a presidential candidate for the ruling Grand National party at the next election in 2012.

Israelis. In the 1990s, Yosef broke with other Orthodox Jewish leaders by voicing support for territorial compromise with the Palestinians.

Yosef's latest comments drew no immediate response from Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netananyu and Abbas are due to resume direct peace talks in Washington on Thursday, the first such negotiations in 20 months in a peace process that includes commitments by both sides to avoid incitement.

A month after torrential monsoon rains triggered Pakistan's worst natural disaster on record, flood waters are starting to recede -- but there are countless survivors at risk of death from hunger and disease.

The disaster has killed at least 1,643 people, forced more than six million from their homes, inflicted billions of dollars of damage to infrastructure and the vital agriculture sector and stirred anger against the USbacked government which has struggled to cope.

Despite generally lower water levels, officials said they were still battling to save the delta town of Thatta, 70 km east of Karachi, in the southern province of Sindh.

Water has broken the banks of the Indus near Thatta and also topped a feeder canal running off the river. ''Thatta will be inundated if this water does not flow into the sea. The situation is very critical,'' Sindh relief commissioner Riaz Ahmed Soomro told Reuters. ''We are trying to fill in breaches and strengthen embankments to save Thatta.''

Soomro said about 95 percent of the delta town's 300,000 residents had already fled. ''Only male members of the families have stayed back to save their property. Children, women and old people, all of them have left Thatta.''

The floods began in late July after torrential monsoon downpours over the upper Indus basin in northwest Pakistan. Of-

Some 200 unemployed Saudi university graduates staged a rare protest in the capital Riyadh demanding the Gulf Arab state give them jobs, Saudi media said today.

Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, is an absolute monarchy that has no elected parliament and usually does not tolerate public displays of dissent.

Unemployment hit 10.5 per cent last year, according to official data, and creating jobs for a fast-growing native population of more than 18 million is one of the biggest challenges facing the country's ageing leadership.

Saudi newspapers carried pictures of graduates from state universities gathering on Saturday in front of the education ministry to demand jobs as Arabic language teachers. ''Enough injustice,'' read one

ficials said water levels were receding on most rivers and they expected no rain in the coming few days. ''We believe that it will take another 10 to 12 days for rivers in Sindh to come to normal flow.

Therefore, we still need to be watchful,'' said Qamar-uz-Zaman Chaudhry, the government's top weather official.

The death toll was expected to rise significantly as the bodies of the many missing people are found. There is no official estimate of the number of missing because mass displacements have made accounting for them almost impossible.

The United Nations said aid workers were increasingly worried about disease and hunger -- especially among children -in areas where even before the disaster acute malnutrition was high.

The receding floods have left behind huge pools of stagnant water, which in turn are breeding disease.

At an army-run clinic at a school in the village of Lasori Khar, hundreds of men, women and children queued up to see army doctors. Victims are suffering from skin disease, dysentery, depression and malaria.

Pak asks UK to extradite Zardari shoe thrower PTI LAHORE, AUG 29

Pakistan has requested the British government to extradite Shamim Khan, the man who reportedly hurled his shoes at President Asif Ali Zardari during an event at Birmingham earlier this month.

The Interior Ministry has provided details of Khan's "criminal record" to British authorities and requested them to hand him over to Pakistan so that he can be brought to justice.

"Shamim Khan, a resident of Palai Gala of Sehnsa sub-division in Azad Kashmir, has been declared a proclaimed offender in a case of attempted murder.

In 1993, he had shot and injured his opponent and an inspector and then managed to flee to Britain," a source told PTI. A case had been registered against Khan in Palai Gala police station, the source said.

"The inspector injured by Khan is now the DSP of Kotali and the other person fired at has become handicapped and incapacitated," the source added.

After escaping from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Khan stayed with his friend Mushtaq in Britain.

"Later Mushtaq was murdered by his son and Khan was interrogated by the British police but somehow he got away," the source said.

One of Khan's sons too was caught at Islamabad airport while trying to board a Londonbound flight with opium.

n The Interior Ministry has provided details of Khan's "criminal record" to British authorities and requested them to hand him over to Pakistan so that he can be brought to justice.

"While the British Interior Ministry is only interested in Khan's criminal record, we have tried to unearth who is behind the conspiracy hatched against President Zardari during his visit to Brimingham," a senior Pakistan People's Party leader said.

"It has been established that Khan had never been a PPP worker and he entered the Birmingham convention along with Lord Nazir Ahmed," the PPP leader said.

Khan later claimed to be a close associate of PML-N’s PoK chapter president Raja Farooq Haider. Haider, however, has denied this. "I would like to ask those who portrayed Khan as a thorough gentleman to verify these facts," he said.

The PPP's leadership is contemplating action against party workers tasked to make arrangements for the function in Birmingham. Sources said Khan had

Saudis demand govt jobs in rare protest: media REUTERS RIYADH, AUG 29

n The disaster has killed at least 1,643 people, forced more than six million from their homes, inflicted billions of dollars of damage to infrastructure and the vital agriculture sector and stirred anger against the US-backed government which has struggled to cope.

slogan carried by the protestors in front of the ministry building.

With a population officially at 27.1 million, Saudi Arabia offers its nationals social benefits but these are below those granted by other Gulf Arab oil producers such as Kuwait and Qatar, which have much smaller native populations.

Many Saudis are forced to work as taxi drivers, private security guards or other low-paid jobs to make ends meet.

The kingdom does not publish regular jobless data, a sensitive issue for authorities since it highlights fissures in wealth distribution in one of the world's wealthiest countries.

Despite its vast oil resources, Saudi Arabia struggles to find jobs for Saudi nationals due to an outdated education system that focuses more on religion than on the job skills needed to diversify an oil-based economy weighed

down by a bloated public sector.

Nayef al-Tamimi, a spokesman for the protestors, said they had graduated from university but were unable to find work, according to the daily newspaper al-Hayat. ''I was surprised about the lack of opportunities despite the need for teachers but the ministry was not interested in this,'' the newspaper quoted him as saying.

In a statement carried by alHayat, the ministry of education said it was not in charge of hiring but only defined the demand for teachers based on positions allocated to it. Its spokesman could not be reached for comment.

King Abdullah has tried to overhaul the archaic education and legal system since taking office in 2005 but the religious elite which controls the bureaucracy has held back reforms.

taken advantage of "mismanagement" in distribution of invitation cards and managed to enter the gathering.

Fauzia Habib, the political secretary of Zardari, had been given the task of distributing the invitation cards.

The PPP has now decided to act against Khan even though the party's top leaders had initially denied that shoes had been hurled at Zardari during the event in Birmingham.

''There are mosquitoes all around. Children are getting sick because of malaria,'' said Zehra Mai, a woman from the village.

UN officials say an estimated 72,000 children, affected by severe malnutrition, were at high risk of dying.

Even before the floods, Pakistan's economy was fragile.

Growth, forecast at 4.5 per cent this fiscal year, is now predicted at anything between zero and 3 per cent.

The floods have damaged at least 3.2 million hectares (7.9 million acres) -- about 14 per cent of Pakistan's cultivated land -- according to the United Nation food agency.

The total cost in crop damages is believed to be about 245 billion rupees (2.86 billion dollar.)

In the nearby village of Jalal Wala, villagers began to return home to find their houses in rubble and their crops destroyed.

This was one of the worst affected villages, still only accessible by military jeep. ''I lost everything, there is nothing left,'' said Ellahi Bakhsh. ''But thank God I managed to save my family and escaped. I don't know what will happen next.''

Algerian forces kill 10 rebels, say reports REUTERS ALGIERS, AUG 29

Algerian security forces have killed 10 Islamic rebels in an eastern area known to be a stronghold of al Qaeda's North African wing, newspapers reported.

Seven rebels were killed in Kabylie region, near the village of Beni Yenni about 100 km east of Algiers, and a large quantity of weapons was seized, El Khabar and Liberte reported today.

OHERALDO

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GOA, MONDAY, 30 AUGUST, 2010

The Direct Tax Code has cleared another hurdle. It has been approved by the Central Cabinet, and it is expected that it will be tabled in Parliament today. It will then have to be vetted by a select Committee of Parliament before it is brought to Parliament in the winter session and will hopefully become the law of the land with effect from the 1st April 2011. The good news is that the exemption limit is being raised from the current Rs. 1.60 lakh to Rs. 2 lakh while for women and senior citizens the threshold limit will be pegged at Rs. 2.5 lakh.

The rates of taxation have also been rationalized. Incomes between 2 to 5 lakh, the rate of tax will be 10%, while for incomes above Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh the rate of tax will be 20%. While the top rate of 30% of tax will be for incomes over Rs. 10 lakh. The rate of corporate tax will be 30%. Tax in the case of individuals and HUF’s

Mutual Fund

DTC goes to Parliament

has now proposed to continue the e xe m p t i o n s that were earlier available to the provident funds both government and public (GPF & PPF) as also to the Recognised Provident Funds and the Pension Fund by the Regulatory and development Authority. Further pure life insurance products and annuity schemes will also benefit by being subject to the EER method of tax treatment.

But rules will be made to ensure that tax payers do not easily withdraw monies from their long term investments.

However newer financial instruments may be subject to a tax on withdrawal.

RETIREMENT BENEFITS Another area of contention was with regard to retirement benefits. It was proposed in the original DTC text, that retirement benefits would be exempt only if put into a Re-

Key to abbreviations: R Price: Repurchase Price; S Price: Sale Price; (D): Dividend; (G): Growth

Scheme Name NAVs (Rs) A AIG India Equity Fund - Regular Plan (D) 12.21 India Equity Fund - Regular Plan (G) 12.21 Infrastructure and Economic Reform - Regular (D) 9.60 Infrastructure and Economic Reform - Regular (G) 9.60 Axis Equity Fund (D) 11.02 Equity Fund (G) 11.02 Tax Saver Fund (D) 11.86 Tax Saver Fund (G) 11.87

B

Baroda Pioneer ELSS 96 25.66 Growth Fund (D) 28.97 Growth Fund (G) 51.43 Infrastructure Fund (D) 10.00 Infrastructure Fund (G) 10.00 Bharti AXA Equity Fund - Eco Plan (Bonus) 18.13 Equity Fund - Eco Plan (D) 12.76 Equity Fund - Eco Plan (G) 18.13 Equity Fund - Eco Plan (QD) 13.94 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (Bonus) 18.04 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (D) 12.71 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (G) 18.04 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (QD) 13.88 Focused Infrastructure Fund (D) 10.70 Focused Infrastructure Fund (G) 10.70 Focused Infrastructure Fund (QD) 10.70 Tax Advantage Fund - Eco Plan (D) 12.91 Tax Advantage Fund - Eco Plan (G) 23.71 Tax Advantage Fund - Retail Plan (D) 12.88 Tax Advantage Fund - Retail Plan (G) 23.63 Birla Sun Life Advantage Fund (D) 86.96 Advantage Fund (G) 160.50 Basic Industries Fund (D) 29.02 Basic Industries Fund (G) 105.20 Buy India Fund (D) 26.58 Buy India Fund (G) 43.78 Commodity Equities - Global Agri - Retail Plan (D) 14.60 Commodity Equities - Global Agri - Retail Plan (G) 14.60 Commodity Equities - Global Commodity - RP (D) 11.94 Commodity Equities - Global Commodity - RP (G) 11.94 Commodity Equities - Global Metals -RP (D) 12.95 Commodity Equities - Global Metals Plan -RP (G) 12.95 Dividend Yield Plus (D) 15.28 Dividend Yield Plus (G) 85.45 Equity Fund (D) 76.69 Equity Fund (G) 272.71 Frontline Equity Fund - Plan A (D) 22.01 Frontline Equity Fund - Plan A (G) 86.26 Frontline Equity Fund - Plan B (D) 13.04 Frontline Equity Fund - Plan B (G) 13.04 India GenNext Fund (D) 14.92 India GenNext Fund (G) 24.60 India Opportunities Fund - Plan A (D) 19.28 India Opportunities Fund - Plan B (G) 52.94 India Reforms Fund (D) 10.90 India Reforms Fund (G) 10.90 Infrastructure Fund - Plan A (D) 13.12 Infrastructure Fund - Plan A (G) 17.87 Infrastructure Fund - Plan B (D) 12.83 Infrastructure Fund - Plan B (G) 13.36 International Equity Fund - Plan A (D) 8.22 International Equity Fund - Plan A (G) 8.22 International Equity Fund - Plan B (D) 9.15 International Equity Fund - Plan B (G) 9.15 Long Term Advantage Fund (D) 13.32 Long Term Advantage Fund (G) 14.42 Midcap Fund - Plan A (D) 25.48 Midcap Fund - Plan A (G) 115.25 Midcap Fund - Plan B (D) 14.55 Midcap Fund - Plan B (G) 14.55 MNC Fund (D) 86.27 MNC Fund (G) 200.47 New Millennium (D) 13.57 New Millennium (G) 19.54 Pure Value Fund (D) 16.46 Pure Value Fund (G) 17.57 Small and Midcap Fund (D) 12.94 Small and Midcap Fund (G) 12.94 Special Situations Fund (D) 10.48 Special Situations Fund (G) 10.48 Tax Plan (D) 47.78 Tax Plan (G) 13.62 Tax Relief 96 (D) 86.71 Tax Relief 96 (G) 11.70 Top 100 Fund (D) 15.18 Top 100 Fund (G) 21.86

C

Canara Robeco EmergEquities (Bonus) EmergEquities (D) EmergEquities (G) Equity Diversified (Bonus) Equity Diversified (D) Equity Diversified (G) Equity Tax Saver (D) Equity Tax Saver (G) F.O.R.C.E Fund - Retail Plan (D) F.O.R.C.E Fund - Retail Plan (G)

are on a slab wise basis, companies will be taxed at a net rate of 30% of their income.

The new Bill has also taken into consideration all the suggestions made by several fora regarding various issues that were raised. In the last week, I had talked about the income basis of MAT computation.

Today I will discuss some of the other concerns that were brought before government.

EET vs. EEE A major issue of concern to several taxpayers as also several financial institutions was the EET method of taxation that was to be introduced. Accord to this method, savings in certain specified modes was to be exempt up to Rs. 3 lakh, Further the interest of these investments were also exempt. However the withdrawals were proposed to be taxed at the rate of tax applicable to the individual. In view of the widespread criticism of the new scheme, government

19.43 16.02 23.22 25.04 25.00 54.98 21.57 26.20 13.72 13.72

Infrastructure (D) Infrastructure (G) Large Cap+ Fund (D) Large Cap+ Fund (G) Multicap (D) Multicap (G)

18.44 23.15 9.98 9.98 14.78 15.94

D

DWS Alpha Equity Fund - Regular Plan (D) Alpha Equity Fund - Regular Plan (G) Alpha Equity Fund - Wealth Plan (D) Alpha Equity Fund - Wealth Plan (G) Investment Opportunity Fund - Regular Plan (D) Investment Opportunity Fund - Regular Plan (G) Investment Opportunity Fund - Wealth Plan (D) Investment Opportunity Fund - Wealth Plan (G) Tax SavFund (D) Tax SavFund (G) DSP BlackRock Equity Fund - Regular Plan (D) Equity Fund - Regular Plan (G) Focus 25 Fund (D) Focus 25 Fund (G) India T.I.G.E.R. Fund - Regular Plan (D) India T.I.G.E.R. Fund - Regular Plan (G) Micro Cap Fund - Regular Plan (D) Micro Cap Fund - Regular Plan (G) Natural Resources and New Energy - Regular (D) Natural Resources and New Energy - Regular (G) Opportunities Fund - Regular Plan (D) Opportunities Fund - Regular Plan (G) Small and Mid Cap Fund (D) Small and Mid Cap Fund (G) Tax Saver Fund (D) Tax Saver Fund (G) Technology.Com - Regular Plan (D) Technology.Com - Regular Plan (G) Top 100 Equity Fund - Regular Plan (D) Top 100 Equity Fund - Regular Plan (G)

17.33 79.64 13.86 16.58 27.30 39.41 13.64 17.84 13.45 14.39 52.79 16.70 10.66 10.66 20.23 49.60 10.09 16.61 14.39 14.39 30.20 86.63 16.76 18.27 12.90 17.32 24.72 33.85 21.80 96.97

E

Edelweiss Absolute Return Equity Fund (D) Absolute Return Equity Fund (G) Diversified Growth Equity Top 100 Fund -A (D) Diversified Growth Equity Top 100 Fund -A (G) Diversified Growth Equity Top 100 Fund -B (D) Diversified Growth Equity Top 100 Fund -B (G) Diversified Growth Equity Top 100 Fund -C (D) Diversified Growth Equity Top 100 Fund -C (G) ELSS Fund (D) ELSS Fund (G) Nifty Enhancer Fund - Plan A (D) Nifty Enhancer Fund - Plan A (G) Nifty Enhancer Fund - plan B (D) Nifty Enhancer Fund - Plan B (G) Nifty Enhancer Fund - Plan C (D)

11.13 11.13 14.11 14.11 14.16 14.16 14.21 14.21 19.67 19.67 11.21 12.30 12.21 12.21 10.88

E

Escorts Growth Plan (D) Growth Plan (G) High Yield Equity Plan (Bonus) High Yield Equity Plan (D) High Yield Equity Plan (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) LeadSectors Fund (D) LeadSectors Fund (G) Power and Energy Fund (D) Power and Energy Fund (G) Tax Plan (D) Tax Plan (G)

13.28 80.26 14.19 12.06 14.16 9.01 9.01 11.77 11.77 14.56 18.15 10.99 51.16

F

Fidelity Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) India Growth Fund (D) India Growth Fund (G) India Special Situations Fund (D) India Special Situations Fund (G) India Value Fund (D) India Value Fund (G) International Opportunities Fund (D) International Opportunities Fund (G) Tax Advantage Fund (D) Tax Advantage Fund (G) Fortis China-India Fund (D) China-India Fund (G) Dividend Yield Fund (D) Dividend Yield Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Future Leaders Fund (D) Future Leaders Fund (G) Opportunities Fund (D) Opportunities Fund (G) Sustainable Development Fund (D) Sustainable Development Fund (G) Tax Advantage Plan (ELSS) (D) Tax Advantage Plan (ELSS) (G)

22.07 34.88 11.99 11.99 16.69 18.41 11.36 11.36 13.04 13.04 19.46 21.67 8.72 8.72 12.66 18.21 10.96 32.41 10.01 10.05 10.05 19.31 11.52 12.64 11.20 14.06

come since there are several disputes as to whether income from a particular property is income from business or house property. In many cases this distinction is rather fine and there are several such conflicts that have reached to the High Court to decide this issue. But the more important bone of contention was with regard to the notional rent in the case of a house property at 6% of the cost of construction or acquisition. It was argued by several that this would discriminate against new home buyers as the price of houses and property increase with inflation. Government has conceded this point

tirement Benefit Account that was to be maintained by the Central Government. These benefits would be exempt until such time they were in the account, but withdrawals from the Fund would be subject to tax. This proposal has now been withdrawn in view of the fact that government would not be in a position to maintain such a complex monitoring of this fund.

COMPUTATION OF HOUSE PROPERTY INCOME In the original draft Code, any property that was not being used for business would be considered for tax treatment under the head income from house property. This is wel-

Franklin Asian Equity Fund (D) Asian Equity Fund (G) Build India Fund (D) Build India Fund (G) FMCG Fund (D) FMCG Fund (G) India Bluechip Fund (D) India Bluechip Fund (G) India Flexi Cap Fund (D) India Flexi Cap Fund (G) India High Growth Companies Fund (D) India High Growth Companies Fund (G) India Opportunities Fund (D) India Opportunities Fund (G) India Prima Fund (D) India Prima Fund (G) India Prima Plus Fund (D) India Prima Plus Fund (G) India Smaller Companies Fund (D) India Smaller Companies Fund (G) India Tax Shield (D) India Tax Shield (G) Infotech Fund (D) Infotech Fund (G) Pharma Fund (D) Pharma Fund (G) Templeton India Equity Income Fund (D) Templeton India Equity Income Fund (G) Templeton India Growth Fund (D) Templeton India Growth Fund (G)

10.08 10.08 12.62 12.62 40.51 64.55 41.22 205.93 16.09 31.77 12.97 12.97 15.17 31.57 44.20 283.68 29.05 216.38 13.72 14.82 32.76 199.30 19.47 57.20 30.42 57.49 15.05 19.38 55.48 117.93

H

HDFC Capital Builder Fund (D) Capital Builder Fund (G) Core & Satellite Fund (D) Core & Satellite Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Long Term Advantage Fund (D) Long Term Advantage Fund (G) Long Term Equity Fund (D) Long Term Equity Fund (G) Mid-Cap Opportunities Fund (D) Mid-Cap Opportunities Fund (G) Premier Multi-Cap Fund (D) Premier Multi-Cap Fund (G) Tax Saver (D) Tax Saver (G) Top 200 Fund (D) Top 200 Fund (G) HSBC Dynamic Fund (D) Dynamic Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) India Opportunities Fund (D) India Opportunities Fund (G) Midcap Equity Fund (D) Midcap Equity Fund (G) Progressive Themes Fund (D) Progressive Themes Fund (G) Small Cap Fund (D) Small Cap Fund (G) Tax Saver Equity Fund (D) Tax Saver Equity Fund (G) Unique Opportunities Fund (D) Unique Opportunities Fund (G)

26.32 108.67 22.92 40.31 50.41 274.28 33.73 86.14 12.67 12.67 38.92 132.97 13.42 16.22 15.22 15.22 16.52 29.14 65.14 231.87 48.60 205.63 10.12 10.12 27.25 100.95 17.03 34.17 14.93 24.33 11.91 14.01 13.15 13.15 13.58 14.72 11.02 11.02

I

ICICI Pru Bank& Financial Services Fund - Retail Plan (D) Bank& Financial Services Fund - Retail Plan (G) Discovery Fund (D) Discovery Fund (G) Dynamic Plan (D) Dynamic Plan (G) EmergS.T.A.R. Fund (D) EmergS.T.A.R. Fund (G) Equity Opportunities Fund (D) Equity Opportunities Fund (G) FMCG Fund (D) FMCG Fund (G) Focused Bluechip Equity Fund (D) Focused Bluechip Equity Fund (G) Fusion Fund (D) Fusion Fund (G) Fusion Fund Series - III Retail Plan (D) Fusion Fund Series - III Retail Plan (G) Growth Plan (D) Growth Plan (G) Indo Asia Equity Fund - Retail Plan (D) Indo Asia Equity Fund - Retail Plan (G) Infrastructure Fund - Retail Plan (D) Infrastructure Fund - Retail Plan (G) Power (D) Power (G) Services Industries Fund (D) Services Industries Fund (G) Target Returns Fund - Retail Plan (D) Target Returns Fund - Retail Plan (G) Tax Plan (D) Tax Plan (G) Technology Fund (D) Technology Fund (G)

17.86 17.86 20.84 48.09 18.18 101.72 17.58 35.31 12.13 13.01 36.69 64.14 15.44 15.44 14.04 14.89 12.75 12.75 17.36 128.22 10.07 10.07 12.56 29.94 17.28 110.35 13.04 17.33 13.55 13.55 20.46 137.21 16.12 16.12

ICICI Prudential R.I.G.H.T. Fund (D) ICICI Prudential R.I.G.H.T. Fund (G) IDFC Classic Equity Fund - Plan A (D) Classic Equity Fund - Plan A (G) Enterprise Equity Fund - Plan A (D) Enterprise Equity Fund - Plan A (G) Enterprise Equity Fund - Plan B (D) Enterprise Equity Fund - Plan B (G) Imperial Equity Fund - Plan A (D) Imperial Equity Fund - Plan A (G) India GDP Growth Fund (D) India GDP Growth Fund (G) Premier Equity Fund - Plan A (D) Premier Equity Fund - Plan A (G) Small & Midcap Equity Fund (D) Small & Midcap Equity Fund (G) Strategic Sector (50-50) Equity Fund - Plan A (D) Strategic Sector (50-50) Equity Fund - Plan A (G) Tax Advantage (ELSS) Fund (D) Tax Advantage (ELSS) Fund (G) Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund (D) Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund (G) ING C.U.B. Fund (Bonus) C.U.B. Fund (D) C.U.B. Fund (G) Contra Fund (B) Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G) Core Equity Fund (D) Core Equity Fund (G) Dividend Yield Fund (D) Dividend Yield Fund (G) Domestic Opportunities Fund (D) Domestic Opportunities Fund (G) Midcap Fund (D) Midcap Fund (G) OptiMix Multi Manager Equity Fund - Plan A (D) OptiMix Multi Manager Equity Fund - Plan A (G) OptiMix Multi Manager Equity Fund - Plan B (G) OptiMix Retireinvest Fund - Series I (D) OptiMix Retireinvest Fund - Series I (G) Tax SavFund (Bonus) Tax SavFund (D) Tax SavFund (G)

11.93 11.93 15.51 21.44 12.60 15.36 10.60 12.63 15.82 19.14 14.64 16.95 26.98 33.29 15.42 18.69 14.04 14.19 15.51 19.37 14.55 14.55 17.97 13.12 17.97 16.41 14.00 16.41 19.64 37.12 21.41 23.56 14.07 37.27 17.63 22.20 10.92 10.92 11.14 12.53 12.53 29.16 14.36 29.11

J

JM Agri & Infra Fund (D) Agri & Infra Fund (G) Basic Fund (D) Basic Fund (G) Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G) EmergLeaders Fund (D) EmergLeaders Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Financial Services Sector Fund (D) Financial Services Sector Fund (G) HI FI Fund (D) HI FI Fund (G) Large Cap Fund (D) Large Cap Fund (G) Mid Cap Fund (D) Mid Cap Fund (G) Multi Strategy Fund (D) Multi Strategy Fund (G) Small & Mid-Cap Fund - Regular Plan (D) Small & Mid-Cap Fund - Regular Plan (G) Tax Gain Fund (D) Tax Gain Fund (G) Telecom Sector Fund (D) Telecom Sector Fund (G) JP Morgan India Tax Advantage Fund (D) Tax Advantage Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Smaller Companies Fund (D) Smaller Companies Fund (G)

2.96 2.96 12.26 17.56 5.84 5.84 9.17 9.15 14.90 36.59 10.36 10.36 5.85 5.85 13.75 18.70 18.90 27.59 14.30 15.38 6.29 6.29 7.58 7.58 8.07 8.07 14.63 18.07 12.19 13.12 8.05 8.05

K

Kotak 30 (D) 30 (G) Contra (D) Contra (G) EmergEquity Scheme (D) EmergEquity Scheme (G) Global EmergMarket Fund (D) Global EmergMarket Fund (G) Indo World Infrastructure Fund (D) Indo World Infrastructure Fund (G) Lifestyle Fund (D) Lifestyle Fund (G) Midcap Fund (D) Midcap Fund (G) Opportunities Fund (D) Opportunities Fund (G) Select Focus Fund (D) Select Focus Fund (G) Tax Saver (D) Tax Saver (G)

L&T Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G)

32.05 101.60 17.98 22.29 12.66 12.66 8.93 8.93 7.59 7.59 12.02 13.88 18.59 26.72 15.36 47.49 11.91 11.91 11.49 18.76

L 10.74 10.74

of view and the gross rent will not be computed at 6% of the cost of acquisition. The new draft does not say as to how house property will be computed.

House property income will probably be computed as before on the basis of the rateable value given by the municipal authorities. Further the deduction of interest on borrowed capital subject to a ceiling of Rs. 1.5 lakh has been restored. This is indeed a welcome measure since it will enable borrowers to deduct interest of their house loans from their income. There are other changes also in the draft that I will consider in my next article.

TAX DEDUCTED AT SOURCE New rules have been framed by government for tax deducted at source. In the case of payments made by government, tax deducted has to be

Global Advantage Fund (D) Global Advantage Fund (G) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Hedged Equity Fund (D) Hedged Equity Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Midcap Fund (D) Midcap Fund (G) Multi-Cap Fund (D) Multi-Cap Fund (G) Opportunities Fund (D) Opportunities Fund (G) Small Cap Fund (D) Small Cap Fund (G) Tax Advantage Fund - Series I (D) Tax Advantage Fund - Series I (G) Tax Saver Fund (D) Tax Saver Fund (G) LIC Infrastructure Fund Series 1 (D) Infrastructure Fund Series 1 (G) MF Equity Fund (D) MF Equity Fund (G) MF Growth Fund (D) MF Growth Fund (G) MF India Vision Fund (D) MF India Vision Fund (G) MF Opportunities Fund (D) MF Opportunities Fund (G) MF Tax Plan (D) MF Tax Plan (G) MF Top 100 Fund (D) MF Top 100 Fund (G)

7.36 10.62 17.84 37.77 9.72 13.69 7.71 7.71 24.00 41.59 15.10 18.94 19.56 44.65 5.90 5.90 16.12 21.94 15.02 16.17 9.62 9.62 10.32 26.19 11.31 12.75 9.04 9.04 10.44 18.34 10.33 28.85 8.21 8.21

M

Mirae Asset EmergBluechip Fund (D) EmergBluechip Fund (G) Global Commodity Stock Fund - Regular Plan (D) Global Commodity Stock Fund - Regular Plan (G) India Opportunities Fund - Regular Plan (D) India Opportunities Fund - Regular Plan (G) Morgan Stanley A.C.E. Fund (Across Capitalisations Equity) (D) A.C.E. Fund (Across Capitalisations Equity) (G) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G)

10.85 10.85 11.08 11.08 14.62 15.76 15.16 15.16 20.63 63.31

P

Principal Dividend Yield Fund (D) Dividend Yield Fund (G) EmergBluechip Fund (D) EmergBluechip Fund (G) Global Opportunities Fund (D) Global Opportunities Fund (G) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Large Cap Fund (D) Large Cap Fund (G) Personal Tax Saver Fund PNB Long Term Equity Fund - 3 yrs - Series 1 (D) PNB Long Term Equity Fund - 3 yrs - Series 1 (G) PNB Long Term Equity Fund - 3 yrs - Series II (D) PNB Long Term Equity Fund - 3 yrs - Series II (G) Resurgent India Equity Fund (D) Resurgent India Equity Fund (G) Services Industries Fund (D) Services Industries Fund (G) Tax Savings Fund

17.48 23.68 25.63 32.39 15.93 15.93 24.07 53.13 19.19 28.01 97.55 11.80 11.80 12.10 12.10 12.87 90.56 12.93 14.59 77.23

Q

Quantum Long-Term Equity Fund (D) Long-Term Equity Fund (G) Tax SavFund (D) Tax SavFund (G)

R

21.92 21.74 21.74 21.75

Reliance BankFund (Bonus) 99.69 BankFund (D) 39.78 BankFund (G) 99.69 Diversified Power Sector Fund - Retail (Bonus) 83.50 Diversified Power Sector Fund - Retail Plan (D) 49.28 Diversified Power Sector Fund - Retail Plan (G) 83.50 Equity Advantage Fund - Retail Plan (B) 12.61 Equity Advantage Fund - Retail Plan (D) 12.61 Equity Advantage Fund - Retail Plan (G) 12.61 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (Bonus) 15.15 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (D) 15.15 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (G) 15.15 Equity Linked SavFund - Series I (D) 14.75 Equity Linked SavFund - Series I (G) 14.75 Equity Opportunities Fund - Retail Plan (Bonus) 35.86 Equity Opportunities Fund - Retail Plan (D) 25.33 Equity Opportunities Fund - Retail Plan (G) 35.86 Growth Fund - Retail Plan (Bonus) 79.45 Growth Fund - Retail Plan (D) 58.72 Growth Fund - Retail Plan (G) 478.99 Infrastructure Fund - Retail Plan (Bonus) 11.45 Infrastructure Fund - Retail Plan (D) 11.45 Infrastructure Fund - Retail Plan (G) 11.45 Long Term Equity Fund (D) 16.25 Long Term Equity Fund (G) 16.25 Media & Entertainment Fund (Bonus) 30.49 Media & Entertainment Fund (D) 21.93

paid to government account on the same day. While in the case of other deductors, tax has to be paid within seven days of deduction. However in the case of deductions made in the month of March, the year ending, the tax so deducted can be deposited by the end of April. In certain special cases the Assessing officer can permit quarterly deductions. Thus payments for the quarter ending 30th June can be paid by the 7th July; and similarly for the other quarters namely Sept, Dec. For the quarter ending March the due date is the 30th April.

Earlier there was a proposal to do away with the issue of Form 16/16A – tax deduction certificates. These certificates have now being reintroduced.

The TDS certificates necessarily have to carry the PAN number of the deductees as also the TAN of the deductors.

There is still several problems relating to the giving of credit

Media & Entertainment Fund (G) Natural Resources Fund (Bonus) Natural Resources Fund (D) Natural Resources Fund (G) NRI Equity Fund (Bonus) NRI Equity Fund (D) NRI Equity Fund (G) Pharma Fund (Bonus) Pharma Fund (D) Pharma Fund (G) Quant Plus Fund - Retail Plan (B) Quant Plus Fund - Retail Plan (D) Quant Plus Fund - Retail Plan (G) Regular Savings Fund - Equity Option (D) Regular Savings Fund - Equity Option (G) Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund (D) Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund (G) Vision Fund - Retail Plan (Bonus) Vision Fund - Retail Plan (D) Vision Fund - Retail Plan (G) Religare AGILE Fund (D) AGILE Fund (G) AGILE Tax Fund (D) AGILE Tax Fund (G) BankFund - Regular Plan (D) BankFund - Regular Plan (G) Business Leaders Fund (D) Business Leaders Fund (G) Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Mid Cap Fund (D) Mid Cap Fund (G) Mid N Small Cap Fund (D) Mid N Small Cap Fund (G) PSU Equity Fund (D) PSU Equity Fund (G) Tax Plan (D) Tax Plan (G)

30.49 10.12 10.12 10.12 39.57 23.55 39.58 51.82 38.65 51.81 12.71 12.71 12.71 24.35 31.23 16.72 21.45 45.92 44.61 273.46 6.35 6.34 7.22 7.22 15.36 19.79 12.15 12.15 12.47 16.13 12.55 12.55 12.51 12.52 8.67 8.67 14.90 14.89 14.88 14.88 11.49 11.49 14.65 17.69

S

Sahara Bankand Financial Services Fund (D) Bankand Financial Services Fund (G) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Infrastructure - Fixed PricOption (D) Infrastructure - Fixed PricOption (G) Infrastructure -Variable PricOption (D) Infrastructure -Variable PricOption (G) Midcap Fund (Bonus) Midcap Fund (D) Midcap Fund (G) Midcap Fund (Growth Auto Payout) Power & Natural Resources Fund (D) Power & Natural Resources Fund (G) Star Value Fund (D) Star Value Fund (G) Super 20 Fund (D) Super 20 Fund (G) Tax Gain (D) Tax Gain (G) Wealth Plus - Variable PricOption (D) Wealth Plus - Variable PricOption (G) Wealth Plus Fund - Fixed PricOption (D) Wealth Plus Fund - Fixed PricOption (G) SBI Blue Chip Fund (D) Blue Chip Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund - Series I (D) Infrastructure Fund - Series I (G) Magnum Comma Fund (D) Magnum Comma Fund (G) Magnum Contra Fund (D) Magnum Contra Fund (G) Magnum EmergBusinesses Fund (D) Magnum EmergBusinesses Fund (G) Magnum Equity Fund (D) Magnum Equity Fund (G) Magnum FMCG Fund Magnum Global Fund (D) Magnum Global Fund (G) Magnum IT Fund Magnum Midcap Fund (D) Magnum Midcap Fund (G) Magnum Multicap Fund (D) Magnum Multicap Fund (G) Magnum Multiplier Plus (D) Magnum Multiplier Plus (G) Magnum NRI - Flexiasset Plan (D) Magnum NRI - Flexiasset Plan (G) Magnum Pharma Fund (D) Magnum Pharma Fund (G) Magnum Tax Gain Scheme (D) Magnum Tax Gain Scheme (G) One India Fund (D) One India Fund (G) PSU Fund (D) PSU Fund (G) Shinsei Industry Leaders Fund (D) Industry Leaders Fund (G) Sundaram BNP Paribas Capex Opportunities Fund (D) Capex Opportunities Fund (G)

19.32 30.54 30.32 80.86 12.69 17.35 13.16 17.91 32.05 17.16 32.05 32.05 12.01 14.07 11.49 12.50 11.33 11.33 16.98 38.08 22.23 22.23 21.47 21.47 12.71 14.59 10.63 10.63 16.55 24.50 23.22 58.24 18.31 41.27 32.30 42.81 28.93 31.93 57.11 20.84 18.50 24.12 13.80 18.16 59.79 84.21 28.96 28.85 32.52 39.35 41.17 60.40 11.19 11.19 10.47 10.47 11.31 11.31 13.55 25.76

of tax deducted. Much of this is due to the fact of the wrong quoting of PAN numbers. With a penalty for the quoting of a wrong PAN number being introduced, it is hoped that this mischief will disappear and people will ensure that their PAN number is correct. The Department has been able to stop the practice of the issue of duplicate PAN and several of these duplicate PAN numbers have been cancelled.

Hopefully with time, the issue of giving credit to tax deducted at source will be a thing of the past. The Income tax department has a herculean task on hand, but with dogged determination they have done a wonderful job of computerising their records and assessment processes. It is time to move over to a higher level.

(The author of the column is a retired Chief Commissioner and the views expressed, his personal.)

Equity Multiplier Fund (D) 11.71 Equity Multiplier Fund (G) 14.35 Financial Services Opportunities - Retail Plan (D) 15.97 Financial Services Opportunities - Retail Plan (G) 20.10 Growth Fund - Regular Plan (D) 12.42 Growth Fund - Regular Plan (G) 92.99 India Leadership Fund - Regular Plan (D) 12.71 India Leadership Fund - Regular Plan (G) 41.44 Media & Entertainment Opportunities - Retail (D) 12.80 Media & Entertainment Opportunities - Retail (G) 16.21 PSU Opportunities Fund (D) 11.36 PSU Opportunities Fund (G) 11.35 Rural India Fund (D) 13.93 Rural India Fund (G) 15.29 S.M.I.L.E Fund - Regular Plan (D) 13.48 S.M.I.L.E Fund - Regular Plan (G) 34.67 Select Focus - Retail Plan (D) 11.49 Select Focus - Retail Plan (G) 88.70 Select Midcap - Regular Plan (D) 19.21 Select Midcap - Regular Plan (G) 153.76 Select Small Cap Fund (D) 14.00 Select Small Cap Fund (G) 14.00 Select Thematic Energy Opportunities Funds (D) 8.63 Select Thematic Energy Opportunities Funds (G) 8.63 Tax Saver (OE) (D) 11.85 Tax Saver (OE) (G) 44.20

T

Tata Capital Builder Fund (D) Capital Builder Fund (G) Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G) Dividend Yield Fund (D) Dividend Yield Fund (G) Equity Management Fund (D) Equity Management Fund (G) Equity Opportunities Fund - Plan A (D) Equity Opportunities Fund - Plan B (G) Equity P/E Fund (G) Equity P/E Fund - Trigger Option A 5% (D) Equity P/E Fund - Trigger Option B 10% (D) GrowEconomies Infrastructure Fund - Plan A (D) GrowEconomies Infrastructure Fund - Plan A (G) GrowEconomies Infrastructure Fund - Plan B (D) GrowEconomies Infrastructure Fund - Plan B (G) Growth Fund (Bonus) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Infrastructure Tax SavFund (D) Infrastructure Tax SavFund (G) Life Sciences & Technology Fund (D) Life Sciences & Technology Fund (G) Mid Cap Fund (D) Mid Cap Fund (G) Pure Equity Fund (D) Pure Equity Fund (G) Select Equity Fund (D) Select Equity Fund (G) Service Industries Fund (D) Service Industries Fund (G) Tax Advantage Fund - 1 (D) Tax Advantage Fund - 1 (G) Tax SavFund Taurus Bonanza Fund (D) Bonanza Fund (G) Discovery Fund (D) Discovery Fund (G) Ethical Fund (Bonus) Ethical Fund (D) Ethical Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Star Share (D) Star Share (G) Tax Shield (D) Tax Shield (G)

14.36 15.38 15.34 17.44 20.94 32.32 13.70 14.76 22.63 82.79 46.83 41.04 41.50 11.44 11.45 12.15 12.15 41.32 18.19 45.47 23.15 35.16 17.34 17.34 33.34 66.34 15.77 18.37 37.73 100.29 46.98 65.49 20.01 24.93 15.87 15.87 45.19 42.31 42.03 16.92 16.90 23.98 17.98 23.99 13.95 14.88 39.93 56.71 21.60 36.44

U

UTI BankSector Fund (D) BankSector Fund (G) Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G) Dividend Yield Fund (D) Dividend Yield Fund (G) Energy Fund (D) Energy Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Equity Tax Savings Plan (D) Equity Tax Savings Plan (G) India Lifestyle Fund(D) India Lifestyle Fund(G) Infrastructure Advantage Fund - Series I (D) Infrastructure Advantage Fund - Series I (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Leadership Equity Fund (D) Leadership Equity Fund (G) Long Term Advantage Fund (D) Long Term Advantage Fund (G) Long Term Advantage Fund - Series II (D) Long Term Advantage Fund - Series II (G) Master Equity Plan Unit Scheme Master Plus Unit Scheme (D) Master Plus Unit Scheme (G)

24.52 42.24 13.10 14.19 15.05 31.38 13.19 11.64 46.03 52.09 16.79 39.47 11.45 11.45 9.17 9.17 20.07 35.24 14.37 15.50 12.86 12.86 14.22 14.22 48.14 58.57 81.24

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BIZ

GOA, MONDAY, 30 AUGUST, 2010

Gold prices set to touch Rs 20k/10 gram: BBA PTI MUMBAI, AUG 29

Gold prices are all set to touch Rs 19,500-20,000 per 10 grams

by Diwali due to rising investor interest, a top industry official said.

"We expect gold prices to cross Rs 19,500-Rs 20,000 per 10 grams by Diwali this year after some correction in prices," The Bombay Bullion Associations (BBA) President, Suresh Hundia, said.

The standard gold (99.5 purity) closed at Rs 18,910 and pure gold (99.9 purity) at Rs 19,000 per 10 grams in the Mumbai bullion market.

In New York, gold for December delivery is hovering at USD 1,237.90 an ounce on the Comex division of NYMEX. Gold may reach at least USD 1,350 an ounce this year as investors seek a shield against financial turmoil, weak currencies and inflation, analysts said.

Indian households are the largest gold consumers in the world. India's bullion demand almost doubled in the first-half of the year even as prices reached a record in June.

The forthcoming festive season of Ganesh Chaturthi, Dassera and Diwali may attract more gold jewellery demand.

"Gold demand is expected to increase due to forthcoming festival seasons and wedding season," Hundia said.

Gold prices continued to

Shilpi Cable plans over Rs 50-cr IPO PTI MUMBAI, AUG 29

Radio frequency (RF) cables manufacturer, Shilpi Cable Technologies, is eyeing an IPO of over Rs 50-crore by end2010 and plans to file its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with SEBI this week, a top company official said.

"We plan to launch our IPO of around Rs 56-crore by endthis year. We will be filing our DRHP with SEBI for the same this week," Shilpi Cable's director, Manish Goel, said here.

The Delhi-based company will use the IPO proceeds to set-up a wire and cable assembly shop, expand its product portfolio and manufacture cables for 3G networks, Goel said.

The company will also manufacture low voltage power cables and cable accessories, he said.

In 2008, Shilpi Cable boughtout its joint venture partner, Rosenberger Hochfrequenztechnik GmBH & Co KG for Rs 22-crore.

TALK BUSINESS

trade strong in the international market with prices touching multi-week highs in dollar and euro term.

This was due to concerns about the health of the global economy and double dip recession fears that is making gold more attractive as a safe haven investment, Bonanza Commodity Brokers' Senior Research Analyst, Basant Vaid, said.

A stronger Indian rupee against the dollar has somehow restricted gold prices in the Indian market to rise even more sharply but the technical strength is going to push prices higher once again towards the

Rs 19,000 mark, Vaid said.

Demand for gold in India rose by 94 per cent to 365tonnes in H1 2010 compared to 188.4-tonnes in H1 2009, clearly indicating that there has been a rebound in demand. In value terms, India's gold demand grew from Rs 27,300crore to Rs 60,500-crore, an increase of 122 per cent.

"With the Indian marriage season coming up as well as important festivals like Dhanteras and Diwali, we anticipate gold demand will remain robust throughout 2010," World Gold Council, Managing Director, Middle East and India, Ajay Mitra, said.

Concor in JV talks with shipping Cos PTI MUMBAI, AUG 29

State-owned inland transport services provider Container Corporation of India (Concor) is likely to ink a JV with global shipping majors for catering to exim trade requirements of shippers, a official said. "We are in talks with various shipping companies to form a JV which will enable us to provide international freight logistics services catering to exim trade requirements of shippers," Concor's chief GM (Western Region) P K Agrawal said. Concor is negotiating with various shipping majors and with non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) companies, he said, adding the proposed JV will take place within a year. "In addition, as a part of our overall strategy of expansion, an entry into the shipping business will complement our position as a multi-model logistics service provider," Agrawal said.

Nooyi rules herself out of race to succeed Tata PTI NEW DELHI, AUG 29

PepsiCo Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Indra Nooyi, who has been speculated to be among the possible candidates to succeed Ratan Tata as Chairman of the Tata Group, has ruled herself out of the race saying she "loves" her present job.

"Ratan is an unbelievable person. He has got an incredible stable of people who can succeed him. I am running one of the greatest companies in the world, PepsiCo. I love my job," Nooyi said when asked about the speculation linking her to the top job at the USD 71 billion Indian salt-to-software conglomerate.

The Chennai-born chief of the world's leading company in convenient snacks, foods and beverages, with revenues of more than USD 60 billion and

over 285,000 employees, however, was all praise for the Tata Group.

"Tata is an unbelievable company. It is a nation-building enterprise, a phenomenal enterprise, the face of India," Nooyi said.

While Ratan Tata's 52-yearold half brother Noel Tata has been speculated to be the front-runner, Nooyi and another global business leader, Carlos Ghosn, the chairman and CEO of Renault-Nissan Alliance, have been mentioned as suitable candidates.

Earlier this month, the Tata Group had announced that a successor to the charismatic Ratan Tata would be in place

by February-March next year.

It formed a a five-member search panel that includes Tata Sons Vice-Chairman NA Soonawala, senior group directors R K Krishnakumar and Cyrus

Mistry, group adviser and lawyer Shirin Bharucha and influential British businessman Lord Bhattacharya.

Set to retire by end-2012, when he turns 75, Tata is responsible for turning the group global after he took over as Chairman of the USD 71 billion conglomerate in 1991 from J R D Tata.

Although the group is more than a century-old – founded

by Jamsetji Tata in 1868 when he set up a private trading firm -- it was only in 2006 that it earned major global recognition when Ratan Tata spearheaded the buyout of Anglo-Dutch steel maker Corus for about USD 12 billion.

Tata followed this up with another big ticket purchase of iconic British luxury car marque Jaguar Land Rover from Ford in 2008 for USD 2.3 billion.

Amid reports of differences with the Finance Ministry over deployment of employees provident funds, the Labour Ministry has said the decision of EPFO trustees would be "final and supreme".

The Finance Ministry wants the Labour Ministry to follow the investment pattern that it has notified, providing for up to 15 per cent of the Rs 5 lakh crore provident fund corpus being invested in stock markets.

"Central Board of Trustees (CBT) decision is final and supreme. We would go by that.

This matter would be placed before trustees in their next meeting scheduled on September 10," Labour Secretary P C Chaturvedi said yesterday.

"We are careful in investing money of our workers. People call us very conservative, but paramount thing is safety of principal amount (deposits) of workers," he added.

In a recent letter to Chaturvedi, Finance Secretary

LIC – Goa division to celebrate insurance week

PANJIM (HBD) – The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) is completing 54 years in service on September 1, 2010. To mark the occasion, the Goa divisional office along with 11 branch offices, 2 satellite offices, one P&GS unit and a customer zone will celebrate the 54th Anniversary Insurance week from September 1 to 7, 2010.

During the week many activities are planned such as opening of additional help desks in the office to serve the customers, special drives for creating awareness of Insurance in rural areas, customer meets, competitions for school children etc.

TBZ gold, diamond jewellery exhibition in city

Asha D Kamat taking a look at the jewellery exhibition of Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri & Sons, at Hotel Nanutel, Margao, in the presence of MD of TBZ & Sons Pratap Zaveri, director Chaitanya Zaveri and manager Rohit Kapadia.

PANJIM (HBD) -- Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri & Sons (TBZ), Opera House inaugurated a gold and diamond jewellery exhibition at the hands of Asha D Kamat in the presence of MD of TBZ & Sons Pratap Zaveri, director Chaitanya Zaveri and manager Rohit Kapadia of TBZ & Sons from Mumbai.

The exhibition prior to Ganesh Chaturthi festival, will be open between 10.30 am and 7.30 pm at Hotel Fidalgo, Panjim for 3 days beginning from August 31 to September 2.

On offer are artistic and trend setting jewellery with various precious stones like diamonds, rubies, emerald and pearls. Various designs of necklaces, pendants, bracelets, rings and bangles in solid gold or studded with diamonds are also available.

Ashok Chawla had referred to the changes made in EPF schemes earlier without any discussion with CBT and said it (Labour Ministry) could take a similar view on the investment pattern of provident funds.

On the letter, Chaturvedi said, "There are many missing links in the advice of Finance Ministry (to invest in equity).

There are many issues in that."

He added, "When you say equity, it is not face value. It is not that you are getting Rs 10 share for Rs 10. You are getting that at Rs 100. Tomorrow, this Rs 100 could become Rs 120 or Rs 80."

Chaturvedi said there were several issues, operational as well as related to returns, involved in the case. "You don't get anything by way of interest (by investing in equity). It is only when you liquidate that share only then you get return."

He said the Finance Ministry's advice is based on the experience of the New Pension Scheme (NPS), where they have admitted that there is no data available to establish that "what Labour Ministry is doing is inferior to what they are advis-

PTI MUMBAI, AUG 29

Emerging solar energyprovider, Clover Solar, has earmarked a Rs 300-crore investment over the next twoyears to set up 25 MW of solar power plants pan-India and is eyeing private equity funding for it, a top company official said.

The company will kick-off its plans by setting up a 2MW

ing."

Chawla's letter said that while the NPS for central government employees could generate a weighted average investment return of 14.82 per cent in 2008-09, EPF has been giving only 8.5 per cent returns to its subscribers for many years.

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has been giving an 8.5 per cent return annually to its subscribers since 2005-06.

Countering Chawla's views, EPFO said the income earned on EPF investments are actually realised, while the returns declared in NPS are notional and subject to market conditions.

Earlier this week, the CBT's advisory body, the Finance and Investment Committee (FIC), stuck to its stand against investment of EPFO money in stock markets -- either in shares or indices.

Whereas the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation commands a corpus of Rs 3 lakh crore, other provident funds, which follow the fund's investment pattern, have another Rs 2 lakh crore.

OIL eyes US shale gas Cos PTI MUMBAI, AUG 29

Oil India Limited (OIL) is likely to form a joint venture (JV) with a US-based shale gas company to acquire shale gas assets globally, a top OIL official said.

"We are negotiating with a couple of US-based shale gas companies to form a JV. This will enable us in terms of technology in shale gas exploration and also help us in acquiring shale gas assets globally," OIL's chairman and managing director, N M Borah, said.

Shale gas (gas locked in sedimentary rocks) is an emerging area in the hydrocarbons segment and has become an important source of energy in a few countries, which have been able to commercially exploit this resource.

Meanwhile, India is likely to sign a co-operation agreement with the US Geological Survey later this year for knowledgesharing in the area of shale gas.

"This proposed co-operation agreement will benefit OIL to get into shale gas exploration," he said In India, OIL is looking at shale exploration opportunities in regions such as the AssamArakan region and Cambay basin, Borah said, adding OIL also intends to explore oppor-

PTI CHANDIGARH, AUG 29

Lanco Solar Energy has bagged a prestigious contract for setting up a solar power project at Parliament House here.

Five companies, including Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Limited (Solar Group), Punj Llyod and Wipro Ecoenergy, were vying for the solar power project.

"We have allotted the solar energy project to Lanco Solar Energy Private Limited as it was the lowest bidder among all bidders by quoting Rs 1.29 crore for the project to be set up in Parliament," a senior official of the Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA), which was asked by the Centre to implement the project, said here.

The project is expected to be completed within the next five months, he said.

Clover plans Rs 300-cr solar power foray plant at Supa near Pune which it hopes to get operational by March 2011 at an investment of Rs 35-crore, to be funded through a mix of debt and internal accruals, the company's Founder-Director, Javed Tapia, said here today.

"We have entered into a MoU with NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVN), a subsidiary of NTPC, under the Jawaharlal Nehru Na-

tional Solar Mission (JNNSM) to set up a 2MW plant near Pune.

A total of 16 companies have been selected under the mission and we are one of two private companies from Maharashtra, the other being Videocon," Tapia said.

Over the next two-years, apart from setting up the 25 MW of projects, Clover Solar also intends to implement solar

power projects for others.

"This will be another revenue-stream for us," he said.

The company is in talks with some private equity players and clean-tech funds to raise resources to fund its expansion and is eyeing around Rs 50-crore from them, he said.

"We could dilute around 25 per cent of equity but we will decide on this only by mid-next

‘EPFO Trustees' decision final on PF investments’ PTI NEW DELHI, AUG 29

Lanco bags order for solar plant

tunities in shale gas exploration in the US and Australia.

Presently, the company is working on geological studies of various shale gas exploration regions in India.

"Our study is on to identify shale gas exploration opportunities in the country. We hope in the next two-three years we will be in a position to explore this new opportunity," Borah said, adding "we have plans to invest around Rs 300-500-crore for shale gas exploration over the next 3-4-years."

Presently, OIL, a Navaratna company, has over 1-lakh sq kilometer of area for its exploration and production activities, most of it in the north-east, which accounts for its entire crude oil production and majority of gas production.

Rajasthan is the other producing area of OIL, contributing 10 per cent of its total gas production.

Additionally, OIL's exploration activities are spread over onshore areas of the Ganga Valley and Mahanadi. OIL also has participating interest in NELP exploration blocks in the Mahanadi Offshore, Mumbai Deepwater, Krishna-Godavari Deepwater as well as various overseas projects in Libya, Gabon, Iran, Nigeria and Sudan.

year," Tapia said.

Going forward, the company will set up five 5 MW projects and is eyeing tie-ups with captive power producers, especially in the metals and heavy industries segments.

"As per regulations, every captive power producer will have to buy at least 0.25 per cent of their power from solar.

This opens up huge opportunities for us," he said.

Panasonic to invest Rs 1,400-cr PTI MUMBAI, AUG 29

Panasonic India, plans to invest around Rs 1,400-crore over the next three-years to establish the brand as a home appliances leader in the country, a top company official said.

The company would spend the earmarked amount to set up a technopark in north India, establish the brand as an home appliances major and other technical operations over the next 3-years, he said.

"Panasonic has always been associated with TVs and digital cameras. We want to change the consumers mindset and are hence trying to establish the brand that can be associated with home appliances. We are investing around Rs 1,400crore in the next 3-years," Panasonic India's marketing director, Manish Sharma, said.

Goli Vada Pav plans 500 outlets PTI MUMBAI, AUG 29

Vada pav-maker, Goli Vada Pav, plans a massive expansion by opening around 500 outlets pan-India and is eyeing a nearly 10-fold jump in its turnover at Rs 180-crore over the next fiveyears, a top company official said.

Presently, the company has a 78 outlets-strong network and a turnover of Rs 18-crore.

"Presently, we have 78 outlets, mostly concentrated in Maharashtra and Bangalore.

Soon, we will enter the Chennai market," Goli Vada Pav's MD and CEO, S Venkatesh, said.

The company is eyeing a Rs 180-crore turnover once its 500 outlets are in place in the next five-years, he said, adding its new outlets would all be on the franchisee model.

The vada pav-retailer offers a range of vada pavs including palak makai tikki, cheese vada pav, veg cutlet pav, schezwan vada pav and aloo tikki pav.

"There is a huge demand for vada pav in today's fast-moving world. People prefer to eat something which they can hold in their hands while they are traveling or even working. Vada pav fits the bill perfectly," he said.

Biyani eyes Rs 10,000-cr Rev from foods business PTI MUMBAI, AUG 29

The Kishore Biyani-run Future Group is eyeing around Rs 10,000-crore revenue from its food business over the next 34 years even as the group targets an around 40 per cent growth this fiscal.

"We expect around Rs 10,000-crore from our food business in the next 3-4 years - we see this segment as a huge growth driver going forward," Future Group's Founder and CEO, Kishore Biyani said.

The group's strategy will be to drive growth through vegetarian foods, a high-growth segment, he said.

"People have become more selective in their tastes. Our vegetarian foods are doing very well," he said.

The Group presently has around 210 Big Bazaar and Food Bazaar stores in the country.

Another growth-driver going forward will be its fashion business, which Biyani said, was "surprisingly" unaffected even during the economic slowdown.

"We maintained our prices even as competition raised theirs by 20-30 per cent," he said.

The growth in fashion would

be driven by customers who have become "very selective" in what they wear everyday.

Revealing the secret behind the group's increasing success in the fashion business, Biyani said this was because the group was always attempting to provide the best products to its customers.

"They (customers) accept both indigenous and modernity. But sometimes it becomes difficult to say what they need.

Therefore, we always try to provide them the best," the Future Group's Chief said.

The group's future appeared bright, he said, adding it was eyeing a 40 per cent growth this fiscal.

"We have learnt the lessons of survival during the economic downturn. It was an opportunity to take some bold decisions and focus on our existing businesses," he said, describing the meltdown period as "a big challenge for the retail industry."

Cost-control was one of the key focus areas for the group then while another major challenge involved taking calls on whether to increase the prices of its products.

"We created a cost-control committee and focused on our existing businesses without

Tea imports down 10.85% PTI NEW DELHI, AUG 29

Tea imports to India fell by 10.85 per cent to 9.2 million kg in the first six months of the current year. The country imported 10.32 million kg of tea in the April-June period last year, the Tea Board said in a

statement.

Though the maximum quantum of tea came from neighbouring Nepal, its exports, however, were down when compared with the corresponding period last year.

Nepal exported 2.35 million kg of tea during April-June,

2010, as against 3.04 million kg in the same period last year.

On the other hand, Vietnamese tea imports improved to 1.96 million kg in the first six months of this year from 1.92 million kg in the year-ago period.

changing the prices of our products," he said.

Admitting to some jitters during the period, India's leading retailer said that business was indeed impacted in places like Bangalore where the recession hit its major industry, IT, with many employees fearing loss of their jobs.

"It was a big challenge not to close down our Bangalore outlets at that time," he said. In sharp contrast, Kolkata remained unaffected by the slowdown, he said.

Biyani's group, which operates the large retail chains --Big Bazaar, Pantaloon and Food Bazaar --is now much the wiser after the recession and once more on the high-growth path with a 40 per cent growth target this fiscal and plans to open new outlets pan-India.

Besides, the group also has an increasing presence in the financial services sector through its two companies – Future Generali Life Insurance and Future Generali India Insurance (its general insurance company).

Upbeat about the future, Biyani described the recession just gone by, as "the best time to have learnt how to run the business."

BOARD MEETINGS Alka Securities BCC Finance Birla Power BITS Ruchi Infra Usher Agro Pan India Corp Paramount Cosm Source: Indiainfoline.com

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CAREERS & EDUCATION

OHERALDO

Pg14

GOA, Monday, 30 August 2010

Processing A Career On Food T

By Caetano de Abreu

he caption might come as a bit of bizarre evaluation, as the principal theme should have been on placements and what is the best way to secure a job after gruelling academic years and yet we are waiting in a limbo. Nevertheless with career prospectus booming (at least if one goes with the recruitment ads], those interested in this career must seriously introspect and analyze the situation and only then venture to this field and avail of the opportunities available.

Thus, I can raise lots of options which most definitely, (if more years were still left for me), I would venture into. However there are many youngsters who will take the plunge and emerge as a success story to be the envy of all. And, as of now I am talking about food processing industry, which is creating an upsurge in the self-employment sector.

It is reported that attracting huge foreign investments, the food processing sector is the talk of the day and the Government is trying to fully capitalize on this by providing a better farm Industry linkage and channelising the untapped areas to help India to be at the top in the world food market.

It is reported that food processing industry is amongst the fastest growing industries in the world. In India alone, the food market share comprises of one third of the processed food which with policy measures to be adopted by the Government, the food processing units will account to substantial increase among the country’s exports.

Reports reveal that, the industry’s size is estimated at US $ 70 billion, including US $ 22 billion of value added products, with Indians at present spending slightly more than half towards their household expenditure on food alone - which is a good

sign.

Food processing is the way to achieve food security and be in direct liaison with the farmers to endow an assured agricultural income (sans any go-in-between) and its ancillary units.

The processing level in the FPI (Food Processing Industry) Sector has gone up from six per cent to 10 percent during the last few years and is expected to reach 20 per cent in the next five years.

However, there are many challenges in the fragmented sector of FPI as it widely comprises of segments such as fruits and vegetables; milk and its bye-products; alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages; meat and poultry; fish and other molluscs; grain processing; packaged or convenience food and packaged drinks.

It is also to be expressed that a large number of entrepreneurs in this industry are small in terms of their production and

operations, and are largely concentrated in the organized segment, which are in tandem with end-to-end integrated operations in the food chain.

It is unfortunate though that most of the Indian farmers are small holders with the average

farm size of say 1 and half hectares, and to make the matters worse, they and the other growers and fishermen are linked with exploitive agents

the consumer.

The policy initiatives according to latest budget allocation are as follows: a. Most of the processed items have been ex-

customs duty to refrigeration units required for the manufacture of refrigerated vehicles.

3. Provide concessions in customs duty of 5% to specified

and thus are unable to invest in any food processing units. It is reported that there is a severe need to integrate the farming with food processing for which the Government have formulated a Master Plan to assuage the plight of manufacturer and

empted from the purview of licensing under the Industries (Development & Regulation) Act, 1951, except items reserved for the small scale sector and alcoholic beverages, b. Food processing Industries are included in the list of priority L.’ sectors for bank lending, c. Automatic approval for foreign equity up to 100% is available for most of the processed food items excepting alcoholic beverages and those reserved for small scale sector subject to certain conditions.

The other concessional factors as floated by the Government in its budget are; 1. Provide project import status at concessional customs duty of 5 per cent with full exemption from service tax to the initial setting up and expansion of cold storage to include farm pre-coolers for preservation or storage of agriculture and related sectors produce; and Processing Units for each produce.

2. Provide full exemption from

agricultural machinery not manufactured in India.

4. Provide Central Excise exemption to specified equipment for preservation, storage and processing of agriculture and related sectors and exemption of service tax to the storage and warehousing of their produce.

To top it all the Food Processing Ministry has envisaged the concept of Mega Food Parks (MFP) to improve and provide infrastructure facilities for the FPI in diverse parts of the country, where the Government will provide 50% assistance with a cap of 50 crores in the project based on guidelines issued by the Government.

With world as the oyster of one’s ambitions what is the deterrent when for safety and guidance one can contact MOFPI (Ministry of Food Processing Industries}, Government of India, Panchsheel Bhawan, August Kranti Marg, New Delhi 110 049, Fa x N o . 2 6 4 9 7 6 4 1 ; w w w. mofpi.nic.in

Gossiping at Work? Why You Should Think Twice

I

remember the damage of idle gossip very clearly. When my friends have complaints about their jobs, it’s seldom related to the job itself. More often than not, the problems have to do with a co-worker.

Somebody said something about someone, and then that person said…well, you get the picture.

If the Gossip Is About You If there is gossip floating around the office about you, you will find yourself scattered and disorganized. You will spend more time worrying about damage control than you will about doing your job.

If the gossip is work related, you may fear for your job. If it is personal, you may be feeling violated and picked on. If you are the victim of either type of gossip, your first step should be to visit your Human Resources department. They should have advice for you and ways to handle the problem.

It’s always in your best interest to avoid lashing out. This will only add drama to the situation. Do your best to ignore it. It may be impossible for you to ignore it, but at least try to act as if it does not bother you.

If you are personally addressed about the issue from a coworker, you can deny the gossip but refrain from getting into deep discussions about it. Let your boss or Human Resources deal with the problem.

If You Are Spreading Gossip

You can admit it. We have all done it at one time or another.

Sometimes we just hear something so incredible we feel the urge to pass it along. We often do this without thinking about it. When you are in a work environment however, you really should think hard before passing

se lea e R ss + Pre Plus

E

something along.

You have no way to know if the gossip you have heard is true. It could damage someone’s reputation unfairly. It will also make you look bad for taking part. If something you hear concerns you, go directly to the source. If this doesn’t seem like a good option, talk with Human Relations about the problem.

Keep in mind this is only useful for work-related gossip. If it’s personal gossip about someone, close your mouth and forget about it. It really is not worth hurting someone or causing them stress if it isn’t true.

Could Land You in Legal Trouble A firm in the USA issued a press release advising that workers “might want to bite their tongue the next time it comes to gossiping about co-workers.” This comes after a workplace survey conducted by Steelcase, a global office environments manufacturer, found that nearly 66 percent of office workers say that people they work with gossip at some point. Sometimes, gossip is little more than a form of

especially applies if the chatter involves an invasion of privacy or the misuse of confidential information. Instances where statements impugning another person’s chastity or integrity have actually resulted in findings of liability.

Times have changed in how gossip is disseminated, making legal complaints easier and often more difficult to defend or explain away.

Water cooler gab sessions are often now online chat. Employ-

Email

Email may be a blessing for improving the speed of business communications, but it has its drawbacks. Email accounts meant for business purposes are often used for personal communications as well. From this springs a whole new form of gossip.

Many make the mistake of complaining about a co-worker or boss via email. The problem with email is that you can’t take it back. Once you have sent it, it is totally out of your control.

It could be forwarded many times over. What you thought was a private conversation or vent session turns into an inner office memo.

Don’t make the mistake of assuming your emails are private.

If you have a complaint, go to the person directly. Schedule a meeting with your boss and address your complaints vocally.

While it may take a bit for your boss to fit you in, this may be a good thing. This will give you time to settle down and get your thoughts in order. If you spout off an angry email, you will probably regret half of what you said anyway.

Workplace or Office Gossip

Instant messages and e-mails can be likened to “electronic DNA evidence.” That being the case, it may come as a surprise that, according to The ePolicy Institute, most employers are not prepared to manage e-mail and instant message risks.

What’s “most alarming is the business community’s failure to retain e-mail and IM according to written retention and deletion policies.” Just six percent keep and archive business record instant messages, while 35% have a policy regarding the retention of e-mails.

Bottom line for both employers and employees is that, although most workplace gossip may be relatively harmless, everyone needs to be aware and reminded that what a person says or repeats can have legal consequences.

Final Thoughts

entertainment or innocent chatter - the thing that keeps life at work a bit more interesting.

Other times, however, gossip can do a great deal of damage to the subject, and in extreme cases it might even result in a civil or criminal complaint.

People need to be careful what and whom they talk about.

Employees do have legal rights in mitigating workplace gossip.

Factual inaccuracies which result in injury to employees can be the basis of a defamation action against a co-worker or the employer itself.

Even if the gossip is true, employees still have rights. This

ees need to be especially careful about censoring themselves when communicating online. “A defamation action can be brought against anyone who publishes the falsehood, either verbally, in writing or on the Internet.”

As for employers, the employers surveyed had employee emails and instant messages subpoenaed for one reason or another during the course of lawsuits or other investigations.

The survey also found that some 13 percent of the employers had been involved in workplace lawsuits resulting from employee e-mails.

There is probably no way to put an end to office gossip. There is nothing you can do to control it. You can, however, control your participation in the cycle.

If you hear something, let it go in one ear and out the other.

Something important to remember about gossip is that it changes as it goes. What you are hearing, or saying, is probably wrong anyway.

An item of gossip often gets garbled as it makes its way from person to person. “Sandy has a private meeting with the VP of Sales” can get turned into “Sandy is having an affair with the VP of Sales” rather easily.

Gossip can get vicious enough to make a person rethink keeping their job. Save the gossip for your non-work friends, it has no place at work. You may end up feeling a little out of the loop if your refrain from spreading the gossip, but you’ll be a lot happier for it.

Satellite based coaching brand ETEN CA crosses 100-centre mark in 18 months

TEN CA, a pioneering initiative from IndiaCan - a JV between India’s leading education company Educomp Solutions Ltd and the world’s largest education company Pearson, has established 110 centres around India in a short span of eighteen months. ETEN CA is a Satellite based coaching initiative for Chartered Accountancy, launched by Educomp in 2008, with a handful of centres. The fast growth of ETEN CA is testimony to the fact that satellite based coaching is filling a huge gap in coaching needs of students across India. ETEN CA today has already coached 30,000 students across India. They have banked

on the use of proprietary Tele-Education systems “ETEN CA centres are now present across cities and small towns in northern, eastern, western and central India. We have recently entered the southern region and have launched our centres across the four key states of South India.

We now have around 110 centres all around the country and are looking to add an additional 50 centres in this financial year,” said Sharad Talwar, CEO, IndiaCanETEN CA has also created an industry benchmark with excellent results that overshadows the national pass percentage of 22.5 % with a path breaking

50.5%. Ms. Prachi Jain (PCC Level) and Sanjhi Agarwal (Final Level) have both secured ALL INDIA RANK 1 in CA Examination. These students had studied from ETENCA faculty CA Parveen Sharma in 2008 and 2009 and appeared in the Examination this year. Further, 18 ETEN CA students have made it to the top 50 ranking.

Speaking on new developments at ETEN CA, Puneet Jhingan, Senior VP, IndiaCan said, “We are introducing a new initiative for international students called VAO (Video Archive Only). This will allow them to view classes by our faculty online,” he added. With a cluster of top notch faculty, ETEN CA has been able to

deliver quality CA coaching to students across the country, including small cities and many remote areas. Among the highlights of the ETEN CA program are India’s top faculty, well equipped classrooms, structured assessment, video archives, e-learning support, past student scheme and access to video lectures of scholars and faculty The VSAT enabled coaching is transmitted to all the ETEN CA centres from the centralized and highly equipped studios at Delhi, where the faculty gives the lecture that is transmitted through satellite across India at the ETEN CA authorized learning centres.

Taking Stock of the Market - IV

T

he most common areas of work in the capital markets, one can look forward to include the following. Options Flow and proprietary traders focus on executing trades at the right price.

Traders sit at workstations in a dealing room, tracking mar-

job is based on independent thinking. Independent thought, especially in proprietary trading, adds value to any team. During the first year the trainee performs relatively menial tasks such as data analysis and administrative duties before being trusted to be responsible for the firm’s

and valuation.

Traders in sales are more focused on the relationships with clients - analysing, exploring and marketing new financial offers that they believe will be attractive to their clients. They work closely with the other traders, providing them with informa-

ket movements. Markets can move rapidly and trading can be hectic.

The role combines speaking with colleagues, making phone calls and making instant decisions. Traders in this area must be alert and ready to make decisions based on the smallest movements in the market. They react to a change in parameters/constituents that is not already implied by the current market price.

The price should reflect the intrinsic value of the asset, which can change at any second for multiple reasons.

Their decisions are informed by in-depth market reports provided by their firm’s investment analysts and by sales traders, as well as streamed market news from agencies.

Traders also use their own technical analysis. Much of the

money.

The typical work activities of a flow or proprietary trader include: * making prices in their relevant products; * executing trades electronically or by phone; * liaising with sales traders/clients on market movements; * predicting how markets will move and buying and selling accordingly (especially derivatives traders who try to predict the state of a market at a future date); * informing all relevant parties of the most relevant trades for the day; * gathering information critically about mispriced assets; detailed data analysis

tion on their products.

The typical work activities of a sales trader include: * gathering information

By Maria de Lima Pereira and analysing the market; * carrying out detailed data analysis and valuation; * identifying issues affecting clients; * developing client relationships and presenting ideas to clients; * executing trades and securing deals with new clients; * keeping market-making traders abreast of the relevant issues with their customers; * obtaining market prices from market-making traders and executing the trade.

10 Things Not to Share with Your Co-workers

M

ost of us spend more time at the workplace with colleagues than anywhere else. So it just comes natural that we talk about many other things than simply work. In fact, this is even essential in order to build a good relationship with your co-workers. Maybe you go down the pub with them on Fridays and some of your colleagues you even count as real friends.

However, it is important to know where to draw the line.

There are certain things coworkers need not know about each other, including religious and political views as well as personal issues, but some folks just can’t seem to keep their mouths shut. And don’t forget - a casual conversation can easily turn into office gossip, which again can easily turn around to the one who spreads it - including yourself.

To avoid risking your professional image, here are 10 things to never share or discuss with your co-workers:

1. Salary information

What you earn is between you and Human Resources. Disclosure indicates you aren’t capable of keeping a confidence.

2. Medical history

Aches and pains, your latest operation, your infertility woes or the contents of your medicine cabinet, can be serious worries to you — and only you. To your employer, your constant medical issues make you seem like an expensive, high-risk employee.

3. Work complaints

Constant complaints about your workload, stress levels or the company will quickly make you the kind of person who never gets invited to lunch. If you don’t agree with company policies and procedures, address it through official channels or move on.

4. Cost of purchases

The spirit of keeping up with the Joneses is alive and well in the workplace, but you don’t want others speculating on the lifestyle you’re living — or if you’re living beyond your salary bracket.

5. Intimate details

Don’t share intimate details about your personal life. This is no one’s business other than yours and your partner’s.

It also makes people uncomfortable. So keep your personal bedroom details private or people will snigger about you behind your back.

munity or in your personal blog.

This may be even more damaging than what you say in person as it could show a totally different side of you.

Comments online can be seen by multiple eyes. An outburst of anger when you are having a bad day ... can blow up in your face.

9. Hangovers and wild weekends

It’s perfectly fine to have fun during the weekend, but don’t talk about your wild adventures on Monday. That infor-

6. Politics or religion

Both faith and politics are very sensitive issues and people can be very passionate about them.

You may alienate a co-worker or be viewed negatively in a way that could impact your career.

Be discreet and don’t force your views on others.

7. Lifestyle changes and personal problems

Break-ups, divorces and babymaking plans should be shared only if there is a need to know, and then maybe only to selected people in private.

Otherwise, others will speak for your capabilities, desires and limitations on availability, whether there is any truth to their assumptions or not.

8. Blogs or social networking profile

Be careful about what you say in a social networking com-

* Do you have an opinion on important issues affecting Goa, India and the world ? Are aged between 18-30 years? Have your say.

Help make a difference. Send in your articles within 500 to 900 words to

YOuTh VOICe

C/o Education & Careers Herald Publications Pvt. Ltd. Rua Sao Tome Panjim Goa 403001 Email: junioryouth @herald-goa.com

mation can make you look unprofessional and unreliable.

10. Off-colour or racially charged comments You can assume your coworker wouldn’t be offended or would think something is funny, but you never know.

Don’t take that risk.

Furthermore, even if you know for certain your colleague wouldn’t mind your comment, don’t talk about it at work. Others can easily overhear.

* Those interested in sending queries on careers can write to:

CAReeR QuesT C/o Education & Careers Herald Publications Pvt. Ltd. Rua Sao Tome Panjim Goa 403001 Email: junioryouth @herald-goa.com

junior herald1:Layout 1 8/29/2010 8:01 PM Page 1

OHERALDO

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Goa Monday 30 august 2010

I

Mother teresa

n The Roman Catholic Church, the road to attain Sainthood is painstakingly meticulous and time consuming, wherein the sanctity of the departed soul is investi-

gated and then postulated, unless there is an Devil’s Advocate to contend against granting the Sainthood.

And, only then, when all the formalities are covered, the coveted halo is bestowed upon the person to whom the merits are attributed.

After all the investigations processed by the Holy Church, pertaining to the miracles that have taken place and attributed to the particular departed soul, the decision to confer Sainthood is deliberated and deeply pondered upon.

And only then, if there are positive and affirmative results the Canonization to Sainthood is duly granted with all the ecclesiastical honours befitting the departed soul for fulfilling its Earthly Mission.

www.oheraldo.in

The Angel of Mercy

As we commemorate her birth centenary year, CAETANO DE ABREU pays tribute to ‘The Saint of the Gutters’, a true follower of Christ in contemporary times The first level towards Sainthood is to bec o m e Venerable and later transcend to be made Blessed in the eyes of the Lord and the devotees. I have to bring forth these facts about Sainthood as there are sceptics amongst us who feel that attaining Sainthood is as easy as eating a groundnut.

This is absolutely not true , as the Dogmas and Tenets of Roman Catholicism forbids us to revere any manmade idols sans the consent of the Mother Church.

I do not want to elaborate about those minor intricacies when the reason for writing this article is to pay tribute to Blessed Mother Teresa in the year of her birth centenary.

She was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu at Skopje {now the Capital City of Macedonia) on August 26.

1910. On 25th September 1928 she bade goodbye to her devout Catholic family to join Sisters of Loreto, an Irish Order with missions in India.

About Loreto it is said, the name is that of a Town in Ancona, where Virgin Mary’s house was believed to have been miraculously transported there in 1295 from Nazareth.

On September 25th, 1929 Agnes arrived in Calcutta and began her novitiate in May the following year at Darjeeling. On May 25, 1931 she

SaVe TReeS Nameera Aga (6), Std II, Happy Kids High School, St. Inez.

took her First Vows and became a Nun taking the name of Teresa in honour of St. Therese of Lisieux, patron saint of the Missionaries. On September 10,1946 she received the interior call to serve the poor and the destitute. For this purpose she left the Loreto Sisters to work in the slums and with the people in need. On October 7,1950 the Vatican granted her permission to start a Diocesan Congregation which soon became the Mis-

sionaries of Charity (MoC). In 1952 she opened Nirmal Hriday in Kalighat, Calcutta (which was and still is the Motherhouse of the Missionaries of Charity (MoC)) to receive the homeless and the sick.

Mother Teresa‘s greatest gifts to the world in terms of charity unlimited, spans through 758 missions in 134 countries, while her worldly possession when she lived on Earth were only two plain cotton saris and a Cross

HOiSTiNG THe FlaG Ansley M Rodrigues (10), Std V, Fr. Agnel Multipurpose HS., Verna

which she clutched to gain succour in her earthly mission which in her own words was all that she needed Her worldly life is known to many as it has been well chronicled. However out of reverence and deep respect which I endear upon her persona, let me reiterate the goodliness of her by narrating a incident that took place when she was launching her house for the terminally sick people: Mother Teresa, after having gathered many from the slums of Calcutta to be nursed and comforted and live a relatively peaceful life, a Brahmin priest from the neighbourhood Kali Temple, was aghast to have them in his vicinity and complained to the authorities to have them evicted.

However, when the same Priest was riddled with the same malaise, Mother Teresa went to his succour and nursed him back to health.

This is the reason the entire Calcutta is singing paeans in worship of Mother Teresa.

Mother Theresa lived a simple life and had simple needs. She always faced calmly the fact that as there is life there should be death.

While on her earthly mission she gave an orphaned child, a mother, or a touch of the divine to the dying. In her own ‘little way’ she respected the unwanted, where all else failed. There was always clarity in her voice and the purpose in her actions not forgetting the determination

lazy FROG Joel Gomindes (10), Std V, Mount Mary HS., Chinchinim

Colour Me ENTRY FORM MONGINIS Creative Me NaMe: aGe:

STd:

Phone:

SCHOOl: HOMe addReSS:

MONGINIS TWO BEST CREATIVE ME ENTRIES l

l

Nameera aga (6), Std ii, Happy Kids High School, St. inez. wins a gift voucher of Monginis worth Rs. 125/Gopal l Naik, Std X, Shree Shantadurga HS., Pirna wins a gift voucher

of Monginis worth Rs. 75/-

Hello Friends, I know these days you are all feeling a little relieved – everyone is – because there is a respite from the rains.

Well we do not have a choice on the rains. We cannot control it – but Nature can and does.

In the same way, You’ve got a lot of choices. The choice to get up and go to school, to study and play – to become ‘someone’ or a ‘nobody’ to fight with people or to be peaceful.

Is it easy to make choices? Sometimes it is and sometimes not. Does it take hard work? Sometimes yes and sometimes no. Our success depends on the choices we make in life”, Every choice we make leads us closer to or further from our goals. We constantly need to monitor where we are on our journey.

Unfortunately, due to the busy lives we lead there are times we forget the great power they hold withinthe power to shape our life. Our life is shaped by the choices we make. You are the one who chooses how to live your life Sometimes along the way, according to the choices we make, the road at times is even, sometimes bumpy, confusing and uncertain sometimes the unexpected happens. At such times, our path seems like a series of hills and valleys there is never any balance.

When this happens, we should stop and examine the choices we made that have taken us down this path.

We can choose to give up or we can choose to keep going and turn the situation into a positive vs. a negative. We can spend our energy looking for positive solutions or we can waste our time focusing on the problem which is negative energy that will get us nowhere fast.

In such a situation, choose to act! Even if you are wrong, you are better off than not taking action at all.

Go to the next option and work on it.

Choices are important things. We can all look back at our lives and see where the choices that we have made have had a strong impact on where we ended up today.

Small decisions or large it important to understand that life is about action. If we do not take responsibility for shaping our own reactions to what life throws at us then we have not truly lived our own lives.

What is so great about choice? It transforms us from dumb animals into artists. Each of us becomes another Michelangelo, for choice is nothing other than the chisel we use to sculpt our life. The chisel doesn’t come free, however, for the price of choice is responsibility.

But when we accept and carry out our responsibility, the reward is great. The reward is happiness.

Free will or choice is the greatest gift of life given to us. Choose to live a happy life.

My Pavilion

GOiNG TO SCHOOl Zenisha Tellis (14), Std X, Perpetual Succour Convent HS., Navelim

FiSH Dion Menezes (11), Std VI, Our Lady of Divar HS., Divar

JeSuS Gopal L Naik, Std X, Shree Shantadurga HS., Pirna

projected through her eyes to satisfy the poor in her care. Usha Uthup the singer a staunch supporter of the Missionaries of Charity, always gives portions of food that is cooked and served at her house during parties and at other times to this missionary congregation. .

Mother Theresa was never a politician and she could never be, although she was loved by one and all. She knew with a certainty that politics could deter her charitable works that she concentrated on and dedicated her life to.

Indian cricket legend Kapil Dev is ever grateful to Mother Teresa for

his daughter Amiya who was born after 14 years of blissful marriage to Romi. He claims that Amiya is Mother Teresa‘s gift to them.

There is so much to write about Mother Theresa in regards to her giving peace to the needy and being so compassionate which in contemporary sense is contrasted with all those who fought and killed in the name of a revolutionary future which denotes that her life is her message and she did hide the ugly face of the slums of Calcutta.

Mother Theresa passed away on September 5, 1997 to join her lovable Dog “Shaitan” in the heavenly abode.

Vatican recognizes the healing of Monica Besra, a cancer patient; on December 20th, 2002 as a holy intervention of Mother, and on October 19th 2003 she was bestowed with the title “Blessed”. However, the charitable and compassionate works of Missionaries of Charity goes on as it was resolved by Mother to never let it die.

The Power of Choice

CaMel Ride Qwantia Marques, Std V, The Rosary School, Miramar

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Pg16

SPORTS GOA, Monday, 30 August, 2010

PY Nuvem lift Pacheco Trophy HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, AUG 29

Goa Medical College, runners-up of inter-college chess championship organised by Goa University.

Standing (l to r): Jonathan Gouveia, Nathaniel Pinto, Ehrlson De Souza, Jessica Pereira, Charudutt Dessai and Akshay Mungi. Sitting: Joanita Fernandes (physical director), Dr. V.N. Jindal (dean) and S.V. Naik (director administration).

FPAI award

PANJIM (HSD) -- The Football Players’ Association of India (FPAI) announced the nominations for the “Fans’ Player of the Year 2010” for the second FPAI Indian Football Awards to be held in Delhi on September 12.

The nominated players are Anthony Pereira, Subrata Paul, Mohammed Rafi, Edmar Figueira and Ogba Kalu Nnanna. The voting lines will continue to be open till September 10.

Parish Youth, Nuvem scored a 4-3 tie-breaker victory over Betalbatim Sporting Club to emerge champions in Joao Francisco Pacheco memorial intervillage football tournament organised by Betalbatim Sporting Club at Betalbatim Sports Complex on Sunday. The teams were locked goalless at the end of regulation period.

Both teams struggled in the opening session due to the soggy condition of the ground.

As a result, play was restricted to the midfield.

As the match progressed, Parish Youth took over their reins and enjoyed a lion share of the exchanges with midfielders Remy Colaco and Daniel Colaco showing their class which never allowed Betalbatim to have a say in the middle of the park.

Parish Youth nearly broke the deadlock but Dickson Rogtao’s snap shot missed the mark narrowly.

Parish Youth continued to hold sway over their opponents and created many forays into the rival penalty area but their efforts were thwarted by Betalbatim stopper back Desmond Fernandes with neat tackles.

Betalbatim occasionally raided the rival citadel but Parish Youth defenders were stubborn and never allowed them to have a look at the goal with Tony Colaco being rock solid.

Betalbatim nearly struck the match-winner but Dickson Rogtao’s pile driver was blocked by

The Parish Youth of Nuvem players receiving the Joao Francisco Pacheco Memorial Trophy from Francisco Sardinha, MP at Betalbatim on Sunday in the presence of Damu Naik, MLA, Nelly Rodrigues.

Photo: Savio Dias

the Nuvem goalkeeper.

Parish Youth goal had a charmed life late in the second half when Dickson Rogtao’s goal bound shot was saved on the goalline by Neves Noronha.

In the tie-breaker, Parish Youth emerged winners scoring through Remy Colaco, Neves

Noronha, Neville Fernandes and Daniel Colaco while Desmond Fernandes, Dickson Rogtao and Hayston D’Costa were on target for Betalbatim.

Parish Youth, Nuvem were richer by Rs 30,000 plus the trophy while Betalbatim Sporting Club had to settle for Rs 20,000

plus the trophy.

Fo l l o w i n g p r i z e s w e r e awarded: Best goalkeeper of final Flyod Colaco of Parish Youth, Nuvem. Best defender of final Tony Colaco of Parish Youth, Nuvem. Best half Dickson Rogtao of Betalbatim Sporting Club.

Best forward of final Joe Colaco

of Parish Youth, Nuvem. First goal of final Desmond Fernandes of Betalbatim Sporting Club.

Farewell goal of final Daniel Colaco of Parish Youth.

Earlier, Michael Pereira, Sarpanch of Betalbatim welcomed. Francisco Sardinha, MP was the chief guest. Damu Naik, MLA was the guest of hon o u r. V i o l a F e r n a n d e s , presided.

Sardinha, Naik and Fernandes gave away the prizes.

Nelly Rodrigues, Zilla Panchayat member, Colva; Wilfred Babashan D’Sa, Zilla Panchayat member, Nuvem; Domnic Gaunkar, Zilla Panchayat m e m b e r, R a i a ; F r J o s e Ubaldino D’Cunha, Angela Borges, Sarpanch Colva, Carmelina Fernandes, Sarpanch of Benaulim, Visitation D’Silva, sarpanch, Majorda, Advocate Anacleto Viegas, Dr Hubert Gomes were the special invitees. Speaking on the occasion, Sardinha assured the villagers that the works of stands and laying the new turf will be taken soon under the MPLAD fund.

Dramapur Boys move into finals HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, AUG 29

Dramapur Boys beat Upcoming Boys, Baida 6-5 via the tiebreaker to storm in the finals of Catherine Viegas memorial football tournament organised

by Union of Chinchinim villagers at church ground, Chinchinim on Sunday.

Niraj leading

Dramapur Boys were trailing 0-1 at the breather.

Upcoming Boys were put into the lead when Francisco Rebello punished the rival goalkeeper with a stiff grounder.

Dramapur Boys tried their best to neutralise the lead but they failed to get past the rival

defence.

On crossing over, Dramapur Boys kept themselves in the hunt for the equaliser and finally snatched it late in the second half when Cedric’s snap shot beat the rival goalkeeper all ends up.

With the scores level, the tie-breaker system was applied

where Francis D’Costa, Cedrric, Franky, Anthony and Joel converted for Dramapur Boys while Ashvy Rebello, Francis Rebello, Sandeep and Johnson were on target for Upcoming Boys.

In the final, Dramapur Boys will face St Anthony’s, Deussua on September 1.

United Lamgao emerge champs

u-17 state chess HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, AUG 29

Niraj Saripalli was leading after two rounds at U-17 state selection Chess at Shri Datta Mandir Hall, Nagorcem, Cancona under the auspices of Canacona Sports Acdemy, Sports Authority of Goa and Goa Chess Association.

Niraj Saripalli beat Deepak Gopalan, Akhilesh Rai beat Jeet Paiginkar, Aditya Patil lost to Kapil Pavse, Vivek Shetye beat Vaibhav Pednekar, Stanford Pereira lost to Omkar Damle.

In the girls category Aishwarya Thorat was in the lead alongwith Gauri Hadkonkar.

Gauri Hadkonkar beat Deepali Nagorcemkar, Urvi Bandekar lost to Aishwarya Thorat, Trupti Naik lost to Sukanya Chari, Apoorva Naik beat Yeshma Naik, Falshruti Dalvi lost to Shruti Shanbag.

The tournament was inagurated by Sunil Melwani, Manager, State Bank of India, Canacona, in the presence of Shyam Sundar Desai, Chairperson of Canacona Municipal Council.

SM Taleigao advance HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, AUG 29

Clube Sao Minguel Taleigao scored a solitary goal victory over Nuvem Sports Club to move into the semi-finals of AllGoa Inter- Village Mahabank Platinum Jubilee Trophy soccer tournament sponsored by Bank of Maharashtra and organised

by Adarsh Yuvak Sangh at Calangute Association ground, Calangute on Saturday.

The teams missed a couple of scoring opportunities. As the match was heading for the tiebreaker, Abhay Gauns came up with the winning goal for Taleigao in the dying minutes.

Kingfisher Goa Pro League: Salgaocar SC v. Goa Velha SC. Tilak Maidan, Vasco, 4.15 p.m.

Third Division football: Xetrapal SC v. Holy Cross SC, Arambol Siolim ground; SAI Avtar SC v. St Sebastian SC, Mapusa, Anjuna ground; Vagator SC v. Chapora Yuvak Sangh, Chapora ground; Sateri SC v. Nauxim SC, Santa Cruz ground. Kick off 4.15 p.m.

Goa University inter-college football: MES v. PCCE, 9 a.m; Government College, Margao v. G o v e r n m e n t C o l l e g e , Quepem, 10.30 a. m; Mallikarjun v. Damodar, Margao 2 p.m; Goa Engineering v. Dempo 3.30 p.m, University ground, Taleigao.

United SC players receiving the cash prize from from Naresh Kadkade. Photo: Vishant Vaze HERALD CORRESPONDENT MAYEM, AUG 29

United Sports Club, Lamgao beat Wadeshwar Sports Club 3-1 in the tie-breaker in the finals of the football tournament organised by Vadeshwar Cul-

tural Association at Karatichi Mali ground, Bordem, Bicholim.

United won Rs 3000 and Wadeshwar had to be content with Rs 2000.

Prizes were distributed at

PG, Salgaocar, Zantye, Chowgule move up goa universty football HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, AUG 29

Post Graduate students of Goa University, V M Salgaocar College, Narayan Zantye and Chowgule College entered into the second round of inter-college (men) football champio n s h i p o rg a n i s e d b y G o a University at university ground, Taleigao.

Post Graduate students beat RIEIT 4-0. Malcom Abreau (9th and 29th minutes), Kiran Desai (46th) and Glacen Lobo (61st) were the scorers for PG’s.

V M Salgaocar, Mira Mar beat Dhempe via tie-breaker 8-6. At the end of the first half the score was 2-1 in favour of Salgaocar.

Dhempe fought back and levelled the score 3-3 in the second half. Abdul Karzad, Tushar Naik

and Pandurang Korgaonkar of Salgaocar and Yasir H, Kiran Kari and Sheldon Viegas of Dhempe scored during the regular time. In the tieb r e a k e r, Pa n d u r a n g K o r gaonkar, Amey Barad, Mandar Parab, Stallore D’Souza and Tushar Naik scored for Salgaocar while Stanford Gonsalves, Yasir H and Sheldon Viegas scored for Dhempe.

In another match, Zantye beat Fine Art College, Panjim 4 - 1 . N i n a d Pa l , S a i n a t h , Omkar Gawas and Sagar Gawas were the scorers for Zantye while Mahadev Parwar was the lone scorer for Fine Arts.

Chowgule, Margao trounced GR Kare, Margao 6-0. Chowgule scored through Wayne Vaz, Jesher Fernandes, Sanibel Fernandes, Rosewell D’Cunha, Kishen Borkar and Elroy Fernandes.

the hands of chief guest, Naresh Kadkade, Vishant Vaze, Vitthal Karmalkar, Narayan Bekikar, Anand Navgekar. Prizes were sponsored by Rajesh Patn e k a r, M L A a n d N a r a y a n Betkikar.

CTN HSS top

higher secondary badminton HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, AUG 29

CTN Higher Secondary, Curchorem won Zone Four interhigher secondary badminton championship for boys and girls respectively at SAG complex, Curchorem.

In the boys section, CTN defeated Guardian Angel Higher Secondary, Curchorem 2-0.

Aditya beat Sarwar 16-21, 21-8, 21-16 while Mukesh made short work of Arif 2116, 21-9.

In the girls section, CTN beat S S Higher Secondary, Mashem, Canacona 2-1.

In the singles, Deepastrie off S S beat Savita of CTN 21-17, 21-16 while Malla beat Nhea 2113, 21-13 to put her team on level terms.

In the decider doubles, Yuga and Savita beat Sona and Deepa 21-16, 21-18.

Government College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Quepem winners of Goa Univetrsity inter-college judo championship (men) organised alongwith the principal, coach, physical education director and others.

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SPORTS

Pg17

GOA, Monday, 30 August, 2010

Torres gives Liverpool win Man City lose; Villa edges past Everton

Manchester City's Argentinian forward Carlos Tevez (right) vies with Sunderland's Egyptian midfielder Ahmed AlMuhammadi at The Stadium Of Light, in Sunderland, on Sunday.

Bolton 2 Birmingham 2 Liverpool 1 West Brom 0 Sunderland 1 Man City 0 Aston Villa 1 Everton 0 Man Utd 3 West Ham 0

AGENCIES LONDON, AUG 29

Fernando Torres scored his first goal in 10 games as Liverpool kick-started their Premier League campaign with a 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion at Anfield on Sunday.

Big spending Manchester City though, who beat Liverpool 30 on Monday, were beaten 1-0 at Sunderland where Darren Bent’s stoppage time penalty gave the home side all three points.

Luke Young’s curling shot in the ninth minute secured Aston Villa a 1-0 victory against struggling Everton.

Everton midfielder Steven

Pienaar saw his shot strike the bar in the first half and Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel produced two great saves to deny substitute Louis Saha in the closing minutes.

Everton stayed on one point from three matches.

In earlier action Bolton fought

back from 2-0 down to draw 22 at home with Birmingham City, recovering after their Finnish international goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen was sent off for a senseless foul in the first half after slapping Birmingham’s Roger Johnson in the face.

Torres struck the winner for Liverpool after 65 minutes at Anfield when he volleyed in a cross from Dirk Kuyt. Albion ended with 10 men after mid-

Roma held in opener serie a

REUTERS ROME, AUG 29

fielder James Morrison was sent off for a late challenge on Torres four minutes from time.

At the Stadium of Light, Carlos Tevez was guilty of a glaring miss after 14 minutes when he shot over the bar from 12 metres out with an open goal in front of him.

The deadlock was finally broken in stoppage time when Micah Richards fouled Bent to concede the penalty and Bent struck his spot-kick underneath England’s current No.1 Joe Hart to score.

Birmingham led 2-0 at Bolton after goals from Johnson (4th minute) and Craig Gardner (50th), but Bolton stormed back for a point with a penalty from Kevin Davies (71) and a freekick from former Birmingham player Robbie Blake 10 minutes later.

Yesterday, Manager Alex Ferguson said Wayne Rooney was back to his old self after scoring his first goal since March in Manchester United's 3-0over West Ham United at Old Trafford.

Rooney, who had not found the net since the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Bayern Munich, converted a first-half penalty after Ryan Giggs was brought down

by Jonathan Spector yesterday.

Nani doubled United's lead five minutes into the second half with a superb finish from Rooney's clever lay-off and Dimitar Berbatov completed an easy victory with a rasping volley to leave West Ham without any points and bottom of the table.

United have seven points from three matches, level with Arsenal and two behind leaders Chelsea, but more importantly Rooney appears to be rediscovering his spark after an injury-plagued end to last season and a subdued World Cup.

Last season's runners-up AS Roma were held to a scrappy 00 draw by promoted Cesena in their first match of the Serie A season.

Cash-strapped Roma, without injured new signing Adriano, had the bulk of the play but clear-cut chances were at a premium as Serie A kicked off for the first time as a breakaway division independent of the rest of the Italian league.

Visiting Cesena, who have made some handy signings for their first Serie A appearance in 19 years, could even have snatched a shock winner in the second half.

Groups of Roma fans chanted before kickoff and refused to take their seats in protest against the introduction of compulsory supporter cards to enter stadiums in Italy.

The Italian government hopes the electronic cards will help authorities track the hooligan element but fans see them as an affront to their liberty and protests have been widespread.

In the day's earlier game, Genoa opened the Serie A season with a 1-0 win at Udinese thanks to substitute Giandomenico Mesto's overhead kick nine minutes from time.

Genoa have spent big in the close season in a bid to push for the Champions League places but new signing Luca Toni limped off with a hamstring problem in the first half.

Antonio Di Natale, who snubbed a move to Juventus in midweek, had Udinese's best chance in the pouring rain but the home side struggled in coach Francesco Guidolin's first game back in charge having failed to strengthen their squad.

AC Milan agree to sign Ibrahimovic REUTERS MILAN, AUG 29

Assolda Village Panchayat, winners of Quepem Taluka PYKKA football tournament for U-16 boys at Tilamol ground along with Domnic Fernandes , PYKKA president of Assolda Panchayat Custodio Fernandes, Ravi Dessai and Ganesh Velip.

AC Milan reached agreement with Barcelona on Saturday to bring former Inter Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic back to Italy in a move the club hope will ignite their title chances.

Milan, under new coach Massimiliano Allegri, have looked shot-shy in pre-season and the Rossoneri have decided to rip up their frugal recent transfer policy to land a player who dominated Serie A during his time with Juventus and Inter. ''We have agreed a deal for a season's loan and then the right to buy for 24 million euros (30.5 million dollar),'' Milan chief ex-

ecutive Adriano Galliani told reporters in Barcelona yesterday. ''He will undergo a medical on Monday and sign a four-year contract.''

The complex deal allows for the 28-year-old to pen a longterm deal with Milan despite no cash yet being handed over to Barcelona, effectively making the option to buy compulsory.

Galliani has brokered a cut-price deal having been locked in talks with Barca since Wednesday.

Swedish international Ibrahimovic joined Barca from Inter in July 2009 in a swap deal with Samuel Eto'o worth a total of 66 million euros but the player had a mixed first season at the Nou Camp.

Gill raps Premji for comments on Games

Slams IWF for imposing heavy fine on IWLF largest software development companies, is the currently second richest person of the country Taking an exception to Wipro Chairman Azim with a personal wealth of USD 17 billion.

Premji's questioning the priorities of the governThe Sports Minister cited example of Microsoft ment in view of the huge money spent on the Chairman Bill Gates for his charity works for USA Commonwealth Games, Sports Minister M S Gill and asked the Indian industry to follow suit. today said the industry should look what it was "I do wish to say that the Industry should condoing for sport, before criticising. tribute towards promotion of sport and spokesperPremji in a recent article in a leading national sons. I look at Bill Gates. He is doing so much, lot daily had said that the thousands of crores of ru- of charities and things which interests him for Amerpees being spent on Games could have been used ica," he said. for building schools and And it will be close to improve infrastructure PM visits JN Stadium, calls 28,000 crore if the addiin the poor parts of the tional amount of Rs. for redoubling efforts country like Bihar.

16,560, spent by Delhi govUNI Gill was obviously ernment for the developNEW DELHI, AUG 29 not pleased with what ment of infrastructure in Premji wrote.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh this morning the capital is added.

"Let (Indians) indus- visited the Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex where Meanwhile, Gill today try look what they are the opening and closing ceremonies of the Com- lashed out at the Internadoing. The sportsper- monwealth Games are scheduled to be held. tional Weightlifting Fedson of the country need The visit took place amidst allegations of massive e r a t i o n ( I W F ) f o r money. My (message) corruption by agencies involved in the works re- imposing such a huge for big captains (of in- lating to the Games and reports of delay in the amount- 500,000 dollardustries) is that they completion of sports venues. The Commonwealth as a doping fine on the should come forward," Games are starting from October 3.

Indian Weight Lifting FedGill said on the sidelines The Prime Minister said it was a beautiful stadium eration (IWLF). of the National Sports and urged all authorities concerned to redouble The IWLF was fined after Awards ceremony here. their efforts to quickly complete whatever works six Indian weightlifters Premji, who heads remained as the people were expecting a spectac- tested positive in dope I n d i a ' s o n e o f t h e ular and flawless opening to the CWG. tests last year.

PTI NEW DELHI, AUG 29

Sevilla, Valencia off to flying start la liga

REUTERS MADRID, AUG 29

Sevilla and Valencia recorded opening day wins in La Liga, helping dispel some of the doubts surrounding their abilities to challenge for honours this season.

Sevilla shook off a heavy defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup and a shock reverse against Braga in the Champions League playoffs to beat promoted Levante 4-1 away.

A double strike from Abdoulay Konko, an Alvaro Negredo penalty and a last-minute goal from Renato helped cancel out a 10thminute penalty from Levante's Ruben Suarez.

Two goals from Joaquin helped Valencia to a 3-1 win at Malaga as they started a new era without Spanish World Cup winning duo David Villa and David Silva.

Valencia had to sell their prize assets to Barcelona and Manchester City respectively to help finance their crippling debts over the summer, but new signing Aritz Aduriz opened his account in the ninth minute, and Joaquin struck twice late on.

In the day's other game, Spain striker Fernando Llorente headed the only goal as Athletic Bilbao won 1-0 at promoted Hercules.

Change is vital for football growth: Arnaldo HERALD SPORTS REPORTER PANJIM, AUG 29

The inter-village football tournament rules need to be changed, the clubs set up professionalized with proper infrastructure and administration and greater attention provided for grassroots and youth development, pointed out Curtorim’s Arnaldo Costa, who is contesting for the post of member from Salcete at the forthcoming GFA elections on October 24.

Arnaldo believes he has time, energy as well as resources to devote for the promotion and development of football especially in Salcete which is no doubt, soccer crazy. Besides, he strongly believes that more attention needs to be devoted to far flung Talukas – Canacona, Satari, Pernem, Sanguem and even Ponda.

Goa needs a modern stadium, since the Nehru Stadium has outlived its existence. It certainly needs to be renovated, refurbrished to confirm to accepted international standards, and most importantly, the floodlights are

a must, pointed out Arnaldo, who added that there is a need to have a full fledged office in Margao to cater to the needs of South Goa clubs.

On the question of new inter-village rules, the former Curtorim Gymkhana president (twice), secretary (eight times), treasurer (twice), sports secretary and vice-president with an overall association of 27 years, opined that all clubs need to sit together and hammer out the issue of transfers, so as to make it player-friendly. There could even be two classes of inter-village events, he said.

Having been a player himself during his days of youth as a goalkeeper with Curtorim Gymkhana, Maina, Fatorda and MPT, Arnaldo felt that the clubs which are the vital link in the upliftment of football should be empowered to have linkages with schools and the industry so that we change the face of the clubs, who need finances to grow up on professional lines. “The clubs should be developed as they are the nucleus of football development and

as such there is need for wide-ranging reforms, which are overdue, Arnaldo remarked.

Clubs need to have a systematic football structure which will ensure that players have daily training which produce strong and interesting matches.

The village clubs are the feeders to the top clubs, the State and National teams, Arnaldo stressed.

Arnaldo, who is the chairman of St Xavier’s Institute High School, Curtorim, said emphasis need to be laid on educational courses at various levels, be it for coaches, administrative staff, etc as part of a lifelong learning attitude.

Arnaldo strongly believes that the future of Goan football depends on the youth. He knows it best as he is involved with the Youth Development Programme, being the Salcete zonal head catering to 147 boys and girls in the 8-10 age group. “I am involved in grassroots and youth development work in Salcete and there are many talented youngsters,” Arnaldo remarked. “It is important to lay a strong foundation. This work might take 8 to 10 years for fruition, but I have taken the challenge,” he added.

“Grassroots and youth football are the basis of our club, state, national teams. It is the role of coaches and ad-

ministrators to encourage boys and girls of all ages to stay involved in the game as long as possible,” commented Arnaldo, who had served as member of GFA Executive Committee some years ago.

“There is need to introduce new initiatives, like a programme on injury prevention and nutrition, known as `The 11+’, which consists of a set of evidence-based and best-practice warming up exercises that will prevent injuries. The exercises, applicable to players of all ages, prevent knee, hamstring and ankle injuries, and should be carried out for 20 minutes. The educational programmes are aimed at enhancing one’s knowledge in order to become better in one’s field,” Arnaldo emphasised. “ T h e G FA , t h e c l u b s n e e d a change in their outlook as well as working, for if we don’t change, we shall not grow and if we don’t grow we are not really living,” Arnaldo summed up with a quote from Gail Sheehy.

CRCC Kuwait claim KIFF Trophy HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, AUG 29

CRC Chinchinim (CRCC) Kuwait winners of KIFF championship trophy. Standing (l to r): Prakas, Anthony, Lesley, Peadad, Agnel, Sadwin, Saby, Agnelo. Sitting: Diego, Alex, Sonny, Elvis, Rosario, Anthony, Admin. Not in the picture: Joivin, Basir and Cosmo. At right, Bosco Leitao, president of CRCC Kuwait receiving the Champions Trophy from KIFF president, Fidelis Fernandes.

CRC Chinchinim (CRCC) Kuwait were awarded the KIFF championship trophy after qualifying for three out of the four finals of 11-a-side football tournaments organised under Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF) at Kazma Sports Club Stadium, Kuwait.

CRCC were also awarded the prestigious Fair Play trophy.

Ajay Malothra, Ambassador of India in Kuwait was the chief guest.

Wozniacki, Stakhovsky Pilot Pen champs REUTERS NEW YORK, AUG 29

Caroline Wozniacki finished off her preparations for next week's US Open by capturing her second title in less than a week.

The 20-year-old Dane, number one seed for the season's final grand slam starting tomorrow, defeated Russia's Nadia Petrova 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to win the New Haven Open crown third the third year in a row yesterday.

The men's title was later won by Sergiy Stakhovsky after the Ukrainian beat Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin 36 6-3 6-4.

Wozniacki's New Haven title came hot on the heels of her rain-delayed Rogers Cup triumph in Montreal on Monday.

The Dane made the final of last year's US Open and has been the form player on this year's US hardcourt series.

The world number two will pocket a 1 million dollar bonus as the leading points scorer if she wins at Flushing Meadows. ''I've had two victories in two weeks and three victories in four weeks,'' she told reporters. ''I feel I'm in great shape and playing well. Hopefully I can continue the next few weeks.''

Bopanna-Qureshi fail to cross final hurdle AGENCIES NEW YORK, AUG 29

Rohan Bopanna's and Aisam-ulHaq Qureshi's wait for their first ATP title continued after they lost the final of the Pilot Pen Tennis tournament to Wimbledon finalists Robert Lindstedt and Horia Tecau in New Haven, USA. The unseeded Indo-Pak pair lost 4-6, 5-7 to the Swede-Romanian combination in the summit clash of the $663,750 event.

Bopanna and Qureshi earned 150 ranking points each and shared $19,150 as prize money.

This was for the third time this season that Bopanna and Qureshi failed to cross the final hurdle.

They had also reached the summit clash of the Nice and Casablanca events early this year.

For Bopanna, it was his fourth final defeat of the year, three with Qureshi and one with Krsitof Vliegen at Atlanta.

Lampard, Terry out of England qualifiers REUTERS LONDON, AUG 29

England manager Fabio Capello will be without Chelsea duo Frank Lampard and John Terry for the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland after both were injured in their team's win against Stoke City.

Midfielder Lampard was ruled out with a hernia which will need surgery next week while the Premier League club also said that Terry was unavailable because of a hamstring injury.

Lampard was substituted in the 2-0 win after having missed a penalty in the first half. ''He (Lampard) will need surgery this week, Tuesday or Wednesday. He will not be able to play for England. We have told England,'' Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti told reporters yesterday. ''In one or two weeks he will

be back. It's very easy surgery.

He needs to do it because he was starting to feel pain.''

Capello will have plenty to ponder before naming his squad today, especially if Fulham striker Bobby Zamora and Tottenham Hotspur's Peter Crouch are unavailable after also suffering knocks on Saturday.

The loss of former captian Terry is a major blow especially as Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand is still sidelined with the knee injury that ruled him out of the World Cup and there are doubts about Tottenham defender Ledley King's ability to play two matches in quick succession. ''John Terry has tonight been ruled out of England's next two games due to injuries to his right hamstring and glute muscles,'' Chelsea's website (www.chelseafc.com) said.

Capello backtracks on Beckham remarks REUTERS LONDON, AUG 29

England coach Fabio Capello said he regretted the way he announced the end of David Beckham's international career but added he still had a good relationship with the former captain who would make a top manager one day.

He also said Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes, 35, had confirmed he did not want to play for England again despite media speculation he could come out of his sevenyear international retirement.

In addition, Capello dampened the idea Everton's Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta might play

for England in the near future.

The Italian said he could have better handled the announcement he was bringing down the international curtain for 35-year-old Beckham after 115 appearances, a record for an England outfield player.

Capello revealed his decision in a television interview aired on the night England met Hungary in a friendly at Wembley on August 11 -- before he had told Beckham himself. ''I regretted it immediately,'' the coach told a media briefing ahead of his team's opening Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland next month.

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SPORTS Saina conferred Khel Ratna PY Nuvem lift Pacheco Trophy Pg 16

Pg 18

Torres gives Liverpool win Pg 17

GOA, MONDAY, 30 AUGUST, 2010 www.oheraldo.in

PTI NEW DELHI, AUG 29

Badminton ace Saina Nehwal, whose phenomenal rise was highlighted by three top-flight international titles recently, was today conferred the coveted Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award at a glittering ceremony here today.

Saina's achievements in the past one year made her an automatic choice for the prestigious award, the highest sporting honour in the country.

The Hyderabadi shuttler though did not collect the award, which consists of a medal, citation and cash prize of Rs 7.5 lakh, personally as she is yet to return from Paris where she lost in the quarter-finals of the World Championships.

An Arjuna awardee last year, Saina rose to number two in world rankings and also completed a hattrick of international titles, including back-

India fined for slow over-rate in final AGENCIES DAMBULLA, AUG 29

The Indian cricket team was on Sunday fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during their defeat to Sri Lanka in the final of the tri-nation series at Dambulla.

Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was fined 40 per cent of his match fee while each of his players were docked 20 per cent of their match fees.

Alan Hurst of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees ruled India to be two overs short of its target at the end of the tri-series final last night when time allowances were taken into consideration.

In accordance with the ICC Code of Conduct regulations governing minor over-rate offences, players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount.

The offence is contrary to Article 2.5.1 of the Code which relates to minor over-rate offences. The penalty was accepted by India without contest so there was no need for a hearing, an ICC statement said.

to-back Super Series victories in Singapore and Indonesia in June.

Former Indian hockey skipper Sandeep Singh and women's cricket captain Jhulan Goswami were among the 15 sportspersons who received the Arjuna Award from President Pratibha Patil at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Boxer Dinesh Kumar, swimmer Rehan Poncha, world's second youngest Grandmaster Parimarjan Negi and Olympian wrestler Rajiv Tomar also received the Arjuna award for their achieve-

ments in the last one year.

Women hockey player Jasjeet Kaur Handa also missed the ceremony as she is now in Argentina for the FIH World Cup. No male cricketer got the honour, while Deepak Mondal was the lone footballer and Rajeev Tomar was the lone wrestler to get Arjuna award.

Others to get the award were Sanjeev Rajput (shooting), Kapil Dev (volleyball), Rehan Poncha (swimming), Dinesh Kumar (kabaddi), Rajesh Chaudhary (yachting) and Jagseer Singh (para-Olympian).

Sandeep was in a superb form during India's recent hockey tour of Europe, while seasoned pacewoman Jhulan is currently heading the bowling list of International Cricket Council's ODI Women's Rankings.

Dinesh had won the light heavyweight 81kg Commonwealth Championships title earlier this year, while Poncha would be India's bets bet for a swimming medal in this year's Commonwealth Games.

Dronacharya Award, the top

recognition for coaches in the country, was conferred on five including L Ibomcha Singh (boxing), Ajay Kumar Bansal (hockey), AK Kutty (athletics), Captain Chandrup (wrestling) and Subhash B Aggarwal (billiards and snooker).

The Arjuna and Dronacharya awardees got statuettes, citations and cash prize of Rs 5 lakh each.

Dhyan Chand Award, given for the life-time contribution to sports development, was con-

ferred on Satish Pillai (athletics), Kuldeep Singh (wrestling) and Anita Chanu (weightlifting).

The award carries a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh, a statuette and a citation.

Services Sports Control Board (SSCB), Tata Steel Limited and Khel Evam Yuva Vibhag of Government of Madhya Pradesh won Rashtriya Khel Protsahana Puruskar, instituted last year, for their contribution to sports.

LIST OF THE AWARDEES

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award: Saina Nehwal (badminton).

Arjuna Awards: Joseph Abraham, Krishna Poonia (both Athletics), Dinesh Kumar (boxing), Parimrajan Negi (chess), Julan Goswami (women's cricket), Deepak Kumar Mandal (football), Sandeep Singh (men's hockey), Jasjeet Kaur Handa (women's hockey), Dinesh Kumar (kabaddi), Sanjeev Rajput (shooting), Rehan Jehangir Poncha (swimming), Kapil Dev KJ (volleyball), Rajeev Tomar (wrestling), Rajesh Chaudhary (yachting), Jagseer Singh (para-olympics athletics).

Dhyan Chand Awards: Satish Pillai (athletics), Kuldeep Singh (wrestling), Anita Chanu (weightlifting).

Dronacharya Awards: A K Kutty (athletics), Subhash B Aggarwal (billiards and snooker), L Ibomcha Singh (boxing), Ajay Kumar Bansal (hockey), Captain Chandrup (wrestling).

Rashtriya Khel Protsahana Puruskar: Services Sports Control Board (SSCB), Tata Steel Limited, Khel Evam Yuva Vibhag (Government of Madhya Pradesh).

Hamilton wins Belgian GP l Force

India’s Sutil finishes 5th

England thrash Pakistan in ‘fix row’ Test AFP LONDON, AUG 29

England crushed Pakistan by an innings and 225 runs to win the fourth and final Test at Lord's here today with more than a day to spare.

Victory, wrapped up before lunch on the fourth day, gave England the series, their last before they defend the Ashes in Australia in November, 3-1.

But Pakistan's heaviest defeat in Test cricket, surpassing their innings and 198-run loss to Australia at Sharjah in 2002, was overshadowed by allegations they had been involved in a betting scam at Lord's.

On the field, Pakistan collapsed for the second time in this match.

Resuming on an overnight score of 41 for four, having been made to follow-on after being dismissed for 74 in their first

innings, Pakistan were bowled out for 147.

They lost five wickets for 34 runs in 61 balls on Sunday before a last-wicket stand of 50 between Umar Akmal - whose 79 not out was the lone act of Pakistan batting resistance this match - and Asif briefly checked England.

England off-spinner Graeme Swann took three wickets for four runs in 15 balls on his way to final innings figures of five for 62 in 12 overs.

That gave Swann a match haul of nine for 74 after he'd taken four for 12 in Pakistan's first innings.

Pakistan started today still 331 runs adrift of England's first innings 446 and batsmen Azhar Ali and Umar Akmal, both nought not out overnight, were booed by some spectators asthey walked onto the field at the 'home of cricket'.

England first innings: 446 (J Trott 184, S Broad 169; Mohammad Amir 6-84) Pakistan first innings: 74 all out.

Pakistan second innings (41-4 overnight): Imran Farhat c Cook b Broad 5, Yasir Hameed lbw b Anderson 3, Salman Butt lbw b Swann 21, Mohammad Yousuf c Trott b Finn 10, Azhar Ali b Swann 12, Umar Akmal not out 79, Kamran Akmal c Prior b Anderson 1, Mohammad Amir b Swann 0, Wahab Riaz c Pietersen b Swann 0, Saeed Ajmal run out 8, Mohammad Asif c Collingwood b Swann 1. Extras: 7. Total: 147 all out. Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-9, 3-41, 4-41, 5-63, 6-64, 7-65, 8-73, 9-97, 10-147.

Bowling: Anderson 13-4-35-2, Broad 6-1-24-1, Finn 4-0-23-1, Swann 13.5-1-62-5.

Man-of-the-match: SCJ Broad .

Men-of-the-series: Mohammad Amir and IJL Trott.

Dhoni loses top spot, Sehwag rises McLaren Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton leads at the start of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix, at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit on Sunday.

AGENCIES BELGIAN, AUG 29

Lewis Hamilton won the Belgian Grand Prix after an incidentpacked race at Spa-Francorchamps.

The McLaren Mercedes driver retook the lead in the World Championship with an superb error-free drive, leading from the first corner to the finish.

Red Bull's Mark Webber was second, with Renault's Robert Kubica third, and Ferrari's Felipe Massa fourth.

Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso crashed out, and Sebastian Vettel failed to score a point.

Force India's Adrian Sutil was

fifth, with Nico Rosberg sixth for Mercedes.

"I'm ecstatic, it was a great weekend," said Hamilton, whose driving was praised by his team principal Martin Whitmarsh.

"A race like that can be a lottery, so I'm so happy and grateful to come out on top."

With the drivers having been clearly warned they would be punished if they used the runoff at the opening corner, La Source, to gain any kind of advantage on the first lap, the likelihood of collisions appeared to be increased.

What was not predicted was that pole-sitter Webber would

make an appalling start, to such an extent that he reached the corner in sixth.

As Hamilton pulled ahead, Kubica weaved around the Australian, and just managed to hold off the charging Button around La Source, but rain was already beginning to fall.

By the time the field got to the Bus Stop chicane, the track was damp enough for at least nine cars to have to use the runoff area. Rubens Barrichello, in his 300th Grand Prix, was the big loser, running hard into the back of Fernando Alonso's Ferrari, a collision which put him

out of the race.

With the safety car out the choice was now whether to switch to intermediates or stay on slicks, and most, including the leaders chose to stay on their smooth rubber.

It proved to be the right choice as the the rain immediately eased off and as Hamilton stretched his lead after the safety car recalled after two laps, B u t t o n a n d Ve t t e l passed Kubica, while

Alonso began the long climb through the field after pitting for fresh slicks.

odi rankings AGENCIES DUBAI, AUG 29

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni lost his number one spot but opening batsman Virender Sehwag gained eight places to return to the top-10 in the ICC ODI rankings issued on Sunday.

Sehwag is occupying the 8th spot in the ODI rankings for batsmen.

India held on to the second spot in the team rankings despite losing the tri-series final to Sri Lanka on Saturday.

Sri Lanka, sixth before the series, are just behind India, and in front of South Africa, who drop to fourth, when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.

New Zealand drop to sixth

from fourth as Australia, at the top, and England, in fifth spot, remain unchanged.

In individual rankings, Tillakaratne Dilshan broke into the top five of the batting chart.

Dilshan's match-winning effort of 110 in the final against India last night was enough to earn him a three-place boost in the rankings and he now sits in fourth position, level with Hashim Amla of South Africa.