hyderabad news weekly

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flavours

Koena’s readies to lock with Kevin

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oena Mitra is known for her bold attitude and definitely doesn’t believe in 'no on-screen kiss please' funda. The actress will be seen at Hollywood flick ‘Story of Naomi’ and her hot kiss with the actor Kevin Sorbo will definitely scorch the screen. Koena’s hot and steamy scenes with Fardeen Khan in ‘Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena’ also came into limelight but the actress believed that she doesn’t think it’s wrong if it’s the demand of the script.

‘Story Of Naomi’ is produced by Michael Hirshenson who’s’ credits include “When Harry Met Sally”, “Jurassic Park”, and “Princess Bride”. So, we hope Keona this time also you gather equal amount of attention and appreciation for your acting! Supermodel turned Bollywood actress Koena is definitely grabbing attention. The film produced by Michael Hirshenson, Vice President of The Casting Company; who’s’ credits include “When Harry Met Sally”, “Jurassic Park”, and “Princess Bride”. Michael while talking about Koena said, “It’s not easy to get work in worldwide cinema without a universal appeal and talent.”

DECCAN­POST June 17 - 23, 2011

An exclusive day for Music... p 8

Sonakshi demands `3 Crores to romance Venki

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ollywood beauty Sonakshi Sinha gave a big shock to Venkatesh, when the latter expressed his desire to work with his former in this year. It is a known fact that, Venkatesh was inclined in working with Sonakshi Sinha, in his forthcoming films, after ‘Bodyguard’. But the actress, who was less interested in acting with our uncle Venkatesh expressed that she has some date issues with her other film commitments and so cannot give a space to his film. After a couple of hours , it is added that Sonakshi Sinha contacted her PR house and said to Venkatesh that she is ready to act opposite to him, provided she is paid Rs 3 crores.

It is now reported that Sonakshi Sinha gathered information about Venkatesh and she learnt that he was the man who recommended Suresh Babu to pay Rs 1.23 crores for Katrina Kaif, in order to sign her for his ‘Malleswari’. Citing the acting deal as a lucrative opportunity, Sonakshi Sinha gave the offer to Venkatesh, which is now in the hands of him, to make further decision.

However, sources say that he is not inclined in recommending to the producer to pay such a big amount to a female lead, who hardly will occupy 6-7 scenes minus the songs. The whole talks in between the two stars happened at the recently concluded CCL match, in between Telugu warriors and Mumbai heroes, where Telugu warriors won.

Hyder abad’s Onl y E nglis h News week ly Vol. 4 Issue No. 19

June 17 - 23, 2011

www.deccanpost.in

16 Pages

Rs.3

DP

DP Desk

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embers of the High Powered Telangana congress delegation including 13 MPs, 10 AP Ministers, about 28 MLAs and 13 MLCs - took turns to express their resentment over the central government's silence on the December 2009 assurance by union home minister P Chidambaram stating that “the process of formation of Telangana had begun”. The

Printed, published and owned by V Raghavendra Reddy, printed at Kala Jyothi Process Private Limited, Survey No. 185, Kondapur, Serilingampally, Hyderabad 500 133. Published from House No. 1-2-234/13/39, Second Floor, Aravindanagar, Domalguda, Hyderabad - 500 029, Phone No. 040-30 42 43 47 Editor-in-Chief : Dr Goka Sridhar, Editor : V Raghavendra Reddy.

meeting that lasted for just about 12 or 13 minutes was a huge blow to the expectations of the Telangana congressmen. On his part, Chidambaram did hear out some of the Telangana leaders but in a hurried manner stated that he could only convey their views to the Congress Core Committee, that includes the Prime Minister, Sonia Gandhi, Pranab Mukherjee, AK Antony and Ahmed Patel; which

is truly competent to take the final decision on the options suggested by the Srikrishna Committee that submitted its Nine Chapters Report to the union government on 30th December, 2010. Chidambaram is also known to have stated that “in any case, no decision was possible on the sensitive issue without the clearance of the party high command” obviously referring to congress president Sonia Gandhi. Later on, the same delegation which had a prior appointment with Pranab Mukherjee, the senior most minister in the union government met the union finance minister and conveyed their displeasure and disappointment about the manner in which they were treated by the union finance minister. Being a seasoned politician Pranab seems to have sufficiently mollified the hurt members and in the presence of Ahmed Patel has given a patient hearing to many members of the delegation. As usual, the veteran sought time as “party chief Soniaji was not in the country” and the members of the delegation have drawn their own conclusions. Now, another deadline has been set by the expert on deadlines.

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Coverstory

DECCAN POST June 17 - 23, 2011

T-Congressmen serve

Ultimatum to Sonia

By Dr. T Sivaprasad Reddy

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strong contingent of congressmen from Andhra Pradesh State visited New Delhi to have talks on early formation of State of Telangana with the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and the Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday, the 15th of June. The delegation comprising about 70 Telangana legislators, AP State Ministers, MPs of the Congress on Wednesday spent nearly one-and-a-half hours in the conference room of the union home ministry discussing their demand for a separate state. It was shocking to note that the union home minister P Chidambaram who had agreed to meet this delegation to discuss the “The Way Forward” about the formation of Telangana State had very little time to spare. Precisely, the meeting between the T-delegation and the union home minister lasted less than 15 minutes. Those who attended the meeting were in a state of shock and disbelief about the attitude of the Union Minister who cited an excuse to leave midway to attend a pre-scheduled meeting of the Lokpal bill drafting committee. But the members of T-congress delegation although deeply disappointed and hurt, seemed determined not to lose temper and nerves when tested by their unwilling host known for such typical temperament. The Telangana MPs and MLAs/MLCs, including ministers, decided to stay put in the conference room and spent the next 75 minutes comparing their 43-minute audience with the Prime Minister last week with the few minutes spared by Chidambaram on Wednesday. As such “Room Number 119” in North Block, which has witnessed many brain-storming sessions on critical policy matters turned into a forum for the high powered Telangana congress representatives to air their frustration over the Centre's indecision over the statehood issue and more particularly to slam the evasive tactics of the union home minister.

There are some who remarked that “Chidambaram has enough time to attend a private function at an industrialist’s place in Hyderabad” at the expense of the nation’s exchequer but no time in his own office to discuss the issue of Telangana which has consumed hundreds of precious lives and an issue that keeps crores of people on tenter hooks . When some MPs and legislators tried to enquire and elicit information as to what’s happening with the T-issue; the union minister is believed to have coldly responded by asking them to meet the core committee members and also the Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi. Further, distancing himself from the announcement made on 9th December, 2009; the union home minister reminded the delegation that the decision announced on steps to be taken for formation of State of Telangana was also reiterated in both houses of the Parliament on the very next day by both himself in the Rajya Sabha and the Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the Lok Sabha. Since parties like TDP have backed out after giving their consent, the only alternative was to work out a consensus. The union minister also reminded that the AICC

has not given their opinion leaving the whole delegation dazed.

Chidambaram, who seemed getting late for the Lokpal drafting committee meeting, then requested to take leave of the delegation by rising up from his chair and leaving the representatives behind.

The home minister's hurry to end the Telangana meeting was but understandable, given that the Lokpal meeting was as crucial.

But still, the Telangana MPs, who are under pressure from the civil society of Telangana refused to budge even after Chidambaram had left. For the next hour and 15 minutes, the legislators remained huddled in the conference room, making angry speeches over the Centre's indifference and indecision. The delegation also discussed the agenda points for their meeting with the union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, scheduled for that evening.

members that Jupalli Krishna Rao, a state minister, who already resigned earlier this month will be emulated by other ministers to follow suit if the centre delays a decision on the issue.

Telangana leaders, who have set June 30 as the deadline for the leadership to take a decision, warned that if it failed to take a positive decision by then, the congress party would be wiped out in the region. Satisfied with the talks, the high powered T-delegation had with the union finance minister Pranab and senior party man Ahmed Patel, some state ministers and MPs told the media waiting outside that Shri Pranab Mukherjee assured them that he would apprise Madam Sonia Gandhi of their sentiments once she returns to Delhi. They claimed the senior party leaders and members of the core committee

to dilly dally the issue.

Complete Cycle The MPs had last week called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who assured to discuss the issue with the party leadership.

Telangana leaders demanded the government abide by its 9th December, 2009 statement on the issue and table a bill in the ensuing parliament session to carve out a separate state.

The Prime Minister advised the Telangana congressmen to meet other members of the core committee and also the union home minister. With this visit to Delhi, the Tcongress leaders have met all the members of the CORE Committee of the Congress party except the actual decision maker- Shrimathi Sonia Gandhi. When will they meet her? Will she meet them? If so, what will she inform

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mArKet/BusIness

DECCAN POST June 17 - 23, 2011

stock market awaits rBI decision

By V Sundar Raja

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he stock market witnessed a minor declining trend in the last one week from 18600 levels to 18200, where a minor recovery is seen. However the overall trend remains cautious, as the host of macroeconomic indicators continues to hit the markets.

The Industrial production data released on 10th May, though a slightly higher data; it suggests a possible slowdown in the Indian economy. The major influencing factor inflation data that is released again on 14th May indicates that there the general consumer articles are still high, and there are no signs of decreasing prices.

Hence this indicates that the Reserve Bank of India, in its crucial meet on 16th May is likely to further increase in the bank’s lending rates. In such a scenario, this is expected to have a negative effect on the stock market. This is because; if the loan rates are increased then there would be a decrease in the demand for automobiles, housing and even consumer appliances. Incase of any positive surprise, and then the stock market is expected to stage a turnaround to enter into an uptrend.

The latest American data indicates that there is a slowdown in the American economy, and there is no immediate possibility of a revival, as the unemployment is increasing to record levels and the growth rate on the otherhand is decreasing.

Market leader Reliance industries pulled down the market on the negative news that is just developing that the firm has indulged in irregularities, and it is now feared that there could be a deeper probe, that can even lead to a fresh storm.

current levels.

The trendsetter sector Software was seen in a declining trend, as the slowdown in the American economy would lead to lesser orders to the Indian IT companies.

Market leaders banking stocks have turned cautious, and the next major direction in this industry would depend on the RBI move. Real estate would be further battered incase of any hike in the interest rates.

Only growth sector Pharma was seen in a steady uptrend, while there is no immediate light seen for the automobiles industry.

The precious metals Gold and Silver are expected to move in a declining and depressed trend in the next few weeks.

The coming week is expected to see a major test for the Stock markets and only incase of any firmness at these levels, it would then indicate strength. The flow of macroeconomic news in the next few days should be positive for the markets to enter into an uptrend.

Technically, on the charts, Sensex only incase of any breakdown below the key support of 18,200 levels, and then it signals a further short-term down. Then below this crucial support, the short-term investors can consider short-term exit and can re-enter later at a lower levels.

This strategy would decrease the average cost of the Investor. Then the next major supports below are at 17,700 and next at 17,200. sundartrends@yahoo.com DP

The only silver-lining has the fresh purchases by the foreign funds, which are reported to have bought heavily at

Note –Investors have to be aware of risks in the stock markets.

Life has come a full circle for the Indian Microfinance players

By Ananjan Chaudhury

F Pranab extends deadline by one week Having tasted bitter medicine the Tcongressmen were in a rebellious mood when they happened to meet the Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Senior congress leader Ahmed Patel on Wednesday night. Both of them are known to have assured Congress leaders from Telangana that the party would take a decision on the statehood issue within a week. More than 60 leaders including MPs, state ministers and legislators met Pranab and Ahmed Patel, also a member of the Congress party core committee and Sonia Gandhi's political adviser. The meeting lasted for ONE HOUR and 15 minutes as the two senior leaders gave a patient hearing to the delegation. The Congress leaders hoped the party would take a positive decision on their demand for separate Telangana state but warned the leadership that if it failed to do so ---they would be forced to chalk out their own action plan. The delegation reminded the two core committee

agreed with them that a decision on the issue can't be delayed any further. MP representing Nizamabad, Madhu Yaskhi said they made it clear that it was their last meeting on the issue.

"We told them that we will not come again and submit representations on the issue. We will come only if the party invites us for taking a decision on formation of separate state," the MP said. Another MP, Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy had strong words for the party high command. The first time MP from Bhongir stated that the “including the congress, every other party that is not supporting the Telangana statehood would perish”. Many ministers expressed optimism about the favorable outcome towards the formation of Telangana State. Senior Congress MP K Keshava Rao said the delegation was earlier disappointed that the union home minister could not spare time to hear them on Telangana, but stated that the meeting with Pranab Da and Patelji was cordial. Keshav Rao also stated that “all parties” including the BJP , TDP , CPI, TRS and Congress were in favour of a separate Telangana and there was no need

them? This is what is being asked by every congress party worker in the state. But there is a lot of criticism and abuse against those ministers who deliberately did not join the delegation.. While there is talk that the union minister S Jaipal Reddy, has made up for his recent faux pas many party leaders are urging that the new Deputy CM, Geeta Reddy and Sabitha Reddy must be kicked out of the council of ministers. They have no business to benefit in the name of Telangana when they do not even show their commitment and the party shall abide by the majority opinion in choosing ministers and allotting portfolios.

Disturbed at the talk of Telangana being halted at the “X” roads, there is a move by some members of the congress party to break away from the All India Congress party and begin a regional party on the lines of “Trinamool Congress” and live up to the expectations of the party cadre and common public. That seems to be the only way for congressmen to survive in politics and emerge victorious. Is it the end of the road for congress party led by Sonia Gandhi in Telangana?

DP

mail@deccanpost.in

rom being unknown to become a darling in a short span and then only fall to face ignominy, life has come a full circle for the Indian microfinance players. The US$4.3 bn sector which was once billed as the next big thing in the Indian financial sector is now fighting for its survival. At its heyday, the sector attracted big names like George Soros and fund arm of Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs to invest in the sector. Needless to mention about the IPO success of SKS Microfinance.

From absence of regulation to over regulation, the sector finds itself stifled.

The industry players themselves are to be blamed for their current plight.

Microfinance (MF) was originally conceived to provide financial inclusion to those poor people who are outside the formal credit ambit. The most important objective was to provide affordable credit to create and sustain livelihood so that greedy moneylenders can be kept at bay. In quest for growth, most of the players over lend money to rural people through multiple loans. The easy money led to diversion of loans for consumption and other luxury purchases rather than for productive purpose. Recovery process got hit and coercive collection took over forcing Andhra Pradesh government to issue prohibitory orders on due collections.

With no internal funds generated for further lending and no other sources to fall back on, MF got hit with funds crunch and

pile of bad debts. Banks failed to rescue them as they perceived MF portfolio as toxic. Private equity investors did not cough up money due to ambiguity on the regulatory front.

It is not all gloom as RBI has now issued a new set of guidelines to resurrect and regulate the sector. It is expected that RBI

will be the only regulator for the industry superseding state level policies. Capping interest rate at 26% and limiting loan size for every borrower, fixing loan tenure above 24 months and flexibility in repayment schedule for borrowers are some of the features of the guidelines. Few players forgetting their objective in financial

inclusion charged exorbitant interest rate which sparked off the crisis.

Few banks have agreed to restructuring of loans which they extended earlier to some of the troubled microfinance players by converting into equity Despite having over 25 million rural households as borrowers, the largest in the world, the penetration of microfinance in India is still not in double digits. Given the limitations of banks in extending rural coverage, the above trend shows the massive potential for the sector provided the players learn the lessons from the crisis. Foremost being, curbing over lending tendency. Self regulation is the best way to start to bring the house in order. Developing a centralized database of borrowers will go a long way in stabilizing the industry from rampant lending.

Microfinance players should not mistake over reaching rural households as creating an impact on poverty reduction.

They should instead play active role in creating and nurturing sustainable rural livelihood and not seen as just another money lender.

DP

mail@deccanpost.in The author is currently working with Avalon Global Research, Mumbai. The views expressed in this article are author’s own opinion and not necessarily of the organization he represents.

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DECCAN POST June 17 - 23, 2011

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AfteR the leAk

DECCAN POST June 17 - 23, 2011

Hidden Report of Srikrishna

Secrecy Reveals Corrupt Recommendations

bY Professor Madabhushi Sridhar

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ringing disrepute to entire ‘Judiciary’, Mr. Justice BN Srikrishna, who headed the Srikrishna Committee, has advised the Center to induce, manage, suppress, manipulate and corrupt different sections of leaders to stall the agitation for separate Telangana. When Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev are spearheading a movement against bribery, gratification, inducement and black money at the high level of Indian polity, it is strange that Committee headed by former Judge of Supreme Court; Justice Srikrishna wanted the union government to adopt every corrupt means to keep the state of Andhra Pradesh united in the midst of a passionate agitation by the people of Telangana seeking bifurcation of the state. Especially, when the union government is engaging in legal battle by appealing over a strong directive from Justice L Narasimha Reddy, Judge of AP High court to put the ‘secret’ in public, the exposure of entire secret text made that exercise futile and redundant. In fact, the single judge Bench of High Court brought out the essence of secret recommendations of Justice Srikrishna, saying that “no greater security concerns were involved to justify keeping the impugned Chapter VIII of the Committee secret”. The half page in Page Number 423 of open report of Srikrishna talks about a secret note given in sealed cover based on one-to-one talk between Mr V K Duggal, Member-Secretary of the Srikrishna Committee on Consultations on situation in Andhra Pradesh and senior officers of 17 districts. This is what provoked a great controversy which ultimately led to litigation and demolishing credibility, if any, of the Srikrishna Committee.

The Committee has mentioned in its secret note that if state of Telangana is formed, as suggested in the 5th option, it would become an epicenter for Maoist violence and communal violence. The first para says: This detailed note covers the likely immediate backlash/ law and order situations that get created in the State on the submission of the Report at the end of the month as a reaction to the perceived course of action by the Government of India on whatever option may finally get exercised. The note also discusses some major long term internal security related issues.

The note suggests that Maoists will extend their activities to various districts of Telangana”.

The Supplementary Note has three parts and it reads: a) Political Management. (b) Media Management. (c) Full Preparedness.

After discussing possible consequences of each option, the Committee concluded in this secret note, as follows: In view of the background of the complex situation, it would be seen that under each of the scenarios listed above, there is a high possibility of immediate agitational backlash in different regions of the State. The following mechanism is suggested to control the law and order situations that may emerge soon after the report is submitted and becomes public. The mechanism essentially should cover three areas i.e. i) political management and sensitization of political parties ii) media management and iii) High level of preparedness by the State Government (Administration, Police, Intelligence, etc.) with needed and adequate support from the Centre.

Thus, the Committee traveled beyond the terms of reference in its endeavor to persuade the Union of India, not to accede to the demand for Telangana that is demonstrated in a three- page Supplementary Note, appended to Chapter- VIII, in which it explained the details of these three management techniques.

The note suggested the following:

Political Management

(i) There is a need for ensuring unity among the leaders of the ruling party in the State. There is also a need for providing strong and firm political leadership and placement of representatives of Telangana in key positions (may be CM / Dy. CM) (At the foot it was noted in November 2010 as ‘Since done’ though it was done only on June 10, 2011when Higher Education Minister C Damodar Raja narasimha got elevated as the Deputy CM).

Once a violated term of Gentlemen Agreement, giving Deputy Chief Minister post to Telangana leader was once again done on June 10. However there is little scope for Damodar to be happy, because the TP-JAC and the TRS have already called upon people to force Telangana Congress persons to relinquish their positions if Center delays the decision.

Inputs indicate that this agitation can be tackled if Telangana Congress leaders do not give an impression indicating any covert/ over support to it. Hence the Telangana Congress MPs / MLAs need to be taken into confidence and asked not to lend any form of support to the agitation. The Congress High Command must sensitize its own MPS and MLAs and educate them about the wisdom for arriving at an acceptable and workable solution. With the ruling party and also the main opposition party (the TDP run by Chandra Babu) must be brought on the same page, the support mechanisms have a higher probability of becoming successful. The TDP must be advised not to participate in any further meetings that would be called by the Centre. This could be an effective stumbling block for any meaningful dialogue on resolving the Telangana demand.

The Andhra Congress MPs belonging to Kamma caste must be encouraged to work in tandem with TDP leadership which is now caught in a bad shape.

It is a shame that a body which is supposed to be judicious, draws out a strategy on caste lines as mentioned above. The cheapest suggestion of unifying MPs and leaders belonging to caste of Kamma in both Congress and Telugu Desham to oppose Telangana is also believed to be getting effectively implemented. TDP leadership has already decided not to attend the all party meeting convened by Union Home Minister which will help in delaying the process on Telangana. Then the Committee suggested to ‘drag on’ as long as possible giving an impression that government is trying to discuss with all stake holders. In a way it advised the Government to deceive and cheat the people of Telangan. That paragraph has to be quoted here: (ii) Further, on receipt of the Committee’s Report by the Government, a general message should be conveyed amongst the people of the State that Centre will be open for detailed discussions on the recommendations / options of the Report with the concerned leaders /

stakeholders either directly or through a Group of Ministers or through important interlocutors and that this process will start at the earliest. But every method must be adopted to avoid giving finality to any discussions to drag on the matter until the agitation is totally brought under control.

It is a paradox that Srikrishna tried to teach political manipulations to the 125 plus old Congress party. It did not even hesitate to hit ‘below the belt’. The fresh revelation of text of Eighth Chapter of Srikrishna Committee in Telangana media on June 10 has a strange synchronization with the appointment of Damodar Rajanarasimha, a Telangana legislator as the Deputy Chief Minister of AP. This indicates that the center is complying with every deceitful and unreasonable suggestion of Srikrishna without any hesitation.

Second secret recommendation of the Committee is manipulating the opposition and Telangana Rasthra Samithi. As it is, the line between Congress and main opposition Telugu Desham is blurred. The YSR Congress party blamed TDP as the handmaid of ruling party which was revealed when both of those parties tried to fight ‘same target’ (YS Jaganmohan Reddy) in Kadapa by-election and worked in unison in bailing out the ruling party from the threat of ‘numbers’ through election of Assembly Speaker by open voting with a whip so that the purpose of proposed ‘no confidence motion’ is defeated much before it is put to vote. The TDP continues to oppose Telangana through its non-Telangana leaders while its Telangana forum concentrates targeting TRS in the name of agitating for Telangana. Though it is not known how the rulers are ‘softening’ the TRS leaders as suggested by Srikrishna, but long drawn silence of K Chandrasekhar Rao and absence of serious agitation preparedness is strengthening doubts about the implementation of Srikrishna’s suggestion to remove the vigour from the TRS agitation.

Media Management

The secret supplementary note also suggested managing the media, saying: The main editors/ resident and subeditors, the Film world etc. are dominated by Seemandhra people. A coordinated action on their part has the potential of shaping the perception of the common man. However, the beat journalists in the respective regions are locals and are likely to capture only those events/ news which reflect the regional sentiments. This can be tackled by the owners of the media houses by systematically replacing the local journalists by those from Seemandhra wherever it is possible. The print media is hugely dependent on the Government for advertisement revenue and if carefully handled can be an effective tool to achieve this goal. However, the RTI Act may prove to be an impediment for the Government to deny due share of ads to publications supporting the Telangana demand.

The Government of Andhra Pradesh is already doling out the advertisements to media. Any one can find plenty of Government Advertisements in almost all newspapers and TV channels. It is to be watched whether Seemandhra Managing Directors and editors will replace the local Telangana reporters by Seemandhra Reporters.

However the Seemandhra Media has already exhibiting its total opposition to Telangana by not presenting the news of agitation and repeatedly casting anti-Telangana statements.

The TRS launched its daily ‘Namasthe Telangana’ with 7.5 lakh paid subscription from ten districts of Telangana on the first day.

This is described as indication of growing dissent at anti-telangana bias of media in Andhra Pradesh. To comply with suggestion of ‘full preparedness’ the center has already sent para military forces equipped with the arms and ammunition to suppress the agitation. (c) Full Preparedness (i) As under each of the options there is a high possibility of agitational backlash, notwithstanding the actions taken in advance as suggested in (a) and (b) above, an appropriate plan of deployment grid of police force (both Central and State) with full technical support needs to be immediately drawn up. Advance preparedness in this regard would go a long way in containing the law and order situation and minimize destruction of lives and property.

Thus the secret commentary on the Eighth Chapter discussed each and every option of its open ninth chapter only to say that every option is not workable peacefully. Since every step would invite some or the other agitation, the Committee wanted to treat entire situation as just law and order and suppress it ruthlessly, most undemocratic and unreasonable suggestion indeed. Thus this truth-less committee wanted ruthless suppression of the people conceding some loss of life and property. The open report has indirectly provoked the people of Telangana to agitate intensely since Center has expressly revealed through this committee that it is not inclined to give Telangana state without pressurizing agitation. The secret part of the report on the other hand asked the Union Government to suppress the agitation, corrupt politicians and bribe the media with advertisements.

Now, with none from the union government denying these revelations in the media, no justification can be made to still keep the report “secret”, as the report has been almost totally out in public domain, unless some thing else is written and supplied to the Home Ministry beyond this 21 pages of the commentary and three pages of supplementary note. It is not known whether secret is confined to these twenty four pages only, but the dishonesty of the state and crookedness of the political parties remained no more secret.

The chairman of Committee Justice Srikrishna might have secured another high power postretirement alluring position and members continue to enjoy the state patronage, but people do consider the whole committee as discredited and proved to be corrupt by suggesting corrupt means and moves to suppress a popular people’s agitation.

Today a even common man doubts the integrity of Justice Srikrishna, asking how the chairman of this committee could have occupied the most honourable seat of judge of Supreme Court of India and lead other intellectual members. It is most unfortunate that Center has not yet decided that it would not fight appeal but reveal the entire secret chapter to respect the principles of transparency.

DP

mail@deccanpost.in

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PolitiCs

Botsa’s desperate to replace CM Kiran ?

By U Srinivas

E

ver since, the Bosta Satyanarayana became the President of the APCC he has been acting like a man in great hurry. The transport minister in the six-month old Kiran Kumar Reddy government Botsa Satyanaraya @ Sathi Babu @ Bosta has almost become a de-facto chief minister for the time being. Already, Bosta started taking up political classes for the cabinet ministers as to how they must take the issues and publicity to the masses. Bosta began boasting that he already made a dent into the group of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. He brushed aside Jagan saying that he is no heavy weight in front of him and can take on him any time. It looks like he wants to order the chief minister also to do -such and such a thing-. He feels the chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy must consult him regularly and must work under his direct guidance.

Supporters of Bosta are saying that if the CM Kiran wants to make a policy decision, then Botsa would like to stop him saying that “the party would take up the scheme or the decision to the masses through the party circles”. Whether a typically arrogant Kiran Kumar “REDDY” that too being the reining chief minister would allow an overenthusiastic Botsa to come anywhere near his authority is an interesting matter for political observers from now on. While assuming charge as the PCC chief, Bosta suggested that the CM should give due respect to the party and its leaders. Though they ruled out of having any differences between them, many believe that Botsa is going to make attempts to topple Kiran Kumar Reddy in the days to come.

In fact Botsa is throwing his weight everywhere being in the party and also in the Government depending on the situation. Majority of the ministers who detest CM Kiran’s arrogance are also of the opinion that Botsa will finally grab the top post in no time and that it would be wise for them to join him as they cannot fight him. As it is many ministers are not happy with the attitude of the chief minister. This time the high command could be a mute spectator and the change in the chief ministership will be effected here in Hyderabad with the majority of the legislators supporting Sathi Babu. As he openly announced and also with the Kapu lobby preparing the sketch to be worked out there are many plans being prepared. With Chiranjeevi’s merging his 18 PRP MLAs into the Congress; Bosta sees an added advantage as out of the 18 MLAs; about 12 are Kapu MLAs. All these Kapu MLAs are now excited with Bosta becoming the party Boss.

Earlier, these MLAs were not confident about their future.

It is learnt that Ganta Srinivas Rao and Kanna Babu worked behind the scenes to see that Chiranjeevi merges his PRP with Congress. Now that the merger process is completed they are now interested in sharing power. C Ramchandriah, an MLC from Kadapa District and Ganta Srinivas are hecticly trying to become ministers. Although, Vanga Geetha has a good chance but the real question is whether Chiranjeevi would stay in the state or sent out by Bosta? If Chiru stays in the state and becomes a powerful minister in the state cabinet; it would mean that Bosta has to play second fiddle to Chiranjeevi. But if Chiru can be asked to go to centre then Bosta will grab all the opportunity. Of course, there is a danger in Chiranjeevi resigning his Tirupathi seat as the congress is not in a position to win the seat if a vacancy arises. However, Bosta would want Chiru to resign so that he can kill two birds with one shot. First, it would be exit for Chiru from state and secondly it would be a huge political set back for chief minister if he is unable to get the party nominee elected.

For Bosta, he can easily blame both Chiru and CM Kiran for the defeat.

When it comes to taking on Jagan, Botsa has already taken the insider from YSR that Sureedu into his fold and it is learnt that Sureeda is spilling the beans against Jagan.

Although, it is highly impossible that Sureedu can really ditch YSR’s family. That is now identified with Jagan. Even if Sureedu is shunned by Jagan; it could always be a ploy to fool others. Therefore, whoever is claiming to part ways with Jagan are just doing so only for the purpose of strategic reasons.

The PCC chief has announced his time table . He said if he is in Hyderabad, every day during the first session he will be at Gandhi Bhavan looking after party affairs and in the second session will be at Secretariat interacting with Ministers. Whether, he can make any impact on the party and Government, his appointment as PCC President certainly makes the Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy feel insecure about his chair, because when he was offered the transport ministry to Botsa and other unimportant portfolios to seniors, he was the one who raised his voice against CM.

DECCAN POST June 17 - 23, 2011

Cheque can be presented many times

t

he return of cheque issued towards clearance of a legally enforceable debt is made as criminal offence under Section 138, of THE NEGOTIABLE By Chandra INSTRUMENTS ACT 1881. The Shaker Arcot act is enacted with an intention to prevent issuance of cheques without arranging sufficient funds in the ones own bank account. The instances, where issuing cheques, without arranging sufficient funds in the account has increased many fold. To curb the same and to punish the dishonest persons from indulging in such act the dishonour of cheque is treated as criminal offence punishable with imprisonment for a period of one year or with fine up to the double the amount of dishonored cheque or with both.

Even though many are aware that the dishonour of the cheque, for insufficient funds attracts penal provisions, many have doubts to the issue of how many times a cheque need to be presented. As per the provisions of the law and the law laid down by the Supreme court normally the presentation of cheque should be within its validity period which is generally for six months. However in some cases the validity period of the cheque is restricted to three months.

As per the provisions of law there is no bar in regard to the presentation of cheques. The cheque can be presented for any number of times until the period of validity. The Supreme Court declared that the cheque could be presented at any number of times.

However once notice as mandated under the act is issued demanding the payment of the amount the cause of action commences within fifteen days from the receipt of the notice. To constitute an offence under the act, the drawer should have failed to pay the dishonoured cheque amount within the grace period of 15 days to the payee.

Dishonour of the cheque on each occasion of its presentation does not gives rise to a fresh cause of action.

After the receipt of the notice for dishonor of cheque and failure to make payment within 15 days from date of receipt of notice gives rise to cause of action, as declared by the courts.

Botsa who assumed charge as PCC president got the first blow from Amalapuram MP Harsha Kumar. Harsha wrote a letter to Sonia Gandhi to reconsider the decision of appointing Botsa as he is facing charges in Volkswagon scandal, involved in liquor syndicate, land encroachment and other illegal activities. Harsha Kumar charged that Botsa who is against the SC, ST communities is unfit to be the PCC Chief. He suggested it is rather better to offer the seat to some Telangana person. The decision of appointing Botsa as PCC president not only sends negative message to people of the state but also turns suicidal in Telangana region. Responding to the criticism Botsa said ‘When all the people in the party are appreciating my appointment, if one goes against me it makes no difference for me or party.

AICC beleived that Botsa is the person who can handle all type of issues and also be friendly with the leaders in the congress and would take everyone in one path. Admitting that a wide gap is prevailing between the government and the party after the demise of YSR, the newly-appointed PCC chief, Botsa promised to set things right within the next three months to ensure a true “Congress-led government” image. But the fact is that the central leadership is interested in burying the image of YSR, while Botsa is reminding the people about late YSR and his schemes from time to time. He said that he would talk to all the leaders from the three regions in the state on a priority basis to find an amicable solution to the state bifurcation issue which would then be communicated to the Congress central leadership.

Satyanarayana clarified that the Telangana issue was of utmost concern for both the party and government as several political issues would be automatically resolved once the Telangana issue is resolved.

DP

mail@deccanpost.in

On each presentation of the cheque and its dishonour a fresh right and not cause of action accrues in favour of the person to whom cheque is issued.

However once a notice is issued under clause (b) of Sec. 138 the cause of action arises and the complaint has to be filed within the mandatory period of 30 days. After issuance of the notice if once again a cheque is presented and notice is issued for the second time the complainant would not get any cause of action as he has already forfeited such right by not filing the complaint within time having issued the notice. If no action taken on the first notice and if the cheque is presented again and a second notice is sent the complaint filed basing on the same would not withstand the legal scrutiny and would certainly fail.

chandralawyer@yahoo.com

DECCAN POST June 17 - 23, 2011

13

trEndz

Man with the Golden Guitar

By Beyniaz Edulji

V

the price one has to pay to be able to sing and play the blues.

al Shipley was recently in Hyderabad for a power packed performance at Leonia. What sets him apart from other musicians is his ability to connect with audience and his natural showmanship! This ability enables him to provide a sense of familiarity to the audiences while providing the crowd with an entertaining experience.

The musicians in Val's band are all top of the line studio and stage people with loads of experience. Val is also the first Indian to be premiered on the Internet on the Eve of India's 50th year of Independence. His style of music ranges from Rock & Roll, Jazz, Funk, Blues, and Live remixes Jazz-Rock and contemporary Indian music Deccan Post was fortunate to catch up with this pony-tailed dynamo that had the audience eating out of his hand and dancing to his many tunes.

Your repertoire of music is extraordinary.

What inspires you?

My heroes since childhood have been J J Cale, Clapton, Mark Knopfler(who I fondly always refer to as Guruji), Al Di Meola, Ritchie Blackmore, His Excellency Mr.B B King, Beatles(especially George Harrison), David Gilmour, Johnny Winter, Albert Lee, John Mayer(now), Robben Ford, CSN & Y,Jeff Beck. The list is endless but what’s common about all these great musicians is that in addition to the skill, technique, thought and talent, they have

You are said to have started at a very early age. How was this possible?

A: I was born into a family with very rich musical heritage and got initiated into music at the age of four years when I gave my first live concert in Lucknow. I am the nephew of the famous Van Shipley popularly known as "Man with the Golden Guitar and magical Gypsy Violin", who is one of the pioneers of instrumental music in India.

Tell us about your early years.

A: I got a Tear Fund Scholarship on the recommendation of Sir Cliff Richard to study Music. I have traveled all across Europe and played with various Pop, Rock, Ethnic, Folk and Jazz outfits. On my return to India, I worked with the likes of Mr. Louis Banks and Astaad Deboo and with Grammy Award winner Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and also played with India's No.1 Rock Band - Parikrama.

been blessed with the most important ingredient of them all – the soul. You have the same notes on the guitar/piano but where do you look for the soul in your voice/instrument? All the above mentioned heroes have walked the line and know about

We heard that unlike other famous musicians you are trying to give back to society?

A: I am associated with various Charities, NGOs and Foundations to work for issues that I deeply feel about like Environment, AIDS awareness, Social Responsibility and Autism.

Do you also teach music?

A: I teach students music at my Academy called Valentine Shipley Academy of Music & Performing Arts in New Delhi and have also started a successful Music Academy in Nagpur at Bishop Cotton School teaching Guitar/ Drums/ Keyboards/ Vocals and so on. I am also the founder member of the now famous "Friends of Music" which is the only music club of its kind in this country to provide a platform to young artists for the promotion of original music and bringing together performers from various genre of music on a common platform.

So how many instruments do you actually play?

A:I am proficient in playing various instruments like 6 and 12 string Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Mandolin, Drums, Slide Guitar, Bass Guitar, Tabla, Piano, Electric Lead Guitar and Banjo.

What is your advice to budding musicians?

A:I feel all of us have to try and find our inner voice and write and play songs that we feel deeply passionate about and spend as much time with our instrument to know it inside out and round and round to be one with it physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. You will see what healing, quietness, peace, joy and harmony it brings to your lives and souls.

DP

mail@deccanpost.in

5 - 12_Layout 1 6/16/2011 8:17 PM Page 1

12

HealTH

DECCAN POST June 17 - 23, 2011

Natural diet for prostate problem T

he prostate, a walnut – sized gland located just below the bladder, is the source of many male urinary problems, including cancer, benign enlargements, and inflammation (prostatitis). Urinary tract infections, lifestyle habits, and a high fat diet seem to predispose a man to some of these problems, but often, factors that are beyond our control are more instrumental. The prostate reaches its adult size by the age of 20 and weighs a little less than one ounce. It is stimulated to grow during the teenage years by the male sex hormones which become active during puberty. For reasons that are not well known, the prostate again begins to grow at about age 45 or 50 and continues growing throughout the life span of the man.

As men age, the prostate tends to enlarge, a condition called benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). About one-third of all men over 50 experience the non cancerous enlargement that can cause severe obstruction of urinary flow. Prostate cancer,

with an estimated 18,000 new cases, a year, is the most common male malignancy. If treated in an early stage, it is highly curable.

In many cases, however, it may spread to other organs by the time of diagnosis. For this reason, Cancer societies urge men over 40 to undergo annual or biannual screening, starting with a digital rectal examination. A blood test to measure prostate -specific antigen (PSA), a possible indicator, is also recommended, starting at the age of 50.

Diet may play a role in maintaining prostate health, and may help ward off cancer. A recent study of nearly 48,000 men found that this substance, found in such foods as tomatoes, tomatoes products, red grape-fruits and watermelons appears to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. These findings support the recommendations to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables, which are high in other antioxidants and bioflavonoid pigments that protect against various cancers. Cooking

appears to release more of the lycopene in tomatoes, so tomato based pasta sauces and soups may be especially beneficial.

Lycopene is fat soluble so it is better absorbed when eaten with very little fat.

Vitamin E is known to reduce inflammation and may protect against prostate cancer. Men, especially smokers, who have low levels of Vitamin E appear to be at an increased risk. Good sources include margarine, vegetable oils, nuts and seeds, wheat germ, and whole grains. Selenium may also protect against prostate cancer. The antioxidant is found in nuts, especially Brazil nuts, seafood, some meats, fish, wheat bran, wheat germ, oats and brown rice.

Soy products can help prevent prostate enlargement, may help protect against prostate cancer, and may slow tumor growth. The effect is attributed to isoflavones, plant chemicals that help lower dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a male

hormone that stimulates the overgrowth of prostate tissue. Eat lots of cruciferous vegetables, omega Jyothi Chabria 3, and other foods that protect the prostate. Fish and vegetable oils high in omega-3 fats seem to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. A diet that is high in saturated animal fats has been linked to an increased incidence. Vegetables from the cruciferous family such as broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower contain isothiocyanates, phytochemicals, all of which play a role in the prevention of cancer.

Plenty of water or non-alcoholic drinks should be consumed by those suffering from enlarged prostate. Intake of coffee and tea should be reduced.

DP

mail@deccanpost.in

DECCAN POST June 17 - 23, 2011

5

CurrenT affairs

eaMCeT brings the standard down ?

Gopal the Crusader

M

G Gopal the name is old but the position is new.

He was with APPSC for some time later with the Governor of AP, but took all of them to task including the top gun YSR. In fact YSR wanted to take Gopal alongwith Bhanu but YSR was no more. After having a field day with waterworks in TDPs regime, Gopal was put in loop line but he changed the game

By U Srinivas

T

he Eamcet students have bungled the entrance exam for the year 2011. Only 5 percent of the students have secured more than 80 marks for 159 this time. It never happened before. 95 percent of the students who appeared for the EAMCET entrance got less that 80 marks in the Engineering stream. The managements will have a tough time to fill the seats under management and also convener quota. 20 new Engineering colleges are coming to the state and also new courses will be added in the existing colleges.

There are 707 colleges for Engineering and last year 80000 seats fell vacant. This time there will be about 120000 seats vacant. The students and the parents should not worry as far as the Engineering streams are concerned. A mela arranged by the Kab consultancy at the Nizam’s college failed to draw the crowds even as they announced that the transport would be free for the students and no donation.All seats at convener fees. But when it comes to Medical stream the scenario is

the intake of students in technical colleges, including engineering, substantially, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has allowed an increase in the number of seats to provide for larger number of seats and optimisation of resources without having to set up new institutions in the area. Some colleges are trying to have a second shift keeping the demand in mind. But this would be viable for the top 10 to 20 colleges only. As of now, different programmes – one each – were allowed to be integrated into a single campus so that resources could be shared. Now, this facility has been extended to accommodate more than one college in the same stream on a single campus. All companies or corporate houses registered as non-profit entities under section 25 of the Company's Act, 1956 can set up technical institutions but no joint ventures would be allowed in such cases. As of now, only registered trusts and societies could set up educational institutions.

everywhere he made his presence felt.Now he is with Higher education Department, When the Btech admissions are on . As Principal secretary Higher Education he can change things for the welfare of parents and also the students. He can make the Inter weightage to 50 percent. He can put his foot down on the managements ordering that they must take only one lakh fees under the management quota, and not 10 to 20 lakhs as being done by Gokaraju, Vasavi, CBIT and other top ten colleges. He can make the Btech education affordable.

Clean up the so called useless colleges without staff and infrastructure. Bring down the Inter education to affordable levels. Lets hope he puts his mark on the Education department as such for the benefit of the students in General. He was chatting with media in front of C block saying that he would clean up the mess in the department.

Happy days for B Tech students

a

tough. All may not get into top 10 colleges, but all will get the Engineering seat. Some colleges like ICFAI, Gitam are charging about 8 lakhs. But even colleges like the popular SRM of Chennai are also charging 8 lakhs only for 4 years.

But if one can negotiate properly they are bound to come down this time as there is no demand for ICFAI and Gitam this year. There are reports that with the apprehensions of agitations and violence in Hyderabad most of the students have already migrated to Chennai and Karnataka.

The parents do not want the children to get carried away by the agitations, violence and suicides in the name of separate state and other forms of agitations. People who used to get their children trained at the Nallakunta educational institutions have shifted their base to Vijayawada and other places in Andhra. They do not want the children to be nearer to Osmania university campus. The reasons for poor performance in Eamcet is that the students have got vexed after preparing for the IITs, AIEEEs and other entrances.

Eamcet which was on May 8 was postponed to May 22 due to Jagan’s election at Kadapa.

By this time the students have lost their steam and interest in the entrances. They just bungled it and nearly 50 percent of them did not get even 50 percent of the stipulated marks. The application status at OU has come down drastically. The dead lines of KCRs, Nagams and others have brought down the level of the education in the campuses and people do not want to come to Hyderabad for different reasons. When it comes to education of BTech stream assuch the Centre permitted companies registered as non-profit entities to establish technical institutions and reduced the land requirement for non-rural areas to 2.5 acres from the existing 3.5 acres, in addition to allowing vertical expansion barring engineering colleges. In a move that could enhance

Public-private partnership will be permitted for setting up technical institutions or institutions can be established under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) system. These schemes will be allowed in 241 districts where currently no AICTE-approved institution exists. To make technical education more inclusive, the AICTE has made the tuition fee waiver scheme mandatory upto 5 per cent for all institutions as against 10 per cent earlier which was voluntary. Under the scheme, 10 per cent additional seats were meant for economically weaker sections where only tuition fee was waived.

However, the Floor Space Index and the Floor Area Ratio would be considered for vertical expansion. “The AICTE has been making a conscious effort to facilitate the stakeholders on establishing good technical institutions. In order that a planned and coordinated development is ensured in technical education, the AICTE will implement these relaxed norms from the coming academic year.

The new norms also allow institutions to start standalone post graduate courses and granting Indian degrees in campuses of Indian institutions abroad subject to local laws.

Overseas campus can be set up subject to local laws and clearance by the Indian side. All post graduate diploma courses will have to be of two-year duration except for executives where the duration has been fixed at 15 months.

As part of social responsibility, the AICTE-approved institutions will also be permitted to conduct evening courses for skill development based on expertise areas possessed by the respective institutions. These institutions are expected to form clusters with other institutions in the neighbourhood and collaborate with the industries in the areas in running these skill-based programmes.

DP

mail@deccanpost.in

re the students studying for Eamcet. This time it looks they prepared for other entrance tests and scored very low in the local entrance. The statistics show that only 5 percent of the students scored above 80 marks. For 159 only 5 percent of them scored above 80 marks that is more than 50 percent. That means 95 percent of them scored less than 80 marks for 159.

255000 of them took the test and just about 13000 could get more than 80 marks. Where are the standards? What are the so called Narayanas, Chaitanyas doing for the Eamcet like BIE they ignored Eamcet. They aim for the IIT but will not get qualified even for the Eamcet. Last time 80000 seats fell vacant in the Engineering colleges, this time with new colleges and courses adding up then you might have about 120000 seats falling vacant. Last year some colleges offered 4 years education of BTech for Just Rs 35000, this year stalls at Nizam college also promised free transport.SMS are pouring in with offers to give seats at convener rates . Then why do we need Eamcet. Why not the Govt go for increasing the Inter weightage from 25 to 50 percent this year. This will increase weight for the inter education . This will do better for the education rather than encouraging marks of Eamcet.

By U Srinivas

6 - 11_Layout 1 6/16/2011 8:16 PM Page 1

6

EdiT paGE

DECCAN POST June 17 - 23, 2011

11

miNd spaCE

DECCAN POST June 17 - 23, 2011

Grandeur marks chariot festival at TTD

‘R

The congress was more interested in the outcome of the results in Tamil Nadu than any other state. Congress was in the forefront in Assam and Kerala where the results came in favour of the party and also the historical win by Mamatha Banerjee in West Bengal dislodging the well entrenched comrades was a cause for celebration.

exactly two years ago, which obviously is now being raised by Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa, who had no love lost for either the LTTE or its leadership.

On the other hand, there are enough leaders in the congress who seem to be wishing to replace P Chidambaram as union home minister but it is to be seen how things take shape in view of JJ pursuing him. With a strong regional party chief minister coming to power in Tamil Nadu, it would be extremely difficult for the present union government to fiddle with the powers of the states in the federal concept. Jayalalithaa would urge the union government to strictly abide by the scheme of the constitution not diluting the police power of the states. It appears that there would be many underhand deals that would see PC getting a transfer to some other portfolio; especially after carefully observing and analyzing things that are quite open. If important party functionaries like Digvijay Singh is taking on PC on issues like “Green hunt” and the flawed policy of pursuing the internal security aspects; there are others in the government like the environment minister Jairam Ramesh whom seem to be at cross with the union home minister. Of course, the civil society is no less unhappy with the handling of issues like the secret report of Srikrishna Committee and the manner in which the selection of PK Thomas as CVC was done. Besides, there is an investigation ordered by the apex court over the manner in which the Maoist leader Cherkuri @ Azad was allegedly bumped off while engaged in talks with the union government.

Swamy Agniwesh who is involved in all these issses has much to say. If all this refer to Mr P Chidambaram’s

involvement in many significant issues; what concerns the people of Andhra Pradesh is the shabby manner in which the public representatives got allegedly treated by none other than the union home minister. All those 65 to 70 member delegation said to comprise ten state ministers, 14 MPs, 40 MLAs and MLCs hailing from Telangana region were at the receiving end when they went to discuss “ the way forward” for seeking the formation of Telangana state as announced by the union government on 9th December, 2009. They are agitated at the humiliation and are unanimously of the opinion that Mr P Chidambaram ought to have behaved as a responsible union home minister and not like a private lawyer who is entitled to charge and also impress his clients with his great intellectual arrogance.

Whatever might happen from now on, the people of Telanagana and also the Andhras like Jagan and Chandra Babu would have enough reasons to castigate the congress party for humiliating the pride of Telugus in Delhi. In the end, it may prove tough to salvage the fortunes of congress party even if PC is sacked as the politicians in AP would not lose this opportunity to take on the congress.

Therefore the moral of the story is PC will surely get scapegoated for his patented “style of functioning” if anything goes on wrong with the fortunes of Congress in AP & Tamilnadu. If one were to find a quid pro quo for the intellectual arrogance of PC they must have to look up at JJ’s style of treating people like PCs. On other hand if the Congress MPs feel that they have any self -respect they must ask for the home portfolio to be given to S. Jaipal Reddy as that would mean not only a small gesture of reciprocating to what they got from PC but also to prove that they too matter in the scheme of things.

SuDoku 172

Laugh out loud Husband and wife are like 2 tyres of a vehicle If 1 punctures, the vehicle can’t move further Moral: Always Keep a SPARE TYRE…. *** Mr.Bean Science Major Rohail: I was stuck in ELEVATOR for 3 hrs Due to electric failure Mr.Bean: Ya me too I was stuck on

ESCALATOR for 5 hrs *** Santa: Look a thief has entered our kitchen and he is eating the cake I made.

Banta: Whom should I call now, Police or Ambulance? *** Banta : Wo Ladki Deaf Lagti Hai. Main Kuch Kehta Hoon, Woh Kuch Aur Hi Bolti Hai. Santa : Kaise?

Banta : Maine Kaha I Luv U, To Woh Boli ‘Maine Kal Hi Naye Sandal kharide hain’

asTRo FoCus

Will Telangana be a reality?

C

hapter 8 publication is a great effort done

by Deccan post. It was unbelievable in the beginning. You made startling revelations and did a fine job in exposing the details.

People have come to know about the evil designs of Sri Krishna committee. But Deccan post must tell us if Telangana is coming in

the near future. Will Telangana be a reality?

Sashi Kala, AS Rao Nagar

Wake up Government!

T

he centrespread on child labour is a good gesture from Deccan post. From time to time you take up such issues so that the Government would wake up from the sleep.

Eradication of child labor is also one of the important aspects. The children must go to school and play; instead they are wasting time in the

work fields from time to time. Poverty is one of the main causes for the child labour.

Roshan Sharma, Chanda Nagar

Real Flavour…

T

he last page is simply superb with the curves of Vidya.

People are comparing Vidya with Silk Smitha, but Vidya is different. Silk was vulgar and sexy. But Vidya is like a siren . The photos display is good and make up is excellent.keep it up.

S Madhav, Nagole

Timely subject!

G

ames fouls and winners is also a good analysis. Goka Sridharji has dwelt the subject in depth. As you said if secret ballot was done in the assembly then there could have been some real voting which would have kept the ruling congress party in trouble. People expected a lot to happen in this speaker and deputy speaker election. But the no confidence motion was not finally taken up.

Mahalaxmi, Banjara Hills

Readers are requested to send in their feedback to

mail@deccanpost.in

Aries: Venus glides into a fab

sector, and along with the Sun gives your word skills extra vibrancy.

Expect to be very busy, and to be in demand. This can see travel opportunities, and some of these can come out of the blue. An improvement in finances is possible.

Taurus: You can start to feel surer

of yourself and of your abilities and talents. You also need other people to recognize you too, and this is possible, and monetary improvements can show it, but also a sense that there are firmer foundations being laid.

Gemini: If you haven’t yet put a

new start in training, this week you will. This can be anything from a

row, every vertical column and every 3x 3 box contains the digits 1 to 9, without repeating the numbers in the same row, column or box. You cant change the digits already given in the grid. Every puzzle has one solution.

But the loss of Tamil Nadu has been something which is causing big nuisance to the congress led UPA government. Isn’t it just another state and so what’s the big deal? After all, people of that state are known for effecting change of regime every five years. But why is Tamil Nadu important than other states? The state of Tamil Nadu has many peculiar features but the outcome of this election where the DMK and Congress alliance got defeated by the AIADMK and allies is appearing to be a thorn in the flesh for the present union government. The new chief minister of Tamil Nadu, J Jayalalithaa in her very first visit to Delhi has unleashed her political agenda. There are three things which seem to be her priority apart from the normal development any CM of a state would pursue. Jayalalithaa has hit out against the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and called his election as a fraud on the nation. She demanded that union minister P Chidambaram has fraudulently managed to win his election as an MP in the 2009 general elections. She terms his continuation in the union cabinet as “untenable”. If Chidambaram had condemned these demands as “utter contempt for courts” besides accusing of always starting with a wrong foot; the day is not far away for truth to emerge as the election petition challenging Chidambaram’s win is now going to be decided by the courts sooner than expected. She also demanded that Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran belonging to DMK also must be sacked.

Finally, she referred to the issue of Srilankan Tamils and the way they are being ill-treated by the Sri Lankan armed forces. This is the most important thing that could be worrying the union government for its alleged tacit silence during the war against LTTE by the Sri Lankan government

the chariot started inching ahead when the hundreds of devotees pulled the huge rope connected to it ‘in one go'. As is the general belief, devotees hurled pepper and rock salt on the chariot, as it is believed to bring fortune and rid one of all ills.

Joint Executive Officer N. Yuvaraj, Chief Vigilance and Security Officer M.K. Singh, Chief Engineer Chandrasekhara Reddy and Deputy Executive Officer (local temples) Jhansi Rani took part in the procession.

How to play : Fill in the grid so that every horizontal

E

ver since, the Srikrishna Committee submitted its report to the union government on 30th December, 2010, many political changes were naturally expected as part of “political management” suggested by the Committee that had spent Rupees 20 Crores belonging to the nation. There were many challenges before the Congress led UPA government and the way -- scam after scam began surfacing compelling the Judiciary to take things into their domain and start controlling the disinclined “executive” machinery.

Such deterioration in the situation was nothing short of squeezing the 126 year old congress party into its tightest fit ever. The party had many issues to handle nation wide and the situation in AP was no better. The congress was facing two problems in the state; the long pending problem of Telangana statehood demand is something which was being tentatively endured cleverly rather than being permanently resolved wisely. While the problem of Jagan is a self created one with no practical methodology to convince him about his ambitions and all attempts to confuse him seems to have back fired after he decided to quit the party and to prove what a “nuisance” he is capable of as was seen in the outcome of Kadapa by-polls.

The congress had no proper strategy to address problems in the state, although politically AP is the reason for congress to rule at the centre since last seven years.

mounted on the chariot by 3.50 a.m., when the auspicious ‘Mesha Lagnam' was in vogue. By 7.10 a.m.,

During the three-hour sojourn, the mammoth wooden chariot carrying the deity of Lord Govindaraja and His two consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi - was pulled on the four streets encircling the temple and forming the outer precincts. The deity was carried in a procession from the temple in the early hours and was

www.sudoku-puzzles.net

Conducting “ the Way Forward ”

athotsavam' (chariot festival), observed on the penultimate day of the nine-day annual Brahmotsavam of Sri Govindarajaswamy temple, was conducted amid fanfare here on Monday. Govindaraja is revered as the elder brother of Lord Sri Venkateswara.

A N S W E R S

week suggests that you can have some nagging worries holding you back. If so, this is a good time to share them with someone you can truly trust. Some unspoken assumptions can cause real mischief. Focus on the facts Cancer.

Leo:Job introductions can come

through a pal too. Yet if you are on the move this week, nearer to home or overseas, do double check the arrangements before heading off Leo. Fortunately, with Saturn ending a backward journey, all sorts of glitches seem to clear.

Virgo: Higher education, on the

job training, or a residential skills

so.

How to do The Scorpion Pose • While doing this asana, you are to kneel. Then let your body be in a forward leaning posture. Simply put your forearms and elbows just on the floor, in flat position. Ensure that the palms are facing the floor. Keep distance between arms as per the size of your shoulder.

• Thereafter get you head a bit forward, keeping it lifted in high position. Then slowly try raising both the buttocks. Do as per the strength of your body. Then you get your feet on the bottom of your toes. Hold it for a while.

• Now take the breath inside and try to swing both the legs upwards. To get you body straightened in upward position you can wait.

Meanwhile keep your body in balance.

• When the bottoms of you feet (the soles) are over the head, your posture would look like a scorpion. The Vrischika-asana (Scorpion Pose) is complete here. You can hold this pose for ten to twenty seconds.

• For restoring the normal position, the first one, you are to do all the actions in their reverse order.

Benefits of doing Vrishchikasana: Winner of Sudoku 171: Nagraj N, Mail

y y

My wishes are silent but true, Every where they will follow you, Luck is yours, wishes are mine, I wish your present and future will always shine.

Happy Birthday Aruna.

From Sudheer. *** Hai Veena I love you are just three words, Which mean so much on our anniversary.

So this is what I want to say, Live in my heart and there forever stay!

From Kranthi Kumar.

Cancer: The Full Moon this

V

rischika, a Sanskrit word, means ‘scorpion’.

While doing this asana, the postures of our body looks like a scorpion. Thus it is named

• Now start bending your knees, and drop the legs in the direction of your head. You are not to hurry at any stage. If you feel exhausted or uncomfortable, you can take some rest.

Lovey - Dovey

personal makeover, to developing a fresh love interest, to taking up a stimulating hobby. Yet one face from your past can seem to keep coming into your mind.

Sudoku-171

Vrischika-asana, The scorpion pose

Hi Nyamath, I finally got my past, present and future tenses correct today. I loved you. I love you. I will love you forever.

From Salim. *** Hi Tony Hearts could only love for a while, Feet’s could only walk for some miles, Clothes won’t forever be in style, But having you as my Friend is forever worthwhile.

From Renuka.

course, can transform your fortunes. Even if this is a step into the unknown, believe in yourself because this can be life changing.

However, shared finances may require some patience and tact.

Libra: Yours is the sign of

balance, and this week, with your ruler now in your sector of truth, for romance to be truly content, you need to know where you stand.

By gently prising out how a partner feels, and asserting your side of things, life can blossom. This may even see an existing tie move to a deeper, more sincere level.

However, for now, you may want to keep this private between yourselves.

Scorpio: You can gain from a partner's good fortune, and they can be extremely generous too. Sultry Venus is priming the deepest part of you, and this can draw you close

All the asanas have their general benefits.

They help increasing health and vitality of human body. If we cannot do this posture in full, we can do it in half. It is called the Ardha Vrishchikasana or Half Scorpion Posture. The Vrishchikasana has its peculiar benefits, too.

Here are some of the benefits of both of these yoga postures.

• Obviously, it makes the muscles of hands and arms stronger, as the entire weight of body is to be balanced on hands. It is needless to say that your palms and the wrists get more strength by regular practice. • As your body in this posture gives much work to the abdominal muscles, the disorders of abdomen would be eliminated gradually. It helps in keeping your spine flexible and more elastic. It would make your body looking shapelier. • Scorpion pose involves the strength of almost all the muscles of your body; thus if you practice it regularly you would find yourself more energetic.

with someone very special and magnetic. Settled? Work at paying down debts. You can have the Midas touch, so use it.

Sagittarius: The Full Moon occurs in your sign midweek, and if you feel restless around your love life, this may see you think of finishing the tie. However Archer, do give the healing powers of Venus a chance to work their magic in your situation. Things can improve, if you are prepared to listen to a partner's viewpoint, and compromise with them.

Capricorn: Someone you work

with may be more hyper-critical than you realize. The problem is that they may not tell you, but other colleagues. If you sense that the atmosphere is not good try to summons up all the diplomacy that you can muster, and don’t try to tackle them head on. Instead look at

how you can step up your efforts.

Aquarius: Venus moves into a

truly wonderful location, giving you a great zest for life and loving. This is great if you are getting together with friends for a barbecue, or if you hope to create greater spark in a current involvement. With Saturn, your co-ruler, finally moving forwards after a five month retrograde, you feel you can expand at last.

Pisces :The desire to beautify

your home, or to make improvements to your garden or outdoor area, can see you working hard. Your eye for great colour schemes and decorative touches is going to be high. Yet your work-life balance may be out of kilter, and if so, this will need addressing. Work for yourself? Prospects are brightening.

7 - 10_Layout 1 6/16/2011 8:14 PM Page 1

10

Career

DECCAN POST June 17 - 23, 2011

Build a meaningful career!

Bank Officer and Jr. Assistant in Repco The Repatriates Co-Operative Finance and Develpoment Bank Ltd ( Repco Bank ) invites applications for the following posts.

1) Officer Scale-I : 45 posts, Age : 21-30 years, Pay Scale : Rs.14500-25700/- Junior Assistant/Clerk : 193 posts, Age : 18-25 years. Fee Details : Rs.450/-(Rs.350/- for SC/ST/ Repatriate candidates) for the posts of Officers and Rs.350/-(Rs.250/- for SC/ST/ Repatriate candidates) in the form of Bank Pay Order or Bank Demand Draft issued by a Scheduled Bank payable at Chennai and should be drawn in favour of REPCO BANK RECRUITMENT CELL. The applicant should write his / her name and address on the backside of the demand Draft / Pay Order. Application procedure and further details http://www.repcobank. com/pdf/ advertisement.pdf Deadline: 9-72011

AIATSL AIATSL invites applications for the post of Assistant Controllers on contract basis for 3 years and is inviting applications from eligible Indian nationals : Assistant Controllers : 140 posts (UR-73, OBC35,SC-22,ST-10), Qualification : Graduate with 55% marks in Engineering, Management, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Aviation or Computers from a recognised university., Age : 25 years, relaxation in age as per rules. Application Procedure : Apply Online at http://www. epostonline.in from 10/06/2011 to 25/06/ 2011. Take the print out, send it with fee and other relevant documents by Speed post/ Ordinary post to The Advertiser, Post box no. 781, Circus Avenues Post Office, Kolkata - 700017.Website: http://www.epostonline.in

HLL Lifecare Limited HLL Lifecare Limited invites applications for the various posts. 1) Regular/ Fixed Term Contract at Senior/ Middle/ Junior Level for Civil/ Electrical/ Mechanical Engineers/ Arch/ designer/ CAD Operator/ Hospital Administrator/ Facility Manager and Support Staff for posting at Noida/ Delhi and various project throughout the country. Application Procedure : Apply Online or or before 23/06/2010 Further details see http://www.lifecarehell.com

Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP) Indo Tibetan Border Police Force is inviting applications from eligible candidates for filling up the following posts from Indian citizens.

Head-Constable Combatised Ministerial : 328 posts (UR168, OBC-88, SC-48, ST-24), Age : Between 18 to 25 years Fee Details: Rs.50/in form of Central Recruitment Fee Stamp (CRFS)/ IPO/ Bank Draft in favour of “Inspector General (Special) Frontier, ITBP, payable at SBI, R K Puram, New Delhi, Code No -1076.. No fee from SC/ST and Ex-servicemen candidates. Application Procedure : Application in the prescribed format should be sent to reach the Inspector General (Special) Frontier, ITBP, West Block, Wing-2, Sector-1, R.K.Puram, New Delhi - 110066. Deadline: 14/07/2011 Further details see Webiste: http://itbp.gov.in

REPCO The Repatriates Co-operative Finance and Development Bank Ltd. (Repco) The Repatriates Co-Operative Finance and

Develpoment Bank Ltd ( Repco Bank ) invites applications from Indian Citizens for the following posts as follows in RHFL which is a subsidiary of Repco Bank: 1) Officer Scale-I : 45 posts, Age : 21-30 years, 2) Junior Assistant/Clerk : 193 posts, Age : 18-25 years. 3) Fee Details : Rs.450/(Rs.350/- for SC/ST/ Repatriate candidates) for the posts of Officers and Rs.350/(Rs.250/- for SC/ST/ Repatriate candidates) in the form of Bank Pay Order or Bank Demand Draft issued by a Scheduled Bank payable at Chennai and should be drawn in favour of Repco bank recruitment cell.The applicant should write his / her name and address on the backside of the demand Draft / Pay Order. Application procedure : Application complete in all respects should be sent to the following address. Deadline: 09/07/2011 : The General Manager (Admn.), Repco Bank Ltd., Post Box No.1449, Door No.33, North Usman Road, T.Nagar, Chennai – 600017 http://www.repcobank.com/pdf

Indian Coast Guard The Indian Coast Guard, an Armed Force of the Union, offers you a challenging and inspiring career as a Group ‘A’ Gazetted Officer. Registration and Preliminary Selection will be carried out on the spot at Mumbai, Chennai Kolkata and Noida for the the following posts : Assistant Commandant General Duty (GD) Male Assistant Commandant General Duty (Pilot/ Navigator) Male/Female Assistant Commandant General Duty (Pilot Commercial Pilot License (CPL) Holders for Short Service Appointment) Male/ Female Assistant Commandant Women (General Duty) for Short Service Commission Assistant Commandant Technical (Mechanical/ Electrical) Male The upper age limit is relaxable by 5 years for SC/ST candidates and 3 years of OBC candidates. Apply : On the spot registration and selection will be between 0800 hrs to 1100 hrs as the dates prescribed in the detailed advertisement from 24/06/2011 to 06/07/2011. Further details see Website: www.indiancoastguard.nic.in

Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC) Limited Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC) Limited requires hardworking and dedicated technical workers in the various trades : Technical Workers :382 posts in various trades. Qualification : Class Xth or Matriculation; and (ii) Industrial Training Institute (ITI) or All India Trade Test for Apprentices pass (National Apprenticeship Certificate -NAC). Age : 30 years, Experience : 3 years experience. Stipend and Pay Scale : All India Trade Test passed Apprentices shall be paid consolidated wage of Rs. 7500/- per month and Rs.8500/- in the first and second year of training respectively. After successful completion of training, All India Trade Test passed Apprentices shall be absorbed in the regular establishments as Grade ’E’ worker in the Scale of Pay of Rs.4540-6698/- and ITI passed candidates shall be absorbed in the regular establishments as Grade ’F’ worker in the Scale of Pay of Rs.4440-6365/-.

Application Procedure : Application in the prescribed format should reach the office of “The Senior Manager (P&A) / Hqrs, HEC Ltd, Plant Plaza Road, Dhurwa, Ranchi834004. Deadline: 30-6-11 Further details see Website: http://www.hecltd.com

State Bank of India 4987 Po's

State Bank of India invites applications for the Recruitment of 4987 Probationary Officer (PO) in Associte Banks State Bank of India (SBI) (State Bank of Travancore SBT, State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur SBBJ, State Bank of Hyderabad SBH, State Bank of Mysore SBM, State Bank of Patiala SBP etc.) : Probationary Officer (PO) : 4987 posts in various states in India (SBBJ-1000, SBH1416, SBM-843, SBP-1328, SBT-404) (see detailed advt. for detailed Bank-wise, Statewise and Category-wise vacancies).

Qualification : Graduation in any discipline from a recognised College / University, Age : 21-30 years. Selection Procedure: Final selection will be made on the basis of performance in the written test on 07/08/2011 and Group Discussion & Interview for selected candidates.

Application Fee : Rs.500/- (for SC/ST/PWD Rs.50/- only) to be deposited in any branch of SBI by a prescribed deposit slip and get receipt up to 23/06/2011. Details of the payment should be entered in online application form. Apply : Apply Online at SBI website. Deadline: 25/06/2011.

Important Dates : 1) Last date of Online submission of Application : 25/06/2011 2) Date of Written Examination : 07/08/2011 http://www.sbi.co.in.

State Bank ofIindia Special Officers Applications are invited from eligible Indian citizens for appointment in following Specialist Cadre posts in State Bank of India.

Manager (Law) : 16 Manager (Economist) : 03 Dy. Manager (Economist) : 02 Dy. Manager (Security) : 30 Assistant Manager (Systems) :100 Assistant Manager (Law) : 15 posts Permanent Part-Time Medical Officer : 41 posts Application Fee : Rs.500/- (Rs.50/for SC/ST/PWD). Candidates are required to go to any CBS Branch of State Bank of India and pay the amount throug a payment voucher of prescribes fees and get receipt from the branch. Selection by Written Exam on 24/07/2011 followed by Group Discussion & Personal Interview for selected candidates. Apply: Apply Online at SBI website from 08/06/2011 to 30/06/2011 at SBI website only. Take the printout of the system generated application form.

Application and its enclosure should be sent in an envelope superscribed “Application for the post of _____________” to reach Post Box. No. 7480, Jogeshwari (East), Mumbai 400060 on or before 07/07/2011. Further details see Website: http://sbi.co.in/

INDIAN ARMY Applications are invited from Engineering Graduates male Indian citizens for 114th Technical Graduates Course (TGC), Post Graduate (Non-Engineering) entry into Army Eduction Corps (AEC) and 38th/ 9th Short Service Commission (SSC) (Technical) course for Men and Women in the Indian Army : 1) 114th TGC : 68 posts in various Engineering Branches 2) 38th SSC (Tech.) for Men : 50 posts 3) 9th SSC (Tech.) Women : 43 posts Application procedure: Apply Online at Army Recruitment website http://joinindianarmy.nic.in from 13/06/2011 to 11/07/2011 only. After submitting your details, take two printout fo the system generated registration form, send one system generated Application Forms along with relevant certificates, signed, pasted a recent passport size photograph and send it to the following address to reach by 20/07/2011 by registered post/ speed post to

National Rural Livelihoods Mission Launched

Additional Directorate General of Recruitment (Rtg-6), TGC Section, West Block-III, R.K. Puram, New Delhi - 110066.

For Military Farms only : Applications in respect of candidates applying for Military Forms category will be forwarded directly to Directorate of Military Farms (MF-1), QMG’s Branch, West Block-III, RK Puram, New Delhi-110066. Further details see Website: http://www.joinindianarmy.nic.in.

Indian Air Force Indian Air Force invites applications from bright young Indian Men and Women for following SSC/ PSC Officers to join in the following courses in Flying, Technical and Ground Duty branches through Indian Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) to be conducted on 28/08/2011 : 1) 81st Aeronautical Engineers Course (AEC) Men Permanent Commission Technical Branch 2) 10th SSC Flying Branch for Men 3) 53nd Short Service Commission Course (SSC) Men & Women Technical Branch 4) 132nd Ground Duty Officers Course (GDOC) for Permanent Commission for Men 5) 25th Ground Duty Officers Course (GDOC) for Short Service Commission (SSC) for Men 6) 39th Short Service Commission (SSC) Flying Branch for Women 7) 41st Ground Duty Officers Course (GDOC) for SSC for Women If you meet the requirements, apply on plain A4 size paper (typed or handwriten) in English in the prescribed format and post the application to the any of the 7 addresses given in the detailed advertisement by ordinary post to reach latest by 11/07/2011.

(18/07/2011 for the candidates from farflung areas) Application sent to: 1) AFCAT Cell, HQ Western Air Command IAF, Subrato Park, New Delhi - 10 2) AFCAT Cell, HQ Central Air Command IAF, Bamrauli, Allahabad (UP) - 211012 3) AFCAT Cell, HQ Eastern Air Command IAF,Nong Lyer, Shillong - 739009 (Meghalaya) 4) AFCAT Cell, HQ Maintenance Air Command IAF, Vayu Sena Nagar, Nagpur (Mah) - 440007 5) AFCAT Cell , HQ South Western Air Command IAF, Sector-9, Ghandhi Nagar (Guj) 382009 6) AFCAT Cell, HQ Training Command IAF, JC Nagar, PO Hebbal, Bangalore - 560006 7) AFCAT Cell, HQ Southern Air Command IAF, Thiruvanantpuram, - 695031 (Kerala) http://careerairforce.nic.in/applicaton_forms

Indian Coast Guard The Indian Coast Guard, an Armed Force of the Union, offers you a challenging and inspiring career as a Group ‘A’ Gazetted Officer. Registration and Preliminary Selection will be carried out on the spot at Mumbai, Chennai Kolkata and Noida for the the following posts : 1) Assistant Commandant General Duty (GD) Male 2) Assistant Commandant General Duty (Pilot/ Navigator) Male/Female 3) Assistant Commandant General Duty (Pilot Commercial Pilot License (CPL) 4) Holders for Short Service Appointment) Male/ Female 5) Assistant Commandant Women (General Duty) for Short Service Commission 6) Assistant Commandant Technical (Mechanical/ Electrical) Male The upper age limit is relaxable by 5 years for SC/ST candidates and 3 years of OBC candidates. Apply : On the spot registration and selection will be between 0800 hrs to 1100 hrs as the dates prescribed in the detailed advertisement from 24/06/2011 to 06/07/2011. http://www. indiancoast guard. nic.in/ DP

7

FoCUs

DECCAN POST June 17 - 23, 2011

- SP

another programme for eliminating poverty

By Sridhar Goka

By Dr. Shankar Chatterjee

W

ith the launching of National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) it is expected that country will be free from rural poverty. In other words no household will be living Below the Poverty Line (BPL) in rural India. Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, UPA Chairperson launched NRLM in Rajasthan on 3rd June 2011. While launching she informed that, “The Union Government will set up an independent financial institution to give funds for effective functioning of SHGs and better empowerment of the rural poor.” It is heartening to mention that government of India has arranged “funds separately for the scheme” which is a laudable step as many banks were reluctant to extend fund to the SHGs in the country particularly in poverty-stricken states. As a result SGSY could not make much dent to eradicate poverty across the states uniformly. To justify the statement necessary data can be provided here. As per Planning Commission statistics, rural poverty ratio in Andhra Pradesh was 11.2 percent in 2004-05, whereas Bihar (42.1%), Chhattisgarh (40.8%), Madhya Pradesh (36.9%), Jharkhand (46.3%), Uttar Pradesh (33.4%), Uttarakhand (40.85), and Orissa 46.8 percent during the same period.

The recent data on poverty calculated by Suresh Tendulkar, which has been accepted by the Government of India, reveals that the percentage of the people living below the poverty line has gone up, 37.5 percent which is higher than 2004-05 (27.5%) and even higher than 199394 (36%). It is very unfortunate that in spite of scaling down the ratio, it has gone up. A country like India with huge number of population a little increase in ratio leads to huge increase in absolute number as a sequel more resources are required to eradicate poverty from the country. However based on Tendulkar Report, ratio has gone up by 10 per cent in recent years than 2004-05 implying more number of poor persons both in relative and absolute terms. Any rational human being knows for any welfare state, responsibility lies with the Government to address the problem of poverty as it is directly related to deprivation. In our country, Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY) launched from 1st April 1999 was a step to tackle rural poverty by creation selfemployment through income generation activities through a combination of bank loan and government subsidy.

Swarnjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY) as a programme was launched by merging six selfemployment programmes viz., Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP), Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA), Training of Rural Youth for Self Employment (TRYSEM), Supply of Improved Toolkits for Rural Artisans (SITRA), Million Wells Scheme (MWS) and Ganga Kalyan Yojana (GKY) .

One of the reasons of merging all these programmes into SGSY was that these could not make much dent to eradicate rural poverty. For example, under IRDP from 1980-81 to 1998-99, an amount of Rs 11267.00 crore was disbursed as subsidy against bank credit of Rs 21344.00 crore. In spite of this huge investment, less than 20 per cent beneficiaries could cross poverty line as shown by various Concurrent Evaluation studies on IRDP carried out by the Government of India – First Round was in 1985 (Oct.,) – 1986 (Sept.,), Second Round (1987), Third Round (1989), Fourth Round 1992 (Sept.,) – 1993 (Aug.,) and Fifth Round (1995 , July- 1996, June) .

The same question arises for SGSY. Although SGSY has been implemented with ‘care’ in the states like Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, but absence of ‘care’ was observed in many of the states like- Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh etc., as a result poverty ratio is still high in these states, as mentioned already.

For better implementation of rural development programmes in Andhra Pradesh, a separate organization under the banner of ‘Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty’ (popularly known as SERP) has been created from 2000 by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister. The works are carried out under the leadership of a senior IAS officer. Moreover, by reorganizing blocks, long ago mandal has been created where one block has been trifurcated to three on an average. The mandals in Andhra Pradesh are much smaller

Use and rise policy works for Bosta

than blocks in Bihar, UP, West Bengal etc. As a result planning, implementation and monitoring of any rural development programme in Andhra Pradesh is better than many other states. Further visiting to a block headquarter, for a villager living in an interior area of Bihar, UP or West Bengal is botheration in comparison to Andhra Pradesh.

With the small size of mandal vis-à-vis with the intervention of SERP inter alia with others poverty ratio in the state has been declining.

Credit is also an issue in many states of the country.

The self-help groups in rural areas of Andhra Pradesh have been getting several cycles of loan by preparing their own plan called ‘micro credit plan’ as a sequel percentage of credit disbursed in Andhra Pradesh is many times more than many other states. For example, under Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY), percentage of credit disbursed was 140.53 in 2007-08 against Bihar (32%), Jharkhand (49.99%), UP (82%) (Source: Annual Report, 2007-08, Ministry of Rural development, Govt. of India).

It simply means requirement of credit is more in Bihar, UP etc., but supply less, as a sequel poor echelons of the society suffer. Reasons inter alia, are cited non-cooperation from bank officials in the high poverty states, under staff in rural bank branches, bank staffs are posted from urban/semi-urban areas thus having lack of knowledge/ no knowledge about SGSY etc. Absence of SERP type of organization in the above mentioned states is also a hindering factor of implementation of SGSY. The Project Director of DRDA/CEO who is the key person for implementing of SGSY in the district of poverty-stricken states is at the mercy of their political bosses as they do not know when they would be shifted to other department.

Many of them could not even complete one year term.

Moreover, many of the Project Directors have to be busy with convening and /or attending meeting than visiting field as a result they lack knowledge about field situation.

To address these issues, the Report of the Committee on “Credit Related Issues under SGSY” is an important step.

This Report has been prepared under the chairmanship of Prof. R. Radhakrishna where it has been suggested that SGSY should be re-christened as National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) for ‘rapid increase in the coverage of rural poor households under selfemployment’. To facilitate the same, few of the suggestions made in the report are: “The Banks and District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) are presently illequipped in terms of professionalism and manpower for social mobilastion of the poor. Therefore, Committee recommends an agency or umbrella organization at the state level.” Another important recommendation is that “Increase the branch network by commercial banks and Regional Rural Banks, particularly in un-banked blocks” and introduction of “Agency Banking” and reinvigoration of Lead Bank Scheme for promoting various banking activities in the district are the other suggestions. The Committee’s suggestion for opening of branches in remote areas is laudable as stated by the Committee, “in order to encourage banks to open branches in remote areas which are considered unviable government may provide suitable incentives”. Mitigating the credit-related issues, decision to set up independent financial institution by the Government of India for providing credit to SHGs is an appreciating step.

We should have poverty free India. It should be possible by targeting seven crore BPL households, ensuring financial support under NRLM to the families concerned to come out of poverty trap. The government is reportedly optimistic about accomplishing the mission over next six to eight years. In fact today’s poverty in India inter alia, may be attributed to colonial rule. In this context Lord Macaulay’s address to British Parliament on 2nd February 1835 may be referred. By traveling entire India he wrote, “I have not seen any person who is a beggar, who is a thief ”.

Hope with the launching of NRLM, poverty ratio in all the parts of the country will come down.

DP

Author is an Assistant Professor, National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD). shankarjagu@gmail.com

T

he Andhra Pradesh State Congress party that is running the state government has been in a state of COMA since a long time. Usually, that is normal for the state PCCs when their party is running the government as influential and powerful party functionaries desire to be in government and only those who have no accommodation there seek to get appointed to the PCCs as the second best option. The outgoing President of the APCC, D Srinivas, lost his seat in the state assembly elections in 2009, which saw the party retaining power under the combination of YSR-DS leadership; the party continued DS as the party chief for more than two years.

As the party was voted to power, DS was actually trying to get into the cabinet at the earliest. He sought a seat in the council but when denied the same in 2010, tried his luck in the by-polls held in July 2010. After losing the election twice in less than 15 months the party high command was not inclined to provide any berth in the cabinets of Rosaiah and also that of Kiran Kumar Reddy who had taken over as state chief minister in November, 2010. The recent blow in the Kadapa by-polls and the handling of the T-issue made the party look for alternatives. DS seemed a disillusioned politician who didn’t bother about the party except thinking of accommodation in the state cabinet. This paved way for people who are already in the state cabinet like Kanna Laxminarayana, Ponnalla Laxmaiah and Bosta Satyanarayana to try their luck aspiring for the position of party chief or the President of the APCC hoping to retain their berth simultaneously in the cabinet. In the end it was a clever Bosta who pipped others at the post and managed to get the rise. All this did not happen just like that as in the case of our reluctant chief minister. Bosta is believed to have succeeded only after managing all those who have a role in these things. He tried every trick and put to use people like even Chiranjeevi who normally like things the other-way around. After experiencing the domination of YSR and the way DS obliged YSR-KVP requests for consideration; The high command has reverted to its old formula of having rival power centres in the states where it is in power even if a reluctant chief minister like Kiran Kumar Reddy is holding the reins.

Within a few hours after being nominated as the President of the APCC, the state Transport Minister in the Kiran’s government, Botsa Satyanarayana, has began pursing his life time ambition. Bosta declared quite candidly that he desires to become the chief minister of a state; either unmindful of the multifold challenges that he needs to overcome or rather unable to hide his burning desire; Bosta’s wish of being a ‘CM’ cannot be taken lightly.

Whether he means to head the united AP state or the bifurcated state of Seemandhra is not clear at the moment.

But being a CM is what he dreams of and doesn’t feel like hiding it for obvious strategic reasons. Hailing from backward Toorpu Kapu caste and backward Vizianagaram district, Bosta’s rise in politics is phenomenal. He was a staunch follower of veteran Penmatsa Sambasiva Raju who trusted him to the core which enabled Bosta handle everything in the district. After his maiden victory in 1999 as an MP, he switched loyalties and turned a staunch YSR follower till his death. Later, Bosta had no difficulty in changing priorities. Bosta’s raging ambition to rise in politics makes him pursue relationships with all those who matter. Of course, he is known to dump them later if they turn outdated. Today, Bosta has many Ladder - Gurus in the congress. He swears his loyality to KVP, DS, KK and now union minister Jaipal Reddy. All these leaders who are known to be too conservative in enabling even their closest followers to rise despite opportunities beckoning them now seem to have contributed to the rise of one single man called “Sathi Babu alias Bosta”. But the million dollar question is how did Bosta manage to use them all so appropriately? That reveals a special trait of Bosta to succeed in getting things done. There are many who allege that he has only agenda and that is “use and rise” no matter how many ladders are used and abandoned. He simple doesn’t care. That’s him.

sridhargoka@gmail.com

8 - 09_Layout 1 6/16/2011 8:13 PM Page 1

8

Music day

DECCAN POST June 17 - 23, 2011

DECCAN POST June 17 - 23, 2011

9

“If music be the food of love, play on”-William Shakespeare.

“Music is my religion”-Jimi Hendrix.

Music can change the world because it can change people-Bono.

By Askari Jaffer

T

he Fete de la Musique, also known as World Music Day, is a music festival that takes place on June 21. The seed for this festival was laid by American musician Joel Cohen, in 1976. He was then employed by the national French radio station France Musique. Cohen proposed an allnight music celebration at the moment of the summer solstice. The idea was taken up by French Music and Dance director Maurice Fleuret on behalf of the Minister of Culture Jack Lang in 1981 and the first celebrations took place in 1982. Amateur and professional musicians are encouraged to perform at any public places.The slogan Faites de la musique (Make music), is used to promote this goal.Many free concerts are organized, making all genres of music accessible to the public. Two of the caveats to being sanctioned by the official Fête de la Musique organization in Paris are that all concerts must be free to the public, and all performers donate their time for free.

Music is played for peace. The good example is Woodstock Music & Art Fair which was a gratest music festival, billed as “An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music”(August 15-18, 1969). Music is a form of art and has been defined it as “organized sound”.

Music expresses our feelings as well emotions in a melodious and pleasant way. “Every human being can come under the spiritual light of Sufi Music, irrespective of religion, caste or community. The Sufi songs connect with people and touch their soul. Music is the best way spreading love and peace between humanity of the world.India and Pakistan are of course a part of this whole world family. Music is the gift of God,” says Abida Parveen, Sufi singer. “Fete De La Musique (World Music Day) is celebrated in France every year on 21st June. It is a festival and delight for musicians like us because of the deep interest and

involvement of institutions like Alliance Francaise in organizing the World Music Day celebrations.In fact ,music has no language barriers or boundaries.This is demonstrated by the joining of the Goethe Zentrum (German Centre) and the US Consulate General in organizing of the music day

celebrations.This day helps all musicians to send across the message of peace and unity through music,” says Jaywant Naidu, creator of ‘Jaywant Guitar”.

Today’s youngsters are also interested in music. Singer, song writer cum actress Shruti Hassan talks about music, “Music is universal. Outside India, I find people are open to

all kinds of music.There is more freedom and you can express yourself more honestly. There is space for everyone and there is a genuine desire to create something new between all musicians,” says Shruti Hassan.

very exciting and spiritual. “There is so much melodious play and bending in the musical notes. I feel like God reaches inside me and is twisting around, when I touch the notes of some Ragas,” says Lili Haydn,Violinist.

Trilok Gurtu the world famous percussionist, talks about the present status of classical music in India. He says, “Music is fast becoming a side dish in our country. On many occasions, it’s not the main form of program anymore. There is nothing called classical music? Is it music for the class people? We have a rich heritage of “Shastriya Sangeet”. There is a very deep and devoted need to protect this heritage.”

Zila Khan, daughter of the Legendary Sitar maestro Ustad Vilayat Khan hails from a rich legacy of music. Her great grandfather Ustad Imdad Khan and her grandfather Ustad Inayat Khan have already set a very high tradition in classical music. “It’s a dream to organize International music festivals in India. The biggest goal is to create livelihood through music. And of course, I can see nothing else but “MUSIC” as my future,” says Zila khan.

What is the present trend in music all over the world? “Firstly in India, Bollywood takes over 90% of the music scene, in terms of listening and also space on electronic media.This is a very powerful medium and unfortunately electronic media has very little time for classical music broadcast. I have travelled to nearly 40 countries and find that there is a lot happening in terms of experimentation in music theatre and films,” says Rahul Sharma, Santoor player and son of Pandit Shivkumar Sharma.

Different types of music help in soothing one’s soul, in the growth of concentration and also help us to live life to the fullest. There are varied genres of music as people have different tastes. For e.g., classical music, rock, jazz, metal, rap, folk, techno, hip hop, trance, etc.

Even today people think that music is divine, “I am a messenger of God to spread the rhythms of Ghatam and I thank my father for choosing this instrument for me. A Ghatam player can take it up as his career and be assured of a happy living,” says Vikku Vinayakram,Ghatam player.

The origins of Indian classical music can be found in the Vedas, which are the oldest scriptures in the Hindu tradition.

Indian classical music has also been significantly influenced

by Indian folk music and Persian music. The Samaveda, one of the four Vedas, describes music at length. Indian music is

Susmit Sen of the popular music band “Indian Ocean” talks on the present music scene in India, “ Every category of music influences all of us. Rap and Techno music is not the right kind of music and should deserve less attention.

There are a lot of remix albums being made today and the producers call it their own. I think this is very unethical and such form of music should be banned. There is a need for the label record companies in India to get their act together and also see that the artistes are paid well for the hard work put in by them. We have recently decided to put one song free of cost for download every month on our website. This will finally be cut as a disc called “16/330 Khajoor Road”. This is the road where we all practiced for nearly fourteen years.”

Guitarist Larry Coryell says, “Indian music is very rich and is a big form of music. There is no one style of playing. There are different rules and a sub-set of rules for playing Indian

music. The South Indian music is very deep into mathematics. There are very sophisticated and scuttle movements in Indian music. It is very necessary to learn the art of business alongside the art of music. A musician also needs to work on earning his pie along with the hard work he

country. A computer with software like Pro-Tools or Nuwendo makes anyone who feeds the required sounds and creates a music track; a recordist.The personal touch of a live musician is slowly fading out of film recordings.”

“There is space for all musicians to show their talent, Practice, practice and practice!!! It is a very great opportunity for any musician to perform in India. The audience appreciates all forms of creativity and does not have any pre-determined approach to any program. I stay in the countryside of India in Auroville and therefore am not affected much by the hardships of big cities. But I can say that this is a land, which is rich in culture and heritage and there is space for all musicians to show their talent,” says Holger Jetter,Violinist.

Ustad Asad Ali Khan can be called the man behind rudra veena’s persisting stature, who religiously believed that this instrument could do wonders when played soulfully. He belongs to an extraordinary lineage of musicians, people who were even venerated by the emperors. And owing to such illustrious background, Asad Ali is but naturally gifted with talent to continue.

puts to keep upgrading his musical output. There is a need to learn the commercial aspects of entering into contracts, marketing, and promoting the music and create a demand for it. The numbers of recording opportunities are reducing because of the self-styled recordists existing all around the

Noam Vazana, a multi-talented musician from Munster says, “Music is one of the best communicators in life. I sing in many different languages. People sometimes don’t know the language, but they get the message of the song. It is very important to be a better person in life.

Listen to your heart. Make peace on Earth. As you grow, it is important to lose ego, if any. There is a need to calm down. Respect each other. You will definitely get your goal. A little music will definitely add spice to your life.” All these quotes hold good for the citizens of our city who come together every year to celebrate World Music Day. DP

askarijaffer@deccanpost.in