Soothsayer_Issue_3 by Soothsayer

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WHAT GREEN GOVERNANCE HAS GIVEN US

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We live in a country with a billion plus population and India is bursting to grow out of the developing country tag and be at par with the more advanced South East Asian countries like Japan and China. India can work towards that, but what is also a factor that can make a big difference in small ways, are focussing on something as pertinent as environment. India looks to China in the sub-continent where they can beat not just our country, but even the USA, to innovation in many aspects from the manufacturing to automobile industries. But there is one aspect which India will not want to emulate from China, which is the high pollution levels. “With great power comes great responsibility” Was the quote that Uncle Ben tells Peter in the 2002 Spiderman movie. While China boasts of growing industrialization and numerous cars on the roads, the country is also grappling with pollution related issues which they need to fix. Coming back to India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Swach Bharat Abhiyan’ or Clean India initiative, citizens are waking up to the concept of green governance on a more serious note. West Bengal too has a lot to boast about, with the State Government’s efforts on Waste Management and recycling garbage in different corners of the city and beautification of the streets, not just with adequate lighting but with greener and cleaner roads and pavements to walk on too. The city of joy has seen a visible face change as the skyline expands. At the macro level, green governance should be a concept inculcated in children from a young age, which should start from educational institutions. While the Government is doing it’s bit to bring in gradual reforms in society, the bottom up concept is likely to work more than the trickle down policy, with diverse cultures and belief systems. The Government can enforce rules, but it is also the responsibility of citizens to respect and follow them. The National Green Tribunal Eastern Zone Bench Kolkata focusses on matters of environmental concern and has over a period of time enforced stricter norms. The Rabindra Sarovar lakes are one example where plastic is not allowed and there is patrolling by security personnel to keep citizens in check. We live in urban jungles, but it is important to Preserve the environment breathe in clean air. Lowering pollution levels by planting more trees apart from other measures taken also needs to be kept in mind. There is hope and green governance is a step forward to making big changes in small ways and it is time for citizens to walk in the right footsteps to ensure a cleaner city of joy.

- T H E S O OT H S AY E R

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VOL-I, ISSUE-III Chairman & Managing Director: Rajesh Kumar Jajodia, LLB Director & CEO: Gautam Sarkar Director, Operations: Avijit Bhattacharya Editorial Director: Subhajit Bhattacharya Assistant Editor: Purbasha Bhattacharjee Senior Correspondent Sreeparna Bhattacharya Accounts and Hr Manager Avisha Chatterjee Manager Marketing & Brand Promotion: Mohana Dutta Contributors: Sanjay Kumar Jha (Delhi&NCR) Arnab Roy (Pune) | Deepanjan Ghosh Ashoke Roy (Bangladesh) Anthony Khatchaturian | Soumya Dey B. Halder | Andrew (Delhi) Amrita Ganguly Photographers: Mainak Bagchi Arijit Saha Chief Copy Editor ( Digital): Prema Rajaram Designers: Preetam Ghosh Jitendra Takekar Printed and Published by: Subhajit Bhattacharya on behalf of Quartz Infomediaa Pvt. Ltd. Printed At: CDC Printers Pvt. Ltd. No.45, Radhanath Chowdhury Rd, Industrial Estate - II, Tangra, Kolkata, West Bengal 700015. Published At: 7/1 Arya Palli, Chanditala Main Road, Paschim Putiari, S.O. Paschim Putiari, Kolkata-700041, West Bengal. To Subscribe: WhatsApp: ‘Subscribe’-9748622874 or email: response.optimist@gmail.com For advertisement: advt.optimist@gmail.com or call: 9674254288/ 9830561078 www.theoptimist.news Circulation: Deepak Kayal Bipin Pandey | Pritam Manna Volume -I | Issue -3 For the month January - February 2020 Total Number of Pages - 90 RNI Applied / DL Number : 1 0 8 CIN: U22219WB2019PTC231913

FACE TO FACE

24-hour Water supply in Slum toilets

BREAKING BARRIERS

Beyond the Ordinary

CON

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06 MINDTREE

Kolkata’s Mosques: Marking Milestones In History

L E A D

RAJESH 22 DR. KUMAR, IPS Steps to ensure sustainability and to help the growth of eco-friendly government

ANUJ 26 CP SHARMA

Building an Omnipresent Force

SHRI 30 IPS JAGMOHAN

Building an Omnipresent Force

40 PROFILE

Murlidhar Sharma: An IPS who speaks a different zubaan

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GOOD GOVERNANCE

To keep the green intact, Meghalaya turns to its people

WOMAN ON TOP

My main focus is not just on policies but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fruitful implementation in right spirit

HEALTH & FITNESS

My goal has always been to push for affordable yet quality healthcare to patients

NTENT IN 44 WOMEN GOVERNANCE

48 BEYOND BENGAL

68 DREAM CHASER

Asansol and Durgpaur Commissionerate

Neeloo Sherpa Chakraborty

L.M. Khaute, DGP Manipur

CHANGEMAKER

Building blocks the green way!

HUMANS IN UNIFORM

EXPERT SPEAKS

Forest fires like the Amazon can also happen in India

Born To Run

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Quality Education needs to be delivered January - February 2020 5

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MINDTREE BY DEEPANJAN GHOSH

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Kolkata’s Mosques: Marking

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Milestones

In History

Nakhoda

Mosques are important milestones in Kolkata’s history, yet they r emain unobtrusive, having hardly kindled the curiosity of even residents of the capital city. It’s time their importance is brought to light.

A little more than 20 per cent of Kolkata’s residents are Muslim and the city has in excess of 450 mosques. Like other religious structures, the mosques of Kolkata are important milestones in its history, and offer vital clues about how the character of the city and its neighbourhoods, have changed.

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T he Immigrants Trail

Immigrants have left their mark on Kolkata’s religious architecture, and Muslim immigrants are among the most prominent. The Memons of Kutch are a race of seafaring traders who once had a large presence in the city. This was, after all, the biggest eastern port in India and served as the capital city until 1911. The mosque built by the Kutchi Memon Jamaat (gathering or group), was rightfully known as Nakhoda Masjid or the Sailor’s Mosque. Located around the central Kolkata Muslim quarter of Chitpur and still surrounded by markets, the Nakhoda Masjid was once a much smaller mosque than what it is today. Two smaller mosques stood on the corner plot where the Nakhoda Masjid stands today.

Which is Kolkata’s oldest mosque? Janice Leoshko in her piece, ‘The Mosques of Calcutta’ featured in the book Calcutta through 300 years argues that the oldest mosque in the city is Basri Shah Masjid of Chitpur. Although the mosque’s original plaque detailing its construction is now missing, Leoshko notes that the plaque had said that a certain Ja’fir Ali had built the mosque anew in 1219 Hijri, which corresponds to 1804 C.E., implying that an earlier structure existed at the place. A further clue to the mosque’s age is its style of construction. Basri Shah is the only mosque in the city to follow the pre-Mughal Bengal style, which had been established during the days of the Bengal Sultanate in the capital city of Gaur. But even if the original Basri Shah Masjid dates from the 1700s, it is one of the only mosques in the city of that age. The vast majority of Kolkata’s mosques are from the nineteenth century, when there was large scale migration to the city in search of work. 8 January - February 2020

A 12-Year Construction Saga

Construction of one large mosque was proposed by Maulana Khairuddin, father of freedom fighter Maulana Azad. Construction began in 1926 and was completed in 12 years. The first caretaker of the new mosque was Haji Nur Mohammed Zakaria. In his honour, the street in front of the mosque is today known as Zakaria Street. Nakhoda Masjid is the largest mosque in Kolkata today, and can accommodate 10,000 people. Its architectural style is modern with multiple domes and minarets. The entrance to the mosque, however, is styled after Akbar’s tomb in Sikandra. The masjid is also one of the only mosques in Kolkata that has successfully resisted the installation of air-conditioning. Its open architectural style facilitates cross ventilation which keeps the mosque cool even on the hottest of days.

The Eg yptian influence

Among migrants to the city were also members of the Dawoodi Bohra community. The Saifi Masjid on Brabourne Road has served the Bohras since 1920. In 2011, the Bohras inaugurated a new mosque in Topsia. The Burhani Masjid is a unique blend of modernity and tradition. The 150,000-sq-ft mosque contains a hi-tech audio system, a 500 kg crystal chandelier and many other technological marvels. The mosque’s design is influenced by Fatemi architecture, which was in vogue in Egypt 1,000 years ago.

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Fascinating Records

T he Tipu Touch

Glancing through the files of the Waqf Board on Madan Street, offers a fascinating insight into both the lives of Muslims in Kolkata and into the history of the city itself. In many neighbourhoods, old mosques remain standing even when there are no Muslims living anywhere near. These are signs of migration, and even the ghettoisation that happened in the wake of the Great Calcutta Killings of 1946. Across the city, in many neighbourhoods, what used to be small, personal prayer rooms have now turned into mosques. Among them is the tiny Garcha Masjid whose prayer room can accommodate a maximum of four people. There is also the Lake Masjid, which is Kolkata’s only island mosque.

Royal link

But it is not just the working class which moved to Kolkata and made the city its home. There are also two royal families, one of whom was exiled to Kolkata. In 1799, Tipu Sultan, the T i g e r of Mysore was killed in t h e Siege of Seringapatna. T i p u ’s family was initially sent to Vellore, Tamil Nadu.

The family fell into dire poverty for a long time until one of Tipu’s enterprising sons, Prince Ghulam Mohammed Shah, was able to secure for the family its pension and arrears. In gratitude, he built Dharmatala crossing’s Tipu Sultan Masjid in 1842. With the Tipu family the ‘Dakhani’ style of mosque building came to Kolkata. It is a style that makes any mosque built by the Tipu family easy to identify. This includes the Zohra Begum Masjid on Tollygunge Circular Road and the Shahani Begum Masjid on Diamond Harbour Road.

Mini Lucknow

The other Muslim royal family to have made Kolkata its home was the family of Wajid Ali Shah, the former Nawab of Oudh or Awadh. When the East India Company deposed him and took over Awadh, Wajid Ali Shah travelled to Kolkata, intending to travel to London to appeal to Queen Victoria herself. However, illness prevented him from travelling further, and the Mutiny of 1857 prevented his return to Awadh. The former nawab was granted an estate in the area, today known as Metiabruz, where he proceeded to build a mini Lucknow to make up for the one he had been forced to leave behind.

But an uprising there gave reasons to suspect that Tipu’s sons were behind it. Eager to cut off their influence, the East India Company authorities moved the family to Kolkata, sending them into exile in a jungle that was then Russa Pagla – today’s Tollygunge.

Magnificent Mihrab

The Shahi Masjid on Iron Gate Road was built around 1856-57. This was probably the first structure to be constructed by Nawab Wajid Ali Shah and was meant for his personal use. Legend says that before the foundations of the mosque could be laid, Wajid Ali Shah made a proclamation, inviting anyone who had not missed even one of the five daily prayers since he became an adult to lay its foundation. W h e n no one came forward even after

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a month, the king laid the foundation himself. The Shahi Masjid is devoid of any domes or minarets. One unusual feature of the mosque is its mihrab. A mihrab is a semi-circular niche found in the Western walls of mosque which serves three purposes; first, it indicates the qibla, the direction of Mecca, which Muslims are supposed to face when praying, second, the imam, seated inside the mihrab would remain ahead of the jamaat or congregation even if the mosque is filled to capacity, and third, the architecture of the mihrab creates acoustic elements which magnify the imam’s voice, ensuring that he can be heard even without

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amplification. Shahi Masjid’s mihrab is probably more for ornamental purposes, as it is made entirely of marble while the walls are otherwise of masonry, and hence it stands out.

Historic Yet Inconspicuous

Kolkata’s historic mosques today are threatened by two things. The first is a lack of proper documentation and information in the public domain. Many people who have lived in the city their entire lives have never visited its historic mosques and apart from a few slim volumes, no one has attempted a comprehensive documentation of the city’s mosques. The second and perhaps the more pressing issue is the arbitrary renovation, which is changing the very character of historic structures. It is important for the government to take urgent steps to both preserve the architecture of historic mosques as well as making available more information about them in the public domain. 10 January - February 2020

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BREAKING BY SUBHAJIT BHATTACHARYA

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P. ULAGANATHAN

BARRIERS

BEYOND

ORDINARY

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THE

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District Magistrate P. Ulaganathan talks about ways to safeguard a growing district, conservation of the largest single block halophytic mangrove forest in the world, success of the Gangasagar Mela and measures to keep each and every resident of the region safe and secured. Excerpts:

South 24-Parganas: Striding ahead South 24-Parganas is a vast district with unique contrasts. It is a real challenge to plan and execute strategies because of this but our team is well-equipped to act and maintain good coordination to ensure that the right parity is maintained.

The Green Mangrove MissionThe Sunderbans Known for being the largest single block halophytic mangrove forest in the world, the Sunderbans has always been our major concern and we try to provide all possible means to safeguard the region. The area is a cluster of 54 small islands and once we proliferate deeper into the forest, we can see the predominant exploitation. Islands are being turned into residential sectors, sea-beds are being destroyed because of strollers and the mangroves are being January - February 2020 13

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VOL-I, ISSUE-III dismantled. Being a DM, I regularly get National Green Tribunal cases where reports on such incidents are recorded. On our part, we have taken a pledge to minimise all such activities in the forest. Additionally, we are bent on creating schools and colleges to educate more and more people so that they can understand the value and significance of reservation of forests. We believe in regulating the system through emphasising on training and adopting a holistic approach for awareness and safety.

Digitisation is a wave which has taken possession of the entire country and changed the façade of every nook and corner of states and districts. South 24-Parganas is a district which cannot be kept outside its purview. We are trying to implement e-governance to the fullest. In fact, we have 40 offices through which we deliver e-services. Application for pension and SC, ST certificates are now available offline in a seamless manner. Gram Panchayats and BDO offices are being equipped

IN FOCUS: Individual sectors require particular attention. The requirement which is essential in urban areas may not be necessary for rural areas. This is what we try to identify and implement accordingly. I have appointed several officers in the departments to look after the well-being of residents. All the teams have been split for efficient execution of duties. Scrutiny is conducted to oversee whether everyone is doing their work properly or not. A bio–medical waste treatment plant has been set up in South 24-Parganas for treatment of wastewater and discharge of vehicle wash. Plants for water purification have been set up in rural areas and teams have been deployed for safeguarding the welfare of residents around rural areas. Steps for increasing employment through the NREGA scheme have proved to be immensely effective in escalating the lives of the unemployed in the rural areas. Thus the district is gradually advancing towards improvement and it is indeed a huge leap for us.

Gangasagar-A green expedition: One step ahead: We maintain that the best way to generate employment is to engage more and more youth in their initial days in diverse forms of employment opportunities to avoid any malpractices. This is why we have several individual benefit schemes which will help them stay on the right track and strike an appropriate balance. Schemes such as NREGA, Kanyashree and Rupashree have profoundly benefitted a lot of young women and adults through improving their life and helped in generating employment. This is taking the district a step further and contributing immensely to make them strong, financially and mentally.

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with cutting–edge technologies which will make services transparent and quick. For this, we are making the offices fully functional so that they can run appropriately.

This year, a slew of measures were taken to ensure that the Gangasagar Mela is flagged off smoothly and it

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VOL-I, ISSUE-III was indeed a grand success. We are all aware of the famous congregation and it requires a lot of effort for its effective management. Last year, the statistics revealed that around 19 deaths occurred at the ground. This year, we worked very hard for a cleaner and safer Mela, with zero deaths and missing people. Our team ensured that camp offices will be located at different centres for competent management of the movement of pilgrims, three more barges have been set up, WLAN setup was ensured for better connections,

environmental sustainability, more than 5 lakh bags were made out of sarees to put a ban on plastic. Every year millions of pilgrims flock to the Sagar Island to take a holy dip and often end up polluting the water through various means. This takes a serious toll on the beach and the water. Therefore, we have associated with the National Jute Board to make bio-degradable bags to protect the environment in and around the Sagar. Around 5,000 employees were engaged to keep the island clean. Needless to

Cyclone Bulbul: Extensive loss occurred in and around South 24-Parganas and in the Sunderbans due to Cyclone “Bulbul” that impacted almost the entire district. Officials confirmed that the district incurred a loss of Rs 23,811 crore and around 5,17,535 houses were severely ravaged. However, we have taken note of the damage that has occurred and have sent out teams to visit the affected areas. We have constructed roads; provided 3.5 lakh disaster kits to all the injured persons and more than 6 lakh farmers have been given grants and relief. Simultaneously, we have arranged shelters for the homeless. Through the NREGA Scheme, we have tried to generate employment, give house grants and give cow and poultry sheds. All our activities catered to all the victims and we have been able to compensate them for their losses. Secondly, we have plans to set up cyclone sectors for timely disaster management and spread awareness regarding cyclones.

breakdown vans were installed across several points, guides were allotted to give live coverage and number of jetties were increased to improve the flow of pilgrims, roads were constructed to avoid traffic congestion and specialised doctors were made available to provide medical treatment during emergencies. In addition to this, loud speakers were fixed at various points to report missing people. The entire planning was a backbreaking job, but due to the vigorous efforts, the mega event in its third millennium, saw a sharp decline in number of deaths. We have been able to save 5000-6000 missing people, which was a challenging point for us, but we have coped up well and have executed the programme in a promising manner.

Eco-friendly carnival: This year, we have revamped the entire concept of the Mela and have resorted to using eco-friendly means to conduct the fair. In an effort to promote

say, the result was visible right after the Mela ended — clean beaches, zero pollution in the water and zero deaths. It’s a massive success for us.

ONE WORD OF ADVICE: They say that the only way to do great work is to do what you love. The advice to all would be to remain dedicated and committed to their work. The moment one starts to enjoy his/her work and make fewer calculations, he/she is a winner.

Focal areas of importance: South 24-Parganas is taking up several steps to establish a secured livelihood for everyone across the district. Several cases of trafficking have been highlighted in the areas which are being looked after and separate teams have been appointed to take care of issues such as women and child health care, education, pension and to foresee that the weaker sections are empowered through a multitude of schemes under the NREGA scheme. Our primary focus is always on the Sunderbans because it requires critical and precise consideration. Many officers are deployed in different departments, who are looking after the separate aspects and are ensuring that the core areas are well taken care of.

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FACE TO

FACE

24-HOUR WATER SUPPLY IN SLUM TOILETS: KMC LAYS OUT ITS VISION FOR BETTER, CLEANER

KOLKATA

In an effort to make hygiene top priority, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is mulling to launch an initiative that provides 24-hour water supply to toilets installed in slums. Back in 2005, a pilot project was started in ward number 11 at Mohunbagan bustee (slum) in north Kolkata. However, due to financial constraints, the project failed to achieve its desired results. Fast forward to 2020, and now Deputy Mayor Atin Ghosh has taken the mantle to revive the project.

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In an exclusive interview with ‘Soothsayer’, Ghosh said, “The root cause of many diseases stems from unhygienic toilets. In Kolkata, slum dwellers cannot store water while those residing in big houses have underground and overground storage facilities. Therefore, I am trying to ensure that all houses get water.”

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Atin Ghosh Deputy Mayor,

Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC)

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VOL-I, ISSUE-III The KMC will draw water from deep tube wells and purify it before supplying it to the slums. Overhead tanks for the water storage will be set up.

Apart from this, the KMC has come up with a plan for improving solid waste management in the state’s capital. “ The process of segregation of the waste is picking up in a lot of areas in Kolkata, including my ward. In North Kolkata, it is taking place in several wards,” the Deputy Mayor said.

When it comes to the health sector, the KMC has taken several proactive measures and special emphasis has been laid on reducing dengue cases. “We have a three-tier setup to tackle dengue— ward level dengue team, two movable teams, and 16 central rapid action teams,” he said, while hailing health infrastructure in Kolkata as the country’s best. “In 144 wards, we are doing dengue, malaria and all bloodrelated tests free of cost.”

Dhapa, the city’s oldest and largest landfill, is being reclaimed for scientific disposal of waste. “ We are starting a plant at the Dhapa dumping ground for segregation of degradable and nondegradable waste. This is the first project where the non-degradable waste will be segregated. We will start a plant for recycling non-renewable waste soon,” Ghosh said, adding that this is the first tentative step towards more scientific handling of municipal solid waste.

“Aside from this, we are focusing on cleanliness, greeneries, plantation of tree saplings. Most of the wards have begun the process of installation of eco-friendly LED lights,” he said. The KMC has also initiated a comprehensive water augmentation scheme in order to supply 100 percent filtered water to the people in the city. At present, many residents are dependent on groundwater as a source of drinking water. “Groundwater contains a high amount of iron which results in various skin ailments. We are trying to stop the usage of surface water and get water from the Ganges. We will try to filter it so that we can supply it to the households. Hopefully, in a year or two, we will stop the usage of groundwater,” Ghosh said.

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“We are providing free medicines right from antibiotics to costly medicine for diabetic patients. In all health units, we are providing anti-rabies vaccine, routine immunization every week throughout the town. Tuberculosis treatment is also done free of cost,” he pointed out. The biggest challenge that the KMC, however, faces is dealing with old buildings that are in dilapidated conditions. “KMC has issued notices in those areas as they tried to relocate the residents of these buildings by paying compensation. The KMC is trying its best to renovate or rebuild these buildings,” Ghosh concluded.

Reaching out to the masses at the remotest corner, the KMC organises various outreach programs. “Last year only we had around 25 lakh patients recorded here. We organize various outreach programs. We reach the remotest part of the city and hold several camps there,” Ghosh said.

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LEAD

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SPEARHEADING A

GREEN TRANSITION I

ndia’s Green Transition began since 1996 as it became a nation to follow the environmental governance system. The catalytic role of the Centre in vouching for protecting the environment is a colossal task which may involve arduous efforts. In West Bengal, the state government has optimist views towards the third millennium with a cleaner and greener mind and pledge to work on new pollution control technologies and encouraging ‘Green Governance’. Several steps have been taken to ensure that the environment condition is being treated with active participation. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has ordered the introduction of electric buses to reduce pollution. The state has initiated sprinkling of water on stretches to ensure that they are clean. The West Bengal Pollution Control Board has developed its own app which they regularly monitor to ensure that all grievances are addressed. In fact, recent statistics show that overall the air quality in Kolkata ranges from good to moderate. Interestingly, collective efforts by citizens to check pollution in the state have borne fruit as well. Driving ‘Global Green Governance’ is possible but it has to be done through the proliferation of institutes and committees. About good governance and environmental sustainability, we have spoken to a few who have been working in close ties with the state to ensure a cleaner city.

ember Secretary (West Bengal Pollution Control Board) and IPS Dr Rajesh Kumar; Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, IPS Anuj Sharma and Jag Mohan, IPS, DG Fire and Emergency Services, Kolkata spoke to us regarding the workings and execution of possible ways and means to move towards a green city.

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West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) has been taking ample steps to curb pollution and has adopted several measures and projects to promote ecofriendly ways to ensure sustainable management of resources.

Member Secretary of WBPCB

DR. RAJESH KUMAR, IPS

Dr Rajesh Kumar, IPS and Member Secretary of WBPCB talks about the numerous ways to curb pollution even as he mentions the various projects that the Board has undertaken recently:

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STEPS TO ENSURE SUSTAINABILITY AND TO HELP THE GROWTH OF ECO - FRIENDLY GOVERNMENT : A

ccording to me, for any economy to thrive, the industrial production along with a host of other things is integral to its growth engine. Nowadays, due to the advent of technology, many aspects can now be looked into together. Gradually, we are becoming regulators in the field of economy and constantly trying to focus on how to make industries comply with norms and guidelines so that every aspect can be highlighted and brought into the limelight. The environmental pollution is a totally new thing for India, if not for the rest of the world, which they have already faced it in their developmental stages. However, in India, it has been growing since the past 5-10 years and it has increased in its magnitude drastically. Therefore, our main target was to imbibe technology from the rest of the nations, who have overcome this issue so that we can utilise it and apply it for our own development. It is a constant challenge for us to adapt to such technology, which will not only help us to overcome the problem but also achieve that parity between a sustainable environment and good governance.

Environment and it’s other facets: I do not agree to the concept that the environment has taken a backseat as many people do not want to talk about it. This is because consciousness about the environment is increasingly evident among one and all. Various aspects of cleanliness and its importance are now being instilled in the minds of the young and old, a lot of debates and discussions are taking place, which is a good sign. Today, plastic is banned

everywhere and there is no littering of garbage. Plus the Chief Minister’s initiative “Clean Bangla Green Bangla” is a healthy step which is now creating a difference. If we look at other governmental departments, they are putting in equal efforts to bring out a considerable change. If this continues in a consistent manner, we will be able to achieve excellence in terms of environmental governance.

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VOL-I, ISSUE-III It was Mahesh Bhattacharya, the accountant at the court of Natore’s queen, who introduced her to Ramendrasundar Chakraborty under whose suggestion Rani Rashmoni dedicated the whole property to her “Guru” who was a Bramhin and thus started the groundwork. Ramkumar Chattopadhyay was appointed as the head priest of this temple initially but after his sudden demise, all responsibility came upon his younger brother Gadadhar and within subsequent years, he became an ardent devotee of the goddess and sowed the seeds of change. The awareness and importance of the eco-friendly environment is something which is being imparted to each and everyone in all the departments because every officer is working towards achieving sustainable goals. Today, everybody knows the importance of having a clean environment and all police officers from every locality are determined to achieve it with utmost zeal. Training is being given and results are visible. Slowly but steadily, we are moving towards an eco-friendly environment.

Digitisation & eco-friendly environment: India is rapidly becoming digitised and we are all adapting ourselves to it. There has been huge progress with the help of West Bengal “Paribesh App”, which helps citizens to know the realtime noise level of the city and lodge complaints and get also learn about the upcoming plans and programmes, give feedback and receive 16*16 customer support as well. In fact, West Bengal is the first one-of-its-kind state to develop such an app which measures pollution and helps to control it as well. An integrated grievance system has been developed also to ensure proper redressal. This is definitely a big

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step towards achieving development and at the same time ensuring a clean environment. Our state is trying to utilise technology to its fullest to strike a proper balance between governance and sustainable environment.

The Police Department is also aware of how in various places deforestation is a rising issue.In West Bengal, there are separate departments to address such issues like the forest department, municipal corporations etc. We get complaints on Facebook,

Twitter and other social media sites and even from the Chief Minister’s grievance office cell. All those complaints, even if they are beyond any particular jurisdiction, we prefer to transfer them to the respective departments to ensure that they are taken care of. This awareness about clean and green environment is something we try to instil amongst all. We have a dedicated programme called “National Green Cops Programme”, and we are associated with over 5,600 - 10,000 schools in various states as well. The main focus is spreading awareness and ensuring that adequate information reaches one and all. A couple of days back, waste management in Kolkata was extremely poor. But recently, a lot of

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steps have been taken to ensure that proper waste management happens, be it solid waste management, e-waste or biomedical waste and hazardous waste management. Very recently, it has been stated that everything can be reduced, reused and recycled. All kinds of wastes can actually be turned into a gold mine through proper and systematic management. That is exactly what we are trying to achieve now. In actuality, we may have realised it late but that is how the ecosystem is designed where nothing goes as waste. We are trying to apply it in reality.

Also, another remarkable step which has been taken in the state is that various programmes and events which symbolise a clean and green environment are being planned. Events like “World Environment Day”, “World Ozone Day” are being celebrated so that each and every citizen can become aware and actively take part in creating a cleaner environment. It’s a good trend and it is great to see the overwhelming response from college students, showing a lot of zeal and positivity. On the other hand, a lot of other developments on environment-related issues have taken place. The “Dhapa” has undergone a huge change. We have installed biogas plants in several areas, started frequent water sprinkling on roads; have changed coal-based eateries to gas-based outlets. Several new IAS officers, who are now posted in different places across the state, were also informed about these changes and they are interested to work together behind overcoming these challenges because they realise that it is important to address environmental issues with a lot of seriousness.

and other places too. I was also associated with the Urban Development Ministry and Railway Ministry, Delhi for some time. This has definitely given me an idea as to what can be the many challenges in such a cadre and how to overcome them. The journey is what makes it memorable and gets people to stay motivated and do more for society. Different departments’ Commissioners of Police, SPs and even the Fire Brigade have joined hands towards achieving a cleaner and greener state. Especially, under the able leadership and guidance of the Chief Minister, Kolkata will reach new heights in terms of co-ordinated governance as well as ecofriendly government.

Also, as an advanced Metropolitan state, West Bengal is now a much cleaner state than what it is used to be 10-15 years back. Roads, bridges and other modes of construction have really improved the condition of living in the city and have undergone a tremendous transformation which is now noticeable. It is not just a much-developed state with good administration but also a cleaner and greener city, which proves that development is going in the right direction. Being in this position for a long time, as an IPS officer who is also looking after the Pollution Control Board, I feel this job mostly entails leadership and management. Every position has its own set of challenges and responsibilities. I have worked as an ADG of the Pollution Control Board; therefore, I was aware of how the work is done here. Also, I have served the positions of Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, Additional DG of CID, SP of Howrah, Murshidabad

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BUILDING AN OMNIPRESENT FORCE:

The Kolkata Police have always had the most prestigious position in people’s hearts and minds, not just because of their undaunted efforts and sustained excellence, but also because of their rigorous commitment to the citizens and reaching out to them to serve them better every day. At such a juncture, the Kolkata Police have come forward towards establishing not just a cleaner state but also ensure a greener state. In this regard, Commissioner of Police Anuj Sharma talks about the various facets of Green Governance along with other responsibilities that Kolkata Police have taken up to join hands to make the City of Joy beautiful:

The Kolkata Police have been recently engaged in a lot of activities apart from looking after the core areas of policing. Our priority concern and the main focus are always on the safety and security of the people. “We are trying to establish police visibility everywhere and simultaneously we are ensuring that the force is everywhere so that during any emergency there is proper action. This is mainly done for detection and prevention of crimes. A lot of steps are being taken to curb incidents of crime and accidents on the road. The heavy penalty is charged in case of rash driving and helmet-less driving. Apart from this, night patrolling on the streets is being done with a lot of zeal because we feel night time protection is very important. Apart from this, we have a specific programme for the safety and security of women called “Respect Women”, under which we have the Winners Team where we have deployed women scooty bike riders who oversee patrolling and address heinous crimes.

A N UJ S H A R M A ,I PS

COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, KOLKATA 26 January - February 2020

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STRENGTHENING

DIGITAL FOOTPRINT: The “Bandhu App” by the Kolkata Police gained a lot of popularity among citizens. Anybody anywhere in crisis can resort to the panic button on the app and call for help. Mobile patrol vans have already started going around the city. A lot of twowheelers have been distributed to several ‘thanas’ and proper training is being imparted to women so that they can make good use of the motorbikes. The all-woman combat QRT team, ‘Warriors’ is worth mentioning because our main motto is to form a women-friendly police team, something for which the city and the country will be proud of.

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POLICING THE GREEN: As far as the Green City Mission is concerned, we are doing our part to ensure a cleaner and greener environment. The Kolkata Police have already visited nearby houses for plantation of trees and saplings. Adequate beautification in and around the police station is regularly done to ensure that greenery is maintained. I think, the credit definitely goes to the state government and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for taking up the Green City Mission to arrange for all possible means to enhance the beauty of Kolkata and to turn it into a greener city, and we all have joined hand hands towards it. Numerous trees have been planted, which have Housing blocks, where families of cops are residing. Based on the success of its implementation, we will be installing it in other police housings too. So, these are a few of the ecofriendly steps that we have already taken.

REINING THE SOUND DEMON:

been given exclusively by the Forest Department to us. Taking a step further, we have introduced machines which readily convert all waste materials into manure in different housing societies. So, all types of recycling are done to reuse waste, which is good for the environment. Such machines have already been installed in Body Guard Lines; the housing is there on 3 Battalions and also in some Police 28 January - February 2020

Another type of pollution is the honking of vehicles. When we talk about pollution, we not only discuss outdoor and indoor pollution. But sound pollution which is increasing alarmingly in the city also needs attention. “To bring the situation under control, a couple of days back the Kolkata Police have come up “No Honking Campaign” to reduce blasting horns on the streets. People must be made aware of the adverse effects of sound pollution and its impact. We are trying to engage school students but since the campaign lasts for two hours, it is difficult to bring out any changes within a stipulated time. However, we are trying to bring about changes and focus on these issues. This will take time but changes will be visible soon.” In fact, last year, the Kolkata Police received a lot of feedback that the Durga Puja traffic management was smooth and hassle-free. This shows that the overall condition is gradually improving and the Kolkata Police are taking adequate efforts to turn the city into a cleaner, greener and safer one.

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TRYST WITH KHAKI:

An ardent music lover and a Post Graduate student from Lucknow University, Commissioner of Police Anuj Sharma has proudly served the state for 28 long years since 1991. “Coming from a family of bureaucrats and since my father has been an IPS too, somewhere deep down I developed a passion for this too. In the initial 28 years of my journey, work has taken me to several places, including North Bengal and the western parts of the state, such as Purba Midnapur and Dinajpur where I have remained the SP. In 2003, I was the DC in Kolkata Police (South) and DC (Headquarters).

ROAD TO SAFETY: From the perspective of road safety measures, we have the “Safe Drive, Save Life” campaign, which was nurtured by our Chief Minister in 2016, which was an immensely successful and one of the most promising campaigns in the city. We have noticed a significant reduction and a steady decline in the number of deaths over the last couple of years.

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The Fire Brigade is now the Green Brigade: JAG MOHAN,IPS DG FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES, REVEALS HOW IT HAS TURNED INTO A GREEN BRIGADE THROUGH ADOPTING LATEST TECHNOLOGIES:

JAG MOHAN, IPS

DG Fire and Emergency Services 30 January - February 2020

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“Pollution is a major problem everywhere. All across the country, people are worried about it. But this is increasing because of the growing number of industries and factories which are being set up in the residential sectors. This is increasing the amount of dust and suspended particles in the air, which mostly comes from oil and petroleum factories,” says the DG. Pollution is a major concern everywhere and all across the city people are taking steps to curb it. However, progress is very slow.

The Kolkata Fire and Emergency Services have for its part equipped itself with every mean to provide all types of emergency services to the citizens of Kolkata. When we talk of the major role of this department, it is primarily revolving around Fire and Emergency. Whenever there is any kind of accident or any type of emergency comes to us, we try to send our teams at the earliest. Apart from this, the Fire and Emergencies Department does its part to deal with all types of emergencies. However, if there is something which is beyond the purview of the department, the case is immediately directed to other departments. “It is not possible to look after all the departments and maintain parity always but what we try to do is we ensure that we have a good connection with the other departments such as Disaster Management Groups, Civil Defence Groups and several others. When any other type of emergencies occurs, we do not leave the case. We direct it to the other groups, and they take care of it,” says Jag Mohan.

Curbing Pollution in the city: The state is doing their part and so is every department. Earlier, there were complaints of the non-responsiveness of the Fire Department but the situation has changed. If we can remember the huge fire that almost engulfed the entire Bagri Market near Canning Street in 2018 where almost 3,000 shops were burnt, the Fire Department’s active role was really commendable. Within a few hours, the vehicles arrived on the spot and water sprinkling began to prevent the blaze from spreading. “We tried our best to provide the utmost support and safety to the people and got as many vehicles as possible. We were successful in putting out the fire. The shopkeepers there said the firefighters saved another 200 shops from being gutted. That was itself an achievement for the Department,” says the DG of Fire and Emergencies Department.

Just like the West Bengal Pollution Control Board, other committees are doing their part to protect the state from increasing pollution and so is the Fire Department. “We constantly coordinate closely with the state and find out their requirements. The Secretaries and the groups lend out all possible support too. I personally feel that we are always ready to respond to their needs and act accordingly apart from

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VOL-I, ISSUE-III the day-to-day requirements that keep coming to us. We got to know about the leather complex at Tangra which literally became a living hell for the people there. We were instructed to look after it. We got numerous vehicles and started water sprinkling. The situation has improved and sprinkling water on those burning leather tanneries helped to curb the foul smell coming from that belt,” says the DG. The Fire Team gives many vehicles for the state use wherever sprinkling of water is needed. The Department also sprinkled water at “Dhapa”. Needless to say, now when a person crosses the area, no one can identify with what it was.

Building capabilities for future: Every department needs to work and needs to keep on developing itself with the latest technologies. The Fire Department is taking adequate measures to increase its capacity to perform better and be equipped with all types of technology. For instance, we are trying to treat chemical fire through the foam. For that, we are trying to build capabilities for multipurpose foam tenders at places like Haldia, Assam, Durgapur since chemical fires are gradually increasing too. Apart from this, we are trying to get more heavy machines such as grill cutters and other evacuation machines.

“Hi-tech machines are required in many cases and it is always better to stay prepared. We have come up with fireballs, which are used as “auto-fire stops”. Whenever there is fire, the ball bursts and engulfs it. This is a new concept which we are trying to work on. This is why I have put stress on regular capacity building and use of the latest technology during evacuations and other emergencies.” Also, we try to put stress on the fire-fighters just to ensure that they receive the best training. “We try to ensure that they are well-equipped and ready to face any situation. We are trying to provide them with the best breathing operators while they are on their duty.”

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The digital wave has taken over the country and the debate between manpower and robots are constant. However, I feel we should adopt the technology as well and imbibe the robotic technology. We want to make use of robots instead of sending men in high-risk areas. They will be automated and capable of making high-level movements. I think this will be a big step for the people of the city.

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Earlier people would blame firefighters and the Fire Brigade for not being able to walk in on time. But during the last two years of my service here, I can proudly say that people have seen the change and are aware of the potential that the Fire and Emergencies Service and other departments are capable of.

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BY SUBHAJIT BHATTACHARYA & SREEPARNA BHATTACHARYA

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GOOD

GOVERNANCE BY PURBASHA BHATTACHARJEE

To keep the green intact,

MEGHALAYA TURNS TO ITS PEOPLE 34 January - February 2020

Green is part of a crucial mission project of the Meghalaya government which has now witnessed the involvement of all the state’s natives from far and wide with the initiative gaining widespread popularity. While the entire world is reeling under climate change and global warming, India too has been affected and the demand for increasing forest cover is gaining ground. However, as one of India’s greenest states with almost 80% of its area under forests and trees, three times the Indian average, Meghalaya is both unique and vulnerable, and most vulnerable

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As one of India’s greenest states fights hard to keep its sacred groves protected, Meghalaya has come up with a host of policies and initiatives that have brought the state government and the communities who own the forests join hands and work towards the preservation of the region’s irreplaceable rainforests.

are its irreplaceable rainforests - the survival of which holds key lessons for the rest of India. The Meghalaya government has left no stone unturned to ensure people’s involvement in planting more trees. On Environment Day last year, the people of the state planted 1.5 million saplings as part of this campaign.

“Our government is very concerned about the issue of global warming. Many steps have been taken from our side including ‘One Citizen-One Tree’ concept, which started with a programme where we urged every citizen to plant one tree and last year almost 1.5 million trees were planted,” Chief Minister Conrad Kongkal Sangma said.

Pic: Jingkiengjri is living root bridge at Mawlynnong

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VOL-I, ISSUE-III The Meghalaya government focuses on mass afforestation programmes along the roads and vacant lands, streams and water catchments.

The Chief Minister also added that climate change mitigation should be planned on a priority basis and mission mode adaptation should be initiated with emphasis on the protection of water catchment areas and regeneration of the forest cover. “We have adopted several measures to ensure catchment areas are protected,” Conrad said.

He also maintained that the community should be involved and motivated to own ownership of the trees they plant under the campaign. Meghalaya, as we said, is unique because almost all the forest land is controlled by its people. But that has not stopped deforestation and climate change to affect the state. One can enter Meghalaya’s sacred groves on only one condition: nothing can be taken out.

“In Meghalaya, there is around 80 per cent forest cover and interestingly, the government owns only 5 per cent of the forests and rest are owned by communities and the district councils,” Lakhmen Rymbui, Forest and Environment minister said. Seeking cooperation of each and everyone, the Meghalaya government has partnered with various communities to create a livelihood for the villagers. “In partnership with various communities, the government is working

Conrad Kongkal Sangma, Chief Minister, Meghalaya. 36 January - February 2020

hard to protect these communityowned-forests and also create a livelihood for the villagers around the areas,” Rymbui said. The government also enlightens people to plant trees to compensate those that they destroy in the process of development. “Now, many villages realised the importance of forests and they know that they cannot protect the forests all by themselves but also need to partner with the government in its preservation,” he said.

Lakhmen Rymbui,

Forest and Environment Minister

have

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Chairman of the Grand Council of Khasi Chiefs John F Kharshiing, however, along with the state government also thanks their ancestors for realising the importance of green cover.

Pic: Nongriat living root bridge

“ So whoever wants to partner with us, they come to us and the forest officials conduct surveys and agreements are signed to protect the forests,” the minister added. Calling it a success story, he added that now, students and youths have even joined hands. The enchanting Meghalaya boasts of a diverse array of forests that capture the imagination of any and every adventurous soul who has set foot there. The lush green tropical rainforests are fuelled by heavy rainfall that they receive by virtue of their location. Meghalaya, dubbed the rainiest state of the country, gets ample rainfall annually to help the forests thrive in pristine condition. The forests of Meghalaya are sources of some of the most important cultural traditions of the state. The verdant forests whisper legends and folklores which are so archaic that they have no written records and yet they are engraved in the minds of local tribes who are in constant touch with nature.

“There are religious believes associated with it, and in some cases, communities own forests and in others, it’s Hima or the king who holds the right. This acts as a perfect balance for preventing climate change,” he said.

Although the king and kingdoms are not prevalent in present India, in Meghalaya, the king is considered to be very powerful as the land here belongs to communities and both take the initiative, in collaboration with the state government, in maintaining the green cover.

While most of India receives 801 to 1,500 mm of rainfall during the monsoon months, Meghalaya receives double the amount, according to the 2019 data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

“The Forest department has completed the Global Positioning System (GPS) survey,” Kharshiing further adds: “The state government has also provided the United Nations Development Programme grants that are given to these forests under the Small Grants Programme (SGP) to provide financial and technical support to projects that conserve and restore the environment while enhancing nearby villagers’ well-being and livelihood.”

John F Kharshiing,

Chairman of the GrandCouncil of Khasi Chiefs

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‘‘

There is a wide variation in rainfall within Meghalaya. Some areas like Cherrapunji - once famous as the wettest region on the Earth - receive up to 12,000 mm of rainfall every year. Meghalaya’s sacred groves, some of which are rainforests, are home to at least 1,886 plant species, including orchids, bamboo, timber and medicinal plants. Capital city Shillong, sitting on an altitude of nearly 5,000 feet above sea level, is known as the “abode of clouds” and this sobriquet is true in every sense. Here, apart from increasing green cover, the state government also focuses on having renewable energy resources, especially solar energy, in all the government offices. As part of Meghalaya’s greenery, Nokrek National Park

and Biosphere Reserve is a biodiversity hotspot of the state and it is about 45 kms from Tura. Nokrek is the highest peak in the Garo Hills and home to various species of wild animals, including elephants and Hoolock Gibbons.

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“I have visited the site for the development of amenities in the foothills of Nokrek Park. These are two projects - one is the Swadesh Darshan Scheme where we have sanctioned close to Rs 28 crore that will be put into Nokrek and another one worth Rs 12-14 crore from the Tribal Affairs Ministry which will be for the infrastructure of tourism at the same region,” said the 43-year-old Chief Minister.

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The National Park is also home to a very rare species of Citrus Indica (Indian wild orange), endemic to this place, often known as Memang Narang among locals. To initiate carbon-neutral resort at Nonkrek Biosphere Reserve, the Meghalaya Chief Minister had visited the scenic bio-reserve and the nearby Daribok village to inspect the sites selected for several tourism infrastructure and amenities that would provide a major boost.

Pic: Hoolock Gibbons

The project will start within the next two months and is likely to be completed within a year. “Our vision is to make Nokrek a place where people will walk into a carbon-neutral resort which will be the first-of-its-kind in the state and probably in the region,” informed Sangma as he also added that solar energy and waste management would also be a critical part of the carbon-free tourism. To boost eco-tourism and at the same time, encourage the villagers to preserve the fragile eco-system of Nokrek National Park, the government is providing training and facilities for locals to be self-reliant and raise their economy through tourism-related activities without causing any harm to the environment. Focussing on some more initiatives of the Sangma-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government in the state, as part of protecting environment initiatives and making the state pollution-free,

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“We’re working very hard is to ensure renewable energy is there, especially solar and other forms of renewable energy resources are tapped. Even the CM’s bungalow, the Secretariat is running 70 per cent on solar energy. We believe that soon, we will be able to ensure that all the other government departments and buildings also run on solar energy,” the Chief Minister added.

the government has started the initiative to say ‘No to Plastic’, therefore, encouraging use of glass jars in place of single-use plastic water bottles in all government functions and even during the Assembly sessions. For pollution-free Meghalaya, the government has launched a project to ‘Beat plastic pollution with sla & pla’. This initiative is basically launched to reduce the use of plastics and use environmentfriendly bags and materials. Other projects which the Meghalaya government has signed includes an agreement with a major cement firm for buying plastic waste to be used as fuel instead of coal for producing clinkers. Moreover, here plastics are being used in Meghalaya for building roads that have been welcomed from all quarters towards making the state free from plastic pollution.

As part of its green initiative and protecting the non-renewable source of energy, the Meghalaya government is now using efficient lights to cut down electricity consumption, bringing down its consumption by at least 10 per cent in the next one year.

He further stated that all government offices, PHCs and CHCs should mandatorily have a certain percentage of power generated through nonconventional sources of energy. He stated that having solar energy will help in reducing consumption as the energy that is saved by government offices and establishments; schools and institutions on holidays and non-working days will go back to the grid through net metering. He also informed that currently, Meghalaya produces more than 300 MW of power but consumes about 1,200 million units of power.

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PROFILE BY PREMA RAJARAM

MURLIDHAR SHARMA : AN IPS WHO speaks A DIFFERENT

ZUBAAN Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) with the Kolkata Police, a passionate Urdu poet, an author and a Jawaharlal Nehru University alumnus, Murlidhar Sharma, in a candid chat, reveals his other interests. Excerpts:

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MURLIDHAR SHARMA, IPS Joint Commissioner of Police ( Crime )

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HOW DID THIS FASCINATION FOR URDU START?

My inspiration to learn Urdu started at a very young age. I was born and brought up in Hisar in Haryana where Pakistani refugees lived. Some elderly of the area would read Urdu newspapers and would also speak the language. There is a particular sweetness about Urdu that used to attract me. I have been following the language for more than two decades. The curiosity for the language began since my college days. I was not able to read the Urdu script. However, I would collect books of Urdu poets which were translated in Hindi, particularly the Devanagari script. These included Mirza Ghalib, Daagh Dehlvi, Mir Taqi Mir, Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Ahmed Faraz. I was keen to learn more but there were limitations as very few books were translated into Hindi. I thought I should look at other ways to learn Urdu and at Punjab University, I got associated with a drama group. There I met someone who was born and brought up in Pakistan and who taught Urdu alphabets at the graduation level.

When I came for my Post-Graduate studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), I learnt of many more poets like Sagar Siddiqui, Parveen Shakir and Khalid Irfan. I also met people from the Urdu department. Students would sit and talk about Urdu literature and have a ‘Nashisht’ - a small gathering - and I would just keep listening to them in rapt attention. I made friends with Zahid-Ul-Haque who is currently a professor at Hyderabad University. He taught me the Urdu script.

DID THE PASSION FOR URDU REMAIN?

My knowledge of Urdu was limited. After that, I got busy with the IPS. However, there was a big break while I was posted in different places and West Bengal proved to be a blessing for me. As Superintendent of Police in Birbhum district, I met an Urdu professor who for some reason was posted in Gopalpore. My journey into Urdu poetry took a serious turn from there. For almost 3 to 4 months, I went to learn Urdu from this professor on Saturdays and Sundays. I then got transferred to Kolkata and got introduced to a “maulvi” here through the professor who taught me in Birbhum. The “maulvi” became my guru and for almost twoand-a-half-years, he taught me the Urdu script, including reading and writing. I was into Urdu poetry for a long time. In Urdu, one can write ghazals and arz too. For ghazals, a meter called Beher is required. Urdu ghazals follow that. I learnt this in Kolkata.

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HOW DID THE KNOWLEDGE OF WRITING ‘GHAZALS’ AND ‘ARZ’ CHANGE THINGS FOR YOU?

For the first time, I started writing proper ghazals in Kolkata in 2014. I honed my skills for four years before I decided to write a book. It was in 2018 that my first book was published. It was not meant to be sold in the market. For me, it was a surprise that I could write so much within four years. I got only 400 copies printed, which I have distributed among friends. This was my first book and I was more excited to get it published, rather than going to a publisher to get it published. I gave it to some critiques and when I got the reviews, they were pretty encouraging. Appreciation always encourages me. One such positive review came from Wasim Barelwi, an eminent Indian Urdu poet.

WHAT NEXT? ANY PLANS TO COME OUT WITH ANOTHER BOOK?

Yes, I am planning another book and this time, I will find a publisher. The book is on Urdu poetry. I love ghazals too and have started writing “nazm” as well. “Nazm” is a major part of Urdu poetry which is normally written in rhymed verse and also in modern prose-style poems. “Nazm” is written by controlling

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VOL-I, ISSUE-III one’s thoughts and feelings, which are constructively discussed as well as developed. My poetry is about experiences in life. If you look at the words, they may look like a romantic couplet. But there is a stance like:

“Main junoon ki hadh batana chahta hun, phunkh se suraj batana chahta hun” (I want to tell you the limit to my madness, that is the kind of madness I have).

WHAT DO YOU WRITE ON? WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR INSPIRATION FROM?

Real-life instances are usually behind my thoughts. My sons, Darsh and Reyaan, are autistic. Till Darsh was 3 years old, we used to celebrate his birthday. On his 3rd birthday, he could not blow out the candles. We started teaching him to blow candles for his 4th birthday. It took time but one day he did that before his 4th birthday. From then on, I realised that I could see some joy on Darsh’s face which led me to write the lines recited above. My entire journey as a poet is like this. They are all inspired by personal experiences.

HOW HAVE THINGS CHANGED FOR YOU, NOW THAT POETRY HAS BECOME A PART OF YOUR LIFE?

In terms of change, I have started reading a lot, including Bengali poetry from where I also tend to get a lot of inspiration on the flow of writing. If I go through one poem and someone has said one thing in a certain way, I can see another aspect and that suddenly comes to my mind and I write on that. Now, I read out Urdu poetry to Darsh, Reyaan and also to my wife quite often. Following my passion for Urdu gives me a lot of happiness.

AS TOLD TO B. HALDER

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WOMEN IN GOVERNANCE BY TEAM SOOTHSAYER

NEELOO SHERPA

CHAKRABORTY A Tale of Trials And Triumphs Excerpts from the interview At one point in your life, you wanted to join the nunnery and leave everything behind. But then you won the All India Karate Championship and bagged a black belt and went on to become a police officer. Looking back how would you weigh the contrasting decisions you made? When I look back I feel I have been blessed. Coming from a Buddhist family, showing kindness to other living beings and helping those in need were qualities that were ingrained in us. That was one of the reasons I wanted to become a nun and serve the people. Destiny led me to become a police officer where I am able to do all these and more. My father was in Customs and guided me throughout. Moreover, the Khaki uniform fascinated me and I had a lot of support from my mother as well, who wanted me to be financially independent. So I would say the decisions were not so contrasting after all. All roads led to the same destination.

While some called you “Hunterwali” and “Phoolan Devi”, others would make a run for it, shocked to see a woman in uniform. How did you handle such situations? Do you think police service for women is still considered a taboo in the country? 44 January - February 2020

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his tough cop of Kolkata Police has earned names like “Hunterwali” and “Phoolan Devi” in days where a woman officer is a rare sight. Joint Commissioner of Police (Organisation) Neeloo Sherpa Chakraborty’s Buddhist upbringing ingrained in her the virtues of kindness and helpful nature that inspired her to become a nun. This fierce yet friendly officer spoke to the Optimist about the challenges and successes in a 28-year journey when she led the Kolkata Police to not only redefine safety in the city but also build a cleaner and greener capital.

NEELOO SHERPA CHAKRABORTY, IPS DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE KOLKATA, INDIA

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VOL-I, ISSUE-III Yes, back in 1993, there were very few policewomen. In some villages, it was very strange to see a woman in pants and shirt. The situation has improved since then as more and more women are opting for the uniformed service and people are now more used to seeing women in uniform. And social media and movies have also done their bit in removing this taboo to some extent. But, yes, a woman in uniform still generates curiosity and awe in society.

You were the Deputy Superintendent of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in charge of cybercrime, missing people investigation cases and the womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grievance cell. Are responsibilities in this area challenging, especially for women? Which was your most memorable experience while working in this department? I have been working for almost 28 years in this field, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very difficult to choose just one memorable experience. I have had several experiences. Each and every case or the position has its own challenges and memories. However, there was one incident I clearly remember even now. A young girl in her teens had come to

SOOTHSAYER meet me from a remote area as she had heard that I was the only one who would give her a patient hearing and help her out. She had sold her blood to pay for her travel to meet me. A victim of trafficking, she had escaped from a brothel in Mumbai. And, yes, I was able to help her and rescue her friend and 10 other girls as well from the brothel. Thereafter, my senior officer was kind enough to provide a fund to help such victims with transportation and food when required. That was indeed an accomplishment I feel.

You were in Kosovo as part of a UN mission and have visited several other countries as well. How was your experience, and what were your major takeaways from this mission?

I was the first lady from West Bengal to go on a UN mission in 2003 and my first experience as a UN Police officer was in Kosovo (UNMIK). On this strength, I was selected to represent the state and the country again in the UN Mission in Cyprus (UNFICYP).

It was a wonderful and rich learning experience for me, working with police officers from all over the world for international peace and security. Learning about each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s culture, policing techniques, community policing policies, the challenges faced by them in their countries as a police officer, etc, helped us understand the other side of the world and to be more tolerant towards each other. Besides hailing from northeastern India, I was very proud and honoured to represent my country in such international forums and make them realise that India is home to various communities, cultures, races, languages etc. Some of them had a perception that India was all about snake charmers and elephants. In fact, we still keep in touch with each other through social media and several international officers with whom I have worked with after they have visited India since then.

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Your environment initiatives as a police officer is much appreciated. How did the idea of waste segregation germinate on lines of colour coding such as red bucket for biodegradable waste, blue for recycled wastes and green for kitchen wastes, which is a one-of-a-kind concept in West Bengal? Kolkata Police has always been conscious and aware of the impact of environmental pollution and green methods to tackle the situation. Kolkata Police Bodyguard Lines has more than 100 bighas of land that is home to several offices, quarters, mess canteens, etc. It generates more than two-third trucks of garbage every day. So this was the perfect place to start this pilot project of waste management. We started by educating the residents about waste segregation at source. Three buckets of red, blue and green colours were provided for each house. The green bucket is for wet waste from households, canteens, gardens, and which will be converted to organic manure and reused for gardening purpose. Blue bucket is for dry wastes such as newspaper, bottles, cardboard, which will be given away or sold to recyclers. Red bucket is for hazardous wastes like diapers, sanitary pads, medical wastes that are deposited at landfills. Now the question which arises is why did the idea of waste management arise?

First, waste management or disposal is an activity or action that is required to manage waste from its inception to its disposal. This includes the collection, transportation, treatment and disposal of waste, together with monitoring and regulation of the waste management process. Second, wet waste is about 50 per cent of the total waste, with dry waste comprising about 20 per cent. Recycling these two helps in preventing 70 per cent waste from ending up in the landfill (dhapa) where mostly burning them creates heavy air pollution and groundwater contamination. This way, we are polluting our environment lesser than before.

What are the future plans of Kolkata Police to ensure a cleaner and greener Bengal? As of now, there are several small steps that the Kolkata Police has taken towards building a cleaner and greener state. For instance, choosing LED bulbs over incandescent light sources has resulted in lower energy consumption and longer lifetime. Increasing green coverage in office areas, especially with the help of plants which absorb the toxins from the air, was a good measure. Planting ornamental and fruit trees around Police Housings and other areas, and converting the use of traditional chulha with coal and wood with gas connection, are some of the steps taken. As part of future plans, we have a mounted police unit under Kolkata Police with around 100 horses. Talks are going on for setting up a biogas plant to convert the horse dung to manure and to be used as a fuel in our mess and barrack kitchens for cooking. Besides all these, a measure to increase green coverage in every police housing unit is also in the pipeline.

January - February 2020 47

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BEYOND

BENGAL

BY SREEPARNA BHATTACHARYA

L.M. KHAUTE:

Manipur as a state has witnessed different political upheavals in the past, but the political climate changed with passing time. How is the state police ensuring the safety of the citizens and shielding the tranquillity of this beautiful state? How police check border crimes in Manipur especially when people had high hope on you ever since you took charge as DGP since 2017.

Utmost importance is given to the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the state of Manipur- a unique and challenging task considering its topography, history and demographic profile. Kuki insurgent groups that used to operate in the hill districts of Manipur have signed Suspension of Operations (SoO) with the government and are now housed at designated camps. Frequent checks are carried out so that the SoO ground rules are enforced in order to maintain peace in the state. Naga based Underground cadres(UGs) in the hills are also contained through synergized efforts with Assam Rifles and Army operating in the state. There are several other valley-based UG groups that operate in the valley districts of Manipur. They are kept in check through proactive security measures such as the strategic deployment of Commandos, counterinsurgency exercises, highway patrolling, frisking and checking, activating Police Stations, etc. In the last 4 years, Manipur Police and security forces have arrested 2007 militants and 120 illegal immigrants, detained 142 militants under NSA and recovered 419 arms and 18,841 ammunitions. At the same time, 966 drug-related cases were registered in which 1261 persons were arrested and 5366 acres of illicit poppy and 28.02 acres of illicit ganja cultivation were destroyed. 295 POCSO cases were charge-sheeted during this period, and in 40 cases, convictions have been awarded. 48 January - February 2020

Meet the

change-maker

in Khaki

Manipur Police have handled border crimes with iron hands. What specific steps have you rolled out to secure the free border areas from criminal activities?

Ever since I took over as DGP, Manipur in 2016, priority has been accorded to effectively tackling border crimes, including arms smuggling, drug trafficking, illegal migration, human trafficking, etc. during the last 4 years. Various measures such as border patrolling, frisking and checking, deployment of Commandos at Moreh (the border town) are carried out to secure the border areas. In the past 4 years, 244 persons were rescued from being trafficked. In February of this year, 179 citizens of Nepal, who were being trafficked from Nepal to Myanmar and other countries were rescued from Imphal and Moreh and later repatriated to their country through coordinated efforts with the Govt. of India and Nepal, Social Welfare Department, Manipur and Manipur Police.

Community building is a major focus for all the Police forces across the country. What steps has Manipur Police initiated to create a strong bridge of communication with the public?

Community policing was formally launched by Shri N. Biren Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur on 14th June 2017. District SPs and OCs of Police stations formed â&#x20AC;&#x153;Police Community Liaison Groupsâ&#x20AC;? (PCLG), comprising representatives of communities and police at district, Police station and village level. On certain

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olkata is the gateway to the East and the North-Eastern states have their own story of fighting the odds to weave their own story of development. DGP Manipur, L.M. Khaute IPS,who is implementing measures control border crimes and community building initiatives, speaks about small changes that make a difference over time.

L.M. KHAUTE

DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE MANIPUR STATE (DGP)

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VOL-I, ISSUE-III designated days every month, police hear out grievances of the public at Police stations/ SP offices and at Police Headquarters. Community outreach programmes are conducted on various topics such as crimes against women and children, road safety, awareness of drugs, cybercrime, environment, etc. Awareness campaigns against illicit poppy cultivation under my supervision and personal participation have been conducted in Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Senapati districts on 24th September, 4th October and 8th October, respectively with cooperation from concerned district administration, forest department, Assam Rifles/ Army, village chiefs, church leaders and various civil society organisations(CSO). These campaigns received a positive response from the public, including various CSOs.

As Manipur police aims to become people-friendly, what are the changes which are being initiated in the Manipur Police Department, according to you?

Manipur Police completed 125 years on 19th October 2017. Year-long celebrations were held to mark the occasion, during which different peoplefriendly initiatives and steps were taken up to bring Manipur Police closer to the public. Manipur Police social media was launched by me on 3rd October 2019. Today Manipur Police has acquired the image of the citizen-friendly force. To bring this about, discipline/ gender sensitizations, behaviour sensitization programmes, etc. are conducted at the training centres. At different levels of hierarchy, peoplefriendly behaviour, particularly at the cutting edge level is emphasized. Officers and men who perform well or exhibit exemplary good behaviour were honoured publicly and the erring personnel were taken to task. To improve the image of the Manipur Police and make it people-friendly, trophies for Police officers and men for Community Service and Anti-Drug Campaign are given since 2017 on the occasion of Independence Day. Ever 50 January - February 2020

since I have taken over, the Department has introduced different awards/ trophies to bring about improvement, such as Best Battalion, Best Police Station, and Best Police Officer awarded every year. To earn the trust of the public, huge quantities of drugs were publicly burned at a function on September 26, 2018, attended by Chief Minister as part of pre-trial disposal under the law.

Globally, one issue which is extremely alarming is according to you, how do you feel that the Police department in Manipur is encouraging more young minds to join the police force? Do you think that the system is youth-friendly?

With the gradual development of the law and order situation in Manipur and the overall improvement in the image of Manipur Police, it has become visible that the youths of the state are interested in joining the Manipur Police. During recruitment, thousands of youth would turn up for a chance to join the Police. The role and duties discharged by the Police force in a state like Manipur are very challenging and the youths of Manipur who are physically fit and sports-loving would certainly want to join the Police Force. If maximum youth are recruited in the Police force, this would bring them to the mainstream and give them an opportunity to serve the country.

Tell us about your initiative on the modernization of Police force?

Modernization of Manipur Police Force is a continuous process with the assistance of the Central and State governments. Through modernization, the state police have improved greatly in mobility, weaponry, communication and infrastructure over the years. As head of the State Police, I make sincere efforts to modernize the state force not only in terms of equipment and infrastructure but also to modernize the profession, outlook, attitude and approach so that the state Police become truly peopleoriented.

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You are a wildlife enthusiast., tell us more about your love for wildlife. I am a nature and wildlife enthusiast as you pointed out. This somehow comes naturally since my younger days. Manipur is endowed with beautiful nature and abundant wildlife. Due to some traditional practices and antiwildlife activities, the wildlife in the state today needs serious conservation efforts.

Are you an avid reader? Can you tell us briefly about your book ‘The Sangai’: The Pride of Manipur ‘which was released in 2009?

I have authored a book on wildlife about the Sangai (brow-antlered deer), the state animal of Manipur, entitled “the Sangai: The Pride of Manipur ’’ which was published in the year 2010. A short story entitled ‘A tale of the Thangjing Hills,’ plus notes on ‘Haofa, the indigenous dog of Manipur is appended. Though not directly connected to each other, yet the theme of animal and the wild runs through the strands of these writings. A couple of poems are sprinkled to give a poetic touch to this simple yet interesting book. Two of my poems entitled “Deer Sangai” and “Ode to the Loktak Lake” in the book, which I got translated in Manipuri have been produced as video songs (available on

Youtube) to spread awareness on Sangai and the Loktak Lake.

Since when did you develop an interest in writing? Are you planning to write some more books in the future?

Due to time constraints, I have not been able to write more books. However, I hope to write a few more books in the future.

January - February 2020 51

THE ASSAM-MEGHALAYA CADRE

Varnali Deka,IAS

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

52 January - February 2020

THE GREEN WAY!

CHANGEMAKER

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BUILDING BLOCKS

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oalpara, an aspirational district of lower Assam is seeing a powerful transformation in all areas, bringing about a change to the lives of more than 10 lakh population (according to 2011 census). For the first time, an Anganwadi has been developed with a plethora of enhanced facilities. You must be familiar with the concept of BALA building and learning aid. We have play areas where we have used the solar system and put up the alphabets and numbers in an exciting pattern. Children are taught about their bodies, the environment, even the solar system in new ways. This Anganwadi centre has other facilities like a baby toilet, running water, electrification through solarisation and other environment-friendly initiatives including rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, garbage disposal, vermicomposting, nutri-garden, play area and the like. The scenic beauty of the artistically painted centre, conservation and recycling of rainwater, varied learning materials have impressed many. Developed keeping in mind child-friendly facilities, the centre will play a key role in the

Varnali Deka, an IAS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, is silently bringing about a transformation to Goalpara, right from turning Anganwadi into a model for others, to smart classrooms to green technologies in road construction and much more. Based on the concept of ‘Building as a Learning Aid”, the centre would attempt to increase the attendance of children in the centre in such Anganwadi centres of the ministry for efficient delivery of the Integrated Child Development Scheme. overall development of children at the formative stage. Other ongoing projects include a one-stop centre ‘Sakhi’ to redress purported harassment subjected to women under the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development, patients’ registration and waiting room at Goalpara Civil Hospital under the WPTBC department. Varnali, a resident of Guwahati, did her B.Tech from Bangalore followed by an MBA from IIT Bombay. Presently, the Deputy Commissioner of Assam’s Goalpara district, she took affinity in the administrative affairs of the state after having a stint with a Tata Consultancy Services and the Grindlays Bank. As a schoolgirl, I wanted to be an IAS officer. My father was a police officer and I wanted to follow in his footsteps. Fortunately or unfortunately, January - February 2020 53

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VOL-I, ISSUE-III as soon as I completed B.Tech I got a placement where the salary was pretty good and there was excellent scope for development. Then, I went on to do my MBA and again got a satisfactory placement. When I was working there, I realised that there was something missing. After putting a couple of years in the private sector, I understood that I always wanted to give back to society.

part of a new-generation IAS officer, what kind of changes do you think India needs, to stand as a Republic? It has always been my strong belief that in terms of legislation we are a very strong nation. There is so much legislation regarding the most things

Districts” programme focussing on developing those districts lagging in key development indicators of which seven districts are in Assam. Under this programme, these districts are sought to be brought at par with the most developed districts of the nation to fulfil the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas”.

Goalpara as an “aspirational district” is getting ample support from the Government and NITI Aayog. All the initiatives which were taken up in Goalpara were aimed to improve the 49 Key Performance Indicators (KPI), which includes health services, agriculture, education, water resources etc and we are trying to

implement them in totality. These sets of KPI are regularly measured and monitored. We try to work according to the indicated sets of KPI .

Development of Goalpara: Goalpara district was created in 1983. However, under the regime of the new Deputy Commissioner, the district is witnessing all-round development. The development of Goalpara has always been our priority. We started with road constructions, building new stretches, taking up green initiatives to curb pollution, installing plastic shredders for waste management etc. Simultaneously, we have a lot of projects taking place in Goalpara for

social welfare and healthcare such as a permanent ‘haat bazaar’ was arranged to enable self help groups market their products. Under the ‘Poshan Abhiyaan’, camps were conducted to enable rural women to recognize the nutritious food and fruits needed especially before and after childbirth. Also, we have won the national award for the “Infrastructure Snapshot App”. This app allows people to take screenshots and snapshots of areas, and report to us. For instance, if there are no teachers in the class then students can take a picture of the classroom and upload it and we receive it. Also if they go to any hospital and find that the toilet is non functional, then they can click a photo, and through the app, the photo reaches us and we that matter - health, education, women and child issues and the environment. For instance, when it comes to the environment, The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has given a number of directives regarding the environment so any latest development along those lines is well-covered by legislation. We need to ensure, firstly the implementation of the legislation and addressing the societal lag that is there in terms of its implementation. Until all of us as citizens learn about these rules and laws, 100 per cent success in implementation is a redoubtable task.

Goalpara as an aspirational district: Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched “The Aspirational 54 January - February 2020

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can take action. With the photo, it can be authenticated that what the people are saying is true. It also acts as an alert for disaster and domestic violence and moral policing as well. We have started various health camps where recipes of different groups are shared since Goalpara is an amalgamation of various ethnics and religious groups, therefore a Garo woman can learn the nutritious recipes of a Rabha tribe. Another initiative which has been widely appreciated is the launching of Poshan clubs in all the 1700 schools of the district. These clubs envisage children as the change-leaders, in the community. Through the Poshan club children take up various activities like advocating nutritious food, planting of food bearing and valuable trees in households where a daughter is born, potluck lunches on Saturday, sessions on personality development and self defence. Goalpara has become the first district in the state to construct a road using plastic wastes to curb pollution under the PMGSY. Of the total 565-km stretch, 237.652 km has been completed using various green technologies. The road is being developed under the Prime Ministerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and is expected to improve connectivity in the district.

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Goalpara is already running on the path of its Green Mission. We have received several accolades and awards because of the initiatives we have taken. Goalpara is a far-stretched district with many rural and urban areas under its purview. We are aware of how pollution is impacting lives and the city and so we are trying to safeguard our environment and its people using myriad technologies to usher in Green Development. To reduce dependence on natural resources, we have introduced several green initiatives such as Waste Plastic Technology, Cell Filled Concrete Technology, Geogrid Technology (Tenax 3D Grids), Interlocking Concrete Pavement Block (ICBP), Cold-Mix Technology etc. The Waste Plastic Technology is an initiative which promotes the use of plastic shredders, to break plastic into granules and it is indeed successful in reducing plastic waste in the district. Our Honâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ble Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated a multitude of new initiatives in the district.

Although Assam has registered a high rate dropout rate in primary and secondary classes in the country, many students from Assam go abroad or other parts of the country to study. But of late, the number of higher educational institutes has gone up in Assam. It has happened not only in Guwahati which is the capital but also in other cities. We January - February 2020 55

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VOL-I, ISSUE-III do have schools like Delhi Public School and Royal Global. For higher studies, there is a number of institutions which have shown interest in coming here. Yes, I agree that a large portion of the youths from the North-East go to other places to pursue education out but the situation is improving now and the state government has also become very proactive.

In the new age of technology, Goalpara is constantly trying to strike the right balance between education and technology. Through our smart classrooms and more number of teachers, we are trying to educate the youth of the district. We are aware of how digital technology can enhance their aptitude and learning experiences.

Moreover, smart classrooms promote an interactive learning environment. Currently, the district literacy rate is high and we are advancing at a tremendous pace. The progress is taking place in education. More and more students are enrolling in education institutes and we are interested in having more colleges.

Digitisation and its impact on the rural district of Assam: Digitisation is a good intervention because through digital technology we can involve them in a visuallyappealing engagement, thus helping them learn better which will help them retain more information. Baladmari High School is a good example. This is the only school where smart classrooms are installed. Also lately, we are trying to come up with a smart teaching concept, to bridge the gap of teachers, where we can make use of the digital platform to help students learn in a better way since the digital platform is a comprehensive one and it comprises several elements. Needless to say, the CSR and Gram Panchayats are doing their part in assisting us to install more smart classrooms and to pave way for the digitisation of education as well. This is indeed a quantum leap for Goalpara.

Advocating quick and stringent redressal of incidents of crimes, the Goalpara Deputy Commissioner on combating incidents of crime: Crime is a serious issue which requires to be dealt with sensitivity. I personally believe that the only way to curb incidents of crime is to have a strong law and order and a wellfortified administration that can catch criminals red-handed and give them their deserved punishment. We try to 56 January - February 2020

ensure that juveniles, who are involved in crimes or are unemployed, get proper counselling and employment avenues. The moment they go astray, they tend to commit all types of anti-social activities. Youth and adolescents are extremely vulnerable. For this, we have been focusing on skill-development

programmes. Also, there are several skill academies to upgrade oneself through various means. More and more youths are being encouraged to enrol themselves in higher education. Today, apart from day to day basis, a major source for influencing minds is

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the digital world and social media. Everyone today in Goalpara has a mobile phone with an Internet connection. We always take seriously our duty to monitor and curb all the wrong things that get circulated on social media. We have strict rules and law regarding the operation of and utilisation of social media.

Goalmart-Promoting indigenous products: We all know that there is a huge demand for authentic products which are made by tribal people. The Boros, Garos, Rabhas, Hajong and the Nepalese produce a lot of indigenous products like crockery, pottery,

mats and their special attires. As we move towards Guwahati and Shillong, we can get the products but at a very high rate. So on November 20, along with the Anganwadi centre, the Goalmart was also inaugurated by the Chief Minister. The Goalmart is a good platform where people from all across the country can get local products at affordable rates.

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HUMANS

IN UNIFORM

BY TEAM SOOTHSAYER

ASANSOL & DURGAPUR COMMISSIONERATE IN CR U IS E CON T R OL MEN IN UNIFORM ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY

etermined to make his own mark in the department, Commissioner of Police Sukhesh Kumar Jain put his nose to the grindstone in the initial years of policing and is now constantly on his toes, battling criminals after he took charge of the Commissionerate of Durgapur-Asansol. Commissioner Jain is known to be calm under pressure. He is an officer who has his ear to the ground and has his own innovative ways to bring the police and public closer.

58 January - February 2020

“The Commissionerate has to primarily address problems and issues of the urban populace and, therefore, the police have very little response time. So my first priority for the Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate will be quick response to public complaints any time on the highway or in corporations,” he said.

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Situated on the banks of River Damodar, the industrial township of Asansol-Durgapur is gradually emerging as a hub of large workforce, moderate per capita income and improved connectivity. A mini Kolkata in the making, the twin cities have been able to withstand the slowdown, which is further spurring development. With such progress, instances of crime have also risen, which is being commendably controlled by the Commissionerate of AsansolDurgapur. Of late, the district is attracting attention because of its proximity to Jamtara, a den of digital crimes, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where the challenge lies for the Commissionerate.

Sukhesh Kumar Jain Commissioner of Police Commissionerate of Durgapur-Asansol January - February 2020 59

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“Dial 100 should be made fully functional because it’s not possible that everybody has proper contact numbers to get in touch with the cops. They should be able to dial 100 from any corner of the Commissionerate and get a response,” he added. “Dial 100 has some issues here which we are sorting out with BSNL and others. Once that is solved, people will be free to call us round-the-clock, and will be attended to by personnel in the control room who will listen to the problems and address them accordingly.” The move is expected to enhance the visibility of police and bring them closer to the public. The distinct red and blue flashing lights of the cops’ vehicles, an officer stationed at the entrance of an event venue or the patrol vehicles criss-crossing the state and public places -people need to be aware of such police presence and feel assured that they are safe and secured, he said. Various crime control measures have also been adopted to check untoward instances in the areas under the Commissionerate. CCTVs have been installed to crack cybercrime cases and also ensure women’s safety. Commissioner Jain said there is a plan to spruce up surveillance by linking more CCTVs to the police control room along with increasing their number across Asansol and Durgapur, especially as they play a key role in tackling crimes against women. The slew of measures is aimed at building a model control room to serve the people of the Commissionerate.

He also maintained: “First of all, we need to change our attitude and become more public-friendly. There are three measures. Firstly, we have to increase police mobility and vigil. The number of police mobile vehicles in town areas 60 January - February 2020

SAYAK DAS,IPS ADCP (CENTRAL)

must be increased. We have to add more to the highway mobile vehicle fleet that will give a sense of security. People should feel free to reach out to us either through calls or visit directly.” He further maintained: “Nowadays, people can get in touch with us online as well through our website or email us to inform about their problems.” On bridging the gap between the police and youth, he said: “We are approaching schools and colleges and are holding programmes almost every week or every 15 days where we talk about cybercrimes and anti-human trafficking.” Commenting on how digitisation can help in the fight against crime, he said it is a world of mobile phones, wearable, location-aware, and digitally superior technologies. So the police are always more “connected” and have a deep sense of location - one that is more refined, instantaneous and even predictive in some cases. Regarding crimes against women, the officer said that several dreadful incidents have occurred in the recent past but as the country is moving towards digital transformation, it will help in a big way to ensure women’s safety.

Asansol-Durgapur Commissionerate plans to optimise this trend and take the help of location technology to provide a major respite to women. “Very soon, we will be launching one dedicated helpline for women,” he said.

“My officers are developing a user-friendly women safety app. With the help of this, when a woman presses an SOS button thrice,two SMSs will be sent immediately - one to a family member and other to the police control room, through which the nearest police station will be alerted. This will help in reaching out to the woman in distress without delay,” Commissioner Jain said. The Asansol - Durgapur Commissionerate is headquartered at Asansol and is divided into three divisions - east, west and central. The Commissionerate is responsible for law enforcement in the area of Asansol and Durgapur subdivision of West Bengal with the help of 15 police stations functioning under it. Asansol Durgapur Police Commissionerate was established in 2011.

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THE JAMTARA CHALLENGE Jamtara is the ‘con capital of India’ and is notorious for digital crimes. The non-descript district of Jharkhand is often frequented by police from different states as it is one of the biggest hubs of cybercrime in the country. Known for its phishing scams, one will think twice before answering an unknown call from this area as online fraudsters call customers pretending to verify details and wipe out all the money from one’s bank account.

“We are targeting a cross-section of the public – college and school students, senior citizens and businessmen. Wewill be interacting with them regularly and apprise them about how they can possibly be cheated by these cybercriminals.”

With more than half of India’s cybercrimes, mostly committed by fraudsters posing as bank managers, being traced to Jharkhand, this belt is clearly the dark underbelly of digital India.

Typically, the crime involves two people. One who makes a call to an unsuspecting customer seeking details of his bank account, posing as a bank official. The second person sits with a smartphone, all set to click on ‘proceed to make payment’ for items on an e-commerce website. He completes the transaction with the customer’s bank details within moments after his partner secures them. The SIM card is then disconnected and destroyed. In most of the cases, bank accounts or e-wallets

“Lot of people are being duped each and every day by the gangs of Jamtara. They call people, take their OTP by telling different stories and take their money — almost every day people are cheated,” Commissioner Jain said.

The digital boom has pushed ordinary people into the world of crime where phishing is so common and yet so under-reported in the media.

of a third party is used to make these “vishing” transactions and the police have to follow a long trail to get to the main perpetrator. So, how do they spend the money that they earn by conning people? This is not done ordinarily, as a lot of nefarious planning goes into this “business”. “The money that they are earning is huge as they don’t have a place to spend it, so they come to either Asansol or Durgapur to spend it,” Sayak Das, ADCP (Central) said while pointing out to a number of people who enter Jamtara from Asansol and Durgapur every day. “There are primarily two reasons for it. Firstly, they don’t have a place to spend their money and secondly, these people have to withdraw the amount which they got from the ATMs, therefore, they have to come to Asansol which has ATM density,” he said.

Jamtara’s cybercriminals and their flashy lifestyles often grab the attention of locals from neighbouring Asansol and Durgapur. Thus, this operation is gradually spreading to Asansol and Durgapur as well. Located in the Santhal Pargana region, Jamtara, which was demarcated as a district in April 2001, has been prone to crimes in the past as well.

An insidious web of mobile phone SIM cards, digital wallets and bank accounts opened with the help of fake KYC (Know Your Customer) documents, power hundreds of small gangs in the state - and point to the course that crimes can take in the country.

SOUMYADIP BHATTACHARYA,IPS ACP, ASANSOL DURGAPUR POLICE COMMISSIONERATE

However, a dedicated cybercrime cell has now been installed to deal with one of the biggest cybercrime hubs in the country.

“We have recently arrested some people from Jamtara and have recovered jewellery and a good amount of money. Now, we have decided to intensify awareness among people about cybercrimes,” the officer said. January - February 2020 61

VOL-I, ISSUE-III People of Asansol and Durgapur also get affected with the lifestyle of these fraudsters. Locals who come in contact gradually learn the tricks of the trade and become a part of such groups. Until a couple of years ago, Jamtara’s cybercrime masterminds operated without much hassle but today the scenario has changed as police have begun to intensely crack down on them. A network, which duped users of payment app wallet under the pretext of updating KYC details, has been busted with the arrest of the accused. The gang had cheated hundreds of people following the same modus operandi, the arrested members of the gang allegedly told the police. “Recently, acting on a tip-off, we arrested four persons in fraud cases, and armed with more information we got from them, we managed to arrest one more from Durgapur,” Das said. “Following the arrest of these five, police came to know that public data is being leaked.” He said: “Police in this connection also arrested two employees of a bank call-centre and they have divulged the entire conspiracy used to cheat people.” Explaining this modus operandi, Das said: “When an individual goes to a particular bank to withdraw money, in case the transaction fails, people place a complaint using a number displayed on the ATM screen. The database of the particular bank was leaked by the customer care based in Gurgaon and from there it was sent to Patna and then to Durgapur to be sold.” With an increase in breakthroughs in such cases, he said: “Initially, I handled suo moto cases in this regard, and police seized high-end bikes, four-wheelers and arrested dozens of people,” the officer said, highlighting the involvement of people from lower to higher strata of society.

“They are now shifting to commodities from cash because they buy ATM cards of several people, dormant accounts, and use them for committing bank frauds. Therefore, gradually, they are trying to move out of the banking system and the option they have is a wallet,” he said. This has revealed the involvement of a leading commercial establishment and a jewellery group, raising many eyebrows. Some corporate and business brand managers were arrested as well in this connection. Police investigations have revealed that the main accused then bought high-value cash vouchers from the amount withdrawn from these commercial 62 January - February 2020

SOOTHSAYER establishments and sent them through WhatsApp to the kingpin. More advanced the technology the simpler the fraud becomes.

Asserting that cybercrime and cheating have become the trend, he said: “They buy shopping coupons of big commercial establishments that become part of the conspiracy and large consignments are sold.” “People involved in other crimes are now becoming a part of online frauds as easy money is surely a factor. With the confiscation of gold and cash, these fraudsters are now converting cash to gold,” he added. “Some big brand gold companies are involved in the business now as raids reveal,” the police said.

WOMAN OFFICERS TO THE RESCUE Women in policing are now breaking barriers. A group of young women officers in charge of the only two all-woman police stations in Asansol-Durgapur Commissionerate are creating history. Often shunned by their counterparts and even their families, the stigma facing women police personnel here are not only fighting taboo, but also perception. Female police officers in Asansol and Durgapur are changing the way violence against women is reported. All-woman Police Stations (WPS) increased crime reportage by a significant percentage.

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“Women Police Station of Asansol was started on January 1, 2012 and this mainly helps to deal with domestic violence cases and exploitation of women,” Nasrin Sultana, the Officer-In-Charge of the police station said. These police stations exclusively investigate crimes against women and focus particularly on dowry and domestic violence instances, cybercrimes, abduction and sexual offences. The police have shifted their attention to women married outside the state who are getting more harassed, Sultana said. “Maximum cases of domestic violence are reported by women who are married off outside the state mainly in the border areas of Jharkhand, Bihar, UP and Delhi.” The role entrusted to them involves neutralising violence against women, refusing to let the divisive “othering” occur and swiftly and fearlessly implement the law. However, a lack of knowledge and awareness often creates hurdles for the police department in tackling crime. “Recently, police has observed that cybercrime through social media is emerging in women-related cases, prompting the police to conduct programmes in the form of PowerPoint presentations at different schools and colleges,” she said.

“Regular awareness programmes on cybercrimes are being held at around 25-30 schools and colleges, apart from presenting PowerPoint presentations on ATM frauds. Women’s interactions with unknown people on social media and picture morphing are also monitored,” Office-in-Charge Sultana said. By building a bonhomie with the local women, the officers ensure safety and security to the womenfolk, especially when the most affected prefer to remain silent rather than face the humiliation and abuse of telling their stories to the police.

Nasrin Sultana Officer-In-Charge WPS

Another challenge that the police team is dealing with is human trafficking and child marriage. Under Swayang Siddha, meaning self-reliance, executed by the West Bengal Police, young boys and girls are empowered by teaching them to make

informed choices so that they are less vulnerable to trafficking and child marriage. With the help of the police, Swayang Siddha groups have been formed in schools and colleges. The Swayang Siddha programme that centres around child molestation is organised in various schools where awareness about child-trafficking is also generated. “We target schools and colleges as several cases involving children go unreported having been sabotaged by families fearing social stigma,” the officer said. Apart from these measures, apps like Abhaya have been launched by the police, which also spreads awareness about its benefits so that every woman in the district feels protected.

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SOOTHSAYER

WOMAN ON TOP

BY RANABIR BHATTACHARYA

AKANSHA BHASKAR IAS SDO RAGHUNATHPUR

64 January - February 2020

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MY MAIN FOCUS IS NOT JUST ON POLICIES BUT ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

FRUITFUL

IMPLEMENTATION A

IN RIGHT SPIRIT

kanksha Bhaskar, an IAS officer, who assumed charge as the SDO of Raghunathpur, is a qualified doctor who completed her MBBS degree from RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata and was posted as a government doctor in a remote village. She speaks about how this posting turned out to be a life-changing experience and eventually, she became a Civil servant to serve the people of her country. Excerpts:

From your journey as a doctor to your journey as an IAS Officer-how did this sudden transition come about? Was it pre-planned or it just happened all of a sudden?

It was a pre-planned decision for me because my father was a Sergeant and I was always fascinated by the Civil Services. As a child, you do not always realise the responsibilities of the job and work pressure but what strikes you is the value, power and the glamour that comes with the position. The fascination of being an IAS attracted me. I went on to pursue my graduation in medicine from RG Kar, Kolkata. As part of the curriculum, we January - February 2020 65

VOL-I, ISSUE-III had made several visits to several villages and rural areas but the desire to become an IAS was always something that remained on my mind and slowly, I realised that I was born to be a Civil servant and get into the realm of bureaucracy. I realised that I could reach out to a large number of people and I could diversify my ambit. Hence, after my MBBS, I started with my Civil Services preparation and my journey to become an IAS began.

I n India compared to all other cases, MBBS in itself a very rigorous course and requires a lot of preparation. And Civil Services examination is altogether a different course. How did you manage these two? It would be wrong to say that from my initial MBBS days, I started with my Civil Services preparation. Five years of

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SOOTHSAYER MBBS course itself is very rigorous and tedious. But I was lucky to have medicine as my optional paper that helped me in my preparation as well. But immediately after my MBBS, my entire concentration was on Civils. If you really put your heart and soul into something, it is not difficult to achieve both ends.

Any particular reason for choosing IAS over all the other Civil Services? Right from the beginning, IAS has always been a constant driving force. Of course, when you qualify the Civil Services, you come across various lucrative services which give you the value and status along with responsibilities but IAS has always topped the list for me. That is a domain which has always attracted me since childhood.

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Your journey from Varanasi to Raghunathpur - was it a reality check or you were mentally prepared to meet the challenges? We are always mentally prepared to travel to various remote areas and suburban areas because, during our oneyear training in the academy, we are sent to different rural belts. It is a regular thing for Civil Services because when you are in administration you have to visit those regions and meet the masses. But what you get out of it is a reality check because when you visit there, you see the real picture of deprivation and the struggles that people living there go through. That is when we understand the gap between what comes out in the media and what happens in reality. So yes, it is a reality check for most of us.

You are a doctor and an IAS officer. According to you, how do the two go together? What distinguish you are your capabilities and your competence. But the more we diversify our services, the more we can bring in varieties, collective opinions and different perspectives which are very important. Talking of a doctor IAS, of course, he/she will be an asset to society. Doctors can bring about a certain discipline. Also, I believe as doctors, we can bring about health-centric policies which are immensely important in our society. As a doctor, we reach out to the grassroot level and address the problems. Similarly, in administration, we try to reach out to the masses and identify the problem. So personally, since doctors can bring about a good change in society, I think a doctor-IAS officer should be encouraged to work more to bring about positive developments.

I think today we have 30 per cent of the women in governance, which is a considerable development in India. I think we have come up a long way. But considering that we constitute 50 per cent of the population it is depressing. This disparity will not reduce in a day and needs time. But, we as women are participating in policing and system, which is a positive sign. Also, we have women stalwarts who have inspired us for a long time. I would say the change is slow but it is visible. What is important is that society should change its perspective.

Purulia has a huge tribal population compared to all other places. As the SDO of Raghunathpur, how do you plan the activities which will lead to the development of the tribals and cater to them? Catering to the tribal populace is a very sensitive issue and our District Magistrate pays special attention to the tribal villages. Every week, we pay a visit to the villages and get feedback from them so that we can deliver the best possible services to them. Also, we have categorised specific tribes who are in need of special attention and we work accordingly. So, it is about creating policies for them and ensuring that it is implemented properly.

Purulia is gradually developing in its own way and a lot of schemes are coming up too. Out of them, which are the policies which you are focusing on right now?

Any specific reforms from your end which you would like to implement to bring about an overall development?

We are focusing mainly on health and education now. I am shocked and disheartened to see the number of malnutritioned children and elders here. The figures are increasing as per the Niti Aayog. So, our primary focus would be on reducing the number of malnutritioned and low-weight babies.

I think India in itself is a welfare state and so is Purulia. Therefore, all the policies centre on the welfare and development of the people of the state. As an SDO, my main focus is not just on policies but its fruitful implementation on one and all in spirit, which will change the overall situation and will be for the greater good of the state.

There has always been a debate that India needs more and more women bureaucrats in governance. How should women involve themselves more into policing and governance?

Any message for Civil servant aspirants? If you desire something from your heart and soul, you will achieve it. It is not a bed of roses but requires a lot of sacrifice and dedication. It takes a lot of courage to do something for society and the country, so one has to be focused and genuinely involved in it. January - February 2020 67

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DREAM

CHASER

BY THE SOOTHSAYER

68 January - February 2020

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India’s fastest runner Dutee Chand has faced barbs all her life, both on and off the field. She was hurt and humiliated but she stayed put. After all, she was born to run and set the track on fire.

rowing up in a family of weavers at a discrete village in Odisha’s Jajpur district, Dutee Chand had not even heard of Olympics, let alone harbouring a dream of competing there someday. But the spirited sprinter had a special something. Now several years later, she has an Olympic appearance in Rio, two silver medals at the 2018 Asiad, the country’s first sprint gold at the World University Games among her achievements. She is India’s fastest female sprinter by a fair distance and has broken and rewritten her 100m national record several times since hitting the senior athletics circuit. But the journey from a poor weavers’ daughter to becoming India’s sprinting queen has been nothing but perilous. From fighting poverty to taking on one of the world’s most powerful sporting bodies, the International Association of Athletics Federation, she has had to constantly fend for herself to stay afloat. January - February 2020 69

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VOL-I, ISSUE-III Despite several setbacks, most of them threatening to end her sporting career, the 23-year-old has never given up. Most recently, she was in the news for making her same-sex relationship public. The news of her coming out was met with mixed responses with her family publicly showing their displeasure. But she continued to train on with even more determination.

“People will talk no matter what you do. My job as an athlete is just to focus on my sport and training. I was a little apprehensive at first in making my relationship public but then I thought I was not doing anything wrong. I was really happy to see the support that poured in. My family has their reservation which is okay,” Dutee told the Soothsayer. In 2016, Dutee became only the third woman from the country to qualify for the Olympics in the 100m event. The then 20-year-old ended a 36-year-old drought by earning a ticket to Rio. Although she fizzled out in the heats itself, the experience earned by competing at such a mega event helped her become a better athlete over the years.

Dutee became a global icon when she challenged IAAF’s “discriminatory” hyperandrogenism rules and forced the world body to tweak their regulations in April 2018. The changes in the regulations released by the world body in 70 January - February 2020

2018 brought immense relief to the runner after the IAAF decided to leave out her events (100 and 200m) from the disciplines that came under new regulations. But there are still restrictions on the testosterone levels of female athletes taking part in middle distance (400m to 1 mile) events. The first setback she faced due to the regulations was in 2014 as an 18-year-old. The promising sprinter was preparing for the Glasgow Commonwealth and Incheon Asian Games. But as fate would have it, the youngster “failed” a hyperandrogenism test which saw her name being axed from the CWG squad and later for the Asian Games. This was followed by the “darkest phase of her life” which came to an end when the IAAF removed the hyperandrogenism guidelines.

“It was the most difficult phase of my life. People started ostracising me. Female athletes refused to share rooms during competitions. I was made to feel like a criminal

and even my dearest friends abandoned me. A handful stood by me and Payoshini (a gender rights activist) asked me to fight a case against the world body. I did it with her support and I won it. Now, I am popular all over the world and even Caster Semenya knows me and is a good friend,” Dutee said. Now Dutee with her coach N Ramesh, is training in Odisha with the sole aim of achieving the 2020 Tokyo Olympics mark of 11.15s for the 100m. The athletics circuit will liven up in the next couple of months and provide the runner ample opportunities to make the cut. Her next competition is the Khelo University

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Games to be held in Bhubaneswar from February 22 to March 1. Dutee still has to shave off some time from her personal best of 11.22s (also the national record) to earn the elusive Olympic berth. The girl who trained barefoot on the river bed because her parents could not afford to buy her a pair of shoes, is now running in tournaments across the globe. Her story of grit has been covered by all major news organizations. But despite the attention she garners, she remains the humble athlete she always was with her focus remaining on what she does best — running, and as she says: “I have still a lot to achieve and I won’t rest.”

“I am finding my rhythm now and have been training rigorously. There were no competitions in the last few months so we were targeting the February-March period. I am confident I will make the cut,” she said with great conviction.

DUTEE CHAND

INDIAN OLYMPIC ATHLETE

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BUSINESS

& ECONOMY

BY SREEPARNA BHATTACHARYA & MOHANA DUTTA

ABIN CHAUDHURI ARCHITECT

72 January - February 2020

QUALITY EDUCATION

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NEEDS TO BE

DELIVERED Architect Abin Chaudhuri opens up about how good education system and strong councils can augment fragile and diluting concepts in interior designing, its industry prospects along with basics playing a crucial role in facilitating better understanding and application of the subject. Excerpts:

1. Interior designing market/ecosystem of India is still highly fragmented. The technological intervention is also minimal. Do you agree? What is the way forward? The biggest drawback in India is that we do not have a structured organisation for learning interior designing. We also do not have any colleges which are devoted towards the subject. Several colleges have this tendency of giving short courses for interior designing and this is the biggest threat for budding professionals. The secret to being a successful artist or interior designer is to learn as much as possible and start from the basics. Very few institutes are there in West Bengal, which give rigorous training in interior designing and help students learn the latest technology. This is where we are lagging. In addition to this, there is a major

difference between interior decoration and designing, which people tend to confuse. Nowadays, due to the advent of technology and digital media, people have the scope of easy access to apps such as Pinterest, which allows them to copy any type of images and project themselves as interior designers, since copyright issues are not that strong in India. As a result, the concept of interior designing has become fragile and diluted over the years. We need a good education system and councils to identify these loopholes and work on them to set up good interior designing colleges which will impart proper education. Only then can we expand this area of study and reduce its dilutions and volatility. 2. India is one of the few countries to have formulated and adopted a National Design Policy. It recently constituted an India Design Council to implement the major provisions of the National Design Policy. Do you

think this will expedite the growth of the industry? Firstly, there is a massive difference between design policy and design practicing. When we speak of design policy, we mean a hierarchical set up, which implements all the rules and guidelines in a proper way. The design policy always works on a larger bandwidth. The Indian Design Council has myriad responsibilities like laying focus on textiles, brass and ceramic works apart from designing. It is not directly related to architecture. The Indian Design Council was formed as a strategic body to implement multidisciplinary designs and to promote the National Design Policy. Although both deal with designs, the Indian Design Council is a separate overall body and interior design and architecture are different entities altogether. Both are two sides of the same coin but cannot be merged. January - February 2020 73

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VOL-I, ISSUE-III 3. Design education has seen a spurt of growth in the last five years or so with many private institutions gaining ground. Before that, the design education landscape was characterised by governmentsupported institutions only, which were few for a country as large as India. How can we promote design education in India to generate more employment and create a skillbacked crop of designers? In India, interior design is a new concept and is trending nowadays. Earlier, neither was the form known to us, nor did we think of it as a career or job. Today, the concept of hiring interior designers and architects has become manifold and the demand is gradually increasing. Thus, a need for having more interior designers has gone up. Simultaneously, more and more institutes are mushrooming all across the country to accommodate interior designing students. At a point of time, a lot of institutes used to run on government funds. Today, we have few hundreds of private colleges on various architecture and interiors courses. But we should ensure that quality education is being delivered, which is not the case in India. Having more than 500 architectural colleges and producing more than 50,000 students doesn’t make them experts in the field. The institutes should not be bothered about the number of enrolment of students but should be more concerned about the quality education that needs to be imparted. Countries like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have very few universities and colleges but both produce good number of architects and designers who are experts in the field. Quality education is more important than setting up numerous industries and spreading education in a mediocre level. India should also strive towards that and aspire to produce good designers and provide the best education; so that it can instill a sense of responsibility amongst the students and help them sharpen their abilities. 4. Foreign collaboration in this sector is still minimal but many such companies are setting their

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footprints in India. What kind of policy changes the government and the private stakeholders can adopt to usher in more FDI? Personally, I feel for any sector to flourish, foreign collaboration is of immense importance. Whether it is the economic sector or the social sector, a monetary gain from foreign sources is always an extra advantage for the local business. Similarly, the design industry in India has had several collaborations with numerous foreign nations such as Singapore, Thailand etc. It helps in improving and developing the skills of modern management and imparting latest means of technology transfer. It also aids in the training of technicians. The fund that comes from these foreign collaborations are utilised in setting up more institutes. When there is an alliance or collaboration with a foreign nation, there is a healthy interchange of ideas and opinions. Similarly, when India joins hands with any foreign country for collaboration, it ensures that it can imbibe all the positive things from it. But just by imbibing and taking funds is not enough. The ideas should be taken and the source should always be recognised. India should try and maintain consistent efforts to keep alive the close ties. Only then, can India talk about future collaborations and make use of its rich network and connections. 5. India is a large market and at the same time unique as well. There is no such thing called as a thumb rule which can describe the Indian market or consumers. They vary in cultures, traditions, religions, food, dressing, etc. At the same time, the Indian consumer is becoming more and more demanding and is asserting himself/herself to get his/ her aspirations satisfied. Variety is the diversity of this market. Is it an advantage or a confusion for the interior designers? Known for its ‘Unity in Diversity’ and varied culture in terms of religion, art and history, India has flourished in every aspect — from having different stakeholders to varied artists and art forms. India is a composite mixture of varying styles and influences. So, in a land of tremendous variety, it is

easy to promote artistic forms such as interior designing and architecture. Along with this, we need to strengthen our education system so that they can produce good architects and designers. India is blessed with such diversity and rich culture. If we can bolster our education system, our diversity of culture along with proper education will take our country to new heights and will take designing to a whole new level. 6. The concentration of design companies in Bangalore and Pune is due to technology companies and older automobile firms. On the other hand, tier-2 cities still lack the mindset and resources. So, should we say that this industry is still dependent on the urban population? A lot of architectural colleges have been set up in and around Bangalore, Bombay and Pune. Needless to say, such areas have high revenue generation and good business development. Kolkata lags due to this. Industrially, Kolkata needs to be strong so that we can expand our business and proliferate deeper into these aspects. Chennai has 70 architectural colleges, Mumbai has 22 colleges but Kolkata has only 6 colleges for architectural design. Therefore, many students prefer to move outside for better opportunities. Also, a lot of revenue is generated from these architectural colleges. But first and foremost, before setting up colleges, it is important to ensure that those institutes have been equipped with latest technology and good quality education and teachers who will produce the best students. Good students will create interesting projects, which will be responsible in ensuring the overall development of the state. This is what our city should look out for. 7. India’s green building market is estimated to double by 2022 at 10 billion sq ft, valuing around $35-50 billion, driven by increasing awareness level, environmental benefits and government support, according to property consultant ANAROCK. Is this good news for the designers working in this segment or do you think India’s interior designing market is still not ready for this leap?

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VOL-I, ISSUE-III The entire concept of “Green Building” is a terminology. Today, we have a lot of companies who are talking about green initiatives and green buildings, but according to me, we do not need any certificate. We can ensure sustainability through making small changes in our day-to-day life. Carbon monoxide, chlorofluro carbon emissions can take place through refrigerators, AC machines and electric heaters too. Using low quality wall paints and colours can add to pollution too. Very recently, indoor pollution has become a big aspect and poses a major threat to citizens. Minimal use of these can reduce pollution as well and automatically lead towards green buildings. Hence, green buildings can be ensured at homes too.

experiment with staging direction since I am more into designing, abstract art and dynamism. I have traveled to Scotland and Berlin and the Opera there is wonderful and a treat to the eyes. Maybe someday I would love to take part in backstage designing. To be more specific, backstage designing for Hans Eimer would be one of my dream works though. Q. What inspires you to take up a new project? Being in practice, money is important and essential for sustaining ourselves. While working, there are certain projects in which we get emotionally attached. We work because we can relate to it and we love doing it. Q. What is your signature that one can find in your designs?

We have no such signature. We love challenges. If there is one signature of our work, it would be “taking up all forms of unfamiliar things”. We love to experiment and explore those minute areas where people don’t normally get the chance to work in. Our philosophy is to take up unfamiliar explorations and do it with confidence and considerable courage.

PERSONAL TOUCH Q. After spending more than a decade in this industry, which identity suits you most- designer or an entrepreneur?

I feel I am more of a designer than an entrepreneur. This is because I love the work I do. Finance is a part of it but my main aim is to create good work and not just slog for business or monetary purposes. But someday, I would

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EXPERT

SPEAKS

BY THE SOOTHSAYER

With social media platforms being used widely for spreading awareness about preservation and conservation of forests and wildlife, various strategies have been initiated to reduce man-animal conflict in one of Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most challenging landscapes along with addressing the issue of forest fires, understanding the delicate balance of quantity and quality of the habitat and availability of prey base. Dr PM Dhakate discusses the possibilities:

What is your perspective regarding the conservation of forests and its natural beauty?

Conservation of forests, its natural resources and a thriving wildlife are vital to the survival of our planet and its inhabitants. Planet Earth is blessed with extraordinary diversification of flora and fauna and we must take all necessary steps to safeguard them and prevent them from getting exploited.

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The government has taken several initiatives to launch various documentaries and films on forest conservation. Do you think it is a proper way to spread awareness?

The dynamics of content consumption has changed drastically over the years and now, with the advent of social media platforms, including videos and documentaries, the latter have formed a major part of spreading awareness. I think

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video content related to nature and wildlife conservation plays a major role in helping people understand the importance of forests, its inhabitants and its natural resources. As time passes by, new permutations and combinations of video content that are more interactive in nature will be the new form of communication.

D R . P M D H A K AT E

IFS Officer, Conservator of forests, Western Circle, Haldwani, Uttarakhand

We have a lot of news from various sources that, along with deforestation, people are now turning forest lands into human habitats which is alarming. What is your take on this?

Mostly denudation of forest land is happening due to permanent

land-use change, and because of the fact that forest plots are being legally diverted for developmental projects like school construction, hydroelectric projects, water supply lines, railway line expansions, airport expansion, electricity transmission lines, etc. These activities are vital for the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s development which is also being doubly compensated by afforestation in the nearby areas. The Forest Department is extremely serious about the encroachment of such lands and any person found to be indulging in such activities will be booked under the Indian Forest Act and strict legal action will be taken.

In 2017, the Uttarakhand Forest Department worked on strategies to mitigate human-wildlife conflict during Kumbh Mela. How was the response? What is the plan for 2021?

In 2017, the strategies undertaken by the Uttarakhand Forest Department were fruitful and we were able to mitigate wildlife-human conflict successfully to a great extent. For 2021, the Uttarakhand Forest Department is all geared up and has identified all the hotspots regarding wildlife movement and special teams will be deployed to counter all sorts of issues that might arise at the time of Kumbh. It is not just the human-wildlife conflict but the issue of poachers is January - February 2020 77

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VOL-I, ISSUE-III also a grave concern. Along with the above, the Primary Response Team (PRT) comprising local communities and the Quick Response Team (QRT) including forest officials, wildlife experts will also be deployed for monitoring the situation. Drones by the Uttarakhand Forest Drone Force would be pushed into action to monitor both wildlife and human movement thereby, doing thorough surveillance of the area and tackling emergencies.

A lot of forests are being turned into sanctuaries and conservation parks. Do you think it will help to protect the natural beauty of the region and save the animals?

The protected areas are very important for the survival of our ecosystem as they provide many benefits and help achieve conservation, which comprises national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, conservation and community reserves. The protected area of forest cover under the government needs to increase so that proper strategies are implemented from plantation initiatives to wildlife protection. Protected areas are also important from a research point of view which is good for innovation, discoveries and more information regarding the forest landscape, which all shall be helpful in the conservation of our forests and wildlife. India has a diverse ecosystem of over 45,000 plant and 91,000 animal species. Though the protected areas act as a major reserve for natural resources, induction of more sanctuaries and conservation parks

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are needed and I would agree that this would help to protect the natural beauty of the forests and save its inhabitants. There are at least 104 national parks, 127 community reserves, 551 wildlife sanctuaries, 88 conservation reserves which amounts to 5.02 per cent of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s landmass (data as per 2019). I believe these numbers should furthermore increase for a better future.

In 2016, the Uttarakhand forest fire created a huge alarm since it caused a lot of destruction. What did the Uttarakhand Forest Department do to bring the situation under control?

Uttarakhand is a challenging landscape ranging from the foothills of the Himalayas to the high elevation areas. The Uttarakhand

Forest Department along with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) works on high altitude areas and the foothills to mitigate forest fire issues, taking into consideration both traditional and advanced techniques. Now that times have changed, the Uttarakhand Forest Department has moved to new and more advanced ways to combat forest fires which are effective use of social media to report blazes, forest fire SMS alert system for the public for the first time, including collaboration with the Forest Survey of India. This has enabled them to come up with a public awareness system which helps people get SMS alerts about nearby forest fires. Hotline numbers have been issued as well to monitor the forest fires of the state. The Uttarakhand Forest Department has also used drones with public announcement facility as part of

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VOL-I, ISSUE-III an intense public awareness campaign about the helpline numbers and dos and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ts during forest fires. Countering forest fire is a herculean task and without group and community efforts, it is next to impossible to tackle one. Thus, communities or institutions such as Van Panchayats, joint forest management committees, eco-development committees, Mahila Mangal Dal etc. play an important part in countering forest fires.

In 2015, the Uttarakhand High Court had ordered the removal of 80 families residing within the boundaries of the Rajaji Tiger Reserve. Do you think the initiative will be successful in the reservation of tigers and the wildlife as well as the natural beauty of the region?

The dynamics of wildlife conservation is becoming challenging by the day. People residing near the forests need to be rehabilitated and relocated. This could be understood by an example - as the human population in the forests thrives, they also facilitate an increase in livestock which in turn becomes a source of major diseases like Anthrax, Canine Distemper etc which threaten the survival of the wild animals. The rehabilitation of the families was a welcome move by the Uttarakhand High Court and helped the wildlife in Rajaji Tiger Reserve flourish. Though such movements do not always give expected results, at the same time, we need to understand that holistically the ecosystem functions on a delicate balance of quantity and quality of the habitat, the degree of human interference into the wildlife habitat and availability of prey base, which majorly decides the quality of the improvement of the landscape.

Recently, we saw how the Amazon forest fire had devastated the entire area and there were widespread concern and discontent. Do you think such incidents can happen in India too?

Forest fires like the Amazon can also happen in India. They happen due to many reasons one of them being climate change. These days, if one goes for a trip to the mountains in the summer months, you would notice a considerable rise in temperature even at high altitudes which was not there in the last decade. Such a phenomenon is one of the major reasons for forest fires, though the geography of the Amazon is very different compared to India. However, such incidents can occur if proper carbon footprint, pollution level and global warming are not in check. When we deal with forest fires there are three major factors which are decisive. The forest fire and its mitigation which are air, temperature and fuel load capacity, though air and temperature are not in our control, fuel load is. The Forest Department takes prophylactic traditional measures at regular intervals to reduce the fuel load capacity by making forest fire lines creation and maintenance (Forest Fire Lines are used to prevent fire breaking into the forest from one compartment to another. The collected litter is burnt in isolation).

In the next 5-10 years, do you Q feel that the forests and wildlife protection will reach a different level? What is your prediction?

The advent of Information Technology and digital media have revolutionised the awareness process about nature and wildlife conservation amongst the general masses, resulting in strengthening the mandate of nature and wildlife protection. Forest departments across India have recruited many forest officials at different levels which have also helped in protecting our regions.

It is the need of the hour to be able to tackle any situation that might come our way which entails changing our strategies for the better as the situation demands using the latest technologies. Currently, there is a rise in the use of drones and the Uttarakhand Forest Department is using them to counter all issues related to forest and wildlife management. We have also extensively used drones in mitigating forest fire issues which have proved very useful for the same. I believe that the future is promising in terms of wildlife protection in the Indian landscape which has a lot of scope of improvement and certainly will, with the help of new technologies and government policies.

For a couple of months, numerous thunderstorms have taken place causing a lot of destruction and devastation to the natural flora, fauna. How much of destruction has been caused as per your prediction and how dangerous is it?

A considerable amount of destruction has been caused over the years because of thunderstorms. But the flora and fauna is adaptive to such events and finds a way to come back to life in the natural environment, though it is harmful to the latter the healing process also continues alongside it.

Another thing that we need to understand is the forest fire cycle which is a wildfire like situation and repeats itself every 3 to 4 years with the last wildfire-like situation happening in 2016. It could repeat itself in 2020 or 2021. January - February 2020 79

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HEALTH

& FITNESS

BY TEAM SOOTHSAYER

Rupak Barua Director and Group CEO,

AMRI Hospitals Limited 80 January - February 2020

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Director and Group CEO, AMRI Hospitals Limited Rupak Barua speaks about how the Group has carved out a niche of its own in the healthcare sector, providing top-class treatment with up-to-date equipment and proficiency.

My goal has always been to push for affordable yet quality healthcare to patients Medical Tourism of West Bengal emerges as a bright spot for South-East Asian countries Promoted by the government and fuelled by the corporate boom in medical care, West Bengal is increasingly seen as the favoured destination of â&#x20AC;&#x153;medical touristsâ&#x20AC;? who cross international boundaries to seek cheaper treatment.

Medical tourism is a multi-billion dollar industry promoted by governments and medical industries along with tourism. The role of Kolkata as a medical tourism hotspot is significant among price-sensitive patients from lower and middle-income countries including Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan, Pakistan and Nigeria. These countries form a major segment of the Indian medical tourism demand.

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VOL-I, ISSUE-III Annually, with more than 3.5 lakh patients coming to AMRI Hospitals Limited - a premier private healthcare provider based out of Kolkata - is one of the busiest healthcare centres in entire Eastern India. The group has three super-specialty hospitals at Dhakuria, Mukundapur and Salt Lake in Kolkata and another superspecialty hospital in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

What kind of impact do you intend to make in the Indian healthcare space?

The patients from as far as Africa and West Asia are coming to the city to access the huge pool of experienced and skilled doctors, paramedical staff and advanced facilities at affordable rates.

My goal has always been to push for affordable yet quality healthcare to patients. I would like to believe that as part of the AMRI Hospitals and in my role as a representative of the industry in various forums, I have been able to follow a thorough approach. While the Indian healthcare space has its weaknesses and needs to improve in some areas and continuously develop in order to match pace with the rest of the world, the overall scenario offers confidence that we are not in a bad spot. In India, we provide almost the same quality and technical support that is available in the developed world but at a much lesser cost. As an individual and as the leader of a large Group, I have always tried to add value to the wider healthcare sector as a whole so that we can make treatment easier and more affordable for people in general.

While all units of AMRI Hospitals receive a steady flow of patients from the neighbouring countries, as well as from far away Africa and Middle-East, IVF, organ transplant, cardiology, oncology, orthopaedics, ophthalmology and dentistry are some of the disciplines patients seek treatment in. The healthcare market in India is estimated to touch around $12 billion by 2020 with trends showing a growth rate of around 30 per cent, of which business in Kolkata will receive a significant share.

Emami helped this AMRI Hospital to grow by giving all possible support so that it could grow. December 2011 fire — an accident that killed at least 92 people — AMRI was wallowing in losses but consumer goods-maker Emami, which controls the hospital chain, isn’t giving up. They pumped crores of rupees from the Group’s coffers to keep AMRI afloat.

etting new quality benchmarks is an important aspect of the organisation’s growth. AMRI Hospitals brings to the table a class of its own, making the healthcare group a major player in keeping Eastern India ahead of the curve.

The Group treats more than 3.5 lakh people every year and conducts around 15,000 surgeries annually, providing value-for-money services, backed by advanced equipment and latest technologies. The hallmark of AMRI Hospitals is a committed team of doctors and caregivers, who take up the challenge of treating the most complicated cases, besides stepping up to handle Emergency and Critical Care with dedication, expertise and compassion. Over the last three decades, the healthcare Group has made immense contributions to the 82 January - February 2020

Turning back the pages, AMRI’s legacy originally takes us back to the last decade of the 20th century. In the early 90s, the Government of West Bengal was in pursuit of a private operator who could assume the charge of a stateowned polyclinic at Dhakuria, Niramoy. The opportunity came to Emami Group and without much delay, it established a super-specialty hospital. In 2009, after almost two decades, the hospital’s name was officially changed to AMRI (Advanced Medicare & Research Institute) Hospitals Limited. It was a significant role play by Emami.

Today, AMRI Hospitals is one of the major players that keeps Eastern India ahead of the curve. The hospital is rich with a committed team of doctors and caregivers who are well trained to approach patients empathetically and take up the challenge of treating the most complicated cases.

Boasting of a fleet of several thousands of healthcare professionals, AMRI Hospitals has provided a plethora of latest equipment and technologies, the most notable are O-ARM, the latest technology in spine surgeries, which is available in only a handful of hospitals in India. It also has ECMO, the most advanced form of the heart-lung machine, which is used in emergency cases, where a patient needs to be treated with the utmost care, when the person’s heart and lung are not operating normally, even on a ventilator. The hospital recently introduced Shockwave, the latest in ultrasound-guided stent therapy, where sound waves are used to break through calcification along the arterial walls, to implant balloons and stents. AMRI Hospitals also boasts of one of the best laboratories in Eastern India, capable of analysing and coming up with even the most compacted test results within a matter of hours. lives of people, not just from Kolkata and the rest of Eastern India, but also from other parts of South Asia and the world.

Green Initiat ives:

AMRI Hospitals has always been at the forefront of working towards reducing its carbon footprints by undertaking several green measures. The two AMRI units of Mukundapur and Bhubaneswar received the Green OT Certification for using eco-friendly

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Are you planning to have possible tie-ups with some hospitals in the North-Eastern region?

Yes, we are having a lot of attention in the North-East. We have started coming up with clinics; our doctors have started moving to the North-East including regions like Agartala, Silchar and now we are looking at Imphal and adjoining areas. We have our own set up in Odisha. As such, we do not have any intention for tie-up or any merger acquisition in other cities.

anaesthetics, which do not contribute to global warming. Green OT, a Make-in-India certification protocol, is aimed at making operation theatres safe and conducive to the environment. The Certification is offered by Bureau Veritas, a global leader in testing, inspection and certification, in association with Abbott, a global healthcare giant.

AMRI Hospitals is also one of the first hospitals in Eastern India to start rainwater harvesting at its Dhakuria unit, with a stateof-the-art water treatment plant. The hospital has launched an extensive initiative to prevent the use of plastic in all forms and has pledged to go completely plastic-free by 2022. The Group has already started shifting from plastic bags to paper bags to deliver reports and other documents to patients. In a unique initiative, AMRI has started gifting saplings to every patient on their day of discharge across all its units.

AMRI provides a holistic education for medical students to serve patients better. The AMRI College of Nursing, Bhubaneswar is one such prime education institution. The AMRI College of Nursing at Bhubaneswar provides varied opportunities for a nursing student, letting them choose between clinical practise, advanced education, research, management, administration, occupational, and industrial nursing. The faculty members have excellent records, with the laboratories well-furnished with models, mannequin and teaching aids, allowing students to practice all procedures in a simulated environment before their placement in clinical settings. The college library is a treasure house of latest editions of nursing books and journals. AMRI Hospital-Bhubaneswar provides the clinical area for nursing students, where they get rich exposure in a clinical setting to develop competence. January - February 2020 83

VOL-I, ISSUE-III The objective of the institute is to provide nursing care based on critical thinking, decision making, utilisation of latest trend and technology within the code of ethics for preventive and restorative care, besides developing leadership in the field of education, research, management and administration.

Set up under the Quality Council of India Certification, NABH has an exhaustive healthcare standard for hospitals and healthcare providers, consisting of stringent 600-plus elements from both patient-centred standards and organisation-centred standards a hospital needs to get the recognition. The AMRI Hospitals units of Dhakuria, Salt Lake and Bhubaneswar have also been awarded accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Testing & Calibration Laboratories (NABL), from the autonomous body under the Government of Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Department of Science & Technology, making AMRIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s labs at par with any other accredited laboratories around the globe. A 2010 survey conducted by the Quality Circle Forum of India also ranked AMRI Hospitals, Salt Lake first among all hospitals in Kolkata for exemplary management of bio-medical waste, second in operational excellence and time management and again a second rank for patient services.

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Three units of AMRI Hospitals -Dhakuria, Mukundapur and Bhubaneswar - have been awarded accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH), one of the highest accreditations for healthcare service providers across India, which gives the bearer of the certification the seal of quality.

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