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PUNE, DECEMBER 6, 2014 | www.thegoldensparrow.com
TGS LIFE What’s hot, what’s not on Pune FM?
STARTUP CITY
SPORTS
Putting state on innovation map P7
‘Winning medal is priority in Rio Olympics’ P 16
CHANDNI CHOWK or ACCIDENT CHOWK?
ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
Poor traffic management coupled with a high degree of traffic indiscipline have turned Chandni Chowk into a major accident prone junction in western Pune. Some improvements were made after a mother and her child were killed in a traffic accident here in 2011. However, a lot more needs to be done. See Spotlight, p7-8
Supporters are now looking at Modi to give a final, dramatic push to the BJP’s march into the Valley BY SANDIPAN SHARMA SRINAGAR: Kashmir is waiting for Atal Behari Vajpayee; it may instead get to see Narendra Modi soon. Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to address an election rally at Srinagar’s Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium on Monday, where Vajpayee’s shadow is waiting to both welcome and haunt him. Though the BJP is among the front runners to form the government after the ongoing election in Jammu and Kashmir—the third phase of polling is on December 9—the opinion is divided on Modi and the BJP. Depending on whether you are north of Banihal Pass or south of the divide between Jammu and the Valley, Narendra Modi is seen both as
Signpost 8 die as militants attack army camp in Kashmir SRINAGAR: Heavily-armed militants mounted an audacious attack on an Indian Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district early Friday, triggering a fierce gunbattle that left the three rebels dead. Three soldiers and two policemen were also killed. The terror attack took place at army’s Field Ordinance Camp located at Mohra near the border town of Uri. The attack took place in the midst of the five-phase elections in the state. The next phase of elections is December 9. The gunmen struck at 3 am, but were quickly challenged at the main gate of the army camp. IANS
a divisive figure and hope away from Lal Chowk, for the future in the state. where five people were But the BJP injured past week when is hoping that somebody lobbed one at the division would a CRPF team but instead disappear on hit some civilians. Monday when around Till a few years ago it KHALID JAHANGIR, ‘one lakh’ people will was unimaginable for the come and listen to Modi BJP KASHMIR SPOKESPERSON BJP to have its office in at the cricket stadium. Lal Chowk; a fact that is “You are here, constantly reminded by the I am here. Let us two armed security guards all wait for him to who hover over Jahangir. speak at the stadium. But it is a clear sign that He will change the game the BJP has finally arrived completely,” says BJP’s in the heart of Kashmir, Kashmir spokesperson both geographically and Khalid Jahangir. literally, even if under the Jahangir is sitting in his office at umbrella of security. Hotel Pamposh, just a grenade’s throw Supporters are now looking at Modi
“Modi will change the game completely”
to give the final, dramatic push to the BJP’s march into the Valley. When the Prime Minister lands here on Monday, his party is planning to bring one lakh people to Srinagar to listen to him. “It would be a record,” gush his enthusiastic supporters in the party. “Vajpayee was the last PM to have been welcomed by a huge audience in Srinagar,” says Vir Saraf, a BJP office-bearer from Srinagar’s Habbakadal constituency. In 2003, Vajpayee had addressed around 20,000 people at the Sher-eKashmir Stadium, where the Indian team had to almost abandon a one-day match against the West Indies in 1983 when the pitch was dug up by protesters during the lunch break. Contd on p 10
China describes disputed PoK region as Pakistan
FILE PHOTO
Modi in Srinagar: Is the visit a PR stunt or will the PM fulfill Vajpayee’s dream?
Citizens’ Initiative
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Refugees from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (POK) stage a demonstration in Jammu
BY RAJEEV SHARMA China has come up with yet another provocation. The Chinese state-run media has just described the disputed Gilgit-Baltistan region in Pakistan occupied Kashmir as ‘Pakistan’, thus taking sides with Pakistan at the expense of India in the 67-year-old
India-Pakistan conflict over Kashmir. While reporting closure of the Khunjerab Pass, a highly strategic road which links China’s far-western Xinjiang region and PoK, for the winter season, China’s state-run Xinhua news agency described the pass as “a strategic point on the Karakoram highway. Contd on p 10
Korean Film Festival to make debut in city Pune gears up to host the city’s first ever Korean film fest
Posters of some of the Korean films that will be shown at the festival
BY PRACHI BARI @prachibari
Ku said. The six films that will be screened, represent modern Korean film-making, The Korea Foundation, The Consulate having been made in the last five years. General of Korea in association with Mama, directed by Choe Ik-Hwan, National Film Archives of India (NFAI) focuses on the lives of three families, have a special treat in store for the film dealing with issues affecting their buffs of Pune, as they host the first ever mothers, Officer of the Year by Lim Korean Film Festival in the city. Chan-Ik, highlights the competition The Consul General of Korea and rivalry amongst police stations Seokgu Jang and Alpana Pant Sharma Wonderful Radio has been directed will inaugurate the film festival on by Kwon Chil-In, who is known for December 9, 2014 at the NFAI. his melodramas. Papa, directed by FREE This festival is open to all. Han Ji-seung deals with problems ENTRY Director of the festival, of finding one’s roots in a foreign Mikyoung Ku states that besides land, and A Reason to Live, offering a glimpse of Korean filmdirected by Lee Jeong-Hyang, is about making, the event will also promote Indoforgiveness. Korean relationship. “The films have “Each of these films is from a been handpicked to showcase the artistic different genre and each of them focuses value, unique style of cinematography on various aspects of either Korea or and direction and also to give an Korean people,” Ku said. insight into Korean culture and lifestyle,” prachibari@gmail.com
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 6, 2014
A time of grace for the faithful P4
Putting state on innovation map P7
PUNE
“In Maher, we have mentally ill women living in the same room where children are put up on bunk beds. Many such women have been healed and are now happily married.” —Sister Lucy Kurien, Founder, Maher
Giving the disabled their rightful place in society
EKansh Trust released a book titled ‘Celebrating Disabilities’, on the occasion of World Disability Day
Rahul Raut
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By YASH DAIV @yash009
School, Gurgaon. “My best experiences in life have been with children who are handicapped. Everybody needs to work EKansh Trust released a book titled towards the complete integration of ‘Celebrating Disabilities’, on December these children into society. This book 3, at Nehru Memorial Hall, Camp. The is an effort towards understanding a book is a compilation of short stories different perspective on inclusion and that revolve around children with exclusion,” said Gour Broome. disabilities, and their experiences. The Amit Abhyankar who has directed trust aims to sensitise both children the marathi film Jana Gana Mana, has and adults and create an air of tolerance made two short films for EKansh. “The and acceptance in society towards those title itself is intriguing. The ending afflicted by disabilities. Veteran social of every story is left open for you to worker Dhun Adenwala and filmponder,” Abhyankar said. Hailing maker Amit Abhyankar were the chief Adenwala’s zeal and unconditional guests at the function. support, Narayan EKansh Trust called her the founder Anita godmother for the Narayan said that the World Disability day trust, and described world at large needed her contribution as to be all inclusive and accessible. “We truly inspiring. Adenwala who has use the word exclusive for things that worked for their cause for 50 years, are special or rare. We have CDs, launched a school for deaf children at perfumes or watches which are limited Kolkata, in1948. “They have given me edition and therefore exclusive. What far more than what I have given them,” do we mean by the word, when we Adenwala said. refer to a disabled child?” We must EKansh strives for the move from exclusion to inclusion, she rehabilitation of disabled in society said, describing the book as a nonand also seeks respectable employment profit work and an all-inclusive effort. for them. Prashant Gaikwad, who is Celebrating Differences features stories deaf, has learned to speak with help written by Shalini Kagal, Leela Gour from the trust, which also enabled him Broome, Minishree Niwasan and to acquire training as an accountant. Gauri Dange. It has been illustrated Gaikwad now works as cashier at the by 18-year-old Anvi Shah. The picture Being Human Store at the Phoenix of the lotus on the cover is the creation Mall, Ahmednagar Road. “There are of the students of Pallavanjali Inclusive different people in the world, each
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DEcember 3
1) From left: Shalini Kagal, Amit Abhyankar, Dhun Adenwala, Anita Narayan, Leela Gour Broome and Anvi Shah. 2) Dancers performing the Ganesh Vandana 3) Prashant Gaikwad told the audience of his successful job story 4) Bharati Lele interpreted the entire event in sign language to the deaf students
one of them can make you learn new things. At my job, right from the first day, I have tried to apply whatever I have learned thanks to EKansh, such as lip-reading,” Gaikwad said. Sign language expert Bharati Lele has been grooming deaf children, in all subjects, from languages to accounts. She interpreted the programme in sign
Easing pain of the terminally ill
Ailing Zareen Sheikh being attended at the ‘Silence High Dependency room’ by Vishranti nurses. Zareen Sheikh has been diagnosed with fourth stage oral cancer and has been with Vishranti for over a month
BY REUBEN PAUL @ReubenPPaul
Col NS Nyayapathi
With a mission to serve poor cancer patients, Col NS Nyayapathi started SATSEVA on December 1, 1994, under the aegis of Care India Medical Society, a Punebased charitable trust. SATSEVA is the country’s first patient outreach programme based on home care palliation for
cancer patients. Col NS Nyayapathi, founder director of the programme, earlier served as an EME (Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Corps) officer in the Indian Army before his humane initiative to provide palliative care for advanced stage cancer patients. “My wife, Dr Madhuri and I initiated SATSEVA by visiting homes of the poor cancer patients who could not afford the medical treatment.” It all began with the individual motivation to alleviate pain of cancer patients which Nyayapathi saw in his mother in 1989, who had cancer of kidney. “After my mother’s
death, I took premature retirement and went to US to seek solutions to mitigate the suffering of cancer patients,” Nyayapathi said. SATSEVA runs the 15-bed Vishranti Hospital in Pune Camp. It has its own Dr Anil Belapurkar mobile mortuary-cumambulance. The hospital staff caters to all their patients’ needs, including food and medical care. Fatima Lilani, one of the first few directors of the NGO says, “We are possibly the only NGO that covers all aspects of cancer for free.” Hospital in-charge Dr Col AD Belapurkar, said, “We divide patients area-wise and visit them during the day.” Social worker Savita Thakur, who has been working with Satseva for 14 years and assists Balapurkar, says, “It makes my day when I give patients and their families hope and a reason to live.” Vishranti Hospital adheres to the highest standards of treatment and hygiene. But above all is their kindness and care for the cancer patients that stand out. They plan to build a 60-bed hospital soon. reubenpaul94@gmail.com
What is palliative care? Palliative care is social, psychological and medical care for the terminally ill and their families provided by organised health services. In other words, it is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients facing life threatening illness and their families. Palliative care in India is by a huge measure lacking. And as for the poor, palliative care is non-existent.
Contact details: Fatima Lilani, director of the hospital on 020 - 26450093 or 020-26441808
About EKansh Anita Narayan launched EKansh in 2009. After a humble beginning the NGO has over the years, evolved into a full-fledged centre for people with disabilities. Besides education, the trust also hosts cultural and sports programmes, workshops and job fairs. The next job fair will be held in the month of February. Visit www.ekansh.org or email on Indor@ekansh.org. For volunteering or donation contact 09503715015.
Unravelling the mysteries of biodiversity Rahul Raut
A Colonel’s mission to alleviate pain and replace it with a smile
language for them. The programme highlighted the importance of nonverbal communication and also featured Indian classical and contemporary fusion dance performances by Rasika Gumaste, Janhavii Pathak, Pracheeti Dange and Neha Muthiyan. yashdaiv@gmail.com
Botanist Sachin Punekar’s mission is to undertake vaious initiatives to protect nature for future generations By Archana Dahiwal @ArchanaDahiwal
Dr Sachin Punekar is a man on a mission. The 37-year-old botanist believes that it is imperative that the common man comes face to face with and understands biodiversity on a personal level, with nature and natural phenomenon. Punekar set up a non-governmental organisation (NGO) called Biospheres in 2010. Under the NGO’s auspices, Punekar has made constant efforts to put Pune district on the global biodiversity map, through research, advocacy and capacity building. He has also directed his energies towards the conservation of the biodiversity in Pune district. Punekar has described more than 22 new plant taxa to this date. “Every generation should have a deep understanding of the biodiversity of the region they live in and conserve it for future generations. This initiation and education should begin right from school, where children, besides studying it in the curriculum, should experience the nature of biodiversity in the places where they live first-hand,” Punekar said. Bioshpere, as his NGO is named, means the global sum of all ecosystems, the zone of life, the surface of planet Earth that is home to so many diverse species of life forms. The aims and objectives of Biospheres are: a. To provide scientific services in the area of biodiversity inventorying and monitoring and to develop scientific databases on different species of flora and fauna of ecologically sensitive areas. b. To assess human impact on environment, recommend strategies and action for improvement. c. To conduct exhibitions on environment and biodiversity to create awareness about nature Biospheres is creating awareness and educating the common man and researchers through studies, workshops and exhibitions. The aim is to involve organisations, institutions, companies and individuals in the protection and conservation of the existing biodiversity. Biospheres teaches the layman, students and researchers to identify various kinds of flora and fauna, their intricate relationships with each other, as well as to study wild life and ecological restoration. Punekar said, “Last year Biospheres
Dr Sachin Punekar
The achiever Dr Sachin Punekar is the recipient of the Young Scientist Award given by the Government of India (2004). An ardent wildlife photographer, Punekar has staged many exhibitions on the myriad and dwindling biodiversity of India. Punekar has worked with the Botanical Survey of India, Government of India (Sikkim Himalayan Regional Centre, Sikkim and Western Circle, Pune), Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune, Piramal Life Sciences, Mumbai and National Chemical Laboratory, Pune.
undertook initiatives for ‘Symbolic Nature Denizens’ at the regional level, beginning with the Pune district. The initiative was the first of its kind in the country and probably in the world. Nature denizens represent the biological heritage of the region and play a significant role in the conservation and awareness amongst the masses. We have symbolic nature denizens at the national and state levels. However, many regionally endemic and unique species are overlooked. Declaring them as a symbolic denizen may bring them into the limelight and encourage enthusiastic conservation efforts at the regional and global levels. Apart from the traditional and the historical heritage, Pune district is also known for its natural heritage.” Punekar’s ‘Pune district nature denizens’, under various categories, involved experts, nature lovers, government officials, leaders, students and common man. About 150 representatives from the fields of biodiversity, agriculture, palaeontology, geology, wildlife photographers, NGOs and the media participated in a workshop.
Two nominees for each category of denizen had been short-listed, which had been mentioned on media and public platforms for a larger acceptance. The final denizens will be selected through public voting under various categories such as, District Animal (Mammal), Bird, Reptile, Amphibian, Fish, Insect, Arachnid (Spider/Scorpion), Tree, Flower, Algae, Pteridophyte, Bryophyte, Fungi, Lichen, Bacteria, Virus, Fossil, Crop, Wildrelative of crop and Mineral. “The volunteers of the NGO made it available on the social media. Due to the assembly polls, there was a delay in declaring the Pune District Denizens. Hopefully, it will be declared in the next few months. “Pune district denizens declaration will stand as role model for other districts of state and for the entire nation. Regional level denizens must be incorporated in school curriculum,” Punekar said. Biospheres organises a wildlife and biodiversity festival every year at Pune. archana.dahiwal@goldensparrow.com
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 6, 2014
PUNE
An 18th century intricate water supply system built during the reign of Shrimant Balaji Bajirao Peshwa still exists in Pune. The system comprises ducts and underground tunnels from Katraj Lake to Shaniwarwada Fort. — www.quora.com
Multi-pronged effort needed for road safety P5
Missing or stolen? Cellphone thefts are on the rise
Mobile phone thefts are common but most of them are registered as missing property cases BY GITESH SHELKE @gitesh_shelke Incidents of mobile phone thefts are common in the city. Every day a large number of ‘propert y m i s s i n g ’ complaints are registered, Assistant regarding the Commissioner of theft or loss of Police (Crime) Prasad Hasabnis cellphones, at all the police stations of the city under the jurisdiction of the police commissionerate. Consequent to the thefts, a grey market in the sale of cellphones has emerged in the city. However, only 76 incidents of cellphone thefts were registered in the city, in 2013, of which 40 were solved. In 2014, though, the figure increased twofold, to 142, only 41 cases have been solved so far. A majority of cellphone theft cases are registered as property missing, which means that the victim has ‘lost’ a mobile phone rather than it being stolen. But even those who are aware of this, do not fi le a first information report (FIR) of theft, and are content to register a missing property case, since it is less time-consuming and a
CHILDREN’S DAY COMPETITION RESULTS
Many do not file a first information report of theft, and are content to register a missing property case, since it is less time-consuming and a lot less trouble for both the police and the victim
lot less trouble for both the police and the victim. Victims generally register property missing cases at police stations only to obtain a fresh SIM card of the same number. But where do these missing or
stolen mobiles phone sets end up? What is done with them? From all the cases the police have been able to solve, it has emerged that mobile phone thefts are the handiwork of professional thieves, who then sell
IGNITING YOUNG MINDS
The results of the TGS Children’s Day competition will be declared in the December 27th edition of the newspaper. A total of 731 entries which included 463 drawings, 174 essays and 94 poems were received in response to the competition announced by TGS on the occasion of Children’s Day. ‘Child Labour’ was the theme for the contest.
TGS Quiz Contest
No. 25
nswers to the following 10 A questions are embedded in the stories featured in this edition. Send us the correct answers at contest.tgs@gmail.com and be one of the three lucky winners to receive gift coupons. 1. Who is the founder of EKansh trust?
2. What is the name of the nutrition determining software by Josh software? 3. Where will the fi rst Korean Film Festival will be held in Pune?
4. What are the products that Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav will be introducing this year?
5. What are the two names of Savani Shinde’s workshops? 6. Where will Shakespeare Film Festival be held?
7. Which show does RJ Smita host on Radio Mirchi? 8. Which fi lm festival will actor Sanjay Gagnani’s short fi lm Bad Th row be screened?
9. Who was late actor Deven Verma’s wife? 10. Which four-wheeler does actor Amol Vhatkarr own?
Contest # 24 winners
Winners contest 24 Roshan Kulkarni
Scientist turned toy maker Arvind Gupta interacting with schoolchildren. A large number of children from various parts of the city participated in a drawing competition ‘First Step – to Protect Child Rights’, organised by the Rotaract Club Pune, Pashan and Bitwise Foundation at Sarasbaug on November 30
Sawai plays youth tune this year
By selling attractive merchandise, organisers are trying to attract young and new audiences to the festival TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav manages to enthrall its followers every year with a great line-up. This year, the organisers have gone a step further. For the first time in 62 years, the festival will be selling merchandise. H r i s h i k e s h Deshpande, director, Indian Magic Eye said, “A special stall with t-shirts, caps, sling bags and other knick knacks will be made available at `100 to `400.” This merchandise has been created with the help of an organisation called Mirchandice. The festival’s main organiser, Shriniwas Joshi said, “This is definitely not for the money but simply to attract the youth.They have been designed keeping in mind the
taste of today’s youth and the prints include graphics of music elements and topics. related to the festival. This is an attempt to take brand ‘Sawai’ closer to the youth.” The products were designed and presented to the organisers before they zeroed down on the final items. “We are clearly looking at promoting the festival through these products. When people flaunt these items outside the festival, fame will reach the masses and in turn we will have more audience i n the coming years. We have to move with time and there will come a day when we will have to work something around the smart phone to garner attention,” added Joshi. feedback.tgs@goldensparrow.com
the stolen cellphones in other circles and areas. The amateur thief usually sells a stolen phone in the same mobile network circle. The police get a large number of mobile phone theft complaints during the Ganesh festival, Navratri festival and other such occasions, when large numbers of people gather together for celebrations. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Prasad Hasabnis said that some victims are reluctant to lodge an FIR of thefts, while some policemen at the stations are reluctant to register theft complaints. “This is why the number of registered cases is so low,” he said. A shopkeeper on Fergusson College Road, who deals in second-hand cellphones, said that generally people who come to his shop, are legitimate sellers who have proper bills of sale for the cellphone they wish to sell. “But there are also the youths who try to sell cellphone without the necessary documents. However, we insist on an original bill of sale for the phone, and some these youths then say that it has been lost,” he said. There is a large number of people who buy high end cellphones from the grey market, since they are sold at lower prices. The police do keep tabs on such markets to curb serious crime, where stolen cellphones are used to demand ransom or to issue threats. gitesh.shelke@goldensparrow.com
Finding the silver lining in Cloud P6
Bring home a slice of rural India
The 9th edition of Bhimtadi Jatra to be held in Pune from Dec 10-14 will feature more than 250 stalls
Apart from cultural programmes, over 272 stalls of organic food, packed food items handicrafts and artefacts are expected this year
TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly ‘Bhimthadi Jatra’, a unique rural carnival organised by the Agricultural Development Trust, Baramati every year, will be held between December 10 and 14, at the Agriculture College Ground, Sinchan Nagar. At a press conference at Deccan Rendezvous on December 4, Sunanda Pawar, trustee of Agricultural Development Trust, said, “Bhimthadi Jatra has already established its credentials as an effective platform for women self help groups to market products manufactured by them. This year we are expecting the participation of over 290 self help groups and there will be 272 stalls.”
There will be about 80 food stalls, 81 stalls selling packed food items, and 50 organic food stalls. Apart from this, there will be handicrafts and artefacts stalls, featuring the handiwork of rural artists, and the display of the famous 12 Balutedar, which are the essential elements of a typical village in Maharashtra. “To cater to the growing number of visitors to the fair, we are planning a special layout in this edition, especially in the food section so that visitors can enjoy the food items made by the Self Help Groups,” Pawar said. This year volunteers have been appointed to help senior citizens and the handicapped. Contact Sachin Khalate on 9822529987 for details. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 6, 2014
Giving prematurely born babies a stronger hold on life P11
Graft hobbles Iraq’s military in fighting Islamic State
PUNE
Helping people boost themselves out of poverty is the best way to make a lasting positive difference in a person’s life. —Naveen Jain, founder and CEO, inome
P13
A time of grace for the faithful Thousands of pilgrims visit the coastal state to witness the once-a-decade exposition of the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier
The saint
BY ANTONIO V FRANCISCO FERNANDES @Navhind_Times
The main feast day of St Francis Xavier is on December 3, when visitor numbers are expected to peak, and masses have been arranged in various languages. Francis Xavier was a Catholic missionary who devoted much of his life to bringing the Christian faith to Asia during the 1500s, most notably in India.
The combination of two big events, the ongoing decennial exposition of the relics of St Francis Xavier in Goa till January 4, 2015 and the canonisation of a Goan, Padre Jose Vaz, by Pope Francis in Sri Lanka on January 14, 2015, makes the present period of time unique in the history of modern Goa. It is a special time for those women and men who believe in the divine and the beyond, whatever may be the paths of faith they have chosen to follow. The sea of humanity submerging the Old Goa pilgrim centre is a sight to behold. Not only the Catholics but people of other faiths, not only the Goans but citizens of other Indian regions and other countries make it a point to visit and witness the relics of St Francis Xavier and the fervour of faith. They stand in long queues under the sun for a glimpse, a touch, a kiss, a blessing, a healing, or maybe a thanksgiving. For a big many it is a pilgrimage, for a few it may be a curiosity or a matter of tourist interest. But considering the overwhelming majority of people who
It is not the number of tourists, profits of the vendors, and the commercial bonanza that will determine the success of the exposition but the spiritual benefits that we derive. At a time when individualism, hedonism and materialism are on the ascendant, the exposition of the relics now and their very presence in our midst in all seasons should keep reminding us of the most famous words that his mentor St Ignatius Loyola quoted from the Gospel into the listening ears of Francis Xavier: What does a man gain by winning the world at the cost of his true self? Whether we believe in the soul or simply the inner self, the quoted words are as relevant today as they were to Francis Xavier in the sixteenth century. Our lifestyles today are not conducive to spirituality. We need to focus on the microscopic universe within us. As Pierre Teilhard de Chardin said, “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” by special arrangenment withnavhindtimes.in
Thousands of devotees thronged to witness the decennial exposition of relics of St Francis Xavier at Basilica of Bom Jesus church in Old Goa (about 11km from Panaji), on November 22. The exposition happens only once in ten years attracting the pilgrims from worldwide to celebrate St Francis Xavier Feast on December 3
festivals. Perhaps these places and periods open up the human hearts and minds to experience the divine and the beyond. If that be so then our present moment is indeed a time of grace for the people of Goa. The Jesuits who came here after St Francis played a vital role in establishing
Shah Abdul Latif ’s Sufism: A subcontinental streak BY SUMIT PAUL
Much has been written about Sufism. In fact, this subject has been discussed so many times that all its aspects have become rather threadbare. Aruna Jethwani So it takes real courage of conviction to take up this subject and write engagingly without making the readers yawn with sheer boredom. Aruna Jethwani’s The Sufi: Shah Abdul Latif isn’t a ho-hum endeavour. Steeped in Sufism and a genuine practitioner of Sufi philosophy, Aruna’s book makes a great read. Before descanting upon Sufism, it’s but natural to think of Fariduddin Attar, Jalaluddin Rumi, Sanai, Khaqani, Nizami, Jami among others. But one thing must be remembered that they were all from Iran and Central Asia and wrote their poetry, rooted in that region.
Agreed, they were influenced by Vedant and Upanishad but there’s a palpable impression of their Central Asian roots and ramifications on their sublime Shah Abdul Latif poetry. But Latif differs a bit on this score as he was raised in Sindh, though his ancestors hailed from Herat in Afghanistan. Using simple words and symbols, Latif penned mystic verses from the recesses of his heart and these poems never appear laboured. Years ago, the legendary English scholar Sir Hamilton Gibb wrote that the most striking facet of Latif was its translatability. His simple Sufi poems can be translated into any language and they retain their pristine quality. Aruna has effortlessly rendered his poems into English and retained their original readability. Have a look at a
poem ‘Source of Happiness’ (page 44): ‘Do not deal with the uncouth Keep friends with God Drive out all the falsehood Truth alone pleases God...’ It’s this disarming quality of Shah Abdul Latif ’s poetry and its further simplified translations that endear even an uninitiated reader of Sufism and arrest his/her attention. Aruna deserves kudos because her book evinces the deep reverence she has for this spiritual order that goes beyond the standard precincts of narrow religiosity. It’s a must read for those who’re deep into mysticism as well as for those, who’ve a fleeting familiarity with the subject. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
About the author Aruna Jethwani is an award winning author, and educationist. She is the former principal of the St Mira’s College for Girls, Pune. A freelancer, writing on social and gender based issues, currently she writes on spirituality. A Sunday painter, she has to her credit three novels, two poetry books, two self-help books, one compilation of regional stories and a biography of Dada J P Vaswani.
institutes of quality higher education in India. Gregory Naik, SJ, has given an account of the Jesuit connections in the life of Padre Jose Vaz, and referred to him as a Jesuit ex-student in a write-up in the Jesuit publication Jivan. We have a lot to learn from them as we go about spreading higher education in Goa and India.
St Francis began his work in Goa not from an official residence to which he was entitled as the Papal Nuncio but from the room of a hospital, serving the sick and the poor. Our healthcare establishments are increasingly becoming commercial and we should add sensitivity to service.
Choosing the right career
The Orchid School, Baner, held a career orientation camp to help students decide between a conventional and unconventional career BY YASH DAIV @yash009 The Orchid School, Baner, held a career orientation camp for the students of standards IX, X and XI, from November 28 to 30. One Step Up Educational Services business development head Shadab Siddique elaborated on 16 career options, through videos clips and also interacted with the students in group discussions. While class X students felt that unconventional careers were a “plan B” to avoid the struggles that ensue when the conventional job route fails to bear fruit, class XI science students were extremely keen on unconventional careers. “There is a certain job security with the conventional careers. The unconventional route is a risk and an unexplored area. However if everybody takes the conventional path, there will be a saturation,” said Krish Gaglani, who wants to pursue a career in biometrics, a combination of biology and technology. His classmate Vishnu Pulipaka said, “I want to be a part of the pit crew and pursue photography.” Rhea Gupta wants to join the media rather than take up engineering or medicine. “Every day is a new day for a journalist. There are so many things to explore. It is one of the
RAHUL RAUT
make it to venerate a saint who was so different from the modern heroes we run after, it becomes apparent that our spiritual search continues in spite of the here and now attractions of the world. People pursue their spiritual quest in specific places and at specific times: pilgrim or spiritual centres and religious
School students who organised the camp (From left) Rhea Gupta, Singdha Ray, Natasha Kamer, Krish Gaglani, Vishnu Pulipaka and Ankita Kejale
non-monotonous professions,” she said. Animation emerged as one of the most sought after unconventional careers at the camp. “I am good at art and I would love to join an animation institute. I would like to work for companies like Disney and Pixar,” said Ankita Kejale. Snigdha Ray, who aspires to be a doctor, however, cannot make up her mind on a particular area of specialisation. “I think I may become a dermatologist. But whatever stream I choose, I ultimately want to help the underprivileged. The camp helped me know a few things about my career choices that I did not know previously.
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It has broadened my horizons,” she said. Class XI science students, after choosing the stream they want, feel that there is room for unconventional careers. “Science is a back-up. We can choose any career after this,” said Mihir Katpalia. Careers in the media, cyber law, defence, web designing and filmmaking emerged as popular choices. Research and development based science were other career options. The career camp has not swayed some class X students. “It was certainly informative but it has not changed our perspective completely,” said Nakul Nawale. yashdaiv@gmail.com
editor_tgs@goldensparrow.com
Time has come for Punekars to follow rule on helmets
Helmets for two wheeler riders have always been taken lightly in this city and treated with humour. Some years ago it was the city Mayor who led the protest against the use of helmets. The issue is not about buying a helmet but more important about investing in a sort of life insurance. The very same citizens who find helmets a problem in Pune would not mind wearing it in foreign lands. Life is not just about the individual but about society and families. People are trying to save money by investing in cheaper helmets but this will not help. There may be some inconvenience for first-time users of helmets, but we as humans need to value life. Young women with their scarfs will find it unfashionable but a scarf is not about fashion while riding a scooter. The future will see better helmets with
lighter material but we owe this city our loyalty by respecting the rules that have been laid down. Rebelling without a cause may seem trendy but the time has come for Punekars to follow rules. The fines need to be hiked and these so called educated riders need to be punished. - P Chirukandan (Gets prize for best letter)
Cricket’s new wonder boy Rohit Sharma’s stupendous, superlative and magical knock of 264 runs (173 balls) is in a class by itself eclipsing similar innings of Sehwag and Tendulkar. Maybe Rohit’s magnificent blitz of 264 did not have the majestic imperiousness of Viv Richards but it still
was a treat to watch. His play was characterised by most of his strokes being in the classic V zone in the arc between extra-cover and wide mid-on. Only short balls were hooked, pulled or cut. Not once did he use the reverse sweep and switch hit or the scoop over fine leg, so favoured by present day batsmen. Though dropped thrice, once as early as when he was on 4 runs, one cannot detract from his pyrotechnic display of strokes. Also to be noted that all ODI double tons are by Indians on home soil made on tailor-made badam halwa type of pitches. Can such feats be repeated outside continental wickets, is the question. Notwithstanding the dropped catches, flat tracks and mediocre bowling, Rohit’s knock will long be
remembered for its flamboyance. — Shanmugam Mudaliar
Courageous Haryana sisters
On Friday, November 29, two college going sisters (Aarti & Pooja) on board the state transport bus in Haryana daringly fought back three eve-teasing boys while the bus passengers remained mute spectators. Instead of coming to their rescue, they warned the girls to leave the boys alone or face the consequences of rapes and acid attacks to shame them. The character of our society is as such that, most of the times, no one comes forward for help whenever something untoward happens due to the fear that the police will entangle them in the legal proceedings. The courageous sisters deserve all praise for their bravery. They deserve to be
honoured with awards as they have set an example to be emulated by others. — Vijay Dattatray Patil
Write to Us Letters to the Editor may be emailed to editor_tgs@goldensparrow. com or mailed to Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt Ltd, 1641 Madhav Heritage, Tilak Road, Pune-411030. The Best Letter of the Week will receive a special gift from Venus Traders, Pune’s finest stationery departmental.
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 6, 2014
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Deccan Queen was started on June 1, 1930. It holds the distinction of being the second train to receive the ISO 9000 certificate which deals with the fundamentals of quality management systems. — The TQM Magazine
Signposts Call for donations for child’s surgery
A group citizens are leading a campaign better community living, under NIKASH. The NGO brings together faculty and students from various professions, to mobilise quality-of-life initiatives to benefit all through social entrepreneurship. Those interested can call on 25367909.
IN THE
NEWS
BY ARCHANA DAHIWAL @ArchanaDahiwal The newly inaugurated Institute of Driving Training and Research (IDTR) of Central Institute of Road Transport’s (CIRT) will focus on improving performance, efficiency and productivity of the transport sector. The institute was inaugurated by the union minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, last month, at Bhosari. CIRT is the monitoring agency for setting up such IDTRs in the country. Abhay Damle, director of CIRT, in a tete-a-tete with The Golden Sparrow on Saturday, spoke about the recent and future initiatives of the CIRT, and on the vital issue of road safety in India.
Abhay Damle
What are your views on road safety? It’s sad that our country tops the global statistics in terms of accident rates. One single remedy will not reduce accidents, but rather this requires multipronged approach, including improving
Highlights of the IDTR 1.
The IDTR is spread over a 15-acre campus near Kasarwadi near Pimpri along the Mumbai-Pune highway. It has state-of-the-art facilities, including spacious classrooms equipped with audio-visual facilities, driving range for practice of various maneuvers, a driving laboratory, testing laboratory, a workshop for routine maintenance, library and hostel with a capacity of 75. 2. Two driving simulators have also been installed at the IDTR for imparting pollution free training on a range of cognitive skills to deal with complex road way and traffic conditions. 3. The training will be conducted by well-trained driving instructors in a practical, systematic and scientific manner. 4 It has capacity to train 20,000 drivers in light motor vehicle (LMV), light transport vehicle (LTV) and heavy transport vehicles (HTV) categories.
Catch up with developments in Pune as the week comes to a close
City holds NBA JAM The largest 3-on-3 college basketball and youth festival ever held in India, the NBA Jam powered by jabong. com, was held at the Ness Wadia College of Commerce. Similar events were organised at Kochi, Lucknow, Jaipur, Nagpur, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Bhubaneshwar, Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, with Pune being the last of the 16 participating cities. About 3,000 teams from various parts of the country took part in the three-day event. The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Sony Six have partnered for the event. About 150 teams from 30 colleges took part in the contest.
‘TRING TRING DAY’ takes off in PimpriChinchwad Pimpri-Chinchwad on last Sunday woke up to the ‘Tring Tring Day’, a campaign launched by Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and NGO Janwani to promote cycling and use of public transport. The cycle rally initiated at Landewadi Chowk at 7 am. Municipal commissioner Rajeev Jadhav, Janwani’s trustee Ravi Pandit and director Kiran Kulkarni, PCMC’s former mayor Yogesh Behl were present. Jadhav said, “The objective of ‘Tring Tring Day’ is to promote the use of public transport and cycling. It will now be conducted on every last Sunday of the month at different locations of the city.”
NBA Jam, one of the sought after basketball event and youth festival was held on the campus of Ness Wadia College of Commerce. 150 teams were seen at the event
by Dr Kalmadi Shamarao High School, Ganeshnagar on their campus along with SEED Infotech on November 28-29. The main aim of the contest is to promote the appreciation of traditional Indian art forms among school children. The other winners were Swamini Kulkarni, DES School for Hindustani Classical Instrumental (Swara Vadya); Shreya Pathak, SPM School (poster making); Nidhi Gokhale, City International School (Collage making); Sukanya Gurav of P Jog School (Indian Classical Dance in solo); and Ojas Natu, Paranjape Vidya Mandir School (Hindustani Classical Instrumental in taal vadya). Kathak danseuse Maneesha Sathe and Kannada Sanga president Kushal Hegde presented the awards.
City scientist leads an intl Sudhanshu shines at Bal Kala scientist team An international team of scientists Mahotsav Sudhanshu Manerikar of Karnataka High School won in the Hindustani Classical vocal category at the grand finale of the 18th edition of Bal Kala Mahotsav Interschool Competitions 2014. The competition was organised
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CIRT’s Institute of Driving Training and Research (IDTR) has a key role to play to ensure discipline and safety on Indian roads
Rayat Vigyan Parishad website inaugurated
NIKASH’s call for a social cause
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Markets continue to blindly trust central banks’ magical ability
Multi-pronged effort needed for road safety
KEM Hospital, Pune has called for donations for the surgery and therapies of a 10 month old child Shardul Shelar. He has undergone a surgery for the Cochlear implant which will enable him to hear and develop normal hearing and speech. The cost of the surgical procedure and various therapies is Rs 7,45,000. KEM, Pune is accepting donations to help the family. To donate call on 020-26125600 or 020-66037300.
The Rayat Vigyan Parishad website and a communication office were inaugurated by its chairman Raosaheb Shinde at Rayat Education Society’s Sadhana Shikshan Sankul in Satara on November 30. Eminent personalities like APJ Abdul Kalam and Raghunath Mashelkar have graced the various lectures and workshops organised by the society in the past.
Where have all the footpaths gone?
led by city-based astrophysicist Varun Bhalerao has managed to rule out one of the models proposed as an explanation for the sudden variations in brightness of a binary neutron star. Supergiant Fast X-ray Transients (SFXT) is a system of binary stars that shine brightly as they
emit X-rays. Bhalerao’s team studied one such binary system named IGR J17544-2619. It is a binary containing a neutron star that is surviving off its neighbour, a star 25 times heavier than the sun. It is observed that within a span of few minutes they become ten times brighter or fainter by a huge margin, said Bhalerao, who is a postdoctoral fellow at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA)
Training module for young scientist exam Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Muktangan Exploratory Science Centre (MESC) will conduct a training programme for Homi Bhabha Young Scientist Exam for students of standard VI and IX. The training will be conducted for students from Pune as well as outstation students. Students from Pune will be trained on December 7, 14 and 21. The sessions for Class VI students from other destinations will be conducted on December 25 and 26; and those for outstation Class IX students will be conducted on December 28 and 29. For details, contact 25677962/25677465.
the quality of roads, making our vehicles safer, enforcing discipline among all road users, imparting better training for drivers and riders and stringent enforcement of laws. Though, the driving licenses system has improved in recent years, it requires further improvement. There is also a need to employ scientific methods for drivers’ training and testing. How can IDTR help to improve the driving licence system? IDTR, Pune has come up with a very Innovative Driving Testing System (IDTS) developed by CIRT. The IDTS allows an automatic amassment without any human objection, which is purely based on merit. I hope it will enable promotion of a corruption-free platform for issuing driving licences and selection of drivers ensuring the quality of the applicant. On the IDTR campus, the camera-based driving testing system has been developed by CIRT as an advanced version of the earlier sensor-based testing technologies which are in place
at some locations. The advantage offered by IDTS includes an unbiased and transparent driving testing mechanism with minimum human intervention by automating the process of issuing licenses. Is there any plan in the IDTR for the existing drivers or citizens to improve their driving skills? Yes, there is a separate office of the RTO on the IDTR campus. Errant drivers will be given proper driving lessons here. Secondly, we have shortterm refresher courses available here to improve the driving skills.
What are the future agendas of the CIRT? The CIRT had submitted a proposal for setting up of a ‘Centre of Excellence for Public Transportations on Road’ to the central government. Under this, we will focus on introducing new technology in new as well as existing vehicles, especially buses, to improve fuel efficiency, productivity, design of public transport buses and other vehicles for better efficiency and comfort. The multimodel transport system to ensure low cost last night connectivity available is proposed in this plan.
How can one get admission to the IDTR? The IDTR website is under development. The training will start in a few weeks. Interested persons can collect forms from the CIRT during office hours. The charges are lower compared to other driving schools. Accommodation is also available on the campus.
What are the proposed plans for the IDRT? The IDTR is keen to set up more models on a public–private partnership (PPP) basis. The IDTR also plans to impart training to the trainers, instructors of driving schools in the state, because the capacity building is a huge programme and the driving schools can play an important role in this.
In recent times, there has been a spate of molestation incidents aboard school buses in Pune. The newly launched IDTR has developed a special course for women drivers. The CIRT has sought the help of non-government organisation (NGO) cab drivers to training women drivers. CIRT director Abhay Damle said, “Women are more disciplined when it comes to driving. In foreign countries women drive taxis, but
there are hardly any women cab drivers in India. Apart from training, we will also be providing jobs to the needy. It’s like providing entrepreneurship to women. Women drivers in school buses or cabs will also ensure the safety of girls.” The IDTR campus also has plans for accommodation, so that women from outside of Pune can avail of the driving course. archana.dahiwal@goldensparrow.com
Women drivers, the safer bet BY ARCHANA DAHIWAL @ArchanaDahiwal
The Central Institute of Road Transport’s (CIRT) Institute of Driving Training and Research (IDTR), will soon train women to drive school buses and cabs. This IDTR initiative will go a long way in easing the worries of parents about their daughters’ safety, even as it will prevent the molestation of girls in school buses.
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 6, 2014
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Pune marathon is just following the tradition? P 15
16 per cent to 20 per cent of Google queries that get asked every day have never been asked before. —http://www.Internetlivestats.com
Finding the silver lining in Cloud City-based services and application development firms are slowly taking up to Cloud computing for its universal accessibility
Future of Cloud computing Consumer, business, government, healthcare and other Services
BY YASH DAIV @yash009
Cloud Computing
“We are deployed on the Cloud” is turning into a common expression. The concept popularised by Amazon in 2006 through their elastic compute Cloud has been taken up by Pune-based firms for the development and dissemination of their online services. This web-based service of centralised data storage on the Internet is slowly being incorporated by city-based firms after a bout of initial doubts. “People ask questions like where is my data stored in the Cloud? Who has access to my data? Will my data disappear when my online storage site shuts down? And How is the data protected and secured from theft and damage? A network engineer has to respond to such regular queries,” says Shantanu Bhamare, delivery manager for global MNCs. However, the situation is gradually improving. “People have realised that by incorporating Cloud, they are saving on physical storage. With Cloud, the data is accessible anywhere (after authentication) and saves up costs on physical storage,” said Bhamare. The Cloud computing platform has different deployment models to suit the need of an organisation. For instance, Punebased coffeetable.in is an example of a private Cloud. It is a video conferencing application developed by Yash Sharma exclusively for in-house communication. A public Cloud allows continuity or data recovery and customer relationship management (CRM), offers improvements in system reliability and availability and overall good security. Pune-based CADashboard is deployed on a public Cloud platform. It is a simple,
Distributed resources Grid Computing
Commerce e-business
Information
World Wide Web
Communications
Internet
Networking TCP-IP
Shantanu Bhamare
secure and fast platform for chartered accountants and their clients wherein CA and his/her clients can manage communication effectively. Using this platform, CAs can assist their clients by engaging and collaborating. Using CADashboard you one can access archives on fingertips. Cloud computing has had a mammoth impact. Faster time to value, improved reliability, enhanced user experience, easy to use, self-service model for employees and reduce costs. “Pay only for what you use, minimise labour costs and you will have fewer assets to manage,” said Bhamare. Pratik Shirsath has started using the available Cloud services to store his
Based on a research compiled by Shantanu Bhamare, Cloud computing will scale up significantly going by the current usage. In the next four years, more application will be available on the Cloud. With most of the new software being built for Cloud from the outset, it is predicted that by 2016 over a quarter of all applications will be available on the Cloud. The market too will expand. In the fourth quarter of 2013, enterprises that were increasingly relying on Cloud to develop. They have marketed and sold products through the service and have designed their plans further according with an anticipation of an expanding cloud storage. Within a few years they will manage supply chains and more.
What is Cloud computing? In the simplest terms, Cloud computing means storing and accessing data and programmes over the Internet instead of your computer’s hard drive. The Cloud is just a metaphor for the Internet. Cloud computing uses networks of large groups of servers, typically running low-cost consumer PC technology with specialised connections to spread data-processing across them. This shared IT infrastructure contains large pools of systems that are linked together.
electrical company’s data. He stores his data, reports, bills and receipts on the Cloud. “I do not have to worry about forgetting any
documents. Everything is available on one touch, on my cellphone,” he said. yashdaiv@gmail.com
‘Plan to digitise all villages with broadband’ Minister for communications and information technology Ravi Shankar Prasad said that 750,000 km of cable is proposed to be laid over next three and a half years to provide broadband in every village of the country, the ministry said in a statement recently. “Th is project aims at digital
empowerment of people and will be a game changer,” Prasad said at the fi rst MyGov Samvaad programme, interacting with contributors of ideas for the Digital India project. MyGov is an Internet-based platform for citizen engagement launched by prime minister Narendra Modi on July 26. The minister also felicitated 20 of
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the best contributors for their ideas and responses from out of over 40,000 responses, the statement added. Prasad told the contributors that there is a need to sensitise people about the power of technology. India now has about 300 million Internet users, which figure is crossing the number of Internet users in the US, that
is second on this count after China, the minister added. He pointed out that while in urban India mobile connectivity is 146 per cent, it is only about 46 per cent in rural areas. Prasad said electronic manufacturing is also being promoted in the country in a big way. IANS
‘India through the evolution of ideas’ Co-founder of Infosys, bureaucrat and politician Nandan Nilekani shared his thoughts on ideas for India’s future during a TED talk in 2009 TED is a global platform where people from different fields come together and speak for 18 minutes or less about their respective disciplines. It was started in 1984 by a non-profit organisation called Sapling Foundation, under the slogan — Ideas worth sharing. Initially it organised conferences where matters related to technology, design and entertainment merged, but today it includes varied topics such as business, photography, art, science and the like.
TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly “I believe this is an interesting way of looking at India through the evolution of ideas because in every society, especially an open democratic society, it’s only when ideas take root that things change. Slowly ideas lead to ideology, lead to policies that lead to actions.” This is how entrepreneur, bureaucrat and politician Nandan Nilekani opened his talk at the official TED conference in May 2009. He brought in the reference of the Great Depression in 1930, which led to all the ideas of the state and social security, and all the other things that happened in Roosevelt’s time. “In the 1980s we had the Reagan revolution, which lead to deregulation. And today, after the global economic crisis, there was about how the a whole new set of rules state should intervene. So ideas change states. And I looked at India and said, really there are four kinds of ideas which really make an impact on India. The first to my mind is what I call as “the ideas that have arrived”. The second set of ideas I call “ideas in progress”. The third set of ideas are what I call as “ideas that we argue about”. And the fourth thing, which I believe is most important, is the ideas that we need to anticipate”,he said. In India’s case, Nilekani believes there are ideas which are responsible for where it has come today. The first is really the notion of people. In
the 60s and 70s, people were thought of people as a liability. Today they are talked of an asset or a capital. “India is going to have a lot of young people with a demographic dividend for the next 30 years. What is unique about this demographic dividend is that India will be the only country in the world to have this demographic dividend. In other words, it will be the only young country in an aging world. And this is very important. Only if the people have education, they have good health, they have infrastructure, they have roads to go to work, they have lights to study at night — only in those cases can you really get the benefit of a demographic dividend,” he said. Having said that all of this, he comes to what he calls as ideas in progress. Those are the ideas where there is no argument in a society, but you are not able to implement those things. And really there are four things here. One is the question of education. For some reason, whatever reason — lack of money, lack of priorities, because of religion having an older culture — primary education was never given the focus it required. “But now I believe it’s reached a point where it has become very important. Unfortunately, the government schools don’t function, so children are going to private schools today. Even in the slums of India more than 50 per cent of urban kids are going into private schools. So there is a big challenge in getting the schools to work. But having said that, there is an enormous desire among everybody, including the poor, to educate their children. So I believe primary education is an idea which has arrived but not yet implemented.” He concluded his talk pointing out that India is certainly fast-forwarding this whole process of a billion people going to prosperity. And we must have a clear strategy which is important for India and important for the world. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
In The TECH WORLD Mobiles on cyber attack target in 2015: Symantec Mobiles will become a target of cyber attacks in 2015 as they store up a trove of personal and confidential information and are left switched on all the time, making them the perfect targets for attackers in Asia Pacific and Japan, according to a report released recently. The report ‘The threat landscape in 2014 and beyond: Symantec and Norton Predictions for 2015, Asia Pacific and Japan’ also stated such devices will become even more valuable due to mobile carriers’ and retail stores’ transition to mobile payments. According to Symantec’s Internet security threat report, ransomware attacks grew by 500 per cent and turned vicious in the latter part of 2013. The year 2015 will see the evolution of the Personal Data Protection Act, especially in the Asia Pacific region as it makes a real impact in people’s lives, ensuring individuals and organisations have the right mindset with regards to online security and cyber crime prevention, the report says
Reliance Comm launches ultra-fast data network Reliance Communications (RCom) recently launched its Pro 3, ultra-fast data network, a company statement said. “Pro 3 offers a significantly enhanced experience for data users with speeds of up to 14.7 Mbps enabling lightning-fast data streaming, without any delay and buffering. In the first phase, RCom has launched Pro 3 in Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune, with other key cities slated to go live shortly,” the statement said. “We will later launch the same in other key markets, including Delhi and Mumbai, shortly,” said Gurdeep Singh, chief executive officer, consumer business, Reliance Communications. Pro3 will be useful for the smartphones, tablets and laptops users, the company said.
Teenagers not hooked to Facebook anymore A study involving 170,000 Internet users across 32 countries has found that more and more teenagers are spending more time on instant messaging apps than on Facebook. Nearly 66 per cent of teenagers (aged 16-19) in the US and Britain said they were using Facebook less frequently. While the teenagers are not off the social networking site completely, the interactions have dropped and the group is more passive about the site as a whole, revealed the new “Social Summary for Q3 2014” from market research fi rm GlobalWebIndex (GWI). “Even though Facebook has more users, activity such as photo sharing and messaging has fallen off by 20 percentage points in the last two years,” the findings showed. Nearly 30 per cent of teenagers said they are not on Facebook as often because their friends have gone on Instagram and other messaging apps, StreetInsider.com reported.
Alibaba to invest more in India: Jack Ma Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba’s founder and executive chairman Jack Ma said that he wanted to invest more in India. “I myself commit that we will invest more in India and work with the Indian entrepreneurs and Indian technologists to improve the relationship between the two nations and to improve the great lives of human beings,” he said. Saying “Indians are smart”, Jack added that Indians are the second highest users of Alibaba after China. “They use our site often. We are improving technology into a platform that will help small business in India to be using us. India is getting changed by the Internet. India is a great nation with so many young people. India is a nation with hope. Internet is a business of young people. India is a nation of mobile phones. If both the nations work together they will benefit from each other,” he said.
Textiles ministry, Flipkart join hands to help weavers The textiles ministry and e-commerce fi rm Flipkart have joined hands to facilitate online marketing of products from handloom weavers, parliament was told recently. “A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the development commissioner for handlooms, ministry of textiles, and Flipkart Internet Private Limited, Karnataka on August 25,” textiles minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar told the Lok Sabha in a written reply. According to the agreement, Flipkart will provide handloom weavers in India online marketing platform and customer acquisition to help them get remunerative prices for their products and scale up their business.
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 6, 2014
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“Together we aim to provide innovative, yet simple ways to reach and service those end-consumers who are still not exposed to the benefits of online shopping.” — Kunal Bahl, co-founder and CEO Snapdeal.com
Putting state on innovation map
Seminar on European market ventures Flanders Investment and Trade at the Consulate General of Belgium and IBLCCI (Pune Chapter) jointly with Mahratta Chambers of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) are organising a seminar on Doing business in Flanders, Belgium Seminar 2014 in Pune. The programme will take place at JW Marriott, SB Road, December 8 from 7:00 pm onwards. Over a one hour presentation followed by an interactive session the participants will learn about the socio economic overview of Flanders, Belgium. The event is open for all. Contact Madhura Chipade on 020-25709213.
Exploring opportunities in US
START-UP MENTOR
MCCIA with the State of Pennsylvania’s Trade and Investment Office in India are organising an interactive session with Wilfred Muskens, deputy secretary, Office of International Business Development, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, USA on December 9. It will take place at Finolex Board Room from 6:00 pm onwards. With a Gross Domestic State Product of more than USD 600 billion, Pennsylvania is the 21st largest economy in the world spread across five main sectors namely, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and materials, high technology, agribusiness and a robust energy sector. The session will give participants an opportunity to learn more about the potential business opportunities. Entry is free.
Maharashtra State Innovation Council member secretary Rajendra Jagdale speaks about the Council’s plans BY ISHANI BOSE @ishani_bose The Maharashtra State Innovation Council (MSInC) plans to link the state with major private hubs for hightech innovations like in the case of Silicon Valley and Research Triangle Park in the US, Sophia Antipolis in France, Catapults in the UK, and the Shanghai Technology Innovation Centre in Asia. MSInC member secretary and scientist Rajendra Jagdale said that the Council was set up as an advisory body by the state government in March 4, 2014, to play a major role as a mentor for Maharashtra’s development. The Council also plants to set-up a centre in every tehsil in Maharashtra in 2015 and provide Rs 5 lakh to each centre to operate. “One of our primary objectives is to come up with a state innovation policy. We are studying successful global innovation hubs and interacting with famous innovation stakeholders before drafting our own innovation policy,” said Jagdale, who is also the director general of the Science and Technology Park, Savitribai Phule Pune University. Underlining the support of private players, Jagdale said, “If innovation is done only at the government level, it will be very difficult. Private players must join hands with the government and the latter must play the role of a facilitator and provide financial assistance.” A few Indian delegates recently held a series of meetings with experts
RAHUL RAUT
Signposts
Vishwas Mahajan
“The real job creation is in the manufacturing sector. One of our national challenges is to increase 15 per cent odd share of manufacturing to 25 per cent. But that’s an uphill task since the service sector is low hanging fruit in India.” — Arun Jaitely, minister of finance
Schools to go online The Council plans to get 100 schools in the state digitally connected by creating a statelevel educational server, where students and teachers can access information they want for free. “Every student/teacher will be given a login and password with which they can access the data. If some content is significantly good and important but not free, we can buy it through the state licence and make it available to people,” Jagdale said.
Rajendra Jagdale, member secretary MSInC and director general of Science and Technology Park, Savitribai Phule Pune University wants to set up a Council in every tehsil by next year
from Innovate UK, an autonomous body of the Government of UK, in charge for promoting innovation in the country. They also met innovation stakeholders like industry, academia, government and entrepreneurs, besides visiting Isis Innovation, a company set up by Oxford University for technology transfer; Cambridge Enterprises; Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew and
Next sources of innovation : process need and market structures
the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology at Wallingford. “A four-member high-level UK delegation would be visiting Maharashtra in February next year. Their visit would also help us in preparing policies for the state innovation sector,” he said. The 100 ‘Tod-Fod-Jod’ centres that the Council plans to structure across
Designing résumés that catch attention Savani Shinde’s CV Darjee crafts CVs and cover letters from rough drafts
This feature is a collaboration between The Golden Sparrow on Saturday and The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), the world’s largest non-profit network of entrepreneurs. For additional questions about your entrepreneurial challenges, write to mentoring@pune.tie.org
CHANGES IN INDUSTRY/ MARKET STRUCTURES Let’s talk about the last source of the innovation insight of the area you actually know and that changes in the industry or the market structures. If the industry is going through a rapid change there will be an opportunity for strategic innovation. Firms that don’t change and stubbornly stick to the old strategies will fail and the firms that will come up with no strategic amenities will come up ahead. As an example look at the rapid growth of smart phone market. This has
Peter Drucker’s Seven Sources of Innovation 1. The Unexpected Success
Failure
Outside Event
HEIGHT RELIABILITY
2. Incongruities Economics
Reality
Values
Rhythm
3. Process Need 4. Industry/ Market Structure Growth
Maturing
Converge
Model
5. Demographics 6. Changes in Perception LOW RELIABILITY 7. New Knowledge thrown up different opportunities. GROWTH : The key to all this is when the industry is growing significantly faster than the economy or the population fundamental changes are reoccurring and we know that any time there is change we will be able to find innovative opportunities. MATURITY : The second type of the inductee change is what we should look for as it is the maturation of high growth industry. Once the industry has gone through its growth cycle, there is a very strong likelihood that the strategies that were originally appropriate to take advantage of high growth environment is no longer relevant. Once the market has sustained the high growth period, we need to look at the disruptive strategies. We should be in the look out of the industry leaders who have seemingly not changed their strategies.
CONVERGENCE : Another industry change that can lead to innovation is the convergence of the technologies that were previously separate. Eventually the uses of the technology overlap and new innovative opportunity is created. BUSINESS MODEL : The last major market change Drucker discusses is the change in the underlying business model of the industry. Arianna Huffington recognised the nature of how individuals got news was fundamentally changing and she created the Huffington Post which is entirely online and incorporated thousands of contributors. As an entrepreneur we need to look for industries that go through rapid identity change and find the opportunity that exist because of that change. Vishwas Mahajan, president of TiE Pune Chapter, answers real life questions of entrepreneurs.
BY YASH DAIV @yash009 When Savani Shinde, 29, saw around 10,000 résumés stacked up at her office where she worked as a creative head, she was possessed with the idea of tailoring them, quite literally. She quit her job in a few years and started researching colleges across India to know more about résumés. “The results were not encouraging. Job-seeking freshers had no idea about the importance of a résumé. They were not carefully crafted,” she said. In January 2013, with her family’s support and little investment, Shinde started CV Darjee, an enterprise that crafts résumés and cover letters. Shinde believes that a résumé is all about marketing one’s positive traits and covering the drawbacks. “These skills are not taught at the college level. One needs to excel through experience. My MBA background and extensive survey have helped in acquiring the requisite skill to prepare good résumés,” she said. Her self-devised résumé drafting method includes giving careful attention to qualification details and design without using any auto-generating software in the writing process. “People come to me with basic information. The drafting takes places in four steps. The fi rst step includes preparing a rough résumé followed by giving the clients their template choices. A template is a résumédummy. There are different formal designs that a customer can choose from,” said Shinde. Selecting the template is followed by fi lling the gaps.
“Résumés are unknowingly left open at certain places when they are prepared by the person. These gaps are fi lled after discussing with the client,” said Shinde, who believes that people often do not realise the utilitarian values of life-skills or technical-skill sets associated with projects that they have done at the college level. The final step includes mentoring the client and familiarising them with their résumés. “It is not about how great the résumé is. It is about how comfortable the person is in representing it. A résumé covers up for 40 per cent of the job-seeking process. The rest depends on how the person carries himself/herself,” said Shinde. About not using her logo on the résumé, she said, “It defeats the purpose.” With a hit rate of 99 per cent and a growing client base, CV Darjee is growing with marketing graduates joining this career domain. Shinde has also started conducting thought-enhancing workshops under the brand name at colleges. Th rough ‘Goal It’ and ‘Get Smart’, the titles of her talks, she speaks about choosing the right career, importance of communication and using it to one’s advantage. “People still believe in the mould of securing marks as
goals. The extra-curricular activities are just as important as academics when it comes to enhancing the career goal,” said Shinde. CV Darjee currently caters to clients across Maharashtra. With workshops, Shinde hopes that her enterprise will flourish across the country in future. yashdaiv@gmail.com
ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
Last week we discussed about two types of innovation that can be found inside an area you know; the unexpected and incongruities. The third source also requires quite a bit of knowledge about the industry and its process need. Process need does not start with surprise or something that doesn’t feel right; it actually starts with a job to be done. It takes surprises that already exist and improves it by replacing a weakness in a existing way of doing things in incorporating new available knowledge or provide a missing link. In looking at the process needs, you want to look for 5 things: 1. Isolate the self-contained process that can be analysed 2. Focus on a single weak or a missing link, not the whole process 3. Clearly define the objective in order to focus your innovation 4. Communicate your innovative solution 5. Achieve high acceptability for your idea Reason why we want to focus on the single links in the process is because a massive process overhaul is a scary proposition; incremental changes don’t disrupt the stethoscope and is easily reversible. These are much more easily accepted.
the state in the following year will give schoolchildren opportunities to gain better understanding of scientific fundamentals and learn the working of household gadgets. The Council plans to anchor an international conference on innovation next year that will have people supporting innovation from state, country and world taking part.
MSInC will also present fellowships under the Maha Innovation Fellowship initiative. “In school competitions, we often come across students who prepare very innovative projects. We will provide mentorship and funding to about 100 such students every year. We will assist students throughout the process, from idea, prototype to the final product phase. If a class VIII student comes up with an innovative idea, he/she can carry it forward till he/she reaches class X,” he said. The Council has chosen Ratnagiri as a model district of innovation. “The youth of this coastal region migrate to Pune and Mumbai for work. By creating innovation hubs and jobs, we plan to attract them here. We want to transform Bhandara and Gadchiroli into innovative districts,” he said. ishani.bose@goldensparrow.com
The résumé facts • • •
A recruiter spends no more than 30 seconds taking a cursory first glance at a résumé Without a strong and concise cover letter, some recruiters will not bother reviewing the résumé A recruiter often reviews a résumé using specific
•
screening parameters (key words extracted from the job description) It has been proven that a professional résumé can decrease the time spent in job transition by helping you stand out compared to other candidates
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 6, 2014
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY
PUNE
DECEMBER 6, 2014
PUNE
Chandni Chowk or Accident Chowk? PICS ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
Poor traffic management aggravated by rampant flouting of rules by road-users, have made Chandni Chowk one of the most accident-prone intersections in Pune. The tragic death of a woman and her child in 2011 sparked some efforts to improve the situation. However, there is still lots more to be done to ensure citizens’ safety at the busy junction. BRIDGE ABOVE THE BYPASS
HIGH CONGESTION:
PEDESTRIAN UNFRIENDLY:
Vehicles confluence and intersect each other on the narrow bridge located above the Katraj-Dehu bypass. Although, it is one way towards Bavdhan and Kothrud, motorists sometimes cross road without any hitch. Sometimes people switch off ignition of their vehicle and crosses the bridge as if their vehicles has broken down.
Vehicles cross each other indiscriminately at the joining of bypass and the road leading towards Kothrud.
SOLUTION:
Architectural solution is required for smooth movement of the vehicles. Auto rickshaw stand can be shifted somewhere nearby.
SOLUTION: Installation of proper traffic diversions boards, presence of traffic constables and installation of signals will help. Illumination is required at the either ends of the bridge.
TRAFFIC VIOLATION AND NARROW STRETCH:
ONE WAY STEEP INCLINE ROAD TOWARDS KOTHRUD
Confluence point of road leading to Kothrud. Motorists travelling in “no entry”. Steep gradient road leading to Kothrud is narrow and causes traffic jams.
SOLUTION:
Motorists must follow the traffic rules. Road must be widened and steep gradient can be reduced.
STEEP INCLINE TOWARDS KOTHRUD
INCLINE ROAD INTERSECTING THE BYPASS
Extreme slope & a “U” turn
B ds ar ow <T
>>
<<
> >>
d>
VED BHAVAN INTERSECTION ON PAUD ROAD
>
>>> Service Road, Ved Bhavan
PAUD ROAD SECTION AT CHANDNI CHOWK
DRIVER INDISCIPLINE:
>>
Chandni Chowk is one of the busiest and most important road junctions in Pune city. Despite several attempts by the civic and police authorities to resolve the traffic issues, the spot is constantly beset by traffic snarls and accidents, owing to the lack of planning and management. This constant flow of traffic at the chowk is because it is the intersection where many important roads meet, including the heavy and high-speed traffic of the Pune-Bengaluru Bypass. This is where the NDA Road, Bavdhan, Paud, Kothrud, Ved Bhavan service road and the bypass from Mumbai and Katraj intersect. It’s nightmare for pedestrians who are completely ignored. On an average, over 25,000 vehicles, including 10,000 heavy equipment transport, pass through Chandni Chowk. The traffic consists of two-wheelers, cars, buses and trucks. The stretch also comprises a narrow bridge, and a narrow
N
> DA
Map not to scale
over the last few years. Meanwhile, the Paud Road area going towards Kothrud depot, has expanded rapidly. There has also been the mushrooming of industries and the tourism business along Paud Road, including the Lavasa and Pirangut industrial area. The number of private and civic transport and private vehicles passing through Chandni Chowk has grown exponentially in the last five years. The narrow bridge linking Paud Road and Bavdhan Road sees traffic from the Bypass and from NDA Road and thus there is always congestion and consequently a slow movement of traffic. Errant road-users who use the oneway stretch from Bavdhan towards Paud Road are another menace who disrupt the smooth flow of traffic on the bridge. Efficient planning and management of traffic are the burning needs to resolve the issues at Chandni Chowk. Adequate and capable policing is sorely needed, along with the curbing of lawlessness by road-users. gitesh.shelke@goldensparrow.com
Motorists must follow the traffic rules.
N ds
Problem Areas
>>>
City Roads
service road. The never-ending traffic flow, the flagrant flouting of traffic rules and poor infrastructure are the prime reasons for the ensuing chaos at the spot. A truck breakdown in a service lane or on the Bypass can lead to complete commotion within minutes, as such a hold-up leads to long lines of stationary traffic. The NH4 is maintained by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), while the service roads are maintained by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). The narrow bridge above the Bypass, joining the roads leading to Kothrud -Bavdhan and Paud road (leading to Pirangut) is the major trouble spot during peak hours. The indiscriminate parking of private buses, six-seater autorickshaws private vehicles and cars, causes frequent traffic jams on the Bypass, where traffic movement is reduced to a crawl. The Bypass linking the Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park at Hinjewadi and Mumbai -Pune Expressway as well as the old highway, has become an arterial road
SOLUTION:
>>>
>>> State Highway
<<<
>
D BYPASS KATRAJ - DEH<U ROA < Paud road
ar Tow
d Roa d Pau
National Highway
>>>
>thrud>>> >o hraurd s>K >> To>wards KTootw Chandni Chowk
>>>
>>>
CHANDNI CHOWK AREA
BY GITESH SHELKE @gitesh_shelke
ard w To
ot K s
u hr
Motorists, in order to avoid circular one way system, heading towards Kothrud
from Ved Bhavan, generally enter oneway from the wrong side.
n
a dh av
Chaos at chowk needs to be resolved on priority
SHARP TURN AS SLOPE ENDS:
KATRAJ-DEHU ROAD BYPASS AT CHANDNI CHOWK
People prefer to take short cuts on Paud road as well as on the bridge located above the bypass. Many said the one-way is inconvenient and they breach the rule for just 30 meters.
Motorists, heading towards Kothrud or Ved Bhavan, prefer to take short cut on the one-way section of Paud road to avoid the long route from the bridge located above the bypass. However, due to a gradual slope, these violators block the other road users. At the same time, heavily loaded trucks often break down on the road causing traffic jams.
SOLUTION:
Proper police monitoring is required to avoid such incidents. Also, notice boards and direction boards are required to guide the motorists avoid no entry.
SOLUTION:
Proper diversion boards and traffic signals are required along with police presence.
‘Permanent solution needed’ MANMADE CONGESTION:
WHAT RESIDENTS OF THE AREA SAY Ankush Mogal Kelewadi
Ananth Anupam Kothrud
Sunil Nanaware PMC sweeper at the chowk
Hanumanth Shinde Bavdhan
The bridge which links Paud Road and Bavdhan Road is very narrow; its gradient needs to be corrected to curb the possibility of accidents. This stretch has witnessed a number of accidents and many of these have been fatal.
The civic authorities have failed in proper maintenance and Chandni Chowk does not have adequate and necessary lighting. There is only a sparse traffic police presence at the spot. The authorities must find a solution to resolve the traffic chaos immediately.
Heavy vehicles damage the railings on the bridge all the time. It needs proper maintenance by the authorities. Such damage increases the risks of vehicles from Bavdhan Road falling on to the Bypass. There should be signals on either side and rumble strips to curb accidents and traffic jams.
The narrow bridge should be widened to avoid traffic jams or an alternative bridge should be built above the Bypass from HEMRL.
Indiscriminate pick up and drop points of private buses or other passenger vehicles at the confluence and intersection of Paud road and the bypass (towards Mumbai) cause traffic jams regularly. Sometimes two buses remain parked parallel to each other reducing carriage width of the bypass to less than a lane. Also, autorickshaws and six seater autos remain parked on the bypass. It drastically reduces the speed of the vehicles using the bypass.
SOLUTION: A separate lane can be created for pick up and drop buses. Vehicles should not be allowed to park at this spot to avoid traffic congestion.
WRONG WAY ENTRY:
BY GITESH SHELKE @gitesh_shelke The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Sarang Awad said that Chandni Chowk is a key junction in the city that sees a far greater number of vehicle-users on a daily basis, compared to the other intersections in the city. There are no facilities for pedestrians at the junction. Separate walkways are needed for pedestrians, who have to contend with haphazard parking of auto rickshaws, buses etc on the bypass. “The evenings are especially
hazardous on this steeply inclined road, and minor accidents are very common, which eventually bring
“Minor accidents are very common” traffic movement to a standstill. A permanent solution is required to avoid such incidents,” Awad said.
A separate lane should be reserved for the private vehicles/ buses which ferry employees of the IT parks. “These vehicles, when they are parked on the Bypass, cause traffic jam,” Awad said. He said that road-users must observe the traffic rules. “People heading towards Kothrud violate the one-way section of Paud Road, which is hazardous for them and others. Also, vehicle users heading towards Ved Bhavan, go through a no-entry, despite being hauled up by the police regularly,” he said. gitesh.shelke@goldensparrow.com
NEXT WEEK: PART II
WHAT
NEEDS TO BE
DONE in December 13 issue of The Golden Sparrow on Saturday
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 6, 2014
PUNE
“We are fully prepared for Blue Water tasks, carrying out and improving of coastal security and conducting regular naval exercises with the Indian Coast Guard off nine coastal states and union territories.” — Admiral RK Dhowan, Navy chief
Gaurdian of Lake Tai spotlights China’s polluters P 13
That is how one can sum up BJP’s policy U-turns. It is a part of politics and good sense. In the face of reality, if governments don’t do U-turns, that is a cause for worry by R Jagannathan If a degree of hypocrisy is the basis of civilised behaviour, in politics hypocrisy should be seen as the ultimate art-form. Here, hypocrisy and U-turns from stated positions are often the keys to good sense and governance. Remember former US President George Bush Sr, who said “Read my lips”, promising not to raise taxes? He had to impose taxes later when his budget math went for a six. He got a lot of boos from rival politicians and the media, but boos are better than boo-boos. So when the Congress made a laundry list (December 1) of the BJP’s U-turns on policy after coming to power, what matters is where it did those about-turns: was back-tracking the right thing to do, or the wrong thing? If it was the wrong one, the government needs to be hauled over the coals. If not, it should get a boo and a pat. Ajay Maken, Congress General Secretary, scored good political points by listing the areas where the BJP did U-turns in a booklet titled “Chhe maheene paar, U-turn Sarkar” (Six months later, a U-turn government). He said: “This government has made 25 U-turns in the last around 180 days. That’s an average of one U-turn every seven to eight days.” Among the U-turns listed are
policies which the BJP had blackballed or delayed when it was in the opposition: allowing 49 per cent FDI in insurance, the Aadhaar unique ID scheme, the direct benefits transfer (DBT) scheme (paying cash instead of indirect subsidies to the poor), respecting the confidentiality clause in double-tax avoidance agreements (that is, not naming the persons on the black money list), and the proposed swap of land enclaves with Bangladesh, among other things. Among the more contestable U-turns are the alleged BJP promise to bring back black money in 100 days, failure to check crossborder incursions by China, resuming talks with Pakistan and then calling them off, and having a jumbo-sized ministry. This is good politics and such attacks are important to keep any government on its toes. So kudos to Maken for the same. However, there are U-turns and there are U-turns. The question is: if FDI in insurance is good for India, it is good that the BJP did a U-turn. If Aadhaar is vital for implementing the DBT scheme, it is good that the BJP is eating its words (I have doubts about Aadhaar, but that is another story). It is good for fiscal rectitude and preventing leakage of money meant for the poor. If the exchange of enclaves with Bangladesh
IANS
Better to be a hypocrite than be pig-headed
Politicians are just mirroring the greater hypocrisies of the society they serve
China describes disputed PoK region as Pakistan Contd from p 1 The agency says it links China’s Xinjiang with Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region”. The full text of the Xinhua dispatch can be seen here. Entire media in China is state-owned and it is rare for the state-controlled Chinese media to err while describing international boundaries. Several questions arise when one goes through the Xinhua report. Is it a genuine mistake on part of Xinhua? Or is it a deliberate ‘mistake’ by Xinhua floated as a trial balloon to test the Indians? Or worse, is it a carefully choreographed conscious move by Beijing having much larger strategic and diplomatic repercussions the consequences of which have already been taken into account by the Chinese government? If the response from the targeted country threatens to hit the Chinese diplomacy, Beijing quietly overrules such media reports and makes amends. This has been happening repeatedly in the India-China diplomatic engagement. In 2010, the Chinese
media had quoted the Chinese Foreign Ministry statement denying the presence of its troops in PoK while describing the Gilgit-Baltistan region as “part of Pakistan”. After India cried foul and lodged a strong protest with Beijing, the Chinese foreign ministry and Xinhua news agency withdrew the statements from their websites. In this case too, the Indians are expected to come up with a strong protest (if they have not done so already!); but the eventual reaction of China will be of huge significance. Of the three questions mentioned above, this writer would go with the last scenario as the possible reason of the latest Chinese pinprick: that it is a carefully choreographed move by Beijing while the Chinese government has taken into account the inevitable strategic and diplomatic repercussions flowing from the move. The moral of the story is that India has to not only be cautious about China and Pakistan independently but also the very high degree of probability of the China-Pakistan pincer formation Firstpost.com against India.
Modi in Srinagar Contd from p 1 Moved by the atmospherics, the cool breeze from the Dal Lake and the swaying Chinars, Vajpayee declared with a poetic flourish that flowers will bloom again and nightingales would return to the Valley. With chief minister Mufti Mohammed Syeed by his side, Vajpayee made an emotional appeal of friendship to Pakistan and announced a new era of peace in the Valley. Many Kashmiris, even those who are wary of the BJP’s attempt to form the next government, remember the Vajpayee era as the ‘golden age of Kashmir.’ They feel his announcements helped in restoring diplomatic ties with Pakistan and starting formal dialogue between the Centre and the separatists. Modi is no Vajpayee; not just because he is fond more of alliterations than couplets. His government recently broke all diplomatic engagement with Pakistan when its envoy met Hurriyat leaders. To expect him to do a Vajpayee and take a U-turn on Pakistan and Kashmir would
be premature optimism. But Jahangir says Modi may announce something big and his decision would redefine the BJP’s equation with the Valley. So, Kashmir awaits his arrival. “Except for the slogan of hollow development, the present PM has nothing to offer…,” the Daily argues. But his rally at the stadium may still attract a huge crowd. Mushtaq War, a TV journalist based in Srinagar, says a lot of people want to see Modi, though each one of them may have a different reason. ‘Dekhen to sahee kaun hai,’ is the defining emotion among the curious Kashmiris, he says. If Kashmiris are seen cheering Modi on Monday, it would be a mammoth PR triumph for both the government and the PM. Will Modi leave behind a lasting legacy? Nobody knows if Modi would sing like a dove or talk like a hawk at the rally. But Vajpayee and his nightingales would be watching. And everybody would be hoping that flowers bloom again in the Firstpost.com Valley.
Among the more contestable U-turns are the alleged BJP promise to bring back black money in 100 days, failure to check crossborder incursions by China, resuming talks with Pakistan and then calling them off, and having a jumbo-sized ministry
makes it easier to prevent border infiltration, so be it. There is no getting away from the reality that politicians behave differently when they have the responsibility to run a government than when they just have to oppose it. Even if we assume that Indian politicians are far more
changeable than politicians elsewhere, the difference is probably the result of the greater levels of hypocrisy we see in Indian society in other areas too. Our politicians are just mirroring the greater hypocrisies of the society they serve. Moreover, it is not as if there are no U-turns even within the same
government. For example, the Congress party announced the DBT scheme with great fanfare in 2012 and thought it was a vote winner. It even coined the slogan “Aapka paisa, aapke haath”. But as elections approached, the party got cold feet and put the scheme in cold storage. P Chidambaram, after promising
to stick to the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act in UPA-I, abandoned the goal in his last budget even though it was easily achievable. He did this to accommodate the farm loan waiver scheme before elections. And some of the U-turns mentioned by Maken are on the borderline of credibility. The promise to bring back black money was nothing more than loud poll rhetoric, and it worked for the BJP. It is also not clear that Modi literally promised to bring back all black money in 100 days; his party now claims wriggle room by saying he only meant he would act on this front in 100 days. In any case, what matters is whether the broader goal is kept in mind and whether policies are reoriented to prevent the generation of black money, and bring at least some of it back. This could well happen – but it may take much, much longer than 100 days. As for the BJP’s alleged inability to stop border incursions by China, the proof of the success or failure of its policy can only be judged over the long term. Trying to escalate matters every time there are incursions is hardly the sensible thing to do, even though making our intent to oppose Chinese encroachments and expressing our displeasure clearly has to be part of policy. In this area, in fact, Modi’s foreign policy stance has been very clear and consistent: he is building bridges with all parties which feel Chinese pressures – from Japan to Australia to Vietnam and the US. This is sending the right message to the Chinese. Border defences are also likely to be strengthened. U-turns are a part of politics and good sense. In the face of reality, if governments don’t do U-turns, that is a cause for worry. We don’t want pigheaded governments. (By special arrangement with Firstpost.com)
Big fat Maha: Sena may get power, but has lost more than it gained
It is now seen as a party that will blow hot and cold and cut minimum deals. Its machismo is lost by Mahesh Vijapurkar Remember Gaya Lal, a Haryana legislator? In 1967, he changed his party thrice in two weeks, from the Congress to the United Front, and then back to Congress. Nine hours after reasserting his allegiance to the Congress, he moved back to the UF. Since his name was Gaya, in Hindi, means ‘went away’, his political freewheeling which saw him putting himself at the centre of sought after political gains, generated much mirth and contempt. The Aya Ram Gaya Ram metaphor which stood for unprincipled defection, the revolving door of politics for profit, was born. Now Maharashtra is going to witness an unprecedented large scale migration, much like Gaya Ram. Like the wintering birds do from the cold climes to more alluring, comfortable zones across the globe, the Shiv Sena is set to cross over, lock, stock, and barrel from the Opposition to the Treasury. India may not have seen the likes of it yet, 63 MLAs walking over, strengthening a government, weakening the opposition, and leaving a huge vacuum in the latter’s space. If you look at slowly unravelling political developments during the past few weeks, one can easily say that Maharashtra has a huge collective of Gaya Rams. And both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiv Sena stand exposed to the charge that they believe in politics of power, naturally, and not principles. Anything to stay in or acquire power, and things that come – or go? - with it. It unrealistically wanted to lead the government, then demanded a deputy’s job, and menacingly walked over to the Opposition benches, and then sought any means back, going by the latest version that the party even gave up the Home portfolio which
Uddhav Thackeray has the power-seekers around him, the common sainiks required to vote and attend the rallies.
would have given it some heft even as a junior partner. It is now seen as a party that will blow hot and cold and cut minimum deals. Its machismo is lost. The power-sharing deal seems to have been done, sealed but delayed in delivery due to the state mourning following AR Antulay’s demise. It is time to assess who gained and who lost since the election results were announced and Maharashtra got a minority government led by BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis. BJP, which wanted to rule on its own strength, found itself floundering for want of numbers and suddenly realised that its old, domineering partner now turned foe was not to be laughed at. Having competed for seats, BJP can explain that a potential partnership was in mind even while in contest, and that’s why the BJP did not brutalise the Shiv Sena in the campaign, a courtesy the Sena did not return. By this, BJP gains stability but wants the Sena to defang itself a tad
so it gets a modicum of respect – some ministries and not a deputy chief ministership. But it also should realise that by making the BJP wed it again, the Sena could very well be a problematic spouse, throwing tantrums. A divorce and remarriage is not an easy relationship to sustain; one has to constantly look over the shoulder and detract their attention from governance. The Sena seems to have lost more than it gained. For one, the party which has always believed that it did not have to chase power because it was destined to rule, has been seen as a power-chaser. A bit of haughtiness on the exterior but craven when it comes to the lures of being in power. It was a party which threw a tantrum when Amit Shah did not call on Uddhav Thackeray on his first visit. To the Sena, it was at the centre of it all, in or out of power. Then it sent emissaries to Delhi, sought more share in the Narendra Modi cabinet. It sent emissaries to Fadnavis’ official bungalow. The party also betrayed its fears of
a split within with the power-hungry breaking away to make common cause with BJP. After a drought of power for 15 years, its pull could be strong, though the sainiks on the street, the real muscle of the party superstructure, would have preferred that cleansing to happen. But Uddhav Thackeray has the power-seekers around him, the common sainiks required to vote and attend the rallies. And the Nationalist Congress Party, a fourth? It thought that because of the minority status of the Fadnavis government, it can fish in troubled waters. Its stratagem of offering outside support, a bid to consign the Sena to Opposition and leverage that to secure a certain softening of BJP’s approach to itself didn’t work. NCP may have to reassess its political credibility and mend its trustworthiness. BJP didn’t trust it mainly because it was too generous an offer. Sharad Pawar does not dole out free lunches. It emerged too clever by half. The Congress? In its own throes of confusion – no leadership at the centre, none at the state level, is poised to merely secure an undeserving consolation prize: Leader of Opposition’s office. For a third biggest party, it is a boon to a struggling party without a single lal batti to mark its nominal presence. It is neither a winner nor a loser. However, how BJP treats its smaller allies which were with it in the campaign, Ramdas Athavle’s Republican Party of India, Mahadeo Jankar’s Rashtriya Samaj Paksh, Raju Shetty’s Swabhimani Paksh, and also the others who swore allegiance to it just before the trust vote would be interesting to see. Don’t be surprised if Ramdas Athavle resigns his Rajya Sabha seat and returns to join the BJP-led postpoll coalition. Firstpost.com
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 6, 2014
PUNE
“NACO has a huge requirement of HIV treatment drugs from public sector undertaking (PSU) companies. The production of ARV drugs will begin from the next financial year. ” —KV Varkey, MD, Hindustan Antibiotics Limited
“Tuberculosis affects all organs of the human body, and managing it requires good clinical judgment and investigation services.” —SK Sharma, HOD, medicine at AIIMS
Giving prematurely born babies a stronger hold on life Josh Software of Pune develops application that has reduced infant mortality significantly at KEM Hospital BY YASH DAIV @yash009 India accounts for 28 per cent of infant mortality or neonatal deaths worldwide, according to a ‘Born Too Soon’ report by World Health Organisation (WHO). No less than 2 lakh infants died in India, in 2013. The alarmingly high incidence of deaths is primarily due to premature birth, low birth weight, infections, and birth asphyxia. However, there has been a significant, 33 per cent reduction in neonatal deaths in the previous decade Josh Software, a Pune-based company, has developed an application called Kimaya, as a means to curb infant mortality. This one-screen app involves aggressive nutrition for the rapid growth and development of
Shortage of drugs makes life tough for HIV patients BY RUPESH DUTTA NEW DELHI: Thirty-four-year-old Ratan Singha, an AIDS patient, wanted to live. He borrowed heavily from family and friends and dipped into his meagre savings to fund his second-line therapy of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) drugs. But Singha was compelled to buy the medicines from the open market as they were not available at his local government centre in Manipur. Unable to afford the high cost of the drugs, Singha soon lost his battle with the disease. There are many such cases that point to a grim picture about the acute shortage of ART drugs. According to experts and NGOs, the situation is going from bad to worse. According to UNAIDS, India had the third largest number of people in the world living with HIV at the end of 2013. As per a World Health Organisation (WHO) report last year, the Indian government has been providing free anti-retroviral drugs for treating HIV since 2004, but only 50 per cent of those eligible were getting it in 2012. According to the health ministry 140,000 people died in India because of AIDS in 2012. The Technical Resources Group of the health ministry has recommended providing third line anti-retroviral therapy for HIV/AIDS patients in 10 centres of excellence across the country. There are 448 ART centres across the country. “It is easy to blame the government and authorities at higher levels for such issues,” a senior National AIDS Control Organisation official, who refused to be identified, told IANS. “Tenders have already been given to Indian pharmaceutical companies for procurement of ART drugs. By early 2015, all will be fine and the drugs will be in abundance,” the official added. Reni Jacob, advocacy director, World Vision India, told IANS: “The government needs to realise that the way it is ignoring a dreaded disease like HIV and instead projecting that everything is well ultimately will aggravate the issue, which will later become uncontrollable.” IANS
Gautam Rege (below), Sethupathi Asokan and Dr Umesh Vaidya’s app Kimaya can be operational on computers, tablets and cellphones
an infant. It enables neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) to calculate the concentration of nutrients to be administered to the baby, based on basic inputs such as body weight and special nutritional requirements. King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital, Pune, that has taken the lead in
adopting the Kimaya app, has recorded a significant reduction in infant mortality. Gautam Rege and Sethupathi Asokan, along with Dr Umesh Vaidya of KEM Hospital, developed the Kimaya application in 2007, after a decade of research. Since the hospital did not have an Internet facility, the app was recorded on CDs. Three years ago, the Kimaya NICU software was relaunched and it can now be operational on computers, tablets and mobiles. A prematurely born baby’s body does not have the nutrients necessary for healthy growth. Through the Kimaya process, the calories, proteins, vitamins, and elements such as potassium and magnesium are administered intravenously to the infant. “If delivered manually, the process takes about 45 minutes. Even a slight
miscalculation can make the solution with the nutrients too acidic or basic, and can prove fatal. Kimaya is a proficient digital version of this worksheet,” said Rege. Depending on the weight of the premature baby, a specific amount and concentration of key nutrients is given intravenously. The Kimaya platform requires the doctor to input certain basic details. The application then prescribes TPN (Total Parental Nutrition) information as per the guidelines programmed into the application. The solution has in-built instructions which prevent errors in input data through field restrictions. Kimaya prescribes an accurate nutritional concentration to be given to the baby. This process takes just a few minutes and due to its programmed nature, eliminates error. The pilot version of the software was used in some city hospitals, including KEM and Ratna Memorial Hospital. KEM Hospital registered a 45 per cent reduction in infant mortality owing to Kimaya. The Kimaya application is given for free for use at government hospitals. “We have made a subscription based model for private hospitals. The charges are minimal,” said Rege. They plan to generate a software suite, comprising an upgraded version and several parallel services. “We plan to add a check-up schedule for the discharged babies and also an Enteral Breast Module (EBM) to the package,” said Rege. yashdaiv@gmail.com
How to eat right and stay fit through winter Winter is not the season to make merry with overindulging in food but about eating the right foods BY ANJALI SHETTY @shetty_anjali Winter is here. But the bracing chill also brings along its own downside, along with the Christmas season and the year-ending festivities. Celebrations mean lots of good and calorie-rich food and most of us will keep our weightwatching and health food concerns on the backburner at this time of the year. We can always resort to new year resolutions to lose the weight we gain, can’t we? The other aspect of the winter problem is the cold weather which keeps us snuggled in under a cosy blanket, and away from our outdoor and physical regimen such as jogging, running, trekking and cycling. What’s more, our metabolism slows down in winter, to compound the problem. Weight management expert and Trim N Tone founder Dr Amrapali Patil thinks overeating to keep your body full of energy is the wrong concept. When we gain weight we also accumulate fat. After a period of time, this fat starts attracting toxins and storing them. Nutritionist Aarati P says, “During winter, people tend to overeat because they feel the body needs it. Your body does not need an overload during winter. It just needs the right foods. Ensure you have the following items in your diet plan for a healthy, gradual and sustained weight loss.” 1) a. A for almonds: Almonds are loaded with magnesium, manganese as well as vitamin E. They are also rich in protein. Besides being deliciously proteinacious, they also help to keep the skin subtly moisturised (which helps to relieve the dry winter skin). b. A also for apples: Rich in fibre and vitamin C, apples also fi ll in for snacks when desiring winter detox
Dr Amrapali Patil
and weight loss. 2) a. B for beet-root: These contain ‘betalains’ which are antiinflammatory as well as antioxidants in nature - just what we need for the winter detox. b. B also for broccoli: Broccoli is a star amongst winter detox foods which helps not only in the removal of toxins associated with the excess fats in the body, but also helps lose weight whilst helping increase good cholesterol levels. 3) a. C for cabbage: Cabbage is a super solid antioxidant. Also it abounds in Vitamins A and C. Cabbage is also anti-cancer. Mix different coloured cabbages for a polyphenol-rich detox diet. People with hypothyroidism should avoid cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli as these
hamper the thyroid hormone functions. b. C also for cumin: Cumin is immune boosting and is an adjuvant with other foods when it comes to detox. A decoction of cumin with basil leaves is a refreshing antioxidant detox drink. 4) D for dry ginger : Both dry and wet varieties of ginger help in detox. Ginger is packed with antiinflammatory properties and aids digestion. Like cumin, ginger too is an adjuvant when it comes to detoxification of the body. Ginger basil tea is a healthy herbal drink. 5) G for garlic: Garlic is an antiinflammatory, anti-cancer, anticholesterol, anti-oxidant in nature. Just a few pods when consumed daily or otherwise in winter bring in huge detox benefits for its properties cited above. Garlic also helps to boost the HDL (high-density lipoprotein) or good cholesterol level. 6) Other foods that help in winter detox: Onions, green leafy vegetables, herbs and spices such as turmeric, fennel, cinnamon, and vegetables such as green collards, kale, spinach are power houses of anti- oxidants and help combat and removal of toxins formed due to excess fats in the body. So go ahead and make healthy combos of these foods and detox your body. Remember portion control and moderation are the keys. Indulge in mindful eating. Eat with a high level of consciousness. anjali.shetty@goldensparrow.com
The Way Forward With Compassion & Hope
Gender equality begins at home BY C RAVINDRANATH
G
ender equality is the ‘in’ thing. It is fashionable to talk about it, especially over a cup of tea or whatever. It is also considered progressive to verbally espouse the cause and criticise the ‘Indian Taliban’ and their ilk. All this is fine, but how many of us really practice gender equality? Do we treat our own wives as equals? Aha! Here comes the rub. It is the wife who has to make the tea and serve the guests. It is the wife who has to cook. Even among the so-called educated class, there are very few men who help out at home, even when the wife does a full-time job like the husband. Alas! The complete man can only be seen in Raymond ads. Not all however, limit themselves to lip service where gender equality is concerned. I have friends who cook, help out with the household chores and even wipe the baby’s soiled backside. Family decisions are taken jointly by both husband and wife. At times they are derided for being ‘henpecked husbands’ but they smile and carry on. One of my friends has two daughters. In spite of his mother’s hankering for a male heir, the couple decided they were happy with two girls. They are still happy, decades after their decision and
now have three granddaughters who enhance their happiness. Not once have I heard even a hint of their wanting a son or grandson. My wife and I were making chapattis one day when an acquaintance suddenly popped in. I was rolling the chapattis. He was aghast and asked me why I was doing the job when my wife was around. I told him there were two reasons: I liked helping my wife and (tongue in cheek) that I rolled the best chapattis at home. He was not very happy with my answer but could do nothing about it. Are we firstly convinced that the genders are equal? Do we insist that the wife wears only a particular dress while going out or leave the choice to her? Do we mask our male superior attitude as chivalry? Is the woman really the ‘weaker sex’ or are we painting her as such? Why should there be different rules for girls (especially where homecoming time is concerned) and boys? If boys can mix with girls, why can’t girls mix with boys? The answer to gender equality lies with women. If a woman wants or expects a man to treat her as his equal, she has already lost the battle. She has to show she is equal and stand up for, if not snatch her rights. She must empower herself and not expect to be empowered. Gender equality is not dole given to women by men. She must be independent in all ways (including economically) and not be dependent on father, husband or son all her life. Let her associate with men from a position of strength and not vulnerability. As far as men are concerned, it is said that charity begins at home. So does gender equality. (The writer is a multi-faceted personality who believes in responding with compassion and hope to the difficult situations in life.)
Is a problem bothering you and you are unable to decide what to do? Write in to us at wayforward@goldensparrow.com for advice and suggestions from C Ravindranath
TH E EDIT PAGE
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 6, 2014
PUNE
Editor’s pick
“Indian Railways is one of the world’s largest railway networks with 1,15,000 kms of track over a route of 65,000 kms and 7,500 stations.” — Indian Railways
Why is Chandni Chowk still chaotic? Few traffic junctions in the city are as busy as Chandni Chowk in west Pune. Th is is the point where the roads leading towards Paud, Bavdhan, Mulshi and the National Defence Academy converge. Th is chowk also provides access to the Dehu-Katraj bypass. As such, there is traffic converging and criss-crossing from all directions at this chowk and the situation gets very tense for motorists, especially during peak hours. There’s a spot at this chowk where long distance buses make regular unscheduled halts to enable passengers to alight. Pedestrians cross the roads at various points but absolutely no thought has been given by the city’s traffic planners to create footpaths for safe pedestrian movement. As depicted by the picture on the front page of today’s TGS, pedestrians cross roads at this chowk at great risk to their lives and limbs. The traffic police has implemented a rotary system of one-ways to control congestion, but with poor traffic management, there’s heavy indiscipline. Typically, people break the rule blatantly or ingeniously to take short-cuts. Th is is the situation in broad
daylight, so imagine the hazards during the nights when the police presence is weak, when vehicles run at high speed and when it’s a virtual free-for-all, With such chaotic traffic movement within Pune city itself, imagine the situation in semi-urban and rural areas. It is not surprising in the least that India leads the world with the highest road accident statistics. The Chandni Chowk junction is in desperate need of infrastructure that will help better traffic management. There is an urgent need for signals, road dividers, traffic islands and pedestrian walkways. There’s need for adequate police presence at this chowk to force the motorists to obey traffic rules. Th is chowk has seen traffic-related accidents and deaths, the most heartrending of which was the death of a mother and her daughter in 2011. There have been some improvements since then, but a lot more remains to be done. There’s no time to lose in introducing better traffic management at Chandni Chowk. @tgsweekly editor_tgs@goldensparrow.com
Modi on the right track with Indian Railways Within six months of taking office, prime minister Narendra Modi has correctly recognised the enormous potential of the Indian Railways to boost regional economy and create at least a million more jobs, directly and indirectly. During his recent speech at Guwahati while inaugurating the Mendipathar-Guwahati passenger train, Modi spelled out his vision as far as the railways are concerned. He has promised to expand and upgrade the behemoth that is the Indian Railways, lay more lines, especially in the Northeast; look further East to establish rail links with Myanmar, privatise and modernize railway stations and establish railway universities. As the prime minister said, railway stations “should be better than airports as most travellers are poor people. We can easily have trains running below and commercial properties above (floor),” to raise revenue. He observed that at a time when real estate is very expensive, railways should leverage its properties by allowing private parties to build luxury hotels, restaurants and other facilities. He expressed confidence that even if a few stations were modernized on these lines, the others would follow the new model on their own. Modi revealed his fascination with the railways and the fact that they constituted a priority area for him when he not only announced but also formalized his decision to collaborate with the Japanese on bullet trains for India. His serious intent with regards to the railways was also seen when
he chose the highly credible Suresh Prabhu as the Union railways minister, disregarding the notes of disapproval from the BJP’s ally, the Shiv Sena. The prime minister correctly noted in his speech at Guwahati that the introduction of a rail network in the northeast would go a long way in not just integrating the seven sisters with the rest of India, but also boost the regional economy and provide jobs to the youths. They would no longer feel compelled to go far away from home in search of employment. The event at Guwahati was significant as this was for the fi rst time after independence that Meghalaya found a spot on the country’s rail map. During that visit, Modi also laid the foundation stone of broad gauge conversion of Bhairabi-Sairang line in Mizoram. Modi correctly observed that the previous governments have allowed railway ministers to treat the railways as personal fiefdoms and narrowly promote the interests of their constituencies. As a result, little thought was paid to the railways as a powerful mode of national development. He promised that instead of such lop-sided development, his government would focus on the “horizontal and vertical” development of the Indian Railways; meaning, both, expansion and modernization of the rail network. One would certainly hope that Modi takes his vision forward and translates it into action. @tgsweekly editor_tgs@goldensparrow.com
Vol-1* lssue No.: 25 Printed and Published by: PRI – Media Services Private Limited CIN: U22222MH2012PTC232006 on behalf of Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt. Ltd. CIN:U22200PN2014PTC151382 Printed at Diligent Media Corporation Ltd., Plot No. EL-201, TTC Industrial Area, MIDC, Mahape, Navi Mumbai. Published at Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt. Ltd. 1641, Madhav Heritage, Tilak Road, Pune-411 030, Tel: 020-2432 4332/33. Editor: Abhay Vaidya (Responsible for the selection of news under the PRB Act, 1867)
By Sandeep Adhwaryu Courtesy: The Sunday Guardian
Where have all the footpaths gone? BY SUJAYA RATHI & SHRIMOYEE BHATTACHARYA Are we fast losing the right to walk in our cities and towns? It is while walking that a place is best appreciated; it establishes a unique connect to the city and its character. More importantly, walking is the most basic form of mobility. It is freedom; a right every human being should have. In the Calcutta (now Kolkata) of the 1980s and 1990s, footpaths adorned the streets; they were an integral part of life - be it socialising, shopping or just walking. There was safety on the streets. They were the city’s lifeline during the frequent shutdowns that were called in the city. Cut to Bengaluru 2014. One shudders to walk on the city’s streets. There are hardly any footpaths! The ones that do exist are in a deplorable condition, unsafe, and provide a connection to nothing. Connected, well designed and maintained footpaths along the streets: Are they an endangered species? Does anyone care about them any more? Jane Jacobs, the celebrated US urban activist and author of the 1950s-60s, rightly inferred in “The Death and Life of Great American Cities”: Under the seeming disorder of the old city, wherever the old city is working successfully, is a marvellous order for maintaining the safety of the streets and the freedom of the city. It is a complex order. Its essence is intricacy of sidewalk use, bringing with it a constant succession of eyes. The benefits of footpaths for accessibility to opportunities, mobility, public health, environment, recreation and economic development cannot be
underestimated. Statistics indicate that 80 per cent of the urban population needs footpaths, either because they walk to work or do other activities. Footpaths also provide the first and last mile connectivity to transit stops. Unfortunately, mobility projects that have become synonymous with road widening or flyovers and underpasses rarely include footpaths or pedestrian walkways. What will it take to make people feel safe and good while walking in our cities today? We propose the following agenda: Non-motorised transport (NMT) planning: In September, the Chennai Corporation announced the adoption and implementation of its NMT Policy that aims at zero pedestrian fatalities. The establishment of an NMT Cell, a dedicated and well-capacitated agency, is urgently required in each city. This Cell should draft and implement a citylevel NMT Plan, including a pedestrian
network plan focussing on providing footpaths (and their maintenance) - a must for every city. This network needs to be aligned with other plans for the city and should ensure that footpaths connect to local employment, recreation and retail facilities. Good design: Having footpaths is not enough unless they are designed to provide safe, comfortable mobility options to all, including people of different age groups as well as differently-abled people. This means that they need to be free of barriers (such as transformers), with safe crossings on streets, bridges, and railroads - and safely segregated from fast-moving vehicular traffic (at entry-exit points of buildings, island refuges at wide road crossings et al). In this regard, the barriers that have been constructed on footpaths in New Delhi, to prevent two-wheeled vehicles from encroaching on footpaths, is a strategy that can and should be
Tunnelling of soul
BY ANIL K RAJVANSHI
But this travel requires huge amount of energy and resources and Since time immemorial mankind with the present level of our technology has dreamt of reaching the stars. In we have only been able to go into nearall cultures, gods have been depicted earth orbits and few times to the moon. as shining beings descending from Till we have a major breakthrough heaven in flying chariots and blazing in jet propulsion technology and machines. Even Shri Ramakrishna the materials, we will remain earth-bound. However a simpler and energy wise Indian saint explained in great details cheaper method than spaceship travel how he and Swami Vivekananda came is to go via the soul route! Advanced to earth from distant space. yogis have claimed that by willing one’s The fascination with stars and death, one can use the gravity of sun space is somehow inbuilt in all of us. and moon to help the transmigration Astronauts who have gone in nearof soul to other worlds. For example, earth orbits and to the moon have Bhishma Pitamah in Mahabharata always spoken about it as a spiritual stayed on the prickly arrow cot experience. Space travel invariafor about six months before he bly changes them and has a proleft his body by will at winter found positive impact on their solstice - the time when earth thinking. Part of the reason is closest to the sun. Similarly, for our fascination with space Swami Vivekananda studied and stars could be that some of the almanac thoroughly before our ancestors came from distant deciding when to leave his body. planets and hence it is somehow others have written embedded in our genetic code. THINK aboutStill space travel during out of Another reason could be the debody experience (OBE). Carl sire to get away from the pains Jung, the famous psychologist, had an and miseries of this planet earth and OBE in which he traveled to outer space. go to other habitable planets which His experience and vision of earth as may provide better place to live. Th is seen from space and written in early could be the basis of concept of heaven 1940s tallied very closely with what the preached in almost all religions. astronauts reported in late 1960s. NeverThus leaving the gravity field of theless, OBE space travel is transitory in earth and flying into intergalactic nature and lasts for few hours. space is somehow deeply ingrained in So how is it possible to will one’s our brains.
soul out of the gravity field of earth? Quantum mechanics might provide a possible explanation. In quantum mechanics there is a phenomenon called tunnelling which says that there exists a very small probability that a tennis ball can tunnel or pass through a thick wall. Normally we do not see such a phenomenon because of the mass of the ball and hence the probability is extremely small. But it still exists. A small particle like an electron can easily tunnel through the wall as compared to the tennis ball. Th is tunneling effect is not science fiction and is used quite regularly in the design of various electronic circuits. A pure soul (Atman) can tunnel through the drag of gravity field and the spirit world which is made up of memories of departed souls. Alternatively we can all work together to make this earth a very nice and hospitable place to live where the lives of all its inhabitants are emotionally satisfying and sustainable. Then this planet earth will become heaven that we all dream to reach after death. So when we are born time and again on this planet then we will not have to spend energy and effort to get out of its gravity field. © Anil K Rajvanshi anilrajvanshi@gmail.com
implemented across the country. Footpaths also need to have adequate lighting, trees providing shade, places to sit down, toilet facilities and waste bins. There are pedestrian design guidelines for example Delhi’s Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure Planning & Engineering Centre (UTTIPEC) that can be followed. Not only a path but a space: Vibrant streets make one return to them again and again. Making allowances for suitable commercial and recreational activity along sidewalks, combined with human-scale building design, will help create an active space rather than make it deserted and unsafe. Maintenance and monitoring: The notion of a footpath as an important public space as well as a “right” has to come with a sense of ownership from both civic authorities and citizens. There exist established codes for construction and/or maintenance of sidewalks and curbs by adjacent property owners and also for liability of accidents happening on footpaths due to maintenance failure, such as in the US. Yes, it is a long list and needs dedicated funds but, more importantly, decision makers need to understand the benefits of putting people first when planning cities. Cars are a sign of economic growth - and a pedestrianfriendly city is a sign of a sensitive city respecting human rights. (Sujaya Rathi is a principal research scientist and Shrimoyee Bhattacharya is a senior researcher (urban development) at the Centre for Study of Science Technology and Policy (CSTEP), Bangalore. The views expressed are those of CSTEP. They can be contacted at sujaya@cstep.in and shrimoyee@cstep.in)
Limericks of the week BY C RAVINDRANATH
The country’s now witnessing A new women’s uprising So join and unite Stand up and fight And stop being self-effacing The game now heats Whether power or seats What’s afoot Is sharing the loot How history repeats! Are they here to rule Or just play the fool The minister’s mouth Becomes uncouth Maybe that’s now cool
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 6, 2014
PUNE
With selections from The New York Times
“We don’t want a symbolic recognition that will only lead to a virtual state. We want a Palestinian state that is real so we want to give a chance to negotiations.” —Harlem Desir, Minister of state for European affairs, France
Graft hobbles Iraq’s military in fighting Islamic State BY DAVID D KIRKPATRICK BAGHDAD - One Iraqi general is known as “chicken guy” because of his reputation for selling his soldiers’ poultry provisions. Another is “arak guy”, for his habit of enjoying that anise-flavoured liquor on the job. A third is named after Iraq’s 10,000-dinar bills, “General Deftar,” and is infamous for selling officer commissions. They are just a few of the faces of the entrenched corruption of the Iraqi security forces, according to Iraqi officers and lawmakers as well as US officials. The Iraqi military and police forces had been so thoroughly pillaged by their own corrupt leadership that they all but collapsed this spring in the face of the advancing militants of the Islamic State - despite roughly $25 billion worth of US training and equipment over the past 10 years and far more from the Iraqi treasury. Now the pattern of corruption and patronage in the Iraqi government forces threatens to undermine a new US-led effort to drive out the extremists, even as President Barack Obama is doubling to 3,000 the number of US troops in Iraq. The United States has insisted that the Iraqi military act as the conduit for any new aid and armaments being supplied for a counteroffensive, including money and weapons intended for tribal fighters willing to push out the Islamic State. In its 2015 budget, the Pentagon has requested $1.3 billion to provide weapons for the government forces and $24.1 million intended for the tribes. But some of the weaponry recently supplied by the army has already ended up on the black market and in the hands of Islamic State fighters, according to Iraqi officers and lawmakers. US officials directed questions to the Iraqi government. “I told the Americans, don’t give any weapons through the army - not even one piece - because corruption is everywhere, and you will not see any of it,” said Colonel Shaaban al-Obeidi of the internal security forces and a Sunni tribal leader in Anbar province. “Our people will steal it.” Iraqi officers and lawmakers, some speaking on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to speak to the media, say that army and police payrolls are still wildly inflated by “ghost soldiers”, either conjured entirely by a superior officer or just
ANDREA BRUCE/THE NEW YORK TIMES
US officials say working with the tribes, and military corruption, is beyond the scope of their mission
Will we shed as many tears for a Ranji Player? P 15
Lifesaving transplant for coral reefs Microfragmenting may make it possible to mass-produce reef-building corals for transplanting onto dead reefs BY RICHARD MORIN
even reversing the alarming loss of corals in the Florida Keys and elsewhere. “This is real,” Vaughan said. “This potentially can be a fi x.” Still, even Vaughan’s cheery optimism has its limits. A quarter of the Earth’s corals have disappeared in recent decades, and the Mote scientists say no one can predict what will happen if the oceans continue to warm, pollution and acidification increase, overfishing further decimates species beneficial to coral, and runoff from the land continues to reduce the amount of life-giving sunlight that reaches the bottom. “We do not know if this is a fi x-all,” Page said. “At worst, we’re buying a little time. At best, we could restore the ecosystem.”
SUMMERLAND KEY, Florida: David Vaughan plunges his right arm down to his elbow into one of nine elevated tanks where thousands of tiny colonies of coral are growing at an astonishing rate in shaded seclusion next to the Mote Tropical Research Laboratory. “Now this is the exciting part. You ready for this?” he asks, straining to be heard over the relentless hiss of filtered saltwater squirting from a maze of pipes and plastic tubing into the shallow fiberglass tank, the size of a diningroom table. Vaughan, a marine biologist who is executive director of the laboratory, retrieves a flat rock from the bottom. A chocolate-brown colony LIVING ROCKS of brain coral, about On a breezy, sun20 centimeters wide, washed day, Vaughan, has grown on the stony 61, welcomed a visitor to surface, its distinctive the Mote laboratory here, fleshy, serpentine folds about 40 kilometres up nearly covering the rock. the road from Key West. — Christopher Page, biologist A year ago the colony For the past three began as 3-centimeteryears, he and Page have wide coral fragments cut with a band focused on “massive” corals, the species saw from the same parent colony. As if that create most of the structure on a doused with a growth elixir, these coral living reef. These corals have proved “seeds” began to grow 25 times as fast less susceptible than other species to as they would in the wild. And when the effects of rising ocean temperatures, arranged a few centimeters apart on the pollution and changes in water chemistry. rock, the mini-colonies quickly advanced But unlike fast-growing branching across the surface and fused to become corals, massive species like brain, star, a single grapefruit-sized organism that boulder and mounding corals naturally continues to grow. Other coral species grow less than 2 inches a year - so slowly grown from tiny coral seeds in the Mote they are nicknamed “living rocks.” lab have developed even faster - up to 50 Scientists and marine aquaculturists times their normal rate. are successfully growing staghorn and Vaughan and a staff biologist, other branching corals in offshore Christopher Page, say this quick-grow nurseries for replanting in the wild. technique, called microfragmenting, But until now, the slow growth rate of may make it possible to mass-produce massive corals has stymied all efforts reef-building corals for transplanting to produce these species in sufficient onto dead or dying reefs that took quantities for reef restoration. centuries to develop - perhaps slowing or © 2013 New York Times News Service
“At worst, we’re buying a little time. At best, we could restore the ecosystem.”
An Iraqi army member reports to be reinstated for duty in September, after many deserted in the face of the Islamic State group onslaught, in Qushtapa, Iraq
splitting a paycheck with a patron But officials of the Shiite-dominated instead of showing up for work. And government say any US attempts to Iraqi soldiers often charge that they have work directly with the tribes would been furnished with partial supplies and violate Iraqi sovereignty and exacerbate cheaply made weapons because their sectarian divisions. commanders took kickbacks or skimmed US officials say working with the off the savings. tribes, and military corruption, is beyond As he showed a reporter the the scope of their mission. “Reducing Austrian-made Glock corruption is not part of handgun he obtained the advisers’ role,” said from US forces years one US official involved ago, he added: “If the in the effort, “and there Iraqi army had supplied is no reason to believe this, the barrel would that advisers’ presence explode in two rounds.” will reduce corruption”. As the United States Veterans of past US invests in battling the operations in Iraq say Islamic State, the waste that by working closely and graft within the Iraqi with Iraqi battalions, the forces may play a critical advisers could help reduce role in the outcome, the military’s troubles according to current Iraqi with kickbacks, inflated officials and US officers — Colonel Shaaban al-Obeidi payrolls and other graft. with experience here. But it is unclear how large Many Sunni tribal a deployment that would leaders, deeply mistrustful of the Shiiterequire. Obama recently authorised dominated military, are urging the US doubling the number of troops in Iraq. to provide salaries and weapons directly To increase accountability, Prime to the tribes, much as it did during the Minister Haider al-Abadi is trying to so-called Awakening movement against require that each tribal fighter sign for al-Qaida in Iraq seven years before. the serial number of any new weapon,
“If the Iraqi army had supplied this, the barrel would explode in two rounds.”
said his spokesman, Rafid Jaboori. But Iraq military officers would implement those procedures. Al-Abadi recently purged 36 top officers he accused of corruption and unprofessionalism. He was also consolidating his power: All were officers considered personally loyal to his predecessor and rival, Nouri alMaliki. Like al-Maliki, al-Abadi named his own new generals in violation of the constitution, instead of getting the required parliamentary approval. “Corruption in the military is real terrorism,” said Salah Hamid alMutlaq, a Sunni lawmaker who sits on Parliament’s defence committee, “and it is even more dangerous.” No one pretends the corruption is limited to a few dozen generals. “Only a few of the top officers have no corruption,” said Amer Tau’ma, a lawmaker in the dominant Shiite bloc who is also on the defence committee. Buying officer titles, shaking down civilians and siphoning money from inflated payrolls are all “a continuous phenomenon”, said Talal al-Zubai, a lawmaker from a Sunni party who sits on the government-ethics committee. Dismissing the generals was insufficient, he argued. © 2014 New York Times News Service
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Hundreds of chemical plants, textile mills and ceramics workshops continue to dump their noxious effluent into the waterways that feed into Lake Tai BY ANDREW JACOBS ZHOUTIE, China - By autumn, the stench of Lake Tai and the freakish green glow of its waters usually fade with the ebbing of the summer heat, but this year is different. Standing on a concrete embankment overlooking a fetid, floating array of plastic bottles, foam takeout containers, flip-flops and the occasional dead fish, Wu Lihong, the lake’s unofficial guardian, shook his head in disgust. “If you jumped into this water, you’d shed a layer of skin,” he said one recent afternoon. “The government claims they are cleaning up the lake, but as you can see, it’s just not true.” Seven years after a toxic algae bloom forced millions of people who depended on the lake to find alternative sources of drinking water, Lake Tai, which straddles two provinces in the Yangtze River delta, remains a pungent symbol of China’s inability to tackle some of its most serious environmental problems.
Since the 2007 crisis, which drew widespread domestic news media coverage and prompted a special meeting of the Cabinet, the government has spent billions of dollars cleaning up the lake, the country’s third-largest freshwater body. But environmentalists say it has little to show for the money. Hundreds of chemical plants, textile mills and ceramics workshops continue to dump their noxious effluent into the waterways that feed into Lake Tai. “Some progress has been made, but we haven’t yet reached a turning point,” said Ma Jun, one of the country’s leading environmentalists. “For many factories, the cost of violating the rules is lower than the cost of compliance.” A l s o unchanged is the persecution of Wu, 46, a scrappy, self-taught environmentalist who spent three years in jail on what he said were trumped-up fraud charges - punishment, he said, for his dogged campaign against the factory owners and their local government allies, whom he blames for
JONAH M KESSEL/THE NEW YORK TIMES
Guardian of Lake Tai spotlights China’s polluters
Wu Lihong, who has been drawing attention to the industrial pollution of Lake Tai for over a decade, walks along the shore of the lake outside of Wuxi, China
despoiling the lake. Since emerging from prison in 2010, Wu has continued his advocacy work, prompting a predictable response from the authorities. He is subjected to periods of confinement at his home in Zhoutie, a village on Lake Tai. His cellphone is monitored by the police and he is barred from traveling beyond Yixing, the township in eastern Jiangsu province that includes Zhoutie. Vengeful officials, he said, have even stymied his efforts to find a job by warning away would-be employers. “If it wasn’t for the garden in front of my house, I’d probably starve,” Wu said. Reached by phone, an employee of the Zhoutie
public security bureau denied that it curtailed Wu’s freedom. The experiences of both Lake Tai and Wu speak volumes about the Chinese government’s often contradictory approach to environmental protection. Confronted by public anger over contaminated air, water and soil, the ruling Communist Party has sought to shutter obsolete steel mills, restrict the number of licence plates available to big-city drivers, and recalibrate the economic-growth-at-all-costs criteria used to evaluate local officials. This year, Premier Li Keqiang “declared war” on pollution in a speech to the national legislature. But some local
officials oppose policies they fear could close factories and eliminate jobs. They also prefer to deal with environmental problems their own way, if at all, which is why Wu ran into trouble with officials in Jiangsu, a relatively wealthy slice of coastal China that has prospered from its fecund, well-watered landscape but even more from industrial development, which has fouled the region’s rivers and canals. Beginning in the mid-1990s, when he began noticing a sickly rainbow hue in the once-pristine creeks near his home, Wu began a campaign to name and shame polluting factories in Zhoutie.
He collected water samples in plastic bottles, wrote letters to high-ranking environmental officials and invited television reporters to film how factories secretly discharged their wastewater at night. In 2001, after local officials drained and dredged a canal that had been polluted by a dye plant in advance of an inspection tour from Beijing, Wu exposed their ruse - which included dumping carp into the canal and dispatching villagers with fishing rods to complete the Potemkin image of ecological recovery. In the years that followed, he became something of a media celebrity; in 2005, the National People’s Congress named him an “Environmental Warrior”. Back in Yixing, which earns 80 per cent of its tax revenue from local industry, officials were furious. In 2007, as he was preparing a lawsuit against the environmental bureau, Wu was arrested and charged with trying to blackmail a company in exchange for withholding accusations of wrongdoing. According to the Lake Tai Basin Authority, 90 percent of water samples taken from the lake this summer were considered so toxic that contact with human skin was ill-advised. “If with all their wealth, the Communist Party can’t clean up this lake, it tells you the problem is much bigger,” he said. “I’ve come to realise the root of the problem is the system itself.” © 2014 New York Times News Service
MONEY MATT ER S
Core industries grow at 6.3 per cent in Oct
DECEMBER 6, 2014
‘Buy the exact quantity you paid for’
IG Sanjay Pandey, who is Controller of Legal Metrology (weights & measures), says, a short delivery, excess demand and overpricing are considered offences against the society and lead to penalties if consumers file a complaint BY MONEYLIFE DIGITAL TEAM
The growth of eight core industries accelerated by 6.3 per cent in October on the back of better coal and power production, official data showed recently. Their cumulative growth during the April-October period of the current fiscal was 4.3 per cent, the commerce and industry ministry said in a statement. The index of eight core industries with a combined weightage of 37.90 per cent in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) with base year 200405 stood at 165.9 in the month under review.
Core industries grow at 6.3 per cent in Oct A benchmark index of Indian equities markets plunged 156 points or 0.55 per cent on Tuesday, as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided to keep key interest rates unchanged in its fifth bi-monthly policy review of the current fiscal. Heavy selling pressure was seen in auto, banking and IT sectors, while good buying was observed in the healthcare sectors and capital goods.
Mobile rural subscriber base grow by 3.79 mn GSM mobile operators have added 3.79 million subscribers in rural areas in October, Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI) said recently. The total number of rural subscribers stood at 311.33 million, the industry body said.
If consumer gets short delivery of the commodity or thing than it is paid for or contracted for, similarly in the services also, it amounts to an offence. However, not many consumers know about remedies available to them to get justice. Such consumers can easily fi le a complaint before the Legal Metrology Organisation (weights and measures). Speaking at a seminar organised by Moneylife Foundation in Mumbai, Inspector General (IG) Sanjay Pandey, who is Controller of the Legal Metrology Organisation, said, “Due to improved lifestyle of the people, consumer protection movement is now going on in an aggressive manner. Therefore, it is not only just and fair to enforce the provisions strictly but is absolutely essential to enforce the provisions of the Acts and Rules in the interest of common consumers.” “We are looking into three areas. One is how builders sell property on square foot basis and how registrars are registering it on sq ft basis. Second is defining call duration standards for telecom companies. How these companies measure the second? It is certified by the authorised government agency. Th ird area is digital measurement. How the companies are selling GB or MB and who and how it is certified? Soon you will see some action in these areas,” he said. The main role of the Organisation is to protect the consumers’ interest by surprise visits or inspections at traders’ premises, packers, importers, packaging units and industries to verify the accuracy of weights and measures as well as to check the net contents effected by them. A short delivery, excess demand and overpricing are offences against the society. The legal metrology organisation keeps a strict
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vigil on the offenders and enforces the provisions of law by fi rm hands. Pandey said, “Consumers can fi le complaints regarding charging higher than maximum retail price (MRP), using non-standard weights, weighing lesser than actual weight, and MRTP violations at our office. We have set up helpline 022-22886666 and consumers can even send us an e-mail to dc_legalmetrology_ms@ maharashtra.gov.in.” Deterrent penal provisions are prescribed for errant traders and other persons under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009. Such offenders are brought to book and punished accordingly. There is a provision in the Act to compound prosecution cases at the
department level if the offender has committed the said offence for the fi rst time. Under such circumstances, the authorities impose compounding fees upon the offender and the matter is settled at the department level. However, if the option is not exercised by the offender to get it compounded at the department level, then the case is sent to the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC)/Metropolitan Court and then it attracts the provision of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) as it is treated as a criminal case. According to Pandey, even builders who are selling properties using square feet instead of metres for measurement can be booked under the Act. “Th is is because, in 1956, the
Despite economic slowdown, markets continue to have faith in central banks’ magical ability to change the economies with a few words, an interest rate cut or more free money BY WILLIAM GAMBLE
But even after years of free money, emerging markets are all beginning to slow. Some of their present problems are self-infl icted. Countries like Russia and Venezuela could have avoided much of the slow down with better or at least sane government policies. Other problems are more widely spread. One of the fi rst has to do with the commodities slow down. Many emerging markets are dependent on commodities exports. The high prices of the last few years have been exceptionally important to their growth. The countries most harmed by the decline in commodities prices include Malaysia, Indonesia, Russia, Brazil, Columbia, Chile and any country that exports oil. There are some winners, including India, the Philippines, Thailand and Turkey. One of the biggest drivers of emerging market economies recently was the growth of a consumer culture. As millions have been lifted out of poverty, they have finally been able to purchase many consumer products long since considered necessities in the developed world. However, this
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Markets continue to blindly trust central banks’ magical ability It is considered an article of faith by most investors that emerging markets will grow faster than developed markets and that emerging markets will produce consistent growth year after year. The poster child for this thesis is China. China has grown reliably for 37 years. Despite a few disquieting factors, most economist assume that this growth will continue for the foreseeable future. However, a new study suggests otherwise. The study by two US economists, Lant Pritchett and former US Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers, comes to the conclusion that growth above 6 per cent in any country rarely lasts more than 10 years. A prime example that I used in my book ‘Investing in Emerging Markets’, is Brazil. For thirteen years between 1967 and 1980, Brazil’s average annual rate of growth was 5.2 per cent. After 1980, Brazil’s per capita income growth was flat at zero for 22 years until 2002. Basically what the study shows is that the median period of rapid growth is nine years. After the period of rapid growth, the median drop is 4.65 per cent. Th is seems astonishing given that China has grown longer and faster than any other country. The only ones that come close are Taiwan and South Korea, which grew 32 and 29 years respectively. It appears that time is up. There is no statistical basis to show that rapid growth in the past continues into the future. A few years ago, the big story was decoupling, as emerging market growth outpaced developed countries.
PUNE
Good judgement comes from experience, experience comes from bad judgement - good judgement comes from bad judgement. Over time, you get really experienced, develop a feeling. — Joseph Reger, chief technology officer, Fujitsu
India is in a sweet spot today and the policies over the last few months continue to build that confidence. I think the strategy and the mission are very clear, execution is the challenge. — Ivan Menezes, CEO, Diageo
Signpost
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY
growth has been slowing since 2010. It has been kept artificially alive by relatively cheap credit in places like Brazil and Korea, but the consumer credit may lead to a massive credit hangover. Many people in emerging markets had access to credit and credit cards for the fi rst time. It is not surprising that many may have misused it. It is especially bad in places like Russia where interest rates have been raised sharply to defend the currency. Then there is China. China’s growth has been truly spectacular by any measure, but the debt amassed in the last five years is also impressive. The headlines just this week tell of major issues. Bad loans rose to their highest level in more than nine years during the third quarter. Growth in investment, factory production, exports and retail sales all slowed in October. The economy grew by an impressive 7.3 per cent year-over-year in the third quarter, but that was its slowest pace in more than five years. New lending was also down sharply. New bank loans were only about 70 per cent of their normal rate. Total loans were two thirds of the
September rate. According to rating credit agency Standard and Poor’s, half of all Chinese provinces deserve junk ratings. Finally, some 32 per cent of all new credit is used to pay off the interest on existing debt. All of this news is bad for China, but it is also bad for most of the emerging markets whose main trading partner is China. As long as China slows, commodity prices will continue to fall creating a negative cycle for a large part of the world. The final problem is that during the boom years, few countries took advantage of the favourable conditions to enact necessary reforms. Many of these reforms like inefficient labour markets and ineffective, unfair subsidies may in the short-term cause disruptions. With the economies slowing, fewer governments will take the risk to enact unpopular policies. What Pritchett and Summers refer to as “institutional inadequacies” insure that rapid growth will be unsustainable. Meanwhile, despite the slowdown, markets continue to have faith in central banks’ magical ability to change the economies with a few words, an interest rate cut or three and scads more free money. However, like faith in the emerging market growth stories, this one will probably not have a happy ending. (William Gamble is president of Emerging Market Strategies. An international lawyer and economist, Gamble holds two graduate law degrees. He was a member of the bar in three states, over four different federal courts and speaks four languages.) @moneylife.in
For complaint redressal, every package shall have name, address, telephone number and email, if available, of the person of the company. Indian government passed a Standards of Weights and Measures system to introduce metric system based on Punjab Act. The metric system began in October 1958, making metric weight mandatory by October 1960, and the metric measures mandatory by April 1962 banning all other systems.” “Let me make it clear again that no builder can sell property on square foot basis as it is illegal. Under the metric system it can be sold only on square metre basis. We have written to MHADA and are gathering more information on this,” he added. While buying any pre-packaged commodity, Pandey said, consumers need to check mandatory declarations. Th is includes...
a) Name and address of the manufacturer or packer or importer. b) Generic name of the commodity. c) Net quantity in terms of standard units of weight or measure or number. d) Month and year in which a commodity is manufactured or packed or imported. e) Retail sale price of package in the form of maximum retail price inclusive of all taxes or in the form of MRP Rs...... inclusive of all taxes. f) For complaint redressal, every package shall have name, address, telephone number and email, if available, of the person of the company. Several times, consumers are charged more than the MRP of a product. Many times, there is an alteration in the MRP printed on the package. Under the Act, both sale of packaged commodity more than the MRP printed (overpricing) and alteration in the MRP printed are offenses, said Pandey. According to Pandey, to avoid the legal scanner, many packaged water suppliers are selling bottles with higher MRP printed to 5-star hotels and malls. Sometimes, they even use a separate brand name for these water bottles, which are sold only at these places. “Since they sell at MRP, we cannot initiate any action. However, if they charge more than the MRP printed, we can certainly initiate an action against them,” the chief of Legal Metrology Organisation added. The Legal Metrology Organisation was launched on June 6, 2007, by former chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh to protect the consumers’ interest by surprise visits or inspections at the traders’ premises, packers, importers, packaging units and industries to verify the accuracy of weights and measures as well as to check the net contents supplied by them. @moneylife.in
Auto sales: Europe, US, India to drive global demand According to Nomura, in fiscal 2015, strength in the US and China would continue to drive global auto growth, coupled with further improvement in Europe and India
Global auto demand would continue to be steady with a 3.2 per cent increase driven by Europe, the US and India and these three markets would also drive profitability, says Nomura in a research note. It said, “In our opinion, the largest changes affecting the auto sector over the past six months on the macro front have been yen depreciation and lower crude oil prices.” “However,” Nomura cautioned, “the market environment is likely to remain harsh in some emerging economies such as Russia, Indonesia and Brazil owing to currency depreciation and excess production capacity, while in Japan, we think there will be a further deterioration, particularly in the mini-vehicle segment.” According to the note, while lower oil prices are positive for the US and India, it would be negative for Russian auto market. It said, “Cheaper gas is likely to drive a mix improvement in the US market. For India, this means lower inflation and lower operating costs for consumers. On the other hand, oil dependent economies such as Russia are likely to suffer.” In fiscal 2015, Nomura said, it looks for lower gasoline prices in the US to provide a further boost to the increasing consumer interest in light trucks, especially SUVs and crossovers. An
increase in the sales weighting of highticket, high-margin light trucks should be a positive for many automakers. In India, which imports the majority of its crude oil, lower crude oil prices help to improve the trade balance and to dampen inflation, and help to reduce running costs via lower petrol and diesel prices. These factors will be positive for auto demand, it added. For India, Nomura sees strong economic recovery and lower fuel prices to support robust volume growth in FY16/3F. Segment wise, MHCVs are likely to grow 30 per cent, passenger vehicles up 16 per cent, while twowheeler volumes are likely to grow around 12 per cent in FY16/3F. “We believe benign commodity prices, lower discounts/ incentives and operating leverage benefits will drive margin expansion, leading to strong doubledigit earnings growth for most of the Indian automakers in FY16/3F,” it added. Nomura compared automakers listed in Japan, Korea, China, India, and Indonesia by their forecasted 2015 profit growth and P/E ratios relative to domestic stock markets. Indian automakers look appealing, as despite slightly high valuations compared to other regions, profits are expected to grow strongly over @moneylife.in the medium term.
Nomura said four automakers, Hyundai Motor, Great Wall Motors, Maruti Suzuki and Toyota Motor look appealing
SPORTS
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 6, 2014
PUNE
“African countries don’t have many jobs to offer and this forces the children to take up running as a career. They run, win and make good money.” — Former world record holder athlete Jos Hermens
“The helmets we have need to be improved because when you get a lash on it, you really feel the pain. It is basically just a piece of fibreglass and this is not adequate protection.” — West Indies Test captain Denesh Ramdin
PUNE MARATHON is just following the tradition?
Although it began far back in 1983, the marathon has failed to attain the allure and status of an international event in recent
PUNE: The Pune International Marathon (PIM), when it started way back in 1983, was the first internationallevel marathon event in the country. Over the last three decades, PIM has attracted and featured several international marathoners, along with national and local athletes. PIM, the brainchild of former MP Suresh Kalmadi, will enter its 29th year, on December 7, 2014. The PIM has till date, featured 15 lakh athletes who have participated in the event, not to mention celebrities of the likes of the late Rajiv Gandhi, Milkha Singh, P T Usha, Kapil Dev and Leander Paes. The marathon has also provided a boost to Indian long distance runners such Asian Games star Kavita Raut, Asian Games gold medallist Sudha Singh, siblings Mohini and Rohini Raut and Asian Junior athlete Pooja Warade. However, despite all this, it must be said that the PIM, over the last few years, has lost some of its sheen. One of India’s longest-running events, that has sparkled with the presence of Hindi fi lm stars and eminent sports personalities, has failed to attain or acquire the aura and prestige of an international-level event. And the organisers have never been able to create a big buzz and excitement around the PIM even in Pune itself. The downslide, started in
2011, when PIM mentor Kalmadi was faced with Commonwealth Games scam allegations. This eventually cast a shadow and caused a dwindling of the flow of money and resources. And though, not immediate, but over the years, the number of sponsors has declined, and even the Pune Municipal Corporation allocation of funds for the PIM was slashed. The PIM organisers however, put on a brave face, asserting that the show
The first national marathon began way back in 1918 when Deccan Gymkhana hosted the first meeting of the Indian Olympic Association, followed by the marathon in 1919. The event is still considered as a milestone in the annals of Indian sports. would go on, even claiming that the PIM event was reaching new heights, along with the introduction of improved technology. The fact of the matter was that the marathon had hit an all-time low. To make matters worse, the PIM was in the headlines for all wrong reasons. It has been dogged by chaotic organisation and poor traffic management. Athletes making their way through a tangle of autorickshaws, two-wheelers and cars were a common sight, while the traffic controllers remained mere spectators. Belachew Endale Abayneh of Ethiopia, the winner of the last edition, also experienced the effects of PIM
PLAYER’S CORNER BY BARNALEE HANDIQUE @barnalee
mismanagement first-hand. Despite several pilot vehicles, the elite runner was still engulfed in the chaos. “I was very surprised with the traffic. I was forced to stop or take a diversion to avoid the vehicles,” the dejected Abayneh said. Kavita Raut who had won in the Indian category in 2012, seconded Abayneh’s opinion. “During that race the Indian athletes received inferior treatment. We were treated like amateurs and left without any cue when
City-based all-rounder, Shrikant Mundhe is India’s first class cricketer. The 26-year-old recently represented West Zone in the quarterfinals of the prestigious Duleep Trophy held at Lahali, Rohtak in Haryana. Though, West Zone lost the match by 102 runs, in this crucial tie, Mundhe’s performance was impressive.
we finished the half marathon. There was a pick-up service, but only for foreign athletes. Were we supposed to walk our way back to the stadium?” Every year sees a large number of amateurs participate in the event. But now they are shifting their focus to the other marathons in Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore. “I feel that the PIM organisers are not interested in promoting running. They are just doing it for the sake of political gain. They are making the same mistakes again and again. With such a big budget they should deliver a better event, but their old, stuck-up mentality
Shrikant Mundhe
Speaking about his overall performance in the match, Mundhe said, “I had great expectations, but couldn’t live up to it. My batting performance was low, as I managed to score just 16 runs. However, my bowling efforts were commendable. I took three crucial wickets under pressure, which included strong middle order batsman Laxmi Ratan Shukla. It was sad to lose the match despite putting such efforts.” However, Mundhe doesn’t let his failures affect him. He believes that with ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance all things and dreams are achievable. The Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) awarded Mundhe the best allrounder prize this year. From April to September, Mundhe was in United Kingdom (UK), playing Club Cricket. He represented the Cockermouth Cricket Club. And with this stint, he is determined to do better in the Ranji season starting from this Saturday (December 7). “I couldn’t participate in the Ranji Trophy One-Day tournament held in Ahmedabad due to injury, but now I am fully fit and geared up for the coming season. I want to perform well, take wickets and make innumerable runs,” said the right-handed batsman. Presently he is training with Maharashtra coach David Andrews from Australia. “Andrews tries to bring out the best in each player. He knows the potential of each player and what they are capable of. My team mates and I are practicing with him for three to four hours a day at MCA stadium,” added Mundhe. So far, Mundhe has played in the IPL for two seasons. He is hopeful that to get more opportunities in the coming IPLs barnalee.handique @goldensparrow.com
ASHISH PHADNIS
is tarnishing Pune’s reputation. I would rate Satara marathon better than this disastrous event,” said a city athlete, under conditions of anonymity. “The only positive change I have seen was that the half marathon is finishing at Nehru Stadium. Earlier the finishing point was in Khadki, and many athletes, including me, were left clueless, as there was no sign of a finish point. They had removed it after the top foreign athletes completed the race,” he added. This year the event will start one hour earlier also contacted police to avoid rush hour traffic. “We will deploy adequate bandobast for the event and will also chalk out a detail plan of traffic diversion. An attempt will be made to avoid any chaotic conditions on the route,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (traffic) Sarang Awad. However, this is just a makeshift solution. If they really want the PIM to be rated as a global event, they must make radical changes in the organisation. Not just globally, even the Pune runners community is increasing rapidly. Events organised by Pune Running Beyond Myself (PRBM) along with unique races like Durshet Forest Marathon, Temple Run, Hill Marathon are gaining in popularity. Every one is hoping for better administration from the PIM organisers. The 29th edition of the marathon will prove whether the organisers are willing to bring in positive changes or not.
The reality of Pune International Marathon, where the elite runners face such obstacles often
Will we shed as many tears for a Ranji player? When Raman Lamba died on the cricket field, did we see a massive outpouring of grief for him? BY ASHISH MAGOTRA My colleague stays in Khar, a suburb of Mumbai. While walking to office, the other day he saw a huge Phillip Hughes poster put up just outside his building complex and he did a double take: When did this Australian cricketer become so big in India? Hughes’ death was undeniably tragic. To anyone who watches and cherishes sport — it was a rude shock. A death on the cricket field is rare and words seem inadequate at times like this. But over the last few days — his story was told over and over again, with different angles, anecdotes, deeds... the little stories, the words... so much so that even if we didn’t know him, we identified with him; we felt the emotional connect with his family; we wept with Michael Clarke and felt his hurt too. It all seemed uncomfortably real and close. As they played out a montage of Hughes at his funeral, more than a few eyes in our office teared up. It was a fitting farewell — even India’s PM Narendra Modi was moved. “Heart-rending funeral in Australia. Phil Hughes, we will miss you. Your game & exuberance won you fans all over! RIP,” Modi tweeted. Why can’t we tell the stories of our heroes in the same way? In the past, when something like this happened — we would talk to our friends, to people who we thought understood our hurt. But now, with social media we are part of a larger family; part of a connected world. So our chances of getting caught up in the emotional whirlwind are much higher. In that sense, the world has truly become a
smaller place. There are some who might say that the grieving was perhaps overdone and wonder just how much of this was real. Are we grieving because we want to fit in? Are we grieving because everyone else seems to be doing it? Are we all saying RIP because it seems insensitive not to do so? When Raman Lamba — a former India cricketer — died on the cricket field, did we see a massive outpouring of grief for him? When Peter Biaksangzuala — an Indian footballer — damaged his spinal cord while celebrating his goal and died later, did anyone even bat an eyelid? When our jawans die IANS
BY ASHISH PHADNIS @phadnis_ashish
Phillip Hughes
fighting for us, why don’t we feel the same love or even say RIP? Would we shed as many tears for a Ranji Trophy player? Most of the times, we couldn’t care less. Because the jawans are just a number — a few were attacked in J&K yesterday, before that a few CRPF soldiers died in Sukma and casualties are part and parcel of our war against terrorism. But the attitude of the general public seems to be ‘why do we need to care’. Biaksangzuala was just another Indian footballer — not a known name but he was a sportsman too. We didn’t care about him either. We don’t know them. We don’t know them like we now know Hughes, even though his death was much farther from home. The streets of Hughes’ hometown, Macksville, were strewn with tributes to the cricketer who died days before his 26th birthday last week. But do we even know where the dead jawans are from? Have we ever bothered to find out or tell their stories? They are just another news item/report. Just a cold, hard fact. The aftermath of Hughes’ death and the manner in which the world rose up in unison to salute him told me one thing: India doesn’t know how to respect it’s heroes... how to tell their stories... how to humanize them. Part of the reason we don’t care is because we don’t know. And Hughes’ death tells us that we must change — we must tell their stories so that they too may live on. The apathy we feel towards the death of Indians in India also shows us how much we really value life. And that for me, is the lesson India needs to learn from Hughes’ death. Firstpost
SPORTS
PIX BY ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
“The longer it goes without someone bowling a bouncer, the more it’s going to be talked about. Just to clear the air, the first ball of each game, should be a bouncer” — Former Australia fast bowler Merv Hughes
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 6, 2014
“ There is no harm in dropping the veterans from the squad. They have not quite performed in domestic cricket and have been out of ODIs for so long.” — Former Indian off spinner Erapalli Prasanna
‘Winning medal is priority in
Rio Olympics’ Bringing glory to the nation is more important than personal records, for Leander Paes BY ASHISH PHADNIS @phadnis_ashish
“I want to go there to win. I want to make sure that I am in great physical strength and also in a good mental state”
PUNE: Indian tennis ace Leander Paes is just a step away from creating history. With his consistent appearances at the Olympics, since 1992, Paes will be the first Indian and the only tennis player in the world to participate compete in seven Olympics events, when he features in the Rio Olympics, in 2016. However, Paes places far greater importance in bringing glory to the nation rather than attaining personal records. “I know playing in seventh Olympics will be a world record. But I am not just looking for that feat. I am not going there to just participate. I want to go there to win. I want to make sure that I am in great physical strength and also in a good mental state. I still have that competitiveness. I have already won a medal at the Olympics. So my ultimate aim would be to play for my country and bring back another medal. That will be something I would cherish,” said Paes, who was in the city to play an exhibition match, during the Premier Tennis League. At the age of 41, Paes has announced that he will partner Raven Klassen of South Africa in the men’s doubles. Klassen will be his 99th partner in this category, over the course of his
Dazzling Deuces win PTL title •
- LEANDER PAES
Signposts Motwani retains as Maharashtra captain PUNE: Wicketkeeper Rohit Motwani who led the Maharashtra team in the Ranji Trophy final last year, will again hold the captaincy in the 2014-15 season. Maharashtra will play their first match against Odisha at Maharashtra Cricket Association’s ground in Gahunje, from December 7. The team: Rohit Motwani (Capt and wk), Harshad Khadiwale, Vijay Zol, Kedar Jadhav, Ankeet Bawane, Nikhil Naik, Sangram Atitkar, Rahul Tripathi, Swapnil Gugale, Chirag Khurana, Samad Fallah, Domnic Muthuswami, Anupam Sanklecha, Shrikant Mundhe, Akshay Darekar and Avdhoot Dandekar.
Velhal wins Deccan Cliffhanger cycle race PUNE: Pune lad Chaitanya Velhal clocked 26 hrs and 46 mins to emerge winner in the 2nd edition of the Merida Deccan Cliffhanger cycle race between Pune to Goa. Velhal also emerged as the holder of the fastest timing of an Indian in a RAAM qualifier and qualified for the Race across America, the world’s toughest cycle race. Apurv Verma finished second with a time of 29 hrs and 16mins, while Srinivas G, finished third in a time of 31 hours and 16 mins.
Dazzling Deuces beat Baseline Bombers 2414 to win the grand title at the 3rd Amanora Premier Tennis League. The mixed doubles match between Christopher Marquis and Shweta Rana and Kedar Shah and Prarthana Thombare, Deuces led 24-14 leaving the fifth match, the men’s double tie, inconsequential. Ankita Raina was adjudged as best player of the tournament.
28-year tennis career. He will be pairing with Martina Hingis in the mixed doubles, at the upcoming Australian Open. “Klassen and I will be starting our partnership from the Australian Open in Melbourne, but before that we will also play one of the warm-up events, either in Chennai, Brisbane or Dubai. Talking about choosing a doubles partner, Paes said, “I normally choose a partner who can cover my weaknesses with his strengths. I am good with my forehand, so what I look for is a player who has a big serve and a world class backhand. That I found in Kalssen. He is young, energetic and in great shape.” The multi-Grand Slam doubles titles winner hailed the Amanora Premier Tennis League, saying that it was a good platform for Indian players, to learn and earn from the sport. “When I came here, I saw four of our Davis Cup players, including Saketh Myneni, Jeevan Neduncheziyan, Sanam Singh and Ram Kumar. They all will be part of the Davis Cup team in the near future and to give them such a platform is a brilliant idea,” he said. About the sustainability of the tennis leagues, given that India is playing host to three different leagues — the Champions Tennis League by Vijay Amritraj, the International Tennis Premier League by Mahesh Bhupathi and the PTL here — Paes said there was a chance for each league. “The sustainability of the leagues will depend on how they are received by the fans and the franchisee owners. The fans needs to enjoy what they watch and the owners needs to get returns, tangible or otherwise,” said Paes. “I have had a very blessed career. At my age, it takes more hard work to keep motivating myself and a lot of dedication and sacrifices. During the off-season, I have to plan everything, right from my practice schedule to diet and fitness. Like many other tennis players, I am spending a lot of money just to be there and play. I feel this is my investment,” Paes said. ashish.phadnis@goldensparrow.com
“I was’t informed about my partner, but it was fine with me. To get a chance to play against a legend like Leander is good enough” - OKSANA KALASHNIKOVA
Huge response for third Pune FC miss first overseas title edition of Garden City League
Despite strong battle, go down to Bangladesh team 0-1; finish runners-up in King’s Cup, Bhutan TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly
PUNE: Pune FC fought their hearts out and earned kudos from the crowd before ending up unlucky in a 0-1 loss to Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi, Bangladesh, in the final of the 2014 King’s Cup at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan, on Tuesday. In a low scoring affair, Md. Yeasin Khan’s 25th minute strike proved to the winner for Sheikh Jamal as Pune FC fell short in the final for the second consecutive tournament. With the loss, Pune FC finished their first ever international overseas tournament as runners-up less than a month after their historic Durand Cup exploits where they suffered a similar fate in the final. The match even saw some drama late on as Sheikh Jamal began to waste time and had Jamal Bhuyan sent off, while Pune FC Coach Karim Bencherifa too was sent into the stands for “validly protesting” constant delays by the opponents.
Going into the game, Coach Bencherifa fielded the same starting line-up from the previous game while making a few changes on the bench. It was Pune FC who began the game brighter and controlled the midfield in the opening ten minutes. However, just like in the Durand Cup final, they once again suffered an injury setback early on. This time, it was skipper Anas Edathodika who was stretchered out in the 10th minute with substitute Matthew Gonsalves replacing him, as Pune FC readjusted the backline. As the game progressed, Pune FC grew in confidence and went close on a couple of occasions through attacker Eric Brown and playmaker Ryuji Sueoka. However, their efforts fell short. As the game entered the final ten minutes, Sheikh Jamal opted to slow down the game using time wasting tactics which led to several bookings to their players. The game turned ugly in added time as Bhuyan Jamal was sent off for punching Sueoka in the face. The incident led to massive protests from the crowd and while protesting, Pune FC coach Bencherifa too was sent into the stands before the final whistle. With the match done, Pune FC were given a grand stand ovation by the near capacity crowd who waited till the team walked away from the ground.
Chess scholarship league from today PUNE: Symbiosis Sports Centre will conduct a unique Chess Scholarship League tournament at their premises on Prabhat Road, from December 6. The tournament is sponsored by National Eggs Coordination Committee (NECC). The top 16 upcoming players from city are divided into four groups, namely, Alekhine, Berlin, Grunfeld and Sicilian. City’s four ace players WGM Esha Karavade, Abhishek Kelkar, WGM Soumya Swaminathan and WGM Swati Ghate will work as coach and manager for each team.
PUNE
A dejected Pune FC team at the prize distribution ceremony
Twelve senior and six junior teams to compete for the trophy, from today TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly PUNE: The third edition of Garden City Premier League (GCPL) received a huge response for their third edition and twelve senior along with six junior and two women teams will feature in the tournament starting from today. In the seniors category, the teams are divided into four groups and top two teams from each group will qualify for the quarterfinals. In the juniors segment, the teams are divided into two groups and the winner of each group will clash for the title. Indo Tech Warriors will take on Indus Warriors in the opening match of the tournament and their senior team
Last year’s winning team PGS Warriors with the trophy
will clash each other in the first group match of senior category on December 6. An exhibition match between senior citizens will also be played
before the inauguration ceremony. The second leg of the tournament will be played on December 13, and the semifinals and finals will be held on December 14, at the same venue. All matches will be played in eight-over format in the senior category. In the junior and women’s category, the league matches will be played in sixover format. The winning teams will receive a trophy, while there are special prizes for best player of the tournament, best batsman, best bowler and best allrounder in each category. The teams in the senior category are as follows - 8 Bazigars, Kasturi Trident, Warje Warriors, Mrugesh Laser Lions, Investa Challengers, Indo Tech Warriors, Indus Warriors, AVI’s Achiever, Jawk Tigers, Pouncing ProFive Peshwas, Sachin Dodke Yuva Manch and last year’s winners PGS Warriors.
Arsenal Soccer schools enters Pune
HotFut Sports in Mundhwa to host the first centre; to be operational from January TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly
PUNE: India On Track (IOT) and Arsenal Soccer Schools will launch the football development programmeme in Pune, hosted at HotFut Sports Infrastructure Pvt Ltd. India On Track (IOT), a football development organisation, has partnered with Arsenal FC, one of the leading football clubs in the world and together with the Club, run IOT - Arsenal Soccer Schools in India, providing full-time training and conditioning to students and teaching them to ‘Play the Arsenal way’. With the programmeme already operational in Delhi, Mumbai and Kochi, IOT will also have centres
running in Bangalore and Chennai by January 2015. The first centre in Pune will be operational from January, 2015 at the Hotfut facility in Mundhwa. IOT will set-up, operate and manage the programme at Hotfut facilities across the region. The programme will consist of training sessions conducted 2-3 times a week for each batch. Student development and progression will be tracked and evaluated regularly and the programme will also provide an opportunity for students to participate in international exchange programmes for further development and exposure IOTArsenal Soccer Schools will be set up in partnership with reputed educational
institutions from Pune which possess quality sports infrastructure and share IOT’s passion and fervor for football and grassroots development. The programme brings top-level technical expertise to the fore through a team of highly qualified international and Indian coaches, spearheaded by IOT’s technical director David Moliner Monedero, a UEFA pro licensed coach. David has worked extensively in India in the field of grassroots development and is a specialist in identifying and developing talented young footballers. The training programmes are conceptualised, designed and developed by the technical director in accordance with Arsenal’s globally renowned soccer schools programme.