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PUNE, FEBRUARY 28, 2015 | www.thegoldensparrow.com
TGS LIFE
Wear your heart on the skin
COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS
CITY
Get Muddy at the Off-Road Expo P5
Together and Young for 70 years P 10 ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
Police to get women drivers
RAHUL RAUT
791 cadets passing out of Police Training School at Khandala this year will also be adept behind the wheel See P4
PMC’s Cover-up
exposed!
In a bid to get rid of the garbage in the city, Pune Municipal Corporation is poisoning you every day. With one of the largest dumping sites at Uruli Devachi shut for disposal, the civic body has come up with maladroit ways to get rid of the mess. TGS Team visited dumping sites across the city and found that PMC has dug pits on open plots in your backyard where it is conveniently burying garbage. Another most commonly used trick is to set the pile on fire, and later blame it on local residents. See Spotlight on P9
Bhagwan bharose!
A government job might be considered a symbol of stability, but not for employees of Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd. For 10 months now, 1,158 employees of the central government undertaking have not received their salary. Families of the employees, residing in the company’s quarters in Pimpri, are struggling to make ends meet. The families, that, not so long ago, would lead ordinary middle class lives, have been pushed towards poverty – most have sold their jewellery and household items, children’s education has taken a backseat with several parents unable to shell out money for the fees, health problems are multiplying as funds are diverted towards absolute essentials, and worse, children from HAL employees’ families are now taking to petty crime to fuel even their meagre needs. See Spotlight on P8 - Staring at a life of desperation
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THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2015
PUNE
“Parliamentary panel stands up for child rights. Rejects move to try teenagers older than 16 as adults.” — Nandita Das, actor and director
Hospitals exploit patients P4
Live out of a suitcase P7
Force behind schoolbags from junk flexes Product realisation expert Amit Inamdar has put a smile on 500 children’s faces BY BARNALEE HANDIQUE @barnalee Amit Inamdar, 32, launched the PlusOne initiative in 2011. Inamdar, a product realisation expert, has studied industrial design and engineering. After completing his education in the United Kingdom, Inamdar launched his company with the aim of using his knowhow for the welfare of society. Flex banners are widely used for outdoor advertising, but the material is non-biodegradable. This situation set Inamdar thinking about environmentallyfriendly alternatives to flex. A chance incident, however, sparked the idea of making school bags out of flex banners. Inamdar said, “During a trek in the monsoon season to one of the mountains around the city, I saw a young girl selling guavas. She was reading a Marathi textbook, which meant that she was a student. When I asked her about school, she said that she had to walk six kilometres from her home to school. Just then it started raining heavily and I saw her struggling to keep her books
Amit Inamdar identified the properties of non-biodegradable flex banners before designing products like bags for schoolkids
from getting wet. I was touched by her struggle to protect the books from the rain. I thought about doing something for school kids.” Inamdar’s first step was to understand and identify capabilities of the material. The next step was to design products that would be most useful to
schoolchildren. After brainstorming, prototyping and testing, Inamdar and his team zeroed in on school bags. Since the flex material is very durable and is available in a range of colours, it was ideal for the purpose and would provide protection to the schoolbooks. The school bags featured a trendy
and stylish design, since Inamdar wanted to involve socially aware youth in the project. Inamdar initially invested one lakh rupees in the project. He wanted to put the flex material to constructive use, to engage citizens, and to make the idea sustainable. Inamdar said, “The
objective of this venture is two-fold – firstly, to educate the next generation about environmental conservation in a manner where they can become ambassadors of the message simply by virtue of using our products, and secondly, how one can make better use of polluting material by creative design.” To date PlusOne has recycled 350 kg of flex material and has donated around 500 school bags to needy kids. PlusOne now has more than 23 different school bag designs, which has
given a new lease on life for the discarded flex material, even while providing school children colourful satchels. Inamdar makes around 50 bags in a week. The manufacturing cost of the bags ranges between `150 to `280. Inamdar said, “We do not make profit while making these bags. The cost of a small bag is `150 and a large one costs `280. A laptop bag costs `600. We distribute around 500+ bags for free in non-government low income group schools in the city as well as the outskirts.” Customers who want to buy these bags can buy it directly from Inamdar. For every bag, purchased by a customer, one bag is donated free to an underprivileged child. The money from the sale of the bags was reinvested in the project. Inamdar’s plans include advocating the cause of recycling non-biodegradable material, expanding the line of products and including consumer goods, outdoor furniture and customised products, providing a cost-effective alternative to plastic bags in Pune, and creating training material and programmes for life skills training youth in rural schools/ colleges. @barnalee.handique@goldensparrow.com
Here farmers toil and Friend of avian beauties reap success and dignity
Artist, birdwatcher, environmentalist and photographer Vishwajeet Naik has been instrumental in sheltering birds with artificial nesting
Maharashtra Organic Farming Federation started by Vikram Bokey is a movement of the farmers, by the farmers, and for the farmers TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly Bhushan Raut, 42, a farmer from Satara district, had been reeling under the burden of debt for a couple of years. Unable to make ends meet and provide for his family, Raut had been in such dire straits that he has even contemplated suicide. However, the Maharashtra Organic Farming Federation Vikram Bokey (MOFF) has proved to be lifesaver for Raut. In the five years since connecting with MOFF, Raut has taken up organic farming, and so much has he prospered that now his desperate, debt-ridden past seems like bad dream. Former IPS officer Vikram Bokey launched the MOFF, a state level confederation of 120 NGOs, in 2004. The members of the NGOs provide the expertise in low cost, no loan, sustainable organic farming, soil conservation, genuine seed conservation, , desi cow rearing, biodynamic, organic manure preparation from vermi culture, sericulture, cow-dung and urine, watershed management, urban organic parks and garden planning The MOFF is a movement of the farmers, by the farmers and for the farmers. It offers precise solutions based on a low cost, no loan principle, for farmers in distress. There are 38,000 registered and 1.5 lakh non-registered farmers in north Maharashtra, Vidarbha, Sangli, Satara and Kolhapur. MOFF registration costs just `100. The MOFF aims to promote sustainable farming among small farmers and provide a platform for farmers to sell their produce in the market and thus put an end to the farmers’ suicides in Maharashtra. Bokey said, “Today even a farmer’s kitchen is not completely organic. Due to the cash crop race, farmers are forced to grow what gives them guaranteed payment. Hence one who grows has to buy the food grain from market at triple the cost. It is important that farmers are self sufficient. Whatever their farms
produce, the farmers should firstly use to feed their families, neighbourhood and then whatever remains they should sell.” The MOFF has offered farmers their support, not in financial terms, but by helping them undertake sustainable farming and teaching them new techniques. They have advocated the benefits of sustainable and low cost farming, and even launched prototypes. “One Desi Cow can tend to maximum 16 acres of farm through her cow-dung manure and Gomutra (cow-urine) which acts as pesticide apart from her milk and other milk products. We made the farmer realise that it is possible to look after his family needs if he/she practices this age old wisdom,” said Bokey. With the onset of the sowing season and while promoting the concept of ‘Complete Organic Kitchen’, MOFF advises farmers what they should sow. “Farmers work in isolation, there is no planning of crop pattern rotation of crop. This results in excess production of certain produce and marketing becomes a challenge. Instead if the farmer societies plan and work as a team, multi cropping, crop rotation and complete organic kitchen can become a reality soon. Excess growth of cash crops like sugarcane, soya, cotton rob the soil of its nutrients. Crop rotation ensures good health of the soil,” said Bokey. The federation also helps farmer’s procure equipment. “It is a barter system. We give them the equipment and they give us processed grains. The processing also gives employment to whole family and the village,” Bokey said. The need to get the MOFF – organic farmers on a single platform and to provide single marketing window prompted them to start Shashwat Organics. Today Shashwat Organics works closely with farmers, for planning the produce, purchases the produce from farmers, holds seminars for consumer awareness and organic food promotion, participates in exhibitions, puts up organic produce stalls in big societies across Pune and also retails through a shop. Following the footsteps, the MOFF concept and ideology has been adopted by Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Uttarakhand. barnalee.handique@goldensparrow.com
MOFF’s Shashwat Organics provides a single marketing window for farmers. The body helps farmers plan produce, purchases the produce, holds seminars for consumer awareness and organic food promotion, participates in exhibitions and puts up organic produce stalls in housing societies across Pune and retails through a shop.
ANJALI SHETTY @shetty_anjali
Vishwajeet Naik of Camp has been in love with nature and birds since a kid. His father, well-known orthopaedic surgeon and renowned ornithologist Dr Satyasheel Naik, has been his mentor. The tryst Vishwajeet Naik with artificial nesting dates back to two decades when his father started installing earthen pots around his garden and water feeders to attract birds. “Spotted owlets and mynahs were the first avian visitors. They nested for one season, but discontinued. I realised that these earthen pots have a few drawbacks. These pots had big holes from which the young ones fell off, the eggs fell or they were attacked by predators,” Vishwajeet said. ARTIFICIAL NESTING Artificial nesting does not mean disturbing the natural habitat of birds. Birds such as the Grey Hornbill used hollows in aged tamarind, peepul or banyan trees. These trees were slowly diminishing and affecting the species. Artificial nests, essentially made out of old oil cans and boxes are used to attract these types of birds, without disturbing their natural nesting habitat. “My one acre garden is known to house more than 50 species of birds and attracts several others throughout the year. I have been working with the concept of artificial nesting for birds for almost a decade now and it has increased the breeding of a variety of birds in my garden, including the Grey Hornbills, Jungle Mynah, Common Mynah and Brahmani Mynah, Magpie Robbins, to name a few,” he said. THE OBSERVATIONS Several observations and his experience led to making boxes of different shapes and sizes to suit the behaviours of different birds. This experience also allowed him to conclude that two inches diameter was the ideal size of the box opening for artificial nests. This was an ideal circumference for birds to adapt to these boxes. Further, the hole has to be made on the upper side of the box. This allows the birds to have a comfortable base as their nest and prevents the young ones from falling off. “Initially I noticed that birds usually visited my garden to take a dip, drink water and often flew off. On closely observing their behaviour I tried to inculcate more indigenous plantations in the garden to attract nesting of birds. They slowly started responding to these plantations and other trees like drumstick, banyan, and several other fruiting and flowering trees as well. I have also seen several birds coming to my garden for bathing and drinking water especially during summers when the grass is
A variety of birds, including owlets (above) and mynah (right), have made nests in the bird houses of old boxes, oil cans and other recycled materials that Vishwajeet has designed in his garden
sprayed with water,” he said. The study helped him create water feeders in his garden and try to give as much a natural effect as possible. For instance, the feeders are about 2 inches in depth and are a convenient dimension for birds to drink water or take a dip. Further, trees such as mangoes and chikoos in the garden also act as natural food resources for these birds. A large variety of creepers has also helped small birds to make nests in them. “I took a conscious decision to not use any fancy material or make any special investments to create these artificial nests. Keeping the environment and recycling in mind, I use old boxes, oil cans and other recycled materials to make artificial nests,” Vishwajeet said. His idea is to be economical, environment friendly and most importantly easy to adapt to anyone who wants to try and contribute to the cause of making the surroundings greener and more bird-friendly. “I have used old bamboo baskets that come with flower bouquets as nests for doves, small earthen pots for Grey Tits since they are tiny birds, wooden boxes for Grey Hornbills which have now been breeding and nesting in my garden for four years. Besides these, I use oil cans and wooden boxes for parakeets as well for the three types of mynahs in So far, the garden,” he said.So Vishwajeet has conducted more than 200 slideshows on the art of artificial nesting for birds, thereby helping society to develop an eco-friendly surrounding. He also visits NGOs and schools to educate and create such spaces around in their campuses. a nja l i . she t t y @ goldensparrow.com
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2015
Virtual ‘realty’ for property seekers P6
Warrior village becomes bouncers’ birthplace P 12
“State government has decided to make it compulsory for all private hospitals to have an isolation ward. New hospitals with 50 beds or more will not be given permission to operate if they do not make a permanent provision for an isolation ward.” — Deepak Sawant, State Health Minister
Aaba’s untimely demise wakes up Anjani village to shun tobacco Aaba has left a crude lesson for the villagers of Anjani in Sangli district who revere him. The passing away of former state home minister RR Patil last after a prolonged battle with oral cancer has resolved his supporters to quit tobacco and free the village from this evil. Aaba’s small house is located in the centre of the village and a strong message (on a flexboard) has been tied next to his photograph where people offer prayers and pay respect. The banner highlights evils of tobacco and urges everyone to refrain from chewing in carefully chosen Marathi words. The village sarpanch, Deepak Patil, told ‘The Golden Sparrow on Saturday’ that the villagers decided to quit tobacco on February 16. “We have suffered a great loss and want to avoid health troubles due to chewing tobacco,” he said. A tobacco addict, Patil said, “Since his demise, I have stopped chewing tobacco and will try to adopt healthy habits.” Talking about practicing discipline, Patil said that the villagers, a few years ago, debarred schoolchildren from using bicycles. “The students used to ride the cycles at the slope at high speed while returning from school and put their
ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
Village heads issue notice to shops and pan stalls to stop selling tobacco products; bans smoking and chewing tobacco in public places BY GITESH SHELKE @gitesh_shelke
The strong message in Marathi on flexboard next to RR Patil’s photograph (top); and Aaba’s friend Ashok Shintre (right) and sarpanch Deepak Patil (second from right) tell villagers about the ill-effects of tobacco consumption
Kolhapur palace on sale Shalini Palace has been put on auction after the owners failed to pay their debts. Minimum reserve price has been set at a whopping `51.30 crores TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly Maharashtra’s fi rst and only palace hotel is up for sale. Spread across 12 acres, Shalini Palace, constructed on the banks of Rankala Lake in Kolhapur way back in 1932, has been put on auction by a fi nancial company. The property owned by Chougule Group, famous for Chateau Indage Wines, is under the hammer for default of loans to the tune of `31.67 crores. The sprawling palace is up for grabs for upwards of `51.30 crores. Recently Phoenix ARC Pvt Ltd, a fi nancial services company, put out an auction notice stating that the palace will be sold through an online auction to be held on March 23. The Chougules, pioneers of wine industry in India, have been in troubled waters for the past five years now. In the past, courts have ordered winding up of their companies to settle their debts. Started by patriarch of the family, Sham Chougule, the hospitality and wine business is now managed by his sons Vikrant and Ranjit Choughule. The senior Chougule set up the fi rst vineyard at Narayangaon in 1979. They were the fi rst movers in Indian wine market and brought sparkling wine to the country. The subsidiary companies of the group went on a
THE PRIME POSSESSION Commissioned in 1928, the palace was ready by 1932 and cost the rulers Rs 8 lakhs. Named after Princess Shaliniraje, daughter of then rulers of Kolhapur, Chhatrapati Shahaji II Puar Maharaj and Queen Pramilaraje, the palace is built on the banks of four-km long picturesque Rankala Lake. The property boasts of a clock tower, arches carved in black stone, massive wooden doors and windows decorated with Italian stained glass, Italian marble flooring.
buying spree and acquired several international wineries across the globe. The second generation of the family ventured into hospitality by starting nightclubs and cafes - Prive, Athena, Zaha, Tetsuma, Tamaara, Ivy Wine Cafe & Bistro, Nando’s, among others in Mumbai. Simultaneously, the group also acquired Shalini Palace in Kolhapur and Tiger Hill Resort in Nashik. The downslide started during the recession in 2008. By 2010, the Bombay High Court had ordered the winding up of Indage Vintners Ltd, one of the bigger companies in the group, to settle their debts. The company was delisted from Bombay Stock Exchange in 2011. Ever since, the group has been unable to stop the steady decline.
The latest jolt is sale of their premium property – Shalini Palace in Kolhapur. The palace built by the Chhatrapati clan was acquired by the Chougules in the 80s from Kolhapur Municipal Corporation. According to the notice published on February 16, Indage owed `31.67 crores as on August 2010 and could not repay, which has led to the auction. For those of you who have the money and wish to live in a palace, the auction will start at 11 am on March 23. You can inspect the palace on March 13 and if you do end up loving the property, you will have to shell out `5.13 crores as earnest money deposit by March 20 to be able to take part in the online auction. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
A
nswers to the following 10 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 two lucky winners to receive gift coupons.
TGS Quiz Contest
No. 37
Contest # 36
winners
Akanksha Gund Rajesh Gupta
1. Where is the AiMS clinic located in Pune?
6. Where is Krayyonz Studio located in Pune?
2. Where has Vishwajeet Naik made the artifical nests?
7. What is visual artists Harshvardhan Kadam’s studio called?
3. What was Prajakta Chavan’s research titled?
8. What is the main theme of ‘50 Shades of Grey’?
4. What was TripHobo called earlier?
9. Where did actor, choreographer Hanif Hilal study in Pune?
5. What are the virtual goggles by CommonFloor called?
PUNE
10. Where is Victoria Tavern located?
lives and others in danger. Now they safely walk down to the school located about a kilometre away. It is time for elderly people to listen and shun tobacco,” he said. “The gram panchayat will issue a letter to the seven shops and pan stalls in the village requesting them to stop selling tobacco,” Patil said. The village heads have decided to ban chewing tobacco and smoking at public places with immediate effect. “Villagers will not allow anyone to chew tobacco or smoking in public. Anyone found violating the ban will be sternly warned and told to shun the habit,” he said. The villagers are planning to organise an anti-tobacco awareness programme in the village and will ask schools to explain the evils of tobacco consumption – chewing or smoking. “It will be done under the deaddiction drive,” he said. A villager, Hanumant Patil, said that he is addicted to tobacco. “I have tried unsuccessfully to shun the habit. My resolve has now brought positive changes. Earlier I used to chew it after a gap of few minutes, but now I chew it once or twice a day,” he said. The village is located on the banks of Agrani river and has a population of about 5,000. It has about 750 houses and a beautiful Hanuman temple. The gram panchayat is active and manages the development of the hamlet (wadi) and village. The zilla
FAMILYSPEAK Right now it is tough for me to talk on the issue. However, villagers and I will draw up an extensive plan for our constituency (Tasgaon) to make it tobacco free. Not only tobacco, but we will try to include all ill habits in the de-addiction programme. The drive will be done in the next one month,” RR Patil’s daughter Smita said.
FRIENDSPEAK Aaba’s childhood friend Ashok Shintre (52) was diagnosed with cancer of intestine. “Aaba realised about my plight 10 months ago. He got me admitted to the Tata Hospital in Mumbai. I was there for 13 days and doctors performed a surgery on me. Aaba came and met me in the hospital and said that everything will be fine. He took pains for me but cancer took away his life,” he said
parishad school that Aaba studied was built in 1890. The school has 240 students while the Ryat Shikshan Sanstha’s school is located nearby. All the villagers are farmers owning their lands. Some have migrated to Pune, Mumbai, Sangli and Kolhapur for better livelihood. gitesh.shelke@goldensparrow.com
As H1N1 deaths rise, vaccine for children unavailable TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly Vrushali Agarwal, 28, of Chinchwad is spending sleepless nights as her fiveyear-old daughter Mihika is down with fever and cough, and the H1N1 vaccine for children is unavailable in PimpriChinchwad. “The doctor has suggested certain tests and starting the Tamiflu course. The city is not facing the swine flu scare for the first time. Why are the authorities unprepared to handle the situation and keep vaccine stock. I am told that the crucial vaccine will be available only in the second week of March,” she said. According to the civic administration of Pune and PimpriChinchwad, the total swine flu deaths in Pune city and Pimpri-Chinchwad are 27 and seven respectively. Six-year-old younger son of Sheetal Tambe of Nigdi is also suffering from fever and sore throat. “If the H1N1 vaccine is introduced to prevent the spread, it should be made available on time. What is the use of getting it later?” Tambe said. Pune-based Serum Institute of India official spokesperson told ‘The Golden Sparrow on Saturday’ that its H1N1 vaccine will available to public in the third week of March. Shakun Hospital’s Dr Ravindra Kadam said, “There has been tremendous rush lately. Most of the kids have fever, cold and there is a great demand for H1N1 vaccine.” PCMC chief medical officer Dr Anil Roy said, “The Tamiflu stock is sufficient in the city. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2015
PUNE
The Pimpri Chinchwad Science Centre was built by the National Council of Science Museums at a cost of `8.5 crores, equally shared by the GoI and the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. —www.pcmcindia.gov.in
Pune Command Hospital is the best
Taps run dry in Brazil’s largest city
P11
P13
ACB tightens noose on vasooli walas
Aniruddha Rajandekar
Signposts
Chest pain clinics to combat heart diseases
Cops collecting haftas for police stations and crime branch under scanner; this is after an API was nabbed red-handed
The Command Hospital in Pune was awarded the Raksha Mantri’s Trophy and citation for the ‘Best Service Hospital’ in the country¸ while Command Hospital in Lucknow bagged the second prize, on February 26. The awards were received by Maj. Gen. TK Saha, Commandant, Command Hospital (SC), Pune, and Maj. Gen. AK Das, Commandant of Command Hospital (CC), Lucknow.
TGS News Service @TGSWeekly
Pune gets all women cab service City-based radio cab firm Wings Travels Management has introduced an all-women cab service in their fleet. The ‘Wings Sakhi’ service will be available ‘for the women, by the women’ in the city The company said that as of now, 10 such radio cabs have been introduced in Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai. Wings Sakhi cabs have been equipped with a panic button. On pressing this button, the passenger will be connected to a 24x7 vigilance squad comprising retired Army personnel.
Sociologist Meera Kosambi no more Meera Kosambi (born: April 24, 1939), a prominent Indian sociologist and the last surviving daughter of DD Kosambi, expired on February 26 in Pune after brief illness. She was 76. Following the legacy of her historian father as well as her grandfather and a Buddhist and Pali scholar Dharmanand Kosambi, Meera had contributed immensely to Indian sociology, and women’s studies.
Police to get women drivers BY GITESH SHELKE @gitesh_shelke Soon one can see police vehicles with women cops in the driver’s seat. The Police Training School (PTS) for women at Khandala has added driving classes in their training module, the first training centre in the state to provide specialised training in driving. The training is the brainchild of Superintendent of Police (principal) Ravindra Sengaonkar and vice principal TK Vahile. Speaking to ‘The Golden Sparrow on Saturday’, Vahile said, “It was observed that the state police force is facing a shortage of drivers. The women personnel that pass out from our institution will be handy during any emergency situation.” Newly recruited woman constables
from 30 districts, including Naxal affected regions, of the state are undergoing training at the school. The 791 cadets at the school will go through the nine-month training consisting of strenuous physical training and indoor exercises. Earlier, the state police department had a separate cadre for drivers. The personnel were trained to be technically sound and capable of driving in any circumstance. However, with no staff recruitment for this department since 2003, the police units in the state are facing a shortfall of drivers. Vahile said that these women cops will come handy once they resume duty after the training. “They will reduce the burden on overworked male drivers, and will provide the vital assistance during emergencies,” he said.
The PTS authorities have designed a training module for the cadets. “It includes teaching the basics of good driving; information on traffic signs, rules, and regulations; functioning of engine/motor mechanics; emergency driving techniques and VIP escort training,” Vahile said. The trainers include senior drivers from the police department, technical staff of the police force, Regional Transport Office (RTO) staff and traffic police officers. The PTS has eight vehicles for training and has submitted a letter to the state home department asking for more vehicles. The trainers “The plain and hilly terrains of Khandala and Lonavla cities offer ideal conditions for women personnel to learn driving,” Vahile said. gitesh.shelke@goldensparrow.com
After arresting an assistant police inspector of the city crime branch for demanding and accepting 30 grams of gold as bribe from a city-based jeweller, the State Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has started an enquiry of all the ‘collection’ walas (Vasooli walas) of the city crime branch and city police stations. Last week, assistant police inspector Vijay Mahajan (45), who was posted with the city crime branch’s Unit IV, was arrested by the ACB sleuths on a jeweller’s complaint. The jeweller stated that the officer was allegedly demanding bribe of 30 grams gold for not arresting him ‘as receiver of stolen gold’ from suspects involved in the house break-in. In last couple of days, the ACB received an anonymous letter stating that there are many constables working with the crime branch and with the various police stations, who are harassing people for money. They were regularly demanding ‘hafta’ from people including small business owners. Taking a cue, the
ACB started collecting names of the police constables posted with 39 police stations and with the crime branch. Within a day, ACB collected names of the cops and called them to the ACB for an enquiry. A senior ACB officer told this newspaper that so far, few cops from crime branch and 11 cops posted with the police stations have been quizzed. “We will question each of those vasooli wala,” the officer said. Every detail like their names, nature of their duties and their daily routine has been taken down by the ACB officers. ACB will also keep an eye on their properties and other financial details. Vasooli wala is a policeman, who collects hafta on daily or monthly basis from some illegal business setups such as three digit lottery stalls/ shops, hotels which remain open beyond the closing deadlines. When contacted Superintendent of Police, ACB, Digambar Pradhan said that a discreate enquiry is going on. “I would not like to elaborate on it”. However, he said that ABC is investigating the case and its subsequent repercussions. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
Hospitals treat patients as no hawkers zone: revenue generators: study 45 roads and 158 squares Pune: What has long been murmured in private has now come out in public - India’s private healthcare sector largely treats patients as mere “revenue generators”, according to a study that reveals shocking testimonies of corruption. Irrational drug prescribing, kickbacks for referrals and unnecessary investigations and surgical procedures are widespread in the private healthcare system, said Pune-based gynaecologist Arun Gadre who interviewed 78 doctors across India. Kickbacks for referrals included an example from a general practitioner in Maharashtra, who said that doctors get Rs 30,000-40,000 for referring patients for angioplasty. A pathologist said that of the 150 doctors contacted only three were willing to refer patients for investigations without kickbacks. “To find out about malpractice in India’s private healthcare sector, I recorded, with their consent, face to face interviews with 77 doctors, and I interviewed one doctor by e-mail. They came from the cities of Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune or from towns in Maharashtra,” Gadre noted. “These interviews indicate the alarming extent of the deterioration of rationality and ethics in India’s private medical sector and the need for stringent, transparent and mandatory regulation,” Gadre wrote. Many interviewees mentioned unnecessary investigations and surgical procedures.
One example was gynaecologists performing ultrasounds without indications in pregnant women who complain of trivial abdominal pain, then fabricating false reports of cervical abnormalities and advising the women to have cervical stitches, with the pretext of preventing miscarriage. Few patients request a second opinion, and the doctor does not give them any documents to avoid being found out. Another example given by a pathologist was referred to as the ‘sink test’. The referring doctor advises a battery of laboratory tests despite no suspicion of pathology. Only a few of the tests are performed, and the extra blood collected is dumped in the sink. Fabricated results are then given in the normal range for all tests that were not performed. The patient pays a large sum, which is shared by the referring doctor and the pathologist, the study noted. Indian medical associations claim that few doctors indulge in unethical and irrational practices, but several interviewees opined that few doctors are unaffected by increasing commercialisation. These interviews underscore one fact - paying money does not guarantee good healthcare, Gadre pointed out. The study appeared in The BMJ (formerly IANS The British Medical Journal).
Hawkers unions have agreed to the proposal given by PMC’s Town Vending Committee By Ashok Bhat @ashok_bhat
Now, pedestrians will soon enjoy their right to walk on city roads as Pune’s 45 major roads including Ferguson Collage Road, JM Road, Karve Road, Laxmi Road will be no hawkers’ zone soon. It will also ease vehicular movement on these roads and will give relief to 25 lakh private vehicle owners and drivers of public transport. All the hawkers’ unions have already given their nod to the proposal given by Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) Town Vending Committee (TVC). Now the proposal is on agenda of PMC’s general body. With these roads, 158 major squares of the city will also be hawkers free. Supreme Court issued directives for rehabilitation of hawkers on September 9, 2013 under the Street Vendors Act 2014, and accordingly, PMC formed Town Vending Committee under the chairmanship of Municipal Commissioner on January 6, 2014. President of Pathariwale Panchayat Balasaheb More, Sai Jadhav of Consumer Protection, Shantaram Matule of Shram Shakti, activists Jugal Rathi, Madhav Jagtap of PMC, urban planner Vishwas Sahastrabudhe and others are members of TVC. This committee has unanimously given approval to ‘no-hawkers zone’ on 45 major city roads and 158 squares. Sanjay Shanke of Janiv Sanghatana said, “The committee is of the opinion that PMC should not make all roads as ‘no hawkers’ zone’. It should permit vendors to put up their stall wherever possible without creating hurdles to traffic on these 45 roads. Similarly, in 158 squares, hawkers unions suggest that hawker should put his ‘pathri’ or stall 50 feet away from the main squares.” PMC had done a survey of hawkers with the help of these unions. A total of 25,000 hawkers have been noticed in the spot survey. Madhav Jagtap of PMC said, “About 16,000 street vendors have filled up the form for the further procedure and certificates have been issued to 7,000 vendors. This ‘no hawkers’ zone’ proposal is important from the view of traffic congestion and traffic problem. Action
Rahul Raut
Indian private hospitals demand kickbacks for referrals, advise patients unnecessary investigations and pathological tests
No hawkers’ zone will ensure smooth vehicular movement on 45 city roads
Highlights of system • Colour coding for ward office and zonal office to avoid duplication. • Family history of the hawker has been recorded for the first time. • Use of GIS for tracking business spot. • Use of bio-matrix thumb impressions of hawker and his successor from family for authenticity. • Free software to download. Just scan or click the QR code from smart card or from certificate of hawker and put it in same software will provide all information.
against unauthorised vendor is also stopped for approval of no hawkers’ zone. In city like Pune, every day new hawkers get added on roads and PMC don’t have that much machinery to control them. As soon as GB cleared this proposal, the results can be seen on roads.” Once the entire street vendor issued
cards and certificates, they can be controlled by technology. “A geographic information system (GIS) will be used to track the hawker’s location, while his bio-matrix will help keep his record. Identity cards have already been issued to these hawkers. Any citizen who wants to file complain against any hawker can file it from his cell phone,” Jagtap added. Restrictions on hawkers Licensee can do business on the demarcated spot only. Cooking is not allowed except the food plaza or in food malls. Also they are not allowed to use cooking gas on business spot for preparation of eatables on roads. Violators will have to face action by PMC, Police and Traffic Police. PMC’s action against hawkers for first offence – warning; second offence – fine of `1,000, for third offence – fine of `5,000 and fourth offence license will be cancelled. Offences and punishments to hawker will be recorded on-line. ashok.bhat21@gmail.com
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2015
“There were complaints that some students take free passes, but don’t travel by PMPML buses. We have planned to introduce basic charges for these passes to keep a check on the usage of this facility.” —Bapu Karne, chairman, PMC Standing Committee
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Your child is a toon hero! P7
GET MUDDY AT THE OFF ROAD EXPO
The event organised by ‘evo India’ and vehicle manufacturers is the first in Pune
T
aking place starting this Friday (February 27) and going on till Sunday, evo India, in association with JK Tyre, Polaris, Mahindra, and Force Motors has organised, for the fi rst time in Pune, an off-road expo at the Amanora Mall. The weekend is meant to spread the word, ‘off-road culture is here to stay’. In a bid to showcase the thrill of off-roading and the associated culture in India, the three-day expo will have manufacturers displaying their SUVs, pick-ups and other, more wacky off-roaders, an awards show for the best in their categories, some of the most well-known offroaders and rally drivers sharing their experiences, and specially designed tracks for everyone to drive on. Registration has begun at http:// off road.evo.in/. The weekend event will see every SUV and off-roader sold in India on display, with every manufacturer bringing their products, from the smaller Renault Duster AWD to the
The weekend event will see every SUV and off-roader sold in India on display premium BMW X3, and everything in between. Even ATV maker Polaris will have a podium for their RZR, and the COEP Baja buggy will also be showcased. Beyond just the cars on display, evo has organised experts, experienced off-roaders and some of the best rally drivers in the country to come to the off-road expo to share their expertise and their insight on the art of off-roading. Some of the elite at the Muddy Evenings event
include APRC & IRC champion Gaurav Gill, Mahindra Adventure head Bijoy Kumar, Hari Singh, Polaris India head Pankaj Dubey, Triumph India MD Vimal Sumbly, and more. Some experts will give tips on the various aspects of off-roading, like using a high lift jack, while some will talk about their own experiences, the do’s and don’ts of going off the beaten path. All those who would like to get a feel for off-roading can register at http://off road.evo.in/, and drive one of the many cars that will be available at the expo, on the various tracks. The JK Arena + Polaris autocross track will be used to showcase the zany off-road capability of the quick Polaris RZR, while the Force Motors track and the Mahindra off-road track are both for those who’d like a serious off-road challenge. Here’s a few video’s of the offroad tracks made near the Amanora mall to indulge in your off-road fantasy. Come by and get a little muddy.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015. 5PM ONWARDS Tejas Kothari
Off Road Junkies
Real world demo: How to use a High Lift Jack
Pankaj Dubey
Country Head, Polaris India
Conversation: All Terrain Vehicles (ATV)
Off Road Expert
Conversation: Jeeps
Hari Singh
Off Road Expert & Rally Champion
Conversation: Tyres and Off Road Driving Techniques
Sean Parmeshwar
Off Road Expert, Everything 4WD
Conversation: Specialised off-road equipment
Gaurav Gill
APRC & Multiple INRC Champion
Conversation: Rallying
Uday Bhan Singh
SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2015. 5PM ONWARDS Bijoy Kumar
Head, Mahindra Adventure
Conversation: Off Road Communities
Off Road Expert
Conversation: Jeeps
Off Road Expert, Iron Man Suspensions
Conversation: Off Road Suspension
MD, Triumph India
Conversation: Off Road Bikes
Helmet Stories
Conversation: Off Road Tours & Adventures
Uday Bhan Singh Zac Marrat Vimal Sumbly Vir Nakai
The print buffoonery: matrimonial ads Men and women are presented as commodities through matrimonial advertisements; some go beyond the materialistic demands and end up tickling the funny bone BY YASH DAIV @yash009 Print matrimonial advertisements are a veritable glimpse of what Indian society looks like. Fair or dark, tall or short, men and more so for women come across as showcased objects. Feminists use the term ‘commoditising’ to describe such advertisements for it is an attack on women’s dignity, especially. Some stereotypes through advertisements touch a new level altogether. Some people go on about telling what colour is their hair or heart (Yes! You heard it right). There is a demand for ‘clean shaven’ men too. Then, some say they are ‘sexually unfit because of a previous divorce’. Religious interventions are given equal importance. With religion comes the demand of being good looking or tall, if nothing money covers up for the lack of it. For instance, in a recent matrimonial classified in a daily an advertisement read, “She can wear jeans in the house but if she has to step out she should respect the cast” (which means she should wear salwar-kameez). Family background also needs to be explained, as to what the father and the sibling’s (if existing) profession is. If the advertisement is put forth by the girl’s family, her education and professional background is given the least preference. Similar are the demands put forth by a boy’s family. For instance, this online advertisement reads, “looking for (a girl who will) back up support my career, especially culture queens needed”. For a girl, “non-social media users” are given preference by some families. STEREOTYPICAL STRUCTURE OF SOCIETY Prajakta Chavan, a lecturer at SNDT Pune, compiled a dissertation titled ‘Matrimonial ads and the expected role of women in the contemporary Indian matrimonial scenario’
during her MA course at Savitribai Phule Pune University. It talks about the expectations that the boy’s family have when it comes to selecting the prospective brides. “I found that in most of the advertisements, the women were expected to be fair, slim, shorter than and younger to the prospective groom, well educated, working and most importantly, cultured, adjusting and one who would respect elders. In the 21st century people look for a complete package within the
brides, one who is traditionally ‘gori, sanskari aur agyakaribahu’ (a fair and well behaved daughterin-law) and earns money,” she said. Skin colour is the mark of distinction in the advertisements. Matrimonial rulebook is absolutely pro colour matching. Every prospective parent-in-laws want a daughter-inlaw who is fair and slim. Every week there are several classified which demand a girl who is ‘homely’ or a divorcee, who is ‘innocent.’ Some of them do not hesitate to mention what kind of property the girl’s family must possess, be it a house or specific amount of land. Also there is cooking criteria. A famous advertisement that has been doing rounds on the social media reads, “…she must be able to cook frog legs…and appreciates classical music and talking without getting too serious”. The demands made through these advertisements highlight the stereotypical structure of society. A marriage is seen as the means to evaluate one’s position in the society. And for that, the desperate quest to find the perfect spouse starts with putting the obsolete details in such ads. Natasha Deboo, a student of Feminism and Literature at the Department of English at Savitribai Phule Pune University says, “The matrimonial ads are extremely anti-feministic in nature and portray the patriarchy that is still prevalent in Indian society. Many matrimonial advertisements have unrealistic, at the same time regressive, expectations from women.” However, she adds that such stereotypes exist for women only, whereas men have no restrictions. Such lampooning has given the social media some content to muse over. Every day newspapers have some matrimonial advertisement to tickle the funny bone. In reality, crass materialistic kind of match-making often ends up in marriages. For once, the classifieds within the newspaper become a mirror that shows what goes behind the façade of a modern mentality. yashdaiv@gmail.com
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2015
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There’s an estimated 637 million websites, of which there are over 250 million blogs -http://www.inscribd.com
Will the budget clarify tax provisions?
Indian team uses cancer rings for DNA detection
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Virtual ‘realty’ for property seekers CommonFloor launches Retina, a headgear and an android app that gives a virtual tour of the property anywhere TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly CommonFloor.com, India’s online real estate platform launched CommonFloor Retina, world’s first virtual reality innovation in real estate. This technological breakthrough offers a virtual property experience for the potential client
allowing them to view, review and assess multiple properties from anywhere. To use CommonFloor Retina, the user needs to sport the specially designed headgear to experience virtual tour of the property of his/her choice. This offers the buyer an unforgettable experience of the property. They can see the space and perceive the ambience in this virtual tour. The simple magnet on the headgear acts as a navigation tool. The app also saves the builder’s cost in constructing a model apartment in the building. The application is also available on android phones. CommonFloor was launched in 2007 by - Vyoma Pandit Sumit Jain, Lalit Mangal and Vikas Malpani. It combines property search, apartment management and vendor management that cater to a person’s residential requirements. With five lakh active property listings from over 200 cities, it has over one lakh residential projects listed with it. The company has been lauded by several industrials magnates, teeming it to be very instrumental in transforming the way the properties are seen. JC Sharma, vice chairman and managing director, Sobha Limited, said that the virtual headgear is another milestone on the real-estate scenario. Jain, co-founder and CEO, CommonFloor.com said, “As a new-age online realty player, technology and innovation are integral to the company’s progression. We have endeavoured to create tools and technology that makes property search easy for the consumer. CommonFloor Retina is a result of one such quest that adapts technology smartly to the consumer’s advantage.” The app, Vyoma Pandit, Senior DGM, Marketing, Brigade Group, claims to provide an in-depth tour of the apartment. The tour would help the client screen multiple properties before singling down on one. “Not only does the head gear allows a peek into the property for a long distance
“The tour would help clients screen multiple properties.”
HOW DOES COMMON FLOOR RETINA WORK ON ANDROID? Install the CommonFloor Retina application on your android phone Launch the App and insert the phone inside CF Retina headgear Experience the property through virtual reality Tech Specifications: The app works on the Android platform with the following phones • Nexus 4 and above • MotoG 2nd Gen • Samsung Galaxy 4 and above • MotoX • Mi3 Visit www.commonfloor.com/retina and stream the video at http://goo.gl/3M7gAv for more info
client, but also allows them to share their purchase property with their friends by making them sport the headgear,” she said. The product is an outcome of CommoFloor’s strategic investments in producing cutting edge technology. Pegged to be a game changer on the national real-estate front, Lalit Mangal, co-founder and CTO, CommonFloor.com, believes that the headgear can go global. “We will work closely with the builder community to scale-up the number of projects listed, thereby helping property buyers to choose from as many projects that may want to visit,” he said. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
said Rajitha Kota from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine in the US. Cyberbullying and its effects have been studied largely in middle and high school students, but less is known about cyberbullying in college students. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between involvement in cyberbullying and depression or problem alcohol use among college females. For the study, two hundred and sixty-five female students from four colleges completed
online surveys assessing involvement in cyberbullying behaviours. Participants also completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to assess depressive symptoms and the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) to assess problem drinking. The researchers found that more than one in four females experienced cyberbullying in college, increasing their risk for depression. Among the participants who had experienced cyberbullying, the most
Acompli: Sort out your official documents
common behaviours reported were hacking into another person’s account, receiving unwanted sexual advances, being harassed by text message, and posting of degrading comments. Those who had experienced unwanted sexual advances online or via text message had six-fold increase in odds of depression, the findings showed. The study appeared in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. IANS
The Internet could crash, we need a Plan B Tech pioneer Danny Hillis says that parallel system doesn’t necessarily have to have the performance of the Internet, but it can use existing fibres that are in the ground
We’re using the internet in a very different way than we were expected to. It has gotten into a very different scale than it was designed for. In fact, nobody really exactly understands all the things it’s being used for right now. It’s constantly changing and reconfiguring.” said Danny Hillis, tech pioneer during the TEDGlobal 2013 conference. No doubt, the Internet connects billions of people and machines; it’s the backbone of modern life. It wasn’t designed to grow this big and Hillis fears that one big cyberattack or glitch could shut it down and take civilization with it. He cited an example of the early days when the Internet was just designed. Initially when ARPANET was used, it failed completely once because a single message processor actually got a bug. He said, “When the Internet works, the routers are basically exchanging information about how they can get messages to places, and this one processor, because of a broken card, decided it could actually get a message to some place in negative time. So, in other words, it claimed it could deliver a message before one send it.” After that, everything started breaking. The
sysadmins were able to fi x it, but they had to basically turn every single thing on the Internet off. It will be chaotic if it happens now. One of the reasons is a lot of telephones use IP protocols are using internet. These systems are beginning to use the Internet for service and administrative functions. He said, “More and more systems are
using the same technology and depending on it. Even a modern rocket ship these days actually uses Internet protocol to talk from one end of the rocket ship to the other. The internet wasn’t built to handle things like that.” Hillis believes that we are setting ourselves up for a kind of disaster like the disaster we had in the financial system,
Hello Vino is a guide to every day wine buyers. The app prompts the users with choices of wine that will go best the food that they are about to eat. Users can snap pictures of their purchases and attach notes to their favorites. The app’s wine inventory allows users to read up on wine and grape varieties as well. The premium feature allows the users to scan wine labels to bring up tasting notes, ratings and recommended food pairings. A new feature on the iPhone app allows users to call a California-based wine concierge for advice when looking for the best wine. Available on: Android, iOS
Wire is that messaging app that smartphone developers must look forward to while upgrading mobile software. The seamlessly designed app’s highlights are its minimalist UI and end-to-end encryption. Any kind of content can be shared easily, voice calls and chat in a great-looking messenger is what t e x t i n g future looks like. Available on: iOS and Android
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.
BY BARNALEE HANDIQUE @barnalee
Hello Vino : Guide to buy the perfect wine
Wire: Messaging app you were looking for
Cyberbullying may depress female students Involvement in cyberbullying increases risk of depression in female college students - for both bullies and victims , says a study led by an Indian-origin researcher. What is worse is that the bullies are also likely to report problem alcohol use, the researchers noted. “Participants with any involvement in cyberbullying had increased odds of depression and those involved in cyberbullying as bullies had increased odds of both depression and problem alcohol use,”
APP WORLD
where we take a system that’s basically built on trust and for a smaller-scale system. We have expanded it way beyond the limits of how it was meant to operate. He thinks it’s literally true that we don’t know what the consequences of an effective denial-of-service attack on the Internet will bet. So what is needed is a plan B which does not exist right now. There’s no clear backup system that has been carefully kept to be independent of the Internet. This alternate system doesn’t necessarily have to have the performance of the Internet, but it could have emergency facilities for police departments and hospitals. This doesn’t need to be a multi-billiondollar government project. It’s actually relatively simple to do, technically, because it can use existing fibres that are in the ground, existing wireless infrastructure. Hillis says that it is hard to get people focused on plan B when plan A seems to be working so well.“I think that, if people understand how much we’re starting to depend on the Internet, and how vulnerable it is, we could get focused on just wanting this other system to exist, and I think if enough people say, “Yeah, I would like to use it, I’d like to have such a system, then it will get built,” he said. barnalee.handique@goldensparrow.com
Inbox by Gmail notched up the app charts in 2014. Acompli, which was released around same time, is a super-productive app which is a notch better than inbox. This email client is built to help you get some real work done. With easy access to your calendar, Microsoft Exchange support, and quick references to recently emailed contacts, Acompli is email at its most productive. Microsoft just bought them out. Thus, the users can now expect some amazing features in the updates Available on: iOS and Android
Any.Do: Follow your to-do list sincerely We all have our to-do lists which we seldom follow. Any.Do is an app that will make you follow it. The app encourages the users to build task-management rituals through the daily Any.Do Moment. This feature allows the user to start each day by deciding which tasks you’ll complete, which you’ll delegate and which ones you’ll put off. In other words, it creates mindfulness, forcing the user to think about it rather than just glance at it every now and again. The second feature, Any.Do Cal, integrates all sorts of activities to make your calendar more useful. Available on: iOS and Android
ZenDay: Sync your task for effective implementation ZenDay will help you effectively accomplish your tasks. It combines calendar information with pre-entered tasks and to-do items into a 3D user interface, which helps the user visualize what lies ahead. A neat feature of ZenDay is the ability to create ‘floating tasks’, which are dynamically added to the calendar whenever time is available. Depending on priorities, tasks get rearranged in the calendar and once completed, automatically disappear to give more space to other commitments. ZenDay also includes a “Time Coach” feature, which debriefs you on your previous week. By becoming more aware of your achievements, you will naturally become more effective. Available on: iOS and Android
Fooducate: Nutrition values by scanning the barcode Fooducate is nutrition education. It helps you shop and eat healthy by allowing you to quickly pull up nutritional information about food products from barcodes. Also, nutritional labels start making more sense. The app displays a letter grade from A to D, along with a quick summary of nutrition information in simple language, as well as healthy alternative suggestions. If users cook their own meals, you can also manually enter a meal’s nutritional information. In addition, the app also doubles as an intake, calorie and exercise tracker. Available on: iOS and Android
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2015
For accommodation owners and customers, our end-to-end managed marketplace model has been our biggest strength. —Yogendra Vasupal, Stayzilla.com
Signposts Start-up ecosystem for tier 2, 3 cities The union budget 2015-16 is expected to give a boost to startups in the country as Nasscom predicts that the number of startups in India will go up to 11,500 by 2020 from the current 3,100, creating 300,000 new jobs. For Nasscom executive member, VK Mathew, the area of significant concern is that many of the successful startups are no longer Indian businesses. Even when the venture capital (VC) funding happens, the VCs prefer the company to be registered outside India. “The Budget should focus more on providing a better ecosystem for startups to grow especially in tier 2 and 3 cities. There should be a fund that will invest in startups equivalent amount as that of angel fund/VC fund as in the case of a public-private partnership model,” said Mathews.
IvyCamp for entrepreneurs IvyCap Ventures, an early-to-growth stage venture capital firm has created a campus entrepreneur and startup mentorship program called IvyCamp. Vikram Gupta, founder and managing partner of IvyCap Ventures, said, “The foundation for IvyCamp has been built over time involving the alumni, faculty, deans, entrepreneurs, angel investors and mentors from the ecosystem of the IITs, IIMs, BITs and ISB.” IvyCamp will bring together 500,000 plus global alumni across the partner institutions to foster innovation and entrepreneurship.
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I want to ensure colleges enrich their students with experiential learning, work culture immersion and help students gain a better picture of a potential career path. — Aditya Gandhi, Purple Squirrel
Live out of
a suitcase
TripHobo gives you the benefit of planning a trip to any destination across the globe with pre-planned itineraries ANJALI SHETTY or her destination ready and needs a set @shetty_anjali itinerary, all they have to do is to visit How often have you been through the their trip plans section. Here users can harrowing experiencing of planning upload their entire trip details, follow a trip? Itineraries on endless sheets of it or edit to add more information. paper, dealing with the travel agent Currently 60,000 trip plans and and then comes the documentation. 400 destinations globally are up there TripHobo , formerly known as Joguru, in the inventory. “On the name change, has come up with a portal which churns we actually wanted to have a global apout a perfect trip itinerary that fits the peal. We want people to travel without users requirement within inhibitions like a mod10 minutes. ern hobo,” said Kumar. Founded by three Triphobo faced MBAs Praveen Kumar, its share of challenges Saket Newaskar and initially. Now a 40 Karthik Ramachandra, member team, Kumar Triphobo is the one recalled that gathering stop for all your travel people for work when solutions. The trio’s the company had just common passion of begun was a problem. travelling came to light The second challenge while working together was the execution of at HCL Systems. multiple ideas. “India - Praveen Kumar Kumar said, “We is a market where you wanted to create a will find plenty serviceplatform for users to plan based companies but their trips without any hassles. Travel not many product-based ones,” said logistics can become a long, drawn out Kumar. horror story, unless you’re a TripHobo As far as funding is concerned, the travel buddy, in which case it’s a ten company is faring well. They acquired minute task. TripHobo, an innovative a seed investment of 400 thousand new travel platform, is the cumulative dollars. Last year they received a effort of our small but dedicated team funding of one million dollars by of travel enthusiasts.” Kalaari capital. The reason they stand out from Kumar believes that every other travel websites is because of their entrepreneurial idea can only user-friendly feature of planning and materialize after hardships and hard editing trips online. If the user has his work. If the aspiring entrepreneur
“We want people to travel without inhibitions like a modern hobo”
(From left to right): Saket Newaskar, Kartik Ramchandran and Praveen Kumar
survives the rough patch, he will surely be a success. “Do not give up too early. Dedication and passion will take you a long way. Secondly, the investment eco-system has improved so finding financial backing is not difficult anymore. Times have changed. One just needs to stay focused,” he added. anjali.shetty@goldensparrow.com
HOW IT WORKS • • • •
Choose where you want to go Add destinations of your choice and optimize them for shortest routes Select Attractions Just add your favorite attractions and our optimizer will arrange them for you • Share and Invite Friends • Share your trip with friends and invite them to make changes
Your child is a toon hero!
Ujwal and Amit Joshi create amusing videos for children who play a character in it
BY PRACHI BARI @prachibari Story-telling through the medium of cartoon movies is a convenient way to grab the attention of kids in today’s world. Though these animated fi lms keep a child engaged and entertained, they don’t learn much from watching it. How about a cartoon movie that features these children? Imagine how their eyes would sparkle when they see themselves on the screen and hear their names being called out in the dialogues. Curly Orange, launched by brothers Ujwal (38) and Amit (33) Joshi, these software engineers have developed such edutainment videos for children. With a collective experience of over 20 years in software development, marketing and sales, the duo has come up with photo and audio personalised animated videos for children. “We have pioneered this concept in India (patent applied). Each video is designed to give the child his/her own experience and teach behavioural skills and good habits. These habits are otherwise difficult for parents to imbibe in children without spending a lot of time with them. Hence, this medium has become a good parenting tool,” Ujwal said. During his storytelling evenings with his children, nine-year-old Shaunak and six-year-old Riddhi, Ujwal found that kids are no longer fascinated by the heroic tales but want
parents of middle and high class families spend less time with children because of modern demands, their module of parenting will click. “We see a star in every child and believe that they deserve an opportunity to shine. Our concept offers a good opportunity for achieving the same. Hence, we had no hesitation in taking the risk of getting into this business,” Amit said. They have sold over 1,500 videos all over India since they set up the fi rm nine months ago. They have created personalised animated videos for children between 2-10 years and sold through a website www.curlyorange. com. The videos can be bought as DVDs or downloaded from the website. Their products are also listed on online markets, namely snapdeal. com and shopclues.com. “The long list of parents and schools state the fact that our concept has been appreciated. Based on customer feedback, we are adding variety of content in our videos and more personalised products,” he said.
to be a part of the adventure. “Often, I would make up stories with children as heroes where they have to use logic and common sense to succeed in the adventure. Soon it became a regular feature in our home and for Amit’s children Tanvi (5) and two-year-old Abhay. Friends of my children also started asking me for such stories. I realised that not everyone has a knack PARENT’S TESTIMONY for storytelling,” he said. “My daughter loved the animation The duo was movies and felt as if fascinated by the huge she is a part of the potential in animation entire treasure hunt. despite having no The rules of the previous knowledge in games were inspiring this field. and she realised that “We decided to she should brush her exploit the possibilities teeth not only in the of animation and learnt morning but also at its various tools and night. Even though technologies. Since it she was feeling sleepy, was a new idea, we had she told me that she to spend a lot of time wants to brush her in R&D and software teeth before going to development to come bed,” said Pankaj Jain, up with solutions advocate that are scalable and “My younger accepted by the target son was jumping all audience,” Amit said. the time watching The duo pooled in their himself as part of the savings and invested cartoon. Looking at `10 lakh to start the that I also ordered - Amit Joshi company. one more DVD for The brothers my elder son. I feel were happy with the it’s a fantastic concept positive response after they tested the and a memorable gift to kids,” said concept at home with kids. They found Kalyani Th igale, mother of two kids that considering the fact that working prachibari@gmail.com
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“Their eyes would sparkle when they see themselves on the screen and hear their names being called out in the dialogues”
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THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2015
PUNE
Pics by Aniruddha Rajandekar
desperation Staring at a life of
By Archana Dahiwal @ArchanaDahiwal
Each time a guest walks into any of the 1,158 households in HAL Colony, Pimpri, the host invariably rushes to the house next door to borrow a chair or two. Considered as basic necessities in other households, at HAL Colony a television and refrigerator are luxuries most residents cannot afford anymore. Almost every house here has ration to last only a couple of weeks. Their savings have depleted to the point of exhaustion.Only hope keeps the residents here alive. The story remains the same in everyhousehold at HAL Colony in Pimpri, home to 1,158 employees of the ailing Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd. The employees have not received salaries in 10 months. The government undertaking, started way back in 1954 by the then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, was declared sick in 1996 and referred to Board of Industrial and Financial Restructuring. In 2012, a draft rehabilitation scheme involving a package of Rs 497 crore was sent to the Central Government to revive HAL. Since then, the first ever public sector undertaking, started by the government to manufacture life saving drugs, has been living on very little hope. Till such time that the Central Government hears their pleas for help, 1,158 employees and their families continue to battle poverty. The irony is that HAL employees have to report to work every day and hence, cannot take up odd jobs on the side to pay for their household expenses even in these desperate times. To make matters worse, youngsters from the colony have taken to petty crime to pay for their expenses. While no one in the colony likes to discuss the problem and none of the cases of petty crime have reached the local police yet, residents speak in hushed tones about teenagers from the neighbourhood falling prey to easy money.
‘I feel like committing suicide’
Avers Maya Chohan, who is struggling to generate funds for her daughter’s treatment Like most HAL employees, Maya Chohan’s list of woes is endless. A receptionist with HAL since 1996, Chohan is going through a traumatic time. There are only two pieces of furniture left in her household – a bed and a study table. She does not know how long she will able to hold on to the two pieces either. If she cannot figure a way to pay for her daughter’s college fees soon, the bed and study table will have to be given away too. “This crisis has split my family. We have packed off my 10-year-old son Pushkar to his grandmother’s house because we just cannot afford to take care of him anymore. He often falls sick and it becomes difficult to take care of him with my husband’s meagre freelance photography income. My 17-year-old daughter, Komal, is in Class 12 and I had to discontinue her coaching classes for want of money,” said Maya, tears welling
up in her eyes. The mother of two explains that her husband Sanjay Chohan takes up odd photography assignments. “It’s not a fixed source of income. What he earns depends on the job, but it is not near enough to meet the family’s expenses. We are so helpless that sometimes I feel like committing suicide,” Maya states desperately. To make matters worse, her daughter Komal, who aspires to become a doctor someday, may be thrown out of college for non payment of fees. What’s even more worrying is that Komal suffers from complications related to a kidney stone and the doctor sought a sonography as well as some other tests. Maya’s brother paid for the tests and now the doctor has said that she needs to be treated urgently. “We have no money whatsoever to get her treated. We have left everything to fate,” concluded Maya.
“We have no money whatsoever to get Komal treated. We have left everything to fate”
Nurse selling readymade garments Ranjana Lokhande sold off electronic gadgets and furniture to be in the race of survival
Acche din kab ayenge?
Asks Bandel family, who has sold off all electronic items and furniture to make ends meet In good times, Praven Bandel’s house would be well furnished. He could afford to pay for his daughters’ school fees as well as send them to coaching classes. His wife Laxmi never really had to worry about basic needs around the house. But now times have changed. Barring a wrought iron bed and two chairs, the 1BHK house allotted by HAL to the assistant engineer, maintenance department, is empty. Bandel, 41, started working for HAL in 1994. The company was declared sick two years later, leaving him, and other employees, in the lurch. These days, Bandel barely has an answer for his wife Laxmi’s only question – when will our struggle end? The family has sold off all electronic items in the house. Their furniture, too, had to be sold to make ends meet. When the choice came down to saving the furniture at home or letting his daughters, Divya (Class 10) and Dipti’s (Class 8), continue their education, Bandel chose the latter. The Bandels are neck deep in debt. They took a loan of Rs 10,000 to pay for Divya’s coaching class. Essentials like
vegetables, grains, pulses and even milk are bought on credit. “Vegetable vendors and grocers think twice before giving us anything as they all know that our salaries might not come through soon. I had to discontinue my younger daughter’s coaching class as there was no money left to pay for it. The kids are extremely disturbed due to the perennially tense atmosphere at home,” said Bandel, his face wrought with frustration. The family now only hopes that Divya’s dream, of becoming a doctor, is not shattered. “We have sold off all our furniture to make ends meet and pay for our daughters’ education. But now there is nothing more left to sell,” Laxmi said, pointing towards the near-vacant house. Desperate to earn even a few extra rupees, Laxmi, recently, started taking up tailoring jobs, “mostly fall and pico for sarees,” she says, but that only brings in Rs 100, every week. “Milk costs Rs 40, a litre, and I need another Rs 50 for vegetables, every day. We have drastically cut down our expenses, but it is still difficult to run the household,” said a helpless Laxmi.
Barring a wrought iron bed and two chairs, the 1BHK house allotted to Bandel family, is empty
Leaving no stone unturned in the last eight months, workers have dashed off 2,000 letters to the Union Minister of Chemical and Fertilisers. In addition, workers’ representatives have visited Delhi 15 times to discuss the salary issue and overhaul of the company. Moreover, students of HAL English Medium
School have sent nearly 1,000 letters titled ‘Save HAL and workers’ to the Central Government. PM Modi himself gave a speech at the HAL ground, when he visited the twin-township in October 2014 during the Lok Sabha poll campaign, but he failed to mention workers’ salary issue.
For years, Ranjana Lokhande, 53, has been nursing patients at HAL’s hospital. But when it comes to her own husband she is helpless. Machindra Lokhande, 60, recently underwent a surgery for brain tumour. The family lost all its savings in the treatment. With no sight of her salary, Ranjana sold off electronic gadgets and furniture to start a small readymade garment business. She used the money from the
sale of household items to buy garments that she sells for a small profit, just about enough to feed the couple. The only saving grace for the couple is that both their daughters are married. “Our life has become some kind of a nasty joke. Ministers have come and made empty promises. The least the government can do is pay us our salaries so that we can pay for our meals,” said an irked Ranjana.
Indefinite protest from March 15 The Hindustan Antibiotics Mazdoor Sangh (HAMS) committee members met the Union Minister of State for Chemical and Fertilisers, Hansraj Ahir, on Wednesday, February 25. They discussed workers’ pending salaries, sale of HAL land to make ends meet, in addition to a rehabilitation package. “There were almost four meeting held this week, but no concrete plan has been agreed upon. All we have is assurances. The minister told us that there has been no development on HAL’s long pending issues of salary and sale of land,” said general secretary of HAMS, Sunil Pataskar. The union members have now decided to hold the general body meeting next week to consider an agitation from March 15. Interestingly, Ahir visited the HAL plant in January, this year, and announced that efforts would be taken to restore the ailing company and employees’ salaries would
be paid soon. He had told workers that HAL will be revived under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make-in-India’ and skill development plan. The minister further assured that the company has already sent a revival package of Rs 526 crore to the union government and it will come through soon. Ahir also pointed out that since the restoration package has very little provision for working capital, he had directed the officials to increase the package amount by Rs 150 crore. Two months later, none of the assurances have borne fruit. “This was the final meeting with the minister and now we will start our indefinite agitation outside the company gate from March 15,” said Pataskar. Joint secretaries, Sanjay Bhosale and Rajendra Jadhav, added that meetings with union government officials and ministers over the last 18 months have not yielded any tangible results.
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2015
PUNE
exposed PMC’s cover-up
BY PRACHI BARI and rahul raut
Fact 1: Pune generates around 1,600 metric tonnes of waste every day. Fact 2: The largest dumping site in the city, at Uruli Devachi, has been shut since January 1. Fact 3: The existing waste treatment plants can process only 568 metric tonnes every day, just about one-third of what the city generates. Fact 4: There are no other official dumping sites for the city.
So what happens to the remaining 1,000-plus tonnes of waste generated by Pune. When we confront senior Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials they give us evasive answers and even brag about how they have been able to convince several housing societies to segregate garbage at source and process wet waste in their compounds. There are no figures to prove that this model has helped PMC take care of a huge chunk of the leftover garbage. This brings us back to the same question: How does PMC handle the waste that cannot be treated? TGS team went around the city and found that either it’s been swept under the ground, literally, or set on fire – both methods are going to cost Puneites dear in the long run.
Huge piles of waste collected from households in Balewadi are brought to an open plot spread over three acres near Moze College in Balewadi. SWaCH Co-operative has been allotted the task of segregating and utilising wet waste for compost. As soon as the waste is offloaded from the tempos, a team of 15-odd workers gets busy segregating and sorting the refuse. Ideally, once the wet waste is separated and taken away by SWaCH, unusable dry waste is to be taken away by PMC and disposed at a dumping ground. However, these days SWaCH workers take wet waste and recyclable materials, while dumping the rest in pits that have been dug on the entire plot. Once a pit is full, which usually happens in a day, it is covered with lose soil and another pit is dug nearby. The entire plot is now dotted with such waste pits. A volunteer from the Baba Adhav Sanghatana, Misal pointed out how these days PMC employees come and set the pile on fire instead of lifting it. “I have tried telling PMC staff on several occasions not to set the garbage on fire and take it away instead, but my pleas have fallen on deaf ears,” said Misal.
Citizen Speak
Balewadi
Vaishali Patkar, resident of Rohan Nilay, Aundh “I am worried about my father-in-law, who suffers from asthma. Early in the mornings, we have seen people burning garbage very close to our society’s open plot. The plot is also very close to the river and with the strong winds, the smoke and the stench of burning rubber floats around the house. We have called thelocal ward office several times, but in vain.” Lata Menon, resident of NIBM Road “In the past few days I have foiled several attempts made by the garbage collector to set a pile of garbage near our society on fire. Every morning, when we are out on our walks, we are greeted with raging fires burning on corners of Shivarkar Garden. I have seen that workers on contract with PMC are the ones doing this. We recently complained to the ward officer,who has promised us that he will find a way to curb these fires.”
Baner
Near Hadapsar Bypass Road, a huge ground has been designated as a dumping ground for the area. Waste from the entire area is to be brought here by garbage collectors and PMC is supposed to clear it every evening. Bajrang Misal, a garbage collector, who tends to 1,400 houses in Katraj, comes to the ground daily to deposit his collection. Misal and his wife start their day at 6 am and go around collecting garbage door-to-door for a fee of Rs 30, per house. By 1 pm, the couple get done and bring their untreatable and un-recyclable waste to the ground. A volunteer from the Baba Adhav Sanghatana, Misal pointed out how these days PMC employees come and set the pile on fire instead of lifting it. “I have tried telling PMC staff on several occasions not to set the garbage on fire and take it away instead, but my pleas have fallen on deaf ears,” said Misal.
Katraj
A huge open plot outside the cremation ground in Baner is a hotspot for sanitation workers. This is where they get away with almost anything in a bid to get rid of their pile for the day. Garbage collected from various housing societies in the area is brought here by noon. Since most of it is mixed, Smita Shinde, who works with the PMC on contract collecting and disposing garbage from Baner Gaon and societies on the Baner main road, dumps it on the open plot. She takes the recyclable material and leaves the rest, hoping that PMC trucks would take the rest. By evening, PMC does send in a team, which simply piles up the garage neatly and then sets it on fire. The fire bellows through the night and as soon as it douses it’s time for a fresh one. “Initially, PMC used to dig pits on farmlands here but the farmers complained. So, now they come and set the pile on fire,” Shinde said.
Rahul Wanjari, resident of Model Colony “I am worried about the smog and the black soot that gets deposited on trees and shrubs around our society. We planted the greens with such care but with the burning of garbage almost daily, the trees have a black layer on them. Besides, the smell of burning plastic is very bad and often causes irritation of the eye and throat. We have written to the ward officer, who did send a sanitation inspector for a round, but it wasn’t fruitful.” Anuraag Bharadwaj, resident of Baner I have seen those on contract with PMC dumping waste into pits dug on an open plot near Moze College. The non-saleable garbage is collected in a big container and then dropped into a pit. I have even complained to PMC officials but it seems nothing has been done.”
Plans in the pipeline PMC has tall plans for future as far as waste management is concerned. Municipal commissioner Kunal Kumar informed the General Body earlier this week that as of now only 568 metric tonnes of garbage is processed while the city generates around 1600 metric tonnes every day. Of the 11 biogas plants four are non functional. The commissioner explained that the biogas plants take care of MT per day???. Rocame takes care of 200 metric tonnes, Ajinkya Biofert and Diasha Waste Management takes in another 250 metric tonnes through composts and vermiculture projects. Another 13 metric tonnes is processed through mechanical composting. Kumar said that there are few dumping sites where the garbage is dumped and farmlands have been acquired to be used as
dumping grounds for now. The PMC has an ambitious plan of processing 1268 metric tonnes by September this year. Rocame and Ajinkya, which have capacity of 700 and 200 metric tonnes, respectively, are not running optimally and in the coming days will be made to run on full capacity. The civic body has also invited tenders for micro-organism processing units with a capacity to process 50 metric tonnes of waste, per day. Noble Exchange Company has a plant with 300 metric tonnes capacity and, if officials are to be believed, talks with the company are at an advance stages. PMC also has plans to process at least 200 metric tonnes at source and, in addition, set up smaller plants at the ward level. (With inputs from Ashok Bhat)
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2015
PUNE
The British brought the game of cricket to India. Initially only the Parsi community of western India, who were rather close to the British Officials, started playing the game. In course of time the game found favour with the Indian royalty. — https://instagram.com/tucsonissa
Together and young
Shanta Ranchod Gowariker (right) says that Sadashiv Balkrishna Kulkarni visited her house, along with her uncle, with a muhurat in hand and the marriage was solemnised soon after. It was love at first sight
BY PRACHI BARI @prachibari A photograph of an old couple with a twinkle in their eyes looking at the camera and smiling has created ripples on the social networking site since Valentine’s Day. It was put up by their nephew ace photographer Avinash Gowariker, and has been getting more likes than filmstars. “I was wondering what I should put up on my Facebook page on Valentine’s Day instead of the regular mushy stuff when I thought of the photographs that I had taken of my aunt Shanta Ranchod Gowariker and uncle Sadashiv Balkrishna Kulkarni,” he said. Gowariker calls them the ambassadors of love and they are his favourite couple. The special couple will be celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary soon. “The way they have been together
all these years, their love which shines (Kolhapur), Sadashiv married Shanta, through and the kind of chemistry who is one year younger to him, at that they both share Sholapur in 1945. are amazing. My uncle “I was born in always has an eye for Sholapur in May 1, 1921. what my aunt would need Ours was an arranged even if she was going out marriage and was of the room,” he said. solemnised in no time. The fashion, He (Sadashiv) visited film and celebrity our house with my uncle photographer had put with a muhurat in hand. the couple’s photograph Soon the ceremony was online casually but was performed and I became overwhelmed by the his wife,” Shanta said. messages and likes that Shanta is still in he received on Instagram awe and very much in and Facebook. love with her husband - SHANTA RANCHOD “They have been a who also was Pune city’s great influence on my collector (1957-1960), life and I consider them to be my elder Pune municipal commissioner 1960parents. The photograph captures their 63) and Pune divisional commissioner love in a glint of the eye and it is as similar (1972-75). to that of 20-year-olds,” Gowariker said. A Sanskrit scholar, Shankar Born in July 5, 1920, in Hamidwad finished his BA Mathematics in first
“Understand the family and accept the person, then you will have a life without fights”
Gift from Japan
Married in 1945, Sadashiv Balkrishna Kulkarni and Shanta Ranchod Gowariker lead a life like newlyweds
class first from Bombay University and MA (Mathematics) before becoming one of the IAS officers of the state’s first batch. “I was studying BA when we got married, and I am happy that he liked me at first sight,” she said. The couple professes their love and reminds each other of their beautiful relationship with a hug every morning and before going to bed. “I liked Shanta in totality, her personality outshined everyone else. In fact, over the period of time, she has become a better person. I value her in my life and I think we are one unit in two parts. When you grow together with one another for 70 years, it’s like you mesh with each other as if we are synchronised to work in tandem,” Sadashiv said. Sadashiv and Shanta love gardening and play Bridge, a routine that the duo has followed all these years. The secret to their successful union, according to Shanta is that one needs to take time to understand where you come from. “Once you understand the family background and accept the person, then you will have a life without fights. Shanta has never demanded anything and I admire her social work,” Sadashiv said. Apart from helping people during the Panshet flood, Shanta started a school for the flood-affected victims in Rajendranagar area. The school now has classes till standard X in English and Marathi mediums. She started the Sanyukta Stree Sanstha and was the president of Parvati Mahila manual that runs a working women’s hostel, old people’s home and crèche. She was also the president of Poona Women’s Council and Colaba Mahila Mandal, Mumbai. The couple has three children, six grandchildren and four great grandchildren and leads an active life at 94 and 93 years respectively. Both feel that this togetherness is the core of love and Sadashiv being a romantic loves to make Shanta feel special even today. prachibari@gmail.com
Students’ financial inability to acquire education and no access to electricity moved Japanese Toshio Tajima to give half of his pension to brighten their lives Rahul Raut
Aniruddha Rajandekar
for 70 years
Taps run dry in Brazil’s largest city P 13
Toshio Tajima (R) and Hitomi Enomoto are teaching students how to make solar panels at Jnana Prabhodini School building in Sadashiv Peth
BY PRACHI BARI @prachibari Toshio Tajima (69) and Hitomi Enomoto (28) adjust their bags and other paraphernalia in their hands and rush to the fifth floor of Jnana Prabhodini School building in Sadashiv Peth, where they have a small makeshift laboratory. “I am sorry for the mess but I was out of town,” said the lively Tajima whose age defies his eagerness to keep on working for the betterment of a society that is so far from his own country Japan. The room is spread with stools, worktables and other items needed to create a low-cost small solar panel. Helping the villages in Maharashtra get electricity is this man’s aim in life. He has lighted up Harari village in Solapur district and a few slum houses in Kothrud with his solar panels. Tajima has being coming to Pune since 2006, after his student in Japan and now a family friend Salil and his wife Bakul Vaidya invited him to India. “I taught international relations at the university in Ageocity, Saitama
Prefecture and Salil was one of my students. Once his wife Bakul took me to a slum. I was sad by the underdevelopment of slums but saw the eagerness in children’s faces to learn new things. I associated with NGO Khelghar and worked in the slums of Ambedkar Nagar and Laxmi Nagar in Kothrud,” he said. Tajima set up a fund from his pension to help slum children. He found that poor electricity supply affected children’s education in villages. He met Kaoru Sakurai of non-profit organisation (NPO) Soranet in Japan and learnt about low-cost solar panels. Tajima donated some of these solar panels to Khelghar and a rural school Bhigawan Ashram, and later set up one in his house to study the duration of a single solar panel and its working. Jnana Prabhodini school offered me a small room that became my laboratory to make solar panels. “I have no expectations. I want to use my money to help others,” he said. Tajima has set up NPO Solar Water Green Project and youngsters like Hitomi are helping in his project. prachibari@gmail.com
Rahul Raut
Kids show elders the way to clean neighbourhood
11-year-olds pick up cigarette butts thrown by professionals working in swank offices at Baner BY RITU GOYAL HARISH @ritugh
Tarika lives in a housing complex near Amar Paradigm and loves cycling. “We can’t run on this dirty footpath,” Three children have taken the said Abhir who lives a few blocks away responsibility of cleaning the mess left and comes to this road to run. by careless neighbours consisting of “The maximum littered items that people holding white-collar jobs in the we collected were (sic) cigarette stubs, corporate sector. broken glasses and plastic cups. People Driving past the well tarred roads in should keep a dustbin like in a school. Balewadi, just off Baner road (from My Some people throw it (trash) around the World road to Cummins and onward dustbin. That’s bad. There should be a to Amar Paradigm), one might be ban on littering our streets,” he said. surprised to see the 80-foot wide roads Members of the Crosswinds Coand proper footpaths. operative Housing The area looks clean Society and Iris Coand well kept. It’s operative Housing when one takes a walk Society have made a on the footpath that written representation reality unfolds. to the neighbourhood The walking companies to get their stretch near Cummins employees to clean Corporate office and up their act. “This is Amar Paradigm that a residential locality houses Syngenta, and the companies PubMatic, Xoriant must respect that,” and PRGX is littered said Niraj Mankad, with cigarette stubs, chairman of Iris. empty cigarette The letter requests - SANIKA PHERWANI packets, used plastic Cummins and other tea cups, broken tea firms to install bins glasses and packet of potato chips. on footpaths and encourage their Recently, three 11-year-olds from employees to keep the area clean ‘in the neighbourhood, armed with rubber accordance with the high standards of gloves, bags to collect the trash and social responsibility the company (sic) an indomitable spirit, got down to the follows’. Bystanders and people working task of cleaning up the garbage thrown in nearby firms were acting as mute carelessly on the footpath. spectators, and roadside eatery owners Tarika Malhotra, Sanika Pherwani were smiling sheepishly when the and Abhir Gonepavaram of The Orchid children were doing the cleaning activity. School collected five bags of trash from The children carried on, undeterred. the footpath extending from Amar To them, the activity they undertook Paradigm till Cummins.
“Smoking is a personal choice, but don’t drop it on the road. Get a dustbin. It won’t cost much”
Do your bit “Cummins remains committed to ensuring that safety and environmental stewardship is maintained in the communities we live in. In ensuring cleanliness around our campus, we have instituted measures that include; communicating to our employees to actively cooperate and deploying housekeeping staff for daily upkeep of areas around the Campus. We have instructed the transport provider to inculcate safe behaviours and practices amongst the drivers while they are driving buses plying Cummins employees, not only in the immediate vicinity, but every other part of the city. Additionally, a phone number has been displayed on the buses to monitor and report untoward behaviour. These measures are a few of the many that we are committed to sustaining as responsible citizens of the community.” – statement from Cummins Group in India Officials from Syngenta shared their concern about the cleanliness of the area and the initiatives they have taken. However, no official communication from the company, or the other companies in Amar Paradigm was forthcoming.
was only for their country. “It is about India, if we don’t do anything no one will do anything,” said Tarika. “It (cleaning up) felt like we were making people realise what India is worth and what they have made it (with their littering),” said Sanika. “Someday the garbage will decrease so much that there will only be a few
persons who will dirty the streets,” Abhir said. Sanika’s words sums up the children’s awareness about clean environment. “If you want to smoke it’s a personal choice, but don’t drop it on the road. Just get a dustbin. It won’t cost you much,” she said. ritugoyalharish@gmail.com
Bystanders and people working in nearby firms were acting as mute spectators, and roadside eatery owners were smiling sheepishly when the children were doing the cleaning activity.
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2015
“We knew smoking was bad, but we now have direct independent evidence that confirms the disturbing findings that have been emerging internationally.” —Professor Emily Banks, Australian National University
Chest pain clinics to combat heart diseases A marked increase in cardiovascular diseases has spurred AiMS Hospital and Research Centre and Philips Healthcare to launch the first Chest Pain Clinics (CPCs) in Pune TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly While cardiovascular diseases have quadrupled in the last 40 years, 50 per cent of the affected patients arrive too late for the appropriate treatment. If the patient receives treatment within one hour of the attack, called ‘the golden hour’, possibilities of saving his/her life increase manifold. Th is very reason has motivated AiMS Hospital and Research Centre, Aundh, and Philips Healthcare to launch the fi rst Chest Pain Clinics (CPCs). These CPCs are aimed at enabling small hospitals and nursing homes to provide timely and quality, ‘Emergency Cardiac Care’ and thus save lives. To be operated under the ‘hub and spoke’ model, this initiative will include five ‘spoke’ hospitals (Chest Pain Clinics), one ‘hub’ hospital (AiMS) and will reach out to approximately 9.5 million people. Each Chest Pain Clinic will be a clinic or a small healthcare facility equipped with Philips Efficia ECG-100 systems which will wirelessly transmit ECGs of patients in real time from the ‘spokes’ (Chest Pain Clinics) to the ‘hub’ (AiMS). “Once a myocardial infarction (MI) or a heart attack is confi rmed, the patient is immediately transported via an ambulance from the Chest Pain Clinic to AiMS, for primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) or coronary angioplasty within the golden hour,” said Shirish Hiremath, director of Cardiac Cath Lab, Ruby Hall and chairman of AiMS. “In a situation where 50 per cent of the patients arrive too late for an appropriate treatment, we partner with AiMS in an initiative which will ensure rapid access to emergency critical care in the Pune district of Maharashtra,” said Shankar S, senior director, Philips
(L-R) Shankar S, senior director, Philips Healthcare and Dr Shirish Hiremath, director, Cardiac Cath Lab, Ruby Hall and Chairman of AiMS at the launch of first Chest Pain Clinics (CPCs) in Pune
PANELISTS FOR CPC The Chest Pain Clinics in Pune are led by Dr Rajesh Deshpande (Vishwa Clinic), Dr G G Khanna (Multispeciality Clinic), Dr Sunil Ambore (Bavdhan Medicare Centre), Dr Raj Panjwani (Panjwani Clinic) and Dr Chandrakant Walke (Dr Walke Clinic).
Healthcare. Also, Philips Healthcare will support hospitals in training staff, recording and storing all ECG related data, developing protocols and periodic review of data. Dr Hiremath added that to combat coronary artery diseases and reduce
mortality rates, we need a combination of medical interventions and general awareness. It is here that Chest Pain Clinics will play a key role in creating an eco-system which brings together cardiologists, emergency medicine and cardiac health professionals to enhance patient care by reducing time to treatment for patients suffering from cardiac ailments. He said, “The Chest Pain Clinics will also play a critical role in community outreach and educational programmes to raise awareness on cardiac ailments and the need for preventive care.” Philips Efficia ECG 100 was conceived and developed at Philips Innovation Campus, Bangalore. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
Know your genes for a healthier lifestyle
Nutrigenomics can help combat lifestyle diseases like obesity, diabetes cardiac ailments BY YASH DAIV @yash009 A sedentary lifestyle can affect a person’s physical fitness adversely. Odd working hours, such as night shifts, can lead to random and untimely eating habits, which can bring about the onset of lifestyle diseases, such as diabetes and obesity or even cardiac disease. Dr Amol Raut, a nutrigenomic specialist at Gene Support, believes that this prevailing situation can be changed with gene counselling. A number of young professionals in the city who work odd hours at BPOs and such, have adopted healthier lifestyles after understanding their genetic makeup, Dr Raut says. Nutrigenomics is an exponential response to an individual’s gene structure. For instance, if a person is at risk of acquiring a lifestyle disease because it exists in the family, he or she may be able to avert it through counselling and following a healthy diet regimen. Such a personalised approach has caught Pune’s health conscious generation’s attention. “I have made an interesting observation about the youngsters who come to me. They are well read and the concept is thus not completely alien to them. They understand the benefits,” said Dr Raut. The collegegoers or working professionals have taken to nutrigenomics to battle weight gain, obesity and a specific kind of sensitivities. It prescribes a calorie management system through reading of the clock genes. An individual’s genetic structure is active at different times of the day. If he or she exercises at that particular time, then the chances of
losing weight increases exponentially. “If the clock genes are most active during the evening, then the person is recommended exercise in the evening. If they are active in the morning, the exercises are effective in the morning,” he said. Swati Chandrashekaran, a nutritionist, was unaware that she was sensitive to gluten. “I would experience pain in my small joints like the thumb and forefinger. My body was a bit swollen, which I only realised after getting myself tested,” she said. The doctor recommended some changes
Besides combating weight gain problems and lifestyle diseases, nutrigenomics can also help youngsters choose the sport that suits them best in her diet, which have proved very effective. She claims that the pain and the swelling have gone; and she used to think that the swelling was that she had put on weight. THE RIGHT SPORT Besides combating weight gain problems and lifestyle diseases, nutrigenomics can also help youngsters choose the sport that suits them best. Muscle power differs from individual to individual, and nutrigenomics can enable them to make the right decision based on their muscle potential. “Some muscle structures are endurance-based,
while some are power-based, thus making them eligible for athletics or power-sports respectively,” said Dr Raut. MUSCLE INJURY AND NUTRIGENOMICS Muscle injury is another hazard that can be avoided altogether through analysis of one’s genetic make-up. If a person is injury-prone, he or she is counselled and advocated warm-up exercises and a diet regime. The risk is considerably reduced thereafter. Dr Charulata Bapaye, the mother of 14-year-old Harsh, wanted to choose the right sport for her son. “The sports panel helped us in determining whether to introduce him to badminton or basketball. The gene analysis showed that Harsh’s built is most suitable for basketball,” she said. The tests showed that Harsh was prone to injuries but his recovery rate was faster. Thus he has been prescribed a diet which will enable him to recover faster from muscle injury. The counselling also deals with the aversion of serious disorders like Alzheimer’s. If a person tests positive and is likely to get Alzheimer’s, he or she is put through intense counselling. “If a youngster is told that he is at risk of contracting a life-threatening disease, he may react adversely. So it is not appropriate to discuss the risk. The focus is on how to manage it and the stress factor is the basis,” Dr Raut said. Nutrigenomics is also known to diagnose allergies, bone-related ailments like osteoporosis, cardiac ailments, fertility issues in women, pregnancy related issues and more. yashdaiv@gmail.com
PUNE
“There is no shortage of medicine. We are also maintaining stock of drugs to meet sudden requirement. A panic is being created by reports, I have informed states. We told them they should have reserve stocks.” —Union Health Minister JP Nadda
Potential treatment for drug-resistant TB discovered NEW YORK: Researchers led by an Indian-origin scientist have developed a new drug that may serve as a treatment against multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, a form of the disease that cannot be cured with conventional therapies. “Multi-drug resistant TB is spreading rapidly in many parts of the world,” said lead author Vasu Nair, director, University of Georgia (UGA) Center for Drug Discovery. “There is a tremendous need for new therapies, and we think our laboratory has developed a strong candidate that disrupts fundamental steps in the bacterium’s reproduction process,” Nair added. Nine million people contracted tuberculosis in 2013, and 1.5 million died from the disease, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). While standard anti-TB drugs can cure most people of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, improper use of antibiotics has led to new strains of the bacterium resistant to the two most powerful medications, isoniazid and rifampicin. “The compound we developed strongly inhibits the growth of the bacterium and renders it incapable of reproducing and spreading infection,” Nair pointed out. The researchers also performed extensive studies to determine if their newly developed compound had an appropriately long half-life and could be cleared from the body through normal biochemical mechanisms. “More importantly, the compound shows very low levels of cytotoxicity, which means that it is not harmful to the body,” Nair added. The researchers found that the new compund also exhibited strong antiHIV properties, opening the door for dual therapeutic applications. “Th is discovery of dual activity against both retroviruses and drugresistant gram-positive bacteria is unique and opens a new chapter in drug discovery in this area,” Nair said. The study was published in the journal Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters. IANS
India-born scientist’s team uses DNA rings for cancer detection
DNA rings can enter both healthy cells and cancer cells. But only cancer cells follow the recipe to make the biomarker BY ARUN KUMAR US researchers led by India-born physician-scientist Sanjiv Sam Gambhir have developed a futuristic method of using tiny customised DNA rings for early detection of cancer. The DNA rings, carrying instructions for making a blooddetectable biomarker, can enter both healthy cells and cancer cells. But only cancer cells follow the recipe to make the biomarker. Stanford University School of Medicine investigators inserted tiny DNA minicircles into the genes of mice, which caused cancer cells to emit a substance that could be detected from a blood sample. The scientists then showed that mice with tumours produced a substance that tumour-free mice did not make. The substance was easily detected 48 hours later by a simple blood test. “We want to translate this strategy into humans, so we’ve set it up in a way that’s most likely to be effective, safe and convenient,” said Gambhir, who is also the Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Professor for Clinical Investigation in Cancer Research. Ambala-born Gambhir, 53, moved to the US with his parents and sister in 1969. He was raised in Phoenix, Arizona. He is married to Aruna Bodapati Gambhir, has one son and lives in the Bay Area. In a media release, the school painted a futuristic scenario where “You pop a pill into your mouth and swallow it. It dissolves, releasing tiny particles that are absorbed and cause only cancerous cells to secrete a specific protein into your bloodstream”. “Two days from now, a finger-prick blood sample will expose whether you have got cancer and even give a rough idea of its extent.” A paper describing the findings
of this proof-of-principle study was published online on February 23 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. “Although the minicircles were injected intravenously to the mice in this study, it should eventually prove possible to deliver them orally via a pill,” Gambhir said. “We haven’t got it down to a pill yet, but the oral delivery part of this is likely a solvable problem -- only a few years off, not five or 10 years off.” It would take much more time than that to prove that the approach was safe to use in humans, though, Gambhir cautioned. Eventually, he said, he foresaw variations, such as adding a second gene to the minicircles. IANS
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2015
PUNE
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not accept my suggestions on the Land Acquisition Bill as during the Lok Sabha elections, I had called Modi and Rahul Gandhi proindustrialists. This statement has made them allergic to me” — Anna Hazare
NEFT: ‘Never Ending Financial Trouble’ for bank customers P 14
Warrior village becomes bouncers’ birthplace Musclemen from the village of Fatehpur Beri are poor, simple and honour women BY ELLEN BARRY GURGAON, India: In a smoky nightclub on the third floor of the Sahara Mall, blowing off steam to the thudding bass line of a Bollywood dance mix, are the inhabitants of the new India - the sales representatives and software developers and callcenter cubicle dwellers, all of them dancing giddily, hands flung in the air. Amid the din, it is almost possible to miss the half-dozen strongmen circulating slowly among them, watching from the edges for any signs of trouble. Look closely and it becomes clear that the bouncers are all of a single physical type, their chests and biceps built like the front bumper of an SUV. If they look like cousins, it is because they are. A startling number of them share a family name, Tanwar, and when the nightclubs close, many will return to the same nearby village, a place where women walk down dusty lanes with their faces obscured by a cloth, balancing stacks of dried cow dung on their heads, much as their ancestors did three centuries ago. There are few places in India where historical periods slam into each other quite so forcefully as they do on the outer edges of Delhi. The musclemen from the village of Fatehpur Beri are the descendants of the original inhabitants of the city, a genetic line that fortified itself over the course of centuries as they defended their village against waves of invaders on their way to the seat of empire. The sons and grandsons of cow and goat herders, they were born in an outpost surrounded on all sides by croplands. As Fatehpur Beri was
Men working out in Fatehpur Beri in the Delhi region. Many have jobs as bouncers in local clubs. (Right) Sunder Tanwar, centre, with fellow bouncers at a nightclub in Gurgaon, India. Many bouncers are members of the Tanwar family. Credit Kuni Takahashi for The New York Times.
swallowed by the expanding city, its spartan strongmen continued to train in the traditional way, stripping down to loincloths and wrestling in a circle of mud. But they were forced to look for a new line of work. “There is an element of the warrior in the Tanwars,” said Ankur Tanwar, who opened the village’s first gym about a decade ago. “We fought with the Muslim invaders. We fought with the Britishers. “Much has changed in the last 20 years,” he added with a thoughtful pause. “We never thought we would be working in bars.” The man who says he led the Tanwars into the security business is Vijay Tanwar - known as Vijay Pehalwan, or Vijay the Wrestler - and he has a handshake like a carpenter’s clamp. As a boy, he was put under the tutelage of the village wrestling
Karate master crucifies for Jaya
Shihan Hussaini says when there is passion and love for a person, education and social status does not matter Chennai: Karate master Shihan Hussaini recently got himself crucified for the return of AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa as the Tamil Nadu Shihan Hussaini chief minister. The 46-yearold Hussaini, who is known for his daring acts, came out with this out-ofthe-box idea — self crucifixion for six minutes and seven seconds — on the eve of Jayalalithaa’s 67th birthday last Tuesday. “It was the most painful experience I have even undergone. I heard it was the most painful and realised that today,” Hussaini told IANS. “More than hitting the nails on the hands and legs, taking them out was extremely painful,” he said. Hussaini said he blacked out briefly and after extraction of the nails by his juniors, he was rushed to a hospital
where doctors checked him thoroughly and took X-rays. The nails were hammered to his palms and legs while he was tied to the cross. The cross was eight feet in length, six feet in width and six inches in thickness. “When there is passion and love for a person, other things like education, social status does not matter,” Hussaini said. “I worship her (Jayalalithaa). She is the only hope for Tamil Nadu,” he said. Hussaini said Jayalalithaa will surely scold him after hearing of this event. His prediction later turned out to be partly true. Jayalalithaa in a letter to Hussaini said: “I was deeply shocked and distressed to learn that you had performed an extreme act of penance in nailing yourself to a cross and offering a prayer for me to overcome all obstacles and to assume charge as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu again.” She said subjecting oneself to such an extreme act of self-inflicted pain should be avoided and thanked Hussaini IANS for his concern for her.
coach, a barrel-chested Brahmin who leave the house without permission communicates largely in from their husband or parables from the Hindu mother-in-law. epics. His students are “Initially, it was put on an ultrahigh very difficult for us to protein vegetarian diet see - this new tradition consisting of dried fruit, of drinking alcohol, clarified butter (during the nonvegetarian food training, a wrestler can and the girls,” he said. eat half a kilogram at “We are simple people. a sitting) and liters of We do not have much fresh milk. money.” He shrugged, Tanwar grew up thinking it over. “Now expecting to raise I feel that they are the goats, but in 1996, a rich people, they have - ANKUR TANWAR restaurateur approached the right to have fun.” him asking for ‘strong Among their coboys’ to stand at the workers, the bouncers door of his new establishment. The are famous for their discipline. “There scene was particularly shocking for is something in their genes,” said men from villages like Fatehpur Beri Bishar Singh, 29, who was working and neighbouring Asola, places so the door at a club called Prison. “They conservative that adult women do not don’t drink. They don’t smoke at all.”
“Tanwars fought with Muslim invaders and Britishers”
Back on the outskirts of Fatehpur Beri, drinking sweet, milky tea out of tiny cups, older men nod in recognition; that is what their family, members of a subgroup of the Gujjar caste, is known for. Omprakash Tanwar related a local legend dating to the mid-19th century, when two British men passing on horseback made rude remarks to village women harvesting a field of mustard. Outraged, the village men are said to have pulled the foreigners off their horses, yoked them to a plow and forced them to plow the field. When British reinforcements arrived, the story goes, they surrounded the village and shot all the young men they found. “This is in our DNA - to fight for our homes and the honour of our women,” Omprakash Tanwar said. “Because we have a tradition of protecting women, we do the same at the clubs.” Vijay Tanwar, the bouncer
entrepreneur, now manages a company called Storm Group, placing a contingent of around 50 village strongmen with restaurants, hotels, hospitals and politicians running for office. The market, he said, only continues to grow. “As the money increases, the crime increases,” he said. “And as the crime increases, our business increases.” One measure of his success is that, though his two sons have been wrestling since the age of 8, he hopes they will be part of the first generation of his family to work desk jobs. He looked on proudly as the elder son, a broad-shouldered boy named Kunal, answered a few questions in halting English and confessed with a shy smile that he would like someday to become an accountant. © 2015 New York Times News Service
How to add 3.2 years to your life India refining its goals on air standards will see 660 mn people seeing more happier days If India can refine its goals to meet air standards, 660 million people would add about 3.2 years into their lives, a significant research has found, adding that compliance with Indian air quality standards would save 2.1 billion lifeyears. The team involving several Indian-origin researchers from the Universities of Chicago, Harvard and Yale have found that India’s high air pollution, ranked by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as some of the worst in the world, is having an adverse impact on lifespans. “India’s focus is necessarily on growth. However, for too long, the conventional definition of growth has ignored the health consequences of air pollution,” said Michael Greenstone, lead study author and director of the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) in a University press release. The new figures came after the WHO estimates showed 13 of the 20 most polluted cities in the world were
India has the highest rate of death caused by chronic respiratory diseases in the world
in India, including the worst-ranked city Delhi. India has the highest rate of death caused by chronic respiratory diseases anywhere in the world. This study demonstrates that air pollution retards growth by causing people to die prematurely. “The loss of more than two billion life
years is a substantial price to pay for air pollution. It is in India’s power to change this in cost-effective ways that allow hundreds of millions of its citizens to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives,” emphasised Rohini Pande, co-author and director of Evidence for Policy Design at the Harvard Kennedy School. “Reforms of the current form of regulation would allow for health improvements that lead to increased growth,” she noted. The authors, Nicholas Ryan of Yale, Janhavi Nilekani and Anish Sugathan
of Harvard, and Anant Sudarshan, director of EPIC’s India office, offer three policy solutions that would help to cost-effectively decrease India’s pollution. One initial step would be for India to increase its monitoring efforts and take advantage of new technology that allows for real-time monitoring. “Intermittent sampling of plants taken once or twice a year is not enough to identify violators,” the authors wrote. Further, there is not enough pollution monitoring stations for the public to learn about ambient concentrations. As one point of comparison, Beijing has 35 monitoring stations while the Indian city with the most monitoring stations, Kolkata, has only 20. Additionally, the authors say a greater reliance on civil rather than criminal penalties would instill a “polluter pays” system that would provide polluters with an incentive to reduce pollution. “Other studies have also shown that air pollution reduces productivity at work, increases the incidence of sick days, and raises health care expenses that could be devoted to other goods,” Greenstone concluded. Agencies
Sweeper stitches woman after delivery!
Vol-1* lssue No.: 37 Published by: Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt. Ltd. CIN:U22200PN2014PTC151382 and printed by PRI – Media Services Private Limited CIN: U22222MH2012PTC232006 at Plot No. EL-201, TTC Industrial Area, MIDC, Mahape, Navi Mumbai. Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt. Ltd. 1641, Madhav Heritage, Tilak Road, Pune-411 030, Tel: 020-2432 4332/33. Editor: Yogesh Sadhwani (Responsible for the selection of news under the PRB Act, 1867)
Doctor left the operation theatre in a hurry after conducting caesarean delivery Bhubaneswar: A sweeper in a government-run hospital in Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district carried out stitching on a woman, following her delivery after a doctor left the operation theatre. According to a report received by the chief district medical officer
(CDMO), it has been found that the doctor left the operation theatre in a hurry after conducting the caesarean delivery and the sweeper had to carry out the post-delivery stitching on the woman. The incident took place last Friday at a community health centre in Kujang, Jagatsinghpur. It sparked public outrage, prompting the health administration to carry out an inquiry. “We have assigned a medical officer to conduct an inquiry after getting complaint from relatives of the patient
about the negligence of duty. The officer has to give the report in writing,” CDMO Binod Behari Mohapatra told IANS. Obstetrics and gynaecology surgeon Pramod Kumar Nayak left the operation theatre to attend upon another patient, leaving the highly skilled stitching job for the sweeper, said the report. Mohapatra said action would be taken against the doctor and the sweeper if the final report finds them to be guilty.
He said the woman was safe. Health Director CR Nayak said he has not received any report yet and district health officials are inquiring the matter. Jagatsinghpur MP Kulamani Samal, who is a doctor by profession, said the allegations that the sweeper carried out the stitching work was true. “I visited the hospital after coming to know about it. I also inquired about the patient and hospital staff members. The allegations are true. This is indeed an unfortunate occurrence,” he said. Agencies
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2015
Is Karvenagar road a Formula 1 race track or a death trap? P 15
A Jordanian woman has been accused of molesting an Indian man in a lift in Dubai last year and stealing 4,500 dirhams (nearly $1,230) from him, according to media reports. The 23-year-old Indian man was said to have entered the lift of his office, when the 32-year-old Jordanian woman molested him, Gulf News reported. “Once I pressed the button for the fourth floor, the woman lifted her niqab (face cover). She drew herself towards me, then hugged and kissed me against my will,” the man said, adding “...I rushed out quickly before realising that she had stolen Dh4,500 from my wallet.” Prosecutors charged the woman with hugging and kissing the employee against his will. “That is absolutely untrue,” argued the defendant before the Dubai court. The next hearing wil be on March 8.
Petition filed against Pak cricket team Lahore High Court (LHC) admitted a petition against the poor performance of the Pakistani team during the ongoing cricket World Cup. The team has lost both its matches so far. The petitioner has named Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shahryar Ahmed Khan and PCB member Najam Sethi as respondents. The petitioner has asked the court to investigate the possible causes behind the collapse.
Taps run dry in Brazil’s largest city Southeast Brazil grapples with its worst drought in nearly a century By SIMON ROMERO SÃO PAULO: Endowed with the Amazon and other mighty rivers, an array of huge dams and one-eighth of the world’s fresh water, Brazil is sometimes called the ‘Saudi Arabia of water’, so rich in the coveted resource that some liken it to living above a sea of oil. But in Brazil’s largest and wealthiest city, a more dystopian situation is unfolding: The taps are starting to run dry. As southeast Brazil grapples with its worst drought in nearly a century, a problem worsened by polluted rivers, deforestation and population growth, the largest reservoir system serving São Paulo is near depletion. Many residents are already enduring sporadic water cutoffs, some going days without it. Officials say that drastic rationing may be needed, with water service provided only two days a week.Behind closed doors, the views are grimmer. In a meeting recorded secretly and leaked to the local news media, Paulo Massato, a senior official at São Paulo’s water utility, said that residents might have to be warned to flee because “there’s not enough water, there won’t be water to bathe, to clean” homes. “We’re witnessing an unprecedented water crisis in one of the world’s great industrial cities,” said Marússia Whately, a water specialist at Instituto Socioambiental, a Brazilian environmental group. For some in this
traffic-choked megacity of futuristic skyscrapers, gated communities and sprawling slums, the slow-burning crisis has already meant no running water for days on end. “Imagine going three days without any water and trying to run a business in a basic sanitary way,” said Maria da Fátima Ribeiro, 51, who owns a bar in Parque Alexandra, a gritty neighborhood on the edge of São Paulo’s metropolitan area. “This is Brazil, where human beings are treated worse than dogs by our own politicians.”
Drilling wells to meet demands Some residents have begun drilling their own wells around homes and apartment buildings, or hoarding water in buckets to wash clothes or flush toilets. Public schools are prohibiting students from using water to brush their teeth, and changing their lunch menus to serve sandwiches instead of meals on plates that need to be washed. Officials are promising ambitious solutions, like new reservoirs. But they are a long way off, and many people
Persecution defines life for Jews
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Help restore Pune’s Zero Stone
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Given its significance, this valuable part of the city’s heritage ought to be restored, fenced and beautified ABHAY VAIDYA @vaidya_abhay
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Pune’s water situation improves City dams need additional 10 TMC water to tide over crisis BY ASHOK BHAT @ashok_bhat
`2,200 cr project for water augmentation
The Zero Stone monument in Nagpur and other parts of the world
Rainfall in July has brought some reThe PMC’s Water Supply lief to the citizens of Pune and the civic Department has proposed a administration. However, to be able to `2,200 crore project to replace ensure regular water supply without the network of old, leaking and cuts in the coming weeks and months, and drainage Modiwater tweets the dams supplying water to Pune willPMdamaged BY GITESH SHELKE lines. A Draft Project Report (DPR) need to build up an additional 10 TMCin Japanese @gitesh_shelke is scheduled to be placed before (thousand million cubic feet of water) the City Improvement Committee storage. Primenext minister Narendra With 28-years-old Asif Shaikh as its week, BJP’s groupModi leaderon While the Khadakwasla dam hasThursday putGanesh out a series of told tweets in head, the Shri Shivram Tarun Mandal in PMC, Bidkar TGS. reached its storage capacity of 1.98Japanese and said that be as his friends Trust on MG Road is truly an inspiring project would financed TMC, the situation in the Panshet,from The Japan had him to talk to icon of communal harmony, as it through theasked Jawaharlal Nehru Varasgaon and Temghar dams wouldthe people of Urban JapanRenewal directly, Mission. he had prepares for Ganeshotsav with a range be crucial not just for Pune city butdoneNational so. Modi is scheduled to visit Jaof charitable activities every year. The project will drastically curtail also for smaller towns downstream likepan from 30 to September 3. Describing their youth group as “a waterAugust wastage. Daund and Indapur, which depend onIn a tweet in Japanese, he said he was truly cosmopolitan mandal”, Shaikh these dams for their water supply. Tovery “excited” about the visit that will and the mandal’s secretary Sheldon fulfi l this demand, a total of 20 TMCstrengthen the relationship between Fernandes spoke of water will be required, of which storagethe ministration tookIna another review oftweet the rain-what Ganeshotsav two countries. of 10 TMC has been achieved. fall andtowater storage status at thecelebrations mean addressed his Japanese counterThis was underlined by the officialspartKhadakwasla, Panshet, Shinzo Abe, Modi said Varasgaon he deeply andto them every year. of the Irrigation Department duringrespected Temghar dams which supply water to Abe’s leadership. First and a meeting convened at the civic headforemost, the trust involves everyone National Herald case: from the locality in Court defers hearing the festivities. The mandal collects vargani ( v o l u n t a r y A court on Thursday fixed December contribution) from 9 as the next date of hearing in a case the neighbourhood against Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and but does not spend her son and party vice president Rahul it entirely on decorations and the Gandhi and others over acquisition of immersion procession. “Instead, we the National Herald newspaper. provide meals to the poor for 10 days Metropolitan Magistrate Gomati and also undertake other charitable Manocha deferred the hearing after it activities,” Shaikh said. was apprised that the Delhi High Court This includes the distribution has put on hold a trial court’s summons of blankets, jackets and other such clothing to the poor, especially
Signposts
APSHINGE:
The great village of brave soldiers Two days from today, July 28, 2014, will mark the centenary of the First World War, also known as the Great War, that ushered in a new epoch in world politics. The history of that war is intertwined with a small, remote village in Satara district. TGS Special Report p13 This medallion was presented by the Queen of England after the First World War to the next of kin of all British and Empire service personnel who were killed in the war. Sepoy Khashaba Powar’s medallion has been placed by his family at their place of worship
Signposts India to have 4 new central universities
SRINAGAR: Indian Army chief after the wreath laying ceremony at the General Bikram Singh on Friday paid Kargil War Memorial in Drass town of tributes to the martyrs of 1999 Kargil Kargil district. War in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ladakh The chief of the Indian Army said region on the occasion of 15th Vijay ceasefire violations by Pakistan have Diwas. been taking place regularly on the He said the army is alert and Line of Control (LoC) in the state, but has been deployed effectively on the assured that the army has been effectively borders to defend the integrity and the responding to those violations. sovereignty of the country. “They violate the ceasefire every “Let me assure you, the army is week and every month, but the army has deployed on the borders to defend the been taking effective steps to respond to PUNE, AUGUST 30, 2014 www.goldensparrow.com integrity and the sovereignty of the those,” he said. country,” General Singh told reporters Contd on p 10 I've always been a movie guy, movies have been my thing. I love movies, all kinds of movies. — Christopher Nolan
WASHINGTON:: An Indian-American CEO of two publicly-traded companies has been convicted for paying kickbacks in return for purchases of his companies’ stocks, a media report said. Shailesh Shah, 48, of California pleaded guilty before a US district judge to two counts of mail fraud and two counts of wire fraud Monday, The Boston Globe reported. Shah will be sentenced in October and could face up to 20 years in prison for each count and a $250,000 fine. Shah was the president and CEO of SOHM and Costas, both based out of California. He was accused of paying kickbacks to an investment fund representative in exchange for buying stock in the two companies. The fund representative was, in fact, an undercover FBI agent working on an investigation into fraud in the market for penny stocks, the report said. Penny stocks are less heavily regulated than stocks that trade on major exchanges such as the Nasdaq or the New York Stock Exchange.
RAHUL RAUT
Indian-American convicted in stock scheme
Chief of Army Staff General Bikram Singh paying homage to martyrs at the Infantry War Memorial during his farewell visit to the Infantry School, Mhow in Indore recently
What is going wrong with road safety in India?
Telangana school bus accident resulting in the death of 19 students is part of a larger tragedy that acquisition of the paper’s publisher. demands immediate attention BY PRIYANKA NEW DELHI: India not only has the dubious distinction of having one of the worst road accident records in the world, but these are taking more and more young lives, particularly of school children. Road accidents have left nearly 70 children dead and many injured since the start of 2013, a NGO has said. More than 60 students were also injured in 11 accidents spread over seven states since January 2013 till July this year. In all instances, the victims were travelling in school buses which were either hit by other vehicles or trains or rolled down mountain slopes. According to NGO Save Life Foundation, which works for road safety, the accidents took place in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Telangana. In one of the worst disasters, 19 stu-
On Wednesday, when this newspaper took a review of Pune’s Zero Stone on the footpath outside the General Post Office (GPO), the sight was pathetic to say the least. With white paint spilled over it, there was a sweeper’s broom lying next to it and rubbish all around. A tea vendor was stationed with his cart next to the stone. In 2006, when this journalist fi rst reported on this small, yet valuable piece of Pune’s heritage, there was a watermelon seller sitting on the stone, using it as a convenient stool. The Zero Stone is a very special milestone as it signifies the geographic location of a city and the point from where distances are established between towns and cities. As such, it ought to be restored, fenced and beautified so that the children of this city, other citizens and tourists can go back to the time when Pune was taking shape under the British, bit by bit. There are just 80 of such special milestones that were installed in the
students- to prepare for the winter. The mandal also runs a small library for the neighbourhood residents and children, says Shaikh, explaining that a lot of money can be saved if spent prudently on just decorations, sound systems and other such expenses. As a part of its activities, the mandal has rented out some space to a tea vendor and the rent is used for the Ganeshotsav celebrations. Ni ne te enyears-old Sheldon, a BBA student, helping others and doing something constructive for society brings lot of joy to everyone involved in the celebrations. Associated with this youth group since childhood, he says his fellow members hail from different castes, creed and religion. The Ashok Chakra Mitra Mandal close to Shivaji Market, Camp, is celebrating its golden jubilee this year and has a number of Muslims as its members, said Faiyaz Khan, one of the activists. Headed by Raghuvir Vanal, this
Kalam spoke about the challenges that India and the world were facing and emphasised the role of leadership to tackle these issues and develop possible solutions to ensure socio-economic
on Thursday. The “missile man”, as Kalam is also known due to his background in aerospace engineering and his role in India’s
He said the key requirement for achieving a distinctive profi le for the nation was by creating sustainable enterprise-driven models at the rural level. Kalam urged the students to emulate a development model to bring
urban amenities to rural areas. “Providing Urban amenities in Rural Areas (PURA) is one such system which I suggest will help in providing opportunities through cooperative working of resource and social entrepreneur in the rural areas,” he said. “PURA is the creation of physical, electronic, knowledge connectivities leading to electronic connectivity of rural regions. With this combined and planned intervention of infrastructure, digital technology, information and enterprise, we can select a cluster of about 20 to 50 villages, which share core
Speaking to this newspaper, BJP’s leader in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Ganesh Bidkar said that one of the top priorities for
the BJP’s newly elected city MP Anil Shirole, was to closely follow-up on the mass transportation project. Shirole focused on updating himself on the project and seeking clarifications on the project as proposed by the Congress-NCP government.
Pune FC enter Durand Cup final P 16
Nat’l movement to promote marriages of choice gets going ‘Chayan’ promises to offer shelter, legal support and counselling to couples in case of outburst from families BY YASH DAIV @yash009
RAHUL RAUT
&DESERTED
Prominent social workers from different parts of the country who promote intercaste and inter-religious marriages have decided to establish a national movement called Chayan (Choice). This was decided at a meeting in the city on November 4-5 during a conference on ‘Right to Choice of Partner in Inter-caste and Interreligious Marriages’. Activists from the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS), SM Joshi Socialist Foundation, Rashtriya Seva Dal and Muslim Satyashodhak Mandal along with the voluntary organisation, Dhanak from Delhi, were present at this meet.
the Special Marriage Act, 1954, which is complicated, different in every state and plagued with controversies. “A platform like Chayan can help modify such a law,” he said. Iqbal suggested that under the national platform one can create a secure place for couples who have mixed marriages. “We can offer them shelter, legal procedures and counselling in case there is an outburst from the families,” he said. Chayan would ensure the smooth functioning of the legal structure pertaining to marriage. Deepak Girme, president, MANS said society’s mindset have deep religious roots. Having worked with the late anti-superstition crusader Narendra Dabolkar for 25 years, he said any religious text should be questioned.
Pune’s hottest start-up, 2014 to get top prize today
Asif Shaikh (left) and Sheldon Fernandes (right) of Shri Shivram Tarun Mandal Trust preparing the decorations for Ganeshotsav
mandal runs a social organisation called Anzuman Faizane Raza and the members celebrate other prominent festivals and occasions such as Eid, Independence Day and Republic Day with equal fervor.
“We collect money and support poor patients in the hospitals. Our members also support orphans in different orphanages in the city,” Khan said. This members of this group include
Muslims and Christians and they are steadfast about the spirit of unity in diversity and respect for all religions that defines the nation, said Khan.
shelke.gitesh@goldensparrow.com
With support from Delhi, city BJP 12 Indian firms among keen to push Pune Metro project Forbes Asia’s Fabulous 50 In view of the forthcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra, central road transport minister Nitin Gadkari has begun giving personal attention to the proposed Pune Metro project. In a bid to counter the ruling CongressNCP government in the forthcoming polls, the BJP is chalking out its strategy to gain maximum advantage by announcing critical steps on the
SPORTS
DEAD
WASHINGTON: A dozen Indian firms figure in this year’s Forbes Asia’s “Mr Gadkari informed the Pune Fabulous 50 list of the region’s best big BJP leaders that he is taking charge of publicly traded companies with HDFC the Pune Metro project at the centre,” Bank making the list more times than Bidkar said. In this regard, the Union any other company. minister called a meeting in Delhi of China boasts the most companies about five experts from various fields on the list, as it has for the last three related to the project. years. But the number fell to 16, down “We are planning to meet the from 20 last year and 23 the year Central minister with regards to this before, according to the list published project soon,” Bidkar said, adding that in the web edition of Forbes Asia. an announcement on the forthcoming China’s tech companies made a state assembly polls is expected in PUNE, OCTOBER 11, 2014 www.goldensparrow.com strong showing, with Tencent the most a week or two and the BJP is keen valuable, having a market cap of $155.6 to push the Pune Metro project to a billion, nearly twice that of runner-up decisive stage before the Model Code India’s Tata Consultancy Services. of Conduct comes into force,” he said. Lenovo is the biggest in terms of annual revenue of $38.7 billion, Continued on p 10
The Software Exporters Association of Pune’s (SEAP) annual mega event, PuneConnect 2014, that seeks to promote a culture of innovation, just edging out India’s Tata Motors. creativity and enterprise in the city is India trails China with 12 companies setsame to unfold on the Fab 50 list, the numbertoday as at Hotel Westin, PUNE, AUGUST 2, 2014Koregaon www.goldensparrow.com Park, at 9.30 am. last year. At this event 2014’s hottest start-up HDFC Bank, the country’s fromsector Pune will be selected from four second-largest private bank, finalists for theyear, top prize. appears on the list for the eighth The entire the most times of any company on the galaxy of bodies Yousince have pridebegan inpromoting how in India is list Forbes compilingStart-ups this you take care of your supporting this event and includes the roster in 2005. family. Association of Software and Other notable National companies from —Julia Roberts Service Companies (NASSCOM), India include HCL Technologies, Indus (Tie, Pune), which makes the listTh fore the fifthEntrepreneurs time, SoftwareIndustries, Technologies Parks of and Sun Pharmaceutical (STPI), Mahratta Chamber Of which appears on theIndia list for the third consecutive time. Commerce Industries & Agriculture (MCCIA), PuneTech, iSpirit, IIM Mahindra & Mahindra also rejoins Ahmedabad’s the list after a two-year absence. Centre for Innovation Incubation IANS and Entrepreneurship, SME Joinup, Hinjewadi Industries Association (HIA), IACC, and Pune Open Coffee Club. The four finalists for the top prize are: Scandid- a shopping technology start-up that enables shoppers to compare prices by scanning the product barcodes with one’s mobile phones; Framebench- a cloud based online collaboration, communication and feedback platform; Ecozen Solutions, started in September 2009 to promote awareness against poor energy management practices and elevate the Indian industry to the standards and expectations of a developed nation, and The Green Raddiwala which focuses on providing door-to-door services in collecting raddi or recyclable waste such as plastic, newspapers and the like. Founded by Sushil Chaudhari and Madhur Khandelwal in 2012, Scandid also helps consumers find latest online and offline deals. The company previously won the regional round of the Seedstars World- a global start-up competition.
FRAMEBENCH
THE GREEN RADDIWALA
feedback platform. Framebench is a central workplace where one can store and share one’s creative assets. The company can help remote teams and
clients to review, mark changes required on the assets and even host discussions on them in real time, which automatically gets documented for viewing later. This visual communication workflow allows for crisp & quick feedback. Ecozen Solutions run by Devendra
(Left to right) MANS state secretary Milind Deshmukh, president Deepak Girme and Dhanak secretary Asif Iqbal at SM Joshi Hall in Navi Peth on November 4
Gupta, Prateek Singhal and Vivek Pande was started in 2009 to promote awareness against poor energy management practices and elevate the Indian industry to the standards and expectations of a developed nation. It is with this view that this designed a pioneering and innovative micro Cold Storage- a solar powered cold storage system, which was primarily designed for the rural segment to serve their needs ideally. This innovative product can be suitably adapted for local conditions Great across thethings world. can happen when have the The you fourth finalist, The Green courage to yourself. Raddiwala hasbebeen established by Michael Sam Nikhil Pagare—and Saurav Pasalkar to provide door-to-door services in collecting raddi or recyclable waste such as plastic, newspapers and the like. Green Raddiwala purchases the recyclable waste from households at market rates and sells it directly to recycling industries. This drastically reduces environmental pollution. ishani.bose@goldensparrow.com (See related reports on p3)
After several brainstorming sessions
“People blindly follow the vedic rituals. A person should be able to justify all his or her activities rather than following a tradition. If we are able to instil this attitude in the masses we will be able to eradicate class politics and in turn the problems of mixed marriages,” he said. Subhash Bhave, secretary, SM Joshi Socialist Foundation emphasised on the need for mass awareness. “People have a tendency to hide their marriages until the legal documents are ready. This attitude must be changed,” he said. It was suggested during the deliberations that there should be a group of five to ten people in every district who will promote and provide assistance if required, for inter-caste and inter-religious marriages. yashdaiv@gmail.com
City takes lead over Delhi, Mumbai in the journey of product start-ups TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeeKLY Pune has emerged as the nation’s second-fastest product start-up hub in the country. A close second to Bangalore, Pune has taken a lead over mega-metros like Delhi and Mumbai. This has been stated in the latest report by iSPIRIT, (Indian Software Product Industry Roundtable), a company mainly focussed towards the product industry. “Pune is significantly ahead of Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad,” the report said while
noting the product start-ups activity in Bangalore at 33% of India, Pune (21 %), Delhi and Mumbai (about 1112% each) and Hyderabad at 9%. “Pune is definitely No. 2, which is excellent,” said Amit Paranjape, co-founder of Pune-Tech, an online tech portal for the tech and startup community in Pune. Addressing a recent press conference Paranjape spoke about Pune’s viable ecosystem, which has been developing tremendously to enable entrepreneurs to launch an enterprise.
Others who shared this thought were Gaurav Mehra, past president SEAP and managing director, Saba Softwares; Maneesh Bhandari, director, Pune Division, Centre for Innovation Incubation and Entrepreneurship (CIIE) at IIM Ahmedabad; Ashutosh Parasnis, president of SEAP and managing director of Qlogic; Ramaswamy Narayanan, vice president, SEAP; Vishwas Mahajan, president of TIEPune chapter and Navin Kabra, cofounder of Pune Tech. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
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PUNE’S PEOPLE PURPOSE
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Carrying the torch in the battle against cancer P2
Six out of eight subways in the city are in a sad state of neglect and are closed to the public. Some are used as convenient urinating spots or as gambling dens. They are dirty, poorly lit and unsafe. Why can’t city subways be restored and made user-friendly for pedestrians? Also related is the complete avoidance of foot over-bridges by pedestrians. Why waste public exchequer and construct them if they are so very unpopular with the public? See Spotlight on p8-9
competencies and empower those using local enterprise. This would enable our country to grow by shared efforts and overcome the challenges faced by the society,” he said. Charting out a link between creative leadership and economic development, the former president emphasised the importance of the role that change in leadership would play for ensuring success. He also accentuated on the role of integrity among leaders for sustained success and development of the society. (IANS)
Ever wondered where thoroughbreds go after retirement? Or why jockeys are weighed before and after a race? Barnalee Handique has the answers
Pune brands go pan India
BY ISHANI BOSE @ishani_bose
dents were killed and some 20 injuredSchool expels toddler when their school bus was rammedover mom’s FB post by a speeding train at an unmanned rail-road crossing in Telangana Thursschool bus collided with a truck at day. The dead included the school busA four-year-old toddler was expelled Malkapur in Maharashtra on January driver. from his school in the US after his 10 this year. According to the foundaAlthough the number of schoolmother vent her frustration against tion, all the accidents involving school children is a minuscule part of the total the school in a Facebook post. buses in 2013 led to deaths. number of Indians dying daily on the post read: it that evI Habat’s live cinema and “Why Six students lost istheir lives on roads, activists say most accidents are ery single daylove theremusic, is something new passionately the Solapur-Dhule highway while avoidable. I dislike about Will’s school? Are my and my efforts in both on an excursion in these Maharashtra on Piyush Tewari, founder and presistandards really too high or are people crafts are unfolding. December 7, 2013. dent of Save Life Foundation, said —Priyanka working in Chopra the education field really In an accident in Tamil Nadu’s holding an adult “accountable for safetyjust that ignorant.” The next morning, Pudukottai district in June 2013, a of children while on the move” andshe received a call asking her to meet mini van collided with a bus, killing having child safety laws would act as the principal when she dropped off seven school children. deterrents. her son at Sonshine Christian AcadAnother seven children died when Two accidents this year injured 12emy, a private religious school, in Flortheir bus fell into a gorge in Jammu and school students. The first took placeida. To her shock, the school decided Kashmir’s Anantnag district in April May 12 in Greater Noida in Uttarto expel her son. 2013. In July last year, 11 students were Pradesh, injuring two students. Ten killed and 20 injured when their bus hit students were injured in adjoining Noia truck in Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh da April 29 when their school bus was district. hit by a state-run bus. Contd on p 10 Three children died when their
Horse,s
TGS LIFE
City subways are
Emerge as creative leaders: Kalam to IIM students indigenous missile development, is one of the visiting faculty members in IIM-
country as special markings for a survey by the British. India’s Zero Stone stands proudly in Nagpur, denoting the centre of the country. The oldest and most famous of such milestones is located in Rome, the Milliarium Aureum (“Golden Milestone”) of the Roman Empire. The maxim “all roads lead to Rome” is believed to have originated from this monument. A number of prominent cities in the world have their own “zero stones” and are proud of it, including Washington DC, Tokyo, Berlin, Buenos Aires... The citizens of Pune and publicspirited organisations such as the MCCIA’s Janwani, INTACH, Pune International Centre and the National Society for Clean Cities, to name a few, need to lobby with the Pune Municipal Corporation’s Heritage Cell to do what is needed. The Golden Sparrow on Saturday pledges its fullest support to such an effort. Get in touch with us at: editor_tgs@goldensparrow.com www.goldensparrow.com or Tweet us: @TGSWeekly
Generosity & communal harmony define these mandals
WIKI COMMONS
NEW DELHI:: The government has decided to set up four new central universities in the country, parliament was told early this week. “The ministry of human resource development (HRD) has decided to set up four new central universities, viz. one Central Tribal University each in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, one central university in Andhra Pradesh and Mahatma Gandhi Central University in Bihar,” HRD Minister Smriti Irani said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. At present, there are 40 central universities under the purview of the ministry.
Army chief pays tributes to Kargil War martyrs
IANS
RAIDA, YEMEN: About all that remain of Yemen’s ancient and once vibrant Jewish community are untended cemeteries, dramatic hillside ghetto villages of 1,000-year-old stone houses and a few people like Abraham Jacob and his extended family. Most of them live near this northern Yemeni town in Amran province, deep in territory controlled by Houthi militants, whose leaders have made anti-Semitism a central plank in their political platform. It shows. When Jacob, 36, came to the souk here recently to meet journalists and take them on a rare visit to his community, he rode a battered motorcycle, his long, curly earlocks flapping and making him readily identifiable as Jewish. When traffic stalled for a minute, a khat dealer accosted the visitors’ Yemeni interpreter, Shuaib Almosawa, a journalist. “What are you doing with that dirty Jew?” the dealer said. “Why are you friendly with him?” “He’s a human being, after all,” Almosawa replied. “No, he’s not,” the dealer said. “God has damned him.” The last of Yemen’s once numerous Jews, who predated Muslims by many centuries, have seldom been so threatened and had so few protectors. The Houthis, who now dominate the country, are particularly strong in the two places with confirmed remaining Yemeni Jews: here in Raida, where there
are 55 Jews, and in Sanaa, the capital, where a small number live under what amounts to house arrest by the Houthi leadership. The two countries that have long facilitated Jewish emigration from Yemen - the United States and Britain - both closed their embassies recently, as did most other Western countries. And the Yemeni strongman who for three decades was the Jews’ protector, former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, is not only out of power but also, more recently, he is out of favour with the Houthis. “We have no friends,” Jacob said, “so we just try to stay away from everyone as much as we can.” They have more to fear than bad words. The encounter in the souk took place not far from where a Yemeni air force pilot in 2008 accosted Moshe Yaish Nahari, the brother of a prominent rabbi and the father of eight children, as he stepped out of his home. The assailant coldly said, “Jew, here’s a message from Islam,” and then fatally shot Nahari, who was unarmed, five times with an assault rifle, according to Yemeni news accounts. The pilot was convicted of murder and sentenced to death, but Nahari’s family, pressured into accepting blood money from the killer’s tribe to spare his life, left Yemen as soon as possible. In the next few years, nearly all of Raida’s Jews followed. Among the exceptions were Jacob and eight other interrelated households, 55 people in
Causes of crises Experts say the origins of the crisis go beyond the recent drought to include an array of interconnected factors: the city’s surging population growth in the 20th century; a chronically leaky system that spills vast amounts of water before it can reach homes; notorious pollution
ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
Tyler Hicks/The New York Times
ROD NORDLAND
all, most of them children, according to Suleiman Jacob, 45, Abraham’s eldest brother and the community’s unofficial rabbi and kosher butcher. Like the men, most of the boys in the Jacob family wear earlocks, a proud sign of who they are in an otherwise Muslim society. Now Suleiman keeps his earlocks thin and long enough so that when he goes out he can tuck them out of sight under an Arabic-style head scarf, which also covers the skullcaps (or kipas) that the men and boys all wear. Yemeni Jews, like those in other Arab countries, have suffered wave after wave of persecution. Originally, many of them lived in Saada province in the north, which was predominantly Zaydi, members of an offshoot of Shiite Islam that historically were anti-Semitic. The Houthis, whose base is in Saada, embedded that attitude in their slogan, “Death to America, death to Israel, damnation to the Jews.” The Houthis fought a succession of wars with the central government beginning in 2004, and in 2007, a Houthi representative in Saada gave Jews there an ultimatum: Leave in 10 days or face attack. Yemen’s president then, Saleh, though a Zaydi himself, became a champion of the Jews from Saada. At government expense, Saleh relocated them to a gated community in Sanaa next to the US Embassy. That place is known as Tourist City, and as recently as 2009, there were 400 Jews reportedly living there under the former president’s protection. Now there are said to be only 20 to 40. Many of them have reportedly cut off their earlocks after one of their number was killed in 2002 just outside Tourist City’s gates by a Muslim who accused the victim of ruining his life through witchcraft. In Raida, Abraham Jacob shrugged off his neighbors’ anti-Semitism, saying, “There are good people, and there are bad people.” But it is harder to overlook the Houthis’ slogan, which is chanted at all Houthi rallies, broadcast on television and painted on what seems like every blank wall space in areas they control. “Honestly,” his brother Suleiman said, “we are a little afraid of the Houthi takeover and don’t know what to do about it.” © 2015 New York Times News Service
in this vast metropolitan region of 20 million are frightened by forecasts at Brazil’s natural disaster monitoring service that São Paulo’s main reservoir system could run dry in 2015.
THANK GOD IT’S S AT U R D AY
In Yemen, Jews are threatened and molested by Houthis who dominate the country
Shepherd squatters among the stone buildings of what was once the Jewish ghetto of Beit Bous, in the hills above Sanaa, Yemen
in the Tietê and Pinheiros rivers traversing the city (their aroma can induce nausea in passers-by); and the destruction of surrounding forests and wetlands that have historically soaked up rain and released it into reservoirs. Deforestation in the Amazon River basin, hundreds of kilometres away, may also be adding to São Paulo’s water crisis. Cutting the forest reduces its capacity to release humidity into the air, diminishing rainfall in southeast Brazil, according to a recent study by one of the country’s leading climate scientists. Officials also point to global warming. “Climate change has arrived to stay,” Geraldo Alckmin, the governor of São Paulo state, said in February. “When it rains, it rains too much, and when there’s drought, it’s way too dry.” Shrinking water supplies are afflicting Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais, two other powerful states, while some smaller cities in the region canceled Carnival festivities over worries about the lack of water to clean trash-strewn streets after celebrations. But São Paulo’s crisis is particularly acute. Officials at Sabesp, the water utility controlled by São Paulo state, have acknowledged lowering the water pressure in the distribution network. While that effectively reduced the amount of water flowing through the system, the authorities have frequently insisted it is not the same as rationing, sowing confusion and anger among those unable to get water. “It’s a water system which clearly hasn’t been managed well,” said Newsha Ajami, director of urban water policy at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, who recently met with water authorities here. © 2015 New York Times News Service
Artist and activist Mundano works on a graffiti mural along a busy highway titled “Cantareira Desert,” after the name of a nearly depleted water reservoir system that supplies the city, in Sao Paulo
ILLUSTRATION BY GAURI BARVE KALE
Woman accused of molesting Indian man in Dubai
“I really hope (the Minsk Agreement) is implemented, and if it is -- it is the right way to normalization of situation in that Ukrainian region.” —Vladimir Putin, Russian President
Mauricio Lima/The New York Times
Signposts
PUNE
A Woman Of Substance
DEEPIKA PADUKONE
Talented, hard-working and a big league movie star, They are independent and opinionated and Deepika Padukone can also these 20-year-olds are going it solo when everyone around them is getting hitched. take a tough stand when Ishani Bose tells us more push comes to shove.
Anjali Shetty gauges public opinion See P10-11
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“You have to meet the needs of consumers. If consumers are becoming health conscious, I cannot go in the opposite direction.” — Amit Jatia, Westlife Development
Signpost IES says inflation easing India’s economic survey pegged growth at more than 8 per cent for the next fiscal and said inflation was now declining, while also setting the agenda for reforms needed to further drive the expansion, prune wasteful expenditure and promote productive investment. On inflation, the survey said, there has been a fall of over 6 percentage points since 2013, even as the external sector, which includes exports and inflow of foreign funds, was returning to a path of strength. Industrial growth has also picked up now. It aslo reports on the farm sector. Foodgrain production for year 2014-15 is estimated at 257.07 million tonnes and will exceed that.
Himachal MP gets enhanced grant Himachal Pradesh BJP MP Anurag Thakur thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the enhanced grant of Rs 40,625 crore to the revenue deficit hill state as recommended by the 14th Finance Commission.”The prime minister is aware of problems faced by the hill states and therefore even if it meant the straining of its own finances, the central government has accepted the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission in letter and spirit,” he said in a statement. The hill state received the grant out of the Rs 1.95 lakh crore allotted to 11 revenue deficit states. Thakur said the 13th Finance Commission had recommended states’ share in central taxes at 39.5 percent but the then UPA government scaled it down to 32 per cent.
Prabhu sharply hikes freight rates Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu sought to hike goods rates on a host of items between 2.1 per cent and 10 per cent in his maiden budget, to garner 13.5 per cent additional revenues on this count. “Then freight structure for the Base Class-100 has been proposed to be increased by 10 per cent,” an explanatory statement on freight, appended with the budget documents showed, indicating the hike sought in the most basic goods such as salt for human consumption. The minister also proposed to reduce the number of classifications to ascertain freight rates, as also rationalise the distance slabs.
“Flow of funds from the government to FCI is erratic. Corporates are also exposed to cut in payment for short deliveries, equality rejections.” —Tejinder Narang, grain analyst
Will the Budget set right the distortions? Financial markets are hopeful that the Budget will clarify different and confused tax provisions regarding investment vehicles such as mutual funds and private equities
Kickstarting investment cycles through fiscal measures is crucial for the demand cycle in turn, says CRISIL report
VINOD KOTHARI & NIDHI BOTHRA All over the world, there are clear rules for being eligible for passthrough status, but unfortunately, the principles on representative taxation in India have never been designed to tax collective investment devices. These principles have been created over the years to tax trusts where tax payers may create pools of assets/ income which beneficially belong to a tax payer, but are not legally his. Therefore, there are situations where such a “representative assessee” is required to pay tax at maximum marginal rate (MMR) which defeats the purpose of these collective investment vehicles at the first place. The least what Finance Minister Arun Jaitley should do, in Budget 2015, is to set right the highly distorted scene of taxation of investment vehicles. These vehicles include the private equity (PE) funds and venture capital funds (VCFs), collectively called alternative investment funds (AIFs), securitisation vehicles, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs). Lest you should think these are some esoteric instruments that don’t matter to the country’s economy in general, you are actually mistaken. Each of these investment vehicles is crucial for the country’s economy: • A large part of the foreign direct investment into the country comes through these vehicles. Over years, private equity funds have brought billions of funds into the country. The India Private Equity Report, 2014 states that in 2014, Indian PE industry did deals worth $11.8 billion - lower than the 2011 levels which were at $14.8 billion. It is important to note that capital is much more important than debt- capital and is like the foundation of a business on which the edifice of debt is built. • Securitisation activity is crucial for the business model of the nonbanking finance companies in the country which supplement bankers’ access to the so-called priority sector lending market. NBFCs are instruments of financial inclusion, and their business model substantially hinges on securitisation.
Private sector will not kick-start investment cycle MONEYLIFE DIGITAL TEAM
• REITs have been proposed in the last Budget, but have not taken off at all. REITs are expected to be crucial in reviving or unlocking investments in commercial real estate. Commercial real estate has a substantial multiplier effect - it brings employment, affects core sector industries, and so on. Tax issues continue to baffle funds: Currently, the tax law pertaining to taxation of investment conduits is either legislatively uncertain, or is lopsided. The different taxing principles under the Income Tax Act, 1961, for taxing different forms of investment vehicles in India are as follows: • Mutual funds, taxed under Section 115 R • Venture capital funds, taxed under Section 10 (23FB) read with Section 115U • Alternative investment funds – no tax provisions, hence, taxed under normal tax principles of representative taxation • Securitisation trusts – taxed under Section 115TA to 115TC (Chapter XII EA) • Real estate investment trusts – Section 10 (23FC), 10 (23FD) and 10 (38) read with Section 115 UA • All other collective investment vehicles – no tax provisions, hence, taxed under normal tax principles of representative taxation The various fund structures
existing in India are covered by different tax regime. Even though the fund structures are similar, the practice of applying different tax principles on them is not clear. This divergence creates much ambiguity on the whole. In some investment vehicles there is a partial pass-through and in some cases there is representative taxation made applicable. While the intent with which each of these vehicles is set up is similar, the tax implications vary across vehicles. Most of these vehicles are set up in a trust form (a non-charitable business trust) and there have several issues with regard to such trusts being revocable, determinate, discretionary or otherwise. The critical issue in taxation for consideration, for all these conduits is whether there will be a pass-through for tax purposes, or the fund is a tax-opaque entity. A pass-through taxation is the most convenient form of taxation, as the investors pay their own taxes, and the fund as a collective investment device is not required to pay any taxes at the fund level. All the more there is no duplication of taxes or leakage of taxes. The tax officer taxes the fund; the distributions made by the fund may not be chargeable to tax. (Vinod Kothari is a chartered accountant, trainer and author. Nidhi Bothra is executive vice president at Vinod Kothari Consultants)
Promulgating ordinances, while showing the Narendra Modi government’s positive intent, are not enough for corporates and investors to commit big money, says CRISIL, the ratings agency. Debottlenecking steps taken by demand. This seems to be the real the new government at the Centre reason behind the hesitation to commit and tailwinds from the crash in crude larger monies,” says Prasad Koparkar, oil prices have infused sanguinity into Senior Director, CRISIL Research. the economy, even pushing growth CRISIL said its survey sample up mildly. In addition, with inflation is fairly representative, as the polled hovering inside the Reserve Bank companies accounted for about 45 of India’s (RBI) target and current per cent of the capex undertaken by account deficit reined in, India is truly all National Stock Exchange-listed a bright spot among emerging markets. companies, excluding the banking, However, ratings agency CRISIL financial services and insurance sector, says domestic investments are not in 2013-14. forthcoming. “We believe till “Without an upturn such time there is great in capital investments, improvement in demand without job creation, visibility, the private without putting more sector will prefer to money in people’s wait and watch than hands, and without intrepidly commit expanding capacities to more skin. In such a meet future demand, it scenario, the ability is hard to see the current of the government to pace of economic kick-start investments growth increasing and through fiscal measures sustaining. --especially given the Promulgating additional elbow room - CRISIL report ordinances, while afforded by falling showing the crude prices – is crucial government’s positive intent, are not because that can initiate the demand enough for corporates and investors cycle,” it added. to commit big money. The prognosis, Raman Uberoi, President for thus, is clear. It is time to facilitate a Ratings at CRISIL, said, “The revival in the investment cycle,” the message coming through is crystal ratings agency said. clear: as things stand, there is only CRISIL’s survey of 192 listed, one way to kick-start the all-important public and private sector companies -investment cycle, and that is through from key sectors such as infrastructure, public investment. The onus is on the energy, metals, cement, auto, pharma government to do the initial heavy and textiles - showed a 4 per cent lifting.” decline in capex plans for 2015-16. CRISIL said it believes this is Even more bothersome was an 11 where spending on infrastructure – per cent syear-on-year decline in the specifically, roads, urban infrastructure capex plans of private sector companies and railways – is crucial because they polled. Notably, this will follow have a significant multiplier effect of already subdued spending expected in creating demand for steel, cement, 2014-15, it said in a report. capital goods and commercial vehicles, “If there is one thing corporates and spurring investments in the – are looking for, it is better visibility manufacturing space as well. in terms of a sharp improvement in @moneylife.in
“The private sector will prefer to wait that commit askin.”
NEFT: ‘Never Ending Financial Trouble’ for bank customers
Banks have no responsibility to match perfectly the account number with the beneficiary name as mentioned by the remitter. This makes the customer run from pillar to post for grievance redressal. Why is the RBI so unconcerned? National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) and Real Time Gross Settlement System (RTGS) are great technological products for remittance of funds. However, both require considerable improvement in implementation to make them not only customer friendly but a safe and secure remittance system that can sustain the trust and confidence of the using public. Now that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is in the verge of granting many more licences to set up what are called specialized “payment banks” exclusively catering to the remittance business, it is all the more necessary to upgrade the prevailing systems with built in safeguards. This would ensure that customers feel safe in using these modern systems. These problems enumerated in the aforesaid two articles can be summarized as under: 1. Banks, who receive the remittance, do not furnish full information of the remitter when they credit the amount to beneficiary’s account. This can give rise to questions being raised by tax authorities who could even construe these credits as income in the hands of the beneficiaries
and taxed accordingly. This can put the receiver in a dilemma for no fault of his. 2. Apart from the name of the remitter, the full address of the remitter and the purpose of remittance should also be furnished for the use of the receiver. In the absence of this information, it will put both the remitter and the beneficiary in a bind. 3. A number of businesses that accept online payments for sale of products, subscriptions, memberships etc. do require full information about the remitter and the purpose of remittance without which, they are left vulnerable to harassment by different tax authorities as well as by their auditors who may not give a clean report in their balance sheet. 4. Another issue with NEFT fund transfer is the delay. According to RBI policy, banks need to afford credits to beneficiary accounts or return transactions (un-credited for whatever reason) to the originating / sponsor bank within the prescribed timeline. RBI has also instructed banks that compensation as stated above is paid suo-moto to the customer without necessitating a request for the same by the customer. Whether this is complied
the beneficiary as mentioned by the remitter as per the guidelines of RBI. The onus of furnishing the correct account number, no doubt, rests with the remitter, but unfortunately, there is no enabling environment to ensure that the remitter does not commit any mistakes while mentioning the account number in the application for remittance. This is because; there is no standardization in the numbering of bank accounts as prevalent in mobile telephone numbers.
with by banks is anybody’s guess. What are the problems encountered by remitters? Every remitter is anxious to ensure that the remittance reaches the right beneficiary to whom it is intended at the earliest possible time. But if it does not get credited to the right beneficiary for whatever reasons, the remitter will have to face the music and run after the banks to recover the money from the wrongful recipient of the amount. The chances of money going into the wrong account are again two fold. If the remitter mentions the beneficiary’s name correctly, but
inadvertently mentions wrong account number of the beneficiary, the amount will be credited to the wrong account mentioned therein without matching name of the beneficiary. Secondly, if the remitting bank by mistake mentions the wrong account number while transmitting the message to the receiving bank, here again, the money will get credited to the wrong account, as the receiving bank is not required to match the name of the account holder mentioned in the remittance instructions. This is because, banks have no responsibility to perfectly match the account number with the name of
What are the improvements required to strengthen the NEFT system? The first and the foremost improvement required is to ensure that the amount reaches the intended beneficiary only at all costs. To enable this, the most important requirement is to standardize account numbers across all banks which will reduce the chances of making mistakes by the remitter and the remitting bank as well. All mobile numbers are of 10 digits all over the country irrespective of the operator, making it user friendly and easy to record wherever required. But the numbers of bank accounts vary from 10 digits to 15 digits, as different banks follow different system of allotting account number for accounts opened with them. For instance, SBI has 11 digits in their account numbers; where as ICICI Bank has 12 digits, Canara Bank has 13 digits, Indian Overseas Bank has 15 digits, while Citibank has only 10 digits.
If nearly 900 million mobile numbers can be restricted to 10 digits, it is certainly possible to restrict the bank accounts to a maximum of 10 or 12 digits and make it uniformly applicable for all banks in the country. This is, however, not to say that the name of the account holder should not be considered while affording credit. In an environment of technological improvements taking place every day, there is no reason why it is not possible to develop suitable software to perfectly match the account number with the name of the account holders as specified by the remitter. If customers are properly guided to provide both the account numbers and name of the beneficiary correctly, they would certainly comply with this requirement in their own interest, to ensure that the remittance goes through without any hitch. RBI should certainly ask the banks to find out plausible solution to this problem so that the entire system is perfected to provide safe and secure remittance system to the banking public. There are a number of instances, where the amounts have been credited to wrong beneficiaries without matching name of the beneficiary, due to wrong account numbers either given by the remitters or wrongly communicated by the remitting bank, which has resulted in inconvenience and, in some cases, even loss of money to the customer or the remitting bank. @moneylife.in
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2015
“To beef up PMPML service, we have added 50 mid-sized buses. These buses will seat 22 passengers and will measure nine meters in length. The buses will start plying from December.” — Shrikar Pardeshi, addtl charge, chairman & MD, PMPML
PUNE
“Ensuring helmet norm is everybody’s responsibility… we are trying to inculcate traffic culture among Puneites.” — Sarang Awad, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic)
Is Karvenagar road Formula 1 race track or a death trap?
Environmentalist Sanjay Deshpande speaks about the disappearing bio-diversity and the everyday problems of the area Take the example of the area I reside in. It’s a central part of the city off Karve Road, and it is peaceful as it is close by to the river and a green belt. But the green belt is being used for all sorts of purposes, like marriage lawns, exhibitions and hotels, defeating the very purpose of making it green. In addition, there are traffic jams due to the vehicles of all the visitors and the processions, with DJs blasting music through speaker columns. R e s i d e n t s have repeatedly complained to the authorities about all this but there has been no response. Besides sound pollution, bursting of fi re crackers pollutes the air. The road from Mhatre bridge to Rajaram bridge is like a Formula 1 race track, such is the attitude of vehicle users here. The police only fine twowheeler riders without helmets but do nothing about speeding and no offence is ever registered. Why are there no
speed-breakers or dividers is another question? In the last seven years, 70 accidents have been reported on this stretch, but the PMC says it’s the Traffic police’s responsibility and the Traffic police says it’s PMC’s job. Nallah beds now have been concretised, killing all the biodiversity and it is the same with the river. The river water is so polluted that it only attracts kites, crows and mosquitoes. Why can’t we have a clean, beautiful river as Pune is blessed with the longest of riverfronts within the city, but it’s a curse to the neighbourhood rather than a boon. Then there are the always overflowing garbage bins because there is no such thing as timely removal of garbage. Cows and buffaloes roam all along the footpaths and there is cow dung all over the road. No one takes any action against the owners of the cattle, but it’s their responsibility to
“Traffic police do nothing about speeding vehicles”
CITIZEN JOURNALIST
Sanjay Deshpande, builder and environmentalist
As a citizen this is a question I often ask myself: what wrong have I done that I have to face so many hurdles in my life, that too in the city like Pune? Agreed, we are much better off than many smaller villages and towns, but with the kind of taxes we pay, the outcome isn’t worth it. And many things can be easily taken care of but it’s just because no one cares that no one does anything.
- SANJAY DESHPANDE
keep the footpaths clean if they use them for their animals. It is the same is story with the stray dogs who take shelter in the day along the river bed and at night and early morning, these dogs roam around DP Road, making the life of road users miserable. These are problems I see around the area I stay, but the situation isn’t any different elsewhere in the city. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
The road leading to Mhatre bridge from Rajaram bridge on Karvenagar Road
Pune is my second home An enriching experience A non-Punekar describes why the city makes her feel at home
RAHUL RAUT
City has fine balance of heritage and has the fast paced environment for the Gen-X
The year 2006 was the beginning of a new phase in my life. I was newly married and since my husband was working in Pune, I shifted here. It was early morning when we arrived at the railway station. As we drove from the railway station to our apartment near Koregaon Park, I got my fi rst glimpse of the city. In the fi rst few days, I was introduced to the specialties of Pune like bhakarwadi, wada pav, Shrewsbury biscuits and spicy misal pav. I started getting used to the city, the food , culture and the people. But
I was homesick and wanted to return to my hometown, Jaipur. I felt lonely as most of the people staying in our building went to work in the morning. It was also difficult for me to communicate with them, as they spoke only Marathi. My outings were confined to restaurants or cinema halls over the weekends. My interaction with Pune really started when I joined ‘Tilak College,’ on the SP College campus, for my Bachelor in Education. It was an enriching experience. I used to commute by bus every day. From the
NON-NATIVE
Maral Yazarloo, fashion designer
Youngsters enjoying at one of the night clubs in the city
I moved to Pune 11 years ago, from Iran, to pursue a Masters programme in Business Administration. Pune is the destination for higher education and Savitribai Phule Pune University is one of the best for management studies, and that was the reason I moved to India and Pune. After completing my degree, I was planning to go to the United Kingdom for my PhD. I decided to stay on in the city and complete my PhD from here. Pune became my second home. While doing my PhD, I joined Panchshil as a management trainee. After my education was complete, I was hired by the organisation as the marketing head. After two and a half years as a marketing head, I was entrusted the task of heading the retail marketing division. Pune is fashion savvy. There are
many well-known designers in the city. Since, I have always been fashion conscious, I decided to launch my own designer brand called ‘Ma/Ya’. The flagship store is at JW Marriott in the city. I am enamoured by the city because of its culture, traditions, the people, and the steady pace of life here. Especially, the culture in the city is a delight. I believe people residing in the city form the culture for any city. It has the fine balance of a heritage city and has the fast paced environment for the Gen-X. The people from this city are helpful and kind. It is an excellent city to work in and to build a career, be it your own business or the corporate life. With so
LETTERS TO THE
EDITOR
Nothing comes free. We have a Nobel Laureate in Amartya Sen and then we have the new age politician who talks about the concept of free utilities. Can we really expect free water and power when everything has a cost? Will ‘free power and water’ explain itself, or is some mysterious source printing its own currency notes that we have no idea about? Budgets are about taxes and trying to keep the financial cycle sustain itself. Every consumable except air involves human effort and time. Money is paid as a wage or salary and no one does anything for free. Social workers depend on funds and donations and even places of religious worship seek help of the wealthy. We thus discover that the word free is not so, because someone is paying somewhere for someone else. Will free water or electricity be really free, or will revenues be self generated? The best things in life may be free, but everything else has a
many companies and MNCs here, it is the perfect balance between having a quality life and a fast paced career. Pune is a gourmet’s delight. I have visited almost all the restaurants in the city, offering sumptuous cuisines. My favourites are Pasha at JW Marriott for its food and ambience, Euriska at Koregaon Park for its good food and amazing music, and Terttulia, when I chill with my friends after a hard day’s work. Being passionate about biking, I love the roads where I can ride my Harley-Davidson at night. Th is city gives me the opportunity to ride my bike to picturesque locations like Sinhagad, Mahabaleshwar and Lonavla.
FROM FOREIGN
SHORES
ANIRUDDHA RAJANDEKAR
PAROLE
The entrance of the Kasba Ganpati temple
Sumedha Bhattacharyya
bus conductors, I learned words like ‘pudhe sarka (move forward), mage sarka (get back) and patkan (quickly). Those were the fi rst Marathi words that I learned. But I was determined to add to my vocabulary by the end of my college session. The staff as well as most of students in my BEd college used to treat me like a foreigner, which I used to find very amusing. Since the college had both Marathi and English mediums, my newly acquired friends from Pune would help me cope with the difficulties. Thus I got to see the two faces of Pune – one, the traditional side around the peth areas, and the anglicised side near Osho ashram, Koregaon Park. Eight years have passed. I have come a long way. I don’t know what the future has in store for me, but now I want to spend the rest of my life in Pune because my heart lies here.
Every consumable except air involves human effort cost. Maharashtra is seeing increased costs in power and then we have the beauty of Delhi, where electricity may be ‘free of cost’. How can this magical dual reality exist? Do governments lie to us, or is money freely available for some and not for the others? A free meal may look tempting but often leads to overeating and this also holds good in our normal day to day life. We all do not have the luxury of printing our own money but do governments have their own guardian angels? — Sunil Melwani
Air pollution in Delhi The US is going to monitor the quality of air in Indian cities, both to protect the staff in its own missions, the US citizens in India, and to raise awareness about this in India. The government has misled the court on the air pollution in Delhi and unless
someone is brought to justice, things will not improve. The new Delhi CM’s constant bronchial difficulties are all too visible. New Delhi is the most polluted city in the world and is now said to have the world’s worst air quality. The level of PM 2.5 (minute particle matter) in Delhi is 15 times above levels considered safe by the WHO. Delhi’s air has been 45 per cent more polluted than that of the Chinese capital for the past couple of years. One should examine whose responsibility it is to ensure clean air in Delhi; is it the government of India or the Delhi government, and accordingly action should be taken on an urgent basis. — Vinod Desai
Apple-polishing
I always wonder who are those absolute apple-polishers who go to the extent of buying suits and apparel of their icons. One Hindu sycophant
in Surat is willing to shell out crores of rupees to buy the suit Narendra Modi wore recently. A bunch of nincompoops built a temple to worship Modi somewhere in his home state of Gujarat. Ostensibly Modi has disapproved of it, but fawning has a limit. Here in India, people vie for the top slot in toadyism. Th is is disgusting, to say the least. I’m sure, all these acts of rank idiocy will soon pave the way for sane Indians to realise that it’s time they emulated Delhi-ites and voted other parties in, instead of the BJP. — Sumit Paul
ST fare concessions
The Maharashtra State Transport authorities have now ruled that to avail of concessions in ST bus fares, senior citizens must produce the original copy of the Aadhaar card (rather Aadhaar card is a must), that shows the proof of
already cash strapped, such a heavy loss every year is intolerable. It is hoped that the stricter rules now will give the ST some monetary relief. Better late than never. — Vijay Dattatray Patil
Write to Us the age/date of birth of the traveler, and that cards issued earlier by the concerned authorities for this purpose are no more valid. The ST authorities have been forced to take this decision for the reason that even those below the age limit of senior citizen are availing of this facility by producing fake/bogus documents, which it is alleged, have been obtained through fraudulent means, showing higher age limit for the said purpose. The ST authorities have realised this only after realising that they were suffering an avoidable loss of `600 crore yearly. Being
Letters to the Editor may be emailed to editor_tgs@goldensparrow.com, editor_tgs@gmail.com or mailed to The Editor, 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.
SPORTS
THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2015
PUNE
“I am very happy to get this first double-hundred ever since Rohit got two (ODI double-hundreds), I have been hounded to get one as well,” — Chris Gayle
West Zone enter badminton final Abhimanyu Singh and Vaishnavi Iyer steered West Zone men and women teams to the FCI all-India inter zonal badminton tournament finals in the city on Tuesday. In the men’s semis, West Zone blanked North Zone as Singh won his both matches. In the women’s section, Vaishnavi Iyer won her singles match against Head Quarters team.
Singh, Chandel lift U-10 tennis titles Pari Singh and Nirmit Chandel win the girls and boys’ titles at the Poona Club Trophy Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) under-10 ranking tennis tournament organised by Poona Club recently. In the boys’ finals, Mumbai’s Nirmit Chandel ousted Ninad Mulay, while second seeded Pari Singh blanked Saina Deshpande in the girls’ section.
Kabbadi, tennis coach Wakankar dies at 70 State level kabbadi player and coach and noted tennis coach Arun Shankar Wakankar passed away at a city hospital on Tuesday to cardiac arrest. He was 70. A retired bank officer, he was the coach of the banks’ kabbadi team. Later, he learnt tennis and took part in tourneys. He was also the founder member of PMDTA.
Women’s football set to rock! Pune FC becomes the first club in the country to form an all-women team. Training for 24 probables begins in city
PUNE FC
Signposts
It’s not the result we wanted but the tie (between Manchester City and Barcelona) is still unfinished. And as usual we’ll fight till the end. C’mon, City! — Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero
TGS News Service @TGSWeekly One of the sports where Indian women fare better than men is football. The Indian women’s football team has a better FIFA (international governing body of football) ranking than their male counterparts. The Pune FC becoming the first club in India to conduct trials for women should give enough reasons for the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to start an Indian Super League (ISL)-like league exclusively for women. The Maharashtra Mandal Sports Complex in Mukundnagar was witness to an historical moment recently as I-league club Pune FC conducted the country’s first ever professional football ‘open trials’ for women. Fifty girls, mostly from Pune, attended the trials that were overseen by coaches. The shortlisted 24-member squad have been training under coach Kalpana Dass, an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) ‘B’ licence holder. Dass said that young, energetic and good first-touch players were picked for the squad to strengthen the team. “Being the first I-League team for women, I am sure the expectation is high... and to fulfill the same is the motive as we move ahead,” she said. The players’ training, kits, and
The Pune FC Women’s Team along with Coach Kalpana Dass (Extreme right in Blue)
outstation travel expenses will be covered by the club. City’s Sasha Pimento, who will represent Pune FC club, said that there is a lot of scope for women’s football in India with leagues like ISL and I-league. “I will work hard to be in the playing eleven,” Sasha said. Having completed
“There is a lot of scope for women’s football in India with ISL and I-league.” - Sasha Pimento
the registration with the Poona District Football Association, the team looks forward to participate in the first-ever women’s League to be conducted by the district body soon. For the first two months, the Pune FC women’s team will have sessions thrice a week at the Maharashtra Mandal
Sports Complex. Pune FC aims to expand the system with increased frequency in sessions and starting an Under-15 team to train girls from a young age. The Indian women’s football team is ranked 53rd in the official FIFA rankings, out of 133 nations. Last year they won their third SAFF title. With Bengaluru FC and Shillong Lajong showing interest in the AIFF’s new venture, the future of women football in India looks kicking bright. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
Cheapest hockey World League ticket for `20 Hockey fans will just have to pay `20 to see the International Hockey Federation (FIH) World League Round 2 (women) that will be played at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in Delhi from March 7-15. Hosts Hockey India (HI) on Thursday announced the opening of online ticket sales for the eight-team event which can be booked at www.ticketgenie.in. The tickets are priced at `20 for the general stands while the VIP stand will cost `100. The teams that will play in this round in Delhi are India, Ghana, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Poland, Russia, Singapore and Thailand. India will be playing against Ghana (Match 4 on March 7), Poland (Match 8 on March 8) and Thailand (Match 12 on March 10). “It’s a delight that FIH World League Round 2 (Women) is being held in India. We are happy to announce the opening of the online ticket sales,” HI secretary general Mushtaque Ahmad said. The matches will be telecast live on DD Sports. India’s women side ranks 13 in the FIH women’s world ranking. Earlier, the team drew 0-0 draw with Spain at Valencia (Spain). The match was in preparation for the FIH World League Round 2 to be held in New Delhi. The Indian women with their strong defence and coordination ensured that all efforts to score by Spain were thwarted. A big positive from India’s point of view was the strong performance by the defenders. Opening the game on a high, Indian women put in all efforts to find gaps in the opponents’ defence. Agencies
Takale’s endurance level cuts ice
Rally driver completes crash course in ice driving at Rally Sweden TGS News Service @TGSWeekly Rally driver Sanjay Takale took his endurance score to another level. The ace sportsman completed a crash course in ice driving at the Rally Sweden, the second leg of the 2015 World Rally Championship (WRC). Driving on ice of frozen Karlstad lake with temperatures hovering around minus 30 degree Celsius, Takale cleared
the test under former British rally champion and WRC veteran Graham Middleton. “The conditions in Sweden are not found in Asia. I am nearing my aim to know the vagaries of all traditional rally outposts in the world,” Takale said. He said that whenever the vehicle went off the road on an ice circuit the instructors would ask the drivers to dig the car out from the snow. “I went off the road on the first day for about 20 times.
player’s corner
Digging out the car was very tiring, but I learned to keep the car on track from second day onwards,” he said. Takale said that the track demands the accelerator to be kept minimum. “We have to drive like a belly dancer skating on ice,” he said. Takale tested three cars — a rearwheel drive BMW, a Mitsubishi R5 and an all wheel drive Subaru— under the ‘Ice Drive Sweden’ experience. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com
FEB 27-MARCH 1, 2015 at Amanora Town Centre, PUNE
Nishtha Shah 2015
21-year-old describes her evolution as a for gymnast from a child in school to now
POWERED BY
By Barnalee Handique @barnalee City- based gymnast Nishtha Shah, 21, has carved a niche for herself both in the national and international arenas. Pursuing her Chartered Accountancy from Pune, Shah has maintained a balance between academics and sports. Shah’s interest in gymnastics dates back to school, when she was in the fourth standard. She said, “I loved indoor games. My parents suggested that I take up gymnastics. They enrolled me at Agashe College at Mukundnagar. I was trained by Sabita Marathe, an international coach.” Gymnastics requires agility, precision and co-ordination. It involves exercises on beams and on the floor. Initially she was not greatly interested, but she was inspired when coach Marathe brought home a haul of medals. He said, “I never missed training sessions and used to rigoro u s l y practice for five hours every day. When I participate in a tournament, I attend special training camps where the training sessions last 10 hours at times.”
Date: Friday, February 27, 2015 Venue: Amanora Town Centre, Pune 28 Time: 7pm onwards
Nishtha Shah with her coach Sabita Marathe
In school she participated in many competitions and won her first medals,two bronze and one silver, at Kolkata. She took part in international competitions only after her Class 12 exams. Shah has participated in 11 national and five international tournaments.
She has won 56 medals, including 16 gold, 20 silver and 20 bronze. Shah has participated in international events at Doha, Italy, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. In the Olympic qualifying round at Ukraine in 2013, she ranked 80th. She has also undergone the level one coaching in the Philippines. Shah has also received the Birla Kriya Puraskar. Shah’s upcoming tournaments are the Maharashtra Olympics to be held in May and the National Games in Goa. Next month, Shah has been invited to judge a gymnastics tournament in Malaysia.
barnalee.handique@goldensparrow.com
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