The Golden Sparrow on Saturday 15/10/2016

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PUNE, OCTOBER 15-21, 2016 | www.thegoldensparrow.com

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TGS LIFE

THE METROPOLITAN MAKEOVER

Is PMC turning a blind eye towards misuse of octroi lands?

Octroi lands and booths are being encroached upon by vendors, hawkers, gamblers and private transport companies

Business and industry have always proved to be prime catalysts for change, transforming people and places in a myriad ways. Unfortunately, they sometimes relegate earlier lifestyles and customs to history in the process See p08-09

Road accident brings curtain down on doctor couple’s dream life YCMH accused of negligence regarding man in vegetative state, admitted to the hospital for nursing care

BY DNYANESHWAR BHONDE @dnyanesh1 The morning of the August 19, 2016 seemed to be a regular one for Dr Santosh Kacheriya, 31, a Casualty Medical Officer (CMO) at Inlaks and Budhrani Hospital and his wife Dr Anita, 28, Medical Officer (MO) at Ruby Hall Clinic. The BAMS degree holders woke up early as per their routine, and were getting ready to report to their respective duties. The couple hurriedly bid adieu their four-year-old son Rajesh, and left their home in Munjaba vasti at Dhanori, at around 7:30 am on a motorcycle. They probably had no inkling of the terrible fate that awaited them.

They had reached near Akash Society and Mhasoba temple on the old airport road at around 7:45 am, when a Maruti Swift car (MH 12 KN 6663) coming from the opposite side dashed their motorcycle. Both Santosh and Anita fell down on the road and sustained serious injuries. The Vimantal police filed an offence of negligent driving

Anita and Santosh Kacheriya

and certain IPC sections against the car driver Kailash Sambhaji Kate, 37, resident of Vadagon Shinde, who had fled from the accident spot. Anita had lost consciousness but Santosh who was conscious, was calling out for help.

Continued on p06

Father alleges medical negligence by YCM

Santosh’s father Ravindra Kacheriya at YCM Hospital

Santosh’s father has alleged medical negligence in the case against YCM Hospital doctors. Santosh was admitted to ward 303, bed number 22, on the third floor. “My son died because no doctor came when he was becoming serious at midnighton Sunday. I told the nurses that my son was shivering, and so they stopped the saline. But his body started getting cold but none of the sisters paidany heed, nor rushed him to the ICU,” said a tearful Ravindra. Despite the nurses calling, not a single doctor came the entire night, but they came at around 8:30 am the next day, and then declared him dead. “This hospital is dangerous. Not a single doctor is present here in the night. Duty doctors go to sleep during the night. In the last six days,six patients died in from our ward this way,” said Ravindra Kacheriya.

See p03

Panshet family alleges their land has been grabbed See p04

Murdered man’s family awaiting justice wants CID to probe the case See p06

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 15-21, 2016

PUNE

MUMBAI

‘‘The minister ( Jankar) has used abusive language. I would say it is nothing but vinaash kaale vipreet buddhi (one thinks unintelligently or negatively when the time for one’s destruction nears). Such language has never been used in the past.’’

- Ajit Pawar, Former Maharashtra Deputy CM

New lease of life for old police housing Rs 60 crore sanctioned for state police housing repairs

BY SANTOSHEE MISHRA @TGS WEEKLY The Maharashtra State Police Housing and Welfare Corporation (MSPHC) has sanctioned Rs 60 crore for the housing of police personnel. This is welcome news to the police who have been living in dilapidated buildings and houses, and have been waiting for years for respectable accommodation.

The MSPHC has a Rs 60 crore budget to repair the accommodations of police personnel. Last week, a slab had collapsed at Tardeo police quarters.

The MSPHC plans to spend about Rs 16 crore in Mumbai city over the pending repairs of houses and offices in the city.

“Under the Mumbai commissionerate, eight places have been selected for a facelift. The audit report was submitted on the dilapidated condition. Before the monsoon every year the report is submitted on the urgent need for attention to the police

quarters by the state housing body.

We have identified and selected eight places, including Colaba, Malad, Goregaon, Worli, Kandivali, Borivali, Mahim and Ghatkopar. Across the state, 19 projects at Navi Mumbai, Thane, Ahmednagar, Nandurbar and Wasim have been identified, which need repairs,” said a senior official.

“We have been receiving funds from the Central and State governments for the Police. The flow of the appropriate budget started post 26/11 to modernise the police machinery. Housing utilised only 50 per cent of the sanctioned budget. Thus repairs of 27 such projects across the state have been stayed. After this, all pending repairs and renovations of police quarters can begin,” said the senior.

“Fifty per cent of the needed budget is sanctioned and approved by the government. It is still to come to us and then we can start the pending works of repair,” said V D Mishra, managing director of the MSPHC. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

India faces threat from inside: Menon P 12

Act timely to deal with bad loans: IMF P 14

Maratha quota: HC gives govt last chance to file affidavit The government and other respondents told to file their affidavits, replies and written submissions the same day, so the court could fix a date to hear the matter

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court voiced displeasure over the delay by the Maharashtra government in filing affidavit and making other submissions regarding quotas for the Marathas, and served it an ultimatum to do so by December 7 when it would take up the matter.

A division bench of Justices Anoop Mohta and G S Kulkarni had last month directed the government and other respondents to file their affidavits, replies and written submissions the same day, so the court could fix a date to hear the matter finally.

Senior counsel V A Thorat, appearing for the government, told the court that while the affidavit was ready, it needed time to collect data and other information to support the case.

The court, while adjourning the matter till December 7, said this was the “last chance” it was granting to the state.

The government told the HC that Maratha community comprises people belonging to various castes and since the country does not conduct castebased census anymore, it was proving rather “difficult” to get the requisite data.

The bench was hearing a batch of petitions challenging 16 per cent reservation to Marathas, announced by the previous Congress-NCP Government.

In November 2014, the HC had stayed implementation of the decision, holding that the Supreme Court had already laid down the law that reservation cannot exceed 50 per cent of the total seats.

The petitioners objected to the adjournment, arguing that the state was “employing tricks” to delay the matter but the bench said at this stage it had “no choice but to believe” the government.

“We have already given a lot of time to the government to file their affidavit and written

The Maratha ‘Muk Morcha’ (silent agitation) held in Pune recently saw an unprecedented participation by members of the community. According to police estimates, more than 20 lakh members of the Maratha community took part in the rally

submissions in the case,” the HC said, adding that the Supreme Court had earlier stated the matter should be heard and decided as expeditiously as possible.

“It is obvious that the government will have a lot to say on this complex issue. Let them have time to complete all pleadings and file their additional affidavit. This is the last chance we are giving to the government to file their affidavit. We’ll verify their claims once the arguments begin,” the bench said.

The court is hearing two PILs opposing the 2014 decision and also a bunch of applications in favour of the reservation.

The members of the Maratha community have organised massive marches across the state to press their demand for reservation in government jobs and educational institutions.

The state unit of the ruling BJP had said last

week it was committed to meeting the demand of the community without upsetting the existing OBC quota.

One of the petitioners, Ketan Tirodkar, contended that the decision to term the Maratha community as socially and educationally backward is a “fraud” committed on the country and the Constitution.

In Maharashtra, 52 per cent seats in government jobs and educational institutions were already reserved for various backward groups and by introducing 16 per cent Maratha and 5 per cent Muslim reservation, it was raised to 73 per cent.

The high court had earlier held that the Maratha community cannot be regarded as Backward Class and that the National Commission for Backward Classes and the Mandal Commission had concluded that the Marathas were socially advanced.

PTI

Maha govt widens fee waiver for students Maha cities to be open defecation free by 2017: CM MUMBAI: The BJP-led Maharashtra government today extended 50 per cent fee waiver to all categories of students pursuing professional and higher education courses with a family income of less than Rs six lakh and more than 60 per cent marks at the time of admission.

The decision apparently comes in the backdrop of the campaign launched by the Maratha community seeking reservation in jobs and education.

Addressing a press meet after a state Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the ‘Rajrishi Shahu Maharaj Fee Pratipurti Yojana’ was earlier implemented for SC/ST and OBC students.

“SC/ST students had 100 per cent fee waiver while OBC students had 50 per cent concession.

It will now be extended to all students with family income limit of Rs six lakh and who have secured more than 60 per cent marks at the time of admission.

Those with income limit up to Rs 2.5 lakh will have no condition,” he said.

Fadnavis also reaffirmed his government’s commitment to provide reservation to the Maratha community, whose thousands of members have hit streets across the state demanding quota in jobs and education besides highlighting other demands.

Significantly, the state unit of the BJP had last week said it was committed to meet the demand of the community without upsetting the OBC quota.

Fadnavis said 6,000 students in government colleges and 1.45 lakh in private colleges will benefit with the decision.

The government also decided that the ‘Punjabrao Deshmukh’ scheme will be implemented to provide hostel fees to children of marginal farmers and registered labourers.

In big cities, Rs 30,000 will be given annually while in district-level towns it will be Rs 20,000.

The government has also decided to implement ‘Pandit Deendayal Upadhay Swayam Yojana’ for providing hostel and food facilities to tribal students, Fadnavis said.

In big cities, it would be Rs 6,000 per month, in 2-tier cities it would be Rs 5,000 and in 3-tier it would be Rs 4,000 per month.

In medical colleges, those students with income limit of Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs six lakh, the government will pay interest of the educational loan taken by them. About 35,000 students in government and three lakh in private colleges will benefit from the scheme, he said.

Terming these decisions as “historic”, Fadnavis said, “The investment we are making in education sector will yield good results in times to come. We are making provision of Rs 1,000 crore this year and later budgetary provision will be done.”

PTI

SIMI members on ATS radar Former SIMI members under scanner for suspicious activity against the backdrop of the festive season

BY SANTOSHEE MISHRA @TGS WEEKLY Tightening security for the Diwali festival, several agencies of Mumbai Police have started keeping tabs on former members of the Student of Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), a banned terror outfit.

A terror alert was issued by the central agencies on the possibility of a terror strike during upcoming season of Diwali. Agencies like the state Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) with the assistance of Anti-Terror Cells (ATCs) along with local police

stations have started reviving the ‘old data’ of former SIMI members.

“The associated members of the banned terror outfit groups such as Islamic States of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Indian Mujahideen (IM) and even former members of SIMI are under tight vigilance by the State Intelligence Department ( SID) of the state police along with other local wings of Mumbai police. The movements of the formers members and their recent locations are presently listed out. The former members’ phone are under surveillance,” said a senior officer from SID. “We are also checking if during this period have they purchased any new SIM card or changed their locations. Many of the former SIMI members are engaged into various jobs, in the city and across the

state like Parbhani and Beed. We are going to their shifted jobs and locations also,” he said.

The state director general of police (DGP) Satish Mathur has instructed all the agencies to initiate action immediately if any suspicious movements of any former SIMI member are observed, claimed the senior officer.

“We are checking on the last three months phone call records of the former SIMI members, and also trying to find if any phone calls made or received is suspicious. We are also checking whether they have made visits at public places recently,” said a source.

The SIMI was banned immediately after the 9/11 twin tower attack in the USA in the year 2001. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

MUMBAI: Maharashtra government is determined to make all cities open defecation free by 2017, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said.

“We are determined to make all cities open defecation free by 2017.

But it’s possible only when ‘Swachh Maharashtra’ becomes a people’s movement,” he said at a function here.

Fadnavis felicitated chairmen of municipal councils and authorities of 100 open defecation free cities of Maharashtra on the occasion.

He also launched a brand ‘Harit Maha City Compost’ and released some books on cleanliness.

During the programme, some

MoUs were signed with NEERI (National Environmental Engineering Research Institute), Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and Delivering Change Foundation for various initiatives on ‘Swachh Maharashtra’.

“We have suffered a lot due to nonplanning of cities.

But still we can take it as an opportunity and move forward with people’s participation.

“We need to plan the future and development projects, taking into consideration the environmental aspects and a lot of thrust is needed on waste management,” Fadnavis said.

PTI

Mumbai traffic cops to use advanced breath analysers MUMBAI: City’s traffic police will start using advanced breath analysers which will have built-in cameras and printers that will help them in keeping records about those indulging in drunken driving.

Using these advanced breath analysers, traffic police say it would be easier to keep a tab on drunk drivers.

“With the help of advanced breath analysers, traffic police will able to get a photograph of the offending motorist or bikers. They will also able get information about the repeat offenders, collected in the data base,” an official said. A few days ago, the city traffic police also started issuing e-challans to penalise motorists, who violate traffic rules.

PTI

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at an exhibition at Trimurti Land, Mantralaya in Mumbai

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 15-21, 2016

“Citizens have been complaining that action against encroachments has become a mere formality. Unauthorised hawkers when removed from a certain place, return to the same spot within five days.”

- Rajendra Jagtap, Additional Commissioner of PMC

Ready for consensus on NSG but opposed to UN ban on Azhar: China P13

Is PMC turning a blind eye towards misuse of octroi lands?

Octroi lands and booths are being encroached upon by vendors, hawkers, gamblers and private transport companies

Misleading ads fall under FDA scanner Authority seizes ‘wonder’ drugs worth Rs 30.18 lakh in Pune region during a special drive

BY VICKY PATHARE @Vickypathare2

BY TUSHAR RUPANAVAR @tusharrupanavar The Maharashtra government officially scrapped octroi in 2013 and instead adopted Local Body Tax (LBT). Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) had purchased about 15 acres of land at the four entry points of the city and prime highway locations to set up octroi booths. But since octroi was abolished by the government, the lands meant for octroi booths paid for with taxpayers’ money have been encroached on by food vendors, hawkers, and private travel companies who park their buses there. These octroi booths are also used by gamblers. But the PMC administration continues to ignore the issue.

Octroi was a major source of revenue for PMC before LBT came into force. PMC had purchased land at entry points, far from the main city. But the rapid urbanisation and construction over the last few years have brought these lands within the city limits.

PMC constructed octroi booths and cement concrete structures at Shevalwadi on Solapur Road, Kharadi on Ahmednagar Road, Phugewadi on Mumbai Road and Shindewadi on Satara Road. The local body purchased 12 to 15 acres of land to construct the octroi booths at these locations.

TGS visited these four locations to report on the encroachments on the lands meant for octroi nakas.

The PMC octroi building at Shindewadi on Satara Road is in a grimy condition. Private travel companies have parked their buses on the vacant land.

The premises are overgrown with shrubs. PMC has

PUNE

Roadside stalls have cropped up on the premises of Phugewadi octroi booth on Mumbai Road

not appointed security guards to protect these lands from encroachment. As a result, hawkers, gamblers and private transport companies are encroaching on these lands. PMC often has shortage of land to set up new projects. But despite owning these lands, PMC is not utilising them. PMC could build schools, hospitals or gardens on these lands. Three years have passed since the abolition of octroi, but PMC has failed to take any decision.

Regarding the encroachments on the lands, PMC additional commissioner Rajendra Jagtap said, “Encroachments on lands meant for octroi posts is a serious matter. First we will inspect the encroachments. We will demolish any constructions and will take action against the hawkers, or companies using them to park buses illegally. After octroi was abolished by the government, these octroi booths and surrounding lands are now vacant.

PMC decided to give these lands last year to Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal (PMPML) to set up their depots. But due to lack of finance, both the municipal corporations have not decided to build PMPML depots on octroi lands.”

Pune Mayor Prashant Jagtap said, “These octroi lands of Shindewadi, Kharadi, Phugewadi and Shevalwadi are the property of PMC. PMC will definitely take action against the culprits who have encroached on them, be it hawkers or transport companies. If gamblers are using these octroi buildings, we will deploy our security guards, who will stop encroachments and keep out the gamblers.

Last year the general body decided to give these octroi lands to PMPML to set up depots. But this issue is pending the consent of both municipal corporations.

We will take a decision on it very soon.” tushar.rupanavar@goldensparrow.com

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials Pune have seized products worth Rs 30.18 lakh from various parts of the city during a special drive against misleading advertisements last month. Fifty raids were conducted during the month-long drive. As many as 18 products claiming to cure diabetes, obesity, impotency, cancer and rheumatism were seized by the officials from Pune, Solapur, Sangli and Kolhapur.

The special drive was conducted after the officials received several complaints about objectionable advertisements. The raid was carried out simultaneously in Pune region under the directions of the State FDA Commissioner Harshdeep Kamble.

Most of the manufactures were found to be from other state whereas the drugs were sold here in Maharashtra.

Arvind Newvision Healthcare (Thane), Cariom Healthcare Ballapur (Bengaluru), Nirmal Ayurlab. Pvt. Ltd (Vasai), D M Pharma, Baddai (Himachal Pradesh) and Preet Remedies Baddai (Himachal Pradesh) are among the 18 manufactures found violating the norms,” said VA Jawdekar, Joint Commissioner, FDA (drugs). He further added that the products seized during the raids included a Black Plum -syrup for diabetic patients and herbal capsules claiming to cure

impotency, and increase sex drive.

Some manufacturers interestingly were even selling drugs claiming to cure life threatening diseases like cancer.

“A total number of 18 products violating the norms were seized.

The seized products include Playwin Capsules, Playwin Oil, Levym, 303 Capsules, Jambola Liquid, Sugar care, RV Caps, DyeMedica and Ashvatul DX Capsule,” he said.

As per provisions of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisement) Act, 1954, no person can take part in the publication of any advertisement referring to any drug which suggests or leads to the use of that drug for diagnosis, treatment, mitigation or cure or any disease mentioned in the schedule to the Act. “There are 54 diseases/ disorders conditions mentioned in the said schedule. Diabetes, cancer, obesity, sexual impotency, kidney related disorders are amongst the 54 diseases stated in the act that cannot be advertised to be cured.

Such advertisements are published in newspapers and magazines, and appear on TV and other media and people fall prey to such fake advertisements,” said SB Patil, Assistant Commissioner FDA (Drug). Citizens should not fall prey to such advertisements and should seek expert opinion and consult their doctors before self-medication, he urged. vicky.pathare@goldensparrow.com

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 15-21, 2016

PUNE

“Pankaja has already emerged as the leader of OBCs. She has mass support and the capacity to struggle like her father, Gopinath Munde. I am constantly in touch with her and discussing the present political scenario.”

- Eknath Khadse, Senior BJP Leader

This laptop is made for multitasking P10

Panshet family alleges their land has been grabbed

Farmer alleges harassment by the people who have grabbed their land, and that the police are favouring the culprits

BY GUNWANTI PARASTE @gunwantiparaste

Pratap Gopal Jagde and his family own farm land in Panshet. But for the last six years they have been living in fear for their lives, as some people from Pune have grabbed their land and are threatening them.

The Jagdes’ land is connected to the main road, which is why it has high value. Jagde said, “Our family acquired this land during Chhatrapati Shivaji’s reign, when the land documents were written in Modi script, which we later converted into Marathi. This land is in our name. But some people from Pune are trying to grab our land. We filed a case in court and all of the nine judgments are in our favour. But in

Brothers Vishnu and Pratap Jagde at the place where their road has been blocked

2014 some people grabbed our land and closed the road that leads to our farm. We filed an application with the District Collector, who issued an order to open the road. But the other party is not heeding the legal action. The tehsildar also came here for inspection and issued orders to open the road.

This road is very important for us. We are cultivating sugarcane on our 18acre plot, but now we are fighting for justice, for the opening of our road,

which has been closed by the other party. All judgments are in our favour but we are still awaiting justice.”

Jagde said that one Swapnil Santosh Sawant claims to be the owner of the land and road. “Sawant once came with a group of 50-60 people, harassed us, and beat up my two younger brothers.

We filed a case against Swapnil Sawant with the police, who arrested some of the people who had beaten us, but some others are still at large. We are fighting

Dalit family seeks CBI probe of assault

Need to strengthen Special Marriages Act

our case with legal means but they have illegally blocked our road, because of which we are unable to harvest our crop.

In the last five years, we have suffered a loss of nearly Rs 40 lakh because we cannot use the road. Tractors and sugar factory vehicles cannot reach our farm since the road is blocked. Our entire sugarcane crop for the last five years has gone to waste. Our lives are in danger. We have applied for protection to the rural police and Pune Police Commissioner, but the police are not supporting us. Sawant’s father is a policeman and he is using this to his advantage,” said Jagde.

Jagde’s daughter-in-law Shilpa added, “We are helpless and are living in fear. I am scared that they may try to harm my children. We have filed a case in court but the other party is not willing to follow a legal process.”

Panshet police station personnel said that 25 people have been arrested in this matter and that they were tracking down the others. Both parties are filing cross applications. The matter is already in court. gunwanti.paraste@goldensparrow.com

P12

Police claim to have identified looters Robbers snatch mobile phones and Rs 45,000 in cash from passengers on the Pune-Gorakhpur Express near Daund

BY DNYANESHWAR BHONDE @dnyanesh1 Passengers on the Pune-Gorakhpur Express were looted by four unidentified robbers near Daund on Thursday at around 7:30 pm. The culprits snatched five cell phones and cash from the passengers at knife point and fled,after allegedly stopping the train by pulling the chain near Wambori village, in Rahuri tehsil of Ahmednagar district.

Ahmednagar railway police station sub inspector Lucai Makasare said, “Four unidentified robbers boarded the Pune-Gorakhpur Express that arrived at Daund junction at 6 pm on Thursday.

After the train left Daund, the four robbers threatened passengers in the general bogie with a sharp weapon.

They took away five mobile phones and Rs 45,000 in cash from seven passengers. The incident happened at around 7:30 pm. The express does not stop at Ahmednagar so the robbers pulled the chain near Wambori village, 24 km from Ahmednagar and fled as

the train slowed down.”

When the train reached Manmad railway junction in Nashik, 142 km from Ahmednagar, passenger Suraj Vijaykumar, 35, of Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh filed a complaint with the Manmad railway police regarding the robbery.

Pune region railway police superintendent Dr Prabhakar Budhwant said that they have identified three of the suspects and the probe is on. “We have identified three suspects and we will arrest them soon.

We have been checking their police records.” dnyaneshwar.bhonde@goldensparrow.com RAHUL RAUT

THE BALANCING ACT

The assault took place after a Dalit youth was arrested in a nearby village for trying to rape a 5-year-old upper caste girl

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court asked the Maharashtra government to file a reply to a petition seeking CBI probe into alleged assault on two members of a Dalit family in Nashik.

The incident took place after a Dalit youth was arrested in a nearby village for trying to rape a five-yearold girl belonging to an upper caste community, the petition said.

Petitioner Babybai Shinde alleged that a group of armed youths from an upper caste community attacked her two sons outside their house at village Sanjegaon on October 11.

Following the alleged rape attempt at Talegaon village near Nashik last week, there were incidents of stonepelting targeting the Dalit community, the petition said.

In some places, Dalits were ostracised, it alleged.

Apart from CBI probe, it demanded medical treatment and compensation for the victims and a direction to the local police to have the social boycott on Dalits lifted.

A bench headed by Justice Naresh Patil gave the government a week to file its reply and adjourned the hearing to October 20.

Despite having the backing of the Constitution and numerous laws, Dalits allege to have been continuously subjugated and subjected to gruesome violence and blame the authorities for either turning a blind eye or facilitated these acts.

PTI

A young ‘Dombari’ girl stages her tightrope walking act to earn her livelihood, even as students of her age pass by at the entrance of Muktangan College, Aranyeshwar Road

Health workers to help poor get treated at charity hospitals Health workers will be appointed at city and district charity hospitals to help poor patients avail of free or discounted medical treatment

BY DNYANESHWAR BHONDE @dnyanesh1 In view of the district hospitals’ hesitant approach to provide healthcare facilities to marginalised patients free of cost or at discounted rates, the Pune charity commissionerate has come up with a new solution. The joint charity commissioner (Pune) is to appoint 18 charity health workers in the city’s and district’s prominent charity hospitals by the end of this month, to ensure the availability of maximum healthcare facilities for the needy. These health workers will be responsible to identify poor patients and help them get the required health services as per sections of 41 (a) of The Bombay Public Trust (BPT) Act, 1950.

There has been a rise in the number of complaints from economically wreak patients in Pune and the rest of the district regarding hospitals’ refusals to admit them as per the said act. Complaints are common against the medical social workers (MSW) from hospital who accept documents like yellow and orange ration cards issued by Civil Supplies Department and income proof from the economic weaker sections patients, but do not get treatment for the patients. There are allegations that these MSWs who are employees of the hospitals are working to help the hospitals violate BPT act guidelines. Apart from this, there are no medical social workers available at night, forcing poor patients to paying the hospital charges or look for another one. Even the Pune charity joint commissioner had issued instructions to all charity hospitals to appoint 24hour medical social workers, but they have fallen on deaf ears as no hospitals implemented the order. This was leading to the hospitals’ mandatory two per cent fund being unutilised.

The Pune charity officials, as per the instructions by the state

charity commissionerate, had to appoint full time the health workers in hospitals by September 29, 2016.

This is a joint venture by the joint charity commissioner’s office and Rajiv Gandhi Jivandai Arogya Yojana Society (RGJAY).

“These 18 health workers are undergoing training now. They have been appointed at prominent district

hospitals for duty. Their duty is to help poor patients avail of the free treatment in hospital as per the act,” said Shivaji Kachare, joint charity commissioner (Pune), who is also chairman of district charity hospitals supervision committee. However there are 56 charity hospitals is the district.

Initially there are 18 health workers and all hospitals will be covered in a

phased manner.

As per the provisions laid down in the BPT act, charity hospitals should reserve and earmark ten per cent of the total number of operational beds to indigent patients (below poverty line or whose annual income is less than Rs 50,000) and provide medical treatment to the poor for free. All these charity hospitals should reserve and earmark ten per cent of the total number of operational beds at concessional rate (50 per cent) to the weaker section patients (whose annual income is between Rs 50,000 and Rs one lakh). Each public charitable hospital creates separate fund — Indigent Patient Fund (IPF) — and credit two per cent of gross yearly billing of all patients (other than indigent and weaker section patients) without any deduction. Any medical institution (hospital) whose annual expenditure exceeds Rs five lakh and those hospitals that are using the government lands, additional Floor Space Index (FSI) with reasonable rates from government, comes under the charity as per various clauses of the act.

In Mumbai charitable hospitals there are already health workers appointed. Seeing the positive results of their work, they have been appointed in Pune too. There is a district post of district co-ordinator to monitor all these health workers. However district co-ordinators’ charge has been given to Navanath Jagtap, additional Charity Commissioner (Hospitals).

Giving more information about the programme, Jagtap said, “We have told all of them that not a single patient should miss out on the benefit. If the hospital refuses to treat poor patients, they have to convince and even if they refuse write the same in feedback.”

Jagtap pointed out that very few hospitals have adopted the RGJAY so many patients are deprived of the free treatment will be covered now.

Ruby Hall Clinic, Jehangir, Poona, KEM, Deenanath Mangeshkar, Sahyadri (Deccan), Inlaks and Budhrani, Lokmanya (Nigdi), Aditya Birla Memorial, D Y Patil (Pimpri), Inamdar (Wanowrie) hospitals have been selected for the appointment of health workers. dnyaneshwar.bhonde@goldensparrow.com

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 15-21, 2016

PUNE

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Their handmade diyas spread light on Diwali Deaf students of Vidya Mahamandal Sanstha have made 5,000 diyas and will use money earned to buy clothes, sweets and crackers for the festival

BY TUSHAR RUPANAVAR @tusharrupanavar The deaf students of Vidya Mahamandal Sanstha have made as many as 5,000 diyas (Diwali lamps).

Setting an example of self-reliance, the money earned by selling these lamps will be used by the students to buy clothes, sweets and crackers for the festival of lights.

Vidya Mahamandal Sanstha houses 40 students, including 10 who use the organisation’s hostel facility and remaining are day boarders. The sanstha is the only organisation in Pune that provides academic facility to deaf students above 18 years of age.

Speaking to TGS, Vidya Mahamandal Sanstha administrator

The diyas (earthen lamps) made by the students of Vidya Mahamandal Sanstha are preferred by customers than the decorative item sold in the market

Ashwini Joshi said, “This organisation was established in 1990. The students come from poor families and obtaining an education in a poverty stricken

environment is hard for most children.

It’s almost impossible when that child is deaf and has no access to sign language assisted learning. Many

children are struggling to learn or not attending school at all because of this fact. We not only provides traditional education but improves their skills

as well so that they can stand up on their own feet and minimise economic burden on their families.”

The centre teaches them to

become electricians and provides gives training in embroidery, DTP, envelope making, tailoring, beauty parlour and handcrafts.

“They are eager to learn and just need conducive environment. We brought raw material and taught them on how to make diyas. Students have made around 5,000 lamps till date and our staff will put these diyas on sale. The quality of this product is better as compared to the article in the market and customer response is also overwhelming. Till October 25, we will sell these lamps and the money earned will be used to buy dress, sweets and crackers to these children,” he said.

Ten inmates of the centre are students of standard X. “We have 15 computers to teach them DTP like professional courses. Many of our past students are working at publishing houses, electrical shops, and running their own tailoring shops. Our motive is to make them economically independent. As these students face problem in selling their lamps, we request volunteers like retired persons to come forward and support them.” tushar.rupanavar@goldensparrow.com

Call us @ 9689677933 Address : Off - Trimurti Niwas, Bankar Basti, Moshi, Pune 412105

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 15-21, 2016

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“The ruling Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has encouraged corruption through approving short notice resolutions in meetings of standing committee and civic general body. If needed we will also approach the anti-corruption bureau.”

- Seema Savale, Shiv Sena Corporator

HC suggests traffic violation check in Pune on lines of metros

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court has asked Maharashtra government to study how metros like Delhi, Bengaluru and others cope with traffic issues and violations and see if the same can be implemented in Pune also.

A bench headed by Justice V M Kanade said just as the government initiated the E-Challan system in Mumbai, whereby traffic violations along major stretches are detected by CCTV cameras and the violators thus identified through their registered number plates are penalised, it could begin a similar system in Pune. The bench directed the government to inform the court what measures can be implemented to tackle the increasing traffic violations in Pune on October VISHAL KALE

A TANGLE IN THE WIRES

Social networks key to acts of group violence

ICICI Bank executes blockchain transaction

P 11

P 14

25. The directions came when the bench was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by five Pune residents.

They have sought that CCTV cameras be installed at major traffic junctions in Pune and other measures be taken by the traffic department to curb violations in Pune and rest of the state.

During the last hearing in August this year, the bench had directed the state government to file a reply whether it was “possible to introduce a system for automatic registration of complaints against the owners of such vehicles that flout traffic norms.” The state today sought additional time to file its reply.

PTI

Murdered man’s family awaiting justice wants CID to probe the case

BY GUNWANTI PARASTE @gunwantiparaste

Two years ago, Manoj Pawde, 34, of Pirangut was murdered. His younger brother Mahendra said that the local police were not serious about investigating his brother’s murder and nailing the culprits, and is demanding that the case be handed over to the Crime Investigation Department (CID). Mahendra plans to stage a hunger strike at the Mantralaya in Mumbai on October 19, in this regard.

Mahendra said, “Two years ago my brother Manoj was returning home from Pune, when he was shot dead by unknown persons near Pirangut. The local police have not done a proper investigation and my brother’s murderers are still free. My family has been greatly disturbed by my brother’s murder. The police just say that the investigation is going on whenwe inquire about the case. Manoj was an excellent photographer who was always taking pictures of forts, and was also involved with the save the forts campaign.

He was the head of the family and his death has left our family in disarray. We are also facing a financial problem. We had staged a hunger strike at Azad Maidan, Mumbai on

Manoj Pawde (above), and members of his bereaved family (left)

February 15-16, and demanded that the case be transferred to the CID. The government had assured our family about a proper investigation.”

Their father, Ganubhau Baburao Pawde said, “We are a large family and have many relatives in Pirangut. My son Manoj had demanded land from our relatives but they refused. This land dispute is what led to the murder of Manoj. We want justice. We have given all the suspects’ names to the police, but the police are not doing a proper investigation.

That is why we want the CID to investigate the case.”

Manoj’s mother Bhamabai said, “We have already named the suspects, but the police

are not taking any action. We have asked the rural police and Pune Police Commissioner to investigate the case, but the police are ignoring my son’s murder. We have demanded that the case be transferred to the CID.” Manoj’s wife Sonali said, “Our six-yearold daughter Ragini misses her father and asks when he will come home. I don’t have any answer. Manoj was the head of our family and we were all financially dependent on him.

After his murder, our family is in a bad state.

We have a small farm but no regular source of income. The police have not arrested my husband’s murderers for two years. They are not investigating the case properly.” gunwanti.paraste@goldensparrow.com

Purandar airport project opposed

The electricity department staffers remove the vines and creepers that had invaded an electric pole in the Swargate area

PUNE: Hundreds of farmers from at least seven villages in Purandar tehsil in Pune district, where a greenfield international airport is proposed to be set up, staged a protest here claiming the project will hit their livelihood and affect their future generations.

During their protest held at the Council Hall here, they said that they would not give their land for the planned airport.

The Maharashtra government had recently given its go-ahead for carrying out a detailed project report (DRP) for the airport, which

will be spread over 2,400 hectares. The site has been already approved by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had informed.

However, after the state government’s announcement about the airport, the affected villages—Rajewadi, Amble, Waghapur, Pargaon Memane, Khanawadi, Munjawadi and Ikhatpur had passed resolutions that they would not give their land to the project.

In a memorandum, addressed to the Chief Minister, the villagers expressed their

reservations about the project, stating that the upcoming airport would destroy their farming and livestock rearing activity and also affect the future of their next generations.

“If our irrigated land goes into the project, farming activity will be destroyed and we will have no option left but to migrate to other places for livelihood. So we do not want any package and government should not put any kind of reservations on the land of these seven villages,” reads the memorandum.

PTI

Road accident brings curtain down on doctor couple’s dream life Continued from p1 There were many vehicles passing by but none of the drivers or riders bothered to stop and help the gravely injured couple. No one wanted to waste their time or shoulder the responsibility of taking them to hospital for treatment. Half an hour had passed since their crash, when two Samaritans stopped to help Santosh and Anita, put them in an autorickshaw and rushed them to the emergency ward of Inlaks and Budhrani Hospital in Koregaon Park.

They reached the hospital in a blood-soaked state, which is why Dr Santosh’s colleagues in the casualty ward did not recognise him initially.

Santosh was insisting that the doctors treat his wife first.

“His voice sounded familiar but we were unable to recognise Santosh as his face and body were soaked with blood,” said a doctor from Inlaks Budhrani Hospital. When the doctors checked her pulse, the realised that Anita who had sustained head injuries was dead. The doctors started emergency treatment on Santosh but after some time, he lost consciousness and went into a coma.

Being a Medico Legal Case (MLC), Koregaon Park police reported the incident to the Vimantal police, who in turn informed Santosh’s father and conducted the panchanama.

The Vimantal police sent Anita’s body to Sassoon General Hospital for autopsy. The autopsy report revealed

the cause of death as ‘multiple injuries’.

Meanwhile, Santosh was breathing but not showing any signs of consciousness. According to the doctors, his brain nerves were shattered with the force of the impact on the road though he was wearing a helmet. He had lost his left eye and fractured his shoulder, thigh badly. After multiple MRI/CT scans, the doctors diagnosed him with ‘lung parenchymal contusion’ (lung injury), ‘Diffuse axonal injury’ (a distinct form of head injury), femur fracture (thigh), liver damage, rib fractures and more. He was under the treatment of doctors of neurology and orthopedic department for near one month and 18 days. He was operated on and a tracheotomy (an incision in the windpipe made to relieve an obstruction to breathing) was done.

The doctors did everything they could to save him.

Santosh was in a comatose state for about a month and developed vegetative state (a disorder of consciousness).

“He opened his right eye but with no sense of awareness. There were hardly any chances of recovering from this state. He had lost the mental capacity of a doctor,” said Dr Arjun Viegas, orthopedic surgeon at Inlaks and Budhrani Hospital, who operated on Santosh. “We did MRI of his head multiple times but there was no improvement in him” said Dr Viegas.

Dr Riya Punjabi, medical director of the Inlaks and Budhrani Hospital, said that they did everything they

Dr Anita Kacheriya with her son Rajesh in happier times

could for their colleague. “The best treatment was given to Santosh. We even paid the entire Rs 12 lakh bill as his financial condition was not so good.

He was discharged on October 3 as there were chances of him developing other serious infections in hospital.

He just needed nursing care which can be given in a house. His father too demanded discharge and we gave it,”

said Dr Punjabi.

Having run out of money and with woman at home, Santosh’s father Ravindra and married sister Uma, admitted him to Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital (YCMH) on October 5 for nursing care. He breathed his last on October 11 at around 9 am. The family alleged that the doctors did not give proper treatment and not a single duty doctor visited him during the night and wee hours of the fateful day even after his condition became critical. Alleging medical negligence in the treatment by the hospital, the family has given an application to Pimpri police to file a case against the hospital and doctors.

The news of Santosh’s demise shocked the doctors at Inlaks Budhrani Hospital. “He had great emotional bonding with fellow doctors in the hospital. He wanted to give quality education to his son and wanted to make him an MBBS doctor,” said a doctor who worked with him for years.

“We miss him a lot,” she said.

Santosh had joined Inlaks Budhrani hospital as a CMO on November 4, 2010 after completing the degree in Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine Surgery (BAMS) from Annasaheb Dange Ayurved Medical College, Ashta (Sangli). Anita had passed out from G S Gune Ayurvedic College in Ahmednagar with a BAMS and joined Ruby Hall Clinic as MO. The couple got married on May 18, 2011, and have a four-year-old son

Rajesh. Santosh’s father Ravindra retired as overseer from a private sugar factory. He has a brother Sanjay who is married to Priyanka.

What is vegetative state?

Vegetative state is a disorder of consciousness in which patients with severe brain damage are in a state of partial arousal rather than true awareness. The vegetative state is a chronic or long-term condition. This condition differs from a coma. A coma is a state that lacks both awareness and wakefulness. Patients in a vegetative state may have awoken from a coma, but still have not regained awareness.

Patients can open their eyelids occasionally and demonstrate sleepwake cycles, but completely lack cognitive function.

Hospital denies allegations

YCM hospital medical superintendent Dr Manoj Deshmukh denied all allegations of negligence. “The patient’s condition was serious as he had a brain injury to which he succumbed. We had informed his relatives about his critical situation.” Asked if the doctor was not available or was sleeping, he replied, “Dr Sujeet Pawar saw him in the night and in the morning.” About the deaths of six patients in the span of a week, Deshmukh said, “People bring their patients in serious condition to our hospital when they run out of money in private hospitals.” dnyaneshwar.bhonde@goldensparrow.com

Dr Santosh Kacheriya at Inlaks and Budhrani hospital

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 15-21, 2016

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‘We trained Sanjay Dutt to make paper bags’ Current Nagpur DIG Yogesh Desai has handled many secret and high-profile inmates, including Ajmal Kasab and Sanjay Dutt TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly “Joining the prison service in 1995 was like a dream come true for me,” says Yogesh Desai. The 47-year-old has had an illustrious career, rising to the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police. Desai has worked at Mumbai, Thane, Nashik, Aurangabad, Pune and was posted as DIG at Nagpur jail in 2015. Desai served at Yerwada Jail, Pune from May 2012 to May 2015.

“I was fascinated with the police service and used to dream of joining the uniformed services, even as a child. A prison service job is a very challenging one and we have to be always alert to tackle any situation as it arises. A prison staff of 100 to 150 is responsible for guarding and looking after 2,500 prisoners, which means that there is always an extra work load and responsibility

for each one of us,” Desai said. Desai, who hails from Roha in Raigad, completed his studies at Pune University, now renamed Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), acquiring a MA in sociology.

The senior police officer said that there is a lot more to a job in the prison service than just taking custody of prisoners and ensuring security in the prison. “It is always a huge challenge to reform the prisoners under our care, and persuade them to forsake a life of crime and become a respectable member of society. We have to remember that our prisoners are not just criminals, but that they are human beings fi rst. Our main responsibility is the rehabilitation of prisoners,” Desai said.

Advocating the need to counsel prisoners, he said, “It is difficult if not impossible to reform hardened criminals.

But we always try to counsel prisoners to change their ways and settle into life as lawabiding citizens. We encourage prisoners to complete their studies in jail, and there are lots of prisoners who are interested in getting an education, and some even become graduates or get an MBA. We provide them the means to get an education and also guide them in the choice of a career. Our main responsibility to society is to ensure

Walkathon held to create awareness on female foeticide TGS NEWS SERVICE @TGSWeekly India has one of the worst gender imbalances in the world, with 943 females born for every 1,000 males. The census report of India puts child sex ratio at 962 girls per 1,000 boys aged 0 to 6 years in 2001, to 914 girls per 1,000 boys in 2011. Since 2001, the child sex ratio in India, has plunged below this, suggesting that sex selection continues unabated.

To generate awareness against female foeticide and infanticide, Crowne Plaza Pune City Centre along with their sister property Holiday Inn Pune Hinjewadi organised walkathon for the awareness of girl child. They also donated 160 boxes of snacks to the kids The Poona School and Home for the Blind. The walkathon started from Holiday Inn at Wakad and covered a stretch on Wakad Road on October 11 The event was represented by Crowne Plaza Pune City Centre general manager Raju Shreshta and Holiday Inn (Wakad) general manager Vivek Chotalia.

“Sex determination and sex selection is a criminal offence in India but its practice is widespread. Female feticide and infanticide are not just only issues pertaining with girl child but at every stage of life, she is discriminated and abandoned for education, for living standard and basic nutrition,” Crowne Plaza Pune City Centre representative

that when prisoners are released from jail, they are able to adjust to a life without crime without any problem. We counsel prisoners about what career or business they can pursue after their release. Some prisoners are not habitual criminals, but have landed in jail for something they did on an impulse or in a fit of passion,” said Desai.

Two incidents stand out among Desai’s memorable professional experiences. The hangings of 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts accused Yakub Memon in Nagpur jail on July 30, 2015, and 22/11 Mumbai terrorist attack culprit Pakistani Ajmal Kasab at Yerwada Jail on November 21, 2012. “We had to maintain utmost secrecy and confidentiality about Kasab and his hanging. We also had to keep Kasab’s being housed in Yerwada jail secret from other prisoners. Dealing with such a high-profi le prisoner was an immense responsibility for us all,“ he said. Nobody, not even his close family members knew of his high-profi le charge.

Talking about the social initiatives undertaken by the prison administration, Desai said, “We were able to launch a lot of social work initiatives at Yerwada and Nagpur jails with the help of NGOs and private companies. I started a community FM radio station at Yerwada jail in 2014,

which was run by the prisoners themselves.

Sanjay Dutt was very co-operative and enthusiastic while he was lodged in Yerwada jail and was involved with several radio programmes. He also was trained to make paper bags.”

Desai was posted at Yerwada jail in the backdrop of the murder of alleged Indian Mujahideen operative Mohammed Qateel Siddiqui in the Anda cell of Yerwada Central Jail. “We had to bring the situation under control. I was also involved in the handling of Kasab’s and Memon’s executions. I joined Nagpur jail when five prisoners had escaped, and we confiscated more than 150 cell phones. I also looked after the computerisation of prison work as state coordinator,” he said.

The senior prison officer credits his family for always supporting him in his challenging profession. “There are times when we have to work round-the-clock and at such times, our families have to cope with the situation as best as they can. Owing to the nature of my job, there are times when I am not able to devote enough time to my family. But they have always been very understanding and supportive,” said Desai, who loves to read, listen to music, and watch movies and theatre. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

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For the last two years, The Golden Sparrow has covered Pune like no one else.

Participants at the walkathon organised at Wakad

said, adding that the illegal practice of doctors telling parents the sex of their unborn baby is still occurring in our country.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India report raps state governments for its “lackadaisical attitude” towards implementing the Pre-Conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994. The law aims to prevent sex-selective abortions through regulation and monitoring of clinics using ultrasound equipment.

Meanwhile, following the Supreme Court order, Internet giants

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Google, Yahoo and Microsoft have agreed to block search terms for sexdetermination kits in India. These firms blocked 22 words related to sex-discrimination kits – used for identifying unborn girls for abortion. In his remarks in July, the Supreme Court judge called the adverts a “social evil” and told the firms that if they weren’t able to comply with the law they should “get out of the market”. Sex-selective abortion and sex-determination kits have been illegal in India since 1994 but unborn girls are still killed in areas where sons are preferred. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

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Pimpri-Chinchwad

PUNE

Talegaon

The Pune-Mumbai Expressway has been the catalyst for monumental change in Talegaon

It all started in 1954 with the setting up of Hindustan Antibiotics Limited. Since that landmark year, and over the intervening six decades, Pimpri-Chinchwad has boomed and blossomed as an industrial township.

It is now the home base for major automobile companies like Premier Limited, Mahindra, Bajaj Auto, Tata Motors, Kinetic Engineering, Force Motors and Daimler Chrysler to heavy industries such as ForbesMarshall, Thyssen Krupp, Alfa Laval and Sandvik Asia, and software and Information Technology majors like Tata Consultancy Services, Cognizant, Accenture, KPIT Cummins, Barclays, Credit Suisse, IBM India, Tata Technologies, Infosys, Wipro and others.

Before its industrialisation and growth, Pimpri-Chinchwad used to be a village governed by a gram panchayat. As the industrialisation took root, Pimpri Chinchwad became an area where more and people came for jobs. And as its population increased, the gram panchayat became a nagarpalika and later a mahanagarpalika or metropolitan city.

The township has developed rapidly owing to both small scale and large scale industries Pimpri Chinchwad Small Scale Industries Association Chairman Sandeep Belsare said, “The history of how Pimpri Chinchwad developed is very interesting. The township has developed rapidly owing to the setting up of both small scale and large scale industries. After Hindustan Antibiotics Limited

(HAL), the first company to set up shop in Pimpri Chinchwad, other industries were quick to follow suit, Alfa Laval, Tata Motors (Telco) and Sandvik Asia leading the way for others to follow. It all happened at a breakneck pace and with the arrival of more and more industries, the population also boomed as people from all over came here for jobs, and soon settled down here. There has been no stopping the development in the twin township, and fortunately the infrastructure in terms of roads and other civic conveniences, has kept pace with the progress. In fact, so overwhelming has been the scope and pace of development, that the newly developed areas of Pimpri Chinchwad can claim to be as good or even better than in the neighbouring Pune city. With the proliferation of industry, Pimpri Chinchwad also experienced affluence, with more and more revenue generation that was put to use and was necessary for its development. The pace of industrialisation grew even more rapid after 1984, and it has continued to grow.”

The opening of the Pune-Mumbai Expressway has been pivotal in the evolution and change at Talegaon. It became an attractive getaway destination for people from Mumbai who were looking for a home away from home. In fact some may have found sleepy Talegaon to be more attractive than even Lonavala and Khandala. Even construction activity got a boost as people wanted to invest in real estate here.

Then came the multi-nationals General Motors and JCB, who set up their plants in Talegaon, paving the way for others.

The rapid expansion of Pimpri Chinchwad also played a key role in the transformation of nondescript Talegaon village.

The local municipal body has been in existence for nearly 125 years. Thanks to its rail connectivity, Talegaon’s farm products, including its in-demand potatoes, are delivered to even faraway markets. Real estate prices have zoomed, going up ten-fold in the last few years.

Talegaon industrialist Deepak Phalle said, “Land and infrastructure development got a boost with the setting up of industries in Talegaon. The government bought land from the local people who were given due compensation, and people became crorepatis overnight. There is a great demand for the machinery that companies like JCB, Tipper and Rollers make, as Talegaon continues to develop. The Maval area has a wealth of rocks and stones, owing to which crusher industries have seen a boom, which has benefited local business. The stone crushing industry also provides employment for people.

Thanks to the all-round development, Talegaon has become

a feasible destination for people to settle down here, aside from a place that provides employment. And as Talegaon has prospered, the prominent builders from Pune also find it a worthwhile base to work in and from.”

Pirangut

‘The industries have created thousands of jobs for

The industri of Pune to the manufa plays a vita rural develo growth of v Industr opportuniti Industries Chakan an big competi proved to be Pirangu outsiders we 15 years. Th in the next including M Chemicals a Ltd, Eterna Engineerin “The ind the area. Ev Maharashtr here. This m

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 15-21, 2016

PUNE

The metropolitan MAKEOVER Business and industry have always proved to be prime catalysts for change, transforming people and places in a myriad ways. Unfortunately, they sometimes relegate earlier lifestyles and customs to history in the process

BY VICKY PATHARE AND GUNWANTI PARASTE

Chakan

B

eginning with the world’s fi rst industrial revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries, the human race has witnessed its globe transforming effects. India, for long known as a developing country and economy, has over the last six decades, undergone a monumental change, especially in the quarter of a century since the opening of the Indian economy by the then finance minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

The setting up of industry on such an immense scale can and does also transform the places where the industries set up shop. Th is in turn has a profound influence and effect on the populations of such areas, not to mention the sea change in infrastructure and civic amenities.

The villages on the outskirts of Pune have witnessed just this kind of lives-changing transformation, as premier global engineering and manufacturing fi rms have made a beeline here, to establish their businesses. The growth and pace of change have been no less than breakneck, and the effects have been no less than profound.

Team TGS thought it worth the while to put the prominent industrial zones in and around Pune under the microscope, and gauge how far and wide has been the scope and nature of the transformation.

Hinjawadi IT Park

Rapid industrialisation has transformed Bhosari into a cosmopolitan city

‘The government has had a lion’s share in the development of these villages’

Chakan has transformed from a wholesale agricultural produce trading hub and major onion trading centre to an industrial hub. It has a Special Economic Zone promoted by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC). Chakan is now a major automobile hub, where Volkswagen Group, Daimler-Benz, Mahindra, Jaguar Land Rover and Baja Auto have their plants. There are more than 750 large and small industries in Chakan.

Indmark Formtech Pvt Ltd Managing Director Narendra R Mehar said, “Bhosari MIDC (PImpri Chinchwad) is a small area. Pimpri Chinchwad and Bhosari were small villages, which when they merged grew into a township.

The all-round and rapid industrialisation has transformed Bhosari, and it has turned into a cosmopolitan city. The industry has brought in migrants from all around India to Bhosari. And we are fortunate that the manner in which it has developed, has made Pimpri-Chinchwad one of the best cities in India. In fact, after Chandigarh, it is the best city to live in. Once upon a time, Pune was known as pensioners’ paradise. Now Pimpri-Chinchwad has become a good option for retired people. We have the basic infrastructure but it is not well maintained, as it is done in foreign countries. Citizens here still face problems with garbage disposal, drainage and electricity. Security is also an issue that has come about with the rapid development. Chakan is an industrial hub, where the roads are good but there is a lack of public transport, which is a big setback for small industries. The MNCs and big industries maintain the green zones, as well as cleanliness.”

The IT industry’s contribution to economic progress has always been significant. The rapidly expanding socioeconomic infrastructure has proved to be of great use in supporting the growth of Indian information technology industry. The flourishing Indian economy has helped the IT sector to maintain its competitiveness in the global market. The IT and IT enabled services industry in a country like India has recorded a high growth rate. The IT sector in India has played a major role in drawing foreign funds into the domestic market.

Pune has a very well developed industrial infrastructure, and the growth of the city into a software centre has led to a major spurt in the development of social infrastructure facilities, which now rank among the best in India. Hinjawadi which was a completely rural area after the construction of the Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park, has developed into an IT hub. Pune being a centre of learning, education and research, there is always an advantage with the easy availability of software engineers.

The Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park was constructed in Phase I of Hinjawadi village in the year 2000, when companies like Wipro, KPIT Cummins, Synechron, Congnizant started functioning. Infosys was however, the fi rst. In the year 2004, the Phase II of the infotech park was developed in Marunji and parts of Hinjawadi village and companies like Wipro, Embassy group, IBM and Geometric started functioning. A couple of years back Phase III of IT park was developed in Maan village and companies like Tata Consultancy Services, Tech Mahindra, Infosys started functioning there.

The government has had a lion’s share in the development of these villages. In the year 2003, the Government of Maharashtra revised its IT and ITES policy to attract software companies. Hinjawadi Pune was considered the logical choice to set up IT industry and currently there are more than three lakh employees working in various IT companies, and BPOs located at the

r the people of the area’

ial boom has had an irreversible effect in the development a metropolitan status, be it government companies or acturing units of multinational companies. Industry al role in poverty eradication, employment generation, opment and ensuring regional balance in promotion and various development activities. y is indispensable for the creation of employment ies and the economic development of any place. in Pirangut, Hinjawadi IT Park, Khadki, Bhosari, nd Ranjangaon have overcome countless hurdles and ition. Despite a lack of government support, they have e a boon for society. ut in Mulshi taluka used to be a tiny hamlet few ere aware of. But there has been a sea change in the last There were just a handful of industries here till 2005, but decade, several industries have set up shop at Pirangut, Mahle Filter Systems (India) Private Limited, Dimple and Services, Kat Controls Pvt Ltd, Oval Polycoats Pvt al Engineering Equipment Private Limited and Eternal ng Equipment Private Limited. dustries have created thousands of jobs for the people of ven people from the outskirts of Pune and other parts of ra have migrated to Pirangut and have started working migration has provided a boost to the realty business in

Pirangut, and lavish housing societies have mushroomed in the area. The price of land which before setting up of industry was around Rs 10 per square foot, has risen to Rs 70 per square foot.

There is a huge demand for houses due to the number of people coming to the area for jobs. Currently there are more than 30 housing schemes under construction at Pirangut,” said Raju Gund, a long-time resident of Pirangut.

“These industries have generated huge employment opportunities for people from Pirangut and nearby areas like Urawde and Paud. We are happy that people now don’t have to go for jobs to Pune city,” said Gund.

The rise in the number of migrants has given a phenomenal impetus to the development of infrastructure, market facilities and the setting up of schools and hospitals in the area.

“We were the fi rst company to start functioning at Pirangut.

There is a vast difference in the facilities and infrastructure available at that time in comparison to the current situation. Earlier few of them were ready to come and work on the outskirts of the city but now the scenario has changed and the area has itself turned into a employment hub for many. Later when many real estate companies started construction schemes in the area, it indirectly gave rise to the migration of people. We are happy that most of our employees stay at nearby areas which save them time and money,” said officials of the Mahle Filter Systems (India) Private Ltd.

Hinjawadi IT Park.

Hinjawadi IT Park is home to a large number of IT professionals, who have the necessary skills and expertise to meet the demands and expectations of the global IT industry. The low cost of the skilled Indian workforce is another reason most companies prefers to work here. The IT services in Pune are highly cost efficient and this is also why more than 500 IT companies are functioning in Pune.

The employment opportunities have brought in a large number of migrants from all over the country to Rajiv Gandhi InfoTech Park. The population of the area, which was earlier only 3000, has risen to 45,000 in Hinjawadi and adjacent areas and villages. Allied businesses like transport, service, hospitality and security have also prospered and have been helpful for the local population.

There are thousands of people from the local villages and Pune city working in the IT companies.

“The emergence of the Indian Information Technology sector has brought about a sea change in the real estate business opportunities in the area. There is a big boost in the real estate business and renowned groups have constructed high rise buildings in the area. Currently there are several constructions going on in Hinjawadi and adjacent villages and the prices of property have gone sky high,” said D D Bhojane, development officer of Hinjawadi gram panchayat.

The development along with the well being have brought along problems. “There is always a shortage of water in the area and local people are suffering. IT companies consume a lot but they never run short of water. Some people from the area have started the business of supplying water to IT companies through tankers,” said Bhojane.

“Due to the lack of public transport connectivity from the other parts of the city, most employees prefer private vehicles for their daily commute. As the roads in Hinjawadi are narrow, traffic congestion is a major problem here.

Since there is no alternate route, the whole park witnesses choc-a-bloc traffic during peak hours,” he said.

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 15-21, 2016

PUNE

TECH/START-UP Shoppers discover Diwali buys on Twitter

“The average computer user blinks seven times a minute, the normal rate is twenty times per minute.”

-http://www.thefactsite.com/

P 12

Pune witnesses a sangam of car and computer technology Lines are blurring between city’s twin industries—infotech and automotive

It may have been happenstance that the Pune area evolved over the years, into centres of excellence in two disparate industries — Information Technology and automobiles. Now it seems the lines between the two frequently blur as they discover mutual synergies. Recent developments only underline this trend.

Over a quarter century, Pune has emerged as India’s automotive hub thanks to the presence of players like Bajaj Auto, Bharat Forge Bridgestone, Cummins Engines, Fiat Force Motors (formerly Bajaj Tempo), General Motors, Hyundai Construction Equipments Jaguar (LandRover), JCB, Kirloskar Oil Engines, KPIT, Mahindra Two-Wheeler’s (formerly Kinetic Engineering), Mahindra & Mahindra, Mercedes-Benz, Pari, Premier Motors, Tata Motors,Volkswagen etc. Many of them have invested in or partnered with infotech and Web entities, even as cars increasingly become ‘smart’ platforms for a host of electronic devices for navigation, communication and engine monitoring.

Recent weeks saw two instances of this new synergy

Nexteer Automotive, a global leader in advanced steering and driveline systems, including electric power steering (EPS), has just set up its latest manufacturing plant in India, in Pune, the 22nd globally and third in India, after Bangalore and Gurgaon. The Suzhou (near Shanghai, China) based company, recently shifted its global operating headquarters to Auburn Hills, Michigan (US).

The Chinchwad, Pune plant will concentrate mainly on halfshaft component

Ab data dekho!

Keep a tab on your mobile data usage with these apps

BY V. SUDHAKSHINA

Remember the days when smart-phones weren’t popular and the only mobile device was a chunky black and white handset. Those were the times where our only worry used to be the mobile talk-time balance or the bill. And most of time the telephone operators were sweet enough to send us an impromptu text about balance amount as soon as we hung up. Now things are more complicated as phones become smarter. It’s not just the mobile talk-time that we need to monitor, but also the data consumption. At the end of month most of us are left with a huge bill, especially for data usage. We think ‘Is the service provider cheating me?’ or more rationally: ‘I should have controlled my consumption!’

A few third party apps help you track data on daily basis:

Flo App

Henkel Innovation Centre at Hinjawadi, Pune

manufacturing and assembly for local customers, as well as supplying Nexteer’s Gurgaon plant. The new plant is also planned to expand into EPS production, which is the company’s global speciality.

The Pune plant expects to provide 120 job opportunities by end of 2017.

The plant covers an area of 3,500 square metres of shop floor with the capability for future expansion of an additional 3,500 square metres and also provides 570 square metres of office space, explains Madhav Kulkarni, Managing Director Nexteer India.

Adds Tao Liu, Global Vice President and Asia Pacific Chief Operating Officer of Nexteer Automotive: “The opening of our facility in Pune and our expanded production capacity in India are important pieces in our long-term development strategy in India and represents our confidence in the growth potential of the automotive market within this region.

With this strategic addition, we are able to better serve customers in both the domestic and international markets.”

Nexteer Automotive’s customers include BMW, Fiat Chrysler, Ford, GM,

At the opening of Nexteer’s Pune manufacturing plant

PSA Peugeot Citroen, Toyota, Renault, Nissan, Suzuki and VW, as well as Indian brands like Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra and Maruti Suzuki. It is easy to see why its new Pune location is strategic to Nexteer’s growth.

Vehicle noise-vibration abatement

Henkel Adhesives Technologies India, a subsidiary of the Germany-based Henkel AG & Co, is a leading name for adhesives, sealants and functional coatings. It hosts its Innovation Centre in Hinjawadi, as well as manufacturing plant in MIDC area Jejuri. It has just expanded the capabilities of its Pune Innovation Centre, established in 2013, with two new laboratories, one for Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) and the other for Acoustics and Noise—Vibration—Harshness. The second lab (NVH) is geared to particularly serve the automotive industry. Henkel will offer full capabilities like computer aided engineering (CAE), finite element analysis (FEA) and lab testing., Henkel’s engineers will analyze acoustic material properties of structures and panels to determine their

This laptop is made for multitasking Micromax Alpha scores with plentiful RAM and storage

BY ANAND PARTHASARATHY The recent flurry of launches by Indian brands (including Micromax) of bare bones portable PCs with negligible on-board storage and the need to remain always connected to Internet, has made me nostalgic for a more traditional laptop with enough storage for my essential software tools.

So I am predisposed to applaud the release by Micromax of a generously sized, but light laptop with half a terabyte of hard disk storage (they say expandable to 1 TB, but I am not clear how this can be done). What I found even more attractive is the 6 GB of DDR3 RAM memory. Few laptops or even desktops go beyond 4 GB and I know from experience that a little extra RAM can make a huge experience. It will, for example enable you to multitask—download a heavy file in one window, while you browse or check mail in other windows simultaneously. With 6GB, the chances of your screen

freezing with the memory overload and requiring a reboot are very remote.

The display is 15.6 inches—which means the keyboard in a laptop of this size can be full sized, without compromise. The web camera is 1 Megapixel, again a good resolution, when so many costlier PCs settle for VGA-level cameras. One MP makes for good, clear, Skype video calling—and the twin speakers are good enough to use without having to plug in headphones. I am a mite unhappy that the screen resolution at 1366 by 768 is not full HD. Every one wants to watch movies on their laptops and a full 1080p screen would have helped—after all this is not an entry level laptop.

The makers have also chosen to go in for a Intel Core i3 processor that can exploit the beefed up RAM. I found the startup and shutdown to be fast, albeit on an unloaded PC except for the preinstalled Windows 10. The weight is just above 2 Kg—which is OK for laptop this size. The asking price of Rs 26,990 (only at FlipKart) is reasonable for the specs on offer.

IndiaTechOnline

manufacturer has ditched the plastic body and designed the successor with a metal uni-body design. Weighing 142 grams with 7.5 mm thickness, the Y55L is sleek and light. It has a comfortable grip and can easily fit in to your pocket. The 5.2-inch device comes with a curved screen and a HD display (1280×720 resolution), with an

effectiveness in automotive equipment.

Says Shilip Kumar, Country President, Henkel India: “Both noise and vibration play a crucial role in a vehicle’s quality. Automotive OEMs have started developing vehicles with competitive NVH performance in shorter design cycles, and at lower development and vehicle costs. At Henkel, we put our customers at the centre of what we do and work closely with them to develop solutions to challenges faced by them.”

As cars and computers increasingly coalesce, we can expect Pune’s twin industries to work even more closely. And the geographical and logistic advantages of Pune are set to go up a notch: Speaking at the 82nd Annual General Body Meeting of the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA), in Pune last month, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari, said Pune will soon get a dry port which will reduce customs and other paper work for exporters from the city before the consignment is shipped out from Mumbai.

IndiaTechOnline

Developed by U2opia Mobile, this app lets you track the data usage, prepaid balance and also get a live bill. It conveniently sits on your notification bar and gives a live track of minute by minute data consumption. It works for both mobile as well as Wi-Fi networks. You can also set a limit for your dally consumption and the app will immediately send you alerts if you exceed. The Flo app also informs about other apps in your phone and how much data they are using. For example if you have been watching videos on YouTube, the app will show how much data the entire video has consumed. There are graph-based representations of each day’s usage, which show how much data has been consumed over WiFi and Mobile, separately. Flo App is free and currently available only for Android users.

My Data Manager

Videocon to offer 3 Marathi TV channels in HD Videocon d2h, the company’s direct-to-home TV service has announced a bouquet of 15 more High Definition channels in time for Diwali. These include the new Zee Marathi HD channel as soon as it is on air, as well as Colors Marathi HD and Star Pravah HD. The mix of regional, sports and entertainment channels newly offered in HD include: SAB TV HD & TV HD, Zee Café, Zee Talkies Star Vijay, Maa TV , Colors Kannada, Zee Talkies, Star Jalsha, Star Jalsha Movies, Colors Bangla, Star Sports Select HD1,and Star Sports Select HD2.

Videocon now has 60 HD channels.

To book a new d2h connection it costs: HD @ Rs 1820 or SD @ Rs 1620 (for South Rs. 1520) plus a monthly plan.

An offer currently running gives a free upgrade to next higher subscription plan for 60 days. Existing subscribers need to pay Rs 10 extra on their current monthly subscription plan to get upgraded.

A bit of this and a bit of that!

Many smart phones these days come with that one specific feature to cater a particular need of the buyer. For example there are phones with higher camera resolution and DSLR—like qualities to please the photography enthusiasts or if you are someone who is constantly working from your smart phone then there are devices with spruced up RAM and good quality processors. But what about someone who isn’t too particular and wants a little bit of everything from his or her device?

Well the answer to that prayer, might be the recently launched Vivo Y55L. We got a hands-on experience with the device and here’s what we think: An upgraded version of the Y51L, the Chinese

DATA TRACKING APPS

The Vivo Y55L offers a combination of features, all in one device

eye protection mode. If you are someone who is constantly hooked to your phone screen then this feature helps to protect your eyes from straining.

Selfies are a rage today and every other smart phone manufacturer is trying to add more features to the front camera, Vivo too doesn’t stand behind. The 5 megapixels front camera of the Y55L comes with a front screen flash that helps in lighting up the selfies in dark. In our experience sometimes the pictures taken with a front camera flash come out too bright or cloudy. To sort this issue, this device comes with a smart light sensor that automatically detects the ambient light and accordingly adjusts the screen brightness. The 8 megapixels rear camera offers standard modes like panorama, HDR, night, etc.

While most of the smart phones these days have the option of either having a hybrid slot or non-expandable memory, the Y55L stands out here. The triple card slots give users the flexibility to have DualSIM cards along with a memory card. It comes with an internal memory of 16 GB, expandable up to 128 GB. Powered by 1.4 GHz, Octa-Core Snapdragon 430 processor with 2 GB RAM, the device runs on Vivo’s Funtouch OS 2.6, based on Android 6.0. You can multi task with its split screen feature, which lets you open two apps at the same time, for example you can watch a video as well as reply to a message together. The 4G VOLTE enabled device comes with a 2650 mAh battery.

The only thing missing from the Y55L is a fingerprint scanner. If you don’t mind this, then the device offers a good package of features with a decent pricing. The Vivo Y55L is now available for Rs 12,980.

IndiaTechOnline

The app, My Data Manager by Mobidia technology helps you track data usage on Wi-Fi, Mobile, and roaming networks. It has a ‘Shared Plan’ feature, which lets you track the data usage of other family members too. So if you want to control your kids who are using too much data playing games or watching videos, this might be helpful. It also lets you manage data across multiple devices. It has a history option, which allows you to check your consumption history over a period of time and get a data plan accordingly. Just like other apps, My Data Manager also gives a graphical representation of data used over Wi-Fi, Mobile and during roaming. It also sends alerts during over consumption and shows other apps data usage. The app is available for free download on Android and iOS platforms

IndiaTechOnline

IT is like that...

ENVIRONMENT “We want a strong amendment proposal so that HFCs (Hydroflurocarbons) are reduced faster in both developed and developing countries. This shows our concern for climate.”

- Manoj Kumar Singh, Jt Secy, Ministry of Environment & Forests

H EALTH

CSE says despite India taking a low baseline on polluting gases, developed nations want the country to move to a lesser baseline

BY TG BIJU

View of the dais during the morning session at Conference on Montreal Protocol

2024-26, it is becoming 52 billion tonnes carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e).

Despite showing this much flexibility, developed countries still want India and other developing countries to move to a baseline of 2020-22,” he said.

The baseline is the year against which each country’s consumption of HFCs is capped. Countries will have to reduce HFCs from that capped amount.

In the informal meetings held on the sidelines of Open Ended Working Group here, India has agreed to consider preponing the baseline to year 20242026 and cut HFC consumption by 10 per cent by 2032, if developed countries agree to freeze their HFC consumption by 2016 and reduce HFC consumption by 70 per cent by 2026 or 2027.

India’s proposal was supported by

Problems of Indian agriculture

BY KR SUDHAMAN Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently unveiled a seven-point strategy to double the income of farmers by 2022. This is a welcome development as agriculture, though important component of India’s economic development strategy since independence, has not achieved desired progress partly because of systemic and inherent problems.

It is a plausible and possible target but one has to be skeptical as it looks impossible to achieve in a short span of six years. In a democratic set up, which has slow polity and different pulls and pressures, achieving such targets need herculean effort.

India has the largest ground water irrigated area in the world, yet nearly two-thirds of nearly 1.6 million hectares of cultivated land is dependent on the weather god – monsoon.

A modest target of achieving average 4 per cent agriculture growth annually has not been realised so far. India has 60 per cent of its land area as cultivable land as compared to 35 per cent of China and 25 per cent of United States. Yet United States has more arable land than India because of modern agriculture and China produces more food grains than India because of much better yield.

India is among the top countries in use of fertilizers and production of wheat, cotton, rice, fruits and vegetables, milk, pulses, sugarcane and so on.

Yet our agriculture is still in pathetic condition with farmer’s income none too encouraging, land getting increasingly fragmented despite large rural population moving on to urban areas.

The main reason is poor water management, largely dependent on monsoon. There is so much wastage of water and fertilizers as farmer education and training is very poor. India grows water guzzling sugarcane in areas like Karnataka and Maharashtra where it should not be grown and not in areas like north Bihar, which has perennial problem of floods. Rice should not be grown in Punjab and yet it is grown there as return is good. As a result of these wrong cultivation, ground water level and soil quality has deteriorated in many parts of the country.

Several positives that the country is endowed with in agriculture are not

being fully reaped due to haphazard development of agriculture. A difficult food situation forced India to achieve green revolution in wheat in the sixties, when India used to go with begging bowl free wheat. Subsequently came the white revolution in milk and then in cotton production with the introduction of Bt cotton. Simple solutions like introduction of genetically modified seeds are not being done to improve yield manifold and thereby raise farmers’ income. This is because of false propaganda being carried out by political parties on GM seeds without any scientific reasoning.

Only time will tell, If Prime Minister Modi succeeds in this massive challenge, through good strategy, well-designed programmes, adequate resources and good governance. Also localised solutions are needed rather than universal approach. Land laws need drastic changes, Bank funding has to improve, rural infrastructure has to be created, post harvest losses have to be reduced, multi-brand retail has to be encouraged, food processing encouraged, skill of farmers have to be improved.

These cannot be done overnight and six years is too short a time.

The grand linking of rivers in the country has remained only a dream as lot of politics is played by every state and centre. Technology has been inadequately utilised. Fruits and vegetables go waste in large quantities because of no development of markets, cold storage and difficulties in interstate movements. Also timely credit is not available to farmers.

Modi has taken a good initiative in crop insurance to end the misery of farmers.

These are good moves but the devil is in their implementation. Like government’s programme on smart cities, there has to be a massive programme on smart agriculture as well. The need of the hour is second green revolution, which has not happened in the last 50 years.

PTI Feature

OCTOBER 15-21, 2016

PUNE

“Thirty-forty years ago, those who had been to the Himalayan range used to say that it was covered with a blanket of ice and now the ice cover is as big as a kerchief and spread in patches.”

- Anil M Dave, Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change

India’s HFC phase-down stand to aid climate gains

Supporting India’s proposal of advancing its baseline to 2024-26 for phasing down Hydrofluorocarbons, a leading advocacy group from the country said the flexibility shown by India at the Conference on Montreal Protocol would help the world double its climate benefits.

As talks by nearly 200 nations progressing in Rwandan capital on phasing Chandra Bhushan down of harmful refrigerant gas reaches mid-way, New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) released an analysis to support India’s proposal as general consensus seems to be emerging within the A5 parties (developing nations) at the Conference here to have a dual baseline for climate damaging gas Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

Chandra Bhushan, deputy director general of the CSE, said the analysis reveals that when India had taken 20282030 as it’s baseline, the climate benefit of Indian proposal was only equivalent to 26 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions (Co2e).

“Now by having a new baseline of

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY

a group of developing countries. In the ongoing negotiations, one group of developing countries, that includes China, seems to favour 2020-22 as the baseline. The analysis done by CSE shows that quibbling over the 2020-22/ 2024-26 baseline for developing nations is not worthwhile to achieve an ambitious HFC amendment.

“As we enter the last three days of negotiations in Kigali, we see a sense of accommodation and flexibility within parties. However, this positive environment is being sullied due to quibbling by the A2 (developed country) parties about the proposed baseline years of the A5 (developing country) parties,” CSE said.

Bhushan, a climate expert, alleged that pressure is being put by the A2

Huge shortage of trained oncologists in India: Doctors There is a huge shortage of trained oncologists in India that is hindering early screening of cancer in people affected by the disease, top doctors said.

They also pitched for giving training to general practitioners and other doctors to detect early warning signs so as to address the disease in curable stage before it becomes malignant.

Over 700 delegates from around 15 foreign countries have gathered here for a four-day global conference on headneck cancer, organised by International Federation of Head and Neck Oncologic Societies (IFHNOS) and Foundation for Head-Neck Oncology (FHNO).

India faces a huge burden of cancer with 11 lakh incidences per year. And 2.5-3 lakh cases are of head and neck cancer. Over 80 per cent of head and neck cancer are caused by tobacco alone.

“We have a huge shortage of trained oncologists in the country.

And that is why it is necessary that general practitioners and dentists and other doctors are trained in basic screening techniques to detect warning signs of cancer,” said Dr Alok Thakar, professor of head-neck surgery and otorhinolaryngology at the AIIMS. Dr Anil D’Cruz, Director of Mumbai-based Tata Memorial Centre, said, “I have operated on a cancer patient as young as an 8-yearold boy. He was chewing tobacco from time when he was four. And, so it is important that we see warning signs before they assume menacing form.”

“Common danger signs of headneck cancer are white spots inside the mouth, discolouring of the mouth, difficulty in swallowing,” he said.

“27 per cent male population is affected by head-neck cancer while its incidence is 10-12 per cent in women.

In foreign countries, lung cancer is more prevalent, as people smoke more tobacco than chew it, unlike in India, where every nook and cranny sells chewable tobacco in the open,” Thakar said.

Another senior doctor from AIIMS said, “In the northeast, women consume more chewable tobacco and oral cancer cases are more in females than males.”

PTI

parties (developed countries) on the developing nations to accept the 2020-22 baseline.

“Lure of early finance, exemption to countries with high ambient temperature etc are being used to isolate those countries that favour the 202426 baseline. This sparring threatens to unravel the progress made so far on the HFC amendment,” he alleged.

CSE said its analysis was done using the recently released the UNEP Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP) data.

Analysing the issue in different scenarios, the CSE said, when all developing countries have 2020-22 as baseline, the climate benefit is about 64 billion tonne CO2e.

In another scenario, when all developing countries have 2024-26 as baseline, the climate benefit is about 51 billion tonne CO2e.

The climate benefit under Scenario 2 is almost two times the climate benefit under the Indian amendment proposal and similar to the EU proposal.

Noting that China is the single most important factor in determining the climate benefit as it has already favored 2020-22 as its baseline, the analysis shows that “if another group of A5 countries decides to have 2024-26 as the baseline, the shift will have insignificant impact on the climate benefit.”

PTI

Social networks key to acts of group violence A strong network of friends may be just as big a factor in acts of group violence as having a charismatic leader or a savvy battle plan, according to a new study.

The findings may also apply to potentially violent activities associated with terrorism, revolutions and gangs, researchers said. Researchers at Yale University in the US studied the social dynamics of the Nyangatom, a nomadic tribal group in East Africa that is regularly involved in violent raids with other groups.

They mapped the interpersonal connections among Nyangatom men over a three-year period, focusing on how those friendship networks affected the initiation of raids and participation in those raids.

“Social interactions in networks are crucial for the emergence of positive phenomena, like cooperation and innovation, but they also play a role in other sorts of collective behaviour, like the seemingly spontaneous emergence of violence,” said Nicholas Christakis, codirector of the Yale Institute for Network Science (YINS) and senior author of the study. “People go to war with their friends, and the social network properties of such violent activities have rarely been explored,” Christakis added.

The study found that the initiation of Nyangatom raids depended on the presence of leaders who had participated in many raids, had more friends and held central positions in the social network.

However, membership in raiding parties depended on a population much larger than the leaders’ network of friends. Non-leaders, in fact, had a bigger impact on raid participation than leaders, by virtue of their own friendships.

“Collective action doesn’t get off the ground with just a charismatic leader attracting random followers,” said Alexander Isakov, co-first author of the study and a postdoc at the Human Nature Lab at YINS. A surprising aspect of the findings, according to the researchers, was the interplay between leadership and friendship in an environment without any formal hierarchy.

The Nyangatom raiding groups are informal groups of peers, yet individuals played distinct roles that mirrored a formal leadership structure.

“They have no formal political leaders or chiefs,” said co-first author Luke Glowacki, a research fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study in France.

“We wanted to know how, outside of formal leadership or institutions, realworld collective behaviour, including violence, is initiated,” said Glowacki.

The findings appear in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

PTI

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THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 15-21, 2016

PUNE

‘Sino-India ties under stress, need recalibration’ P 14

“Not just Sidhu, but all those who are committed to Punjab’s governance, to whichever party they may belong, are welcome to join the Congress unconditionally.”

- Amarinder Singh, Punjab Congress President

Need to strengthen Special Marriages Act Women’s rights group demand a codified Muslim personal law and ban on the practice of triple talaq

NEW DELHI: With the Law Commission seeking public opinion on uniform civil code and triple talaq, the women’s rights group demanding a ban on the practice has stressed on the need for a codified Muslim personal law and strengthening the Special Marriages Act. “We believe a secular law already exists in the form of the Special Marriages Act. It can be expanded and made more comprehensive to include more aspects of marriage, family and inheritance. This secular alternative should be made available to every Indian citizen.

“But at the same time, a reform in the Muslim personal law is very urgently needed. Reforms have been carried out in other religions but not in Islam.

We want a codified Muslim personal law just like the Hindu Marriage Act and the Hindu Succession Act and the Christian Marriage and Divorce Act,” said Zakia Soman, co-founder of Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan.

She advocated giving a choice to an individual to follow the personal law of his or her religion or the secular Special Marriages Act. “Let’s have a very strong Special Marriages Act and an equally strong Muslim Marriage Act as well and leave it for the citizen to decide what he or she wants to follow,” the activist said.

Soman also welcomed the Centre’s response in the SC on triple talaq where the government said there is a need to look at the issue through the prism of gender rights.

“It is a very welcome move by the Centre. The stand they have taken is in keeping with the government’s constitutional obligation of gender justice. We really hope our quest for reform in Muslim personal law will be furthered by this affidavit,” she said.

The law panel has sought public views on uniform civil code to revise and reform family laws, saying the aim is to address social injustice rather than plurality of laws.

PTI

Jamaat against government’s stand on triple talaq

Shiite Muslim women participate in a Muharram procession in Kolkata

AIMPLB, Muslim outfits oppose questionnaire on civil code NEW DELHI: The All Indian Muslim Personal Law Board and various other outfits opposed the Law Commission’s questionnaire on Uniform Civil Code and announced their boycott of the move, accusing the government of waging a “war” against the community.

Addressing a press conference here, they contended that Uniform Civil Code (UCC), if implemented, will paint all people in “one colour” which will threaten the country’s pluralism and diversity.

Trashing government’s stand on the issue of triple talaq, the outfits instead claimed the community has reported lesser number of divorce cases vis-a-vis other communities, especially the Hindu community which, they said, has reported higher divorce ratio

India faces threat from inside: Menon FROM LALIT K JHA WASHINGTON: The real threats to India are “internal” and emanate from communal and social violence, not from outside forces such as Pakistan or China, former national security advisor Shivshankar Menon has said.

Asked if Pakistan or China pose an existential threat to India, Menon said: “No”. “In terms of national security, I think the real threats are internal,” he told PTI. “There’s no existential threat to India’s existence today externally, unlike in the 50s or when we were formed. And for many years till late 60s there were actual internal separatist threats, not any more. I think that we have actual dealt with,” Menon said.

Asked to elaborate on what he meant by internal threats, he said: “If there are real threats to India, to the idea of India, India’s integrity, today they actually come from within the country.”

“If you look at violence in India, deaths from terrorism, from left wing extremism, declined steadily throughout this 21st century until 2014-2015. Even now the basic trend for terrorism, left wing extremism is down. What has increased is since 2012, communal violence, social violence, internal violence has increase. That is something we need to find a way in dealing with,” Menon said.

“This is not a traditional law and order problem, which our traditional

NEW DELHI: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), one of the prominent Muslim organisations, has come out strongly against the government’s stand on triple talaq, insisting that there should be no interference “in the belief and religion of any citizen”. In a statement, JIH chief Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari said Muslims consider divorce, polygamy and other personal laws as “an intrinsic part of their religion and are hence obliged to follow the Sharia in those matters”.

“The government should respect this position of Muslims, instead of conspiring to put an end to it,” he said. Maintaining that attempts to “impose” a common civil code in the name of social reform and gender justice will prove “counterproductive”, he said, “The Constitution guarantees the freedom to profess, practice and propagate one’s own religion.”

“This inviolable freedom is given to every individual and enshrined as a fundamental right in our Constitution.” The Centre had opposed the practice of triple talaq in the Supreme Court, maintaining that it cannot be regarded as an essential part of religion.

instruments, the police, the states know how to deal with. You look at violence against women, communal, caste violence, if you look at those firms of violence, these are all a result of tremendous social and economic change of uprooting of population, urbanization... various forms of change, which we still need to learn how to deal with,” he added. Menon said those are the threats, which in the long run, have a “potential to make real difference”.

“India has changed. It is normal. It happens to most societies where there is change. But you also have to learn new ways of dealing with,” he said and attributed the new threats to the rapid and fast development of the country.

When asked that some people attributed this to the BJP coming to power, Menon said even that is a consequence of the change that the Indian society is undergoing now.

PTI

Vol-III* lssue No.: 18 Editor: Tushar Burman (Responsible for the selection of news under the PRB Act, 1867) Printed and Published by: Shrikant Honnavarkar on behalf of Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt. Ltd. CIN:U22200PN2014PTC151382 and printed at 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: 020-41220010.

according to Census 2011.

AIMPLB general secretary Wali Rehmani, Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani and representatives of other bodies said all the Muslim sects and its women were “one” on these issues.

They said the outfits will launch a campaign to create awareness amongst Muslims, beginning with a gathering in Lucknow.

The Board said that there are “flaws” in the personal laws governing Muslims and they are being addressed from time-to-time. They said the country is facing problems on various fronts including the LoC and issues like killings elsewhere.

“This is all destructive. The government should try to fix this and ensure peace than

seeking views on issues like UCC,” Madani said.

Contrary to the Commission’s claim that the step is an “endeavour” to address discrimination against vulnerable groups and harmonise the various cultural practices, Rehmani said when implemented the UCC will bring to an end country’s pluralism and paint all in “one colour” and end diversity and pluralism.

When pointed that some Muslim community members have raised the issue of triple talaq, Rehmani curtly said that “they have all the right to do so in a democracy”.

Madani termed as a “trap” the Commission’s claim that the move is an attempt to address discrimination.

MUZAFFARNAGAR: Stressing that Sharia law cannot be changed, Member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board Zafaryab Jilani suggested that said the central government can hold a referendum on the issue of triple talaq.

Talking to reporters here at an event, Jilani claimed, “Ninety per cent Muslim women support the Sharia Law.” “Union government can hold a vote on the issue of triple talaq...Muslims will not tolerate any interference in the Muslim Personal Law,” the Additional Advocate General of Uttar Pradesh said.

“The move of banning triple talaq is a conspiracy to impose a uniform civil code,” he alleged. He said in Islam divorce is considered an unpleasant act and is discouraged.

On October 7, the Centre had opposed in the Supreme Court the practice of triple talaq, ‘nikah halala’ and polygamy among Muslims.

The Ministry of Law and Justice, in its affidavit, referred to constitutional principles like gender equality, secularism, international covenants, religious practices and marital law prevalent in various Islamic countries to drive home the point that the practice of triple talaq and polygamy needed to be adjudicated upon afresh by the apex court.

PTI

Uri Attack ‘case of cross-border terrorism’ WASHINGTON: Supporting India’s “right to self-defence” in the aftermath of the Uri attack which it dubbed a “clear case of cross-border terrorism”, the US dismissed the recent attempt

by Pakistan to link peace in war-torn Afghanistan with resolution of the Kashmir issue.

The White House backed India’s right to defend itself as with any other country, in view of the recent surgical strike but advised caution given the heavy militarisation between the two neighbours. It also said that the US is making every effort to ensure that India become a member of NSG by the end of this year.

Making a rare appearance before a Washington audience, Peter Lavoy, the White House’s point person for South Asia, said that India-US ties are the “most dynamic relationship” for the US as he listed the Obama administration’s achievements in strengthening the relationship between the two largest democracies of the world.

PTI

Centre can hold referendum

TREAD ON AIR

A participant during ‘The Thunder Bhopal Mud Car Rally’ organised at village Bhouri, near Bhopal

Shoppers discover Diwali buys on Twitter Study finds microblogging platform providing a huge opportunity for brands to interact with consumers NEW DELHI: An increasing number of people are now turning to microblogging platform Twitter to discover Diwali deals and discounts by various brands, a trend that presents a huge opportunity for companies to interact with consumers, says a study.

According to the report by Twitter and TNS Research, 72 per cent of Diwali shoppers interviewed said Twitter helps them to discover great Diwali buys.

Interestingly, 52 per cent respondents said they would follow a brand for deals and discounts during the festive season.

About 93 per cent said they have interacted with brands on Twitter before, and 81 per cent of Diwali shoppers believe that Twitter helps them to keep updated on trends.

Also, 46 per cent said they would use Twitter to explore brands and products for their Diwali shopping.

About 61 per cent said they expect

brands to share recommendations for the right product, while 54 per cent said they expect to be awarded for their loyalty with exclusive offers on Twitter.

“The research found that an increasing number of Indians are turning to digital platforms to garner information and insights for making

their purchase decisions. Twitter provides a huge opportunity for brands to interact with consumers on the platform,” it said.

It also found 68 per cent respondents saying they expect brands to be available to solve their problems 24/7 on Twitter, while 50 per cent

said they expected brands to be able to resolve conflicts quickly.

The report surveyed 1,278 respondents in India aged 16 years and above.

“Twitter is the live connection to culture and it is our endeavour to be the one stop destination for Indians to buy, gift, share or express themselves for Diwali this year,” Twitter India Business Head Taranjeet Singh said.

This study shows Twitter’s role in shaping consumer purchase decisions for this festive season to help brands connect with millions of Indians through live conversations and videos on social media, he added.

“Brands are using this Diwali opportunity to build mutually beneficial and meaningful relationships with people across the country and we’re one of the primary platforms where decisions related to festive shopping take place,” Singh said.

PTI

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 15-21, 2016

‘Akanksha speaks through chess’ P 16

“For our five countries’ leaders this meeting (in Goa) will be a good opportunity to harmonise our positions on key issues on the international agenda. We are determined to cooperate in the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking and corruption.”

- Vladimir Putin, Russian President

Ready for consensus on NSG but opposed to UN ban on Azhar: China

Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong says one should not pursue political gains in the name of counter-terrorism

BY KJM VARMA BEIJING: Ahead of President Xi Jinping’s visit to India, China said it is “ready” for talks with India on its entry into the NSG but defended extending a hold on India’s bid for a UN ban on JeM chief Masood Azhar, saying Beijing is opposed to anyone making “political gains in the name of counter-terrorism”.

Briefing media on Xi’s visit to India to take part in the BRICS Summit in Goa, China’s Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong again harped on the need to build consensus over the admission of new members in the 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

Asked if any progress on the issue of India’s admission into NSG can be expected in the meeting between Xi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, Li said NSG rules stipulate consensus among the members to admit new ones.

“These rules are not to be decided

by China alone. On the issue, China and India have maintained good communication and we are ready to continue consultations with India to build consensus and we also hope India can go to other members of the NSG as well,” Li said replying to a question on China’s reservations on India’s admission to the elite nuclear trading club.

“In this aspect we are also ready

Minister of State for Commerce & Industry (Independent Charge), Nirmala Sitharaman at the 6th Brics Trade Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi

for discussions with India to explore possibilities but things need to be in keeping up with procedures, norms and regulations of the NSG. On this issue, China position is consistent. That is why China has often said international law must be observed,” he said.

While India has blamed one country, without naming China, for stalling its membership in the NSG, both the countries held talks recently to iron out differences. After talks with India, China also has held similar talks with Pakistan, which also applied for membership in the influential grouping.

Replying to a question on criticism about China’s move to stall India’s

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bid for a UN ban on Azhar - head of Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaishe-Muhammad, Li sought to justify Beijing’s recent technical hold in the matter, saying: “China is opposed to all forms of terrorism”.

“There should be no double standards on counter-terrorism. Nor should one pursue own political gains in the name of counter-terrorism,” he said in a veiled reference to India, which is pressing for the UN ban against Azhar over his role in the Pathankot terror attack.

China had announced the extension of its “technical hold” on India’s bid to get Azhar designated as a terrorist by the UN on October 1, days before it was

Sirisena warns officials over ‘political bias’ in investigations COLOMBO: In the first sign of tensions in Sri Lanka’s unity government, President Maithripala Sirisena criticised his own administration’s anti-graft commission and police for acting on a “political agenda” in investigations and warned of action against those responsible.

“I told the Prime Minister and the Cabinet that there should not be a political agenda in taking action against people,” he said.

Addressing a gathering here, he accused the police’s Financial Crime Division (FCID), Crime Investigation Department (CID) and the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption of “acting on a political agenda”.

“I spoke very openly against this politically motivated action. I may have to act very openly against these also,” Sirisena warned.

He said he was completely angered by the recent action by the Bribery Commission to summon to court former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa - brother of ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa - and three former military commanders over bribery allegations.

People who led war ought not to be dragged before the court, he said.

Sirisena’s comments have much resonance with the accusations by former strongman Rajapaksa and his family members of a political witchhunt against them. The Rajapaksas have faced numerous allegations of wrongdoings and were charged in courts following which they had to spent time in police custody.

PTI

such dialogue will enhance cooperation about BRICS countries and strengthen cooperation between BRICS and other regional organisations and regional countries,” he said. Li also spoke highly about emerging consensus between BRICS leaders on issues relating to international security and politics.

“This year marks 10th anniversary of BRICS. With 10 years of cooperation, BRICS cooperation has expanded and deepened. In addition to the economy and trade, finical and people’s cooperation on political security is also deepening,” he said. Li said in recent years, the BRICS countries have deepened co-operation on cyber security. “We have also set up working group on counter-terrorism.

Work in this aspect is making progress. Leaders have been meeting periodically to exchange views on important security issues of regional and international importance.

“All this show cooperation politics and security is deepening and making its contribution to the international security. But of course such cooperation is not targeted at any third country. It is mainly to uphold consensus and build international peace and promote global development,” he said.

China and other BRICS members are ready to strengthen cooperation on issues relating to international security and politics, he said, adding “it is not about having an exclusive small circle but (are) open for cooperation”.

PTI

to expire. The hold can continue for up to three months more. Li said counterterrorism cooperation will figure in the BRICS Summit.

“On counter-terrorism, it is an important area for cooperation among BRICS members for political security.

Cooperation on this front will enhance BRICS communication and coordination and will contribute to world peace and security. That is quite obvious,” he said.

He said BRICS Foreign Ministers reached agreement on counter-terrorism during their meeting on the margins of the UN General Assembly last month.

“We hope and believe that this Goa summit will build on the past consensus and continue to strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism and other issues of political security and contribute to world peace and security,” he said.

Li was guarded in his reply to a question about Pakistan being “kept out” of interaction between BRICS and BIMSTEC leaders in Goa. There is “no attempt to form a clique” to keep any country out, he said. Skirting any references to Pakistan, he said “all of this show that BRICS members are ready to have dialogue with others”.

“Such dialogue is transparent. It is an inclusive process and not targeted at any third party,” he said. “Not forming cliques to exclude any particular country.

Such dialogue is an inclusive one. Hope

PTI

BIG HAUL

CARS, BIKES, TRIPS, GEAR HONEST, FUN REVIEWS TECHSPEC TANK PADS

TGS LIFE

Regardless of what bike you ride, your knees and thighs are typically going to come into contact with the fuel tank/airbox cover, which is usually made of painted metal or plastic. The problem is that metal and plastic don’t stick very well to textile, nylon or any material that you’d typically wear as pants on a motorcycle ride. Anchoring to your bike with your knees and thighs is critical for safety and confidence.

Most sport riders are familiar with grippy stickers that you can put in place on the sides of your tank to alleviate this.

Techspec is one such brand, which makes a unique ‘snakeskin’ pattern rubber material that can be applied to your tank with adhesive.

Unlike some other brands of grip pads that look like organic globs or some sort of acupressure surface, the Techspec item is a fairly basic,

AUGUST 6, 2016 PUNE

THRILL OF DRIVING

TGS LIFE JULY 9, 2016 PUNE

THRILL OF DRIVING

Road-tripping in Thailand

by a Gujarati. He has a huge fan following!

Having been (and motorcycled across) the country twice, I almost tend to take it personally when people refer to the country and its sex trade, as if the nation is one giant red light district. It isn’t, and you should definitely avoid visiting it with someone who holds that belief.

This author travelled the length of the country with his spouse, feeling perfectly secure despite being a nervous traveller. It truly is a place where you can hit the road without any specific plan and come off the bike feeling like you’ve explored and seen something new.

@tburman

S

till buzzing from what must have been thousands of curves across just over a hundred kilometres of road, it occurred to us that perhaps we should take a break and refuel our bodies, since the Honda CB500X we were riding showed no signs of using any significant quantity of gasoline. We were at Pai canyon, a small lookout point for tourists along the highway with four food and one coffee stall.

My spouse enjoys the occasional coffee, so she requested one. The beans were promptly ground in front of us, mixed with condensed milk, ice and water, and served in a convenient plastic container. All this while, I bit down on a prepackaged Tuna sandwich knowing full well that the nearest fresh tuna was at least 1200km away.

Both the sandwich and coffee were fresh and delicious. If this was roughing it on a road trip, it’s exactly my style.

A worker in a special heat reflecting suit stands next to bags of seized cocaine, to be destroyed by fire at a police base in Lima, Peru. Police burned more than seven tons of drugs, including cocaine, marijuana, opium and heroin seized over the last four months

here are many legends surrounding the birth of the Ford Mustang, one of America’s most well-known performance cars. I will avoid the word “iconic” because it’s so overused in this context that I challenge you to find a launch or drive report without it. One such legend has its name inspired by the legendary P51 Mustang fighter aircraft used by the USAF, which makes sense seeing its “aviation inspired” interior on this 2015 model we drove. Other stories tell of how the entire allocation of the original run of the Ford Mustang sold out in just a few months. It has been an immensely popular vehicle since its birth in 1964-65, and this is its 52nd year in continuous production, despite the challenges of the ‘70s oil crisis, various downturns and such. Other muscle cars have come, gone and been resurrected, but the Mustang has been a constant.

The model Ford has launched in India is the Mustang GT and it wears all-new bodywork compared to the outgoing model. The previous generation started the “retro-futuristic” craze back in 2005 and has served the company well, spawning innumerable special editions and variations on performance and body style. This new model bears the same basic shape, but has a much more stylish, swoopy visage. The front is more aggressive with a wider grille and three slashes in each headlamp, while the rear looks more old-school with the same three-segment design following through.

The classic long bonnet and short boot with a fastback roofline remains, covering a 2+2 cabin and a surprisingly roomy boot! It’s all very well executed, betraying no irony or cheesy nostalgia. This truly does look like many decades of progress have been made to get to this handsome shape.

The Mustang is only available in the V8 engine option for India, which makes

TGS LIFE

Mustang, but the saving grace was that those were around the lauded Buddh International Circuit, India’s only F1 track. As you’d expect, the Mustang is pretty fast in a straight line. This time round, it isn’t too bad around the corners either, having an independent rear suspension instead of an ancient liveaxle type found in most generations of the car. This is clearly a grand-tourer sort of car.

The suspension feels quite plush, there’s perceptible body roll when you’re hustling around the corners and things are generally smooth at speed. I suppose we should be pleased as consumers that we’ve come to a point where we can actually buy much harder-core performance cars in this price bracket.

The V8 sounds nice inside the cabin, but isn’t particularly evocative insideChiang or out. It’s butjump-off muted burble Maia isdeep your point that comes to the ear; no snap crackle and adventures pop drama of European tyre-burners. The India edition only comes with the 6-speed

for motorcycle

Our Honda CB500X proved an able, fun and comfortable ride for our trip

TANKED-UP TGS LIFE

JUNE 25, 2016 PUNE

makeshift operating table outside, where he is swiftly dealt with by a vet and placed next to several other sleeping dogs. Later, the animals will be released back onto the streets with red collars.

“I love the dogs,” said local resident Moe Lwe Lwe, who has been feeding them rice and curry for 18 years and helps with the sterilisation programme. “They are very cuddly. I am nuts for them.”

Myanmar has the second-highest rate of rabies in Southeast Asia, according to the World Health Organisation, although vaccination programmes have helped stem the number of cases.

Some say authorities dislike neutering because of the belief held by Buddhists, the religious majority in Myanmar, that karmic retribution will leave you infertile in your next life. Leaving poisoned meat, on the other hand, is seen as free of spiritual consequences because the dogs opt to eat the food on their own.

Others say sterilisation is an expensive option for a country where one in four lives below the poverty line. But images of dog corpses strewn across the city’s pavements spread on social media have shocked the public.

In response, Yangon officials signed an agreement with US animal NGO Humane Society International in March to begin a city-wide vaccination and sterilisation scheme. The jointprogramme has yet to get started, but the charity said it hopes to emulate the success of similar campaigns in countries like Nepal, India and Bangladesh.

AFP

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THRILL OF DRIVING

hen we last drove the TUV300 shortly after its launch, it was a pleasant surprise in its package, refinement and general ability around the city. At the time, we didn’t really take it on an extended highway jaunt and probably just as well; you see, in it’s previous guise, the TUV300 came with a modest 75hp output motor, which was fine in urban environs, but didn’t really have punch anywhere in the rev range.

That has now changed with Mahindra calling this iteration the mHawk100 motor -- essentially the same thing but now putting out considerably more power and torque, up to 100hp and 240Nm. If you’ve read our previous assessment of the TUV300, not much has changed, save for our experience with other, more recent SUVs in and around the same segment. The TUV300 crossover/hatchback which was globally unveiled in is surprising in its nice interior accoutrements. A great AC, Out back are the jump seats that make this he SUV,urban technically, a very decent infotainment system with Bluetooth and iPod a 7-seater. It’s doable, but not comfortable for long journeys.

Then April, Datsun’s Redi-GO finally makes its way to Indian roads. connectivity that works flawlessly, a nice two-tone Dash that again, have you seen how many passengers tourist cabs can pack The Redi-GO runs on a three-cylinder i-SAT engine mated looks contemporary and a quiet cabin that belies the intrinsic into a Scorpio these days? The jump seats fold 799 up andccrear seats nature of a three-cylinder Diesel engine. It should sound and feel fold down to liberate a lot of extra cargo room, you need it.manual transmission. It produces 53 hp, 72Nm of to ashould five-speed rough, but it doesn’t. Nothing in the SUV does.

Call us picky but this author is not a fan of the TUV’s torque and delivers a fuel efficiency of 25.17 kmpl. The top speed Of particular interest to us in this new 100hp guise of the aesthetic. I’d prefer the front of the NuvoSport with a squat stance is 140 Kmph and the ground clearance is 185mm. The vehicle on TUV, was the suspension. You see, the Mahindra NuvoSport, instead of sharp corners and the face of Bane, Batman’s formidable which we also recently tested, uses the same engine, but has a foe. That said, with a top-end model, you do get at a nice display thefinish, press launch looked solid, with most details standing up problem with considerable body roll. Not so much with the TUV, decent looking alloys and wheels that fill their wells properly. to scrutiny. While it may be built to a cost, it looks good in the flesh which is controlled and feels more secure at highway speeds. It There are even some nice extras like a start-stop system (well, not andextends doesn’t also feels a bit firmer, but that’s a trade-off we’re willing to make: really nice in our traffic), an eco mode that rangebetray while it’s budget category. some more jerks to the spine in exchange of careening off a cliff sacrificing power, and static cornering lamps, Safety which are aisboon courtesy “Datsun PRO-SAFE7” which includes on a sharp bend. Engine performance is also on par with the when turning the wide vehicle in darkness. In fact, we’re confused shortest braking distance, high strength body shell to absorb impacts, NuvoSport, but after using the TUV’s manual transmission, we about why these features don’t make it to the NuvoSport, which ended up missing the AMT of the NuvoSport, which somehow gets cruise control as consolation. But thegood TUV doesn’t.

Strange. visibility and wider view of the road, high bolster support while managed to keep things feeling sprightly.

Still, it’s evident from the quality of thecornering, interior that the TUV absorbing steering and a driver airbag. energy With the benefit of hindsight and experience, we can also is meant to be a bit more upmarket. But it costs between 10 and Five personalized kit options are available: Urban, Style, Kool, say that the current TUV300 feels a bit heavy to steer compared 16,000 rupees LESS than the NuvoSport. Confused?

So are we. to peers like the Vitara Brezza and NuvoSport, but retains the On our extended time with the TUV300, urban and Easy Kit - Premium. Colour options available Easywe’ve Kit done - Sporty surprisingly, far better than the NuvoSport practical turning radius we enjoyed previously. It’s squared-off commuting, Mumbai-Pune highway runs, multi-passenger are: White, Silver, Interior Grey,is,Ruby and Lime. The Datsun Redi-GO design (tank-like, according to Mahindra) has the benefit of outings and cargo runs, and we were unable to run the comes with warranty of 2 years/unlimited km andandthe car allowing excellent visibility while squeezing into tight tank dry, so anecdotally, the mHawk100 engine ais also with follow-me-home lamps, parking sensor other bellscan and be spaces, which the TUV can do despite its width. The quite efficient. Highway runs were usually whistles one expects in a India modern App’. vehicle. Mahindra is churning Verdict booked via cruising mobile app called ‘Datsun breadth manifests in internal space as well, with the between 100 and 120, which is where the vehicle out vehicles rapidly based on what are fast turning out to be + Refinement, front passenger having plenty of shoulder space. feels most comfortable. We’re sure the 240Nm is proven platforms. Perhaps at some point they will also consolidate performance, The rear seat is wide enough for three passengers capable of more sprightly performance, but the vehicles to be less confusing. As a parting googly: you can still buy price as well, though we did hear the odd complaint TUV300 weights 2.2 tonnes, so there’s only so the old, less powerful engine with the TUV300, but the new one - Heavy steering much it can do. The rest of it is up-to-date. Dual costs just Rs 8,000 more, so why would you? about jerks being transmitted up into the spine from rear passengers. airbags and ABS are present, as are keyless entry tushar@goldensparrow.com TGS rating ;;;`2

Datsun Redi-GO launched, starting at Rs 2.38 lac

is that there’s no inner lining flapping about behind the exterior shell. Those can be infuriating to put on and take off.

Shima’s solution is to fuse the waterproof liner with the exterior shell. This makes for a slightly stiff feel, but far more comfortable in the long run.

Fasteners are good, with a velcro cinch at the wrist and a larger velcro pad to secure the cuff, which is extra roomy to accommodate your sleeve, should you choose to wear the gloves over them. The velcro Hondapads themselves are CB500X not the typical sort, with the + Refinement, base (hooked) part being Fueling, practicality a - much Bland flatter, smoother material that catches less on TGS rating dri-fit material. Protection ;;;;2 is adequate for this sort of glove, with some leather in

VW launches Ameo compact sedan Sub-4m three-box starts at Rs 5.14 lac

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MIDDLE CHILD Hardcore performance is great for track days. Audi has a more everyday option @tburman

Minimal badging on the sides and at either end

W has finally put a price tag on its sub-4m sedan — the Ameo, and it’s very competitive. Evidently, the company has taken steps to address its reputation in making cars that are costlier to own than the competition.

In this case, the Ameo ends up being cheaper than their own Polo hatchback, Currently, the Ameo is availabel only with a petrol engine — the same 1.2l MPI three-cylinder motor we’ve seen before in the Skoda Fabia and VW Polo.

A diesel is promised soon. Volkswagen is touting several segment-firsts: rain-sensing wipers, static cornering lamps, cruise control and a centre armrest up front, but the kicker for us is that two airbags and ABS are standard on all variants, which is a big step forward at this price point.

Visually, the Ameo looks very similar to its Polo and Vento cousins, with a slightly stubby-looking front and

back. The rear boot is expectedly short, but allows a bit more cargo volume than the Polo hatchback. It’s not the Large plenty prettiest integration of a boot thatboot we’vestores seen, but VW and is easy to access have been understated in their styling of the rear. In a front three-quarter view, the boot does not draw attention to itself, which is probably a good thing.

Watch for a detailed review of the made-in-India Ameo next week. Prices:

A

udi’s S line of cars don’t get the recognition they deserve. Sitting in between the standard models and the totally performance-oriented RS cars, they sit as the middle child, often overlooked. We have, on occasion, driven the RS5, RS7, even the R8 and come away impressed by the raw power they pack into seemingly standard body styles. But let’s face it: a wolf in sheep’s clothing isn’t likely to make you a nice wool coat. It’d rather eat the coat with you in it. Not so much the car on this page: the S5, which is what Audi calls a “sportback”, basically a sedan with a hatchback rear and more rakish roofline. In terms of size, it sits somewhere between an A4 and an A6 but ends up feeling surprisingly compact.

Even in terms of performance potential, you could consider the S5 the middle child. There are sportscars in the lineup that make less power.

Why then did Audi feel the need to paint the media car in this lurid yellow, we have no idea. It’s a unique shade for sure, akin to pure printer’s ink

R is equipped with Brembo monobloc callipers, Showa big piston forks, Öhlins rear suspension and Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa Tyres.

The Thruxton R is priced at Rs 10.90 lac ex-showroom, Delhi. That’s a lot of bike for the money, and should appeal to a wide swath of motorcyclists with it’s “modern classic” vibe. This rounds out the new Bonneville platform with the Speed Twin, Bonneville T120 and Thruxton R coming in at attractive prices and all immediately available. Triumph continues to push aggressively forward in terms of models and marketing.

There are more than a few lessons for some other manufacturers to learn.

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MERCEDES-BENZ GLC LAUNCHED AT RS 50.7 LAC JUNE 18, 2016 PUNE

JUNE 4, 2016 PUNE

expanse of nice, flat luggage area and very easy to access thanks to the hatch opening. It’s a bit like THRILL the Skoda Octavias of old -- looking like sedansOF DRIVING with hatches hiding huge boots.

On the go, the S5 is a refined experience. The 7-speed dual-clutch transmission is quick and smooth, and shifts gears with digital efficiency.

Press the throttle with aggression and the gearbox quickly shifts down, releasing a nice V6 roar from the quad pipes out back. It’s a chatty car in that it likes to make nice growly noises when provoked, but never overpowers. The sound is enough for feedback and kicks, but does not cause discomfort.

High-rev gearshifts release a nice crackle from the exhaust. Paddle shifters are present for those times when you think you know better than the car’s electronics. Driving modes can be chosen Dash is usual Audi fare. Dark two-tone upholstery between comfort, dynamic, efficiency or tailored and carbon trim look sporty to your individual tastes. Ride quality is where the generally luxurious experience breaks, with than anything else and it drew attention wherever the large wheels and relatively low profile tyres it went. Though, we suspect, it would pass under transmitting road imperfections to the passenger. the radar in a more sedate paint job. Few, if any Setting the car in ‘Comfort’ mode didn’t do much external features stand out. You have a typical in this regard.

Audi front grille, headlamps and design language On our favourite, winding hill road, the S5 tweaked slightly to accommodate the curvaceous shone with its Quattro permanent all-wheel rear hatch. The red ‘S’ badges are also discreet on drive system. There’s always more grip than you the front and the back. need, and it works well with the performance of Step inside and the treatment is typical Audi. the motor. The specifications will surprise you if “Butat mom! my friends have SUVs with lower and the GL-class). Mercedes provides two If you’ve been in a recent A-type sedan, everything you drive the car before looking theAllbrochure: coefficients!”. IsV6! this a common refrain in engine options: the diesel GLC 220 d outputs is familiar. There’s the MMI screen, central console 329hp and 440Nm from thedrag supercharged your household? Tired of doing the school run 170hp and 400Nm of torque while the petrol and ergonomics as expected, but with a small, We’ve driven much angrier-feeling carsright angles? Mercedes GLC 300 outputs 245hp and 370Nm of torque. in an SUV that has only beendelivers listening tothis you and your burgeoning Officially, Mercedes has launched the fiddly jog dial. The steering wheel also with less power. Thhas e S5 ilk and is readyDespite to address this sticky problem.

GLC ‘Edition 1’, which is their traditional was doesn’t have explicitly labelled phone capability with little drama.

Verdict One is no longer stuck with the BMW X6 as of saying ‘first batch’. As they’ve done before, controls, which is something that being 4.7 metresthelong, the that S5 slices feelsthrough the air rather the Edition 1 cars come into the country as only SUV + Refinement, bashes itfootprint into submission.

CBUs (fully imported). This is Mercedes’ sixth will confuse those coming from a small compact with than performance, The Mercedes-Benz other car brands. Upholstery is in is good andGLC class of vehicles luxury SUV in the country, making their lineup width-wise. Visibility was launched on 2 June, conveniently slotting the most comprehensive among the luxury car unique black and dark brown and there the flat-bottomed feels into thesteering sliver of space left between the GLEpurveyors.

- It’s just “nice” nice to till around class and GLS-class (previously, the ML-class Expectedly, equipment levels are high. is much leather on display. There good surfaces. are some lacquered carbon fibre The ORVMs could have done a TGS rating trim pieces along the door and other better job showing the sides and rear ;;;`2 surfaces as well, though we’re not sure if of the vehicle, but that could be down it’s the real thing. The seats are comfortable to personal preference. and supportive one-piece units for the front, lending The Audi S5 has plenty ofIn performance a surprise move, Mahindra launched vehicle from 0-80% charge in 1 hour and an all-electric feeling version of its Verito sedan, 45 minutes, is reserved only for the top (D6) a sporty look without being uncompromisingly potential, but keeps everything the eVerito, on 2 June. Mahindra variant. Fast charging needs to be done hardcore like the near-race seats you’d find in a comfortable and luxurious. It isdubbed an odd, middle claims that the sedan can go 110km on a at one of Mahindra’s designated charging sports car. child and we imagine it will have takers than fullless charge.

The manufacturer is claiming stations, while a standard full charge takes costsbecause as low as Rs 1.15/km.

8 hours and 45 minutes using a 15-amp Rear legroom is good for a person of my size more overt sportscars or luxuryrunning sedans e eVerito also phones home home plug. Other features include (5’9”) but then, few grown men are actually my of the niche it occupies. That’sThan opportunity with a variety of information regenerative braking and a Claims a size, so we’d suggest a seating capacity of four for for the buyer who wants something diff erent.

(Telematics).

Fleet sales seem feature called REVIVE, which range of to becomes a likely target, especially is basically an 8km power maximum comfort. At least one passenger we rode Certainly no other car we’ve seen in this considering the aging Verito/ reserve for emergencies. You 110km on a with commented on how his i20 felt more spacious shade. At just north of Rs 69 lac ex-showroom, Logan platform. The eVerito don’t get airbags in any variant. full charge in the back. Again, apart from the “sport” theatre, the price will give you pause. You can buy more in key is available immediately Performance is about New Delhi, adequate for city use, which is there is little else to talk about. Open the hatch spacious luxury cars for less, or cities: more overt sports Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, where Mahindra is pitching the and it’s another world. Literally! Audi claims 480 cars for as much. Stuck in the middle again. Pune, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Jaipur, and eVerito. Top speed is claimed at 86kmph tushar@goldensparrow.com litres of cargo space, and we believe them. It’s a vast Nagpur. and the 110km range is dependent on load.

THRILL OF DRIVING

Marks the sixth luxury SUV that Mercedes sells in India

AMEO=POLO PLUS

By Tushar Burman

bottomed steering wheel which feels nice to manipulate.

If we were to nitpick, we’d say that the touchack in 2009, when Volkswagen introduced screen infotainment system is a bit smaller than the Polo in India, it was a breath of fresh on the hatch, but it serves the purpose perfectly air. At the time, the go-to car for the well and doesn’t end-up looking aftermarket like segment was the Maruti-Suzuki Swift, and some recent cars we’ve driven. You get steeringwhile the Fabia did exist to represent a European mounted controls, cruise control and a cooled contender, it was deemed too odd and expensive glove box for beverages on hot days. A centre for what it offered. Volkswagen was reeling from armrest is available for the driver which is a slim problems with the Skoda brand’s service and unit much like in the Vento. You don’t get rear cost complaints and didn’t want to repeat the AC vents behind it, however. same mistakes with VW. Fast-forward to 2016 Rear seat accommodations are quite and anecdotally, VW cars are still considered comfortable, and the extra knee room over the expensive to run (they’re not; this author owns a Polo hatch is apparent. Headroom at the rear is petrol Polo). VW has taken specific note of this at a premium, much like the Polo hatch, so those sentiment with the Ameo compact sedan, and with long torsos (or generous behinds) may hit has launched it for a very competitive price, even their heads on the roof. slightly undercutting the Polo hatchback!

If you’ve read so far and are wondering where How they’ve achieved this was not the masala begins, well, it doesn’t. The Ameo immediately apparent to us on our long-ish test is striking in its anonymity. Even viewed from drive. The car is fundamentally the same inside the front 3/4 angle, one can barely discern the and out, save for the added boot. We drove the boot sticking slightly out of the rear. It’s a tiny Eighteen-inch alloys areHighline standard.

Mercedes sunroof, ambient lighting switchable petrol variant (the diesel motor will extension of the body, to bewith sure, since the idea during Diwali) and fit, finish and quality and is to fit a sedan within fourbehind metres tothe qualify will provide an optionalcome off-road engineering colours levels, cargo bars rear appeared to be on par with the hatch. Plastics for lower taxes. We’ve always liked the practical package that raises the are ride height by 20mm seat that liberate another 30 litres of luggage just as pleasing to the touch, with no hollow, depth of the Polo boot, and this remains useful in and offers three additional ride modes: - find.space an up EASYplasticky-feeling spots we off could The two-and thewhat Ameo. Mercedes Only now, the calls volume goes from dashdrive and beige interior remain,PACK and make tailgate.

294 litres inDO the hatch to 330 in the sedan.

It’s a road, incline and slippery.toneFive modes are WE HAVE YOUR the cabin feel airy. Bonus points for the flatminor bump, but it’s there. @tburman

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standard in the GLC: Comfort, Eco, Sport, ATTENTION YET? Sport+ and Individual. Hill descent control Safety is typical Mercedes fare: ABS, ESP, is standard as well. We also see the use of Crosswind-assist, PRE-SAFE, Attention Verdict Mercedes’ new 9G-TRONIC nine-speed + Safety,auto price Assist, Active Parking Assist, 7 airbags, LED transmission. headlamps and adaptive tail lamps.

- Marginal enginethe Slotting in below their range-topper, All this could be yours at Rs 50.7 lac for the rating diesel GLC 220 d, and Rs 50.9 lac for the GLC GLC understandably gets plentyTGS of comfort ;;;22 and convenience features. There’s a panoramic 300 petrol, ex-showroom, Pune.

It’s finally here: the Polo with a boot

The exterior of the boot itself is reasonably well integrated, and not as much of a tack-on like you’d find on the Swift Dzire. Not as good as the Ford Figo Aspire, but not bad. The tail lamps are simple and don’t draw attention to themselves.

Styling seems to be borrowed from the Skoda design language, with a crease running across the otherwise slab-like boot lid. Everything seems to be designed to be anonymous. VW have had to adjust the front and rear overhangs accordingly, and the car ends up looking a bit stubbier than the hatch.

The Ameo at present is only available in a petrol variant, utilising the venerable 1.2l MPI three-cylinder motor that does duty in the hatch.

It generates 75PS and 110Nm of torque, which felt inadequate six years ago, and continues to be. It’s a flexible engine, to be sure, with useful low-end grunt that allows you to have a load of passengers and navigate inclines with grace rather than amateurish slipping of the clutch. However, there’s no getting around the rough sound of the three-cylinder and this author continues to field the same questions he’s had to with his own car: “is this a diesel?”. Once at highway speeds, it’s okay, but overtakes take effort. You do get cruise control, however, so that sort of balances things out a bit. The stiff suspension makes the car fun

Engine and interior mimic the Polo hatch

to drive, but is hard on all passengers. We really wish VW would do something about this.

Perhaps the most important thing about the VW Ameo is the fact that it comes in at such a competitive price, and that it does so with two airbags and ABS as standard across variants.

There are some segment-firsts such as rainsensing wipers, cruise control and auto up/down power windows with anti-pinch all-round, but that’s about it. The Ameo is a competent car at a competitive price about in the middle of the pack. You can get more features for more money with a Hyundai, but you get the secure, Teutonic feel of a well-built car with the VW. The petrol engine is a mixed bag, and we suspect many will wait for the diesel this Diwali. tushar@goldensparrow.com Watch a video overview here:

Mahindra launches all-electric eVerito

Triumph Bonneville Thruxton R launched for Rs 10.90 lac

T

while remaining lightweight.

Features are basic but thoughtful.

There’s a water-resistant pocket within the shell at chest level for your phone, and a felt pocket above the waist for your glasses.

Unfortunately, this pocket is unusable when the rain liner is in place. Zippers are of high quality as is the neck fastener, which uses velcro and has a soft pad where your neck meets the textile.

The jacket comes with CEapproved armour in the shoulders, elbows, and along the back. Fit appears to be European, which will work well for slimmer riders.

There are button fasteners on the sleeves to get a more snug fit, and velcro on the cuffs and waist. The RST mesh jacket will be available in this black/red combo, or the inverse: red/black.

RST mesh jacket Price: Rs 9500 Buy at: Bay City Speed Shop (baycityspeedshop@gmail.com)

TGS LIFE

JULY 30, 2016

By Tushar Burman

V

RST MESH JACKET

RST is a British manufacturer of motorcycle apparel that has recently become available in India. The distributor pegs them as a mid-tier brand, but we were impressed with the thought behind this jacket and its features.

This is a basic textile/mesh jacket with a supplied, removable rain liner. Some background: it’s very hard to stay entirely dry in motorcycle gear unless you use an impermeable rain jacket over your kit or invest in much more expensive stuff. Rain liners are nice to have, but rarely foolproof.

Thankfully, this RST jacket comes with a liner that zips into the shell using a long U-shaped zipper. Sleeves are held in place with small elasticated loops holding onto buttons on the liner.

It’s a snug fit and doesn’t move around much. This design allows the jacket to be quite resistant to rain in light to medium rain,

TGS LIFE

TGS LIFE

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wo months after the release of the Bonneville T120, Triumph has rolled out Thruxton R in the Indian market.

The 1200cc Thrurxton R runs on a high power, 8-valve, parallel twin engine generating just over 95hp and 112Nm of torque. This is a higher output version of the mill that powers the T120.

The Thruxton R carries feature like ABS, ride-by-wire, traction control, torque assist clutch, LED DRL, LED rear light, an engine immobilizer and a USB charging socket. The bike also has riding modes to choose from: road, rain and sport.

The equipment list continues; the Thruxton

B g dea

Legroom is decent at the back. Headroom is a bit tight for taller passengers.

The eVerito will be available in three variants with marginal differences between them. Unusually, fast-charging ability, which Mahindra claims can charge the

Prices start at Rs 9.5 lac ex-showroom, Delhi, for the D2 variant after state and FAME subsidies. The D4 and D6 variants cost Rs 9.75 and 10 lac respectively.

VISHAL KALE

YANGON: The dart hits a fleeing street dog in the thigh, the bright orange tip sagging against his brown and white fur as he slows to a halt, his limbs succumbing to the sedatives.

The mutt is one of more than 100,000 strays that roam the streets of Myanmar’s commercial capital Yangon.

He is actually one of the lucky ones — the sedated animal is among several hundred that will be vaccinated and neutered during a three-month city campaign in Yangon’s southern Lanmadaw township.

Loved by some and loathed by others, local authorities have for years tried to contain the swelling packs of dogs by feeding them poisoned meat.

But animal rights activists have lobbied the government to change tack, arguing that the killings do little to contain the population or stop the spread of rabies.

As the drugs kick in, a worker muzzles the limp dog and ties his paws together with twine. He is carried to a

W

The TUV300 urban SUV gets more punch with a 100hp motor

the palm area and a reinforced, soft pad on the knuckle. There’s a rubber screen wiper on each thumb, which worked very well on our rainy rides.

Waterproofing is good, with light showers being repelled entirely. The D Tour WP do seem to run a bit large, so you might need to order one size smaller than your typical glove. Recommended.

Shima D-Tour WP gloves PRICE: Rs 4800 BUY AT: Kombustion Imports & Exports Pvt Ltd (+91 87938 84215)

VISHAL KALE

It’s a dog’s life: Yangon neuters city’s many strays

By Tushar Burman @tburman

VISHAL KALE

JUNE 11, 2016

THRILL OF DRIVING

that Himachal Pradesh is likely to make more of a dent in your bank balance. Food, boarding and infrastructure are organised and consistent, typical of a nation that takes tourism seriously, and with pride. You never pass a street stall without a sing-song “Sawatdi-khaaaa” (Thai for namaste, quite literally), friendly smiles and a disarming lack of guile. Thailand also has strong cultural connects to India, having a Hindu and Buddhist history. It occasionally surprises the uninformed when encountering names and iconography from the Ramayan and other Hindu mythology. There is, in fact, a Thai version of the Ramayan on TV, with Ram played

are present and are best used in sport mode or one of the sharper driving modes. There are four of those, including a “Track” mode that turns off the traction control, unleashing all 515Nm upon the rear wheels. Some of our colleagues were caught unawares as their cars did unintended 180-degree turns.

The Mustang isn’t for the hardcore trackjunkie, despite what the driving modes may say. The tendency is to safely understeer as opposed to snap-oversteer. Of course, you can get it to do the latter but it’s a deliberate effort. The upside is that it’s very easy to get used to and just, well, drive. Suspension is pliant and comfort

west of Chiang Mai which is considered one of the best riding roads in Asia. Among the first stopovers on this route is a popular, but still tiny town called Pai, which we visited. If Chiang Mai were Pune, think of Pai as Wai, except 140km away.

Nestled in a valley replete with waterfalls and lush greenery, Pai is a small town with a growing tourist population, pioneered by backpackers. It’s close enough to the border with Myanmar to have cultural influences of the hill tribes in terms of food and clothing, but significant enough to have all the infrastructural

MOTORS IN THAILAND Riding or driving in the country is bound to feel familiar to an Indian tourist. For one thing, they drive on the left side of the road — a colonial vestige similar to ours. They accept International Driving Permits issued in India.

Being part of the ASEAN region with a large contract manufacturing industry also means Shima a recently-released Polish brand of that vehicles tend to be similaris to what you’ll see on Indian roads. Toyota Innovas and Corollas,far less known than the typical motorcycle apparel, Suzuki Swifts, Nissans and familiar European gear you’ll see on your mates on a Sunday ride. luxury cars in urban areas. What you’re likely to they aren’t be unprepared for However, is the automotive culture of scrimping on their debut. customisation that If seems the is country. theto pervade catalog anything to go by, the lineup is It’s ridiculous! On my first day in Bangkok, I was thorough and top-notch betraying no cost-cutting. passed by a courier delivery truck with massive tested D-Tour WP (waterproof) gloves oversize rims and We’ve tyres. Even cabs —the whether licensed or Uber —and are seldom without an impressed. To begin with, have seen come away obligatory level of customisation. the price isis right: Rs 4800 for a pair of this kind Automotive enthusiasm even more is a good the dealThai indeed. evident in the two-wheelers ride. There are several things to Unlike in India, where culturally, about Key is the fused liner, which like about thewe’re gloves. “bigger is better”, the Thai have a different take Shima calls NextFit/NextDry. What this means on their commuter vehicles.

Step-thrus and

SHIMA D-TOUR WP GLOVES

Perfect roads as far as the eye can see

THOROUGHBRED T

MOTO GEAR Riding your motorcycle in the monsoon is a necessity for many, but it also brings out the adventurers. You’ve almost certainly got that Facebook friend who takes his bike to impossibly wet and dirty locations just because she can. If you’d like to follow suit but prefer to stay a bit drier, we have some kit you might want to consider

MOTORCYCLING THROUGH THAILAND niceties of the rest of Thailand. Think perfect 4G If you’re a motorcycling enthusiast, or have connectivity, AirBNB and the most incredible become one in the recent past, you’ve probably gourmet burger I’ve ever eaten on the street. The known or heard of someone who’s ridden a bike Pai river itself is popular for white water rafting around our ASEAN neighbour. In fact, there at various skill levels, and you can even take a is now a land route from North-East India slow boat to Laos, which takes two days and through Myanmar into Thailand. Heck, you costs just 1750 baht, or about 3500 rupees. In can go all the way to Singapore before you hit fact, our overnight stay and jaunt in the night the inevitable shore. There are many reasons to market ended up costing less than Rs 2000 for this, not least of which is the incredible road the two ofconverter us. Try getting that deal in Panchgani automatic. It’s a traditional torque you won’t be banging and down network. You’re very unlikely toso see a badly anyupnight of thetheyear. like a dual-clutch unit, but it’s okay. In potholed section of tar. In termsgearbox of distances, And that, in essence, is a microcosm of the terms of speed, it’s somewhere in the middle the country is about 1600km longofand 1000km experience you’re likely to have on any a economy automatictype and aofperformancedual-clutch. It can be sluggish, we across, so there’s plenty to explore.tuned Of particular road trip in but Thailand — it’s cheap to the point think it matches the character of the engine. note car” is the Mae Hong a long circuit sure, we’ve driven slower. Paddle shifters What else do you call a vehicle that the term “pony was coined for?Son loop --For

By Tushar Burman

MONSOON

So close yet so far. Perfect reasons to take off for a motorcycle trip

By Tushar Burman

@tburman

black rubber piece. We think it goes rather well on our “modern classic” Ducati Scrambler. Grip is excellent, whether seated or standing, and it doesn’t rip up your pants or cause discomfort. Also useful is the fact that the adhesive allows you to remove and reposition the pads a number of times before losing efficacy. It also comes off without leaving residue.

Grippy tank pads are one of the cheapest mods you can do to you bike to allow you to ride safer and more confidently. It certainly helps in the rains to make sure you stay on the bike. The Techspec pads are available for most popular bikes, or you can buy them in self-adhesive panels and cut them to suit your vehicle.

Techspec ‘snakeskin’ tank pads PRICE: Rs 4000 - Rs 7500 depending on application BUY AT: Bay City Speed Shop (baycityspeedshop@gmail.com)

Our YouTube channel has the most fun reviews you've seen, guaranteed. Subscribe and comment.

A large, comfortable V8 grand tourer at an attractive price. We drive the Ford Mustang GT at the BIC

The Mahindra NuvoSport is a friendly, practical compact SUV at a good price. The automatic is a bonus

Royal Enfield finally gives us a bike puspose-built for the Himalayas, a traditional pilgrimage for Bulleteers

Don't be fooled by the bland spec sheet. The Kawasaki Versys is a great all-round bike at a good price

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THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 15-21, 2016

PUNE

MONEY MATT ER S

“I think there has to be a mindset change among the policymakers. All rules and regulations should be formed based on the dealing that people do business in the right way.”

—Richard Rekhy, CEO, KPMG in India

“For the rest of the world whereas we aspire to do better in this adverse environment, they consider it extremely impressive. So there is a lot of global buzz around India.”

— Arun Jaitley, Union Finance Minister

‘Sino-India ties under stress, need recalibration’

BY LALIT K JHA Sino-India relationship, which is under stress, needs to be “recalibrated” as the 1988 arrangement is no longer an ‘effective tool’ with the changed situation, former national security advisor Shivshankar Menon said ahead of President Xi Jinping’s visit to India.

“India China relationship are under stress. You can see this stress — Masood Azhar designation as terrorists, the NSG (Nuclear Suppliers Group), I mean, I do not need to list all this. So there is stress in this relationship,” Menon told PTI. “These are signs of relationship in stress, where there is not sufficient strategic communication between the two countries,” he said ahead of the arrival of President Xi to attend the two-day BRICS Summit in Goa. The

Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Kalraj Mishra speaking at the 13th China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair (CISMEF, 2016) in Guangzhou

former foreign secretary, said he is not pessimistic over the bilateral relationship.

“I am not pessimistic about the future of India-China relations,” he writes in his book ‘Choices: Inside the making of India’s Foreign Policy’ which

‘Address trade imbalance’ India has asked China to address the burgeoning trade imbalance while making a strong pitch for Chinese investments in its micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector, specially in IT, digital, mobile components and automobile ancillaries. India’s MSME sector is poised for a major leap driven by the high growth with high level of innovation and seeks a long term partnership with Chinese entrepreneurs and investors, MSME Minister Kalraj Mishra said in Guangzhou. Mishra raised India’s concern of the huge imbalance in trade figures and urged Chinese interlocutors to work with India to reduce this deficit, the statement said. Last year, the imbalance was claimed to be USD 46 billion in China’s favour in over USD 70 billion bilateral trade.

was released at the Brookings Institute recently. The book is set to hit the stores globally next week.

On the foreign policy side, Menon, who was the national security advisor from 2011 to 2014, said he sees “certainly a great deal of continuity” by the Modi government. “Many of the things they have done, land boundary agreement with Bangladesh for instance, what they have been doing in relationship with the US, many of these things, Act East from Look East are actually continuation of what had been going on before,” he said.

“Continuity is good,” he said, adding that this reflects that this is “India’s policy and that it would also be carried forward.”

“But it has its limits. The balance of power in the Asia Pacific is changing, China’s rise, some relationships need to

Act timely to deal with bad loans: IMF

Signpost Rlys earnings target fall short by 11% Compounding the woes of railways, total earnings from goods and passengers fell by over 11 per cent from the target in September this year as against the last year for the same period. Railways have earned Rs 12,413.96 crore in September this year as against the target of Rs 13,961.91 crore for the month, a decrease of 11.09 per cent. Earnings from goods in September was Rs 7,719.52 crore as against the target of Rs 8,564.27 crore, a decline of 9.86 per cent, according to Railway Ministry data. A senior Railway Ministry official said, “Decline in demand is a cause of concern. Several steps are initiated to perk up the earnings.”

Sharing security expenses in airports Government deliberated the possibility of sharing of a portion of security expenses in airports by travellers with Civil Aviation Ministry opposing the move backed by Home Ministry. A high-level meeting, chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, discussed the issue but no decision has been taken on it, sources privy to the deliberations said. The Civil Aviation Ministry said security in airports is a “sovereign function”. Hence, responsibility falls on the government and all expenses should be borne by it.

Indian banks are vulnerable to further decline in profits as they face slow credit growth and elevated non-performing assets, IMF has said, calling for “additional and more timely action” to deal with the problem of bad loans.

“Banking systems are vulnerable to further declines in growth or profits, particularly in countries at later stages of the credit cycle (such as India), where slowing credit growth and risks from elevated levels of non-performing loans are most acute,” said the International Monetary Fund’s Global Financial Stability report.

Gross NPAs of public sector banks have surged from 5.43 per cent (Rs 2.67 lakh crore) of advances in 2014-15 to 9.32 per cent (Rs 4.76 lakh crore) in 2015-16.

IMF said bank loan-loss reserves have fallen short of the expected loss on non-performing loans under the current

debt- at-risk in India It said the potential losses arising from adverse deleveraging would require additional provisions for many banking systems and the pressure is more acute in India where loan-loss reserves are low relative to potential losses.

IMF called for swift and transparent recognition of non-performing assets to ensure good health of banking system.

The Reserve Bank has already nudged lenders to set aside more funds for stressed loans and clean up their balance sheet by March 2017.

To deal with the bad loan problem, IMF has suggested that corporate insolvency frameworks should be upgraded, including by facilitating outof-court settlement and debt-for-equity swaps, with well-defined and transparent rules. Also contingency plans to manage corporate distress should be put in place.

PTI

be recalibrated, with China certainly,” one of these issues can become a said Menon, who was the foreign dangerous issue and make “trouble for secretary from 2006-2009. Menon you”, he added. “Then managing the said the current modus vivendi with relationship, it starts effecting the rest of China, formalised during former Prime the relationship. You have a relationship Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s visit in 1988 today with China in which you both that has worked for nearly three decades, cooperate and compete. That is not likely is no longer an effective tool. to change fundamentally. But you need “This was basically, we would discuss to find ways to managing and containing whatever difficult issues we have, but we that relationships, so that you can would not let that stop us from developing concentrate on the more important thing, the relationship where which is developing and we can co-operate. And transforming India,” that’s how it became our Menon said. largest trading partner.

Menon denied the Or from co-operating on impression that Pakistan the global stage where we is working as a proxy have common interest. for China. “I would not And we worked together describe any State as in WTO, climate change others proxies. All States negotiations,” he noted. follow their own interest.

“China has changed, When it coincides with India has changed. The somebody else’s they situation has changed. work together. And I So that modus vivendi think, this is what we see clearly no longer works. in the case of China and India China relationship Pakistan,” he noted.

- SHIVSHANKAR MENON are under stress,” he said.

“A proxy means that “So what do you do they are only serving know,” he asked. only somebody else’s “You need to whether find a new interest. That’s not true. Pakistan serves modus vivendi, a new equilibrium in its own interest. Where it can, it works the relationship, which you need to do with another power it can and it charges by sitting across the table and talking strategic rent for what it does. It does with the Chinese. And seeing what are so with China, it does so with others in your core interest and what are their core the Middle East, it has done so for the interest, where is the overlap, where is the US when the US found Pakistan useful friction and how are you going to deal in Afghanistan when the Soviets were with it,” said Menon, who during his in Afghanistan. So I would not call distinguished diplomatic career served Pakistan a proxy of China. Pakistan has as the Indian Ambassador to China. its own interest in the way it deals with Or else, Menon warned “you can just us. And those remain with or without let it drift, which is dangerous.”

China,” he observed.

Because, one never knows which PTI

“Difficult issues would not stop us from developing relationship where we can co-operate”

PTI

Former national security advisor Shivshankar Menon Menon says current modus vivendi with China is no longer an effective tool

Economy better than expected this year: Li

Allaying global concerns over the continued slowdown of China’s economy, Premier Li Keqiang said the world’s second largest economy has fared better than expected so far this year.

Citing the increase of new jobs and contribution of domestic consumption and the service industry to overall economic growth, Li said that “on the whole, the economy this year, especially in the third quarter (Q3), is better than expected”.

China’s economy in Q3 not only continued the growth momentum in the first half of this year, but also featured some positive changes, said Li, while addressing a conference between China and Portuguesespeaking countries in Macao. He said China is fully capable of maintaining medium to high-speed growth.

Consumption and the service sector contributed more to economic growth and some important indices, which had previously weakened or declined, were stabilising and becoming positive, said the premier.

His comments came amid global concerns following rapid slowdown in Chinese economy from doubledigit growth to quarter-century lows last year of less than 7 per cent.

China’s economy grew 6.7 per cent in the first half of the year, within the government’s target range of 6.57 per cent for 2016.

HOST NATION

Folk artistes perform at the venue of the first ever BRICS Trade Fair at Pragati Maidan on the theme ‘Building BRICS - Innovation for Collaboration’ in New Delhi. BRICS countries showcase some of the best technologies available across BRICS nations to address BRICS countries main development challenges

ICICI Bank executes No job losses in India because of merger: Dell-EMC blockchain transaction Market opportunity in India is promising, the newly merged hardware and storage provider Dell-EMC said, asserting that it does not see any job cuts in the country.

“Currently not to my knowledge... not aware of India-based anything being brought to me,” its president for enterprise business Rajesh Janey told PTI when asked about the domestic impact of the recently announced job losses.

“If the market opportunity is this huge, the customers are wanting us and the more solutions coming in, it is hard to imagine you will be cutting down your customer engagement force,” he added.

Post their USD 67 billion merger, the combined entity called Dell Technologies has confirmed to job losses but has not specified a number.

Janey said the company is looking at the country both as a market for its products and services, and also as an research and development hub. It also has a manufacturing facility near Chennai.

When asked about any setback on the

EMC Chairman and CEO Joe Tucci and Dell founder and CEO Michael Dell

R&D jobs, Janey replied in the negative.

There is no product overlap between the two companies, he said, hinting that each unit will continue on its individual research efforts and added the products play a complementary role to each other.

Both the companies have presence in the country for long. While EMC used to employ 6,000 people, Janey refused to

disclose the number of people at Dell.

He said India will be third largest by number of employees for the combined entity, Dell Technologies, that has a strength of 1.40 lakh people.

India is also the fastest growing market when it comes to revenue growth, he said, adding that Dell-EMC had a market share of 40 per cent in both storage and all-flash drives category last quarter. Janey acknowledged that customers’ shifting to cloud-based services, rather than having storage on the premises is a “reality”, but said having a hybrid model combining both will be sought after by the market.

He said the company already serves cloud infrastructure providers and added that one of the sister companies already serves this opportunity. Even though a slew of global electronic manufacturers are making announcements of setting up a base in the country, Janey declined to answer a question on this saying no strategy has been finalised yet.

PTI

ICICI Bank announced that it has successfully executed transactions in international trade finance and remittances using blockchain technology in partnership with Emirates NBD. “ICICI Bank is the first bank in the country and among the first few globally to exchange and authenticate remittance transaction messages as well as original international trade documents related to purchase order, invoice, shipping and insurance, among others, electronically on blockchain in real time,” the bank said in a statement.

The usage of blockchain technology simplifies the process and makes it almost instant to only a few minutes. This is in contrast to the current process which involves a complex and lengthy paper trail that requires international shipping and courier, it said.

“ICICI Bank executed these pilot transactions via its blockchain network with Emirates NBD on a custom-made blockchain application, co-created with EdgeVerve Systems, a wholly-owned

subsidiary of Infosys,” the release said.

The blockchain application replicates the paper-intensive international trade finance process as an electronic decentralised ledger, that gives all the participating entities, including banks, the ability to access a single source of information.

This enables all the parties, viz, the importer in Mumbai; ICICI Bank, Mumbai; the exporter in Dubai and Emirates NBD, Dubai to view the data in real time, the bank said.

It also enables them to track documentation and authenticate ownership of assets digitally, as an unalterable ledger in real time.

Chanda Kochhar, MD and CEO of ICICI Bank said: “I envision that the emerging technology of blockchain will play a significant role in banking in the coming years by making complex bilateral and multi-lateral banking transactions seamless, quick and more secure”.

PTI

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 15-21, 2016

WATCH OUT collection of Indian handicrafts by way of weaves and artifacts directly from the craftsmen. The assortment of products being offered at the fair include, exquisite eco-friendly and chemical free health, food and beauty care offerings all made of cow bi-products, home furnishing and utility products made of banana fiber, stylized kolhapuri chappals, 20 different varieties of honey, tribal jewellery, katha and kacchi work apparels, studio pottery, organic food items, gift hampers, festive décor options and many more.

When: Till October 17 Where: Ishanya Mall, Yerawada

THE FREEDOM OF GREEN An acrylic on canvas show expresses a bold quest for freedom. Markedly influenced by Madhubani folk art, it celebrates in bright colours the interplay of natural and human forms which flow free, expressing the artist’s own need to liberate herself. Originally from Nagpur Chetana Sudame now lives in Pune. She has a number of solo and group shows in India and UK to her credit and her work is in private collections in India and abroad.

When: October 20 Where: Gyaan Adab, Kalyani Nagar

OKTOBREWFEST Kick off OktoBrewFest at The Beer Café, gear up for the largest selection of authentic German brews and food in a carnival of fun, frolic and madness. The frothy mugs of beer are well matched with soul satisfying German grub, platters of pork and chicken sausages, with delicious bites for vegetarians as well. Pair your favourite beer with delectable Chicken Nuremberg or German styled smoked cheese sausages and garlic Krakauer.

Fill your bucket list with Erdinger

YELLOW RIBBON NGO FAIR Promoting Skilling India the 9th edition of Yellow Ribbon NGO Fair will showcase handpicked portfolio of items from over 120 NGO’s and artisans from across the country, offering a rich

Dunkel, Schneider Weisse, Paulanor Salvator amongst others.

When: Till October 31 Where: The Beer Café, Kalyani Nagar

Progressive music to get you into the right tempo for a glamorous Saturday night! Also on offer is the quirky bar menu featuring innovative cocktails created by expert bartenders. The menu includes sushi and signature rolls from the Koji kitchens, satays and some locally inspired dishes like Sichuan Dhokla Fritters, Kichmi Bhajis and much more!

When: Ongoing Where: Masu, Conrad Pune, Mangaldas Road

VOX POPULI The attempted rape of the five-year old girl in Nashik by a teenage boy of sixteen has put the city through a violent shock, while such an occurrence is neither rare, nor new. Kids turning into rapists and infants getting raped are an unimagined prevalence, the reasons behind which are worth pondering upon. We ask Punekars for their scrutinization Bhargav Shingre Student In my opinion these instances are increasing and many have thus started the debate of should minors who are accused of serious crimes such as rapes, murder be treated as adults because of the nature of the crime. Often, the minors are manipulated into committing these crimes so one has to look at the bigger picture. Lack of education, poor social structure around such kids is also a big factor which perhaps makes these kids commit crimes.

LIGHT UP YOUR SPACES Learn how to make beautiful wax paper lanterns this weekend at Imagination Roof and let your home spaces light up this festive season. You can use them as decorative pieces in your home or to illuminate outdoor parties. A perfect time with Diwali celebrations settling in, you can improvise upon the technique to make your unique lanterns and add a unique handmade touch to the festive spirit. Ashwini is a renowned artist who specialises in art and craft who will teach you this craft.

When: October 16 Where: Imagination Roof, Bhosle Nagar

GET READY FOR STYLISH NIGHTS OUT AT MASU Masu, the sensational new club night in town welcomes guests to unwind over drinks and sensational music from Saturday, October 15 onwards.

International DJ Rinton will be mixing some Deep House, Tech and

WEEK THAT WAS

PUNE

Anchal Agrawal Graphic designer I think one of the reasons that this is happening is because parents don’t speak to their kids about it. That we know it’s wrong but because this is a taboo topic, no one wants to start that conversation in the house. Kids see all of this happening on the TV and think it’s okay if you get away with it. Victim blaming comes easy to people but the rapist needs that schooling that no means no and just because there’s no response, doesn’t mean it’s a yes.

CAFÉ MESTIZO INTRODUCES NEW MENU Café Mestizo announced their creative new menu by Chef Deepu. With the festive season just round the corner Café Mestizo has introduced some lip smacking dishes in their newly launched menu. The menu includes dishes like The Champion’s Breakfast, Do The Cheeto pizza with oh so yummilicious Cheeto toppings and many more. So come along and get ready to be amazed !

When: Ongoing Where: Café Mestizo , Baner

Yugishtha Shrivastava Student The fact that we no longer are surprised or shocked on hearing such incidents itself is alarming. There is a larger part of the society that remains marginalized, unserved to and that remains unheard. And we turn a blind eye. There is so much suppression in our society that it comes out in ways that places people in jeopardy. We can’t rescue someone if we deny to even hear their cry for help.

A RUN TO EMPOWER INDIAN WOMEN Pinkathon – Empowering Indian Women, India’s biggest women’s run is coming to Pune for the Fourth edition on Sunday, November 13th, 2016, IISER Ground, Pune.

United Sisters Foundation & Maximus Events along with super model, actor, and Pinkathon founder Milind Soman formally announced the launch of the Fourth edition run in Pune recently. Present at the conference were eminent dignitaries like renowned Marathi actors Sai Tamhankar and Priya Bapat who expressed their wholehearted support for the noble cause. Pinkathon is more than a Marathon.

It is the seed of change and the beginning of a movement that is carried forward by a growing community of empowered women across India, who share a belief that a healthy family, a healthy nation and a healthy world begins with empowered women,” said Milind. More than 10,000 women run at each of these across all four categories V wash plus 3k, 5km, 10km and 21km distances. They run in running gear but also in sarees, salwar kameez, hijabs or whatever attire they deem fit and keeps them comfortable. In Pinkathon 20 visually impaired girls from and 20 Hearing impaired Girls will also participate in the different category run. To prepare them for the main day, unique training sessions are designed with theSPORTS help and

Satyajit Mittal Designer It is very sad that these instances come in the ‘neither rare nor new’ category. I think there need to be some serious changes and interventions in our education system. We ought to incorporate life skills and imbibe the right values in our system from the very beginning.

Garima Pura Student We’re in dire need of educating boys in individual families about sex and have the talk because the society is plagued with an ages old perception of women as objects that he will later be exposed to. Parents, guardians need to take on this urgent responsibility. Society can’t be relied upon.

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY

OCTOBER 08-14, 2016

EDITOR

LETTERS TO THE

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Deadly decibels

Your spotlight on the level of noise around hospitals in Pune and their hazardous effects on patient health was very new. I have to tell you that i am very impressed that your paper did a story like this, and equally happy as this has occurred to me before. I am sure anyone who has visited any of those hospitals must have surely gotten irritated with the noise. This particular phenomenon G is a reminder of how careless and shortterm driven our workings are. It is these seemingly small things which ought to be fixed before anything else. We as a population are ignorant and indifferent too. Solving such things need collective effort combined with the state. Simple acts like sticking to lanes and using public transport when possible, or even just simply not honking and having patience are key to a calmer traffic. On the other end, the government should be doing there jobs too like at least placing signboards. Our urban governance is equally distasteful.

-Farhaan Saxena THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 08-14, 2016

DEADLY DECIBELS enerally, hospitals and a 100-metre area around them fall under the silence zone. The noise levels in hospital premises should be 50 decibels during the day, from 6 am to 9 pm, and 40 decibels in the night, from 9 pm to 6 am. But the ground reality at hospitals in Pune is quite different, as the noise levels in a majority of hospitals are far higher than the prescribed levels for hospital areas. This is a cause for serious concern, as such high levels of noise are giving rise to countless health related problems for all patients, and specially for those with heart conditions or sleep disorders.

The rapid urbanisation of Pune and surrounding areas over the last decade has caused an exponential rise in the numbers of private vehicles.

The days when Pune was a city of bicycles is long gone, and now Pune boasts one of highest number of motorcycles in the country. There are nearly 35 lakh two-wheelers and eight lakh four-wheelers registered with Pune Regional Transport Office, and the number of vehicles keeps increasing by the day. The unreliable state of the public transport system in Pune leaves no option for the public but to use their own vehicles to commute. These overwhelming numbers of vehicles on the roads is a major cause of the uncontrollable noise pollution.

TGS has taken the time to survey the situation at hospitals in the city, and their general wards, to gauge just how hazardous the issue of noise pollution has become for patients and their recuperation, and what the hospital administrations can or are doing to counter the threat.

‘We have large numbers of patients and their relatives, so it is possible that the noise levels are higher’ The noise pollution levels at the Sassoon government run Sassoon General General Hospital

Hospital are no less than alarming.

In terms of decibels, the hospital premises noise levels exceed 86 decibels, way higher than the prescribed 50 decibels. In fact, they are high enough to damage the auditory system and cause hearing loss among small children. Sassoon MIN MAX hospital has nearly 1200 beds and hundreds of new patients from all across the state are admitted to the hospital for treatment. Even the general ward records a noise level of 79 decibels which is enough to patients’ sleep, while the hospital premises have a noise level of 86 decibels.

Sassoon General Hospital medical superintendent Ajay Taware said, “The noise level at Sassoon is slightly higher than the prescribed noise level for hospitals and their premises. But nobody has complained to us about the noise. The hospital premises are a silence zone, but we have large number of patients and their relatives visiting daily, so it is possible that the noise levels are higher than the prescribed noise levels for hospital premises.”

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‘Being situated in the heart of the city, these kinds of noise levels are to be expected’

Poona Hospital is located on the bypass road which connects LBS Road and Karve Road, premises have 90 decibels of noise and its general ward 88 decibels of noise in the afternoon. These figures are alarming, being much higher than the ideal 50 decibels threshold. The ambulance arriving at Poona Hospital from LBS Road have to deal with the bottlenecks and have to resort to using their sirens, which adds to the noise levels around the hospital. About the rising levels of noise pollution in

Madhukar Hospital

OCTOBER 08-14, 2016

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Sancheti Hospital

BY ASHISH PHADNIS AND DNYANESHWAR BHONDE

In the general ward on the second floor, the noise level is much lower Situated next to Paud Road, Jog Jog Hospital is known for its orthopedics Hospital

and gynecology departments. They have a general ward and special rooms too. There is no signboard declaring the hospital surroundings to be a silence zone. TGS visited the hospital on Thursday afternoon at around noon. The noise levels at the hospital ranged from 65 to MIN MAX 75 decibels. These increase in the evenings when there is much more traffic on the road, going up to 8085 dB. In the general ward on the second floor, the noise level is much lower, between 45 and 65 dB, which is still higher than the ideal level.

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Expressway at around 4 pm. The noise level was 55 to 65 dB, and in the general ward it was 55 to 70 dB. During peak hours it increases many fold. The noise level is lower in the general ward, thanks to the closed windows. But when the windows are opened for some ventilation, the noise pollution rises alarmingly, and it is a serious hazard for the heart patients.

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A couple of decade ago, Sinhagad Road was a narrow and curvy stretch, dotted with trees and there was far less traffic.

But with the massive settlements at Wadgaon-Dhayari, the connection to the Mumbai-Bangalore highway, and the lack of an alternative road, has made Sinhagad Road very noisy indeed, and the hospitals here have to cope with the ever increasing noise pollution.

Madhukar Hospital in Anand Madhukar Nagar is a prime example. Earlier Hospital the hospital was at a distance from the main road, but now after the road-widening and concretization, it is almost touching the road.

There are traffic jams galore near the hospital during the rush hours of 9-11 am and 7-9 pm. There is like a free-for-all on the road, with MIN MAX impatient drivers honking their horns to add to the sound of the heavy traffic, the whistles of the

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traffic police, and roadside vendors hawking their wares. The noise levels exceed 85 decibels on any given day. The hospital does not have a designated parking area and the noise level is almost the same in the reception area. In the general ward it is lower, at 60-65 decibels.

Sahyadri Hospital, Hadapsar is located in the busiest of junctions Sahyadri Hospital, of Magarpatta chowk. It is a multiHadapsar specialty hospital, offering facilities like Higher Secondary Care. It was established in the year 2009, when the place was far less crowded. The noise level at the entrance of the hospital ranged from 91 to 97 dB in the evening. The ever busy roads with high volumes of traffic round MIN MAX the clock add to the noise level. It is an area dotted with hotels and shops, which is another factor that contributes to the noise levels.

The noise level in the general ward ranged from 55 to 70 dB. Human beings including the patients’ kin, and the hospital office staff add to the noise levels. The sounds from the main road and parking area of the hospital are audible in the ward through the open windows and doors.

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The noise generated by the people inside was higher than that outside

The 202-bed Sahyadri multi-specialty Hospital, on Karve Road, does not have any signboards proclaiming it to be in a silence zone. In fact, it seemed to be a really noisy place when TGS visited the hospital on Wednesday at 12 noon. This was aggravated by the sounds of traffic from the nearby Karve Road, including the honking and blaring of horns, as well as the noise from the vehicles in the hospital parking lot.

Recorded from one to five minutes’ duration, the noise levels shot up to between 63 and 74 decibels (dB), 25 decibels more Sahyadri Hospital, than the prescribed 50 dB limit in Karve Road silence zones in which hospitals fall. The noise level was found to be as high as 80 dB on the ground floor of the hospital, where the Out Patient Department (OPD), drug store, reception and waiting areas are located. The level of noise generated by the people speaking MIN MAX loudly in this area was higher than that outside. The staircase and an open window were adding to the

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The hubbub of patients’ relatives, television sounds etc, make the ward generally noisy

Krishna Hospital in Kothrud offers the best in ICU and ICCU care. TGS team visited Krishna Hospital at mid-day. The noise level was 56 to 72 dB near the main gate, and it was almost the same in the general ward. Along with the outside noise, the hubbub of patients’ relatives, television sounds etc, make the ward generally noisy.

decibel levels.

The pediatric general room on the sixth floor of the hospital was no different. The ten beds in the children’s ward were all occupied. The TV sets telecasting movies and such were escalating the noise levels, which ranged from 51 to 60 dB. Even the nursing staff seemed to be ignoring the silence zone as they spoke to each other in loud voices. Through an open window, the noises of traffic were filtering in. The noise level was high even in the general ward but it was 10 dB lower than the rest of the hospital. The whir of the air conditioning system was adding to the noise.

Star Hospital

‘We have covered the hospital with sandwich glass which eliminates 90 per cent of noise’

Sancheti Hospital happens to be situated in one of the busiest traffic Sancheti intersections in the city, owing to Hospital which the decibel levels are really high here. There is no signboard set up here signifying it be a silence zone. It is a busy hospital and from the hospital premise one can see long lines of traffic on Sancheti bridge and on the road from Shivajinagar to Pune station. With MIN MAX the congestion, there is no regard for the hospital, and the cacophony of horns is a fact of life, no matter what time of the day it is.

TGS visited the hospital on Wednesday at around 1 pm. The front of the hospital was the noisiest, with decibel levels being between 80 and 90 dB most of the time. Most of the noise was from the road.

The noise levels inside the hospital were slightly lower, at between 75 and 85 dB. The noise level was 70 to 75 dB in the OPD and waiting area. The cutting of tiles by construction workers on the hospital premises was adding 10 dB to the noise.

The noise level in a room on the second floor was 50 to 60 dB, ten dB higher than the prescribed 50 dB limit.

Sancheti Hospital medical superintendent Dr Madhav Borate said, “We have covered the entire hospital with sandwich glass which can eliminate 90 per cent of loud noise. Sandwich glass is made of two glass layers with an open space in between.

It cuts out noise which is why we don’t face any noise problem despite being so close to the road.”

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Sahyadri Hospital, Hadapsar

by the local body

Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules 2000

 Windows or other infrastructure of the hospital should be sound-proof

 No noise emitting works should be allowed on hospital premises  Speak softly on hospital premises  MPCB should have regular check of the silence zones (hospitals) to curb violations

The noise level at the hospital was around 57 to 67 dB

 Hospital sites with high degree of sensitivity to outside noise should be avoided

Hardikar Hospital, Shivajinagar, specialises in orthopedic surgeries, joint, hip and knee replacements. TGS team visited the hospital at just past 1 pm. Though it wasn’t peak hour, the noise level at the hospital was around 57 to 67 dB, while in the general ward the noise level recorded was 54 to 71 dB. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

PHYSICS TOOLBOX SOUND METER APP

Krishna Hospital

Krishna Hospital

MIN

MAX

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This sound meter app measures and displays a graph of Sound Intensity (dB) vs. Time (s). Minimum and maximum sound levels that can be accurately measured are dependent upon the device (usually no more than 80 or 90 dB), and are generally within the range of human voice production of frequencies 3003,500 Hz and sound intensities 40-60 dB. The app is developed

by Vieyra Software.

“To ask for proof of surgical strikes is not only ridiculous but this would help the enemy country as they would benefit by knowing our warfare tactics and might employ counter strategy to defeat India.”

-Ujjwal Nikam, Special Public Prosecutor

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Bias against AIDS patients to land people in jail for two yrs P8

Automation may hit 69% jobs in India P 10

PUNE

“To ask for proof of surgical strikes is not only ridiculous but this would help the enemy country as they would benefit by knowing our warfare tactics and might employ counter strategy to defeat India.”

-Ujjwal Nikam, Special Public Prosecutor

been quoted, from the side of St. Joseph’s primary to force parents into buying the costumes for 2600 rupees. But i am highly disappointed with the way schools Social activist gets justice as police arrest black have become marketeer and send him to a market for children. The jail after invoking MPDA education is anyway costly nowadays, against him and over that schools come up with some or the other activity every other day with a huge amount of money to it. It is such a covert way to blackmail parents into paying up as the children may suffer.

-Pragya Joshi

Bias against AIDS patients to land people in jail for two yrs P8

Automation may hit 69% jobs in India P 10

MPDA invoked against black marketeer

BY GUNWANTI PARASTE @gunwantiparaste

Social activist Ram Palke of the Bheemshahi organisation has finally got justice but it has taken a long time. The Pune Police has taken action under the Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act (MPDA), 1981, arrested Gokul Sable, 33, of Hadpasar, and sent him to Amravati Jail for a year.

Sable and his gang was involved in the black-marketing of public distribution system (PDS) foodgrains meant for economically backward people for about four years. The police seized 16,750 kg of rice and 9,800 kg of wheat, totally worth Rs 15.11 lakh from the accused.

MPDA can be applied if police

Traffic department initiates action against offenders in silence zones Pune Traffic DCP Dr Pravin Mundhe said that the traffic department did not take any action against offenders in the silence zone in 2014-2015. But from January 2016 to October 7, 2016 the traffic department initiated action against 322 offenders and collected Rs 64,400 in fines.

The department is also making efforts to create awareness among citizens about maintaining silence in the specified zones.

-Dr Pravin Mundhe Pune Traffic DCP

 No honking, playing loud music; bursting firecrackers is a crime  Violation of rules can lead to police taking action as per Noise

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OCTOBER 08-14, 2016

WHAT AUTHORITIES SAY

Guidelines regarding hospital noise standards  Signs of ‘silence zone’ should be placed around hospital buildings

H

CITY&MUMBAI

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY

‘Noise can also cause an increase in blood pressure and other complications’ Eminent cardiologist Dr Dnyaneshwar Gaware says that there is not much noise pollution in hospitals these days, as soundproofing materials are used and other precautions are taken to prevent it. But exposure to noise pollution is a hazard for cardiac or seriously ill patients. “If a serious or emotional patient faces noise pollution, his heartbeat rate increases, and he needs more oxygen,” said Dr Gaware, who has 25 years of experience in cardiology. Noise can also cause an increase in blood pressure and other complications in a normal patient.

- Dr Dnyaneshwar Gaware Cardiologist, NM Wadia Institute of Cardiology

‘We don’t take any action on noise pollution as it does not fall in our ambit’ The onus of controlling noise pollutiondoes not fall on the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), and other concerned organisations have failed to monitor or control the noise levels in Pune city. MPCB regional officer V N Munde retorted that they did not have anything to do with noise pollution. On being contacted by TGS,Munde asked who had givenus his contact number, and then hesitated before replying to our query. “We don’t take any action on noise pollution as it does not fall in our ambit,” he said. He did not have any record of the silence zones in the city. “We don’t have any record of how many silence zonesthere are in the city. Ask the PMC, they will tell you,” he said.

-V N Munde MPCB Regional Officer (Pune City)

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PUNE

Fancy dress cou for d2600?

Shreeyash CITY&MUMBAIMPDA invoked against black marketeer Liverpool FC s first coaching It is appalling how times have changed in have won the go d space of school education. I am sure programme in Pune the there must be reasons and some have also

‘The police can create awareness, advise vehicle users not to honk near hospitals’ Vivek Velankar, an RTI activist and president of Sajag Nagarik Manch, blamed the police and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) for the noise pollution, for ignoring the issue and their responsibility.

“These two authorities are not doing anything to curb noise pollution. The police have their hands full just managing the traffic, while the MPCB is not serious about taking action. The PMC does not bother to install signboards in silence zones, and no monitoring is done. The police can create awareness, advise vehicle users to slow down and not to honk near hospitals,” said Velankar.

-Vivek Velankar President of Sajag Nagarik Manch

Human beings including the patients’ kin, and the hospital office staff add to the noise levels

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There are traffic jams galore near the hospital during the rush hours

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In the rapidly expanding urban zones in India, overwhelming volumes of traffic and the ensuing congestion is causing an alarming increase in noise pollution. The issue is largely ignored, both by the common man and the relevant authorities. This has led to a situation where the silence zones around hospitals are completely ignored. It’s time to assess just how hazardous the effects of noise pollution are on recuperating patients

The noise pollution is a serious hazard for heart patients TGS team visited Star Hospital Star in Akurdi, on the Pune Mumbai Hospital

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THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY

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Poona Hospital

the hospital premises, the Poona administration says, “It is actually Hospital the traffic congestion that is responsible for the alarming noise levels on the hospital premises. But it is beyond our powers to control the traffic. The traffic department should deploy a traffic policeman at Poona Hospital to ensure the smooth flow of traffic. This will MIN MAX definitely reduce the noise levels on the hospital premises. No patients admitted to our hospital have complained about the noise level. Being situated in the heart of the city in an extremely busy location, these kinds of noise levels are to be expected. But it does not create a disturbance to our patients, otherwise they would have complained about it.”

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I am sending my kid to HotFut

Your update about how DSK Shivajians have collaborated with Liverpool FC got my heart pumping at double its pace. I have been a soccer player myself as a kid and i am a big fan of Liverpool. I think it is awesome that DSK has collaborated with the legendary club. My kid is very interested in the sport and i will definitely sign him up to get trained by the masters of the game.

-Pawan Raghuram

have reason to believe that the accused has been influencing people.

Once charged under MPDA, it becomes difficult to get bail and the person can be Gokul Sable detained for up to one year without trial.

Palke who had been working to prevent the selling of foodgrains on the black market, was attacked by Sable in June 2014. Palke called the police number 100 for help, but he was told to report it to his nearest police chowky.

He also requested protection which the police refused. Two months later he then applied for a licenced revolver but his application was turned down.

Cabinet minister Girish Bapat helped him acquire a licenced revolver after a year.

For the first time Pune Police has taken action under MPDA which can

be applied to those disturbing public peace and the foodgrains mafia.

Pune Police Commissioner Rashmi Shukla told TGS that Sable had been Ram Palke terrorising ration shop owners. He would purchase foodgrains from ration shop owners at low prices and then would sell them in the open market at higher rates. He had assaulted a social worker who had informed government authorities about his black-marketing operation.

DCP (zone1) Sudhir Hiremath and PI (crime) Sambhaji Shirke chalked out a plan to invoke the MPDA against Sable, as people were scared to file complaints against him.

Maharashtra Pradesh Karyakarini member Subhash Kisan Sarode lauded the Pune Police for action against Sable. gunwanti.paraste@goldensparrow.com

Parents cry foul over exorbitant fancy-dress costume charge St Joseph’s primary students’ parents made to pay Rs 2,600 for costume for the school’s musical programme in September

Ram Palke (fifth from left) along with the van containing the seized foodgrains

Global private equity fi rm Brookfield Asset Management has signed an agreement with the Hiranandani Group to acquire its offices and retail space in Powai in the megapolis for a whopping Rs 6,700 crore.

MUMBAI Confi rming the development, Maharashtra government is working sources from Hiranandani said of 691 properties has expired. on ways to transfer leased land discussions were on since quite some “Mumbai collector has appealed Police bring down the Thane city. The deceased included to crime intent fordeal lookthe into free hold, which would enable time and they will close in to Hasnain’s these parents, lessees tosisters. renew (the Police wife and The cide: famili curtain on the case ane Th culprit then hanged himself. it to generate revenue by way of the next few months. agreement) or the government will involving the massacre The deceased had been identified selling these plots that are currently At Rs 6,700 crore, this is one of take their properties back. We will as Zubin Hasnain Warekar, 28, of 14 by registered under thefamily Leasemembers Act. the largest deals in the commercial either make Hasnain these lessees Mubashira Warekar, permanent 5, Hasnain Warekar Humera Hasnain two A committee, space and also of the year. owners Warekar, or take possession months, Anwar Ismail Warekar, 60, headed by state Revenue Hiranandani Group, a if they are not in Asgari Anwar Warekar, 55, interested Batul

BY SANTOSHEE MISHRA department Principal partnership between brothers the properties,” the official Anwar Warekar, 30, Shabina Shukat @TGS WEEKLY Khan, 36, said.

Sadiya Shukat Khan, 17, Secretary Manukamar Niranjan Hiranandani and Surendra Aatal Shukat Khan, 12, Ali Hasan Srivastava, hasOnbeen set the uppolice put the lid on Shaukat Khan, 9,ThMaria Hiranandani, owns 4.5 million sqft e government will Thursday, Arfat Fakki, the sensational mass murder of his 14 28, Umer Arfan 10, Yusuf Arfat to fi nalise a formula for the of office and retail space in Powai, fi rstFakki, decide which lease family members by Hasnain Anwar Fakki, 6, and Alfiya Sojab Bharmar, transfer. including Hiranandani Business properties should be Warker, 35. The deceased included five months.

Mumbai city collector Park and Hiranandani Gardens. as freehadhold, he children and even infants, and the On thetransfered fateful day, Hasnain gruesometo nature three married sisters, has also appealed theof the crime had put invited hissaid.

According to experts, the deal is chill in the minds of even the most Shabina and Maria from Kopar owners of landajaded whose lease a strategic move especially after the “There are some court 5 March 2016 of newspaper readers.

Khairane in Navi Mumbai, and Subiya assaulted in Thane Youth has expired to renew their government eased norms for creation hospitals to which the state The Kasarvadvali police in Th ane from Bhiwandi. He had ordered Eknath Khadse First Information Report food including prawnsfor anda social agreement orregistered else thetheir of real estate investment trusts. has chicken, given land on February 28 against Warekar, for bombil from outside for the family sent an autorickshaw to bring her asked to come immediately for the properties would be taken “Brookfi has active in husband Shaukat purpose. we transfer the slaughtering 14 of his family members get-together.

Th is kind If of dawat was and her five-month-old babyeld Alfi ya. been dawat.

Shabina’s back by the government. thesister Indian estate had market fortheir daughter Sadiya at of these hospitals to free hold, we asked with a butcher’s knife on the night land routine in the Warekar family.

Hasnain Maria’sreal husband’s dropped of February 27-28 in Kasarvadavali Subiya our had declined Kopar Khairane to Kasarvadavali and left as all the men The state government had many years.

Th is deal can be viewed will loose 20 per the centinvite free relative beds from village, about 12 kilometres from owing to water problems, but Hasnain leave. Shabina’s daughter Sadiya was were asked to attend another dawat on approved the amendment in Section as a strategic move by both the quota that is meant for poor patients,” 29 of Maharashtra Land Revenue parties especially after easing of he further said.

Code-1966 on February 17, 2016, norms by the government and SEBI The state’s former revenue minister and the bill was passed in the regarding creation of REITs,” the Eknath Khadse, who took the decision previous Budget session of the state expert said. on amending the Revenue CodeLegislature.

The Toronto-based fi rm had 1966, claimed that this reform will According to the amendment, recently said that it would invest help the government garner revenue the state has obtained the power to over USD 2 billion in the next 2-3 of about Rs 50,000 crore. transfer lease land into free hold after years as part of its strategy to buyout “I took several decisions during imposing certain penalty charges on upscale offices and commercial my tenure that will change the the lessee. towers, stranded roads, power and scenario of the department. However, A revenue department official said utilities infrastructure as it aims to the Government Resolution (GR) of there are 1,291 properties in the island double its existing asset base in the many decisions that had been taken is city that are given on lease for 33, 66, country. yet to be published,” Khadse said.

99 or 999 years, out of which the lease PTI PTI THE GOLDEN SPARROW MARCH 5, 2016

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is used for only one or two days. We are going to complain about this to the school,” he said.

St Joseph School principal Sister Flory said, “If the standard quality costume was purchased individually, it would have cost more than Rs 3000 each. We purchased it in bulk for the parents’ sake and it cost each around Rs 2600. There was around Rs two lakh

expenditure on the stage, lights and rent of the auditorium, which was sponsored by two parents. We charged the other parents for only the costume, and not for other things.” She said that they held a parents-teachers meeting where the issue was discussed.

“The programme was not compulsory for parents. If any parent had complained before, we would have given their child another role. We basically encouraged their wards to participate on stage. Around 90 per cent parents are happy with this. Some parents met me regarding this and I am going to take precautions,” said the principal.

Asked why the costume was not taken on rent, she said that the rent was Rs 500 for one day and we would have to pay Rs 1000 for two days. The students can now use the costumes for parties. dnyaneshwar.bhonde@goldensparrow.com

did not take the Zubin and Sobiya were breast-feeding drink as they be the reason mothers. That could got up while these two family members mission,” a killing all possibilities of the Hasnain was on his “We will look into was shocked the small police official said. brutal crime that has Hasnain Warekar samples have The accused The food and drink village Kasarvadavali. science laboratory heavily in debt but and had loaned huge been sent to forensic seem to be in debt is awaited. mortgaging the ‘gold (FSL) and its report his principled father amounts, besides had refused to start his own money Even though Sobiya that water ornaments’ of his family declined to give him saying to attend the ‘dawat’ business. team available only on from Pardesh Baba in his village is A member of investigating the accused behaviour Saturdays and Sundays, autorickshaw claims that Hasnain’s Dargah Trust an changed after his forced her by sending five-month-old towards his family and suspect her and she came with recent visit to Bhandup the influence was also murdered).

MISHRA under infant Alifiya (who

BY SANTOSHEE that he was acting pre-determined to he met there. @santosheemishra Hasnain was so of the person whom that when one of probing the social carry out the crime Police are also relative as are probing all accounts of Hasnain sister Maria’s husband’s his networking The Thane Police of his accounts, Kopar Khairane he the crime had reached from he had also de-activated possible angles behind 14 members Whereas Shabina’s Crime Cell. killing asked her to leave. with the help of Cyber 35-year-old man was asked to come Batul was his parents, daughter Sadiya (17) “Hasnain’s sister of his family, including ‘dawat’. Shabina’s Even if children before hanging immediately for mentally disturbed. wife and sisters had dropped their she thought it to The victims also husband Shaukat played with crackers himself to death. to remain Hasnain was also killed) Patel (who babies. decided and She Mubashira Sadiya yan Sufi daughter as be a bomb blast. included children and left for home some medicines the gruesome and Hasnain’s mother-in-law Sojab Bharmar at Kasarvadavali unmarried. We found Warekar committed lone survivor Sobiya to attend another disorder but are butcher’s knife on Hasnain Warekar, all men were asked used to treat mental familicide with a From left: Accused admitted to Titan noon. of February 27doctor that treated ‘dawat’ on Sunday sister Shabina were unable to trace the the intervening night of Hasnain adjacent Waghbill days for alleged food village about 12 Hospital for three Kasarvadavali and Batul. The possibility 28 in Kasarvadavali city. e hospital to support cannot be ane Shaukat Khan. in July 1, 2012. Th in Thane. He wanted the latter through medication RELATIVES, FRIENDS poisoning area brother-in-law going kilometres from Th police ed the senior but inform been identifi CONFUSED authorities did not his grandson Hasnain father would The deceased have ruled out,” said Kasarvadavali now seized the Hasnain’s friend Warekar (28), HIS FATHER Tele.

Asrar Warekar, but the latter have knew that his principled ts. He agreed DISPUTE WITH police inspector DD as Zabin Hasnain Warekar (5), in incident.

“I am still unable benefi Anwar is known and relative said, papers related to the not approve of such Hasnain’s father Mubashira Hasnain can do this but did not accept Warekar (two a man of his word to believe that Hasnain a very shy to his father’s view Kasarvadavali as FINANCIAL STATUS Humera Hasnain was said a relative of Warekar (60), who led a simple agency is also heinous crime. He was never seen THE CRIME it wholeheartedly,” and ‘farishta’ (angel) The investigating months), Anwar Ismail (55), Batul in and Hasnain manager details a incident, and as bank fateful person of Warekar working and polite On the day Wareker family. life. He was examining Hasnain’s Asgari Anwar father to give away his time. If his three married in Kasarvadavali.

Shabina Shukat papers. “He dealt Hasnain wanted his on streets whiling had invited all a chemical factory bankruptcy related Anwar Warekar (30), to trust so that have survived, no show that he is dominated by and Maria stayed Shukat Khan (17), Sobiya would not sisters: Shabina him the money donated Anwar was of Village Kasarvadavali in shares and records his family that Khan (36), Sadiya it.” Hasnain’s in Navi Mumbai but (12), Ali Hasan and Warekar’s name told one would have believed Mubashira at Kopar Khairane he recover the loss Kokani Muslims incurred loss. He Aatal Shukat Khan “He invited yan Ki Amanat Hain Gazette from 1917.

Maria Arfat Fakki in fi ling income–tax mother-in-law Sufi and Sobiya in Bhiwandi.even ordered view that “Ye Trust appears on the he was assisting Shaukat Khan (9), my daughter and to the trust),” had land in Thane city fi rm and operated Fakki (10), Yusuf Patel said, “He killed am still unable all on ‘dawat’ and (the money belongs relative Altaf Anwar owns a huge is also a trustee returns for a private (28), Umer Arfan but I for the family getHe and Alfiya Sojab Navi Mumbai. Our two grandchildren food from outside said Jafar. Another “Anwar uncle and adjacent areas. from Thane and Arfat Fakki (6) could go to included chicken, said, offices mentioned Dargah in Anand to believe that Hasnain together. The menu Bashir Warekar of Pardesh Baba team found that the Bharmar (five months). in Thane.

14 members of his a few items made respected in his not exist in Navi this extent and kill prawns, bombil and was so popular and Nagar near Kasarvadavali by the accused do lost his civil organised ‘dawat’ of dawat is routine shakkar’ (sugar), reached APMC family. He usually at house. Th is kind village that ‘khadi “Anwar had apparentlyand reportedly Mumbai. The team THE MOTIVES the accused It is a mystery ceremonies in that the accused address and found at home on weekends. in the family of Warekars,”official from a ritual at marriage dispute with a builder to pay him a market at the given Investigators suspect that over by stage where drinks this An to soft handed warehouse the was said. agreed reached he that why family member our community, the latter had that it is a commercial could have spiked reveal that and later killed trusted him blindly. but Anwar declined the family during he killed everyone the team of investigators was seized him only. People ‘lucrative’ amount is closed,” said Singh. that was served to to Islam, killing to be like him. said that the chemical a relative Jafar Ali before slitting their himself. According a bottle of some Police officials He wanted Hasnain not like him. to accept,” said the dawat (feast) He was a was start a business of TGS, Thane Police does not yield anything. from the murder spot. liquid served Probably Hasnain Kotkar. accused wanted to throats. Talking to Singh said the family lived and introvert but was (areca nuts) and had “It seems that the devout Muslim.”

The house where He looked simple dealing in supari Commissioner Parambir of accused’s rrow.com the family party village was a ‘gift’ amount of money’ santoshee.mishra@goldenspa (cold drink) during Hasnain’s wife hiding many things.” in Kasarvadavali borrowed ‘huge that from the statements Sobiya Sojab that Anwar and maternal family. aunt. To recover Police also found was spiked. Probably from Hasnain’s from his maternal sister and lone survivor Hasnain had grandfather and his eldest Hasnain also that maternal his wife Zubin, Asgari Hasnain’s the loss in share market, sister Sobiya’s Bharmar it is evident in with a butcher’s owns huge land Gulzar Warker mortgaged his younger loan’ from his executed the killings left hand when ‘soft in his jewellery and took knife that he held that was hanging. people found the body

Letters to the Editor may be emailed to editor_tgs@goldensparrow.com, tushar@goldensparrow.com or mail it to The Editor, Golden Sparrow Publishing Pvt Ltd, 1641 Madhav Heritage, Tilak Road, Pune-411030 TGS NEWS SERVICES @TGSWeekly

about cops burking We have heard the common man. complaints from crimes are made Often victims of to post to merely to run from pillar But Thane police register complaints. recently when they hit a new low complaint from one didn’t heed to a Mohite, a deputy of their own. Sanjay police in the Anti superintendent of ered multiple injuries Thane gave a in a court and suff by several lawyers Corruption Bureau, to Kapurbawdi detailed complaint caused by a aggressive, so I police about nuisance were getting really racing on their room for help. group of youngsters called police control thrashed Jayesh. on Montoo far from his ground floor and The incident occurred Jayesh had imported biked not They took me to the out that one when out of the building house. He also pointeda fake number before I could get day at around 2 pm in Ulhasnagar me,” he said. using of the bikers was they started beating gone to Chopra Court swift action. around 25-30 an order. “My cousJayesh claims that plate. Mohite expected to collect copy of a fortnight cops sat has been fightaround him and However, for over lawyers gathered in, Sunil Motwani, up repeatedly, Each time he tried in court over a civil tight. When he followed youngsters to kept hitting him. ing a legal battle to the them they would gone to the court they merely brought getting away from dispute. We had been case. had his them under in “I order him. police station, charged nab him and hit collect a copy of the several times. of Motor Vehicles up to the fi rst floor milder provisions slapped and punched picked a beer When I walked I saw a lawyer fines.

Act and collected

BY YOGESH SADHWANI One of the attackers of the court building, I told him Mohite spotting and lunged at It started with @ yogeshsadhwani of bottle lying around smoking in the corridor. racing their The two residents flew and injured smoking there as of Rs 2,000 each. a group of youngsters me. Shards of glass that he cannot be in building is Meadows in Thane been issued to any in a residential area after JNU student Jayesh. He explained government said a in recklessly fortnight so plush Hiranandani a hand,” number has not bikes my doing Barely paid their fines. should verify the at me and con11 pm on February lawyers who knew was thrashed inside were let off after they vehicle so far. You Manpada at around that one of the an offence. He laughed the smoke was Kanhaiya Kumar inspector of bikes being used by a group intervened and the boys and asked Sd jadhav, senior registration of the 20. He confronted him from before tinued smoking. Since Patiala court premisessuch incident as they station justified the and book them for attackers, but in I tried blowing it Kapurbawdi police by the youngsters them to stop immediately tried stopping the coming on my face, of lawyers, another really have any eye also be booked for of residents living who were posted in Ulhasnagar, said Jayesh. action. “We did not forgery. They should endangering lives vain. A few cops off with a paper,” has come to light A an application touched driving,” Mohite’s causing nuisance. intervened but Thane district.

The paper accidentally witnesses. It was merely rash and negligent in the area and also in the court too a township in police “His acted on it and hand.

Kapurbawdi away. student from Mohite. We the lawyer’s complaint added.

In his complaint to were asked to keep 24-year-old law days he kept his hand only when under MVA,” he Mohite stated that Over the next few cigarette fell from charged the youth The assault stopped on February 21, was brutally assaulted at me. why stringent the bikes and the Kapurbawdi police station and he started shouting was said, refusing to explain following up with the youth were revvingroad. “When I cops from neighbouring ey pulled me by a group of lawyers what get any response “Th Even before I knew provis cops, but did not speeding on a narrow arrived at the spot. inside court premises several I was taken their bikes were of action. It was on happening he called ruckus about the course told the youth that away from the lawyers. for medical in Ulhasnagar was after multiple calls sent that the sound and Jayesh and raised a and station loud lawyers only on March 3, police very to Monday. him,” said one of them who cops decided to act. the narrated the entire about me assaulting from Mohite that disturbing residents, examination. I Motwani made that several youngsters to the a Jay Pichad, told me in the night an FIR Jayesh. Realising They brought three gave his name as incident and late mistake of asking him were my attackers,” charged two of them Rs 14 lakh is bound in lawyers around police station and that a bike worth was registered against lawyers have Rs lawyer to not smoke e hear ed Vehicles Act. While my Pulsar worth Th in no mood to under the Motor to be noisier than he said. The unidentifi the court premises. by fined for driving to say that I should him out, he told unlawful assembly, Jay Pichad (18) was 60,000. He went on a been booked for lawyer was so enraged that weapon complaint possessing a the not with them for dangerously and mind my own business,” Mohite ran rioting and assaulting 147, 149, 323 his gall, that he blew (20) was charged they should when 143, licence, Ronit Jadhav stated. The next day under sections 141, smoke on Jayesh’s of the bikes, go to the under the MVA. Penal Code. for driving recklessly the registration numbers had a fake and 324 of the Indian face. One thing nearest to shell out fine going to press of them At the time of They both were made he found that one led to another police EN5005. “The any arrests. number plate – MH04 police was yet to make and in the end rrow.com stat ion. yogesh.sadhwani@goldenspa the lawyer got “They several others together and

Jayesh Motwani,

a law student was

allegedly thrashed

A 24-year-old was thrashed in by a group of lawyers he Ulhasnagar court after smoke told one of them to not inside the premises

The Warekar massacre case has reached closure THE GOLDEN MARCH 5, 2016

Police bring down the curtain on the case involving the massacre of 14 family members by Hasnain Warekar

BY SANTOSHEE MISHRA

Puneri Peshwas sign off with a win P 16

Write to Us

St Joseph’s School for Girls, Pashan Road

Thane city. The deceased included Hasnain’s parents, wife and sisters. The culprit then hanged himself.

The deceased had been identified as Zubin Hasnain Warekar, 28, Mubashira Hasnain Warekar, 5, Humera Hasnain Warekar, two months, Anwar Ismail Warekar, 60, Asgari Anwar Warekar, 55, Batul Anwar Warekar, 30, Shabina Shukat

SPARROW ON

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MUMBAI

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instead of encourages private vehiclesrise to traffic gives is an example which “The Eastern Freeway number of private vehicles on roads only public transport. Large in the pollution levels.” congestion and an increase Environmental Social Network — Ashok R Datar, Mumbai

Himachal may urge Centre to declare monkeys as vermin P 11

Puneri Peshwas sign off with a win P 16

e e look for intent to crim Thane familicide: Polic all possibilities of the “We will look into shocked the small brutal crime that has The accused village Kasarvadavali. and had loaned huge seem to be in debt mortgaging the ‘gold amounts, besides to start his own ornaments’ of his family business. team A member of investigating behaviour claims that Hasnain’s changed after his towards his family and suspect recent visit to Bhandup the influence MISHRA under

BY SANTOSHEE that he was acting he met there. @santosheemishra of the person whom probing the social Police are also of Hasnain as are probing all networking accounts The Thane Police his accounts, the crime of he had also de-activated possible angles behind 14 members Crime Cell. killing the help of Cyber with 35-year-old man parents, Batul was his “Hasnain’s sister of his family, including Even if children before hanging mentally disturbed. wife and sisters she thought it to The victims also played with crackers himself to death. decided to remain and babies. Hasnain be a bomb blast. She included children medicines gruesome some the unmarried. We found Warekar committed disorder but are butcher’s knife on used to treat mental familicide with a 27that treated vening night of February to trace the doctor

Hasnain Warekar was heavily in debt but his principled father money declined to give him from Pardesh Baba Dargah Trust

ffi

has been finally invoked against black marketeer Gokul Sable. I have been following the case closely and i was also afraid for Ram Palke since a long time as he fought the crime. It is a great news that after all such lengthy ordeals, to the case finally on.Brookfi All eld the best to Maha govtislooking acquire Hiranandani offices, retail space the police and to Ram Palke.

Good to sell leased land riddance. to generate revenue -Yogesh Phadke The Warekar massacre case has reached closure instead of encourages private vehiclesrise to traffic gives is an example which “The Eastern Freeway number of private vehicles on roads only public transport. Large in the pollution levels.” congestion and an increase Environmental Social Network — Ashok R Datar, Mumbai

BY DNYANESHWAR BHONDE @dnyanesh1 The parents of standard I to IV students of St Joseph’s School for Girls, Pashan Road,have alleged that they were made to pay Rs 2600 on a bird’s costume, for the annual two-day Cinderella musical programme held in the school in September. The parents claim that the costumes could have been acquired on rent,but the school authorities forced them to buy them, which are now not of any use.

The Cinderella musical programme featuring dance, drama, and musicwas held in St Joseph’s School for Girls on September 23 and 24, in which all 480 girl students of standard I to IV participated. The school authorities collected Rs 2600 each from all the parents for the purchase of the bird costumes. Some parents said that the costume was too expensive. “The costume is too expensive and of no use in future. The school should have rented it for two days,” said a parent on the condition of anonymity. Another parent said that they really could not afford to pay for the costume. “We cannot afford to spend Rs 2600 on a costume which

Pa en s c y ou ove exo b an Maha gov ook ng o se eased and I am so glad to hear that ano MPDA gene a e evenue

Good riddance! ancy-d ess cos ume cha ge

did not take the Zubin and Sobiya were breast-feeding drink as they be the reason mothers. That could got up while these two family members mission,” a killing Hasnain was on his police official said. samples have The food and drink science laboratory been sent to forensic is awaited.

(FSL) and its report had refused Even though Sobiya that water saying to attend the ‘dawat’ available only on in his village is the accused Saturdays and Sundays, autorickshaw an forced her by sending five-month-old her and she came with was also murdered). infant Alifiya (who pre-determined to Hasnain was so that when one of carry out the crime husband’s relative his sister Maria’s Kopar Khairane he had reached from Whereas Shabina’s asked her to leave. was asked to come daughter Sadiya (17) ‘dawat’. Shabina’s immediately for had dropped their husband Shaukat was also killed) Patel Sufiyan Mubashira daughter Sadiya (who mother-in-law for home as left and and Hasnain’s Sojab Bharmar at Kasarvadavali lone survivor Sobiya to attend another Hasnain Warekar, all men were asked From left: Accused to Titan er Shabina were admitted awat’ on Sunday noon.

Sunday noon.

During the investigation it was revealed that the drinks served were spiked. The police said that Hasnain’s wife Zubin and Subiya did not have the drink as they were breast-feeding mothers. That could be the reason they got up while Hasnain was on his killing spree.

Subiya Bharmal revealed that

Hasnain’s financial crisis Hasnain Warekar, who worked as a clerk for a chartered accountant in Navi Mumbai was unemployed at the time and was trying to start a business of importing betel nuts from Malaysia or Indonesia, and was in need of Rs 35 lakh.

The police investigations revealed that he had borrowed 12 tolas of gold

Sunday noon.

During the investigation it was revealed that the drinks served were spiked. The police said that Hasnain’s wife Zubin and Subiya did not have the drink as they were breast-feeding mothers. That could be the reason they got up while Hasnain was on his killing spree.

Subiya Bharmal revealed that Hasnain was misunderstood by all but he had a heart of gold. He was allegedly sexually abusing their younger sister who had mental health problems.

Hasnain planned the killing in the fi rst week of February after his family came to know about the sexual abuse.

The lone survivor Subiya brought his sexual acts with the younger sister to the notice of her mother. She suspected that Hasnain overheard the conversation between her and her mother and then planned the heinous massacre.

Subiya survived the massacre by locking herself in a room in Hasnain’s ground plus one-storey home in Kasarvadavali, Thane.

Hasnain’s financial crisis Hasnain Warekar, who worked as a clerk for a chartered accountant in Navi Mumbai was unemployed at the time and was trying to start a business of importing betel nuts from Malaysia or Indonesia, and was in need of Rs 35 lakh.

The police investigations revealed that he had borrowed 12 tolas of gold from Subiya and was to start a business in partnership with her. He had also borrowed huge sums of money from Subiya’s husband. He had invested some money in the stock exchange and has lost the entire invested money. He had also taken loan against gold from financial corps.

Senior police inspector and investigating officer D D Tele said, “I have submitted a summary in Thane Sessions Court on the massacre killing of Warekar family. The case is literally closed now for us. Since the killer Hasnain is dead, we have submitted abetted summary today in the court.” tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

SPORTS

THE GOLDEN SPARROW ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 15-21, 2016

PUNE

“If you look at the national teams, you never win a tournament with a young team, because it’s more mental at some stage to win something big. You need to have a certain level of experience.”

— Arsene Wenger, Arsenal Manager

Signposts Women’s volleyball from today Suhana and Lakshya will conduct a women’s volleyball championship at Symbiosis School Centre, Prabhat Road from October 15. A total of 12 teams including Infosys, Cognizant, TCS, Tech Mahindra, Syntel, Tata Communications, Amdocs, Wipro Technologies, Veritas, Capgemini and Symbiosis will be seen in action.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals. The winning team will receive Rs 25,000 along with the trophy, while the runner-up team will get Rs 15,000.

Special prizes for best setter, best spiker, best middle blocker and best receiver will be given.

Vaibhavi, Anurag claim titles Vaibhavi Kher won the junior girls title but went down fighting in the women’s final in the RCBC Pune District Table Tennis Championship held at Royal Connought Boat Club recently. In the junior girls, she defeated second seed Ankita Patwardhan, but failed to beat second seed Ujwala Gaikwad in the women’s final. Meanwhile, in the junior boys’ final, Gaurav Lohapatre defeated fifth seed Rohan Khivansara. Anurag Gote claimed the men’s title by beating Sanat Bokil 11-6, 12-10, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8.

Bajrang wins gold for India Freestyle wrestler Bajrang gave India its first gold medal of the Pune Mayor’s Trophy International Invitational Wrestling competition by beating Mongolia’s Batchuluun Batmagnai 6-4 in the men’s 65 kg category final. Coming into the final after beating Tilek Sharsheev of Kyrgyzstan in the semi-final and Andre Svyryd of Ukraine in the first round, Bajrang was confident enough to take on the Mongolian as he won 6-4 to a rousing response from the crowd. In the other two weight categories that were finished, Indian wrestlers settled for silver medals—Nitin losing to Kyrgyzstan’s Ulukbek Zholdoshbekov 7-1 in the final and Jitender losing 4-7 to Iran’s Bahman Teymouri in the 74 kg class.

Kerala wins MTB national Kerala Team emerged as the overall winner of this season’s MTB National Championship with 60 points and the Karnataka team emerged as overall runner-up with 55 points. The tournament was organised by Giant Starkenn Sports Pvt Ltd at Oxford Golf Resort for the third time in a row.

“When Dale gets that red ball in his hand he’s just a different bowler. He is still our number one bowler in Test cricket and for us to have a successful tour of Australia, he will be the guy to make or break that for us.’’

— Faf du Plessis, South Africa Cricket Captain

‘Akanksha speaks through chess’ The world U-16 champion is shy but in contrast is fierce on board, says her coach Jayant Gokhale

PERFECT FATHER Gokhle praises Akanksha’s father Shrikanth Hagawane for his whole-hearted support to his daughter.

“Normally parents become impatient when results don’t come as expected. They either force their kid to change the sport or even shift their focus to academics. But her father stood by her in every situation. That’s the main reason for what she is today,” he said.

Shrikanth, who runs a vegetable stall in Market Yard, accompanied his daughter to Russia and played his role effectively.

“In Russia, I was not able to digest their food, so my father turned to be a cook. He had brought rice, soup packets and other cooking stuff. He would prepare a meal for me everyday. Sometimes the temperature would drop to minus one, but he would still go out in the morning and would bring fresh vegetables, fruits. That was very sweet of him,” says Akanksha.

BY ASHISH PHADNIS @phadnis.ashish Unlike other sports, chess is played in a closed room and in pin-drop silence. Most fierce battles in this game are fought without a word being spoken, and in the absence of cheering crowds.

For some, it may not seem like a thrilling prospect, but to someone like Akanksha Hagawane, it’s the most ideal ground.

The 15-year-old is known for her shy, quiet and even introverted nature. Hardly anyone has ever seen her angry, shouting or even speaking loudly. Even after her biggest victories, she remains calm and controlled.

However, when she enters her comfort zone, a chess room, where the clock is ticking and opponents are ready to pounce on the slightest mistake, she is transformed into a formidable, aggressive and at times even ruthless player. She calmly crushes her opponent and then without too many gestures returns to her basic mode.

There is only one person who understands her communication and that’s her coach Fide trainer Jayant Gokhale. The coach, who has been training Akanksha for the last nine years, is totally okay with his ward’s communication skills, as they speak through one language, that of chess.

“When Akanksha came to me, she was just eight and was calm, obedient and most hardworking. She would never speak to anyone and they would wonder how she could be so silent when girls of her age are known to chatter nonstop. But I knew that she speaks through chess.

She would ask for clarification of any point and I knew she understood what I was saying. For

Akanksha Hagawane during a training session with her coach Jayant Gokhale

a coach that was sufficient. Over the years, she has matured enough but she still speaks through chess and there she speaks loudly and clearly,” said Gokhale after returning from Russia, where Akanksha grabbed the World U-16 title.

TURNING POINT Born in 2000, Akanksha has been winning every district chess championship since 2007 and tasted her fi rst national success when she emerged as individual gold medalist in School National Games in 2012. However, as per her coach, winning national under-13, followed by National sub-junior championship was the turning point of her career.

DSK Shivajians’ campaign ends TGS NEWS SERVICES @TGSWeekly

DSK Shivajians Liverpool International Football Academy club’s Under-17 team which made a debut in the 57th edition of the prestigious Subroto Cup International Football tournament, have ended their campaign after losing two successive matches.

In the opener, the club went down to the Afghanistan under-17 by a narrow margin, and later their sturdy fi rst half performance was undone by Brazilian side Clube Atletico Paranaense in the second half as the latter came from behind to win 1-2.

After taking the lead in the second half through Laldawngkima, DSK Shivajians – LIFA were unable to build upon the goal as Pedro Ramos and Lucas Emmanuel over-turned the score-line with a quick-fi re double.

DSK were even more ambitious at the beginning of the second half. Their determination was rewarded in the

“She became much more confident after that.

Even our teacher-student relationship grew to a friendly level. She now makes arguments, makes her point and proves it. It helps us to understand each other more and in the long run, it’s going to benefit her a lot,” he said.

During her several international tournaments, Akanksha would make a long distance call to her coach to discuss the game plan or a specific strategy. It would force the coach to wake up in the middle of the night or in the wee hours, but he never complained.

“Fortunately this time we were together in Russia and had enough time to study the opponent’s games and analysis,” said Gokhale.

A WIN ON AN EMPT Y STOMACH The last game in the tournament was the most crucial one and Akanksha had just a couple of boiled eggs in the morning. She didn’t have sound sleep the previous night. Yet she fought bravely in a match which lasted for more than five hours.

After she was declared winner, she was immediately rushed to the press conference. When she returned she was completely exhausted and while everyone was cheering and congratulating her, the only thing she wanted was to something to eat.

“We were watching the game from the spectator gallery. After her win, we rushed to her to celebrate. Other players would have jumped with joy, but she was as calm as ever and no one would have said that she had just won a world championship. She didn’t even ask for anything.

She said that the title was more than anything.” says her father Shrikanth. ashish.phadnis@goldensparrow.com

Ace Indians to feature in KPIT ATP Challenger

47th minute when a free kick taken by skipper Malsawmtluanga was fl icked towards Omkar in the six-yard box who guided it towards Laldawngkima to slot the ball home for the lead.

Moments later, they strolled forward in search for another goal to take the game out of Clube Atletico Paranaense’s reach as attempts from Omkar and Seigoumang Doungle went wide off target.

The tournament, primarily an inter-school one, will have 46 teams including international participation vie for honours in the junior section.

The club is among the four club teams from India which participated in this league-cum-knock-out tournament.

Earlier in the fi rst match, DSK hold Afghanistan at the half time, but seven minutes after the resumption, DSK conceded a goal that resulted off a corner-kick. The delivery into the 6-yard box ended up getting deflected to the opponents’ striker just when ‘keeper Raja Hela seemed to have collected the ball. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

The $50000 tournament provides chance for Indians to gather points TGS NEWS SERVICES @TGSWeekly

Top Indian players and Indian Davis Cuppers Yuki Bhambri, Saketh Myneni, Ramkumar Ramnathan and Sumit Nagal will have the opportunity to redeem themselves and score important points to begin their season on a strong footing, at the MSLTA organised $50,000 KPIT ATP Challenger, which will be played at the Shiv Chhatrapati sports complex in Balewadi from October 22.

For the fi rst time ever the city will witness a combined event with a $10,000 ITF women championships being played simultaneously with the men’s event. The event will offer a total prize money Rs 33.50 lakh for men and Rs 6.50 lakh for women.

Top players and Davis Cuppers from 22 countries across the world including Evegeny Donskoy of Russia, James Ward of England and Duck Lee of Korea have sent in their entries.

“The tournament has provided a great opportunity for Indian players like Yuki, who won the event last year to pick up valuable points and break into the top 100. Many of our players like Saketh, Ramkumar also made ATP points. We hope this year too the event will help some Indian to break into the top 100 bracket,” said Kishor Patil, the president of the organising committee.

The men’s winner will get 80 ATP points while the runners-up will get 55 points. The semi-fi nalist will get 33 points, while the quarterfi nalist will receive 17 points.

Italian Camelo Di Dio will be the ATP supervisor for the event, while Nitin Kannamwar will be the chief referee of the event. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com

Yuki Bhambri

Roller-coaster ride for FC Pune City The team aims to gain maximum points from back-to-back home matches next week TGS NEWS SERVICES @TGSWeekly

Momar Ndoye (No 11) of FC Pune City in action during their game against FC Goa

FC Pune City fans are currently witnessing fluctuating performances from their team. After losing to Mumbai FC 0-1 in the opening game at home, the team raised hopes, when they edged out last year’s runner-up FC Goa in front of a 19,000-strong crowd at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda.

The fans were expecting a similar performance in the next home match, but despite their opponents North East United FC being reduced to ten men, the home team failed to capitalise on the situation, and ended up losing 0-1 in an action-packed thriller.

FC Pune City have three points from three matches after their second loss and rally at 5th position on the points table with Mumbai City in 2nd (7 points), ATK in 3rd place (5 points) and Delhi in 4th place (4 points).

The match against North East turned on

its head in the 36th minute when North East United defender Nirmal Chhetri was shown a straight red card for a lunge on Anibal Zurdo.

The sending off pegged back North East United but the visitors did well to hold fort at the change of ends despite repeated attacks from Jonatan Lucca and Mohamed Sissoko of Pune City. Pune knew they had the numerical advantage in the second session with North East United reduced to ten men.

They tried to attack in numbers but North East were defending well, allowing very little space to their rivals. The match then took another dramatic turn in the 72nd minute when the encounter saw a second red card, this time for Pune City. Eduardo Ferreira was adjudged to have fouled Romaric and the referee had no hesitation in booking the defender. It was his second yellow booking of the match and he had to be sent off.

North East United were now back in control of the match and were rewarded in the 79th

minute. Velez started it all with a fi ne run on the right and relayed the ball to Alfaro. The Uruguayan striker then passed the ball on the left to Yusa, whose shot from inside the box took a deflection and fell nicely for Alfaro again who put it across a diving Pune goalkeeper Edel Bete.

FC Pune City have now two back-to-back home matches, when they will take on weaker Kerala Blasters FC (Oct 17) followed by the defending champions but currently 6th placed Chennaiyin FC (Oct 23). After an away match against Delhi Dynamos on October 27, the team will again have two home matches.

Th is second home session will be a challenging one, as they will take on FC Goa (Nov 3), who will be eager to avenge the defeat.

Followed by FC Pune City will take on mighty Atletico de Kolkata on November 6. Pune will play their last home match on November 18, against Delhi Dynamos. tgs.feedback@goldensparrow.com