The NEWS you like - February 2019

T

EDITORIAL EDITORIAL

3

he first month of the new year, has been a mixed bag for the two Telugu states.

VOL:7 I SSUE:1 I FEBRUARY, 2019 `30 Editor A Rammohan Rao

Special Correspondent D. Bal Reddy Correspondents Mallesh Babu Mandha Ravi Kumar G.P. Nagaraju

Reporters M.Praveen Kumar, P Vishnuvardhan Reddy Photographers M Vijay S Sridhar, Shair Ali Baig Cover & Layout T. Srinivasa Rao

General Manager Mohd Nizamuddin

Chief Executive (Marketing) Venkata K Ganjam (GK) Chief - Business & LifeStyle K. Bharath Reddy Marketing Associate M. Akhil Raj Shaker

The News You Like Phone: 9701141377, 9848133363 E-mail: thenewscoordinator@gmail.com Website: thenews.co.in

Address for correspondance: #3-5-890, Flat No. 203, Paras Chambers, Beside Telangana Tourism Bldg, Himayatnagar, Hyderabad-500029. Phone: 98481 33363, 97011 41377. email: 24thenews@gmail.com thenewscoordinator@gmail.com Printed, Published And Owned By Ramya Sree , Printed At S.M.S. Press, H.No.11-38, Pragathi Nagar, P&T Colony, Saroor Nagar, Dist Ranga Reddy – 60, Published At The News Publications, H.No.334, B, Prajay Sai Gardens, Keesara Mandal, Dist - Ranga Reddy, Telangana

In Telangana, TRS has come back to power for the second time with thumping majority. So January has brought in changed attitudes, ended apprehensions. Country’s newest state has started a fresh journey with rare hope and expectation.

As usual Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, held him responsiblefor all problems faced by the state. Determining to build an anti-BJP alliance, Naidu attended the rally organised by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata and found many opposition party leaders with similar ideas and ambitions.

When it comes to governance both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments have been busy pursuing their flagship projects in irrigation, industries and infrastructure development sectors.

In Telangana, the government that had begun its journey as a revenue surplus state, is now turning every possible department into a revenue earning department to garner funds. The Traffic Police department is busy making money for the government by chasing poor two-wheeler drivers for ‘violations’ like not wearing helmet rather than regulating the traffic. So we can only expect more Sarkari extortion on Telangana state roads in coming days.

While the governments are fully immersed in garnering more money from the middle class through its machinery, land grabbers and scamsters, criminals in the cyber world are busy taking advantages of the opportunity. In some cases, law keepers meant to be the protectors, are themselves helping people involved in illegal activities.

One such case where land grabbers could get unequivocal support from officers of the registrationand revenue department apart from protection from policemen came to light in ‘The News’ investigation. The effort of our correspondents has to lead to timely exposure of the nefarious activities of these scamsters.

We at The News believe that truth and righteousness should prevail.

We sincerely trust that you, our ever supporting readers,would also like the same. It is this trust and support from our readers that drives us to probe further and present the facts to you.

Editor : A Rammohan Rao

Note: Focus/Infocus features are marketing initiatives, any legal disputes comes under the jurisdiction of courts in Hyderabad

(A Rammohan Rao) THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

4 CONTENTS

India follows Telangana on farmer schemes?

The drubbing of BJP in the recent assembly elections has shaken all political parties and incumbent governments, making them rethink their farmer policy.

6

Overall crime rate dips in TS Police aim for safer Telangana

Challenges before gentleman speaker

16

Telangana Police are taking advantage of modern technology and rolling out a novel outreach program to substantially improve security in the state.

22

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

31

Aadhaar a game changer Aadhaar, which has criticism and focal point for controversies has actually emerged as a game changer. Using Aadhaar in various welfare schemes has helped the government save around 90,000 crore Rupees until March 2018 by eliminating duplicate, nonexistent and fake beneficiaries.

CONTENTS

5

India lost 429 tigers in last decade, killed by poachers As many as 429 tigers have been poached and killed since 2008 across the country. Year-wise, the maximum killings took place in 2011 when 80 tigers were poached, while the minimum of 17 occurred in 2015.

97-year-old Kerala student made Commonwealth Learning's 37 Goodwill Ambassador She is 97-year-old. But first rank student. This extraordinary Kerala student has been made Commonwealth Learning's Goodwill Ambassador.

45

Gita Gopinath: IMF’s first female chief economist 62 54 EVM hacking charge: India won't go back to ballot papers

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

6 STATES

Rythu Bandhu:

India follows Telangana on farmer schemes?

T

THE NEWS BUREAU

he drubbing of BJP in the recent assembly elections has shaken all political parties and incumbent governments, making them rethink their farmer policy.

Chief Ministers of few states have realized that debacle in the five states to the Centre’s failure to protect the interests of the farmers.

Keeping this in view Chief Ministers of Karnataka, Jharkhand and West Bengal West Bengal, Andhra

Pradesh have launched welfare schemes similar to Rythu Bandhu(RBS) being implemented

by Telangana state government.

RBS has been implemented since May 2018 Chief Minister Odisha, Naveen Pataink has launched Rs 10,000 crore Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme recently.

While the BJD government refused to bite the farm loan waiver bait after Madhya Pradesh, Chhattis-

garh and Rajasthan governments made similar announcements with Congress taking over the reins of these states, stating that it would push Odisha towards bankruptcy but the cry for ‘price, prestige and pension’ continued to echo in its ears. To quell the ongoing and anger among the farming community, Naveen announced the KALIA scheme to support small and marginal farmers and landless labourers. Apart from the scheme, Naveen Pataink also launched the

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

STATES

official logo, website – www.kalia.co.in and a helpline number.

With an eye on the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced new two schemes for farmers and farm labourers. Beginning January 2019, every farmer in the state will get Rs 5,000 per acre every year in two instalments from the agriculture department. The Krisak Bandhu scheme will grant Rs 2 lakh to the kin of farmers who die due to any reason, including suicide. These are also quite similar to Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bhima, Telangana government’s flagship schemes.

However, while West Bengal seems to have been inspired by Telangana, it has not been able to match it in terms of monetary benefits extended to farmers. From 2019, Telangana will provide `10,000 per acre to farmers for two crops every year, double of what Bengal has announced. Even the insurance amount in Telangana, Rs 5 lakh, is more than double that Bengal’s Rs 2 lakh. “Our aim is to ensure that the farmer’s agenda implemented in Telangana is implemented across the country,” he had said.KCR had recently met with West Bengal Chief Minister

Mamata Banerjee and discussed the two programmes and their apparent benefits. It seems Bannerjee has warmed up to KCR’s suggestions.

Perhaps this is what Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had in mind when he had said, at a recent press conference, his Federal Front’s aim was not to unite regional parties but to implement a Telangana’s ‘farmer’s agenda’ in the country. Rythu Bandhu, or the Farmers’ Investment Support Scheme, is a welfare programme taken up by the Telangana government to support farmers’ investment for two crops a year. The government extended support of Rs 4,000 an acre per cropping season to farmers. The scheme was a huge success as 58.3 lakh farmers benefited from it. The government also announced to increase the amount

by Rs 1,000 to make it Rs 5,000 per acre.

Since April 2017, eight state governments have promised to waive farm loans of over a combined Rs 1,90,000 crore This is a staggering figure, and in many ways goes on to show the depth of the agrarian crisis. Millions of farmers are falling into the debt trap as a result of crashing prices for produce, low remuneration and

7

poor access to markets. And when farmers find no way to pay back loans to either private money lenders or local cooperative banks, they often commit suicide. So while farmers certainly need relief, time and again big-ticket farm loan waivers, whose benefits often don’t reach those most in need of it, have proven to be inefficient and a burden on the public exchequer. In these conditions, Rythu Bandhu came as an efficient alternative.

Apart from politicians the Bankers and economist are impressed by Rythu Bandhu scheme.

This scheme came in for praise from Syndicate Bank MD-CEO Mrutyunjay Mahapatra. He was of the opinion that Telangana is doing a good job with Rythu Bandhu. The scheme is great as the benefit is given depending the on the acres of cultivation. “There cannot be an endless process of debt waiver. In my view, rather than debt waiver, direct benefit transfer scheme to agriculturists is good,” said, Syndicate Bank MD-CEO referring to Telangana’s scheme. There were indications of the Central government too emulating Telangana’s Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bhima on a pan-India basis. The scheme was also lauded by NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand recently.

Even though it may be for political leverage, it helps the country that Indian farmers and the financial stress they have endured through the years is centre-stage today and politicians are desperately looking for ways to alleviate the grave reality. While PM Modi clarified that his government does not favour a farm-loan waiver, there is a high chance that he decides to roll out an unconditional direct income transfer (DIT) to allIndia farmers soon.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

8 THE NATION

Pranab Mukherjee is

‘Bharat Ratna’ 112 others conferred ‘Padam Awards’ A

THE NEWS BUREAU

fter a gap of four years this year, the Bharat Ratna was conferred. Former president Pranab Mukherjee, Bharatiya Jana Sangh leader Nanaji Deshmukh and legendary singer-composer Bhupen Hazarika posthumously were conferred the highest civilian award.

Last time in 2015 former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and founder of Banaras Hindu University Madan Mohan Malviya were given the award by the Narendra Modi government.

This year again another former president Pranab Mukherjee was conferred with the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award in India.

The award was also conferred on Bharatiya Jana Sangh leader Nanaji Deshmukh and legendary singercomposer Bhupen Hazarika posthumously. Mukherjee served as president between 2012 and 2017. Fondly known as ‘Pranab Da’, he has been a senior leader in the Congress. and had held several ministerial portfolios. He was also the finance minister from 20092012 under the prime ministership of Manmohan Singh. Having dabbled in politics in 1969, Mukherjee had worked closely with former PM Indira Gandhi, becoming one of her trusted lieutenants.

Deshmukh was a Sangh Parivar

veteran, founder member of the Janata Party and one of the seniormost members of the Bharatiya Janata Party. A social activist, Nanaji played an important role in carrying out social restructuring programme in over 500 villages of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. He passed away in 2010, in Chitrakoot, at the age of 93.

Hazarika was a singer and filmmaker, popularly known as Sudhakantha. He was born in Sadiya, Assam. Known for his flawless baritone and his trademark Nepali cap, he was respected nationwide, as a great balladeer and also came to be known as the ‘Bard of the Brahmaputra’. A poet and a lyricist, Hazarika also penned songs, which although written and sung in Assamese, have been known to have a universal appeal, stepped in themes of humanity and communal harmony.

Highest civilians awards were also conferred on hundred twelve people from various disciplines.

The awards were conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri The list, which was approved by President Ram Nath Kovind, comprises of four Padma Vibhushan, 14 Padma Bhushan and 94 Padma Shri awardees. Twentyone of the awardees are women, 11 persons are from the category of foreigners, there are three posthumous awardees and one transgender person. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the recipients. “Congratulations to all those who have been conferred the Padma Awards. India is proud of each and every awardee, for the rich contributions towards various fields. They have made our nation and the world a better place!” he said.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

10 STATES

Crime rate drops by 3.5%

SAFETY OF WOMEN STILL A CONCERN IN AP THE NEWS BUREAU

T

he Andhra Pradesh State has registered 3.5 per cent decrease in crime rate in the year 2018 when compared to the figures in 2017. According to the Annual Crime Statistics-2018, 1.19 lakh cases of cognizable crimes were reported in 2018 as against 1.23 lakh cases in 2017, an average drop of 3.49 per cent. However, cases of harassment against women, rape, cybercrimes and economic offences are on the rise. Thes statistics were released by the state’s Director General of Police (DGP) RP Thakur recently.

According to Annual Crime, Statistics-2018 AP state police succeeded in reducing property offences such as murder for gain, dacoities, robberies and burglaries.

The number of cases of property recovery and detection saw an increase of 10 per cent and 4 per cent respectively. The Railway police arrested a large number of interState gangs. After these arrests, the incidents of robbery have reduced.

However, the cases of economic offences have registered a sudden spike of 30 per cent with 942 cases in 2018 as against 729 cases in 2017.

Though there was an overall decrease of 4.23 per cent in crime against women, cases of harassment and rape increased despite

police launching various women safety initiatives. Incidents of cybercrimes increased by 25.67 per cent with 1,439 cases. As many as 609 POCSO Act cases were registered in 2018. As many as 323 people, including three minors, were rescued from trafficking gangs and 637 traffickers were arrested.

While East& West Godavari, Krishna(Vijayawada city) and Visakhapatnam (Vizag city) are the top four districts in road accidents, more people died in Guntur Rural, East Godavari and West Godavari in accidents. Expressing relief over the decrease in road accidents by 11.76 per cent and accidental deaths by 9.09 per cent, The AP

state DGP hailed the preventive measures taken by the State Road Safety Committee for the same.

He also said that AP stood among the top States in terms of maintaining Law and Order (L&O).

As 2019 would be a different year for the State police due to a large number of political meetings as part of the elections, AP state police are making special arrangements for monitoring the activities of all anti-social elements. Patrolling will be intensified and the new police vehicles will increase the mobility. In addition to the existing 5,000 CCTV cameras, another 14,000 cameras are going to be installed at all problematic locations.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

COVER STORY 11

The BJP’s trump card:

EWS Reservations UPPER CASTES

for

The BJP government has finally taken it’s trump card out. It could get the node of Parliament and approval of President for its strategic ‘10% reservations for the economically weaker sections.’ Opponents think otherwise. This historic helpful move by BJP government taking note discrimination, disadvantage faced by poorer sections of so-called ‘Upper Cast’ started facing criticism and propaganda Projecting as it’s against other weaker sections who are presently enjoying reservations.

T

D BAL REDDY

hough it gets the node from both the houses of Parliament some social activists,

associations and individuals are challenging the constitutional amendment allowing EWS reservations. Starting from country’s highest court to provincial high

courts series of petitions have been filed against quota to EWS. While these petitions are accepted for hearing and notices were issued to governments both central and state

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

12 COVER STORY

governments, especially the BJP ruled are getting ready to implement.

For months, there has been fervent speculation about what the Narendra Modi-led government would do to win back the political narrative in the run-up to the 2019 election. This assumed urgency for the party with the recent setbacks in the state polls in the Hindi heartland. In January, the government has introduced The Constitution (103 Amendment) Bill, 2019, which introduces a 10% reservation for economically weaker sections among the general category for jobs and educational institutions. The Congress and other opposition members said this was brought just keeping coming general elections in view. They questioned why the government did not think about this for four years and eight months and brought this just months before the model code of conduct coming into effect.

The quota is over and above the existing 50 per cent for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward Classes, taking the total reservation to 60 per cent. A constitutional amendment bill was required as the constitution does not provide for reservation on the ground of economic conditions. The immediate question was who all can avail the 10% quota? The criteria were set similar to that of non-creamy layer in Other Backward Caste (OBC) reservations. So people with an annual family income of less than Rs 8 lakh per annum are eligible.

The family may include the person seeking the benefit, his/ her parents and siblings below 18 years and also spouse and children, below 18 years. Those with less than five acres of farmland would also be

The quota is over and above the existing 50 per cent for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward Classes, taking the total reservation to 60 per cent. A constitutional amendment bill was required as the constitution does not provide for reservation on the ground of economic conditions. covered under the EWS quota.

Other criteria are having a house which is less than 1000 sq ft and a residential plot not exceeding 100 yards in a notified municipality. In case of a residential plot in a nonnotified municipality area, the residential plot should be below 200 yards.

Though Opposition parties including main opposition Congress dubbed it as “election gimmick”; finally the bill received the support of 323 lawmakers in Lok Sabha

and 165 in Rajya Sabha. Soon after passing in both the houses of parliament President Ram Nath Kovind has approved The Constitution (103 Amendment) Act, 2019.

The Centre has decide when the Act will come into force. Within three days of President’s approval, various states ruled by BJP started implementing the EWS reservations.

After two weeks of President’s approval, the central government has announced that the quota will

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

COVER STORY 13

caste vote, considered one of the three crucial pillars of the BJP’s support base. The other backward classes (OBC), and the new Dalit sub-castes who shifted loyalties are considered the other two pillars.

EWS reservations will primarily benefit upper-castes, and those from dominant agrarian communities who have been demanding reservations, like Kamma, Kapus, Patidars, Jats and Marathas. It would also help the NDA led by the BJP to consolidate its the upper caste vote, considered one of the three crucial pillars of the BJP’s support base. be implemented from 1st of February. According to an official order, all central government posts will be filled after factoring in the recently approved 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker sections (EWS). The Ministry of Personnel said that detailed instructions regarding the procedure for the implementation of the EWS quota will be issued separately. The income and assets of the families would be required to be certified by an officer not below the rank of

Tehsildar in States/Union territories, after carefully verifying all relevant documents following due process as prescribed by the respective State/UT, the order said.

EWS reservations will primarily benefit upper-castes, and those from dominant agrarian communities who have been demanding reservations, like Kamma, Kapus, Patidars, Jats and Marathas. It would also help the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the BJP to consolidate its the upper

Within days of President’s approval, BJP ruled states started implementing the EWS reservations.

It has begun with Prime Minister Modi’s home state, Gujarat. A day after President Ram Nath Kovind signed the Constitutional (Amendment) Act 2019, the chief minister of the stateVijay Rupani has announced that government will give 10% reservation to the economically weaker sections in general category of the community. “There will be 10% reservation for economically weaker sections in general category in all higher education admissions and government jobs from January 14,” he said. In 2016, a year after influential Patidars launched an agitation against the state government demanding OBC status, the BJP government had passed an ordinance for 10 per cent reservation to economically weaker sections in the general category. The ordinance was quashed by the Gujarat High Court as the Constitution that didn’t allow a quota above 50%. The Centre’s landmark amendment bill was almost on the lines of the Gujarat government ordinance, allowing the BJP to go back to its promise of reservation to the poor among upper castes. The Jharkhand followed Gujarat. The Jharkhand government announced the implementation of 10% reservation in government jobs and education for the economically weaker sections in the general category. Himachal Pradesh announced to bring it into force soon.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

14 COVER STORY

T

hey were discriminated at admission in educational institutions, job selections, sanctioning bank loans for starting business or industries so far.

Now after a long time a government wants to come to the rescue of them with a token step by announcing 10 per cent reservations there is hue and cry. When the union government has announced date the implementation of the 10% quota the judicial challenges for Economically Weaker Sections quota has begun. Cases are filled in the Supreme Court, The Madras High Court and Hyderabad high court.

The Supreme Court decided to examine the Centre's decision to grant 10 per cent reservation in jobs and education to poor candidates belonging to general category. A bench issued the notice to the central government on various petitions challenging the validity of the Constitution (103 Amendment) Act, 2019, which paved the way for grant of quota to poor belonging to general category.

"We are examining the matter and hence issuing notice returnable within four weeks," the bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjiv Khanna said. The bench, however, did not stay the operation of the Centre's decision granting quota to the poor in the general category. The petitions were filed by parties including organisations like Janhit Abhiyan and Youth For Equality challenging the Centre's decision.

The petition, filed by Youth For Equality, has sought the quashing of the bill saying that the economic criterion cannot be the sole basis for reservation.

A division bench of Telangana

High Court on also issued notices to the Centre and Telangana government to respond to the petition filed challenging the amendment made to the Constitution providing 10 per cent reservations to economically weaker sections (EWS) among the upper castes in the country. The bench comprising Chief Justice TBN Radhakrishnan and Justice A Rajasheker Reddy was admitting the petition filed by the Telangana State Backward Classes Welfare Association, represented by its president Jajula Srinivas Goud, seeking to suspend the Constitution (103 Amendment) Act, 2019 meant to

BATTLE IN THE COURTS provide 10 per cent reservations to economically weaker sections in education, employment sectors The Madras High Court has issued the notice to the Centre to reply before February 18 on a petition by the DMK challenging 10 per cent reservation in employment and education to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in general category. The petition was filed by RS Bharathi, Rajya Sabha MP and the DMK’s Organising Secretary. The DMK had voted against the legislation in the Rajya Sabha but, it was passed by both the Houses of Parliament. Its main political rival, the ruling AIADMK in Tamil

Nadu had also opposed it but walked out without voting. In his petition, Bharathi submitted that caste-based division and discrimination on the basis of Jati and Varna had scriptural basis including the Vedas.

After a preliminary hearing, a Division bench of Justices S Manikumar and Subramonium Prasad directed the Centre and the State Government to file their replies in writing before the next hearing. The Bench also sought clarification about “other communities” mentioned in the Constitution along with Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes. “Who could be the persons falling under the Other Communities? Who are they” the Judges asked.

“They are communities which do not figure in the reservation radar,” was the response of Additional Solicitor General (ASG) G Rajagopalan. But, the Bench did not seem satisfied and Justice Prasad asked whether there was any specific bar in the Constitution to extend quota purely on an economic basis. The Bench then directed the ASG to ensure that the Centre puts up all its objections in writing before the next hearing.

He also said that the legislation was foisted on the Lok Sabha and rushed through with such haste even without providing copies to the members well in advance. On January 12, President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the bill. A day later Gujarat became the first in the country to announce the implementation of the 10% quota. Two other BJP-ruled states, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh followed Gujarat within a few days.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

COVER STORY 15

But this is a political move which will give the BJP a major talking point in the Hindi heartland in particular. The government could face a test.

WHY EWS RESERVATIONS NOW?

It is first important to understand the context of the decision.

One big takeaway for the BJP from the electoral results, substantiated with the consistent feedback it has got from internal party channels and the media, is that its core voters, particularly upper castes are unhappy. They are upset with the government for restoring the stringent provisions of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act) despite the Supreme Court reading it down. They believe that with its pro-poor welfarist pitch, the government has, for the most part, forgotten its original voters from traditionally dominant communities and shifted its target group.

Lurking beneath this upper caste

resentment across north India is also the anger against reservations, which they believe has deprived the young people of their communities of both educational and employment opportunities. This perception, right or wrong, is widely held. The BJP had been in a fix. Its expansion into Dalit, backward and poor voters was central to its electoral success. It also could not do anything to dilute reservations for Dalits and OBCs would never forgive a party which takes away this benefit. And so the government has, true to the tendency of Indian politics to evolve new forms of identity mobilisation, decided to grant 10% additional reservations to the poorer sections among upper castes without undermining the ex-

isting framework of reservations.

Whether this is a real solution to underlying structural issues of Indian political economy of educational opportunities and jobs is open to question. Public employment is limited. The private sector does not have reservations. The goal has to expand the pie.

But this is a political move which will give the BJP a major talking point in the Hindi heartland in particular. The government could face a test. The Supreme Court has laid the bar for reservations at 50 per cent the current proposal will exceed the limit and thus could be legally challenged. The more important political test for the BJP is how, after this Act, it continues to maintain its multi-caste alliance. The ruling party, as in 2014, has to keep both its upper caste vote and retain the newer voters from subaltern communities to come back to power for the second time.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

16 POLITICS

Pocharam Srinivas Reddy:

B

Challenges before gentleman speaker

A.RAMMOHAN RAO

y accepting the Assembly speaker post senior and seasoned leader Pocharam Srinivas Reddy took the biggest risk of his career? Looking at his circumstances, his closeness with constituency and expectations of his loyal voters raises this question.

The Telangana Rashtra Samithy (TRS) leader from Nizamabad got elected as Assembly speaker unopposed in January third week. On the day he assumed the post-Srinivas Reddy said he would discharge his duties in an impartial manner giving equal opportunities to members from both treasury and Opposition benches. “With the cooperation of all the members, the House should become a role model for others,” he said.

Beyond congratulatory speeches, praises inside and outside the house as ‘an able leader, true farmer’ being elevated to the allpowerful post in Telangana state legislature lies two major challenges to Srinivas Reddy. Finding time for fulfilling the needs and demands of his constituency.

Running the house aggressive and divided opposition.

Pocharam Srinivas Reddy(69), the second speaker of the Telangana Legislative Assembly was born in Banswada of Nizamabad district. He has joined TRS party in March 2011. Before that, he was with TDP for 27 years. Srinivas

Reddy joined the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1984 from the Congress party. He has worked as a minister twice in TDP government.

In 1994, he contested for the first time in Banswada constituency as a TDP candidate and won with a majority of over 57,000 votes. He lost in 2004 and got elected against 2009. In support of the Telangana Movement, Srinivas Reddy joined TRS party in March 2011 and resigned from his MLA seat and TDP membership. He went on to contest that year's byelections and won with a margin of over 49,000 votes against INC candidate. He was made a Politburo member of the TRS in 2011.

In 2014 Telangana Assembly Election he was re-elected from Banswada Assembly constituency.

He was inducted into Cabinet on June 2, 2014, and made Agriculture Minister of Telangana. In Telan-

gana Legislative Assembly election, 2018, he was re-elected from Banswada Assembly constituency.

Subsequently, he was elected as the speaker of the state Legislative Assembly preceding S.Madhusudana Chary The election of their leader and former minister Srinivas Reddy as Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly has naturally brought cheers to the people of Banswada constituency in Nizamabad district.

The response of a large number of his supporters was happy and jubilant. However, some people in the constituency, including his loyal supporters, started worrying that Srinivas Reddy’s election as Speaker may become a hurdle in the ongoing development works in Banswada constituency area.

Many of them are sceptical whether the Srinivas Reddy as Speaker will have enough time and

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

the energy to concentrate on the development of constituency as he did in the past. He, who served as a cabinet minister in united Andhra Pradesh, was the agricultural minister in the TRS party’s first term very successful at the state level as a senior cabinet minister. At the same time nurtured his constituency with at most care. Over the years he has kept Banswada development on top of his priorities’ list.

Srinivas Reddy’s success formula, according to political observers, his supporters and conscious voters in Banswada is his positive attitude. For him, it doesn’t matter who are the ministers or who is in charge of affairs. He will not hesitate to approach them. He will do his best in seeking clearance for his proposals and getting the funds released for the same. By this, he was getting the development works sanctioned and implemented in Banswada. Srinivas Reddy was able to get several developmental works done in the constituency. They also credit Srinivas Reddy for the upgrading of Banswada constituency and town. With his initiative and unrelenting efforts, the government upgraded Banswada as a revenue division. The town was upgraded into a municipality. The town beautification and road development works are under progress.

When Contractors were not coming forward to take up 2BHK works at that time. He motivated a contractor to complete 54 houses in Banswada, which has now become another model constituency after Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s Gajwel. Even when the situation was not conducive, he managed to make the government understand the need and could get

POLITICS 17

water released from Nizam Sagar project to protect crop in the constituency.

With this background they are wondering what will happen to the pending development works in the constituency. The people’s demand for a new district with Banswada as the headquarters, for which Reddy has already initiated his efforts and has been receiving support even from the other parties. Their worry is as the Speaker, he may not have the scope to convene and conduct review meetings, which he was able to as a minister in the past. His day to day activities too may not allow him to concentrate on the issues related to the constituency. there are some positive thinkers who are able to see a silver lining. They say there is an advantage in Srinivas Reddy becoming the Speaker as both State and Central government departments will give top priority to the schemes. They are also hopeful that the TRS government will take care of all these issues and expedite the development works there as it is Speakers constituency.

The second Assembly of the re-

cently formed state Telangana is likely to witness many debates, discussions, bills to fulfil the expectations of the various sections of the state. The main opposition Congress-led Prajakutami which was unusually confident of coming to power in recent elections had serious set back by coming nowhere near of claiming to form the government. This has led to a lot of dissatisfaction among parties which were part of that alliance.

Among oppositions, AIMIM is a friendly party to TRS. BJP has a lone member in the house. On the whole, the opposition is divided.

On the other side, the ruling party has secured crushing majority in Assembly polls. With this situation may result in conflicts and heated debates and criticisms. Handing house in such situations is a not only very tough but very demanding job.

Earlier P.Ramachandra Reddy(was MLA Sangareddi constituency), a stalwart among Congress legislators, highly respected and as peacemaker use to help speakers in Assembly. But when he became speaker he has faced very tough times. Srinivas Reddy being gentlemen and having friendly relations across party line will definitely an advantage. But it self may not be enough to deal with. The discipline in the ruling party, they not getting provoked by criticism which may come opposition and their unwavering support from legislators both from the opposition and ruling party who are keen to use valuable time of the house on agenda of public interest can only be a great assistance to the speaker.

Given that Srinivas Reddy can hope to go into the history of Telangana Assembly as the most successful speaker.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

18 POLITICS

‘Dirtiest’ politics:

KCR and Chandrababu trade abuses & allegations

T

THE NEWS BUREAU

elangana Assembly elections are completed and a new government formed. There are at least four months to go for Parliament and Andhra Pradesh state Assembly elections. But the political atmosphere at Chief Ministers level has started getting heated up. The CMs of the Telugu states K.Chandrashekar Rao and N.Chandrababu Naidu begun accuses, allegations and abusing each other.

This has initiated by the Telangana Chief Minister KCR calling his counterpart in AP Chandrababu Naidu, the ‘dirtiest’ politician in the country. “TDP will not come to power in Andhra Pradesh in the next elections,” claimed Telangana Chief Minister. Speaking at a press conference, the TRS chief launched a tirade against AP Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party. “Naidu, be ready for your return gift. Your defeat in the AP Assembly elections is certain,” said KCR, indicating ‘payback’ for Naidu’s participation in the recent Assembly elections in Telangana.

The Telangana Chief Minister spoke about his recent visit to Visakhapatnam and claimed that he was welcomed grandly there. “The people of AP are happy that TRS has crushed TDP in Telangana,” he said. KCR peppered his talk with

an assortment of attacks against AP Chief Minister “He (Chandrababu Naidu) is the dirtiest politician in the country. He is a liar,” he said.

Chandrababu hits back at KCR In response to KCR targeting him, AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu also launched a scathing attack on Telangana Chief Minister for "conspiring" against Andhra Pradesh with the objective of stalling its growth. "Both Modi

and KCR do not want AP to develop. So they want to destabilise me. Here (YSR Congress president) Jagan wants to get into power. So he is taking their support. If it is not a conspiracy, what's it?" Chandrababu asked. He accused Modi as a ‘blackmailer’.

Modi gets cases foisted (against someone) and later bails him out.

He then blackmails that person.

That's what he's doing alleged AP

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

chief minister. He also took a strong exception to the "language" used by KCR against him."Decency is important in politics. Is it the kind of language a person occupying the CM's position should be used against his counterpart? He is talking in an uncivilised tone," Chandrababu lamented.

Claiming the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director himself had said that Modi got a case filed against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, Chandrababu alleged that Modi also bailed out KCR in a corruption case related to ESI Corporation. He also said that KCR fears that his "hollowness" would be exposed if Andhra Pradesh gets developed.

"Both Modi and KCR do not want AP to develop. So they want to destabilise me. Here YSR Congress president Jagan wants to win. So he is taking their support." Chandrababu reasoned.

"The prime minister also fears that he will get exposed because he didn't do anything in the last five years. So, he is getting me abused

by KCR," the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief alleged. The chief minister asserted that Andhra Pradesh would definitely develop "if not today, tomorrow"."Definitely, we will create wealth. We have a vision and we will work hard. But Modi and KCR don't like wealth creation," he added. On KCR offer to write a letter to the prime minister seeking a grant of special category status to Andhra Pradesh, Naidu said it was a strategy. "Maybe he is preparing ground along with Jagan to come and work here. All of them want to finish off Chandrababu Naidu. This is what politics is," he said.

Meanwhile, Telangana Telugu

POLITICS 19

Desam Party (TDP) leaders came out condemn KCR comments. TDP Telangana unit chief L Ramana and senior leader in the party and Ravula Chandrasekhar Reddy have condemned Telangana Chief Minister's tirade against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, National President of their party Chandrababu Naidu. "KCR is targeting Naidu for no reason. People of Telangana would teach a lesson to the TRS (Telangana Rashtra Samithi) in the next year's Parlia-

mentary elections," the TDP leaders said.

Calling his Andhra Pradesh counterpart "dirtiest politician in the country", KCR had said that Chandrababu lacked consistency as he was part of the NDA once but criticised it after pulling out of the BJP-led coalition. Telangana BJP chief K Laxman also accused chief minister Rao on Sunday of bringing down the stature of his post by his comments against leaders of opposition parties

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

20 THE NATION

Railways plans to seal stations

R

THE NEWS BUREAU

ail passengers may soon have to report early at railway stations because their entry will be monitored, like at airports, and random frisking will be carried out before they board the train. Railways are planning to seal stations just like airports and passengers would have to arrive 15-20 minutes before the scheduled departure of trains to complete the process of security checks.

Railways are planning to seal stations just like airports and passengers would have to arrive 15-20 minutes before the scheduled departure of trains to complete the process of security checks. The security plan - with high-end technology - has already been put in motion at Allahabad, as part of preparations for the Kumbh Mela which has begun this month and at Hoobly railway station in Karnataka with a blueprint for 204 more stations ready for implementation.

The plan is to seal the railway stations. It is primarily about identifying openings and to determine how many can be closed. There are areas which will be closed through

permanent boundary walls, others will be manned by RPF personnel and yet others will have collapsible gates. At each entry point, there will be random security checks.

However, unlike at airports, passengers need not come hours in advance, but just 15-20 minutes ahead of their departure times to ensure that they are not delayed because of the security process.

While security will increase, the presence of security personnel will not. "If we are investing in technology, then manpower requirement will reduce," said the director general of the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Arun Kumar.

These steps are a part of a security plan under the Integrated Security System (ISS) which was approved in 2016 to strengthen surveillance mechanism at 202 railway stations. The ISS will comprise CCTV cameras, access control, personal and baggage screening system and bomb detection and disposal system which together provide multiple checking of passengers and baggage from the point of entry in the station premises till boarding of the train. The anticipated cost of the ISS project stands at Rs 385.06

crore. The security plan envisages a layered security check where passengers will be scrutinised even before they enter the station premises to ease the pressure at stations during peak hours. It will also include real-time face recognition software which will alert the RPF command centre of any known offenders. Passengers will be checked randomly - every eighth or ninth passenger will undergo the process on his arrival at the station.

Stations to be upgraded to airport-like standard: The Railways has prepared a blueprint for 204 stations which will be upgraded. As per Railway Board's directive, the selected stations should have a concourse hall, circulating area, waiting room, platform, reservation office, enquiry office, foot-over-bridge, parking, escalators, lifts and better lighting. Railways are working towards railway station upgrade.

There are reports that around eleven railway stations under the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) will be upgraded to airport-like standard soon.

The 11 stations include five in Assam. The upgradation is part of the Indian Railway's Rs 1 lakh crore station redevelopment programme.

As per the directives of Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, the Railways is set to improve illumination levels at the selected railway stations and upgrade them up to airport-like standards. These 11 railways stations will soon have airport-like facilities: Guwahati, Kamakhya, Lumding, New Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Katihar, Purnea, Kishanganj, Barsoi, Dimapur, Agartala

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

22 STATES

Overall crime rate dips in TS Police aim for safer Telangana

T

THE NEW BUREAU

elangana Police are taking advantage of modern technology and rolling out a novel outreach program to substantially improve security in the state. As the year 2018 saw a reduced overall crime rate by a margin of five per cent while Heinous crimes are up in Telangana state police is taking new initiative for further improvement and better results. This was revealed by Director General of Police (DGP) M Mahender Reddy recently. “We will build a safer Telangana with the assistance of the public,� he said.

There were big dips in crimes during 2018 according to DGP. Several crime heads saw a fall across the State -- murders were reduced by 4 per cent, property crime by 8 per cent, chain snatching by 43 per cent, a crime against women by 7 per cent, cybercrime offences by three per cent, white collar offences by 2 per cent. As far as convictions are concerned, the life convictions have gone up by 11 per cent in the state. During the 2018 year, 1,02,307 cases were reported as against 1,07,428 cases reported in 2017. Overall property offences have been reduced by 8 per cent and murder for gain cases have gone up by 5 per cent in 2018.

Murder cases have come down by 4 per cent.

After as many as 81 cases registered in the year 2017, the DGP said on Sunday in a that the State

police conducted all major festivals with an additional burden of the Assembly elections without a single untoward incident. Not a single case of communal violence was reported during the Ganesh, Ramzan and other major festivals in the city and State in the current, he said. At the same time bodily offences such as homicides gone up by five per cent, riotings by 17 per cent. Crime against SCs, STs, however, saw an increase. 35

murders, 13 rapes and 12 cases of miscreants hurting members of the SC/ST community were reported in the State.

The DGP credited the court constables and public prosecutors for the increased conviction rate.

Besides, as many as 385 notorious offenders were detained under the PD Act in 2018 compared to 162 and 348 in 2017 and 2016 respectively. All 710 law and order police stations in the state and national

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

and state highways have been provided mobile patrol vehicle and motorbikes for visible policing that also helped in preventing many crimes. The Telangana police have opted cutting-edge technology such as TS COP, ePetty case, COP connect, Facial Recognition system, eChallan in dealing with regular reporting cases. The cybercrime units will be set up in all district headquarters equipped with facial recognition system in handling cyber-related cases. The state fingerprint bureau has as many as 8,24,010 fingerprints in its database. “Opting such technology initiatives not only helped control the crime rate but also bagged national awards for the State police,” Mahender Reddy said.

Reaching out: Now Telangana Police are rolling out a novel outreach program promoting regular meetings with citizens across the State as part of their community policing initiative undertaken to have a better understanding of pressing concerns of the public.

The initiative will be spearheaded

by DGP himself and he said the idea came from calls received on police emergency number ‘Dial100’ regarding a range of nonpolicing issues as well.

The State police have received over 6.12 lakh calls through ‘Dial100’ in 2018. The calls were on a plethora of issues including accidents, road maintenance, electionsrelated issues (from October to December), suicides and property offences among other concerns, noted officials. The DGP said the initiative’s focus would be on improving policing for citizens by using technology. He added that people would be central to all

policy initiatives. The police department will employee 714 personnel to make the project a success.

Women’s safety a key achievement: The crimes against women have dropped considerably in 2018. This was due to the efforts of SHE Teams, the special wing of Telangana police. SHE Teams and Bharosa, during the year that just passed by the division, received a total of 8,281 complaints from women on various issues and succeeded in solving the majority of the cases. SHE Teams’ efficiency not only led to solving to several

cases but also led to a drop in crime rate against women.

The percentage of minors indulged in misbehaving in the twin cities has dropped from 26 per cent in 2014-15 to 12 per cent in 201819. During the 2018 year, SHE Teams registered a total 771 FIRs, petty cases -- 1,351, counselled and monitored -- 3,379 miscreants, police warned and let off at least -3,077 miscreants. There is a gradual reduction in juvenile delinquency as a result of the awareness campaign as well as the counselling sessions organised for the minors and their parents with the help of professional psychologists.” Said Swati Lakra, the Inspector General (Law and Order) and Head of State In-Charge of

STATES 23

Women Safety wing.

During the year 2018, the SHE Teams received 2,709 direct complaints, 2,825 on WhatsApp, 2,270

by Dial 100, 351 by emails, 100 on Hawk-Eye and 26 on Facebook.

Different kinds of cases were registered and investigated into right from IPC, IT Act, Nirbhaya Act to petty cases. PD Act proceedings were also initiated against the repeat offenders. Minors were counselled in the presence of their parents.

SHE Team is a very well structured and organized unit. Each of the Team is headed by a Sub-Inspector of Police and consists of an Assistant Sub-Inspector or Head Constable, a lady constable and two to three male constables. Every unit of ‘SHE’ Team is headed and supervised by a Deputy Superintendent of Police rank officer. The SHE Teams main objective is to catch culprits red-handed, with its personnel recording the offence and acting on complaints received through WhatsApp and certain social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, mobile app Hawk-Eye, emails, India Post and direct walk-ins into the SHE Teams office.

SHE Teams have also been successfully conducting decoy operations to catching eve teasers. To conduct decoy operations and in order to ensure a citizen and community friendly interaction, the SHE Team personnel will be in a civil dress. Apart from nabbing the people who harass women with video evidence and punishing them with relevant cases, awareness programs are also conducted in order to make people aware of how to approach the teams in case of any problem.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

24 STATES

Conspiracy angle to continue:

NIA files charge sheet in Jagan attack case

T

THE NEWS BUREAU

he conspiracy angle to National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe on on knife attack on YSR Congress Party chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy would continue.NIA made it clear while filling a charge sheet in the case relating to the October 25 knife attack at the Visakhapatnam airport. The investigating agency filed the charge sheet against the accused J Srinivas Rao in the NIA court in Vijayawada. It also submitted to the court a 22-page letter written by the accused to his friends.

The Centre took the decision to hand over the case to NIA on December 31. The investigating agency on January 1 registered a case. The First Information Report (FIR) was registered on a complaint by an officer of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).NIA officials had last week completed the interrogation of the accused, who had attacked the Leader of Opposition in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly. Jagan, as the YSRCP leader is popularly known, was injured when Srinivas, a worker at the airport canteen, attacked him with a cockfight knife as the YSRCP chief was waiting to board a flight to Hyderabad. Jagan, who sustained a bleeding cut on his left upper arm, continued his journey and got admitted at a hospital in Hyderabad

Jagan, who sustained a cut on his left upper arm, continued his journey and got admitted to a hospital in Hyderabad. After the attack, leaders of the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) termed it as a ploy of YSRCP to gain public sympathy.

Jagan had refused to record his statement before the Andhra Pradesh Police said he had no trust in agencies controlled by the state government.YSRCP leaders had

approached the Hyderabad High Court seeking a probe into the attack by a central agency. On the directions of the Union Home Ministry, the NIA booked a case on January 1 and took up the investigation The Andhra Pradesh High Court dismissed a plea by the state government that sought directions to cancel the ongoing probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the knife attack on YSRCP chief at Visakhapatnam airport. Asking the NIA to furnish all documents related to the investigation, the court also ordered the Centre to file a counter by January 30 and struck down the Andhra government's plea. This came as a major blow to the ruling Telugu

Desam Party (TDP) in the state, which has been protesting against the Centre's decision to transfer the case to the NIA, from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the state police. The NIA filed a petition in a special court in Vijayawada, alleging non-cooperation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Andhra Pradesh police which had first looked into the case. The NIA asked the court to direct the police to share all the records and documents that the national agency had asked for.

Earlier Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing his displeasure over the Centre's move. “I am constrained to express my concern at the manner in which the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India issued orders directing the investigation by NIA in connection with the attack of Jaganmohan. Home Ministry entrusted the investigation to the NIA without dealing with the objections furnished by the state government in this regard,” Naidu said in his letter.

The agency filed the charge sheet within a month after taking over the probe from Andhra Pradesh police on the direction of the Union Home Ministry The NIA court directed its staff not to reveal the charge sheet or the letter to anyone till further orders.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

26 CRIME

#ME TOO LIKE CASE

Casting director gets life term A

THE NEWS BUREAU

rebellion #MeToo kicked off in India due to which, victims from various streams, including glamour industry came forward and shard their horror. In a similar case, an aspiring actress filed a case against a casting director and accused him of harassing and raping her. A sessions court in Mumbai recently sentenced that casting director to life imprisonment for harassing and raping a 23year-old actor-model. The man also took inappropriate photos of her and sent them to her husband and employer. After seeing the photos the woman's husband abandoned her and their newborn child. Apart from life imprisonment, the court has imposed a fine of Rs 1.31 lakh, and the accused casting director, Ravindranath Ghosh has to pay Rs 1 lakh to the survivor as compensation.

While working at a hospital, in 2011she met the accused. He introduced himself as a cameraman and casting director and said he is producing a television series. After she expressed her interest in acting, Ghosh promised to help her. Later that month, he referred her to a TV show audition and promised her a job in exchange for sexual favours.

The woman began ignoring his calls. When she responded after two weeks, he asked her to meet him at Madh Island. In February 2012, she met him at a lodge in Madh Island where he raped her

and took photos of her. He coerced her into maintaining sexual relations with him and threatened to send the photos to her husband if she refused. According to her complaint, Ghosh continued to rape her till March 2012.

To avoid Ghosh, she changed her job but he continued to show up at her workplace. She briefly moved to Saputara but returned to Mumbai in December 2012. By then, she was pregnant. The accused then showed up at her house and demanded Rs 1 lakh for ending their relationship, which she agreed to pay after giving birth. In 2013, she changed her phone number. Ghosh then sent nude photos of her to her husband and also to her employer. The woman’s husband, who works in Saputara in

Nashik, left her and their newborn baby upon receiving the photos.

In December that year, she filed a complaint and Ghosh was arrested. However, she claimed that he continued sending threatening letters from prison. Though the defence counsel argued the relationship was consensual, Judge AD Deo noted that consent given under fear of injury or misconception of fact is not consent.

There seems to be no end to the horror stories that continue to spill out. Though MeToo movement took India by storm in October, and various powerful men from different fields were pulled up by women, for sexually harassing them and misconduct. Yet, no one is punished for the heinous crime he has committed.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

28 FACT FILE

Empty liquor bottle speaks up

HELPS COPS SOLVE MURDER MYSTERY

P VISHNUVARDHAN REDDY

An empty liquor bottle helped the Choutuppal police solve a death mystery, which eventually turned out to be a homicide.

On May 31, 2018, Choutuppal police received a complaint from the village revenue assistant of Ankireddygudem village of Choutuppal mandal stating that the villagers have found the body of an unidentified man in bushes on the outskirts of the village. It appears some unidentified persons slit the man’s throat leaving him dead, the VRA informed police.

The then Inspector of Police, A Venkataiah, registered a case and launched investigations. At the

time of visiting the scene of offense, the police officer found an empty liquor bottle with barcode No. 008842843 and collected information from the Prohibition and Excise department that Sri Mayuri Wines of Lakdikapul in Hyderabad sold the liquor bottle.

Accordingly, the Inspector enquired with the staff at Mayuri Wines and carefully watched the CCTV footage recorded by the CCTV cameras installed at the shop. The inspector noticed the victim along with another person came to the liquor shop on May 29, 2018 and purchased the liquor bottle and the young man accompanying the victim paid the money.

Immediately, police collected

the CCTV footage and collected cellular phone tower dump from the service providers for all the cellular towers between Lakdikapul to Ankireddygudem for the days May 29 and 30. An analysis of the tower dump helped the cops identified 54 common numbers. Subsequently, cops collected call data records of the 54 common numbers, analysed them thoroughly, and zeroed in on a suspected number, which was found not in use after the evening hours of May 29. Police also found another accompanying the suspected number and return to Hyderabad in the evening on May 29.

Police found one Moulali of Beeramguda village in Sangareddy received the last call from the sus-

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

pected number. Accordingly, police reached Beeramguda and met Moulali. He identified the victim from the photographs as Panchal Sachin, aged 23 years of Humnabad and Sachin’s brotherin-law Kammari Veeranna placed him at work. The investigation picked up pace ones police identified the victim.

Veeranna identified the unidentified young man accompanying Sachin at the liquor shop as Ghouse. Veeranna’s wife Sujana, who is none other than Sachin’s sister, informed the police about the enmity between the victim and Ghouse. She told police that Ghouse bore grudge against Sachin as the latter was against the love affair between his stepsister and Ghouse.

At this point of time, police thought Ghouse must have killed Sachin. However, police had a surprise in store when police laid their hands on Ghouse on July 21, 2018.

After his arrest, Ghouse revealed to his interrogators that he killed Sachin with the approval of the victim’s stepmother Prameela aka Jagadevi.

Ghouse told police that he is the neighbor of Sachin in Humnabad.

He fell in love with Sachin’s stepsister and wanted to marry her. But Sachin was against this and warned Ghouse not to pursue his sister.

Since then Ghouse bore grudge against Sachin. Ghouse came to know that Sachin’s stepmother also bore grudge against him, as Sachin wanted a share in the house gifted to her by his father.

Accordingly, Ghouse lured Sachin’s stepmother with the idea of eliminating him and got her approval for the same. Since then he has been in touch with Sachin’s stepmother and stepsister over

FACT FILE 29

phone and secret visits to their place. Prameela informed Ghouse that Sachin was working as carpenter at Beeramguda and it would be better to kill him in and around Hyderabad.

Ghouse then began his executing his plan. He called up Sachin over phone and spoke to him sweetly, invited him for drinks. A liquor addict, Sachin instantly accepted the invitation and began drinking along with Ghouse regularly.

On the fateful day on May 29, 2018, Ghouse took Sachin to the outskirts of Ankireddygudem village on a motor cycle and consumed liquor in the bushes. Ghouse served large pegs to Sachin while he himself had little quantity. An unsuspecting Sachin went on gulping liquor and went into a fully

inebriated state. It was then Ghouse slit Sachin’s throat with the knife killing him on the spot. He then informed Prameela over phone about the successful execution of the plan.

Then Ghouse cleaned himself and collected victim’s wallet and mobile and threw them in Musi River near Puranapul on the instructions of Prameela. Later, Gouse sold his mobile phone to unknown person and abandoned his SIM card with an intension to cause disappearance of evidence.

However, Ghouse could not escape the long arm of the police and eventually landed in prison.

Based on the information and technical evidence, police arrested Sachin’s stepmother Prameela for her involvement in the heinous crime and sent her to prison.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

30 STATES

ARAKU BROCCOLI

Vizag agency farmers new ‘magic wand’ V

THE NEWS BUREAU

izag Agency has done it again.

After strawberries, Vizag Agency farmers now hit big with broccoli. They are creating increasingly and successful in experimenting with the cultivation of exotic vegetables and fruits, which require very cold climatic conditions to grow. Dumbriguda, Araku, GK Veedhi, Hukumpeta and Chintapalle in Vizag Agency, which has been experimenting with the cultivation of exotic veggies and fruits have now got good results. Among the crops that have rewarded them is broccoli, which needs a cool environment and the temperature should be below 30 degree Celsius and water should not stagnate in the fields. As only some areas are suitable, the tribal farmers are experimenting with the exotic vegetables in those places.

Like the famous strawberries of Lambasingi, now Araku broccoli,

cultivated by the local tribals, is in great demand. Though the farmers have been growing broccoli for the past two to three years, this year due to favourable climatic conditions they have earned more by selling the crop. The tribal farmers are very happy as that they had got good yield this year when compared to last year. This season, around 500 kg of the vegetable is being sent to the Rythu bazaars once a week and that is sold in the span of just two to three days. In the Agency broccoli is grown from October to February. An acre yields four to five tonne of broccoli, in a season. This year the cultivated area has increased to 200 acres. Broccoli has been cultivated on more acres, as there has been more demand for the vegetable and the farmers have got very good results.

While a kg of broccoli is sold for Rs 60 in the Rythu bazaars, the price zooms to the range of Rs 130 to Rs 180 per kg in retail and hyper-

markets. Rythu Bazars get broccoli from the Agency on Fridays and sell for two to three days. The locally cultivated, healthy vegetable and its price are attracting people.

Further, not many farmers cultivate broccoli as land and climate are not suitable (everywhere in the Agency). Every week, two batches of farmers reap the vegetable.

Besides, they are experimenting with growing red cabbage, Brussel’s sprout, lettuce and Chinese cabbage.

According to the agricultural scientists, the Agency is good for cultivating some highly nutritious vegetables, but the farmers often do not get a proper price. Lettuce has good export potential, but it is not cultivated widely, As present cultivators have got a good crop of broccoli this year and have made profitable business more and more tribal farmers getting interested in cultivating broccoli in the Agency areas.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

THE NATION 31

Aadhaar a game changer A

THE NEWS BUREAU

adhaar, which has criticism and focal point for controversies has actually emerged as a game changer. Using Aadhaar in various welfare schemes has helped the government save around 90,000 crore Rupees until March 2018 by eliminating duplicate, nonexistent and fake beneficiaries.

Even The Digital Dividend Report prepared by the World Bank estimates that India can save 77,000 crore Rupees every year by the use of Aadhaar. The savings through Aadhaar can fund three schemes of the size of Ayushman Bharat according to union government.

The government wants to lay the ground for allowing Aadhaar to be used by private entities for identity checks despite a Supreme Court ruling in September that Aadhaar can only be used for welfare schemes and for delivering state subsidies. It had barred private companies from using Aadhaar data for authenticating customers and linking it with bank accounts or mobile phone numbers.

In the last 28 months, over 1.22 billion Aadhaar numbers have been issued. Nearly 99% of the adult population of India above the age of 18 stands covered.

2,579 crore authentications have been undertaken to date. Every day, 2.7 crore authentications are done. Bank accounts numbering 63.52 crores had been linked with the unique identity as on 15 De-

cember 2018, under the direct benefit transfer scheme. The total number of subsidy transactions through Aadhaar is almost about 425 crores. The total amount of subsidy transferred through Aadhaar now equals 169,868 crores Rupees. This is a unique technology implemented only in India Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identification number that can be obtained by residents of our country, based on their biometric and demographic data. The data is collected by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), a statutory authority established in January 2009 by the government of India, under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, following the provisions of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, benefits and services) Act, 2016.

Aadhaar is the world's largest biometric ID system. World Bank Chief EconomistPaul Romer described Aadhaar as "the most sophisticated ID programme in the

world". Considered a proof of residence and not a proof of citizenship, Aadhaar does not itself grant any rights to domicile in India.

Aadhaar is the subject of several rulings by the Supreme Court of India. On 23 September 2013, the Supreme Court issued an interim order saying that "no person should suffer for not getting Aadhaar", adding that the government cannot deny a service to a resident who does not possess Aadhaar, as it is voluntary and not mandatory. The court also limited the scope of the program and reaffirmed the voluntary nature of the identification number in other rulings. On 24 August 2017, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark verdict affirming the right to privacy as a fundamental right, overruling previous judgments on the issue. A five-judge constitutional bench of the Supreme Court is hearing various cases relating to the validity of Aadhaar on various grounds including privacy, surveillance, and exclusion from welfare benefits. On 9 January 2017, the five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court reserved its judgement on the interim relief sought by petitions to extend the deadline making Aadhaar mandatory for everything from bank accounts to mobile services. The court said that the final hearing for the extension of Aadhaar Linking Deadlines will start on 17 January 2018.

In September 2018,

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

32 THE NATION

130 123 121

45 56 51

CRORE

the top court upheld the validity of the Aadhaar system. In the September 2018 judgment, the Supreme Court nevertheless stipulated that the Aadhaar card is not mandatory for opening bank accounts, getting a mobile number, or being admitted to a school. Some civil liberty groups such as the Citizens Forum for Civil Liberties and the Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF) have also opposed the project over privacy concerns.

According to the government, the apex court upheld the whole concept of unique identity and rejected the challenge that it violated the Right to Privacy. “It held that Aadhaar meets the concept of constitutional trust, limited government and good governance and empowers marginalized sections of society. It also introduced several safeguards to ensure that it is not misused. The judgement of the Supreme Court added balance to the concept of Aadhaar.

With this background, the Lok

PER CENT

digital payment transactions in 2017-18

MOBILE PHONES

CRORE

2,070

CRORE

AADHAAR CARDS

CRORE

SMARTPHONES. INTERNET USERS

ECONOMIC GROWTH

Sabha in January has passed a bill to amend three laws to enable voluntary linkage of Aadhaar with mobile phone numbers and bank accounts. The bill seeking to amend the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, was introduced in Parliament on 2 January.

The draft Aadhaar amendment bill puts the onus on offline verification of Aadhaar number holders where the individual will be verified through QR codes without submission of biometric or demographic information to data servers of the Unique Identification Authority of India. “Offline verification means the process of verifying the identity of the Aadhaar number holder without authentication through such offline modes as may be specified by regulation,” according to the amendment bill. The Lok Sabha passed the bill despite concerns

RS.

CRORE

INDIAN POPULATION

CRORE

Latest digital profile of India

raised by the opposition.

Aadhaar-Driving Licence Linking to be Made Mandatory Meanwhile, the Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the government will soon make it mandatory for linking Aadhaar with driving licences. “We are soon going to bring a law which will make it mandatory to link Aadhaar with driving licence,” said Prasad while delivering his presidential address at the 106th Indian Science Congress at Lovely Professional University. “At present, what happens is that the guilty person who causes an accident flees the scene and gets a duplicate licence.

This helps him go scot-free.

However, with the Aadhaar linkage, you can change your name but you can change your biometrics, neither iris nor fingerprints. So the moment you go in for a duplicate licence, the system will say this person already has a driving licence and should not be given a new one,” he added.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

FOR THE PEOPLE 33

D. BAL REDDY

F

Is Congress on the way of learning lesions?

riendship came to the end.

Short-lived comradery of Telugu Desam Party(TDP) – Congress has reached its conclusion within five months. The Congress party in Andhra Pradesh has decided to go alone in the ensuing simultaneous elections to the State Assembly and Lok Sabha. Congress in Telangana is likely to follow. Congress had decided to contest all 175 Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats. In Telangana Congress leaders are desperately searching for safe constituencies among total 17 seats to contest as a Congress leader said “on our own.”

TDP and Congress Parties which came together taking along TJS, CPI formed ‘Praja kutami’ in Telangana and contested assembly elections held in December last.

During the election campaign, both the parties have given an impression to people their’s is well thought out friendship and the alliance they led will not only remain but can extend to general elections to be held to Lok Sabha along with Andhra Pradesh state Assembly polls. It was projected by a section of media as Prajakutmai has gained significantly and most likely to win. But in end, the fight did become almost a one-way

affair, only because a large section of voters saw it as an alliance that is downright opportunistic, dishonest and, to use a cliché of the season, unholy.

The idea of Naidu, whose TDP had been founded in 1982 to fight Congress, allying with that very same party didn’t go down with people. They also saw Congress leaders as no more than crocodiles who shed tears to lament TRS government alleged non-performance.

The campaign of Congress that it was the UPA 2 government led by it which had met the demand for the formation of separate Telangana

state out of Andhra Pradesh in 2014 worked even less than it did in the last election. Finally, their alliance has lost miserably in elections.

Oommen Chandy, the Congress party's central leader in-charge of party affairs in Andhra has revealed Congress has decided to go solo in coming elections. The decision would mean that there will be no Grand Alliance of Congress and TDP in Andhra Pradesh. Congress has not yet conveyed the decision to TDP national president Chandrababu Naidu. TDP, which is the ruling party in Andhra Pradesh, was also ambiguous on whether it

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

34 FOR THE PEOPLE

would contest the coming elections in the State in alliance with the Congress party.

The Congress party also decided to form all committees including election committee. "We have to nominate seven committees. We will give a list of members to AICC this week itself," said former Kerala Chief Minister during his visit to AP during last week of January.

In 2014 Congress had drawn a blank in both Assembly and Lok Sabha polls in AP. But Congress party believes that the situation had now changed and people of Andhra Pradesh have full faith in Congress President Rahul Gandhi's promise to give special category status to the State. With this faith, the party is organizing Assembly level Congress conveners meeting to discuss and finalise everything related to elections. How many seats Congress would win in AP? "I cannot say. People will decide," was rightly AICC in-charge of party affairs in AP’s answer.

Can Congress stay with TDP in Telangana? It looks highly unlikely for obvious reasons. With crushing defeat in recent Assembly elections in Telangana Congress continuation with TDP is doubtful. Many senior party leaders are also of the opinion that allegations of over dependency on high command and Chandrababu’s interference have worked against Prajakutami. They say many within party believe the alliance with the TDP did more harm than good. Some of them said to have cautioned against forging an alliance with the TDP. They explained that the people of Telangana are still opposed to Naidu because of his opposition to Telangana’s creation. But it was the high command’s decision to go for the

alliance. Now they feel the party should have contested the elections alone. They have expressed their disappointment joining hands with TDP. And some of them are angry say privately that party has bulldozed ignoring their suggestion not allegation with TDP, the party which is considered an irritant by the majority of Telangana voters.

But TDP which has performed miserably in recent assembly elections seems to have hope that they can sail together. Telangana TDP president L Ramana says that the decision would be taken a little before the elections, based on the prevailing conditions. “When it comes to public issues, parties that were part of the Prajakutami will work together. On the alliance, we will decide on the eve of polls,” he said. TJS and CPI though had come together with Congress and TDP for the Assembly elections have so far not expressed their view on

continuing the alliance.

With this background, Congress leadership both at centre and state will be taking the decision of allaining with TDP in Telangana state While TRS has significantly increased its vote share and seat share in these elections the united opposition has suffered huge losses. The combined vote share of the Congress, TDP, CPI, and TJS decreased six percent plus. At the same time the TRS vote share could increase it ’s vote share by ten plus per cent.

As Lok Sabha elections fast approaching, Congress leaders find themselves having to decide the fate of their alliance with Telugu Desam Party in Telangana. AICC national spokesperson Sravan Dasoju says that decision on the matter would soon be taken by party high command. But that exactly what making Congress party vulnerable and relay on opportunist parties to form alliance.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

STARTUPS 35

TS tops in startup ranking T

THE NEWS BUREAU

he Telangana state has emerged ‘leader’ in startup ranking. The appointment of a Chief Innovation Officer for overseeing startup activities, formation of an ‘Innovation Policy’ and the establishment of T-Hub have propelled the State to be heralded as the ‘Leader’ in the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry's State Startup ranking 2018.

The report prepared by the union ministry has highlighted, THub, the PPP between the State Government, three academic institutions — IIIT Hyderabad, ISB and NALSAR — and key private sectors, and termed it as "the fastest growing incubator in India".

In the report released recently, it showed that the Centre came to the ranking by assessing the State's performance in seven areas. The State of Telangana has been above and at par with the national average in 'incubation support', 'awareness and outreach', 'simplified regulations' and 'startup policy and implementation'. As of now, the State has also supported the setting up of four incubators at Tier 2 cities such as Karimnagar, Warangal, Khammam and Nizamabad.

The Telangana State Innovation Cell (TSIC) was set up in 2017 under the State Innovation Policy with a three-fold mandate. To promote the culture of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the state.

To promote Innovation in Government departments and organizations. To build a culture of Innovation from the school stage.

The Innovation Cell is headed by the Chief Innovation Officer. The team includes the CIO along with 6 fellows who work towards nurturing young talent, foster Innovation and entrepreneurship in the State.

At t-hub they are anchoring the entire Hyderabad startup ecosystem with a state-of-the-art 70,000 square foot building called CatalysT, the largest building in India is entirely dedicated to entrepreneurship. Located at the IIIT-H Campus, Gachibowli, the sprawling building is to bring the start-up community together. Platform for entrepreneurs, mentors, investors and academia to interact and col-

laborate. The world-class infrastructure facilities at the building will be used for co-working spaces, meetings, mentoring, networking sessions and conferences. By giving access to top mentors, investors and academia.

However, at the same time, Telangana was below the national average in areas such as 'easing public procurement', 'funding support - angel and venture funding' and 'seed funding support', the report said. "As per the State Government policy, Telangana does not incentivize angel investments.

Rather, State conducts Investor Connects in T-Hub from time to time," the report observed.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

36 ENVIRONMENT

Patancheru-Bollaram pollution

A new challenge to the health P

THE NEW BUREAU

atancheru which was known as place with country’s highest pollution for over a decade is now posing another challenge to the health of people. According to a report, pollutants emanating from the Patancheru-Bollaram industrial cluster causing genetic deformities in people living in close proximity to the spot. A study conducted by geneticists from the city exposed the seriousness of the conditions in those areas.

The research lays bare a series of shocking cases from the area indicating irreversible genetic problems in residents, far higher than in people residing in nonindustrial areas far off from the critically polluted cluster.

Researchers from three Hyderabad-based institutions — Bhagwan Mahavir Medical Research Center (BMMRC), Mahatma Gandhi National Institute of Research and Social Action and Institute of Genetics and Hospital for Genetic Diseases — came together under the leadership of BMMRC research director Dr PP Reddy for the project and collected blood samples from 195 people living around a 5km radius of the industrial cluster and 199 people residing away from the cluster, but of similar socioeconomic and age characteristics.

The frequency of anomalies was 8.07 per cent in people living close to the cluster and 2.61 per cent in residents of

non-industrial areas. While chromosomal aberrations occur naturally, they can also be triggered by external reasons such as exposure to chemicals or heavy metals.

Several studies carried out across the world have linked exposure to increased pollution levels to chromosomal aberrations in people.

Patancheru-Bollaram industrial cluster is home to around 100 polluting units, about half of which are pharmaceutical entities and bulk drug companies. The rest units of cement, pesticide, dyes and dye intermediaries and distilleries firms. The cluster was declared as a ‘critically polluted area’ in 2009 by the Central Pollution Control Board banning the establishment of new industries and the moratorium has not been lifted till now due to insufficient pollution control measures.

Frequency 5% higher in people living close to the cluster these areas compared to residents of non-industrial areas. The frequency of anomalies or genetic damage was 8.07 % in people living close to the cluster and 2.61 % in residents of non-industrial areas.

What sets alarm bells off is that the mutations which can cause cancer will also be passed on to future generations. The researches found increased aberrations in chromosomes a thread like an organelle in a cell carrying DNA which forms genes in samples collected from those living in close proximity to the industrial area.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

THE NATION 37

97-year-old Kerala student made

Commonwealth Learning's Goodwill Ambassador

S

THE NEWS BUREAU

he is 97-year-old. But first rank student. This extraordinary Kerala student has been made Commonwealth Learning's Goodwill Ambassador. Karthyayani Amma, 97, had bagged the first rank in the ‘Aksharalaksham’ literacy exam conducted by the Kerala

government in November last year.

Commonwealth of Learning's goodwill Vice-President Balasubramaniam visited Karthyayani Amma to hand over the award Commonwealth of Learning' The Canada-based organisation which works for the promotion of education in Commonwealth countries declared the Alappuzha native

as their goodwill ambassador.

Commonwealth of Learning's goodwill Vice-President Balasubramaniam visited Karthyayani Amma, who is busy preparing for her Class 4 equivalent exam, to hand over the award in person.

Karthyayani Amma bagged the first rank in the ‘Aksharalaksham’ literacy exam, scoring an impres-

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

38 THE NATION

sive 98 out of 100. She was ecstatic. But was she satisfied? “I am wondering where did I lose the two marks. I was expecting to score a perfect 100,” the nonagenarian said with a chuckle. Her target now is to complete her Class 10 studies and get a job. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan handed her the certificate.

The Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority had conducted the exam.

She will now prepare for the Class IV equivalent exam. Not one to give up on her dreams, Karthyayani wants to learn to use a computer and would like to own one so that she can use it in her free time. She was excited to get the certificate from Pinarayi. To his query whether she wanted to pursue graduation, Karthyayani said, “If my children are willing to

teach me further, I would love to.”

Karthyayani lives in Alappuzha with her daughter and grandchildren. She never attended school and worked as a cleaning staffer in temples.

“Seeing my grandchildren study at home made me wish for a chance to study. So when they

asked me during the literacy mission survey whether I would like to join their course, I went for it,” she said. Her teacher Sathi K was excited to share the experience of teaching her brightest student.

“It was difficult for Karthyayani to attend classes. So, I visited her home and taught her. She was always excited to learn new things and I was sure she would score good marks,” Sathi said. In becoming the rank holder, the 96year-old beat all her classmates. A total of 43,330 candidates passed in the exam. ‘Aksharalaksham’ programme was launched by the government of Kerala on January 26, 2018, to achieve 100 per cent literacy in the state. Over 47,000 neoliterates were trained under the programme.

New quarters ready: TS legislators to get plush 3BHK flats T

THE NEW BUREAU

elangana's new MLA quarters ready. The legislators to get plush 3BHK flats in the capital city, Hyderabad. The newlyelected legislators in Telangana will soon get to move into plush apartments in Hyderabad's Hyderguda area as the state government has completed construction of its new MLA quarters A total of 120 houses, each having 3 bedrooms and spread over 2,400 sq ft was built at a cost of Rs 166 crore. 119 MLAs were elected to the Legislative Assembly last month following which one MLA was nominated.. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) swept the Legislative Assembly

elections that were held in December last year, winning 88 out of the total 119-seats that were up for grabs. While the Congress bagged 19 seats and became the chief Opposition party in the Assembly, the All India Majlis E Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) won seven seats.

The BJP could manage to send one legislator to the Assembly.120 quarters for house help and 36 staff quarters were also built.

Besides three bedrooms, a hall and a kitchen, each house also has a visitors space, an office room, a balcony and a drawing room There are also other facilities within the compound, which include a clubhouse, office, gym and supermarket among other things. The three-storey cellar has

a capacity to park up to 240 vehicles. 23 rooms are also available to hold meetings with visitors on the ground floor. The new complex would be ready for occupation once it was inaugurated by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. The quarter allotments will be made by a Committee comprising legislators from all political parties and chaired by the Assembly Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy. In case of the legislators seeking to continue in their existing accommodation at the Old MLA quarters, they will be permitted. “We have adequate quarters to accommodate the legislators in both New and Old MLA quarters." Said the speaker.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

EDUVOICE 39

PROF. G. NARSIMULU

T

Crisis in higher education: Privatisation is no solution

he state government is aimed to provide quality of higher education to its citizens. The investment in higher education is to be treated as Human Resource Development. The budget allocation for the education sector for financial year will be 10% of the total income. But in reality, it is less than 2%for annum. The welfare state of India should feel responsible to provide quality of higher education. Expenditure on higher education often treated as a waste of expenditure and diverting funds on other sectors.

Newly formed Telangana state aimed to provide free education from KG to PG to the weaker sections and deprived classes and opened Gurukul system of educational institutions in the state. The educational institutes of this type are working very well. The resources and no of institutes started are not catering to needs of the majority of the students in the state.

The traditional universities Osmania, Kakatiya and young universities like Telangana, Palmuru and Mahatma Gandhi are established with the intention to provide quality of higher education. In united Andhra Pradesh under the chief ministership of late YSR

Reddy three universities established to cater to the local needs of the students. After a decade of formation of these universities in Telangana state, no adequate teaching and non-teaching staff appointed and in place of regular staff, the contact and outsourcing staff are hired. Due to this many of the students are not interested to join colleges affiliated to these universities. Students of weaker sections and deprived classes are taking admissions to these universities and availing hostel accommodations and staying as unauthorised boarders in Osmania and Kakatiya universities and creating headache to the Authorities.

For the last four years, less than 1% of students of OC students took admissions to these state-funded universities. The end product of these universities is not enough to compete with the students coming out from the corporate and private universities.

To reduce the burden on higher education government slowly closing aided colleges and converting aided grant in posts into self-financing courses. Reputed colleges namely VV, New science colleges in Hyderabad are no more attracting students and slowly at the verge

of closures. To provide quality of education the state government of Telangana appointed a committee on the functioning of universities under the chairmanship of Professor Tirupati Rao Former ViceChancellor of Osmania University.T he committee after consultation with the Vice-chancellors of various Universities recommended enhancement of remuneration to contact teaching staff and plan for regular recruitment of teaching and non teaching staff and enhance budgetary provision to provide infrastructure and lab facilities. Unless sufficient staff and research, extension plus quality teaching are not provided UGC will not release development grants to the state-run universities. During united Andhra Pradesh state the then chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu encouraged the universities to start self-financing courses collecting huge fees from the students.

The salary part of teaching should be met from the fees collected from the students and there was no financial commitment from the government. The universities were asked to do consultation services to the industries and collect the funds to strengthen college and departments. The courses were designed

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

40 EDUVOICE

to meet the requirement of the industries in local and international market. Thus Software courses like MCA and BE computers and Information system were started in many private engineering colleges in AP State Shifting from the responsibility of funding universities, the government is slowly encouraging corporate and private sectors to set up private universities by passing the bill in the Assembly. In both Telugu states, the move is for privatisation of higher education and slowly

stopping the funds to universities.

The newspaper industry, Eenadu group is also planning to open private university and planning to start courses in Animation and creative field in near future. Thus creating a disparity between Have and Have Nots in the society. This type of shifting from supporting higher education to private sector by the government is not only unhealthy but damage interests of the country in the long run.

The progressive thinkers and educational reformers should bring

pressure on the government to stop privatization of universities and make it realize the responsibility of providing sufficient funds and revive grants to Aided colleges in Telangana state. Further, the Telangana government should extend enhanced salary to the contact lecturers working in self-finance courses offered in universities and colleges on par with lecturers working in sanctioned posts.

Author is Principal at University College of Education, Palamuru University, Mahabubnagar

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

CAMPUS NOTES 41

TEDx talks @ OsmaniaU

“Awake... Inspire...

Create & Contribute!”

THE NEWS BUREAU

“Life gives opportunities to learn valuable lessons. Gain experience and use it for creating human value with humility.” Said Srinivas Chamarthy well known for his 'A Journey to Realize SELF'. This young entrepreneur was giving TEDx talk at College of Engineering Osmania University during last week of January. Organized by TEDx OsmaniaU had impressive talks also by Sriram Karri Novelist, columnist, orator and thinker who had won Asian Booker prize long-listed novel MAN and Roll Rida, an Engineering graduate with computer science specialization turned into rapper lyricist & actor. Speakers shared their life experiences, lessons learned and take home guidance for young – would be engineering graduates.

Sriram Karri spoke about features of Socialism, Democracy and their strengths – limitations. He advised young students to freedom is not something government sanctions but the right people assert and for the all round development of our country we need to realize it is not politics but effective leadership is to be developed and nurtured.

The columnist various newspapers of our country and abroad Sriram has said the Indian bureaucracy is not able to contribute to the effective growth of the country. Roll Rida shared realizing his dreams.

This young artist hailing from a small town in Karimnagar district

was first to do rap song in Telugu.

He came into prominence with ‘Patang’which went viral with 14 million plus views.

Srinivas Chamarthy who with his 'A Journey to Realize SELF' is, inspiring and inculcating the young minds of the nation towards his mission with thought process "Think India, Work India, Make In India, Grow India” has given talk narrating what led to this lifechanging task. He strongly believes intellectual motivation is essential than emotional motivation to create a revolutionary thought process that sustains and defines LIFE as Logically Integrating Facts and Experiences.

The foundations for Srinivas Chamarthy’s mission were laid by a series of experiences and beginning when he when he was a young lad of eleven years. He has witnessed harsh realities of health care in the country and helplessness,

vulnerable conditions of millions of common people. After his academic exposure to technology, Srinivas Chamarthy decided to make use of the technology to meet the needs, solve problems of masses with the same knowledge and motivate young engineering students to grow as scientists with social consciousness. Explaining the choice of his life he said. “ I understood that a scientific method shall be a solution for social problems. Science does not sustain and survive by itself without putting it to practice for solving economic and social problems.”

Srinivas Chamarthy Giving lectures to students at Engineering & Technology institutions all over the country about innovation, product development, Make in India, Meaningful Socialism and to sharing his experience to tune their thought processes to evaluate and reinforce SELF. So far he has travelled 1, 05, 110 km on his bike and delivered 264 plus lectures and 343 interactions in the past three and half years. He thanked his Life partner Sreedevi K. who does not impose any objective goals in his path and Parents who resisted initially with concern but started to support over time. Srinivas Chamarthy said he is happy that AICTE, All India Council for Technical Education written a letter expressing support of his Vision A Journey To Realize SELF to create useful engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

42 THE NATION

MNCRE’s move

Reviving Gandhiji’s ‘Nai Talim’

M

THE NEWS BUREAU

ahatma Gandhi meant action.

He was not a person to accept mere theories without purposeful positive action to back it up. This (2019)is the year of his 150th birth anniversary. On this occasion, Mahatma Gandhi National Council of Rural Education under the Ministry of Human Resource development Govt of India has taken up a national programme to revive unique, practical education system Nai Talim originally proposed by Gandhiji. Mahatma Gandhi National Council of Rural Education was established by late Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao in 1995 with an aim revive Nai Talim, which means The New Education into 21 century.

To implement Nai Talim Mahtama Gandhi National Council of Rural Education has signed memorandums of Agreement with officials of various universities spread over in India under the chairmanship of Dr WG Prasanna Kumar. Now he his team has initiated steps to launch Diplomas and Add on courses in Rural education, Social work, Rural Management and allied subjects by integrating Gandhian ideology into practical day to life. To propagate Gandhian philosophy several workshops, seminars and training programmes for master trainers and Prinicipal’s were conducted in universities and colleges. Necessary books and reading materials were prepared by

involving field-level experts and educationists. The idea was to integrate Nai Talim philosophy into the rural school curriculum. The pupils in primary and upper primary schools are supposed to orient the importance of Hand, Mind and Heart. There are many interesting features and practical advantages are made by Gandhiji when he advocated Nai Talim well before our country became independent in 1947.

Handicraft work Work should be linked with the most useful vocational needs of the locality Learning should be linked with vocational work Work should be socially useful and productive needed for living Education to the child is residential.

Based on this philosophical Prinicipal’s several basic education

Gandhiji had given his scheme of Nai Talim(New education)in a well-formulated approach to education in 1937.In his magazine “ Harijan” spelt out The methodology of Nai Talim. This was the result of his practical experiments in Africa and after returning to India. It is an approach to the total personality - Body mind & spirit and was based on four basic principles namely: Education or Learning in Mother's tongue along with

schools were started here and there in several parts of the country before independence. This system of education was aimed at villages but not to the urban population.

The salaries of these teachers attached to schools were paid through the marketing the product generated by the students and staff.

The teachers were more on marketing the product but not on the pupil's intellect growth. After independence, the then prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru aimed to

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

introduce industrial policies and electricity generated irrigation projects and going a big way in urbanoriented westernised education pedagogy and put aside the Gandhian way of education. In addition to Mother's tongue English was introduced in public schools The basic schools based on Gandhiji’s philosophy disappeared slowly in the country and many were replaced with non-residential schools of primary, upper primary and higher classes.

In this background Mahatma Gandhi National Council of Rural Education (MNCRE)which was established. It has kept following objectives to propagate Gandhiji educational policies: To study Rural society and rural economy through higher educational institutions in order to address the developmental needs and challenges through the participatory mechanism and appropriate technological responses based on local resources.

To work with Higher educational institutions covering Natural and Social sciences, management sciences for developing curriculum.

Addressing the challenges of rural communities for finding appropriate technology options to promote a just and equitable economic and social development.

To develop an interdisciplinary approach and work with Faculty members and Post Doctoral scholars through workshops for addressing challenges of the rural communities.

To develop a pool of researches and academic a rura cross the disciplines interested

THE NATION 43

in and working for rural communities learning academic inputs for Higher education.

To Network with educational institutions of Higher learning Local governments, Development agencies, Village level meetings and industry in order to develop synergically, the convergence of Human Resource’s which are socially economically just and inclusive for the weaker sections of rural India.

During this century The MGNCRE according to its chairperson Dr WG Prasannakumar wants to design, develop and promote curriculum inputs of higher education programmes offered by universities and Autonomous institutions in India. The higher educational streams of focus for MGNCRE includes rural social work, Management and education.

The curriculum inputs are both theoretical and practical field related to rural areas. MGNCRE is working with a Vision and mission: To involve Higher education curriculum in India in process of building resilient rural India. Formulate and recognise curriculum inputs and accredited courses and Higher educational Institutions which enable the development of sustainable, climate

and disaster resilience rural Livelihood. MGNCRE which is aimed to bring back Nai Talim model of education into 21 st century into Higher educational institutions in India with the integration of practical and classroom teachings. To Motivate these ideas among the teaching community started organising programmes includes orientation, workshops and field studies to the teachers in charges of NSS and teacher educators, through universities in India.

MGNCRE which headquarters at Hyderabad Telangana state started several such programmes during 150 birth year of Gandhiji to propagate his new education policies which very much needed in moulding the character of the pupils. Keeping in view of the ever-changing in society the themes of Gandhiji should be well Taken and redesign curriculum to covers both rural and urban areas of India. The MGNCRE should plan such way that educationist, social scientists and policymakers should pay attention towards Gandhian way of thinking and integrating into the school curriculum in the near future. Only then the seeds of MGNCRE efforts will bring expected behavioural changes in society.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

44 ENVIRONMENT Oceans broke heat records in 2018

T

It's like exploding 5 atom bombs every second

THE NEWS BUREAU

he earth, which is actually a planet of liquid water is moving towards unprecedented warming of its oceans. This will have catastrophic consequences, according to scientists. The current rate of ocean warming is equivalent to five Hiroshima-size atomic bombs exploding every second.

Last year was the hottest ever measured, continuing an upward trend that is a direct result of manmade greenhouse gas emissions.

Ocean warming is incontrovertible proof of global warming, and there are real consequences to a warming ocean. Firstly, warmer water expands, and this expansion causes sea levels to rise. Approximately a third of the rise in ocean waters is a result of the heat absorbed by the oceans. Scientists expect about one metre of sea level rise by the end of the century, which would be enough to displace 150 million people worldwide.

It isn’t just humans that are suffering and will suffer more in the future. The heating of oceans is causing tremendous problems for sea life, particularly coral reefs. If we continue to warm the planet, we

can expect to lose much of these reefs. We can also anticipate reductions in fish and sea life populations.

The key to the global warming measurements is the oceans.

Oceans absorb more than 90% of the heat that results from greenhouse gases, so if we want to measure global warming we really have to measure ocean warming.

There are other ways to measure climate change, but none are as convincing as the oceans. Air temperatures are most commonly reported in the media as evidence of global warming, but the problem with these is they are very erratic.

While there is certainly a long-term trend of higher air temperatures, any given year may be warmer or colder than the last.

So oceans are key, and they are telling us a clear story. The last five years were the five hottest on record. The numbers are huge: in 2018 the extra ocean heat compared to a 1981-2010 baseline amounted to 196,700,000,000,000,000,000,000 joules. The current rate of ocean warming is equivalent to five Hiroshima-size atomic bombs exploding every second.

The measurements have been

published in the journal Advances in Atmospheric Sciences in an article by Lijing Cheng, the lead author, and his colleagues from the Institute for Atmospheric Physics in China. His collaborators included researchers from around the world.

The article charts ocean heat back to the late 1950s, showing a steady increase.

The warming waters also make storms more powerful. US recently, we has seen hurricanes pass over extremely warm ocean waters, which has supercharged them and increased the damage they cause.

Other kinds of storms are also being made stronger. Heavier downpours of rainfall are increasing flooding around the world. Simply put, our emissions of greenhouse gases have caused loss of life and property.

Scientists sound like a broken record. Every year they present the science and plead for action. Not nearly enough is being done. We can still tackle climate change, but we must act immediately. We have the means to make a difference, we lack only the will. We are all responsible, but the people who have denied the science and the solutions own a special responsibility that history will judge harshly.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

ENVIRONMENT 45

India lost 429 tigers in last decade, killed by poachers A

THE NEWS BUREAU

s many as 429 tigers have been poached and killed since 2008 across the country. Year-wise, the maximum killings took place in 2011 when 80 tigers were poached, while the minimum of 17 occurred in 2015. Madhya Pradesh accounted the maximum, 71 in during this period, In 2018, 22 tigers were killed, down from 25 in 2017 and 48 in 2016, it stated in a written response, according to the data from the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), under the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The WCCB is a statutory body formed to combat organised wildlife crime in the country.

The data obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Noida-based lawyer Ranjan Tomar

had sought state-wise data from the bureau on the number of tigers killed by poachers since 2008. The maximum killings of 71 tigers have been reported from MP, followed by 46 each in Maharashtra and Karnataka, 42 each in Assam and Chhattisgarh and 35 in Uttarakhand during the period, according to the data. Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh reported 25 such killings each, 19 in Kerala, followed by 12 in West Bengal, 11 each in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, it stated.Six tiger killings by poachers were reported in Delhi -- two each in 2011 and 2012, one each in 2013 and 2014, and one in 2008, it added.

Notably, there are 14 states and Union Territories -- Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Goa, Gujarat, Jammu and

Kashmir, Lakshadweep, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Puducherry, Punjab, Sikkim and Tripura -- from where no such killings have been reported since 2008, according to the data. No data was maintained about the tiger census by it. There was also no information with the department on the amount of tiger skin or body parts recovered from poachers during the period The number of tiger killings has come down in recent years, as shown in the data, which is good news for wildlife conservationists and enthusiasts.However, the concern still looms large over such killings and poaching continuing. It is essential to save wildlife if we want to protect the environment.Animals like elephants and tigers are critical to human survival because of their position in the natural food chain and losing them could endanger our existence.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

46 STATES

Armed force to protect tigers in Telangana soon

T

THE NEWS BUREAU

he wild animals in Telangana to have special protections force soon. The increased instances of poaching of wild animals especially tigers and leopards made state forest department to come up with this idea. The department has decided to set up an armed “State Tiger Protection Force� (STPF) to protect the wildlife.

The STPF would be constituted with 112 personnel and would be deployed in Kawal and Amrabad tiger reserve forest areas. Three forest range officers, 81 guards and 26 forest watchers would work under Assistant Conservator of Forest at Kawal and Amrabad. As part of protecting forest and wildlife forest department will be

booking cases under the PD Act against those who indulge in the smuggling or any other forest offences. If anyone used the power supply to kill the wild animals, the officials would register power pilferage and illegal use of power cases.

Government is considering to appoint a legal advisor to the forest department. The police too would cooperate with the forest officials and also in removing encroachments in forest areas. Police outposts would also be set up wherever required. State electricity department staff working in forest areas will be asked to keep a tab on the misuse of power to kill animals.

Forest protection teams with the public would be formed in villages adjoining the forests.

The State Forest Protection Committee meeting held under the chairmanship of Telangana state Chief Secretary SK Joshi took the decision to form the STPF. The recurring expenditure of the STPF would be borne by the Central and States governments in the ratio of 60:40.

The meeting also reviewed measures to prevent forest fires accidents and sanctioned Rs 2.25 crore funds. Forest department is also going to prepare a comprehensive plan to take up measures for forest conservation. The State Forest Protection Committee meeting has decided to expedite the inquiry into forest offence cases.

Legal aid would be provided to the forest department for speedy judgments in forest offences.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

THE NATION 47

Arunima Sinha:

P

World’s first woman amputee to scale Mt Vinson

THE NEWS BUREAU

admasri Arunima Sinha created another record. The world’s first woman amputee to climb Mount Everest has now conquered Mount Vinson, making her the world’s first woman amputee to scale the highest peak in Antarctica.“The wait is over. We are glad to share with you the world record: As the world’s first woman amputee I have climbed Mount Vinson (highest peak of Antarctica).

Thanks to all for their blessings and prayers,” said Arunima Sinha.

In 2013, Arunima Sinha(30), a former national level volleyball player, who had lost her left leg after being thrown off a moving train by some hoodlums, created history by becoming the first Indian amputee to conquer Mount Everest.

Sinha, a resident of Ambedkar Nagar in UP, was pushed out of the general compartment of Padmawati Express for resisting a chainsnatching attempt by some criminals, while travelling from Lucknow to Delhi on April 12, 2011. She was hit by a passing train and was seriously injured. She was hospitalised with serious leg and pelvic injuries and in a bid to save her life, doctors had to amputate her left leg below the knee.

While still being treated in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, she resolved to climb Mount Everest. She was inspired by cricketer Yuvraj Singh (who had suc-

cessfully battled cancer) and other television shows, "to do something" with her life. She excelled in the basic mountaineering course from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi, and was encouraged by her elder brother Omprakash to climb Everest. She climbed Mt Everest with a prosthetic leg, which was arranged by raising funds with the help of a swami of Ramakrishna Mission, Vadodara. Her aim was to climb all the continents' highest peaks and hoist the national flag of India. She has already done six peaks by 2014: Everest in Asia, Kilimanjaro in Africa, Elbrus in Europe, Kosciuszko in Australia, Aconcagua in Argentina and Carstensz Pyramid (Puncak Jaya) in Indonesia. She completed her final summit of Mount Vinson in Antarctica on 4 January 2019.

Prime Minister Modi had

handed over the Tricolour to Arunima Sinha, marking the beginning of her expedition to Mount Vinson, Antarctica. Sinha, the first female ‘divyang’ to climb Mount Everest. She called on the Prime Minister in New Delhi on December 12. And apprised him of her upcoming mountaineering expedition to Antarctica. Modi lauded her impressive achievements and extended his best wishes for her latest venture.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated her on achieving this feat. He said “Excellent! Congratulations on scaling new heights of success. She is the pride of India, who has distinguished herself through her hard work and perseverance. Wishing her the very best for her future endeavours.” Arunima’s journey must have been difficult as she tweeted about swelling in her legs on January 3.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

48 STARTUPS

Women entrepreneurs

Here’s how to start a business in India

I

THE NEWS BUSINESS DESK

ndia has emerged as the best place for women entrepreneurs to start a business with a high level of optimism on various factors that are important to judge business growth, according to a study. A study conducted among 450 women entrepreneurs across India, the US and the UK, by research firm Penn Schoen Berland, found that Indian women entrepreneurs are more confident of their business growth, as compared to counterparts in the US and the UK. Starting a business might not be the easiest job on earth, but it is definitely not the most difficult.

Now is the right time for you to get out of the cubicle or kitchen, wherever you are, and start your own business. Work hard on your own terms, and not only will you add to the country’s prosperity, but also create your own individuality.

In this how-to article aims to help women entrepreneurs learn

how to set up a business in India.

Research is important: Do enough research – of the market, the product, the target buyers and other factors which will affect your business in the long and short term.

Everyone out there has a business idea and most of them are really good. However, the path from ideation to implementation is not a short one and this is what decides whether the business will be a success or not.

Just having an idea and arranging for funds isn’t enough to get the ball rolling. If you are getting investments into your project, it is your prerogative to do all the research and only once everything has been cross-checked, to jump in.

Work with the facts: Don’t move ahead based on assumptions. You need facts. Assuming that the market will get better in a few months is not a good enough reason for you to start a business selling a product which isn’t selling well at this point in

time. What if things don’t revive after a few months? Your dreams and you, both will not succeed.

Get your digital signature: Once you’ve decided what you are doing your business in, you need a digital signature certificate from a Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) authorized agency. This takes up to five days but is important. This can be obtained from any one of the six vendors in the country.

The documents required include: • Class-II form • Self-attested copy of Driver’s License/Ration Card/Voter ID/Aadhar Card or Latest Utility Bills • Self-attested PAN card for Indian nationals • Self-attested copy of Passport in case of foreign nationals Do your paperwork: With the above step done, you will need to prepare the INC-29 form which is done by a Company Secretary. This procedure is a bit complicated and requires a lot of documents. So,

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

while resubmission is allowed, it is not wise to waste time. Hence, do all checks and submit accordingly.

You will also require the Director Information Number (DIN) for which one, two or three directors of the company can apply. The DIN is what the MCA identifies the company directors.

The documents required include: • Scanned passport sized photographs • Scanned copy of PAN (if Indian nationals, passport with foreign) • Self-attested Voter ID/Latest utility bill/driver’s license.

If you are a foreign national, you will need to get the scanned copies notarized from the Indian embassy.

Before registering the name of your company, you will need to confirm from mca.gov.in that the name has not been taken and neither is there any registered trademark to the same name. This can be checked at ipindia.nic.com Submit the paperwork: Once the INC-29 is ready, it needs to be submitted/filed along with the fee, stamp duty and authorized capital fee. These are dependent on your location.

Get certified: Moving ahead, you will need to get the Incorporation Certificate from the government which is a big step ahead.

Registrations required: When you are registering your business, you will also need to get your bank account registration, TAN number, registration of various acts and all fermented and suggested ways.

You will need to register your PAN as well as TAN numbers.

There are a bunch of other registrations that need to be done, depending on the type of company you have formed for your business

STARTUPS 49

What will your business be?

First things, first. Decide what your business would be about. Are you manufacturing products, providing services or will you be a re-seller? Do you want to be a distributor or would you be hiring staff to create the products? You need to understand that there are various forms of business entities in India and yours will fall under one of them. The types are: • Private Ltd. Co. where there are rights of shareholders are restricted regarding transfers and has to have a minimum of two members with a maximum of 50.

• Public Ltd. Co. is where shareholders have the power to transfer their shares and there is no limit to the number of members as long as there is a minimum of seven.

• An Unlimited Co. is where there is no limit to the liabilities of any of its members.

• A Sole Proprietorship is where the business is owned by an individual.

• One Person Company is a new concept in India which has been introduced by the companies act 2013. In the old Companies Act, 1956 a

minimum of two directors and shareholders were required to form a private limited company. However, in case of a One person company, only one person is required, who can be a shareholder as well as the Director. Hence the name, One Person Company.

• A Partnership is where the business is owned by two or more people where they have agreed to equal share of the profits.

• Cooperatives are voluntary organisations under Cooperative Societies Act 1912.

• A Subsidiary Company is where private, public, unlimited and sole proprietorship has the permission to have a foreign direct investment of up to 100%.

• Joint Hindu Family business is a business type governed by Hindu law and in this type, only members of the same family can manage this business.

• A Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) is where while all members have limited liability, only one has unlimited liability in the business.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

50 STARTUPS

– sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability partnership, private limited company, or public limited company.

Decide the pricing: Once all the above steps are done and the main paperwork is behind you, you decide the pricing of your products or services.

Attract financers: If you require financers or angel investors, this is a good time to go ahead and approach them with a solid business plan. However, do remember that if they are going to pump in their money into your project, they will automatically have an opinion, which might not go well with you.

If they are the money-people, then it is advised that you stay in their good books.

Hiring talent: If you are planning to manufacture, getting raw materials, staff and renting, and buying property needs to be completed. Once your staff has been hired, they need to be trained accordingly. Calculate the manpower strength you will need.

Website: If your business is online, then you need to create an online store and you need a website. This not only makes your business looks formal and serious but is the best way to advertise it.

For this, you will need a domain and hosting service and once you’ve got them, you can either create a website yourself or you can outsource it to a freelance designer. Marketing: Advertising is important. If you are a manufacturer, you will need to personally meet your prospective clients and get orders in the beginning. If you are a seller or a re-seller then you need to advertise your brand as well as your product.

While word of mouth is still the best way to spread news, along

with traditional advertising, you now also have access to the vast world of digital marketing. The country is going digital; it’s time your business does too. Your reach will increase and so will your sales.

Digital Marketing: Create a website and get it optimized for search engines using SEO. Start a blog and post regular updates to it.

Join buyer and seller groups on Facebook, pin your products with links back to your website on Pinterest, send out updates about new products on Twitter and Linkedin, and promote your business on your own Facebook business page. Hire a social media agency to do this if you don’t have the time to do it yourself.

Cost cutting: Make sure you keep a track of expenditures, big as well as small, right from day one.

Not only does this ensure no money is getting wasted, but it also tells you where you can cut some cost. There will come times in your

business, whether in the beginning or once it is on its way to growth when you’ll need to cut costs.

Keeping track of expenditures ensures that too much is not spent right from the very beginning.

Track your finances: Having said that, keep a financial buffer. A working spouse is always great if you are dropping your 9-to-5 job and starting a business. If not, it will be difficult. In families where both the partners are working, while the income is more, so are expenditures.

A financial buffer is important before you start your business. Calculate how long it will take for you to start bringing home a decent amount of money to the table. Until then, your family and you will be surviving on the buffer amount.

Completing these steps now you are ready to start your business.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

All the best!

THE ECONOMY 51

Indian economy I

LIKELY TO BE 5TH BIGGEST

THE NEWS BUREAU

ndia’s economy grew at a faster pace than most major nations in 2018, and this year, it’s poised to overtake the UK to become the world’s fifth-biggest. But that journey won’t be smooth. The outcome of a general election due

by May is a potential pitfall for a nation already battered by emerging market turmoil and a currency rout last year. Also, any attempts by the government to undermine the central bank’s freedom and raid its surplus capital may spook investors and carry damaging consequences for the economy.

Economist is suggesting a few key themes to watch for in 2019: Global Slowdown Nomura Holdings Inc. estimates global growth will ease to around 2.8 per cent in 2019 from 3.2 per cent in 2018, led by a slowdown in China, and a moderation in the US and euro-area toward long-term trends. “As cyclical impulses become less favourable, we expect exports, manufacturing and the investment cycle to weaken” in India, Nomura analysts said.

Monetary Policy - After raising interest rates twice last year, 2019 may see the Reserve Bank of India reverse course by giving up its hawkish monetary policy bias in favour of a neutral stance. With demand slowing and oil prices easing, inflation is expected to average toward the RBI’s mediumterm target of 4 per cent in the first

quarter of 2019. The six-member monetary policy committee may even be in a position to lower interest rates in the first half of the year, according to some analysts.

Shaktikanta Das, the new central bank governor, is seen as more dovish on monetary policy, saying inflation is benign and supporting growth is part of the RBI’s focus.

His predecessor, Urjit Patel, who unexpectedly quit last month, took a more cautious approach on price growth. Interest-rate cuts could give a boost to lending and growth before the general election.

Election Risks - With the world’s biggest election around the corner, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is under pressure to boost spending, especially to help farmers, to shore up voter support and spur an economy that’s starting to slow. Data for the three months through September showed growth eased to 7.1 per cent from the 8plus per cent pace seen in the previous quarter.

Spending pressures intensified

last month following disappointing results for Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party in regional elections, and farm loan waivers announced by the opposition Indian National Congress party in three states it won from the BJP. The government is said to be studying three options, including a cash handout for farmers, to ease the distress for farmers and to shore up popular support ahead of elections. It’s already slashed taxes on some goods and services and announced exemptions on pension withdrawals to appease voters.

These are in addition to programs for guaranteed crop prices and healthcare, the full impact of which will be known only in the budget, due to be delivered in February. With the government already exceeding its budget deficit targets in October, any additional measures will need to be balanced with possible reductions in spending to meet the fiscal goal of 3.3 per cent of gross domestic product for the year through March.

A loss for Modi in the general election is a risk in terms of policy continuity, and investors are watching the events closely. Sonal Varma, the chief India economist at Nomura Holdings Inc. in Singapore, expects the government to be in limbo until a new administration is in place in May, posing a drag on spending growth in the first half of 2019.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

52 THE ECONOMY

World Bank positive on India’s GDP growth D

THE NEWS BUREAU

riven by an upswing in consumption, growth has accelerated and investment growth is leading to rising in India’s GDP. GDP is expected to grow at 7.3 per cent in the fiscal year 2018-19, and 7.5 per cent in the following two years. The World Bank in it’s forecast has attributed it to an upswing in consumption and investment.

The bank said India will continue to be the fastest growing major economy in the world. At the same time China’s economic growth is projected to slow down to 6.2 each in 2019 and 2020 and 6 per cent in 2021, according to the January 2019 Global Economic Prospects report released by the World Bank.

In 2018, the Chinese economy is estimated to have grown by 6.5 per cent as against India’s 7.3 per cent. In 2017, China with 6.9 per cent growth was marginally ahead of India’s 6.7 per cent, mainly because the slowdown in the Indian economy due to demonetisation and implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the report said. “India’s growth outlook is still robust. India is still the fastestgrowing major economy,” World Bank Prospects Group Director Ayhan Kose said.

With investment picking up and

consumption remaining strong, the World Bank is expecting India to grow 7.3 per cent in the fiscal year 2018-2019, an average 7.5 per cent in 2019 and 2020. India registered quite a bit of pick up in doing the business ranking. The growth momentum is there (in India).

In India, the growth has accelerated, driven by an upswing in consumption, and investment growth has firmed as the effects of temporary factors wane, the World Bank said in its latest report.

Domestic demand has strengthened as the benefits of structural reforms such as the Goods and Services Tax (GST) harmonisation and bank recapitalisation take effect.

“India’s growth accelerated to an estimated 7.3 per cent in FY2018/19 (April to March) as economic activity continued to recover with strong domestic demand. While investment continued to strengthen amid the GST harmonisation and a rebound of credit growth, consumption remained the major contributor to growth,” the World Bank said.

According to the report, India’s GDP is forecast to grow by 7.3 per cent in FY2018/19 and 7.5 per cent

thereafter, in line with June forecasts. Private consumption is projected to remain robust and investment growth is expected to continue as the benefits of recent policy reforms begin to materialise and credit rebounds.

Strong domestic demand is envisioned to widen the current account deficit to 2.6 per cent of GDP next year.

Inflation is projected to rise somewhat above the midpoint of the Reserve Bank of India’s target range of 2 to 6 per cent, mainly owing to energy and food prices, the bank said. It said in India the recent introduction of the GST and steps toward demonetisation are expected to encourage a shift from the informal to the formal sector.

India’s recent growth numbers suggest that the economy remains robust despite temporary setbacks (due top demonetisation and GST).

With this, the World Bank's estimate suggests that India’s potential growth rate is around seven per cent, and is expected to remain around seven per cent. The fact is that the Indian economy is being able to deliver growth slightly above its potential is a very good sign according to World Banks.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

TECHNOLOGY 53

Kiki the pet robot:

F

Wants to be your best friend

THE NEWS BUREAU

launting giant anime eyes and a sleek design Kiki is an AI(Artificial Intelligence)-powered pet robot made its CES 2019 debut.

Created by Zoetic, a company based in Santa Clara, California, Kiki is a companionship robot meant to offer its owners company and friendship. For persons who prefer Cat over Dog as pet Kiki is said to be perfect Robopet.

According to Cnet Kiki is a companionship Robot. It looks like Eva from movie Wall-E. and has Cat Ears. Learns from human behaviour and overtimes responds to situations. Kiki has a camera in its nose, which it uses to recognize and remember people. Once Kiki locks onto your face, it can track you by turning its head much like a real pet. This naturally which couldn't help but bring a smile to your face. Depending on your body language, it can tell when you're

feeling sad and will try to cheer you up by singing and dancing.

Using machine learning and AI, it also continually learns about its owner's personality and adjusts accordingly. If its owner is affectionate, it'll want more pets and scratches. If its owner is more independent, it'll be aloof as well.

Despite being a robot, Kiki does have its own needs, however. It has to be fed, for instance, and you do this by drawing common food items (which it's programmed to recognize) in an accompanying app. Zoetic doesn't have pricing yet. It does hope to sell Kiki globally, including the US. Like every year the CES 2019 too witnessed number of interesting innovations on among them is this intelligent and loving Robopet, Kiki. Founded by two ex-Google engineers, Zoetic’s proprietary Deep Learning Personality Engine (DLPE) enables robots to interact and learn in real time, and form an

emotional connection with users.

These are the 3 reasons that make Kiki so cool yet adorable: Delightful — From the first moment eye contact is made, you know Kiki is like no other. Expressive, endearing, and extremely responsive, Kiki is born to surprise you with endless fun. Petit and check out its responses; feed and explore what its favourite food is; hang out with Kiki and discover its “dreams” about memorable moments with you!

Conscious — Kiki is an inquisitive little pet that explores its world through the sense of sight, hearing and touch. With a camera located at their nose, a microphone array and 12 touch points, Kiki “pokes its nose” around while seeking affection from its owner.

Apart from curiosity, Kiki loves some cuddlings, pettings, hugs, and definitely – food!

Unique — Powered by our patented technology, every interaction you have with Kiki shapes its personality. Treasure your Kiki and it will love you back; take care of it and help nurture Kiki into a unique companion.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

54 THE NATION

EVM hacking charge:

India won't go back to ballot papers

H

THE NEWS BUREAU

istory repeated again. Allegations of electronic voting machines (EVM) being hacked have come once more just a few months before general elections to Lok Sabha. The allegations on EVMs are not new. But this time they have come from an US-based, self-proclaimed cyber expert Syed Shuja.

During the third week of January, he not only made allegations that EVMs are hacked during 2014 Lok Sabha elections but claimed that senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde was killed in 2014 because he knew everything about EVM

hacking scandal.

Shuja made allegations at the event organised by the European chapter of the Indian Journalists' Association where Congress leader Kapil Sibal was also present in London. Syed Shuja said that the EVM machine was modified in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. He also further claimed that after that, it happened in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat elections. The ‘cyber expert’ said that the BJP had manipulated the EVMs used in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections using a modulator that transmitted military-grade frequency. Claiming that he had been part of the team that

had made the EVMs used in the polls, Shuja said he could demonstrate how the voting machines could be hacked, though he did not proceed to do so at the press conference.The most startling among the cybersecurity researcher's claims were that BJP leader Gopinath Munde, who died in a car accident in 2014, had been killed because he knew about the rigging, and that journalist Gauri Lankesh, too, was murdered as she had agreed to run a story on the EVM hacking after he approached her..

The event and Shuja's claims that the 2014 Lok Sabha elections won by the BJP were ‘riddged’ has

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

naturally kickstarted a political slugfest with the Congress and other Opposition parties calling for an inquiry and the BJP pointing a finger at the presence of senior Congress leader Kabil Sibal at the hackathon. Sibal went on to defend his presence at the event, saying he was there in his "personal capacity".

Election Commission has rejected the charges of EVM hacking in 2014 polls and filed a police case on Shuja for his wild allegations The election watchdog also said it was mulling legal action in response to the claims made by Syed Suja at a press conference in London..Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said there is no way the country will be "intimidated, bullied or coerced" into giving up electronic voting machines (EVMs). The aftermath of the EVM hacking charge levelled

THE NATION 55

Delhi Police has registered a case based on a complaint filed by the Election Commission regarding Shuja's allegations. In its complaint, the poll panel had asked the police to investigate the matter "promptly" for violation of certain sections of the Indian Penal Code dealing with spreading rumours to "create fear" in the minds of people by self-proclaimed cyber expert Syed Shuja at a hackathon in London he said: "I would like to make it very clear that we are not going back to the era of ballot papers." CEC also announced that they are open to any criticism and feedback from any stakeholder, including from political parties. At the same time, we are not going to be intimidated, bullied or coerced into giving up these and start the era of ballot papers.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has registered a case based on a complaint filed by the Election

Commission regarding Shuja's allegations. In its complaint, the poll panel had asked the police to investigate the matter "promptly" for violation of certain sections of the Indian Penal Code dealing with spreading rumours to "create fear" in the minds of people.

The Election Commission also said that all the elections to the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha are conducted with the EVMs manufactured by Electronics Corporation of India Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited. Both these are public sector undertakings. They are man-

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

56 THE NATION The BJP called the allegations that electronic voting machines (EVMs) tampered in 2014 General Election a “political stunt” and “Congress-sponsored conspiracy” to “defame” India, and said the Congress has already started looking for “alibi” ahead of its “certain defeat” in Lok Sabha polls. ufactured under very strict supervisory and security conditions. There are rigorous Standard Operating Procedures observed under the supervision of a Committee of technical experts constituted in 2010.

The Supreme Court and various high courts have also endorsed the use of EVMs in elections through various judgments.

BJP sees Congress plot & says It’s a “political stunt”: The BJP called the allegations that electronic voting machines (EVMs) tampered in 2014 General Election a “political stunt” and “Congress-sponsored conspiracy” to “defame” India, and said the Congress has already started looking for “alibi” ahead of its “certain defeat” in Lok Sabha polls.

This came on a day BSP chief Mayawati, SP leader Akhilesh Yadav and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu sought the use of ballot paper system in the coming elections and said that hackers had “proved” that EVMs can tamper. Union minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Indian Journalists’ Association, which had organised Monday’s event in London, is

headed by Ashish Ray who, the minister claimed, “campaigns” for the Congress on social media, and has often criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Ray, Prasad said, had also organised Rahul Gandhi’s public event in London.

Prasad said he had never heard of Shuja, even though as Union IT minister he keeps in touch with experts and developments in the field. Questioning Congress leader Kapil Sibal’s presence at Shuja’s conference, Prasad said, “In what capacity was he present? He charged that Sibal was there to monitor the event for the Congress.

It was a Congress-sponsored conspiracy designed to defame Indian democracy and its Election Commission Congress they have nothing to do with the event: Reacting to BJP’s charge, Congress leader Anand Sharma reiterated that the party had nothing to do with the London event, and said the Election Commission should check at least 50 per cent of voterverifiable paper audit trails (VVPAT) to assuage apprehensions of opposition parties on EVMs. “It is important that elections are not

only free and fair but voters must also believe it is free and fair,” he said.

In fact, the poll panel did call for an EVM challenge in June 2017 after the controversy over their alleged hacking gained ground following the Uttar Pradesh elections.

The team of IT experts of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) had emerged satisfied after the poll panel's demonstration, but the National Congress Party the only other outfit to participate in the challenge was displeased that they were not allowed access to the machines being used. AAP, which was the loudest at the time with its EVM tampering allegations, had refused to participate, calling it a false exercise.

VVPAT(voter-verifiable paper audit trail )s were introduced after charges that the EVMs could be tampered with were levelled by Opposition parties. VVPAT a way of providing feedback to voters using a paperless voting system.

Even with this safeguards to say that EVMs, which have been used in elections for nearly two decades now, can be tampered with has actually few takers among general people in the country.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

58 HEALTH

Sugar-free mithai: THE MYTHS & FACTS OF LOW-CALORIE SWEETS C

THE NEWS HEALTH DESK

ome festival season and you have these wonderfully marketed low calorie or sugar-free sweets that promise to help you manage your weight and satisfy the sweets-loving Diabetics. One of the major highlights and key attractions of a low calorie sweet is that they can help you satiate your sweet-tooth. Once your sweet craving is satisfied, the body releases feel-good endorphins and you feel happy and stress-free whenever you have these sweets.

The common myth that people have is that they need not be watchful about portion sizes when they consume sugar-free sweets. But whatever you eat, you need to be careful about the amounts you

consume and have everything in moderation.

Low-cal sweets make you feel guilt-free because you are reducing the fat and the sugar content. A sugar-free sweet by itself will not prevent weight gain, but if you have a healthy lifestyle you can enjoy a few and enjoy their benefits. These sweets positively impact your oral health as they do not contribute to decay and can be relished by diabetics as well.

Some of the drawbacks of sugar-free or low-cal sweets are that they are highly-priced with misleading claims of weight control. They may have fewer amounts of fats and sugars, but the triglycerides in the refined flour used to make them can block arteries in the long run, leading to heart

attack or stroke.

Artificial sweeteners used in the preparation of these sweets could also have health impacts if consumed over a period of time and in excess.

Sugar-free or low-cal does not mean “No calories�. Sugar alcohols, one of the types of sugar substitutes can cause abdominal bloating, diarrhoea or cramps if consumed excessively as they are only partially absorbed in the intestine. Some of the sugar substitutes, when consumed excessively, can even cause cancer. If you need to consume them to manage your weight, do so in moderation.

Another disadvantage is that these sweets can affect your appetite and prevent you from realizing your true hunger signals. They create a feeling of fullness, which may be because of gas production or the empty calories they contribute.

Certain artificial sweeteners can even affect your fertility. For example, aspartame (Nutrasweet, Sugar-Free, Equal) consumed in excess amounts and when heated gets converted to formaldehyde in the body, which can be poisonous for your foetus. Artificial sweeten-

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

ers may even affect your kidneys.

Many artificial sweeteners are carcinogenic (cancer-causing) and are implicated in causing bladder cancer. Considering the pros and cons of low-calorie sweeteners, I would suggest that you stick to natural foods. Occasions like Diwali do not come every day, so enjoy the festival foods in a natural form.

Don’t blame Diwali or the festive season for your flabby tummy and waistline, when you are the one who has to exercise selfdiscipline and create positive change. Your best option is to balance a healthy diet with a continuous exercise regime to stay trim and fit all your life.

Popping in a low-cal sweet

HEALTH 59

once or twice during Diwali will not cause much health impact, but don’t fool yourself that continuous or excessive intake is ok. Moderation is your secret key to keep you healthy.

Read the nutrition labels on

sweets and choose products that contain whole grain flour, minimal fat, no artificial colours and preservatives. Enjoy the beautiful festival of lights with sweets and savouries but remember: there is no short-cut to staying fit and healthy.

No tips, please!

Transparency in rail catering services

C

THE NEWS BUREAU

atering services in trains will be more customer friendly and transparent in a few months. ‘No tips please, if no bill, your meal is free’ - printed on a tin plate with a rate list of the menu be publicly displayed on trains by March this year. The Railway Ministry has issued instructions all zonal railways to ensure transparency in catering services. It also issued directions that a single helpline number for all non-security complaints be developed for the convenience of passengers by the end of January 2019.

The WiFi connectivity will be extended to 2000 stations from the

present 723. The Railway ministry even offered a reward for those Division Railway Managers who achieve early completion of WiFi works at stations. The Railway ministry also advised that PoS (point of sale) machines with swipe and bill generating machine should be distributed in all trains to each catering staff and TTEs by March 31, 2019. This will take care of the complaints of overcharging by the caterer. All trains with catering facility will have rate list displaying prices of menu inclusive of GST and printed on a tin plate by March 2019.

The following lines also to be written on the tin plate – “No tips please, if no bill, your meal is free,”

the official said. While reviewing the performance during the current year so far, the Minister gave directions for the road map of forthcoming January-March 2019 quarter and it was necessary to monitor the progress and suggested that an integrated dashboard portal displayable on a screen will be put in place by January 15. Noting the substantial progress in the construction of Dedicated Freight Corridor, the ministry is commissioning of 777 Km of both eastern and western DFC. It is expected to be ensured by the end of February 2019. The 3D Digital Museums at 100 stations to be completed before February 15.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

60 HEALTH

Sleeping time balance to reduce diabetes risk for Men S

THE NEW HEALTH DESK

leeping more or less than the average seven hours may increase the risk of developing diabetes in men, a new study warns.

The findings showed that men who slept the least and the most were more likely to have an impaired ability to process sugar compared to men who slept an average amount of about seven hours. The men at either end of the spectrum had higher blood sugar levels than men who got the average amount of sleep.

Conversely, women who slept less or more than average were more responsive to the hormone insulin than women who slept the average amount. They also had en-

hanced the function of beta cells the cells in the pancreas that produce the hormone insulin. This suggests lost sleep may not put women at increased risk of developing diabetes, the study said.

"In men, sleeping too much or too little was related to less responsiveness of the cells in the body to insulin, reducing glucose uptake and thus increasing the risk of developing diabetes in the future," said Femke Rutters from VU University in the Netherlands.

During the last 50 years, the average self-reported sleep duration for individuals has decreased by 1.5 to two hours. The prevalence of diabetes has doubled in the same time period, the researchers noted. "Even when you are healthy,

sleeping too much or too little can have detrimental effects on your health," Rutters said adding, "this research shows how important sleep is to a key aspect of healthy glucose metabolism."

The study, published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, is the first to show opposite effects of lost sleep on diabetes risk in men and women.

In the cross-sectional study, the team examined the sleep duration and diabetes risk factors in 788 healthy adults ranging in age from 30 to 60 years old.

The researchers observed sexspecific relationships between sleep duration and glucose metabolism in the participants.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

LIFESTYLE 61

How to look 10 years younger Naturally & without surgery Makeup tips to look younger

F

THE NEWS LIFESTYLE DESK

or many women growing old is a hard fact to deal with because they consider ageing a dreadful experience.

Looking young is also a factor when it comes to getting ahead in life as those with youthful and energetic looks are more likely to succeed at work and in romance It is true also that we women tend to feel better about ourselves in our youth and this leads to greater self-confidence and self-esteem. However, there are simple methods to take years off your appearance and help retain a youthful appearance without painful and expensive plastic surgery.

Hairstyles To Make You Look Younger: Grey hair isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but the way your hair is styled can add years to your appearance. One simple way to disguise wrinkles on your forehead is to wear bangs to hide them. Current hairstyles incorporate many ways of wearing bangs, giving you increased options. You can either wear your bangs straight or have them lightly sweep over your forehead.

As women get older, our jawlines get harder and more defined. Soften your jawline with a layered hairstyle cut to the neck area to draw the focus away from this area.

Add shorter layers on the top of the head to add volume and take more focus off the jawline and sagging areas.

If you have crow’s feet around your eyes, style your hair around your eyes to help hide the lines. If you wear your hair long, have it layered to refresh your appearance and give yourself a natural facelift.

To hide grey hairs, instead of colouring the entire hair, opt for highlights to enhance your natural colour. The newly added colours will give you a more youthful appearance.

When colouring your hair, avoid selecting a hue that is too dark for your complexion as it will make you look older.

To use makeup to change the appearance of your eyes, reshape your eyebrows. If you have thin eyebrows, use a cosmetic pencil to fill in the sparse areas and use a brow powder to fix the pencil on the eyebrow area.

Apply concealer to remove dark patches and age spots. Use a creamy colour that contains peach or yellow undertone to remove the bluish cast under your eyes. Avoid concealers that are lighter than your skin tone.

Apply a tiny amount of foundation with a powder to seal in the concealer. Avoid using too much powder or you will create lines and highlight the flaws in your skin tone. Use a cream blush instead of powder blush. Using a powder blush will draw attention to the lines in your face.

Use a lighter lip colour. Darker colours will make your features appear harsh and accentuate the imperfections in your skin. To make your lips fuller, add a touch of lip gloss to the bottom lip.

Apply a moisturizer to your face to keep your skin looking fresh and hydrated. If you use foundation, use a moisture-rich brand. Avoid applying too much foundation as it will collect in and highlight the fine lines in your face making you appear older.

These simple tips can take at least 10 years off your face so you look younger and make a great first impression.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

62 INDIANS ABROAD

Gita Gopinath:

IMF’s first female chief economist G

THE NEWS BUREAU

ita Gopinath has joined International Monetary Fund(IMF) as its chief economist. She is the first woman to occupy the top IMF post. She has joined at a time, when she believes the world is experiencing a retreat from globalisation, posing challenges to multilateral institutions.

Mysore-born Gopinath, 47 was the John Zwaanstra professor of International Studies and Economics at Harvard University. She succeeds Maurice (Maury) Obstfeld as Economic Counsellor and Director of the IMF's Research Department.

Obstfeld retired December 31. Announcing her appointment on October 1, IMF Managing Director

Christine Lagarde described her as one of the world's outstanding economists with impeccable academic credentials, a proven track record of intellectual leadership and extensive international experience.

The 11th chief economist of the IMF, Gopinath in a recent interview to The Harvard Gazette described her appointment at the IMF as a tremendous honour and said the appointment of the first ever woman for this position speaks highly of IMF's Managing Director Lagarde. She is phenomenal, not just in her leadership of the IMF but as a role model for women around the world, she said. Identifying some of her top priorities at the IMF, Gopinath told The

Harvard Gazette that she would like the IMF to continue to be a place that provides intellectual leadership on important policy questions.

Among the research issues that I would like to push, one would be understanding the role of dominant currencies like the dollar in international trade and finance. We could do more on the empirical side to try to understand countries' dollar exposures and on the theoretical side in terms of the implications for international spillovers, consequences of dollar shortages, etc, she said. Most countries invoice their trade in dollars and borrow internationally in dollars.

This is a central part of the international price system and the interna-

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

tional financial system and it will be exciting to explore its consequences in greater depth with the IMF, she said.

Gopinath considers the perceived retreat from globalisation as one of the top challenges being faced by the IMF. The one (biggest issues being faced by the IMF) that is absolutely clear and present is that we are seeing the first serious retreat from globalisation. This has not happened in the past 50 or 60 years when the world moved toward lower tariffs and increasing trade across countries, she told the prestigious Harvard publication.

Over the past several months, we have the US-imposed tariffs and retaliation to them from China and other nations. There is in general growing uncertainty about trade policy, including the one arising out of Brexit [the British move to leave the European Union].

INDIANS ABROAD 63

"While the trade has reduced global poverty and raised livelihoods, its consequences for inequality, and on whether the rules

of engagement are fair, are real concerns that need to be addressed she said.

Gopinath said there is also a concern about whether there is the right multilateral institutions and frameworks in place to make sure

everybody feels that there is fairness in trade. And the same goes for capital flows, she added.

Foreign direct investment [FDI] was always viewed very favourably by countries. But because most of the FDI is now in tech-heavy firms, there are growing concerns about national security and international property theft. So I believe this retreat from globalisation and this retreat from multilateralism is quite unique to the times we are living in, Gopinath said.

Another important concern, she said, is the health of emerging markets as the US continues to normalize its interest rates. The capital flows to several markets have reversed, putting pressure on their exchange rates and consequently on inflation, and on balance sheets, given that several emerging markets borrow heavily in dollars, said the IMF chief economist.

SUBSCRIPTION FORM Subscriber Name: _________________________________________________________________________________________ Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Street: ________________________________________________ Vil/Mdl: _____________________________________________ Phone: ________________________________________________ Mobile:_____________________________________________ email:________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Life time Subscription*: Rs. 3500/- (inwords _____________________________________________________________ In favour of: The NEWS PUBLICATIONS, DD No/Cheque No/ ____________________________________________ Online payment Reference Number: 97011 41377

Date:________________________________________

* Conditions apply

Address: The News You Like, # 3-5-890, Flat No. 203, Paras Chambers, Beside Telangana Tourism Building, Himayatnagar, Hyderabad-500029. Telangana.

Phone: 97011 41377. email: thenews.sub@gmail.com

64 BIG SCREEN

Film on'The Gandhi Murder'

Harsh truth kept out of India F

THE NEWS BUREAU

lim which deals with the truth of father of nation’s murder was told to all the world, except India. A historical movie "The Gandhi Murder" was released worldwide on Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary January 30, but its release in India was cancelled as "certain elements have issued threats" to its makers, said its producer Lakshmi R. Iyer. In this film is the makers' take on the real truth behind Mahatma Gandhi's assassination on January 30, 1948 The film, co-directed by Karim Traidia and UAE-based director Pankaj Sehgal, is the makers' take on the "real truth behind Mahatma Gandhi's assassination on January 30, 1948". As it is an action thriller, and a commercial historical thriller the producer says they have released it commercially. It explores the situation in the country immediately after the Independence and

partition, and the anger of the people, who, on both sides of the border found themselves homeless.

Family members butchered in cold blood, women raped and killed, men and children set on fire, it was a terrible time in India.

Talking about the cast, the producer says Mahatma Gandhi is one of the best-known men who ever lived they wanted the movie to be international. It is a multi-starrer, and each actor has delivered a master performance Stephen Lang and Luke Pasqualino plays the leads of two police officers, based on real-life characters. Lang's character is based on the then DIG CID, U.H. Rana, and Luke plays his friend, the celebrated then DCP Bombay, Jimmy Nagarwala. On roping in American actor Stephen Lang, Lakshmi Iyer said: "In the lead role, we wanted an actor who understands acting from a theatre point of view. And it is a dark role.

Not everyone can play such a role

to perfection. Lang is a unique actor in that sense. And his performance is mind-blowing." The film also stars late actor Om Puri, who plays the first Director of Intelligence Bureau of independent India.

The Central Board Of Film Certification had cleared ‘The Gandhi Murder’ last year. But the producer has decided against releasing the film in India.

“India is a big market, with all kinds of people. Unfortunately, certain elements have issued threats including bodily harm to the producer and director," Lakshmi Iyer told. Asked about the threats, she said: "These are unknown people calling from unknown numbers. Attackers are well versed with the family, other businesses of the producers. According to her, the film is not biased in any way. But if Indians are too sensitive to learn the truth, it is clearly not the time," she said.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

SPIRITUAL 65

Yogic Practices for a Beautiful, Healthy Life:

Strengthening the Joints

O

ur body is the vehicle to our soul. It is also not permanent and will age eventually. Therefore, it becomes essential that we understand it and strengthen it, so that we may live a longer, balanced and healthy life.

Fast paced modern lifestyles, while having its perks, also brings with it a long chain of health implications, some of which can be lifelong. Stress, ruptured joints, weak & bent spines, loss of glow and stamina, are just some of its natural by-products.

It is said that gymming continuously for years can ruin your knees, dry up your vital fluids, and damage your spine.

Yog, as shared earlier is not about rapid breathing exercises, or tying yourself in knots, it is a beautiful journey of the self.

In this issue, we will start by understanding who we are on the physical level, with the very basic rotation of our joints. The basic joint rotations ensure health and longevity of the body by removing the spent prana (the ‘life force’ the runs the entire Creation and our bodies) that gets accumulated at your joints and ensuring free flow of energy in the body.

Sanatan Kriya details six joint rotations starting from the neck, moving downwards to the shoulders, wrists, hip joint, knees and finally ankles. All the rotations are performed with internal awareness, keeping the eyes closed and synchronising the movement with Ujjai breath.

Slowly stand up without leaving the Ujjai Pranayam, start

with the first rotation: Neck Rotation: Close your eyes and be aware of your neck. Now slowly start rotating your neck from right to left. Synchronise every rotation with one cycle of the breath, i.e. inhale in the first half of the rotation and then exhale in the second half of the rotation. But be very careful to move very slowly with complete awareness of every muscle and bone that is being used.

Seven clockwise and seven anticlockwise rotations are enough at this stage.

Shoulder Rotation: Keep the first three fingers on your shoulders and once again synchronising with your breath, bring your elbows to join in front of your nose, then up towards the sky, and then stretching backwards, back to the starting position.

Seven cycles in this manner and seven cycles in the reverse, i.e., taking your elbows backwards, then up and then joining them in front of your nose. Your awareness should be on the movement of your shoulder.

Wrist Rotation: Closing your fist with the thumb inside, stretch your arms in front, at the level of the shoulders and rotate your wrists only, not the fore- arms. Do seven cycles each of clockwise and anticlockwise motion.

Hip Rotation: Keeping your hands on your hips, making sure that your head does not move, rotate your hips only, seven times left to right in circular motion and seven times in reverse direction.

Knee Rotation: Place your palms on your thighs, dip down slightly at

the knees, bring your feet together, keeping your spine erect. Now move the knees together seven times left to right in circular motion and seven times in reverse direction.

Foot Rotation: Stretch out your right leg and rotate the foot seven times clockwise and seven times anticlockwise. Then repeat with your left leg.

Taad Asana: Stand straight, going on your toes, making sure that your body weight is evenly distributed on both your feet. Be very careful to maintain an even distribution.

Once you are evenly balanced then raise both your palms skywards above your head. Maintain this posture for at least five minutes.

Most of you will find these basic rotations very difficult if you are doing them properly. You might also having a feeling of unsteadiness and a strong urge to open your eyes. This is your first experience of state of disturbance within your own self. It also shows how uncoordinated are you with your own physical bodies.

Till our physical bodies are not in a state of balance we cannot think of bringing our mental and emotional states into balance. Of the thousands of people who have been introduced to these basic practices we found that those who have been practicing these basics regularly have experienced a certain level of calmness and balance in their physical bodies. There also has been a definite lowered blood pressure and pulse rate with an increased efficiency.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019

66 STATES

Major fire accident at Numaish

Negligence added ‘fuel to fire’ F

THE NEWS BUREAU

ailing to provide adequate space to move fire tenders organizers of All India Industrial Exhibition has to lead to a fire accident in 76th All India Industrial Exhibition (AIIE) to turn into a precedented major fire resulting huge loss to merchants and endangered visitors life. A fire broke out at AIIE, which is popularly known as Numaish on 30th of January 31, 2019. Two hundred shops were destroyed as the fire spread quickly.

Chaos ensued as customers and shop owners began hastily making their way to the exit of the venue at Exhibition Grounds in Nampally.

Thirty thousand plus visitors were present at the venue when the fire broke out and the incident also caused pandemonium and a massive traffic jam outside exhibition grounds.

The fire started near Vanitha Maha Vidyalaya women's’ college at around 9 p.m. Within a few

minutes, it spread to surrounding stalls in the exhibition premises which is spread over several acres of land. Despite pressing into service several fire tenders, blazes could not be controlled. With each passing second, more stalls are catching fire. Seven fire tenders reached the exhibition grounds within a few minutes. Authorities managed to control the flame by around 10 pm.

Though there are no casualties. seven people have sustained injuries and were admitted into the hospital.”Noticing the fire many people have run out.” said Saidi Reddy the Saidabad Inspector. Officials could not determine what actually started the fire but they suspect that a short circuit could have led to the incident Many visitors including shopkeepers have criticised the Exhibition society for its arrogant attitude and negligence. They alleged that Society is more interested in major file throwing thousands of people

who visited the Numaish. Eyewitnesses said the fire engine inside the exhibition could not reach the spot immediately. “It took 15 minutes for the first fire engine to reach the spot,” a shopkeeper said in a choked voice.

Close to 200 stalls were destroyed in the fire and seven people were admitted to the Osmania Hospital due to respiratory issues after inhaling smoke. A firefighter was also reportedly injured while trying to douse the fire. Shopkeepers, whose shops were gutted, said they had lost stock worth crores of rupees. A shopkeeper from Kashmir told "I have lost most of my goods. I had goods worth Rs 15 lakh and I'm left with material worth less than a few thousand rupees. All that's left, can be loaded into a small auto. People throng to the exhibition for its verity of industrial, handicraft and other products produced in various states of our county. This year, more than 2,000 stalls were set up.

THE NEWS YOU LIKE | FEBRUARY 2019