The Wallpost

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Corruption in a civilised society is a disease like cancer, which if not detected in time, is sure to spread its malignancy among the polity of the country, leading to disastrous consequences," a bench of justices B S Chauhan and F M Ibrahim Kalifulla of the Supreme Court had said in a judgment in 2013.

The highest court of the country made the observations while dismissing the Gujarat government's plea against the state high court's January 18, 2012 order which had upheld Justice (Retd) R A Mehta's appointment as Lokayukta, an anti-graft watchdog body, by Governor Kamla Beniwal.

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In the 1980s Rajiv Gandhi, then the Prime Minister of India, had said that for every rupee targeted towards welfare and poverty alleviation only a fraction, 15 paise, reached the intended beneficiary

To be more precise, corruption undermines democracy and the rule of law, leads to violations of human rights, distorts markets, erodes the quality of life and allows organised crime, terrorism and other threats to human security to flourish.

Corruption hurts the poor disproportionately by diverting funds intended for development, undermining a government's ability to provide basic services, feeding inequality and injustice and discouraging foreign aid and investment. Corruption is a key element in economic underperformance and a major obstacle to poverty alleviation and development.

Corruption deteriorates everyday living for the average person. But only the average person has the power to speak out and effect change. Starting with ourselves, we should shift from the mindset of "Make a Change" to "Be a Change."

A team of senior journalists, fighting against corruption all their life, have come together to intensify their fight through this media platform, THE WALLPOST

Therefore, let's come together and take a stand against corruption Let’s do our best for the nation. Lest, the future generation will curse us for leaving behind a nation rotten with corruption.

Stone attack on Y S Jagan Securit y lapses exposed

Family feud turns into political battle in Kadapa

Gender gaps in India’s BFSI sector

AGARWAl SIKShA SAMItI GRABS GovERNMENt l AND

Selfish education societies, corrupt officials of school education depar tment make a killing Direc tor of School Education and government fail to curb corrupt prac tices

B G RAJESWAR

Some educational societies in collusion with certain corrupt officials in the school education department have usurped government lands worth hundreds of crores of rupees and the successive governments have done absolutely nothing to protect the public properties.

It may be recalled some

educational societies have taken prime government lands on lease on the pretext of providing education for the poor at nominal cost. Initially, these societies remained honest But with the change of times and as education became a lucrative business, some education societies surrendered aided posts and began collecting huge amounts as fees and donations from the

students.

However, these education societies did not surrender the lands they have taken on lease for nominal amounts. Instead, some of the societies alienated portion of the land without having any right or title over the land, while some societies leased out the lands to others and some societies constructed commercial complexes thereby violating the rules and

regulations. Thus, some societies have committed offenses punishable under the provisions of Indian Penal Code.

But, neither the officials of the school education department, nor the successive governments have shown any interest in protecting the government lands worth hundreds of crores of rupees in the open market.

Hyderabad District Education Officer, R Rohini, two deputy educational officers I Nehru Babu, Md. Mukaram and a retired deputy educational officer T Ravi Kumar.

Since most of the higher officials do not have any knowledge about the government lands and since the records related to government lands leased out to educational institutions were destroyed some time ago by some officials of the school education department of Hyderabad, selfish societies are making a killing while corrupt officials get their share in the ill-gotten money.

In one classic case of misuse of powers and alienation of government land, six officials of the school education department allegedly colluded with a private school management and caused loss to the government to the tune of crores of rupees.

The officials include the present director of Adult Education, S Vijaya Laxmi, Joint Director in the office of Director of School Education, B Venkata Narasamma,

The case is related to allegation of corruption and misuse of chair by S Vijaya Laxmi, former Regional Joint Director of School Education, Hyderabad and now Director, Adult Education, Telangana. It has been alleged that she has approved the ETR (Extention of Temporary Recognition) of Leela Bai Motilal Tonda wale Girls High School for the years from 2017-18 to 2026-27 without verifying the accommodation where the school building exists. In fact, Leela Bai Motilal High School is run in the building that belongs to Agarwal Siksha Samiti and the land belongs to government.

Following a complaint, the Vigilance & Enforcement department of Telangana conducted a probe into the matter and submitted its findings vide report No.73 (C No 1985/V&E/D1/2020, dated 24 06 2022 The probe agency noticed that S Vijaya Laxmi, Director, Adult Education, Telangana, while working as Regional Joint Director of School Education, Hyderabad failed to crosscheck the field report and approved the ETR without

s Vijaya Laxmi Director Adult Education

B Venkata narsamma Joint Director Samagra Siksha

verifying the ownership particulars of the building mentioned in the ETR checklist and showed great negligence in the collection of lease amount which lapsed in 1993.

Official sources told The Wallpost that the Vigilance & Enforcement Department found during the course of enquiry that as per Memorandum No.2171 F1/62-11, dated 08.11.1962, a lease deed was executed to an extent of 5964 Square Yards in favour of Agarwal Siksha Samiti Bhavan, Chakraman, Hyderabad by Director of Public Instruction, AP, vide lease deed document No.1008 of 1964, dated 12.08.1963 for 30 years. The lease expired on 12.08.1993.

Agarwal Siksha Samiti did not produce a copy of the renewal of the lease deed. Instead, Agarwal Siksha Samiti executed lease deed in favour of Leela Bai Motilal Tondawale Girl High School vide document No.4993 of 2015, dated 23.10.2015 for 235 Square Yards, by violating the rules.

Agarwal Siksha Samiti not only sub-leased government land to Leela Bai Motilal Tondawale Girl High School but some other institutions like Radhekrishna Women’s College, DB Girls Junior College, Ganeshlal Kanodia Primary School and Bhagavathibai Montessori

School are run in the same premises in grave violation of the rules.

What more! Agarwal Siksha Samiti also subleased land to an extent of 1133.11 Square Yards vide Document No.6203/2015 to Nanakram Bhagawan Das Science and PG centre for 29 years 11 months. Further, the Agarwal Siksha Samiti dismantled classrooms and unauthorisedly constructed commercial shops

Despite this, Vijaya Laxmi, while working as Regional Joint Director of School Education, Hyderabad, approved the ETR of Leelabai Motilal Tondewale Girls High School for the period from 2017-18 to 2026-27 without proper verification of the documents exhibiting slackness and negligence towards her legitimate duties in contravention of Rule 3 of T.S.C.S. (Conduct) Rules, 1964, the sources said. The probe agency also found that B Venkata Narsamma, then District Educational Officer (DEO), Hyderabad and now Joint Director, Samagra Siksha, Telangana, forwarded the ETR of Leelabai Motilal Tondewale Girls High School to the RJDSE, Hyderabad without verifying the ownership particulars of the building mentioned in the ETR checklist to RJDSE and showed negligence in

r rohini DEO, Hyderabad

i nehru BaBu Dy.E.O. Charminar

collection of lease amount which lapsed in the year 1993.

The probe agency also discovered that the present DEO of Hyderabad, R Rohini, failed to identify the lapse of the lease deed and did not take any further action against the Agarwal Siksha Samiti, Charkaman, Hyderabad exhibiting slackness and negligence towards her legitimate duties and contravened Rule 3 of T.S.C.S. (Conduct) Rules, 1964.

The vigilance and enforcement department also found during probe that Md Mukaram, Deputy Educational Officer (FAC), Bahadurpura zone, Hyderabad failed to identify the lapse of the lease deed and did not take any further action against the Agarwal Siksha Samiti, Charkaman, Hyderabad.

The agency further found that I Nehru Babu while working as Deputy Educational Officer (FAC), Bahadurpura zone, Hyderabad, failed to record the correct ownership particulars of the building mentioned in the ETR checklist and forwarded them to the DEO, Hyderabad and

failed to identify the lapse of the lease deed of Agarwal Siksha Samiti.

The vigilance and enforcement department also found that T Ravi Kumar (now retired), failed to record the correct ownership particulars of the building mentioned in the ETR checklist and forwarded them to the DEO, Hyderabad and failed to identify the lapse of the lease deed of Agarwal Siksha Samiti and showed negligence in the collection of the lease amount and while working as Deputy Educational Officer (FAC), Bahadurpura Zone, Hyderabad.

Sources said the six officials actually colluded and conspired with Agarwal Siksha Samiti and allowed them to carry out the irregular and illegal acts which are punishable under the provisions of Indian Penal Code.

Since the role of the six officials has been proven in the vigilance and enforcement enquiry, the government is all set to initiate stern disciplinary action against six tainted officials.

While so, it is learnt Md. Mukaram and Nehru Babu have informed the present RJD of Hyderabad

that they do not wish to continue as Deputy Educational Officers anymore.

It is pertinent to mention here that Venkata Narasamma, Rohini and Nehru Babu are facing grave allegations of corruption and many of the officials in the school education department of Hyderabad district are deep into corruption

Further, there are dozens of private institutions which have taken huge chunks of land on lease from the government decades ago but as on date most of those institutions have either diverted the lands for other purposes or sold the lands to others in grave violations of the provisions of the lease deed besides committing crime punishable under the provisions of Indian Penal Code.

Yet, the director of school education and the principal secretary of school education department have failed to initiate any concrete measures to reclaim the public properties from the clutches of the private institutions or to set the things in right course allowing the tainted officials to rule the roost.

A B HuSSAin

The Right to Information Act

2005 came into force on October 12, 2005, i.e. almost two decades ago. And two decades is long enough time for the Public Authorities to gain sufficient experience in implementing the Act.

However, public

authorities in almost all the departments except central government departments handle RTI applications with contempt They treat RTI activists as enemies and deliberately resort to ‘red tape’ to prevent disclosure of information under the Act.

Added to this, the clerks assigned with RTI section resort to every gimmick

and mislead the public authorities. The designated Pubic Information Officers (PIOs) and First Appellate Authority

who mostly depend on their subordinates in furnishing information to the applicants. These subordinates put up the files in such a way to cover up the wrongdoings of the department such as

(FAA),

4DEO R Rohini and RJDSE E Vijayalakshmi ‘zero’ knowledge of RTI Ac t 4PIOs and RTI sec tion staff in DEO & RJD office resor t to ‘Red tape’ 4Handle RTI applications with contempt 4Treat RTI ac tivists as enemies

bribery and irregularities. Consequently, the appellate authorities end up turning out to be morons.

Here are two classic examples of how two female officers of the education department play into the hands of their subordinates because they have ‘zero’ knowledge about RTI Act and rules and powers and duties of PIO and appellate authority.

These two female officers are none other than the District Educational Officer (DEO), Hyderabad, R Rohini and the Regional Joint Director of School Education (RJDSE), Hyderabad, E Vijayalakshmi.

In the first case, an application was made to the Public Information Officer (PIO) in the office of the DEO, Hyderabad seeking complete current file with note file with respect to the bogus ETR and PTO racket 2018 that rocked the education department.

The PIO, apparently under the influence of the DEO refused to provide the information under section 8(1)(h) of the Act on the ground that disclosure of the information sought would impede the process of investigation or apprehension or prosecution of offenders.

The applicant filed first appeal since the information sought cannot be refused. He filed a 17page order of the Central Information Commission (CIC) which refers to number of orders of various high courts.

When the applicant came to know that the information was denied actually because the DEO orally instructed the PIO to do so, he approached the first appellate authority, who is none other than the DEO herself.

The DEO, instead of calling for a hearing and passing appropriate orders, asked the applicant to meet the PIO and get clarification on the rule position as to why the application was rejected. When the applicant clearly explained to the DEO that he had already filed first appeal and the same is pending before her, the DEO called the PIO and asked him to find out the rule position with the ‘head office’. Even after giving oral instructions to the PIO asking him to find out the rule position, the DEO sent a reply refusing to furnish the information on the same grounds on which the PIO refused information.

The DEO, in the capacity of First Appellate Authority, should have fixed a date for

r rohini DEO, Hyderabad

hearing and summoned both the appellant and the PIO and dispose off the appeal after hearing both sides. Neither did the DEO heard the matter, nor did she give any specific reason or ground on which she did not consider the 17-page order of the Central Information Commission in similar issue. Instead, she simply refused to furnish information under section 8(1)(h) of the RTI Act

The action of the DEO clearly shows her ignorance and lack of knowledge about the RTI Act though she is the first appellate authority.

The second case is related to RJDSE, Hyderabad office. An application was made to the Public Information Officer (PIO) seeking complete current file with note file with respect to the bogus ETR and PTO racket 2018 that rocked the education department.

When the PIO failed to respond within the stipulated time of 30 days, the applicant filed first appeal seeking a direction to the PIO to furnish the information free of cost as stipulated under the Act apart from imposing a penalty on the PIO for his failure to furnish the information.

However, the RJDSE, E Vijayalakshmi, instead of

calling for a hearing, sent a communication to the applicant directing him to pay Rs 1540 (Rupees One Thousand Five Hundred and Forty Only) towards the cost of furnishing the information.

The applicant met the RJD in person and explained that appellate authority cannot ask the applicant to pay the cost of supplying information. Instead, the cost of furnishing information should be deducted from the salary of the PIO for his failure to provide the information within the stipulated time.

But the RJD did not understand the Act and the rules therein. Taking advantage of her lack of knowledge, the PIO made the applicant pay the amount through Indian Postal Orders and only then furnished the information.

The RJD is head of Hyderabad region, i.e. DEOs of 17 districts come under her jurisdiction. So, she is the first appellate authority for the 17 districts. But she has absolutely little knowledge about the Act.

In this backdrop and in the absence of State Information Commissioners, RTI activists are worried a lot over how to handle the morons.

e Vijaya Lakshmi RJDSE,Hyderabad

A RAvi kumAR

Seven defectors from other parties secured Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tickets for the May 13 Lok Sabha polls.

Having set eyes on winning more than 10 out of 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state, B to the defec after they sw loyalties.

One sitting the son of a sitting MP a two former MPs are among thos fielded by th BJP after they defected fro the main opposition party Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS).

BJP had finished third in the 2019 election where it has now fielded turncoats. The party leaders are hope to improve its prospects with the help of turncoats from BRS.

Leaders from other parties joined the BJP impressed by the leadership of Prime

Minister Narendra Modi, claims union minister and state BJP president, G Kishan Reddy

“This reflects the current wave in favour of the BJP across the country. The party is also getting people’s support across Telangana,” he said.

BJP is left with no other option but to lure leaders from rival parties since it lacks strong candidates within its camp.

It may be recalled the

With no strong candidates in its ranks, bjp is banking on defectors from brs, Congress to win 2024 Lok sabha elections

For Adilabad which is eats won 19, the am former m BRS, n after he ned the BJP. Nagesh was cted to bha from S ticket in

Interestingly, Nagesh had lost to BJP’s Soyam Bapu Rao in 2019 in the same constituency, which is reserved for Scheduled Tribes. The BJP dropped the sitting MP due to controversy triggered by his publicly admitting

that he used part of the constituency development fund for personal use.

The BJP has fielded sitting MP B. B. Patil from Zahirabad Lok Sabha constituency, who was elected as BRS candidate from the same seat in 2019 and recently crossed over to the BJP camp.

Patil had won the seat by a narrow margin of 6,229 votes against his nearest rival Madan Mohan Rao of the Congress party The BJP candidate B. Laxman Reddy was a distant third.

This was the second term for Patil, who was first elected from Zahirabad in 2014 with a huge majority of over 1.44 lakh votes against Suresh Kumar Shetkar of Congress.

Similarly, the BJP fielded Pothuganti Bharat in Nagarkurnool. He is the son of sitting MP Pothuganti Ramulu of BRS. The father-son duo quit BRS to join the BJP on

February 29. Ramulu switched loyalties after an assurance from the BJP leadership that his son would be given the ticket.

The BRS has given the ticket to former IPS officer R. S. Praveen Kumar, who quit the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to join BRS.

In Mahabubabad, reserved for Scheduled Tribes, the BJP fielded Azmeera Seetaram Naik soon after he quit BRS and joined the BJP Seetaram Naik, who was elected from here in 2014 on a BRS ticket, was aspiring for the party ticket once again but the BRS leadership decided to field sitting MP Kavitha Maloth.

BJP leaders hope that with a strong local leader joining its ranks, the party will give a tough fight to both Congress and BRS.

For Nalgonda, the BJP has fielded former MLA S Saidi Reddy after he defected to

the party from BRS. He was elected to the Assembly on a BRS ticket from Huzurnagar in the by-election in 2019 but suffered defeat in the recent polls.

The BJP is also hoping to improve its performance in the Peddapalli Lok Sabha constituency, where it has fielded Gomasa Srinivas, a defector from Congress. The seat was won by BRS in 2019 with the Congress candidate finishing runner-up. The BJP was a distant third.

In Warangal, a seat reserved for Scheduled Castes, the BJP has fielded Aroori Ramesh, a former BRS MLA, who recently joined the BJP. The BJP, which has been holding the third position since 2014, is hoping to consolidate its position.

Riding on the Modi wave, the BJP had bagged four Lok Sabha seats in 2019 registering its best-ever performance in the state.

23 oPPN. lEADERS WAShED SINCE 2014

As many as 23 out of 25 prominent politicians from the opposition ranks, who have switched over to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since 2014 have got a reprieve in the corruption cases they had been facing.

These leaders include 10 from the Congress, four each from NCP and Shiv Sena, three from Trinamool Congress, two from TDP, and one each from Samajwadi Party and YSRCP. Three cases against these opposition leaders have been closed while 20 are sent to cold storage, according to INDI alliance.

Opposition has alleging of ‘misus investigation agen by the BJP The opposition has termed the BJP a “washing machin referring to the increasing phenomenon of politicians accused of corruption not

facing any probes after switching over to the BJP. The government, however, denied the accusation.

The cases faced by Ajit Pawar and Praful Patel, two top leaders of the NCP faction, were subsequently closed.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar, had broken ranks with the NCP faction founded by his uncle, Sharad Pawar, and joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv-Sena-BJP government last year. NCP leader Praful Patel had joined the NDA in 2023.

In Ajit Pawar’s case, the Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) filed

when the BJP returned to power along with Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction. The case was finally closed March 2024 after he joined the NDA Based on the EOW action, the ED’s case against Pawar turned infructuous.

Other cases that have seen no progress include that of West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, who switched to BJP from TMC in 2020. Similarly, there is no progress in cases of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, after they quit

No CAKE-WAlK FoR YSRCP: PK

THE WAllpoST BuREAu

YSR Congress Party will find it very difficult to return to power in Andhra Pradesh, according to poll strategist Prashant Kishor.

Kishor said Jagan, like former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, has gone into a "provider" mode for his constituents, instead of being a fulfiller of people's aspirations. Kishor likened the situation to the yesteryear monarchs who took care of their people with doles

and largesse but nothing more.

Similarly, Jagan ensured cash transfer to people but has done little to provide jobs or boost the stagnating development of the state, he said.

Kishor had worked for Jagan in 2019 when YSRCP routed the incumbent Telugu Desam Party (TDP), now a BJP ally.

This time, TDP forged an alliance with Jana Sena and BJP since it is a battle of survival for the opposition party. The TDP

is leaving no stone unturned to defeat YSRCP and come back to power.

Meanwhile, Kishor said the BJP will add significantly to its seats and vote share in south and east India, the two regions where its hold is weak-to-non-existent, barring Karnataka.

The BJP will either be first or second party in Telangana, which is a big thing. They will be number one in Odisha for sure. In all likelihood, the BJP is going to be the number one party in West Bengal, Kishor said

adding that in Tamil Nadu, the BJP's vote share may hit a doubledigit percentage.

The BJP has made a major and visible push to expand in south and east India over the years as its top leaders like Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have frequented these states. On the other hand, the opposition has made little effort in these states

Count the number of visits the prime minister had made to Tamil Nadu in the last five years versus Rahul Gandhi or Sonia Gandhi or any other opposition leader for that matter. The fight is in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar

and Madhya Pradesh, but opposition leaders are touring Manipur and Meghalaya. Then how will the opposition get success, he said in an apparent dig at Rahul Gandhi.

“If you do not win in UP, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, there is no benefit if you win from Wayanad. Strategically, I can say that letting that space (Amethi) go will only send a wrong message," Kishor told a news agency.

He noted that Modi had chosen to contest from Uttar Pradesh in addition to his home state Gujarat in 2014 "because you cannot win India unless

you win the Hindi heartland or have a significant presence in the Hindi heartland."

With opposition parties coming together to form the INDIA bloc to take on the BJP, he said an alliance is neither desirable nor effective to defeat the ruling party as there is already a one-onone contest in nearly 350 seats.

The BJP has been winning because parties like the Congress, Samajwadi Party, RJD, NCP and Trinamool Congress are unable to take it head-on in their own turfs, he said adding that they have no narrative, face or agenda.

SKElEtoNS tuMBlING out

HigH-profiLe aCCused LikeLy to remain beHind bars for Long

THE WAllpoST BuREAu

It appears the investigation agencies probing the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam have started unfolding the evidences against Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) MLC K Kavitha.

Keeping aside the allegations that it was a politically motivated case; the facts remain serious. Until couple of days ago, Kavitha appeared confident while boasting about her innocence. But she appears to be shattered after the CBI, which arrested her on April 11 from Tihar jail, told the Rouse Avenue Court that in NovemberDecember 2021 Kavitha asked Sarath Chandra Reddy to pay Rs. 25 crores at the rate of Rs. 5 crores per zone for the 05 retail zones allotted to him claiming that she herself had paid Rs.100 crores as upfront money to Aam

Aadmi Party through Vijay Nair for getting favourable provisions in Excise Policy. Sharat Chandra Reddy is one of the members of the South Group, which conspired with the top leaders of AAP and gave them kickbacks to the tune of Rs 100 crore and in exchange got undue favours.

CBI told the court that Kavitha was required to be examined in connection with the evidence surfaced during the further investigation of the case in respect of her involvement in the criminal conspiracy regarding formulation and implementation of the Excise Policy. Consequently, the Rouse Avenue Court remanded Kavitha to 3day CBI custody. Based on the submissions and evidence collected by the investigating agency, and after reviewing the Case

Diary provided by the Investigating Officer, the court concluded that it is apparent that a “detailed and sustained interrogation” of the accused is necessary.

“The investigating agency has been able to show from the records that custodial interrogation of the accused on certain aspects is necessary for confronting her with the evidence collected so far and also the witnesses in order to unearth the larger conspiracy in the matter,” the court noted.

Meanwhile, opposing the bail application filed by Kavitha, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) submitted that as per the forensic report of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), some of the digital devices produced by Kavitha before the investigation authorities had been formatted after the issuance of summons to her. “Thus, Kavitha is guilty of actively destroying the digital evidence to conceal her role and involvement in this case,” the ED told the court.Disposing the interim bail application, the court noted that Kavitha can, by no standards, be said to be a

“vulnerable” woman who could be made a scapegoat for committing the alleged offences. Rather, she is undoubtedly a “welleducated” and “well-placed woman in the society”.

Analysts said that the BRS and Kavitha made much fuss about the probe into the Delhi liquor policy scam. Analysts also feel that the BRS

government tried to strike a deal with the BJP government at the center using the Telangana MLAs poaching case. Unfortunately, the BRS lost power in the Assembly elections following which the BJP is hitting hard by arresting Kavitha

It may be recalled the ED arrested AAP ministers Sanjay Singh, Manish Sisodia and even AAP convener and Delhi chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal in the liquor policy scam.

Notwithstanding the criticism that it is a politically motivated case, the probe agencies appear to have strong evidence about the involvement of the AAP ministers, Kavitha and some businessmen in the scam, the analysts said.

It is pertinent to mention here that former Joint Director of CBI, V V Lakshminarayana, had told media persons that the probe agencies will not lay their hands on the accused in high profile cases without evidence.

Since the high-profile cases are sensitive and some times the accused happen to be mass leaders and politicians, investigative agencies will be very careful are make double sure about the evidence against the accused before they are arrested.

In this background, one cannot expect that the ED and CBI have arrested Kavitha, ministers and chief minister of Delhi without any evidence, analysts said adding that the accused cannot question the timing of arrest because the accused themselves delayed the probe by not appearing before the probe agencies at the first call long time ago.

SECuRIt Y l APSES ExPoSED StoNE AttACK oN Y S JAGAN

EXPERTS CALL FOR STRICT ADHERENCE TO SECURITY PROTOCOLS

THE WAllpoST BuREAu

he suspected stone attack on Andhra Pradesh chief minister and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP)

chief, Y S Jaganmohan Reddy exposed the serious lapses in the security cover provided for the VIPs in the state.

Jagan was injured in a suspected stone attack by an unidentified person

during an election campaign in Vijayawada on Saturday.

YSRCP MLA Vellampalli, who was standing next to Jagan, sustained an injury in his left eye. The incident occurred at Singh Nagar Dhaba Kotla Centre when the YSRCP Chief was campaigning for his party’s candidates for next month’s Assembly and Lok Sabha polls.

YSRCP leaders suspect that a cat ball was hurled at Jagan, resulting in the injury.

Jagan Mohan Reddy continued his bus yatra after receiving first aid YSRCP leaders alleged that Telugu Desam Party (TDP) functionaries were behind the attack.

Usually, political parties try to gain mileage out of such attacks and later local police will investigate the case, conveniently forgetting about the security lapses.

Security experts said the Intelligence Security Wing (ISW) of the state police provide security cover for the chief minister and the stone attack clearly shows that the security personnel were not prepared to handle such situations.

The security personnel must carry stone guards and Bullet Proof Jackets whenever the VIP they are guarding is amidst masses. The Chief Security Officer and the head of ISW must be held responsible for the security failure, the experts said

The security personnel must cover the VIP with stone guards. Since the stone guards are transparent, the VIP will be visible for the public and the VIP will be safe from attacks while in the midst of public, they said.

“I feel the training provided to the security personnel is grossly inadequate. The security personnel

must react spontaneously during such attacks. In this case, none of the security personnel pulled out weapons and covered the injured VIP. Instead, they are giving them first aid, which is the job of medical professionals accompanying the chief minister’s convoy,” one expert, who had been trained by the prestigious Special Protection Group (SPG) said.

According to him, most of the security personnel in the state police lack spontaneity and alertness. Instead, they take their job very casually and are more interested in pleasing the VIP than discharging their duty according to rule book.

He said the security personnel should be trained to follow strictly the security protocols. Unless the security manual is strictly followed, it is not possible to prevent attacks on VIPs.

A day after the attack on Jagan, similar attacks were reported against Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan. However, both of them escaped unhurt as the perpetrators missed their target.

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh police detained five suspects on April 16 in connection with the stone attack on Jagan. The five suspects are said to be residents of Vaddera Colony in Ajit Singh Nagar of Vijayawada.

One of the suspects is said to be Satish aka Satti He is said to have hurled a broken piece of tile used in the flooring. Further investigation is underway to ascertain the motive behind the attack.

While so, the opposition leaders ridiculed the police for registering a case of attempt to murder against the assailants.

FAMIlY FEuD tuRNS INto PolItICAl BAttlE IN K ADAPA

THE WAllpoST BuREAu

Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency in Andhra Pradesh is set to witness a fierce contest as the close family members of late Y S Rajasekhar Reddy are fighting the polls against each other.

State Congress chief Y S Sharmila, daughter of late Rajasekhar Reddy, is contesting against her cousin and incumbent YSRCP MP Y S Avinash Reddy.

Interestingly, Avinash is one of the accused in

the murder case of former minister and Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy's uncle, Vivekananda Reddy, the younger brother of former chief minister late Rajasekhar Reddy.

Kadapa constituency is significant for the YS family, as it has been represented by Jagan, Rajasekhar Reddy, and Vivekananda Reddy on many occasions over the last several decades. Sharmila is Jagan's younger sibling. Sharmila's decision to contest from Kadapa means the family feud has now evolved into a full-scale political battle.

Starting her political venture from Telangana politics, Sharmila merged her outfit, YSR Telangana Party, into the Congress and shifted base to Andhra Pradesh recently. She was appointed as the AP state unit chief.

Vivekananda Reddy's

murder on March 15, 2019 just before the assembly polls remains a contentious issue and the case is currently underway in a CBI Court in Hyderabad.

Sharmila has pledged her support to Vivekananda Reddy's daughter, Sunitha Narreddy, in her pursuit to bring her father's killers to justice, while Jagan has accused TDP

supremo N Chandrababu Naidu of instigating his sisters' rebellion against him.

The Supreme Court transferred the case to Telangana on Sunitha’s plea. Both Sharmila and Sunitha have alleged that Jagan is shielding the accused in the case.

Announcing that she is fighting the Lok Sabha election from Kadapa,

Sharmila said that it was not an easy decision as she is aware that it will split her family.

Asserting that she had no hatred for her elder brother Jagan, Sharmila claimed that he was a changed man after becoming the CM. In an oblique reference to Avinash Reddy, she alleged that Jagan had awarded the Kadapa MP ticket to individuals named in Vivekananda Reddy's murder and that she vehemently opposes this. She alleged that Jagan was misusing power to shield the killers.

“I am contesting from Kadapa to make sure that the killer does not enter the legislature again. I am fighting for justice,” she said, targeting Avinash Reddy, who is seeking reelection for a third-consecutive term.

The Congress leader said Jagan Mohan Reddy mortgaged the state’s interests, including special category status for Andhra Pradesh and the Polavaram project with the BJP government at the Centre.

On her part, Sunitha Reddy appealed to the people to elect Sharmila in this fight for justice for her father Vivekananda Reddy.

ExERCISE CAN REvERSE AGEING

Exercise can help stop the build-up of lipids a type of fat that accumulates as the body’s tissue gets older and thus aid in reversing ageing.

A team of scientists from Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), in the Netherlands, conducted a study on both humans and mice.

The study results revealed the presence of specific lipids that indicate tissue ageing and which can be decreased through exercise.

“The

ageing is something that was long considered science fiction, but these findings do allow us to understand a lot more about the ageing process,” said Riekelt Houtkooper, Professor at the laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases of Amsterdam UMC.

“Everyone says that ‘it’s just part of getting older,’ but this doesn’t actually have to be true. By understanding more about the ageing process, we can also look into new ways of

Georges Janssens, Assistant professor at Amsterdam UMC.

For the study in mice, the team investigated how the composition of fats caused changes in muscles, kidneys, liver, and heart.

They found a type of lipid, the bis (monoacylglycero) phosphates (or BMPs), were elevated in all tissues from the older animals.

The team also found a similar accumulation of BMP in muscle biopsies of older adults. But biopsies after one hour of exercise daily revealed a decrease in the level of BMPs, stressing the importance of exercise.

BEWARE oF FoREvER ChEMICAlS

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People love to consume lobsters, shrimp, tuna, and other kinds of seafood because these foods boost Omega-3 levels in humans.

However, eating them more frequently can increase the risk of exposure to a group of industrial chemicals called per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals,” according to a study.

Experts from Dartmouth College in the UK said that guidelines for safe seafood consumption exist for mercury and other contaminants, but not for PFAS. The study stresses

the need for more stringent public health guidelines that establish the amount of seafood people can safely consume.

“Our recommendation isn’t to eat seafood seafood is a great source of lean protein and omega fatty acids. But it also is a potentially underestimated source of PFAS exposure in humans,” said Megan Romano, corresponding author and Associate Professor of Epidemiology at Dartmouth College’s Geisel School of Medicine in the UK. In the study, the team measured the levels of 26 varieties of PFAS in samples of the most consumed marine species: cod, haddock, lobster, salmon, scallop,

shrimp and tuna.

The findings, published in the journal Exposure and Health, showed that shrimp and lobster carry the highest concentrations with averages ranging as high as 1.74 and 3.30 nanograms per gram of flesh, respectively, for certain PFAS compounds.

PFAS, which break down very slowly over time and can persist over thousands of years in the environment, are potentially harmful to people, wildlife, and the environment.

Studies have shown their exposure raises the risk of cancer, foetal abnormalities, high cholesterol, and thyroid, liver, and reproductive disorders

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n astounding 45 per cent of India’s population is dangerously close to being classified as ‘unhealthy’.

The data, derived from over 6 million users, serves as a wake-up call, hinting at an urgent need for transformative action in India’s health and wellness trajectory.

The data indicates that in 2023, a staggering 59 percent of women were

categorised as unhealthy, contrasting with the 40 percent of men, unveiling a significant disparity with a particularly distressing spotlight on the wide health gap between genders The report also showed that 16 percent of women fell into the obese category.

The health gender gap highlights the necessity for targeted health interventions tailored for women. This emphasizes a compelling need to

actively work towards closing this unjust gap. This explosive revelation from GOQii’s India Fit Report 2024 titled “Thriving at Any Age: The Blueprint for Healthy Longevity,” serves as a dire warning, especially for the women of India, who are facing an escalating health crisis, evidenced by a 35 percent spike in stress levels.

“It’s time we prioritize and implement comprehensive health

interventions to safeguard our nation’s future ” says Vishal Gondal, Founder & CEO, of GOQii.

Adding to the grave health situation is the fact that Indians continued to be plagued by stress, affecting the physical and mental well-being of individuals across all walks of life. The study exposes a grim reality where 26 percent of Indians report being trapped in the throes of work-related stress, while financial instability plagues 17 percent of the population.

An even more concerning trend is the sharp rise in stress levels among women, skyrocketing from 25 percent in 2021 to an alarming 35 percent in 2023.

The alarming rise in mental health concerns is closely connected to intense performance demands and high

expectations in professional sectors The impact of such high stress levels are adversely affecting not only individual mental and physical well-being but also diminishing workplace productivity and impairing personal relationships.

In addition to stress, lifestyle diseases significantly impact Indians. According to the latest GOQii India Fit Report 23-24, high blood pressure is affecting 23 percent of the population. The report indicates that there has been no respite from lifestyle illnesses.

Over the last 3 years, they have been consistently there with Diabetes, High Cholesterol, High Blood Pressure and Thyroid being the four most common lifestyle problems among people in India.

The World Health

Organisation estimates that these lifestyle diseases are responsible for 80 percent of all deaths worldwide. They are the leading cause of death in the developed world, and the numbers are increasing.

Lifestyle diseases impact people of all ages and from all walks of life. These conditions affect children, adults, and the elderly, however, they are most commonly linked with those in their later years.

This report is a clarion call for a sweeping transformation in India’s approach to health and longevity It’s not just an analysis; it’s a battle plan aimed at guiding the nation towards an era where optimum health and wellness are accessible to all citizens, transforming lofty ideals into tangible realities, Vishal said.

DElhI hC DIRECtS YAMuNA REvIvAl

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The civic administration in national capital is in chaos in view of the political enmity between the Delhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) government at the center.

Delhi witnessed

recurring issues of waterlogging, flooding and the degradation of the Yamuna River due to

acute pollution levels The AAP and the BJP have done almost nothing except criticizing each other.

In this backdrop, the Delhi High Court recently issued a comprehensive set of directives to

overhaul the national capital’s drainage and water management systems

In a suo-moto PIL aimed at addressing the recurring issues, a Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, stressed the acute challenges faced by Delhi,

particularly the severe impact of the Yamuna River’s overflow last year.

The Bench criticised the existing fragmented approach to drainage management, attributing it to a lack of coordination among various agencies and departments. Noting the urgent need for a unified command structure to facilitate inter-departmental and inter-governmental cooperation, the court outlined a vision for a proactive administrative stance against Monsoonrelated mishaps.

The decision comes in response to the national Capital’s apprehension of the Monsoon season, which has historically led to widespread waterlogging and infrastructure collapse.

In a move to consolidate efforts, the court mandated the Delhi government to centralise the management of all 22 open drains discharging into the Yamuna to a single department or agency by April 30

Further addressing the pollution and mismanagement affecting the Yamuna River, the court ordered comprehensive actions, including the geo-tagging of water bodies,

rejuvenation of degraded water bodies, and the enforcement of rainwater harvesting measures across government buildings by September 30.

for religious activities, ensuring a balance between cultural practices and environmental conservation.

Additionally, the court has called for immediate action to address sewage discharge from unauthorised colonies and informal settlements, directing the government to ensure 100 per cent sewage treatment to

The court also stressed the importance of public participation in these initiatives, proposing the creation of rainwater harvesting systems in low-lying areas as a community-driven project.

Recognising the ecological and social significance of the Yamuna’s floodplains, the High Court instructed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to clear encroachments and pursue green development projects along the riverbanks.

These include the construction of platforms

prevent untreated waste from entering the Yamuna.

In conclusion, the court’s directives mark a significant step towards mitigating the environmental challenges faced by the national Capital, aiming for a holistic improvement in water management and urban planning. The next hearing is scheduled for May 20.

GENDER GAPS IN INDIA’S BFSI SECtoR

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One in four women working in India’s banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) sector has been a victim of gender disparity in terms of recognition, fair pay, and workplace equity, according to a report.

The report by Great Place To Work India, a workplace assessment and recognition organization, is based on insights gathered from the feedback of more than 12 lakh employees from 167 organisations in the country’s BFSI sector.

The report showed an opportunity gap for women employees in the BFSI sector, indicating gend Fem were

found 5 per cent less satisfied with workplace equity compared to their male colleagues.

Gen Z (21 per cent) and millennial employees (15 per cent) showed a shift in priorities and expectations with the desire to seek meaningful work and a sense of impact within their roles.

Further, the report also identified a decline in employee perception within the BFSI sector. The highest decline was seen in fintech, health and general insurance, and investment verticals.

The decline was found to be maximum (approximately 10 per cent) among millennial and Gen-Z managers early in their tenure.

findings emphasise the importance of targeted strategies to address challenges unique to each vertical and demographic group.

“Despite offering unique benefits and healthy profit-sharing practices, a concerning trend emerges within BFSI workplaces. Employee sentiment has dipped, with a decline in trust and a sense of disconnect, particularly among millennial and Gen-Z managers in critical areas like fintech, health and general insurance, and investments. Their aspirations for a more caring and supportive environment can’t be ignored,” said Yeshasvini Ramaswamy, Serial r & Place o Work, ndia.

DIGItAl SERvICES ExPoRtS INDIA RECoRDS 17% JuMP

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India became the world’s fourth-largest exporter of digitally delivered services. It registered a 17 per cent jump in the export of digitally delivered services to a staggering $257 billion, according to the latest Global Trade Outlook and Statistics report of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

India’s growth rate was much higher than the 4 per cent increase posted by China and Germany.

According to WTO estimates, global exports of digitally delivered services rose to $4.25 trillion in 2023, up 9 per cent year-on-year, accounting for 13.8 per cent of world exports of goods and services.

Unlike trade in goods, which fell in 2023 globally and in all regions, exports of digitally delivered services continued to thrive.

In Europe and Asia, which hold a global share of 52.4 per cent and 23.8 per cent, respectively,

exports rose by 11 per cent and 9 per cent, the report said.

per cent), and information services (1.5 per cent).

“Use of artificial intelligence (AI), including models capable of creating content, such as text, images, music or even videos, increased rapidly in 2023 These technologies are set to revolutionise various

In 2023, business, professional, and technical services accounted for 41.2 per cent of world exports of digitally delivered services, followed by computer services (20.5 per cent), financial services (16 per cent), intellectual propertyrelated services (10.9 per cent), insurance and pension services (5.2 per cent), telecommunications services (2.6 per cent), audio-visual and other personal, cultural, and recreational services (2.1

aspects of the economy, leading to increased efficiency, innovation, cost savings, personalisation opportunities, creation of new jobs, and economic growth, further boosting trade in digitally delivered services,” according to the report.

MISMANAGED Pl AStIC WAStE

INDIA AMoNG toP 12 NAtIoNS

T H E W A l l p o S T B u R E A u

In d i a ’ s p e r c a p i t a p l a s t i c w a s t e p r o d u c t i o n i s a m o n g t h e l o w e s t i n t h e w o r l d B u t , i t f i n d s p l a c e a m o n g t h e 1 2 c o u n t r i e s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r 6 0 p e r c e n t o f t h e p l a n e t ’ s m i s m a n a g e d p l a s t i c w a s t e .

“ T w e l v e c o u n t r i e s a r e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r 6 0 p e r

c e n t o f t h e w o r l d ’ s

m i s m a n a g e d p l a s t i c

w a s t e : C h i n a , I n d i a , R u s s i a , B r a z i l , M e x i c o ,

V i e t n a m , I r a n , I n d o n e s i a ,

E g y p t , P a k i s t a n , t h e

U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d

T u r k e y , ” t h e r e p o r t s a i d .

T h o u g h t h e r e p o r t

c l a s s i f i e s I n d i a a s a “ l o ww a s t e - p r o d u c i n g ”

p o l l u t e r d u e t o i t s l o w p e r

c a p i t a p l a s t i c w a s t e

p r o d u c t i o n ( 8 k g p e r

c a p i t a p e r y e a r ) , i t s a i d

t h e c o u n t r y ’ s e x p e c t e d

m i s m a n a g e d w a s t e i n

2 0 2 4 w i l l b e 7 . 4 m i l l i o n

t o n s , w h i c h i s “ v e r y

h i g h ”

S t i l l , I n d i a ’ s

m i s m a n a g e d p l a s t i c

w a s t e w i l l b e l e s s t h a n

o n e - f i f t h o f C h i n a a n d o n e - t h i r d o f t h e U S .

T h e g l o b a l p l a s t i c w a s t e

g e n e r a t i o n h a s r i s e n b y

7 . 1 1 p e r c e n t s i n c e 2 0 2 1 ,

a c c o r d i n g t o t h e p l a s t i c o v e r s h o o t d a y r e p o r t b y S w i s s n o n - p r o f i t E A E a r t h A c t i o n . T h e w o r l d i s e s t i m a t e d t o h a v e g e n e r a t e d 2 2 0 m i l l i o n t o n s o f p l a s t i c w a s t e t h i s y e a r , 7 0 m i l l i o n t o n s o f w h i c h w i l l e n d u p p o l l u t i n g t h e e n v i r o n m e n t .

T h e r e p o r t a l s o c l a i m e d I n d i a i s e s t i m a t e d t o r e l e a s e a n a v e r a g e o f 3 , 9 1 , 8 7 9 t o n s o f m i c r o p l a s t i c s i n t o t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a n d 3 1 , 4 8 3 t o n s o f c h e m i c a l a d d i t i v e s i n t o w a t e r w a y s P e o p l e l i v i n g i n B e l g i u m a r e t h e t o p g e n e r a t o r s o f p l a s t i c w a s t e , w i t h a y e a r l y w a s t e p r o d u c t i o n o f 1 4 7 . 7 k g p e r p e r s o n . T h i s i s 1 6 t i m e s h i g h e r t h a n i n I n d i a , i t s a i d . O m a n t o p s t h e l i s t o f

c o u n t r i e s i n t e r m s o f m i s m a n a g e d p l a s t i c w a s t e , w i t h a p r o j e c t e d

1 1 1 k g o f m i s m a n a g e d p l a s t i c p e r p e r s o n i n 2 0 2 4 . T h i s i s 3 0 t i m e s h i g h e r t h a n N o r w a y .

I n d i a i s i n t h e b o t t o m 1 2 c o u n t r i e s .

T h e r e p o r t s a i d t h a t b y

A p r i l 2 0 2 4 , a l m o s t h a l f

o f t h e w o r l d ’ s p o p u l a t i o n

w i l l b e l i v i n g i n a r e a s w h e r e p l a s t i c w a s t e h a s a l r e a d y e x c e e d e d t h e

c a p a c i t y t o m a n a g e i t . O n S e p t e m b e r 5 , i t s a i d , t h a t t h e p l a s t i c

w a s t e p r o d u c e d

w o r l d w i d e w i l l s u r p a s s t h e p l a n e t ’ s w a s t e

m a n a g e m e n t s y s t e m s

a n d w i l l b e c a l l e d

“ P l a s t i c O v e r s h o o t D a y ” . E a c h c o u n t r y h a s i t s o w n “ P l a s t i c O v e r s h o o t

D a y ” , d e t e r m i n e d b y t h e

a m o u n t o f p l a s t i c w a s t e

g e n e r a t e d a n d t h e c o u n t r y ’ s c a p a c i t y t o

m a n a g e i t . I n d i a w i l l

r e a c h i t s P l a s t i c

O v e r s h o o t D a y o n A p r i l 2 3 , i t s a i d .

“ T h e d a t a i s

u n e q u i v o c a l : i m p r o v e m e n t s i n w a s t e m a n a g e m e n t c a p a c i t y a r e o u t p a c e d b y r i s i n g

p l a s t i c p r o d u c t i o n , m a k i n g p r o g r e s s a l m o s t i n v i s i b l e , ” S a r a h

P e r r e a r d , C o - C E O , a t E A

E a r t h A c t i o n & P l a s t i c

F o o t p r i n t N e t w o r k , s a i d .

“ T h e a s s u m p t i o n t h a t

i n c r e a s e d r e c y c l i n g a n d

w a s t e m a n a g e m e n t c a p a c i t y w i l l s o l v e t h e p l a s t i c c r i s i s i s f l a w e d .

W i t h o u t a g g r e s s i v e

r e d u c t i o n a t t h e s o u r c e , o u r s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t

p l a s t i c p o l l u t i o n w i l l b e a h o l d i n g p a t t e r n a t b e s t , ”

P e r r e a r d s a i d .

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ith temperature set to reach 40 degrees Celsius, doctors have advised caution on heat-related illness

Various parts of the country, including Bihar, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Kerala are already facing severe heat levels.

“Be cautious. Watch for symptoms like dizziness, disorientation, or warm, wet skin. These could indicate cardiovascular distress from extreme heat,” doctors id “Remember, heat can be deadly, especially for vulnerable populations. L prioritise our and adapt to t changing clim conditions,” th

“Stay cool, s Remember, a precaution go way in keepin related illness said the Healt issuing heatw

guidelines, on social media platform X.

Meanwhile, the doctors stressed to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids, even if one is not thirsty, and to opt for water or non-alcoholic, decaffeinated beverages.

“As summer brings the threat of heatwaves, it’s vital to protect yourself. Hydration is paramount; carry a water bottle when outdoors to regulate body temperature and prevent heat-related illnesses,” they said.

“Remember, dehydration poses serious risks, so drink water regularly to stay hydrated and maintain your well-being. By prioritising hydration and taking precautions against excessive sun exposure, you can stay safe and comfortable during hot weather conditions,” they added.

The doctors also advised to wear sunscreen, wear hats, and stay in the shade to minimise sun exposure; avoid strenuous exercise during peak heat hours, and wear loose, li h i h d li h

BlooD tEStS hElP DEtECt hEARt AttACK RISK

Atimely blood test can help doctors check the risk of heart attack, or detect how serious a head injury might be, thereby reducing time spent in the emergency room and no exposure to radiation from CT scans

This new approach was discussed at continuing medical programme Pathology Update, at King George’s Medical University recently. Experts said for heart attacks, doctors already have a simple blood test called troponin I (Trop I). Studies in Russia

and the US have found this test not only helps diagnose heart attack but can also indicate the risk of having one in the future.

A level of troponin I above 34 usually means a heart attack However, a level above 12 might suggest an increased risk.

Ideally, the level should be below 6 for a healthy heart, with 6-11 indicating a slight risk. The test values for females for a healthy heart are 4, 5-9 for mild risk, and over 10 for high risk.

Dr Neeraj Bhalla, a cardiologist, said: “People with diabetes, high blood pressure, those who are o erweight, or with a history of a heart attack should go in for a check of these levels every six months ”

Brain injury specialist, Dr Ketan Patel, explained that head injuries

could vary a lot– from lifethreatening to mild bumps with no lasting damage. This new blood test is a more objective way to assess the severity of head injury.

Instead of relying on CT scans, which aren’t suitable for everyone and involve radiation, doctors can use specific markers in the blood.

UCHL1 and CFAP blood can help them make better decisions about patients’ care.

“A positive blood test might indicate the need for further care in the hospital. Negative results mean allowing patients to go home sooner,” he said.

Prof Somil Jaiswal of neurosurgery and Prof Wahid Ali of pathology departments from KGMU suggested that blood markers offer faster diagnoses, avoid radiation exposure from CT scans and can ultimately lead to better patient care.

“In the future, these tests might even contribute to personalised medicine for head injuries,” said Jaiswal.

huMAN-CENtRIC APPRoACh CRuCIAl

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About 90 per cent of Indian organisations believe that building human-centric and accessible applications has become more cr i l than it was two year Human-centred application development refers to building applications and websites that are easy and comfortable to navigate across a diverse community of users.

Over half of Indian organisations plan t increase their investment in huma centred software design in the next year, according to the provider of cloudbased security solutionsProgress.

“As India embraces digital transformation, it’s crucial for organisations to prioritise human-

centric software design, ensuring inclusivity across diverse communities,” said Girija Kolagada, VP, Engineering, Progress “By investing in such development, businesses not only enhance user engagement but also unlock new market opportunities and reach previously untapped audiences,” he added.

conducted in 13 countries across North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia.

About 60 per cent of organisations believe a rapid increase in digital interactions is the key d i for the focus on -centric software in panies, the report entioned.

Around 98 per cent of organisations stressed the pivotal role of human-centric software, recognising its potential to enhance user ngagement and ntribute to societal re.

The survey was

ting human-centric digital experiences means personalising experiences and tailoring them to both people and their context, so they are as relevant as possible,” said Loren Jarrett, EVP & GM, of Digital Experience, Progress.

EGovt. Pl ANS MuSI RIvERFRoNt FuN

ntertainment, amusement and eatery circuits to come up

Top priority for Musi Riverfront Development on PPP basis

Just like the entertainment and eatery circuit developed around the Hussain Sagar despite the foul smell coming from the polluted water, Musi riverfront is likely to become the hotbed for entertainment, amusement and eatery circuits.

If the priorities of the current regime do not change, Hyderabad is likely to witness riverfront restaurants hosting candlelight dinners and night parties, shopping

malls, movie screens and amusement parks by the side of Musi River.

The state government is planning to develop Musi riverfront on a Public-Private Partnership This was disclosed by none other than the Chief Secretary Shanti Kumari at the 24th Board meeting of Musi Riverfront Development Corporation Limited (MRDCL) recently.

Shanti Kumari said the government is giving top priority to the development of Musi riverfront on a public-private partnership. She asked the officials to identify projects which could be taken up to boost investor and stakeholder confi-

dence in the project and to trigger growth in the area.

MRDCL Managing Director, Amrapali gave a brief overview of the entire project and said that timelines for all project components like feasibility reports, DPRs of all projects identified, concept master plan etc have been fixed. The draft master plan will be ready by the end of August, she said.

The board also resolved to consider the proposal for the protection, restoration and development of heritage structures around the Musi River in the city.

“Remember that the greatest crime is to compromise with injustice and wrong” Subhas andra Bose