The Observer Issue 21 Volume 20

The Observer An IIJNM publication

Second wave of Covid-19 pandemic has made the future of small sporting leagues uncertain | P 2

Vol 20, Issue 21

Monday, May 24, 2021

Travel ban came after they had made bookings

By Nishita M. Agath

S

Direct flights between India and Canada were cancelled on April 24 as a result of the second Covid-19 wave in India | Courtesy: KPN lines are announced, the rules will remain the same.

Owing to the pandemic, students received their visas late, leading them to book tickets as late as May 2021.

Trupti Patel, a student, said: “The visa process got delayed, and it took about a year for clearance.

I was to leave on May 17. But due to new guidelines imposed by the

government, I had to cancel the ticket and book a new one. The rescheduled ticket is around Rs1 lakh costlier than the earlier one.”

Meenakshi G, a student said: “I got my visa in April 2021, and booked a ticket for April 25. Now, I have to bear cancellation charges as well as (pay for) a more expensive ticket. My plans for studies and job seem vague.”

Oil & fuel prices in India may spike due to further sanctions on Iran

Gulf of Mexico storm alert could also play a part

Epaper:https://issuu.com/ theweeklyobserver/docs Website: http://www. theweeklyobserver.in

Direct flights between the two countries, India and Canada, were cancelled on April 24.

Rutvik Soni, a student who had booked a flight via the UAE, said: “My flight was not cancelled.

However, it was mandatory to get a Covid-19 negative report from the transit country. My flight’s layover was just three hours.

Within this duration, I can’t get my Covid-19 reports. This bothered several students. As a result, they had to cancel their tickets.”

The students find rules like three-day hotel quarantine and an RT-PCR test on reaching Canada stringent.

Shrey Modi, an Ahmedabadbased student, said: “I was to leave on May 1. I had done bookings for three-day hotel quarantine in Toronto by paying $1,100.

As the flights got banned all of a sudden, I am now clueless. As per the hotel authorities, they will not grant a refund.” They hotel will adjust the amount if he reaches there within a year.

Continued on page 6

News Briefs Hero MotoCorp resumes production Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, on Monday resumed production at all its manufacturing plants in India.

The company had on May 17 commenced single-shift production at its Gurugram, Dharuhera and Haridwar plants.

Narada case: CBI moves SC against HC order

The CBI on Monday moved the Supreme Court against the Calcutta High Court order which allowed house arrest of 4 Trinamool leaders in the Narada case.

Kalyan Banerjee of TMC slammed the Governer for directly giving permission to CBI.

User info linked to 18 cr Domino orders leaked Customer information related to 18 crore orders placed with Domino’s India have been made public by a hacker who claims to have breached the company’s servers. The day on which an order was placed on Domino’s website or app, the exact delivery location, and the amount spent were among the information put out by the hacker.

Bengal, Odisha brace for the cyclone Yaas

By Upasana Banerjee

By Abhishek Saini

O

il and fuel prices in India are expected to increase after the expiry of Iran’s nuclear monitoring deal with the UN. Another factor could be a storm alert in the Gulf of Mexico.

As per a Reuters report, the US National Hurricane Centre said a low-pressure system over Gulf of Mexico had a 60 per cent chance of turning into a cyclone in the next 48 hours. The 0.5% price increase in Brent Crude Oil futures for July to $66.7 in the early hours of Monday.

Crude oil price increased by Rs 44, reaching Rs 4,703 per barrel, on the morning of May 24. How-

@theweeklyobserver

Delhi University students are worried they will get their results late as exams are delayed | P 5

Indians who enrolled in Canada varsities in 2020 are stranded everal students who were to leave for Canada are now left stranded due to ban on flights from India.

Alpa Agath, a student, said: “A few universities in Canada have a rule that if a student studies more than half of a course from outside the country, then the course is considered an online course. I enrolled in 2020 and the second semester is to end by June-July 2021. If this situation prevails, and if the travel ban is not lifted, then my fees, as well as efforts, will be in vain.”

When the students enquired about the same, authorities at the universities responded that they have no update on the change in online rules. Until any new guide-

facebook.com/ twoiijnm/

On May 24, the petrol price in Bengaluru was Rs 96.31 per litre while the diesel price was Rs 89.12 per litre | Courtesy: KPN ever, experts are of the opinion that a sharper rise may be witnessed in the coming days.

Speaking to The Observer, Richa Mishra, oil and gas reporter for the Hindu Business Line said: “ A rise in global prices

may not immediately impact the prices since we maintain an inventory, but retail oil prices in the country will certainly see a spike in the future as procuring crude oil would become costlier.”

Continued on page 4

Kolkata: Cyclone Yaas is likely to hit the Bengal-Odisha coast between Sagar Island and Paradip on the evening of May 26.

Yaas, which comes days after cyclone Tauktae wrecked Kerala, Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat, is expected to acutely affect the Bengal coast after crossing north of Odisha as a very severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 155 kmph to 165 kmph.

Since Sunday, a depression has formed over the Bay of Bengal, causing drizzle in parts of Bengal.

“It is very likely to move slowly towards north-north west wards and will continue to move in the direction and reach Northwest Bay of Bengal near north Odisha and coast of Bengal by early morning of 26th May,” Dr Sanjib Bandopadhyay, deputy director general of IMD told The Observer.

Courtesy: www.windy.com “It will take a very severe form around noon on Wednesday.”

As precautionary measures the Odisha government has asked the Centre for 32 NDRF teams, whereas the West Bengal government has set up a war room at the Lalbazaar police headquarters.

Continued on page 6

SPORTS

2

The Observer Monday, May 24, 2021

Future of small sporting leagues bleak Athletes say it’s tough to work out at home

By Queeneerich K Shillong: Small sporting leagues that depend on training sessions for sustenance are struggling during the second wave of the Covid pandemic. Training centres, too, are running into losses with no players to train.

Arun Bhatt, director of the Stadium Football Club, Bengaluru, informed The Observer: “We have not been able to pay full wages to our coaches. We have made an agreement with them of paying only half of their salary. Some of them are in their villages, and paying them for no work can be taxing for the club.”

The club has been unable to train athletes for national tournaments because of the pandemic.

“Most games are cancelled or postponed,” Bhatt added.

The Stadium Football Club has not been able to scout for new talent. It managed to conduct online sessions during the first wave, something it has not been able to do now. It is waiting for the lockdown to be lifted so that athletes can continue their practice.

Ucilia Pyngrope, a basketball player from Shillong, said that

The Stadium Football Club, Bengaluru, has not been able to scout for new talent.| Courtesy: KPN after the first wave, the impact of the pandemic was not as severe as it is now. He and his team were able to participate in a few sporting events.

The second wave has led to the cancellation or postponement of sport competitions. “It has also shut down our training centre which, in turn, affects our progress as a team. It’s really hard to keep up with the same intensity as before without proper practice,” he added.

However, Uclioan and his team are still trying to continue prac-

tice with some light workouts and ball-handling sessions at home.

People running training centres say online training is not as effective as in-person training. It is not a great way to teach and learn when it comes to sports activities.

Jitin Prasad Behera, senior public relations manager of the Sport Hoodi Circle, Bengaluru, shared: “Revenue generated for the company relies on the number of athletes coming in for training.

Some of our regular trainees have left the state because of the lock-

down. It will take time for people to be confident to come back for training. The online activities that we have put up on our website are not very effective ….”

Mahatma Gandhi University student Midhulaj P.S. said: “I participate in university sports, but the complete lockdown has left us with no grounds to practise.” Though Midhulaj tries to stay fit, space and getting fresh air in a closed environment (home) remains an issue.

The proposal to conduct mass Covid testing of players and offi-

Closure of courses in Chandigarh affects training of young golfers Online coaching not the best way to train: Golfers

By Abhishek Saini Chandigarh: The closure of the Chandigarh Golf Course and practice range due to the lockdown imposed following the second wave of Covid-19 has impacted the training of golfers in the city.

Speaking to The Observer, Durlab Sidhu, a golfer who trains at the Sector 6 golf range, said: “The range is closed, so now we have to catch up at home. I try and practise my pitching in a nearby park.”

Golf, a game that requires a player to work on their body postures, demands constant drills.

“The training can just not be the same at home. The skill takes a hit. The next time we are allowed to hit the course and train, my body will take time to adjust and get back to its old shape,” Sidhu added. The pandemic has hit amateur golfers more than professionals since they lack advanced facilities and guidance.

Luv Gupta, an amateur golfer at the Chandigarh Golf Range,

Coaches tried coaching online | Courtesy: Gursimran Singh Sethi said: “I recently started playing golf. Now, without practice, my learning will be affected over time.” Gupta has not tried taking online coaching.

Gursimran Singh Sethi, a former professional who coaches at the Panchkula and Chandigarh golf ranges, said: “We as professionals followed all safety guidelines. But the situation in the country demanded that activities be shut. It all depends on players as to how they come out of the current situation. Even at home players can practise basics like

shadow swinging and pitching.”

Like most sports coaches, Sethi has tried to stay connected with his students via online sessions, but he feels the exercise has not been of much use. “Only a few people have the means and facilities to take online training. So it has been very limited so far,” he shared. The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation had ordered sports complexes and facilities across the Union territory to be closed from April 19 due to the rise in Covid-19 cases.

“We had to close the Chandi-

garh Golf Range from May 1. All activities have been halted since then. Our hands are tied. All we can do is hope to wait for the situation to normalize,” said Sanjeev Azad, secretary, Chandigarh Golf Association.

Another set of professionals affected due to the pandemic is the caddies at the Golf Club. The caddies, who carry kit bags for golfers during a game, are paid nominal wages for their services, ranging from Rs 150 to Rs 280 per game.

With no games happening at the course, a significant source of income for caddies has been hit.

As reported in The Tribune on May 19, the Chandigarh Golf Club has taken the initiative to help them out during the pandemic. President Ravibir Singh said the club has started transferring monetary help to the bank accounts of caddies employed by the club. Chandigarh is not the only city whose golf fraternity has been hit because of the pandemic.

The Indian Golf Union has cancelled nine tournaments across cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kolkata.Golfers are hoping a reduction in Covid cases will lead to restrictions imposed on golf ranges and courses being lifted, so that they can practise and participate in tournaments. abhishek.s@iijnm.org

cials on the sidelines of competitions, according to medical analysts, is unlikely to happen at this time. Shortly, sports may be held in vacant arenas.

Coach Lokesh SP of the Jyothy Aquatic Centre said: “It has been months that I have not been paid my salary, and it has been difficult.

We cannot approach the management regarding the salary as there is no work. It has been tough training the swimmers during online classes. Also, when the swimming pool was open, we had one-hour practice sessions in order to follow the SOPs given by the government.”

It is difficult to follow SOPs in swimming, he said, as against sports like badminton and cricket, where social distancing can be maintained.

The global economic downturn caused by the pandemic could transform the sports sector in ways previously unimaginable.

International cricket is expected to adjust, but hockey seems to have a bleak future.

Top Indian athletes are unlikely to suffer financial hardship as the Union sports ministry has promised that their out-of-pocket expenses, monthly stipends and training-and-competition expenses will not be affected. Infrastructure ventures, on the other hand, will be cut. queeneerich.k@iijnm.org

News Quiz 1. Which cyclone is expected make landfall in the eastern coastal states of India?

2. What is the name of the DRDO’s newly developed Covid anti-body test kit?

3. After how many days of violence did Israel and Palestine declare ceasefire?

4. Which central agency moved the Supreme Court against Calcutta High Court against its order in arrest of 4 West Bengal leaders?

5. Which olympian was recently arrested by Delhi Police in a alleged murder case?

6. After how many years is the famous television series Friends going to make a comeback on screens by broadcasting a special reunion episode?

7. Which producer refused to supply vaccine doses to Punjab?

Answers on page 6

Words of the day Heliacal: Relating to or near the sun — used especially of the last setting of a star before Copious: P r e s e n t i n l a r g e quantity : taking place on a la rg e sca le Peruse: To look over or through in a casual or cursory manner Blithesome: Wth lightheartedness or unconcern : gay, merry Rictus: The gape of a bird's mouth or a gaping grin or grimace Gadfly: Any of various flies (such as a horsefly, botfly, or warble fly) that bite or annoy livestock

The Observer Monday, May 24, 2021

3

BUSINESS

Asia’s marble market hit hard by Covid As workers go home, work comes to a halt

KISHANGARH BLUES

By Nidhi Kajaria

A

sia’s largest marble market in Kishangarh, Rajasthan, is badly affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Loading and unloading of lorries has completely stopped as labourers have returned home.

Himanshu Ladha, one of the partners at Universal Global Impex (UGI), a manufacturer and exporter of marble in Kishangarh, informed The Observer: “Where there used to be 600 lorries in a day now there’s hardly any. Each lorry yielded a revenue of Rs 7 lakh on an average. Imagine the loss incurred by us now.”

The marble industry is incurring losses due to the migration of labourers. Several have returned home fearing they will suffer during a strict lockdown.

Buyers and consumers around the country have also been affected as they are unable to proceed with construction activities.

Sanjay Agrawal, a resident of

The market has come to a standstill. Operations have stopped as labourers have returned home. | Courtesy: Himanshu Ladha Patna, said that due to restricted construction activity and no sales by the marble industry, he had to drop the plan to build a house.

“There are numerous reasons why I had to cancel the plan. Migrant labourers going back is the major one. More than half of the labour force was from Bihar. All of them have gone home due to rising cases of Covid-19.”

Himanshu Ladha said: “Our business mainly depends on loading and unloading which only the

labour force can do.”

Kishangarh Marble Market is Asia’s biggest marble mandi (market). More than 9,000 marble sellers, suppliers, manufacturers, and exporters/importers are involved in large scale marble trading at this place.

The downturn in construction activities worldwide has impacted marble market growth and the supply chain.

“There’s zero demand from construction companies and sites. It

l Our business mainly depends on loading and unloading which only the labour force can do.It has completely stopped as labourers have returned home.

– Himanshu Ladha, partner at Universal Global Impex l There’s zero demand from construction companies and sites as construction for personal purposes has been stopped.

– Sachin Dohdiya, marble seller l Due to stringent rules and lockdown, sales have gone down, leading to unbearable losses.

– Ashish, owner of UGI is because construction for personal purposes has been stopped by several state governments,” said Sachin Dohdiya, another seller from Kishangarh.

Marble manufacturers and wholesalers of Kishangarh said that they used to sell marble and granite to godown owners who used to resell it to potential buyers after adding a profit.

Ashish, owner of UGI, said: “Ever since the pandemic, due to stringent rules and lockdown,

O2 cylinder industry in Gujarat hit by ban on oxygen supply to it State govt hasn’t lifted ban despite Centre’s order

‘POOR GOVERNANCE’

By Nishita M. Agath

A

ban on oxygen supply to the oxygen cylinder industry in Gujarat has put the manufacturers in hardship.

Rahul Lal, a manufacturer at Gandhidham, said: “In Gujarat, oxygen demand for medical purposes has risen to around 1,600 tonnes per day. However, the daily requirement of oxygen used in oxygen cylinder-manufacturing companies is just about 5 per cent of the total. Without manufacturing oxygen cylinders, a government will never be able to fulfill its medical requirements.

Vague plans are always an evidence of poor governance.”

Mukesh Kanani, another manufacturer at Gandhidham, informed The Observer: “Every month, at least 20,000 cylinders are manufactured in our plant.

However, in the absence of oxygen, we are unable to meet the demand. There was a 10 per cent rise in the demand for the cylinders in the past two months. At present, we cannot fulfill orders as there is no oxygen.”

The ministry of home affairs issued an order saying oxygen will not be used for industrial purposes except for nine industries.

Although oxygen cylinder manu-

Units manufacturing oxygen cylinders are shut due to state ban | KPN facturers are included in the list, Gujarat authorities have not lifted the ban yet.

Rahil Andaani, a manufacturer ,Gandhinagar, complained: “Despite the order by MHA, the state govt is still not lifting the ban. We used to supply o2 cylinders to other states like Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi, but the oxygen ban has led (us) to close shutters.”

Hitesh Gorasia of Giriraj Industrial Gases at Rajkot, said: “Ninety per cent of our business is affected due to this ban. There is a huge demand among the customers and they are ready to pay a higher price. We need just five tonnes of oxygen per month to

manufacture oxygen cylinders.”

The Gujarat government’s inaction has added to problems such as shortages of ICU beds and medicines, and problems with inoculation. Every day, more than 100 patients die in the state due to a shortage of oxygen.

Doctors consider the oxygen ban a serious issue.

Sanjay J, a doctor at Rajkot, said: “Every day several patients are dying due to oxygen shortage.

Instead of importing oxygen cylinders, the government should allow manufacturers to use liquid oxygen. The requirement for industries seems little. Hence, the issue must be addressed.”

High demand has led to a rise

l Without manufacturing oxygen cylinders, a government will never be able to fulfill its medical requirements. Vague plans are always evidence of poor governance.

– Rahul Lal, oxygen cylinder manufacturer l Ninety per cent of our business is affected. There is a huge demand among the customers and they are ready to pay a higher price.

- Hitesh Gorasia, oxygen cylinder manufacturer l Instead of importing oxygen cylinders, the government should allow oxygen cylinder manufacturers to use liquid oxygen -Sanjay J., a doctor in price. As medical oxygen is critical in treating Covid-19 patients with serious illness, citizens are willing to pay double the price and sometimes more.

Harsh Tilva said: “There is a high demand for oxygen in industrial sector. All of our orders are on a halt as the industries have shut. The pandemic is not going to end anytime soon.”

The state government should get the industries to reopen as soon as possible, Tilva added.

Sagar Goresra, customer, said: “We are ready to pay extra price for oxygen cylinders.” Covid-19 has affected business by 90 per cent, he further added. nishita.a@iijnm.org

sales have gone down, leading to unbearable losses.”

The sale of marble and granite also depends on the production capacity of a particular firm. During the second wave of Covid, with everything shut, production has come to a halt as well, leading to nil or minimal sales.

“Our production unit is shut for a month now. We don’t even have anything to sell,” Himanshu Ladha added showing grief.

The governing body of the marble industry, Kishangarh Marble Association, under which all manufacturers and sellers are registered, is despondent. Anil Ladha of the association said: “More than 5,000 marble manufacturers and sellers are affected due to the current situation. We feel helpless. We can only hope for everything to get back to normal situation soon.”

According to Fortune Business Insight, consumption in developing countries is estimated to remain low as there is a huge shortage of skilled labourers.

In 2020, the marble market was estimated to be US$13 billion. It is projected to reach $16 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 3.6% from 2020 to 2025. nidhi.k@iijnm.org

Twitterati talk @PChidambaram_IN

After Delhi and Telangana, Maharashtra has suspended vaccination of 18-44 years age group citing shortage of vaccines Yet, the Union Home Minister/Ministry denies any shortage of vaccines!

@rameshlaus

Since #lockdowns are getting extended by several states, Time for #RBI and Union Finance Minister @nsitharaman Ji to consider #EMI Moratorium for consumer loans.. Not everyone will opt for loan restructuring.. #EMI Moratorium is simple and easy for consumers

@pbhushan1

"Delhi govt is not in favour of Board examinations being conducted in any form, Sisodia said on Sunday. He said Class 12 students across the country must be vaccinated before any exam."

Data shows children at virtually no risk. Playing with their lives

@ANI

Delhi HC asks Drug Controller General of India to conduct an investigation into the distribution of medicines by MP Gautam Gambhir Court says Gambhir has actually done a disservice, unintentionally maybe. Shouldn't he have realised that medicines were in shortage, asks Court.

@Breakingviews

State Bank of India has emerged from the first year of the pandemic in better shape than it started. On some measures the $50 billion group has even outperformed other major banks. That shakes a stereotype that state lenders are worst in class.

CITY

4

The Observer Monday, May 24, 2021

Update for OnePlus 7 series phones leaves users unhappy ‘Hangs, heats up, has WiFi issues, battery drains fast’

By Padmini Dhruvaraj Bengaluru: The OnePlus OxygenOS 11 (Android 11 OS) update for the OnePlus 7, 7 Pro, 7T and 7T Pro phones has been problematic, users say.

Chandan D.N., who uses OnePlus 7 Pro, informed The Observer: “After the latest Android update, my phone has become sluggish and hangs very often.”

Common problems faced by OnePlus 7 series users include overheating, battery draining, slow UI, frame rate drops, WiFi connectivity issues, etc.

Subhjeet Obray, an OnePlus 7T user, tweeted: “After the latest software update, my OnePlus has become BugPlus.”

OnePlus is known for its gaming features. The failure of the recent update has dropped the frame rate, affecting the gaming experience of the ganme lovers.

Dinesh Dinakar, an OnePlus 7 Pro user, took to Twitter and said:

The recent update has dropped the frame rate, affecting the gaming experience for which OnePlus is known for | Padmini Dhruvaraj “My OnePlus 7 Pro has a huge problem with the screen, when I am playing a game I feel like it’s a 2GB RAM phone and not 8GB.” The public version of Oxygen OS 11 that delivered the Android 11 OS after several beta versions.

The testing of that version rolled out in March 2021.

Because of these issues, users

want to go back to Android 10. “It has been more than a month since I updated my phone and the company has not fixed it with a new update. So I will remove this update and go back to Android 10,” Chandan said.

A lot of complaints have been registered online.

OnePlus has officially not ac-

Covid-19 does not spread from animals to people, says PETA

knowledged any issues.

Suraj Naik, a tech support engineer at OnePlus Exclusive Service Center, Cox Town, agreed the problem is because of the company’s update. “We have been getting calls regarding software issues in the OnePlus 7 series.

The updated software is not suitable for these devices. However, rebooting might help.”

A few OnePlus service centres in Bengaluru are not accepting software servicing.

Deepak KM, a worker at an OnePlus service centre in Jayanagar area of Bengaluru, said: “We are accepting only hardware problems; software issues will be fixed after the lockdown. We will also write a letter to the main branch once the lockdown gets over” Users of the OnePlus 7 series complain the software glitch is a marketing strategy so that users buy 9 series phones released on March 23, this year.

Atul Khatri, a standup comedian, took to Twitter and said: “The Android 11 update on my OnePlus 7T is amazing. It has slowed my phone so much that I am forced to buy the OnePlus 9.” padmini.d@iijnm.org

Citizen’s Voice Banks’ false promises to staff on vaccination

Bank employees don’t get to work from home as most bank work cannot be done remotely.

Being frontline workers, they are supposed to get vaccination on a priority basis. However, the ground reality is that most banks have just made promises and not taken any initiative to get their employees vaccinated.

Nidhi Kajaria

Centre should acquire vaccines from abroad

The Centre needs to maximise its efforts to enhance the vaccine production capacity. It should acquire vaccines from foreign manufacturers as the latter are refusing to supply doses directly to state governments. Unfortunately, the Delhi government has halted inoculation of the 18-44 age group.

Dhruv Raghav

Cut agri subsidies, spend more on defence

Despite facing repeated crashes and deaths, the Indian Air Force still depends heavily on MiG-21 Bisons to train its pilots. It is high time the government reduced its expenditure on dead subsidies given to the agriculture sector, and spends more on upgrading the capability of India's armed forces.

Abhishek Saini

India increases dependence on the USA for oil import

By Queeneerich K

T

he NGO People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals on Monday claimed no cases of animals spreading Covid19 virus have been reported, so humans can take care of pets at home without any risk.

According to a BBC article, scientists say there is currently no evidence that animals play a significant role in spreading the disease to people.

Pet owners, however, have got their pets vaccinated with other immunity boosters.

Galan Bevant Lyngdoh, a pet owner, informed The Observer: “I have a dog named Biggie. Luckily I got him vaccinated before the recent lockdown. But just like humans, pets can fall sick anytime.”

Scientists are developing Covid-19 vaccines specially designed for animals. In April, Russia announced it had registered the world’s first animal-specific jab, the BBC report said.

Dr Ram Jatan, a senior veterinarian in Delhi, said coronavirus is not spread from pets to humans. “Covid-19 has been found in a variety of wild animals, including big cats, in Indian zoos.

For testing, the samples were sent to the Indian Biological Sciences and Research Institute (IBRI),” he informed ANI. Dr Pawan Cesan, a veterinar-

Continued from page 1 BBC reported in April that Russia claimed it had registered world’s first vaccine for animals ian in Bengaluru, said: "According to the latest studies, animals do not transmit Covid-19 to humans, nor do humans are at a risk of receiving Covid-19. However, cases of Covid-19 in lions have been reported.”

Union health minister Harsh Vardhan on April 12 said human health could not be seen in isolation in an age of increased contact between humans and animals, requiring a “one-health” solution.

“With increased contact between humans and animals, human well-being can no longer be seen in isolation,” he said.

Covid is more than a reminder of it, Vardhan said while releasing the journal of the Indian Council of Medical Research.

In April, two lionesses at the

Etawah Safari Park, Uttar Pradesh, tested positive.

SARS-CoV2 virus has also been detected in eight Asiatic lions at the Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad.

Some zoologists believe that the Covid-19 vaccine being given to humans can be effective in animals in the same manner.

Madan Chaturvedi, a zoology professor at the University of Delhi, said: “If an animal is affected by the virus, it shows the same symptoms as that of a human and can be treated with the same antibiotics given to humans. Based on recent findings by different researchers, no animal has directly transmitted SARS-CoV2 to humans.” queeneerich.k@iijnm.org

I

n 2020, US oil production from the Gulf of Mexico was recorded at 1.65 million barrels per day, according to the US Energy Information Administration. This is estimated to increase by 15-20 per cent in the next two years.

India, over the recent years, has increased its dependence on the US for oil imports, with the former ordering close to 5.5 lakh barrels in February 2021.

Another possible factor for global crude oil price increase could be the expiry of Iran’s nuclear monitoring deal. It could result in sanctions imposed on Iran.

A.K. Ramakrishnan, a West Asian studies professor at JNU, informed The Observer: “Iran has a great potential to produce oil, which has been restricted to a great extent by various sanctions imposed on it. However, an in-

crease in production by other OPEC countries has motivated Iran to increase its production as well. But further restrictions due to tense world political scenarios can lead to disturbed supply and rise in prices.”

India wanted to continue importing from Iran when the sanctions were dropped, but further sanctions could have an impact on that policy, Mishra added.

Mishra explained, India manipulates retail oil prices, which remain high even when global prices are low. The global perbarrel price of crude oil may not breach the $100 mark, but will average between $60 and $70.

India has witnessed a surge in retail oil prices in the recent months. A further increase in global crude oil prices will not only increase retail prices but will also increase India’s current account deficit. abhishek.s@iijnm.org

EDUCATION

The observer Monday, May 24, 2021

5

DU students worry over delayed exams Dean says open book exams will be conducted

By Dhruv Raghav New Delhi: Final-year students of Delhi University are worried because results will be announced late due to a delayed start of exams.

The university has announced that the exams will commence in early June, after a month’s delaywhich is worrying students.

“Top management institutes in India are supposed to start on June 30. Given their track record, there's no way they (will) finish exams and declare results anywhere near this timeframe,” said Harsh Agarwal, a final-year student of Shri Ram College of Commerce.

Agarwal has been offered admission by the London Business School for his post-graduation.

“What's scary is, what if colleges of higher studies don’t allow you to join unless you show them proof that you are a graduate...,” Agarwal said.

Some students have posted on social media their distress over DU exam dates clashing with their post-graduation entrance exams.

According to a May 12 Hindustan Times report, DU had announced the cancellation of online exams and postponement of exams for all students. This further created fear in the minds of

Du postpoing the exams repeatedly is delaying graduation of students | Courtesy: Du Math Department students. The report highlighted instances of several colleges asking their students to come to college for practical exams.

Agarwal said: “Physical exams are probably the least feasible thing. DU has foreign nationals studying in their colleges. So they need to be given a heads-up in advance to make travel arrangements. or elese they will face issues Given the current situation in Delhi, that seems out of the

question. Even students who live in India but are not based in Delhi need to make living arrangements for those 10 days in which they conduct exams.”

Naisha Bansal, a final-year student of Kamla Nehru College, said: “The university has postponed exams repeatedly, which is delaying our graduation. This wave has affected young people more this time . Hence, it was logical to ask for a postponement but

not an indefinite one.”

Bansal said she is unhappy with the university’s decision to cancel optional online exams and open book examinations (OBEs) that were conducted in 2020.

The All India Students Association (AISA) has been opposing the decision of conducting exams for students of any year in view of the pandemic.

Prasenjeet Kumar, working general secretary of AISA, said:

With schools and colleges closed, demand for home tutors registers a surge in Bihar Many teachers have enrolled on education apps

By Nishant Kumar Sitamarhi: With educational institutions closed, the number of private tutors in Bihar has increased in recent months.

Prakash Kumar, a teacher at Saraswati Vidya Mandir, Sitamarhi, said: “Schools have been closed for more than a year, and I was left with no source of income.

But for the past three months, I have been working as a home tutor.” He earns remuneration similar to what he earned before the pandemic.

Many private schools and coaching centres had opened during January 2021 after the Bihar government issued a Standard Operating Procedure allowing them to do so. But they could function only for a short while.

Saurav Thakur, a former teacher at Hellens Public School, Sitamarhi, said: “Just four months after the start of the pandemic, the school fired all non-permanent teachers. Since then, I have been working as a private tutor.

“We do fear police for breaking lockdown regulations, but we manage to reach our students’ homes,” Thakur added.

Many teachers have now enrolled themselves on apps like Tutorsgroup to find teaching opportunities. These apps charge one month's salary from teachers if they find students for them.

“All my colleagues have joined Tutorsgroup as we are not skilled enough to teach through the online mode.” Teaching subjects like

physics and mathematics through presentations is not easy, Thakur said.

Several parents are apprehensive of the Covid-19 pandemic but still get private tutors to come home for their children as they have no other option.

Devesh Jha, the father of a class 12 student, said: “Even though my son can’t go to school or coaching institute, his studies can’t be compromised. The Covid19 situation is under control in

Sitamarhi, but we take all necessary precautions.”

The total cases in Sitamarhi are about 8,500 with active cases falling to around 700. Daily new cases are under 70.

“Even though I have enrolled myself into Allen Coaching Institute for a distance learning program, it’s better to have a teacher physically present to explain difficult concepts,” said Monika Kumari, a NEET aspirant.

Bihar’s students are not equipped for online learning.

They have several challenges like a lack of computers and an absence of stable Internet connections. The most disadvantaged among students are those who study in government schools and don’t have a basic understanding of digital learning.

Brajkishor Bhagat, the owner of Tutorsgroup, said: “The enrolment of both teachers and students has increased during the pandemic. We are looking to expand our operations to all over India in the near future.”

A report published in the Business Standard said: “More than 80% of parents with children studying in government schools reported that education was ‘not delivered’ during the lockdown.” nishant.k@iijnm.org

“Everybody has been affected by Covid. Students have tested positive; families have tested positive.

Our association has talked to the university dean regarding a set of guidelines for students who have been affected by Covid, and also have demanded cancellation of exams or employing an alternative method for not just first- and second-year students but for all as Covid has affected all.”

Manu Sakunia, a career counsellor, said: “Cancellation of exams can’t be a solution. Final-year exams are very important as they are career-defining. I do agree that there is an environment of uncertainty, but students should not be worried. This is not an Indian thing but something which is happening across the world, so everything is bound to be delayed.”

Sakunia said several universities have started accepting previous semester mark sheets till the final degree is issued or a provisional certificate in case the exams have been conducted.

Prof. D.S. Rawat, dean of examinations, denied the Hindustan Times report, calling it factually incorrect. “The university has decided to conduct examinations from June 7, 2021. We have decided to conduct OBEs as notified earlier. Students should not worry.”

As the university takes its final decision, there is a trust deficit among the students who have been distressed about their future. dhruv.r@iijnm.org

SolAr HAlo in BengAluru’S Sky

A rainbow-like halo that encircled the sun could be seen in Bengaluru’s sky on Monday| Credit: Padmini Dhruvraj

S

un halo, which is commonly known as a rainbow around the sun, is the phenomenon that happens because of refraction and reflection when light interacts with ice crystals in the atmosphere. Its form is a ring with an apparent radius of approximately 22° around the Sun and is usually seen during the cold days. The same thin clouds can cause a ring, or halo, around the moon at night.

Halos around the sun or moon are caused by high, thin cirrus clouds drifting high above your head.

Lunar halos are signs that storms are nearby.

NATION

6

Mumbai gets 239 new centres for inoculation

The Observer Monday, May 24, 2021

Covid-19 stats of India today

Each vaccination centre will be given a stock of 100 vaccines per day.

The timings of the vaccination centres will be different | Courtesy: KPN

By Nishant Kumar Mumbai: The Covishield vaccine will be administered at 239 more centres in Mumbai from Tuesday.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday said vaccination will be done on the basis of on-the-spot registration starting Tuesday. The decision was taken after Maharashtra recorded more than 26,000 cases of Covid-19 in a single day.

The second dose will be administered only when a provisional

certificate of the first dose is produced. The second dose will be given to healthcare workers, frontline workers and people above the age of 45.

Each vaccination centre will be given a stock of 100 vaccines per day. The timings of vaccination centres are different.

People who have completed 84 days after receiving the first dose of the Covishield vaccine will be eligible to get the second dose.

Those above the age of 60 will get both doses. Twenty per cent of the registrations will be for the first dose and walk-ins.

Dr Tushar Shah, a Mumbai doctor, said: “This decision will help more people get the second jab which is essential for being fully vaccinated. This benefits health, frontline workers and people aged 45 plus.” nishant.k@iijnm.org

‘The final decision lies Yaas is second intense with Canada’s govt’ cyclone since 1980 Continued from Page 1 he non-refundable terms and conditions of the hotel have proved to be a burden on my family,” Modi added.

A sudden ban without any notice resulted in inconvenience to many students.

Kiran Wagh, another stranded student said: “I had booked a ticket for April 24 and reached Delhi. My flight was from Ahmedabad to Toronto with a stop at Delhi. On reaching Delhi, I got the news about the flight ban. I haven’t even received a refund yet. Now I have to defer my travel plans. Further, money for the ticket and the hotel booked is non-refundable. I cannot take a risk before the situation becomes stable.”

According to some travel agents, the flight ban will be lifted in June. But others claim

T

that they don’t have any update on the same.

Kaushal Giriraj, an agent, said: “There are no official guidelines from the government of Canada.

But the tickets for direct flights are open from 1 June 2021. Several students have booked them for mid-June. However, the final decision lies with the government of Canada.”

Raghav Shah, another agent, said: “According to news reports, all Air Canada flights are banned till June 22. However, bookings are open for Air India flights from June 1. Further, refund for students who cancelled their flights due to the uncertainty might be done within one month by airline authorities.”

With a decrease in Covid-19 cases, the students hope that the situation improves. nishita.a@iijnm.org

Continued from page 1 eteorologist Akshay Deora tweeted: “Cyclone Yaas will become the second intense tropical Cyclone (severe cyclonic storm or above as per the IMD scale) to have formed to the north of 15° N latitude and West of 88° E longitude in the month of May since 1980.”

Around the same time in 2020, super cyclone Amphan wreaked havoc in southern parts of West Bengal with a wind speed of 185 kmph. People of the state still remember the damage the cyclone left behind. Thousands of houses were damaged, lakhs of acres of crops destroyed, thousands of trees uprooted and around 19 lakh were people evacuated in the wake of Amphan.

Ajanta Roy, a resident of south Kolkata, said: “During Amphan, we faced problems of waterlog-

M

ging. My entire first floor was filled with dirty water and several trees fell on the street. One huge branch fell on my terrace. I am really worried this time.”

The meteorology department has said cyclone Yaas has lower intensity than Amphan, but the sea will remain turbulent. Fishermen were asked to return to the shore by Sunday evening.

Kolkata’s municipal authorities and the power utility CESC deployed their personnel on Sunday morning. They are cautioning residents of dilapidated buildings .

The NDRF has positioned 46 teams; 13 other teams have been airlifted to be deployed from today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday held a high-level meeting with the states concerned and other agencies to review their preparedness. upasana.b@iijnm.org

Quiz answers 1.Cyclone Yaas 2. DIPCOVAN 3.11 days 4.CBI 5.Sushil Kumar 6.17 years 7.Moderna

Call taken after Maharashtra registers 26,000 cases in one day

Team Observer Editor: Nidhi Kajaria Copy Editors: Nidhi Kajaria, Nishant Kumar, Mahitha Owk, Queenerich K, Nishita Agath Reporters: Abhishek Saini, Queeneerich Kharmawlong, Nishant Kumar, Dhruv Raghav, Nishita Agath, Nidhi Kajaria, Padmini Dhruvaraj, Upasana Banerjee, Page Editors: Abhishek Dutta, Ashutosh Acharya, Nishita Agath, Dhruv Raghav, Mahitha Owk Proof Readers: Nidhi Kajaria, Dhruv Raghav, Ashutosh Acharya, Mahitha Owk, Abhisek Dutta, Nishita Agath