RNI No. APENG/2018/764698

VIJAYAWADA, SUNDAY MAY 10, 2020; PAGES 12 `3

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VIJAYAWADA | SUNDAY | MAY 10, 2020 vijayawada 02

PNS n VIJAYAWADA

Jana Sena president PawanKalyan on Saturday exhortedthe party leaders and activistsnot to join protests beingstaged by other political par-ties, including the TDP,demanding relocation of LGPolymers in Visakhapatnam asit is not appropriate to protestat this hour. Moreover, it wouldincrease the risk of theCoronavirus.

The TDP has been protest-ing joining the gas affectedseeking relocation of the chem-ical factory and establish a hos-pital in place of the factory. Ina statement, Pawan Kalyancalled upon the party activistsunder no circumstances theyshould protest joining handswith the affected or otherpolitical parties. He tweeted aseries of messages on hisTwitter handle in this regard

on Saturday.He observed, “The focus

should be on extending reliefmeasures to the gas-affected,but not on protests anddemonstrations. Some politi-cal outfits are demonstratingon the LG Polymers gas leakissue. The protests contributeonly spiking the number of

Coronavirus cases leading tosituation slipping out of hand.”

Therefore, he prohibitedthe Jana Sena activists andleaders not to take part inprotests and asked them toexercise restraint till fullreports were released by theState and Central govern-ments on the gas leak issue.

LG POLYMERS GAS LEAK

Pawan prohibits party activistsfrom taking part in protests

n The TDP has beenprotesting joining the gas

affected seeking relocationof the chemical factory

and establish ahospital in place of

the factory. In astatement, PawanKalyan called upon

the party activists underno circumstances theyshould protest joining

hands with the affected orother political parties

n Jana Sena chief observed, “Thefocus should be on extending

relief measures to the gas-affected, but not on

protests anddemonstrations.Some political outfitsare demonstrating

on the LG Polymersgas leak issue. The

protests contribute onlyspiking the number ofCoronavirus cases leading tosituation slipping out of hand.”

INS n HONG KONG

A two-week course of antiviraltherapy that combines thepower of three drugs hasshown promise in treating hos-pitalised patients with mild tomoderate Covid-19 in a care-fully undertaken phase II clin-ical trial.

The results of the trial, pub-lished in the journal TheLancet, involved 127 adultsfrom six public hospitals inHong Kong. The drug combi-nation tested in the trial includ-ed - interferon beta-1b, whichwas developed to treat multi-ple sclerosis (MS), lopinavir-ritonavir, which is normallyused to treat HIV and ribavirin,an oral hepatitis C virus drug.

The findings of the phase IItrial provided evidence that

early treatment with tripleantiviral therapy alongsidestandard care is safe and short-ens duration of viral shedding(when the virus is detectableand potentially transmissible)compared to lopinavir-riton-avir alone - average seven daysvs 12 days - in patients withmild to moderate Covid-19.

People in the triple combina-tion group spent 5.5 days lessin hospital on an average com-pared to those in the controlgroup, who received thelopinavir-ritonavir treatmentalone. "Our trial demonstratesthat early treatment of mild tomoderate Covid-19 with atriple combination of antiviraldrugs may rapidly suppressthe amount of virus in apatient's body, relieve symp-toms, and reduce the risk to

healthcare workers by reducingthe duration and quantity ofviral shedding," said ProfessorKwok-Yung Yuen from theUniversity of Hong Kong wholed the research.

"Furthermore, the treatment

combination appeared safe andwell tolerated by patients,"Yuen said. Previous researchfound that a combination oforal lopinavir-ritonavir andribavirin significantly reducedrespiratory failure and death in

patients hospitalised withsevere acute respiratory syn-drome (SARS) during the 2003outbreak.

Interferon beta-1b has beenshown to reduce viral load andimprove lung problems in ani-mal studies of Middle East res-piratory syndrome (MERS)Coronavirus infection. Thenew study involving Covid-19patients enrolled 127 adultsadmitted to one of six public

hospitals with laboratory-con-firmed SARS-CoV-2 (the virusresponsible for Covid-19)infection between February 10and March 20 of this year.

Participants were randomlyassigned to 14 days of either thetriple combination of orall o p i n a v i r - r i t o n a v i r(400mg/100mg) and ribavirin(400mg) every 12 hours, plusup to three doses of injectableinterferon beta-1b (8 million

international units) on alternatedays for patients admitted tohospital less than seven daysfrom symptom onset (86patients; combination group);or lopinavir-ritonavir aloneevery 12 hours (41 patients;control group).

In the trial, all patientsreceived standard care, includ-ing ventilation support, dialy-sis support, antibiotics, andcorticosteroids.

Treatment with the tripledrug combination effectivelysuppressed viral load (with nodetectable virus) in thenasopharyngeal swab within anaverage seven days of startingtreatment, which was signifi-cantly shorter than the average12 days in the control group,treated with lopinavir-ritonaviralone.

The findings of the phase II trialprovided evidence that early treatmentwith triple antiviral therapy alongsidestandard care is safe and shortensduration of viral shedding compared tolopinavir-ritonavir alone - average sevendays vs 12 days - in patients with mildto moderate Covid-19

PNS n VISAKHAPATNAM

Director General of PoliceGautam Sawang refuted theallegations that police are try-ing to shield the managementof LG Polymers registeringcases under soft sections.

He said, “The governmenthas formed a high-poweredcommittee to probe into theleakage of Styrene vapourfrom LG Polymers and basedon the report, police will fur-ther investigate into the caseand will initiate action againstthe responsible persons.”

The DGP and Special ChiefSecretary (Industries) KarikalValaven on Saturday inspect-ed LG Polymers plant andinteracted with the technicaland experts teams on theleakage of the Styrene vapourand measures taken by theteams.

Gautam Sawang said that

the Styrene vapour leakageincident was involved withmany technical componentsand elements, hence, the high-powered committee wouldascertain the reasons behindthe incident.

Gautam Sawang andKarikal Valaven said that thesituation was normal andunder control at RRVenkatapuram in Vizag citywhere the Styrene vapourleaked from LG Polymers that

have claimed 12 lives andleftover over 400 people hos-pitalised.

“Everything is normal andthere is no need to panic. Justto be on the safer side as perthe protocol, people within thethree km radius of the plantwere asked to stay away fromtheir homes for 48-hours andthe period will end onSunday,” he added.

Scientists and experts fromdifferent prominent institu-

tions and parts of the country,including New Delhi, will bevisiting the LG Polymers plantand they will review the situ-ation at the plant and give finalclearance, he added.

Karikal Valaven said thatthe temperature at the Styrenestorage tank where the vapourleak occurred has come downto around 100 degree Celsiusand it will further drop in thecoming days. Life will comeback to normalcy in a couple

of days, he added. Expertsfrom the PetroleumUniversity, Indian Institute ofChemical Technology and afew others are coming here toreview the situation, he added.

NDRF’s 10th BattalionCommandant Zahid Khan,who closely monitored therescue operations in theStyrene vapour leakage fromLG Polymers, said that theycan’t stipulate the exactamount of containment inthe incident.

He said that there is no fur-ther danger and it will takeone or two days to declare theRR Venkatapuram as a safezone, he added. Experts inChemical, Biological,Radiological and Nuclear dis-aster management fromNDRF and scientists fromNEERI have been working tobring down the emissions tozero levels, he added.

DGP denies collusion with LG Polymers

Two South Korean multi-nationals doing businessin Andhra Pradesh, Kia

Motors and LG Polymers, havebeen in the news recently forgood as well as for bad reasons.The former refused to be bul-lied by avaricious leaders of theYSR Congress, while the lattertried to take advantage of laxofficials by reopening a facto-ry handling hazardous chem-icals.

Three months ago, KiaMotors, a subsidiary ofHyundai, threatened to relo-cate its Rs. 8,000 crore plantfrom Anantapur to TamilNadu, after YSRC leaders triedto arm-twist it demandingcuts in its business. Now, wehave a situation inVisakhapatnam where publicanger may force an errant

chemical factory to re-locateits plant far away fromGopalpatnam, a residentialarea in Vizag.

The gas leak in LG Polymersthat killed 11 persons and ledto hospitalisation of hundredsis a poor advertisement for theJagan Mohan Reddy govern-ment's desperate attempt tomake Vizag as Andhra's capi-tal. The gas tragedy is a setbackto these efforts as Vizag hasagain proved that it is a veri-table tinderbox housingsundry industries and refiner-ies that process toxic chemicalsand fuels.

Big names in the public sec-tor such as HPCL, GAIL andHindustan Shipyard besidesCoromandel Fertilisers standcheek by jowl, dangerouslyclose to the Naval dockyard. Inthis deadly mix, accidents havehappened with alarming regu-

larity, taking a heavy toll onindustrial workers.

The A. P. Pollution ControlBoard, the District IndustriesCentre and the burgeoningrevenue machinery mustanswer why they exist at all inVizag. Styrene, the killer gas,which wrought havoc inGopalpatnam and five villagesaround, is included in theManufacture, Storage andImport of HazardousChemical Rules, 1989 which

are quite stringent.These ruleswere not followed by workersor supervisors handling thechemical due to laxity or inad-equate knowledge. Out of thetwo tanks for storage ofstyrene, one had 1,800 tonnesof the chemical against itscapacity of 2,400 tonnes.Surely, the handling of suchhuge quantity of styrene whichvaporises at higher tempera-tures, required due diligenceby the factory and government

officials.Its leakage and conse-quent harm to the public isnothing short of criminal neg-ligence by the factory manage-ment and the governmentagencies involved. The sus-pects must be taken into cus-tody lest they escape like

Warren Anderson did, alleged-ly with the connivance of theRajiv Gandhi government,after methyl isocyanate leakedfrom the Union Carbide fac-tory and killed thousands ofpeople in Bhopal in 1984.

Commenting on the judg-ment delivered by the SupremeCourt on the Bhopal gastragedy in 1989, former ChiefJustice of India P.N. Bhagwatisaid, 'the multinational haswon and the people of Indiahave lost'. The government didnot want to own responsibili-ty for striking a deal plainlyagainst the interests of the vic-tims. It used the judiciary…and the court fell a victim tothis strategy" (by concludingthat US$ 470 million was 'ade-quate' compensation).We don'twant another Bhopal. LG hasdeep pockets and must payhandsomely to families of

those who died, those who suf-fered physical injury and men-tal trauma.

Neither LG Polymers norKia Motors is packing its bags,but these developments reflectadversely on the AP govern-ment's discipline and commit-ment to promote an environ-ment where industries feelsafe from extortionists and, atthe same time, respect and fearlaws of the land.

The five-member commit-tee of IAS officers appointed bythe Chief Minister may servewell to suggest measures,including safety audits, to pre-vent accidents and fix respon-sibility on those who gave thegreen light for reopening thefactory during the lockdown.Several technical questionsneed to be answered such asthe reasons for not maintain-ing optimum temperature in

the tanks, the reasons for LGPolymers' failure to store suf-ficient quantities of theinhibitor, and occurrence of asecond leak on Thursdaynight. The answers are impor-tant as there were fears of ablast if the temperature hadexceeded a certain threshold.

Clearly the LG Polymersplant is no longer sustainablein Gopalpatnam, a crowdedresidential area. I can say fromfirst-hand experience as a res-ident of that area during 1974-75 that it posed an environ-mental threat even thenbecause it handled large quan-tities of alcohol for its distillery.Pungent smell perenniallyhung in the air, caused bysmoke emanating from itsnarrow chimneys.Anti-pollu-tion laws and the machinery toenforce them were almostnon-existent then.

The real tragedy is that wehave numerous laws and mul-tiple agencies to enforce themnow. Yet, the result is thesame, if not worse.

S NAGESH KUMARFormer Resident Editor,

The Hindu

‘ALL ANDSUNDRY’

Big names in the public sector such asHPCL, GAIL and Hindustan Shipyardbesides Coromandel Fertilisers stand cheekby jowl, dangerously close to the Navaldockyard. In this deadly mix, accidentshave happened with alarming regularity,taking a heavy toll on industrial workers

Playing with fire in the City of Destiny

PNS n KAKINADA

East Godavari DistrictCollector Muralidhar Reddyon Saturday threatened toclose any industry if at leastone person working in it test-ed positive for theCoronavirus. He reviewed theindustrial safety in industrieshandling hazardous sub-stances here on Saturday.

Representatives of theONGC, GAIL, Coromandel,NAPCL and other units tookpart in the meeting. He saidthat in all 21 industries in thedistrict were identified as thatof hazardous and asked themto submit their safety auditreport in a week.

He directed them to conductmock drill on how peopleshould protect themselveswhen industrial accidents takeplace. The meeting assumedsignificance in the wake of thegas leak incident reported inLG Polymers inVisakhapatnam that claimed 12lives and left hundred sufferingfrom various complications.Moreover, he asked the indus-tries representatives to check

whether the siren is working ornot in their units and advisingthem to take the media supportin sensitising people on how toprotect themselves in case ofindustrial accidents.

He suggested installingCCTV cameras in all units andasked them to ensure thatthey are in functioning prop-erly. Because of the prevailinglockdown conditions, it wouldtake more time for experts toarrive in case of any industri-al accidents, he said. Therefore,industries should makearrangements for troubleshooting.

INDUSTRIAL SAFETY REVIEWED

21 industries in EG districtidentified as ‘hazardous’

PNS n VISAKHAPATNAM

Although passenger trainshave been suspended due tothe Covid-19 outbreak, butgoods trains and ParcelExpress trains are continu-ously running on all the rail-way tracks to maintaining sup-ply of essential commoditiesacross the country.

Recently Shramik Specialtrains have also been startedand many such trains are run-ning in ECoR jurisdiction also.

“So walking on the tracks oron rail lines is dangerous andstrictly prohibited. ECoR iscreating awareness campaignthrough every medium to edu-cate people not to walk or passtrain tracks, instead theyshould use limited height sub-ways and manned level cross-ings only,” said the ECoR offi-cials.

Trackmen, bridge repairstaff, station masters, over-head electric repairs staff, RPFstaff and other railwaymenhave been alerted to preventand report if any such trespass-ing is observed.

Despite awareness pro-

grammes, it is seen that manya time, people put their lives atrisk and cross the lines. Thispractice is prohibited and alsopunishable under Section 147of the railways Act. As per rule,nobody should cross or walkalong the track unauthorised-ly. Trespassers will be prosecut-

ed as per the law.Railways does not want to be

seen as prosecuting people insuch crisis situations, it is alsoimportant that people areproperly counselled to avoidcoming near the train tracks inthe interest of their personalsafety.

Muralidhar Reddy

PNS n VIJAYAWADA

Elaborate arrangements havebeen made to bring Telugupeople stranded abroad due toCovid-19 lockdown, KrishnaDistrict Collector Imtiaz said.“The first Air India flight isscheduled to arrive at theGannavaram airport onMonday morning," heinformed.

Speaking to media personshere on Saturday, the Collectorsaid that Non-ResidentIndians (NRIs) of the State,presently stranded in Mumbai,will be returning to the Stateon Monday morning by AirIndia flight. The flight will takeoff from Mumbai and will landat the Shamshabad airport inHyderabad before landing atthe Gannavaram airport, hesaid.

All the passengers, on theirarrival, will be screened inadherence to the medical pro-tocol at the airport. They willbe moved to quarantine cen-tres where they have to spend14 days, he said.

He added that the govern-ment has also arranged 1,200paid quarantine rooms in dif-ferent hotels and lodges tothose who are not willing tostay in government quarantinecentres.

Imtiaz said that all the pas-sengers have to undergoCovid-19 tests after complet-ing 14 days of quarantine.They will be sent home only ifthey test negative forCoronavirus, he said.

A medical team besidessanitation staff will also bemade available at paid quaran-tines. Police will continuous-ly keep a watch on people keptin paid quarantine rooms toensure they stay put there.

Stranded Telugus to landat Vja airport on Monday

Best Pricefined forlockdownviolationPNS n VIJAYAWADA

Probably for the first time, afine of Rs 10,000 was slappedon the Best Price, theWalmart Group franchisee,here on Saturday for violatingthe norms imposed forchecking the spread ofCoronavirus.

Following the instructionsof Joint Collector K MadhaviLatha, Vijayawada rural tah-sildar Sai Srinivas Naik visit-ed the Best Price and foundseveral irregularities in thefranchisee. The store manag-er, staff and some of the con-sumers were found to be notwearing masks and not main-taining the social distancingon the premises of the mart.There were some boys andelderly persons among them.The tahsildar in an attempt tosend a warning signal to thetrading community at largeimposed a fine of Rs 10,000on the mart for not followingthe norms.

PNS n VIJAYAWADA

The High Court and officesworking under the adminis-trative control of it, includingAP State Legal ServicesAuthority, Mediation andArbitration Centre and LegalServices Committee, willremain closed from May 26to June 12. Likewise, thesummer vacation is alsoannounced for the districtcourt and civil judges (seniordivision) and civil judges(junior division)-cum-judi-cial magistrates of First Classon the civil side, and rentcontrollers functioning inVisakhapatnam andVijayawada under the juris-diction the High Court.

Summervacationfor HC

ECoR alerts people notto walk along rail track

n The DGP said, “Thegovernment has formed a

high-powered committee toprobe into the leakage of

Styrene vapour from LGPolymers and based on the

report, police will furtherinvestigate into the case andwill initiate action against the

responsible persons”

n Gautam Sawang andSpecial Chief Secretary(Industries) Karikal Valavenon Saturday inspected LGPolymers plant andinteracted with the technicaland experts teams on theleakage of the Styrenevapour and measures takenby the teams

n Despite awareness programmes,it is seen that many a time, peopleput their lives at risk and cross the

lines. This practice is prohibited andalso punishable under Section 147

of the railways Act. As per rule,nobody should cross or walk along

the track unauthorisedly.Trespassers will be prosecuted as

per the law.

n Railways does not wantto be seen asprosecuting people insuch crisis situations, it isalso important thatpeople are properlycounselled to avoidcoming near the traintracks in the interest oftheir personal safety.

Triple antiviral drug combo shows promise in treating Corona

SUMIT ONKA n VISAKHAPATNAM

Tension prevailed at the LGPolymers India Private Limitedat RR Venkatapuram in Vizagcity on Saturday morning ashundreds of people staged aprotest in front of the plant afterplacing the corpse of one of thegas leak victims, demanding itsimmediate closure.

The agitation intensified atLG Polymers plant, whenDirector General of Police,Andhra Pradesh GautamSawang and Special ChiefSecretary (Industries) KarikalValaven arrived at the LGPI forinspection. Hundreds of vil-lagers, who were provided shel-ter in Visakhapatnam after thevapour leak, returned to the vil-lage this morning, raising slo-gans against the factory man-agement and demanding itsclosure.

The residents of RRVenkatapuram also tried tosurround the DGP. A few of theprotesters tried to barge insidethe LGPI breaching the policecordon and blocked the DGPconvoy demanding justice andthe immediate arrest of thecompany management.

NAVEENA GHANATE n HYDERABAD

A GK book prescribed for sec-ond standard students of schoolin Hyderabad created a stir as itasks students to 'Look at pictureand write the real names' ofactors.

The kids are being tested ontheir ability to identify KatrinaKaif, Tiger Shroff, Tabu,Rajinkanth, Rekha, Govinda,Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgnand Dilip Kumar as part of theirGeneral knowledge. Found inthe second class GK book ofDPS Mahendra Hills, it wasbrought to public scrutiny by aparent who shared with Vijay

Gopal, founder of NGO ForumAgainst Corruption.

Since schools are forcing chil-dren to buy textbooks that arenot recognised by either

NCERT or SCERT, parentsremain unaware of the prereq-uisities. Vijay Gopal said,“Under U/s 29 of RTE Act,syllabus must be as per govern-ment approved standards only.This is a huge cause of concernbecause kids have to studysomething that is non-stan-dardised and not approved byeither by state or central gov-ernment. Different schools in

same city or country have dif-ferent books. The knowledge isgetting distorted and certainlygeneral knowledge is going to bereally bad.

He pointed that the laws aresuch that dis-affiliation of theschool is the only penalty.“There must be stringentlaws which clearly state thatwhen you do something like this,they have to be imposed with

penalty. This is exploitation bythe school management ofresorting to selling private pub-lishers and imposing it on to par-ents spending extra money. Infact we even filed PIL plea inTelangana State High Court, inJune 2019, 57/2019 , that theEducation Department isrequired to have Grievance Cellto receive complaints; schoolsmust use books of only NCERTand SCERT and not those of pri-vate publishers; and that schoolsare not implementing Rule 14 ofRTE rules and not constitutingRight to Education ProtectionAuthority (REPA) as neededunder section 27 of RTE.

PNS n VIJAYAWADA

After hiking liquor price by 75per cent early this week, theAndhra Pradesh governmenthas decided to reduce the num-ber of retail liquor outlets, by afurther 13 per cent, to 2,934 bythis month end to curtail alco-hol consumption and help peo-ple "move towards a betterlife."

According to Special ChiefSecretary (Revenue) RajatBhargava, the government hasalso taken a number of steps tocheck illicit distillation of liquorand inter-state trade of non-duty paid liquor.

Now, the state governmenthas also decided to constitutean independent SpecialEnforcement Bureau to dealwith illicit liquor, with specialfocus on districts borderingneighbouring states like TamilNadu, Karnataka, Odisha andTelangana.

Retail liquor business in the

state is currently run by thegovernment, through the APState Beverages CorporationLimited, and the number ofoutlets was brought down to3,500 from 4,380 in August lastyear. With the latest decision,the number will drop further to2,934, according to Bhargava.

The state government, earlythis week, increased the liquorprice by 75 per cent when

shops were opened followingeasing of Covid-19 lockdownrestrictions. In order to createawareness among the public onthe evils of consumption ofliquor, the Madya VimochanaPrachara Committee was con-stituted and awareness pro-grams are being conducted allover the State.

"The government has takena number of pro-active steps to

further its commitment toreduce alcohol consumptionand help people move towardsa better life. It has been creat-ing awareness among people onthe harmful effects of alcoholconsumption and the serioushealth burden it imposed. Thereduction in the number of out-lets is to restrict the availabili-ty of liquor and safeguard pub-lic health," Bhargava said in anorder.

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VIJAYAWADA, SUNDAY MAY 10, 2020; PAGES 12 `3

Current Weather ConditionsUpdated May 9, 2020 8 5:00 PM

ALMANACMonth & Paksham:Kartik and Shukla PakshaPanchangamTithi : Tritiya: 08:03 amNakshatram: Mula: 04:13 am (Next Day)Time to Avoid: (Bad time to start

any important work)Rahukalam: 04:59 pm – 06:35 pmYamagandam: 12:12 pm – 01:48 pmVarjyam: 12:46 pm – 02:19pm, 07:00 pm – 04:13 amGulika: 03:24 pm - 04:59 pmGood Time: (to start any

important work)Amritakalam: 10:02 pm – 11:35 pmAbhijit Muhurtham: 11:47 am – 12:38 pm

TODAY

VIJAYAWADAWEATHER

The stategovernment, earlythis week,increased the liquorprice by 75 per centwhen shops wereopened followingeasing of Covid-19lockdown curbs

Forecast: Mostly sunnyTemp: 40/28Humidity: 46%Sunrise: 05:45 amSunset: 06:39 pm

12

TRUE TOHER NAME,FIREBRAND

State to reduce retail liquoroutlets to 2,934 by May-end

Protests break out callingfor closure of LG Polymers

PNS n VIJAYAWADA

TDP sokespersonPanchumarthy Anuradha onSaturday demanded that theYSR Congress PartyGovernment take immediatesteps to ease the burden of highpower bills received by con-sumers this month in all partsof the state.

Anuradha he said that therewas lot of variations in billsreceived by a consumer whowas slapped with a bill of up toRs 5,500 for April as against justRs 800 in the previous twomonths. Addressing a pressconference here, Anuradha saidthat highly inflated current billswere being served to middle-class families who were alreadyunable to manage their day-to-day lives due to unforeseenfinancial difficulties arising outof unexpected lockdown.Businesses were badly hit withno revenue to make both endsmeet. Most people weredepending on loans these days,which was why inflated bills

should be withdrawn,Anuradha said. The TDP leaderaccused the YSRCPGovernment of bringing Rs77,000 crore loans from differ-ent sources in the first year of itsrule so far but no developmentproject or activity was success-fully taken up or completed.

There were no effortstowards wealth creation unlikein the previous Naidu regimethat completed 70 per centworks in Polavaram projectand also 40 per cent works inthe world-class Amaravati cap-ital city project, she said.

The Delhi government has so far issued around 4.75 lakh e-tokens to buyliquor in the national capital, an official said on Saturday. Under the e-token

system, customers are given specific time for purchasing alcohol so that thereis no violation of social distancing norms by peoplequeuing up outside liquor stores. The e-token is senton mobile phones of registered people. The newsystem was introduced on Thursday in the wake oflong queues outside liquor vends and people notfollowing social distancing norms there. The Delhigovernment has allowed around 200 liquor shopsto operate in the city.

RECONSIDER HOME DELIVERY OF LIQUOR,WIVES OF CONG LEADERS URGE PUNJAB CM

DELHI GOVT ISSUES 4.75 LAKH E-TOKENS TO BUY LIQUOR

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said he is "totally healthy" andnot suffering from any disease. In a statement, Shah said rumours about his

health conditions have been spread through social media. "I am totally healthyand I am not suffering from any disease," he said in the statement inHindi which was posted on his Twitter handle. Shah said thecountry is currently battling the novel coronavirus pandemic andas the home minister of the country, he has been busy in his worktill late in the night and hence he could not notice such rumoursearlier. "When I came to know about it, I thought let theserumour- mongers be happy in such unrealistic thoughts andhence I did not give any clarification," he said.

Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi has been admitted to a hospitalin Raipur after he suffered a cardiac arrest at his home this afternoon. His

condition is said to be "serious" and is on ventilator support. Mr Jogi, 74, wasrushed to the hospital after he collapsed in his home garden at 12:30 pm.According to the medical bulletin, the 74-year-old leader was havinga regular day from morning, but apparently choked on a tamarindseed before the cardiac arrest. His wife, Renu Jogi, an MLA, andson Amit are with him in the hospital. A bureaucrat-turnedpolitician, Ajit Jogi had served as the first Chief Minister ofChhattisgarh from November 2000 to November 2003 in thenCongress government, after the state came into existence.

Fearing a surge in cases of domestic violence, wives of two PunjabCongress leaders, including a cabinet minister, have urged Chief

Minister Amarinder Singh to reconsider his government's decision ofallowing home delivery of liquor. The state governmenthad allowed the home delivery of liquor during thethird phase of the coronavirus lockdown fromThursday. Though there is no provision for it inthe Punjab Excise Act, 1914 and the exciserules, the decision was taken to ensuresocial distancing in the wake of theCOVID-19 pandemic.

AJIT JOGI SUFFERS CARDIACARREST, CONDITION ‘SERIOUS’

I AM HEALTHY, NOT SUFFERING FROMANY DISEASE, SAYS AMIT SHAH

NEW DELHI: LG Polymers India Ltd on Saturday blamed leakingvapour from a storage tank for the leakage of deadly styrenemonomer gas at its Visakhapatnam plant that killed 12 people andforced the evacuation of thousands. Status quo at the plant wasrestored on Saturday morning, the company said in a statement.The gas leakage from the plant was reported on Thursday morningafter the company tried to restart operations following the partialeasing of the coronavirus lockdown. "Our initial investigationssuggest that the cause of the incident is prima facie by the leakingvapour from the Styrene Monomer (SM) storage tank near the GPPS(General Purpose Poly Styrene) factory on Thursday, May 7," thestatement said.

LG Polymers blames vapourleak for Vizag plant tragedy

Number of recoveries surgesahead of infections in APPNS n VIJAYAWADA

Chief Minister YS JaganmohanReddy on Saturday instructedofficials concerned to concen-trate on providing the best pos-sible treatment to the Covid-19patients undergoing treatmentat the designated hospitals in thestate.

During a review meetinghere, the officials brought to thenotice of the Chief Minister thatpeople with low immunity andchronic ailments have suc-cumbed to the infection.

The efforts towards contain-ment of Covid-19 spread hasshown results in the State withthe number of people recover-ing being more than the num-ber of people testing positive.The State continues to lead thenation in the number of testsconducted per million popula-tion, the officials said.

While the number of dis-charge of patients was 45, thenumber of new cases wasrecorded at 43, the majority ofthem, 31, coming from oldclusters. The average number oftests per million in the stateincreased to 3,091 followed byTamil Nadu at 2,799 andRajasthan at 1,942.

The State has conducted a

total of 1,65,069 tests and onFriday itself, as many as 8,388tests were conducted. The ChiefMinister was informed that thatCovid-19 positive rate in thestate is 1.17 per cent against thecountry’s rate of 3.92 per cent.The Covid-19 mortality rate inthe state is 2.28 percent againstthe country’s 3.3 percent.

Three moreCovid-19deaths taketoll to 44PNS n VIJAYAWADA

The number of active Covid-19 cases slid below the 1,000mark to 999 in AndhraPradesh on Saturday thoughthe overall tally rose to 1,930with the addition of 43 in thelast 24 hours ending 9 am.

The Covid-19 toll in thestate also increased by threeto 44 while 45 more patientswere discharged from hospi-tals, according to the latestbulletin.

CHINNAM PRADEEP KUMARn VIJAYAWADA

When Chief Minister YSJaganmohan Reddy said thatthe world has to adapt andlearn to live withCoronavirus a few days ago,he was greeted with a wave ofcriticism from his opponents,more so from his arch rival

and Leader of the OppositionN Chandrababu Naidu.

Looking at the steep rise inthe positive cases acrossmany Chief Ministers, UnionMinisters and bureaucratsacross the country have start-ed to say that people shouldlearn to live withCoronavirus.

Telangana Chief Minister

K Chandrasekhar Rao fol-lowed by Delhi ChiefMinister Arvind Kejriwalcorroborated Jagan's viewby almost parroting him.Now, Lav Agarwal, UnionHealth Joint Secretary hasjoined the chorus, giving animpression that reality issinking in.

Centreconcerned overthe less numberof tests in TS

Reality sinks in, others agree with JaganPNS n HYDERABAD

After Telangana High courtpulled up state governmentover low Covid-19 tests, evenUnion health Minister forHealth Dr Harsh Vardhanexpressed similar concerns.

Since schools are forcing children to buytextbooks that are not recognised by eitherthe NCERT or the SCERT, parents remainunaware of the prerequisities.

LG Polymers claims that the gas leaked was

styrene. However, there areconflicting reports of other toxicgases being used in the plant.

This needs to beinvestigated thoroughlyto understand the

enduring health impact

— N CHANDRABABUNAIDU

Former Chief Minister

Jagan did not conduct an aerial

survey, did not inspectthesurroundings of thefactory, did not meet theinjured but he spoke to thecompany management first and describedthe company as a‘good one’— K NARAYANA,

CPI leader

Protesters jostle with police personnel in front of the LG Polymers factory in Visakhapatnam on Saturday, demanding closureof the plant following the styrene gas leak that killed 12 people on Thursday.

Guessing names of movie stars in textbook draws flak

Inflated power billsshocking, Govtmust act: TDP

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Covid-19:RebootingIndian Cities

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‘Trump adminto temporarilyban work-basedvisas’

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‘ALL ANDSUNDRY’

Playing with fire in the City of Destiny

VIJAYAWADA | SUNDAY | MAY 10, 2020 vijayawada 04

Enforcement Bureau to curbillegal transport of sand, liquorPNS n VIJAYAWADA

The government has decidedto set up a Special EnforcementBureau to curb illegal manufac-turing of liquor and illegaltransport of sand in the State.This was disclosed at a reviewmeeting by Chief Minister YSJaganmohan Reddy here onSaturday. The Bureau functionsas an autonomous body andtakes strict measures to pre-venting the illegal transport ofliquor among the States.

With the government takingfirm steps towards imposingprohibition, there are chancesof illegal transport of alcoholand manufacture of illicitliquor. During the previousTDP term, the enforcementsystem had failed to functionin the intended manner result-ing in the availability of liquorat permit rooms and belt shops.

Ever since the YSRCP gov-ernment came to power, strictaction is being taken againstthe consumption of alcohol.For the same, 20 per cent ofshops have been reduced

besides 4,500 permit roomsand 43,000 belt shops wereclosed. Taking a step forward,the State is now contemplatingto start Special EnforcementBureau.

The price of alcohol hasbeen increased by 75 per centand another 13 per cent ofalcohol shops have been closedtaking the total reduction ofshops to 33 per cent.

Director General of PoliceGautam Sawang will monitorthe Special EnforcementBureau, which will be headedby a Commissioner. Assistant

Superintendents of Police(ASPs) will work under theCommissioner in districts andeach ASP would have 20 to 30people working under him.They would be coordinatingwith SPs.

The main responsibility ofthe Bureau would be to preventsmuggling of alcohol, manu-facturing of illicit liquor andcorruption in sand transporta-tion. The Chief Minister direct-ed officials to providing bestinfrastructure and vehicles forthe effective functioning ofthe Bureau.

n The main responsibilityof the Bureau would beto prevent smuggling ofalcohol, manufacturingof illicit liquor andcorruption in sandtransportation

n The Chief Ministerdirected officials toproviding bestinfrastructure andvehicles for the effectivefunctioning of theBureau

n Director General ofPolice Gautam Sawangwill monitor the SpecialEnforcement Bureau,which will be headed bya Commissioner.Assistant Superinten-dents of Police (ASPs) willwork under theCommissioner in districtsand each ASP wouldhave 20 to 30 peopleworking under him

The Covid-19 lockdownhas led to a differentexperience of urban life

in cities. In many ways, thelockdown has valuable lessonsthat can be taken into consid-eration to reboot Indian citiesupon re-opening.

Let’s look at four measuresthat can be undertaken.

First, localities can be retro-fitted for walking, not only forautomobiles. To accomplishthis, homes should be locatedwithin a five-minute walk toschools and kirana stores.Obstacles such as fast highwayapproaches and access rampsshould be reduced in numberas well. Further, several areashave centres and these shouldbe renovated with cafes andinteresting shops and windowdisplays to promote pedestri-an traffic.

Second, traffic-calming mea-sures such as low speed limits,traffic bumps, and preservationof on-street parking should beenforced. All these serve to pro-tect pedestrians and inducewalking by residents.

Third, streetscape should bepromoted. This can be doneby, (1) building houses closeto the lot line so that peoplecan easily interact, (2) movingaway from convention ofbuilding narrower streets, thuscreating a slower traffic pat-tern and more neighbourlyinteraction across the street,and (3) visually de-emphasis-ing parking meaning andplacing behind, instead of infront of, buildings and hous-es. Fourth and last, areasshould be made self-suffi-cient in waste management,using recycled water and elec-tricity supply.

Such tweaking of localitiesis possible and will requiredemolishing old structures,followed by redevelopment.This will also include creatingnew layouts - France followedthis method during the 18thCentury and the US during

the early parts of the 20thCentury. However, thismethod is no longer the firstmethod of choice in urbanplanning.

Another way is to recycle(retrofit) localities withoutlarge-scale demolition. Forthis, let us look at what PatrickGeddes explored during 1915-19 for 18 Indian cities (e.g.Tanjore, Madurai, Balrampur,Lucknow and Indore). Geddesunderstood the importance oflocal context in India and wasagainst the policy of ‘sweeping

clearances’. He would firstconduct a diagnostic surveyfollowed by ‘constructive andconservative surgery’. Thediagnostic survey starts withan assessment of the nature ofgrowth of the city.

The city seems chaotic tothe modern eye trained to amechanical order, however,there is an underlying orderof life in its development.The method of conservativesurgery is different from thetypical development of newgrids of forty feet streets

through congested localities,in common practice in Indiaat that time. Conservativesurgery shows that newstreets may not be reallyrequired as existing lanescan be substantial lyimproved by rearranging theartefacts and activities on the streets.

Post-Independence, Indiahas followed traditional tools,

such as permissible propertyuses, and the control of devel-opment intensity throughFSI, dwellings per acre, heightlimits, setbacks, etc. to regu-late the built environment. Ifwe had taken inspirationfrom Geddes we would havepaid more attention to build-ings in localities, their rela-tionship with neighbouringbuildings, streets in the frontand open spaces in the neigh-bourhood, rather than sepa-rating residential use fromothers, such as commercialand industrial.

The lockdown provides anopportunity in which urbanforms in Indian cities can berebooted. Taking the suggest-ed retrofitting, a small unit isselected. Generally, this shouldbe a locality as the problems oflocalities are different for local-ities. For example, the retro-fitting plan of Chandini

Chowk will be very differentfrom, say, Greater Kailash inDelhi. Furthermore, we willhave to reduce the size of roads(called Diet Roads) to makethem more pedestrian-friend-ly, particularly for women,children, elderly and the dif-ferently-abled. Open spaceswill also have to developed asparks or as playgrounds.Streets will have to identifiedwhere motor vehicles will bedisallowed or allowed withtime restrictions.

Similarly for parking, spotscan be identified and appro-priate charges determined.There must be a plan to recy-cle water using eco-friendlytechnology (e.g. Phytoridplants by CSIR Lab, Nagpur);establish solar panels atophouses and not fit for usespaces; organise small facili-ties for local separation ofsolid waste, its recycling and

reuse; and collect and reuserainwater as much as possible.Finally, there must be a con-scious plan to plant and pro-tect trees. All these measuresare well-known and requireno elaboration.

As we prepare to reopencities, we should take advantageof the unique once-in-a-lifetimeopportunity to re-access andplan for Indian cities. It requiresa new approach, one that focus-es on the visual aspects of local-ities. Urban interventionsshould be designed to accom-modate patterns of land use, notthe other way around. We haveto get under the skin of the cityby drilling down to a scale thatis more human. This requiresbottom-up planning and thelockdown has provided us atriggering moment to startafresh.

(Author is a Ph.D. fromUSA and a D.Litt. from

Kanchi University. The arti-cle is based on his researchand practice and views are

personal)

SAMEER SHARMA, IAS

COVID-19: REBOOTING INDIAN CITIESPost-Independence, India has followedtraditional tools, such as permissibleproperty uses, and the control ofdevelopment intensity through FSI,dwellings per acre, height limits, setbacks,etc. to regulate the built environment

Naidu urges PM to rope in expertsfor health assessment of gas victimsPNS n AMARAVATI

TDP chief N ChandrababuNaidu on Saturday urgedPrime Minister NarendraModi to rope in the nationaland international experts forhealth assessment of the peo-ple affected by the leakage ofStyrene gas from LG Polymersplant in Visakhapatnam.

The TDP chief wrote a letterto Modi, making various sugges-tions to address the public con-cerns raised by gas leakage,which claimed 12 lives and land-ed over 400 others in hospitals.

He wrote that the long-last-ing impact on the health ofthose undergoing treatment isof serious concern. It is appre-hended that the toxins emittedmay cause permanent damageto the victims, said Naidu.

He suggested close monitor-ing of the ambient air qualityin and around Visakhapatnamcity for understanding presentand future impact.

Naidu, who is the Leader ofOpposition in the Assembly,demanded a committee of sci-entific experts to probe into thecircumstances that led to therelease of toxic vapours/gases.

"The company claims thatthe gas leaked out was Styrene,

however, there were conflict-ing reports of other toxic gasesbeing released, that needs to beinvestigated to understand theenduring health impacts."

Naidu also hailed the PrimeMinister for his quick responseafter the incident saying itbrought us solace and confi-dence. "The National DisasterResponse Force (NDRF) hasswung into action for neutral-ising the toxic effects of the gasand further airlifting para-ter-tiary butyl catechol (PTBC)from Gujarat has happened inquick succession with yourprompt directions. I am sograteful on behalf of the peopleof Andhra Pradesh for yourempathy and prompt action."

n The TDP chief in his letteraddressed to PrimeMinister Narendra Modipointed out the long-lasting impact on thehealth of thoseundergoing treatment isof serious concern. It isapprehended that thetoxins emitted maycause permanentdamage to the victims

n Naidu hailed the PrimeMinister for his quickresponse after theincident saying it broughtthem solace andconfidence

Protests break out calling for closure of LG PolymersContinued from Page 1

Police whisked away some ofthe protesters, but scores ofothers went on protest modesubsequently.

It may be recalled that theleakage of Styrene gas from theLGPI led to the death of 12 peo-ple, including two children,and left at least over 400 personsof RR Venkatapuram sick.

Even before the arrival ofDGP at the plant, the localsreached the LGPI and beganprotesting. The protestersentered into heated argumentswith the police. A few YSRCongress Party leaders wereseen pacifying the agitators.

The demand to close LGPolymers plant is growingshriller, with locals and alsoleaders from various politicalparties including TDP and leftparties joining the bandwagon.They blame criminal negli-gence for the mishap and saythat the plant is a potentialthreat to the residents of Vizag.

Some of the protestingyoungsters tried to surround

the DGP when the DGP wascoming out of the LGPI. Thesecurity personnel had toescort the DGP out of the com-pany premises providing two-layer security cover. The policepushed some women protest-

ers when they tried to touchthe DGP’s feet seeking justice.

A stumped Visakhapatnampolice commissioner R K Meenadirected his officers and men todisperse the villagers from thefactory premises, following

which they were taken away.Some protestors also barged

into the plant even as the DGPwas inspecting the plant andtalking to the newsmen andothers on the measures takento restore normalcy.

“Why did the police fail toarrest the management of thecompany slapping charges ofcriminal negligence on them?We are suspecting collusionbetween the police and man-agement of LG Polymers,” saidB Ganesh, a protester.

Hours later, the authoritiessaid the situation was normal inthe village. The temperature atthe styrene storage tank, wherethe vapour leak occurred, hascome down, as also the ambi-ent air quality level.

"Definitely the air is alsofresh and there is nothing toworry about. In the comingdays, life will come back to nor-malcy," the DGP said.

"Just to be on the safe side,as per protocol, people arebeing asked to stay away for 48hours. That period will endtomorrow.

LG Polymers blames vapourleak for Vizag plant tragedy

Continued from Page 1

The unit of South Koreanchemical giant LG Chem said it iscommitted to working closelywith the concerned authorities toinvestigate the cause of theincident, prevent recurrence infuture and secure the foundationfor care and treatment."While focusing on stabilising theplant, we assure you that we aredoing our best to extend all thepossible support to ensurepeople and their families whohave been affected by thisincident are taken care of. Ourteams are working day and nightwith the government to assess

the impact of the damage causedand create concrete measures todeliver an effective care packagethat can be implementedimmediately," the statement said.The firm said a special task forcehas been set up to help victimsand families to resolve any issuesand provide every assistance tothe bereaved families."All families will be contactedshortly. This team has theresponsibility to provide everysupport for the deceased,medical supplies and householdgoods, and emotionalmanagement for psychologicalstability to all injured andvictims," the statement said.

Number ofrecoveriessurges...

Continued from Page 1

Briefing on theKoyambedu market incident,the officials said that therehas been an increase in pos-itive cases in Nellore andChittoor districts as peoplewent to buy vegetables fromthat market.

The Chief Minister instruct-ed officials to take intensivecare of high-risk patients asthey are more prone to Covid-19, and the mortality rate ishigh among them.Arrangements have been madeat 11 State check posts withfacilities for medical examina-tion and availability of doctors.Thermal screening is beingconducted on all those enter-ing the State. About 700labourers have entered thestate without being tested.With the help from localauthorities, they were tracedand shifted to isolation wards,the officials informed.

Continued from Page 1

Chittoor district saw a sud-den spurt in cases, with 11reported in the last 24 hoursending 9 am on Saturday, assome people who returnedfrom Koyambedu wholesalemarket in Chennai city testedposted for Coronavirus.

It is suspected that thesepeople contracted the infectionat Koyambedu and severalothers who also returned fromthe place were sent to quaran-tine, sources here said.

Visakhapatnam too contin-ued to show an upward trendas five fresh cases were regis-tered, taking the total in thedistrict to 62.

The major hotspotsKurnool, Krishna and Gunturreported six, 16 and two freshcases.

In the last 24 hours, Krishnareported two and Kurnool onecoronavirus casualty.

In all, 887 people were dis-

charged from hospitals afterrecovering from the infection.

The state has completedtesting 1,65,069 samples, ofwhich 1,63,139 returned neg-ative.

Meanwhile, KrishnaDistrict collector A Md Imtiazissued a fresh list of mandalsunder Red, Orange and Greenzones in the district onSaturday. Gannavaram,Musunuru, Kankipadu andJaggaiahpet rural mandalscome under Orange zone,while Vijayawada Rural andCentral, East and West man-dals and Vijayawada citycomes under the red zone.

Penamaluru, MachilipatnamCorporation, Jaggaiahpet,Nuzvid, Gudivada, Pedana,Kondapalli municipalities andTiruvuru, Vuyyuru andNandigama panchayats comeunder red zones and theremaining 43 mandals are inthe green zone, said the collec-tor.

Three more Covid-19deaths take toll to 44

Continued from Page 1

This came after All IndiaInstitute of Medical SciencesDirector Randeep Guleriasaid India should brace itselffor a jump in cases, withmodelling showing the peakof infections may come inbetween June and July.Responding to questionsabout the predicted trajecto-ry of the Covid-19 transmis-sion curve, the health min-istry said community supportwas needed to fight the virusand contain it.

"It is possible that withadherence to social distanc-ing norms and aggressivecontainment, India maynever hit the peak," HealthMinistry Joint Secretary LavAgarwal said. "But as we talkabout relaxations and return

of migrants, it is importantthat we learn to live with thevirus and practice behav-ioural changes."

The health ministry alsosaid that the Indian Council ofMedical research has receivedapproval from the NationalEthics Committee to conductthe second phase of PlasmaTrophy trials in 21 hospitalsacross the country. The med-ical procedure involves thetransfusion of blood plasmafrom a Covid-19 patient whohas recovered to anotherpatient who is critically ill.

Agarwal said that theCentre will soon provide anew list of districts fallingunder the red, green andorange zones to the states.The classification dependson the number of active casesand the doubling rate.

Reality sinks in, othersagree with Jagan

State to reduce retailliquor outlets to2,934 by May-end

Continued from Page 1

He pointed out that the government elim-inated a staggering 43,000 'belt shops' (illegalliquor vends) spread across the villageS in thestate after the new liquor policy came into forcelast August. "We have also reduced the num-ber of bars by 40 per cent, from 840 to 530,but the matter is now sub-judice. The goodthing is, sale of liquor fell drastically by 24 percent and beer by 55 per cent between October2019 and March 2020," Bharagava said. He saidthe government has also taken a number ofsteps to check illicit distillation of liquor andinter-state trade of non-duty paid liquor.

Now, the state government has also decid-ed to constitute an independent SpecialEnforcement Bureau to deal with illicit liquor,with special focus on districts borderingneighbouring states like Tamil Nadu,Karnataka, Odisha and Telangana. Comparedto previous years, the detection, arrests,seizures of contraband, and vehicles is very highduring 2020.

Inflated powerbills shocking,Govt must act:TDP

Continued from Page 1

Anuradha deplored thatnewly Rs 40,000 croreworth financial burden wasimposed on the people inthe past one year because ofthe anti-people policies ofthe YSRCP government.The dubious liquor policyof this government causeda burden of nearly Rs23,000 crore on the gener-al public, the TDPspokesperson said, addingthat the people of the statecame under a burden of Rs8,000 crore because ofirregularities in cementprices, Rs 1,400 crore dueto RTC fare hike, Rs 1,300crore due to power tariffhike and so on.

LG POLYMERS GAS LEAK

Divine intervention saved many livesSUMIT ONKA n VISAKHAPATNAM

As the victims and eyewit-nesses start sharing theirhorror experience of LGPolymer plant gas leak, thestories of how hundreds ofpeople managed to escapefrom the impact of toxic gasare also coming to light.

While youngsters awakelate night playing mobilegames were also helpful inalerting hundreds of peo-ple, a f lag of LordHanuman had also shownthe safe path saving hun-dreds of lives.

Observing at theHanuman flag on his house,Pratap Singh Tomer, whostays in Naidu Thota (RaviNagar), 1.6km away fromthe plant, could read thewind direction. The wind

was blowing towards southwest of the plant, hence, heguided people to movetowards the opposite direc-tion, north east and wherethey can avail help. Hiswork experience of over 20years in Qatar as consultantwith a LPG company andhundreds of emergencyevacuation training helpedhim to stay calm and guidethe people.

The people who ranaway towards the South-west of the plant—Megadhri Gedda reser-voir and railway trackbecause of the green patch-es and water suffered a lotas the gas was spreadingtowards that direction.

“As the youngsters weretrying to rush the victimson their bike, the honkingsound disturbed my sleep.

I came out of the home andsaw people fleeing ran-domly. I could understandthe situation. The smellwas not there our side as itis on north east side. Iknow only polymer plant isnearby us. So, I googledwhat precautions should betaken when Styrene gasgets leaked,” said Tomerrecounting the horribleexperience of the day.

“I could manage to guidehundreds of fleeing villagersmove towards Vepagunta(north east direction fromleak epicentre). VepaguntaJunction is the only largeopen safe access area, whichleads you in all four direc-tions (used it as emergencymuster point). This locationis ideal for accessing hospi-tal zone in Arilova andMudsarlova.

Centreconcerned...

Continued from Page 1

In his meeting he said,“one thing we could noticewas that the testing rate isprobably low”. Sharing thedetails of his video confer-ence on twitter earlySaturday, Dr Harsh Vardhansaid, “During the meetingthrough VC with HealthMinister Eatala Rajender , Iexpressed concern over thesmall number of tests beingdone in the state”.

The meeting assessed theCOVID19 s ituat ion inTelangana along with stateHealth Minister and othersenior officials. Union MoSMoHFW Ashwini KChoubey also attended themeeting. Dr HarshVardhan said that ILI andSARI testing needs to bedone more rapidly in alldistricts. He said that therequest from state to movethe districts from red toorange to green zone will beconsidered.

Guessing namesof movie stars...

Continued from Page 1

It has been one year sincethis was filed but there was nomovement at all. Meanwhile,Telangana state educationdepartment responded to theissue but passed the buckonto CBSE as the school isaffiliated to CBSE. As per thedepartment “The CBSE affil-iated schools follow the cur-riculum and textbooks pre-scribed by CBSE and not ofState Govt. However, theDEO, R.R District, wherethis school falls under theirjurisdiction is instructed toenquire on this aspect andreport to the State authoritiesimmediately.”

However, the school is notaffiliated to CBSE either.However Vijay pointed thatSLATE school in Abids teach-es IIT to 6th standard kidswhich is not allowed.

CPI seeks judicialprobe into LGPolymers gas leakPNS n VIJAYAWADA

CPI National Secretary KNarayana has demandedimmediate closure of the LGPolymers in Visakhapatnamand order judicial probeagainst the company for gasleak as it left 12 dead, hundredshospitalised and thousandsindisposed.

He demanded that theState government register acase under Section 302 of theIndian Penal Code treatingthe company managementas criminals and arrest thetop brass of the company.

In a statement issued hereon Saturday, Narayana allegedthat the State government’stop priority is industrialistsand not the general public orworkers since the CM did notconduct an aerial survey, didnot inspect the surroundingsof the factory, did not meetthe injured on a priority basisbut spoke to the companymanagement first and termedthe company as a good one.

It may be recalled that theDelhi-based Green Tribunalasked the company to depositRs 50 crore with the DistrictCollector.

PNS n NEW DELHI

BJP leaders on Saturday react-ed strongly to rumours aboutHome Minister Amit Shah'shealth, with party president JP Nadda terming these as"inhuman" comments whichare "extremely condemnable".

Several leaders of the rulingparty took to Twitter toexpress their anguish at therumours on social media afterShah put out a statement toassert that he was "totallyhealthy" and rejected specula-tion of his ill-health. They alsowished Shah, Nadda's prede-cessor as party president, along and healthy life.

BJP general secretaryKailash Vijayvargiya saidspreading such rumours couldbe a "political ploy" of thosewho are rattled by Shah'sworking style and decisions.

Party spokespersonShahnawaz Hussain claimedthat people behind them are"enemies of the nation".

In his tweet, Nadda said,"Making inhuman commentsabout the health of HomeMinister Amit Shah isextremely condemnable.Spreading such misleadingremarks about anyone's health

shows the mindset of peopledoing so. I strongly condemnit and pray to God to grantthem good sense." Senior partyleader and Union ministerPrakash Javadekar said thecomments about Shah's healthshows the "distorted mindset"of people making them.

Another Union ministerRavi Shankar Prasad said,"Amit Shah Ji you are safe andsound and will remain sobecause you have to serveMaa Bharati with courage andconviction for a long time."

Hussain tweeted, "It's real-ly shameful how a handful ofpeople are spreading rumoursabout the health of India'sHome Minister Amit Shah.These people are enemies ofthe nation who dislike leadersdevoted to the motherland."

VIJAYAWADA | SUNDAY | MAY 10, 2020 nation 05

SHORT READS

10th standard publicexam will be held inTN, says MinisterERODE: The 10th standardpublic examination will beconducted in Tamil Nadu afterthe COVID-19 attack wanes andthe resultant lockdown goes,state education Minister KSengottaiyan said on Saturday.A decision on the exam wouldbe taken based on therecommendations of a high-level education committee andgetting concurrence fromhealth officials, he said atSavakkatupalayam village nearGobichettipalayam where hedistributed welfare schemes to450 handloom weavers. TheMinister said candidatesappearing for the board examswould be seated in line withsocial distancing norms stemthe spread of coronavirus. Hesaid schools for the comingacademic year would be re-opened only after the corona-virus attack blows over. Hefurther said 2,000 mathematicsteachers would be roped in toprovide online training tostudents. Similarly, studentskeen on accountancy would begiven online classes, he said.

Woman commits suicideat AIIMS after hermother dies of cancer

Sugarcane farmerkilled in clash overland disputeMUZAFFARNAGAR (UP): Asugarcane farmer was killedand his brother sustainedinjuries in a clash between twogroups of farmers over a landdispute at Jalalpur village inUttar Pradesh's Shamli district,police said. Police said troublestarted when Nareshpal and hisbrother Harender wereconfronted by Pardeep with agroup of farmers who attackedhim with sticks while workingin his field. The injuredNareshpal was rushed tohospital where he was declareddead. Nareshpal and Pardeep'sagricultural land lie adjacent toeach other and a dispute aroseover it, police pointed out. Acase was registered on Fridayunder IPC Sections 147, 148,149, 323 and 304 while asearch is on to catch hold ofthe accused, police added.

NEW DELHI: A 23-year-oldwoman allegedly committedsuicide at the AIIMS here afterher mother died of cancer at thehospital, police said onSaturday. She was reportedmissing after her motherpassed away on Wednesdayand her body was found nearthe new private ward block ofthe hospital on Saturday, theysaid, adding that she fell to herdeath from a building. "Hermother was a cancer patient.She was being treated at thehospital and had died duringtreatment on Wednesday,"Deputy Commissioner of Police(South) Atul Kumar Thakursaid. Her father was busy in theformalities when she left thearea. She was reported missingsince Wednesday. The familyhails from Moradabad district ofUP, a senior police officer said.

COVID-19 casts shadow on stemcell treatment across countryPNS n KOLKATA

The COVID-19 pandemic hasbrought life to a screeching haltfor many, but those with seri-ous ailments such as blood dis-orders have been pushed to theedge with their lives now hang-ing by a thread in the absenceof necessary medical inter-ventions. Sonia Ghakkar, aGurgaon resident, had beendesperately looking for help, asher husband, a leukemiapatient, waits for bone marrowtransplant (BMT).

"About two months ago, myhusband was diagnosed withleukemia. Bone marrow trans-plant is his only chance of sur-vival. We have sought permis-sion from the health ministryfor transport of blood stemcells, but to no avail. Thematch cannot reach the hospi-tal under the present circum-stances," she said.

Stem cell transplant is theonly cure for many patientssuffering from blood disorders.

According to a hematologist,it takes months, sometimesyears, to find a donor, and

many "high-risk" patients havelimited time left.

Transplants have come downto a meager 20 per cent nation-wide, as most hospitals havepostponed such processes, andprescribed additionalchemotherapy sessions for thetime being, in the wake of thecoronavirus crisis, he said.

Mumbai resident DanishMerchant had his BMT sched-uled in March-end, but doctorshad been postponing theprocess, citing logistical chal-lenges as the reason.

"I am dependent onchemotherapy sessions for

now. It is not just shooting upmy bills, but also leaving meweak and scared. I pray that thesituation comes under controlat the earliest and my BMTprocedure takes place before itgets too late," the 32-year-oldsaid. Renowned hematologistand Padma Shri awardeeMammen Chandy said medicalestablishments have been con-ducting elective transplants.

"We have not stopped func-tioning; elective transplantsare being conducted. Becauseof this lockdown, the bloodplatelet donation has also gonedown. Nevertheless, all proce-

dures are being done followingthe guidelines laid down tocontain COVID-19," Chandy,Director, Tata Medical Centre,told PTI from Vellore.

Lalit Kumar, the head of theoncology department at Delhi'sAll India Institute of MedicalSciences (AIIMS), said theprocess could be delayed to anextent for the ones sufferingfrom Thalassemia, but "high-risk" patients need doctor'sintervention.

"Lockdown has affectedtransplantations, for sure. It hasgone down to 20-30 per cent.There are patients located inBihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthanwho cannot travel (to Delhi) asof now. The process can bedelayed for patients sufferingfrom thalassemia, but doctorshave to take a call on high-riskpatients suffering from AcuteMyeloid Leukemia, ChronicMyeloid Leukemia, amongother severe blood disorders.

"We have advised ourpatients after evaluating theirhealth conditions to go for anextra session of chemotherapyto delay the process till an alter-native can be worked out,” hesaid. According to Kumar, vol-untary donation has alsodipped since the imposition ofthe lockdown on March 25.

Expressing concern, SantanuSen, a consultant in pediatrics,pediatric oncology and stemcell transplantation atKokilaben Dhirubhai AmbaniHospital in Mumbai, said sixcritical patients were senthome, keeping in mind theirsafety amid the pandemic.

BJP condemn rumoursabout Shah's health

PNS n SHAHDOL (MP)

Just a day before he was killed inthe train accident in Aurangabad,28-year-old Brajesh Singh hadinformed his father that hewould be reaching their villageby a special train soon.

For Gajraj Singh, a resident ofAntoli village in MadhyaPradesh's Shahdol district, thatphone call was the last conver-sation he had with his sonsBrajesh and Shivdayal (25).

Bodies of the two brothers,along with those of 14 otherlabourers, would be reachingtheir village on Saturday.

At least 16 labourers, whowere travelling to their homestate Madhya Pradesh on foot,were mowed down by a goodstrain while they were sleeping ontracks near Karmad station inMaharashtra's Aurangabad dis-trict early morning on Friday.

"Only a day before the mishap,

my sons informed me that theyhad left on foot to board a trainfrom Maharashtra and will reachShahdol soon. They told me thatthey would sit in the train onFriday. But instead of my sons,the news of their death hasreached me," Gajraj Singh toldPTI over phone.

A pall of gloom descended thehome of Antoli residentRamniranjan Singh, who lost hisyoung sons, who were barely out

of their teens."I have lost my support system

and now I don't know how I willlive," Ramniranjan, father ofNirvesh Singh (20) and RavendraSingh (18), said.

Senior officials and BeohariMLA Sharad Kol, among others,reached the village to help thegrief-stricken families.

"We will probably hold a com-mon funeral for the deceasedfrom the village. The district

administration has sanctioned Rs10,000 each for the purpose," anofficial said.

Meanwhile, Shahdol stationmanager K P Gupta said the traincarrying bodies of the deceasedwas likely to reach Shahdolaround 1 pm.

Of the 16 victims, fivebelonged to Umaria and 11 werefrom Shahdol district.

Father of 2 victims of traintragedy recalls last conversation

"We will probablyhold a commonfuneral for thedeceased fromthe village. Thedistrictadministrationhas sanctionedRs 10,000 eachfor the purpose,"an official said

PNS n CHENNAI

The Tamil Nadu government onSaturday set up a high-levelcommittee headed by formerReserve Bank of India governorC Rangarajan to examine fiscalchallenges facing the state owingto the COVID-19 pandemicand suggest the way forward toimprove its fiscal position.

The committee, which willalso consist of Finance SecretaryS Krishnan as coordinator, willsubmit its report to the govern-ment within three months,according to a GovernmentOrder. The committee, with 21members, would assess the over-all immediate and medium termimpact of the COVID-19 pan-demic on different sectors of thestate's economy including theimpact of lockdown, additional

costs and implications due tosocial distancing and their pre-cautionary measures.

Also, it would assess theopportunities and threats in theshort and medium term, suggestmeasures required to help theimportant sectors of the econo-my to overcome the impact of

the virus pandemic.Apart from identifying specif-

ic reform measures to be takenby the state government to sup-port and promote the growth ofthe important sectors of theeconomy, the committee wouldassess the impact of the crisis onstate government's fiscal situationand way forward to improve thefiscal position, including increas-ing the tax; GDP ratio anddiversifying revenue sources andreprioritising expenditure.

The committee will also iden-tify fiscal issues and economyprotection measures the stateshould take up with the Uniongovernment for necessary actionand possible sources of financ-ing and funding for different sec-tors including infrastructureprojects, small business andother enterprises.

BSP attacks UP govt for exemptingindustries from some labour lawsPNS n LUCKNOW

The Bahujan Samaj Party onSaturday attacked the UttarPradesh government forexempting industries in thestate from some labour laws,saying it comes at a time whenthe condition of labourers isthe "worst" during coronaviruspandemic.

In a series of Hindi tweets,BSP chief Mayawati said, "Dueto the outbreak of COVID-19,the condition of labourers isperhaps the worst, and eventhen a mechanism has beenimplemented where insteadof 8 hours of work, they aremade to work for 12 hours.This is very sad and unfortu-nate. Change in labour lawsshould be in the interest of thelabourers."

"Babasaheb BR Ambedkar

had brought the concept ofovertime, if the labourers hadworked for more than 8 hoursin a day, when exploitation oflabour was at its peak. Is it cor-rect to push the country to thatera," she asked in another tweet.

The BSP chief also said,"Keeping the current situa-tion prevailing in the country,

the labour laws should bechanged in a way, so thatlabourers working in a facto-ry or private organisation getfood and lodging facilitiesthere itself. In no condition anylabourer should be allowed todie because of hunger, norshould they be forced toundertake exodus."

Migrants inRajkot pay trainfare to returnhome in UPPNS n BALLIA

Migrant workers returningfrom Rajkot to Ballia on a spe-cial train on Saturday claimedthat Gujarat Police chargedthem Rs 725 fare. Authoritieshere, however, said they hadno information about it. Thetrain carrying 1,170 migrantworkers from parts of UPreached Ballia in the morning,following which they werescreened and provided foodpackets, District MagistrateHari Pratap Shahi said. "Themigrants were then sent totheir states. As many as 420are from Ballia, while rest ofthem are from Prayagraj,Fatehpur, Hardoi, Maharaj-ganj, Kushingar, Etawah andother districts," he said.

ED attaches AJL Mumbaibuilding worth Rs16.38 cr;charges Moti Lal VoraPNS n NEW DELHI

A portion of a nine-storey build-ing in Mumbai's tony Bandraarea, valued Rs16.38 crore, hasbeen attached by the Enforce-ment Directorate in connectionwith its money-launder-ing probe against theCongress-party pro-moted AssociatedJournals Limited(AJL). The federalprobe agency said it hasissued a provisional order,under the Prevention ofMoney Laundering Act, to freeze"part" of the asset and has issuednotices to AJL and its CMD andveteran Congress leader Moti LalVora. The AJL is controlled bysenior Congress leaders, includ-ing members of the Gandhi fam-

ily. The group runs the NationalHerald newspaper. The nine-floor building has two basementsand a total built-up area of15,000 sq metres, it said, addingits total value is Rs120 crore. Thebuilding is located at plot no 2,

survey no 341, near KalaNagar, EPF office,Bandra (East). Theagency alleged that theaccused in this case,that includes former

Haryana CM andCongress leader Bhupinder

Singh Hooda and Vora, "usedthe proceeds of crime" in theform of a plot allotted "illegally"to AJL in Panchkula and pledgedit to avail loan from the SyndicateBank branch on Bahadur ShahZafar Marg in Delhi to constructthis building in Bandra.

In times of crisis, journalistsshould work for unity: RSS PNS n NEW DELHI

In times of crisis, journalistsshould be more responsibleand work for welfare of peo-ple and strengthening unity insociety, RSS joint general sec-retary Manmohan Vaidya saidon Saturday as the countrybattled against the coronaviruspandemic.

Speaking on the occasion ofNarad Muni Jayanti via video-conferencing, Vaidya saidjournalists while doing report-ing should always keep welfareof society in their mind. Andmany journalists in the coun-try do so.

According to Hindumythology, Narad Muni is atravelling storyteller and pri-mary source of informationamong Gods.

Expressing concern that aspecific type of India's image

is being painted in a section ofthe international media whichis far away from ground real-ity, Vaidya said it was beingdone by some Indian journal-ists and they should keep thecountry's interests in mindwhile reporting.

He further said that at thetime when the country wasfacing the COVID-19 pan-demic, journalists should bemore responsible, working forwelfare of people and strength-ening unity in society.

PNS n NEW DELHI

Why men rape? A new bookseeks to find out answers byexamining a slew of factors thatshape male behaviour.

In her book "Why Men Rape:An Indian UndercoverInvestigation", Tara Kaushal setsout to understand the reasonswhy women feel unsafe througha detailed investigation whichincludes interviews and meetingswith nine men who have aninclination to commit acts of sex-ual violence. The core ofKaushal's research methodologyfor the book, scheduled forrelease next month, entailedspending up to a week each withnine men who have raped, acrossdifferent parts of the country.

The author spent time intheir home environments; inter-viewing and observing them,and their families and friends.Kaushal says through a study ofthese "mostly 'undetected' (the

experts' term for rapists outsidethe criminal justice system),some unconvicted rapists, Isought to determine how histo-ry, economics, environment,upbringing, education (or lackthereof), psychological state,and attitudes towards sex,women and gender shaped theirbehaviour and impacted theirinclination to commit rape".

She says anthropological,observational research is expen-

sive and time-consuming but in-depth. "Sociological, interview-based research is cheaper andeasier but oftentimes shallower,with the drawback of the say-dodivide - what people say is dif-ferent from what they do."

Kaushal says she was "under-cover - with a different name andcorresponding email andFacebook IDs; hidden tattoosand a so-not-me kurta- jeanslook; the works".

Why men rape? Bookseeks to find out answers

Need to understand thechemistry of corona: YogiPNS n LUCKNOW

Uttar Pradesh Chief MinisterYogi Adityanath on Saturdaystressed on the need to under-stand the "chemistry of coro-na while administering itstreatment".

The chief minister chaired ahigh-level meeting of UP gov-ernment officials at his resi-dence here to review the situ-ation arising out of the coro-navirus outbreak in the state.

"The need is to understandthe chemistry of corona, whileadministering its treatment,"he said.

Asserting that increasing theimmunity level of the body canprevent the infection, Adityanathsaid the 'Aayush Kavach COVID'app launched by the state gov-ernment has a host of informa-tion on ayurveda, which can be

adopted by people to boost theirimmunity.

He added that the applica-tion should be widely publi-cised and people encouragedto download it.

The UP chief minister alsostressed on working on allpossibilities for revenue gener-ation, and directed officials toprepare a plan to identify alter-nate sources of revenue.

He said an elaborate workplan should be formulated tomake employment availableto migrant labourers, andwomen self-help groupsshould be trained on a largescale. The members of theseself-help groups should betrained in making garmentsand sweaters, he added.

"Foodgrains have beenmade available to 18 crorepeople in three phases. This isa big job. The recovery rate ofCOVID-19 patients is 42 percent, as compared to thenational average of 29.2 percent," Adityanath said.

The chief minister also stat-ed that provisions have beenmade for 53,400 beds to enhancethe capacity of the COVID hos-pitals in the state. He alsoclaimed that UP tops the tally interms of pool testing.

PNS n NEW DELHI

A plea seeking linking of ametro card or token with acommuter's address proof wasnot entertained by the DelhiHigh Court as no representa-tion about the issue had beenmade to the DMRC beforemoving the court. A bench ofjustices Manmohan andSanjeev Narula disposed of theplea, but gave petitioners lib-erty to move a representationbefore the DMRC on the issuesraised in the plea. In case thepetitioners move a representa-tion to the DMRC, it is sup-posed to dispose of the pleawithin four weeks by a rea-soned order after taking inputsfrom authorities concerned.The petitioners had contend-ed in their plea that it shouldbe mandatory for metro trav-ellers to provide proof of theiridentity and address whilepurchasing metro cards ortokens to establish ownershipin case such items are lost.

Delhi HC declinesto entertain pleaon metro cards

TN forms panel under Rangarajanto improve fiscal position

Transplants havecome down to ameager 20 per centnationwide, as mosthospitals havepostponed suchprocesses, andprescribed additionalchemotherapysessions for the timebeing, in the wake ofthe coronaviruscrisis, he said

VIJAYAWADA | SUNDAY | MAY 10, 2020 money 06

CAPSULE

Hyundai rolls out200 vehicles fromChennai plant onfirst day

New Delhi: Two-wheelermajor Yamaha Motor IndiaGroup (YMIG) on Saturdaysaid its employees havevoluntarily donated a day'ssalary to support thegovernment in combating thecoronavirus pandemic. Thecompany's permanentemployees as well as sometrainees based out of its threeplants -- Kanchipuram (TamilNadu), Surajpur (UttarPradesh) and Faridabad(Haryana), and employees atits other offices donated atotal of Rs 61.5 lakh from theirpay for April, YMIG said in astatement. Out of the totalamount, Rs 25 lakh each willbe donated to the ChiefMinister's Public Relief Fund(Government of Tamil Nadu)and Chief Minister DistressRelief Fund (Government ofUttar Pradesh).

Yamaha employeesdonate a day's salaryto support fightagainst Covid-19

‘Go in for monetisation, higher fiscal deficit’PNS n NEW DELHI

Former RBI GovernorRaghuram Rajan has suggest-ed that the government shouldgo in for monetization andhigher fiscal deficit in a 'mea-sured' way to protect the healthof the economy in these 'abnor-mal times'.

The government is trying togarner resources to combatthe impact of coronavirus onthe economy and the FinanceMinistry on Friday decided toraise market borrowing pro-gramme by 54 per cent to Rs 12lakh crore for 2020-21, upfrom Rs 7.8 lakh crore estimat-ed in February.

Monetization, which isloosely referred to printing ofcurrency by the Reserve Bank,

need not be a constraint ongovernment spending, Rajansaid in a blog, adding, "govern-ment should be concernedabout protecting the health ofthe economy and should spendwhat is needed."

However, he added thatefforts should be made to pri-oritise expenditure and cutback unneeded spending.

As regards fiscaldeficit, which will goup on higher spend-ing and lower rev-enue, Rajan said theg o v e r n m e n t"should also worryabout gettingthe fiscal

deficit and its debt back inshape over the medium term,and the more it spends now,the harder that will be".

"However, its inability tofinance itself or fears of mon-etization should not be a con-straint. Monetization will nei-ther be a game-changer nor acatastrophe, if done in a mea-

sured way. In fact, India isalready doing it!

However, the caveat– it should be mea-sured -- is key."

In the blog titled' M o n e t i z a t i o n :Neither GameChanger nor

Catastrophe inA b n o r m a l

Times', Rajansaid there is

a lot of concern in some quar-ters about central banks print-ing money to finance largebudget deficits, while in otherquarters, the concern is thatcentral banks are doing too lit-tle of it.

"..so called monetization isneither a game changer instressed times nor a catastro-phe. It helps a little at the mar-gin, but does not solve the gov-ernment's fiscal problems nordoes it lead to runaway infla-tion. If used in the wrong way,

it could however be problem-atic," he said.

He said that direct RBIfinancing is sometimes loose-ly termed money printing andthought to be free.

"This is misleading. As wehave seen, the governmentfinances itself from the RBI, andthe RBI finances itself from thebanks at the reverse repo rate of3.75 per cent," Rajan, who is iscurrently working as a profes-sor at the University of Chicago,said.

Former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajansaid that direct RBI financing issometimes loosely termed moneyprinting and thought to be free

PNS n NEW DELHI

Homegrown mobile phonemaker Lava on Saturday said ithas resumed manufacturingoperations with 20 per centcapacity.

"Lava has resumed produc-tion at its manufacturing facil-ity in Noida. The company hasstarted operating with 20 percent of its production capaci-ty, post receiving an approvalfrom the state authorities. 600out of its 3500 workforce haveresumed work," Lava said in astatement.

The factory has been shutsince the time the govern-

ment announced the coron-avirus lockdown. However, itkept meeting export require-ments through its facility inChina, it added.

The government has givenpermission to mobile phonecompanies to start work at fac-tories but the firms are expect-ed to face bottlenecks in com-ponent supply and workeravailability.

"We welcome the govern-

ment's move to permit mobilephone companies to resumeoperations. Though, we mightface some challenge due to thedelayed availability of man-power & materials, we havesufficient inventory to main-tain the pace of our productionfor the initial period.

"We are also expecting ourcomponents partners to opentheir factories soon," LavaChief Manufacturing OfficerSanjeev Agarwal said.

He further said the compa-ny has accelerated effortstowards localisation of compo-nents to reduce dependency onimports.

New Delhi: Hyundai MotorIndia on Saturday said itsChennai-based manufacturingfacility rolled out 200 cars onthe first day of resumingproduction. The company re-started manufacturingactivities at its plant inSriperumbudur (near Chennai)on May 8. The auto major hascommenced production at thefacility adhering to 100 percent compliance of safety andsocial distancing norms,Hyundai Motor India said in astatement. In line with thegovernment's objectives ofreviving the economy andcompany's global vision ofprogress for humanity, thecommencement ofmanufacturing operations isaimed at boosting economicactivities and bringing backnormalcy, it added. Severalindustries are resumingoperations in a phasedmanner following an overmonth-long shutdown due tothe coronavirus lockdown.

Lava resumes manufacturingoperations with 20 pc capacity

PNS n NEW DELHI

Smartphone maker Tecno onSaturday said it has launched aninitiative to offer customers theoption to book their smart-phones online and get the hand-set delivered by neighbour-hood retail stores.

Also, the Transsion Groupcompany said it will resumeoperations at its Noida factoryin accordance with the govern-ment regulations.

The new model will helpTecno's network of 35,000offline retailers revive theirbusinesses and empower con-sumers to select the product of

their choice from the safety oftheir homes, a statement said.

Consumers can reach out totheir preferred retailers viaTecno's website and enter theirPIN code details. The micrositewith a store locator will assist inmapping the retailer and thecontact details, and the devicewill be delivered to theirdoorsteps by their nearest retail-er, it added.

"Tecno's unique initiative willenable its consumers to connectand place order with their pre-ferred retailers as per the zon-ing guidelines of the govern-ment from the comfort of theirhome," the statement said.

All orders will be deliveredwithin 24 hours in complianceof the norms and guidelines pre-scribed by the government forzones created in the wake of theCOVID-19 crisis. Consumerswill not incur any additionalcharges, it added.

"We are a consumer-centricbrand and at the time of crisis,when going out to a physical storeis difficult for consumers.

Tecno launches doorstep smartphonedelivery with over 35,000 retailers

Another bank defaulterflees countryPNS n NEW DELHI

Three promoters of Ram DevInternational, recently bookedby the CBI for allegedly cheat-ing a consortium of six banksto the tune of Rs 411 crore,have already fled the countrybefore the State Bank of Indiareached the agency with thecomplaint, officials said onSaturday.

The CBI had recentlybooked the company engagedin export of Basmati rice to theWest Asian and Europeancountries and its directorsNaresh Kumar, Suresh Kumarand Sangita on the basis ofcomplaint from the State Bankof India (SBI), which sufferedthe loss of more than Rs 173crore, they said.

The company had three ricemilling plants, besides eightsorting and grading units inKarnal district with offices inSaudi Arabia and Dubai fortrading purposes, the SBI com-plaint said.

Besides SBI, other membersof consortium are CanaraBank, Union Bank of India,IDBI, Central Bank of Indiaand Corporation Bank, theysaid.

The Central Bureau ofInvestigation (CBI) did notcarry out any searches in thematter because of the coron-avirus-induced lockdown, the

officials said.The agency will

start the process ofsummoning the accused,incase they do not join theinvestigation, appropriate legalaction will be initiated, theysaid. According to the com-plaint filed by SBI, the accounthad become non-performingasset (NPA) on January 27,2016. The banks conducted ajoint inspection of propertiesin August and October, near-ly 7-9 months later only to findHaryana Police security guardsdeployed there, they said.

"On inquiry, it has beencome to notice that borrowersare absconding and have leftthe country," the complaintfiled on February 25, 2020,after over a year of accountbecoming NPA, the officialssaid.

The complaint alleged thatborrowers had removed entiremachinery from old plant andfudged the balance sheets inorder to unlawfully gain at thecost of banks' funds, it said.

Three promotersof Ram DevInternationalrecently bookedby the CBI forallegedly cheatinga consortium ofsix banks to thetune of Rs 411crore

‘Trump admin to temporarily ban work-based visas’PNS nWASHINGTON

The US is working to tem-porarily ban the issuance ofsome work-based visas like H-1B, popular among highly-skilled Indian IT professionals,as well as students visas andwork authorisation that accom-panies them, amidst the highlevel of unemployment due tothe coronavirus, according to amedia report on Friday.

The H-1B is a non-immigrantvisa that allows US companies toemploy foreign workers fromcountries like India and Chinain speciality occupations thatrequire theoretical or technicalexpertise.

Nearly 500,000 migrant work-ers are employed in the US in theH-1B status.

"The president's immigrationadvisers are drawing up plans fora coming executive order,expected this month, that wouldban the issuance of some newtemporary, work-based visas,"

The Wall Street Journal report-ed Friday.

"The order is expected tofocus on visa categories includ-ing H-1B, designed for highlyskilled workers, and H-2B, forseasonal migrant workers, as

well as student visas and thework authorization that accom-panies them,” it said.

More than 33 millionAmericans have lost their jobs inthe last two months due to thecoronavirus pandemic that hasbrought the US economy to astandstill.

The IMF and the World Bankhave projected a negative growthrate for the country.

White House officials saythat the US economy is likely togrow at negative 15 to 20 percent in the second quarter.

The monthly jobs report onFriday said that the unemploy-ment rate in the US for the

month of April rose to 14.7per cent.

This is the highest rate andthe largest over-the-monthincrease in the history of theseries, seasonally adjusted dataare available back to January

1948, the US Bureau of LaborStatistics said.

As such, the Trump

administration, having tem-porarily closed borders and cur-tailed immigration in responseto the coronavirus pandemic, ismoving to expand those restric-tions while the president's advis-ers push to leave them in placefor months or even years tocome, according to several peo-ple familiar with the matter, TheWall Street Journal reported.

Last month, President DonaldTrump had signed an executiveorder temporarily barring newimmigrants for 60 days, includ-ing family members of US citi-zens.

“The coming changes, theadministration has suggested,will build on this April action,”the journal said.

Given the high level of unem-ployment and joblessness,according to the daily, senioradministration officials are oper-ating on the assumption that thepublic, during the pandemic, willbe willing to accept new limitson immigration.

More than 33 mnAmericans havelost their jobs inthe last 2 monthsdue to thecoronavirus thathas brought US tostandstill

Jio offers new top-ups,annual plans withcheaper, additional dataPNS n NEW DELHI

Reliance Jio has come upwith new top-up plans tosupport extra data usage at upto 75 per cent lower rates andalso made annualrecharge plans 33 percent cheaper com-pared to rivals byenhancing datausage limit at 4Gspeed to 2 GBper day. Thecompany hasbrought three new"work-from-home"top-up plans that areavailable at the denomina-tions of Rs 151 (30 GB), Rs201 (40 GB) and Rs 251 (50GB), which supplement usageonce the daily limit isexhausted, as per the compa-ny's website.

With these plans, averagedata cost comes to about Rs5 per GB.

Under the existing top-ups, which will continue, data

on Jio network costs in therange of Rs 8.5 to Rs 21 perGB.

Reliance Jio has revisedthe price for its annual plan toRs 2,399 and enhance the

daily data limit in thenew plan to 2 GB. So,

despite increase invalue of the 365days validity, theannual plan is 33per cent cheaperthan rivals due to

extra data offeredby it.Bharti Airtel and

Vodafone Idea offer sim-ilar annual plans for Rs 2,398and Rs 2,399 respectively, withdaily data limit of 1.5 GB at 4Gspeed. The new plans from Jiocomes at a time when compa-nies have been pushing theTelecom Regulatory Authorityof India and government tolegally raise data prices by upto 5-10 times to address finan-cial stress that some compa-nies are facing.

Legislation introduced giveGreen Card to foreign nursesPNS nWASHINGTON

Several American lawmakershave introduced a legislation inCongress to offer the 40,000unused green cards to thou-sands of foreign nurses anddoctors to meet the urgentneeds of the overstretchedhealthcare sector in the US, theworst hit nation by the coron-avirus pandemic.

The US has nearly 1,284,000cases of confirmed COVID-19cases and over 77,000 peoplehave died due to the highlycontagious disease.

The Healthcare WorkforceResilience Act would allowfor recapturing green cardsthat were approved byCongress but unused in pastyears, allowing thousands ofadditional medical profession-als to serve permanently in theUnited States.

The legislation would sendgreen cards to 25,000 nursesand 15,000 doctors during theCOVID-19 pandemic andensure that states like Iowahave the professionals theyneed to serve patients for yearsto come, a media release said.

The move is likely to bene-fit a large number of Indiannurses and doctors in the US,who are either on H-1B or J2visas.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows UScompanies to employ foreignworkers in speciality occupa-tions that require theoretical ortechnical expertise. Companiesdepend on it to hire tens ofthousands of employees eachyear from countries like Indiaand China.

A Green Card, known offi-cially as a Permanent ResidentCard, is a document issued toimmigrants to the US as evi-dence that the bearer has beengranted the privilege of resid-ing permanently.

In the House ofRepresentatives, the legisla-

tion has been introduced bylawmakers Abby Finkenauer,Brad Schneider, Tom Cole andDon Bacon. The bipartisanSenate companion bill is led bySenators David Perdue, DickDurbin, Todd Young and ChrisCoons.

"We need all hands on deckto address this generational cri-sis," congresswomanFinkenauer said.

"We know this virus will notmagically disappear andexperts like Dr Anthony Fauciare warning of a second wavethis fall.

ReNew lowest bidderfor 400MW projectsPNS n NEW DELHI

ReNew Solar Power Pvt Ltdhas emerged as the lowestbidder at a tariff of Rs 2.90 perunit for 400 MW renewableenergy capacity put on auctionby Solar Energy Corporatindia(SECI).

SECI concluded the auctionthis evening for 400 MWrenewable energy capacity, anindustry source said.

The developers can developsolar, wind, and hybrid pro-

jects under this tender.The developers would sup-

ply power to the New DelhiMunicipal Corporation(NDMC) and Dadra andNagar Haveli.

The second lowest bidderwas Greenko Energies Pvt Ltdat tariff of Rs 2.91 per unit for400 MW projects.

These are the round theclock power supply projectswhich means these could beaugmented by energy storagesystems.

OnePlus 8 becomes firstcommercial smartphone toconnect to 5G NetworkPNS n NEW YORK

OnePlus, a leading globalmanufacturer of premiumflagship smartphones, hasachieved another important5G milestone in the UnitedStates, becoming the firstsmartphone company to suc-cessfully connect to T-Mobile'sstandalone (SA) network witha commercial device.

Together with T-Mobile andQualcomm Technologies, Inc.,OnePlus successfully held thefirst low-band SA 5G data ses-sion with the OnePlus 8, thecompany's latest premiumflagship smartphone. This

achievement is a significantstep towards bringing thepower of 5G standalone tousers in the United States.

"This is an important mile-stone for OnePlus and ourlong-time partners in the jour-ney to bring users the best pos-sible 5G experience, this timeleveraging the extremely lowlatency and high data capaci-ty potential of a standalone 5Gnetwork," said Pete Lau,Founder and CEO of OnePlus."OnePlus went all in 5G withthe launch of the OnePlus 8series. Now, as we continue tolead in 5G research and devel-opment, we look forward.

ED attachespart of AJLMumbaibuildingPNS n NEW DELHI

A portion of a nine-storeybuilding in Mumbai's tonyBandra area, valued Rs16.38crore, has been attached bythe Enforcement Directoratein connection with itsmoney-laundering probeagainst the Congress-partypromoted AssociatedJournals Limited (AJL).

The federal probe agencysaid it has issued a provision-al order, under the Preventionof Money Laundering Act, tofreeze "part" of the asset andhas issued notices to AJL andits CMD and veteranCongress leader Moti LalVora. The AJL is controlledby senior Congress leaders,including members of theGandhi family. The groupruns the National Heraldnewspaper.

The nine-floor buildinghas two basements and atotal built-up area of 15,000sq metres, it said, adding itstotal value is Rs120 crore.

AdaniTransmissionQ4 net down60 pc PNS n NEW DELHI

Adani Transmission onSaturday reported a 60 percent drop in consolidatednet profit at Rs 58.97 crore forthe March quarter.

The fall was mainly onaccount of a one-time write-off of Rs 185 crore financesunk cost, it said in a regula-tory filing.

The company's consoli-dated net profit stood at Rs146.7 crore in the quarterended March 31, 2019.

Total income of the com-pany rose to Rs 3,317.51crore in the quarter underreview from Rs 2,569.16 crorein the year ago period.

For full fiscal 2019-20,consolidated net profit rose toRs 706.49 crore, from Rs559.20 crore in 2018-19.

Tanishq to re-open first 50stores by SundayPNSn BENGALURU

Tanishq, a jewellery brand fromthe house of Tata, on Saturdayannounced plans to re- open its328 stores across the country ina phased manner by opening itsfirst 50 stores by Sunday. Itwould continue to comply withall rules related to COVID-19lockdown while re-opening andrunning operations, said a state-ment. Tanishq said it has rolledout a gold standard safety e-book that reiterates the compa-ny's commitment to safety andwell-being of customers and itsemployees at the store.

Green Card, knownofficially as aPermanentResident Card, is adocument issuedto immigrants toUS as evidencethat bearer hasbeen grantedprivilege of residingpermanently

special 07

Just because it is a lockdown,doesn’t mean that one has togive up live concerts. It couldbe a Lady Gaga or ChrisMartin from Coldplay or even

Pink who let the world in as shelearnt how to play the piano. Backin India, B-town celebs Shah RukhKhan, Abhishek Bachchan, KaranJohar, Varun Dhawan, HrithikRoshan and many others came onFacebook live for a four-hour char-ity event to raise funds for COVID-19 warriors and keep people enter-tained.

Then there are others who aremaking fans laugh away their woesby either holding live ticketed showson Zoom app or posting audio clipsor videos on Insta.

Take Amit Tandon. He hasbeen busy not only holding work-shops on comedy writing to thosewho are willing to learn for a fee thatgoes towards charity, but is alsomaking people laugh on Zoomapp.

“There were two-three thingsthat started the minute the lock-down began. First, I knew there willbe no live physical performances forthe next three-four months. So, Istarted online workshops for a fee;the money goes to a charity. I knewthat teaching was easier than doinga show on a digital platform. We hadpeople from five countries takingthese five-hour classes spread overtwo days. In the process, I learnthow to use the app effectively.Second, I started getting offers to docorporate shows online and didthem. Third, I had to do a mindsetchange, to do online shows,” Tandonsays.

For this, he had to change hisbody language. In the beginning, hewould perform as a stand-up artist.Now, he sits and acts like he is hav-ing a conversation with his friendsin his drawing room. This hashelped him get his body languageright. He has also had to concentrateon getting his facial expressions cor-rect.

“On stage, one has to focus onthe body posture as the stage is sixfeet away. For online, one has to takecare of facial expressions as the cam-era is only two feet away. I had tomaster all these changes includinghow to use the app. We have a group

of stand-up artists; the 35 of us gottogether to learn how the it workedand shared our experiences andcame up with best practices. Now Iam regularly holding ticketed shows.We are also trying to rope in openmicers. After the lockdown, theirsource of income has disappeared.We get a comedian to open theshow. He then he also administersthe call for some money. On the app,when I keep everyone on, if one ofthem has a cranky kid, there is a dis-turbance, this person mutes allthat. I have also started doing showsfor the US audience as per theirtime,” Tandon tells you.

Tandon also had to change howhe delivers content online. He tellsyou, that while the content is moreor less similar, there are somechanges. “The jokes have to differ-ent. One has to repeat lines onlinesince sometimes, the sound quali-ty may not be good. One has tolouder and be closer to mic,” Tandonsays whose ticketed show are not formore than 50 people but for corpo-rates it can go up to over 2,500.

Stand-up artist Anubhav Bassihas been keeping his fans enter-tained by posting audio clips onInsta.

“People ask me to post videosfrom my previous shows. Theydon’t realise that it is not always pos-sible to record all live performances.Though, I am not creating any newcontent, I am posting behind thescene clippings from many of myshows. I am trying to edit them,make sense out of it and postingthem. Also, people who are on thissocial platform are keener to knowme personally. I don’t have anyintentions of creating anything newbut if I find something funny forthat day, I post it,” Bassi says who isbusy thinking of content and pen-ning it down for his shows once thelockdown opens.

“The content obviously revolvesaround lockdown. It also dependson what my mood is on a particu-lar day. Like I had tweeted: If youthink that your house is small, koipochcha laga kar dekhe. While I ambusy writing, I am not sure howmuch of it will actually find itself inmy live shows,” Bassi tells you.People call him a storyteller, but hedisagrees. “I only do one kind of

comedy, it is anecdotal,” Bassi says.Actor Nitin Arora who hosted

online Gratitude Concerts, to salutethe medics featuring artists like SonuNigam and Sunil Grover, tells youthat the idea to hold the concertcame while he was walking the ter-race and talking over the phoneabout the lockdown and that therewas need to do something for front-line warriors. “It took us two daysto organise the first show. Theminute the idea took root, I calledSonu Nigam. In fact, he was the firstone to recommend that we dosomething digitally once the lock-down began. But since we are acompany that does large events, Iwas not too sure. But once the ideastuck, I called him. The problem wasthat he was in Dubai so he had toset up the equipment himself andplay the instrument. But he workedhard and came through beautiful-ly,” Arora recalls.

It was not easy for Arora to havea mindset change. To do a show dig-itally was not something that theactor had even thought about. Butthere is an adage: Necessity is themother of invention. “It was theneed of the hour and I jumped rightinto it. The show had to reach 20,000doctors so we planned thingsaccordingly and were able to pull itoff. We have done 10 shows and theresponse has been overwhelming,”Arora says who hosted the show aswell.

He tells you besides having towrap the mind around doing anonline show, it was stranger to hostit with no audience.

“It was so strange. When we didthe first show, it was just Sonubhaiyya, Sunil Grover and me. Iknew there were some 19,000-20,000 medical staff was watchingbut for me there were just the threeof us. On Zoom, when you are talk-ing, you are the bigger picture andthe others are smaller one. I havehosted over 4,500 shows, I had neverlooked at the script. But here, I wasscared and had to practice in frontof the mirror. But the three of uscheered for each other and it becameeasier,” Arora says.

Whether this is going to be thenorm for the industry is early days,Arora opines. “Every day there aredifferent reports. But we do know

that things are not going back towhat they were given social distanc-ing for the next few months.However, the charm and thrill towatch a live performance can’t bereplicated digitally. A Sonu Nigamor Shaan or Katrina Kaif dancinglive gives a different high. We willbounce back but it will take time,”Arora says.

Besides the live performancesand the concerts, the digital spaceis helping people celebrate birthdaysand anniversaries. A case in pointis Zee TV’s Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, whichis turning 25. The channel is organ-ising a Live-a-thon and an Ek Desh,Ek Raag event on May 23-24, 2020.It is a 25-hour digital musicmarathon with over 350 perfor-mances by singers that include thelikes of Himesh Reshammiya, JavedAli, Kamal Khan singing from con-fines of their homes.

Shaan, the host the concert, tellsyou that he feels honoured to be apart of this. “Sa Re Ga Ma Pa hasbeen close to my heart since thebeginning. Seeing it complete 25years is surreal. I believe that musichas a power to uplift people’s moodsand am sure the concert will be ableto help people rise above the gloomof this pandemic,” he says.

To add to the entertainment fac-tor, Vodafone, as part of its initia-tive #RechargeForGood, in partner-ship with BookMyShow has beenorganising live sessions since April24. Nine artists perform live fromtheir homes to yours for free. Liftyour spirits with great musical per-formances by artists like PrateekKuhad, Dhvani Bhanushali, AnkurTewari and Indian Ocean.

Those interested in classicalmusic need not feel felt out. TheNational Centre for the PerformingArts (NCPA) has been organisingdigital series — NCP@Home on itsYouTube channel. Last month, theseries had seen stalwarts likes ofGirija Devi, Mallika Sarabhai andUstad Zakir Hussain and manymore take centrestage. If you missedthis fret not. Tune into Kathak per-formance by Pandit Birju Maharajon Monday, May 10, 2020 at 6 pm.

Swapnokalpa Dasgupta, head ofdance department, NCP, Mumbai,a renowned Odissi dancer and dis-ciple of Guru Late Kelucharan

Mohapatra, tells you that in India,there are some challenges to havedigital shows. “The bandwidth beingone of them. But the good is that theartists adapt to changing situationsand take things in their stride. It isalso strange to see reverse of guru-shishya parampara; during COVID-19, it is the shishya teaching the guruhow to use technology,” Dasguptasays.

She also tells you that dancerslike herself have had to changeteaching methodology and gives anexample. “If one is taking a Zoomclass, one has to keep in mind thatthe student is not behind you imi-tating your moves but in front. If Isay raise the left hand, I have to raisemy right hand on-screen,” she says.

Murad Ali Khan, sixth-genera-tion sarangi player from theMoradabad gharana and son ofUstad Ghulam Sabir Khan, says thatfor an artist a live audience sets themood but here, there was nobody infront so it was a tad strange.

“But technology has made somemany things possible. While I has noaudience, I was able to read com-ments and took cues from it. Myreason for coming on the digitalplatform was to make people take abreak from their normal routine. Ifwe can, through our music, makepeople stay at home, we have doneour bit,” Khan says.

Ustad Shujaat Khan, who waspart of the HCL Concerts Baithakseries opines that the idea of per-forming with no audience wasextremely strange.

“Any kind of music, as opposeto cinema or painting, is a live inter-action with humans. When one isperforming the energy that comesfrom notes of the ragas goes to thepeople and back. But this kind of liveperformance was really strange.My only apprehension to be part ofthe digital space stemmed from thetechnical side and the anxiety thatcame with it,” Shujaat tells you.

Despite no audience, the sitaristtells you that since he has been per-forming for nearly 55 years onstage, experience came into play asover the years he has learnt the artto tune out distraction and be inplace where he taps into himself andis in a place where he rises above allthis and is in a zone where he uses

his energy and emotions to play forhimself.

Yamini Reddy came onboardthe digital platform because eventhough she has done a lot of stageshows, she wanted to be part of thevirtual world. “I was intrigued andthen curious how the whole wouldwork. Being on the digital platform,one can reach out to a much wideraudience. With virtual concert, onecan be anywhere and watch the per-formance, it transcends bordersand time zones,” Reddy says.

There was preparation as well.She had to see where the lightingwas good, how to place the cameraand what background to chooseincluding curating a backgroundscore for the dance performance.She also had to choose music thathad a balance of North and Southto give an edge to her Kuchipudiperformance and even though it wasstrange to get ready, not wait back-stage and wait for the name to becalled out, the entire experience wasinteresting.

Maalavika Manoj aka Mali,who released her single on Spotify’sRadar cover says that she got theinspiration for her single after shewatched an episode of ConanWithout Borders with a reference tothe Syrian war.

“This got me thinking andwrote this single. It is pure coinci-dence that the song sits perfectlyunder present situation. I hadalready recorded the song but wehad to get a video done. I reachedout to a lot of family and friendsfrom across the globe who sent mefive to 10 second videos. I used thisfootage for my song,” Mali tells you.

However, for her, the digitalplatform is not something that shewould subscribe to.

“What I have observed, pres-ence of people on social media isgoing down, People are saturatedand don’t want to open their apps.There is no replacement for live per-formances even though there arepeople who are looking at ways tomonetise the digital space. Forartists, performing in front of a liveaudience gives a different feel andthe energy can’t be recreated. It isgood to have an alternative buteverything that is happening rightnow is temporary,” Mali says.

Q U O T E U N Q U O T EWe have been doing onlineconcerts for some months now.We also have a digital app. Weknow how to use technology tobring the artist and listnerstogether online. But for the HCLConcerts — Baithak series —the trigger was COVID-19 andthe lockdown that came with it.

We took the idea fromtraidtional baithaks where theartists would perform and talkabout the art form, life’s journeyand anecdotes. But to organisea concert — a series of live,virtual Indian classical musicand dance performances —

help beat the blues was noteasy. The artist was at homewith limited access totechnology. We had to workeven in a situation if thebandwith was low. We had tohave a series of calls on howtouse the software, how tocheck bandwith and what angelto put their mobile. But therewere many positives. The artistsare familiar with social mediaand had worked with us.

And while the artist didn’thave a live audience in front ofhim, we ensured that the artistswere given a live feedback on

FB page. We have already planned

the series to continue till end ofMay. Since we don’t know whenphysical concerts will happen,digital concerts will be animportant part in future.

We have got greatresponse till now (over 5 millionviews for the 10 sessions thatwe have done) through socialmedia platforms and emailers.The artists help as well. We useWhatsApp and send links. Wehave our own employees; thathelps.— Rohit Kaul, Head, HCL Concerts

Till now we have done 15 live shows onInstagram and each session is for 45minutes to an hour. Now, that thelockdown has been extended, we aregoing to extend the programme. The ideais to introduce classic music to thepeople and how it has evolved throughdifferent gharanas. In these sessions wechoose a topic and through renownedartists a discussion takes place on howmusic in their respective gharanaschanged. They talk about speciality oftheir gharanas. For example, UstadVilayat Khan has made changes to hissitar; he increased the tumba and eventhe wires became a little thicker. Thisgives those interested a sneak peek into

the history of music and not just music. Our live sessions has gems like

Murad Ali (sarangi), Nandini Shankar(violinist), Ajay Prasanna (flautist),Ramakant Gaikwad (vocalist) and AlamKhan from the US (live today at 9 pmIST). These people talk about how theyare similar with other gharanas and howthey are different. People also get to hearthese great play from the comfort of theirhomes. The good part of the riyaz roomis that people who don’t understandclassical music will get an understanding.We announce our sessions throughposters on social media. Artists too dotheir bit and let people know.

— Anshul Aggarwal, Founder, Riyaz Room

The India Craft Week (ICW) is aninititative that we have beendoing for the last three years.We wanted to bring thedesigners and artisians together.The world is talking aboutsustainability, organic, ethicaland responsibility. Craft sector isthe only sector that can deliveron these counts.

This year, the lockdownhappened but we still wanted tocontinue to create an ecosystemfor the craft sector who arefragmented. Hence India CraftWeek Digital Preview (global)where people can come and see

the work of the artisians andpre-book what they want. Wealready have a huge following onFacebook. We sent out bulk mailand got amazing response. Wepulled in industry people likeBritish Council; India and WorldCraft Council supported us.

All that people had to dowas to log in to our FB page andbe part of not just the previewbut watch some greatperformances like exotic dancethat they performed from theconfines of their homes. It wasamazing to see the engagementwe got from performers. A folk

dance troupe even went to thedesert to shoot a video and sentit us. It was brilliant. Those whohave missed this preview neednot worry. All the recordingwould be available. Also, theproduct list will be on our ICWwebsite.

We have to now change ourmindset how to shop sincesocial distancing will continue tobe a norm. Digital platform is theway forward even though therewere challenges to put such apreview on a short notice.

— Somesh Singh,Co-founder,Craft Village

WE DO KNOW THATTHINGS ARE NOTGOING BACK TO

WHAT THEY WEREFOR THE NEXT FEW

MONTHS. THECHARM AND THRILL

TO WATCH A LIVEPERFORMANCE CAN'T

BE REPLICATEDDIGITALLY. A SONU

NIGAM OR SHAAN ORKATRINA KAIF

DANCING LIVE GIVESA DIFFERENT HIGH.WE WILL BOUNCEBACK BUT IT WILL

TAKE TIME— ACTOR NITIN ARORA

The pandemic has kept us home locked. But that has not locked up entertainment. Celebs from around the globe are doingtheir bit to keep spirits rocking through digital concerts, dance workshops, music jams and even a crafts mela forshopaholics. SHALINI SAKSENA tells you more

STAYINGLIVE

VIJAYAWADA | SUNDAY | MAY 10, 2020

Healthwise, you feel a sense of fulfilment. You are inthe right place, doing the right thing to be in goodhealth. You are following the strict regime of diet,exercise, and relaxation. The motto of healthy living isalso reflected in your personality. Overall, you will enjoythe week. On the career front, you are filled withrenewed energy and enthusiasm. A breakthroughmoment is on the cards. You are likely to embark on anew journey of the self-made person. An idea orpassion will inspire you. On the personal front, youhave a crush on an unapproachable person. The dangeris hidden in illusions and chances are there that youmay face difficulties in the future. To move forwardavoid day-dreaming.

Lucky number 11Lucky colour PinkLucky day Monday

ARIES March 21-April 19

This week you need to have a control on your taste,touch, passions, lust and illusions.Be smart and knowhow to make the best use of everything. You will behealthy, charismatic and inspiring. People around youwill be impressed by your spontaneity. Be positive and incontrol. Overconfidence can be harmful. At work, you feelmore stable and mature in terms of finances as well asemotions. You take situations that come and turn them inyour favour. You are more traditional in your ways ofworking and believe in rules and regulations. Enjoy theconfidence that your self-control and focus brings. Youneed to take time to meditate and spend some time aloneeven if you are in a committed relationship. Maintainingyour inner balance is equally important.

Lucky number 13Lucky colour TurquoiseLucky day Friday

TAURUS April 20-May 20

Enjoyment, entertainment and commitment are on thecards. You will feel content both emotionally andmentally. Your physical health will be good. Littlecarelessness like overeating or over comfort couldprove harmful. Be careful about your diet. You areprone to BP and acidity problems. Professionally,money will come from various sources and you wouldwant to spend lavishly. It is advised to save yourincome this week and feel happy. This is the time todecide things on financial terms, it would be productiveand fruitful in the future. This week your relationshipmay suffer. You feel disappointed and want to walkaway from everything you have built up so far. Yourattitude is the reason for your situation today.

Lucky number 10Lucky colour SilverLucky day Saturday

GEMINI May 21-June 20

Be careful about your health this week. All work andno relaxation can cause harm. Your body needs rest.This is the time to create a detailed plan and to followa schedule. Good time management will pay off andyou will enjoy both work and health. Those planning afamily, need to be persistent and focused. On thecareer front, you are now headed towards a muchbetter position. Use the opportunities for changingyour beliefs about yourself. At some point, you mayfeel offensive but choose to stay away from such asituation. This will give you an edge in the times tocome. Romance is on the cards and you feel delighted.Trust your partner to provide you the strength andconfidence to overcome the obstacles in life.

Lucky number 31Lucky colour RedLucky day Wednesday

CANCER June 21-July 22

You may need a medical examination this week. Do notignore your health. Take timely action. It would be toyour advantage. Learn to live in the moment and seizethe time. You will be radiating good energy. You mustshare these good energies with the people around youwho are feeling low. Professionally, you are likely tomake decisions with your mind than heart and be verydisciplined. You are independent in thought and action.For a better understanding of the situation and a person,you like to know the how, what, why, where, when andwho of everything. Your relationship is taking a turn thisweek. Everything was going fine but some suddenchanges could affect your life. Your spouse or partnerstarts doubting on you or becomes over-demanding.

Lucky number 22Lucky colour GreyLucky day Friday

VIRGO Aug 23-Sep 22

This week you feel inspired to start a creative project suchas an art class or simply enhance your skills. You feelcomfortable with your identity. You are not afraid toexpress yourself. Stimulating your imagination will allowyour new talent to unfold. You will enjoy good health.Career-wise this is the time to dream and enjoy thepleasures of life. You are likely to spend more time on yourhappiness. Executing your ideas to achieve a target will putyou in your senior’s good book. You are rich financiallyand by heart too. Your generosity and kindness willnurture your relationships. This week you are at ease withyourself and others. You are likely to create a positiveenvironment at home. Trust will give you strength andconfidence to overcome the obstacles in life.

Lucky number 28Lucky colour OrangeLucky day Tuesday

LIBRA Sep 23-Oct 22

You will adopt a fresh perspective on life and somepositive changes are likely to be made. You will feelrejuvenated. You are likely to go on a deeper spiritualjourney that will bring greater meaning and purpose intoyour life and renew your inner energy. Hope for a betterfuture and optimism is reflected in your works. There is acall of destiny that motivates you to go on.Professionally, you may have to bring changes in yourschedule. If you are not able to meet the demands ofyour professional duties, think it over. Try to bring aboutbalance and moderation in your life. On the personalfront, there will be issues in communicating with yourfamily. Know the importance of family bonding. This willhelp you to focus your energies towards good home life.

Lucky number 12Lucky colour WhiteLucky day Monday

SCORPIO Oct 23-Nov 21

This is a period of self-evaluation and to reflect on yourmistakes. It will help you release the guilt and sorrowabout the past. This is a good time to take freshdecisions. Share your experiences with others and inhealing within a group. Professionally, you have logical,reasoning and analytical strength and the courage andintellect to accomplish all that you desire. You need todetach yourself in a specific situation, to ascertain thetruth and seek out only the facts. You need to use yourintellect to prove your point and succeed. You can alsosolve problems through diplomacy. On the personalfront, you are filled with unbounded energy. And thisenergy needs to be balanced with a realisation ofresponsibility and compassion.

Lucky number 30Lucky colour GreenLucky day Thursday

AQUARIUS Jan 20-Feb 18

This week you feel negative energies at play around you.Food poisoning, dehydration or other seasonal ailmentscould make you feel low. Ladies may feel irritated, thyroidor hormonal imbalance could make you consult a healthprofessional. Get a medical examination done and take allcare possible. On the career front, your logical andanalytical approach to things could make you busy. Youfollow truth and discipline. You are likely to experiencechallenges but know that this is just a part of your journeyto something much more positive. Stay focused on yourlong-term goals. On the relationship front, a new romanceis on the cards. You want to start afresh in your relations.Fun and entertainment with your family are indicated.Your simplicity and charm are inspiring others.

Lucky number 21Lucky colour PeachLucky day Tuesday

PISCES Feb 19-March 20

This week you may be tempted to enter into conflict toprove yourself right or to defend yourself. You feelaggressive, annoyed by other people’s attitude. Beware ofa conspiracy. Analyse and introspect, perhaps you maybe at fault. Stay calm and it is a better way to deal withadversity. On the career front, you are determinedtowards your goals. You are clear in your communicationand straight forward with your colleagues. Avoid beingrude in your communication. Stay away from conflictsand overconfidence. Utilise your strength and reasoningpowers for good cause. If you are at an authoritativeposition then think about the benefits of yoursubordinates. On the personal front, your mental stabilityis your strength. Your family needs your support.

Lucky number 10Lucky colour Camel brownLucky day Sunday

CAPRICORN Dec 22-Jan 19

This week you are full of energy. You are a visionary andoften dream beyond your current limitations and moveconfidently into new areas. Take this leap of faith todevelop the real you. Think big in terms of where youwant to be and what you want to discover along the way.On the career front, you feel immense satisfaction onceyou find your work is on the right path after a long time.All this while, despite putting your heart and soul intoyour work, some hurdles left you frustrated. Now you canbid adieu to the failures and accomplish your tasks. Youcan start a business that sells items for children thisweek. This week, happy close-knit family and enjoymentin love relations are on the cards. You enjoy a happyfamily life even if you are single.

Lucky number 20Lucky colour Sky BlueLucky day Friday

LEO July 23-Aug 22

This week you are adventurous and curious. You will befilled with a great amount of energy like a child. Use thisenergy in creative pursuit and to hone your skills. Risk-taking and creative energies will open up new vistas. Iffacing doubt, then believe in yourself and follow yourheart. On the career front, you feel kind towards othersand may decide to use abundance in your life for thebenefit of others. You are likely to work for welfareschemes or maybe volunteer for the religiousorganisation for your happiness. It will give you immensesatisfaction. You may lend money to someone in need.On the personal front, you will experience a spiritualspark and divine feeling will fill you with faith. This is atime when you seek solitude and isolation from others.

Lucky number 14Lucky colour BrownLucky day Wednesday

SAGITTARIUS Nov 22-Dec 21

YOURWEEK

AHEADMADHU KOTIYA

sundaymagazine

tarot 8SO THE UNIVERSE IS CONSTANTLYMOVING IN THE DIRECTION OF HIGHEREVOLUTIONARY IMPULSES, CREATIVITY,

ABSTRACTION AND MEANING— DEEPAK CHOPRA Vijayawada, May 10, 2020

Moving on from lessons in how torelax and then detoxify themind, in the previous issues, it’s

time now to explore ways and means toaccess powers of mind. The power latentin mind is immense mostly lying dor-mant out of ignorance, which if unfoldedin full has no bounds. The paradox, how-ever, is that ordinary mortals are hardlyable to use five to seven percent of ourmind power, which remains available bydefault. For, ordinarily our mind remainsclouded by lot of inherent limitations.Our reach could, however, be expandedthrough conscious efforts. Einstein andpeople of his calibre are believed to haveused about 10 to 14 percent of theirmindpower to have created history.

Now, how to go about optimisingour mindpower? The first call is to getover inherent limitations by pursuing themind-detoxification process as discussedin the previous issue. Following which,most of inconsequential and negativethought imprints parked in the innerrealms of mind, that otherwise misdirectour thought process, go out of reckoning.Yet, some memory impressions lying atstill deeper layer of mind that hold thekey to our hardened habit tendencies,

may be left. For the final assault thathelps purify the mind fully, we need totake up ‘Dhyana’. Following which, thethought process becomes easy and sim-ple. Please bear in mind; simplicity isclarity, directness, and purity. It is freefrom complications, clutter, and confu-sion. Simplicity paves the way to success,peace, focus, and happiness. Thereafter,you would in full control of the self,when wholesome powers of mind shallbe available. You may then be able to usemind as an instrument, which it is,rather than being victim of its inconsis-tencies. Consequently, mind comes outwith its creative best, when it qualifies tospontaneously lead us towards the rightcourse due.

Mind could be raised to the abovestatus, when one is in a state of “Yoga”,which in applied terms means that uni-tary mind is fully tuned to the element ofconsciousness, which holds the key to allour dynamic functionalities.

The process suggested for the pur-pose by sage Patanjali, the proponent ofthe concept, is “Dhyana”. Going by itsliteral meaning, the word Dhyana impliespaying attention. To what? It is on noneother than one’s own self, which holds

the key to how we usually conduct in life.It, in the first place calls for observingand becoming aware of one’s limitationsof mind. Second, the workable part ofone’s indwelling potential. And finallyexplore one’s wholesome latent potential,unexplored and untapped thus far out ofignorance, which when unfolded in fullwould know no limits. The methodinvolved is to first disengage one’s atten-tion from external distractions, and thenlook within to explore and scan what liesin store at the various levels of the innerrealms of mind. Having become awarethus, to consciously deliberate upon andaccordingly redefine the thought process,with the intent to come out with one’sbest.

In English lingua franca, ‘Meditation’,is the word commonly used to give asense of Dhyana. Although, it doesn’treflect true spirit and essence of“Dhyana”, it however, stands close by.For, the word meditation, seeminglyhints at reflecting deeply over some idea,thought, or concept. Dhyana, on the con-trary, is a process directed towardsattaining a state of being, when mindgets riveted to the root of all thoughts. Itbecomes possible only when flirtation ofmind almost comes to an end, what

Patanjali calls ‘Citta vriti nirodha’.Otherwise, uncontrolled thought impres-sions in mind keep you so much engagedthat it doesn’t leave much of scope toprocess your thoughts objectively, andwith obvious consequences. Meditationremains a necessary part of the process,and so contextually remains relevant.

Once the mind gets fully purified,there is no thought left that may lead youthrough. You then need to cultivate freshdefining principle of mind by raisingawareness level. The process calls forcontinued reflection (meditation) uponfresh educative inputs as laid down in thescriptures or the ones offered by anenlightened Guru. Following which, youmay come out with your creative best.You could then spontaneously makeright choices in life. Remember, mindbeing an instrument, it can’t move on itsown. It needs a guiding principle. Tosum up, Dhyana is a mind-engineeringprocess.

The topic continues...The wwriter iis aan aastrologer, vvastu cconsultant

and sspiritual ccounsellor. WWrite tto hhim aatG-1102, BBharat NNagar, NNew FFriends CColony,

New DDelhi-1110 0025Tel: 991-111-449848475/9818037273

Email: bbharatbhushanpadmadeo@gmail.com

ASTROTURFBHARAT BHUSHAN PADMADEO

Madhu Kotiya is a tarot card reader, spiritual healer, and Founder, MShezaim Institute of Tarot and Divination. Contact details: madhu@indiatarot.com, www.indiatarot.com, M: 9873283331

Dhyana for self-empowerment

TEAM AGENDA DESK > NAVNEET MENDIRATTA, CONSULTING EDITOR | H LAYOUT AND DESIGN > SATISH CHANDRA JAKHMOLA, SENIOR EDITOR (CREATIVE)

Now yyou ccan wwrite tto uus aat agendapioneer@gmail.com

sundaymagazine

1110Let go to find your peace

Out for a stroll on the grounds ofDimple, his tall shadow saunter-ing alongside, Rajendra Kumarpaused in mid stride, cupping hishand around the flame of his sil-

ver lighter. Inhaling the nicotine from his ciga-rette and enjoying the warm, comforting feel-ing it gave him, he resumed walking. Mothsfluttered around the garden lamps and noctur-nal insects chirped happily. An owl called inthe distance. The actor, however, was absorbedin his own thoughts. No films in hand, he pon-dered, his handsome face flushed with thewinter chill. The year has ended. It’s unbeliev-able. And yet, I am the jubilee star. He drewdeeply on the 555, expelling rings of smoke.There is so much enthusiasm, so much passionwithin me, and there are so many stories! Firstthing tomorrow, I will call up all my industryfriends. My dear film industry will respond.They will not turn me down.

But for all his efforts and enthusiasm, whateventually landed in his kitty was a handful ofspecial appearances in Punjabi films like DukhBhanjan Tera Naam and Do Sher, both withDharmendra as his co-star, although in thesecond film, where the younger actor appearedin a song sequence and one scene, RajendraKumar played a central role as a dacoit. Thefilms released in 1974. Thereafter, sleepwalkinginto 1975, Rajendra appeared in Teri Meri IkJindri, a Punjabi film made to launchDharmendra’s cousin Veerendra. What didperk up the jubilee star a bit, though, was therelease of two of his Hindi films.

The first was the remake of a Telegu film,Sunehra Sansar, directed by Adurthi SubbaRao and helmed by women actors, with MalaSinha playing Rajendra Kumar’s wife andHema Malini his former flame. In the publici-ty posters of Sunehra Sansar, superstar HemaMalini featured quite prominently. Thoughthe film was not a commercial success, shewas much appreciated in a rare negative role.This was followed by Rani aur Lalpari, a chil-dren’s musical with a melee of stars, such asRajendra Kumar, Asha Parekh, Jeetendra,Feroz Khan, Reena Roy, Neetu Singh and oth-ers.

The year ended with Do Jasoos, a film thatchalked up average profits. Produced anddirected by Naresh Kumar, the film starred RajKapoor and Rajendra Kumar. Playing bum-bling detectives, they were mere caricatures oftheir former celebrated selves. The adulationthey had once enjoyed, the fame and stardomthat had been at their fingertips had all butfaded away. Of the two stars who were used tofans screaming, ‘Raj! Rajendra! We love you!’,Rajendra Kumar was still taken aback when heoverheard somebody remark, ‘I saw that actorand he looks old.’

I’ve seen it happening to others over andover again, and yet… Rajendra brooded onenight, allowing his despondent mood to getthe better of him.

‘Biwi,’ he said, turning to his wife, ‘I’m notworried about growing old. But there is somuch more that I want to achieve. I also haveto keep the money coming in. All my money is

invested, but to maintain this lifestyle, we willneed more.’

‘Hmm…’ Shukla murmured, her eyes mov-ing around their spacious home as she listenedto her husband voicing his ambitions andfears.

‘Tonight, I need a few pegs of good Scotch,’Rajendra was saying, ‘but I am worried aboutusing up our Black Label stock.’

Shukla shook her head in exasperation.Actors, she thought to herself. Always so dra-matic! But all she said was, ‘Miyan, go aheadand drink to your satisfaction and leave themoney management to me. We have enough.’

In the days that followed, a lethargic calmdescended over Rajendra Kumar’s life. But theunderlying tension of having no workremained, surfacing ever so often. At times likethese, he would feel helpless, broken. Lying inbed one night, Rajendra reflected that in thecurrent scenario the world was backing awayfrom him, disinclined to professionally engagewith a star who, they all felt, was past hisprime. He sighed, turning on his side. Like hisfellow actors, he too had struggled constantlyto ensure that he wouldn’t lose track of his realidentity — the human being that lay at theheart of his star persona. Now he was caughtin a dilemma: what was real — the elevatedstatus he had enjoyed earlier, the glorificationhe had revelled in, his decreasing relevance inthe world of films, the growing obscurity henow faced? With a multitude of defeatistthoughts vying for space in his mind, the for-mer star shut his eyes and fell into a troubledsleep.

The next day was a Saturday. Rajendraawoke, feeling surprisingly refreshed andcharged. As part of his routine, he dressed inshorts and a striped T-shirt, ready to sweat itout on the courts with a game of tennis.Bounding down the staircase of his magnifi-cent bungalow, he called out to Kaajal, hisyounger daughter, who always accompaniedhim to the club.

‘I’m going for a run. Let me know whenyou are ready,’ he told her, before jogging downthe narrow paths that cut across the grounds ofhis house. A cow mooed, bringing a smile tohis lips. Imagine, he reminded himself, inBombay city, in Pali Hill, on the grounds of myluxurious bungalow, I have a cow, six dogs, amonkey and deer! Rajendra smiled to himself,waving back at his neighbour who stood at theback gate.

‘How’s the cow doing?’ Mr Choraria asked.‘Choraria Saab! What a gift you send over

every morning!’ the actor responded. ‘A cow ofour own to milk!’

‘Of course! Growing kids need fresh milk,don’t they?’ Choraria remarked with a smile.

By this time, Kaajal, a sports lover like herfather, had come running down the stairs.Father and daughter left for the club. RajendraKumar truly enjoyed playing tennis, because itoffered him a reprieve from the depressingthoughts that seemed to preoccupy him muchof the time. But once back home, even as hesat down to a hearty breakfast, his vacillatingmind went into overdrive again. Perhaps I

should call it a day. I am at peace, he reasoned.But then, the workaholic in him raised itshead. No, I can’t just sit at home all day doingnothing, he told himself. I have invested years infilms and I am sure they will keep coming myway. Maybe not the choicest ones, but…Stubbing out his third cigarette, he lit up afreshas the houseboy brought out a tray of fruits.What an industry, the actor reminisced, bitinginto a crisp apple. It gave me so much and I toogave back wholeheartedly. I never played poli-tics. On the contrary, I helped and advisedmany newcomers. Ramesh Behl lived with myfamily from the age of fourteen. It was for himthat we started Rose Movies. And we signedKaka [Rajesh Khanna] even before Aradhana[released and the actor’s fame and popularitypeaked]. Rose Movies also gave Daboo [RandhirKapoor] a new lease of life with Jawani Diwani,which became such a huge success. And Manoj[Kumar]… He is as dear to me as my youngerbrother. He also lived with us, until he made it. Ihelped him too…

‘Chai.’ Bahadur interrupted the flow ofmemories with a cup of tea and RajendraKumar accepted it absent-mindedly, still deep inintrospection.

He recalled how it was through him thatactor Manoj Kumar had finally got his break asa hero in H.S. Rawail’s Kanch ki Gudiya oppo-site Sayeeda Khan. Rajendra had even recom-mended Rakesh Roshan for his debut role inGhar Ghar ki Kahani. Then there were the film-makers J. Om Prakash and Mohan Kumar. Theyhad remained his dear friends.

The star sighed, still lost in the past,attempting to convince himself that his film-industry friendships had endured, despite thedownward curve of his career graph. But a deepfrown continued to furrow his brow.

Time ticked on. The trees in the garden castlong morning shadows over the solitary star ashe sat in contemplative silence.

Excerpted with permission from JubileeKumar: The Life and Times of a Superstar, by

Seema Sonik Alimchand, Hachette India, `599

To become spiritual, we must have aclean heart and mind. The way to do this

is through forgiving and forgetting

F R O M T H E I N S I D E

Mellow doesn’talways make for agood story, but it

makes for a good life— Anne Hathaway

Celebrating their divine loveIt’s the hand of a mother that rocks thecradle, it’s the influence of a mother that plays a pivotal role in a child's life

Vijayawada, May 10, 2020

Jubilee Kumar is based on the real-life events of the legendary actor Rajendra Kumar as related by the actor’s family. It brings together theirmemories of his life’s events, their collection of news and interviews, their photographs, and the information shared in the form of videorecordings and interviews with other film personalities, writes SEEMA SONIK ALIMCHAND in her introductory note. An edited excerpt:

IN THE DAYS THATFOLLOWED, A

LETHARGIC CALMDESCENDED OVER

RAJENDRA KUMAR’SLIFE. BUT THE

UNDERLYING TENSIONOF HAVING NO WORK

REMAINED, SURFACINGEVER SO OFTEN. AT

TIMES LIKE THESE, HEWOULD FEEL

HELPLESS, BROKEN

Photos from the personal archives of the family of Rajendra Kumar

Photos from the personal archives of the family of Rajendra Kumar

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF A

SUPERSTAR

sundaymagazine

spirituality 10Vijayawada, May 10, 2020

IN DIFFICULT TIMES, WE’RE NOTSUPPOSED TO QUIT BELIEVING;WE’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO QUIT

GROWING— JOEL OSTEEN

HIDDENSOULSPRAMOD PATHAK

For something as apocalyptic as the present times, thetypical American slang is SHTF, that is, when the ShitHits the Fan. A rather crude expression for a catastro-

phe. Nevertheless, as the whole world is in such a situation,let’s examine what is happening. Two old time parables para-phrased here may help. First is the one I read in standard 4,some 5-and-a-half-decades back, in English Literature. It istitled the Timid Hares. The story goes that there lived in ajungle, a hare, that would always worry about the earth fallingin. One day, as it was sleeping under a palm tree, a big coconutfell with a thud. The hare jumped in panic and started run-ning, shouting that the earth is falling in. His fellow hare alsofollowed suit. Coming across other animals, they frantical-ly shouted the same message. Soon, all animals were run-ning, creating a big commotion. The lion saw this and roaredferociously, asking what the matter was. The animal in frontsaid that they were running because the earth was falling in.The lion asked where did he see that. The animal pointedto the one behind. When that animal was asked he also point-ed to the one behind. This way, the first hare was traced. Hethen took the lion to the place where he thought the earthwas falling in. As he pointed out to the palm tree, anothercoconut fell. The hare jumped again, wanting to run. But thelion asked him to stop and look. The hare saw the coconutand realised what the fact was. The lion asked him to tellthis to all animals. The lesson here is that rationality usual-ly takes a back seat in crisis situations. But that is where reas-suring leadership is needed. A leadership that is firm andmaintains a scientific approach. The second parablesummed below will help the self-styled experts who are advo-cating more scare than care understand that fear also kills.There was an ascetic living in a hut on the outskirts of a vil-lage. One night he saw a dark shadow moving menacinglytowards the village. The ascetic picks up the courage to askthe shadow who was he and what his motive was. The shad-ow replied that he was Death and was going to the villageto pick up people who were to die due to an impendingendemic that was about to hit. The ascetic asked how manypeople would die. The shadow said 1,000 and moved towardsthe village. In a few days, the endemic struck and a few thou-sand died. The ascetic was shocked. He thought The Deathhad lied. He decided to wait for the shadow to return. Asthe shadow returned, the ascetic charged him saying he hadnot kept his word because not 1,000 but several thousandhad died. The shadow said that it did not lie. The endemichad killed only a thousand. The rest died out of fear. Themoral of the story is clear. Fear of death can be more dan-gerous than death itself. In these times of distress, old timeparables are more educative and informative than the so-called real time information that is being disseminated inces-santly and copiously. Psychologists have long believed thatgood reading helps. It motivates people, and encourages themto face crisis in a better way. The world needs such peopletoday. We must forget fear. It is time to get back to work.

Pathak is a professor of management, writer, and an acclaimed public speaker. He can be reached at ppathak.ism@gmail.com

Ihope that we can return to the nor-mal mood sooner than later. But thisdoes not mean that we can eliminate

the danger of Coronavirus in a hurry.No, we cannot do that. The danger isvery real and must be accepted as such.Our problem is that we have forgottenthe difference between fear and caution.We must always be cautious as we arepersonally being advised also, but noone is remotely suggesting that weshould become fearful or paralysed withfear. This is not human intelligence.

Therefore, let us separate cautionfrom fear. Cautious we must be alwaysincluding now but fearful we shouldnever be. But we become fearful help-lessly. We do; don’t we? Let us under-stand the mechanics of how fear worksin our minds. Something fearful comesinto our minds, and we give it shelter,i.e. do not deal with it rationally. Thismeans that our minds have turned intoour enemies, about which Lord Krishnahas spoken in the Bhagawad Gita. (6.5-6) Sure enough, this affects our bodieslike it affected Arjuna’s. Gandiva wasslipping out of his hand, his skin wasalso burning, he was unable to remainstanding and his mind was reeling.(1.30) Now we have a serious problem,that is the mind is generating negativeenergy, which is affecting the bodyadversely.

How should we counter it? We canlearn from Arjuna’s example. Arjunabecame fearful due to the likely deathsof his relatives and friends and that tooon a very large scale. We are also placedsimilarly. There is danger of the virusaffecting our friends and relatives. Sowhat did Arjuna do? To begin with, heaccepted his condition. Then, herequested Lord Krishna to guide him;help him. He said, “Please instruct me,who has taken your shelter.”(2.7) Lord

Krishna did exactly that. He toldArjuna about how the human mindworks; it can become one’s friend andalso an enemy. Then, the Lord went onto tell Arjuna how this mind can bemade a friend by turning to God — theultimate solution. The Lord said,“Develop My consciousness; becomeMy devotee and offer obeisance to Me.”(18.65) Arjuna wisely accepted God’sinstructions and said, “I am free fromdoubt, I am composed, and I shall fol-low your instructions now. (18.73)

Though we are not faced with anywar but are similarly face to face witha pandemic. And our minds are gener-ating fear, a lot of it. Our bodies are get-ting affected due to the negative ener-gy generated by our fearful minds.There is an overarching mood of sad-ness. So we should follow Lord Krishna’sinstructions by developing God con-sciousness, becoming devotees of Godand pay obeisance to God. As we are alldifferent, we can choose to do in ourown ways what the Lord has instruct-ed, that is what suits us. I will cite mypersonal example. I have placed pho-

tos of God of His many incarnations inmy room. I also chant God’s names andalso some mantras. When I look atGod’s photo/photos or chant God’snames or some mantras or do bothsimultaneously, a miraculous changebegins to take place. My soul, that is, me— a higher entity than my mind getsinto act. The soul is now connected toGod. This brings the ananda character-istic of soul to the fore. The process gen-erates positive spiritual energy and thenegative lower mental energy is coun-tered and made ineffective. I gradual-ly become composed and peaceful.

Believe me this is that simple but thepractice must be done with faith and forsome period till the effect is felt. But itwill surely happen. It cannot fail. BothGod and souls are realities. The momentwe link with God, His energy begins toflow into us. Our ananda part is acti-vated. Fear — a lower energy form iscountered and we become peaceful,become composed. Just do it and reapits benefits as I am blissfully doing.

Bishnoi is a spiritual writer and can be reachedat spiritual@ajitbishnoi.com

Life brings us many disap-pointments and challenges.It is easy to fall victim notonly to others who may hurtor mistreat us, but also to our

own anger. When someone hurts usand we grow angry, we suffer two-fold.First, we have to bear the pain thatothers may cause us. Second, we haveto bear the pain and suffering thatcomes with feeling angry.

Anger not only upsets us emo-tionally, but it has a deleterious effecton our physical body. It causes stress,which in turn contributes to stress-related ailments. This can affect us byincreasing our risk of heart disease,cancer, stroke, high blood cancer, andother diseases. It takes a great amountof strength to withstand the tempta-tions to overcome anger. We maythink the angry person is strong, butactually they are succumbing out ofweakness to this trick of the mind. Ittakes one who is brave of heart to sayno to anger.

Let us trace what happens to us

when we do not forgive. Each of ourpersonal stories generally begins withsomething that happens to us that wedo not like. Some person has wrongedus in some way. Maybe someone hassaid something to hurt our feelings orhas hurt us physically. Maybe some-one we love has stopped loving us andcaring for us or has cheated on us.Maybe someone has taken our power,position, or wealth or has been dis-honest with us.

We can safely assume that all ofus go through life with some incidenthappening that we do not like or thathurts us. So, what happens next? Weare upset, hurt, annoyed or angry. Wethink about what had happened. Wedo not like it and we cannot seem toforget it. We think about it again andagain. We may speak about it repeat-edly either to the person who hurt usor to others. Some person who has lesscontrol over themselves may lashout physically to the person or take outtheir anger physically on someoneelse. As the incident escalates, we find

our thoughts and words occupied withhow to rectify the situation. Some peo-ple will try to solve the problem peace-fully by talking it over with the per-son who they felt has done themwrong.

Sometimes they try that but theother person is not willing to listen orchange. Then, we feel we have to dosomething drastic. This may lead toretaliation or revenge. We begin tothink about ways to get back to theperson who hurt us or we think aboutways to get even with them. We wantto see justice done. Our mind refus-es to forget what had happened untilwe retaliate or see justice done. Thus,in response from one incident we endup creating more scenarios and situ-ations . The other person then may getback at us for retaliating. A cycle ofaction and reaction may go on and onescalating a small situation into amajor problem.

What has happened in theprocess? We have lost our peace ofmind. The initial incident may have

lasted a few moments or a few hours,or a day, but we have now spent hun-dreds of hours and countless daysreplaying what happened and think-ing about how to get even.

In this process, the preciousmoments of our life have been wast-ed. Instead of keeping our attentionon what can help us become better,happier in life, we have wasted thetime in replaying a bad movie. Thus,we lose more than the person towhom we are directing our anger. AChinese proverb says that when weseek revenge, we dig two graves, onefor the other person on whom we seekrevenge and the other one for our-selves.

We become nothing more than atape recording or video recording thatplays the same bad scene over andover. How many of us want to see abad movie twice, or hear a song wedon’t like played again and again? Howmany of us want to eat the same foodwe don’t like again? We usually say,“This is yuck”. That is what happenswhen we repeat in our minds all thewrongs done to us. The solution forprotecting the body against the hor-mones released by hatred, anger andvengeance is simple: forgiveness. It isonly through forgiveness that we cancalm ourselves down and avoid thereactions of hatred and violence.What are the keys to developing thepower of forgiveness?

One of the keys is to let go. Whenwe forgive and forget, we are lettinggo the past and what has happened.We are saying, “I forgive the personfor what has happened. Then I amgoing to forget about it.” In this way,we are letting it go. When we let goof the past and the wrongs done byothers, the gain is that we achievepeace in our life. If we want to succeedon the spiritual path we need to havea pure and clean heart and mind .Theway to do this is through forgiving andforgetting, letting go, and gettingGod.

Let us learn to forgive and forget.It is time to wipe the slate clean andbegin anew. Let us let go of all anger.Let us let go of all hatred. Let us letgo of all feelings of vengefulness. Letus let go of all animosity. Let us devoteourselves to forgiving and forgetting,letting go and getting God.

We can tell our mind that we needto forgive everyone and everythingfrom past and make a consciousdecision to forget all the previoushurts. By sitting in meditation, freefrom all worldly desires and attach-ments, we can let go and find our-selves free to soar back to God. In thisway, we can spend all our time inenjoyment, bliss, laughter, happiness,and love.

The writer is a spiritual leader

Parables onCoronavirus

LET GO TO FIND YOUR PEACE

Fear can be counteredWe have forgotten the difference between fear and caution. Keep faith inGod to rid of fear and become peaceful, says AJIT KUMAR BISHNOI

It is not right to place idols of God as a showpiece, because God is worthy ofworship rather than a decorative item, says ACHARYA PRAVEEN CHAUHAN

To become spiritual, we must have a clean heart and mind. The way to dothis is through forgiving and forgetting, writes SANT RAJINDER SINGH

In ancient times, we used to have sim-ple idols made of wet clay of Gods andGoddesses. But as time passed, we

started using colours in these clay sculp-tures. As a result, the magnificence of theidols of gods and goddesses enhanced.

Today, instead of those clay-colouredidols of God, idols of gods in the form ofplastic, POP, metal, silver, gold, glass,photos, and calendars, etc. are being avail-able in the markets.

Such sculptures are more luminous,beautiful, artistic, grand, and durable thanthose ordinary sculptures made of clay. Atpresent, most of the people have seen thatpeople put idols, photos and calendars ofgods and goddesses in their house, shopand office in any place and any direction,where spinning them is not appropriate.

The name of God is considered to bea symbol of positive and constructiveenergy and just as everything has a limit,similarly positive energy also has a limit.It is not right to place idols of God inyour home, office, etc. as a showpiece,because God is worthy of worship ratherthan a decorative item. A man should alsofollow his power, purity, and dignity com-pletely.

Today, we get the idols of gods andgoddesses on many occasions. In such asituation, we keep them at any place inour home and office. Apart from all these,most of the matrimonial invitation cardsnow have a small plastic statue of LordShri Ganesh, we remove these plastic stat-ues from the invitation letter and place itanywhere at our house, and we do noteven realise that is this the right place ornot?

According to Vastu Shastra, idols,photos, calendars, etc. of Gods andGoddesses should not be applied mainlyin the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, lawn,etc. These idols, photos, calendars should

be installed only at the place of worship ofhome and office.

At the same time, idols of God largerthan 6 inches should not be installed inthe place of worship of the house. Also, inany way, a broken (idol/image) or tornphoto of God should not be installed inthe home or office. Statues and photosshould not be kept crooked at any place,as well as full care should be taken of thedignity of the idols.

It is considered very inauspicious to

keep idols of some deities in the house.These mainly include idols of Shani dev,Bhairav dev, Rahu-Ketu, Nataraja.

An idol of gods and goddesses madeof metal, plastic, glass, silver, and gold isnot a showpiece, but a symbol of positiveand constructive energy. This is the rea-son that we should follow their power,purity, and dignity completely by keepingthis energy symbol in the right place.

The writer is a Delhi-based Astrologer and Palmistand can be reached at info@astropraveen.com

Idols not a showpiece

WHEN WE FORGIVEAND FORGET, WEARE LETTING GOTHE PAST AND

WHAT HASHAPPENED. WE ARESAYING, “I FORGIVETHE PERSON FOR

WHAT HASHAPPENED. THEN I

AM GOING TOFORGET ABOUT IT”

First, we have actress Nitya Naresh, whoappreciates several qualities in hermother — from being tender, tough,compassionate toconscientious. She doesn’tlet a day pass by,without making useof her mum'sadvice in herlife

South Indian actress Bhavana feels that hermother has filled her world with emotionsand that a mother’s love cannot ever beweighed down. Being a motherherself now, she feels evenmore grateful to her mum andresponsible for her kids

DEAR AMMA, No matter how much I talk aboutyou, it would never suffice. Who says there’s noreflection of the almighty, there is and that’s inside everymother. I don’t want to reduce your love for a single dayor occasion, rather, I want to make you feel wanted andlove every day. You bore me in your womb for 9 months,took endless pain and mood swings raised me with loveand affection. Whenever I fell sick you gave up your sleep,brought school stationery for me whenever I needed it, gaveme money whenever I asked for it, until I becameindependent, and never cribbed about anything. The quarantineperiod reminded me of all the affectionate things you have donefor me as I can see that mirroring phase in my kids now. You aremy guiding light, no matter what, I will remain your little girl. Youtaught me how to smile, love unconditionally, be appreciative of tinylittle things, and laughter. I thank you for being a wonderful mother to me,everything I do is all for you. I can only hope to one day become half thewoman that you are.

Love always,Your little girl Bhavana

sundaymagazine

special 11Vijayawada, May 10, 2020

It’s the hand of a mother that rocks the cradle, it’s the influenceof a mother that plays a pivotal role in a child's life. They can

hear their child's words even in their silence and can be thetimeless teachers in the classroom of life too. Every child has a

mother who has fostered their child's sensibilities in them. ThisMother's day, The Pioneer publishes heartfelt letters of someeminent personalities written to their much-adored mothers.

VIDEO CALLS, HOUSEHOLD CHORES TO CHEER MOMS THIS YEAR

Surprising our mothers this year could be a little tough thistime, given that we can't take them out for a day at the spa, or

go shopping or to the movies with them. But looks like thelove for them will never stop people from making them smile.

The Pioneer's Rachel Dammala finds out what folks fromTollywood and elsewhere are doing to make this day special!

The rapper says he has been cele-brating Mother’s Day for the past35 days now, referring to the lock-down! He says his sister and himhave been helping their motherwith household chores every day.“My sister plans to bake a cake formy mom, on Mother’s Day. Wehope it turns out better than herlast attempt — she slightly burntit,” he chuckles.

The YouTube star’s mother iscurrently working in Dohaand is treating COVID-19

patients. “I think I’ll spend agood one hour with her via avideo call and tell her I miss

her. Once she’s back, we are allgoing to give her the tightest

hug ever and tell her howproud we are of her.”

ROLL RIDAJAHNAVI DASETTY

AKA MAHATHALLI

AADI PUDIPEDDISRIRAM ADITTYA

MADHU SHALINI

Senior televisionartist, Meghna Rami

shares a very powerfulbond with her mother.She’s still at the top ofher speed dial list, and

that’s what sheconsiders an intense

feeling

Hi momma, I know to be a mother is the hardest jobin the world, but also the most rewarding. You are oneselfless, ever-sacrificing mother, whose qualities I haveimbibed too. Everybody is well known by the virtue ofme being a mother to many since I was just 21 yearsold in my television career, especially the one I playedfor Akkineni Nageshwara Rao garu and it turned out tobe really successful at it. I owe it all to you! You aremy first friend, my firstteacher, and my firstmotivator. Nothing ismore important tome than you. I

understand it’s a thankless job, you always madesure to give me proper nurturing and love, andI honour you for that. Sometimes finding theright balance was hard but it was all worthit. Amid this pandemic, I want to tell youthat we are all in this together, I am nevergoing to leave your side. This Mother'sday I take this opportunity to appreciatethe angel of my life, I am lucky to have youas my mother and I will always remainyour little one, no matter how popular I get.Yours lovingly, Meghna

PopularTelevision

actress andanchor JyothiReddy salutes

not just hermom, but

every motherwho toils day

in and day outto bring up

children thatshine before the

world

AMMA, I want to use thisday to honour you, mymother, and alsomotherhood. It is only afterwe are born, brought up,and taught about values thatour identity is formed. It'syou, the mother, that givesbirth, nurtures us, ensureswe children, imbibe theright values. Not just mymom, but I'd like to wishevery mother that has,and will, bring up thenation's best citizens.

With loads of love andrespect,

Your Jyothi

“My mom’s living in Bengaluru currently and weare definitely going to miss her. So my dad, sisterand I plan to do a group facetime or Zoom callher to tell her how much we missed her. Mydaughter Ayaana and I plan to bake a cake for mywife Aruna. I’ll also try to pick up somethingfrom a supermarket that Ayaana can gift hermom.”

Devadas and Bhale Manchi Rojudirector says, “I plan to give my mum aday off, by waking up early and doing

all the chores. I plan to cook somethingyummy that she likes, play some boardgames, and more importantly, I hopewe put away our phones and give hersome uninterrupted attention. I amsure it's been long we’ve done that.”

Kithakithalu actress Madhu Shalinifeels its very easy to surprise mothers.

“My mom, literally, has no expecta-tions. She’s thrilled with the smallest of

gifts. For now, I think strawberry icecream will make her day this time.

Once the lockdown ends, I’ll buy hersomething she doesn’t have in her

wardrobe.”

AYouTuber by

profession,Alekhya

Harika looksfor

inspiration inher mother. She

traces her little steps back toher, asking what has she done

to deserve a mother like her.

HEY MOM, I still rememberthose days when we were broke

and no one stood by our side. Wewere fighting our own struggles,

times when grandmother abandoned you andI didn’t feel like living anymore. The sunrise

was never bright for me. Both of us standingon two different balconies waving at eachother and you wore that smile filled with a

lot of pain. Despite all of this, you nevermissed a chance to become a ray of

hope in life, edging me to continueliving this beautiful life. ‘Single

mother', as causal as itsounds, comes withabundant hard work

with only one

desireof wanting thekid's happiness. Andfor that, you sacrificed yourpossessions and chose me.There’s nothing more I'd want toask of you. You encouraged me towork harder each day and help theneedy. There were times when, thoughwe lived in the same house, I never foundtime to interact. Let me tell you ma, it wastough for me but we made it till here. Iwonder if there are mums who still wait fortheir daughters for almost 8 hours in a car soI could complete my shoot. You havealways ensured my safety and Iregret not being able to dropyou at your office even for 10minutes. You are the ultimateepitome of compassion anddetermination. I am trulyblessed to be yourdaughter and I love youfor the next thousandyears, momma.

Yours only,Bangaru Thalli

Dear Ma,Happy

Mother’sDay!

I’ve alwaysbeen thankful

to God for beingborn to you.

Namya and I are lucky in somany ways, but most lucky to

have you. Your love isunconditional, and for the

record, that’s not easy.You support us in every choice we

make. You encourage us to achieve the thingswe never thought we could. You hold us tight

when we break down and for some reason,you are the only one who can make the paingo away. You defend us when we feel like no

one understands us. You have our backswhen we need it the most. Just having

you beside us, makes everything better. I love you so much Ma. When I look

back at my childhood, I cannotfind any faults with it. You were

there every single dayshaping me to be the

kind of human

beingI am today,subtly teaching me somany valuable lessonsthrough your actions andchoices. I never had too manyfriends growing up, but you alwaysmade me feel like I had a best friend inyou. Kids around me always thought I wasweird and different. You taught me thatdifferent was good. That it made me unique.You loved me for exactly who I am. You taughtme how to love myself, which was such a biglearning for me.My confidence, my empathy, mycare, and understanding for othersand my belief that I am amazingthe way I am - all come fromyou.Ma you are the reason I am whoI am today and if I couldhave a say, I would wantto be born to you in howmany ever lives I live.

Lots of loveHugs and kissesNitya Naresh a.k.aAmu

Inpu

ts f

rom

KR

amya

Sre

e,

Shik

ha D

ugga

l & R

ache

l Dam

mal

a

SUNDEEP KISHAN

“Thankfully, my mom andaunt are living with me now. I

consider my older sister too, likemy mom. This year, I plan to

help my sister, or supervise(laughs) her cooking. I learned

over time, that we've got to figurewhat their likes are while surpris-ing them. They might not always

enjoy what we enjoy doing.”

HapyyMother’sDay

VIJAYAWADA | SUNDAY | MAY 10, 2020 12

Notoverlynaughty nor quiet....

I was born in Maharashtra and

brought up in Hyderabad. I had

a very busy childhood as I was

introduced to sports when I

was just four years old. I was

either training or going to

school and I must say I

had a pretty good child-

hood. As a kid, I was

neither overly

naughty nor quiet. I

was the only child

for eight years,

then my sister

happened, so Ihad my share

of attentionand pam-

p e r i n g .But dur-

ing myteens,

I

e x p e r i -enced it all, I

was really short-

tempered until I was 19.

But during my late 20s I became

calmer.

Badminton was not

my first choice...

Badminton was not my first

choice, I started off with tennis. It

was my mom, Yelan Gutta, who

introduced me to badminton, and

I was just hooked. My mother is my

true inspiration. Coming from a

different country, she established a

company for herself and that is

doing well, which is not very easy

and not everyone’s cup of tea. She

is a strong woman.

I was not getting due

credit...

There were a lot of reasons for

me to take a break from badminton.

Sometimes I wanted to call it quits

despite being a good player. I was

being troubled and harassed a lot

and there was too much of strug-

gle inside me. I was not getting due

credit and I wasn’t being given the

respect I deserve. But sometimes

you feel ‘you are not here just by

yourself ’. You have to respect every-

one who worked for you and their

support.

I was harassed

mentally....

Every sportsperson

has his/her struggles

financially. Apart

from that, the chief

coach troubled me

a lot, they fre-

quently dropped

me from the team.

They also withdrew

my entries without

my knowledge. I

was harassed

mentally despite

winning so

many tourna-ments. I

played bet-ter than

s i n g l eplayers.

During

m ylast comeback

Olympics, they removed me

from the team. It was very frus-

trating. I think I did not go the way

everyone went (joining one acad-

emy). I followed my own path,

inspite them troubling me, I was

performing well and may be that

was not easily digested. I was also

voicing my opinion. I feel people

cannot digest the fact that a woman

is independent, good looking,

strong and a good performer.

Was a good student...

As a child my sister and I were

punished a lot. My sister used to

escape from the situation when my

mom starts punishing me. I had

been a very protected child, much

more than my sister. And I think i

made some great friends in life who

are there for me anytime. I was

good a student as well, I used to

score around 80 and was above

average. After my 8th standard, I

was irregular to school and was

attending classes only about 10 days

a year.

Good support from

NCBN…

During my initial days, I received

good support from the N

Chandrababu Naidu and YS

Rajasekhar Reddy government.

That being said, one cannot forget

what the Central government is

doing to help sportspersons. They

fund everything, somehow players

fail to acknowledge the efforts

from the government.

Every win is an

emotional moment...

What I believed in has paid off.

I played Commonwealth Games in

front of my parents and family.

They saw me playing live and and

I also won that tournament. Its one

of the most emotional moments in

my life. Apart from that I also won

a lot of other tournaments and

medals. Every win is an emotion-

al moment for me.

Need to be vocal

about gender

discrimination...

Gender discrimination is some-

thing that has to be spoken about,

but unfortunate-

ly is not. It is a most

uncomfortable topic for a lot

of people. We need to speak

about equal opportunities, equal

pay, equal treatment. Looking at the

way I was treated, it shows that this

society is not ready to accept

strong, opinionated women. Some

people look down upon them and

feel they can be easily labeled. That’s

how the society is developing and

it’s high time we change

this kind of think-

ing. People

need to‘HEAR USO U T ’ .There areso manyw o r d sp e o p l euse liked u m b ,b i m b o .Why wouldsomeone want

to judge people who

are flamboyant in nature? This dis-

cussion needs to happen.

Fun at academy…

During my initial days and dur-

ing my childhood, my team and I

had great fun at the academy. After

practise sessions, we would sit

together and boys would wear lip-

stick and all that just for the sake

of fun. I doubt my juniors had that

kind of fun. People always label me

as an aggressive player, but more

than aggressive, I was a very clever

player.

Establishing my

academy...

With the present badminton

team and the current situation, i

don’t think I can play or would

want to play with anyone. I am

currently on a break and I’m busy

establishing my academy, details

of which will be announced

soon along with my future

plans.

Don't want to go

back to films...

I had a special song in

Gunde Jaari

Gallanthaindi starring

Nithiin. It was just an

experience and I don’t

want to

go back to films.

If I wanted, I would’ve

gone long back. But no, I’m happy

with what I have done.

Felt marriage was

not growing...

I felt my marriage with

Chetan Anand was not grow-

ing. There are a lot of rea-

sons; somewhere I felt I

was missing some-

thing. I was not

able to focus on

my career andthere was nocompatibil-ity. So Ihad totake thedecision.

Initially, itwas very

tough on

me, but even-

tually thingsfell in place.It was typi-cal; it wasi n e v i t -able.

My progression to Indian

team was very rapid...

Growing up, I never thought of becoming anything else. It was always sports

to me as I was introduced to it at a very early age. I started playing

badminton at the age of nine. It was more of my parents, Kranti Gutta

and Yelan Gutta, efforts and dream to get me into this. At that age

you don't know the meaning of ambition and goals. It all

depends on your parents. Later on, I had no choice

because sports is what I know. It is my dad's and

mum's dedication and discipline that brought me

here. I was 15 years old when I joined the

Indian team. My progression to Indian

team was very rapid. People

around me believed in my

skills and capability.

Life with boyfriendVishal...

Life has been very pleasant after Istarted seeing Vishal, an actor. There isa lot of travelling, which I hate, but it’s

been good so far with lots of fun. He is verysupportive, there are things which he doesn'tunderstand, a few things I come too strong oneverybody, including him, but he knows me as aperson. So at the age of 35, someone can't expect meto change. He doesn't want me to change and I enjoywhat he does.

Develo-ping a

thick skin...

Over time, I havedeveloped a thick skin

towards criticism. I can't reallystop anybody from judging me. If

somebody is like this, I don't wantto explain why and how she became

like that. Although my parents wereinitially affected by all the rumours,

criticism and news against me, they arefine with it now. They even warned me to be

safe during the initial days. But people keeptalking and you have to learn to ignore.

Takingbreak...

My name was removedfrom the players list during

my comeback after Rio. I couldn’t goback to Square 1 then and talk to peopleand crib and cry for a chance. That is why Itook a long break. I always used to thinkeverybody is good, only in late 20s did I realise thatnot everyone is good. It is just a realisation. Ihaven't learnt my lesson yet. I'm a very non-judgemental person.

RAPIDFIRE:

Describeyourself in three words: Loving,fun and truthfulWhat do you hate/dislike inothers: If they are beingmanipulative and are notpunctualWhat do you do in your leisuretime: Watch TVFavourite holiday destination: UK,anytimeMost inspired of: I get inspired very easilyby anybody around me or any story. Favourite film: I have many, I can watchanything.What is badminton to you: Part of my life, but notmy lifeWhat's the place you wish to visit: J&KToughest subject: MathWhere do you see yourself in next 5 years: A mother. And running anacademy and helping a lot of peopleOne thing you won't be be doing in next 5 years: I won't be joining politics.People often think i'm going to join politics, but I’m not, at least for now

Celebritycrush:

Bradley CooperGuilty pleasure: Waste a

lot of time.Who is your inspiration: My

parents, mom especiallyIf not a sportsperson what would

you be: A housewifeHow do you deal with anxiety

and stress: I don't think ortalk about it

What you do to relax:Nothing, or just drive

A 14-time National Champion, JwalaGutta is the first badminton player

from India to qualify for two eventsin the Olympics — women's doubles

with Ponnappa and mixed doubleswith V. Diju at London.

She also won Gold and Silver at the2010 and 2014 Commonwealth

Games respectively in the women'sdoubles event which were a first for

the country in this discipline.Jwala has brought recognition

for doubles badminton inIndia. It is not just badminton

but also her connect withHyderabad and bringing

laurels for the country that hasmade Jwala a household name.She has been vociferous when

it comes to the issues shesupports — ranging from fair

treatment in sports, health andeducation, women's

empowerment and genderequality. Tagged as one of the most

inspiring sportswomen of India,Jwala Gutta, an Arjuna Awardee,

speaks to THE PIONEER'S

K Ramya Sree about her childhood,fighting for gender equality, setting up

an academy, plans of becoming amother, badminton in India and more...

With dad Kranti Gutta, mom Yelan Gutta and sister Isi Gutta