TRY THE BALCONY MARATHON South African couple Collin Allin, 41, and wife Hilda running a marathon on the balcony of their Dubai apartment on Saturday. They ran over 2,100 laps of their balcony to cover 42.2 km in 5 hrs, 9 mins and 39 secs. They plan to take the project global to help people shake off the coronavirus blues

BENGALURU  MONDAY  MARCH 30, 2020  `6.00  PAGES 32  LATE CITY EDITION

NATIONAL COUNT NY CITY WON’T BE LOCKED DOWN KERALA COUNT SOARS TO 202 ZOOMS PAST 1,000 106 NEW CASES 27 DEATHS Coronavirus deaths in the US shot up to 2,010, With 20 more cases being reported on Sunday, Kerala count Union health ministry on Sunday Over the past 24 hours, 106 Fresh deaths were reported from a quarter of them in New York City. Total cases touched 202 though the Union health ministry data put it at 182 1,46,400 said total confirmed Covid-19 new cases and six deaths Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, 1,21,000. However, President Donald Amid all the worry and the lockdown, 96 patients cases in India touched 1,024; of were reported from six states, Maharashtra and Telangana (one Trump decided against imposing a lockdown NO OF PEOPLE RECOVERED FROM 96 were reported to have recovered, which is a big plus them 901 are active cases the ministry said each), taking the total to 27 bowing to pressure from the local leadership RECOVER CORONAVIRUS WORLDWIDE

CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOGGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ WARANGAL ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI ‘PLEASE, DON’T STIGMATISE A COVID-19 PATIENT’

BY A COVID-19 SURVIVOR vor from Aurangabad in tion ICU of the Seth Nandlal FIRST PERSON world. I returned to Aurangabad 11, I felt exhausted. My stamina Maharashtra. Dhoot Hospital on March 24 after ACCOUNT on March 3. The next day I was was at its lowest. This is when my OBODY else other than I am sharing this as I want peo- 10 days. I finished my last medica- back to work. I had to conduct elder son, who is an intensivist in the one, who has survived ple to have faith in the healthcare tion on March 28 and am supposed the Northern Lights with a group viva for my students. a Mumbai hospital , advised me to the shock and trauma of system. People need to follow the to watch my health up to April 3 of women. We had a fabulous holi- I was fine till March 7, when I get my CBC (complete blood We need to fight the highly infectious nov- instructions from health and civil as per my doctors, who are happy day; in fact, one of the best I have developed a stuffy nose followed count) test done. this war together. N I could not have el coronavirus, would authorities. But please don’t so- with my recovery. had in a long time. We had ob- by shivers the next day. I took Sin- On March 12, I felt shortness of know what it means to be infected cially stigmatize a COVID-19 pa- I am a faculty in a prestigious served all necessary precautions arest and called up my doctor. He breath. The next day I went to the fought my battle alone either. with the unknown virus and how tient. I have seen some educated hotel management institute in Au- because the news on coronavirus advised me to take a course of an- hospital for my chest CTC and it changes your life and of your people fall into the trap. rangabad. My daughter-in-law and the havoc it had created in tibiotics. I took the medicines and swab tests were done for H1N1 and The survivor family’s. I am a COVID-19 survi- I was discharged from the isola- and I had gone to Russia to watch China then was known to the went about my work. On March COVID-19. P5 from Aurangabad

AGE NO BAR Coronavirus SEAL BORDERS, STOP EXODUS, STATES TOLD does not Lockdown violators to be under quarantine; two senior Delhi babus suspended; migrants crowd bus stations; states told to ensure wage payments

spare the EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ New Delhi to take a month’s rent from the ten- ants. MHA also warned landlords Time to open the purse strings A day after thousands of migrant against forcing migrant workers If you want to make a financial contribution to the fight against young either workers thronged Delhi’s Anand and students to vacate premises. PM: APOLOGIES Vihar inter-state bus terminal in In another advisory, the MHA the virus, here’s how you can go about it EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE the hope of catching a ride to their asked states to ensure timely pay- KERALA FOR IMPOSING Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund @ Bengaluru native places, the Centre on Sun- ment of wages to workers without Relief in Emergency Situations Fund day ordered all district and state any cut. “We have asked States to Name of Account : PM CARES Account Number : 67319948232 THE LOCKDOWN GOING against popular be- borders be sealed effectively and make arrangements for shelters so Account Number : 2121PM20202 State Bank of India, City Branch, lief that young adults are at ordered 14-day quarantine for all that the migrant workers who IFSC code : SBIN0000691 Thiruvananthapuram EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ New Delhi lesser risk of contracting the those who violated the shutdown have violated the lockdown and IFSC : SBIN0070028 SWIFT Code : SBININBB104 SWIFT : SBININBBT08 Novel Coronavirus, eleven which was imposed to contain the travelled could be put in quaran- State Bank of India, New Delhi main branch PRIME Minister Naren- people aged below 40 years spread of Covid-19. tine for 14 days at their destina- UPI ID : pmcares@sbi dra Modi on Sunday have tested positive for COV- The Centre also cracked the tions,” said Joint Secretary in For further info https://www.pmindia.gov.in For further info https://donation.cmdrf.kerala.gov.in apologised to the people ID-19 in the past two days in whip on sloppy Delhi government MHA Punya Salila Srivastava. KARNATAKA ODISHA of the country for the Karnataka. On Sunday, two officers by suspending two and ini- Despite the Centre’s directives, hardships they have to Chief Minister’s Relief Fund COVID-19 Odisha Chief Minister’s more people tested positive, tiating disciplinary action against migrants again attempted to leave Relief Fund - COVID-19 endure due to the 21-day taking the count to 83 in the two others. The officers suspended from the Anand Vihar bus termi- Account Number : 39234923151 lockdown, while ex- IFSC code : SBIN0040277 Account Number : 39235504967 state. They are a 35-year-old were Additional Chief Secretary nus but were blocked by police. “I SWIFT Code : SBININBB171 IFSC : SBIN0010236 plaining that there is no male (Patient 82) who had (Transport) and Principal Secre- came here in the morning and State Bank of India, Vidhana Soudha Branch State Bank of India other option to fight the travelled to Dubai and ar- tary (Finance), while Additional have been waiting for police to let UPI : cmrfcovid19@sbi Secretariate Branch, Bhubaneswar deadly coronavirus. rived in Mangaluru on March Chief Secretary (Home) and SDM us go ahead,” said Joginder Singh, For further info https://cmrf.karnataka.gov.in For further info “Certain decisions had to be taken, result- 17, and a 29-year-old male (Pa- Seelampur were issued notice. The 40, a fruit merchant headed for Mo- https://cmrfodisha.gov.in/donation/onlinedonation.php ing in myriad hardships for you. My poor tient 83) with a history of action was based on finding that radabad. Many others were seen TAMIL NADU brothers and sisters must be wondering ANDHRA PRADESH travel to Thiruvanan- they prima-facie failed to imple- trying to walk on the railway Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund what kind of Prime Minister they have got. Chief Minister Relief Fund, Andhra Pradesh thapuram, Kerala. Both are ment the lockdown orders. tracks at Anand Vihar to reach SB Account No : 117201000000070 My wholehearted apologies, especially to from Udupi and have been According to a Home ministry their villages in Uttar Pradesh. Indian Overseas Bank, Secretariat Branch Account No : 38588079208 them,” he said. State Bank of India, Velagapudi isolated at a designated hos- order, District Magistrates and Su- In a video conference with chief IFS Code : IOBA0001172 He said the fight against the virus is one SWIFT : IOBAINBB001 Secretariat Branch pital in that district. perintendents of Police will be secretaries and DGPs, Cabinet Sec- PAN : AAAGC0038F IFSC Code : IFSC SBIN0018884 between life and death and, hence, the coun- As per official data, 19 people “personally responsible” for im- retary Rajiv Gauba and Union try must win. Acknowledging that many For further info https://ereceipt.tn.gov.in/cmprf/cmprf.html For further info https://apcmrf.ap.gov.in have tested positive between plementation of these directions, Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla asked people are annoyed at being confined to March 27 and March 29. Of issued under the Disaster Manage- them to ensure there is no move- TELANGANA CM Relief Fund, BRKR Bhavan https://ts.meeseva. their homes, he appealed to them to be obey Send cheque favouring ‘CM Telangana Secretariat telangana.gov.in/Covid/ them, 17 are aged below 60 and ment Act. The ministry asked ment of people across cities or on CovidContribution.htm the lockdown rules for a few more days. two are aged over 60. P5 landlords of migrant workers not highways as lockdown continues. Relief Fund, Telangana State’ to: Hyderabad - 500 022

WORLD FIGURES EXPRESS READ CONFIRMED CASES TOTAL DEATHS RECOVERED CASES EPF withdrawal 7,10,290 33,550 1,50,734 allowed amid lockdown New Delhi: The Labour Ministry has allowed subscribes of retirement fund body EPFO to withdraw an amount not exceeding their three months’ basic pay and dearness allowance from their EPF account in view of the lockdown. P10

North Korea fires ballistic missiles into sea Seoul: North Korea on Sunday fired two suspected ballistic missiles into the sea, South Korea said, calling it “very inappropriate” at a time when the world is battling a pandemic. The projectiles flew about 230 km at an altitude of 30 km.

WITH THIS THE ESSENTIAL ISSUE CAMPUS DIGEST

YOUR LIFE COACH LIVING THROUGH THE LOCKDOWN A group of visually-challenged workers from an agarbathi factory walk to an Indira Canteen amidst the lockdown 32 PAGES, INCLUDING 16 OF EDEX in Bengaluru on Sunday | VINOD KUMAR T (TABLOID) AND 4 OF CITY EXPRESS

EXPERT’S TAKE Don’t panic, we can conquer it: Dr Nageshwar Reddy

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Hyderabad the Padma Bhushan in 2016 and riods,” he says. the Indian virus, there is a single currently serves as the Chairman In India, most places average mutation occurring in the spike AT a time when paranoia and pan- of the Asian Institute of Gastro- well above 32 C in April. “But in- protein of the genome. Spike pro- ic over how long the coronavirus- enterology, takes us through why doors, where we are living in air- tein is the area that attaches to the fuelled lockdown may stretch are the coronavirus may not conditioning or where the human cell. Only one small muta- rife, internationally renowned withstand the scorching temperature levels are cool, tion has happened, making that medical expert Dr D Nageshwar heat of the Indian sum- the problem still persists,” attachment weak.” Reddy has good news: “This is mer. “Regarding temper- he adds. The MIT research is That is why he believes the cur- something we can easily conquer. ature, there was and peer-reviewed, which means rent 21-day lockdown should not There’s no need to panic,” he tells there is still a lot of con- it has not been completely extend. “In my opinion, we should us while adding that the current troversy, but recently, a published but the initial re- limit it to three weeks. It looks lockdown “should not prolong be- paper was published by views look positive. like, to some extent, the commu- yond three-four weeks.” MIT, USA, where they Dr Reddy explains that the nity spread is being controlled,” Speaking to TNIE Editor G S have shown the heat-sensitivity of spread of Covid-19 in India may he opines. Vasu, the Hyderabad-based gas- this virus. Above 32 degrees, this not parallel that of Italy or China To read full transcript/watch troenterologist, who was awarded virus is unable to exist for long pe- because its strain is different. “In video, go to https://bit.ly/3dAscV7 ALMANAC TODAY MIN MAX Sunrise 6.17 am Monday 30/03/2020 Year: Sarvari Ayana : Uttharayana Ritu: Vasantha 0 340C Sunset 6.31 pm Masa: Chaitra Paksha: Shukla Tithi: Shasthi 10.21 pm Nakshatra: 19 C Moonrise 10.18 am Rohini 1.13 pm Moon in Mithuna Rashi Rahukaala: 07:30 am to 09:00 am WEATHER FORECAST Gulikakala: 01:30 pm to 03:00 pm Yamaganda: 10:30 am to 12:00 pm WATCH Sunny Moonset 11.26 pm

BENGALURU MONDAY 02 3003 2020 newindianexpress com Avoid leaving home, apply BBMP comes to aid of city’s furry denizens

IFFATH FATHIMA @Bengaluru for curfew passes online AFTER receiving numerous complaints about ani- mals crying out from pet shops that have been closed Police launch new app to expedite the process and avoid crowding down, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike We can’t let animals (BBMP) has threatened to cancel licenses of owners suffer. A man in who neglect animal welfare. IFFATH FATHIMA @Bengaluru itially, it was done manually Hennur closed his The BBMP checked up on pet stores closed in resulting in crowding, as peo- shop and went back Shivajinagar, Koramangala, Hennur, JP Nagar, to Tamil Nadu. The GETTING passes for move- ple had to fill in forms and pro- authorities traced Jaynagar, Mahalakshmi Layout and other areas af- ment of individuals and vehi- duce physical documents. It him and asked him to ter rights activists raised concerns about ill-treat- cles during the ongoing lock- was said it would take six return. Unlicensed ment of animals. down has become easier now. hours for the process, but it ac- shops too are being “Many activists complained that owners have How to apply The state police have launched tually took a day. Applicants checked closed pet shops and gone away, leaving animals in- ‘CLEAR Pass’ app for issuing had to come back the next day, side without food and water. We started to check four TEAR Pass app or on the Arun Prasad, activist passes online. The system thus breaking the lockdown days ago and tracked down these stores. We have a website kspclearpass.mygate. came into effect in the White- rules,” he said. group with volunteers where we get updates and we com. Upon entering personal field division of the city on He said, “The demand is work them,” BBMP special commissioner, Randeep details, an OTP will be sent to Sunday and it will be extended high. About 6,000 people ap- D said. The government has asked owners to feed the registered mobile number. to other divisions on Monday. plied for the passes in Ma- their animals between 7am-9.30am and 4-6pm. The organisation’s details need After the recent announce- hadevpura zone alone. Making On inspecting the pet shops, the officials found to be provided. Once the police ment by city police commis- it online will help as people that some owners had fed the animals but others had approve it, another OTP will be sioner Bhaskar Rao that passes can sit at home and get the A BBMP completely neglected them. “The owners had been sent. The pass cannot be would be issued for individuals passes, instead of visiting.” official picks warned that if they do not feed animals and leave printed. and vehicles involved in emer- Right now, only companies up a kitten the shops untidy, their licences will be cancelled,” gency services, many people during a said Dr Shashi Kumar, BBMP joint director for ani- can apply for passes for their mission had rushed to the offices of the employees involved in emergen- to rescue mal husbandry. jurisdictional deputy commis- cy services or supply of essen- animals from Activist Priya Chetty-Rajagopal said that the sioners of police, breaching tials. Individuals can also apply pet shops, BBMP had responded to their complaints and ad- The demand is high. About 6,000 social distancing norms. in couple days, sources said. in Bengaluru dressed the issues they raised. “They took it very people applied for the passes in BBMP councilor Clement Rao tweeted, “Happy to on Sunday; seriously and responded to our complaints immedi- Mahadevpura zone alone. Making Jaykumar, who is part of Ma- launch KSP CLEAR Pass App, (Left) BBMP ately. We asked that veterinary dispensary clinics be it online will help as people can hadevpura Task Force, said for COVID19 Passes for essen- officials opened. That was also addressed. The animal hus- sit at home and get the passes, MLA Arvind Limbavali had a tial services & emergencies outside a bandry and fisheries departments have assured that instead of visiting the office for meeting with the deputy com- animal food will be supplied to pet shops.” the purpose by the @dcpwhitefield. Other pet shop in missioner of police (White- divisions operational from Shivajinagar Arun Prasad, another activist, said a shop in Clement Jaykumar, BBMP councillor field) seeking to expedite the 30th March. No more Paper | MEGHANA Shivajinagar had to be opened to feed birds after process of issuing passes. “In- Passes (sic).” SASTRY they received complaints. COSTLY MEALS Contractors fly the coop without paying, Veggie prices shoot up over lockdown chaos labourers plead with state’s call centre

K SHIVA KUMAR @Mysuru Rs 22, drumsticks at Rs 60 MANJU SHETTAR @Bengaluru formed the local police and had not had food since Satur- while the price of carrot dou- asked them to trace the con- day. We informed BBMP offi- PRICES of vegetables in Mys- bled to Rs 100 a kilo, as has that THE control room of the State tractors,” the staff told TNIE. cials who arranged food pack- uru and surrounding areas of cucumber, capsicum and Emergency Operation Centre, Although the state govern- ets for them. A pregnant have shot up due to supply dis- beetroot. Vegetables such as located in MS building, has ment has announced that it woman was also stuck in the ruptions caused by shoddy im- cabbage, tomato, brinjal, chilli been getting dozens of calls a will release Rs 1,000 per la- city, and officials arranged an plementation of lockdown and radish, which were earlier day in the past week from vari- bourer for 21 lakh people reg- ambulance to take her to her measures. sold for less than Rs 10 a kilo, ous strata of people seeking istered as construction native village,” a staff mem- Curbs on vehicles – despite are now suddenly expensive. help to buy food or access it. workers in the state, ber said. the government saying that ag- Consumers say that prices at Saturday was no different. many appear to have The call centre also ricultural services are essen- government-run Hopcoms are The centre operated by the fallen through the received calls from rel- tial, and therefore exempt highest, compared to other Karnataka State Disaster gaps in the delivery atives and family mem- from the lockdown – brought vendors. Hopcoms charges Rs Monitoring Authority re- of financial aid. The bers of patients admit- down the supply of vegetables 100 for carrot, Rs 46 for onion, ceived over 100 calls, including state and central gov- ted to private hospitals and fruits in wholesale mar- Rs 60 for potato, Rs 15 for cab- from working class people ernments have an- in Whitefield. Many of kets, causing prices to go up bage and Rs 80 for beans, stuck in Varthur, Whitefield, nounced other welfare them stay as paying guests and burning a hole in people’s which is about 30 per cent Koramangala, Hebbagodi and measures as well, such as around the hospitals and pockets. The situation has more than what other shops other areas of the city. Many serving free meals at Indira have had no access to food been complicated by shops People shop for groceries at a supermarket in Mysuru on Sunday | UDAYSHANKAR S charge. are construction workers who Canteens. since the lockdown began. hoarding supplies and artifi- The HOPCOMS director was say contractors have disap- Many labourers from West “Panicky people have been cially pushing up prices. crease in the coming days due not stopped at district borders. not available for comment, but peared without settling wages Bengal, Odisha, Bihar and contacting us from across The price of onion, a staple to disruption in supply from He said the ban on vehicles supervisor Datta said the issue due to them for several other states are leaving the state and we are passing on in most Indian homes, has Maharashtra and other states. carrying farm produce would would be taken up with the months. city, but many more are the problems to the officers come down from its January Shantappa, a shopkeeper, adversely affect consumers managing director, and ap- “When we tried to contact stranded since there is no and departments concerned,” peak of around Rs 100, but is said that prices can be con- over the next few days, as pealed to the public to demand the contractors and building transport for them to reach G Somashekar, assistant sta- still being sold at Rs 46-50 a trolled if vehicles carrying stocks get exhausted. bills, to prevent employees owners, we found their phones their home towns. tistical officer in charge of the kilo. The price is likely to in- vegetables and foodgrains are Tomatoes are being sold at from overcharging. were switched off. We have in- “Most of those who called centre said.

THE PHANTOM Test your number crunching CROSS WORD skill with our unique puzzle PETER VIDAL SU DO KU 30 th March : Monday is the Moon’s Day in all traditions from India to Iran, and the Arab World to Europe and the Americas. The Moon rules all wet things, so that includes melons, mangoes and oranges. That is why the astrological physicians of old would recommend a juicy fruit salad, especially as a remedy for fevers and hot, itchy complaints!

ARIES (Mar 21 - Apr. 20) LIBRA (Sept. 24 - Oct. 23) The Moon has now spread its The key to contentment lies emotional sway over all your in your ability to get on with relationships. The basic people with whom you are message is that there is no time for increasingly being forced into very close HI AND LOIS malingerers, time-wasters and others contact. This advice, by the way, can who imagine they can leech off your include people you work with as much goodwill for ever. If you’re going to grant as people you live with. Don’t wait until someone else a favour, make sure that they see eye-to-eye with you. they deserve it. SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) TAURUS (Apr. 21 - May 21) Over the next two weeks you There does seem to be some will show an increasing cause for discretion today, tendency to look on the although exactly why, is not bright side of life and, if you continue to EVIL Solutions to Yesterday’s puzzle clear. If, on the other hand, you do believe that others are certain to help ■ decide to come clean, all the indications you on your way, they probably will do Fill in the grid are that you’ll receive a fair hearing. just that! Some prophecies are self- BEETLE BAILEY with digits in such That, at least, has to be some fulfilling, which is why optimism breeds a manner that every consolation! success. row, every column GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 - Dec. 22) and every 3X3 box If you have been a mite Mercury and Mars’ intelligent accommodates the frustrated or muddled alignments indicate that, as a result of partners’ where you have gone ahead digits 1 to 9, without failure to see what was staring them in without consent, you must now reach a repeating any. the face, you may hope that events retrospective agreement. It is no use just will now take a turn for the better. pretending that other people have no ■ Each sudoku has a unique solution that can be Within a few days someone will claim right to be consulted. You’ve got to keep reached logically without guessing. that they knew what you were them in the picture. talking about all along! CAPRICORN (Dec. 23 - Jan. 20) ACROSS DOWN CANCER (June 22 - July 23) If there’s one thing BLONDIE 1 Paying one’s way from Holland (5) 1 See 4 Across The Moon’s influence on the that’s certain, it’s that 4 and 1 Down: Famous Victorian maker of 2 He’s expected to take notes (9) uppermost reaches of your nothing is certain! The Sun children’s cakes (7,7) solar chart should remind is but a short distance away from its 3 It limits the field to insure against you that you were born under one of the passage into a whole new sector of 8 Shooting stick? (3) betting losses (5) so-called ‘cardinal’ signs, and that, as your chart. This is why you may 9 Pretend I’m blessed in a new order (9) 4 One takes no end of cash in, this suggests, you were born to lead, not consider the virtues of keeping certain 10 Sneer at produce from the Orient (7) finishing with nothing (6) to follow. But, if you want other people plans to yourself, perhaps even for 5 One who helps a to do what they’re told, you’d better another few months. 11 Secure link (3-2) be pleasant to them. 13 Military band? (6) superior we hear (7) AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 - Feb. 19) 6 Offer a smashing opportunity (3) LEO (July 24 - Aug. 23) 15 Where you’ll find screws on the doors (6) Superficially it looks like 7 Sellers soak the buyer Although you are likely to decision time, but no matter 18 Mother has a look back for a girl (5) receive some help and how hard others try to 19 Give authority to a backward with such prices (5) assistance today, when other persuade you to make up your mind, it LOCKHORNS DENNIS THE MENACE Middle East nation (7) 12 Place to be for an alibi (9) people start lending a hand they may seems unlikely that any firm choices will 21 A rebel put in an awkward 14 His is a growing concern (7) begin to take over. This is why you be taken. Neither should they be. There position turns respectable (9) 16 Room for children to play (7) should first always double-check their is still more information to come along, apparently good advice. The last thing so be patient. 23 Note the old-fashioned watch (3) 17 Where to find a sheet anchor? (3,3) you want to do is move over while they PISCES (Feb. 20 - Mar 20) 24 Dispensed with red tape and 18 Be entitled to credit (5) make a mess of things! If you’ve been flogging a came to the point (7) 20 No war, we hear, for a bit (5) VIRGO (Aug. 24 - Sept. 23) dead horse at work, 25 All taken apart (5) 22 Go up and down (3) You need to know where to you must now give it draw the line. Only if you a rest. Otherwise it may come as a take a much firmer stand greater shock when you realise you’ve YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS now will other people respect you. As been heading very fast down the Across: 1 Ordination, 8 Erica, 9 Supreme, 10 Chime in, 11 Inset, 12 Legacy, 14 Stable, Mars approaches another relationship nearest cul-de-sac! Still, you can with your chart, partners will console yourself with the knowledge 17 Elsie, 19 Air mail, 21 Chained, 22 Osier, 23 Derogatory. increasingly be demanding that you that no experience is wasted, and Yesterday’s Down: 2 Railing, 3 Image, 4 Assent, 5 Imprint, 6 Needs, 7 Best seller, 8 Excellence, 13 Cleaner, do things their way - and the that you can learn valuable lessons 15 Brazier, 16 Lap dog, 18 Stand, 20 Roost. pressure may be hard to resist. from your mistakes! A video tweeted by BBMP commissioner BH Anil Kumar showed the corporation using drones to spray disinfectants across the city. On Sunday, drones were used at Victoria Hospital, KC General Hospital and Shivajinagar Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation bus stand

BENGALURU MONDAY 03 30l03 l2020 newindianexpress com

MP/MLA WATCH EXPRESS READ With the lockdown leaving the poor in dire straits, and with migrant workers Tanker runs over teen on the move, the issues challenging the government are manifold. Mobilising All hands on deck for COVID: CM Bengaluru : A 15-year-old SSLC funds and contributing in cash and kind, NGOs and people’s representatives are attempting to reach food to all. student was knocked down by a Takes up Siddaramaiah’s suggestion, announces insurance cover for cops, civic workers speeding water tanker in Kumaraswamy Layout on PRALHAD JOSHI Saturday. The deceased Kala B, ANUSHA RAVI @ Bengaluru sponsibility to garment facto- ries. He also pitched insurance CONSTITUENCY: Dharwad was a resident of Weavers Colony ALBEIT two weeks late, Chief for police and civic workers. The Union Minister has pledged Rs 1 crore from his MPLAD and was studying in a government school. Her parents are daily wage Minister BS Yediyurappa KPCC president-designate funds, that is due to be released by the ministry of statistics labourers. Police said the incident called for an all-party meeting Shivakumar and HD Kumaras- and planning for the fiscal year 2020-2021. This comes in on Sunday to discuss measures wamy pushed for assistance to occurred around 9.30am when she response to BJP national president JP Nadda’s call for BJP had gone to fetch water from a taken so far, and seek sugges- farmers, including the supply MPs to donate Rs 1 crore to the Central Relief Fund tions on containing the spread of seeds and fertilisers. nearby borewell. As she was of COVID-19 in the state. “All suggestions have been walking across the street, the Senior Congress leaders Sid- duly noted. We will arrange GH THIPPAREDDY SUNIL KUMAR tanker knocked her down and she died on the spot. The driver fled daramaiah, DK Shivakumar, transport for Kannadigas stuck CONSTITUENCY: CONSTITUENCY: Karkala and efforts are on to nab him. ENS Ramesh Kumar, Eshwar Khan- in other states if they wish to Chitradurga The dre, besides JDS leaders HD return to their native villages legislator Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, Opposition leader Siddaramaiah, health minister The MLA has mobilised Rs Kumaraswamy, HK Kumaras- and towns. There will be no bar is spending wamy, HD Revanna, Basavaraj B Sriramulu, and other ministers and MLAs attend the all-party meeting on on agricultural activities, and 5 lakh to be donated to from his Horatti and others took part in coronavirus at Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru, on Sunday | NAGARAJA GADEKAL we will ensure that farmers get the Chief Minister’s Relief the meeting at Vidhana Soud- seeds and fertilisers. We have Fund, from his community body, and handed own pocket ha, wearing N95 masks and sit- as well as suggestions, assured are healthy. There are 6,020 taken precautions to maintain over the cheque on Sunday. He is also urging to help ting two metres apart, to en- the opposition leaders that the panchayats in the state. I urge food supply. There is no short- philanthropists to donate generously. 5,000 sure social distancing. government wanted to work the government to appoint one age of medical supplies but if families From shortage of medical unitedly. health official for each of them. there is, we will procure more,” SYED NASEER HUSSAIN of daily wage workers. equipment, measures taken to Opposition leaders, too, An agriculture department of- Yediyurappa said, responding The BJP’s Chief Whip CONSTITUENCY: BALLARI procure more test kits, ensur- pledged support to the govern- ficial too should be appointed to the suggestions. in the Assembly, he is ing that farming activity ment to the extent of raising no in every panchayat to oversee Medical Education Minister The Rajya Sabha MP distributing kits containing doesn’t come to a halt, and pro- objections to diversion or cut- farming, food production, pro- Dr K Sudhakar told the all-par- wrote to the district essential commodities like tection for policemen, a no- ting down of funds from any cessing, marketing, procure- ty meeting that on Saturday, the commissioner, releasing Rs foodgrains, oil, spices and holds-barred discussion went department or scheme, to in- ment and transportation pro- state had received 1,000 new 1 crore from his LAD funds, groceries to ensure that on for almost four hours as tensify the fight against cess,” pointed out test kits. “Each kit can test 100 asking for the amount to be utilised to set labourers who have been hit leaders raised one point after coronavirus. Siddaramaiah, who asked for samples and we are in a posi- up a sustainable and strong healthcare hard due to the lockdown another. Yediyurappa, who lis- “It is our responsibility to en- ramping up of production of tion to procure 5,000 more kits infrastructure in Ballari. don’t go hungry. tened patiently to complaints sure that doctors and nurses masks and handing over the re- as per need,” he said. After QR code hiccup, CM’s relief fund operational again

MAKE YOUR DONATION EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Bengaluru CHIEF Minister B S Yediyurappa took to his Twit- Name of account: ter handle on Sunday morning and shared a QR Chief Minister’s Relief Fund code payment mode for donations to the Chief Min- COVID-19 ister’s Relief Fund for COVID-19. However, the Account Number: tweet disappeared within minutes creating a buzz on social media. 39234923151 Many people who wanted to donate using the QR IFSC code: code raised questions over whether the CM’s tweet SBIN0040277 was deleted due to faulty payment address, or to promote the Prime Minister’s call for donations to Swift Code: the PM Cares Fund. SBININBB171 “A few officials raised concerns over possible misuse of the QR code payment method. They Name of Bank and Branch: feared that fraudsters could defraud people by State Bank of India, sharing a similar message under the pretext of the Vidhana Soudha Branch CM Relief Fund, but with a different QR code , and then pocket the donations. Since security was a UPI: VPA : cmrfcovid19@sbi concern, we decided to withdraw the QR code . New People can also donate details will be posted soon,” an official from the Chief Minister’s Office clarified to The New In- online at https:// dian Express. cmrf.karnataka.gov.in By Sunday evening, the same Twitter handle via internet banking, shared new details of the relief fund. “Dear all, RTGS/NEFT or UPI Kindly note the change in method for donating (BHIM, PhonePe, to the CM Relief Fund. The earlier format has been Amazon Pay, Google Pay, changed owing to technical reasons. All donations PayTM, Mobikwik) made till date have been duly received with grati- tude. Thank you (sic)” tweeted the chief minister.

NE students denied entry into supermarket

KARTHIK K K @ Mysuru

TWO students from the northeast were denied entry inside a supermarket on Saturday. The students record ed the episode on their cellphone and posted it on Insta- gram, which has gone viral. Police lodged an FIR with Krishnaraja Police Station, and took the manager and staffers of the outlet into custody. Yokai Johny Konyak and Ali Meren from Nagaland, who are studying in a college in Mysuru, went to a su- permarket on JLB Road on Saturday. They stood in queue for about 25 minutes, but when their turn came, the staffers and security denied them entry, stating that they “were not Indians”. Speaking to TNIE, Konyak said, “We were offended by the response of the staff, but did not argue with them. We instead showed our Aadhaar cards to prove that we were from northeast India and were college students, but still, they did not allow us inside. We left the place without purchasing groceries.” Mysuru City Police Commissioner Dr Chandragupta said, “We urge people and shop owners to desist from such acts and behave responsibly.” An FIR has been booked against the staffers of the outlet -- Manjunath (32), Naveen (30), Avinash (26) and Revanna (30).

Dad of techie behind ‘sneeze’ pic says son is schizophrenic

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @Bengaluru

TWO days after a software engineer was arrested for uploading a post asking people to sneeze and spread coronavirus, his father said his son is schizophrenic. Mohammed Hafeez Ahmad also said the photo came as a forward to his son and alleged that the police did not follow due. Infosys had removed Mohammed Mujeeb (38) from the job after the incident. Ahmad said that his son had no criminal antecedent and was under medication for schizophrenia from a very young age. “His treatment has been continued with regular medicines and whenever he skips them, he be- haves abnormally. I believe he might have made some senseless post under this disorder, which some miscre- ant might have used by morphing and forwarding the same,” he alleged. solated Samples collected 0 at health facilities 1 for testing CONFIRMED ALABURAG Samples CASES 22 negative 1 TOTAL DHARWAD BENGALURU MONDAY 3003 2020 0 Samples UTTARA TALLY ON positive ANNADA 1 RAC TUMAURU COVID-19 DAANGR CHABALLAPURA HELPLINES SUNDAY 83TOTAL COUNT 104 PASSNGRS SCRND BNGALURU 1 On Sunday, two more people tested positive in the 00-00 Arogya N ARNATAA state, taking the count to . They are a 5-year- Sahayavani will DASHNA ANNADA old male who had travelled to Dubai and arrived in 00-2000 function too Under MSURU 5 0 1,2,22 Mangaluru on March 1, and a 2-year-old male RECOVERED observation ODAGU with a history of travel to Thiruvananthapuram. UDUP 1

FEVER CLINICS START, HICCUPS SURFACE NEW ORDER Officials say they need more staff and equipment; Test kits could last 10 days, say authorities N

IFFATH FATHIMA AND E NNED RANJANI MADHAVAN @Bengaluru urin demand chokes EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @Bengaluru irst, the good news. On Sun- day, 31 fever clinics were FROM now on, primary contacts of high-risk COVID-19 open to the public and 13 med euipment suppy positive patients will be mandatorily quarantined at centres patients who came to the set up in government hospitals, according to the Health and Fclinics were tested. BALA CHAUHAN @Bengaluru suppliers, and they are being Family Welfare Department. Now, the worrying factor. Al- verified,” he added. Low-risk patients will be quarantined at government- though the clinics were well PROCREMENT of key medi- Faced with an acute crisis of identified places like hotels, guesthouses and other institu- managed with social distanc- cal equipment has become a N95 masks, the government is tions. All primary contacts who are high-risk patients, like ing, health officials at the clin- big challenge for India in its now looking to domestic manu- those above 60 years of age or with comorbidities like dia- ics pointed out at the shortage fight against the novel corona- facturers and is roping in tex- betes, asthma and blood pressure, will be taken to govern- of staff and equipment. virus, because of its depend- tile and allied industries. ment quarantine units. Both high-risk and low-risk patients They said that while some ence on imports. Masks will need certification. should be quarantined for 1 days, the order said. urban primary health centres China is the sole supplier of While the WHO has been Fresh, stricter guidelines were passed as health officials have Personal Protective personal protection equipment pressing for more tests for a rea- were getting several complaints of many people breaking Equipment (PPE) kits, some (PPE) and N95 masks to India. sonable assessment of the spread quarantine guidelines. have less and others have none. The probe for the PCR (Poly- of the coronavirus, shortage of The selected hotels or guesthouses will have 50 beds each. Some require staff to meet the merase Chain Reaction) real- test kits has been a roadblock. A doctor, nurse and paramedical staff should be present at growing number of patients time test to confirm nCoV infec- Head of the department of neu- the centre and beds should be placed at 6 feet distance. during this corona scare. tion is imported from ermany rovirology at NIMHANS, Dr V The department has also stated that primary contacts will Speaking to TNIE, many of- A fever clinic operational within BBMP limits in Bengaluru | EXPRESS and enzymes are supplied from Ravi, who is also a member of the be transported through an ambulance and that the ambu- ficials said, “We have only one the S and Singapore. “But Karnataka COVID19 Special Task lance taking these patients should be sanitised completely. doctor, one staff nurse and two and we need more.” 10-day stock of PPEs. We are ermany and S are running Force, said ideally there should All the doctors should send reports to health junior health staffers. We need Another official said, “We told we will get another batch short of kits because of their have been more tests for the virus, commissioner. at least one more doctor as cas- have two medical officers and of PPE kits once we exhaust own demand,” said a source. but there are not enough kits. “We es are going to increase in the three staffers. PPE kits have these. All the travel history “The supply lines of have ramped up tests for coming days.” “They have giv- not come in yet but we have N95 and testing is being done and medical infrastructure, COVID-19 after March en us three PPE kits which will masks. We need at least 10 more it is manageable as of now. We required are getting 10,” said Dr Ravi. Nimhans launches Dist hospitals turn not be enough. It is a risk for doctors and nurses. It will help have seen some patients with- choked because of the The senior virologist national helpline COVID-19 hospitals us and we need at least 20,” as the number of patients will out symptoms coming out of huge demand from pointed out that the In- said an administrative medi- increase day by day. As the fe- fear and panic. They should across the world. There dian Council of Medi- Bengaluru: NIMHANS on Bengaluru: In a government cal officer. ver clinics have just started, we stay at home. are long queues for med- cal Research has placed Sunday launched a pan-India, order issued on Sunday, district Another officer from anoth- are hoping things will get sort- However, the fever clinics ical cargo and the mini- an order for 1 lakh PCR / helpline, 00-11000, hospitals were declared er clinic said, “We have a few ed out in the next few days.” are well maintained with so- mum period of procurement is test kits, which will be distrib- to address mental health COVID-19 hospitals. The order PPE kits, but we need more as However, a senior officer in cial distancing and sanitiza- -10 days,” he said. uted to 118 test centres. “Each concerns of people arising due signed by awaid Akhtar, we will have to dispose these of. charge of the fever clinics tion. Suspected patients are “Earlier the government centre is expected to carry 200 COVID-19. Ninety per cent of additional chief secretary, The higher authorities say that said, “Right now we have suf- sent to designated hospitals to would route its bulk purchases tests per day on those who are people are facing fear and Health and Family Welfare there are stocks to last 10 days. ficient staff and sufficient get the throat and nasal swab through certified agents who symptomatic,” he said. aniety, more because of department, listed measures We have received around 20 stock of medicines. We have a tests done. would take the risk of deferred The Centre on Friday an- information on the social to be taken at all district payment or payment on land- nounced antibody tests to con- media, most of which is hospitals. Those who are ing or delivery. There are no firm whether a person has a unscientific and fake, said the currently being treated at state e have onl one doctor, one staff nurse and e have a fe E kits, but e need more as e agents now. Chinese manufac- previous history of viral infec- Registrar and Head of run hospitals should be moved to unior health staffers e need at least one ill have to disose these of he hiher authorities turers are demanding 100 per tion. “These test kits are im- Department, Psychiatric to private ones. Ayushman more doctor as cases are oin to increase sa that there are stocks to last 10 das cent advance payment for the ported from China and South Social Work, Dr K Sekar. Soon, Bharat Arogya Karnataka Official Official supply of masks and PPEs. We Korea. The kits will have to be it will be available in 13 scheme can be used in district have identified some trusted validated,” Dr Ravi said. languages, he said. hospitals as insurance cover. HELPING HAND Migrants stuc near hitefield get help ot reaches out to itizens step up to S LALITHA @Bengaluru rocery kits stranded tribas feed construction IT was just two months ago that 18 migrants from North 2 Par- ganas district in West Bengal ien to proides food orkers in sum and a remote village in Bihar moved to Devangothi area, raiay porters K SHIVAKUMAR @Mysuru EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @Bengaluru around 35 km from Bengaluru, to carry out civil works for an THE state government has reached out to trib- AFTER The New Indian Express’ report pub- LP plant. While four of them EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE als from Chamarajnagar stranded in Kodagu lished on Sunday titled Forget Corona, it’s got out of the city before the @Bengaluru and provided them with food. hunger they fear’, on the plight of daily wage lockdown, the remaining were Tribal development officials supplied 8 kg of labourers running short of food supplies, sev- stuck inside four huts without NEARLY 00 railway sahay- ragi, wheat, sugar, jaggery, dal, horse gram, eral individuals and organisations came for- work, ration or money. A few aks and porters were supplied green gram, eggs, ghee and edible oil to the ward to supply materials to them. calls to the block development grocery kits on Sunday at families of the migrant labourers. One such organisation Feed My Banga- officer in their village, who con- Krantivira Sangolli Railway The measure followed a report on Soliga lore - has donated 250 food packets to the tacted officers in Northern Rail- Railway porters carry rations that were donated to them at the City Central Railway station, by the Bengaluru tribals of Chamarajnagar running out of food families living in the Nagavarapalya slum, way one, helped them get ra- Station, in Bengaluru on Sunday | SHRIRAM BN Railway Division in associa- and desperate for vehicles to go back home’, near opalan Mall on Old Madras Road. tion from the staff of Bengaluru tion with Indian Railway Sta- published in TNE. Divya Prabhakar, a volunteer, said, Railway Division on Saturday. Saikat Mondal (5) said, “We sions for the labourers. “We tion Development Deputy Chief Minister ovind Kar- “We gave 250 packets that can feed a The labourers, who were were working for a contractor made arrangements to shift Corporation. jol took up the matter with social wel- EXPRESS family of four to the daily wage la- paid Rs 00 per day, collected for BPCL and they told us that them to a nearby government Ashok Kumar Verma, Divi- fare officials and directed them to con- IMPACT bourers at this slum. There are more their money every Sunday and no work for now. No one at our hostel.” sional Railway Manager, Ben- tact the tribals and provide them with houses to cover and we have taken sent it to their families back workplace offered to help us.” S. Asif Hafeez, Divisional galuru Division, South West- essentials. He, however, said they could down the count to ramp up home. Some money that was Sanaullah Khan, Chief of Railway Manager (Personnel), ern Railway, said the kits not be shifted back to Chamarajnagar be- food supply.” left with them and the basic ne- Staff and Welfare Officer in the Bengaluru Division, said, “The were distributed in batches in cause of the ongoing lockdown. The organisation donated 5,000 food cessities exhausted on Satur- Personnel Department of Ben- Senior Divisional Personnel Of- order to avoid crowding. At Chamarajnagar District Minister Suresh packets in different parts of the city on Sun- day. The all-male group was galuru Railway Division, hand- ficer of Railways in New Delhi Hubballi railway station, kits Kumar directed DC Annies Kanmani Joy to day, and intends to increase this to 12,000 and staying in huts that had no ed over nearly Rs 6,000 from his contacted me and we could ar- were distributed to licensed provide foodgrains to the migrant labourers, more. Several other people in their individu- power supply. pocket for immediate provi- range assistance immediately.” porters on Saturday. Another following which the supply was ensured. al capacity as well as organisations have Krishna Pada Mondal from release said that 2,000 food Tribesman Dasegowda confirmed that offi- come forward to help the daily wage labour- Sukorakati ram Panchayat in packets, readied by the Indian cials visited interior villages of Kodagu and ers living in this slum. North 2 Parganas district From Mahadevapura to MP, labourers walk Railway Corporation Limited Bengaluru: In a video shot on Saturday by Hemanth Kumar, founder of supplied foodgrains to the labourers. The trib- There are around 300 families living here, said, “We had no money as we at its base kitchen at KSR sta- Migrant Construction Workers Association, Bengaluru, a group of 15 als, who had migrated to Kodagu to work in with anywhere between 8 to 15 people living had sent it all on Sunday. Atta, tion, were distributed by rail- labourers are seen walking from Mahadevapura, Outer Ring Road. We coffee estates, have been stranded there. in one hut. Without daily wages and lack of potato and dal were nearly over. way staff and Railway Protec- are walking to our hometown in Madhya Pradesh. We dont have water Kodagu District Minister V Somanna said, “I ration cards, they are struggling to feed We called up the BDO in our tion Force personnel to those and food here we dont even have money to buy water. We will take will meet the people on Tuesday and reassure themselves and want to return to their vil- village and now we have food, in need in and around anywhere between 15 days to a month to reach. them that the government will stand by them.” lages in Yadgir district. water and a good place to stay.” the station.

INTERVENTION MUST, OR 90% OF EXPERT COLUMN POPULATION MAY BE INFECTED Imperial College THE REPORT FOUND: DENE EE E E London’s COVID-19 n the absence of interventions, COD-1 would Let’s be responsible Response Team in its FIRST and foremost, there is like diabetes, hypertension, fected by touching a surface or have resulted in billion infections 0 of the absolutely no reason to panic. heart diseases and chronic res- object that has the virus and latest report has world population and 0 million deaths globally. compared predicted COVID 19 is an infection caused It is time we take responsibility piratory disease. then touch their own nose, by SARS-Cov-2 virus and most in keeping ourselves safe. Right mouth or eyes. mortality impacts in Mitigation strategies focusing on shielding elderly Steps to prevent COVID-19 the absence of resulted in 0 reduction in social contacts. of the patients recover com- now, self-isolation and social pletely. If all of us take ade- distancing are the key. Since it is a respiratory infec- Other measures interventions or Slowing down transmission resulted in 0 quate measures, we can pre- Social gatherings, shaking tion, the virus mainly spreads Periodically disinfect and spontaneous social reduction in social contacts for wider population. distancing with what vent it. hands and physical contact we through droplets when an in- clean frequently touched sur- might be achieved This resulted in saving 20 million lives, but health We should know about the ill- can and should avoid. Maintain fected person coughs or sneez- faces like door knobs, with policies aimed at systems across countries would get overwhelmed. ness, take measures to prevent at least one metre distance es. Cough into a flexed elbow or handles,etc. Remember that all mitigating or us from getting infected and from others. Avoid frequent you develop symptoms. Isolate use a tissue and throw it into a those infected are not sympto- Most severely affected in lower income settings. suppressing help contain its spread. The gov- visits outside home and com- quarantine yourself for the closed dustbin. If you are un- matic and it is possible that transmission. Delays Report suggests healthcare demand can be kept ernment is doing everything to plete all purchases in the same stipulated time. Whenever you well, consult a doctor, wear a they can spread the disease to in implementing within manageable levels through rapid adoption of protect us. The three-week lock- visit. Wash your hands with have an illness, like fever or mask and isolate yourself till others. Avoid close contact strategies to suppress public health measures down should help in containing soap and water after returning cough, isolate yourself, wear a you get cured completely. with people who are sick. transmission could the disease. Common symptoms home and avoid visitors. mask and seek medical help. Wash your hands frequently

have led to worse Strategy of suppression at 0.2 deaths per 1L of COVID-19 include fever, Quarantine yourself for 1 The ones at higher risk are with soap and water or alcohol- DR MURALI SRINIVAS outcomes. population per week, could have saved .m lives cough, tiredness, shortness of days after any international those who are over 65 years of based hand rub for at least 20 Regional Chief of Clinical Services and breath and muscle aches. travel and consult a doctor if age, and with comorbidities seconds. A person may get in- Consultant Neurology A circular issued by RGICD Bengaluru has mandated that doctors, post-graduates, nursing staff, office staff, Group D staff and paramedics treating suspected or confirmed cases COVID-19 must take the drug hydroxychloroquine from Monday to avoid getting infected.

BENGALURU MONDAY 05 30l03 l2020 newindianexpress com

STATE PULSE ANOTHER LIFE LOST, CLOSURE OF WITH TN POLLS A YEAR INTER-STATE BORDER BLAMED AWAY, PALANISWAMI RESETS Following lockdown protocol, K’taka borders sealed, barring entry of vehicles from other states IMAGE AS A SON OF THE SOIL

GEORGE POIKAYIL @ Kasaragod inroad at Kedumpady, but Kar- tried to take him to a hospital ICTURE this: Tamil threatened by ecologically- nataka police had barricaded in Mangaluru but Karnataka Pinarayi seeks Nadu Chief Minister devastating footprints of hy- THE 21-day lockdown to curb that road too. “I tried using pri- police did not allow them to en- Modi’s intervention Edappadi K drocarbon projects in this coronavirus has claimed an- vate roads, but the resident on ter. The hospital was just 12km to lift Karnataka Palaniswami is on zone. Effectively, Pudukottai, other life in Kasaragod, be- the other side of the border from their house. blockade his way to Orathur in Cuddalore, Thanjavur, Ari- cause of alleged stringent blocked us,” said Aslam. On Friday, Gauri Devi (25), a T’Puram/Kasaragod : Chief Nagapattinam to lay yalur, Karur, Tiruchy, Tiru- blockade at the border by Kar- He brought back Fathima to native of Patna, was “forced” to P the foundation stone varur, and Nagapattinam will Minister Pinarayi Vijayan nataka police. Udyavara at 8 pm. “When I deliver a baby in an ambulance on Sunday requested Prime of a medical college. His con- be out of bounds for non-ag- SUBHASHINI DINESH Fathima (70), a native of called the family around 6am because of the blockade. Minister Narendra Modi’s voy is passing through the ricultural projects. The deci- Bantwal in Dakshina Kan- the next day to check on her, According to the Ambulance agricultural fields in Tiru- Deputy Resident Editor, Tamil Nadu sion got legislative sanction intervention in lifting the [email protected] nada district of Karna- they informed that she Owners and Drivers Associa- blockade of the interstate varur district when he sees a 10 days later. Agriculture taka, died early morn- passed away,” he said. tion (AODA), around 100 dialy- border roads enforced by group of labourers trans- comes with multiple corollar- ing on Sunday. Fifteen Fathima is survived sis patients from Kasaragod Karnataka. The blockade planting paddy seedlings in ies like seasonal dependen- days ago, she had come by four children. Her depend on hospitals during the Siddhamalli village. He asks cies, fluctuating yield and un- to visit her grand- husband Hassanappa of in Mangaluru. lockdown has the car to stop, gets down, predictable market. daughter at Udyavara, Bantwal had predeceased The Karnataka govern- affected the folds his veshti (dhoti), enters Politically, the protected near the border in Kasara- her. This is the second ment’s decision to keep out pa- movement of the ankle deep slush in the In one sweep, Palaniswami not zone promise was on the elec- god district of Kerala. death due to the lockdown in tients from Kasaragod was de- vehicles field, greets the workers, only won over the farmers who tion manifestos of both the Around 6.45pm, Fathima de- Kasaragod. The Karnataka gov- plorable, said Revenue Minister carrying bends down and joins them in had been protesting against DMK and the AIADMK. The veloped breathing difficulties. ernment locked the state’s bor- E Chandrasekharan, who is transplanting the paddy seed- ruling party had the first essential hydrocarbon projects in the “We were on our way to a hos- ders on March 23 in a bid to con- heading the disaster manage- commodities, lings. Transplantation done, mover’s advantage, using pital in Mangaluru when Kar- tain the spread of coronavirus. ment committee of the state. said the chief minister in a he cleans up and moves on, Delta region, but also put his which it tripped the Opposi- nataka police blocked us at Ta- Abdul Hamid (60) of Kunja- The state government took letter sent to the prime making a big impression on critics on the backfoot tion. Economically speaking, lapady tollgate,” said Aslam thur in Manjeshwar, died of a up the matter with Prime Min- minister. He criticised the the workers, politicians and the CM aimed to strike a bal- Kunjathur, the driver of the heart attack on Thursday ister Narendra Modi to find a Karnataka police for officials. This could well be ance between agriculture ambulance carrying Fathima. night. His family reportedly solution, he said. Modi deputed closing the Thalassery- the defining image of the ‘son help farmers directly sell and industry, resetting the He said he had pleaded with BJP leader and Union Minister Coorg state highway 30 as of the soil’ whose roots lie in their produce, be aware of cli- pro-industry image he had the Karnataka police for 15 Sadananda Gowda to hold talks it resulted in undue the farmlands of Sa- matic conditions, know the acquired when he went on a minutes. “They said they do with the new states, said hardships during the malapuram village in Tirup- stock of seeds and fertilisers tour to the West and the Gulf not need patients from Kerala,” Chandrasekharan. critical time. The letter pur before he entered poli- and get information on crop to draw investment. The fo- he said. I tried using private roads, but the BJP Karnataka state presi- was written after the tics. Palaniswami’s recent maintenance. It is learnt that cus on agriculture is neces- Aslam told the police that resident on the other side of the border dent and Dakshina Kannada efforts by the Kerala “field visit” where he planted over 4.5 lakh farmers have sary to rejuvenate the sector blocked us. When I called the family Fathima was from Karnataka MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said a government to reach out to paddy saplings had a positive downloaded the apps. that has often been taken for and even then the officers the next day to check on her, they decision could be taken at a influence on agriculturists. The shift became more pro- granted. On the social land- informed that she had passed away the Karnataka government would not open the gate. The meeting to be held on did not yield results. By doing so, he hopes to slow- nounced on a cool February scape, the announcement ambulance driver then tried an Aslam, ambulance driver Sunday evening. ly position himself as a farm- evening, when he declared that agro-based industries ers’ leader in the crucial pre- the Cauvery Delta as a pro- will be permitted is likely to election year. Remember how tected special agriculture quell protests by farmers and Prime Minister Narendra zone. In one sweep, he not environment activists in the All primary Modi leveraged on Mani only won over the farmers region. And the `1,022-crore Shankar Aiyar’s chaiwala who had been protesting Advanced Institute for Inte- contacts of comment? Modi made it a na- against hydrocarbon pro- grated Research in Livestock tionwide talking point with jects, but also put his critics and Animal Science to be set his chai pe charcha shows. on the backfoot. For, he had up in Salem are expected to victim test -ve Palaniswami is sending out often been criticised for be- strengthen the dairy and the son of the soil vibes, con- ing too soft on the Modi gov- poultry sectors. DEVARAJ B HIREHALLI trasting it with the urban up- ernment as he had allowed In his letter to the PM, @Tumakuru bringing of the “rising son”, oil project studies, approved Palaniswami had said, “The M K Stalin of the DMK. and backed by the Centre, in negative aspect of these pro- AS almost all the primary con- Palaniswami started woo- the Delta region. jects outweighs advantages tacts of 65-year-old COVID-19 ing the farm sector late last The announcement also claimed by the proponents.” victim tested negative with re- year, when he asked the agri- came at a time when the farm Though the legislation has a ports came in from ICMR NIV culture department to devise sector was expecting a good lot of questions that need an- Bengaluru, the administration a network of farmers on a samba season following last swers, at least a beginning was surprised. digital platform. Creation of year’s bountiful rains. The has been made where farm- For the time being, it gave a mobile applications like chief minister said the deci- ers can do what they know relief to the residents of Tu- Vivasaai and Uzhavan and a sion would ensure food secu- best without worrying about makuru especially Sira town portal, e-thottam, were to rity in the state that had been their loss of land. which was declared a ‘red zone’. As many as 13 persons had travelled with the victim to NO LAND’S PEOPLE New Delhi, stayed at Jamia Migrant labourers walk back to their native villages in Vijayawada while the government announced closure of transport Family ‘forced’ Masjid for five days and re- service till March 31, at Puzhal in Chennai on Sunday | P JAWAHAR ‘What patient goes through turned on March 14. The oldest is a 53-year-old to return to person from Tiptur who has can’t be expressed in words’ tested negative and the re- Bengaluru maining ten are between 22 20 more cases reported in Kerala and 45, all from Tumakuru EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 me the best medical care, it city. With no symptoms, the 10 EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE “Of the total cases reported ments for doctors and nurses @Kozhikode was my faith that didn’t allow have been shifted to a quaran- @ T’Puram on the day 18 were of imported engaged in Covid19 case I tested negative for the for- fear to get better of it. tine home from the isolation cases. Whereas the remaining management. According to AFTER spending one whole mer but positive for the latter. The unending fear out of centre at the District General KERALA on Sunday reported two tested positive after com- them, the unavailability of day and night at the Muth- I was admitted in the isola- uncertainty is one thing but Hospital. The other one from 20 positive cases. With this, ing into contact with the in- the same will not only put the anga check post on the Kera- tion ICU the same day. what the patient and loved Nagamangala in Mandya dis- the total number of positive fected ones. Also, four per- healthcare workers under la-Karnataka border, a five- I was so worried about my ones go through is something trict is 60 years old and is yet cases reported so far in the sons who are under risk but could trigger com- member family of Kannur college, students, colleagues, that cannot be expressed in to be traced. State rose to 202, with 181 cur- treatment at Pathan- munity transmission. residing in Bengaluru was my 85-year-old mother and words. Loving care and resil- Most of the family members rently under treatment at var- amthitta for Covid19 “From primary sent back on Sunday after- mother-in-law with who I used ience helped me through my of the victim too have tested ious hospitals. turned to be nega- healthcare centres to noon without allowing them to have evening tea and din- illness. The staff not only did negative but have been ad- The new cases were report- tive,” reads an ex- hospitals there is a to enter Kerala. This came in ner. I immediately informed their core duties but gave me vised quarantine for 14 days. ed from Kannur (8), Kasargod cerpt of the release heavy rush of patients the wake of Wayanad District my college. Everyone who was healing prayers twice a day. One of the persons aged (7) and one each from Thiru- from the health with fever/cough and Collector Dr Adheela Abdulla in contact with me was quar- I am back home. There are a around 40 years who had vananthapuram, Ernakulam, department. others. As it is difficult to taking a strong stand of not antined and tested. Thankful- lot of logistic arrangements traveled with the victim from Palakkad and Malappuram At the same time, the distinguish the symptoms of allowing any person to cross ly, all tests were negative. That that needed to be put in place Tumakuru to New Delhi in districts. Meanwhile, for the state committee of the Kerala influenza and Covid19 the the check post and enter the was a huge relief for me and I in terms of allocation of space ‘Samparka Kranti’ Express second time since the Covid-19 Government Medical Offic- doctors and nurses are at state till the end of the lock- thanked God. The hospital and a new work order had to be train told TNIE that he along outbreak in the State, a health- ers’ Association has come out risk. Thus the government down period. doctors and their frontline drawn for household chores. I with another person had care worker contracted the vi- with the demand that the gov- should ensure adequate stock Faizal hailing from Kan- nursing and other staff were am in regular touch with my traveled in S3 compartment rus. This time, it is from Er- ernment should urgently en- of PPE like N95 masks, gloves nur said, “It was tough to very caring. What I noticed af- doctors. In fact, they call me to whereas the victim and others nakulam that the case has sure sufficient availability of and others,” said spend a night in the Muth- ter I was tested positive was check on my well being. were in S6. been reported. personal protective equip- the KGMOA. anga forest with children.” the change in attitude of We need to fight this war to- many people. It was like a stig- gether. I could not have fought ma that had suddenly come my battle alone either! upon me. But help, medical In gratitude to everyone! ‘World over, kids have not been affected as much by COVID’ care and prayers came from unknown quarters. My two (As told to Bala Chauhan by CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 remaining are those aged 60-65 clude those with VIRUS WATCH sons attended to me. a 59-year-old COVID-19 survi- or more, who are likely to go co-morbidities. In terms of medication, vor from Aurangabad, Maha- Experts say that vulnerability into a critical stage. Seniority “World over, children have The director of Health and Family Welfare Services has issued a circular that right now, there are only ex- rashtra. ) should not be confused with in age only means the critical- not been affected as much by contacts of COVID-19 patients and those who have completed 14 d ays of perimental protocols and getting infected. “Vulnerability ity shoots up,” explained Dr COVID-19. In Italy, the USA quarantine can obtain a medical certificate from government, private, ayurveda, there is nothing to prove the Disclaimer: The line of means the possibility of get- Nagendra Swamy, Principal co- and Spain, the cases of death alopathic doctors to rejoin duty. efficacy of A over B since a treatment for COVID-19 ting into a critical state — like ordinator of the Federation of are more in the aged popula- Home quarantine enforcement squads have quarantined 19 people in institutions scientific-based medicine should be decided and pre- being admitted in the ICU or Healthcare Associations Kar- tion. Vulnerability is not based on complaints received from the public; till date, 120 have been shifted from data on large randomised con- scribed by authorised doctors even death. As for getting in- nataka (FHAK). about whether someone can home quarantine to institutional quarantine. trolled trials is still awaited. and health specialists for fected, anyone from a baby to Senior citizens are more vul- get infected or not. It is just In my case, in addition to oth- each individual case. TNIE an adult can get it. For in- nerable as their immunity and like any other virus which can Chief Minister has appealed to doctors to give a missed call on 080-47192219 to er routine medications, Lopi- and the survivor do not rec- stance, if 100 people test posi- lung capacity are lower. Other infect anyone,” Dr Swamy volunteer for COVID-19 tele-medicine facility and to help the government. navir and Ritonavir were ommend a particular line tive, 96 of them can be fine. The groups that are vulnerable in- added. used. While my doctors gave of treatment. Four poachers nabbed, camera traps come to officials’ help

BOSKY KHANNA @Bengaluru the spot with field staff. While BTR Director Balachandra range and in Bandipur we were arresting the accused, told The New Sunday Express reserve. FOREST department officials one ran away. Search for the that the accused admitted to Officials said that forests are caught four poachers and fifth person is on,” said a entering the forest for a under increased threat as peo- I was going through camera trap seized their weapons in the BTR official. hunt. Though they claim ple take advantage of the lock images on Friday morning and Antarasanthe Range of Band- Venkate Gowda, Ma- this was their first at- down. A senior forest depart- found them entering the forest ipur Tiger Reserve on Friday hadevappa, Puttaswa- tempt, information ob- ment official said directions with a gun. I rushed to the spot with night. my Nayaka and Ganesh, tained so far suggests have been issued to increase field staff. While we were arresting “I was going through camera were sent to judicial cus- otherwise. patrolling and hire more people the accused, one ran away. Search trap images on Friday morning tody on Saturday after- The four nabbed on on payment of daily wages to for the fifth person is on and found them entering the noon. Maachi Venkata is Friday are the first poachers intensify patrolling, especially BTR official forest with a gun. I rushed to absconding. caught this year in this at night. Research has shown students can learn as well online as they can in a classroom. It offers great convenience and access for those who might not otherwise have it. Jovita But a certain degree of self-direction is required Ross-Gordon

BENGALURU MONDAY 06 30l03 l2020 THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS

INDIAN EXPRESS IS NOT AN OPINION INDUSTRY. IT IS A MISSION. DINESH SINGH Former Vice-Chancellor, Delhi University, and Adjunct — Ramnath Goenka Professor of Mathematics, University of Houston Email: [email protected]

MASSACRE SIGNALS How many of us have had really rich and rewarding experiences during our days of SINISTER PAK GAME formal learning while seated in classrooms? IS AFOOT IN AF he despicable suicide attack by the Islamic State-Khorasan on a gurd- COVID IMPETUS wara in Kabul last week killing 25 people, almost all of them members TO TECH-BASED Tof the local Sikh community, was a message to both India and the internation- LEARNING al community that is exiting strife-torn AMIT BANDRE Afghanistan for good. But the timing was horrendous as geopolitical games are he Covid-19 crisis looms over vert within the first few days of real technology was the use of As technology makes rapid ad- turned out that the perfor- not uppermost on the minds of the global almost all nations and India is the experiment. The experi- satellite-based live TV trans- vances, the solution is getting mance of the online students, no exception. The potential ment involved offering six live mission and the fact that a se- easier and better. Even if a when scientifically measured, community, occupied as they are in find- harm that it can cause to a na- lessons to the entire nation on lect number of schools had the technology-based offering was far better than those of the ing solutions to the scourge of the novel tion or civil society at large is the basics of calculus. The les- facility of interactivity, albeit may not be able to match the face-to-face learners. coronavirus. Kabul, too, is struggling with deeply distressing. In any case, sons were offered in an interac- in a limited sense. I wrote with experience of being in a class- Here is another experiment the virus outbreak. Media reports of a T like all dark clouds, this cloud tive manner in the following coloured markers on chart pa- room with a gifted teacher, it that I conducted a few months Keralite from Kasaragod being one of the too brought with it the prover- sense. I could not see my audi- per with a camera hanging will certainly help provide ago. I handed well-equipped suicide bombers added a chilling edge to bial silver lining. Let me ex- ence but students in a dozen over my head and one placed so succour to so many students laptops to two indifferent un- the massacre. He is said to be a shopkeeper plain. Innumerable universi- select schools across India as to face me. The disturbing who have to get by with poor dergraduates of Delhi Univer- ties around the world have could speak to me live and ask aspect of the experience was teaching quality. sity who had never handled who escaped the NIA dragnet in 2016 and been forced to shut down their questions as well as interrupt my discovery of the fact that I must also hasten to add that data or probability theory. I fled to Afghanistan along with 15 others. regular in-person teaching ac- me for any clarifications. I en- the quality of face-to-face the meaning and shape of on- gave them some simple intro- If the claims are validated, he would tivities and in a bid to ensure joyed the whole experiment The disturbing learning in so many of our line and technology-based duction to the use of Excel and be the Islamic State’s second Indian sui- that students do not get cut off and at its conclusion I went aspect of my schools across the nation was learning has evolved to ex- introduced them to the vast cide bomber. from the learning process, away with the impression that 1992 teaching- abysmally poor. Yet at the same traordinary levels since those bank of resources available on While the IS was routed in its founding most of these universities have I had acquitted myself in a re- through-television time, the remedy to this prob- early days of my experience the internet. Each week, I been compelled to take re- spectable manner. experiment was lem was also staring me in the with teaching calculus. The would offer them problems in countries of Iraq and Syria, the IS-K is course to online teaching. This To my utter surprise, in face. Of course, I could not pur- power and variety of the tech- data analysis that increased in fairly robust in Afghanistan. Perhaps by my discovery of is a golden opportunity to set about a month’s time, I was re- the fact that the sue the matter in any sense for nology now available is mind- complexity over time, but I re- design, the Khorasan has former members the ball of online and distance called to the TV studio and in- quality of face- years but it lingered in my boggling. This allows a lesson fused to teach them. Now, they of Pakistan’s Taliban within its leadership. learning rolling. troduced to what was termed to-face learning mind for a long time. to be embedded with enormous are capable of conducting ani- The attack on Sikhs apparently is part of I have been advocating the jokingly as my ‘fan mail’. I in so many of our If this episode is not enough interactivity and inputs. Let mated simulations in probabil- the outfit’s agenda of ethnic cleansing. value and need of online and came across sacks and sacks of schools across to convince anyone of the pow- me narrate a couple of experi- ity theory. They are entirely technology-based learning for letters from almost all parts of er of tech in enabling learn- ences. A few years ago, a distin- self-taught using the power of Sikhs used to freely intermingle and iden- the nation was the last 15 years and more. India and to my pleasant sur- abysmally poor. ing, then nothing will. I have guished mathematician in the the web. tify themselves with Afghanistan, but their consistently heard this refrain And what are the teachers of There are many advantages to prise they carried fulsome Yet at the same US, at my urging, decided to population is now thinning. With the blood- it and it is a necessity for many praise. In addition, the thing across geographical bounda- teach an online course—to stu- Delhi University up to in these time, the remedy bath coming barely weeks after the US reasons. Yet, to my deep dis- that bothered me was the con- ries that there are quality is- dents across India—in an ad- hard times of no face-to-face to this problem tress, I find this has not had the tinuous refrain in the letters sues with technology-based vanced area of maths. He was teaching? They are mechani- signed a peace accord with the Taliban, the was also staring kind of acceptance it should requesting that the lectures not learning. To this I have many using a technology platform cally uploading straightfor- IS-K also seems to have signalled to India us in the face that it is in its cross hairs. India developed have been accorded. Perhaps, I be discontinued. Their main rejoinders. To begin with, how that allowed audio and textual ward notes in textual form for need to explain why this is reason for such a request—as many of us have had really transmissions in a live mode students to learn when, as my significant interests in Afghanistan over such a necessity. My conviction the letters explained—was the rich and rewarding experienc- between him and his students. experiment shows, we teachers the years while outsourcing its security on the virtues of distance edu- inadequate quality of what es during our days of formal In addition, every lesson was are increasingly becoming re- concerns to the US. The Indian establish- cation was ignited in 1992 when was available to them at the lo- learning while seated in class- automatically recorded and dundant—unless we change ment is already seeing the Kabul attack as I took part in an illuminating cal level. That was the first rooms? Yet we have persisted put up online after editing and into mentors. I am hoping India the beginning of Pakistan’s proxy war in experiment. For reasons that time I encountered the true with it for over hundreds of with embellishments if need- shall, perforce, under the influ- neutral territory. are not relevant I was drawn power of technology-based years without trying to make ed. This colleague was teach- ence of the Covid-19 crisis, tru- into it as an unwilling partici- learning. I had barely used any attempts at finding alterna- ing the same course in person ly harness the power of tech- One of the talking points between the US pant, but I became a firm con- high-end technology. The only tives until the last few decades. to students at his university. It nology for learning purposes. and the Taliban at Doha ahead of the deal was to wipe out the IS-K together. The US has since started limited joint missions with the Taliban against the outfit. The Ka- In Egypt, religious authorities need to approve transitioning ‘When you get sick, do you bul attack could thus be a message to the A BATTLE ON MANY FRONTS see a doctor or a sheikh?’ US of the IS-K’s ability to hurt the former’s ■ Malak has been ostracised by her family and scorned by some who accuse her El-Kashif told AP that she never received a allies if pushed to the wall. In sum, it is bad Malak el-Kashif left home on of tampering with God’s creation. She has been attacked by others scandalised by her activism for LGBTQ rights. None of this has deterred her response to her case. She was diagnosed with news for India, which needs to quickly re- her birthday seven years ago from publicly advocating for transgender rights “gender identity disorder,” she said. The term set its game. and walked into an uncertain was replaced in the American Psychiatric future. She has since emerged as ■ Legally, she still holds a male’s identity card. Officially transitioning in Egypt Association’s guide by “gender dysphoria”—a perhaps Egypt’s most outspoken can be complex. It involves medical tests, psychological treatment for two conflict between assigned gender at birth and transgender woman activist. It’s a years and approvals by religious authorities and medical specialists. Osama the one a person identifies with, which may CORONA: PREPARE FOR label that in a largely conservative Abdel-Hay, head of the doctors’ syndicate’s “gender correction” committee, lead to significant distress. She argued the WATER SCARCITY NOW and patriarchal society has meant told AFP, “I think they (the clerics) are sensitive to changing the sex because decision should be purely medical. “When you battling a war on multiple fronts they don’t want to change the creation of God” get sick, do you see a doctor or a sheikh?” he coronavirus pandemic has thrown unprecedented challenges for India’s health infrastructure and healthcare Write to: [email protected] Write to: [email protected] services. It is also instilling a behav- MINDSPACE MAILBAG Tioural change among the 1.3 billion people in India. As the country goes We must leave no stone unturned in fight against virus through the 21-day lockdown and summer Sharing a shelter As part of India’s war against the Sit-ups a better punishment Let’s fight this pandemic together approaches fast, access to safe water is go- coronavirus pandemic, Prime Kannur SP Yathish Chandra’s This is with reference to the news ing to emerge as one of the biggest prob- Minister Narendra Modi has punishment of sit-ups against that the Railways is trying to con- lems for many states. rightly called for liberal donations lockdown violators seems to be vert trains into makeshift hospi- In the war against Covid-19, personal hy- with a winged spook to the newly-instituted PM- more beneficial than the usual tals. It is a laudable, but not feasi- giene and frequent handwashing have be- CARES Fund. He rightly said that law-enforcing procedures. Once ble, idea for the reason that a come the main weapons. As water availa- eturning from an unsuccessful wildfowl shoot in a tea estate we must leave no stone unturned charges are framed, the matter hospital is more than a collection bility for domestic use gets scarce by the near Munnar in 1965, my friend Ivan and I were caught in an to make the country healthy and comes under the courts of law and of beds. Especially nursing care, day, how the common Indian is going to unexpected thunderstorm. Soaked to the skin, we sprinted to more prosperous. may linger on for years. But dur- which is vital, will suffer. What is take shelter in an abandoned hunting lodge en route—a relic Jayasree Thampi, T’puram ing the pandemic, sit-ups will easier and more logical to do is to stick to those basic safety measures is any- from the Raj—and wait out the downpour. spread a better message about re- convert places of worship and ed- one’s guess. Going by a survey, a little over We gingerly picked our way up the slippery path heavily Leading from the front maining at home. ucational institutions into make- 80% of Indian households have access to R overgrown with weeds. I turned the rusted handle and the P B Nooh, the collector of Pathan- Samuel K S, Pathanamthitta shift hospitals. Churches in par- just about 40 litres of water a day. In rural front door creaked open, protesting. Inside it was dank, semi- amthitta, has been doing a good ticular are eminently suited for households, the scenario becomes worse as dark and windy as most of the window panes were broken or job to help contain the Covid-19 Timely step by the prime minister this. They are large, well-ventilat- only about 20% have pipe-water supply. missing. Keeping the shotgun in a corner, I flopped down, crisis in the district. The photo of The PM’s video conference with ed and stand on large campuses. exhausted, on a dry patch of floor with my back to the wall him carrying food stuff on his AYUSH doctors and stalwarts to At any rate, places of worship Let’s look at Odisha’s example. As per the and was soon joined by Ivan. back for an Adivasi colony, among find evidence-based medicine to cannot be used for worship so long NSS 76th round survey, 14% of households As we glumly waited, I became aware of what appeared others, is an inspiring example of treat Covid-19 is a timely step. as the corona pandemic rages. I in the state do not get sufficient drinking to be a deep-throated moan over the pitter-patter of raindrops leading from the front. Since India is fighting an extreme- suggest, further, that the vast water throughout the year. It is, in fact, one on the tin roof, emanating periodically from the dilapidated Elizabeth Koshy, Pathanamthitta ly tough battle, new medicines wealth accumulated in places of of the four worst-performing states in the kitchen at the rear. Ivan had heard it too. To him, it seem- and any other medical help under worship be used to provide ade- country as far as availability of piped water ed more like an anguished cry of pain. It did sound spooky— Provide shelter to migrant workers AYUSH would be of immense help quate healthcare and food, espe- eerily so. The casual workers across the to the country. cially to the poor. This is the time is concerned because a whopping 56% of Soon a distinct shuffling sound country, skilled or unskilled, de- N R Nagarajan, Sivakasi to love fellow human beings more the households depend on hand pumps for GHOSTBUSTER followed—something was mov- pend on wages through daily la- than money. their daily dose of water. At least 19% of ing around there. Was the place bour for their livelihood. Their Succumbing to fake news Valson Thampu, T’puram households in Odisha have to trek a mini- GEORGE N NETTO haunted, I wondered, by the spir- mental agony in braving the That about 480 people have been mum of 1 km to fetch drinking water every Email: [email protected] it of some British hunter who weather and penniless conditions killed and more than 2,850 sick- day. A similar scenario prevails in Andhra had camped here? Folklore had it to walk miles back home is under- ened by consuming bootleg liquor Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, that the lodge had been popular standable. While the lockdown is in Iran is indeed shocking. This with British hunters who often stayed overnight to set out at implemented as a measure to de- unfounded belief enticed people THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS Meghalaya, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and dawn in quest of a stag or gaur with a record-sized ‘head’. feat the virus, the pathetic state of to consume it as a curative. As liq- Chairman of the Board: Manoj Kumar Sonthalia many other states. Urban India does not Oddly enough, we noticed that during brief lulls in the migrant workers is equally alarm- uor is banned in Iran, the bootleg- Editor: G S Vasu fare any better. In Meghalaya, over 11% of drumming of raindrops on the roof or the whistling of the ing. They must be provided tem- gers were the real beneficiaries in Resident Editor (Karnataka) : households have to cover a kilometre on wind, the sounds from the kitchen became far more pro- porary shelter and food till the the deal. Santwana Bhattacharya* foot to meet their everyday requirement. It nounced and audible. Was the spook trying to warn us away crisis is averted. Cicily Thomas, Muvattupuzha Published by R K Jhunjhunwala on behalf of Express Publications (Madurai) Private Limited, is 10% in AP and 6% in Odisha. from possible peril? Sanath Kumar T S, Thrissur I was young and brashly adventurous. Emboldened by at No. 1, Queen’s Road, Bengaluru - 560 001 Keep close eye on Dubai returnees and printed by him at Express Press, Plot No. As summer sets in, water will assume Ivan’s presence, I decided to investigate before dusk gave way Exposing greed of the rich An analysis has revealed that the prominence. Lack of water supply will 2A, Bommasandra Industrial Area, 4th Phase, to total darkness. I quietly loaded the shotgun and tiptoed This is with reference to Indian leading source of Covid-19 patients Survey No. 46, Part Yarandahalli Village, Jigani force people to come out to fetch their daily forward warily, with Ivan in tow. The floor was littered with inclusivity is immune to global elit- in India is Dubai, a major transit Hobli, Anekal Taluk. Bengaluru - 560 099. needs, that too in large numbers. If the broken glass and other debris. ism virus (Mar 29). The article ex- hub for India-bound travellers Bengaluru. Vol. 56, No. 76 threat of Covid-19 persists beyond mid- Reaching the doorway, I could just make out a vague form posed the greed of the rich and from the EU and US, and where a RNI Reg. No. 3457/1960. April and into May, this may pose another shifting about on the windowsill in the semi-darkness. Then, powerful. It was an eye-opener to large number of Indians work. Phone: 080-22866893, Fax: 080-22866617. momentarily, I froze as the ghostly figure rose, suddenly and the greed of some people who ex- Dubai returnees, their families big hurdle towards containment efforts. * Responsible for selection of News under the PRB Act. silently, to flap its way out of the window like a prehistoric ploited our planet for their per- and contacts must be monitored by While the states are currently preoccupied Copyright: Express Publications (Madurai) Private Limited. pterodactyl. Stifling a scream, I was greatly relieved to see sonal benefit. stringent testing, and quarantin- All rights reserved. Reproduction in any manner, with Covid-19, they should also start pre- that it was a huge owl—sheltering from the downpour like Sathyanarayana Krishnappa, ing them for at least 14 days. electronic or otherwise, in whole or in part, without paring for water scarcity right now. we were! Bengaluru Dr George Jacob, Kochi prior written permission is prohibited. I urge you (telecom companies) to CAG LIGS make your mobile services free for Cargo flights will be used exclusively for one month so that people can reach transporting medical equipment and TT T emergency goods, besides other essential Priyanka Gandhi armymen out to their dear ones items to the northeastern states R

BENGALURU MONDAY 07 3003 2020

RG Past imerfect resent tense future uncertain for migrants CID

VOICES OF DESPAIR, DISRUPTED LIVES

RAAR aily wager at a construction site R Slums of Gurugram hansi, Madhya Pradesh All construction activity has come to halt so what is the point in staying here. I am taking my family in this wheelbarrow, my only possession

Migrant families mae the long journey ac home on foot at ohna Road in Haryana on unday. tates have een directed to ensure that there is no movement of eole across cities or on highays SEA ADA

SAI A mason in Gurugram hameliE evi a houseeeping EA staff DINGharmesh umar a laourer has no NGEavita a domestic help said the R Slum in Gurugram was ased y her employer to leave wor post locdown no money locals have graed all the ration Panna, Madhya Pradesh Because of the lockdown I have working has closed owing to the workers with construction com- and bananas to the migrants. not got any work and have gone hungry for days. S D K K New elhi lockdown and her employers told panies in Greater Noida. They Rajesh Kumar, a physically At least in my village I will get something to eat her to leave. Facing an uncertain have decided that if they fail to challenged unemployed man, and stay alive THE azure sky, Covid-induced future, Chameli has no option but get a bus, they will walk down to looks for a bus going to Hardoi. pollution-less air and spring to head home. their village in Bhagalpur, Bihar, His wife Savita is vocal about why winds should have lifted the spir- At Lal Kuan, a highway junc- located about 700 kms away. The they are leaving. its of Chameli Devi, a housekeep- tion on the Delhi-Meerut national duo and some others have pooled He doesn’t do anything, only ing staff member with a private highway, there at least 1,000 other in 1.20 lakh for the journey stays at home. I work as a domes- company in Noida. migrant workers like Chameli. ovt sets up home. In the past six days, no tic maid but my employers have But with a huge bag on her All of them have made a beeline highlevel panels one came forward to help us. Our removed me. The government head and family in tow, she is for the junction in the hope of get- The government on Sunday employers sacked us immediately said ration would be provided but sweating profusely. We are head- ting a bus or any other transport constituted empowered after the announcement of the it is not within our reach. We ed to Lal Kuan in Ghaziabad for their homes in eastern Uttar groups to suggest measures lockdown. With the last remain- don’t know how long this lock- where we hope to catch a bus to Pradesh and Bihar. to ramp up healthcare, put ing savings, we have to reach our down will continue, Savita said. my village in Hardoi, Uttar Dharmesh Kumar bent for- the economy back on track village at any cost, Roushan Sunil, an e-rickshaw driver, Pradesh, Chameli said as she ward with a heavy bag on his and reduce misery of people said. If need be we will walk all said We are all from Bihar. We and her family boarded an e-rick- shoulder. He has come to Lal as uickly as possible post the way or else we will die of hun- lived here as tenants and work as shaw for Lal Kuan. Kuan to catch a bus to his village -day lockdown imposed to ger, he added before walking daily wagers. The locals have HINNAS When told about the need to in Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar contain coronavirus away to look for a bus to Bihar. grabbed all the ration, leaving maintain social distancing in or- Pradesh. Police personnel at Lal Kuan nothing for us tenants. Plies a cycle cart at a furniture market der to avoid getting infected by I worked as a labourer but Narendra Modi had announced guide the people to different di- This COVID-19 pandemic has in elhi the deadly coronavirus, she said now there is no work. With no in- only three weeks of closure, Ku- rections where the buses, private spawned a new crisis in India — R Slums of Kirti Nagar, New elhi Corona se ele boo se mar come, I cannot buy ration to sur- mar snapped back No it’s three and state-run, are stationed. All of a mass exodus of migrant ayenge (We will die of hunger be- vive three months of lockdown, months, everyone is saying it is along the highway, volunteers workers engulfing various parts Firopur, aasthan fore corona kills us). he said. three months. have parked their cars to distrib- of the country, including the na- The firm in which she was When told that Prime Minister Roushan and Kapil are casual ute packets of water, light meal tional capital. The entire furniture market has shut and we don’t know when it will reopen. My village is about kms from here but we will go in my cycle cart Rahul: Economic he retrn home onl to ae oott shutdown will

EPESS ES SEE amlify death toll

MIGRANT labourers returning EPESS ES SEE New elhi to their hamlets in the interiors of West Bengal, Bihar, CONGRESS leader Rahul Gandhi Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Chhat- Sunday wrote to PM Narendra tisgarh and Uttarakhand, Modi saying a complete economic among others, are finding the shut down will disastrously am- road to their homes barred, plify the death toll arising from even as neighbours report them COVID-19 as a complete lock- PRAD to the police for fear of contract- down will almost certainly lead ing coronavirus. to millions of unemployed youths A tailor with a sports goods factory Village panchayats are now rushing to their villages, thus in- R Noida near Sector insisting that they get an ‘all creasing the risk of infecting clear’ certificate from health of- their parents and the elderly pop- Etah, ttar Pradesh ficials and undergo quarantine ulation living in villages. before entering the villages or It is important that the gov- The factory where I worked has homes. Ram Sahay has been ernment intervenes and provides closed down and it is not clear when it will reopen. waiting at Jaipur’s Sindhi Camp them with money for their rent I will not get salary and I may not be able to pay bus stand with his wife and chil- immediately. Factories, small in- the rent dren since Saturday. A worker at dustries and construction sites a stone crushing factory in Bea- have closed, tens of thousands of war, he walked miles to reach migrant labourers are trying to Jaipur only to be informed that walk to their villages and are his brothers don’t want him to stranded at various state borders. come home to Kota without Villagers in est Bengals Purulia and right Bihars Vaishali loc roads ith amoos not to let migrants enter EPESS They are rendered vulnerable screening. without their daily wages or ac- Dozens of migrant workers, of some 7,000 migrants return- down and entry of natives and Chikar village in Ramgarh. cess to nutrition and basic ser- who reached Tagavali village of ing to Purulia has not allowed to outsiders without medical In Assam and Northeast too, vices. They are struggling to seek Dholpur in Rajasthan, also enter their ancestral hamlets in clearance is barred. We are ad- villages have resorted to social refuge... It is important that we faced boycott at their villages. Murshidabad, Nadia, Hooghly, vising all to get certified from barricading and refusing entry help them find shelter and inject Dholpur SP Mridul Kachawa Burdwan, Bankura and Jhar- the health centre, said villag- to unconfirmed cases. There is money directly into their bank said, Migrants coming back gram and West Midnapore dis- ers at Barnawapara, 80 km from huge social opposition in Utta- accounts to help them survive are unwelcome. People com- tricts, said an official. Raipur. ‘ulabi ang,’ a wom- rakhand where some 40,000 mi- these next few months, he said. plain that workers from Kerala, Inspector Nagmani Kumar of en’s group in Kohka village at grants are filtering in. The letter comes at a time when RAESH Delhi and Jodhpur have come to Gaurichak police station said, Tilda announced that no one is Priya Devi of Tadikhet vil- thousands of daily wage workers their colonies without screen- Some 40 persons have been re- allowed inside during lockdown lage was not allowed to enter are migrating to their hometowns Automobile ancillary unit in Noida ing, so now we are screening ported by villagers from Alawal- period. They must be cleared and was reported to the authori- following the lockdown an- R Khoda in East elhi all. Nisith Singh of Baghmun- pur, Fatehpur, Kandap and Mas- by health officials first, said ties who quarantined her at nounced to contain the spread of di in Purulia of West Bengal adhi villages. Of them, two had Raj Kumari, who has organized Haldwani. Ashutosh Dimri of coronavirus. Our pri- Hathras, ttar Pradesh voiced his village’s concern come from Nepal. vigil shifts to enforce the ban. Bhkiyasain village said, We ority must be to pro- There are only two tube-wells In another instance, youths In Jharkhand too, several vil- will not allow people without tect and isolate the The brake manufacturing factory I used to work in has closed. I don’t think it and a pond in our village. If we returning from Karnataka in lages have barred entry of mi- screening. Reports of mild op- elderly and vulnera- will reopen before two months so there is no point allow them, they will infect us West Champaran were handed grants and outsiders and put up position to migrants were also ble from the virus and in living here all. We have to ban them till they over to the police while at Ufraul barricades with notices ban- reported from Chamoli and Pau- to clearly and strongly are cleared. village in Vaishali district, ning entry. ri districts. communicate to the Administrations have had to youths set up road blockades If anyone gets in with coro- Inuts rom ranab ondal young the dangers PHTS REPRTING BY SHEKHAR YAAV, ensure 14-day quarantine of barring all. navirus, we’ll be ruined. The de- aes umar aur aes of their proxim- PARVEEN NEGI AN ANIL SHAKYA such returnees in local govern- Over two dozen villages of cision to ban was taken collec- snani rasanta ues ity to older peo- ment buildings. A large section Chhattisgarh have also locked tively, said Dilip Dangi of ineet adyay ple, he said. INDI Ma Min Ma Min hmedaad 37 20 umai 35 24 ELPING AND hopal 33 19 anai 34 25 ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre aipur 31 18 atna 34 20 is designing simple ventilators and R T mritsar 25 14 ucnow 35 18 manufacturing sanitisers, oxygen ew elhi 31 17 ort lair 31 23 people olata 37 25 mphal 28 18 canisters and masks. rinagar 15 4 handigarh 27 15

BENGALURU MONDAY 08 3003 2020

RG CID P TOT TV VIEING OVER INDI C 1.5 HOURS tates advised not to intermingle patients to prevent further spread increase in time spent on smartphones in Week 1 S SK DTT New elhi or kidney-related ailments, sources said. THE Union government on Sun- The Health ministry reiterated day said that it is now identifying M that it was pulling all stops to up- 197 MILLION E A M rise in TV increase in emerging COVID-19 hotspots grade healthcare logistics includ- listened to the PM ’s address viewing in time spent and a rigorous cluster contain- ing procurement and manufac- Medics chec ody temerature of residents in Mumai on unday PI on ‘Complete Lockdown’ ment strategy is being imple- E E turing of personal protective Week 1 of on COVID-19 smartphones Comparison periods: 13th Jan - mented on a war footing as the equipment, masks, sanitisers and disruptions 2nd Feb; 16th - 22nd March number of confirmed cases Lav Agarwal, also separation of the treatment ource: BARC India and Nielsen reort neared 1,000-mark. Jt secy, nion Health Ministry facilities for COVID-19 cases Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary across states. er it needs in the Union health ministry, said At a press briefing, Agarwal Don’t ill-treat people in that Cabinet Secretary Rajiv gana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Ut- also said the states were told to Gauba held meetings with the tar Pradesh are not far behind as ensure that there is no intermin- ed hospital home quarantine: Modi chief secretaries of all states in each of these states has over 50 gling of patients and the process New elhi With reports of misbehaviour with the last 24 hours to review the on- cases each. of shifting non-infected patients health workers and those in home uarantine, PM going situation. The central government’s an- to other hospitals has begun as EPESS ES SEE New elhi process of either earmarking Narendra Modi appealed to the people to refrain Notably, the Indian Council of nouncement on cluster contain- the creation of dedicated facili- separate hospitals for manag- from ill-treating them saying they need to be Medical Research, a day before, ment plan came as the govern- ties for COVID-19 cases picks up PRIVATE hospitals have urged ing corona patients or have said shown sympathy and cooperation. Modi has been said it had found evidence of ear- ment confirmed India’s tally of pace across the country. the Centre to earmark a 1,000- blocks in identified hospitals interacting with over people on a daily basis to ly stage community transmission positive cases and deaths reached Indian Council of Medical Re- bed hospital, preferably govern- will be dedicated for get first hand feedback from various uarters. “I in high viral density areas. 979 and 25, respectively, with 106 search chief epidemiologist Dr R ment-run, whose capacity can such cases. am greatly pained to learn of these instances... Though Agarwal did not name new cases and 6 deaths in the last R Gangakhedkar said that nearly be doubled in every city across Immediate exercise should We need to understand that in the current any state, a look at the data avail- 24 hours. 35,000 tests were carried out so the country to treat COVID 19 be to ascertain number of ICU circumstances, we need to ensure social distance, able at the ministry website sug- The six deaths were reported far. Tests are now being carried patients. beds needed in different dis- not human or emotional distance. These people gests that Maharashtra and Ker- from as many states and all of the out through 113 government labs Every bed in a COVID 19 hos- tricts, the letter read. As per are not criminals,” he said in Mann Ki Baat’. ala are the top two in terms of victims were elderly with co-mor- across India while there are 47 pital should have ICU facilities, data from Wuhan, every major infected patients in the country. bidities like cardiac issues, diabe- private labs or lab chains, they said. city will need 2.6 ICU beds per States such as Karnataka, Telan- tes, previous respiratory issues he added. Citing data from Italy which 10,000 adults. Every bed in the EEISE CMPAISN I E CNIES showed that mixing led to 40 per COVID hospital needs to be an ndia S rance taly apan Spain hina RWTH IN INETINS IN AST NE WEE cent of normal patients con- ICU bed. tracting COVID-19, the Associa- A city like Bengaluru with 10 1st 3 5 6 2 4 1 2,761 tion of Private Healthcare Pro- million people, the AHPI esti- 2nd 3 11 6 3 20 2 17,238 . . . . . . . . viders - India said a single point mated, may need at least 2,000 of admission will reduce pa- beds at peak outbreak. This 3rd 3 13 11 3 26 2 40,235 tient movement among multiple can become our rough guideline 4th 3 15 12 400 59 25 70,635 hospitals, since there is no cen- for identifying beds to be kept in tral coordinating agency with readiness. Delhi may need 3,000, 5th 35 53 38 3,089 144 257 77,262 accurate data on availability of Mumbai 2,500 beds etc. 6th 74 108 420 12,462 254 2,965 80,174 free beds. Fortis healthcare has set up Cities would also need to isolation wards in all of its 28 7th 168 696 2,860 17,660 488 4,231 80,904 requisition several hotels that hospitals and earmarked 262 8th 728 1,678 4,640 47,021 716 39,673 81,021 would be dedicated as COVID isolation beds for treating co- recovery zones for younger pa- rona patients. The medical 9th 847 15,219 10,877 69,176 996 81,416 tients, of less than 60, not need- teams at Fortis are already ing admission. These could be treating 21 positive cases along 10th 51,914 22,025 1,193 81,416 hotels, guest rooms, executive with 87 suspected cases at vari- 11th 81,848 hostels etc, it wrote to the Un- ous hospitals. Two COVID-19 ion health ministry. patients are all set to go home Source: Report prepared on basis of info published by WHO, MoHFW and Public Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar The request came even as Health Department after their discharge from For- most states have initiated the tis, Gurugram, it said. 275 Indians stranded in Iran evacuated Death of reacher: Kolata No time to New elhi Another batch of Indians, who were stranded in Iran, arrived in odhpur on Sunday in roti-maer grieve for two special flights. The evacuated persons are villages sealed being kept in the uarantine facility at odhpur. According to sources, the people were evacuated in turns messiah civic worer Spiceet and IndiGo special flights. Sunday’s evacuation is the second in less than a week with eole under quarantine for the hungry who lost mom the first batch of Indian nationals arriving at odhpur on March . Officials said that the batch PEET handigarh P DL Kolkata EPESS ES SEE Bhopal of Indians comprised women, two infants and men. The Army has created uarantine THE death of a 70-year-old Sikh preacher has A businessman in Kolkata’s port area has EVEN the irreparable tragedy of losing his facilities as a part of Operation Namaste. prompted authorities to seal the borders of two turned a messiah to the poor, distributing food mother has failed to dampen the spirit of a mid- dozen villages with an approximate population to people in distress, including stranded mi- dle-aged sanitation staff of the Bhopal Munici- of 26,000 people in two districts B grant labourers, since last three days. pal Corporation from shielding the peo- of Punjab He located a ‘roti-maker’ which pro- ple in the ongoing pandemic. Baldev Singh, the preacher, had met several duces 1,000chappatis in an hour and dis- Ashraf Ali lost his ailing mother on people instead of staying on self quarantine tributed more than 8,000 rotis with veg- Thursday morning, but remained in ac- after a trip to Italy and Germany. Of the total etable curry and pickle among 2,000 tion in the field, sanitising the houses of of 38 COVID cases so far in Punjab, 28 are di- people on Thursday between 11 am and commoners in Bhopal. rectly linked to the preacher. Sources said a continues 9 pm. It was only four hours later, that Ali total of 26 villages are sealed in Nawanshahr I saw many daily wage earners, mi- actually went home on insistence of ad- (18) and Hoshiarpur (6) districts. Health official grant labourers stranded at the port. ditional municipal commissioner Nawanshahr Nagar Deputy Commissioner Their children were starving since the Rajesh Rathore to attend his mother’s Vinay Bublani said these villages were sealed lockdown was announced. On the first day, I burial, only to return to work a few hours later. as mandated by the quarantine norms. In Patiala seals managed some rice and daal. Then I heard about There is nothing more valuable than mother other villages in the districts where NRIs have to villages a roti making machine which was lying idle in on earth. But after our mother, comes our moth- arrived, they have been told to remain on home After a -year-old the area. I approached its owner and he allowed erland which is presently in need of our quarantine. Teams of health debarment along man who returned me to use the machine,’’ said R P Singh help,Ali said. with other staff visit them daily to check their from Nepal on March orers fumigate a residential area in Ahmedaad PI health condition.’’ been tested Sub Divisional Magistrate, Banga in SBS Na- positive, authorities gar district. Gautam Jain said fifteen villages have sealed borders Railways donates R151 cr in his area were sealed for a period of two of two villages in weeks. Essential commodities are being sup- Patiala district with You can now withdraw from EPF savings to PM-CARES plied to them. As per the data, the population approximately New elhi The Indian ailways said that it will of these villages is somewhere around 20,000.’’ , population. EPESS ES SEE New elhi basic income and dearness al- ing COVID-19 withdrawals was donate crore to the PM-AES fund even as it A villager from Jikha, whose borders are Sources said that lowance of three months. Sub- launched on Sunday. The IT di- opened the doors of its hospitals and sealed, said villagers are now scared to venture the youth, who hails THE Labour ministry on Sunday scribers are permitted non-re- vision of EPFO has devised a dispensaries to all central government employees. out. An official from Hoshiarpur said the six from Patiala district issued a notification to allow fundable withdrawal not system of auto settlement of The national transporter has a network of multi- villages, which have been sealed in the district, — the home district over six crore subscribers of the exceeding the basic wages and claims through our centralised speciality hospitals in all its onal headuarters, are home to about 250 families. of Punab M — Employees’ Provident Fund dearness allowance for three server in respect of all such production units and divisional headuarters which Some 700 people who were in close contact worked in a private Organisation to withdraw months or up to 75 per cent of members whose KYC data is ful- provide medical care to serving and retired with Baldev Singh (the preacher who died after firm in handigarh. amounts from their PF account the amount standing to the cred- ly updated and compliant. It is employees as well as their families. To handle the contracting COVID-19) are among those quar- He had returned in view of the coronavirus it of their EPF account, which- going to be a paradigm shift in possible rush of patients arising due to the spike of antined. We are keeping a watch on them. from Nepal on March pandemic. ever is less, the ministry said in claim settlements where claims coronavirus cases, the railways has also decided to Some 333 swab samples of symptomatic people . He had recently According to the notification, a statement. will be possible to settle within hire retired paramedics to serve in their hospitals. have been taken from these villages so far,’’ visited nearby a subscriber can withdraw an Meanwhile, the EPFO said three days in EPFO, a state- said a health official. Shahpur village. amount not exceeding hisher that the online facility for claim- ment from the EPFO said.

MUKESH RANJAN Our correspondent OD in harkhand harkhand will soon get another lot of euipment for screening coronavirus cases. Order for four new test machines has already been placed by health officials. RANHI Officials told that one of the machines will be set up at the aendra Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS) in anchi, while OD L the remaining three will be installed at other The harkhand government on Saturday issued a notification regarding appointment of places in the state. Presently, harkhand has L M Each of the legislators in harkhand will donate lakh for the batch IAS officer Sukhdeo Singh as the chief secretary. Singh was posted as two such machines, one at the IMS and welfare of the poor and needy who are struggling to meet their evelopment ommissioner with additional charge of Additional hief Secretary of another at the Mahatma Gandhi Medical Amid the nationwide lockdown, the entral oalfields Limited (L), a needs. According to ural evelopment Minister Alamgir Alam, a Home, Prisons and isaster Management, and ommercial Taxes along with Managing (MGM) ollege and Hospital in amshedpur. subsidiary of oal India Limited, registered highest one-day coal production unanimous decision has been taken to allot lakh each from irector of Greater anchi evelopment Authority (GA). According to the notification, The government plans to acuire at least with almost lakh tonne on March . In addition to that, L has left no stone their MLALA fund and also provide , to each of the the posting will be effective from April , when incumbent chief secretary K Tiwari will such machines for testing coronavirus in unturned to ensure continuous dispatch of coal to power plants without any families who don’t have food to eat, clothes to wear, or reuire retire from his post. This is one of the maor bureaucratic developments in the state harkhand. The eastern state is on a high break, so that sufficient stocks are available. In the midst of the challenging financial help for medical reasons. The decision was taken on the where the harkhand Mukti Morcha along with allies and ongress came to power alert though no positive coronavirus case situation, about . lakh L officers and employees are working x in three directives of hief Minister Hemant Soren, he said. The chief in ecember last year. aeev Arun Ekka, a batch IAS officer, was transferred and has been reported so far. The government is shifts with selfless service to ensure continuous supply to power houses. oal minister himself has alloted money from his MLALA fund. posted as Principal Secretary to the hief Minister. closely monitoring the situation. mining and its transportation fall under essential services. Beijing 17 6 SNY Los Angeles 19 10 SNY Colombo 32 24 TDS Melbourne 24 15 LR Doha 33 20 SNY Moscow 15 1 LC Japan-bound GLOBAL Dubai 32 24 LC New York 12 9 LC WEATHER Houston 26 19 SNY Singapore 34 24 LC plane caught fire on takeoff at Manila airport in the LR: Light Rain HR: Heavy Rain Istanbul 11 9 HR Toronto 17 7 TDS Philippines Sunday, killing eight people on board TDS: Thundershower LC: Light Cloud SNY: Sunny London 8 3 LC Washington DC 23 13 LC

BENGALURU MONDAY 09 30l03 l2020

JERUSALEM BOGOTA SEOUL BAMAKO KRAKOW TEHRAN RIYADH Israeli leaders inch closer Former Venezuelan general North Korea fires suspected Mali holds general election Renowned Polish composer Iran says 54 inmates at Saudi intercepts Houthi to forming unity govt surrenders to US officials ballistic missiles into sea with oppn leader missing Penderecki dies aged 86 large after mass jail break missiles over Riyadh Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin A retired Venezuelan general who North Korea on Sunday fired two Malians headed to the polls on The Polish composer and Iranian security forces are Saudi air defences intercepted Netanyahu and his erstwhile rival was charged by the US with suspected ballistic missiles into the Sunday for a long-delayed conductor Krzysztof Penderecki, searching for 54 escaped inmates Yemeni rebel missiles over Riyadh Benny Gantz on Sunday “narco-terrorism” along with sea, South Korea said, calling it parliamentary election with the who blazed a trail in classical music following a prison break over and a city on the Yemen border, announced “significant progress” President Nicolas Maduro and “very inappropriate” at a time leading opposition figure with innovative religious and which four guards were arrested, leaving two civilians wounded, in talks towards forming a unity other officials has surrendered in when the world is battling the kidnapped and believed to be in symphonic works, died aged 86 on Iran’s state news agency reported state media said Sunday. “Two government amid the novel Colombia to US authorities, coronavirus pandemic. South the hands of jihadists. The poll will Sunday in his home city of Krakow. on Sunday. “Some prison guards ballistic missiles were launched coronavirus pandemic. Gantz was prosecutors said Saturday. He is Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it see new MPs elected to the 147- Penderecki, who worked with were summoned and four of them towards the cities of Riyadh and tasked with forming a government among several current and former detected the projectiles flying from seat National Assembly for the symphony orchestras in Europe were arrested and others released Jizan,” the official Saudi Press following the March 2 vote — top Venezuelan officials indicted the North Korean eastern city of first time since 2013. The country and the United States during his on bail,” Mojtaba Shirouzbozorgi, a Agency reported, citing the Saudi- something he had been unable to by Washington on Thursday for Wonsan into the waters between reported its first Covid-19 death on long career, died after a long judicial official in Kurdistan led coalition that is fighting the do after two elections last year. “narco-terrorism.” the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Saturday, hours before polls began. illness, reports said. province, told IRNA. rebels in Yemen.

EU divided as Trump rolls back plan to Italy, Spain plead lock down New York city WASHINGTON

US President Donald Trump for assistance decided late Saturday against imposing a broad lockdown on Infection rate slows in two countries, but New York and its neighbours Emergency personnel transports a coronavirus patient from a military hospital to after a strong pushback from number of people in intensive care units rises an ambulance in Mulhouse in eastern France on Sunday morning | AFP local political leaders and warnings of the panic it could MADRID/ROME regions. spark. “That is why we have to strict- THE CURIOUS CASE OF GERMANY “A quarantine will not be SPAIN and Italy demanded more ly apply the control measures,” Germany, which reported its first Covid-19 cases on January 26, had more than necessary,” Trump tweeted, European help on Sunday as he said. 58,000 confirmed cases on Sunday evening. However, fewer people are dying of some eight hours after he they fight still-surging coronavi- The crisis is pummeling world the novel coronavirus infection in the country. Germany’s well-funded and well- stunned the New York metro- rus infections amid the conti- economies and putting huge staffed healthcare system takes part of the credit. A more crucial factory could politan region, hit heavily by nent’s worst crisis since World strains on national health care that most of those infected in Germany are below the age of 60 the coronavirus epidemic, War II. systems. Spanish Prime Minis- with a proposal to place it un- ‘’Europe must demonstrate ter Pedro Sanchez called for a COUNTRY TOTAL CASES TOTAL DEATHS MORTALITY RATE der quarantine to prevent resi- that it is able to respond to this more vigorous response from USA 123, 781 2,229 1.8% dents from leaving. historic call,’’ Italian Premier the 27-nation European Union. Italy 92,472 10,023 10.83% Earlier, New York Governor A man with a gas mask in Times Square, New York City on Sunday | AP Giuseppe Conte said late Satur- “It is the most difficult mo- Andrew Cuomo has said that day. “I will fight until the last ment for the EU since its founda- China 81,439 3,300 4.05 % Trump’s suggestion of a quar- don’t think it is legal,” he said. Trump designates firearms drop of sweat, until the last tion and it has to be ready to rise Spain 78,797 6,528 8.2% antine for the tri-state area “I’d rather not do it, but we industry as critical infra gram of energy, to obtain a to the challenge,” he said. would be a “federal declara- may need it,” Trump said and A gun rights group is cheer- strong, vigorous, cohesive Euro- Spain, Italy, France and six Germany 58,247 455 0.7% tion of war”, resulting in later tweeted that a “decision ing the Trump administra- pean response.” other EU members have asked Iran 38,309 2,640 6.9% “chaos and mayhem”, even as will be made, one way or an- tion’s designation of the fire- Spain moved to tighten its the union to share the burden by France 37,575 2,314 6.1% the coronavirus cases contin- other, shortly”. arms industry, including lockdown and ban all nonessen- issuing European debt, dubbed ue to rise in the country. Cuomo noted that a tri-state retailers, as part of the na- UK 17,089 1,019 5.9% tial work Sunday as it hit anoth- coronabonds, to help fight the vi- The Centers for Disease quarantine would dramatical- tion’s critical infrastructure er daily record of 838 dead. The rus. But the idea has met resist- Figures as on March 29 at 6.45 pm IST Control and Prevention issued ly affect the national economy, during the coronavirus country’s overall official toll was ance from Germany and the an advisory urging residents saying, “I think it would para- emergency. more than 6,500. Netherlands. cal equipment. passed 680,000, according to of New York, New Jersey and lyse the economy”. The firearms industry was Spain’s health emergencies European countries have also These tensions have raised Johns Hopkins. Connecticut states to “refrain “I think it would shock the not part of the federal agen- chief, Fernando Simón, said the resisted sharing masks with new fears about whether the EU The United States leads the from non-essential domestic economic markets in a way cy’s original list of critical in- country’s infection rate fell Sun- their neighbors for fear that they, will survive this crisis. world in reported cases, but five travel for 14 days effective that we have never seen be- frastructure issued just over a day to 9%, down from 18% three too, will need them in mass “It’s really, really important other countries have higher immediately”. fore. I am not going to close off week ago. The designation in days before. But he said the num- quantities soon. Many countries that we achieve better coordina- death tolls: Italy, Spain, China, “It would be a chaos and my borders. Trucks have to an update released Saturday ber of people in intensive care have turned to China, where the tion,” German Finance Minister Iran and France. Italy has more mayhem. It’s totally opposite come in, food has to come in, follows a brewing legal battle units keeps rising and hospitals outbreak is easing, flying in car- Olaf Scholz said. than 10,000 deaths, the most of everything he’s been saying. I mail has to come in,” the New between gun rights groups are at their limits in several go planes to get protective medi- Worldwide infections sur- any country. Agencies don’t think it is plausible. I York governor said. and California officials. AP

WHY SCIENTISTS ARE NOT HAPPY PRE-DAWN OP THERE’S NO In an open letter to the government, some 2,000 academics LOCKDOWN called for greater transparency and more justification for its For now, infection prevention strategy France stages the Swedish government maintains that GATHERINGS LIMITED largest hospital LIMITED TO 50 PEOPLE OR LESS citizens can TESTING be trusted “An extraordinary cabinet evacuation to exercise Sweden, a nation of 10 meeting decided today LIFE AS WE KNOW IT responsibility million, had a total of 3,447 to limit gatherings to Why Sweden is Sweden has kept primary schools, for the confirmed virus cases and and 50 people, acting upon PARIS cafes and restaurants open, and has greater good 105 deaths by Sunday, according a recommendation this encouraged children to continue with and will stay to a Johns Hopkins University morning from the Public FRANCE staged on Sunday its not enforcing a their sporting activities. People have home if they tally. However, there has Health Agency,” Swedish largest evacuation of coronavi- advised to practice social distancing experience any been limited testing, with Prime Minister Stefan rus patients to date from hospi- lockdown and to work from home, if possible symptoms only 24,500 tests Lofven told media tals in the hard-hit east, increas- ing efforts to free up intensive care units as officials brace for even more serious cases in the People are barred from intentionally standing too close to someone else in a coming days. queue. A scene from a supermarket in Singapore on Sunday | AFP Two specially modified TGV Worried minister takes high-speed trains carried 36 pa- tients from Mulhouse and Nancy toward hospitals along France’s S’pore to jail those who western coast, where the out- own life in Germany? break has been limited so far. Dozens of hospital workers, BERLIN get too close to others flanked by police and soldiers standing guard, spent hours in- THOMAS Schaefer, the finance stalling four patients in each minister of Germany’s Hesse SINGAPORE Economy in tatters wagon in an operation that be- state, has committed suicide ap- Singapore’s economy suffered its gan before dawn. parently after becoming “deep- SINGAPOREANS could be biggest contraction since the “We have to free up beds, it’s ly worried” over how to cope jailed for up to six months if financial crisis during the first absolutely crucial that we air out with the economic fallout from they intentionally stand close quarter as the coronavirus these intensive care units. We’re the coronavirus, state premier to someone else, under tough pandemic escalated, an ominous still seeing an increase in patient Volker Bouffier said Sunday. new rules announced Friday sign of the devastation being numbers,” said Francois Brun, Schaefer, 54, was found dead to halt the spread of the inflicted on the global economy. head of emergency services at a near a railway track on Satur- coronavirus. The city-state has reported 844 regional hospital. day. The Wiesbaden prosecu- The city-state has intro- cases as of Sunday evening The evacuations came as Ger- tion’s office said they believe he duced a series of new meas- many sent a military plane for died by suicide. ures to tackle the virus, in- the first time to Strasbourg to “We are in shock, we are in Thmas Schaefer, 54, was found dead cluding closing bars and Those found guilty of bring two patients to a hospital disbelief and above all we are near a railway track on Saturday | AFP cinemas as well as banning breaking the rules face a jail in Ulm. In total around 80 French immensely sad,” Bouffier said large events. term of up to six months and patients have been hospitalised in a recorded statement. “Today we have to assume One step aimed at ensuring a maximum fine of Sg$10,000 in Germany, Switzerland and Hesse is home to Germany’s that he was deeply worried,” “social-distancing” -- a key ap- (US$7,000). Luxembourg, European Affairs financial capital Frankfurt, said Bouffier, a close ally of proach being used worldwide Business owners are also Minister Amelie de Montchalin where major lenders like Chancellor Angela Merkel. to halt the spread of the con- required to take steps such as told France Inter radio. Deutsche Bank and Commerz- “It’s precisely during this dif- tagious disease -- is a ban on putting seats not fixed to the She also thanked Berlin for bank have their headquarters. ficult time that we would have individuals standing less than ground at least one metre sending France potentially life- The European Central Bank is needed someone like him,” he one metre (three feet) apart in apart, and making sure that saving ventilators “as recently also located in Frankfurt. added. certain settings. people keep their distance as yesterday”. France has been A visibly shaken Bouffier re- Popular and well-respected, People are barred from in- when queueing. evacuating dozens over the past called that Schaefer, who was Schaefer had long been touted tentionally standing too close The health ministry said week from the east, hoping to Hesse’s finance chief for 10 as a possible successor to to someone else in a queue, or earlier this week that “we stay ahead of a crisis that years, had been working “day Bouffier. sitting on a seat less than one must implement tighter safe Prime Minister Edouard and night” to help companies Like Bouffier, Schaefer be- metre from another individu- distancing measures now to Philippe warned would only IN DESPERATE TIMES and workers deal with the eco- longed to Merkel’s centre-right al in a public place, according minimise activities and expo- worsen over the next two A temporary 2,000-bed hospital for coronavirus patients set up by the nomic impact of the CDU party. He leaves behind a to the regulations. sure”. AFP weeks. AFP Iranian military in northern Tehran | AFP pandemic. wife and two children. was pulled out by foreign portfolio investors from Indian capital A1.12L cr markets in March so far, fearing a pandemic-induced global recession

BENGALURU MONDAY 10 30l03 l2020

noise that suggests buying into depressed equity assets. EQUITY TALK However, you need to tread When this too with caution. If you are look- ing to build a portfolio and you need that money only 15 years INVESTOR LINES later, you can start buying shares. Do not go overboard shall pass, how and buy too many of them. It is important to take expert advice OF THOUGHT IN A in picking them. However, if you are looking will you know? to simply preserve your capi- VOLATILE MARKET tal, keep your money in a There’s uncertainty fixed deposit or a bond mongst those of us hail from rural areas across fund or a liquid fund. that predicted India and what they lack in across boards, but When financial mar- there would contin- terms of educational ‘la- history tells us that kets return to stability ue to be extreme bels’, they more than make financial markets and there are signs of volatility in the up with their lateral think- profitability returning stock-market dur- ing ability to sense a killing bounce back smartly in subsequent quar- A ing 2020, I am will- whenever the opportunity ters, you can allo- ing to bet my shirt presents itself. RAJAS KELKAR cate more money that no one could have an- A couple of them sur- towards index ticipated the turn of events prised us by simply asking f you survive, count funds each month. in March and the drastic to invest fairly large sums your blessings. swings (mostly downward) via the lump sum route, It is like a global war The fear index that the Indian bourses have sans any queries on the against an unknown en- The obvious witnessed. state of and outlook for the emy. Close to half a mil- question could be This was largely triggered equity market. As a matter lion people are sick, about knowing by the Foreign Institutional of abundant caution and I over 20,000 have lost when stability Investors (FIIs) selling off professional compliance, their lives and 170 countries comes back to fi- lock, stock and barrel and my team did explain the are affected. The speed of nancial markets. factoring in the worst case pros and cons of making infections has slowed or A bigger worry scenario that could play out lump sum investments and flattened in mainland for financial mar- in India in the wake of the that too in a market that China if official data is to kets is the inability malevolent virus attack. So, seems precariously perched be believed. But it is surg- of the Reserve Bank what happens if that scenar- in the near-term. ing in the US and Western of India to hazard a io does not play out and the Well, their line of think- European countries. The Or- guess on growth and future inevitable damage ing was simple. ganisation of Economically inflation. That does not send a is lesser than The investments Developed Countries, an inter- TAPAS RANJAN good signal. It would continue anticipated? they were making national body of rich countries to remain like that till data Will those FIIs were for their next in Geneva, said in a report that points are consistent and be back on a buy- generation and major economies are set to con- could be now. that you do not have to pay your substantially cut prospects for stable. ing spree and will with a time frame tract by at least 2 percentage The Reserve Bank of India loan instalments for that peri- India’s growth. A period of uncertainty is that trigger a of a decade in points for the months they are brought out their artillery by od. That does not mean your Future profit growth of busi- measured by the volatility in- sharp surge in the hand, they were locked down. Australia has al- injecting close to `4,00,000 loans go away. The repayment nesses determines today’s dex. The swings in the India Indian indices? confident that the ready announced a six-month crore in the banking system. is deferred by three months. If stock market value. If there are VIX index tell us the story. It Time alone can returns would be lockdown. India is under a Banks have adequate resources you are employed, your em- no profits for the foreseeable typically hovers around values tell, though if I FINANCIAL handsome. Given three-week one. to lend money to small busi- ployer may still be able to future, nobody can be a like 1 to 20 in peace times. Cur- were a betting ADVICE that kind of clari- Uncertainty rules across the nesses. RBI has also made it un- process your pay. There buyer in the market. rently, it is over 70. That is a man, that is where ASHOK KUMAR ty of thought, board. In such a situation, vola- attractive for banks to keep the is a relief given to busi- History tells us that level never seen before. my money would heads LKW-INDIA. there was little tility in financial markets money with RBI. Banks would nesses too, so that they financial markets Global investors follow the be. When that will He can be reached at left to debate. would remain elevated for days now look to lend more or pro- can meet their employ- bounce back smartly VIX CBOE (Chicago Board of happen, if it does, [email protected] Talking of the to come. vide relief to existing borrow- ee-related obligations from such situations. If Options Exchange volatility in- is really the tough- next generation, I The government has an- ers by reducing interest rates for the next three you look at the lows of FY dex). It is over the 60 mark and er question to was quite im- nounced relief in tax compli- following a 0.75 per cent cut in months. 2008-09, the S&P BSE Sensex in the same territory as in 2008. answer. pressed with the ideation of ance for individuals and busi- the repo rate. RBI reduced the However, investing is not just is still trading at a value that is The moment it settles to the av- For long, at the guest lec- one of my young colleagues nesses. It has committed to put rate it charges banks for the about next three months. five times more. So a simple in- erage range under 20, you may tures I conduct at B-Schools, who opined that with work- `1,70,000 crore for relief to the money last week. Moody’s, a credit rating agency, vestment in an index fund at the see stability returning to finan- I have spoken to the students ing from home becoming poor and the marginalised in has slashed India’s growth rate bottom of FY 2008-09 could have cial markets worldwide. about the difference be- the norm for now, there was the country. The 40 crore Jan What does that mean to you by more than half to 2.5 per appreciated five times even af- tween linear and lateral a fair chance that people of Dhan accounts could have nev- Your banking liabilities are fro- cent for FY 2020-21. CRISIL, a ter the correction of 2020. (The writer is editor-in-chief thinking while investing at her age would wake up to er been used the way they zen for three months. It means local rating agency, has also There is an overwhelming at www.moneyminute.in) the bourses. Back at my the fact that by being locked place of work, we interact in, they were saving on din- with a fair number of well- ing-out, movie, travel and EXPRESS READ TODAY’S STOCK PICK educated High Networth In- other such costs. She said vestors (HNIs), patrons from that even post the lockout, 7 of top 10 firms add Current Price BHARTI AIRTEL urban areas across the globe there was a fair chance that who have expectedly dis- they would have inculcated `1.23L cr in market cap There are 2 key factors to consider in the 448.90 cussed the state of the mar- the discipline to learn and A current environment: (a) Bharti’s 28% debt is New Delhi: Seven of the top 10 in USD, so currency fluctuation can impact ket and the road ahead with trim (not totally give up) most-valued Indian companies Target Price earnings and reduce m-cap by 2-3%. Similarly, my team. Most of them have such costs and use the sav- together added I1,23,039.72 Bharti’s 50% capex is in USD, it will increase even decided to top up their ings to invest in a System- crore in market valuation last A650 capex to that extent, and (b) The sharp investments via the System- atic Investment Plan or week, led by Infosys and atic Investment Plan or Sys- maybe even a UL(S)IP — Motilal Oswal Securities Limited correction in crude oil prices could have a Reliance Industries Limited positive impact on India network opex, if the tematic Transfer Plan route, product. (RIL). While Tata Consultancy Disclaimer: The views and recommen- diesel benefits are passed on. However, on the which I believe is an optimal Whether that was a linear Services, RIL, HDFC Bank, HUL, dations made above are that of the indi- contrary, it could impact African economies linear decision. or lateral thought, you HDFC, Infosys and Kotak vidual analyst or broking company, and and pose risks to growth prospects. However, A few of our HNI patrons decide. Mahindra Bank witnessed not that of The New Indian Express. we don’t see any material impact of these. addition in their market RBI moratorium capitalisation for the week ended on Friday, Bharti Airtel, ICICI Bank and ITC suffered comes with riders losses on the other hand. ‘Markets to focus on global cues, news on virus’ NEW DELHI: Stock markets not go all in,” said Vinod Nair, leased on Thursday. Auto com- break of Covid-19. “Liquidity ENS ECONOMIC BUREAU @ New Delhi this means? Sun Pharma’s Halol will focus on global cues and head of research, Geojit Finan- panies will come out with their booster, rate cut and moratori- Sample this. You have a unit classified as OAI fresh news flow on Covid-19 cial Services. monthly sales data, which will um is complete package for the ON Friday, the Reserve Bank home loan of `50 lakh at 8.5 pandemic for further cues in a Vikas Jain, senior re- keep the sector buzzing. time being. Government needs of India made an announce- per cent interest for 10 years. New Delhi: Drug major Sun holiday-shortened week ahead, search analyst at Reli- “The overall trend is to take measures to revive de- ment on a three-month mora- The EMI is about `62,000. Pharmaceutical on Sunday said according to analysts. ance Securities, said, bearish and the recent mand as soon as lockdown is torium on loans. There is too So, if you choose to take the the US health regulator has Markets wil remain closed on “The uncertainty will rebound was just a lifted, and RBI should do what- much confusion prevailing moratorium, after three classified its Halol facility in Thursday for Ram Navami. keep the markets nerv- counter move,” said Ajit ever it takes to make banks, over the announcement, let us months, your new principal is Gujarat as Official Action “The stimulus package an- ous and going ahead Mishra, VP (research), markets Covid-19 resistant,” decode this for you. `51.07 lakh. Effectively you Indicated (OAI). The USFDA nounced by the government markets would now fo- Religare Broking. Nirmal Jain, chairman, IIFL A major misconception is will have about `1 lakh in ex- had inspected the facility from and the RBI will have limited cus more on global cues The Reserve Bank of In- Group, said. that you don’t have to pay tra interest to be paid to the December 03, 2019 and had effect, until the actual impact and fresh news flow of Cov- dia on Friday cut benchmark While the coordinated stimu- EMIs for three months. bank. The loan stretches for issued eight observations.The of the contagion is known, both id-19 pandemic”. interest rate by 75 basis points lus action from governments “This is not an automatic three more months; but there OAI classification implies inter- economically and with the PMI data for the manufactur- to 4.4 per cent to deal with the around the world has offered decision. You have to place a is an additional `1.07 lakh, so alia that the USFDA may number of infections. In spite ing sector is scheduled to be re- hardship caused due to the out- some respite, the volatility in request to your bank to do so. you have to increase the EMI, withhold approval of any of the relief rally seen this the market is likely to continue Banks have the right to allow or increase the number of in- pending product applications week, investors will need to be The stimulus package announced by the government and the RBI as there is no certainty as to a moratorium of three stallments, with the consent or supplements filed from this conservative in their invest- will have limited effect, until the actual impact of the contagion is how long the problem will per- known, both economically and with the number of infections months. This also means that of your bank. facility till the outstanding ments and still focus only on ac- sist and its repercussions on your bank may not Experts advise observations are resolved. cumulating quality stocks and Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services the economy. PTI allow it,” clarified that if you have tak- Kamal Kapoor, a en a personal loan, senior officer with the interest rate will IN DIRE TIMES the State Bank of This is not an be so high that it is India. automatic decision. not worth even con- Customers cannot You have to place a sidering this. force the bank to do request to your bank “Customers are this. The RBI has to do so. Banks have asking us why there Pandemic notified as reason for EPF advance withdrawal the right to allow a left it to the banks to moratorium of three is an interest on this. decide. This means months. This also The interest waiver ENS ECONOMIC BUREAU @ New Delhi three months of the subscrib- Once logged into the account, that the customer means your bank has to come from the er’s basic salary and dearness subscribers will need to select will have to check may not allow it government and not FOLLOWING Union Minister allowance or 75 per cent of the the ‘Claims’ option under the with their respec- from the RBI,” Ka- of Finance Nirmala Sithara- money in their account, which- ‘Online Services’ tab, where tive banks if they Kamal Kapoor, SBI poor said. man’s announcement last ever amount is lower. they will be asked to verify want to avail the One relief for cus- Thursday that rules on provi- “Please note that the Cov- their bank account details and moratorium. tomers is that the moratorium dent fund advances would be id-19 has been declared a pan- upload a scanned copy of a Secondly, if the customer will not get reported to CIBIL relaxed to provide relief to demic by appropriate govern- cheque or bank passbook. avails this, there will be a fi- as a defaulter. those affected by the Covid-19 ment for the entire country and Once this process is done, the nancial consequence for this. Coming to credit card pay- pandemic, the labour ministry therefore the employees work- subscriber will be presented “For those who are plan- ments, it is trickier. has notified rules making it ing in establishments and fac- with a list of reasons why the ning to not pay up your loan Credit cards charge very possible for any of the Employ- tories across entire India, who application is being made. With or credit card bill, there will high interest rates and penal- ees Provident Fund’s 6 crore are members of the EPF Saturday’s notification, a new be hefty financial consequenc- ty in terms of delayed pay- subscribers to make an ad- Scheme, 1952, are eligible for eleventh option has been added es for this. The repayment ment. So, while RBI has al- vance withdrawal. the benefits of non-refundable to the list of reasons called schedule for such loans will be lowed a moratorium, it says According to the notifica- advance under the sub-para (3) ‘Outbreak of Pandemic’. Once shifted across the board by nothing about waiving such tion, all the subscribers of the of Para 68L, which has come this option is selected and the three months after the mora- fees or penalties. Even that Employees Provident Fund Or- into force from today,” the higher education, wedding ex- order to make such an applica- subscriber authenticates their torium period. Interest shall gets added to your bill. Also, ganisation (EPFO) are now eli- EPFO said in a circular dated penses, constructing a house, tion for immediate withdrawal identity with an Aadhaar- continue to accrue on the out- credit card interest gets gible to withdraw a non-refund- March 28. job loss and illness. of an advance, the subscriber is based One Time Password standing portion of the term charged by an additional 18 able advance from their So far, the EPFO has allowed Now with the new rules noti- required to visit the EPFO’s (OTP), the EPFO will credit the loans during the moratorium per cent GST. So, the outstand- accounts citing the Covid-19 advance withdrawals only un- fied, the EPFO has begun allow- main portal and log in using amount in the subscriber’s au- period,” Kapoor added. ing amount may well give pandemic as a reason. Howev- der 10 specific circumstances, ing online applications for pan- the issued Universal Account thenticated bank account Still wondering, what does you a shock! er, the amount will be limited to which included payment for demic-related advances. In Number (UAN). immediately. Stay indoors people. Crucial phase this. Only thing flying around the world like a tracer bullet is this bloody Corona. Stay in before it gets you. - Ravi Shastri, India coach

BENGALURU MONDAY 11 30l03 l2020 newindianexpress com ‘IMPORTANT WE LOOK AFTER THE ELDERLY’ Apart from stressing on reaching out to aged people & deepening familial bonds, former India star Irfan advises athletes to keep home workouts going

FIROZ MIRZA @ Chennai four days a week. obviously be postponed. Noth- government? manent. Whatever time you If you have treadmill, run. If ing is bigger than life. Like the The most important thing is have, enjoy it. porting activity has you don’t, do skipping and postponement of IPL, everyone that we do our bit. Not only Government has to put in come to a grinding jumping exercises. There are should consider the situation cricket associations, every hu- place strict rules. It is every halt across the globe in so many exercises that can be every month. man being who is capable of citizen’s responsibility to be a the wake of the coro- done at home. They can find Be it ICC or any national doing something for others part of this... Looking after navirus pandemic. them online. Athletes can fol- board, all organisations need to should do it. Be it in a visible yourself, not going out, and not Many sportspersons low that to ensure strength in see the situation in Australia way or invisible, they should indulging in social gatherings. S have come forward to their bodies. (for the T20 World Cup) every do it. I believe in that. Show a This will help you and your fel- lend a helping hand to those in Also, they need to be hopeful three, four weeks and then take little bit that you are doing low Indians. You need to make need at the moment. Recently, and stay positive that this a decision. If something has charity, so that it becomes a sure that you look after your- cricketers Irfan and Yusuf Pa- will pass. You have to be- to be deferred or can- trend and people follow. Hide self and your countrymen. than too donated 4,000 masks in lieve in that. Yes, we celled, so be it. You can- the many more good deeds that Vadodara. The younger Pathan haven’t seen nothing not do anything be- you do. This a time when we as Your advice to people in spoke to this daily on wide like whatever is hap- cause you need to save human beings can do a lot for general? range of issues. Excerpts... pening right now. But lives, which should be those in need. It is very important that we as humans, we have to the most important look after the elderly. If they Your advice to athletes, believe and hope for thing on everybody’s What have you and Yusuf don’t have someone to look af- especially cricketers, to best, which will keep us mind at the moment. been up to during the ter them, we have to reach out stay in touch with the game going in the future. Also, we lockdown? and help them in whatever way and remain in the best of need to seek out the positives: What does the future hold Bhai and I make videos every we can. shape? spending time with parents, for MS Dhoni? other day to educate people. We My small advice to people is It’s very important for sport- kids and family. We need to try He obviously needs to play. If Irfan Pathan and brother Yusuf have been spending quality time with their families spend time with our kids. We to do at least one constructive spersons to ensure that they and introspect. May be, you he does, he should for India. He have four at home, as well as thing everyday; something that don’t gain weight. If this scare have started valuing small is the most amazing cricketer So, these question needs to be can all be turned into open hos- our parents. We look after betters your persona. Do it at is vanishing in two months, things more now. There will al- we have. He has been fantastic answered by the board. pitals or isolation wards. If the them, and talk about life, the home. Social media offers so then they need to be on top of ways be positives. for the country. He has given so need arises, it can be worked past and the future. There are many avenues. So use the time their fitness. To make sure of much to the world of cricket. Do you feel that more out that way. We play sports to so many things to do. that you have, and also the time that, they need to train at least Should events like IPL and But if he is just drafted in, will sports facilities should be become a better human. I think If you genuinely try to spend in which you are forced to be at 15 minutes to half-an-hour eve- T20 World Cup happen at it be fair for those who have converted into medical this is one way to show people time with family, then you will home. Nothing lasts forever. ryday. Upper-body exercises on the moment? been playing regularly is an centres? that sports can help people. enjoy it. Nothing lasts forever. Neither will this. We might one day, lower body on the next, It is very important that all gov- important question. KL Rahul We have so many grounds in Before this pandemic, we look back and regret not using and core workouts every other ernments take proper meas- and Rishasbh Pant have been Baroda. All of our cities have What other things can thought we were invincible. the time that we have now. So day. They need to train at least ures. Sporting activities should playing consistently for a year. so many open spaces, which sports bodies do to help the That changed. Nothing is per- use it wisely.

STAYING ON TRACK In-house range & mom’s food keep Manu going

SRINIDHI PR @ Chennai shooting range at home, the mind. Following that, she and “a nice evening walk with 18-year-old’s training routine trains close to six hours a day. the family on the terrace”. For Steering wheel to haircuts, AWAY from the hustle-bustle of continues unaffected. “I don’t think I have been af- a shooter, who has made rapid the city, Manu Bhaker is quiet- “I haven’t taken a break,” fected much. I used to train all strides in her professional ca- ly going about her business in said Manu. “I’m able to practise day before the lockdown also. reer, family-time is something Charkhi Dadri in Haryana. The with an in-house shoot- My schedule starts that tops her priority list while Gill relishing sudden pitstop coronavirus outbreak has ham- ing range. It’s manual. with yoga, focussing she is in Charkhi Dadri. pered the training of many ath- So I can’t do it for a on meditation and “Everybody is posting the VISHNU PRASAD @ Chennai letes, but not that of the 2018 long time. But for a breathing. Then, I kind of physical activities they Commonwealth Games gold short period, it’s good. spend one hour in the can do from home. Skipping is GAURAV Gill recalls with a medallist pistol shooter. Training goes on, no sun for vitamin D. I the easiest. I also do workouts smile how surprised his Though the tone of her matter what. That said, train from 9.30am to concentrating on strength neighbours were when they voice betrayed disappoint- it’s a crucial time. Tak- 2.30 pm. When we training. Running is not possi- found him at home a couple ment because of the postpone- ing care of health is of were in the camp, the ble, so we go for a walk on the of days ago. “You’re in In- ment of Olympics to next year, utmost importance.” schedule was the terrace,” she elaborates. dia?” they apparently Manu is keen to make use of Leisure time is not Manu Bhaker same,” said the first- Being a vegetarian who asked. “We thought you the time at home and take one really a word found in year student of Delhi’s doesn’t even take eggs, Manu were abroad.” step at a time. The pandemic Manu’s dictionary, as she sticks Lady Shriram College, where consumes roti, daal, sabzi with Understandable, for Gill is has also forced the federation to a simple yet strict routine. she is pursuing a bachelor’s de- a good amount of paneer on a usually always on the road. to cancel everything including Her day starts at 6am with gree in political science. regular basis. “Good thing is You don’t become a three- trials, camps and competi- yoga, something she has re- As far as fitness goes, Manu I’m home with my mother and time Asia-Pacific Rally tions. But with an indoor cently started to control her does core workouts, skipping she cooks really good.” Championship driver with- out doing a fair bit of travel- ling. But, as has been the case HELPING HANDS with many other sportsmen, Online classes the lockdown, caused by the KIREN RIJIJU coronavirus outbreak, has for elite boxers floored the Arjuna award- The sports minister is winner as well. EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE Like other sportspersons, fitness is a priority for Gaurav Gill these days donating a The lockdown though @ Chennai month’s comes at a bad time for Gill than two decades ago and has taining his fitness. “I’ve set salary to — he along with JK Tyre been travelling for the sport up a small gym inside the DURING the lockdown, Boxing Prime were planning a much deep- ever since. house,” he says. “I’m concen- Federation of India (BFI) is Minister’s er foray into the World Rally The abrupt halt to rallying trating on body-weight exer- looking to make the most of relief fund. Championships this season. has seen him develop some cises and cardio. The off-sea- technology. As reported by this “We had plans to compete in new hobbies. “I tell people son is always the time for me newspaper, coaches and support the World Championships that my office is shut. Because and most other professional staff will provide online classes KSCA and have a positive season,” the airport is shut and that’s athletes to get fit because you to elite pugilists beginning Mon- says Gill. “We were getting my office,” Gill laughs. “But don’t really find the time dur- day. BFI has confirmed that the The Karnataka ready but everything came to yes, it’s a great time to spend ing the rest of the year to coaches and support staff, in- State Cricket a big halt. So now we’re just with family. My house was un- concentrate on your fitness cluding the doctors and physios, Association sitting and waiting for the der construction, so we’re fin- levels. It’s the time to get a will be in touch with all Olym- Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo and wife Georgina Rodriguez take promised D50 situation to get under con- ishing off all the small things hundred per cent fit, and I pic-bound boxers every day for their children out for a stroll in Funchal, Portugal, on Saturday | AFP lakh each to trol. Even the World Champi- ourselves. I’ve learnt to cut think I’m more than a hun- at least an hour. the central onship series has come to a my own hair, and I’m cutting dred per cent now because The aim is to keep boxers mo- Organisers eye July 2021 for delayed Olympics KSCA president and state pause. We were looking at my kids’ hair also, I think I’m there’s a lot more time.” tivated and help them with governments. TOKYO: Organisers are eyeing next July as a start date for the Roger Binny competing from Mexico and going to end up being a barber “It’s something that I en- their training, nutrition and postponed Olympics, following the historic decision to delay the Argentina. The Mexico event pretty soon. And I’m going joy doing and I’m trying to mental well-being. RK Sacheti, event. Given the ongoing pandemic and need for preparation time, AJINKYA RAHANE was just ten days ago and Ar- around trying to fix every- do it with my kids now. So it BFI executive director, said the most likely plan would be for the Games to begin on July 23, gentina would have been in thing around the house, try- has turned into a family fit- president Ajay Singh had a The India Test 2021, public broadcaster NHK said, citing sources within the mid-April. So that was on the ing to fix the kids’ toys. So I ness programme.” very candid interaction with deputy has organising panel. It came after Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike raised calendar for us.” think I’m going back to when As much as he is enjoying the athletes on Sunday and pledged `10 the idea of moving the event to a less hot and humid time of year. “But there’s nothing much I was a kid when I used to dis- the downtime, Gill hopes that asked them to follow the rou- lakh to the I can do. So I sit at home, do mantle cars and put them things get back to normal in tine meticulously. “They are Maharashtra my homework and concen- back together. So it’s like go- the motorsports world as fast now at home and all boxers Former Turkey goalie Juve players, coach give Chief trate on my fitness.” ing back to the yesteryears. I as possible, maybe by June. may not be having big places on Rustu tests positive nod for reduction in pay Minister’s relief fund. Sitting at home though end up doing everything with “It’s good to be doing this for their residential premises, so ANKARA: Former Turkish MILAN: Juventus announced that isn’t something that Gill is my toolkit.” a short period,” Gill says. this online training will be im- national team and they had cut their players’ and used to — the 38-year-old was Like most sportspersons, “But I hope it doesn’t go on portant,” Sacheti told this ex-Barcelona goalkeeper Rustu coach Maurizio Sarri’s salaries ESHA SINGH part of his first rally more Gill too is focussed on main- for too long.” newspaper from New Delhi. Recber is in hospital after after all Italian sport was testing positive for suspended until at least April 3. The 15-year-old coronavirus, his wife said. “The economic and financial shooter donated TECH THAT Recber took on hero status in effects of the understanding `30,000. The Turkey as he kept goal at the reached are positive for about 90 junior WC silver 2002 World Cup, anchoring his million euros ($100.5 million) for medallist is the team to the semifinals and the 2019/2020 financial year,” youngest India Sensor & imported gadgets for feel of golf indoors ultimately third place, their said a club statement. Italian sportsperson to best performance. “Rustu is in champions Juventus said that contribute. ASHIM SUNAM @ Bengaluru Kohli Foundation, Harry has against a wall of mattresses. naments around the world. hospital with a COVID-19 they had agreed a “reduction” for managed to get some of them. After the ball is struck, the Aadil seems to be making full diagnosis,” Isil Recber said on the pay they were entitled to RICHA GHOSH IN such unprecedented times, The best part of the technolo- trackman detects the ball use of this. An area of the gar- Instagram late Saturday. from March until June. when sports come to a stand- gy is, it can also be used in- speed, angle of club face, spin den is used for chipping the ball The 16-year- still, athletes are confined in- doors in a controlled environ- of the ball and other parame- into baskets and cups. Given a old, part of doors with no place to practice. ment, which is presently ters like ball flight and dis- choice, this indoor practice is TRENDING ONLINE India women’s With India in lockdown, many happening in the tance. The system is not what he would have pre- T20 WC squad, are focusing on fitness. Golfer house of the Bedis. complex and Harry ferred as he was in top form in gave `1 lakh to Aadil Bedi, however, has found The drawing room is had to complete a cer- the last tournament, Bengal How Bindra West Bengal a way to stay in touch with his used for putting the tificate course in the Open. He clinched his maiden CM’s relief sport. With his father Harry ball. There is a sensor, Netherlands to operate PGTI title there, beating Uday- handled success fund. Bedi’s help, he has made some laser and a digital level these gadgets. an Mane in a playoff. makeshift arrangements in his attached to the golf “The situation is “May be, you can say that Olympic gold-medallist Abhinav SHARAD KUMAR house in Chandigarh. club that helps trans- such that nothing out- there is a sense of disappoint- Bindra recollects his success on the For the last couple of years, mit information to door is possible. And I ment, but things like COVID-19 highest stage in 2008, and talks The double Asian Bedi has adopted a scientific something called the did not want him to is not in your control. I am about how the “fearless” next Para Games high approach towards training, in trackman, which can stay out of touch. I looking at it in a positive man- generation of Indian shooters jump champion a high-tech lab at the Forest be analysed. The track- Aadil Bedi wanted to ensure that ner as I am practising however should manage expectations, donated an Hill Golf Resort in his home man is placed three metres be- his practice does not come to a I can. It will also give me time writes Deepti Patwardhan... amount of `1 city. The gadgets involved are hind the golfer to ensure cor- halt. This way, various things to work on my game, and also lakh to the PM’s expensive and imported. With rect results. When it comes to can be analysed,” said Harry, my fitness, which is impor- Read the story with its full text relief fund. financial help from the Virat long drives, Aadil does it who travels with Aadil to tour- tant,” said Aadil. on newindianexpress.com BENGALURU MONDAY 12 30l03 l2020 BABY DIES AFTER TESTING +VE FOR CORONAVIRUS IN RARE CASE Pandemic ravaging the world appears to be finding younger victims

JUVENILE DEATH

WASHINGTON: A US infant has died from Covid-19, officials in the state of 10-15% Illinois said on Saturday, marking an As much as 10 to 15 extremely rare case of juvenile death percent of people in the global pandemic. under 50 who are sick At a news conference, Governor JB with the disease have Pritzker said “an infant” was among moderate to severe the fatalities linked to the new corona- infections, said Mike virus over the previous 24 hours. Ryan, the WHO’s The state Department of Public emergencies chief. Health said the child who died in Chi- Even if they survive, cago was younger than one year old the middle-aged can and had tested positive for the Covid-19 spend weeks in the illness. hospital. “There has never before been a death associated with Covid-19 in an infant,” the department’s director Ngozi Ezike said in a statement. “A full investiga- 108-YR-OLD WOMAN WHO SURVIVED tion is underway to determine the cause of death.” SPANISH FLU DIES OF COVID-19 IN UK Pritzker described himself as shak- A 108-year-old woman, who survived two world wars and the 1918 Spanish en by the news. flu pandemic, has become the UK’s oldest coronavirus victim after she died “I know how difficult this news can within hours of testing positive for the deadly virus, according to a media be, especially about this very young report.Hilda Churchill, who was to celebrate her birthday on April 5, started child,” he said. showing mild symptoms of the virus on Tuesday, the Sun reported. She “It’s especially sorrowful for the fam- passed away on Saturday at her care home in Salford city - less than ily of this very small child, for the 24 hours after testing positive for Covid-19. years stolen from this infant. We should grieve.” Last week, top French health official its death toll of more than 2,000 is still be months before scientists have Jerome Salomon said a 16-year-old girl below that of other countries includ- enough data to say for sure who is most had died in the Ile-de-France region of ing Italy, Spain and China. at risk and why, preliminary numbers Paris and its surroundings. More than 450 US deaths occurred from early cases around the world are “Severe forms (of coronavirus) with over the 24-hour period prior to Satur- starting to offer hints. the young are very rare,” Salomon day afternoon. In France, more than half of the first noted. The Chicago baby was among 13 new 300 people admitted to intensive care In the US state of California last deaths in Illinois. units were under 60. week, the Los Angeles County Depart- Italy reported that a quarter of its ment of Public Health said that a teen- More young people infected cases so far were among people ages 19 ager had tested positive for Covid-19 As cases skyrocket in the U.S. and Eu- to 50. In Spain, a third are under age 44. and died. But the agency added the rope, it’s becoming more clear that how In the US, the Centers for Disease Con- case is complex and there may be an healthy you were before the pandemic trol and Prevention’s first snapshot of alternate explanation. began plays a key role in how you fare cases found 29% were ages 20 to 44. Multiple studies have found the vi- regardless of how old you are. Children have made up a small rus disproportionately affects older pa- The majority of people who get Cov- fraction of coronavirus cases world- tients and those with underlying id-19 have mild or moderate symptoms. wide. A letter published in the New conditions. But “majority” doesn’t mean “all,” and England Journal of Medicine by Chi- The United States has the highest that raises an important question: Who nese researchers earlier this month number of new coronavirus cases in should worry most that they’ll be reported the death of a 10-month-old WHEN YOU REACH THE END OF YOUR ROPE, the world, more than 120,000, although among the seriously ill? While it will with Covid-19. TIE A KNOT IN IT AND HANG ON � FRANKLIN D ROOSEVELT READSHAREFOLLOW newindianexpress.com Mail us: [email protected]

30 03 2020 MONDAY

DAY’S DIARY WHERE IT ALL BEGAN DEBUT SUCCESS MUCH TO HER NAME A S H While in school, Jones sang in the Released in 2002, Come Away Jones has won nine Grammy Norah Jones, an American choir, participated in band & played With Me — a fusion of pop, Awards and numerous other H musician, was born on this day alto saxophone. At University of jazz and country — earned awards. Billboard magazine in 1979 in New York, USA, to North Texas, she majored in jazz her international acclaim and named her the top jazz artist sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar piano & sang with UNT Jazz Singers fetched her five Grammy Awards of the 2000-09 decade PG 4

summer and the current lock- South, West Bengaluru. down situation, there’s little food To help daily wage workers of and water for them. When you the annada television and film step out for groceries, please industry, director-producer leave some for the voiceless.” Be- Pawan umar is urging his fol- ing familiar with the dangers of lowers on social media to give stepping out at this point, ay has whatever contribution possible. been taking precautions, including And this initiative is being sup- wearing a mask. ported by many prominent indus- MAKING Dr C inod Hayagriv, manag- try figures, including actors Di- ing director, C rishniah Chetty ganth, Shraddha Srinath, and Group of Jewellers, has been Dhananjay. donning the role of a traffic war- ih i den to emphasise the importance ia a of staying indoors to people. “We are educating those providing es- sential services to IT COUNT operate in a more Celebrities in the city are going all out to take part in different social disciplined man- ner, implement activities, including feeding strays and raising funds for daily wage workers distancing, and to put in place queue systems in ● Monika Monalisa anyone can volunteer for this front of their cause. “Even if one is not com- shops. In addition, fortable stepping out to feed we have been working hile the city is un- strays, they can donate funds on promoting clean- der lockdown due for the cause. For now, there liness, hygiene, dis- to the Covid-19 pan- are 40 volunteers working for infecting frequently demic, many city this campaign and are allot- on a daily basis, celebrities have ted to different areas of South wearing masks when Wtaken a break from the comfort of Bengaluru to feed dogs,”she outside and not ven- their home to volunteer and help adds. turing out unless it is others, including their neighbour- Meanwhile, Sandalwood ac- to essential to buy food hood four-legged furry friends. tor Aindrita ay, who time and and medicines, not With the help of volunteers, ac- again, shows her love for dogs more than once a day,” tor Samyukta Hornad is feeding recently, she went out of her he says, adding that strays in her area Bengaluru way to save an injured pup over the next few days, South. “I started this just for my Aindrita Ray and eventually adopted it they plan to do more rounds love for dogs. But when others in has come forward to across East, Shivajinagar, my locality were also feeding Corona Task for South Bangalore help strays. In a video Dr C Vinod Hayagriv; (inset) strays, the police asked them to go Streeties. “People don’t under- which went viral , as a traffic warden indoors and follow safety meas- stand other issues that will arise she says, “Let’s not ures,” she says. from stray dogs not being fed. forget about our We are educating those providing essential However, seeing her enthusi- They will starve to death. It can four-legged friends Samyukta services to operate in a disciplined manner, implement asm, Hornad was asked by Ben- lead to various infections or may in our neighbour- Hornad; galuru South MP Tejasvi Surya to even lead to a plague-like situa- hood. With tempera- (inset) distancing and queue systems in front of shops head a campaign to feed strays tion,” says Hornad, adding that tures rising this feeding strays —Dr C Vinod Hayagriv, MD, C Krishniah Chetty Group of Jewellers

the norm at that time,” recalls finishing breakfast quickly to CORONA WARRIOR 60-year-old Prabhavati M. watch the amayana as a family. In addition to the epics being a “I called up my mother-in-law to novelty, homemaker Meghana P S, let her know that it is being aired,” points out that owning a T itself she says, adding that her eight- Fresh delivery: News, was a prized possession. “Since not year-old son could not relate to the everyone had one, neighbours used hype. “He didn’t show much inter- to congregate at the house of a T est because the clarity wasn’t owner. Especially during important good. I told him stories about am with a side of courage scenes like Draupadi’s vastra and his brothers to get him inter- haran, people would squeeze into ested,” she says. ● Simran Ahuja one room to watch it together. My Although Gajanana Ma- Meghana P S watching the rerun of Mahabharat with Prakash S grandmother used to fold her vinkurve (0) has watched the se- hands to pray and bow her head ries several times, he finds him- or nine years, Satisha’s morning routine whenever am or rishna came self as curious about what will has been the same. He leaves his house on screen, even when she knew happen next’ as he was the first in Malleswaram at 4.30 am and makes they were actors If anyone told time. “We used to take whatever F his way across town to deliver newspa- her they’re just actors, she would happened in the serials and in- pers to the residents of asanthnagar and get angry because she considered clude them in our lives as les- Shivajinagar. These days, however, this com- them godly,” says the 45-year-old. sons,” he says, adding that tech- mute has turned out to be more eerie than BACK A Sunday morning wedding had nology has changed much. “Now, before. “There’s no one on the street. It’s like a minimal turnout, thanks to the the colours in the serials look dull. riding through a dark forest,” says the news- Arun Govil and Deepika Chikhalia But back then, the fact that it was paper vendor, who adds, “It was never like starrer. Anupama Chandavarkar, in colour was the ultimate.” this before the coronavirus. No matter what Smita Girish R A scene from Ramayan 4, a homemaker from Malleswar- Agrees Parth Sarthi Sharma the hour, you found vehicles on the road.” IN TIME am, says, “It was at the same time (22), who feels that the graphics Since the announce- aaa and B Chopra’s a as the aaa so very few turned are not aesthetically pleasing and ment of a country-wide ● In the age of Vidya Iyengar hahaa the re-runs of which up. That was the craze at that time production is outdated. “But the lockdown six days ago, and Tanya Savkoor binge watching, are now being screened on because mythology used to be a story remains, and I’ve heard many have been waking Doordarshan. very big deal.” Sundays followed a from my grandparents how it was up to the sight of empty the re-telecast hat’s the similarity be- Families would come together fixed ritual finishing work and so advanced for its times. As I was doormats outside their of Ramayan tween 2020 and the 190s? on Sunday mornings after a hur- watching the serial as a family. watching it in the morning, my home. Satisha’s clients, and Mahabharat While we are under lock- ried breakfast to catch the weekly “Hopefully now, with this lock- grandfather told me, It was first however, don’t figure on Wdown due to coronavirus, serials. “It was the highlight of down, we can get back to having aired about 11 years before you this list. “Earlier, my has got back in the late ’0s, the streets too the week. After all, these marked that,” Chandavarkar adds. were born’. They used to air the team and I delivered 00 Bengalureans wore a deserted look, especially many firsts screening of an epic Smita Girish , 36, a kindergar- episodes on weekends so that eve- newspapers a day. To- on Sunday mornings, owing to the which went beyond the stipulated ten teacher, recreated the setting ryone could watch,” says Sharma, day, I only have 200 pa- nostalgic screening of amanand Sagar’s 13-episode duration, which was of her childhood days in the 0s-- who plans to watch the series. pers. Since most of these people are elderly, reading the news is an essential part of their morning,” he says. It’s clear that duty always CREATIVE STROKES comes first for Satisha, who has even shelled he biggest contri- out his own money to invest in a mask and bution one can gloves. “I make sure I sanitise my hands be- make to contain home, why are you still here? “Most of fore I collect the newspapers,” he adds. TCovid-19 is to avoid the Covid-19 related graphics I saw With companies rolling out work-from- socialising and stay home. were instruction-based. None was crea- home initiatives, commercial buildings too To stay fit in these times tive. I was struck by this idea random- don an empty look a fact that makes Sati- without the luxury of a ART WITH ly and instantly decided to pursue it,” sha’s heart heavier, and pocket lighter. While gym, I’ve been walking a says Bashyam, who was over- such establishments call for 10-15 newspa- lot, maintaining the stipu- whelmed’ by the response she re- pers and many magazines, residential clients lated distance from other ceived from her friends and family. only opt for one or two mainstream broad- people Though following different con- sheets a day. “They aren’t that profitable for and at A MESSAGE cepts, the works of both the stu- us. We have to climb so many floors just to home I’m ● other poster shows a plant slowly dents have one similarity they deliver newspapers that only give us a com- doing a lot Simran Ahuja gaining life as it shoots through stray towards subtlety. “Despite the mission of 64 a month,” he says. With of- of breath- soil, eventually resembling the government urging people to follow fices and some residents temporarily put- ing exer- ndia: 21, Corona: 00. The match number as it starts to flower. social distancing, some chose not to. ting a halt to their newspaper subscriptions, cises. It point India needs’, reads the cap- Concerned by the number of peo- The more you tell someone not to do vendors like Satisha are seeing losses to the helps me tion on Akin Sanjayan’s poster, ple not taking quarantine seriously, something, the more rebellious they tune of 30,000-40,000 now. “But what am I STAY SAFE remain Iwhich shows an empty badmin- Ananya Bashyam too uploaded five get. Hence, the subtle messaging,” to do? I don’t have another source of in- calm and ton court. All of 19, this youngster posters on her Instagram (crum- explains Bashyam, who chose logos come,” he rues. keeps me focused. Spend- is using the medium best known to blycheesecake). The 1-year-old that would appeal to her Gen peers The 43-year-old resides with his wife a ing quality time with fam- him art to urge Indians to prac- communication design student along with older millennials. Agrees bank employee and two kids, aged 13 and 9. ily, working out at home, tise social distancing. “This poster from NIFT chose five Indian adver- Sanjayan, who says the visual ap- Scared for his health, they too urge Satisha reading books, watching  Pankaj Advani is part of a series on the lockdown,” tisement logos and presented them peal of the posters makes it more to stop making his daily rounds for some movies are things I have Billiards and snooker player says the student of fashion commu- without their iconic characters. effective than a directive appeal. “In days, an idea he has considered. “But what been doing to stay happy, nication at National Institute of Think the Amul butter ad without each of my posters, you have to about those people who rely on the paper? I healthy and busy. Let’s use Fashion Technology, Bengaluru. the girl, an empty can of paints near pause and take time to think to see recently got a call from the wife of one of my this time to understand of worrying about the rat The lockdown series currently the Asian Paints logo, the Looney what it is trying to say. Maybe this clients. She told me her husband wouldn’t our true priorities in life race we have been caught has three posters shared on his Ins- Tunes logo without Bugs Bunny way, it could stay longer in some- drink his morning coffee without it. After and look inwards instead up in for so long. tagram (akinsanjayan), each em- and so on. The idea was simple: If one’s head and drive the message nine years, these customers are like my fam- phasising on the number 21’. An- everyone around the world has gone home more clearly.” ily too,” he says in a resigned tone. newindianexpress.com HAE MONDAY Mail us: [email protected] www.newindianexpress.com 30 03 2020 2

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EARLY CIRCE THE MILL ON MURDERS Steps INDIANS By Madeline Miller THE FLOSS MOST MATRONLY  Standing upright, bend forward and firmly place your By Tony Joseph When love drives Circe to By George Eliot palms on the floor. In this book, Joseph takes cast a dark spell, wrathful This novel revolves around sibling By Kamakshi P. Murti head-on some of the Zeus banishes her to the relationships and fi rst love. It is Two cousins lead quiet retired  Now, walk backward on your mat, do not change your hand most controversial and remote island of Aiaia. This known for Maggie whose passion lives in Tucson, Arizona, until a position. Tuck your tailbone inwards so that the torso and uncomfortable questions is an intoxicating tale of and intelligence bring her in confl ict serial killer descends on the South gods and monsters. hips are in a straight line. The final position will look like a of Indian history. with the norms of Victorian society. Asian community. push-up position. Do not bend your knees and elbows. Availability and download of the free e-book is subject to creating an account with the sites.

RAMAYAN Directed by Ramanand Sagar, Ramayan, CYBER GURU based on Lord Ram’s life, was fi rst aired on Doordarshan in 1987 and had a massive By Vishwas Kamat following across the country. Radio City in  Cast: Arun Govil, Deepika Chikhalia association with and Sunil Lahri Karnataka Police (Cyber Cell) is THINKING, FAST  Watch on: DD National educating people on  Daily at: 9 am-10 am, 9 pm-10 pm Cyber security and AND SLOW creating awareness. By Daniel Kahneman Drawing on a lifetime’s experimental experience, Kahneman reveals where we can and cannot trust our MAHABHARAT IKIGAI LOVE GURU intuitions and how we can Mahabharat, directed by BR Chopra, was fi rst aired in The Japanese Secret to a Long and By Love Guru tap into the benefits of slow October 1988 and had a total of 94 episodes. The script Happy Life thinking. He offers practical was written by the Urdu poet Rahi Masoom Raza, Love Guru is a show and enlightening insights based on the original story by saint Vyasa. By Héctor García, Francesc Miralles hosted by the RJ into how choices are made in  The people of Japan believe that everyone known simply as Cast: Nitish Bharadwaj, Praveen Kumar, both our professional and our Gajendra Chauhan has an ikigai - a reason for being; the thing Love Guru. With his personal lives, and how we that gets you out of bed each morning. And deep emotional can use different techniques  Watch on: DD Bharti according to the residents of the Japanese voice, Love Guru to guard against the mental  Daily at: 12 pm and 7 pm island of Okinawa - the world’s longest-living helps the youth of glitches that often get us into CIRCUS people - finding it is the key to a longer and Bengaluru in coping trouble. more fulfilled life. with love, loss Directed by Aziz Mirza and Kundan Shah, Circus, Available on Audible. BYOMKESH BAKSHI which introduced the world to Bollywood Available on Audible. Pricing and and life. Find the show on Radio City and benefits vary by The character, Byomkesh Bakshi, initially appeared superstar Shah Rukh Khan, has made a benefits vary by Membership Plan. Membership Plan. Starts comeback on Doordarshan. Starts at Rs 199 per month. Premaloka. in the 1931 story Satyanweshi. It gained pan-India at Rs 199 per month. popularity almost six decades later with a TV series on  Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Ashutosh Gowariker Doordarshan with Rajit Kapur portraying Byomkesh.  Watch on: DD National  Daily at: 8 pm  Cast: Rajit Kapur and KK Raina YEN HELTIDRA  Watch on: DD National GURU  Daily at: 11 am ONTI SEENU By Yen Heltidra Guru By Ventriloquist Indushree Get to know the Onti Seenu is a funny character who unknown facts around has a funny take on everything in life! the world with the He loves taking his love-hate buddy twist of humour and Subbu for a ride. get amazed. SOUNDING BOARD CLASSIC COMEBACK

REGIONAL KATHEYONDU psychic, who deals with peculiar cases ENGLISH/FOREIGN HE EVEN HAS YOUR SHURUVAGIDE (Kannada) and clients that make her experience HINDI EYES (French) supernatural powers around her. NATHICHARAMI (Kannada) A young resort owner, Tarun, is going This comedy centres on through a rough time and tries to deal  Cast: Kishore Kumar, Amala Akkineni CRIMINAL JUSTICE AQUAMAN a French-African couple Reeling from the loss of her husband, a with struggles of his life. In the process, he  Watch on: Zee5 Aquaman reveals the origin story of half-human, who have been waiting widow struggles to fulfi l her physical and  Registration: 99 per month An edgy one-night stand turns into a strikes up a great bond with a resort guest, nightmare for Aditya, when he wakes up half-Atlantean Arthur Curry and takes him on the many years for the emotional desires despite social taboos Tanya. Will this bond help them to fi nd a journey of his lifetime-to discover if he is worthy of chance to adopt a child. around female sexuality. with blood on his hands. The evidence new meaning to love and life? is stacked against him, but he doesn’t who he was born to be…a king When they fi nally get the  Streaming on: Netfl ix  Cast: Pooja Devariya, Diganth remember the crime. Is he guilty or not?  Cast: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, call, they discover that the  Cast: Shruthi Hariharan, Sanchari Vijay, Manchale, Ashwin Rao Pallakki  Watch Willem Dafoe baby available at the time is  Cast: Jackie Shroff, Vikrant Massey White. The fi lm deals with some and Sharanya on: Amazon Prime  Registration: 129  Watch on: Hotstar  Registration:  Watch on: Amazon Prime per month complex family issues in a comedic light. 299 per month  Registration: 129 per month THE PLAN (Kannada)  Cast: Lucien Jean-Baptiste,Aïssa Maïga,Zabou Breitman The Plan is a suspense thriller written and KUMBALANGI NIGHTS DIL CHAHTA HAI  Watch on: Netfl ix directed by Keerthi as a debut. It is about (Malayalam) The story revolves around three three youngsters dealing with the strict Set in the backdrop of an island village, friends — Akash, Sameer and Siddharth,  Registration: 199 per month jailer, planning to escape from prison. Kumbalangi in Central Kerala, the fi lm, who journey through the bitter-sweet  Streaming on: Netfl ix directed by Madhu C Narayanan, is about moments of post-collegiate life, which A YEAR IN SPACE a family of four brothers who eventually MASKA (Hindi) poses a test for their friendship.  Cast: Ananth Nag, Ramesh Bhat, Two astronauts attempt to brave life in fi nd the love between themselves with the Determined to make it in showbiz, BROTHER (Turkish) Promod  Cast: Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Earth’s orbit on a record-setting mission help of men and women they befriend. an aspiring young actor considers Akshaye Khanna How should a young man act to see if humans have the endurance to turning his back on the beloved SHUDDHI  Cast: Shane Nigam, Anna Ben,  Watch on: Amazon Prime towards his younger sibling survive a fl ight to Mars. (Kannada) Shoubin Shahir, Fahad Faasil Irani café run by his family for  Registration: 129 per month when caught amidst the reality  Watch on: Amazon Prime generations. of a ruthless society? This tale  Cast: Mark Kelly, Scott Kelly, Barack Shuddhi is a contemporary crime-drama Obama  Watch on: Hotstar written that highlights a situation the women go  Registration: 129 per  Cast: Manisha Koirala, Prit of brotherly love poses this through in the society in a subtle way to deliver the right month Kamani, Shirley Setia and more alluring questions.  Registration: 299 per month message at the end.  Watch on: Netfl ix  Cast: Iraki Ramishvili, Zuka HIGH PRIESTESS Tsirekidze, Natasha Shengelaia  Streaming on: Netfl ix  Registration: 199 per month (Telugu)  Cast: Lauren Spartano,  Watch on: Mubi Niveditha, Amrutha The series revolves All the streaming apps can be  Registration: 199 for Karaganda, Shashank around Swathi Reddy, accessed on smartphones and smart three month Purushottham, a tarot card reader and TVs with Internet connection. Siddharth http://epaper.newindianexpress.com

READ newindianexpress.com SHARE MONDAY Mail us: [email protected] FEATURES FOLLOW 30 03 2020 3

shika, who has Down syn- drome. While she emphasises that she was prepared before- W hand as her daughter’s school was about to close for summer STAYING SAFE vacations, staying indoors is what concerns her the most. “I am a special educator, so I keep her academics in frame for at Keeping busy least a couple of hours in a day. I sit with her to paint and since Sandalwood actor her father is also working from Hariprriya is using her home, that becomes an added ongoing quarantine life advantage. But I am also trying to catch up with some to make sure that she doesn’t AND STRONG disrupt his zone of work. I DOCTORS ‘ON CALL’ ● old classics like Malgudi Express Features has ADHD, so we keep him oc- have curated a set of special Days, which was directed cupied with games and also activities for one month, which With the city in lockdown, hospitals are by Shankar Nag. Apart taying indoors, so- work on the goals set by his is followed regularly and gives taking new steps, like video conferencing, from the the series, she cial distancing and therapist, whether it is lan- her a daily routine. The main for patients to consult their doctors is also keeping herself maintaining calm... guage targets or academics. I constraint is that she can’t step busy with yoga. the Covid-19 lock- pair these goals in the form of down has brought in movement activities. I also ● Vidya Iyengar Sa testing times for residents. make them focus on leisure REACH OUT But for parents of children skills such as artwork and sim- with mental health issues, ple craft,” says Pratima, add- n the midst of the Covid-19 Manipal Hospitals Old the situation has given rise ing that she has also involved I sit with my daughter to lockdown, there’s always Airport Road: 1800-102- (From left) S Sivapriya, to new-found worries, espe- her kids in daily household ac- paint and since her father a concern about health 5555/9606457127 Rakshikaa Hariharasudhan cially with their kids having tivities in order to instil in is also working from home, I and how one can reach Motherhood Hospitals: and K Hariharasudhan to stay indoors. them life skills, hoping to make their doctors. For 42-year-old homemaker them independent. While she that becomes an added Which is why, many hospi- 1800-108-8008 Pratima, a mother of two Da- has also taken up online speech advantage tals have come up with online Onco.com: 7996579965 As the city fights vid () and Glevina (15) and therapy sessions for her chil- consultations, wherein pa- —Sivapriya Hariharasudan Covid-19 pandemic, both having autism, the dren, the uncertainty tients can take part in a video The White Army Online shutdown of schools leaves her con- conference with their doctor Helpline: 8105232787 parents of kids with and outdoor activi- cerned with daily out to meet her friends and over Skype or oom. “We mental health issues ties has pushed her outdoor routines that is a major drawback,” said rolled it out a few days ago, to look for new al- coming to a Hariharasudan, adding that understanding the restric- pline for minor ailments, are taking extra steps ternatives. “It is halt. being cooped up within four tions on transport, and the which is mostly to reassure to keep them engaged difficult to man- Sivapriya walls is the challenge. general apprehension of com- patients. “In the last two age without Hariharasu- For Shalini Saran Gupta, ing to a hospital at this point,” days, we have received al- indoors, through school and thera- dan (40), a spe- mother of Gayatri Gupta, an says Dilip Jose, MD and CEO, most 50-60 calls. Most of the activities, therapy py sessions. We cial education 1-year-old girl with Down syn- Manipal Health Enterprise. cases we’re getting right now have currently re- teacher, also drome, previous measures On Thursday, they received are solved through counsel- Birthday wishes and more sorted to indoor shares a similar were taken in the form of ho- about 50 consultations among ling. More than a doctor, I am Actor Nikhil Gowda activities. My concern with her meschooling, with instruc- various departments, includ- trying to be a responsible citi- son also six-year-old tors coming home, all of ing neurology and medical zen,” he says, adding that they recently took to Insta- daughter which has come to a close in oncology. “Doctors, who are are open to home consulta- gram to wish someone ak- order to maintain social dis- following a rota, have access tions, if required. special on her birthday. tancing. “Her speech therapist to the patients’ medical re- For more serious ail- We are not speaking was already holding online cords,” he says, adding that ments, including cancer, about his fiance, Revathi. sessions and we have encour- the fee is the same as a regu- Onco.com, an internet ag- It is his sister-in-law, Su- aged other instructors to lar face-to-face consultation. gregator for cancer care, has shma Manjunath. Before go online as well, with her It being a tough time for introduced teleconsultation special education ses- expectant mothers, Mother- to help cancer patients and anyone could question sion to start on Monday. hood Hospitals has rolled caregivers get advice from him, he did mention the She does miss going out out a telemedicine technol- oncologists through a tele- picture was taken before to the gym since her ogy for pregnant women phonic call or video confer- the lockdown started. condition makes her who can go through their rou- encing. The teleconsultation prone to putting on tine follow-up consultations. will be 20 minutes long and weight. I have re- “Social distancing processes scheduled within 24 hours. placed that with in- have created their own chal- “Cancer patients undergoing door workouts on lenges in health care services active treatment, or those our balcony. While and we are creating solutions with blood cancers have re- she is quite occu- to meet our patients’ expecta- duced immunity and are at a pied with the ac- tions,” says ijayarathna much higher risk of acquir- tivities such as enkatraman, CEO, Mother- ing Covid-19 infection. As pa- art sessions, I hood Hospitals, adding that tients are unable to travel and am also taking video consultation services consult doctors, they can extra steps to are available in gynaecology, speak with their oncologists keep her in- obstetrics and paediatrics. regarding treatment and ad- volved and she To relieve general health dress their concerns,” says is very happy anxiety, Dr ishan ao, Dr Amit Jotwani, co-founder staying in- founder of The White Army and Chief Medical Officer, doors for a group of over 1,000 medi- Onco.com. now,” she cal students across India that says. provides online medical con- ih i sultation has started a hel- aa a Shalendra Gupta with wife Shalini Saran Gupta and daughter Gayatri Gupta CITY READ

them are going to have tea on GROUP TO SUPPLY REAL ESTATE FIRM PLATFORM BRINGS the peak once they conquer it, Tribute to Kargil heroes but unfortunately, the jawan FOOD TO THE SUPPORTS CITY COPS TOGETHER START-UPS could not make it. When the ● there are so many stories that commanding officer had his UNDERPRIVILEGED DURING LOCKDOWN TO FIGHT COVID-19 Monika Monalisa go unnoticed. My recent book tea after their win, the first Admaya Chetana, a volun- Embassy Group has Hiiih, a medical entrepre- is about such brave tales,” person he remembered was tary charitable organisa- stepped forward to sup- neurship and innovation- hile everyone has says Surana, whose research the deceased jawan. their own way of pay- for the first book, h h The author gives credit tion, has come forward port the Bengaluru City enabling platform, has ing tribute to unsung hah ai, a biography of for his fascination with to the aid of daily wage Traffic Police. Identifying launched an initiative to W heroes in different Late Captain ikram Batra, argil stories to Bollywood workers, destitute and the zones around Manyata bring together startups fields, city-based author Deep led him to come up with his war movies. Despite not elderlies who have been Business Park, Embassy that can collaborate and ak Surana decided to write latest book. “While doing my hailing from an Army fam- affected by the curfew Tech Village, Embassy Icon provide critical facilities a book on war heroes who research, I came across so ily, he always felt deeply for due to Covid-19. Delivery and Embassy Paragon, to fight the disease. Hiiigh are “lost in the pages of his- many stories which I knew anyone from the defence of uppittu and khichdi mix the group has set up four is also building a support tory”. His latest book, a would never make it to any plat- background. i , is dedicated to form,” adds 24-year-old Surana, The book was supposed to will be available from Mon- hydration stations where system to those who are the Indian soldiers who a BBA graduate from St Jo- have a grand launch on day with the support of police can take refreshing in quarantine to ensure fought the argil war. seph’s College of Commerce. March 22, in presence of Labour Department, said breaks. Hand sanitizers, they adhere to it properly “Usually, we hear war sto- The book, which is based on base camps. One such moment families of martyrs but had Dr Tejaswini Anantkumar, masks and snacks are be- and is crowd-funding the ries about the officer in com- tales told to him by Armymen from the book talks about how to be postponed due to the head, Adamya Chetana. ing distributed to them. exercise through Milaap. mand, which, with all due re- and their families, also speaks one of the jawans told his com- Covid-19 lockdown. It is now spect, is well-deserved, but about on-duty moments from manding officer that all of available online.

● Vaishali Vijaykumar extensively studied cats’ behav- to intimidate. It shrinks when it without water. ou cannot go iour and their body movements wants to be subordinate or obe- back if you make a mistake and over the years. dient. The body dynamics make correct it. High concentration cat tilts its head towards it challenging while sketching and patience are required. It’s a the left and intently stares it. Body features such as tail, meditative experience and we at me with curiosity. As I Feline fascination ears and whiskers are crucial need to be in sync with the A scroll down artist Ganapa- He can go on for hours talking since they move based on in- painting,” explains Ganapathy. thy Subramaniam’s Instagram about cats, without a pause. stincts,” says the artist, who The size of a cat’s brain is page, I find around 0 such cats “Cats are extremely alert al- tries to capture even the minute hardly five cm. But Ganapathy in different postures, colours though they appear to be lazy on moves, jumps, gesture or pose to believes that humans have more and expressions looking at me. the surface. Even while sleep- see what it’s trying to convey. He to learn from the animal. “The The city-based artist has used ing, there’s a small slit in the eye aims to reproduce the essence way a cat looks at its caretaker his two pet cats as his muse for that keeps it awake and aware. of its action and not the exact is interesting. It doesn’t distin- his art project that began When I go to fetch the milk copy of a cat. guish between species but three years ago. packet, it runs around sees all as one. From a “If you’re a pet lov- and follows me. Sudden- ‘Pet’ project societal view, we exist er, then the moment ly if it finds something Ganapathy enjoys ex- based on dichotomy. you see a cat, it re- moving on the wall, it perimenting with dif- We form boundaries minds you of a cat will go and pursue that. ferent mediums where and groups on a differ- you either have now There’s no plan that it with Snowy Subramaniam Ganapathy he can be more sponta- ent basis. People some- or owned in the past. It follows. Its ability to exist neous. Although water- times get carried away recreates that particular at the moment interests colour is his strength, he from a false sense of iden- character in the mind of a me,” he shares. also uses ink and acrylic. He tity. That isn’t the case with viewer. I intend to kindle that Flexibility, agility and swift uses rice paper as the base for cats. Once it gets comfortable feeling with my artworks. I moments these are a few painting. “ice papers are ex- with you, its trust levels spike owned two cats and both were traits in a cat that amuses Gana- Cats on tracted from different trees that and the body language relaxes called Snowy. I recently gave pathy. “The physicality is such grow in East Asian countries. to become friendly. They’re not them up for adoption. Every that it produces infinite actions. What makes it interesting is, in as expressive as dogs, but have memory and gesture of them One time it looks thin. The other any other base, depending on other ways of exhibiting their has inspired me to document time it looks well-rounded. The how much water you add in comfort,” shares Ganapathy them in the form of paintings,” movements are based on in- canvas paint, it spreads on the paper. who’s been writing and painting says Ganapathy, who has also stincts. It expands when it wants Whereas in this, it spreads even for the past three years. www.cinemaexpress.com

READ newindianexpress.com HAE MONDAY Mail us: [email protected] ENTERTAINMENT FOLLOW 30 03 2020 4 MUSIC DIRECTOR ARJUN JANYA IS MAKING THE MOST OF LOCKDOWN The music composer, who has about 15 projects in hand, is working on all of them simultaneously in the comfort of his studio in Bengaluru, without many distractions

● A Sharadhaa

mid the Covid-19 outbreak, it is nothing but music that is keep- ing Arjun Janya busy. The music director, who had experienced some health issues due to a blockage in his heart, is currently A on a recovery mode, and he says the lockdown has only come as an advantage to him. With about 15 projects in hand, Arjun is neck deep in work, making music in the comfort of his house-studio in Bengaluru and without much distraction. “Music has kept me busy, and all of it is happening amid a lot of peace. As a music director, the problem I would usually face was meeting deadlines. When the makers plan a song release, it puts me under pressure to work overnight. Sometimes, I would get just 15 days to complete the re-recording to meet the target of the release date. This is not the case now. There is no rush, and that is helping me try out more creativity,” says Arjun Janya, who is juggling composing music and rerecording for a handful of projects, for which shooting has been completed. These include Darshan-starrer directed by Tharun Sudhir Prem’s a ia starring Sudeep and directed by Shiva arthik ogaraj Bhat’s aaiaa ikram avichandran’s debut, iiaa Sharan’s aa ha aaha iai made in annada and Marathi and Sheetal Shetty’s directorial, i All the time on a. “Sitting in my studio, I have managed to record songs with my hands is also singers like Shreya Ghoshal, Shankar Mahadevan and ijay Prakash, allowing me among others. I am also completing the background score and editing for a couple to experiment of films. All the time on my hands is also allowing me to experiment with music with music on different instruments,” says Arjun Janya, who is divid- on different ing his hours between work and spending time with this family. “This instruments lockdown has also helped me bond with my daughter, which is some- thing I was missing because of work,” he says. — Arjun Janya, music director Live for Life, ‘I am preparing myself mentally to start my acting career’ Aryann Santhosh’s Producer Pushkar Mallikarjunaiah, who is looking forward to facing the camera, is currently penning a script

● CE Features but with science fiction. “Director fulltime career this year. I am evolv- maiden venture in Suni and I are coming up with ideas. ing as far as scripting is concerned,” A final call will be taken after we says the producer of hi Baa ushkar Mallikarjunaiah, who have our rounds of discussions,” he ahaaa a “The thought has established himself as a says. of writing came to me during the English and Hindi producer in the annada film According to Pushkar, he has been making of my debut production. P industry, has been expressing planning his acting debut for the That’s when I realised that I enjoy ● CE Features his passion for acting too. And, he last three years, but his being on the creative side more. This has now settled down at his home- production responsi- lockdown has worked to my benefit, town, Tumakuru, and is spending bilities kept him and I am thoroughly enjoying ryann Santhosh, a known face his time to pen a story that will be busy and he spending time with pen and pa- in Sandalwood and annada headlined by him. The film will have Director Suni and couldn’t focus per,” he adds. Pushkar is simulta- television industry, is on cloud director Suni wielding the mega- I are coming up with on his new- neously busy with a series of pro- nine now since he is making his phone. “This will be a commercial found pas- jects, including Bha a

A Cindy Rolling ideas. A final call will entry into Hollywood. The film, his entertainer. The project is likely to sion. “I am aaahaaa aa ha, first Hollywood venture, is appar- go on floors in August this year,” be taken after we mentally inay ajkumar’s that is direct- ently being made in Hindi as well. Pushkar says, adding, “Fortunately have our rounds of getting pre- ed by arm Chawla, and a Malay- The actor is set to play the lead role or unfortunately, we have got suffi- discussions pared to alam film directed by Senna Hegde. in director Walid Ahmed’s upcoming cient time, and I am utilising it to move to- Pushkar is also presenting akshit feature film titled i i in write the script.” The producer had — Pushkar Mallikarjunaiah wards mak- Shetty’s hai directed by which he is sharing screen space previously announced his acting de- producer/actor ing acting a iranraj. with Cindy olling, who is playing the heroine. Aryan says the film is being produced and distributed by Shadmata and eel olling Film. Shooting was slated to start from March 9, but it has now been pushed to a further Priyanka Chopra: Here’s why Blair Underwood refused Sex And The City date due to the lockdown due to Covid 19 pandemic. “I had ● CE Features Discussing his time on Sex and to complete my commitment Want to do more the City on Netflix’s Strong Black towards a aha and Lead podcast, he said: “I said no join the sets of i i ctor Blair Underwood original- first, two years prior, because there which is being made in Eng- ly passed up the chance to ap- was an episode... im Cattrell’s lish and Hindi. The team was action thrillers pear on hit T drama series character wanted to be with a black officially planning to an- A Sex and the City because he man and it was all about the curios- nounce the project, which is ● CE Features refused to be the token black ity. What’s it like to be with a black my debut in these two lan- character. man? Are the rumours true?’ And I guages. The film is based on a The uantico star played Dr. ob- said, Thank you, but no thank you. real-life story, and more details riyanka Chopra, who has ert Leeds, a love interest for Cynthia I appreciate it and I’m honoured.’ about this will be made public done some daring stunts in Nixon’s lawyer Miranda And I mean that, I don’t take that once the shooting is started,” the her career, says she wants Hobbes, in season lightly when people offer you a job. actor tells Pto do more action films as six back in 2003, im Cattrell, who portrayed sex- But I said, I’m not interested in be- Meanwhile, a aha direct- she enjoys the whole but he says he mad P guru Samantha Jones, re- ing the black curiosity, but thank ed by Shiva Ganesh, is now in its experience. was initially ap- ports say. you.’” post-production phase. Aryann Santhosh “I have always done my own proached to However, Underwood rejected the Producers later reached out with stunts. I trust my body immense- make a one- role of a top record executive whose another proposal for the part of Dr. ly. I am athletic as a person. I just off appear- sister takes issue with interracial Leeds, and this time, Underwood’s really enjoy action movies. I ance in sea- relationships, because the storyline wife, Desiree DaCosta, urged him to have done them in Don and son three, of the No Ifs, Ands or Butts episode take on the gig, which featured a uantico. I hope to do more opposite was too stereotypical for his liking. five-episode story arc.. Despite coronavirus pandemic, animated show of them,” Priyanka said. She also added that the genre is generally seen as a hero’s domain. Big Mouth season 4 will be released this fall “I am someone who be- lieves in a gender neu- ● CE Features season of the show will be released tral world. I hope in my Tom Hanks and wife Rita return to US in fall. Despite the lockdown of al- lifetime we reach a most all the film and series produc- place where we say ● CE Features ick roll, the creator of the ani- tion, Big Mouth 4 seems to be right movies instead of fe- mation show Big Mouth, said on track. The show is created by Nick male-centric movies, that the fourth season of the roll and Andrew Goldberg, and we say directors in- om Hanks and wife ita Wilson, Nadult-comedy show will be pre- stars Nick himself and John Mu- stead of female di- who were quarantined in Aus- miering in fall on Netflix. laney. The show is about the coming rectors, we say ath- tralia after testing positive for During a live table read session, of age of Nick and Andrew’s younger letes instead of TCovid-19, returned to their the creator revealed that the fourth version. female athletes,” home in the US. Hanks took to Twit- said the former ter to share that he is home. Miss World. The actor also thanked everyone “I hope my chil- who supported him through this dren don’t have to hardship and made his return to the worry about the US possible. The couple is now in hospital in ueensland and were fact that this is home quarantine. eventually discharged to be in an Indian fe- Tom Hanks and ita Wilson were self-quarantine. male cricket team in Australia filming Baz Luhr- Tom Hanks and ita are among or Indian female mann’s Elvis Presley biopic when other celebs like Idris Elba, Andy movi,” said the couple was diagnosed with coro- Cohen, and ristofer Hivju, who are Priyanka. navirus. They were admitted to a affected by this virus.