JOURNALISM OF COURAGE SINCE 1932

Dear friends & fellow members,

Government/Municipal Hospitals, a lot of members have come forward. the below mentioned Government/Municipal Hospitals on one hand & their empanelled vendors on the other to ensure that the right & much needed equipment & consumables were delivered to these hospitals. List of hospitals facilitated by the Chamber: Hospital Type Description (* in process) Cost/Value B.Y.L. Nair Hospital Consumable *3 Ply Surgical Mask `12.8 lakhs PPE kits Equipment *ICU Beds JJ Hospital Consumable 3 Ply Surgical Mask & Face Shields `17.1 lakhs Sanitizer Equipment Mobile Digital X-ray Kasturba Hospital Consumable 3 Ply Surgical Mask & Face Shields `15.4 lakhs Sanitizer Equipment Auto Bio Chemistry Analyzer *Coagulometer KEM Hospital Consumable PPE kits `2.8 lakhs Sion Hospital Consumable PPE kits `2.8 lakhs NMMC Vashi Hospital Consumable 3 Ply Surgical Mask & Face Shields `10.9 lakhs PPE kits Sanitizer Equipment *Video Laryngoscope Total ` Lakhs (approx.) `61.8 lakhs

As the COVID-19 cases are only increasing, we would once again request our esteemed members to continue contributing in every possible way. NEFT Details: : Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry Bank Name : State Bank of India Bank Address : Horniman Circle, Mumbai Main Branch, Mumbai Samachar Marg,Fort Account Type : Current Account Account No. : 10996680930 IFSC Code : SBIN0000300 In order to continue serving our members, Bombay Chamber has been regularly uploading its website with information on

Government/other Regulatory Authorities on COVID-19, including relating to employment. On behalf of the Bombay Chamber team, I wish you and your families a stay safe during the lock-in. Warm Regards, V. S. Parthasarathy President-Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry President-Mobility Service Sector, Mahindra Group & Member of the Group Executive Board, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD,CHANDIGARH, DELHI, JAIPUR, KOLKATA,LUCKNOW, MUMBAI, NAGPUR, PUNE, VADODARA ● REG.NO. MCS/067/2018-20RNI REGN. NO. 1543/57

JOURNALISM OF COURAGE SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2020, MUMBAI, LATE CITY, 12 PAGES SINCE 1932 `5.00, WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

Oppn states COVID ECONOMICPACKAGE: DAY 3 not clearing migrant trains, Freeingupthefarmer: says Centre; they hit back Govttoeasecurbson

EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE NEWDELHI/JAIPUR,MAY15 trade,openupmarkets

THEPOLITICALwarofwords over the movement of migrant work- Foodstuffs now erson Shramik Specialtrainscon- tinuedasRailways Minister deregulated,says Piyush GoyalFriday accusedgov- ernmentsofWestBengal, FM, farmers can Jharkhand, Chhattisgarhand sell across states Rajasthan -all Opposition-ruled states -ofnot giving permission to receive the trains, drawing HARISHDAMODARAN strong rebuttals from the states. NEWDELHI,MAY15 Targeting West Bengal, Goyal said he has been “givenesti- BARELY SEVEN months afterim- mates that around 30-50 lakh posinglimitsonthe maximum migrant workers”fromthe state quantity of onion anywholesaler living across Indiawant to go or retailer could keep, the home, and accusedthe stateof NarendraModi government on going slowinseeking trains to Migrant familiesgoing home on truckscross LucknowonFriday. Vishal Srivastav Fridayannouncedwhat may Awholesale vegetable market in Kolkata, Friday. Shashi Ghosh bring backits strandedpeople. turn out to be adefining “1991 “WestBengal has justin- moment” forIndian agriculture. formedus, without giving any The Centre, Finance Minister 11 measures, but most in details, that it plans to take 105 Rejecting PIL on migrants, SC asks: How can Nirmala Sitharaman said, will trains over the next 30 days.Ifwe amend the Essential ran100 trains to West Bengal CommoditiesAct(ECA)to “dereg- the works for afew years, everyday forthe next 15-20 days, anyone stop them when they sleep on tracks? ulate”agriculturalfoodstuffs —in- onlythen can everyone reach cludingallcereals,pulses,oilseeds, part of Modi govt Budgets their homes and meettheir fam- walking and notstopping. How onions and potatoes —and allow ilies,” Goyalsaid in avideo state- ANANTHAKRISHNANG can we stop it?” At gateway to north in MP, clamping of stocklimitsonthese ment to news agency ANIposted NEWDELHI,MAY15 Petitioner and lawyer Alakh onlyunder“very exceptional cir- HARIKISHANSHARMA BUSINESSASUSUAL on his Twitter account. “Till to- Alok Srivastavareferredtothe thousands wait for bus rides cumstances”likenaturalcalami- NEWDELHI,MAY15 day, only seventrainswere DECLININGTOentertain apublic death of 16 migrantworkers in ties and famines, whichcause a BY UNNY plannedtothe state,” he said. interestlitigation seeking direc- MaharashtraonMay 8-headed long journeyhome to UP’s “surge in prices”. UNION FINANCE Minister Goyalsaid that at the rate at tions that District Magistrates to their villages on foot,they IRAMSIDDIQUE Maharajganj district near the Sitharaman unveiledthe third Nirmala Sitharaman Fridayan- whichBengalwas planning the identify,shelter, feed and provide were run over by atrain while BARWANI(MP),MAY15 Nepal border. tranche of measurestocushion nounced11measures forthe trains, only5-7 per cent of the freetransporttostrandedmigrant sleeping on rail tracks.Healso He’s notalone. Across two the impact of Covid-19and the agriculture migrantswould be able to reach workersorthoseonthemove,the sought to draw the court’s atten- PEERINGOUT over BijasanGhat, days lastweek,around 13,000 lockdown on the economy. sector as part home by trains. “If only100 Supreme CourtFridaysaid it was tion to the death of eight work- the gateway from Maharashtra migrantsfromMaharashtrahad As significant as the ECA of the third trains arerun over 30 days,inmy forthe states to take action. ers in aroad accident in Guna. to Madhya Pradesh and beyond, reachedthe ghat in Barwani dis- amendment washer proposed trenchofthe estimate, just5-7 per cent peo- Justices LNageswaraRao, SK Justice Kaul told the peti- Sambhu Rajbhar struggledto trict, seeking the comfortofhome formulation of aCentral lawthat government’s ple will getthe benefit of these KaulandBRGavaiwonderedhow tioner “every advocatereadsin- control the surge of anger, frus- and familyinUP, Bihar, Jharkhand, willnot bind farmers to sell their Rs 20 lakh trains. The rest mayfacemuch the courtcould stop migrants cidentsinthe paper and be- tration and dismay. Odisha and West Bengalinthe crop onlytolicensedtraders in croreCovid-19 hardship. Theymay trytowalk fromwalking.“Howcananybody comes knowledgeable about It’s been twodays,and he’s middle of the Covid pandemic. the APMC (Agricultural Produce relief package. However, mostof on the roads, walk along the stop this when theysleep on rail- everysubject. Your knowledge is notbeen able to getonabus that But unlikeRajbhar,a MarketCommittee) mandis of these measures areeither in tracks,gobytrucks,cycle, buses. waytracks?” Justice Kaul asked. totallybasedonnewspaper would take him to thenextbor- plumber from Mumbai, their respective talukas or place already or the government CONTINUEDONPAGE3 JusticeRaosaid,“Thereare people CONTINUEDONPAGE2 der —the next milestone in his CONTINUEDONPAGE2 CONTINUEDONPAGE2 CONTINUEDONPAGE2

Road row: Army Chief says Nepal acting at MAHARASHTRA Maharashtra wants power to decide someone’s behest; will act, warns Kathmandu protocols, measures inside red zones The Centre had in an earlier iter- one of ourrecommendations is Bhandari assertedthat “Lipulekh, Naravane said: “In fact, the SANDEEPASHAR& ationofthe lockdown told the that states should be givenpow- EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE Limpiadhuraand Kalapani arean Nepalese Ambassador has men- VISHWASWAGHMODE statethat guidelines issuedbyit ers to decide protocols and NEWDELHI,KATHMANDU, integral partofNepal andcon- tionedthatthe area east of the MUMBAI,MAY15 cannotbediluted by the state measures insidered zones. The MAY15 cretediplomatic steps will be Kali riverbelongs to them.There unilaterally. statehas also recommended takentoreclaimthem”. is no dispute in thatwhatsoever. MAHARASHTRA WANTS more Lastweek,PrimeMinister that it be consulted before per- INDIA AND Nepal engaged in a Presenting her government’s The road whichwemadeisin DAY 1: 5,434ORDERS autonomyoverdecisionsregard- NarendraModi, in avideo con- mitting anyinterstate transfer,”a warofwords on Fridayover policies and programmes at a fact to thewestofthe river. So, I ing easing of lockdown meas- ference with chief ministers, had source said. India’s road to Lipulekh Pass. joint session of Parliament, don’t knowwhat theyare agitat- PLACEDFOR LIQUOR ures in the state, including the asked states to suggest measures With the Centrelikelyto ArmyChief GeneralMM Bhandari said theywould issue ing about. As we go ahead, it lit- HOME DELIVERY right to decide what can remain forastaggered end to the lock- come out with fresh guidelines Naravane said “thereisreason to anew politicalmap incorporat- erallyshows as to wherethe tri- RESERVE 60% BEDS open even in redzones.This is down. “The political leadership regarding the next phase of the believe”thatNepal’s recent ob- ing these areas. junction should be.Therehave partofthe recommendations in the stateislargely of the opin- lockdown in aday or two, the jection was“at the behestof In NewDelhi, speaking awe- neverbeen anyproblems on this FOR COVID PATIENTS: that the stategovernment has ion that the lockdown needs to Prime Ministerhad earlier asked someone else”, hinting at China’s Plays down tension between binar organisedbythe Manohar scoreinthe past.” GOVT TELLS PVT forwardedtothe Centre, which be extendedinthe statetill May statestosuggest plans by May possiblerole. Hitting back, India-China troops at border Parrikar Institutefor Defence He wasresponding to a HOSPITALS PAGES 4, 5 is formulating the guidelines for 31 with morerelaxations in or- 15.Officials said that the strategy Nepal’s President Bidhya Devi Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), CONTINUEDONPAGE2 the next phase of the lockdown. angeand green zones.Another CONTINUEDONPAGE2 Police action WHO SPECIAL ENVOY ON COVID-19 Allahabad HC says azaan TRACKING INDIA’S COVID CURVE against Express ‘Number of tests being done for the strategy LOCKDOWN may be integral to Islam, DAY CASES: RECOVERED:27,919 |DEATHS:2,649 reporter affects Mumbai has adopted is exceptionally good’ 52 81,970 TESTS:2,039,952 | DOUBLINGRATE:13.09** not use of loudspeakers free press: PCI vocateSWasim AQadri, who ‘Major urban whichwas notjusthigher than ASADREHMAN challenged orders of the AMITABHSINHA centres are anyother city in India, but al- LUCKNOW,MAY15 Ghazipur,Farrukhabad and EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE PUNE,MAY15 in adifficult mostone fourth of all the deaths Hathras administrations direct- NEWDELHI,MAY15 position due recordedinthe countrysofar.In HOLDINGTHAT azaan (call to ing mosques to stop recitationof EMPHASISINGTHATitwasn't to size and fact, no other statehas reported prayer) “maybeanessential and azaan throughloudspeakers in EXPRESSINGCONCERNoverthe wise to compareCovid-19 population’ as manydeaths as have been integral partofIslam”, the viewofthe Covid-19guidelines, Delhi Police’s “alleged threat of deaths in different cities or re- recordedjustinMumbai city.At KEYSTATES TOTAL SURGEIN 7-DAYAVG. DOUBLING Allahabad High CourtFridaysaid adivision benchofJustices criminal prosecution and ques- gions to assess howsuccessful 17,671,the city also hasthe high- TOWATCH CASES 24HRS GROWTH* RATE** itsrecitation “through loud- Shashi Kant Gupta andAjit tioning” of areporterwithThe their disease containment strat- very locally specific, and de- estnumber of cases. ■ Maharashtra 27,524 1,602 6.28% 11.47 speakers or other sound ampli- Kumar said azaan can be recited IndianExpress, the Press Council egy is, David Nabarro,World pends on alarge number of fac- Nabarro saidmajor urban ■ Gujarat 9,592 324 4.58% 15.74 fying devices cannotbesaid to by themuezzin from the of India (PCI) Fridaysaid the Health Organisation's (WHO) tors. The denominatorhere(the centres in India, particularly 425 5.01% be an integral partofthe religion, mosque minarets“by human “matter affectsthe free function- Special Envoy on Covid-19, said number of people who have Mumbai, were in aspeciallydif- ■ Delhi 8,895 14.38 warranting protection of the voice without using anyampli- ing of the press” and it is seeking he believedthat Mumbai, forex- tested positive)isalso hugelyde- ficult position because of the size ■ Tamil Nadu 9,674 447 8.66% 8.31 fundamental right enshrined fying device and the administra- areport from the Commissioner ample, has done amuchbetter pendent on things likeyour test- and density of the population. ■ Rajasthan 4,428 206 4.19% 17.18 under Article 25 of the tion is directed nottocause hin- of Police, Delhi. job in managing the novelcoro- ing strategy,who all we aretest- “Dealing with adisease like ■ West Bengal 2,377 87 6.32% 11.40 Constitution of India, whichis drance... unless such guidelines The Indian Express Special navirus pandemic than what its ing... So, Iabsolutelyrefuse to do Covid-19 in suchdense popula- even otherwise subject to pub- arebeing violated”. CorrespondentMahender Singh toll would suggest. it (comparecasefatalityrates, or tions is very,verydifficult. *Compounded Daily Growth Rate over last 7days**Calculatedover7-day growth lic order,morality or health and But the benchmade it clear Manral wasquestionedbyDelhi “It is notreally averyhelpful the ratio of deaths to the num- Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Delhi, CONCERN CAUTION AGLIMMER to other provisions” of Part III of that “under no circumstances Police on May11inconnection thing to comparecase fatality berofpeople who have tested Chennai,alsoother cities that I ODISHA: Has TELANGANA: PUNJAB: Major the Constitution. sound amplifying devicescan be with aMay 9report‘Tablighi FIR: rateseitherwithinthe country positive),” Nabarro said in an in- am notimmediatelyable to re- fastest doubling Migrants cause fall after spike Ruling on pleas by Ghazipur permitted to be usedbetween Police probeindicates Saad au- or around theworld. It is notlike terviewtoThe Indian Express. call, areinextremelydifficult sit- time, 3.97 days surge, of 230 linked to Nanded MP Afzal Ansari, Congress leader 10.00pmto6.00ambythe dio clip wasdoctored’. The Delhi aleague table. The factors affect- By Friday, Mumbai had re- uations, and all of these have a SalmanKhurshid and senior ad- CONTINUEDONPAGE2 CONTINUEDONPAGE2 ing whyaperson has diedare ported655 Covid-related deaths, CONTINUEDONPAGE2 Based on daily databyCentre, ICMR, state governments

IN EUROPE, BALTIC NATIONS OPEN FIRST PAGE 1 ‘TRAVELBUBBLE’ ANCHOR Centreplan forMetros: QR-based tickets linked to Aarogya PAGE 10

tions, according to the guidelines this if technicallyfeasible,” state at entrygates. cide basedonlocal conditions,”it SOURAVROYBARMAN sharedby theMinistryofHousing the guidelines. In case of Delhi Metro’s states, going on to recommend NEWDELHI,MAY15 and UrbanAffairs (MoHUA). In Delhi, entrygates on the AirportExpress Line, QR code cashless transactions and use of “Wearing of face mask/cover AirportExpress Line areenabled ticketscan be booked throughan smartcards. THE CENTRE has written to shall be mandatoryfor allcom- to read QR code tickets, along app. Afterthe payment is made, The SOP underlines that Metrooperators across the muters during entryintothe sta- with afew automatic fare collec- the app displays the QR code, “onlyasymptomatic passengers countrysuggesting that QR tions/trains andduring the en- tion gatesonLine 6, which whichcan be usedtogain access shall be allowedtoenter sta- ` 125 per kilo code-basedticketsbelinked tirejourney. Use of the Aarogya passes belowareas such as Jama to paid areas of stations. This sys- tions”. “Symptomatic passen- with the AarogyaSetuapp to en- Setu app will be mandatoryfor Masjid, Delhi Gateand RedFort. temobviates the needtouse gers or those having high tem- sureonly“safepassengers”gain passengers to enterthe stations. Fare collection gatesofMetro smartcards or tokens. peratureshall notbeallowed to ` 153 per kilo entryintostations once restric- Some Metros aretrying to link systems in Noida, Mumbai, The guidelines addthat use use Metroand afterrecording tions arelifted. QR code tickets with the Aarogya Hyderabad and Kochi, among of tokens is to be discouraged his/her contact number,name ` 191 per kilo Metrooperators have also Setu app so that onlysafepas- others, arealso equippedtoread since theycan be “carriersofthe and address, he/she shall be di- been directed to makethe use of sengers as per AarogyaSetuapp QR code tickets. These areessen- virus”. “It is difficult to sanitise rected to reporttothe nearest ` 46per Dozen AarogyaSetuapp“mandatory”for areissuedQRcode tickets. tiallymachine readable codes DMRCwill open to these social messaging markers. Express them, being delicate electronic medical centre. The details of all passengers entering the sta- Metros using QR code mayadopt that can be read by the scanners items. However, Metros mayde- CONTINUEDONPAGE2 WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 2 THE SECOND PAGE THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY,MAY16,2020

DOWNLOADAPP WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

■ VISUALSTORIES

■ DAILY BRIEFING

■ PODCASTS AS‘MATKAKING’RATTANKHATRIDIES,RECALLINGAGAMETHATRULEDMUMBAI

■ CUSTOMIZABLE RattanKhatri,whowouldlatercometobeknownasthe“MatkaKing”ofMumbai,diedinhisSouthMumbai Remembering PK NEWS EXPERIENCE homelastSaturday(May9),afterhavingsufferedabrainstrokerecently.

WEB Banerjee and Chuni Indian Express EXCLUSIVE ★★★★★■4.6 Goswami VIDEOOFTHEDAY EXPLAINED NEWEPISODEEVERYDAY LOCKDOWN NORMS CORONAVIRUS In the latestepisode of the Express Sports DEFIED NUMBERS EXPLAINED podcast, football historian Novy Kapadia Karnataka villagefair In less than 20 days, talksabout what made the twoplayers SCANTHISQRCODETO sees large gathering of cases spiked by over India’s football legends DOWNLOADTHEAPP people three times FROMPAGEONE 11 measures wasfirstannouncedbyJaitleyas able between 6amand 10 pm, nicipal corporation, Pimpri finance ministerinhis 2018-19 withfrequencyof 10-15minutes. Chinchwad Municipal hasbeendiscussingtheseforsev- Budget speech, on February1, Govt to ease curbs for farmers The serviceswill be reviewed Corporation, Solapur,Malegaon eral years. 2018.Promising Rs 500crore for basedonridershipand the avail- and Aurangabad. On Friday, NCP Outof the11 announcements, ‘Operation Greens’ on the linesof abilityof staff,manyofwhomare supremo Sharad Pawaralso par- three concern governance and ‘OperationFlood’,Jaitleyhadsaid, districts.The lawonceenacted produceatthepre-decidedrate Rules of 1943, whichhaveno to contain annual inflation residentsofareas currentlynoti- ticipatedinthemeetingto review administrative reforms,including “OperationGreensshallpromote will also remove all barriers to subject to itsmeeting agreed relevance today,”said Gulati. basedontheconsumerpricein- fied as containment zones. the health and economic crisis. amendment of the Essential Farmer Producers Organisations, inter-state tradeinfarm pro- quality norms. Both parties are, NITI Aayogmember dex(whichhasa45.86%weight The trains will stop forupto AnilDeshmukh, Jayant Patil, Commodities Act(ECA), 1955, agri-logistics,processingfacilities duce. The tworeformscan po- thus, insulated from excessive RameshChandclarifiedthatthe forfood items) within 6%. 30secondsmorethanusualatthe AdityaThackeray andSubhash and agriculturemarketing re- and professional management.” tentiallydofor the farm sector marketrisk —inthe event of amendment in the ECAwill de- In itssecondterm, the Modi stations to ensuresocial distanc- Desai were also present in the forms through aCentral law. The Pradhan MantriMatsya whatthe1991 liberalisationand pricesfalling(forfarmers)orris- fine clear triggers in terms of government has projecteda ing among passengers boarding meeting whereafinalshapewas These have been part of succes- Sampada Yojana covering fisher- de-licensing measures did for ing (for processors). “price surges” forimposition of more“pro-producer”approach oralighting.Whilealternateseats giventothe recommendations sive Union Budgetsunder the menwaspartofBudget 2019-20, industryand services. According to Sitharaman, stocking limits. (onions being an exception), will have to be leftvacant, those being sent to thecentral govern- Modi government. presentedonJuly 5lastyear.Inher Notonlycan farmerssell to the three majorreform moves “Suchprice increases will while pushing stategovern- standing willbeasked to main- ment. Sitharaman also announced speechatthe time, Sitharaman anyone and anywhere, but areaimedatimprovingpricere- have to beatleast100%year-on- mentstoundertake reforms to tain agap of at least1metre. During these reviewmeet- the setting up of aRs1lakh crore had said, “Through (the) scheme, tradersandprocessors,too,will alisationsfor farmers, while yearatanall-Indiaaverageretail dismantle the monopolyof “Trains should notstopatsta- ings, sources said that ateam of Agri Infrastructure Fund; the for- the DepartmentofFisheries will be able to freelybuy,stock and pointing out that the ECAwas levelfor vegetables (onion and APMCs. tionsfallingincontainmentzones senior bureaucrats, who were malisation of Micro Food establish arobust fisheries man- move anyquantityofagri-pro- enactedinthe“days of scarcity”. potato)and 50%inthe caseof In the pastfew days alone, and suchstations should notbe tasked to assess the situation for Enterprises,with an outlayofRs agementframework.Thiswillad- duce within the country. The Modi government, in- non-perishables (grains, the BJP governmentsinGujarat openedtothepublic.Someof the Lockdown4.0,advised opening 10,000 crore; avaccination drive dresscritical gaps in the value “TheModi government terestingly,had on September oilseeds, etc). We will incorpo- and Karnataka have promul- stationsmay be skippedifsuffi- upof alleconomicactivitiesinthe againstfood and mouth disease chain, including infrastructure, shouldbecomplimentedforbit- 29 imposedstock limitson rate these provisionsinthe Act gatedordinancesto allowfarm- cient passengers arenot using orangeandgreenzones.Theteam among cattle; extension of the modernisation, traceability, pro- ing both bullets (the ECAand onions at 500quintalsfor itself, so as to remove anyscope ers to sell theirproduce outside them,” the SOP says,adding that furtherrecommendedgradedre- OperationGreensfromtomatoes, duction,productivity,post-har- APMC) and converting the co- wholesaletradersand100quin- foradministrative ambiguity,” of the APMC marketyards, be- socialdistancingwillalsobemon- sumptionof publictransporteven onion and potatoes to allfruits vest management, and quality ronacrisisintoanopportunity,” talfor retailers. These limits he told The Indian Express. sides granting traders aunified itoredthroughCCTVsurveillance. intheseareas,whileadvisingthat and vegetables; help forfisher- control.” saidAshokGulati,formerchair- were further reducedto250 Retail prices of onions had, licence to buy from anymandi Operatorshave beendirected massgatherings,publicfunctions, menthroughthePradhanMantri Under the Rs 4,000 crore man of the Commissionfor quintalsand50quintals,respec- incidentally, crossed Rs 100per across their states. to ensure cleanliness measures religious places, malls, cinema MatsyaSampada Yojana;aRs herbal cultivation plans, the Agricultural Costs and Prices. tively,onDecember 3. kg towardsDecember lastyear, While agricultureisastate suchasdisinfectingstationsevery halls,educationalinstitutes,gym- 15,000-croreAnimal Husbandry National MedicinalPlants Board Athirdreform announce- On toponthese, exports morethan doubling within a subject and stategovernments night, with “special attention” on nasiums and salons should con- InfrastructureDevelopment willgrowmedicinalplantson800 ment, complementary to the were bannedand Income Tax span of three months.Also,one have accordinglyenacted their public toilets.Theyhavebeen tinue to remainshutacrossthe Fund; Rs 4,000 crorefor promo- hectares along the banksofthe firsttwo,was thecreation of a officials conducted raids on of the Modi government’s first ownAPMCActs, thenew askedto disinfect all humancon- state.Itwasdecidednottopermit tionof herbalcultivation;andaRs Ganga.Thebeekeepingschemeis “facilitative legalframework”for traders in Maharashtra, Delhi decisionsinJuly2014was to Central lawostensiblyrelies on tact areas suchasliftbuttons and inter-district transportfor the 500crorescheme to promote aimedtobenefit twolakh apiary contract farming. and Madhya Pradesh to probe bring potatoes andonions un- Article 301ofthe Constitution escalator handrails everyfour time being. beekeeping. developers. Thiswill,again,enablefarm- anypossible“hoarding”orhold- der ECAafter almostadecade. along with entries in the hours or more. ButasfarasMumbaiandPune Many of theseschemes have erstobypassAPMCmandisand, ing of “unaccounted stocks”. Stockholding limits, along Seventh Schedule. Thesegive regionsareconcerned,Thackeray again been partofthe Modi gov- Army Chief instead, engagedirectlywith “Wehavetosee the fine withcurbsonexports,werefur- powersto theCentretoregulate Number of tests dropped clear hintsthathewas ernment’s earlier promises. question on Nepal’s objection to processors, produce aggrega- print of whatthe newlaws therextendedtopulsesin2015- all inter-and intra-state trade large numberof cases.Iwould not in favour of toomanyrelax- Whilepresenting her first the road. “Thereisreason to be- tors, large retailers and exports eventually provide for. But the 16 and sugar in 2016-17, while and commerce in “foodstuffs”, saythat the experience of these ations from the existing curbs till Budget as Finance Minister, on lieve thatthey(Nepal)mighthave “in afairand transparent man- overall direction is encouraging being made applicable to ordi- whichcan be usedtocreatean cities in dealing with this out- May31. The team of bureaucrats July5,2019,Sitharamanhadsaid, raisedthis issue at thebehest of ner”. That would, essentially, and thereisarecognitionthat narytraders as well as millers integratednational market by break wouldhaveimportant hasrecommendedresumptionof “TheAgricultural Produce someone else and that is very meanfarmersandbuyersenter- Indiahas movedfrombeing a and large retailers. All these ac- removingrestrictionsplacedby learningsnotjustforthembutfor limitedeconomicactivityoutside Marketing Committee (APMC) muchapossibility,” he said. ing intocontracts, wherein the food-deficitnationto anet agri- tions followedthe adoption of APMC laws.The response of othercountriesaswell,"headded. containmentzonesintheseareas. Actshould nothamper farmers To aquestion on whetherhe former is assured of acertain culturalexporter.TheECAdraws the policy of “inflation-target- states, especially those ruledby Asked whether Mumbai had Ithasadvisedthatstandaloneand from gettingafair pricefor their sawalink“betweenLipulekhand priceatthe time of sowing and from the days of the Bengal ing”,withthe Reserve Bank of the Opposition, to thelatestre- been conducting enough tests neighbourhood shops, including produce.” the recent clashes between the latter procures the harvested famineandtheDefenceof India Indiabeinggivenanexplicitgoal forms remains to be seen. considering the size of itscase- liquor stores, can be reopened. It Earlier,Arun Jaitleyasfinance Indian and Chinese troops in load, Nabarro said the important hasfurthersuggestedthatprivate ministerhad repeatedly stressed Ladakh and Sikkim”, Naravane thing wasnot howmanywere offices locatedoutside the con- theneedforreformsintheAPMC underlinedthat these develop- thenextbus”,manywithoutfood, ernment guidelines.The bench per on May9,2020”. dealtwithinaccordancewithlaw being tested but who exactly tainment zones within civic lim- Act. In his firstBudget speech, on mentswerenot linked. and hardlyany social distancing. askedhim“willyougoandimple- “Since matteraffectsthe free includingNoise Pollution Rules”. were beingtested. itsinthe Mumbai Metropolitan July10, 2014,the lateBJP leader On May8,India openedthe “Now,how will we getout of mentgovernmentdirectives?We functioning of the press, while In his petition, Ansari had "Itisnot so muchabout how Region, Pune, andPimpri hadsaid,“Toacceleratesettingup 80-km road from Ghatiabgarhin thisplace?”askedRakeshBurma, will give youaspecialpass”. takingsuomotucognisanceof the prayed thatfundamental right to manyyou aretesting,but what Chinchwadshouldalsobepermit- of anational market,the Central UttarakhandtoLipulekh Pass, a40-year-old worker soon after Turning to Solicitor General matter,aReportonFactsofthe religionof thepeopleatGhazipur your testing strategy is -- areyou tedtofunction with 33 percent government will work closely near the India-Nepal-Chinatri- gettingoff abus and movingto Tushar Mehta, Justice Raoasked caseisbeing calledfor from the maybeprotected andthe state testingeverybodywiththeslight- staff. To enable this, the bureau- withthestategovernmentstore- junctionandjust5kmshortofthe the “Uttar Pradesh tent”. “I have the governmentwhatitwas do- Commissionerof Police,Delhi,”it administrationbedirectedto per- estofsymptoms, areyou doing cracy has further advocated re- orienttheirrespective APMCActs, Line of Actual Control (LAC). This Rs 400inmypocket... Istarted ingabout this. said. mitrecitationof theazaanbyonly population testing to tryand find sumption of bus services in alim- to provide forestablishment of reduces travel time forpilgrims walking from Surat and entered Mehtasaid the government The PCI press release comes one person from respective out whereall exactlythe virus is, ited manner while suburban private market yards/privatemar- going to Kailash Mansarovar. Maharashtra,whereIwas had startedproviding inter-state twodays aftertheEditorsGuildof mosquesof Ghazipursinceitdoes orareyoujusttestingpeoplewho trains will continue to be out of kets.The stategovernments will On the recent tension be- stoppedand put on astate bus.” transportfor migrant workers, India, describing the Delhi Police notviolateany of thedirectivesis- areatmaximumrisk...Myunder- bounds foraverage citizens. also be encouragedtodevelop tweenIndianandChinesetroops, Burma wasasked to walk but some people were notwait- action as “egregious and high- suedfor controllingthe threat of standing is that the number of Thackeray had earlier asked the farmers’marketsintownareasto Naravanesaiditwasnot linkedto acrossto thepick-uppoint,where ing fortheirturn and had started handed”, said it waspartofa the pandemic spread. Khurshid testsbeing done in Mumbai for Centretoconsider resumption of enablethe farmers to sell their anydomestic or international severalhundredswerewaiting walking. “growing pattern of misuse of hadstatedthatrecitationof azaan thekindofstrategyithasadopted suburban train services forferry- produce directly.” event. He said sometimes, when since the night before. He said subject to the agree- criminal laws to intimidatejour- is an integral partofIslam and in has been exceptionally good,"he ing those involved in essential Inhis2016-17Budget speech, anew officertakesover, itcanlead “Nooneisbotheredaboutus,” ment betweenstates, everybody nalistsindifferent parts of the no wayundermines thesociety’s added. services in Mumbai. Jaitleyhad raisedthe same again, to suchaltercations.“Anewcom- said Akhtar Khan, 37,who had willgetachanceto travel.“Wecan country”. collectiveresponsetothe pan- Nabarro said as the cases in But with government health saying, “Access to marketsiscrit- manderwants to showheisdif- been waiting foradayand night onlyrequest that people should “While Manral wasn’t demic. India's major citiesrise, they experts expectingthenumbersin icalfor incomeoffarmers. The ferentfromtheothers.Thereare a forabus to Jharkhand. “Wewere notwalk,” he said. chargedunder anylaw,hewas Inresponse,theUttarPradesh would be facedwith another dif- Mumbaitopeakinthe coming governmentisimplementingthe lotofdynamics on whyaface-off asked to form queues and have Srivastava, in his petition, threatenedthat failuretojointhe government had filedacounter- ficultdecision--whetherto keep weeks, sources confirmedthat UnifiedAgricultureMarketing occurs,” he said. been standing under the hotsun pointed out that the Centre, re- probecouldresult in legal action affidavitcontendingthatazaanis theasymptomaticandthemildly thepoliticalleadershipinthestate Scheme whichenvisages acom- Onatwo-frontwar, hesaid:“It but whereare the buses?” spondingtoanearlierpleahehad underSection 174ofthe IPC with acall forcongregationtooffer symptomatic people in home wasnot in favour of easingcurbs mon e-market platform thatwill isapossibility.Itisnot thatitisgo- RameshMane,22,waspartof filed,madeastatementbefore the punishmentofaprisontermand prayersatthemosqueand,there- quarantineorshiftthem to hos- furtherjustyet.“Eventuallyitwas be deployed in 585 regulated ing to happen everytime. We agroup of 50 waiting forabus to courtonMarch 31 thatasof 11 am fine. This appears to be alittle fore,inviolationof theguidelines pitals, or other specially created decidedtowaitfor the Centre’s wholesale markets. have to be alivetoall contingen- Odisha. “Wewant justone bus, thatday, nomigrantlabourerwas morethanafishingexpeditionto forcontaining the pandemic. quarantinecentres.Hesaidwhile newguidelines. These areex- Amendmentstothe APMC Acts cieswhichcanhappen...We have buttheyare notsendingany,”said walkingonfoottoreachhome. tryand extract the journalist’s The benchdirected the evidencefromsome other coun- pected to come out in aday or of states areapre-requisite. Iam to remain alive to thepossibility.” Mane,alabourerinMumbaiwho source and, thus, warn other re- Registrar General to forwarda tries suggestedthat shifting peo- two.Thestatewillstudythesebe- happytoinform that 12 states... wasdroppedatthe border Express reporter porters,” the Guild said in astate- copyofthe judgment to the UP ple to quarantine centreswas a fore taking acallon further relax- arereadytocomeonboard.” MadhyaPradesh around 2amthe previous night. Policehadcalledthereport“factu- ment. Chief Secretaryfor onward circu- moreeffectivestrategy, itwasalso ations,” an officialsaid. Basedon The matter had been raised manywerenot ableto waititout. “Pleasetell (Bihar CM) Nitish allyincorrect.purelyconjectural” On May9,The Indian Express lation to allDMs. true that removing peoplefrom concernsraisedbyseniorbureau- by him again in his next year’s On Thursday, severalofthem Kumarthatthereare nobusesfor and on May10sent anoticeun- reportedthataninitialinvestiga- Contacted by The Indian their homes and families ledto crats, Deputy Chief MinisterAjit Budget speech,saying, “Market clashedwith police, throwing us,” said Imtiyaz Alam, 26, who is derSection 160CrPC to the City tion by the Delhi Police Crime Express, Additional Advocate social tension. Pawar, meanwhile, has urged reforms will be undertaken and bricks andblocking thehighway. struggling to reachBhagalpur. EditorandChief Reporter, requir- Branchfound that an audio clip GeneralManishGoel,whorepre- "When youare letting people Thackeray andthechiefsecretary stateswouldbeurgedtodenotify Since May10, when “Wecan’tbesittingherefor- ing the presence of the reporter mentionedinthe police FIR sentedthestate,saidadecisionon stay at home, youare putting an to come out with the newstate perishables from the APMC.” Maharashtrastartedferryingmi- ever,”saidRajMangaj Yadav, acar- on May11at the Rohini office of againstMarkazNizamuddinhead challenging the order will be enormousresponsibilityonthem levelguidelinesatleast 48 hours Prime MinisterNarendra grantworkersinstatebusestothe penter from Mumbai. “I washit the Crime Branch, Delhi, to pro- Maulana Saad Kandhalvi, which takenbythe stateLaw to actuallystayathome and not aheadbefore they aretobeimple- Modi had raisedthe issue during ghat to stop themfromwalking with alathi by apolicemanfor duce allrelevant documentsand suggestedhehad asked Tablighi Department. “I will notbeableto move out... IknowcitiesinIndia mented.Areviewofthe lawand theGoverningCouncilMeetingof to theirhometowns, this outpost crossing the highway to fetch material and to join the probeor Jamaatmembersnottofollowso- commentonthisatthemoment,” have takenslightlydifferent ap- order situation and migrant the NITI AayogonJune 15,2019, hasturnedintoabattlegroundfor some watertodrink.Wewere facelegalactionunderSection174 cial distancing norms and pro- he said. proachtothis.The primarystrat- labourers movement wasalso seeking“foundationalreformsin seatsonthe buses. dropped offlastnight and given IPC—itcanresultinaprisonterm hibitoryorders,may be “doc- Thepetitioners’counsel,Syed egy in Mumbai, according to the takenduring Friday’s meeting. theagri-economy”.Themeeting’s According to transportoffi- dal khichdi...but we haven’t got and fine. tored”andstitchedtogetherusing Safdar Ali Kazmi, said the judg- dataIhave seen,seemsto beto put Thackerayand Sharad Pawar coreagendawas “theneedtore- cials inMaharashtra,around 1.36 anyfood since we reachedthe Manral went to the Crime severalaudiofiles. mentwasintheirfavourandthey asymptomatic and mildlysymp- thenseparately visitedCovidcare viewthe implementationofthe lakh migrantshavebeen ferried pick-up point.” BranchofficeonMay 11 where he The Delhi Police notice under were contentwithit.“We wanted tomatic cases in isolation in situ, centres in the citywhichare be- APMCAct andpossiblereform... to differentstateborders.“Nearly Giventhe bitterness on the wasquestionedfor threehours. Section160 CrPC wassent on the permission forazaan, whichthe at their homes, andrelatively ingsetuptoisolateasymptomatic aswellasexploringchangesinthe 70 percentof thosewere dropped ground, the MP government He submitted aprepared state- dayTheIndianExpresspublished honourable courthas granted,” smallnumberof peoplehave been patients and those withmilder Essential Commodities Act”. at the MP border,” said aofficial. worked outa“temporary” solu- ment along with abooklet, ‘A the police rejoinder with itsown Kazmi said. takenout of their homes. Frankly, symptoms. The statehas also Similarly,the Economic “Morethan 10,000 migrants tionby organising20busestotake guide forlaw enforcement agen- response that the reportwas Icannotsay whether this is the goneinforlargercommunitypar- Survey 2019-20, presented to arebeing droppedhereonanav- some of these migrantstoan- cies’on‘howtospotand investi- basedonconversations with Plan for Metros right or the wrong thing to do in ticipation with the help of city ParliamentonJanuary31this erageevery day. We have now other transit point in Dewas, gate’fakenews,uploadedbythe sources and officials awareofthe suchpersonsshallbecommuni- Mumbai, because Idonot under- ministers and localleaders. year,recommended the scrap- askedMaharashtratoeasethein- about 200kmaway. But as soon BureauofPolice Research & probeagainstMaulana Saad, and catedto thelocaladministration,” standthelocalsentiments.Butgo- Thackeray has assignedfocus ar- ping of the ECA. flux alittle. The borders to other asthosebusesarrived,thousands Development (BPR&D)which thatcallsandamessagetoSpecial it says. ing ahead, as cases rise,cities eas to allMumbai ministers who The scheme concerning foot statesareabout600kmaway. It’s rushed to getaspot. had referred to Maulana Saad’s CP (Crime) Praveer Ranjan on Agenciesincharge of security would have to increasinglymake in turn areset to involve local andmouthdiseasealreadyexists notpossible forthe buses to re- “Atonepoint,therewereover audio.The guide/bookletwas May8for hiscommentsbefore of these networks,the CISFin this difficult decision," he said. karyakartas, housing societies, under the National Animal turn from those pointssoon 13,000 migrantshere, and there pulleddownwithin aday of be- publicationreceivednoresponse. DelhiMetro’s case, willbepro- NGOs in the battle againstthe Disease Control Programme, enough to clear this rush,” said were notenoughbusestoclear ingpostedonline. videdthermal screeningdevices. Maharashtra coronavirus. Meanwhile, Health whichwas launched by the PM DRTeniwar, the Barwani SP. themall.We hadabout141 buses When contacted by The AllahabadHC Forproper screening, the Centre forthe statewas decidedintwo MinisterRajesh Tope has also on September 11,2019, with an At the border,pick-up and sincemorningbutittakestimefor IndianExpressonMay10,BPR&D district administrations. The pe- has suggestedthat onlyone or separatemeetings on Thursday made afresh appeal to private outlayofRs12,652crore till2024. drop-offpointshavebeen setup thesebusesto return.Another20 spokespersonJitendra Yadavsaid: titioners have failedtobring on twostation gatesare kept open. and Friday. Themeetings were hospitals to devote 60 per centof Sitharaman had mentionedthe —and large tentsearmarkedfor buseshavereachedandmoreare “Thereare some corrections be- recordorevenpleadthat they Asked if non-smartphone heldatDadar’sBalThackeray me- theircapacityandstafftothegov- scheme in her Budget speech on different states.The buses from on the way. Muchofthe rush has ingmade in the booklet. It willbe soughtany suchpermissionfor users can use Metroservices, morial and were chairedby Chief ernment in the fight to tackle February1this year,settingaside Maharashtrahalt about 300me- beencleared,”saidapoliceofficer uploadedagain afterthat.” the use of sound amplifying de- DMRCchief spokesmanAnuj MinisterUddhav Thackeray.On Covid. The civic administration Rs13,000croreforit,saying,“Our tres inside MP near the Mata at the ghat. InapressreleaseissuedFriday, vices,forrecitalof Azanfromtheir Dayalsaid: “The decisiontore- Thursday, in the presence of sen- hasbeenaskedto take overorco- governmentintendsto eliminate Mandir. The pick-up point from the PCI saidit“expresses itscon- respective mosques and, there- sumeMetro railservicesinDelhi- iorministersincludingBalasaheb optnursing homes, hotels and foot and mouth disease, brucel- wherethemigrantswillbeferried SC rejectsPIL cern over allegedthreat of crimi- fore,their use without suchper- NCRwillbetakenbythe govern- Thorat, Ashok Chavan, Subhash lodges and otherestablishments losisincattle and also peste des onward areinBhawargadvillage, clippings and then,underArticle nal prosecutionand questioning missionwouldbeillegalandcan- ment afterwhichthe detailed Desai, AjitPawar andJayant Patil, asitdeemsfittobuildisolationfa- petits ruminantsinsheep and aboutakm away. 32, youwant this courttodecide. of aSpecialCorrespondentof The notbeaccordedapproval by this protocol will be shared with the it wasrecommended thatlock- cilities forthose with mild or no goat by 2025.” At both thespots, TheIndian Letthe states decide.” IndianExpress,by Delhipoliceon Court. However, in case anysuch media and public.” downbeextendedinsixhotspots symptoms. The extension of Operation Express came acrossseveral hun- Srivastavasaid he wasonly 11.05.2020 in connection with a applicationisfiledbeforethecon- SourcessaidDelhiMetroserv- regions, namelyMumbai FULLREPORTSON Greensto allfruitsandvegetables dred migrants—all “waiting for seeking implementationofgov- news reportpublishedinthe pa- cernedauthorities, that maybe ices arelikelytobeinitiallyavail- Metropolitan Region, Pune mu- www.indianexpress.com WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY,MAY16,2020 3 EXPRESS NETWORK 3ofdenotifiedscheduledtribe Mumbai bizman, key conspirator familykilledoverlanddispute in espionage case, arrested He wasarrestedathis home intothe bankaccountsofNavy sitive and classifiedinformation DEEPTIMANTIWARY in Mumbai's Dongri area. personnelatregular intervals. regarding locations/movements that the accusedhavebeen On Wednesday, the sarpanch bodies, an official said. Vilas NEWDELHI,MAY15 The espionagering was The same wasdonethrough dif- of Indian Navalshipsand sub- SADAFMODAK chargedunder sections pertain- of Mangwadgaon had ap- addedthat in the pasttoo there bustedinNovember by the ferent means,"the NIA said in a marines, and other defence es- MUMBAI,MAY15 ing to murder,attempt to mur- proachedthem and told them to had been incidentsofassault by THE NATIONAL Investigation AndhraPradesh Police, who dis- statement. tablishments." der and relevant sections of the return to theland. “He also told the accused,towhichnoaction Agency Fridayarresteda coveredthe use of "honeytraps" Sources said Lakdawala's According to the agency,a THREE MENfromadenotified ScheduledCastesand Tribes us that since thereiscoronavirus wastaken by thepolice. Mumbai-basedbusinessman on social media to getIndian wifeisfromKarachi and he has fewNavypersonnel came in and scheduledtribecommunity (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. infection right now, ration and An officer said that both sides forallegedlyplaying akey role Navy personnel to share sensi- been visiting the portcity since contact with Pakistani nationals were killed, oneofthemrun over Those arrested have been other basic amenities will be had filedcomplaintsagainst in the Visakhapatnam espi- tive informationabout the de- he was12years old. His daugh- through social media platforms by atractor,allegedly by mem- identifiedasSachin, Hanumant, providedtous. My father,broth- eachother, including amurder onagecase that involvednaval fence establishment and naval ter, too, livesthere, sources such as Facebook and Whatsapp, bers of adominant caste in Beed Rajebhau, Prabhu, Balasaheb, ers, sister-in-lawand their chil- charge by the Nimbalkar family personnel passing on classified infrastructure. added. and were involved in sharing district Wednesdayoveraland Rajabhau, Kunal, Shivaji, Baban, dren went to the land. Before againstVilas and Sanjay, butthey defence information to Pakistani APakistan-born Indian The agency conducted classifiedinformation in lieu of dispute, policesaid. The family Jayram Nimbalkar and Ashok that, theywent to the police sta- were acquitted. spies. woman, Shaista Qaisar, has also searches at Lakdawala's home monetary gains. members of the deceased Shendgeand Santosh Gavhane. tionand told them that we had The familyinitiallyrefusedto ElevenNavypersonnel have been arrested by NIAinthe case. andseized several"digital de- "Themoneywas deposited claimedthattheyhad sought According to policeand the been assaulted in the pastand claim the bodies, makingde- been arrested in connection "Investigation revealedthat vicesand incriminating docu- intothe bank accountsofthe policeprotection before taking Pawars,who belong to thePardhi hence neededpolice protection. mands including action against with the case. Haroon had visited Karachi on ments". Navy personnel through Indian control of the "disputed"land, community,adenotifiedand Theyweretold that there was the accusedand police. “I lostmy The trader,Mohammed manyoccasionstomeethis han- An NIA statement said: associateshaving business inter- fearing assault by the accused, criminalisedtribe, had five acres nothing to fear and that we could familymembers fighting forthe Haroon Haji Abdul Rehman dlers in the guise of conducting "Pakistan-basedspies recruited ests in Pakistan," the NIAstate- but were nothelped. The Beed land as ancestral property and go on,” Babu’s another son Vilas land whichthe courts said was Lakdawala, 49,had allegedlyde- cross -border trade. During these agentsinIndia forcollecting sen- ment said. police, however, has maintained had bought another 10 acresat (35) said. He had managed to run ours. We do notwant afurther posited money intothe accounts visits,hecame in contact with theywerenot approachedand Mangwadgaon villageinBeed away when the Nimbalkars at- dispute. We requestauthorities of the accusedpersonnel on the twoPakistani spies, namely thatthe assault wasafallout of a over twodecades ago. The tacked thefamily. to give us the same size of land instructions of some Pakistanis Akbar alias Ali and Rizwan, who previous dispute. Nimbalkars, who belong to the According to the statements in some otherareasowecan live from Karachi. directed him to deposit money Babu Pawar(70), and his two Maratha community, claimed giventothe police, the accused peacefullywithout being ha- sons, Prakash (50) and Sanjay ownership of the land, following had attackedthe Pawars with rassed,” Vilas said. (46) were killedinthe assault, whichtherewereyears of litiga- sticks,sharp weapons and Notifiedand brandedasa while his daughter-in-lawwas tion between them. Over ayear chasedbyatractor.Some of the criminal tribeduring the British grievouslyinjured,police said. ago, acourtinAurangabad ruled familymembersmanaged to es- era, the community remains so- “Wehavearrested12people and in favour of the Pawars, but the cape and reachacheckposton cio-economically marginalised. areinterrogating eight others to latter claimedthat harassment by the Osmanabad-Beedborder, Vilas said that he and his broth- checktheir involvementinthe the Nimbalkar familycontinued. wheretheyinformedthe police ers earnedRs250 aday,working incident,” Beedsuperintendent They, therefore, continuedtolive about the incident. The police as labourers and that livedin Harssh Poddar said. He added in another village, Ambajogai. came to the spotand foundthe makeshifttents. FROM PAGE 1 Oppn states not clearing trains: Centre so manyaccidentsmay happen,” 300trains everyday forthe job. Gujarat, AndhraPradesh, forthese trains. Thereisnopro- Goyalsaid. “I appeal with foldedhands to Telangana, West Bengal and posal pending on our end from RAJAPUR MUNICIPAL COUNCIL West BengalCMMamata the governmentsofWestBengal, Jharkhand have sought in-prin- anystate or Railways,” Baghel Banerjee had on Thursday Rajasthan, Jharkhand and ciple consent to send38trains to tweeted. E-Tender Notice No. 23 for the year 2020-21 postedonTwitter atentative Chhattisgarh, to give permission Rajasthan. And consent was Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren Online E-Tender for construction Bandhara at kodavali schedule of 105trains to West to the trains and welcome their giventhe same day”. As of Friday told The Indian Express that (Sayabache Dharan) District Ratnagiri is invited from the Bengal from all over India, which migrants,” he said. morning, 15 of these 38 trains Goyalhas been “misinformed” contractors by Chief Officer Municipal Council Rajapur.The showedthe statewas planning Railways ranclose to 1,000 had arrivedinRajasthan with and thatthe statehad givenno- Blank B-1 Tender Documents in E-Tender From is available to receive around four-fivetrains Shramik Specials till Friday, about 18,000 passengers and as objection certificatefor 110 from the date 16/05/2020 at 10.00 am upto date 10/06/2020 at everyday forthe next one transporting over 10 lakh per officials, forbothFridayand trains, out of which50have 12.00 am on website www.mahatenders.gov.in E-tender will be month. strandedmigrants. According to Saturday, atotal of nine trains are reachedthe state. open on date 11/06/2020 at 12.00 am. Sd/- As per West Bengal govern- an official list, around 474of expected to bring home an addi- “Railway MinisterPiyush ment’s figures, morethan 2.5 them were to Uttar Pradesh(52 tional 12,000 migrants. Goyalhas been misinformedby (Dewanand Dhekale) Chief Officer lakhmigrant workers had ap- in the pipeline), 248toBihar (21 ChhattisgarhCMBhupesh his office. Irequesthim to run Date :15/05/2020 pliedtoreturn to the state. in the pipeline), 47 to Jharkhand Baghel tweetedthat Goyal’s moreand moretrains. We have Rajapur Municipal Council According to some trade unions (three in planning stage), eight statement was“baseless” and givenNOC for110 trains in in the state, morethan 25 lakh to West Bengal, nine to “without facts”. “Chhattisgarh which50havereachedthe state migrant from Bengal are Chhattisgarh(twointhe had asked permission for30 bringing 60,000 migrants,” he strandedelsewhere. pipeline), and 22 to Rajasthan trains but got permission for14. said. When asked fordataof (one moreinthe offing). We paidRailways Rs 1.17 crore WITHENSINPUTS “source” states, from where Taking to ShramikSpecial trains to Bengal Twitter, were being planned, a Rajasthan spokesperson said the Ministry Chief Minister maintainednosuchdata. Ashok Gehlot “Railways only makes itstrains said, “Thereis available to the stategovern- no permission mentsontheir request. It is for pending for the stategovernmentstodecide anytrain with who and howmanyneedto the govern- travel through these Shramik ment of trains,” the spokesperson said. Rajasthan.In Asked howmanystateshad fact, Rajasthan sought trains to West Bengal, wasinstrong Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and favour that Chhattisgarh, the ministry Railways spokesman said, “This informa- should be al- tion will be withthe states. We lowedfor onlycome intoactionwhen both commuteof states agree.” migrants. But I Sources said that while states am notsur- suchasBengal and Rajasthan prisedtosee had been slowtogivepermis- statement by sion, therewas no formal dataon Railway howmanytrains neededtobe Minister, they run to whichstate and to trans- areskilledin porthow manystrandedmi- passing their grants. failureonto “States’ nodal officers may stategovern- have discussions withour nodal ments.” officers, but we do notmaintain Atop gov- dataonsuchqueriesunless it is ernment offi- formalised,” said an official. cial said “so Goyalsaid 1,200trains have far, Karnataka, been earmarkedfor the Shramik Kerala, Specialsand Railways can run Maharashtra, SC stays HC order against Chudasama election

EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE NEWDELHI,MAY15

THE SUPREME Court Friday stayedtheGujarat HighCourtor- der settingaside the 2017 elec- tion of stateminister and BJP leader Bhupendrasinh Chudasamatothe Assembly, whichthe courthad issued on grounds of “manipulation and falsification of record...” Chudasama waselected from the Dholka constituency af- terdefeating Congress candidate Ashwin Rathod by amargin of 327votes in the 2017 elections. On Friday, abench of Justices MM Shantanagoudar and R Subhash Reddy issued notice on Chudasama’s pleachallenging the May12decision of the High Court. Appearing forChudasama, senioradvocateHarish Salve said the matter had gone ahead on the basis of assumptions. WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 4 THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY,MAY16,2020 THE OUTBREAK Mumbai

Admission delayed in absenceofCovid report, man dies at Sionhospital’s emergencyward

the man startedgasping for EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE breath.“Irushedhimto Sionhos- MUMBAI,MAY15 pital... therewas no stretcher.For 10 minutesIwaited,thenImyself ADAY aftera67-year-old man went looking and got awheel- diedafter being deniedhospital- chair forhim. In the emergency isation at HolyFamilyhospital,a ward,nobodyhadtime,Iwheeled Dharavifamilyrecounted asim- my fatherfromonecountertoan- ilar harrowing experience to get other.Someonegave meaformto a62-year-olddiabetic member fill even as my father wasgasping hospitalised. Afterreachingout forbreath,” the son said. to five hospitals, thesenior citi- Within half an hour of arrival zen diedearly May10inSion in Sion hospital, his father died. hospital’s emergency ward. “He passed away while his ECG “I sawmyfather take alast wasbeingconducted,” he said. long breath, and he collapsed,” On May11, the Covid-19test his son, who nowremains in a result came positive.The next LONG JOURNEY AHEAD quarantine centre, said. day, the family gotthemselves While Mumbai is in the admitted in Manohar Joshi quar- Hundredsofmigrantsoutside CSMT on FridaytoboardShramik Specialsbound forUttar Pradesh. Prashant Nadkar process of adding over 3,300 antine centreinDharavi. The bedstoits existing 4,800bedsto area wheretheylivehas several treat critical and moderatelyill infected people, the son said, and Covid-19patients, the current suspect the infection wastrans- problem lies notinshortage of mitted locally. bedsbut demand forhospitals While his mother and uncle Withreorganisation,containmentzones from familiestofirstget aCovid- have testedpositive,his brother 19 test done before apatient is has symptoms but is yettobe admitted.Bythe time atestis tested.The familysaid the doc- conducted and the report come, toratthe quarantine centrehas severalpatientsdie. claimedhehad no testing kits The Dharavi residentfirst de- leftand thus,could notconduct downto692from3,000sincelastweek velopedsymptoms on May6 tests. “He asked us to contact and his son took him to alocal BMC,” the son said. doctor. “His temperaturewas When contacted,Dharavi were formedafter Covid-19 Wankhede normal,sothe doctorsaid he Assistant Ward Commissioner LAXMANSINGH This will ease cases were reportedinany par- No quarantine facility didn’t suspectitwas Covid-19. Kiran Dighavkarsaid he will look MUMBAI,MAY15 BMC’s burden as ticular building, chawl, slum or Stadium to He gave some medicines,”the intothe matter. “If ahigh-risk well as take pressure off anyother area. The BMC de- son said. person is symptomatic, he is AFTER NEWLY-APPOINTED clared suchareas containment in Mahul without Within aday,the man’s tested immediately.But those Municipal Commissioner Iqbal police officers,asithad zones by barricading the entire be quarantine health worsened. His blood test who areasymptomatic are Singh Chahal suggestedreorgan- become difficult to man locality.The entryand exit were came positive fortyphoid, and tested betweenfifthand 14th isation in marking containment the huge number of closed. Until lastweek,BMC had our permission: HC facility he wasput on intravenous dayofexposure. We have no zones, the BMC has now containment zones. also markedmicrocontainment saline. “I visitedNagree nursing shortage of kits." changed the definition of such Now, we have combined zones –smaller areas within to BMC, state govt home,theysaid theydid notad- Meanwhile,the 67-year-old zones, resulting in steep fall in its smaller areas into one containment zones. EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE mit patientswithout aCovid-19 who diedonWednesday after numbers —fromnearly 3,000to "For example, if anypartof MUMBAI,MAY15 test.Iwent to Sai hospital, but it he wasrefusedadmission in 692 as on May14. and formed big clusters slum or building has Covid-19 said in viewoflimited infrastruc- has been converted intoaquar- HolyFamilyhospital five times, Lastweek,alistpublishedby as containment zones” patients, we usedtomarkitas OMKARGOKHALE tureavailable in M-westward, THE BMC is planning to turn the antine centre,” the son said. tested positive on Friday. While BMC on itswebsiteshowed —ACIVIC OFFICIAL one containment zone. If there MUMBAI,MAY15 thereisextreme shortage of va- WankhedeStadiumintoaquar- On May9,the man under- protocol mandatesthatthose 3,000containment zones in the wasanother case in the verynext cant tenementsthat can be used antine facility.The corporation, went aCovid-19 test.The son who succumb to Covid-19,their city.Now,onlyclusters of con- housing societyorslum,then it THE BOMBAY HighCourt on forquarantine. as partofefforts to augment then reachedout to Lilavati hos- bodies should be sealed, both gested areas, like slumsor have combinedsmaller areas usedtobecome another contain- Fridaydirected thestate govern- “ThetenementsinMahulwill quarantine facilities and hospital pital, PD Hinduja hospital and families were handedoverthe chawls, will be markedascon- intoone and formedbig clusters ment zone despitetheir proxim- ment and Brihanmumbai be used as quarantinefacilities bedsacross Mumbai in anticipa- Nanavati hospital, whichin- bodies without following this tainment zones. Buildingswill as containment zones," said a ity.Now,ithas been decidedto Municipal Corporation (BMC) onlyduringthe pandemicand tion of aspikeinCovid-19 cases, formed that they did nothave norm. In both cases, the families be excludedfromcontainment civic official. form alarge containment zone nottoset up Covid-19quaran- will be restored later.Asper data has sent anotice to the Mumbai vacant beds. touched the bodies before cre- zones and will be knownas The official addedthat for by clubbing small clusters of tine facility in Mahul without its available with M-ward, where Cricket Association,asking it to On May10, around 1.30 am, mating them. “sealedbuildings” if Covid-19 sealedbuildings, aletterwill be slums or chawls, "said an ward permission. Mahul is located,numberof pos- hand over thestadium. cases arereportedfromthere. As sent to the society secretaryor officer from eastern suburbs. Adivision benchofChief itive cases likelytogoupto2,946 The iconic Wankhede sta- per the newlist, thereare 1,270 chairman. "Theywill be asked to The Union government's in- Justice Dipankar Dattaand by May30and of these, 70 per dium, built in 1974,hostedthe “sealedbuildings” in the city. ensurethat nobody enters or ter-ministerial state committee Justice AASayed washearing, cent cases willbefromdensely 2011 WorldCup final and is BMC to provide PPE kits Officials said the reorganisa- leavesthe building. Therewill be had recentlyquestionedBMC through videoconference, aPIL populatedareas, includingslums. home to Mumbai Ranji and tion wasundertaken forratio- no problem as societies itself can over the hugenumber of con- filedbyNGO Ghar Bachao Ghar At 10 contactsper person,MCGM Mumbai Indians team. The sta- to private clinics inside, nalisation of containment zones, starttaking precautions." tainment zones in Mumbai. Banao Andolan and Sharda has to make facilities for20,000 dium has asitting capacity of to enable better and moreeffec- Forlarge slumsand chawls, Following this, Chahal had in- Tevar, mother of an undertrial, in M-ward,” the BMC said. 45,000. tive andefficient utilisation of the marking process will remain structed ward officers to rede- whose son is lodged at the The petitioners claimedthat The Garware club house, near containmentzones manpower. the same. Once theyare marked fine the containmentzones. "The Arthur Road jail since November Mahul is heavilyindustrialised whichhas 45 rooms, and the "This will ease BMC's burden as containment zones, their en- high numbers of containment 2019 and the trial is yettobegin. having nine major industrial Mumbai CricketAssociation protocol allows bothgovernment as well as take pressureoff po- tryand exit will be sealedand zones usedtoreflect as if half of The plea said Mahul is unsuit- units, including refineries, and ar- loungeinside the stadium, SANJANABHALERAO or private doctors to prescribe lice officers, as it had become dif- police personnelwill be de- Mumbai wassealed... it givesan able to quarantine Covid-19pa- guedthat buildings being consid- whichhas acapacity to house MUMBAI,MAY15 Covid-19test, severalprivate clin- ficult to man hugenumbers of ployedtoman the areas. impressionthat there areseveral tientsasthe area is heavilypol- ered at Mahul areinproximity of 400-500beds, aremostlylikely ics had shut down due to ashort- containment zones. Now, we Earlier, containmentzones Covid-19cases," said an official. luted due to thepresence of these unitsand even HC had ear- to be usedasquarantinecentre. THE BRIHANMUMBAI ageofpersonal protective equip- industries. The statewas report- lier consideredthemtobedan- "Wehavereceivedthe letter MunicipalCorporation(BMC) ment (PPE) fortheir staff. edly planningtoshift77inmates gerous forhabitation. from BMC. There is no clarity will provide private clinicsoper- Meanwhile,atameeting LOCALURBAN BODIES of ArthurRoad jail, who have To this, BMC statedin itsreply, what all spaces theywant to use, atinginside and near Covid-19 Friday, NCP’s Mumbai unitpres- tested positive,toagovernment- “Even though thereare industries whether theywant onlyrooms, containment zones with per- identand cabinet minister PM insurance plan also for contract staff run quarantine facility in Mahul. in the vicinity,theyare working loungeortheywant entire sonal protective equipment NawabMalik askedBMC to facil- The benchpassedthe order with limited number of staff. Wankhede Stadium including (PPE) kitstofacilitatescreening itatemass screening at zone 5, afterBMC informeditthat ten- Since this has been ongoing for the playing area. Exceptoffice of symptomatic patients. whichincludes congestedareas in contact with Covid patients, HC told ementsinMahul, Chembur,for nearly three months and directly premises we areready to hand Acircular,dated May14, is- likeKurla, Govandi, Chembur and Project Affected Persons (PAPs) had an impact on emission from over everything. We arewaiting suedbythe civic body states Deonar.Healso suggested that 6,277 essentialservices' work- would be used onlyasalast re- industries, it is likelythat there to hear from them (BMC) on BMC will also provide PPE kitsto civic officials should use madras- OMKARGOKHALE Additional Solicitor ers, including 3,261engaged in sorttoquarantine Covid-19pa- has been an improvement in air things theywant," Mumbai drivers and cleaners of ambu- sas and mosques, wherever MUMBAI,MAY15 General Anil Singh said solid wastemanagement,road tients. quality and tenementscan be Cricket Associationjoint secre- lances who ferrycoronavirus pa- available, as quarantine facilities. cleaningand day-to-daytrans- On Friday, BMC filedanaffi- utilisedtemporarilyfor the pur- tary SanjayNaik said. tients. At least72BESTmini- “In the meeting, it wasalso THE UNION Government on the insurance scheme portation of garbage. davit through Prithviraj C pose of quarantine facility. The BMC if required can also buses will be converted into suggestedthataperson await- Fridayinformedthe Bombay will applytoany person Additional Solicitor General Chauhan, assistant commis- Medical staffwill be made avail- convertthe stadium ambulances to transportpa- ing test resultsshould be pro- High Courtthat the Rs 50-lakh onCovid-19duty,who Anil Singh clarifiedthatthe in- sioner,M-westward, It said, “The able forthe persons quarantined arena/groundasaCovid carefa- tientstovarious Covid carecen- videdwith ahospital bedso that coverinsurance under Pradhan surance scheme will applyto proposedfacilityat Mahulwould at Mahul to ensureand look after cility.Inalettertothe MCA, civic tres in the city.All the 24 ward he or she doesn't spread the in- Mantri Garib Kamgar Package maycome in direct anyperson on Covid-19duty, be utilisedonlyasalastresortin health and safety.” body has directed to handover officers have directed to collect fection. The suggestion is under Insurance Scheme ForHealth contact with patients who maycome in direct contact the event that the number of On Friday, senior counselAnil the lounge, hotel, lodge, 1,000 PPEs from AndheriSports consideration and the modali- Workers can be extendedto with patientsand succumb, cases rises and the number of Sakharerepresenting BMC sub- gymkhana, banquet hallamong Compleximmediatelyand place ties arebeing checked,” said a contractual civic workers, in- and succumb whether acontractual em- high and lowrisk contactsthat re- mittedthat Mahul will beconsid- otherswith immediateeffect. further order as per require- civicofficial, present in the meet- volved in essential services,but ployee or not. quiretobequarantinedcannotbe ered as an alternative in future The stadium premises willbe ment.The kits, the circular said, ing. The BMC is also considering onlythose who maycome in workers of Navi Mumbai The HC also asked NMMC to accommodatedinotherfacilities onlyifthereisnoother facility usedforemergencystaff of Ward will be providedweekly. to screen all peopleincontain- direct contact withCovid-19 MunicipalCorporation specify whether adailyal- made available in the vicinity.” available. The benchnoted, 'A' and as aquarantinecentrefor While BMC’s latesttesting ment zones. patients. (NMMC).The plea filedthrough lowance of Rs 300can be The civic body further clari- “Beforethe stategovernment or asymptomaticcontactsofCovid Justice SJKathawalla was advocates Bhavesh Parmar, granted to the contractual fied that Mahul would be used BMC takesadecisiontoshiftpeo- 19 positivepatients.InMarch the hearing awrit petition filedby Rahul Gaikwad and Nikita workers.After hearing NMMC’s “onlyasatemporaryquarantine ple to Mahul,theywill requireto MCAhad offeredthe stadium Carpenter dies after walking 30 km Samaj SamataKamgar Sangh, a Abhyankar sought adailyal- response, thebenchislikelyto facility in the exceptional cir- take court’s permission and will premisesfor Covid care facilityif body of sanitationand health lowance and insurance for pass an order on May16. cumstances” of the pandemic. It have to submit relevant details.” government required it. to enquireabout train to home state

"Migrantsare being told about EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE Shramik trains leaving from Mira 15 booked for attacking BMCde-seals Dharavi’s firstcontainment MUMBAI,MAY15 Road railway station, whichwas near wherethe deceasedlived,” policemen at Antop Hill A45-YEAR-OLD carpenter died he added. zone afternonew cases since April 7 afterwalking 30 km to Vasai rail- Kamble said the police has Nagar. An officer said, “People waystationonThursday morn- questionedafriendwho hadtold EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE were roaming around, many Asia’slargest slumwithhighrises. WednesdayinDharavi.OnFriday, BMCforfood,grocery, transporta- ing to enquireabout trains de- Shankarlal about the special MUMBAI,MAY15 were notwearing masksand SANJANABHALERAO Subsequently, five coronavirus 84 newcases were reported, to- tion and stay.” parting to his native state trains departing from Vasai sta- maintaining social distancing MUMBAI,MAY15 cases were recorded in Baliga talling 1,145cases so far. Four lakh people have been Rajasthan. tion. “Even the friend does not AROUND 15 people were norms... so our policemen Nagar, allcontactsofthe 56-year- Five slum pockets in Dharavi screenedinDharavi. As manyas The deceased, Harish knowwhy the deceasedwalked booked lateThursdayfor al- startedquestioningthem.” Soon, THEBRIHANMUMBAIMunicipal old man. The area wasde-sealed have been markedasred zones. 47,500people were screenedin Chander Shankarlal, livedand suchalong distance. He hadRs legedly attacking three police- aheatedargumentensuedbe- Corporation(BMC)hasde-sealed by theBMClastweekafternonew KiranDighavkar,assistantmunic- high-risk zones.AsofThursday, worked in Bhayander and had 4,000 in his walletand could men at Antop Hill in Mumbai. tween the residents andthe po- BaligaNagar,thefirstcontainment cases were reportedoverthe last ipalcommissioner,G-northward, hotspots or high-risk zones in been waiting fortransport to re- have hired avehicle to reachthe The mob attackedthe policemen lice,resultinginthree policemen zone in Dharaviafter a56-year- 21 days. said, “Since the firstcase in Dharavihaveincreasedto18 from turn home.The police, unsure station,” he added. with sharp objectswhen they being injured. Theywererushed old man tested positive forcoro- Cases in Mukund Nagarhave Dharaviwasdetected,wefocused five onApril25,withhighestcases whyhechosetowalk to Vasai, Kamble said Shankarlal may asked residentstofollowlock- to ahospital. navirus on April 1, withnonew also been containedand arenow on three main components— at 108fromMatungaLabour said Shankarlal wanted to know have collapseddue to exhaus- down norms, said police. The residentshavebeen casesreportedfromtheareasince steadilydeclining. ACovid-19 containment strategy,compre- Camp,followedby68atKumbha- the train schedule and howto tion near the station afterwalk- The incident took placewhen booked on chargesofattempt to April 7. The 56-year-oldhad died hotspot, the area had 61 active hensive testinganduninterrupted rwada. Four hotspots —Matunga book aseat. ing in the heat. Postmortems are ateam comprising personnel murder and rioting, bid to as- the same day. cases as of Thursday.Evenascer- foodandessentialsupplies.Inad- Labour Camp, 90 ft road,Dharavi Inspector RajendraKamble currentlynot being conducted in from Antop Hill policestation sault public servants, use of dan- The man,the firstCovid-19 tain containment zones have dition, the G-northwardalso Cross Road,Kunchi KorveNagar, ofVasai police station said the Maharashtratoprotect doctors and StateReserve Police Force gerous weapons and violation of victiminDharavi,wasfromBaliga beendeclaredsafe,thenumberof launcheda12-hour helpline whichare showing ariseincases deceased had been workingon and other health workersfrom were patrolling Garib Nawaz lockdown restrictions. Nagar, one of the fewareas in infectedpersonscrossed1,000on number to help people contact —are the focus areas of the BMC. and offduring the lockdown. the riskofcontracting Covid-19. WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 5 THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY,MAY16,2020 THE OUTBREAK Maharashtra Onday1,over Three new Covid cases in Parbhani as Arthur 5,400orders Road jail cop, family travel to ‘green district’ May7,the guardand his family, Marathwada in ahired car. Mugalikar said. details of the jail teacher have CORONA SANDEEPASHAR who reside at the staffquarters on “As partofcontact tracing, we Afterone of hissons devel- been shared with the Beed MUMBAI,MAY15 itspremises, hadslippedout on have foundthat ajail teacher and opedfever aday later,the prison Collector.They’vealso been put WATCH placedforliquor May9and travelledtoParbhani’s his familyofthree had also trav- guardfirstvisitedalocal primary underobservation. Thedriverhas AFTER BEINGCovid-19freefor Jintur taluka in acar. elledinthe same car.Theygot health centrealone. The next day, been quarantinedatafacilityin STUDYONCOVID over 16 days,Parbhanidistrict re- “The policeman’s wifeand down at Beed. The driver, aresi- he and his familyvisitedagovern- Dombivali.” IMPACTONNGOs, portedthree positive cases on twochildren, aged 10 and five, dent of Shastri Nagarin ment-run rural hospital where The Parbhani Collector said he homedelivery Friday, with the local administra- have testedpositive forthe virus,” Dombivali,wentbackafterdrop- their throat swabs were taken would be writing to Arthur Road SOCIALENTERPRISES tion pinning the blame on au- said Mugalikar, whohas nowde- ping the policeman and his fam- and sent fortesting at aNanded jailauthoritiesover theviolation. thorities inMumbai.Allthe three mandedaprobe as to howthe ilytoSevdi village inJintur taluka, laboratory. The initial report, BeforeFriday, therewereonly Mumbai: TheJasaniCentre Nine out of 10 orders from Nagpur,Latur cases belong to the familyofa policeman and his familywere wheretheyown afarmhouse,” whichcame Thursday, found the twoknown cases of coronavirus of Social Entrepreneurship Mumbai policeman, who had al- permittedto travel from ahotspot Mugalikar said. policeman negative forthe coro- reportedinthe district. Even the &Sustainability tificates to the delivery boys.In legedly violated lockdown rules to agreen zone severalhundred To ward offCovid-19scare, navirus. Asubsequent report, twopatientswereoutsiders,who Management, NMIMS, EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE some other cases, shopowners andslippedout of acontainment kilometres away without being the district has formedGram confirmedbythe public health had travelledtothe district, conducted an online study MUMBAI,MAY15 said theyhavefound it difficult zone. stopped. Suraksha Dal or villageprotection officials Friday, found his wifeand Mugalikar said. on ‘Impact of Covid-19on to recruit additional staff,” said According to Parbhani Lockdown rules in groups, comprising local resi- twochildren were positive. Parbhani’s GuardianMinister NGOs and social enter- THREE DAYS afterthe stateper- Umap, adding the activity is be- Collector DMMugalikar,the po- Maharashtraprohibit inter-dis- dents, who aretaskedwith keep- “We’vesealedthe primary NawabMalik,when contacted, prises’.The study was mitted home delivery of alcohol ing monitored at the district liceman is aprison guardatthe trict travel. Forholders of special ing atab on vehicles arriving from health centre. The rural hospital, also expresseddispleasure over basedon30NGOs, not-for- to avoid overcrowding outside level. Mumbai’s Arthur Roadjail where transit passes andthose involved outside. “Thecar did nothavea too, has been sealed. The positive the development. “How washe profit and for-profit social liquor shops, 5,434 orderswere Asenior stateofficial said the 158inmates and 26 jail staffhave in essentialservices,norms allow transit pass.When thevillage patientsand the policeman have allowed to move outofthe con- enterprises operating in placedinMaharashtraonFriday, firstday’s trend wasonexpected tested positive,sofar. onlytwo people to travel in acar. group had confronted the prison all been isolated at thedistrict’s tainmentzone? I’ll raise this mat- Maharashtra. According to the firstday.Ofthis,88per cent lines. “Weexpect home deliver- While the state government But Mugalikar said that police- guardatthe checkposterectedat civil hospital. We’vedeclared the terwiththe authoritiesandstate’s the study,around 67 per of the orders were receivedfrom ies to be amorepopular option had cordonedoff the jail prem- man’sfamilyandfour othershad the village’s entrypoint,hehad villageasacontainment zone Home Minister(Anil cent of organisationswere the districts of Nagpurand Latur. in the cities. In semi urban and ises, acoronavirus hotspot, on travelledfromMumbai to flashedhis identification card,” now,”said Mugalikar.“Contact Deshmukh),” Malik said. able to mobilise resources StateExcise Commissioner rural belts, wherethereisnot to provide relief measures. Kantilal Umap said: “Of the total, muchcrowding, we feel people Around 50 per centofor- Nagpur alone accounted for willprefergoingtoshops,”the ganisationswerefound to 2,700 orders. Latur sawanother official said. be engaged in taking care 2,100orders being placed.” The excise department is of the basic requirements Almost95per cent of the orders hoping that stores in Mumbai of the vulnerable commu- were forpurchase of hardliquor, areallowedtoresume liquor nities.Asper the study,83 he added. sales soon. “Home deliveries per cent of organisations Fornow,the Nagpur and should pickupalot moreonce said Covid-19had im- Latur municipal corporations, Mumbaiand othermunicipal pacted them significantly. both of whichpermitted liquor corporations in Mumbai Morethan 50 per cent of sales forthe firsttime on Friday, MetropolitanRegion allowthe executives fearedtheymay have restricted sales to homede- same,” said asenior official. experience areduction in liveries only. “This wasalso one Parbhani, another district grant in aid supportfrom of the reasons forthe high num- thatisyet to allowliquor shops the government as well as berofbookings in these dis- to open,has decidedtoonlyper- corporates. tricts,” said an official. mit home deliveries from May While retail liquor shops are 18.The local administration has MUTOTEACHERS: nowrunning in 26 of the 36 dis- made prior registrations manda- trictsinthe state, home delivery tory forall those who want to FORMULATEONLINE orders in other areas were few place orders. CONTENTFOR40% and farbetween on the firstday. Till Fridayevening, records “It is still early days.Therewere showthat4,935 liquor vends – OFSYLLABUS some teething issues. In some 530 wine shops, 2,129beer mofussil areas, wine and beer shopsand 1,938 country liquor Mumbai: The University of shops had difficulty in locating a shops–wereoperationalinthe Mumbai (MU) has asked doctor who can issue fitness cer- state. teachersto formulate online content fornearly 40 per centofthe syllabus.“Since muchofthe academic ses- Govt tellsprivate DENSELY PACKED sion will be lost, we have asked teachers to prepare Migrant workers on the Nashik-Indorehighway (left), trying to online module foratleast hospitals to reserve maketheir waybackfromMaharashtratovillages in Uttar Pradesh, 30-40 per cent of the syl- Biharand Jharkhand. (Above)Peoplestand in queue at Thane to labus by May17. We have boardMSRTC busesplyingtoUttar Pradesh and MadhyaPradesh conductedtwotrainingpro- 60 per cent beds borders. Nirmal Harindran&DeerajJoshi grammes on howtogo about it and will also be training the non-teaching for Covid patients facultymembers on use of Collectors empowered digitalplatforms.Sincegov- Pawar writes to PM, seeks ernment officers have Mumbai closeto1,000cases perday hintedtoascenario where to take possession of 50percentof thestaffcould be askedtoworkfrom EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE higherMSP for sugar home,we aregearingupfor MUMBAI,MAY15 buildings, designate them thechallenge,”MUpro-vice chancellor Ravindra EVENAScases in Maharashtra Criticises Centre’s Aatmanirbhar Bharatpackage as temporary prisons Kulkarnisaid. Universityof- rose to 29,100 on Friday, or one- ficials also said that it was thirdofthe country’s burden, Cooperative Sugar Factories morethan30lakh farmers suedinaccordance with Section staring at financialprob- health officials said therewas a EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE Federation, also enclosedrecom- whose livelihooddepends on the SUSHANTKULKARNI 7ofPrisons Act, 1984,whichper- lemsdue to an uncertainty slight improvement in the dou- MUMBAI,MAY15 mendations of the federation procurement and payments PUNE,MAY15 tainsto ‘Temporaryaccommoda- overreceivingrevenuefrom bling rate.From10days, cases are while raising the concerns re- from sugar mills. According to tion forprisoners’ in case of over- admissions, exam fees and nowdoublingin11 days.Mumbai, NCPPRESIDENT Sharad Pawar lated to the sector. statecooperative department THESTATEHomedepartmenton crowding endangering safetyof other sources. ENS withmaximumcasesinIndia,has Achildofamigrant worker has written to Prime Minister In the letter,Pawar calledfor data, 528.34 lakh tonnes of cane Fridayissuedanotificationgiving prisoners or an outbreak of epi- 17,671 Covid-19 cases.Itrecorded doses offwhile the family Narendra Modiseekinganin- making provision of funds for has been crushedtill thefirst powersto districtcollectorsinthe demicdisease within jail prem- 933freshcasesonFriday. Thecity waitsfor atrain from crease in minimum support clearing export incentivesand week of April. At least 146mills statetotakeprovisional posses- ises. is close to reporting over1,000 Mumbai to Uttar Pradesh. price (MSP) forsugar ranging bufferstock expenses pending participated in crushing, includ- sionofgovernment or privately- Itreads,“Thedistrictcollectors AmitabhGupta cases aday,officials said. Prashant Nadkar from Rs 3,450 to Rs 3,750 with since 2018-19and 2019-20. He ing 79 cooperative millsand 67 ownedbuildings and designate have been empoweredtotake Mumbai took twomonths to grade-wise increment and also urgedthe Centre to increase private ones. themastemporaryprisons,which possession of governmentorpri- resumes work recordthefirst7,061 cases.Inonly pitchedfor treatingsugar mills’ the MSP of sugar ranging from Rs On Friday, Pawaralsotookto can be used forisolatingsections vate buildingsfortheiruseastem- 15 days of May, it recordedover distilleries as strategicbusiness 3,450 to Rs 3,750 with grade- Twitter to criticise the agricul- of prisoners to avertspreadofin- porary prisons to stop spread of Mumbai: Principal Secretary 10,000 cases. Maharashtranow 29,100 units(SBUs). In atweet,healso wise increment and consider tural packageannouncedbythe fection among the prison coronavirusinsidetheprison.The (Home) Amitabh Gupta,who has atotal of 29,100cases with criticisedthe Aatmanirbhar provisionofone-time grant of Rs Centre.“Disappointedwith the populationduring the Covid-19 setforrules,termsandconditions wassent on forced leave pend- 1,068deaths while Mumbai has Bharat packageannounced by 650 per tonne on averagecane Atmanirbhar agricultural pack- pandemic. forthemanagementof thesetem- ing inquiryafter allegedly help- 17,371 cases with 655 deaths. TOTALPOSITIVECASES Union Finance MinisterNirmala crushed during the lasttwo ageannouncedtoday.The pack- Thenotification followsdetec- poraryprisonsistobeissuedby ing the Wadhawanbrothers to With cases increasing rapidly INMAHARASHTRA Sitharaman on Friday. years. ageshould have been announced tion of over 180positive cases theAdditionalDirectorGeneralof evadelockdown, resumedoffice and public hospitals already In his letter to Modi,sent on Among other measuressug- keeping in mind the losses in- among the inmates and staffof Police (Prisons and Correctional on Friday.The officer wassent on workingto theirfullcapacity,state Number of deaths 1,068 Thursday,Pawar soughtthe gested included conversion of curreddue to lockdown. No word Arthur Road Jail, and another case Services) of Maharashtra.” forced leave on April 10 and an HealthMinisterRajesh Tope on Totalnumber of people Centre’s “urgent intervention” to outstanding working capital into on restructuring of agri loans, in Byculla Jail. Earlier,the state AnofficerfromthestatePrison inquirywas ordered againsthim. Fridaydirected private hospitals discharged 6,564 bail the industryout from the cri- short-termloan and reschedul- moratorium on agri loans and re- government has already an- department said, “There is apos- The probereporthas allegedly to reserve60per centbedsfor sis nowaggravated by the lock- ing all term loans for10years duction in interestrates forfarm- nouncedthat it will temporarily sibility that morethan one build- said he should be more careful Covid-19patients. Number of people tested down. with amoratorium of twoyears ers,” he tweeted. release over 17,000 inmates, ingsinadistrictcanbedesignated in futurewill exercising his “Currently, private hospitals 2.50 lakh In April,Pawar has written on thelinesofMitra Committee Pointing out thattherewas whichishalf the pre-lockdown as atemporaryjail if needed. powertoprovide authorisation have reserved lessthan 25 per Totalnumber quarantined thrice to the PMhighlighting recommendations. The NCPchief no clarity in the financialaid for population of prisons in Thesebuildingswillbeutilisedfor letters. Lastmonth, Gupta had centbedsfor patients. Theyare 16,306 problemsfacedbythe migrants also said the government should the kharifseason, he said, “There Maharashtra. isolation if some peopleshow handedoveraletter to Kapil treatingemergencycaseslikede- and unorganisedworkers’ prob- treat sugar mills distilleriesas is no clarity on financial aid for Till now, of thetargeted17,000 symptoms and asection of pris- Wadhawanand Dheeraj Number of newcases 1,576 livery,heartailment, stroke,acci- lems and agriculturesector,and SBUs and on astandalone basis, the ensuing kharif season and releases, over 7,000 have been onershasto beisolatedandtested. Wadhawan, accusedinthe Yes dentand dialysis.Wehave asked seeking an economic packagefor banksshould finance ethanol also no relief forlosses incurred completed, including undertrials Thiswillalsomakeavailablemore Bank alleged fraudcase, which them to reserve60per cent beds and Mulund. them. projectssanctionedunderthe in- by horticultural crop growers. who have been released on bail spaceinsidetheprisonsforbetter allowedthem to go from forCovid-19patients,” Tope said “Wecan quarantine at least The former Union agriculture terest subvention scheme an- This announcement appears like and convictswho have been re- separation.Thiswillhelptake the Khandala to Mahabaleshwar in astatement. onelakhpeopleinCovidcarecen- minister,who earlier held a nouncedbythe Centre in 2018. aFiveYear Plan and notarelief leasedonparole. loadoffofninecentralprisonsand along with their familymem- He indicated that thestate tres as on today. We have enough meeting the Maharashtra State The cash crop is cultivatedby packageaspublicised.” The notification has been is- individual districtprisons.” bers amid the lockdown. ENS governmentismullingpayingpri- bedsforasymptomaticandmildly vate hospitals fortreating coron- ill patients. We need morebeds avirus patients, although he did formoderatelyill and criticallyill notelaborateasadecisiononthis Covid-19 patients,” Tope said. Over 230 stranded Indians wait to get airlifted from Turkey remains pending. Twomeetingshave beenheld Of the17,671 casesinMumbai, this week,includingone with about70 percentremainasymp- Chief MinisterUddhav Thackeray, is notinthe list. from Alzheimer’s, depression ations to resume. “The flight fare emailedthe Indian Embassy and The IndianEmbassy,he tomatic, while 27 per cent are to discuss howprivate hospitals TABASSUM “When we leftfor Turkey for and high blood pressure. “My fa- as per the embassyisthree times reachedout to thegovernment. added, has givennoclarity on moderatelysymptomatic and 3 can participateintreating Covid- BARNAGARWALA afamilyholiday, we inquired ther has severe healthproblems, the normal fare.Manysaid they “The replyweget is ‘bepatient’,” when theycan return home. “We per cent critical. By next week,a 19 patients.Of 34deathsreported MUMBAI,MAY15 with alot of agents. Everyone has four stentsand partial eyevi- cannotaffordit. But while most she said. were told Turkey willbeonlistof 1,008-bed facility is slated to be- in Mumbai, civic officials said 10 told us it wassafetotravel. Then, sion. Everyday,hetells us to re- of us areready to pay, Istanbul is Mehraj Abdul Rahim was 32 countries in the second phase, gin in Bandra KurlaComplex for deathswererecorded between AFAMILYofseven, includingtwo therewas justone Covid-19case turn home,”Amitsaid. Thefam- notinthe listofcountries from travellingwith his friend to but thathas nothappened.” moderatelyand mildlyill Covid- May10and May12. senior citizens, remains stranded there,” said Mahek Jain (21). ily, whichalso includedAmit’s whereIndians arebeingair- Africa from India in March when “This pandemic will con- 19 patients.Worktostartanother Across statetherewere49 in Turkey since twomonths TheyreachedTurkeyonMarch 70-year-old mother,his wifeand lifted,” Amit said. theywerestoppedintransit at tinue...Ithas been twomonths, 500-bedICUunitinBKCisunder- deaths. Thereweresix deaths in awaiting the Indian govern- 14.Two days later,the Indian twoother children, is at present “The Covid-19 casesare ris- the Istanbul airport. “My African the government has to help us,” wayforthosewhorequireoxygen Pune,twoinAkola,twoinKalyan- ment’s nod to getairlifted. government announceditwill residing in Istanbulinarented ing hereaswell.Weonlystepout visa expired on March 31.We Rahim said. The WhatsApp support.WorkinJJhospitalprem- Dombivali, twoinDhule, and one Theyare among around 230 stop all international flightsfrom accommodation. to buy groceries twice aweek,” stayed in quarantine facility for group has awoman member, isestostart a500-bed facility for eachinPanvel, Jalgaon, and Indians in Istanbul waiting to re- March 22. The Indian Embassy has cre- he added. 14 days in Istanbul. Afterthat we who had comewith her hus- moderatelyill patientsisunder- Aurangabad. At least1,473 con- turn home. Mahek’s father AmitJain (50), ated aWhatsApp groupof The familysaid Turkish were askedtoliveonour own. band on week-longhoneymoon. way. A1,000-bed facility is ready tainment zones areactive where However, under the Vande acharteredaccountant, said the Indians strandedinTurkey. Airlinesoperated twoflights on We do nothaveaTurkish visa. She losther father on May1but in NESCO,Goregaon. Thegovern- hotspotshave beendetected,and Bharat Mission, while Indians lastflight from Istanbul to India While at least280 Indians are April 28 to Mumbai and Delhi to SinceApril, Iamstaying in aho- could notreturn. Another man ment is also going to open more 3.29 lakh peopleremain in either from 12 countries have been res- wasonMarch 18.Theycould not currentlystrandedinTurkey, bring backits citizens. Mahek, tel... almostall my moneyisfin- on the group said his wifeis jumbo facilities in WorliDairy home quarantine or institutional cuedand morefrom32coun- boarditastheywereinKusadasi. over 50 people have decidedto who is going to appear forher fi- ished. We have spent$4,000till pregnant but he has no means area,Dahisar,Nehruplanetarium, quarantine. tries areset to be airlifted, Turkey Amit’s 80-year-old father suffers wait forcommercial flight oper- nal CA exams,said theyhave now,”hesaid. to return. WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 6 THE OUTBREAK NATION THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY,MAY16,2020 Bhopal gravediggers work in advance as deaths mount KARNATAKA PM’s ideaofselt-reliance Centre to states: Bhopal:Withthenumberof Covid-19cases tims.PatientsdyinginHamidiaandChirayu Returning migrants not isolationist but inBhopalrisingeveryday,acommitteethat Hospitalsarebroughtstraightto ourgrave- manages agraveyard in the city has dugup yard.,’’ committeein-charge Rehan Golden of an internationalist severalgravesinadvanceto facilitatespeedy said. According to aandistrict administra- Ensure migrants burials. The Jhada KabrastanCommittee in tion officer,when the graveyardin-charge pushupcase count India, says Foreign Secy old Bhopal got 12 pitsdug usingamachine foundout he would be chargedfor the en- borrowedfromthe Bhopal Municipal tireday forthe use of the machine, regard- The return of hundreds of Corporationfivedaysago.“Othergraveyards lessof thenumberof gravesdug,hedecided EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE people afterrelaxation in travel SHUBHAJITROY don’t walk home have refusedtoaccept bodies of Covid vic- to use it formultiple ones. ENS BENGALURU,MAY15 restrictionshasstartedstretching NEWDELHI, MAY 15 the infrastructureput in place to special trains amongstmigrant KARNATAKA IS witnessing a tackle the outbreak. IN Abid to assuage concernsofthe international DEEPTIMANTIWARY workers and persuade/counsel surge inCovid-19casessinceMay On Thursday, 7,195samples community,Foreign SecretaryHarsh Vardhan NEWDELHI,MAY16 them that theyshould notbe 8,whenpeoplestrandedinother were testedin38labsinthestate, Shringla on Fridaysaid Prime MinisterNarendra walking when theycan travel in partsof thecountryandtheworld the highestinadayand close to Modi’s ideaof“self-reliant” India does notmean EVEN AS thousands of migrant buses/trains.” startedreturning to the state. Of the full capacity. that India will seek “self-centred”or“isolationist” workers continue to walk backto On May11, theCentre had the 351cases reportedsinceMay “Thereare 38 labs thatcan arrangements. their homes in other states from written on similarlinestostates, 8,peoplereturningto thestateac- conduct around 200tests aday. Rather,hestressedthat a severalpartsofthecountry, inthe expressing concern over migrant count for148. We areataround7,000testsaday self-reliant India will be amore“internationalist middleof limitedtrainsandbuses workers walking on roadsand Accordingto thestate’s dash- whichisabig jumpfrom500 a India”. beingrunfortheirmovement,the railway tracks.Ithad asked states board, Karnataka has reported dayinApril.Wehopetohave60 Shringla, who gave avirtual address to the CentreonFridaysaid it is the re- to counsel these people and take 1,056 casesand 36 deaths so far. labs in place by May31and this National Defence Collegeon‘India’s Foreign sponsibility of the states to per- them to nearbyshelters. Earlier, Speaking on those returning will greatlyenhance capacity,’’ PolicyOptions in the EmergingWorld Order’ on suade migrantworkers to not Home MinisterAmitShahhad testing positive,state minister said Prof VRavi, head of the neu- Friday, said,“Economic diplomacy,the diplomacy walk,and facilitatetheir travel by written to West Bengal, pointing Suresh Kumar said,“Theywere rovirology lab at The National of globalisation through regimes suchasthe G20 Shramik special trains. This is the outthatitwasstallingmovement kept inquarantineassoonasthey InstituteofMental Healthand and WTO, and linking up withglobal capital and thirdtime the Centrehas re- of trains formigrants. returned. Theyweretestedin NeuroSciences and amentor for technology flows is amajor focusarea. mindedstatesoftheir responsi- Inthelatestcommunique,the quarantine.” the labs in Karnataka. “As we remain engaged globally, we also need bility towardsmigrant workers. MHA has remindedthe states of to become atma-nirbharorself-reliant, as the PM In alettertothe states and itsMay 11 letter:“In theletter,the observedinhis address to the nationrecently, to Union Territories, Union Home situation of migrant workers recoverfromthe current crisis. We do not, how- SecretaryAjayBhalla wrote, “As walking on the roads and on rail- ever,seek self-centeredorisolationist arrange- youare aware, Government has waytrackswashighlightedandit mentswhen we speak of self-reliance. Aself-re- allowedmovementofmigrant wasadvised that in case theyare liant Indiawill automaticallybeamore workers by buses and ‘Shramik’ found in suchcondition,they internationalistIndia.” special trains to enable them to should be appropriatelycoun- On Tuesday, PrimeMinisterModi had an- travel to their native places. It is seled,takentonearbysheltersand nouncedthat India’s combinedeconomic pack- nowtheresponsibilityofallStates providedwithfood, water, etc.till agewould be worth Rs 20 lakh crore, or 10 per and Union Territories to ensure suchtimetheyare facilitatedto cent of GDP,whichwould makeIndia self-reliant that movement of strandedmi- boardthe ‘Sharmik’ special trains and position it forthe postCovid-19 world. grant workers who arewilling to or buses to theirnative places. Finance MinisterNirmala Sitharaman on go to their home States is facili- However, movement of migrant Wednesdaysought to clear the air around PM’s tated. States/UTsshould widely workerswalkingonroads,railway self-reliance call, saying it does notmean India disseminatethearrangementsfor tracks andtravelling in trucks is will lookonlyinwards. travel in special buses/’Shramik’ still beingnoticed...”

GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH REVENUE (DM) DEPARTMENT As Bollywood, halls bleed, ANDHRA PRADESH DISASTER RECOVERYPROJECT WORLD BANK CREDIT NO: 5694-IN IFB No.: 03 to 4/APDRP/2020 Dated 01.05.2020 another cut: two films CORRIGENDUM-1 Activity Name :Suppy,Installation, Commissioning and Operation of Multi-Touch Video Wall for the State Emergency Operation Centre of choose online release APSDMA. Prime Video over the next three In partial modification of bidding schedule, the bid document is available ALAKASAHANI months and will be available in in www.eprocure.gov.in from 18.05.2020, 15.00 Hrs. Sd/- MUMBAI,MAY15 200countries. ZEE5 willstream RO No.: 54PP/CL/ADVT/1/1/2020-21 Project Director,APDRP comedy-drama Ghoomketu,fea- ALMOSTTWO months intothe turing Nawazuddin Siddiqui and coronavirus lockdown and the Anurag Kashyap, on May22asits GOVERNMENT OF ODISHA unprecedented disruption in the Eid offering. OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER, filmbusiness,thestraincausedby ManishGoswami,vice-presi- P.H. CIRCLE, NAYABAZAR, CUTTACK-753004 the mammoth commercial set- dentofProducers Guild of India, C-13 Ph. No.- 0671-2440841, Fax- 0671-2440841, back is evident as producers of said: “Some producers areready Email: [email protected] some of the mostanticipated to wait.Some arewilling to com- NATIONAL COMPETITIVE BIDDING THROUGH e-Procurement movies have decidednot to wait promise with their profit and go Invitation For Bids (IFB) No. SEPHCTC-01/2020-21 Dtd. 13.05.2020 fortheir theatrical release and in- fordigital release. It is an individ- Sl. Name of the work Estimated cost stead optfor their ‘world pre- ual choice. Theyshould be al- No. (Approx) miere’ on OTT platforms. This, lowedtodoso. It is tough to cal- 1. Water supply to uncovered areas at Soubhagya Nagar, R186.18 lakh however, hasnotgonedownwell culatehow muchloss the Tamrit Colony in Ward No.12 &16ofAngul Municipality under DMF Fund for the year 2019-20. with some topexhibitors. producershaveincurred, the Some of the much-awaited amount would be massive as 1. Date &time of availability of :- 11.00 hours of dt.21.05.2020 to bid document in the portal 17.30 hours of dt.04.06.2020 summer releases,including thereare so manymovies in pre- 2. Last date /time of receipt of :- 04.06.2020 upto 05.30 P. M. ShoojitSircar-directed Gulabo production, production and bids in the portal Sitabo featuring Amitabh ready-to-bereleasedstage.” 3. Date &time of opening of bids :- 05.06.2020 at 12.30 P.M. Bachchan and Ayushmann Criticisingthe decision to re- 4. Name and address of the :- The Superintending Engineer, Khurrana, Anu Menon-directed lease big-ticket Gulabo Sitabo on Officer Inviting Bid P.H. Circle, Nayabazar, Shakuntala Devi whichhas Vidya astreamingplatform, INOXina Cuttack-753004, Odisha, Balan in the titular role, are statementsaid on Thursdaythat Ph. (0671) 2440841, headedfor aworld premiereon such amove“paint these content email: [email protected] Amazon Prime Video. Five other producersasfair-weather Further details can be seen fromthe web site Indian films —legal drama friends”. PVR, too, expressed dis- www.tendersodisha.gov.in Superintending Engineer, Ponmagal Vandhal featuring appointment. “Wewerehoping Public Health Circle, Cuttack, Jyotika, KeerthySuresh-starrer that the Producers would accede OIPR-13029/11/0001/2021 Penguin (Tamil and Telugu), to ourrequesttohold backtheir Sufiyum Sujatayum (Malayalam), film’sreleasetillcinemasreopen,” Law(Kannada)andFrenchBiryani said Kamal Gianchandani,CEO, (Kannada) —will premiereon PVR Pictures. GURU HARGOBIND THERMAL PLANT, LEHRA MOHABBAT DISTT. BATHINDA (PUNJAB)-151111 Corporate Identity Number: U40109PB2010SGC033813

e-Tendering website: https://eproc.punjab.gov.in The Indian EXPRESS NOTICE INVITING TENDER (Through E-tendering) Tender EnquiryNo. 28/MM-I/TGP/O&M/GHTP/2020 SHORTDESCRIPTION: Routine,Preventive, Breakdown Maintenance BUSINESS and Overhauling Jobs (Mechanical Jobs) of Boiler Feed Pumps, Condensate Extraction Pumps,CWPumps,Vacuum Pumps,Turbine Aux POULTRY Cooling Water Pumps,BACWPumps,Boiler fill Pumps,Hotwell MakeUp Pumps,Stator Water MakeUpPumps,ACW Pumps,SGDMCW Pumps, TGDMCW Pumps,TGCycle MakeUpPumps etc. of 2x210MW and VENCOBBVENCOBB Ex-Farm 2x250MW Units of GuruHargobind Thermal Plant (GHTP),Lehra Yesterday’s price in Mohabbat foraperiod of One year. Pune Rs. 125/-. EMD: Rs. 1,30,000/- (Fixed Rs. One Lakh Thirty Thousand only). Suggested Retail Price Lastdate &Time forbid submission :18.06.2020 upto 11.30 hrs. is Rs. 143/- Date &Time of opening of Feestage bid :22.06.2020 upto 12.00 hrs. 0070701559 Detailed NIT and specification can be downloaded from PSPCL web- SITUATION site: https://eproc.punjab.gov.in from dated: 18.05.2020 onwards. VACANT Note: 1. The prospectivebidders can obtain clarification regarding tender specifications from this office.For Registration of Digital Signatures AWELL- ESTABLISHED and uploading of tender information maybesought from M/s.GePNIC URBAN CO-OP.BANK Contact No.91-(120)-4001002/5. invites applications for the 2. It is informed that in case tender process is not completed due to any following posts : reason, no Corrigendum will be published in News papers.Details (1) CHIEF EXECUTIVE regarding Corrigendum maybeseen on PSPCL Official website i.e. OFFICER : https://pspcl.in. Sd/- Superintending Engineer/O&M, Adynamic, result oriented Mechanical Mtc. Circle-I, with 15 years experience in GHTP,Lehra Mohabbat, the domain of Credit, GHTP-28/2020 Distt. Bathinda-151111 (Punjab) Treasury,Recovery and C-853/Pb. HR. The candidate must be aGraduate/Post Graduate INSTITUTE OF MATHEMATICS &APPLICATIONS with CAIIB/MBA/LLB. (Government of Odisha) (2) FREELANCE Andharua, Bhubaneswar- 751029 CAD-36 PROGRAMMERS : For add ons to its software, ADMISSION NOTICE FOR THE ACADEMICYEAR 2020-21 use of social media, etc. The Institute of Mathematics and Applications is apremier Institute of learning in Mathematicsand allied (3) EDP OFFICERS : subjectsunder the Science and Technology Department, Government of Odisha. Itsprogress is monitored To take care of its IT and by abody of renowned world class academicians. Itsserene environment and free atmosphere provide Core Banking Services, perfect setting for aprofessionally rewarding educational experience. Studentsare selected through all India Interested candidates may entrance test and nurtured by competent teachers. The institute offers the following courses for the academic send their resume within 10 session 2020-21. The details of procedure, fees, centers of entrance testsetc. will be available in the website days along with copies of www.iomaorissa.ac.in from 19.05.2020 testimonials to : 1. B.Sc. (Hons) in Mathematics and Computing (Three years course) [email protected] Eligibility for Application: Candidate must have passed/appeared Higher Secondary Examination or equivalent from any stream with Mathematics and English as asubject. ''IMPORTANT'' 2. M.A/M.Sc. in Computational Finance (Two years course) Whilst care is taken prior to Eligibilityfor Application: Candidate must have passed/appearedBachelor’s Degreewith acceptance of advertising Mathematics/Statistics as asubject. copy,itisnot possibleto 3. M.A/M.Sc. in Mathematics with DataScience (Two years course) verify its contents. The Indian Express (P.) Limited cannot be Eligibility for Application: Candidatemust have passed/appearedBachelor’s Degree with held responsible for such Mathematics/Statistics as asubject. contents, nor for any loss or damage incurred as aresult of transactions with Important Dates companies,associations or individuals advertising in its newspapers or Publications. Date of availability of application forms and prospects:19.05.2020 We therefore recommend Last date of availability of application forms and prospectus :03.07.2020 that readers make necessary inquiries before sending any Last date of receipt of completed application form :03.07.2020 monies or entering into any Date of entrance test :29.07.2020 agreements with advertisers Tentative date for announcement of result :10.08.2020 or otherwise acting on an advertisement in any manner Sd/- DIRECTOR whatsoever. OIPR-28006/11/0001/2021 WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY,MAY16,2020 @ieExplained #ExpressExplained 7 TheOutbreak If thereare questions of current or contemporaryrelevancethat you E EXPLAINED would likeexplained, please [email protected]

CORONAVIRUS DASHBOARD AN EXPERT EXPLAINS THE WORLD 238,001 175,233 223,885 146,457 Lockdown-unlockdown debate United Kingdom Germany Italy Turkey Facedwith apandemic as well as astruggling economy, policymakers aregrappling with difficult choices 178,994 on relaxing lockdown restrictions. Jaipur city’s nodal Covid officer describes the factors to be considered France 262,843 1,427,867 Russia US 116,635 Iran 208,031 Brazil 230,183 Spain TOTALCONFIRMED: 4,500,476 DEATHCOUNT:304,835 Ajitabh Sharma Source: Johns Hopkins University,updated at 11 pm on May15

IN THE midstofthe risingnumbersofpeople getting infected and dyingfromthe novel coronavirus, voices in favour of reopening Cleaner China air saved more social andeconomic activities arealso be- coming louder. lives than Covid killed: Study With the number of positive cases across the countryhaving crossed80,000,and with LOCKDOWNS AROUND the world, ding changes in the same periods (lu- morethan 2,600people dead, policymakers enforcedwith the objective of slow- nar calendar) for2016to2019. aregrappling with difficult choices. The ing the spread of Covid-19, have also Accounting forthese earlier years economyisstruggling on all fronts, from sky- visiblyreducedair pollution.How helpedfactor in the already declining rocketing unemployment to nosediving fi- manylives have been savedasaresult pollution in China on account of the nancial resources, whichare vital to jump- of reducedpollution? Anew study country’s clean air policy.For calcu- starteconomic activities. has quantifiedthat forChina: an esti- lating the deaths preventeddue to re- Themassive migration of labour,and the mated 12,125 lives were savedduring ducedlevelsofthese twopollutants, numbersofstrandedpeople swarming the China’s countrywide ban on traffic the study usedequations basedonthe roads, will be one of the defining socio-eco- mobility between Februaryand to findings of another recent study. nomic eventsofour times—and govern- March 14.The study foundthat this is THE FINDINGS: Becauseofthe mentsfacethe challengeofresponding si- higher than the liveslostfromthe quarantine, nitrogen dioxide was multaneouslytogreat human miseryand a Migrant workers in Jaipur walk towardstheir respective hometowns and villages on Friday. Rohit Jain Paras pandemic —4,633asofMay 4. The found to have droppedby22·8 micro- risk-laden infection super-spreader event. paper waspublishedonWednesday grams per cubic metreinWuhan and The question of whether the pandemic in LancetPlanetary Health. 12·9 micrograms/per cubic metrein will scale down in the near futureornot,has ancing the aspectsofsocio-economic needs newCovid cases in the last14days in differ- solutenumbers, basedonthe baseline data, The researchers agreedthat the China, while PM2.5was found to have no definitive answer,and the closest one is, and the health emergency. ent areas of the city,while keeping the sam- whichthe Medical and HealthDepartment findings cannotbedi- droppedby1·4 micro- “It is notgoing to”. Whichimplies that one The Government of India has prudently ple collection size at alevel notbelowthe av- has collected since the emergence of the first rectlyappliedtoother grams/cubic metre hastolearn to live with it. Everyone has to categoriseddistrictsintored,orange, and eragesampling size of the last14days? positive case. countries due to differ- (Wuhan) and 18·9 mi- alsofeel and act moreresponsible towards green zones basedondemographic and dis- ■ Aminimum 40% of the ICU and hospi- Afterthe benchmarking of the above pa- ent levels of Covid-19 crograms /cubic metre everyone else, and be moredisciplined both ease prevalence-related details. States have talbed capacityshould be available during rameters, adynamic policy framework may severity,the varying re- (China). The improved sociallyand individually. to followthe directivesofthe Centre regard- this period. be created indicating the pointers foreasing sponses by govern- air qualityduring the Responsibility and discipline will bring ingthe various activities permissible in dif- ■ During the relaxed lockdown period, or pulling backofthe restrictions depending ments, and differing air quarantine period, cal- regulated restrictions in ourdailylives, from ferent zones. The statesare free to impose thereshallbeanarea-wise, well laid out on the slippageofthe cityonone or moreof pollution levels and PAPER culationsshowed, pre- social distancing, hygiene, and using masks stricter restrictions, but nottorelaxthe re- sampling and testing policy in place forthe the above setofcriteria. population characteris- vented 8,911 nitrogen to taking careofthe elderly andthose at high strictions laid down by theCentre. whole city.The policy plan shall have apre- The decision making would remain dy- tics. However, given dioxide-related deaths risk.The government,society,and our If the relaxing of the lockdown is consid- fixedminimum sample size threshold, and namic considering the natureofthe activi- that reducedair pollu- CLIP (65% of these from car- healthcaresystemwill have to becomemore ered as a‘problem-solving exercise’, govern- will layfocus both on the vulnerable cate- ties being regulated.Governmentswill have tion levels have been diovascular diseases responsive. mentsmay work upon characterising the gory andthe random sampling process. to exercise enoughcaution while easing or NEWRESEARCH observedin other coun- and COPD) and 3,214 The current debate on regulating the problem basedonanswering the following ■ Is thereadecline in the ILI (influence- imposing restrictions foratleastanother six tries aftertheyenforced PM2.5-related deaths lockdown restrictions and itsimpact on the parametric questions, depending on which like illness)and SARI (severe acuterespira- months to avoid anyfurther outbreaks. their respective lockdowns, this reduc- (73% from cardiovascular diseases economy, livesand livelihoods, is notonly decisions maybetaken: tory infections)cases identified in both ac- All said, the key to fight againstCovid re- tion in pollution has likelyconferred and COPD). going to occupyincreasing public space,but ■Is thereacontinuous decline in the rate tive andpassive surveillance during the mains the extensive use of masks, sanitisa- similar health benefits, the study’s first LIMITATIONS: The researchers is also settobecome moreargumentative as of hospitalisation of Covid patientsinthe last relaxed lockdown period? tion, hand washing, early reporting to the author Kai Chen, assistant professor at wrotethat their estimates should be well as moreobjective. 14 days (the incubation period of the virus)? ■ Aretheresufficient institutional quar- hospital and amassive awareness campaign. the Yale School of PublicHealth, said interpreted with caution because of Relaxing the lockdown withoutcompro- ■Is thereacontinuous decline in the rate antine facilities available on aready-to-move Foralong time to come, we will have to re- in astatement. the potential overlap between deaths mising the health securityofpeople is going of deaths of Covid patients in hospitals in the basis? duce our pointsofphysical interaction to the THE CALCULATIONS: The esti- causedbyPM2·5 and by nitrogen to become adaunting task forgovernments. last14days? ■Is thereasufficient inventoryofprotec- best extent possible. mates arebased on changes in daily dioxide, and the effect on mortality But benchmarking of some critical parame- ■ Aretherespikes in the number of tive equipment forthe healthcareworkers, (Ajitabh Sharma, IAS, is Nodal Officer COVID, concentrations of twoair pollutants rate causedbyhealthcaredisruptions. ters relatedtoCovid management can show deaths reporteddirectlytocremation and civiladministration and the general public? Jaipur City.This article is based on actual field expe- —nitrogen dioxide and PM2.5 —in Other authors of the paper included the wayforward.Itwill assistdecision-mak- burial grounds? The abovestrategicparameters need to rience. Viewsare personal.) 367Chinese cities from January1, researchers from the University at ers in bringing an element of flexibility —bal- ■ Is thereany rise in the emergence of be benchmarkedinpercentageterms or ab- 2016 to March 14,2020. The re- Buffalo School of PublicHealth and searchers calculated the changes in HealthProfessions, and Boston airquality in 2020 (during quarantine University School of Public Health. versus before quarantine), and com- If flights resume: study estimates outbreak risk pared these findings with correspon- KABIRFIRAQUE

The study agrees that rapid, non-labora- SUSHANTSINGH tory based methods of Covid-19infection de- INDIA COUNT: 81,970 (2,649 DEATHS) NEWDELHI,MAY15 HIGHEST-RISKAIRPORTS tection arestill lacking, and screeningrelies Airport Risk* on manifestation of symptoms (e.g.body RESTOFINDIA AIR TRAVEL is currentlyonholdtocheck the temperature). Hence, individuals with TOP10STATES AndamanandNicobarIslands 33 NewDelhi 0.496 ArunachalPradesh1 spread of Covid-19, but anew study of 1,364 asymptomatic or paucisymptomatic infec- airports worldwide has found that if flights Mumbai 0.446 tions maystill slip through even high cover- 1,935 Punjab Assam 87 Bihar994 resume, cases could spread unevenlyacross Bengaluru 0.273 agerates of screeningatairports,until newer Chandigarh 191 the globe, with manyofthe airports in India methods of screening aredeveloped”. 4,534 8,470 Delhi Chhattisgarh 60 Chennai 0.221 Rajasthan DadarNagarHaveli 1 and China posing the highestrisk forthe The study,‘Estimating COVID-19out- 3,902 UP Goa 14 spread. The study says India’s population Hyderabad0.198 break risk through air travel’, has been con- Haryana 818 density and frequent domestic travel put it Kolkata0.194 ducted by twopublic-health and environ- HimachalPradesh 74 JammuandKashmir983 at high risk foroutbreaksfrominfected pas- Ahmedabad 0.100 mental-science experts from TelAviv 4,426 sengersarrivingfromwithinthe country. University,who teamedupwith amathe- Jharkhand 197 Singapore0.526 9,591 MP 2,377 Karnataka987 The study estimates the risk forinitiating matician from the OxfordMathematical Gujarat Kerala 560 an outbreak at various airports, afterderiving Delhi’s IGI Airportwas estimated to Dubai 0.491 Institute. It has notyet been certifiedbypeer West Bengal Ladakh 43 Manipur 3 these values from variables suchaslocal pop- carry the highestrisk in India. PTI *Estimated risk forinitiating outbreak review. It produces amodel of Covid-19’s 27,524 Meghalaya 13 ulation density and basic reproduction num- spread using globalair travel data forOctober Maharashtra 2,205 Mizoram 1 ber. It estimates that the risk of initiating an —justbeforeasecond waveofCOVID-19 Andhra Pradesh Odisha 611 Puducherry 13 outbreak in India is highestatIndiraGandhi to India is from domestic travellers”, i.e.,the that the spread of Covid-19inEurope closely might be expected —assuming abroad re- 9,674 Tamil Nadu Telengana 1414 International AirportinNew Delhiat0.5,fol- largest risktoinitiate an outbreak arises from followedair travel patterns and that the se- sumption of flights,accounting forglobal air- Tripura 156 lowedbyChhatrapatiShivaji Airportat0.45 domesticflights,originatingwithinIndiaitself. vere travel restrictions implemented there travel patternsand populationdensities, as- Uttarakhand 78 and Kempegowda Airport in Bengaluru at Of the 10 highest-riskairports forIndia,eight resulted in substantial decreases in the dis- sumingviral spread is morelikelywhen one Union Health Ministryupdateasof11pm, May15. Some states/UTsmay have 0.27; globally the airportwith the highest arewithin the borders of India —the excep- ease’s spread. It emphasises that implemen- infected traveller lands in adense city than in reportedhigher numbers. Onlystates/UTswith at leastone case listedabove. risk to initiateanoutbreak is Beijing Capital tions being airports in Dubai and Singapore. tation of strict epidemiological control meas- asparselypopulated one. Airportat0.74, followedbyHongKong at Among the 20 highest-risk airports,the study ures to preventthe spread of Covid-19is Importantly, themodel in the study does 27,920 PATIENTS DISCHARGEDIN32STATES ANDUNION TERRITORIES 0.63 —Delhi is at fourth position globally, af- finds that15are locatedinIndia. likelynot to be feasible or timely, and sug- notappear to account forcurrent infection terSingaporeat0.53. While the study coveredairports glob- geststhat an additional layerofcontrol meas- rates—the difference betweenCovid-19’s Have aquestion on the COVID-19outbreak and what youshould/should notdo? Contrarytothe widelyheld belief that the ally, it specificallyfocusedonAfrica and India, ures, suchasthorough screening of infected prevalence in NewYorkand Kochi—but the [email protected] threat of coronavirus spread from air travel both potentiallyvulnerable locations for hosts,should be differentiallyimplemented study does drive homethe point that reopen- comes from international travel, the study spread of Covid-19. It complements the re- basedonanairport’s risk to initiateaCovid- ing of air travel will have different effectsin comes to the conclusion that the “highestrisk sultsofanother recent study whichshowed 19 outbreak. different cities. Courtstoday:virtualhearings,writtensubmissions,argumentsoverphone

Howhas Covid-19impacted thefunctioning of courts worldwide? SEEMA CHISHTI takesstock OTHER MEANS IS FUTURE VIRTUAL?

The US Supreme Courtishearing oral On April 16,the Hague Conference on INDIA: ONLINEHEARINGSINSC, HCs VIRTUAL COURTS IN OTHER COUNTRIES argumentsvia telephone. Private International Lawannouncedthe In Norway,acriminalcourtonlyread Guideto GoodPracticeontheUseof Video- The Supreme Courtand High Courts movingonline:“TheSupremeCourtofIndia The Organisation forEconomic Co-op- nology facilities. It has, however, made pro- written submissions(no one washeard) Link underthe 1970 EvidenceConvention. have resortedtovirtual courtrooms, argu- and all High Courtsare authorised to adopt eration and Development (OECD) esti- visionsforanyoneinsistingonin-personoral before passing an order in arapecase Acommunity setupduring the First ing that physical hearings arenot neces- measuresrequiredto ensuretherobustfunc- mates 4billion people worldwide areout- arguments.TheSouthAfricanandUgandan Courts in Germanycontinue to operate International Forum on Online Courts in saryfor meeting the constitutional stipu- tioningof thejudicialsystemthroughtheuse side the ambit of the law, lawyers and judiciaryisusingZoom,whileNewZealand physically, but the FederalCourtisclosed December 2018,with 300peoplefrom26 lation of “open” courts.Now,with 100 of video conferencingtechnologies; and courtrooms, yetthereisahugebacklogof isusingMicrosoftteamsforvirtualhearings. to outsiders. countries, has grownintoRemote Courts Mbps Internetspeed, advocates have been Consistent with the peculiarities of the judi- cases,withabout 80 million pendingin ACourtinNovaScotia, Canada, has France has restricted court work to cer- Worldwide. It has noteddigital courts in appearingworking from home on virtual cial system in everystate andthe dynami- Brazil and about 30 million in India. suggestedthat even tele-warrantsand tain categories of cases. Israel’sSupreme someformareoperationalinfive continents, screens, and some important cases have callydeveloping public healthsituation, Virtual courtshavebeen hearingcases PDFs be made acceptable. Courttoo had stoppedhearing non-urgent and full return to offlinemay be difficult. been heard. The Supreme Courtuses email everyHighCourtisauthorisedtodetermine in Brazil, UK, China, Singapore, Bangladesh, Zhang Wen, president of the Beijing matters, but from May3has startedhear- However, the TransparencyProject has and messaging services forfiling of mat- themodalitieswhichare suitableto thetem- Nigeria, Peru and Hungary. InternetCourt, announcedonMarch 10 ing morematters, including criminal flagged issuesregardingthe familycourt ters and conducting business. porarytransition to the use of video confer- South Africa’s Supreme Court has de- that virtual courts,tohave“asense of rit- cases. Argentina’s Supreme Courthad sus- and howfairitistoall parties with justvir- On April 6, the Supreme Court passeda encingtechnologies.”Districtcourtstoohave cidednot to holdany physical hearings in ual”, would have agavel andnational em- pendedall court activity but is nowpro- tual hearings. Other concerns include ac- seven-page orderexplainingthe reason for been directed to move to virtual courts. May. It is refurbishingits information tech- blem visible to all parties as theylogged in. viding aminimallevel of service. cess to reporting trials. WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY,MAY16,2020 WORDLY WISE My policyoncake is prohaving it 8 THE EDITORIAL PAGE and proeating it. —BORIS JOHNSON The Kashmir lockdowns

§ FOUNDED BY § RAMNATH GOENKA It is also imprisonedinintellectual,political, BECAUSE THE TRUTH INVOLVES US ALL constitutional, strategic andmoral lockdowns

FREEING THE FARM PratapBhanuMehta Government movestoamend laws holding backagriculture ON AUGUST5,2019, the republic of India was send out is clear.Eventhe slightest transgres- is trying to engineer “proDelhi” political areverywelcome. It mustfollowthrough quickly supposedtohavebrought the bright light of sion from the line of the Indian state, and you forces, perhaps backroom deals with older Indian constitutionalism to Kashmir. Instead, willbetreated likeaterrorist. Think of the mainstreampoliticians.But so longas HE THIRDTRANCHEofthe economic packageannouncedbyFinanceMinister it has created an even moreominous dark- chillingeffect it hasonaprofessionwhere you Kashmir remains amunicipality of Delhi, the Nirmala Sitharaman on Fridayfocusedonagricultureand alliedactivities and ness. The light of Indian constitutionalismis could bebrandedaterroristfor simplydoing humiliation of August2019will continue to had twosetsofmeasures: First, steps aimedatboosting credit flowtoparts itself dimming.The latestexhibitisthe Sup- your job, or worse, even an odd tweet. That rankle. Thereisnoautonomous political Tof the agri-ecosystem, thoughnot backedbysubstantial allocations.The sec- reme Court’s order in the petitions asking for the UAPA is nowbeing used in otherstatesis process in Kashmir, onlyDelhi engineered ond, andarguably the more substantive part of the announcementsrelated to the gov- restoration of 4G access in Kashmir.Byrefer- notacomfortingthought;itissimplyare- options. This is agame forwhichIndia has ring the matter backtoacommittee ledby minder that the authoritarianism we perfect paid the pricebefore. TheBJP nowdefines the ernment’s intention to amend the Essential Commodities Act, usher in agricultural mar- the home ministry, the courthas violated all in Kashmirwilldestroy allofus. national interestassynonymous with being keting reforms, and put in place alegal framework to facilitatedirect dealingsbetween principles of natural justice. It has created a The Indian government is itself tacitlyad- pro-BJP.Sothe rangeofpermissible political farmers and buyers —all of which, if implemented,could potentially deliversizeable re- newevil. It implies that the home ministry mitting militancy is growing again, nowin expression in Kashmirisalso being reduced. turnsinthe long term. While these reforms have been on the policyagenda foryears, the canbeplaintiff, judge, executioner,juryinits newareas likenorth Kashmir.But our narra- Kashmir does nothaveconstitutional redress NDAgovernment mustseize this opportunitytopushthem through. owncause.Itwill notbeheldtoaccount when tive is Janus-faced: To pronouncedomestic on basic rights,apolitical process that is free, Sitharaman announcedthe government’s intention to amend the Essential it abridges the liberties of Indian citizens. But policy as asuccess we attributethe rise in mil- or an administrative structurethatisnot an the order,and thecowardlylackofoutrage itancytoPakistan; to pronounce foreignpol- extension of Delhi. And then we aresurprised Commodities Act. The act, enacted in an eraofscarcity,isill-suited fortimes when the na- amongst India’s legal luminaries and elites, icy as asuccess we saythisishome-grown. that Kashmir is backonthe edge,when the tion is facedwith problems of plenty.Itimposes restrictions on holding of stocksand has willconvince everyKashmiri —ifany con- All the old fissures arecoming backagain with only futureinsight is an opaque darkness. disincentivisedprivate players from making investmentsinthe farm sector in warehous- vincing wasrequired —that Indian constitu- avengeance. Ayoung man dies,ostensiblyat Letuslook at it from the government’s ing and storage. This has thwartedthe creation of integrated value chains across the coun- tionalism willnot provide anyredress.The the hands of the CRPF,and the Valley is teeter- ownyardstick, whichissecurity.Will it achi- try. Thegovernment’s announcement of excluding food items suchascereals, edible oils, judgeswereoffensivelyinhumane.Theyalso ing on the edge again. Although notbeing re- eveanything forKashmiriPandits, in whose pulses, onions,and potatoes, and also doing away with stocklimits, is very welcome. As proved that,for Kashmir,the Indian After the sullen calm that we portedmuchinnational media,sporadic cit- name it continues to communalise adeep hu- Constitutionisnot aportal of hope, but the izens’ protestsare erupting again. The COVID man rightsproblem? Ask yourself asimple is the move to initiatemarketing reforms meant to provide morechoicetofarmers. This falsely interpreted as peace, oppressive dead end. the ground situation is lockdown is being seenasacoverfor the state. question: Is India strategicallymoresecurein move by the Centrecomes afterstatessuchasPunjab and Madhya Pradesh have recently The silverlininginthe pantomime pro- Militants’ bodies arebeing burieddiscreetly, Kashmir afterthe chest-thumping Balakot movedtoopen up agricultural marketing. While these initiativesbythe states mayhave ceedings in the Supreme Court wasthis. The getting more precarious. but thereisnocredible independent confir- operation? The answeris: No.After all, the been triggered by the needtorelieve thepressureonmandis in order to maintain social government’scase restedon admittingsome- Kashmir is being denied full mation that those being buriedare in fact mil- government is itselfsaying that the footprint distancing norms during the COVID pandemic, the Centre’s decision could permanently thing we arerarelyallowedtosay outaloud: digital connectivity. It is also, itants. Here, transparency and independent of cross-border terrorism has notgone down. alter the dynamics. As the situation exists today, farmers areboundtosell their produce That our Kashmir policy is pretty muchafail- through formal and informal monitoringofhuman rightscould shoreup All indications areitislikelytoincrease as su- onlytolicencees in APMCs. The Centre’s move could end their stranglehold over agricul- ure. The government wasitself, in effect, say- the state’scredibility. The idea thatdiscreet mmer approaches. Youcannotsolve Kashmir ing that Kashmir needs to be treated as if it means, being denied burials will somehowbreak the cycle of youth without aPakistanpolicy. Symbolic legal vic- tural trade. Put together,these twosteps will enable farmerstosell their produce to any- were awar zone.Thisisthe justification it freedom of the press. Theuse being inspired to take up arms is proving tories notwithstanding, we don’thaveone. one, and provide traders and organisedretailers the flexibility to procureand stockfood givesfor inhumanly deprivingKashmiris of of the UAPA against naïve. Quitethe contrary. We have givenup We made Pakistan’s job easier,not harder.But items. This could facilitateprivate investment in thesector,strengthening the farm-to-fork 4G access, even in the time of apandemic, journalists is anew lowina thepretence that the deep and profound es- moreominously, China is also nowpressur- chain, and benefiting both producers and consumers. Other announcementssuchasthe when suchconnectivity is necessaryfor basic trangement of youngpeople in Kashmir can ing India in the Ladakh sector.China and creation of alegal framework to enable farmerstoengagewith processors, aggregators, thingslikeeducation. state where censorship has be addressed. Thereisnostrategytoelicit Pakistanmay be perfidious. But ourstaged large retailers, suggestapush towardscontract farming. In ademocracy,thereisone simpleyard- been the norm. Themessage trust. Our onlystrategy is fear,fear and fear.It arrogance has also createdasituation where stickofmoral success.The morecontrolthe does nottakeageniustofigureout that this we arenow vulnerable on both frontsinaway The policy discourse over the pastseveral years has centred around the imperative to the state wants to send out is stateneeds to exercise, the morerepression it willonlydeepen the seething resentment, that is unprecedented in recent times. free Indian agriculturefromthe clutches of APMCs, amend the Essential Commodities Act, needs, and the morefreedom it abridges, the clear.Even the slightest and the death wish of so manyyoungpeople Thereare no easy solutions. But the trium- and encourageprivate investment in variousparts of the food chain. While governments moreunsuccessful that stateis. Kashmir is transgression from the line in Kashmir. phal silence in whichwehaveenvelopedthe in thepasthaveindicated their preference to carry out thesemuch-neededreforms, they notthe Potemkin paradise we staged for of the Indian state,and you Thereisno defensible articulation of our challengeinKashmir is ameasureofour delu- have shiedawaydue to political compulsions. The NDAgovernment should notlet go of European diplomats. Afterthe sullen calm will be treated likeaterrorist. endgame in Kashmir.Ifitistomakeavailable sions. The COVID lockdown mayhavebeen this moment to reform Indian agriculture. thatwefalselyinterpreted as peace,the freedoms and rightsofall Indian citizens,then precipitated by avirus. But the intellectual, ground situation is getting moreprecarious. Think of the chilling effectit censorship and constitutional humiliation political, constitutional, strategic and moral Kashmir is beingdeniedfull digital connectiv- has on aprofession where communicatethe contrary. If theendgame is lockdown with whichweare imprisoning ity.Itisalso,through formal and informal you could be branded a engineered demographic change, through Kashmir will produce moreviolence. It is also means,being deniedfreedom of the press. terrorist forsimply doing brutecoercion, we aresetting ourselves up aharbingerofthe futureofthe rest of India. BACKONTHE MOVE The use of the UAPA againstjournalists is a foralong and violent war. If theendgame is newlow in astate wherecensorship has been your job, or worse, even an anormal democratic political process, then The writer is contributing editor, the norm. The messagethe statewantsto odd tweet. we seemtobetoo cleverbyhalf. The Centre The Indian Express In reopening public transport, ensurethat services are made accessible to those who needthem most

NHIS ADDRESS to the nation on Tuesday, Prime MinisterNarendraModi indicated that Lockdown 4will be very different from the previous versions. Aday earlier,dur- ing his video conference with chief ministers, PM Modi had asked states forsug- RETRACING OUR STEPS Igestions on the economic activities thatshould be allowedafter May17. In re- sponse,the Delhigovernmenthas proposedaslewofbold measures,including re-opening markets and shopping complexeswithoutlets selling non-essential items functioning Nehru-Liaquat Pact is testimonytoanIndia-Pakistanrelationship less rancorous on an odd-evenbasis. Asignificant section of Delhi’s proposals pertains to public trans- port. These include a“limited”resumption of metroand bus services. Meanwhile, the Centreisalsoreportedly framing social distancing guidelines with aviewtoresuming Khaled Ahmed public transport. These aresteps in the right direction. Therules andguidelines for Lockdown 4mustfocus on the safemobility of peoplewho do notown personal vehicles. INDO-PAK ANIMOSITYHAS made alot of dled—with particular reference to making sion with sovereignty and suspicion of “ar- Amongstthe nations that have openedupafter asking people to stay at home forsev- peoplesufferover72years, defyingwisdom the minorities stay rather than leave —isa bitration”, India’spowerful civil service ad- eral weeks, China’sexample could be pertinent forIndia because of comparable demo- andstultifying growth in the region. Alot of highlight of the book.One mustnotehere visedagainstsigning the pact. Though what graphics. Wuhan, once the epicentreofthe pandemic, forinstance, resumedbus services it had to do with history,but alot is also due the“neat fit” the transfer aspired to when is important is that thetwo states actually to the inability to reconcile stateidentitywith yourealisethat neither the Bihari Muslims discussedit. in acalibrated manner —tobegin with, 30 per cent of the city’s fleetwas deployedand su- the needs of modern times. of Bangladesh nor the Urdu-speaking The mostremarkableachievement noted pervisors ensured that commuters followedsafetyprotocols. The Delhi government, too, History-writing became polarisedalong Muslims of Karachi have been allowedto“in- in the book is the Indus Waters Treatyof plans to operatebuses with 20-25 commuters. However, India’s traditional deficiencies in narrownationalisms till the twocouldn’t tegrate”. The book details the incongruity of 1960. The BJP might curse Nehru forhaving public transportcould compound the challenges of operating buses and metros at less than evendiscuss what estranged them.With the Hindu migrationfromEastBengal to signed it —Pakistanis toocursedGeneral optimum capacity.Eveninnormal times, Delhi’s bus fleet—about afourthofthatofBeijing Pallavi Raghavan’s book, Animosity at Bay: An Assam as well. Ayub forit—but the truth is that Nehru did —isshortby5,000buses. In suchasituation, transportauthorities will have to find ways to AlternativeHistory of theIndia-Pakistan Remarkably, thebook notes, the politi- extract from it the advantageofusing some Relationship, 1947-1952,you arecompelled cians engaged in the exercise were com- waterfromPakistan’s three “exclusive”west- makeoptimum use of scarce resources. In Delhi, the DTCmustcoordinatewith the metro to makeanefforttoarriveatadispassionate pletelyfreeofthe antipathyfor minorities ern rivers, Sindh,Chenab and Jhelum, for to plan routes —the twotransit systems mustcomplement eachother. viewofhow the twostatesbehaved in 1952. that yousee today. Animosity, indeed, was consumptiveuse, that is, agriculture. Delhi’s pitchfor the resumption of public transport, reportedly, restsonarangeofsafety This period sawIndia and Pakistanfacilitat- forlater times. Lookatwhat the Liaquat- Raghavannotes: “Nehru and Liaquat measures. Passengers will be requestedbymarshals and conductors to notboard buses ing atransfer of populations, rationalising bi- Nehru Pact promised: “Both governments were defining the Indo-Pakistani relation- carrying over 25 people. This approachisreasonable, to begin with —the dangers of over- lateral relationsafter the violence of Partition, Remarkably,the book notes, solemnlyagree that eachshall ensure, to the ship as one that wasadmittedly tense, but crowdingcannotbeoverstatedduringthepandemic.However, giventhe overwhelmingde- sorting out canal-water issues and evacuee minorities throughout itsterritory, complete one thatcould also be negotiated in inher- property disputes without thevenom you the politicians engaged in the equality of citizenship, irrespective of reli- ited frameworks of international relations, pendence of the workingclass on public transit systems, authoritieswillhavetobecreative see between them today. exercise were completely free gion, afull sense of security in respect of life, and the emphasis theyplacedonthe para- with the protocols. Buses in the Chinese city have earmarkedplaces wherepassengers can Can thetwo retracetheir steps andbe- of the antipathyfor culture, property and personal honour, free- mount capacity of the nationstate.” stand.Duringthepandemic, Indiancities,too, willhave to find ways to ensurethe availabil- come “normal”? Raghavanwishes to study minorities that you see domofmovement withineachcountryand Today, India under Prime MinisterNare- ity of public transportfor people who use it the most, without compromising on safety. “the ways in whichthe legacy of aPartition freedom of occupation, speechand worship, ndraModi can layclaim to thestatus of pri- can provide forproductive spacesofinnova- today. Animosity, indeed, subject to lawand morality.” mus inter pares, or firstamong equals, in So- tion forastate”. She looksintothe collabo- wasfor later times. Look at Prime MinisterJawaharlalNehru wanted uth Asia on the basis of itseconomy. Pakistan rative exercisewhichIndia and Pakistanhad what the Liaquat-Nehru Pact ano-war pact withPrime MinisterLiaquat needs trade and atrade-routedeal too, and to do “in consultation with one another and promised: ‘Both AliKhan. The merefactthat it wasactually says so under the muchdisenchanted PM TAKING THECAKE whichcould notbeunilaterallyachieved”. discussed measuresfor us the “normal” Imran Khan and his current armychief. Thebook studies the Nehru-Liaquat Pact governments solemnly agree goodwill that existeddespitethe years of “Normalise throughtrade”isthe slogan that And singing and dancing in the line of duty maybefinally of 1950, whichthe twosides would dismiss that eachshall ensure,tothe quarrelling duringthe PakistanMovement. will work if we want to setaside the compli- out of hand today. It wasadeclaration bind- minorities throughout its That Nehru wanted it seemsnormal, but cated baggageofanimosityinthe region. bringing police work out of the colonial era ing the twostatestoprotect “the interestsof Liaquat —asleaderofarevisioniststate — minorities in both their countries”. The de- territory, complete equality wanting it is extraordinarybytoday’s param- The writer is consulting editor with BEINGSOsmallitcan onlybeseen through the electron microscope, whose tails of howthe population transfer washan- of citizenship.’ eters. However, in those early days of obses- Newsweek Pakistan genome is less than 30,000 baseslong (for comparison, ahuman has 6bil- lion base pairs) has changed howwelive, work andimagine ourselves. It is Aalso changing institutions whichare long in the tooth. The courtroom, which is so hallowedthatseating is reservedfor lawyers while litigantsmusthuddle at the door, has been dematerialisedand democratisedonthe internet. In the ether,alawyergeo- MAY 16, 1980, FORTY YEARS AGO graphically located in Rajasthan has outraged themajesty of the lawbyappearinginhis banian.But ironically, courts subsequentlyurged lawyers to drop the gown of office,a AASU REVERSES STAND als to bring the agitation leaders and Centre Union gave anyundertaking to withdraw. relic from the ageofSir Elijah Impey, the firstchiefjustice in Fort William. THE ALL-ASSAM STUDENTS Union (AASU) representativestothe conference table. The naturalelementsofthe police, the handmaidens of this majestic law, arealso trans- announcedthat it would launch“non-vio- PRICE RISE lent direct action againstforeigners” in the KABUL PLAN PRICES OF SEVERAL essential commodities muting delightfully. From Punjab to Kanyakumari, the police arechanging in aspect, de- state—areversal of itsstand made known WESTERN DIPLOMATIC CIRCLES have exhib- continueto rise, according to latestofficialsta- meanourandfunction.InChandigarhandelsewhere,theyare bringingbirthdaycakeshome. afterasecret conclave lastnight. The AASU, itedkeen interestinKabul’s plans forpolitical tistics. The wholesale price indexfor all com- Theyare donatingbloodforpatientsandsavingNortheasterntenantswithallegedly “Chinese” however, promised to reviewits decisionif settlement in Afghanistan, even though a moditiesrose by 0.6per cent during theweek physiognomy frombeingthrownoutby landlords,andtirelesslypoundingthepavementto the Centrecame forwardtoshoulder its British foreign office spokesmanhas said there ending May3.Soaring prices of food articles contain infectionand trace contacts. “constitutional responsibility”. Inajoint is nothingnewinthem.Rejectingthe plan, the and manufactured food productshavecon- In short,acolonial forceisdoing community policing. Former officers aredemanding spe- statement issuedinGauhati, Prafulla Kumar spokesman said the proposals showedlittle tributedto theincreasein thewholesaleprice cial training to makethe men and women in khaki equal to this unfamiliar challenge. Will Mahantaand Bharat Narah, AASU president or no changefromthe previous Sovietand index. Therisein the prices of khandsari,sugar, and acting general secretaryrespectively, Afghan positions. If the proposals were ac- edible oils and saltduring theweekranged the good times last? It depends on the politicalleadership, whichhas giventhe police aclear said the union had finalisedatwo-phased cepted, it would result in confirmation of sta- between one and 10 percent. Among the pri- objective without the usual nuances, because it is temporarilydazedand confuseditself. programme to detect and deport“foreign na- tus quosince the Kabul regime would obtain maryfood articles, dals, fruitsand vegetables, Whenhumannature prevailsagain,we hopethatthepolice donotreturntotheexpression- tionals”.The announcement follows the fail- Pakistani-Iranianrecognitionand securefron- wheat,barley, andfish rose by one to five per istic lathi balletwhichwas their leitmotif when the lockdown began. ureofamove by some Assamese intellectu- tiers with those countries before theSoviet cent during this period. WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY,MAY16,2020 WHATTHE OTHERSSAY “Weurge the government to speak up forthe rights of our migrant workers andengage at all diplomatic levels, especially with OIC countries, to protect them.” 9 THE IDEAS PAGE — THEDAILYSTAR Two crises, two lessons Mayday for The 2008 global financial crisis remindedusthat greedand avarice will onlybring tears. Covid is teaching us aviation that forceofnatureisbigger than combinedforce of science and technology Thesectorneedssupportfromthegovernment to takeoffagain

buckle under pressure. The recessionaryim- pactof joblosses,reducedspending,restricted tradeflows,disruptedconnectivity,marginal tourismandhospitality,reducedcateringand Duvvuri Subbarao other relatedreducedsupplychain services would be sociallyand economically disas- trous.Ensuring stableand safeair connectiv- THE GLOBAL ECONOMY is in arecession. ityisalsocriticalto theflowofessentialgoods According to the IMF,this recession triggered Parvez Damania and medicalsupplies, morerepatriation of by the“Great Lockdown” will be morein- Indiansstrandedinoverseasandconnecting tense and moreextensive than the “Great manufacturing hubs. Recession” in the wake of the global finan- THE CENTRE’S Rs 20 lakh croreeconomic Business leadersfromall levels of the cial crisis (GFC). But that is notthe onlyfactor relief packageisverywelcome. Ihope ithas value chain have reachedout to theCentre that separates the corona financial crisis asector-specific packagefor the country’s forhelp.The Asia Pacific division of the IATA (CFC) from the GFC. Thereare other critical airtransportbusiness, whichisthe worst has correspondedwith the Indian govern- differences between the twocrises,and it is affected industryinthis crisis. The aviation ment, citing the case of some of the other important to recognise them fortheyhave sector contributes significantlytothe nations whichhaveannounced financial implications forthe natureand effectiveness Indian economy: The air transportindus- relief packages forthe sector. As per reports, of the solutions. Iwill, in particular,refer to try, including airlinesand itssupplychain, countries likeAustralia, NewZealand and four differences. is estimated to contributedirectlyorindi- Singapore, have announcedrelief packages The firstdifference stems from the origin rectly$72 billion of GDP to India. According to thetuneof$460 million, $360 million andtransmission of the crisis. The GFC orig- to IATA (International Air Transport and $82 million respectively.Inthe US, the inated in the financial sector as banksand fi- Association),India wasthe fastest-grow- Trumpadministration has reachedan nancial intermediaries got carriedawayby ing domestic marketinthe worldfor the agreement in principle with major airlines irrational exuberance and recklesslypiledon fourth year in arow at 18.6 per cent per an- fora$25-billion dollarbailout package. risk.Remember CDS, CDO, MBS, ABS and var- num, followedbyChina at 11.6 per cent. FICCI has urgedthe government to imme- iousother acronymsthat were thevillains in The same IATA reportsays that in India, diatelyprovide direct cash supportto the GFC drama as it unfolded in the richcoun- 29.32 lakh jobs in the aviation sector areat Indian carriers wherebythe airlines can tries. As people losttheirwealth and savings risk.The data shows that airlines in the Asia meettheirfixed costs,atleastfor the pe- in the financial meltdown, demand collapsed Pacific region maysee the largest revenue riod wherethe loss of revenues and liquid- and growth slumped. The contagion, which drop and among the Asia Pacificcountries, ity is directlyattributable to the govern- originated in the financial sector,spread to the Indian aviation sector will be the worst ment’s directive to cease operations. the real economy. hit by the COVID-19crisis. The government is yettorespond. Iurge In contrast, the CFC came from outside The air transportbusiness along with the government to extend the following re- the economic system. As the pandemic itssupply chain maysee anear wipeout of lief measures: spread, the firstimpact came by wayofasup- approximately40per cent of businessvol- First, amoratorium forthe next 12 plyshockasChina-centred supplychains ume in the current financial year.Revenues months on all interestonthe principal brokedown. And then as countries ordered have been virtuallynil since March 25 and amountofloans without limitationsofsize lockdowns and economies shutdown, de- even considering partial relaxation in air or turnoverthrough adirection to allfinan- mandslumped. Theensuing distress in the travel in May, the aviation sector is staring cialinstitutions. Second, VATonATF by state real economyled to distress in the financial at an unprecedented crisis. governments, whichrangesfrom0-30per system. This sector needs allthe support from cent,should be rationalised with immedi- This routeoftransmission —financial to the governmenttotakeoff again. Now, in ateeffect to amaximumof4per centacross the real economyorvice versa —has impli- order to ensurethat the sectorbecomes all states forthe next six months. Third, avi- cations forcrisis resolution. The central chal- reasonablyoperational, the primaryonus ationturbine fuel needs to bebrought under lengeinthe resolution of the GFC wastore- restswith the government. the ambit of 12 percent GST, withfull input storefaith in the financial system, which The sector, already strugglingwith taxcredit on all goods and services. meant rescue and rehabilitation of banksand wafer-thin margins, currentlystands crip- Fourth, awaiverfor private airportop- other financial institutions. Once that task in CRSasikumar pledand perhaps wouldcontinuetobe erators space rentals and AAI, royalty,land- the financial sector wasaccomplished, repair words, no countrywas safeuntil the US was sive the loss of livelihoods. Managingthis paralysedas we head deeper intothe COVID ing, parking, routenavigationand routeter- of the real economy fell in place. Demand safe, and once the US financial system be- tension is by farthe biggestdilemma forgov- crisis. The two-month long shutdownhas minal changes forthe next one year.This came back, supply resumedand growth came safe, financial systems everywherebe- ernmentsbattling the crisis. erodedthe capital of mostairlines. The cost should be done notonlyfor the airlines but pickedup. came safeassomewhat of aby-product. The The global financial crisis, although it was ofmaintainingAircraft on Ground(AoG) is all aviation-related businesses. Fifth, all air- In contrast, the central challengeinthe situation with the CFC is different. Every called“global” did notaffect all countries extremelyhigh, and withnil revenues, this lines and aviation-related business must resolution of the CFC is to beat the pandemic, countryneeds to control the pandemic equallyand that accountsfor the fourth dif- is asureshotrecipe fordisaster. We have al- be treatedaspriority sector lending. Sixth, and that solution has to comefromscience. within itsborders. But that is notsufficient ference between 2008 and now. China was readyread reports of somemajor global air- no loans to airlines and otheraviation-re- Onlywhen thereispublic confidence thatthe because the virus can hit backfromacross less affected even as all richcountries were lines filing forbankruptcy. lated businessshould be classifiedasNPAs incidence of the pandemic has been brought the border. In other words, richcountries are in afinancial meltdown. In fact, one of the The economics of running an airline and no collateral enforcedorenhanced down to alow-levelequilibrium, willthere notsafeuntil poor countries aresafetoo. And less acknowledgedfactsofthe 2008 crisis is profitablywithafleetofA-320 Airbus or duringthis moratorium. Finally, support be aresolution in both the real and financial no country is safeuntil everycountryissafe. One of the lessacknowledged that it wasthe stimulus providedbyChina similaraircraftare fairly simple: Youshould the airlines and other-aviation related com- economies. We are, of course, seeing that Howthe policy interventions interact facts of the 2008 crisis is that that kept theglobal economyafloat. In con- be flying your entire fleet, with no Aircraft panies by paying or taking careofsalaries even during this crisis, justlikein2008, gov- with one another makes forthe thirddiffer- it wasthe stimulus provided trast, nowall richand big economiesare on Ground; everyplane mustfly for11 of the employees foraperiod of six months. ernments arecoming out with fiscal stimu- ence between the twocrises. During the res- by China that kept the global weigheddownbythe virus, and thereisnot hours aday,whichwill be possible onlyif This will allowemployeeretention and is lus packages and central bankswith mone- olutionofthe GFC, solutions in the financial asinglelarge economytokeep the rest of the youhaveaturnaround time of 30-45 min- being done in alot of countries. tary stimulus packages. But these arenot sectorand in the real economyreinforced economyafloat. In contrast, worldafloat. If pandemics aregoing to be utes and, youhaveanaveragePassenger We mustswing intoaction swiftly. Iam solutions to thepandemic; theyare justhold- eachother.For example, to mitigatethe cri- nowall richand big morefrequent,asisnow suspected,itisall Load Factor (PLF) of around 65 to 67 per hopefulthat India’sair travel willtakeoff ing operations till the central problemisre- sis, the RBI cut ratestostabilisethe financial economies are weighed down the moreimportant that thereisamoreen- cent. Nowconsider this: Forty per cent of once airportprotocols areinplace. It is im- solved. system and intervenedinthe forexmarket forceable global protocol on early warning your fleetisgrounded; due to social dis- perative that all airlines, if aidedbythe gov- The second difference between thetwo to stabilise the rupee. Meanwhile,the gov- by the virus, and there is not and informationsharing. tancing and other hygiene protocols, an air- ernment, should ensureproper pricing crises arises from theasymmetryofthe solu- ernment extendedspecial concessions for asingle large economyto Forall their differences,the GFC and CFC craftcan flyonlyeighthours becauseofthe policies so that the common man can still tions. The GFC originated in the subprime housing and real estate sectorstoprovide keep the rest of the world aresimilar in onerespect —theybothteach elongated turnaround time, plus one-third avail of this vital service. Recovery from this mortgagesector of the US and then, rapidly stimulus in the real economy. Therewas syn- afloat. If pandemics are going us life-enhancing lessons. The GFC forcefully seatsare to be kept vacant;and finally, you crisis is going to be along and uphill task.It engulfed theworld.The CFC originated in the ergy in these actions. remindedusthatgreed and avarice will only areflying with areduced50per cent PLF. will take effort,planning and, mostimpor- Hubei province of China and rapidlyengulfed In contrast, in managing the challengeof to be more frequent,asis bring tears in the end. The CFC is teaching us The break-eventicketprice in suchasce- tantly, coordination between the aviation the world. the CFC, what we areseeingistension be- nowsuspected,itis all the that the forceofnature is bigger than the nario would be astronomical. industryand the government. But the similarity ends there. Forthe res- tween the various sets of policy actions. The more important that there is combinedforce of our science and technol- Thus, apartial opening up of the service olutionofthe GFC, restoring financial stabil- effort to contain the pandemic is exacerbat- amore enforceable global ogy.Hubrisiswrong. with stringent measures, would mean, in ef- The writer,anaviationexpert,was on the ity in the US wasnecessary, and forthe most ing the challenges in both the real economy fect, abusiness already strainedbyliquidity boardofDamaniaAirways, Kingfisher part, asufficientcondition forrestoration of and the financial sector.The morestringent protocol on early warning The writer is aformer governor of the flowand arising debt burden is bound to Airlines, and Air Sahara financial stability everywhere. In other the lockdown to save lives, the moreexten- and information sharing. ReserveBank of India LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR

MISPLACED FAITH Lockdown,hair and now THIS REFERS TO the article, ‘I am more IDEAS leftthan youthink’(IE, May15). Sadhguru’s superfluoustrustand faith ONLINE WhyRahul Gandhi’s interviewwith Raghuram Rajan wasthe unkindestcut in the Indian government and itsdem- ocratic institutions comes at atime ONLYINTHE EXPRESS Shalini Langer when India ranks94inthe Human Freedom Indexand 51 in the EIU ● HOUSING THE URBAN Democracy Index2019(adropof10 MIGRANT POOR: MUCHASone would likelifetobeabout “let- would command the slightlyswaying barber tweenwhat youhad asked for, even pointed Ali mayhaveflashedacross the mind). ranksfromits 2018 position). The rea- NITIN BATHLA ting one’s hair down”, it tends to turn out just (the tipple is what kept Gangtok going those out preciselyinglossy magazines, and what Middle ageisagood time forsuchresolu- son cited by EIUfor the fall is the “ero- the opposite—the hair letting youdown. days)togiveusa“Sadhana cut”. emergedwas purelycoincidental. tions, beit greying, or growing hair to alength sion of civil liberties”. The article is, to ● ETHICSANDECONOMICS The lockdown is justthe latest; my hair We knewnoone personallybythat ex- Still, hope floats. So Itrieditall —colour- wherealittle slippedscissor can makenodif- saythe least, ironic. INPANDEMICRESPONSE: has survivedits shareofseasons.With my otic-sounding Bollywood name. So till the ing(black, because my hairwas “too brown”, ference, or settling fordisorderly “steps” that Shubham Singh, Delhi SARJANSHAH sisterand Iseparated by justabout ayear- time the barber removedthe clotharound then burgundy,because who didn’t want can disguise amessy hair day. It’s my time to and-a-half,our mother’s nightmarewhen our necks with aflourish, we livedinthe that colour in their lives, especially after flaunt now, as trendier (okay, also younger) REBUILD TRUST www.indianexpress.com we were little wasthat we might get“lice” — dream of emerging as that town’s Dimple Kapadia’s Crowning Gloryhair toss); friends,envyinglybolder, eagerly awaitare- apestilence of whichevery little girlcirca the Cinderellas. We did catchonthatthe fringe blunt(becauseofhow thatstyle “framedthe union with their hairstylistpost-lockdown. THIS REFERS TO the editorial, ‘Falling end of the ’70s livedinfear of. As messages we sported forseveral years wasn’t really the face”, exceptitnever did afterthe firstwash); Which is whythatappearance of the short’ (IE, May15). It is surprising that screamedfromeverywhere(remind youof sensation we had hopedfor —particularly in inside-out folds (yeah, therewas sucha rosy-cheeked,dimple-chinnedand jet- the stimulus measures announcedby empoweraphysician to add substance something?) warning the disasterthat that land of, even-then, stylish hair —but the thing); “boycut”(the guiltyparty wasa black-curly-haired Rahul Gandhi, in that in- the financeminister do notincludeany to the claim of acomplete recovery. awaited should“twoheads meet”, the mother wasinluck. We didn’t have aTV, any- friend with agorgeous head of hair,who later terview with Raghuram Rajan, wasthe un- direct benefitstomigrant labourers. GJavaid Rasool, Lucknow mother gleefullyensured her daughters did- way, therewas no reception in those parts, consoledmeby sayingmylookswereso kindestcut of all. As those twogood-looking, Theyare the building blocks of the n’t dream of anygrowthpasttheir ears. We andsoittook us many yearstorealise that feminine, it didn’t matter howmyhairwas); rich-looking, well-meaning men worriedpo- economy. An economic revivalisim- TOO SOON were tooinnocent to question her ownknee- Sadhana the star combined the fringewith perm (because, Dil ChahtaHai); and then bot- litelyabout lesser mortals (switching briefly possible unlesswerebuildthe trust length, luxuriant hair,ortosuspect thatshe abun, notthe look of apoodle. tles of serum to repair the damage. to Hindiwhen theycame to the “gareeb”; deficit. THIS REFERS TO the report, ‘Openmar- didn’t want the trouble of twocompetitive However, it would be unfair to blame all But Inever went so farastogofor ahair- English being reserved fordeeper issues like SBBhalerao, Mumbai kets&malls on odd-evendates, allow siblings comparing hairstyles. my hair-raising tales on the mother (the sis- cut styled afterthe boywho traipsedintoour the economy,leaving onewondering whom Metro, buses: Delhi to tell Centre’(IE, Move acouple of years later,tothe un-stir- terfared better,with her naturallystraighter, hearts and will foreveroccupyaspace there, the dialogue wasmeant for), one couldn’t HOLISTIC APPROACH May15). This proposal is at odds with ringevenings of Gangtok,long before Sikkim shinier hair). With teen years, the move to SRK (that’s astory only the friend and fellow take one’s eyes offthat young-again, old- the rising number of COVID-19cases in became the coronavirus-free envy of India, the big city,and actual salons, came the am- fan, farbraverthan me, who survivedthis, again;president-again, not-president again; THIS REFERS TO thearticle, ‘Recoverand Delhi. It indicatesthat transmissionis and toocool to sweat muchabout it. Through bition to “experiment”. Hopping acrossa musttell herself). stubble again, no-stubble again, leader of the shield’ (IE, May15).Indesigning the notyet under control. As per WHO itsdim lanes,the mother,holding the daugh- string of salons (in fancy market complexes) What followednextmustcome in every- Congress. In aparty wherehair todaycan be “roadmap to recovery”, the author guidelines,one of the criteria forlifting ters by thehand, would march to barber and beauty parlours (their humbler counter- one’s life, the approachofgrey. Having seen gone tomorrow(thinkShashi Tharoor,Jairam should have considered revamping the restrictions is that the number of new shops thatstood in forsalons then —the dis- parts in neighbourhoods) taught me one everyaunt of conceivable agesportanun- Ramesh, Kamal Nath),and whereactual existing approachbyborrowingfromthe casesshouldbesporadic or in clusters in tinction being the ripped-leather-bound thing: That, from that chit of aman in seemlyorange, the mehndi nuskha wasout. leaders have done muchmorewith much vast treasureofthe ayurvedaand unani identifiable regions. This requires apub- wooden beams theyput across chair handles Gangtok intimidated by my deceptively Having then gone on to see other acquain- less (think Manmohan Singh, Pranab systems, whichbuild upon an “equilib- lic health system to be capable of de- forchildren suchasustoget to thelevel of diminutive mother, to thehairstylists in tances lose hair graduallytofancy colouring Mukherjee), howlong will we have to wait rium”—as againstthe “unitary”—ap- tecting, testing and isolating cases. chippedmirrors, and the photographsoffilm apronswith multiple pockets, filled with a agentswith an inflation rate that defiedall foralmost-50 Rahul’s shades of grey? proach. Onlysuchanapproachcould LRMurmu, Delhi stars ontheir walls. There, once the twoofus dizzying arrayofbrushesand scissors, all had economic models —includingdear mother were plonked on those chairs, the mother one thing in common. Anyresemblance be- —Idecidedtolet it grey (a certain Nafeesa [email protected] WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 10 THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY,MAY16,2020 THE OUTBREAK TheWorld

PANDEMIC WATCH Balticsopenfirst‘travelbubble’inEurope

REUTERS Italy set to allow free Slovenia first VILNIUS/RIGA/TALLINN,MAY15 in Europe to LITHUANIA,LATVIA and Estonia movement across openedtheir borders to each declare its Boris Johnson other at the stroke of midnight on Friday, creating the first country from June 3 epidemicover “travel bubble”within the UNITED KINGDOM European Union in abid to jump-start economiesbroken REUTERS THENEWYORKTIMES PMplansaction down by the pandemic. ROME,MAY15 NEWYORK,MAY15 afterobesity Citizens and residents of the three generallysparselypopu- ITALYISset to allowfreetravel SLOVENIA BECAME the first linkedtoCovid latedBalticnations willbefreeto acrossthe countryfromJune 3, European countrytodeclarean travel within the region, though according to adraft decree seen end to itscoronavirus epidemic London: British Prime anyone entering from outside by Reuters on Friday, as the gov- onFriday, easing border crossings MinisterBorisJohnson is will needtoself-isolatefor 14 ernment movestounwind its forresidentsofthe European settodeclareaso-called days.“TheBaltic Travel Bubble is coronavirus lockdown and re- Union and announcing that waronfat as studies indi- an opportunityfor businesses to vive thebattered economy. classes in some schools and day categreater risk from reopen, and aglimmerofhope GERMANY RELAXES TRAVEL RULES: Germanywill ease quarantinerulesfor travellers from Italywas the firstEuropean At the VaticanonFriday. AP carecenters would resume as COVID-19 due to obesity forthe peoplethat lifeisgetting theEuropean Union, the Schengen passport-free zone and Britain, aspokesmanfor the country to impose rigid nation- early as Monday. and related illnesses, ac- back to normal,”Lithuanian Interior Ministrysaid on Friday. Authoritieswill onlyrecommend travellers go into wide restrictions in March in an “It’s asuccess, and we did it cording to UK media re- Prime MinisterSaulius quarantine if theyarrivefromcountrieswith elevated numbers of infections,hesaid. Reuters effort to halt thedisease andis scheduledtoreopen on Monday. together,” JelkoKacin,agovern- ports.Johnson has told Skvernelis said in astatement. slowlyrolling backthe curbs as The regions can reactivate all ment spokesman, said at adaily senior ministers and ad- The move by the Baltic the number of newcases fall. sectors of the economythat televisedbriefing on Friday. visers that he has neighbours comes as the EU ex- important forthe region,”said The draftdecree, whichisex- mightstill be shuttered,solong The spread of the coronavirus changed his mind on not ecutive seekstocoax the 27 Arnoldas Pranckevicius, the ‘Travelbubbles’gain pected to be approvedlater on as safetyprotocols arefollowed. in Slovenia is undercontrol and having astate interven- member states to reopen inter- European Commission repre- Fridaybut could still be modified National health authorities will there is no longeraneedfor ex- tionistapproachtofight- nal borders and restartwider sentative in Lithuania. favourforrecoveryrole ahead of time, saidall move- monitor the situationtomake traordinaryrestrictions, the gov- ingobesity andissaid to travel. Newinfections in the “Opening the borders is up to ment within separateregions sureinfections arekeptincheck, ernment said in astatement, but be drawing up arevised three Baltic republics have now the member states, and the would be allowedfromMay 18, the decree said. It added that addedthat preventive measures strategy.According to of- slowedtoatrickle. European Commission expects “TRAVEL BUBBLES”are increasingly gaining traction. These with inter-regional travel bans mayors can intervene and close suchassocialdistancing and ficial statistics, about one The region as awhole has them to talk to eachother,toco- “bubbles” would involvetying together countries that have due to be liftedonJune 3. public places if social distancing wearing masksinclosedspaces in three Britishadultsis recordedfewer than 150deaths ordinatetheir actions and to not faredrelatively well againstthe virus, allowingfreemove- The end to travel curbs will proved impossible. would remain in place forthe clinically obese, classified from the disease —far belowin- discriminateagainst nationals of ment fortheir citizenswithin that zone. represent amajor milestone on Almost31,400Italians have population of some twomillion. as those with abody mass dividual larger eurozone coun- other EU members.” This will be helpfulfor sectors suchastrade and tourism, Italy's road to recovery,with the diedofCOVID-19since the out- Throughout the crisis, the index(BMI) above30, one triessuchasItaly,Spain, France The Baltic countries were since manynations areanxioustorestart their economies. government hoping to salvage break came to light on Feb. 21, right-wing government of Prime of the highestratesinthe or Germany. “TheBaltic states quicktoclosetheir borders and The challengewillbeinexpandingsuchbubbles while also the forthcoming holiday season, the third-highestdeath toll in MinisterJanez Jansa has faced Western world. areclose partners, have asimilar impose lockdown measures. maintaining certain safetystandards at atimewhen out- when Italians traditionallyes- the worldafter thatofthe United criticism, with the opposition ac- epidemiological situation and “Thereisnoreasontofear that breaksindifferent countries aremoving in different trajecto- cape the cities fortheir annual States and Britain. cusinghim of exploiting the pan- their economies arewell inte- openingtheborderwillcausethe ries. Countries suchasSouth Korea, NewZealand and China summerbreaks. The country's The number of confirmed demic to silence critics, including grated,sothe free movement of spread of the virus,” Estonian areamong those expected to benefit from suchasystem. factories were allowedtostart cases amountsto223,096, the the nation’s public broadcaster, FRANCE peopleaswell as goods is very InteriorMinisterMartHelmesaid. up on May4and shops are fifthhighestglobal tally. and empowerpolice. Youfailedus: Doctorsfaceoff Fears over new waves Phased return withMacron of domestic Paris: Frenchdoctors as more US states facedoff with President flights in Pak Emmanuel Macronata leading Paris hospital start to lift measures starting today Friday, demanding more investment and arethink of the country's once- THENEWYORKTIMES SAJJADHUSSAIN renownedpublic health NEWYORK,MAY15 ISLAMABAD,MAY15 system that found itself quicklyoverwhelmedby IN OREGON, retail stores willflip PAKISTANWILL resume domes- tens of thousands of coro- their windowsigns to “open.” A tic flightsinaphasedmanner navirus patients. Macron stay-at-homeorder will expire from Saturdayafter the govern- acknowledged mistakes in Arizona. And restaurantsand ment easedsome of the restric- in reforming the national bars in much of Virginia will be tionsimposedfollowing the out- hospitalsystem, which able to seat customersfor happy Agirlwith aUSflaginNew break of the COVID-19pandemic has facedyears of cost hour again —but onlyoutside. York state. AP in the countrythat has claimed cuts. “For months Iwas Anumber of states arelifting the livesofover800 people. asking forequipment, restrictions on businesses and The Pakistangovernment and we had onlythree publiclifeonFriday, in asignifi- lastweek said that it would be- days to fight againstthe cant milestone forthe country’s 18-point plan gin aphased lifting of the lock- virus," Martin Hirsch, attempt to re-emerge from coro- down due to itseffect on the head of the Paris hospital navirus-related shutdowns. to hold China economyand the workforce. network, told Macron. More than two-thirdsofstates ‘accountable’ PakistanCivil Aviation have nowrelaxed restrictions in Authority (PCAA) announcedto SINGAPORE some significant way, including Washington: Atop US resume the domestic flightsop- some that had previouslybeen senatorhas unveiledan erations from Saturday, The Nearly800new the mostlockeddown. 18-point plan, including People return forFriday’s Ramzan prayers afterthe government easedisolation measures in Bangkok. Reuters Express Tribunereported. cases,mostly The reopenings have come enhancing militaryties PakistanInternational even as the nation’stop infec- with India, to hold the Airlines(PIA) and SereneAir will foreignworkers tious disease expert, Dr.Anthony Chinese government ac- operateflightsinthe morning SFauci, testifiedbeforeCongress countable forits "lies, de- and afternoon. Singapore: Singaporeon this week that reopening too ception, and cover-ups". Taiwan rejects Beijing’s ‘One China’ condition It said that 68 flightswill op- Fridayreported 793 new soon could trigger another un- The suggestionsin- eratefromJinnah International coronavirus cases, mostly controllable outbreak.The clude moving the manu- AirportinKarachi, 32 from foreign workers living in changes on Fridayrepresent a facturingchainfromChina as ticket to participate in key WHO meeting Allama Iqbal International dormitories, taking the departureinstatesthat had pre- anddeepeningof themili- AirportinLahore, 32 from totalnumber of infec- viouslybeen among the mostas- tary-strategic ties with Taiwan says the coronavirus chung rejected China's condi- Islamabad International Airport, tions in the countryto sertive about restrictions. India,VietnamandTaiwan. BENBLANCHARD pandemic hasmade it moreur- tion, saying: "I have no wayto eight from QuettaInternational 26,891, the health min- As parts of upstate NewYork "TheChinese govern- TAIPEI, MAY15 gent than ever forittohave acceptsomething whichdoes Airportand four from Bacha istrysaid. Out of the 793 beganagradualreopening, ment maliciouslycovered proper access to the WHO. notexist." Khan International Airportin newcases, onlyone is a Governor Andrew MCuomo is- up and enabled aglobal TAIWAN'S HEALTH ministerre- China says Taiwan can par- He said Taiwan would not Peshawar. Singaporean citizen or a suedanexecutive orderextending pandemicthathascaused jected on FridayChina'smain ticipateonlyunder the "one give up effortstotakepartinthe According to the Ministryof permanent resident (for- stay-at-homeordersfor regions, miseryfor so many condition forthe island to be China" principle, involving ac- WHAalthough it has notre- National Health Services, the na- eigner).The rest areall including New York City,that do Americans.This is the able to take partinthe World ceptance that it is apartofChina. ceivedaninvitation. tionwide tallyofthe coronavirus foreign workers residing notmeetthe state’s criteria to be- sameregimethatlocksup HealthOrganisation —accept- China's Foreign Ministry China says it has the rightto cases on Fridaysoared to 37,218 in dormitories, themin- gin alimited reopening. itsown citizens in labour ancethatitispartofChina — At thepress meet. Reuters said on ThursdayTaiwan's rul- representTaiwan on theinter- after1,430 newcases were re- istrysaid. As of Thursday, The five partsofthe statethat camps, steals America's before aWHO meeting being ing Democratic Progressive national stage. Taiwan says only ported. Atotal of 10,155 patients 5,964people have recov- have notmet keyrequirements— technology and jobs, and held duringthe coronavirus Partyrefusedtodo this,sothe itsdemocraticallyelected gov- have so farrecoveredfromthe ered from thedisease includingdeclinesinnewpositive threatens the sovereignty pandemic. Assembly(WHA), theWHO's political foundationfor ernment can speak forthe is- virus. The total number of since the firstcase was virus cases and deaths, and in- of our allies," said Senator Non-WHO member Taiwan decision-making body. Taiwan's WHO participation land. "Wecan represent our COVID-19deaths in the country reported hereonJanuary creases in testing, hospital capac- ThomTilliswhilepresent- has lobbiedtotakepartasan This has raisedobjections had "ceasedtoexist". ownpeople," Taiwan Deputy also reached803 with 33 newfa- 23. The deadly virushas ityand contact tracing —willre- ing his plan. PTI observer in next week'svirtual from Beijing, whichconsiders At apress meetinTaipei, Foreign MinisterKellyHsieh talities reportedduring the last claimed21lives so far. main shutdown through May28. meeting of the WorldHealth Taiwan one of itsprovinces. Health MinisterChenShih- said. REUTERS 24 hours. PTI

RUSSIA Moscowstarts freeantibody HE HAS PROMISED TO CONDUCT POST-PANDEMIC REVIEW OF PERFORMANCE:W.H.O. testingforvirus Caught in Trump-China feud, WHO leader Tedros undersiege Moscow: Moscowau- thorities on Fridaybegan free coronavirus testing their effortstocontain the dis- prompted criticismfromsome aglobal responsetothe pan- Britain have voicedsupportfor forall residents.Under KATEKELLAND& ease, whichbythen had killed member states forbeing over the demic. COVID-19, the disease the agency,saying nowisthe time the programme an- STEPHANIENEBEHAY scores in China and startedto top. US President Donald Trump causedbythe newcoronavirus, to focus on fighting the outbreak nouncedbyMayor Sergei LONDON,MAY15 spread to other countries. has ledthe charge,accusing the has killedmorethan 300,000 rather than apportion blame. Sobyanin, testsfor coron- The advisers encouraged WHO of being“China-centric” people and continues to spread. FrenchPresident Emmanuel avirus antibodies, a WHEN THE head of the World Tedros to useless effusive lan- and suspending American fund- Tedros is “obviouslyfrus- Macron is supportive of the WHO markerofinfection, will Health Organisation returned guageout of concernabout how ing of the health agency. trated”byTrump’s move and because he believesitisessential be conducted at 30 clin- from awhirlwind trip to Beijing he would be perceivedexter- The internal debateoverthe feels the WHO is being usedasa to aneffective response to the cri- ics throughout the city. in lateJanuary, he wanted to nally, the personfamiliarwith WHO’s messagingaround China “political football,” theperson fa- sis, one of his advisers said. The programme will al- praise China’s leadership publicly the discussions said, but the di- provides awindow intothe chal- miliar with the discussions said. France’spresident,addressing lowofficials “toknow forits initial response to the new rector general wasadamant, in lengesfacingtheorganisationand The WHO said Tedros has Tedros as “myfriend,” urgedma- preciselyhow many coronavirus.Several advisers partbecausehewantedtoen- itsleaderastheyengageinbattles promisedtoconduct apost-pan- jor countries to come together. Muscovites had coron- suggestedhetone the message sureChina’s cooperation in fight- on twokey fronts:managing a demic reviewofthe agency’s “The fightagainst COVID-19isa avirusand developedim- down, according to aperson fa- ingthe outbreak.“We knewhow WHO head Tedros AdhanomGhebreyesus (right) with pandemic and coping with hos- performance, including by the commonhumangoodand there munity,how manypeo- miliar with the discussions. it wasgoingtolook,and he can UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Reuters/File tilityfromtheUS,itslargest donor. WHO’s independent oversight should be no division in order to ple areinfected or are Aftermeetingswith President sometimes be abit naive about Interviews with WHO insid- body, which is standardpractice win this battle,” said Macron. suspected to have coron- Xi Jinping and Chinese ministers, that,” the person said.“But he’s ers and diplomatsreveal thatthe afterahealth crisis. “It felt likeashotinthe arm,” avirus,” the mayorsaid in Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus alsostubborn.” leadership forits effortstocom- ficials had silencedwhistleblow- US offensive hasshaken Tedros But so far, most major donors aWHO official said. “It felt like ablog postonThursday. wasimpressedbytheir knowl- The WHO chief’ssubsequent batthe diseasecameevenasev- ers and suppressedinformation at an already difficult timefor the have closedranksaround the thereare people out therewho edge of the newflu-like virusand lavish public praise of China’s idence mounted that Chinese of- about the outbreak.His remarks agencyasitseekstocoordinate WHO. France, Germanyand arebattlingwith us.” REUTERS WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY,MAY16,2020 11 ECONOMY GOLD RUPEE OIL SILVER `41,705 `75.58 $26.15 `38,100

Note:Spotgoldmarketsshut due to lockdown in majorstates; Indianbasket as on March19, 2020 SENSEX: 31,097.73 ▼ 25.16 NIFTY: 9,136.85 ▼ 5.90 NIKKEI: 20,037.47 ▲ 122.69 HANGSENG: 23,797.47 ▼ 32.27 FTSE: 5,783.42 ▲ 41.88 DAX: 10,422.61 ▲ 85.59

Internationalmarket data till 1900IST 36% JUMP OVER PREVIOUS HIGH OF $13.78BNREMITTED IN FY19 Govtsupportcan help agri industry ResidentIndiansremitrecord$18.75bnin account for20% of exports by 2025, FY20;spendsontravel,educationdominate need to fixotherproblems: Experts afew issuesthatcancontributeto PRABHARAGHAVAN The governmentwill improving efficiencies in the sec- years, the foreign portfolioin- NEWDELHI,MAY15 have toimplement more tor, according to trade expert SANDEEPSINGH Mar travelremittance falls 28.8% STEADILYRISING vestorsaccountedfor netinflow Biswajit Dhar,professor at JNU’s NEWDELHI,MAY15 YoY, family maintenance goes up of $64.8 billion—12per cent THE MONETARY and regulatory measures to makethese Centrefor Economic Studies and OVERTHEYEARS higherthanthe LRS outflows. support announcedfor theagri- sectors moreefficient Planning. RESIDENTINDIANSremitted a NewDelhi:Ascoronavirus 2020 fell 28.8 per cent over LRS ($ bn) Even as the pace of outflows cultural industrybythe Finance Intheshortterm,Indiawillalso record$18.75billionunderthelib- pandemic spread widely March2019,itwas47 percent continues,animmigration advi- MinistryonFridayhas the poten- andcompetitive, have to contend with poor global 2011-12 1.00 eralisedremittancescheme(LRS) acrossUSandEuropeinMarch lowerthan averagemonthly sor said thatafter the Finance tial to help double the shareof experts said demand, according to him. inthefinancialyearendedMarch and countries startedissuing remittance ($579million)for 2012-13 1.21 Ministerannouncedacut in the this sector in the country’s bas- India’s exports droppedover 31,2020. The remittance in FY20 traveladvisories,travelrelated the purpose of travel in FY20. 2013-14 1.09 $ corporatetaxrate from30percent ketofexports to around 20 per 60 percent in April due to supply takesthe totaloverthe pastsix remittances under the liber- Remittance of $344 mil- (exclusive of surcharge andcess) cent by 2025, according to some general AjaySahai. chain disruptionsand lowde- 2014-15 1.33 years to $58 billion. alised remittance scheme fell lion on accountofmainte- to 22 per cent in September 2019, experts.However, thegovern- Theannouncementshavealso mand in the wake of theongoing On Tuesday, Prime Minister sharplyinMarchto atwo-year nance of close relativeswas 7 2015-16 4.64 therehas been some positivity ment will have to implement addressedsome“key bottlenecks” pandemic. NarendraModi calledfor making lowof$305.5 million. percent higher than year-ago 2016-17 8.17 among businessmen. “Thereisa moremeasures to makethese facedbyexporters in the agricul- “... in agricultural exports,we an“AatmaNirbhar”Indiaandan- Datareleased by the month. It was20per cent sense that doing businessinIndia sectorsmoreefficientand com- tural sector,according to FIEO. For can easilyachieve aCompound 2017-18 11.33 nouncedaRs20lakhcrorestim- ReserveBank of India shows higher than averagemonthly mayimprove their return on in- petitive,theysaid. instance,theremovalofinter-state AnnualGrowthRateof 30percent uluspackage, with the aim of in- that while travel-related re- remittance($284million) for 2018-19 13.79 vestment as the taxratehas now “Thestrengtheningofpost- movement restrictions is a“big” in the next five years. Right now stilling confidenceamongsmall, mittanceunder LRS in March the purpose in FY20. ENS 2019-20 18.75 been cut to 15 per cent fornew production facilities likecold relief as it willhelp in fulfilling ex- we’renot even growing at 10 per- medium, and large businessmen businessset-up,” said the advisor. chains, storageinfrastructure and portcommitments andcapitalise cent,”saidSahai,addingthatagri- across the country. Under the RBI’sliberalised re- farm-gateprojectswillnot only on exportopportunities. culturalproductscontributedonly According to datareleasedby stances of harassment by taxof- schemehasbeenrisingexponen- Acloser look at the datare- mittance scheme,resident indi- address wastages but will also Another positive move is the around 10 percent of India’s total the RBI, the remittance in FY20 ficials across the countryhas only tiallyoverthelastsixyearsandthe leasedfor themonth of March viduals areallowedto remitupto improveunitrealisationofour amendmentstothe Essential exportbasket. jumped36per cent over the pre- weakenedconfidence of busi- outflowinFY20 was17times of 2020 shows thatmonth sawthe $250,000inafinancialyearunder agricultural products,” said CommoditiesAct,whichimposed “If we see that India is an agri- vious high of $13.78 billion re- nessmen,” said the MD of alead- what it wasinFY14. Whileit lowest overall monthlyremit- various heads including current Sharad Kumar Saraf, president, stocklimitsonproducts likeedi- cultural countryand that 55 per- mitted in FY19. ingfinancial servicesfirm. amountedto $1.3billioninFY15,it tance under the LRSscheme in at account transactions suchasgo- Federation of Indian Export ble oils,oilseeds, pulses, onions, cent of the population is depend- Sources in the banking indus- It is important to note that as jumpedto$4.6 billion in FY16. In least12-months as it amounted ing overseas on employment, Organisations (FIEO). potatoes and cereals. The amend- ent on it, yetthe shareof trysay while study-related re- domestic consumption, private FY19 residentIndianssent$13.78 to $1.35 billion. The previous low studies overseas, emigration, As per him, the announce- mentswill help in “better” price agricultureinour exportsisonly mittance has been growing, over investment continuedtowit- billion under the scheme. wasinApril 2019 when Indians maintenanceofcloserelatives, mentshavecomeatanopportune realisationforfarmers,butwillalso 10 percent,itisacauseof concern,” the years, alot of remittance is ness slowdown in FY19and Alook intothe LRS datafor remitted atotal of $1.28 billion. In medicaltreatmentamongothers. time,astheworldisapprehensive helpthemstocksufficientquanti- he added. alsoonaccountvarious factors FY20 afterthe IL&FS crisis in the FY20 shows that while travel February2020,residentIndianre- Theresidentscanalsotransfer of importingedibleproductsfrom ties fortimelydelivery,whichis While this sharecan double including weak investment sen- September 2018,whichresulted accounted for$6.94billion mitted $1.68 billion. moneyfor capital account trans- China. “verycrucial” in inventoryman- over the next five years, thereare timent in India. “Outflowshave in aliquidity crisis forNBFCs and worthofremittance, those for Despite adip in March,the fi- actionsunderLRSincludingopen- “Thisperceptionislikelytostay agement, according to Saraf. other issues thatalso needtobe been growing on account of credit availability in the econ- the purpose of study amounted nancial year 2019-20 ended with ing of foreign currency account forthe next 3-4 years and since Thisistheopportunemoment lookedinto, according to him. weak investment and business omy, theoutward remittanceby to $4.99 billion. The other two recordoutflows of $18.75 billion, overseaswithabank,purchaseof Chinaisoneof themajorexporters to lookatthecountry’sagricultural “If youlookintoproductivityin climateinIndia.Reports of raids resident Indians continued to major heads were maintenance taking the aggregate over the last propertyandmakinginvestments of agricultural products, this gives sector and rural economyinaho- agriculture, it has comedown by investigatingagencies over rise at afastpace. of closerelatives($3.4 billion) six-years at $58billion. By com- in unitsofmutual funds, venture us ahugeadvantagetolook into listicmanner.However, measures drastically. Alot of agricultural re- the lastcouple of year and in- Remittance underthe LRS and gift($1.9 billion). parison, over the lastsix financial capital fundsamong others. replacing it,” said FIEO director announcedonFridayaddressonly forms arerequired,” said Sahai. Zomato asks about 13% staff to start looking Exports contract for for jobs as firm foresees ‘not enough work’ ‘Upto$8.8 tn loss to global economy second straight month, expectthenumberof restaurants overheadsand utilities, delivery likelydue to COVID-19’ PRANAVMUKUL to shrinkby25-40% over the next commissionsandrentalcontracts. $142-218 plunge 60.28% in April NEWDELHI,MAY15 6-12months.What actuallyhap- Anumber of small and large The global economyisexpected to billion: Impact pens, forbetterorworse, is any- restaurantshaveshut shop and suffer$5.8-8.8 trillion in losses due to on South THEIMPACTofCOVID19-ledlock- body’s guess,” ZomatoCEO the remainingawait announce- thecoronavirus pandemic, Asian Asian GDP ENSECONOMICBUREAU down on therestaurant industry Deepinder Goyalwroteinamail mentsonthe lifting of the lock- Development Bank (ADB) said NEWDELHI,MAY15 has startedtaking itstoll on other to thecompany’s employees. down. COVID-19 stakeholders in the food chain, “All our employees who no Goyalwroteinhis e-mail the 3.9-6% $1.7TN-2.5TN: INDIA’SEXPORTSplungedover60 impact withGurgaon-basedonline plat- longer have anyworkatZomato, companyshould focus on build- The GDP in south Asia will also Economic losses in Asia and percentto $10.36billioninApril,as form Zomatosaying it does not willcontinuetobewithusat50% ing for“thenew normal”. “All of be lower by 3.9-6.0 per cent, the Pacific region could range shipmentsofmostofthecountry’s THE DECLINE in exports “foreseehavingenoughwork”for salary forthe next 6months. thisuncertaintyinevitablyneeded mainly reflecting the tight from $1.7 trillion under ashort topproductsdroppedinthewake has been mainlydue to all of itsemployees. During this time, outside of the usto re-defineourbusinessstrat- restrictions in place in containment scenario of of the COVID-19pandemic, the ongoing globalslow- Consequently, the company handoverperiodof 1-2weeks,we egy.There’s no going backtothe countries like Bangladesh, three months to $2.5 trillion showeddatareleased by the down, whichgot aggra- has decidedtoask around 13 per expect these folkstospend 100% ‘normal’–all we should focus on India and Pakistan under along containment CommerceMinistryonFriday. vateddue to the current centof its4,000-strongworkforce of their time and energy towards is building forthe ‘newnormal’. scenario of 6months, with Earlier estimate: Thisisthelowestthatexportshave COVID-19 crisis. to look fornew jobs. This is in ad- looking forjobsoutside of Consideringwhatwe knowatthis The global economy could the region accounting The economic impact droppedinover20years, accord- dition to salarycutsacross the Zomato,” Goyalnoted. point,the idea is to makeacom- suffer between $5.8 trillion for about 30 per cent of globally would range from ing to experts. boardtomaximumof 50percent. The country’s restaurant in- pleteshifttowards being atrans- and $8.8 trillion in losses - the overall decline in $77 billion to $347 billion Exports had contracted 34.57 inlarge scaledisruptionsinsupply “Our business has been se- dustrybyitself is staring at an es- actionsfirstcompany,”hewrote, equivalent to 6.4 per cent to global output (0.1 to 0.4 per cent of per cent in March. chains and demand, resulting in verely affectedby theCOVIDlock- timated7.3millionjobsontheline addingthecompanyneedsto pre- 9.7 per cent of the global GDP global GDP) “The decline in exports has cancellation of orders,”said the downs.Alarge numberof restau- as it countsits losses eachhour, serveasmuchcash as possible if as aresultofthe novel Loss to China: Between been mainly due to theongoing Ministry. Importsdeclinednearly rantshavealready shut down withits challengesranging from the business environmentwors- pandemic $1.1 trillion and $1.6 trillion Source: ADB/PTI global slowdown, whichgot ag- 59percentto $17.12 billioninApril permanently,and we knowthat suppliestolabour,skilledand ened,orcontinuedtobethesame gravateddue to the current from $41.4billion in the same this is justthe tip of the iceberg. I semi-skilled, real estate to credit, forrestofthe year. COVID-19crisis.Thelatterresulted month lastyear. InterGlobe Enterprisesto Measures being taken to clear Franklin Templeton MF: BRIEFLY participateinsaleprocess Vote for assets disposal Tradeunions dues of MSMEs:Sitharaman togoonstrike of VirginAustralia Centre’s shareinthe total ever,does notreflect actual gov- GEORGEMATHEW SEBI:FOCUSON onMay22 ENSECONOMICBUREAU pending dues forMSMEsisRs ernment dues owing to areluc- MUMBAI,MAY15 RETURNINGMONEY NEWDELHI,MAY15 10,000 crore, Expenditure tanceamongMSME unit own- NewDelhi: Tencentral trade ENSECONOMICBUREAU VIRGINAUSTRALIA’S SecretaryTVSomanathansaid. ers to file applications and AFTER UNILATERALLYand ■On May7,Sebi asked unions on Fridaygaveacall NEWDELHI,MAY15 CURRENTOWNERS FINANCE MINISTER Nirmala The duesfromthe 26 topcentral wranglewith the government abruptlywindingupsixcreditrisk Templetontofocus on foranationwide strikeon Sitharaman Fridaystatedthat public sector enterprises to over pending paymentsasthis schemes with acorpus of Rs returning moneyto May22toprotestagainstthe RAHUL BHATIA-ledInterGlobe ■Virgin Australia is steps arebeing takentoclear MSMEs is Rs 773crore,and mayhaveanegative impact on 28,000 crore, Franklin Templeton investors “as soon as suspensionoflabourlaws by Enterprises, whichowns 37.8 per ownedbyanumber of dues of micro, small and adding the dues of defence es- fresh order flows. has informedinvestors that they possible”. some states. PTI cent stakeinIndia’s largest airline airline groups including medium enterprises (MSMEs). tablishments, railways,depart- On Friday, TheIndian Express willhavetoparticipateina“vot- IndiGo, has thrownits hat in the Etihad,Singapore She said that onlythe litigated mental undertakings, the out- had reportedthat the total out- ing process” to authorise the YesBank ring forsale processofAustralia’s Airlines and Nanshan dues arenot being cleared,rest standing paymentsfromthe standing paymentstounits in Trusteesof themutualfundto pro- liketoclearsomemisconceptions second largestairline Virgin Group, in addition to all accumulated dues and central government and from the MSME sector,asonMarch ceedwith the disposalofthe as- regarding the purpose of the vot- launchesFD+ Australia. The Australian low-cost conglomerates suchas whichare getting addedin central public sector undertak- 31,2020, waspegged at up- sets of theschemes. ingexercise. Someinvestors be- carrier announcedits collapse in HNAGroup. present will be handled. ingsare less than Rs 10,000 wardsofRs4.95 lakh crore, ac- On May7,Sebi asked lieve that by voting in the virusinsurance the aftermathofthe pandemic. Sitharaman further said that crore. He addedthatthe figure cording to governmentesti- Templetontofocus on returning ‘Negative’, the winding up will be “As regardsVirginAustralia, updates of pending payments of Rs 5lakh croreisanaggrega- mates accessedbythis money to investors “as soonas reversedandthatthesixschemes NewDelhi:YesBankhaspart- InterGlobeEnterpriseshassigned tionsectorforpickingupastakein arebeing regularly takensince tion and includes dues from newspaper. possible”. In an ultimatum to the willrecommencetheredemption nered Reliance General Insu- anagreementto participateinthe VirginAustralia.Itisownedbyvar- lastOctober from departments Centre,statesand corporates. Sitharaman had Wednesday investors, the fund house said, “If and subscription process. This is rance to launchaFD +virus sale process and is bound by the ious groups including Etihad, and related PSUsand steps are As per the MSME said that the Centreand central Trusteesdonotreceiveauthorisa- nottrue,” SanjaySapre, president, coverfor newFDholders in- confidentialityrequirementsof SingaporeAirlines and Nanshan being takentoclearthe dues. Samadhaan website, the online PSUs wouldclear pending tionto proceedwithdisposalofas- Franklin TempletonAsset vestinginFDsofRs1lakhand that agreement. We areunable to Group, in addition to conglomer- “Onlythe litigateddues arenot delayedpayment monitoring MSME dues in 45 days.Minister sets of thescheme,thismaydelay Management said to investors. above at 7.25 per centfor a sayanythingfurtheratthisstage,” ates likeHNA Group. being cleared,restour effort is system forsettlement of dis- forMSMEs and Road and theprocessof monetizingsuchas- “Thepurposeisto authorise year and above from May15 thefirmsaidinastatementFriday. Some of theseare believedto to clear all other dues...the putes on filing of applicationsby Highways NitinGadkari has ap- setsanddistributionof proceeds.” trustees to take next steps fordis- to June 30, said arelease. InterGlobeEnterprises will be in the race forpicking up more process is continuing, it’s accu- the affected supplier MSME pealedtoall stakeholders in- “An investor in one or more posal of the assets of thescheme compete againstanumber of be- stake; others planning to partici- mulated (dues) and the dues units, the ‘amount involvedin cluding the private sector to fast schemes will be required to vote anddistributionof theproceedsto hemoths includingthoseinthe pateinclude funds suchasBain whichare of present, have to applications’ is Rs 10,916.84 trackthe outstanding payments separatelyfor each schemethey the unitholders in accordance BISrelaxation private equity space and the avia- Capitaland Brookfield. handle both,” she said. croreasonMay 15.This, how- to MSMEs at the earliest. hold investmentsin. Iwould also with regulations,” it says. forN95mask CCI proposes EPFO not charging ‘Allow inter-state, inter-district Trumpthreatens manufacturers World Bankapproves NewDelhi: Therequirement non-compete penalty from travel&relax curfew timings’ tax on firms of complete in-housetestfa- cility forthe grant of license clause disclosure $1 bn to supportIndia’s cos for delay in manufacturing forthe production of FFP2 not to be required payment of dues ENSECONOMICBUREAU The Ficci reportcalls for outside US (knownasN95) maskshas fightagainst pandemic NEWDELHI,MAY15 aresumption of metro beenrelaxed.Themanufac- at time of filing turers can gettheir product the total commitment from the PRESSTRUSTOFINDIA LACKOF transport acrossdistricts services initially, onlyat REUTERS testedinanyBIS-recognised ENSECONOMICBUREAU ENSECONOMICBUREAU WorldBank towardsemergency NEWDELHI,MAY15 and stateborders is the biggestis- 50 per cent of capacity WASHINGTON,MAY15 lab or testing facilities avail- NEWDELHI,MAY15 NEWDELHI,MAY15 COVID-19responseinIndia to $2 suethattheindustryisfacingdur- able with other BIS license- billion. Last month, it announced RETIREMENT FUND body EPFO ing the lockdowntotackle the US PRESIDENTDonald Trump holders,asperarelease.ENS THE COMPETITION regulator has THE WORLD Bank’sBoardof $1 billion forIndia’shealth sector. has decided nottoimpose any pandemic, as per aFiccisurvey. nel. The reporthas calledfor bus threatenedonThursdaytoimpose sought commentsonaproposal Executive DirectorsonFridayap- “... measuresintendedtoslow penalty fordelayinpayment of Hence, the industry hascalledfor operations to be openedupinor- newtaxes on US companies that thatwouldnotrequirecompanies proveda$1-billionloantosupport the spread of the virus have im- employees’providentfundcontri- relaxationsininter-districtandin- angeaswellasredzones“forthose produce goods outside the coun- USmovestocut seekingapprovalof acombination India’s effortsfor providing social pacted economies and jobs. India butions by firms during the na- ter-statemovementthroughpub- passengerswho aresafeunder try. Trumpsaid in a FoxBusiness Huaweifrom to provideanyinformationonany assistanceto thepoorandvulner- withtheworld’slargestlockdown tionwide lockdown. lic and private transportaswell as AarogyaSetuapp.”Thereporthas Network interviewthat taxation non-compete clause. able households, severely im- has notbeen an exception to this Sincethe imposition of lock- relaxationincurfew timingsinthe calledforrelaxationincurfew tim- wasan“incentive”for companies chipsuppliers As per areleasebythe pacted by the pandemic. trend,” said Junaid Ahmad, World down on March 25 by thegov- revisedguidelinesfor thefourth ings to 9p.m-6 a.m. from the cur- to returnmanufacturing to the CompetitionCommissionof India, This newsupport willbe Bank CountryDirector in India. “... ernment to contain the COVID- version of the lockdown, due to rent 7p.m-7 a.m. The report calls United States. Washington: The US moved it has notedprescribing ageneral fundedintwophases –animme- cash transfers and food benefits 19 spread, businesses have been startfromMay 18. foraresumptionof metroservices He did notspecify whether to blockglobalchip supplies setofstandards forassessment of diateallocationof $750millionfor willhelp the poor and vulnerable facingliquidity or cashcrunch, The toprecommendationby initially, only at 50 per cent of ca- these would be newacross-the- to Huawei Technologies, non-compete restrictions “may fiscalyear2020anda$250million access a‘safetybridge’ towardsa leading to difficulties in paying 19.1 percent of the industry, ac- pacity with thermal scanningat boardtariffs or another form of spurring fears of Chinesere- notbeappropriate forthemodern second tranche thatwill be made timewhentheeconomywillstart their mandatoryprovident fund cordingto thesurvey,wasto allow entrypointsand seating distance taxes, whichwould requireanact taliation. REUTERS business environment”. availableforFY21, itsaid.Thistakes to revive.” dues. inter-state movement of person- to be maintained, amongothers. of Congress. WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY,MAY16,2020 Cashcrunch putsEastBengal’sfutureat stake East Bengal club’s financial woes have trickled down to their cricketdivision, with the team staring at aRs90-lakhvoid including player payments. It is learnt that contracted cricketers 12 SPORT haven’t received anymoney forthe ongoing season, forcing some of themtowrite to the club’s majoritystakeholder QuessCorp Ltd and the club management.

wheretheyhaveonlyone or twothings in MIHIRVASAVDA&GAURAVBHATT ayear.So, it’s ahuge, hugemiss,” she said. “A NEWDELHI,MAY15 ‘Don’t know when ON THE PLIGHT OF lotofthingschangebecause of this. You have to find motivation, who knows what LIKE MOST, the pandemic-inducedlock- DAILYWAGERS their mental and physicalstate is going to down has causedagreat deal of anxiety for “It’sheart-wrenching. Ireallydofeel be.Evenfor myself.” Sania Mirza. But it isn’t justthe unknown na- forthose who go on aday-to-day or Gradually, sports bodies across the tureofthe virus or being confinedindoors week-to-week basis financially. The worldare firming up plans to resume ac- that makes the tennis star uneasy.Inher case, my sonwill be able to dailywagers... Fortunately, alot of us tion. On Saturday,livefootballwillreturn it is alsothe fact thather family is separated: areinaprivileged positionand are in the form of the German league.However, Sania and her child Izhaan in Hyderabad, able to help. Ipersonallyhavereacted giventhe amount of travel involved as well India, and her husband, cricketerShoaib by trying to help. (But) It’s almost like as the fact that players from multiple na- Malik,inSialkot,Pakistan. youfeelguilty to be in aprivileged tions compete in atournament, Sania said Sania, who returnedtothe tennis court position when yousee videos of it will be ‘toobig arisk’torestarttennisun- in Januaryafter twoyears,was travelling see his father again’ them.” tilthe danger subsides, adding that she non-stopfor tournaments, escapingthe virus won’t even open her academy again until along the way, andreturnedhome from the ON TENNIS’SRETURN she is ‘surethe kids arenot at risk’. USAjustbeforethe lockdown wasimposed. “The second youtravel, youare compro- Malik wascompeting in the PakistanSuper Sania Mirza says it’s been difficulttodealwith the pandemic with husband “The second youtravel, youare mised. The second yousit on aplane, you League when similar measures were en- Shoaib MalikinSialkot but hopes their positivity will see them through compromised. The second yousit on a arecompromised. It’simpossible to have a forced there. plane, youare compromised. It’s tournament whereyou’regoing to have 500 “So he got stuckinPakistan, Igot stuck impossible to have atournament players from 100different countries and here. That wasverydifficult to deal with whereyou’regoing to have 500 nobody is going to have thevirus. It’sjust because we have asmallchild. We don’t players from 100different countries toobig arisk,” she said. knowwhen Izhaanwill be able to see his and nobody is going to have the virus. father again. It’s as basic as that,” Sania said It’s justtoo bigarisk…It’s notjustthe Uncertain road ahead in aconversation with The Indian Express player, we all come in ateam of four. Malik,however,may have to travel to on Facebook Live.“We arebothpretty pos- Will youalso test thosepeople? England in acouple of months if Pakistan’s itive and practical people. He has amother Nobody will be going to atournament tour isn’t calledoff.Sania said she will ‘defi- who is over 65 and by herself, so he needs twoweeksbefore, it’s impossible nitelybeworried because he will be going to to be there. So in the end, it workedout best to do that.” the UK, whichishighlyhit right now.’ thathewas therewith her.Wehope we are However, she feels it will be relatively easier healthyand come out of this on the right ON FAMILYREUNITING to have control in ateam sportlikecricket side of it.” thanintennis. It’sone of themanyemotions Saniaisex- “Wehaveleftittofate. (But) Iam “Whenyou travel as ateam, it is abit periencing simultaneously. Tennis, at the reallylooking forwardtobeing back morecontrolled. Theycan test them before moment,does notoccupyprime spaceinher as afamily again andbeing at the theyleave or take aprivate jet. Theyare play- mind. “I don’t have anxiety problems but a same place.It’s reallynot been easy ing in an extraordinaryscenario so youhave couple of nightsago,Iwas having anxiety out staying away from my husband and to take extraordinarymeasures. Iamsurethe of nothing. Iwas lying in bed andthinkingof forIzhaan to stay away from his father. other team will do that. So, it’s alot morecon- things because there’s so muchuncertainty. No amount of virtual videocalls can trolledand in tennis, it is very difficult to do Having atoddler in the house, youdon’t do justice to actuallymeeting in that because it’s notjustthe player, we all knowhow to protect yourself, howtopro- person. Ialso look forwardtoanormal come in ateam of four.Will youalso test tect your child, youhaveparentswho are worldwherehugging and shaking those people? Nobody will be going to atour- older.So, youare notreallythinking about handsbecome normal again, where nament twoweeksbefore, it’simpossibleto work or tennis,”she said. we don’t think that we might die if we do that,” she said. It’s about survival, she adds.The plight of hug someone we love or kill them, Sport, however, isn’t apriority forher at migrant workers, amongthe mostaffected youknow.” the moment. Survival, she repeated,is. And during the lockdown, ‘breaksher heart.’ She’s reunitingwith her family. “Wehaveleftitto been raising funds and doing zakat (charity), fate,” she said. this being the month of Ramzan.But Sania “(But) Iamreallylookingforward to be- isn’t sureifeventhat is enough to help those daily wagers...” shesaid. “Fortunately, alot of Especiallybecause she is convincedtennis give us atowel or do certain things. Then TokyoOlympics, one of her biggestmotiva- ingbackasafamilyagain and being at the in need.“It’s almostlikeyou feel guilty to be us areinaprivileged position and areableto will be one of the lastsports to resume when suddenly, we had no linesmen... we’reex- tions to return to tennispost-motherhood, same place. It’s reallynot been easy staying in aprivileged position when yousee videos help. Ipersonally have reactedbytrying to the situation worldwide gets better. periencing it (the impact) as we were go- were postponedbyayear. away from my husband and forIzhaan to stay of them,” shesays. help. We raisedRs3.3 crore, if Iamnot wrong, Sania felt the initial impact of the coron- ing,” shesaid. “It’s very,verytough forthe athletes. away from hisfather.Noamountofvirtual On Fridaymorning,Sania sawapictureof in aperiod of three weekswith amovement avirus pandemic on tennis when she was Hours afterleading India intothe FedCup Imagine (the conditionof) runners who video callscan do justicetoactuallymeeting a‘mother carrying achildonher shoulder called Youth Feed India. But our population playing the FedCup in the firstweek of playoffs, Sania hopped on aflight to California were supposedtobepeaking this year for in person. Ialso look forwardtoanormal while dragging asuitcase, and having another is so large that it’s difficult to saywhatweall March in Dubai. “One day we wouldhave to playthe Indian Wells Masters. However, the Olympics. Alot of athletestry to peak worldwherehugging and shaking hands be- child on the suitcase.’“It’s heart-wrenching. aredoing is enough.” ball boys,the next daywewouldn’t,because by thetime she reached, the tournament was forthe Olympics. Fortennis, we have Grand come normalagain, wherewedon’t think Ireally do feel forthose who go on aday-to- The situation of tennis players ranked of the virus, and it wasnot hygienic. When calledoff due to the virus. Since then, no Slams,other tournaments, so many things that we might die if we hugsomeone we love dayorweek-to-week basis financially. The outside the 200-250 markalso bothers her. we had ball kids, theywerenot allowedto competitive event has takenplace and the to look forwardto. Thereare so manysports or kill them, youknow.”

OVER THE HEDGE by Michael Fry &TLewis CROSSWORD 4119 DAYTODAY BYPETERVIDAL

ARIES (Mar 21 -Apr 20) LIBRA(Sep24-Oct 23) The Moon is There's nodoubt definitelya aboutit: youwill confidence-booster. have to do what On the other hand, it partners want! also makes youmoresensitive However, that doesn't mean and emotional, so along youcan't enjoy yourself.Infact, with extracompassion and care oneofthe best ways to have fun forothers comes arisk of self- maybetoput your owndesires pity.Exploit whatever little to one side andexperience the tricks youknowtolift worldasothers do.You never your morale. know what youmight find. TAURUS (Apr21-May 21) SCORPIO (Oct 24 -Nov 23) Opportunities for Please keep busy - changeand variety and don't overlook should be seizedfor anyessential details. CALVIN &HOBBES by Bill Watterson tworeasons.First, You'removing up to a theyseemtoberelatively risk- powerful position at home next free, and secondly theymakea week,and the better prepared welcomerestfromthe long- youare on apractical level, the term trend in your chart, morespace you'll have for whichisprofoundlyserious. dealing withrandomemotions. ACROSS Down Abreak is as good as arest, as Youdon't want to be caughtout 1When it leaksit’s hardtostop 1Beat the unbeatable (4) theysay. by unexpected eruptions. (5,5) 2One maxi-coat of obvious 6Agood likeness(4) style(9) GEMINI (May22-June 21) SAGITTARIUS (Nov24-Dec 22) 10 Worker who is constantly 3She gets in before the Happilyeverything The sparkoflove striking (5) latecomers (5) which is optimistic, could burstinto 11 Writer has companyinexam 4See what someone has to say? changeable, sociable flames if the at Whitsuntide (9) (3-4) and full of lifeis emotional wind 12 Author takesfish without 5Editing changemade light of (7) emphasisedtoday. Mindyou, blows from therightdirection. permit(8) 7Nothing among the newrich you'll be in no mood to waste Ratherthan becomingfixated by 13 CastofSleuth rewarded(5) can be got forasong (5) your time.Asusual, youwill one particular desire,you should 15 Seeming to be notincustody 8Famous enough to deserve do yourself amighty favour spread your favours around and (7) being settomusic? (10) if youlistentopartners and enjoywhatever life throwsat 17 Lose hope as pride is 9Fastplane is notre-ordered - give themthe firstbiteof you. Live lifetothe full. destroyed (7) getrid of the cargo (8) the cherry. 19 Supports inferior goods (7) 14 It’s notclear wheretheyare MARVIN by Tom Armstrong CAPRICORN(Dec23-Jan 20) 21 An exposurewarmlyenjoyed used(3,7) CANCER (June 22 -July23) Even enforced (7) 16 Acting so strangely-from Thehappiest changes in your 22 Entrances groups of divine ignorance? (8) individuals could be personal lifecan do spectators (5) 18 From one’sfirstlook,the canal thoseatworktoday. youapowerofgood. 24 Fine yarn that is authentic gate is broken (2,1,6) If you'retaking time Youmay imagine that you're (4,4) 20 Extend aterm of imprisonment offthen the best leisure out of the woods, and youare 27 It resultsinone being free of (7) pursuitsshould be those which indeedrightthat lifehas moved charge (9) 21 Shellfish on edge (7) encourage youtocompete, on. However, youshould never 28 Ball, possiblysquare(5) 23 Quote about alady’s hat (5) and give youthe chance to lose touchwith all those 29 Retainer forawriter (4) 25 Took the partofanother (5) shine in front of your friends. incrediblyvaluable insights 30 Showedpromise as a 26 Source of waterproduced There's nothingwrong with you'vegained. sculptor? (6,4) satisfactorily(4) showingoff. AQUARIUS (Jan 21-Feb 19) SolutionsCrossword4118:Across:1Regards,5Pupil,8Chandlers,9Lot,10Side, LEO (July24-Aug 23) What reallymatters 12Reporter,14Simile,15Barbel,17Cannabis,18Beam,21Eli,22Undoubted,24 Youmay splash out is that youexplain Donne,25Synonym.Down:1Racks,2Goa,3Rude,4Scenes,5Pastoral,6Palatable, some moneyifthat's yourself. It's an 7Lateral,11Dimension,13Pleasure,14Succeed,16Hindus,19Madam,20Turn,23 the best waytostay excellentday for Tun. happy. It has been communication, but by the observed that 'shopping same tokenifyou fail to make therapy' reallydoes have yourself clear,especiallyat JUMBLED WORDS beneficial side effectsjustas home, misunderstandings could DifficultyLevel4s long as youspend onlythat multiply. Thelastthing youwant Instructions whichyou have,and notthat nowisfor someone important to Givenbelowarefourjumbledwords.Solvethejumblestomakeproperwordsandmovethemto TosolveaSudokupuzzle, whichbelongs to others. getthe wrong end of thestick. therespectivesquaresbelow.Selectthelettersintheshadedsquaresandjumblethemtoget everydigitfrom1to9 4110 VIRGO (Aug 24 -Sep 23) PISCES(Feb20-Mar 20) theanswerforthegivenquip. 1 mustappearineachofthe Whydo____keepthemselvestothemselves?They'regreatatmindingtheirownbusiness nineverticalcolumns,in Financial matters The Moon is in a (13) grab the headlines. favourable position, 411 eachoftheninehorizontal In briefit's afine one which bringsout CMEEE AFINNT rowsandineachofthe moment forgoing your desirefor travel nineboxes. shopping, haggling and picking and adventure. Even if youare SUDOKU up afew bargains.Ifyou'rein forced to stay put today, there the property market there maybewaysinwhichyou can OERRR PURGES DifficultyLevel could be welcome signs of plan forfuture excitement. You

SUDOKU 1s=Veryeasy;2s=Easy; movement. However, there's a needtolet apartner offthe 3s=Medium;4s=Hard; chance that news which arrives hook,bythe way. If youdo,

5s=VeryHard;6s= latecould makeyou wonder then theywon't forget

ness usi nb ow their ng

mindi whether yougot agood deal. your kindness.

at at re eg y'r The s? lve mse he ot st ve sel them ep ke s eur en epr tr en o yd Wh r: we Ans Genius SOLUTION

GE PUR ,S ANT INF OR, ERR E, MCE :E SOLUTION

Vol. LXIVNo. 115 Printed forthe proprietors, The Indian Express (P) Ltd by Ms Vaidehi Thakar at The Indian Express Press, PlotNo. EL-208, TTCIndustrial Area, Mahape, Navi Mumbai -400710and publishedfrom1st floor,Express Towers, Nariman Point, Mumbai -400021.Editorial &Administrative Offices: Express Towers, Nariman Point,Mumbai - 400021.Phone: 22022627/67440000.Fax: 022-22835726. Chairman of the Board: Viveck Goenka, Chief Editor:Raj Kamal Jha, Editor:Unni Rajen Shanker,Editor (Mumbai): Nirupama Subramanian.* (*Responsible forselection of Newsunder the PRB Act) Additionalair surcharge of `1 .00-Goa. Copyright:The Indian Express (P) Ltd. All rightsreserved.Reproduction in anymanner,electronic or otherwise, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited.The Indian Express® Invest in independent journalism. Subscribe to The Indian Express E-paper

Introductory offer

Save 29%

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE

Available on indianexpress.com | E-mail | WhatsApp | The Indian Express App

* Offer valid till MAY 31, 2020 | **Full refund, if cancelled during the Free Trial period.