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  of Santhal Pargana division ❝ ' #    (   #              Refilling Unit in Palamu. PCA and Palamu division in view of
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              machines will also be installed hief Minister Hemant increasing cases of coronavirus    
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 in all hospitals of the State. CSoren on Monday infection.
  
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 He added a third wave of announced that from 14 May After becoming aware of     
   # #     Corona infection has been 2021, people above 18 years of the views and suggestions of all ❝ 
  #         &
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                Government is serious about “People are not required to address that the present time is   # # -   #  #  '   dealing with the third wave and pay any fee for vaccination; the definitely a time of great con-           
        preparations have been started. State Government is doing the cern. All people are going               It is estimated by the work of free vaccination. As through difficult times. The experts that children in the soon as the vaccine is available whole world is suffering from third wave may be more sus-                   from May 14, we will be able to corona infection. Government has done a better arrival of the test report. ability of the regulator, and for- ceptible to infection, so the     offer the vaccine to the He said the challenge is job on the corona infection He said the Government mulating the model of the reg- State Government will hold vir- people,” Chief Minister more for us as Jharkhand is a than the neighboring states has placed an order for the ulator in collaboration with tual meetings with all child spe- Dumka MP Sunil Soren, Vaidyanath Ram, Rajmahal Hemant Soren said. backward State. 70 per cent of like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, machines of two Cobas com- several private companies of cialist physicians and experts Jharkhand Assembly Speaker MLA Anant Ojha, The Chief Minister said the people here live in rural Bengal etc. All health workers pany for RTPCR tests. These the State. Soon we will be able within the next two-three days. Rabindra Nath Mahato, Hussainabad MLA Kamlesh publicity is also being done to areas. Most of the people live by and frontline workers deserve machines can be installed in to produce regulators in our He said all the isolation Ministers Alamgir Alam, Kumar Singh, Sarath MLA ensure that there is no confusion farming or fencing. thanks for doing good work the State by the end of June. State itself. We are constantly centers and quarantine centers Mithilesh Kumar Thakur, Randhir Kumar Singh, or confusion about vaccination. Soren said, “All of you have with limited resources, I salute Soren added, “All of you working to ensure the avail- in rural areas will be repaired. Badal, Hafizul Hasan Ansari, Littipara MLA Dinesh William “Corona vaccine is completely raised concerns about the third them. Many of our officials have given your suggestions for ability of nasal pipes. Within a The use of the 14th and 15th Maheshpur MLA Stephen Marandi, Bhawanathpur MLA safe and effective; please send this wave and have made several have lost their lives by saving the availability of oxygen week, we will be able to supply Finance Commission funds Marandi, Panki MLA Shashi Bhanu Pratap Shahi, message to more and more peo- important suggestions. the lives of infected patients, I flowmeter (regulator). Despite the nasal pipe smoothly.” will also be ensured on the Bhushan Mehta, Podaihat Daltonganj MLA Alok Kumar ple. The vaccine will According to your thoughts also salute them.” lack of medical oxygen, treat- The CM added a medical treatment of the infected. MLA Pradeep Yadav, Borio Chaurasia, Chhatarpur MLA be important as a safety net for and suggestions, the State The CM said in the second ment is getting hampered due oxygen refilling unit is needed Through video conferenc- MLA Lobin Hembram, Manika Pushpa Devi, Gonda MLA all of our lives,” he added. Government is preparing an wave of Covid-19, there is a to lack of regulators. The in Palamu division. Taking a ing, the CM interacted with MLA Ramchandra Singh, Amit Kumar Mandal, Dumka The CM on Monday held action plan to deal with the steady increase in the number Government is working on positive initiative in this direc- Palamu MP BD Ram, Bishrampur MLA Ramchandra MLA Basant Soren, Deoghar discussions through video con- third wave. With the support of of infected persons, which is coordinating with the Indo- tion, the State Government will Rajmahal MP Vijay Hansda, Chandravanshi, Jamtara MLA MLA Narayan Das and took ferencing with all MPs/MLAs all of you, the State why there is a slight delay in the Danish tool room for the avail- soon establish a Medical Oxygen Chatra MP Sunil Singh, Irfan Ansari, Latehar MLA their suggestions.         
    +       Ranchi on Monday report- However, with 35 casualties As per Government data, day. So far, over 2.92 lakh peo-      ed thrice as many recoveries as reported on the day, the Covid the district reported 1,094 recov- ple have been infected by the    !"#$% fresh cases, thereby witnessing toll in the district jumped to eries against 1,015 cases, which mysterious virus in the state  ;< 4;/ a significant fall in the active 1,251, NHM data revealed. brought the active caseload and 78.84 per cent of them 1 23/    caseload. As per the NHM bul- Ranchi accounts for almost 30 down to 5,601. The 16 casualties have recovered, stated the ndian-origin renowned US- letin, at least 1,704 Covid per cent of the 3,982 Covid there took the Covid toll to 827, NHM bulletin. Ibased public health expert Dr he Covid toll in Jharkhand patients recovered here while casualties reported in the NHM stated in its bulletin. As per Government data, Ashish K Jha has said India’s Tdrew close to the 4,000- 526 people were found infected. State so far. Among other districts, growth rate of cases in State was data of Covid cases and deaths mark on Monday as 129 more Monday’s findings brought Recoveries outnumbered Bokaro reported 623 cases 1.85 per cent against national are far less than the actual patients, including 35 from the active caseload in Ranchi fresh cases of infection in East against 300 recoveries, while average of 1.33 per cent. numbers. Dr Jha has placed 3 1 Ranchi and 16 from East down to 17,929. Singhbhum as well. Gumla reported 288 cases The growth rate of Covid India’s daily fatalities count to Singhbhum, succumbed to the against 220 recoveries. cases in the State has dropped close to 25,000. viral infection in the past 24 As many as 360 Hazaribag from over 2.5 per cent a fort- “Wrote about why India hours, figures compiled residents were found infected night ago. likely has 25K+ deaths daily. by the State health department on the day while 668 patients Meanwhile, the doubling Pushback: we lack hard data on highlighted. recovered in the district. Pakur rate has also improved. As per crematoriums so we can’t be While the State continued also reported 450 cases of coro- NHM data, it would take 37.86 sure. True. But we get 25K+ to report a triple-digit-spike in navirus infection, while at least days for the cases to double in deaths no matter how you fatalities, the active caseload wit- 300 people were found infect- Jharkhand against the national look. Another approach: nessed a dip for the second con- ed in Koderma. average of 52.40 days. The 400,000 cases, 22% test posi- secutive day as recoveries out- The State on Monday test- Covid mortality rate in the tivity. Likely means we’re miss- numbered fresh cases of infec- ed swab samples of 1,00,724 state, however, was 1.36 per ing 90% of infections,” Dr Jha tion in Jharkhand on Monday. residents and around 6 per cent cent, which is higher than the said in the first of a series of As per a bulletin released of them were found infected. national average of 1.10 per cent. tweets. “Truth is, no one knows by the National Health Mission The figures indicate that The State administered the exactly how many Indians (NHM), as many as 6962 Covid the positivity rate in Jharkhand first dose of vaccine against dying from Covid. We make    $   

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    %&    patients recovered from the dropped significantly on the Covid-19 to 12,339 residents estimates from cases, tests, IFR  '   (& infection against 6187 fresh on the day, while the second (Infection Fatality Rate). And cases that occurred on the day,    dose was administered to look at real-world experiences: shortage of the vaccines and the bringing the active caseload       
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  18,128 residents, stated a sep- crematoriums, people’s homes,” $ "    Government opening up the down to 57,902.          arate report from the NHM. said Jha. vaccination drive for those   %" above 18 from May 1 (an esti-     & mated 59 crore people that become eligible to receive the &  '  () shot, as per the affidavit filed by "        ;< 4;/ the Union Health Ministry in the SC, many from both the ndia is the biggest producers categories who have registered *+, './ /   

 Iof vaccines, but its own on the Co-Win will have to  '  " ( nationwide vaccination drive wait for little more before they launched on January 16 seems could get the jab. !     to be faltering amid mismatch The total population eligi-     ;< 4;/ nation centres are far away from between the vaccine availabil- ble for vaccination when it was the villages. For instance, vacci- " ity and the number of seekers limited to healthcare and front- rom Ballia in Uttar Pradesh nation centres for Bahuara,   # in urban India with various line workers and those above Fto Nuh in Haryana, from Kandap, Sohgi villages are set up States complaining about vac- 45 was about 34 crore. Now, the Sampat Chak in Bihar to even in Sampat Chak, which is five     cine shortage. total population that will be Manjhawali in Faridabad, close kilometres away from these vil- So far, over 19 crore peo- inoculated stands more than 90 to Delhi, the Covid-19 vacci- lages. Most of the villagers are t least three cases of Covid- ple have registered on CoWin crore including 59 crore adult nation drive in India’s rural hesitant to walk and get a jab. Ainduced Black Fungus or — the Government’s portal — population including 18 plus to areas has taken a hit as the fear health workers were going to “Even if counselled, vil- Mucormycosis have occurred including around 6.42 crore 44 years. of an adverse reaction, super- this village to disseminate lagers are unable to travel 17- in Jharkhand in the past 48 who registered from May 1 to It is not only those in the stition, and a lack of informa- information for Covid vacci- 20 km to the nearest centre just hours and all three patients had navirus infection. was less likely to get transmitted 7, as per the data available from age group of 45 and above who tion and awareness have made nations. In another case in for vaccination. And if they to lose one eye during the Cut to Monday afternoon, from one person to another, the Union Health Ministry. are complaining of not getting villagers either hesitant or com- Nuh, Haryana, villagers threat- eventually do reach, the inter- course of treatment, doctors doctors at the private health- doctors say that it was occurring There huge demand for the vaccines so are those in the pletely unwilling to take the jab. ened to beat health workers if net is too slow and it takes from Bhagwan Mahavir care facility were treating two in Covid patients who had to be vaccination is from urban age bracket of 18 plus to 44 In fact, there have even they insisted for vaccination. hours to register and verify Medica Superspecialty Hospital more Covid survivors — a 40- administered high doses of areas mainly. However, so far, which was an estimated 59 been reports that vaccination Besides the shortage of online,” said in-charge of vac- in Ranchi, where the patients year-old man from Ramgarh steroids during treatment. just 2.6 per cent of the total eli- crore population As of May 7, centres have been destroyed vaccines, the vaccination cination centre, Sampat Chak. are undergoing treatment, said and a 60-year-old woman from Diabetic Covid patients who gible population has been fully just 11.81 lakh have received and health workers beaten up process slowed down in this “In Ballia’s Basdih Road on Monday. Ranchi — after they developed were administered high doses of vaccinated (two doses). On the shot. What’s more, overall in various part of the country. district as the majority of peo- vaccination centre in UP, there On Saturday, doctors at Black Fungus. steroids during treatment were the other hand a country like vaccination numbers too are Villagers of Manjhawli in ple think the jab could cause are over 20,000 population in Medica had to surgically “The cases (of Black particularly at higher risk, say the USA which was hit hard by declining. On May 9, around Faridabad damaged the vacci- infertility. Health workers are five villages but only 800-1000 remove one eye of a 38-year- Fungus) are likely to increase. doctors. In the absence of time- the Covid-19 for better part of 6.89 people were vaccinated, on nation centres at Gurukul facing an uphill task to con- turned up for vaccination so old man from Ramgarh who Early detection is the only way ly treatment, which in most the last year has vaccinated at May 8 the number was 20.15 school and beat up health vince them for inoculation. far,” said a health worker on the was suffering from Black to prevent severe complications cases is removal of the eye, the least 40 per cent of its popula- lakh while on May 7 and May workers a few days ago. The In Bihar, most of the vacci- condition of anonymity. Fungus after surviving a coro- in patients,” said Dr Anindya virus may infect the patient’s tion with both jabs. 6, the number of people who Anuradha, an Ophthalmologist brain and cause death. The Ministry has claimed were inoculated was 22.89 lakh             at Medica who is treating all the “Patients with immuno- that more than 1 crore Covid and 23.59 lakh respectively. patients of Black Fungus compromised diseases such as vaccine doses (1,04,30,063) are Dismal figures given that inoc-     ,   ,     #         '     
   in the facility. HIV were also more still available with the ulation had reached as high as     ,       ,  #,    ,   
       Mucormycosis, also called likely to get infected,” Dr States/UTs and more than 9 40 lakh in early April.      
   #   ,           #     . black fungus, is a rare infection Anuradha added. lakh (9,24,910) vaccine doses At the current pace of vac-    ,       ,          /   ,    caused by exposure to mucor Last year, cases of Covid- will be provided in the next cination, experts said it would       #         mould found in soil, plants, induced Black Fungus were three days, but it is not take nearly three months to    , # ,    #     manure and decaying fruits reported in New Delhi and enough even to cover 50 per vaccinate just those registered    
             ,  
  and vegetables. This infection other parts of the country. cent of those (2.42 crore) who till now. At the current rate of       ,        4   &    ,       0 usually affects the lungs, the However, this is the first time     #   registered in the last week vaccination - less than 17 lakh  , 
##
  2  2  ' #    ,    nasal tract and the sinus of the that Jharkhand has reported      9": from May 1 to May 7. a day - the 170-crore remain-        patient and has a fatality rate of such cases since the entry of the Realising that vaccines ing doses needed to fully cover #    5    - 50 per cent, say doctors. virus in the state back in March /    2   K /#      ,  availability is going to take the entire 94-crore adult pop- 
 #   # 2   “We have flushed out the 2020, say doctors. time, the Union Health ulation would take about 1,000 #   5  /5 K     nasal cavity of the two patients With almost 78,000 cases  
  #        Ministry last week asked the days - or close to three years.      who came to us today. The fun- of Covid-19 reported so far, States to prioritise administer- The new phase of vaccination           
   
 gus has already damaged one Ranchi is the worst-affected ing the second dose and has also slowed down because  3   #   eye of both the patients and we district in Jharkhand in terms #              #    # , use supplies from the Centre in now the private entities are 

2    7  ( 8  may have to go for a surgery if of caseload. Ramgarh, on the a 70:30 ratio of second and dealing with multiple issues    2  their condition deteriorates,” other hand, has reported over first doses. such as shortage, procurement  
       ## 
 Dr Anuradha said. 11,000 Covid cases so far, high- Clearly, because of the as well as transportation etc. While the deadly fungus lights Government data.  !"$%&' ( ) ( ***

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  ;4'. deputy commissioner Suraj hearse service. Two ambulances The Deputy Commissioner area. The Deputy Commissioner Q  * & R Dhanbad: Amidst reported Kumar, he jointly flagged off the will be for the steel city and will while addressing the press rep- said that it is a matter of great deaths of journalists working in midst rising cases of vehicles from the district col- be run by the urban civic bod- resentatives said that all the pleasure that the recovery rate in different organisations here late ACovid-19 in the city, lectorate. BJP East Singhbhum ies Jamshedpur Notified Area public representatives were urged East Singhbhum is better than Meanwhile, Sunday death of a senior gov- Jamshedpur MP Bidyut Baran district president Gunjan Yadav Committee and Mango Notified to reduce the resource gap. In this the country and the state. the National ernment officer of finance ser- Mahto handed over eight air- was also present on the occasion. Area Committee. sequence, today 8 ambulances The BJP parliamentarian General Secretary vice has come as a blow for conditioned ambulances to the Sensing an urgent need to Mahto said ambulances have been handed over by the also helped out needy people by of All India Sikh many including his departmen- East Singhbhum district address the issues concerning were the need of the hour in MP to the district administra- arranging rations and packed Students tal colleagues. Additional joint administration on Monday. Covid patients, Mahto took the challenging times. “Emphasis is tion, in which seven rural areas food to people living in blocks of Federation, commissioner of sales tax As per the plans seven initative. The ambulances will on restoring medical facilities in and one ambulance will be used East Singhbhum during the first Satnam Singh department Vijay Kumar Dubey ambulances, which are be used in Ghatshila, Potka, rural areas so that everyone can for corona infected in the urban wave of Covid last year. Gambhir said that who was posted at Ranchi suc- equipped with oxygen cylin- Baharagora, Musaboni and get better and timely treatment in our Gurbani it cumbed to Corona at Asharfi ders, will be used for people liv- Patamda in East Singhbhum. even when the corona peak is written that hospital . News of his death ing in rural areas while one is Mahto will be shortly hand- comes. People living in the rural         ‘Pavan Guru Pani came to fore only on Monday meant for urban Jamshedpur. ing over six more air-condi- pockets will benefit. The vehicles   ;4'. Pita, Mata Dharat Mahat’ early morning when colleagues Mahto donated the vehicles tioned ambulances, including have already left for their rural Jamshedpur: The city has wit- 42,389. The death toll has meaning Air is the Guru, Water of his department started assem- from his MP fund. Along with two which will be meant for destinations,” he added. nessed mild decline in fresh climbed to 830. The total active aking a cue from the Oxygen the Father, and the Earth. To bling at his Dhanbad residence. Covid cases in the last 24- cases are 6,591. TLangar organised by Delhi serve the earth and to save the Born and brought up at hours. For the first time recov- Meanwhile, the district Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak environment, we have taken up Dhanbad, Dubey was also post- eries also went up. police led by senior superin- Committee, All India Sikh the initiative of plantation. ed as joint commissioner of A total of 562 fresh cases tendent M Tamil Vanan visit- Students Federation on Monday Inder Singh Inder and sales tax department twice before were reported while 732 peo- ed Sakchi market to ensure no organised ‘Plants Langar’ and Amarjeet Singh Bhamra said joining to his present post. He ple were declared free of coro- shops were open during lock- distributed the plants in front of that every class should come for- was admitted to a private hospi- navirus infection on Sunday. down. The police personnel Sakchi Gurdwara. ward and plant saplings for a tal about a month ago and suc- The health department also stopped an auto-rickshaw The idea was to unite peo- clean environment. On the occa- cumbed in hospital. conducted a total of 2,927 driver who was seen ferrying ple to save the environment. sion, Sarabjit Singh, Amarjeet Meanwhile, on Sunday after Covid tests in Jamshedpur. more than four passengers. Hundreds of plants were dis- Singh, Gurdit Singh Chola, a gap of 12 days Dhanbad City reported 11 deaths on The drivers were warned and tributed among the people for Manpreet Singh, Sarabjit Singh, received less than 100 positive Sunday while the district’s pos- the extra passengers were asked free. The beneficiaries Harpal Singh and Kanwaljit cases in a day during this second itive cases tally has mounted to to travel in other auto. PNS promised to take up plantation. Singh were present. wave of the pandemic. PNS , * &      
    

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 0   4. B  53B3  53B3 oxygen from the plant. “We are inister of okaro Steel also at work to install some MAgriculture, BManagement okaro Steel Plant (BSL) is oxygen-equipped beds at the Animal is making an Bproviding Medical Oxygen HRD center for COVID-19 Husbandry and earnest effort on (MO) to the cylinder fillers and patients,” he said. Cooperation every front to pro- hospitals amidst a severe short- Presently, 178 beds are in Department, vide help to the age and increased demand for the existing condition for Badal reviewed the needy in the war of Covid-19 States of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, LMO during the ongoing COVID-19 patients at Bokaro work being done epidemic. The Bokaro Steel West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Covid-19 second wave. General Hospital (BGH). by the District Plant continues to supply liq- Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Since August 2020, BSL has Additional 100 beds with oxy- Administration and Health moting vaccination on large uid medical oxygen to the Maharashtra etc. including supplied more than 10,000 MT gen facilities are being pre- Department towards control- scale. Vaccination is highly effec- Jharkhand, Also Arrangements of LMO to the hospitals in dif- pared, installation of the gaso- ling the spread of Covid-19 in tive in preventing spread of have been made for free oxygen ferent states, informed Mani line pipeline is in the process the district and got the updat- corona infection. He directed to cylinders from the plant for Kant Dhan, Chief of directly from the plant, ed status here on Monday. ensure maximum immunisa- local hospitals. Communication BSL. informed an official. In the order of review, tion of people in district. Meanwhile, free food has “From 1 April 21 to 6 May “We are at work to hand Deputy Commissioner He also appealed to the been provided daily by BSL for we have supplied 5,520.27 MT over a 164 bedded COVID Rajeshwari B presented the data public to get vaccinated boldly these tanker drivers, co-drivers of LMO to different hospitals Care Center (all equipped with of sample collection, number of to prevent corona virus. In order and other staff who bring a in several states includes association with INOX Air application to the district Oxygen support) at BGH (fifth corona infected patients etc, to prevent the spread of corona large number of oxygen tankers Jharkhand (1100.09 MT), UP Pvt. Ltd. at BSL and supplying administration; after that, oxy- floor) to the district adminis- which has been done in the dis- virus, he instructed the Deputy by road and rail from various (1866.80 MT), Bihar (1211.76 the entire as per the require- gen will be filled free of cost in tration Bokaro. We have made trict so far. The DC informed Commissioner to keep the states of the country. Via cour- MT), West Bengal (28.41 MT), ments,” he added. their cylinders at Bokaro Steel 40 beds operational and already the Minister about the arrange- demand for essential medicines, tesy of CSR department of Punjab (475.30 MT), BSL is ready to help the Plant, said Amarendu. handed over to the district ments and arrangements being medical resources, oxygen, ven- BSL, on an average, around 150 Maharashtra (19.13 MT), COVID patients in this time of The erection work of 500 administration on this move,” made in connection with tilators, normal and oxygen-rich food packets are being distrib- Andhra Pradesh (54.78 MT) the disaster, said Amarendu bed’s (equipped with Gaseous he said, adding, “Additional 124 Covid-19 in the district. beds, etc. when needed. uted among them daily so that and Madhya Pradesh (764.00 Prakash, Director-in-charge BSL. Oxygen- GOX) temporary hos- beds will become operational at Badal called the role of vac- The Minister gave several the energy and enthusiasm of MT),” added Dhan. We are providing free Medical pital at Bokaro Steel City is BGH in a phased manner very cination important in control- important instructions related to these corona warriors who Supplies of LMO are still on Oxygen to hospitals across the going on war footage. shortly.” BGH is run and man- ling the ever increasing out- increasing awareness among the take life saving oxygen to their during this ongoing COVID-19 district in the battle against the This temporary hospital aged by Bokaro Steel Plant break of Coronavirus and its people. He said that the aware- destination will be maintained. second wave as per the Coronavirus pandemic. would be erected in a phased (BSL), developed all the infra- spread in the coming days. He ness will prove to be worthwhile Sharing information COC requirements. Earlier, we were “In association with district manner in the proper place structures for the CCU at its said that in the coming days, in driving away the corona epi- Manikant Dhan said that about producing 50 MT of LMO per administration, we are ready to near the plant so that oxygen fifth floor of the hospital, and people over the age of 18 will demic. Therefore, the officers 6700 tonnes of liquid medical day used for steel making and meet oxygen needs in hospitals can be supplied through a handed over to the district be vaccinated. He instructed should make every citizen of the oxygen has been supplied to for oxygen enrichment in Blast of Bokaro. Those hospitals that pipeline directly from the plant; administration for operations. the DC to prepare an action district aware of prevention of Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Furnaces, apart from some need oxygen can get their it would also be equipped with In addition, COVID Testing plan to get the students vacci- infection of Covid-19, including Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya general purposes like lancing empty cylinders filled at the essential equipment and facil- (for employees and their fami- nated as a priority. the people living in all the villages Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and gas cutting, he said. Bokaro Steel Plant free of cost”, ities, he informed. lies) has been commissioned He said along with the sec- of the district and the represen- Punjab and Maharashtra from “Now we have ramped up he added. Besides these, a pipeline is 24x7 at BGH with a maximum ond wave of coronavirus, we also tatives of youth and social orga- April 1 to May 9 from Bokaro the production, everyday we For this, hospital manage- also being installed at BSL’s capacity of 120 people per day, need to make our preparations nizations living in cities and Steel Plant. are producing 150 T of LMO in ment will have to forward their HRD Center to deliver gaseous informed the official. for third wave. This requires pro- youth clubs.

 /        ocial Media platforms like persons, lawyers and human Such a powerful tool in the a man as powerful as Donald SFacebook, Twitter, Instagram right activists etc. However, hands of a business tycoon is Trump then the very thought etc. are playing havoc with the they have been handpicked by highly dangerous and detri- that what they can do to the lives of political leaders and Mark Juckerberg and the cost, mental to a free and liberal lesser mortals sends shivers thereby their countries as there wages and all other expendi- world. Such a powerful weapon down the spine. The freedom is no transparency in their tures of this referral board is is double edged and Democrats of speech applies to everyone functioning and they are not borne by Facebook. Hence, it is in America need not be happy and if at all it has to be regu- accountable to anyone. They are futile to expect a fair decision. as it suits them right now. lated, it should be done by an as powerful as the Church used The Oversight Board sat a Their turn of receiving the independent body. It could be to be before the French few days ago and took up the brunt of social media would the Supreme Court of the con- Revolution and they are State matter of Trump. They upheld come sooner than later. cerned nation or an interna- within State like them. They are the decision, as expected, but A media hype is being cre- tional body meant for it and rather more powerful than the challenged the policy and ated that this decision’s signifi- constituted with the consent of Church as their influence cuts process of decision making cance is similar to that of the all stakeholders. across not only nations but reli- and gave Facebook six months’ Supreme Court of America’s In the meantime, Trump gions and the entire world is time to review the decision. landmark judgement in has come up with a new social their domain. Facebook was launched in Marbury v. Madison (1803), media platform, Desk, which sibility of the popularity of The case of Donald Trump 2004 and the idea of an which established the power of would challenge the monopoly Desk would force Facebook to is a point of reference. The Oversight Board appeared in judicial review of the Supreme of existing social media plat- review its decision as suggest- social media platforms banned 2018 after a recurring demand Court of America over legisla- forms, Facebook, Twitter and ed by the Oversight Board and him for an indefinite period for such a monitoring body. It ture and executive. Is it so? Instagram. This will provide an restore him on Facebook and acting as a self appointed was finally constituted in Definitely not. The case of 1803 opportunity for Trump to com- Instagram. But that is not the guardian of the world’s con- November 2020, just before the involved all constitutional organs municate with his supporters. end of the controversy. A seri- science. There is no interna- U.S presidential election. and not a corporate media giant It is likely to wean away a siz- ous question of our age, free- tional mechanism to monitor The social media has and a regulatory body created by able amount of traffic from dom of social media, has to be and regulate their functioning. emerged as the most powerful it as is the case now. Facebook and others given solved. The sooner the better. In order to ascertain the valid- tool to shape the public opin- It is high time that a mon- some of its brilliant and ity of the decision, it was ion as online narrative creates itoring and regulatory body is advanced features. The author is the Registrar referred to the Oversight Board an impression and environ- put in place to oversee the func- Trump was thrown out of of Vinoba Bhave University in of Facebook which consists of ment which can decide the des- tioning of these social media Facebook in the most uncere- Hazaribag. The views expressed noted academicians, media tiny of leaders and nations. platforms. If they can do this to monious manner but the pos- by the author are his own. 2 $3 4$5364 "4)57" 9"  :74 "  0   D5& journalists, who are doing their Mehta has demanded secu- job on minimum salary. There rity kits for journalists. He ormer Member of are some journalists in the said that the journalists of FParliament and State secre- State, who are not getting even India are serving the society as tary of Communist Party of a single paisa from newspaper well as saving democracy. India Bhuvneshwar Prasad management, he stated. The Hazaribag press club Mehta has demanded from the The journalists in this State president Umesh Pratap has State government to provide are performing their duties in also written a letter to the state compensation of 10 lakh rupees this COVID period without government through the to the relatives of journalists, caring for their lives. In this sit- deputy commissioner on the who died due Corona in the uation the State government same issue. He said that half a State. Mehta has demanded has to honour the journalists dozen journalists of Hazaribag security kits to the journalists, and help them in the treatment. have lost their lives during the who are working in the field Those who lost their lives in second phase of Corona. He during the COVID period. this period, their kin must get has also demanded compensa- Mehta has mentioned in a the compensation of 10 lakhs tion for the kin of journalists, letter that there are so many rupees immediately, he said. who lost their lives.

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M       villages, are proving to be the says, “I provide banking ser- the services ranging from Correspondent Sakhis had Professor Ravi Kashyap of Soni Devi from Godda, Rinki   0          2       backbone of the rural economy. vices to people in my panchayat money deposit, withdrawal processed transactions of more Illinois University, America, Keshari from Ranchi, Aryama  ,     
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 ;< 4;/  ;< 4;/ n the ongoing national effort Ito augment supply of oxygen, he Centre on Monday ruled three Indian Navy warships   ;< 4;/ Tout the possibility of free carrying the gas from Kuwait, food grains distribution to Qatar and Singapore reached he Centre has justified in migrants saying there is no India on Monday. The Army  ;< 4;/ Tthe Supreme Court the panic situation and no com- set up three hospitals in Covid-19 vaccination policy plete national lockdown, unlike Faridabad, Chandigarh and ongress general secretary saying its response and strate- a pandemic of this magnitude, vaccination drive is devised as last year. However, the Patiala for treating Covid-19 CPriyanka Gandhi Vadra on gy is completely driven by the executive does have a room an executive policy, the wisdom Government has started dis- patients. Monday attacked the Narendra expert medical and scientific for free play in the joints, in of the executive should be tributing additional free grains Giving details about the Oxygen. The consignment is Western Command chief Modi-led Union Government opinion which leaves little larger public interest”. trusted,” the affidavit said. again under the Pradhan naval endeavour, officials said part of the French mission Lieutenant General RP Singh over the Central Vista project room for judicial interference The Government further The Government said in a Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna three ships including Kolkata, “Oxygen Solidarity Bridge” to on Monday announced the and questioned the expenditure and emphasised that citizens of said, “It is also submitted that plethora of judgements, the SC Yojana (PMGKAY) for two Trikand and Airavat reached support India’s fight against operationalisation of Western being made on a new residence all age groups will get free vac- citizens of 18 to 44 years are laid down the parameters for months — May and June— to India with Liquid Medical Covid-19 pandemic, they said. Command Covid Hospitals at for the Prime Minister when cination throughout India. getting vaccination free of cost judicial review of executive 80 crore ration cardholders. Oxygen. INS Kolkata arrived at International Students Hostel the amount could be utilised In view of the unprece- as all the State Governments policies, which can only be “Migrant crisis is not as big As part of the ongoing New Mangalore with 400 bot- of Panjab University, Sector 25 for providing Covid related dented and peculiar circum- have announced free vaccina- struck down or interfered with as it was last year. ... It is not a Operation ‘Samudra Setu II’ to tles of Oxygen, two 27 MT Chandigarh and Rajindra medical assistance. stances under which vaccina- tion for this population group on the grounds of manifest complete national lockdown. It support the nation’s fight containers of Liquid Medical Government Hospital, Patiala “PM’s new residence & tion drive is devised as an of 18-44 years. Thus, all citizens arbitrariness, allowing suffi- is a local lockdown, the indus- against Covid-19, INS Kolkata Oxygen and 47 concentrators besides the facility at Central vista cost = Rs 20,000 executive policy, the “wisdom of all age groups will get free cient play in the joints to the try is working. The complete arrived New Mangalore, INS that were embarked at Qatar Faridabad. The hospital at cr = 62 crore vaccine doses = of the executive should be vaccination throughout the executive, to function in accor- lockdown is not there. That Trikand entered Mumbai and and Kuwait. Patiala will start functioning 22 crore Remdesvir vials = 3 trusted”, it said. In a global pan- country.” States have also been dance with its Constitutional panic is also not there,” Food INS Airavat arrived in While these ships entered from Tuesday. crore 10 litre oxygen cylinders demic, where the response and provided the information of the mandate. Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey Visakhapatnam. ports to augment oxygen sup- The Army has deployed its = 13 AIIMS with a total of strategy of the nation is com- total number of doses of both “In the context of a global said in a virtual press meet. The These ships are part of ply in three different States, Doctors, Nursing Officers and 12,000 beds. WHY?,” Priyanka pletely driven by expert med- vaccines available to them and pandemic, where the response Government said there is no nine ships deployed for Covid two more warships are enroute Paramedics for holistic treat- tweeted. ical and scientific opinion, “any the UTs from “Government of and strategy of the nation is impact on the prices of food relief Operation ‘Samudra Setu to India from Kuwait and one ment to patients as per the The Government has overzealous, though well- India channel” for the identi- completely driven by expert grains in the open market due II’ for shipment of Liquid ship is at Brunei to embark Indian Council for Medical brought the construction work meaning judicial intervention, fied priority groups (health medical and scientific opinion, to free grains distribution Medical Oxygen and associat- medical supplies. Research(ICMR)guidelines, for the ambitious Central Vista may lead to unforeseen and care workers, frontline workers there is even little room for under PMGKAY. Those ed medical equipment from As regards the Army’s role, provided service ambulances project under the ambit of unintended consequences”, the and population above 45 years judicial interference. Any migrants, who have gone back friendly foreign countries in they said the force has set up and trained personnel for “essential services” to ensure government said. of age) free of cost from May 1 overzealous, though well- to their villages, are availing the Persian Gulf and South a 100-bed Covid care hospital administration and manage- smooth movement of labour- In 218-page affidavit filed to 15 and this data would be meaning judicial intervention ration supply either through East Asia. at the Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee ment of the hospital. ers during the ongoing lock- late Sunday night in the top released every fortnight, it said. may lead to unforeseen and State or central ration cards, he INS Airavat arrived in Government Medical College, The civil administration is down in Delhi. court’s suo motu case on “It is most respectfully sub- unintended consequences, in said. Visakhapatnam with eight Chhainsa, located 20 kms from facilitating essential ameni- Both Priyanka and her Covid-19 management, the mitted that in the times of such absence of any expert advice or The Secretary was cryogenic oxygen tanks and Faridabad town. ties, service management, brother Rahul Gandhi have Centre said, this policy “con- grave and unprecedented crisis administrative experience, leav- responding to a query why the 3,898 oxygen cylinders along The Army and the Civil uninterrupted oxygen supply, been critical of the Central forms to mandate of Article 14 which the nation is fighting the ing the doctors, scientists, government has not with other critical medical Administration, Faridabad patient admission and dis- Viata project, saying that it and Article 21 of the disaster of an unprecedented experts and executive very lit- announced a free grains equipment from Singapore. District worked in close coor- charge and ambulance ser- shouldn’t be continued at a Constitution of India and is magnitude, the executive func- tle room to find innovative scheme for migrants amid a INS Trikand was deployed dination on a war footing to vices at these hospitals. time when the country is reel- made after several rounds of tioning of the government solutions on the go”, it said. resurgence of the Covid cases. to augment shipment of Liquid ensure that the hospital is The hospitals will also ing under the Covid pandem- consultation and discussion needs discretion to formulate It said the policy, strategy Last year, the government Medical Oxygen (LMO) cryo- functional from Tuesday to cater for basic laboratory, X- ic with many people com- with experts, state government policy in larger interest. It is and steps taken, based on had distributed 6.40 lakh tonne genic containers from Hamad provide Level 1 medical care to Ray, Pharmacy and catering for plaining of not getting hospi- and vaccine manufacturers submitted that in view of the expert scientific advice, have to of foodgrains for free to Port, Qatar to Mumbai. The mild/ symptomatic patients patients. The admission to tal beds, Covod vaccines, oxy- requiring no interference by unprecedented and peculiar be appreciated in the context of migrants and stranded ship arrived at Mumbai with 40 suffering from Covid-19. these Hospitals will be opened gen cylinders and life-saving this Court as while dealing with circumstances under which a medical crisis. migrants. Metric Tons(MT) of liquid In a related development, to all citizens. drugs.

Modi also praised Sonowal for his “immense   ,         ,& &.* '& contribution in strengthen- ing the party in the State” “My valued colleague * 0#&  '1 **, @sarbanandsonwal Ji was at            the helm of a pro-people and pro-development admin- house in order, istration over the last five She said calling the results    ;< 4;/ Asked if one needs years. His contribution     us clearly that we need to put Congress was strong, the elec- disappointing would be an to be a non-Brahmin towards Assam’s progress and ;< 4;/ our house in order,” she said. tion became bipolar between understatement and redited with BJP’s ‘polit- from Upper Assam to strengthening the party in “We have to take note of TMC and BJP, and the party announced the setting up of a Cical surge’ in the North- become the chief min- the state is immense, “ prime ongress president Sonia our serious setbacks. To say that could not get any seat in small group to analyse the East, Himanta Biswa Sarma, ister candidate from Minister said to heal the CGandhi on Monday came we are deeply disappointed is to Malda and Murshidabad, results. a non-tribal, was sworn in as the BJP party, Sonowal hurt sentiments of the ex-CM down heavily on the party make an understatement. I which are its strongholds. On the occasion Sonia the 15th Chief Minister of said “This is a very and his loyalists. cadre for the party’s debacle in intend to set up a small group Prasada also said that also slammed the Narendra Assam on Monday by State very…this is a question Sarma took to Twitter to the just-concluded Assembly to look at every aspect that there was no clarity whether to Modi government for ignoring Governor Jagdish Mukhi, that should not be express his gratitude to the elections. caused such reverses and report attack Chief Minister Mamata expert advice on Covid-19 replacing former Chief raised. Our party BJP people of the state. “With fra- Sources within the party back very quickly. We need to Banerjee or not and request- and allowing it become a “cat- Minister Sarbananda Sarma, 52, expanded his is a very democratic party grance of Assam in my heart said that an annoyed Sonia candidly understand why in ed the CWC to throw light on astrophe”. She also targeted the Sonowal. clout in the North-East as and we believe in people’s & love of my wonderful peo- sought an explanation for the Kerala and Assam we failed to the issue of alliance and how government for being “woe- Sarma had joined the also in the BJP and upstaged democracy.” ple in my veins, I offer my electoral losses from the gen- dislodge the incumbent gov- to move forward. fully short” on vaccination. BJP from the Congress in his seven years senior His fate was decided in deepest gratitude to you all. eral secretaries in charge of the ernments, and why in West For Assam, according to The meeting also saw pre- 2015 at the the residence of Sonowal Delhi before it was formally I would not have been what States that went to polls, she Bengal we drew a complete sources, the general secretary sentations by chief ministers of senior BJP leader Amit Shah’s An interesting comment announced in BJP legislature I am had it not been for your also raked up the issue of blank. These will yield uncom- in-charge Jitendra Singh high- Congress-ruled states on the and was then appointed of Sonowal reported locally party meet a day before at pious faith in me. On this pending party’s President post fortable lessons, but if we do not lighted that it was wrong to Covid situation and chal- Convener of the Election in March, this year, at a book Gauwhati. Day, I vow to work with & for and organisational elections face reality, if we do not look the make CAA as a poll issue, lenges. “The country is paying Management Committee for launch function in Assam Sarma, a Brahmin, and each one of you with greater to be held by month of June. facts in the face, we will not though the party was hopeful a horrendous price for the Modi the upcoming Assembly reflect that Sonowal was, in Sonowal, a kachari-tribal passion Assam,” he tweeted. During the party’s draw the right lessons,” Sonia to wrest power from BJP and government’s neglect of the Elections in Assam in 2016 a way, still confident that had began their political In another tweet, he Congress Working Committee said in the virtual meeting of early campaign at the grass- pandemic, indeed its wilful that catapulted Sonowal as ‘democratic election’ would careers and honed their thanked Prime Minister (CWC) meeting, Sonia talked the CWC which is the party’s roots level by the local lead- patronage of super-spreader the State Chief Minister. pave way for him for the sec- political skills as leaders of Narendra Modi saying, “This more about the prevailing sit- highest decision-making body. ership would have been result- events that were allowed for par- Five years down the line ond time. All Assam Student Union is the biggest day in my life, uation within the party and dis- Sources said that West oriented. The incharge for the tisan gains. A far deadlier sec- (AASU) and then went and I so fondly cherish your cussed measures to be taken to Bengal in charge Jitin Prasada Tamil Nadu conveyed that the ond wave has now over- seperate ways for years before generous affection. I assure “pull up the socks” to strength- in his presentation said that wave was for DMK and in whelmed us. Some scientists joining hands together in you we shall leave no stone en the party base. alliance with ISF ruined the Puducherry the people was have now cautioned about a the BJP. unturned to carry forward In a surprise move, Sonia party prospects in the state and looking for a change due to the third wave overtaking us soon. Prime Minister who had your vision of taking Assam, asked Assam general secretary mentioned that the ISF alliance allegations of misgovernance Some States have already hand-picked Sonowal in & NE to greater heights.” Jitender Singh, Kerala general was finalized by the Left par- by the Naranswamy govern- announced a complete lock- 2016, Congratulated Sarma has an LLB From secretary Tariq Anwar, West ties and not the Congress. In ment, according to the down. The public health system Himanta and the other Government Law College Bengal in-charge Jitin Prasada, the midst of elections, senior sources. While the Kerala across the country has all but Ministers who took oath. and a PhD from Gauwhati Tamil Nadu & Puducherry in- party leader Anand Sharma incharge said that though the collapsed,” she said. “Congratulations to University. Sarma practised charge Dinesh Gundurao to had raised the issue but was party worker hard and a reg- A party colleague, and Himanta Biswa Ji and the law at Gauhati High Court make a presentation and snubbed West Bengal Congress ular campaigns by Rahul leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, other Ministers who took from 1996 to 2001. explain why the party lost in chief Adhir Ranjan Gandhi was positive, but the Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, oath today,” tweeted Modi. He has married Riniki these States. Chowdhury that the Left had cause of real loss is being wrote a letter to the “I am confident this team Bhuyan Sarma in 2001, with “I expect them to brief us given its share of seats to ISF. assessed and a report in this Government to convene a spe- will add momentum to the whom he has a son and a very frankly on our perfor- Jitin also blamed the com- regard will be shared soon. cial session of the Parliament to development journey of daughter. In 2017, he was mance in their respective mittee for delaying the seat Sonia further said the discuss and debate on the pan- Assam and fulfil aspirations elected as the Badminton States. We want them to tell us sharing pact and also said by recent Assembly election was demic which is taking a heavy of the people,” the Prime Association of India presi- why we performed well below the time campaigning for the a clear indication that the toll on the health of the nation Minister added. dent. expectation. These results tell last phases began where the Congress needed to put its every hour, every minute. (  
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        7     !"## -  -   B3/B ters too with Mukherjee getting at the Centre for ignoring the alleged violence-hit areas of the    00 the Panchayat portfolio and situation. questioning the export State Banerjee said “at a time ; engal Chief Minister Hakim a former Kolkata Mayor of vaccines at a time when when the country is fighting a BMamata Banerjee on given the Housing and Urban India did not have its own pandemic here are some people dappadi Palaniswamy was    $ Sunday unveiled her third Development department. quota Banerjee said that the busy doing politics sending Eelected as the leader of the Cabinet retaining almost her Incidentally Governor Centre should make alterantive central teams to states.” AIADMK legislature party in a  -  ;< 4;/ the personnel who are away on entire team of Ministers — Jagdeep Dhankhar who has arrangements for doses imme- She wondered “why this meeting held at the party head- leave/temporary duty attach- from the previous Ministry — been quite critical of the new diately even if it meant allowing central team is going to BJP quarters at Chennai on Monday. he CRPF has identified ments. while at the same time drafting TMC Government for alleged- other concerns to manufacture families only and why they are Though there was no official Tabout 8,500 personnel who The paramilitary head- in a bevy of newfaces like crick- ly ignoring the ongoing post- the medicines. not going to other victims if any word about the mode of elec- have not taken the first dose of quarters has directed all the for- eter Manoj Tiwari, tribal actress poll violence in the State on Attacking the Centre for … this team has been sent to tion, party sources said 55 out Covid-19 vaccine and sought to mations and medical direc- Birbaha Hansda and Akhil Giri Sunday sanctioned the prose- sending central team to visit the create violence in the State.” of the 66 MLAs supported expeditiously vaccinate them. torates to personally contact a veteran MLA from East cution of Mukherjee, Hakim, Palaniswamy while O The remaining over 3,15,000 the personnel over telephone Midnapore that houses Madan Mitra a TMC MLA Panneerselvam could manage personnel have been given the and plans for vaccinating should Nandigram. Minister and TMC general sec- and former Minister and Sovan ""    the support of only a handful of jabs. be made accordingly, officials Giri is known for his dag- retary back as the Industry Chatterjee a former member of MLAs. The details have emerged said. It has also sought a break gers-drawn chemistry with Minister. Mamata Banerjee Cabinet — Though Panneerselvam following a review of the vacci- up of pending cases in the area Nandigram MLA Suvendu The TMC Government had who left the TMC to join the ,& 2 *  had proposed the name of P nations in the ranks of the of operations of various forma- Adhikari a former pointsman of to digest massive criticism for BJP before leaving the saffron Dhanapal, Speaker of the out- Central Reserve Police Force tions and offices. the Chief Minister who defect- failing to bring in investment in party too. The CBI had sought      ence of Union Law Minister going legislature Assembly for (CRPF) earlier this month dur- For those personnel who ed to the BJP a few months ago its decade-long rule of Bengal. the Governor’s permission to B3/B Ravi Shankar Prasad. the post, he was shouted down. ing which it was found that a have not received the vaccine and defeated Banerjee by a Another Minister Bratya Basu a prosecute them in the Narada Appointment of Adhikari a With his election as leader of the total of 8,441 personnel across shots on the ground of comor- wafer-thin margin. dramatist and a prominent payoff case. mid speculation about who TMC turncoat who left that AIADMK legislature party, the formations have still not bidity, they should be advised to Forty three Ministers were intellectual has been redrafted Sitting Rajya Sabha MP Awould take charge as the party a few months before the Palaniswamy became Leader been administered the first dose undergo laboratory test CRP (C- sworn in at a toned down cer- as the Education Minister. Basu Manas Bhuniya has also been Leader of Opposition or for election to join the BJP and of the Opposition in the Tamil of the Covid-19 vaccine. reactive protein quantitative). If emony in the Throne Room of had been removed from the drafted as a Cabinet Minister that matter whether the post defeated Chief Minister Nadu Legislative Assembly. Another 16 persons of the CRPF the reports of CRP are on the Raj Bhavan. The ruling ministry several years ago. Both alongside Soumen Mahapatra, should be given to a man with Mamata Banerjee from Signals of resentment were vis- Directorate here have not been higher side in normal range or Trinamool Congress roared Basu who has been recuperat- Jyotipriya Mullick and Javed RSS background the BJP on Nandigram seat took place ible immediately after the elec- given the first dose and 57 per- it is above normal range, vacci- back to power with two-third ing from corona infection and Khan. Former IPS officer Monday nominated Suvendu after much inner rumbling tion of Palaniswamy. A grime sonnel have not taken the sec- nation of that comorbid person majority leaving the BJP back by Finance Minister Amit Mitra - Humayun Kabir, Ghulam Adhikari on the post. sources said. faced Panneerselvam stormed ond dose of the vaccine. should be avoided and the a huge margin. -- suffering from COPD) were Rabbani, Siddiqullah “Suvendu Adhikari was After being nominated to out of the party headquarters Director General of CRPF, patient should be treated vigor- While the Chief Minister sworn in virtually from their Chowdhury and Siuli Saha have chosen unanimously as the the post Adhikari said, “I will and was seen speeding away in Kuldiep Singh has decided to ously for the illness so that the retained the crucial Home, residences. also been made ministers. Leader of the Opposition and act constitutionally,” adding his swanky limousine. The look personally monitor the progress CRP test comes in normal range. Health, North Bengal and Veterans Subrata Soon after the swearing-in his name was proposed by our his first priority would be to on the face of Panneerselvam of the pending cases of vacci- When the CRPF test read- Cultural Affairs departments Mukherjee, Firhad Hakim, ceremony the Chief Minister senior leader Mukul Roy,” work for the gave enough indications of dis- nations. ing comes in normal range after she did some reshuffling in the Aroop Biswas, Sujit Bose, said that her Government’s first State party president Dilip pandemic and save the lives of contentment and Palaniswamy Further, the Force has decid- treatment, vaccination can be portfolios of her other senior Chandrima Bhattacharya and priority would be to fight the Ghosh said. The selection of the victims of post-electoral is in for troubles from various ed to undertake a headcount of carried out in consultation with colleagues bringing senior Shashi Panja are back as minis- corona crisis even as she hit out Adhikari was done in the pres- violence. corners in the AIADMK. all pending cases and trace all the physician, they said. ‘ ( ,. 

 
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Jammu: Even though the pos- region and 17 from Kashmir L #      health system amidst the rising ing hardship and said that the itivity rate across Jammu & while 3614 patients tested pos- #        challenge of Covid-19. Jammu Medical College Kashmir on Monday dropped itive for coronavirus taking         “The pandemic has come Hospital has increased the down marginally below 10 per- the tally of active positive cases #      as an unprecedented and number of critical care beds cent for the first time in the to 49,951.  #        unforeseen challenge for all of and is treating more than 700 recent days but high mortality According to the media     #    us and especially the health fra- critical Covid patients, while rate,especially in Jammu dis- bulletin, out of 3614 new pos-   ,M  &  '#  ternity. The prime need is to patients with mild and mod- trict, remained one of the itive cases of novel Coronavirus build trust between the public erate symptoms are being biggest worries for health (Covid-19), 1496 were report- cases, 49951 are Active Positive, and the health system”, the looked after at Covid health administrators pooling in all ed from Jammu division and 167813 have recovered and GMC Principal said. ‘With the Centres and Covid Care possible resources to treat 2118 from Kashmir division. 2782 have died; 1210 in Jammu number of Covid-19 patients Centres. She also expressed patients. Moreover, 2855 more division and 1572 in Kashmir increasing, the administration concern over the high positiv- The positivity rate on Covid-19 patients have recov- division. is also ramping up facilities, ity rate observed while testing, Monday stood at 9.8 percent. ered and discharged from var- Meanwhile, Principal & equipment, infrastructure saying that the high positivity On Sunday the positivity rate ious hospitals including 1070 Dean Government Medical besides increasing the number rate also underlines the greater recorded was 10.68 percent. from Jammu Division and 1785 College Jammu and Associated of frontline workers. need for adopting Covid appro- On Monday, 56 more from Kashmir Division. Hospitals, Dr Shashi Sudhan The GMC Principal priate behaviour for saving patients succumbed to the According to the media Sharma Monday urged the expressed empathy for the oneself as well as saving the )  
     '   (& deadly virus, 39 from Jammu bulletin, out of 220546 positive public to cooperate with the patients and their families fac- lives of our loved ones. PNS 6     -#  #  &  #  "" #      &8 Chennai: Puducherry Chief minister N Rangasamy tested Covid positive and has been  -  . 5 while Mumbai's total number With 549 new deaths, the infections from 6,75,630 to   

 admitted to a private hospital in Chennai according to Puducherry Lieutenant Governor of infections is 6,77,412, fol- total number of deaths in the 6,77,412. Dr Tamilsai Soundararajan's office. or the first time in more lowed among other districts by state climbed from 75,849 to While Pune accounted for      Rangasamy, who was sworn in as Chief minister of Puducherry on May 7 tested Fthan a month, the “active Thane (5,38,963), Nagpur 76,398. Similarly, with 37,236 a maximum 97,593 “active positive on Sunday evening after a test at the Indira Gandhi Government Medical College cases” in Pune – which is the (4,66,959), Nashik (3,53,279) new infections, the total num- cases” in the State, Nagpur Panaji: Goa Chief Minister Pramod hospital, Puducherry. He left for Chennai to get treatment and was admitted to a pri- worst Covid-19 affected city in nd Ahmednagar ber of cases rose from 51,01,737 stood second 56,458, followed Sawant on Monday expressed dis- vate hospital. Maharashtra – dropped below ( 2,06,629). to 51,38,973. by Mumbai with 47,054, ) pleasure after a village panchayat in All the public programmes of the Chief minister stand cancelled. one lakh mark on Monday, It may be recalled that on As 61,607 patients were Nashik (34,755), Thane North Goa refused to cremate the Rangasamy is the leader of the All India NR Congress( AINRC) and led the NDA even as the daily deaths in April 9, the “active cases” in discharged from the hospitals (34,185), Ahmednagar remains of a local resident who had to victory in the recent elections. The AINRC won 10 seats while its coalition partner Maharashtra dropped further Pune had breached a grim across the State after full recov- (23,661), Solapur (23,028), died of Covid-19 infection. BJP got 6 seats. Independents garnered 6 seats, DMK 6 seats and the Indian National to 549 and infections dipped to landmark of one lakh, as an ery, the total number of people Satara (22,463), Chandrapur Speaking virtually to elected rep- Congress won 2 seats. IANS 37,236. alarming 10,083 cases were discharged from the hospitals (22,265), Beed (15,586), resentatives of village panchayats and In a relief to the state health reported on that day to take since the second week of March Jalgaon (13,711), Aurangabad municipalities from across Goa, authorities, the “active cases” in caseload in that city to 1,00,051. last year went up from (12594), Latur (12,085), Sawant said the village panchayats and Pune – which is the worst Meanwhile, the Covid-19 44,07,818 to 44,69,425. The Parbhani (11,010), Osmanabad municipalities should cooperate with *   & 7    Covid-19 affected city in graph showed a downward recovery rate in the state went (7568), Jalna (7015), Bhandara people during the pandemic crisis. Maharashtra – dropped from trend in Maharashtra for the up from 86.04 per cent to 46.95 (6122), Buldhana (5687), "I felt bad on Sunday. The Bastora 1,00,316 to 97,593. second consecutive day on per cent. Nanded (5487) and Nandurbar sarpanch and villagers refused to cre-       The development came on Monday, as the daily deaths The total “active cases” in (3395). mate the body of a local resident. a day when Pune recorded 10 came down further from to 549 the state dropped from 6,15,783 Of the 2,96, 31,127 samples Where was he from? Was he not from    - On Monday, one district reported new deaths and 4,685 new while the infections dipped to to 5,90,818 cases. The fatality sent to laboratories, 51,38,973 the same panchayat (jurisdiction)?" covid numbers in excess of 2,000, while six infections. While the total 37,236. rate in the state stood static at have tested positive (17.34 per Sawant added. educed testing during the preceding 24 districts reported above 1,000 cases each, deaths in Pune went up from A day after the State record- 1.49 per cent. cent) for Covid-19 until On Sunday, relatives of the Rhours saw Andhra Pradesh report less- and the remaining six districts had three- 10,049 to 10,059, the total case- ed 572 fatalities and 48,401 new With 74 fresh deaths, the Monday. deceased victim Ashok Naik had er numbers on Monday. Compared to digit tallies. load climbed from 9,26,124 to cases, the deaths came down to Covid-19 toll in Mumbai Currently, 36,70,320 people alleged that the Bastora village pan- around 1 lakh samples that are usually test- East Godavari reported the highest 9,30,809. 549, while the infections increased from 13781 to 13,855, are in home quarantine while chayat had refused permission to cre- ed every day, only 60,124 samples were tally of 2,352 cases. Other districts with Currently, Pune has the dropped by 11,165 to register a while the infected cases went up 26,664 people are in institu- mate him as he had died from Covid- tested, and 14,986 new cases were detect- high numbers include Visakhapatnam highest caseload of 9,30,809, daily caseload of 37,236. by 1732 to trigger a jump in the tional quarantine. 19. The body was later taken to ed during the 24 hours, ending 9 am (1,618), Guntur (1575), Chittoor (1543), another cremation ground where the Monday. Nellore (1432), Srikakulam (1298), and final rites were performed. For the past few days, the State has YSR Kadapa (1224).    & According to Ranjit Usgaonkar, been consistently reporting daily covid tal- East Godavari and Guntur districts   #
   the panchayat was not involved in the lies above 20,000. accounted for maximum deaths of 12 decision to refuse cremation of the There was a relative dip in the num- deaths, while YSR Kadapa reported the     B  #  N2  deceased Covid-19 patient. ber of deaths reported on Monday, as 84 lowest death toll of 2. "We do not know who has refused people succumbed to the pandemic. In The State has so far conducted CHENNAI: Chief Minister cessfully established the efficacy KOCHI: Three days of total lockdown has slightly improved to cremate Ashok Naik. The panchayat comparison, the death toll on Sunday was 1,74,28,059 tests. Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin of Kabasura Kudineer in neu- the pandemic situation in Kerala. On Monday, the State diag- does not take such a decision. The 93. Monday also saw 16,167 people recov- has cracked the whip to flatten the tralising viral infections that nosed 27,487 persons with Covid-19 while 65 deaths were report- decision is taken by the local temple The fresh fatalities pushed the State's ering from the virus. The cumulative num- corona curve in Tamil Nadu. To cause SARS or Covid. ed during the period ending 6 pm. “But the number of people committee. There could be a misun- cumulative death toll to 8,791, while the ber of recoveries has gone up to 11,04,431. begin with he has ordered the Prof Savariar Vincent, former tested on Monday was limited to 99,748 and this could be the derstanding among the victim's rela- cumulative tally of covid cases in the state The number of active cases in the State opening of 12 Sidha Covid Care dean of Research, Loyola College, reason for the small reduction in Test Positivity Rate to 27.56 tives," Usgaonkar said. IANS climbed to 13,02,589. now stands at 1,89,367. Centres across the State follow- Chennai, S Arokyaraj (Sejong per cent,” said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in his media brief- ing the findings of a Chennai University, Seoul), M Saravanan ing. based scientist that a Sidhaa (Mekelle University, Ethiopia) Vijayan said there were 4,19, 726 Covid-19 patients under- herbal preparation has the poten- and Manoj Dhanraj through a going treatment in the State as on Monday. He continued blam- tial to counter Covid-19 virus. painstaking research found out ing the Centre for its reluctance to provide oxygen, vaccine and M Subramanian, Medical that Kabasura Kudineer is effec- financial help to Kerala. Thiruvananthapuram had highest num- and Family Welfare Minister tive against fever, cough, sore- ber of Covid patients on Monday (3,494). dedicated to the people a 240-bed throat and shortness of breath Severe shortage of medical professionals including doctors exclusive Sidha Centre in (similar to SARS-CoV2-like is causing severe stress to the medical fraternity in Kerala, accord- Chennai metropolis on Sunday. symptoms). ing to Kerala Government Medical Officers Association, the The Chief Minister has asked “We established by a process umbrella organization of all the Government doctors in the State. his council of ministers as well as known as molecular docking The Association has sent an urgent communication to Chief bureaucrats not to leave any that the main compounds from Minister Pinarayi Vijayan listing the grievances faced by stones unturned in their search Kabasura Kudineer plants inhib- Government hospitals, first line covid treatment centers and pri- for a solution to check the spread it Covid -19 giving the better mary health centers in Kerala. The list of shortcomings high- of the pandemic in its second energy score compared to syn- lighted by the KGMOA is shocking and explains the danger- coming. thetic drugs,” said Prof Vincent ous conditions under which the doctors, nurses and para med- Stalin took notice of the pos- who led and integrated the ical staff in the State work. itive signals from Ministry of research operations that took “The Government should appoint doctors, nurses and other Ayush which gave green signal to place in laboratories spread across medical professionals as per the nationally accepted doctors to the use of Kabasura Kudineer , a India, South Korea and patients ratio. If this is not done immediately, the public health Sidha poly herbal preparation in Ethiopia. system in the State would break down,” said the memorandum the treatment of Covid-19. He said that 145 phyto-com- signed by the president and secretary of the Association. “The Chief Minister is of the pounds from Kabasura Kudineer The doctors demand the setting up of domiciliary care cen- view that opening of Sidha hos- were subjected to research. “This ters and step down Covid First Line Treatment Centers in pan- pitals would bring down the study hypothesizes that a group chayat and block levels. “These centers could be manned by pressure on tertiary hospitals. Not of compounds from KK may health professionals other than doctors and could be used to all patients require oxygen sup- exert its antiviral properties accommodate the category-one patients who do not require the port,” said Subramanian. against novel coronavirus SARS- physical presence of doctors,” said the doctors. Such centers could The move to go for Sidha CoV-2 by either blocking the host make use of tele consultation. The KGMOA also called for the Care Centres comes at a time cell receptor or inhibiting the key setting up of 24X7 call centers making use of the retired when a Chennai based scientist viral protease required for its Government doctors. along with his colleagues in replication in the host cell,” Prof They pointed out that the number of health workers get- South Korea and Ethiopia suc- Vincent told The Pioneer. PNS ting infected with Covid-19 is high in the State. PNS -   ,    ,
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Interestingly, such                  *     inverse snobbery, arrogance and utilised the military to estab- the Narendra Modi an absence in a war zone on the                     *  complacency gripped us, allow- lish the Military Evacuation Government took its eyes off part of a military leader would ,         (    >   ,     ing us to forsake common sense Organisation to coordinate the ball, even going so far as to result in his immediate and ignore basic science in an the movement of all refugees ignore advice, received in early removal from command, prob-   S       1           ( effort to quickly regain our pre- and helped them reach their March from its own advisory ably on grounds of incompe-      )         # >+         pandemic lives. destinations in relative safety. group, on the likelihood of a tence, if not sheer cowardice.  1 1  )$   )                Suffice it to say, the handling In complete contrast, second wave impacting us with Whatever the spin this  1                  )$     of the first wave by those man- despite the grave nature of the even more ferocity. As a result, Government may attempt to dated to do so was apathetic in threat confronting the it didn’t bother to make up for push, Modi has been com-               1       the initial stages and panic- Government, the military the infrastructural and proce- pletely shorn off all the gloss         # "    C 1  *      stricken subsequently, especially remained a mere bystander, ; 4/& dural deficiencies observed and charisma he earlier pro-        < #    $  >       )   after they saw it decimate Europe, utilised for such “critical” tasks 3A ; A  earlier but, worse, refused to jected. His unwillingness to  "        )   (AB$  /      < the US and South America. We as serenading hospital staff hold accountable for acts of take responsibility for the locked ourselves in, at a moment’s and other frontline workers by <-; 5C 3 ; omission and commission disaster implies that he lacks notice, without any consideration showering hospitals and police 4;4 3 43 those responsible for the laps- the moral fibre. The question '() for our less fortunate brethren, memorials with flowers from es and delays that led to unnec- that arises is if he will do the the daily wage earners, whose helicopters! Even now, there are 3 < '; essary and avoidable deaths of right thing and fall upon his livelihoods disappeared allegations that the military has  ; / thousands. In short, it was a sword. One way or the other, overnight. The inability of the been used to establish field hos- Government more focused on we will know the answer State to anticipate the conse- pitals in the constituencies of &; 4 garnering power and prestige soon. But let us be totally clear quences or mitigate their suffer- a few VIP politicians. than ensuring the well-being of that his reputation is done and ing resulted in the largest migra- Clearly, in hindsight, it '2 B; its citizens. An uncaring civil dusted, forever connected to tion of population seen since was not our systems and .5 ;P.;/C, society, a divided and defunct his handling of the pandem- Partition. The migrants attempt- processes in place to deal with Opposition spearheaded by a ic and what it has wrought. As ed to get back to the safety of their just such a contingency that ; ';//C A; party in the death throes and a the Bard, insightful as ever, villages, treks on foot involving were found wanting, as Kerala ;C <  pro-Government media pre- wrote: “The evil that men do thousands of kilometres for some. showed us, but the lackadaisi- ferred to remain silent on these lives after them; the good is To compound their misery, cal approach of most Ministers 4; ; ;.3';, issues. By doing so, we enabled oft interred with their bones.” the Centre as well as most State and bureaucrats whose respon- ; . 4 them to cover up their mis- (The writer is a military Governments responded, as the sibility it was to ensure their deeds and perpetuate false nar- veteran, who is a Visiting Fellow Governments here invariably implementation. They, in their 3.  ; ratives and bold- faced lies. with the Observer Research do, with inherent savagery, total- wisdom, or rather the lack of While Modi may have Foundation and Senior Visiting ly bereft of empathy or compas- it, treated the NDMA’s detailed excellent reasons for not ven- Fellow with The Peninsula sion. As a result, thousands died guidelines and SOPs with con- turing outside his bio-bubble at Foundation, Chennai. The by the wayside. The Government tempt, leaving it to their min- the Race Course Road, prefer- views expressed are personal.)     SOUNDBITE -                    ( (&         &
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n yet another attempt to improve the power sec- tor, the Modi Government has come up with Ia new draft National Electricity Policy (NEP), +,-. $ the major objectives being to promote clean ener-   % )    $   6%$7     gy such as power based on renewable and gas with-             ,F out debunking coal; revitalise power distribution  companies (discoms) and developing an efficient     5       market for electricity distribution.    6%=%7           All the three objectives are laudable. These are           (G   / crucial to development of an efficient, competi- ,    %(89         $  ) tive and sustainable power sector to meet the needs                   /   of the economy on a high growth trajectory while       )  H:   :1   at the same time, meeting the environment goals               ( (especially India’s commitments under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change). What is being      ,        done on ground zero to achieve these goals? #        *     ,F   At present, India has a total generation capac-  (                ( ity of about 360 GW (one gigawatt equals 1000              <    megawatts or MW) including 63 per cent based               on fossil fuels, of which coal alone accounts for 54                 ( per cent and nearly 22 per cent based on renew-  ; 33 3A ';  ;            #      able energy, viz., solar, wind, bio-mass, small hydro, etc. and gas-based capacity accounting for anoth- 4 ; &  P Q     (       er seven per cent. However, only 50 per cent of this /3 ; 3A       (        installed capacity is currently utilised. 4 3 ; ; This has to do with indiscriminate setting up 34;  .;4 5C sets targets for losses and efficien- crore. Discoms under PPAs (mostly under of capacity on coal (to some extent on gas) much ; cy of Discoms. The aggregate tech- Correspondingly, their debt gal- long-term contracts), distributed before Prime Minister Narendra Modi started giv- &3-; ; 3 nical and commercial (AT&C) loss- loped to about 450,000 crore by the by them at tariff controlled by ing a boost to the renewable energy sector. Many ;// ;/;C es and shortfall in the average rev- end of 2020-21 and is estimated to States/owners of Discoms (regula- of those plants were set up without ascertaining 3 3 ; enue realisation (ARR) from the sale reach 600,000 crore mark by the tory commissions merely approve whether or not power produced by them would ';A;;4 of electricity vis-a-vis the average end of current fiscal. The collater- what is proposed by them) and a find any takers (the promoters could not even sign 3 . ; -D, cost of supply (ACS) or the ACS- al damage is a pile-up of their dues mere five per cent of the electricity power purchase agreements or PPAs) while oth- '33 ARR gap are major causes behind to power generators to over is traded, it will take ages before one ers did not even have fuel supply tie-ups (several the losses of Discoms and their 150,000 crore (current). This is can hope to see ‘efficient’ and ‘com- 3. ;3/4 4  gas-based plants fall in this category). Many coal- A ; , ;; financial stress. Accordingly, the despite a special loan of 90,000 petitive’ markets. based plants have been impacted by availability of   A3 3A scheme aims at reducing AT&C crore promised by Nirmala Meanwhile, under the draft much cheaper power, at about 2.4 per unit from losses to 12-15 per cent and ACS- Sitharaman under ‘Atmanirbhar Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2021,    @    % )        ; 3  3A               ( renewable-based plants (against 5 to 66 per unit ARR gap to ‘nil’ by 2025. Bharat Abhiyan’ in May 2020 (the in sync with the intent to develop an from coal) prompting Discoms not to buy power '. ;, When viewed in the backdrop loan amount has since been raised efficient market under NEP, Modi          1    ( from the former. In turn, renewable-based plants   3 of Ujwal DISCOM Assurance to 130,000 crore). Government proposes to de-license           (G     ( are affected as some State Governments (for 4 4 5.3, Yojana (UDAY), launched in Against this backdrop, the lat- the distribution business, bring in       < %         instance, Andhra Pradesh) are not honoring 3 ;-; A;; 3 November 2015, wherein the targets est talk, of achieving those targets competition, and give the con-      ,             ( PPAs. ; . 3/4 3 were missed by a huge margin, this which should have been achieved by sumer power to choose supplier. If          #   ,F    Meanwhile, Modi has more than doubled the ; ; &3.' , scheme does not inspire. Under 2018-19 by March 2025 under only the States give subsidies direct- ; ; 3 ';       $   %     original goal of renewable-based power capacity UDAY, Discoms were required to RLRBSD, is laughable. ly to farmers and households, rein from 175 GW by 2022 to 450 GW by 2030. . 3/3 / reduce AT&C losses from 20.7 per At the root of persistent and in power theft and improve efficien-          ,  (G     The current capacity being 80 GW, to reach .4;2;3-;C cent during 2015-16 to 15 per cent increasing losses of Discoms are the cies in purchase, wheeling and dis-         89I?(893? #     the scaled up target, the country will need to add   by 2018-19. Further, they were to orders issued by State Governments tribution, will help in revitalising           =      "   370 GW. Plus an additional 50 GW from coal- &&-;4 5C reduce the ACS-ARR gap from to sell electricity to some preferred the Discoms.                based projects already under implementation, the R /3 ; K 0.59 per unit during 2015-16 to consumers viz., poor households In view of the entire distribution             89I?    total capacity will go up to 780 GW by 2030. 3  3A  '/ ‘zero’ by 2018-19. and farmers, either at a fraction of network viz., transmission lines,     /  ,           Against this, the projected demand being about 320 ;A Simultaneously, the the cost of purchase, transmission feeder lines, transformers etc that      #  (!      ,   $   GW (on the basis of an average six per cent annu- Government gave them a financial and distribution, or even free. On caters to households, industries etc al Gross Domestic Product growth), this would restructuring package (FRP) under the units sold to these groups, these in an area being owned and con- ! 6#!,$17   )*+,(2E          imply utilisation of mere 40 per cent. which their entire debt of about companies incur colossal under- trolled by the Discoms, any talk of       < =          The Government should avoid over-ambitious 400,000 crore recovery. This is aggravated by letting private license is a mis-         ,           targets which will result in gross under utilisation was condoned. This led to a dra- AT&C losses - most of it plain theft. nomer. Instead of indulging in such  P Q        < or even scrapping assets already created. matic impact on their losses which Inflated tariff allowed to gener- rhetoric, Modi will do well to get ,        "      ( It overarching focus should be on ensuring declined from 52,000 crore during ators under purchase agreements States resolve the basics.   ,               ( optimum utilisation of every megawatt of capac- 2015-16 to a low of 17,000 crore adds to the revenue shortfall. Unless, If only the States give subsidies      A 89J9     4?9    ( ity created and viability of all efficiently run power during 2017-18. However, Discoms these three fundamental factors are directly to farmers and households generation plants. This brings us to the second did little to set their house in order. addressed, any other attempt to revi- (instead of riding piggy back on          $     A    objective, namely revitalising Discoms. In this During 2019-20, their AT&C talise Discoms - as intended in the Discoms), rein in power theft and (              regard, the Modi Government has taken numer- losses were 18.9 per cent against the NEP - will be a non-starter. improve efficiencies in purchase, #                   ( ous steps, the latest being the 300,000 crore elec- The writer is 15 per cent target for 2018-19. The As for developing an efficient wheeling and distribution, this will                   tricity distribution reform program unveiled by the New-Delhi based policy ACS-ARR gap during 2019-20, market for electricity distribution - help in revitalising the Discoms and   ,         ( Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, in the analyst. The views stood at 0.42 per unit against tar- as promised in the policy - it is eas- also give relief to industries which expressed are personal.          (          Union Budget for 2021-22. get of ‘zero’ for 2018-19. ier said than done. When an over- are currently paying exorbitant     P Q       @    Christened ‘Reforms-Linked, Result-Based During 2020-21, discoms whelming share of power generat- charges for cross-subsidising the Scheme for Distribution’ (RLRBSD), the scheme reported a staggering loss of 58,000 ed in the country is procured by preferred customers.                           ,       @    ,   6@,7     ( POINTCOUNTERPOINT                 (                (         #        (    -     0   -B     2  -   -                   )         -  -     /)                     -0B                     ( L  L- 0    (     (        -  0-        >  #     2;                     

he recent Assembly elec- Populist largesse of Congress, and its follower, the cent in 2019 says a lot. The loss ly promoting some private may not bring about the tion results reflect more Mamata for women, youth BJP. The people are pitted of all other parties was a gain houses. No wonder that some changes. But the opposition Tthan politics. Indian vot- and Duare sarkar against the disinvestment of for the TMC. It has also bust- days later the Rafael bribery though too has its corporate ers have larger issues and (Government at the doorstep), prime banks, LIC, financial ed the myth that West Bengal charge revived as an issue fol- connections and may try to economy is at the core of the Dravida Munnetra institutions, defence establish- votes along communal lines. lowing a French Government forge an alliance to clinch a their concern. Tamil Nadu, Kazhagam (DMK’s) welfare ments and others with a target The wash out of the Left and exposure. India is not against political change. Its leader- Kerala and West Bengal have policies in Tamil Nadu or the of 1.75 lakh crore in 2021- Congress for its alliance with private companies. Many have ship is not yet obvious.  separately endorsed a new +01-1 3 Left alliance in Kerala, when 22. This is lower than 2.1 lakh the highly communalised ISF contributed significantly; Mamata may emerge as one economic course for the studied closely, virtually crore it hoped to garner is enough testimony. This also many enjoy people’s trust and but her all-India acceptability nation. refutes the “aggressive priva- through divestment in 2020- proves that West Bengal votes have set standards. The nation, may not be easy. The eastern State defi- tised development” model of 21; an admission of failure of for social and economic issues however, is against overt dom- Some like Akhilesh Yadav nitely remains at the centre of the Centre. All these States the Government bid. This and rejects any polarisation, ineering by any group. The have spoken for her. Either attention. A hawai-chappal have voted against farm Bills failed economic concept is barring some exceptions, present elections have exposed way, a change of guard may be wearing and white sari-clad that seek to create large house rejected now by the voters. either for Furfura or Ram. that. The country wants pri- inevitable. The combine would Mamata Banerjee has virtual- monopolies, junk scrapping While in Tamil Nadu the West Bengal for the Trinamool Another noticeable aspect is vatisation neither at the cost of have to come out with a new ly challenged the dazzling policy of poor man’s vehicles, change was inevitable, Kerala Congress was not possible if the vote for Netaji Subhas the public sector nor does it economic policy - against pri- development model that has high fuel prices, fares, tolls, not very surprisingly voted for the people did not perceive the Chandra Bose whose anniver- want to get it enslaved to any vatisation and for strengthen- put India’s public sector on sale taxes and so-called user the Left front, following peo- Centre’s economic policies as sary the BJP celebrated as private player. ing the people’s economy; one and is engaged in a visual charges. The vote endorses ple’s perception that the a grave threat. The Left- Parakaram Diwas and In the UP’s panchayat elec- may call it socialist or by any extravaganza of over 30,000 that the country has more Government was delivering. Congress, the TMC and even Mamata as Deshnayak Diwas. tions, the BJP gets only 580 other name. It has to be con- crore (in reality possibly over poverty to address than create The voters equally perceived a section of the BJP voted for Surprisingly, nobody against Samajwadi Party (SP) trary to a centrist, aggressive 50,000 crore) to change cosmetic central vista that that the Congress-led UDF economic policy changes that, pointed out this incongruity 782, Bahujan Samaj Party(BSP) privatisation that the present Delhi’s central vista. Nobody serves none but a few, big cor- was incapable of opposing the ironically, Mamata Banerjee which Mamata aptly encashed 361, Congress’ 61 and 1266 rulers are trying to dispense. explains why that should be a The writer is a senior porate houses. They have BJP’s onslaught for privatisa- symbolises. The 47.93 per cent with a heightened nationalis- others. So, will this election India is at the threshold of an priority instead of creating a journalist. The views together rejected tion, now a national concern. votes for TMC up from 43.3 tic presentation - a message lead to an overt cry for eco- economic and political change. strong healthcare sector and expressed are personal. ‘Manmohanomics’ — that So, the LDF has returned with per cent in 2019 and reduced went out strong that the nomic changes? The rightist It may gel before the Uttar hospitals capable of producing ended up in a political disas- a bigger mandate. numbers of votes for BJP to Centre is not only disrespect- centrist party is too inclined Pradesh Assembly elections their own oxygen. ter for its proponent, the The massive vote surge in 38.13 per cent from 40.2 per ful to Netaji, but is also blatant- towards the corporates and next year. 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Kathmandu: Nepal Prime achieve a majority of the exist- The CPN-Maoist will join year after President Bhandari   3 "    Minister K P Sharma Oli lost a ing strength of the House of hands with the Nepali dissolved the House and trust vote in the House of Representatives, I hereby Congress and other parties announced fresh elections on Jerusalem: Israeli police firing 7 # 4.+; have waged a lengthy legal bat- Representatives on Monday, declare that the prime minis- who voted against Oli to form April 30 and May 10 at the rec- tear gas, stun grenades and rub-   "4" 47#7 ) tle to take over properties. in a fresh setback to the embat- ter's motion to seek a vote of a coalition government at the ommendation of Prime ber bullets clashed with stone- Monday was expected to be tled premier seeking to tight- confidence has been rejected,” earliest, he said. Minister throwing Palestinians at a flash- "45$"4=**&#4   particularly tense since Israelis en his grip on power after the Sapkota announced before Meanwhile, Nepali Oli, amidst a tussle for point Jerusalem holy site on #6"  4$5"4"5C7 mark it as Jerusalem Day to cel- CPN (Maoist Centre) led by adjourning the House. Congress president Sher power within the ruling Nepal Monday, the latest in a series of 7 34 ) 557$"4=  # ebrate their capture of east Pushpakamal Dahal With this, Prime Minister Bahadur Deuba, CPN-Maoist Communist Party (NCP). confrontations that threatened to   "4" 4 $754  Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast ‘Prachanda' withdrew support Oli is automatically relieved Centre chairman Pushpakamal Oli's move to dissolve the push the contested city toward war. to his government. from his post as per Article 100 Dahal “Prachanda” and House sparked protests from a wider conflict. condition. Police said 21 officers On Monday, two anti-Arab Prime Minister Oli secured (3). Communist Party Maoist Chairman of Janata Samajwadi large section of the NCP led by More than a dozen tear gas were hurt, including three who members of Israel's parliament, 93 votes in the lower house of Some 28 Lawmakers Centre led by Prachanda with- Party Upendra Yadav have his rival 'Prachanda'. canisters and stun grenades were hospitalized. Israeli para- surrounded by an entourage parliament during a special belonging to Oli's rival faction drew its support to the gov- issued a joint statement urging In February, the apex court landed in the Al-Aqsa Mosque, medics said seven Israeli civilians and police, pushed through a session convened on the direc- led by Madhav Nepal-Jhala ernment last week, Oli's gov- President Bhandari to start the reinstated the dissolved House one of Islam's holiest sites, as were also hurt. line of protesters in the Sheikh tives of President Bidya Devi Nath Khanal abstained during ernment was reduced to a process of forming an alterna- of Representatives, in a setback police and protesters faced off The confrontation was the Jarrah neighbourhood. Bhandari. the voting. minority one. tive government after Oli's to Oli who was preparing for inside the walled compound that latest after weeks of mounting Several Arab members of Oli, 69, required at least The main Opposition After losing the Vote of defeat. snap polls. surrounds it, said an Associated tensions between Palestinians parliament were among those 136 votes in the 275-member Nepali Congress and the Confidence, the Prime Minister “We call upon President Oli repeatedly defended Press photographer at the scene. and Israeli troops in the Old trying to stop Betzalel Smotrich House of Representatives to Communist Party of Nepal is automatically removed from Bhandari to initiate the process his move to dissolve the House Smoke rose in front of the City of Jerusalem, the emo- and Itamar Ben Gvir, amid win the confidence motion as (Maoist Centre), which control his post and now the new of appointment of a new prime of Representatives, saying some mosque and the iconic golden- tional center of their conflict. shouting and jostling. four members are currently 61 and 49 votes, respectively, coalition government will be minister as per article 76 sub- leaders of his party were domed shrine on the site, and There have been almost night- At one point during the under suspension. voted against Oli's trust formed as per the constitu- clause 2 of the constitution,” the attempting to form a “parallel rocks littered the nearby plaza. ly clashes during the Muslim scrum, the protesters pounded A total of 124 members motion. tional process, said senior joint statement said. There is a government”. Inside one area of the com- holy month of Ramadan, already on the sides of a dumpster, and voted against the confidence The Janata Samajbadi Nepali Congress leader Prakash provision in the Article 76 Oli, who joined politics as pound, shoes and debris lay scat- a time of heightened religious one man yelled at Smotrich in motion while 15 members Party, which has 32 votes, how- Man Singh. sub-clause 2 of the constitution a student activist in his teenage tered over ornate carpets. sensitivities. Arabic, “Get out of here, you stayed neutral, Speaker Agni ever, was divided. The Senior leader of CPN- to form a coalition government and spent 14 years in jail for More than 305 Palestinians Most recently, the tensions dog!” Sapkota announced. The ses- Mahantha Thakur-led faction Maoist Ganesh Shah said that with the help of two or more opposing the now-abolished were hurt, including 228 who have been fueled by the planned Smotrich and Ben Gvir sion was attended by 232 law- stayed neutral while the Oli should immediately resign political parties representing in monarchy, became Nepal's went to hospitals and clinics for eviction of dozens of eventually got to the other side makers. Upendra Yadav-led group from the post and pave way for the House. Prime Minister for a second treatment, according to the Palestinians from the Sheikh of a police barricade and entered “As the votes cast in favour voted against Oli. the formation of an alternative Nepal plunged into a polit- time in 2018 as a joint candi- Palestinian Red Crescent. Seven Jarrah neighbourhood of east a house already inhabited by set- of the motion fell short to After its alliance Nepal government. ical crisis on December 20 last date of the Left alliance. PTI of the injured were in serious Jerusalem where Israeli settlers tlers. AP    0O     9   " ? #   % -  '
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     Beijing: Accusing the US of been any instance of falling we have international coopera-   "  maintaining “double standards”, debris causing damage. tion channels to share informa- @AB2& China on Monday played down “So the likelihood is tion on the final result of the Wellington: A man began stab- )   global concerns over its out-of- extremely low. The issue should space debris.” Beijing: China's Government governments have no official ties bing people at a New Zealand control rocket remnants re- be left to professionals and it is The bulk of the out-of-con- criticised US Secretary of State with Taiwan, but Washington supermarket on Monday, ANKARA: Turkey's top envoy conflict in Libya. entering the Earth's atmosphere unnecessary to hype up the trol rocket, which had put into Antony Blinken on Monday for and some others have expressed wounding five people, three of is traveling to Saudi Arabia as Cavusoglu's visit is also and crashing into the Indian issue to cause any panic,” she orbit the core module of China's urging the World Health growing support for Taiwan them critically, according to Turkey seeks to mend ties with part of a wider effort by Turkey Ocean near the Maldives. said. Hitting out at the US, Hua planned space station on April Organisation to invite Taiwan, during the coronavirus pan- authorities. Police said a suspect the kingdom that hit an all- to normalize ties with Arab The remnants of China's said “American media used 29, was mostly destroyed as it re- the island democracy claimed by demic and in response to had been arrested and taken into time low over the 2018 killing nations as it finds itself isolat- biggest rocket, Long March 5B, romantic rhetoric like 'shooting entered the atmosphere, accord- Beijing as part of its territory, to Beijing's increasing assertive- custody after the incident at a in Istanbul of Saudi journalist ed internationally at a time crashed into the Indian Ocean stars lighting up the night sky'” ing to Chinese official media. participate in a meeting this ness abroad. Countdown supermarket in the Jamal Khashoggi. when its economy is f near the Maldives on Sunday about the debris of the US rock- The space vehicle re- month. Blinken called Taiwan a city of Dunedin. Two super- Foreign Minister Mevlut altering. with no reports of damage, but ets in the past. “But when it entered the atmosphere on Blinken's statement on force for good in the world and market staff members were Cavusoglu will meet with his Last week, a high-level Beijing was criticised by US comes to the Chinese side, it's a Sunday morning and the debris Friday adds to a similar joint said it should be invited as an among those wounded. Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal Turkish delegation traveled to space agency NASA for its fail- completely different approach. from the 18-tonne rocket, one of appeal by foreign ministers of observer at the meeting of the People in the store at the bin Farhan Al Saud, to discuss Cairo to improve relations with ure to “meet responsible stan- We are willing to work with the largest items in decades to the Group of Seven major World Health Assembly, the time told local media that it was bilateral relations and region- Egypt, which have been dards” regarding its space debris. other countries, including the have an undirected dive into the economies this month in WHO decision-making body. a chaotic scene as people began al issues during his two-day strained since the Egyptian Reacting to NASA US, to strengthen cooperation in atmosphere, landed in the London. That irked the He said it could make valuable screaming and running toward visit, according to a Turkish military’s 2013 ouster of Administrator Senator Bill the use of outer space, but we Indian Ocean. Communist Beijing govern- contributions as the world tries the exits. They said some brave Foreign Ministry statement. President Mohammed Morsi, Nelson's criticism, Chinese also oppose double standards on The uncontrolled fall of the ment, which insists Taiwan has to end the pandemic. shoppers had tried to stop the The visit is the first by a an Islamist who hailed from the Foreign Ministry spokesperson this issue.” The spokesperson Chinese rocket sparked con- no right to conduct foreign Hua accused Washington of man and pin him down. high-level Turkish official since Muslim Brotherhood. Hua Chunying at a media brief- said China is taking part in the cerns among US officials, NASA relations or join global bodies. making the appeal for political Prime Minister Jacinda the killing of Khashoggi by Khashoggi was killed on ing here said some countries, international cooperation to and international astrophysi- Blinken's appeal seriously purposes. She said it is detri- Ardern said the motivation for Saudi agents inside the king- October 2, 2018, after he including America, are hyping predict the (crash) results and is cists that it could hit inhabited violates the one-China principle' mental to future global response the attack had not been estab- dom’s consulate increased ten- entered the consulate to get up the issue even though the also cooperating with other areas. Harvard astrophysicist and joint US-Chinese declara- to public health crises. lished but police didn't have any sions between the two region- documents that would allow rocket debris was burnt on re- countries to deal with the debris Jonathan McDowell, who tions, said a Foreign Ministry Hua said Taiwan is part of evidence to suggest it was al powers. him to marry his Turkish entry into the atmosphere. in outer space to make sure that tracked the debris of the rocket spokesperson, Hua Chunying. China's core interests, a term domestic terrorism. The killing added to ten- fiancee, who was waiting out- China followed the debris outer space activities are sus- part for the past few days, said China firmly deplores and Beijing uses to describe issues “Needless to say that such sions over Turkey’s support side. Turkish officials allege “very closely” and there were no tainable. that it was a reckless gamble by rejects it. over which it might be willing to an attack is hugely concerning, for the Muslim Brotherhood, Khashoggi, who had written reports of any damage to the Responding to a question China. Taiwan split with the go to war. and I do want to acknowledge which is viewed by Riyadh as critically about Saudi Arabia’s ground caused by the debris, she on whether China has notified “An ocean reentry was Chinese mainland in 1949 after China has no room for the really early reports of coura- a terrorist group. The two crown prince for The said. “Any concerns or misgiv- India and Maldives about the always statistically the likely. It a civil war. The two sides have compromise on this, she said. geous acts by bystanders who countries have also been at Washington Post, was killed by ings in some media over this crash, Hua said, “Our competent appears China won its gam- extensive trade ties but no offi- We advise individual countries have taken action in order to odds over Turkey’s support for a team of Saudi agents and then issue are unnecessary,” Hua said, authorities have made notifica- ble...But it was still reckless,” he cial relations. to immediately stop hyping protect those around them,” Qatar in a dispute among Gulf dismembered with a bone adding that there has never tions on multiple occasions and tweeted. PTI The US and other major Taiwan-related issues. AP Ardern said. AP countries as well as over the saw. AP 
  ( 0               '  *2  Kuala Lumpur: All of Malaysia will be Washington: The US will protect also protect gay and transgender LGBTQ people — should be able placed under a near lockdown for about a gay and transgender people against people. to access health care, free from dis- month to fight the coronavirus, but busi- sex discrimination in health care, The Trump administration crimination or interference, peri- nesses will be allowed to continue to oper- the Biden administration had defined “sex” to mean gender od.” Becerra said in a state- ate at reduced capacity, Prime Minister announced on Monday, reversing assigned at birth, thereby exclud- ment the Biden administration Muhyiddin Yassin announced on Monday. a Trump-era policy that sought to ing transgender people from the policy will bring HHS into line with The lockdown, starting Wednesday narrow the scope of legal rights in law's umbrella of protection. a landmark 6-3 Supreme Court until June 7, took the nation by surprise sensitive situations involving med- “Fear of discrimination can decision last year in a workplace because restrictions on movement are before it turns into a national catastrophe. ical care. lead individuals to forgo care, discrimination case, which estab- already in place in many parts of the coun- He said the emergence of new virus vari- The action by the Department which can have serious negative lished that federal laws against sex try, including Kuala Lumpur and the rich- ants with higher infection rates, con- of Health and Human Services health consequences,” said HHS discrimination on the job also est State of Selangor. straints on the public health system and affirms that federal laws forbidding Secretary Xavier Becerra. protect gay and transgender peo- Muhyiddin said drastic action was public failure to observe health measures sex discrimination in health care “Everyone — including ple. AP needed to battle a new aggressive outbreak were worrying. AP  =  /,  "     "    2   3## D 1D       ( Cairo: At least five people, cepted Sunday by the Libyan Islamabad: Pakistan, keen to exit from the grey list of the FATF, including a woman and a child, coast guard off the coast of the is set to introduce new rules relating to anti-money launder- drowned when a boat carrying North African country. ing cases and change the prosecution process to meet its remain- at least 45 Europe-bound The migrants were taken to ing tough conditions, a media report said on Monday. migrants capsized off Libya, a overcrowded detention centres, Pakistan was put on the grey list by the Paris-based UN migration official said on where the UN migration agency Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global watchdog for Monday. The wreck was the lat- fears more threats to their lives money laundering and terror financing in June 2018 and the est disaster in the Mediterranean and violations of their rights, she country has been struggling to come out of it. Sea involving migrants seeking said. The Dawn newspaper reported that the changes being made a better life in Europe. Libya has in recent years also include the transfer of investigations and prosecution of Safa Msehli, a spokes- emerged as the dominant tran- anti-money laundering (AML) cases from police, provincial woman for the International sit point for migrants fleeing war anti-corruption establishments (ACEs) and other similar Organisation for Migration, said and poverty in Africa and the agencies to specialised agencies. the wreck took place on Sunday. Middle East. The oil-rich coun- This is part of two sets of rules including the AML (Forfeited She said fishermen rescued 40 try plunged into chaos following Properties Management) Rules 2021 and the AML (Referral) migrants and returned them to a NATO-backed uprising that Rules 2021 under the National Policy Statement on Follow the the shore. Msehli said the boat toppled and killed longtime Money approved by the federal Cabinet meeting a few days ago, was among nine others carrying ruler Moammar Gadhafi in the report said. more than 700 migrants inter- 2011. AP These rules and related notifications for certain changes in the existing schedule of Anti-Money Laundering Act 2010 (AMLA) would come into force immediately to be followed  /      2 by the appointment of administrators and special public pros- ecutors for implementation. #  
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Based on these measures, the FATF would conclude if Pakistan has complied with three outstanding benchmarks, out Colombo: Sri Lanka has recorded over 2,600 coronavirus cases, of 27, that blocked its exit from the grey list in February this the highest-ever single-day count recorded so far in the island year. Several review meetings of the FATF are scheduled to begin nation since the pandemic began last year, authorities said on in the second week of June, culminating in the next FATF ple- Monday. nary on June 21-25. Gen. Shavendra Silva, the head of the National Operations The three outstanding action points (out of a total of 27) Centre for the Prevention of Covid-19 (NOCPOC), said some include (i) demonstrating that terrorist financing (TF) inves- 2,672 cases were confirmed on Sunday, up from 1,896 a day ear- tigations and prosecutions target persons and entities acting lier. on behalf or at the directive of the designated persons or enti- Sri Lanka on Sunday set a new record with the number of ties. daily Covid-19 infections exceeding 2,500 for the first time since Demonstrating that TF prosecutions result in effective, pro- the epidemic began, the Colombo Gazette reported. portionate, and dissuasive sanctions; and (iii) demonstrating The coronavirus cases are surging as health authorities con- effective implementation of targeted financial sanctions tinue to struggle to provide care for the confirmed cases. The against all designated terrorists, particularly those acting for government said action to create 10,000 care beds has been fast them or on their behalf. PTI tracked. PTI !"$%&' ( ) ( *** ,'. 6

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  ;< 4;/   ;< 4;/ and hence it shall be permissi- he finance ministry on ble to invite GTE where TMonday said provisioning itch Ratings on Monday ith the world’s worst out- necessary,” said the instruc-  35,000 crore-expenditure for Fwarned that India’s slow Wbreak of Covid-19 tions, which have been put up vaccines in the Union Budget pace of vaccination could mean severely straining the health on the ministry’s website on for FY22 under the title that the country remains vul- system in the country, the gov- Monday. ‘Transfers to States’ does in no nerable to further waves of the ernment has made sweeping As part of its way inhibit the central gov- pandemic even once the cur- changes in the way depart- Aatmanirbhar Bharat pack- ernment from using the funds rent surge subsides. ments procure medical sup- age, the government in May to buy Covid-19 shots. Just 9.4 per cent of the plies, including allowing pro- last year notified amendments The amount of 35,000 population had received at curement of the same item at to General Financial Rules crore provided in the Union least one vaccine dose as of different rates. (GFR) to ensure that goods Budget for fiscal year starting May 5, according to figures Relaxing tendering and services valued less than April 1, 2021 (FY22) under the from Our World in Data, the “We expect the shock to India is facing the world’s norms, the Department of Rs 200 crore will be procured Demand for Grants No. 40, agency said. economic activity from the worst outbreak of COVID-19 Expenditure has allowed glob- from domestic firms, a move titled ‘Transfers to States’ has “India’s slow pace of vacci- latest wave cases with more than 3 lakh al tenders to be floated for less which was aimed at benefitting been done for several admin- nation means that the country of the pandemic in India to new daily COVID-19 cases than 200 crore as well. small and medium enterpris- istrative advantages, including ing ensures easy monitoring cost by the Centre to those who could remain vulnerable to be less severe than in 2020, being reported for two weeks The Department of es. expenditure under such head and management of these are 45 years of age and above further waves of the pandem- even though caseloads and now and the new cases reached Expenditure, under the Rule 149 of GFR provides being exempted from the quar- funds, the ministry noted. and to all frontline workers. ic even once the current surge fatalities are much higher. more than 4 lakh new daily Ministry of Finance, on April that procurement of goods and terly control restrictions. The amount provided The Centre has so far pro- subsides,” Fitch added. “Nonetheless, indicators cases over the weekend. 24 issued special instructions services through the Also, it allows the Union under this head for vaccina- vided more than 17.56 crore The Centre has already show activity dropped in April- More than 2.46 lakh peo- relating to relief operations for Government’s e-marketplace government to procure the tions is operated by the vaccine doses to states/ UTs provided more than 17.56 crore May, which is likely to delay the ple in India have died from the Covid-19 pandemic and said (GeM) will be mandatory for vaccines and pass them on to Ministry of Health. Vaccines free of cost. vaccine doses to states/UTs country’s recovery, and the coronavirus that the prevailing health emer- items available on GeM por- the states as grants in kind. are passed on to the states as The Centre has placed free of cost. number of newly recorded infection. Public health gency on account of the tal. Refuting reports that no grants in kind and the actual total orders of 26.60 crore The cumulative number of cases remains extremely high,” system is buckling under the unprecedented surge in Covid- “In the present situation, provision for expenditure on administration of vaccines is doses for Rs 3,639.67 crore with Covid-19 vaccine doses admin- Fitch Ratings said in a report. weight of surging 19 cases across the country vendors under GeM, even if Covid-19 vaccination has been being done by states, it said. the Serum Institute of India istered in the country exceed- It said that currently, infections and deaths with requires immediate procure- orders are placed, may not done by the central govern- Further, there is enough which is manufacturing ed 16.94 crore on May 9. authorities are implementing several parts of the country ment of certain items in quan- always be able to effect deliv- ment, the finance ministry administrative flexibility to Covishield vaccine while an The global rating agency lockdowns more narrowly, and reporting tities which may not be avail- eries of supplies on time and said, “vaccines have actually change the nature of the order for 8 crore doses involv- said there are growing indica- companies and individuals shortage of hospital beds, able with a single supplier and/ desired locations, due to the been, and are being, procured scheme between grants in kind ing an amount of Rs 1,104.78 tions that the latest wave of have adjusted behaviour in medical oxygen, medicines and or within the time frame in rapidly changing situation on by and paid for by the Centre and other forms of grants, it crore has been placed with coronavirus infections will add ways that cushion the effects. vaccines. which they are needed. account of the critical pan- through this head of account said in a statement. Bharat Biotech for Covaxin. to risks among financial insti- “There is a risk that dis- Last month, Fitch had “The instruction in this demic situation which requires (Demand for Grants No.40 “The use of the Demand India is facing the world’s tutions (FIs). ruption could persist longer said the surge in COVID-19 Department’s OM (Office extreme flexibility in making Transfers to States)”. titled ‘Transfers to States’ in no worst outbreak of COVID-19 It also anticipates that the and spread further than our cases could add to headwinds Memorandum)... Dated May available the critical life saving Since expenditure on vac- way implies that expenditure cases with more than 3 lakh RBI may introduce additional baseline case assumes, partic- facing India’s banks and non- 15, 2020... Specifying that no goods to the medical care facil- cine is one-off expenditure cannot be incurred by the new daily cases being reported measures to support the finan- ularly if lockdowns are intro- bank financial institutions Global Tender Enquiries shall ities,” as per the instructions, outside the normal Centrally- Centre,” the ministry said. for two weeks now and the new cial sector if indications of duced in more regions, or (NBFIs) if it led to a resurgence be invited for tenders up to Rs which would be in force till Sponsored Schemes of the Currently, COVID-19 vac- cases reached more than 4 economic stress mount. nationwide,” it added. in asset-quality pressures. 200 crore shall stand relaxed May 31. health ministry, separate fund- cines are being provided free of lakh daily over the weekend. &
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 J ++                  . 5 ing COVID-19 cases and   ;< 4;/ Sudhanshu Pandey said in a extended mobility restrictions New Delhi:Investors’ wealth Berlin:German biotechnolo- virtual press meet. Those quity gauges Sensex and by several states by extending has increased by 6,44,760.45 gy company BioNTech on he Government on migrants, who have gone back ENifty rallied for the fourth gains for the fourth consecutive crore in four trading sessions Monday announced plans to TMonday ruled out the pos- to their villages, are availing straight session on Monday trading day,” said Binod Modi on the back of an equity mar- expand its global footprint to sibility of free foodgrains dis- ration supply either through on hectic buying in mainly Head-Strategy at Reliance ket rally. In the last four trad- Asia by building its first mRNA tribution to migrants saying state or central ration cards, he pharma, power and banking Securities. ing sessions, the 30-share BSE manufacturing facility in there is no panic situation and said. shares as investors brushed Favourable global cues, benchmark has gained 1,248.90 Singapore. no complete national lock- The Secretary was aside concerns over rising coro- steady March quarter earn- points or 2.58%. On Monday, The Covid vaccine maker down unlike last year. responding to a query why the navirus cases amid positive ings along with favourable the index jumped 295.94 points will establish its regional head- However, the Government government has not global cues. commentary, liquidity support or 0.60 per cent to close at quarters for Southeast Asia in has started distributing addi- announced a free grains At the closing bell, the 30- announced by the RBI and 49,502.41. The market capital- Singapore, later this year, it said tional free grains again under scheme for migrants amid share BSE index quoted 295.94 absence of nationwide lock- isation of BSE-listed companies in a statement. The facility the Pradhan Mantri Garib resurgence of the COVID points or 0.60 per cent higher down have aided domestic zoomed 6,44,760.45 crore to will be operational as early as Kalyan Anna Yojana cases. at 49,502.41. equities to shrug off rising 2,13,28,658.05 crore in four 2023, it added. (PMGKAY) for two months - Last year, the government Over the last four sessions, COVID-19 cases in the coun- trading days starting May 5. The fully integrated mRNA - May and June - to 80 crore had distributed 6.40 lakh tonne   . 5 the time of making the appli- the Sensex has gained 1,248.90 try, he further noted. “Domestic equities con- manufacturing facility will pro- ration cardholders. of foodgrains for free to cation or signing of the agree- points or 2.58 per cent. tinued to defy concerns of ris- vide regional and global supply The Government said migrants and stranded he Reserve Bank on ment with RBI,” the central Similarly, the broader NSE ing Covid-19 cases and extend- capacity of BioNTech’s growing there is no impact on prices of migrants. TMonday came out with bank said in a notification. Nifty jumped 119.20 points or #   ed mobility restrictions by sev- pipeline of mRNA-based prod- foodgrains in the open market Stating that there is an modified guidelines that allow It may be mentioned that 0.80 per cent to 14,942.35 – eral state by extending gains for uct candidates. It will be due to free grains distribution increase in use of ration card sound private sector banks to the Finance Ministry in taking its total gains over the N    the fourth consecutive trading equipped to produce a range of under PMGKAY. portability service during the undertake Government busi- February 2021 had lifted the four days to 445.85 points or day. “We note that favourable novel mRNA vaccines and “Migrant crisis is not pandemic year since April ness, whether at the Centre or embargo imposed in 3.07 per cent. global cues, steady March quar- therapeutics for infectious dis- as big as it was last year. ... It is 2020, Pandey said almost 18.3 in states. September 2012 on further On Monday, L&T was the  *2  ter earnings along with eases and cancer. not a complete national lock- crore portable transactions According to the modified allocation of government busi- top gainer in the Sensex pack, favourable commentary, liq- IANS down. It is a local lockdown, have taken place during the norms, scheduled private sec- ness to private sector banks. rallying over 4 per cent, fol-    uidity support announced by industry is working. COVID period, out of the total tor banks, which are not under In view of the lifting of the lowed by Dr Reddy’s, Sun RBI and absence of nationwide The complete lockdown is 26.3 crore transaction ever the Prompt Corrective Action embargo, the RBI has decided Pharma, NTPC, PowerGrid, Mumbai:The rupee rose by lockdown have aided domestic not there. That panic is also not since this service was launched (PCA) framework of the RBI, to revise the framework for IndusInd Bank, ONGC and 16 paise to close at more than equities to shrug off rising there,” Food Secretary in August 2019. can undertake government authorising Scheduled Private M&M. one-month high of 73.35 Covid-19 cases in the country,” business after executing an Sector Banks as agency banks On the other hand, against the US dollar on Binod Modi, Head Strategy at agreement with the central of RBI for conduct of govern- UltraTech Cement, Infosys, Monday, marking its third Reliance Securities, said. PTI bank. ment business. Reliance Industries, HCL Tech straight session of gains on “Scheduled private sector The notification further and Axis Bank were five losers the back of positive domes- banks, not having agency bank- said existing private Sector among the 30 shares. tic equities and weak ing agreement with RBI, but agency bank with whom RBI Sectorally, BSE metal, cap- American currency.However, intend to handle government already has agency banking ital goods, healthcare, power, sharp gains were prevented agency business, may be agreement and who are autho- utilities and industrials indices on surge in crude oil prices appointed as agents of RBI rised to do government agency rose up to 3.53 per cent, while and FII outflows, analysts upon execution of an agree- business may continue to do IT was in the red. said. At the interbank forex ment with RBI. these government agency busi- Broader midcap and market, the rupee opened at “This will be subject to nesses for Central and/or State smallcap indices rallied up to 73.34 and hit an intra-day the condition that the con- Governments without taking 0.97 per cent. high of 73.33 and a low of cerned bank is not under PCA any fresh approval from the “Domestic equities con- 73.48. framework or moratorium at central bank. tinued to defy concerns of ris- PTI ?   &      ! /(-(   " <A   (! !%%(&   ;< 4;/  %(# / !. hatsApp will not delete Wany account for not   ;< 4;/ accepting its new privacy update, but users not agreeing he Centre on Monday to the controversial terms after Texpressed hope that retail “several weeks” will not be prices of edible oils would able to access their chat list, and soften following the release of eventually, will not be able to imported stock that was stuck answer incoming phone or at ports due to clearance issues. video calls over the app. According to the govern- addressed along with customs Last week, the Facebook- ment data, retail prices of edi- and FSSAI (Food Safety and owned company had said users ble oils have shot up by 55.55 Standards Authority of India). not accepting its privacy poli- functionality on WhatsApp phone”. per cent in over a year and are With that stock getting released cy update by its May 15 dead- until you accept the updates”. WhatsApp said it won’t adding to the woes of con- in the market, we hope to see line will not face deletion or “This will not happen to delete the users’ accounts if sumers already reeling under the softening impact on the oil lose functionality of their all users at the same time. You they haven’t accepted the the economic distress induced prices,” he told in a virtual press accounts on the said date. won’t be able to access your update but highlighted that its by the Covid-19 pandemic. conference. WhatsApp, on its website, chat list, but you can still existing policy related to inac- Responding to a query on The Secretary further said said it is continuing to remind answer incoming phone and tive users will apply. steps taken to contain the rise that India is dependent on those who haven’t had the video calls. WhatsApp accounts are in edible oils prices, Food imports to meet the shortages chance to review and accept the If you have notifications generally deleted after 120 days Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey of edible oil. Annually, the terms, and after a period of sev- enabled, you can tap on them of inactivity, wherein inactivi- said the government monitors country imports edible oils eral weeks, “the reminder (that) to read or respond to a message ty refers to users not connect- edible prices closely. worth Rs 75,000 crore. people receive will eventually or call back a missed phone or ing to the messaging platform. The secretary said that the According to the govern- become persistent”. video call,” it said. While the company did not industry mentioned recently ment data, retail price of vanas- It, however, did not divulge The messaging platform respond to specific queries there was some holding of pati has increased by 55.55 per the timelines set for these said after a few weeks of limit- around these reminders, how some stock at Kandla and cent to Rs 140 a kg on May 8 reminders. ed functionality, users, who still long they will run and other Mundra ports because of clear- this year, from Rs 90 per kg in Explaining the course of won’t accept the terms, “won’t modalities, a WhatsApp ances related to tests done by the year-ago period. action after ‘persistent’ be able to receive incoming spokesperson said: “We’ll con- various agencies as part of the Similarly, retail price of reminders are sent to users, calls or notifications and tinue to provide reminders to general risk analysis in palm oil has risen by 51.54 per WhatsApp said: “At that time, WhatsApp will stop sending those users within WhatsApp view of the COVID situation. cent to Rs 132.6 per kg from Rs you’ll encounter limited messages and calls to your in the weeks to come”. “That problem has been 87.5 per kg.  $"&+,!&& 0 !"$%&' ( ) ( *** 
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ne cannot escape death, but can cer- tainly prevent old age. The funda- Omental principle of a healthy, relaxed, happy and stress free life is that one must follow a self-determined routine — self-dis- cipline in daily routine. Here are a few sug- gestions based upon my learning: One, try to make the moment of getting up in the morning, your happiest moment of the day. Smile at the world when you open your eyes or even laugh loudly. This forms the base of your feelings for the whole day. Two, water regime. Drink at least four litres of water every day. Also, drink at least ALL ABOUT three glasses of warm water, first thing in the morning. Avoid drinking cold water. It should be at least room temperature. Three, follow a good food regime. Take three meals and nothing in between, unless any studies have now found high association between Vitamin you have been medically advised to take five MD levels and COVID-19 severity and mortality. Such stud- BLACK meals or more. Breakfast should be ideally ies showed that patients with COVID-19 had significantly lower within four hours of waking up and should Vitamin D levels. In addition, fever was significantly higher in be the heaviest. Fruits should be consumed patients who had deficient Vitamin D levels compared with patients in the first half of the day only. Avoid fruits who had sufficient levels. Additionally, it has been found that older after mid-day. Curd should be taken with adults with Vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 had worse mor- the breakfast, unless prohibited by doctor. bidity outcomes compared with those who were not deficient. Mattha with lunch. And no curd item in the Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays a number of crit- FUNGUS dinner. Emphasis should be on quality of ical roles in body. This nutrient is especially important for immune food rather than quantity. Consume those system health. Since, it is a group of fat-soluble compounds respon- foods, which gives more energy and nutri- sible for intestinal absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phos- ents, in less quantity. phate, and for a variety of additional biological effects; low levels #? , B B#(    6EE B?*,B E= $  Four, work place regime. In case you of Vitamin D can increase the likelihood of developing multiple have long sitting job: Use straight back chair, acute and chronic ailments. A weaker immune system means body’s keep your back straight, aligned with the weak defence against infection and disease. % &"   #"     "&  chair back, get up after every 45 minutes and A prospective, interventional study found that a high dose of take a stroll for five minutes and stretch your calcifediol reduced the need for intensive care stays in patients neck backwards whenever you remember. infected with COVID-19. Because Vitamin D deficiency has been  2$(6  Caution: Whenever you stretch your shown to potentially increase the risk of severe respiratory infec- neck backwards, keep your eyes closed. tions, Vitamin D supplements are suggested for prevention and s if the second wave of International, tells you. through a vein (amphotericin B, Five, post dinner regime. Dinner should treatment of COVID-19 complications, especially acute respira- COVID-19 wasn’t enough to Mucormycosis is affecting posaconazole, isavuconazole) or by be taken ideally before 8 pm. There should tory disease. Nowadays many Amake you shiver with fear, the COVID patients more because of  8.&  /& .&* mouth (posaconazole, isavucona- be about four hours of gap between dinner %.7*.  &,   brands of Vitamin D supple- country is reporting a rash of cases prolonged administration of steroids zole). Other medicines, including and sleep. Brush your teeth after having the .1  . * mentation are available in mar- involving a fungal infection. and subsequent immunocompro- . & ,7 voriconazole, fluconazole and meal. Walk for at least 20 minutes. Take 8.. *' &' ket like D3 Must, Caldikind, Mucormycosis (sometimes called mised state.  9.  * '1 echinocandins, do not work against steam and gargle with salt and haldi mixed Calshine, etc. zygomycosis) is a serious but rare “Diabetic patients are at much ,7','* * the fungi that cause mucormycosis. in hot water. Switch off your mobile at least /'&.& ++ .*. It is noticed that those fungal infection caused by a group higher risk of mucormycosis if Often, mucormycosis requires half an hour before you go to bed, unless &.  * '1 *.
.. receiving Vitamin D supple- of molds called mucormycetes. affected by COVID-19 because 1 11.&. 8 surgery to cut away the infected tis- your profession demands to keep it on 24 .*/ &' mentation have fewer respirato- These molds live throughout the Covid-19 further impairs their :06 sue,” he adds. hours. ry tract infections. environment. When someone immune system and second, they are 8.7*. The correlation between Six, after you go to bed put two drops 1.& '*"  &,  According to the SHADE breathes in these spores, infection in given corticosteroids for their treat- COVID-19 and Mucormycosis, of mustard oil in your navel and rub it with  *7//+.,.&* . study published by BMJ and led the sinus or lung can occur. ment. This leads to a rise in their '
:06 17&. Bhargava says, is not surprising at all. your finger tip, 40 times clockwise and 40 *799.*&. 1' by Dr Rastogi and his team, Mucormycosis can also develop blood sugar level thus increasing ,/ * &.  “Because the major risk factor for times anti-clockwise. Put two drops of mus- greater proportion of vitamin D- on the skin after the fungus enters their risk of mucormycosis. This ,,7. **&., Mucormycosis is uncontrolled tard oil in each nostril. Once on bed, close /.
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. Secondly, steroids — which are Forgive those who have hurt you in any way nificant decrease in fibrinogen ple who have health problems or take Some cases of mucormycosis have '& '*&.' * known to suppress immunity — are on that day. Ask forgiveness from those ',/+ & '* on high-dose cholecalciferol medicines that lower the body’s also been observed in patients with the only of treatment, , like I have whom you have hurt in any way. This will supplementation. ability to fight germs and sickness. an asymptomatic Covid-19 infection 1' &.  mentioned before, which has shown relax your mind and you will have a sound We have seen that seven “The symptoms associated with who were not even aware of their &.&,.& to decrease COVID-19 mortality. So, sleep with positive thought, and will wake days high dose of Vitamin D3 (60000 IU) supplementation helps the disease include one-sided facial diagnosis,” Bhargava, who has come it is the combination of COVID-19, up smiling the next morning. Have at least in Coronavirus clearance. swelling, headache, nasal or sinus across three patients in past one week with decreased immunity and the seven hours of sleep in the night. Try to fol- Given the evidence supporting the role of vitamin D in mod- congestion, loss of vision or pain in who have contracted this infection solution, proper control of Diabetes steroids which probably predispose low the age old maxim — early to bed and ulating immune function, and the impact of vitamin D supple- the eyes, swelling in cheeks and eyes, after recovering from COVID-19, and using steroids only on prescrip- a patient to Mucormycosis,” he says. early to rise. mentation on vitamin D-deficient patients with COVID-19, prac- fever and black crusts in the nose. explains. tion by a physician. Turmeric con- Since the association between And last but not the least, follow a good tical recommendations should be synthesised as follows: The US Centre for Diseases Control A cause of worry is that present- tains curcumin which is also good the deadly virus and mucormycosis work out regime. spend at least one hour in Current public health guidelines for optimising vitamin D and Prevention (CDC) estimates ly, there are no feasible measures to for fungal-infections,” he says. is the state of weakened immune the morning and half an hour in the status should be followed always Mucormycosis with an overall all- prevent mucormycosis however, Bhargava tells you that it is a seri- responses in patients, it depends evening on your personal exercise regime. Patients hospitalised with COVID-19 should have baseline cause mortality rate of 54 per cent,” early detection is the best solution for ous infection and needs to be treat- from patient to patient when one can Remember walking, jogging and breathing serum 25(OH)D concentrations measured and should be supple- Dr Rahul Bhargava, Head ENT & now. ed with prescription antifungal med- develop this infection. It may take exercises have to be a part of your exercise mented to a level >30ng/mL (optimal 40-60ng/mL), especially when Neck Surgeon, Bhargava ENT & “Some of the things which can icine, usually posaconazole, ampho- days or even weeks after one has regime. the baseline level is <10ng/mL Gynae Clinic and Medical be done to prevent it are nasal tericin B or isavuconazole. recovered from COVID to get infect- (         %
   )  In COVID-19 patients with 25(OH)D serum concentrations Consultant — ENTOD douching and gargles with Betadine “These medicines are given ed with the fungus.    * 1
  + under 20ng/mL the recommended dose for correction of deficien- cy is 6000-7000 oral IU/ day for 6-8 weeks. For maintenance, the dose varies from 2000 to 3000 oral IU/day depending on the age    and clinical condition of the individual up to reach optimal con-  centrations. ublic health experts and social selves can come up with innovative When it is not possible to measure baseline 25(OH)D con- Long and silky hair are a Pactivists on May 10, 2021 rooted for localised solutions for their needs,” says t a time when Delhi’s medical infrastruc- centrations in COVID-19 patients, it seems essential supplement- a more sustained communication for Urvashi Prasad, Senior Public Policy ture is reeling under a menacing COVID ing with 2000-3000 oral IU per day up to the suggested optimal dream of many. But, many behaviour change in the realm of hand- Specialist in the Office of Vice Chairman, Awave, leading Delhi-based dermatologist serum concentrations (40-60ng/mL). of us end up cutting it short washing in India, not only to save peo- NITI Aayog. Dr Chiranjiv Chhabra has launched a new ini- Though India is a subtropical country with adequate sunlight, because of the hair fall that ple from the COVID-19 pandemic but for Highlighting that the better hand- tiative to provide medical support and guidance Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent. Sunlight rapidly inactivate SARS- a longer-term prevention. Speaking at the washing practice in the past one year is to patients by converting her skin and wellness CoV-2 on surfaces, suggesting that there may be an environmen- follows. ROSHANI DEVI Hand Hygiene Summit, organised by the a fear-driven adoption, Arundati clinics into COVID tele-support centres. tal benefit associated with Vitamin D as a result of sun exposure. shares easy to follow home Integrated Health and Wellbeing (IHW) Muralidharan, Manager Policy (WASH in The initiative aims to help provide medical It is necessary for people to understand the importance of Vitamin remedies that can help Council, supported by Dettol, on World Health & Nutrition, and Schools), guidance, monitoring and support to patients with D so that they can take relevant medications. Hand Hygiene Day, they also emphasised WaterAid India, says, “We need to make mild or moderate illness in a bid to bridge the e can’t emphasise don’t want to sport long the need of inter-ministerial coordination hand hygiene a social norm because fear- medical care gap being experienced by a large  enough on the hair is because they fall, use and collaboration for holistic communi- driven adoption of hygiene practises can number of patients. Wimportance of oil- aloe vera. It soothes the cation. remain active for a limited time. Hygiene Led by Dr Chhabra, her team of 12 doctors - 0 While many of us appear to improve blood pres- ing long hair regularly. One scalp and conditions hair. It “There is a lot of diversity in needs should be a part of a group of protective and health educators have taken charge of the tele- might not like the smell of sure for those with known can use coconut, almond, reduces dandruff and and inequity in India when it comes to behaviours, but there are mindset barri- support initiative with an objective to enable early garlic, and hence avoid high blood pressure (hyperten- mustard or even olive oil. unblock hair follicles that handwashing practices. Behaviour change ers for which raising awareness is impor- treatment for as many patients as possible, eating it, this herb is highly sion). In some instances, sup- Massage it into the scalp may be blocked by excess in people has remained unaddressed for tant. We have not made enough invest- thereby preventing complications and need for nutritious. It is low in plements may be as effective as and leave it overnight. oil. You can apply pure a long time. We need a localised, multi- ment on hygiene in the community set- critical care. calories and rich in Vitamin regular medications. Wash with a mild aloe vera gel to your channel, sustained communication to ting or public space; inter-ministerial “Over the past few weeks, we have been wit- C, vitamin B6 and It also seem to reduce total shampoo in the scalp and hair a nudge behaviour change, starting with involvement is important to achieve that nessing an alarming situation where healthcare manganese. It also contains and LDL cholesterol, particu- morning. few times a children and schools — people them- goal.” is crumbling under the weight of the pandemic trace amounts of various larly in those who have high However, if week. and patients are running from pillar to post to be other nutrients. Hence, it cholesterol. you have Apply a   5!& able to find a doctor. We have seen a number of may help in boosting an oily mask people experience severe complications because immunity which is skin, oil made of   #    
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acred Games’ actor Kubbra Foundation, that’s about to SSait says that in her sixties or release this year. “It’s I think one seventies, she would like a tiny sole project that I have put in home with a little garden prob- about a year and a half of mine, ably growing cabbages. “Oh and that feels extremely valu- he education industry has block, with only 20 per cent of stu- brought on by some of the leading yeah, if it faces the beach, then able,” says she. undergone a revolutionary dents having access to both laptops companies. Using the impetus of the that will be amazing,” quips “I don’t think today your Tchange in recent times. and smartphones, whereas 20 per cent government for Digital India along Kubbra. currency is money. Your curren- Although these were ushered in by a have access to just smartphones, 30 with the increased internet penetra- The performer, who left cy is time. So if I have been able chain of unfortunate events, the per cent have access to only feature tion, these firms are ensuring that behind a successful corporate to break out of that mental block results have been astounding, espe- phones, while the remaining 30 per their resources are available at the career for acting, recently fea- and invest time in a project that cially for the Edtech industry where cent don’t have any devices. Such a lowest possible cost. tured on the My 3 Secrets To I believe in, I think it’s going to start-ups that had received $553 mil- scenario does bring forward lots of The fact that these apps can be Success audio series on Audible pay off pretty well and I’m quite lion worth of investment in 2019. challenges along with a myriad of downloaded easily with most of Suno. excited about it. Apart from that, These have shot up to nearly $2.22 bil- opportunities for the Edtech industry. the content being free for users Answering a question on I’ve got three work projects in lion now. A report by RedSeer and To understand the opportunities and implies edtech companies are strik- what her 60s or 70s should look process and when they come to Omidyar Network India states that to gauge its growth, one has to return ing the right balance between prof- like, she adds, “So, some clean realisation, I’ll share them with India’s EdTech industry is expected to to the time when the pandemic had it and the cause of imparting qual- air to breathe, a book to read you. But otherwise I can say touch $3.5 billion by 2022. Almost all just hit the country. ity education. and probably my fingers that, I’ve got a book coming, I’ve the companies in this sector have The nationwide lockdown in With the pandemic showing no entwined with someone I love. got a show coming out, I’ve been fared well and are looking forward to March 2020 had sent our 250 million signs of abating, analysts have pre- I think that would be an ideal on this Audible podcast,” adds expanding themselves in the coming student population into a state of dis- dicted that the these companies’ pos- 60s-70s to me. We’re not chas- she. quarters. But that was not the case array. Given that the country was still itive growth trend will sustain in the ing every day. I don’t think I’m Finally, speaking about her before the pandemic. grappling even to understand the sit- forthcoming quarters. However, chasing today either. I’m think- Zen mode: “I’m being in a state Until some years ago, the concept uation, the hardships faced by stu- even after the situation changes, ing of the opportunities that of solitude in a state of Zen. I am of an online classroom was frowned dents were barely considered. these platforms are here to stay. come to me at the moment but being that person. And it’s just upon and not considered with any While some urban institutes and tar classroom was unlikely and in face alised learning methodology, What is likely to change is rather the there isn’t a chase anymore, allowing you to recognise the seriousness. The only role that tech- student populace did turn to the of such a crisis, edtech companies arguably, these are delivering much conventional attitude to education. and I think if you stop chasing past, the present and the future nology was thought to play in chil- online medium without a fuss, their proved to be godsent for students as better results than conventional The time is not far when almost all things, you automatically reach as it’s going to be. I think it’s very dren’s lives was that of a distraction, strength was still numbered. It has to well as parents. teaching methods. conventional classrooms will depend a point of calmness and that’s important to be in a state of Zen making them stray away from their be duly noted that in rural areas where The technology used by these Now, if you are wondering how on edtech solutions for a more very different from being numb so that you can allow the future actual goals. Though it hasn’t been the technological infrastructure is lim- platforms is well-researched as are the Edtech can reach out to rural mass- wholesome learning experience. from the chase.” to unfold. It’s exciting. So, what’s smooth sailing, times are changing. In ited, such solutions are out of reach. teaching methods. Combining cut- es and the disadvantaged, you only (The writer is the founder of an On the work front, Kubbra keeping me busy, my Zen is India, accessibility is a major road- Returning to the brick and mor- ting-edge technology with a person- have to look at the innovations edtech firm - AAS Vidyalaya.) shared her excitement about keeping me busy.” L&-'

      '            #           
 
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 ctor Rashmika Mandanna will soon Mission Majnu. It was remarkable to Abe seen in her Bollywood debut see how she picked up every nuance opposite actor Sidharth Malhotra. of her character even though we were Mission Majnu is her first foray into a spy on a video call. It’s been a pleasure Go waterless thriller yet the team unanimously felt working with her because not only that she was their first and best choice she brings a solid experience and con- for the film. fidence of a big film star with her, but ygiene is an important aspect of “We were looking for a formidable also has the sincere energy of a new- Htoday’s lives, especially with the actor with a fresh face when we comer.” ongoing pandemic. Inadequate sanita- chanced upon some of Rashmika’s Producer Garima Mehta tion and poor hygiene practices are the work. I was especially impressed chimed in, “The first thing cause of death for lakhs of people every by her nuanced performance in you see in Rashmika is her year, majority of them being children. Dear Comrade. We felt she had dazzling smile, the sheer Provision of clean water is one of the the right mixture of innocence energy and charm that she most effective methods of saving lives. and beauty required for the cru- exudes. Since her debut film However, clean water is a novelty cial role, which needed a sen- Kirik Party, later Geetha in the current world as we are using sitive interpretation of the Govindham and Dear tons of it every day to drink, bathe and character. I think there’s a Comrade, she has grown into cook. But it is not available around the very good chance the an exceptional actor. We world on an equitable basis. Hence, we Indian audience will dis- were sure she would bring all should make sure that water is con- cover another film star alive her role in the film. served. from the South,” said Rashmika and Sidharth share Benefits associated with waterless Shantanu Baagchi, the great on-screen chemistry formulations include reduction in plas- director of Mission in Mission Majnu and tic waste, reduction in costs and aid- Majnu. The would surely be loved by ing the creation of effective products. prominent ad her fan base.” Along with reduce-reuse-recycle maintain personal hygiene and healthy residue. A safe to swallow formulation an easy to use spray formulation rinsed filmmaker is The actress’ impec- processes, a sustainable life can be living. A well-showered body reduces makes it easy to use and effective for off with a towel or a tissue. making his cable work has not achieved with the use of waterless per- the odour produced by perspiration, dental hygiene. Another feature of waterless prod- directorial only left the audience sonal care products wherein technolog- and get rid of most germs. In situations ucts is that they are free from parabens debut with the in awe but a team of ical advancements play a key role. with no water availability or inability Intimate hygiene and preservatives. That concludes to forthcoming producers and direc- Waterless technology can now be to take a shower, use a waterless body Avoiding infections, fungus or itch- them being extremely safe for all skin film. tors as well who wast- used in every aspect of personal bath and shampoo to maintain a show- ing is essential. Women should wash types. A transition to waterless products Producer ed no time to bring her hygiene in these ways: er routine. their genitals more than twice a day to is a road taken by lesser people but once Amar Butala on board for the film. avoid bacterial infections such as by the move has been made it would lead also expressed Besides Mission Hand hygiene Oral hygiene E.coli. This can be done by using water- to a lesser carbon footprint. his admiration Majnu, Rashmika has Hand hygiene could be easily man- The use of a toothbrush for clean- less intimate hygiene products as person- The products are sold in more con- for Rashmika, another Bollywood aged with waterless soaps which require ing after all meals is essential for the al care. For men, it is advised to keep centrated, compact packages, they can “My first interac- film in the pipeline, no or less water to rinse off the foam. prevention of oral cavities and infec- hygienic with waterless products. significantly decrease the number of tion with her was Goodbye with Amitabh Such waterless products can come tions. Food and drinks leave residue in materials needed to house them. And, over a zoom call Bachchan. She would handy on a long trip and in distant the teeth that grow. Head hygiene shipping waterless formulas requires less during the lock- also be starring in the places with less water availability. Newer technology like waterless Hair should be washed two or three space and therefore, less fuel. It’s these down when we Telugu action thriller toothpastes could be a new addition to times a week. Waterless shampoo is seemingly small benefits that actually narrated the titled Pushpa, along with Bodily hygiene your personal care kit where you another addition to personal care for have the potential to make a real impact. script of Allu Arjun later this year. A daily shower is necessary to would require no water to rinse off the maintaining hygiene with no water. It is L&-'  % ; **( (1)* 6/'+1*5 1  4 41'0 .    N O    #      N        +0 ,    #             , 01(*,5 -6(1*      #2 # 
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 -  runs to be all out for 231. Madrid: Eden Hazard’s 94th- minute equaliser salvaged Real Madrid a dramatic 2-2 draw against Sevilla on Sunday as an C   #    extraordinary penalty decision swung La Liga’s title race back in   44 Zverev is now targeting a Atletico Madrid’s favour. second Rome title at the Foro Zidane’s side had levelled lexander Zverev recovered Italico this week. He captured his through Marco Asensio midway Afrom a set down to defeat first Masters there in 2017 before through the second half and Matteo Berrettini 6-7 (8/10), 6- also winning in Montreal later thought they had a penalty 4, 6-3 and win the Madrid that year. when Karim Benzema was Open for a second time on “Rome is also an event I like brought down after rounding Sunday as he clinched a fourth and enjoy, so I hope I can per- Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bono. Masters 1000 title. form in the same way as I did But VAR prompted referee The German fifth seed here and we will see how it goes to check an Eder Militao hand- recorded his third consecutive there. I feel awesome,” said ball a few seconds before, with top-10 victory this week, having Zverev. a huge decision seeing Madrid’s eliminated five-time Madrid After Rome, the German penalty cancelled and a spot- champion Rafael Nadal and star will target a maiden Grand kick awarded to Sevilla instead. Dominic Thiem to reach the Slam title at Roland Garros. Ivan Rakitic converted and final. However, he has yet to get while Madrid still managed to Zverev, last year’s US Open beyond the quarter-finals in hit back in injury time, Toni runner-up, added to his 2018 Paris. Kroos’ shot deflecting in off Madrid triumph as he denied title), especially after losing my “To play well at Roland Eden Hazard’s foot, the draw Berrettini successive titles fol- last three finals I played at Garros, you have to play well hands the advantage back to lowing the Italian’s win in Masters 1000 events,” Zverev during the season on clay. In that Atletico at the end of another Belgrade last month. said. “This is definitely special sense, it’s (Sunday’s win) impor- dramatic weekend in the “It is great (to win this and I just want to enjoy this one.” tant to me,” said Zverev. Spanish title race. AFP  0< & . '/& '*  .+ " ,.8 , 
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New Delhi: The Indian cricket "There is a belief within were forced to use Gujarat grounds, it is not yet complet- board's decision to host the sec- many Board of Control for College ground. ed. The teams can't use the cur- ond phase of the Indian Premier Cricket of India (BCCI) and Both venues are in congest- rent practice nets as it is not suit- League (IPL) matches in cities state officials that the decision ed or old parts of the city. The able for big hitting needed dur- with no alternate T20-specific to take the second phase to practice facility at the Motera ing T20 practice. It is okay for practice facilities may have Delhi and Ahmedabad was ground in Ahmedabad has Test matches or first-class crick- caused the breach in Covid wrong. There were four teams another problem. Since the con- et practice," said the official. protocols, it has emerged. in each city and except for the struction of annexe grounds and "So, taking players to Delhi and Ahmedabad — main ground, which is an inter- full facilities isn't complete, the Gujarat College ground was cities with rapidly increasing national-level facility and host- available facility is not suited to fraught with risk as there are so Covid cases — hosted the sec- ed matches, the alternate facil- practice big shots needed in T20 many people like the maalis ond phase and the positive ities meant for practice were cricket. [gardeners], security guard and cases among players and staff open to exposure to Covid-19," "The problem with the others. It was easy to get infect- that led to the postponement of an official in the know of things newly-built Narendra Modi ed," he pointed out. As many as the tournament emerged during told IANS. Stadium in Motera is that the three teams, including the matches in those cities. Besides, While in Delhi, teams like adjoining grounds and facilities worst-affected Kolkata Knight the two cities struggled for the Chennai Super Kings used are still under construction. Riders (KKR), practiced there. alternate practice facilities for the Roshanara Club grounds for While it will be a state-of-the- Four KKR players tested posi- teams. practice, those in Ahmedabad art facility with multiple tive. IANS