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Printed at . Chennai . Coimbatore . Bengaluru . Hyderabad . Madurai . Noida . Visakhapatnam . Thiruvananthapuram . Kochi . Vijayawada . Mangaluru . Tiruchirapalli . Kolkata . Hubballi . Mohali . Malappuram . Mumbai . Tirupati . lucknow . cuttack . patna NEARBY Lockdown extended; States will Centre throws open all take a call on infection zones sectors to private players MGNREGA gets Government eases inter­State travel but curbs on malls, religious gatherings stay Centre’s guidelines in line ₹40,000 crore in with Delhi proposal: CM Vijaita Singh FM’s fifth tranche NEW DELHI New Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal The Centre on Sunday ex­ Special Correspondent on Sunday said the Centre’s tended the nationwide lock­ NEW DELHI guidelines for the fourth phase of lockdown are largely down, first imposed on The Centre has agreed to de­ in line with the proposal sent March 24, for the fourth time mands from States to hike by the Delhi government. till May 31 while giving con­ their borrowing limits from The proposal, he said, was siderable flexibility to the 3% to 5% of their GDP in light based on suggestions of States in deciding red, green of the COVID­19 crisis, but lakhs of Delhiites. and orange zones of CO­ on the condition that they CITY Ī PAGE 3 VID­19 intensity. implement specific reforms. DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD The Ministry of Home Af­ The fifth and final tranche Inhuman to send bodies fairs, in its fresh guidelines of the Atmanirbhar Bharat by trucks, says Soren for Lockdown 4.0, eased res­ Abhiyan stimulus package, BHUBANESWAR trictions considerably by al­ announced by Finance Mi­ Jharkhand Chief Minister lowing inter­State movement nister Nirmala Sitharaman Hemant Soren on Sunday of buses and cars, opening of on Sunday, also included an lashed out at his Uttar all shops, except those in additional ₹40,000 crore al­ Pradesh counterpart Yogi malls and containment location for the Mahatma Adityanath on Twitter for the zones, and the delivery of Gandhi National Rural Em­ ‘inhuman treatment’ meted non­essential items through ployment Guarantee Act out to migrant workers online shopping platforms. (MGNREGA), and a new pol­ who died in a road accident icy welcoming private com­ in U.P.’s Auraiya district on panies into every sector of Saturday. industry, while limiting pu­ NORTH & EAST Ī PAGE 4 blic sector enterprises to Over 5,000 cases DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD Barber shops and salons can was directed to modify the said that the practice of work adequate distance between strategic sectors only. Cor­ U.P. withdraws order on also open. lockdown guidelines keep­ from home should be fol­ workers, adequate gaps bet­ porate enterprises were also recorded on Sunday increased working hours The 33% restriction on ing in view the need to res­ lowed to the extent possible ween shifts, staggering the offered some relief via LUCKNOW workforce in offices has also tart economic activities. and staggered work hours lunch break of staff and so changes to the Insolvency SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Health Departments put the NEW DELHI The Uttar Pradesh been done away with. While metro systems, should be adopted in respect on,” the guidelines said. and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) nationwide tally at 95,622 government has withdrawn The decision to extend the domestic and international of all offices and other esta­ The MHA said the Aaro­ and the Companies Act. Maharashtra registered its cases and the death toll at its order increasing daily lockdown was taken after air travel continue to remain blishments. gya Setu mobile app is a po­ The total package highest single­day increase 3,021. With an increase of work shifts in manufacturing the National Disaster Man­ suspended, the new guide­ “There should be provi­ werful tool “to facilitate amounts to almost ₹21 lakh of 2,347 COVID­19 cases to 5,034 cases on Sunday, in­ units from 8 hours to 12 agement Authority (NDMA) lines allow plying of auto­ sion for thermal scanning, quick identification of per­ crore by the Centre’s ac­ take its overall tally to fections are now doubling hours. The Yogi Adityanath­ directed the Centre and the rickshaws, cab aggregators hand wash and sanitisers at sons infected by COVID­19 or counting, but is heavy on 33,053 and 1,198 deaths. every 13.8 days if data of led government had on May 8 State governments to conti­ and private taxis, subject to all entry and exit points and at risk of being infected, thus credit­related measures, in­ With 34 new deaths, Guja­ past seven days are consi­ passed a notification diluting nue the lockdown measures permission by local authori­ common areas; and all work acting as a shield for indivi­ cluding ₹8 lakh crore worth rat’s toll increased to 659. dered. This is among the fas­ the provisions of the to contain the spread of the ties. Special train services places and other sensitive lo­ duals and the community.” of liquidity enhancing mea­ Tamil Nadu registered 639 test in the list of countries Factories Act, 1948. novel coronavirus. The Na­ will continue to operate on cations are to be sanitised sures by the RBI. more cases, and its death with the highest number of NEWS Ī PAGE 8 tional Executive Committee limited routes. regularly. In work places, so­ CONTINUED ON Ī PAGE 8 toll rose by four to take the infections. DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD (NEC), chaired by Union The National Directives cial distancing would also MORE REPORTS ON Ī PAGES 2, 3, 4, CONTINUED ON Ī PAGE 8 tally to 79. EDUCATION PLUSĪ PAGE 11 Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, for COVID­19 Management need to be ensured through 8, 9, 10 MORE REPORTS ON Ī PAGE 8 Reports from the State CONTINUED ON Ī PAGE 8

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DELHI THE HINDU 2 CITY MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Life in a hostel

Sunalini Mathew Shinjini Ghosh From the initial New Delhi scramble to get here college campuses home before the should have seen hec­ lockdown was Keeping busy: (clockwise from above) Students at a men’s PG hostel Wtic end­of­year activity in Delhi University; Salma Wasi; Kiki Sakhile; students on the Shiv – farewells, exams, parties – announced to an Nadar University campus; students at Ashoka University working in these once bustling spaces are the kitchen garden * SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA, SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT now mostly empty. The lock­ acceptance of the down has meant that academics situation, the few reign students because they are campus. have gone online, friends don’t worried about loved ones at Food has become a point of meet, and there’s a general students who home and vice versa. coming together. At night, Mr. sense of uncertainty. The few remain in Delhi’s Ms. Sakhile, who is the youn­ Namagiri (who heads the cuisine students who remain in hostels gest of three siblings, says it is club) and those in the hostel will across Delhi­NCR, speak of how hostels find ways to true that in the initial days there often assemble in the pantry they cope with long silences and cope and connect was a great deal of worry. that has an induction stove and short bursts of online “We were a bit concerned be­ a microwave. “We cook someth­ engagement. third year in management stu­ cause we didn’t know if we ing – last night it was pakoras at Hostellers have a double bur­ dies, says the initial weeks were would be told to vacate hostel. about 3.30.” den of being away from family tough, because Gautam Buddha There was also uncertainty be­ They are also making a short and not having friends around Nagar, where the university is, cause of the exams. I didn’t want film about the life on campus. either. “Currently, there are 35 was declared a hotspot. A week to go back home and then have It’s a time to look at the lives out of 600 people in our particu­ or so ago though, students were to return almost immediately,” of the support staff as well, some lar hostel and we are not really offered the option of leaving in she says. For many, with the of whom may not have a choice familiar with each other. So for State transport buses, but most long hot summer ahead, there’s about living on campus. Mr. Po­ our free time, I either depend on preferred to stay on campus. Fa­ still no clear plan. dipara talks of a woman guard walks with a friend from a diffe­ milies aren’t comfortable with Some students had to make who is using the opportunity to rent hostel or end up speaking students taking trains back harder choices though in the learn cycling, while another col­ to my parents back home,” says home either, fearing the quaran­ suddenness of the lockdown an­ league takes long walks as she Salma Wasi, a second­year Ph.D tine process or the possibility of nouncement. Cindy, at one of speaks on the phone to a loved scholar of modern history at Ja­ contracting the virus on the Delhi University’s North Cam­ one. waharlal Nehru University. Her journey. “The university has pus hostels, has a father with “I spend my free time clean­ parents in Samastipur, Bihar, made it clear that we can stay diabetes and a brother under ing my room, as it is therapeutic were initially very worried back and stay comfortable palliative care, in Imphal, Mani­ for me,” says Ms. Cindy. “We about how she would manage, here,” says Mr. Namagiri. pur. “I had a long conversation even play badminton at times to but are now reassured because Traditional teaching methods with my family, especially my keep ourselves engaged. It is a there’s regular food, despite a li­ have evolved into Microsoft mother. We thought it best that I difficult situation that everyone mited menu, she says. Teams sessions, projects, and stay put here as their immunity is in right now,” she says. presentations, which he finds is low,” says the second­year, She is on the verge of finish­ Quiet spaces are all learning experiences. He classes as her coursework is ov­ tions are also via Facetime or Singh, director, Ashoka Centre post­graduate student of ing college, but is hopeful for the At Saureesh Namagiri’s hostel in is comfortable in the non­air­ er, which means she must be WhatsApp calls. for Well­Being, Sonipat, says philosophy. future. “I want to join the go­ Shiv Nadar University, Greater conditioned room he chose, and completely self­reliant for her Kiki Sakhile from Swaziland, a that as soon as the lockdown vernment services once my Noida, there are a little over 100 says the 286­acre campus, with work. “It is proving to be very second­year psychology student was declared, she set up a peer The doers course is over,” she says. She will students, mostly boys and some its greenery, a lake, even a biodi­ difficult to focus on academics at Delhi University’s Zakir Hu­ support system. This group of In order to keep themselves oc­ be studying for the civil services girls. “The college never really versity park, gives students and I am ending up watching sain College, says she has deve­ students she trained could reach cupied, students are finding examination. “I want to work on reopened after the mid­sem­ the space to move around. some movies or series on the va­ loped an inconsistent sleep pat­ out to others via personal emails ways to engage with each other women empowerment and edu­ ester break in mid­March,” With bicycles provided to rious online platforms. Even tern, sometimes staying up or just by drawing them out of and the spaces they’re in. In cation for children, and I feel the he says of the period that ride around, strong Wi­ though we are in touch with our through the night, at other times their rooms for a meal at the Ashoka University, those in hos­ civil services will be the best op­ was too short for him to go Fi, and clubs active on supervisors and keep them up­ sleeping through the day. canteen, for instance. All coun­ tel have offered to work in the tion for me.” back home to Madurai, social media, he says, dated with our progress, it is a “There’s not much that we can selling services moved online kitchen garden. She is aware that with private where his parents and “It’s better to be on challenge to concentrate under do, except roam around the gar­ and a helpline was launched. “We are currently harvesting sector job market shrinking, sister live. “Some pe­ campus than home… the current circumstances,” she den [of the International Stu­ “There’s a sense of loss – of and planting,” says Geo Ciril Po­ there will probably be more tak­ ople chose not to All this time away says. dents’ Hostel]. Most of us sit choice, of decision­making, of dipara from Kottayam, Kerala, ers for government jobs, but, “I come back, and from people is help­ Staying up at night is a recur­ around with each other or control. But the biggest is the who works in the student life of­ can only hope for the best. I some took the op­ ing me get a better ring theme. Circadian rhythms watch Netflix.” loss of social connection – it’s fice. “They’re also using the ve­ have not really thought about portunity to leave, perspective on life.” have gone for a toss with a lack just not the same when you’re getables to cook. We had a sale, Plan B yet, but if UPSC doesn’t sensing that there It hasn’t been this of physical activity, binge­watch­ Helplines that connect waving at people from a dis­ and the pay­as­you­like proceeds work out I will probably look for may be a problem.” easy for everyone ing, and OD­ing on screen time, Sensing there would be a need tance,” she says, adding that it is will go to maintaining the gar­ some other government job,” Mr. Namagiri, who though. For Ms. Wasi, considering many classes are for more robust mental health especially hard for those who al­ den,” he says, of some of the ap­ says Ms. Cindy. Hope seems to will soon enter his there are no online held online and social interac­ services than before, Arvinder J ready have anxiety, and for fo­ proximately 140 students on be what the future is hinged on.

‘Taking online CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC exams tough for Driven by penalty-fear, hostellers On foot for food J&K students’ of DDU pay maintenance charges Staff Reporter New Delhi Students in Jammu and Several students facing financial crisis, say almost all vacated hostel before April Kashmir would face severe difficulties taking online Sidharth Ravi <> My father has to pay a revised amount of said. examinations as proposed NEW DELHI taken a loan to pay ₹7,500, payable by May 11, Gopal’s* father, a produc­ by Delhi University, since Hostellers of the Deen Dayal the fees... I did not failing which they were in­ tion manager at a notebook they have access to only Upadhyaya College The Hin- want to be thrown formed that they would be factory, has not received his 2G services, a student du spoke to said that they out charged ₹50 per day as pe­ salary either. “My parents from the Union Territory were facing financial diffi­ Sanjay nalty for non­payment. are saying they will arrange has written to the Lieute­ culties in paying hostel Second-year student Sagar*, a second­year stu­ the money somehow. But nant­Governor of J&K, ap­ maintenance charges de­ dent, whose father had not why are they [college] doing pealing to look into the manded by the college for shut since the beginning of been paid his salary for the this when almost no one has matter. the months of April, May the lockdown. “If not for the last two months and is ex­ been living in the hostel?” People queue up to collect food and ration in New Delhi on Sunday. * SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA “We are a group of and June. However, threa­ hostel, my father would not pecting a salary cut, said he asked. CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC about 100 students from tened with penalties and let me study in Delhi... I did that he wrote to the college College Principal Hem­ J&K presently doing our fearing backlash, they said, not want to be thrown out,” authority, asking for some chand Jain said that a sanita­ studies from DU,” wrote they hardly had a choice but he said. relaxation, but was told to tion worker is employed at Hitesh Panotra. Writing on to pay. pay the fees and that reim­ the hostel and since at least their behalf, he highlight­ While the college authori­ Relaxation appeal bursement would be made eight students have stayed ‘We are labourers, but we ed that given the limited ties defended the move, stu­ Following a notice to hos­ at a later date. back, the charges for elec­ access to the internet, stu­ dents complained that it tellers on April 7, asking Others such as third­year tricity, water and cleaning dents were not even able was unfair as most hostell­ them to pay ₹19,500 as part student Mohan*, son of a need to be paid. He said if too have some self­respect’ to attend online classes. ers had vacated the premis­ of the fourth quarter fee, wheat farmer, said that he people were facing financial Given DU’s recent deci­ es before the beginning of which includes electricity, had written to the college crisis, the matter would be sion to conduct online ex­ April. water, housekeeping and but did not receive any rep­ looked into before extend­ Bus ferrying workers from Panipat to U.P. takes U­turn aminations for students in “My father has taken a mess charges, students had ly. “We have paid our an­ ing any relaxation, stressing the final semester, Mr. Pa­ loan to pay the fees” said written to the college princi­ nual rent and developmen­ that it could not be extend­ Ashok Kumar inside. But we too have some to stay inside. But they took a notra wrote that it would Sanjay*, a second­year stu­ pal, appealing for a relaxa­ tal charges... on what basis ed to all. GURUGRAM self­respect,” said Monu. U­turn from under the flyov­ be impossible for students dent from U.P. whose fami­ tion. With mess charges re­ are they asking for electrici­ *names changed to “We are labourers, but we He recalled that the la­ er and returned to Panipat,” from J&K to take part in ly’s hardware store has been moved, students were asked ty and water charges? ” he protect identity too have some self­respect,” bourers staying in different said the 25­year­old resident the exams, which would said Monu, recalling his “em­ areas of Panipat received of Lakhimpur in U.P. consequently affect their barrassing” experience. Af­ calls from officials late on Sa­ RTI activist P.P. Kapoor “academic performance ter leaving to his home in U.P. turday and were asked to said it was a cruel joke on the and mental health”. ‘Bring back 56 pregnant JMI student arrested in from Haryana’s Panipat in a reach the local bus stand labourers. He said the go­ He said that appeals had State bus on Sunday morning around 5 a.m. to board a bus vernment had failed to ar­ been made to the Dean of along with fellow labourers, to their home towns. range food for them and now Examinations as well as nurses stranded abroad’ connection with riots he was forced to return to his “We walked several km was not able to even send the Vice­Chancellor, but in rented accommodation. with luggage to reach the bus them back homes with vain. Staff Reporter cy and are staying alone . STAFF REPORTER the police said. More than two months af­ stand. It was after seven dignity. New Delhi The petition claimed that New Delhi “He has been arrested in ter the lockdown and after hours of wait that they finally The United Nurses Associa­ even though most of the A 24­year­old student of Ja­ connection with a case running from pillar to post allotted us a bus around ‘Law and order issue’ tion has approached the nurses were duly registered mia Millia Islamia was ar­ which was registered at Ja­ for the past 48 hours to seek noon. But after travelling Deputy Commissioner Hema Delhi High Court seeking di­ with the Indian Embassy at rested in connection with mia police station on De­ permission to go back to around 10 km towards Kar­ Sharma said the buses carry­ rection to bring back 55 Saudi Arabia for prioritised riots here last December, of­ cember 16, 2019, related to their home towns, 40­odd la­ nal, the bus stopped. Four ing around 200 migrants had pregnant nurses stranded repatriation in the first ficials said on Sunday. riots in the Jamia area in bourers, mostly daily­wagers more buses were parked to return from Karnal after in Saudi Arabia and one in phase of ‘Vande Bharat Mis­ The accused, Asif Iqbal which he is named an ac­ in textile industry, boarded a there. We were told that the the police received a message Kuwait due to the sion’, they were not consi­ Tanha, is a resident of Abul cused,” a senior police offic­ State bus to U.P., but it service will soon resume,” regarding some law and or­ lockdown. dered by the Centre. Fazal Enclave Thokar, Sha­ er said. stopped after travelling said Monu. der issue in U.P. She said the The association said all The plea said since the heen Bagh, they said. He is a He was produced before around 10 km and then re­ After waiting for a couple State buses went to Shamli, the 56 pregnant nurses have nurses are healthcare work­ third­year student of B.A. Metropolitan Magistrate Sa­ turned a few hours later to of hours, the labourers de­ but were not allowed to­ serious medical issues as ers, they are exposed to ha­ Persian language. He is also ket court. He was remanded drop them back at their rent­ cided to walk with the lug­ wards Saharanpur. Ms. Shar­ most of them are in the 3rd zards that put them at risk an active member of Stu­ to judicial custody till May ed houses. gage. “At this point, the driv­ ma added that the workers trimester of their pregnan­ of infection. dents Islamic Organisation, 31, he said. “The landlord allowed us er started the bus and told us would go on Monday. 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THE HINDU DELHI MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 CITY 3 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Timings ACP deployed DELHI Is it a crime to serve the MONDAY, MAY. 18 Centre’s guidelines in line with at Rashtrapati RISE 05:29 SET 19:07 RISE 03:08 SET 15:18 poor: Delhi Cong. chief Bhavan tests TUESDAY, MAY. 19 RISE 05:29 SET 19:08 proposal sent by Delhi govt.: CM FIR against Kumar for violating orders positive RISE 03:37 SET 16:09 WEDNESDAY, MAY. 20 Kejriwal to announce detailed plan on relaxation of restrictions in city today Special Correspondent STAFF REPORTER RISE 05:28 SET 19:08 New Delhi New Delhi RISE 04:07 SET 17:02 Special Correspondent The committee has been Delhi Congress Chief Ch. A 58­year­old Assistant NEW DELHI revising the death toll over Anil Kumar said a policeman Commissioner of Police Chief Minister Arvind Kejri­ the past week after reports arrived at his residence on (ACP) of the Delhi Police wal on Sunday said the came in that the number of Sunday morning without posted at Rashtrapati Bha­ Centre’s guidelines for the COVID­19 deaths were being any written order and pre­ van Police Lines has been fourth phase of the lock­ under­reported. vented him from stepping tested positive for CO­ A policeman at Anil Kumar’s down are largely in line with Mr. Jain added that at pre­ out of his house, which he al­ VID­19, said officials on house on Sunday. the proposal sent by the Del­ sent, the doubling rate of CO­ leged was a violation of his Sunday. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT hi government. The propo­ VID­19 stands at 11 days and human rights. Following this, five other sal, he said, was based on while the number of Con­ The police said an FIR has crime, he would commit the policemen, who came in suggestions of lakhs of tainment Zones was not in­ been registered against him crime again and go to jail. contact with the officer, Delhiites. creasing, there are many under relevant sections of The police said on Satur­ have been quarantined as a “We have used the lock­ doctors, nurses, police and the IPC for violating lock­ day they got information that precautionary measure. down period to prepare our BSF jawans testing positive. down orders in east Delhi. Mr. Kumar went to Ghazipur The ACP developed symp­ healthcare system if CO­ A scene at one of the hotspot areas in Jahangirpuri in New The government also is­ He was taken to Ghazipur where he promised migrant toms on May 13 following

VID­19 cases increase but it is Delhi on Sunday. * SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA sued an order for all health­ police station in the evening. workers that he will arrange which he was tested and now time to relax the restric­ care facilities operating in Mr. Kumar blamed the BJP transportation for them to isolated. “We were in­ tions to some extent,” Mr. ing to reports from the Death Delhi to follow guidelines is­ and AAP governments for go to their hometowns in Bi­ formed about his reports Kejriwal said. Audit Committee. The bulle­ sued by the Ministry of the police action and said he har and Uttar Pradesh. today [Sunday]. He is, ho­ Air Quality of Delhi-NCR He added that the govern­ tin also stated that 276 peo­ Health and Family Welfare had been working along with Following this, around wever, found to be asymp­ Delhi 200 Gurugram 158 ment will prepare the de­ ple have recovered and there for rationale use of Personal other party workers to pro­ 300 migrants gathered at the tomatic. He was in isolation Ghaziabad 208 Faridabad 000 tailed plan for Delhi based are currently 5,405 active Protective Equipment (PPE) vide cooked food to thou­ U.P. border, said an officer, since May 13 and has been Noida 160 Greater Noida 154 on the Centre’s guidelines cases. in accordance with the risk sands of homeless people. adding that despite the admitted to a private hospi­ ■ Good ■ Satisfactory ■ Moderate and announce them on May involved. He said he also organises warning, Mr. Kumar was fel­ tal,” said a senior officer. 0-50 51-100 101-200 ...... 18. Death records sanitation drives to help fight icitating movement of mi­ The officer is responsible ■ Poor ■ Very Poor ■ Severe 201-300 301-400 >400 Mr. Kejriwal welcomed Delhi Health Minister Sa­ Type of PPE kits the spread of COVID­19. grants towards Anand Vihar for duty deployment, admi­ ...... Air Quality Index at 4 p.m. yesterday the easing of lockdown res­ tyendar Jain said all hospi­ The guideline has listed the Speaking to The Hindu, and Ghazipur border. nistration and manage­ (Average of past 24 hours) | Source: CPCB trictions on a day when the tals here have submitted a type of PPE kits to be used by he said: “Is it a crime to serve “Mr. Kumar created unne­ ment of personnel within Capital reported 422 new summary of their death re­ healthcare workers accord­ poor labourers during the cessary chaos by misguiding the premises of Rashtrapati 0 COVID­19 cases taking the to­ cords and the Death Audit ing to the activity they per­ lockdown? I am only doing migrant workers,” the officer Bhavan, he said. DISCLAIMER: Readers are requested to tal number of cases to 9,755, No new deaths were re­ Committee was in the pro­ form, the risk associated the work that the BJP and said. Meanwhile, an SHO of a verify and make appropriate enquiries to satisfy themselves about the veracity of according to a health bulle­ ported in the last 24 hours. cess of compiling the reports with the task and which de­ AAP governments have Mr. Kumar has, however, police station in Shahdara an advertisement before responding to any published in this newspaper. THG tin released by the Delhi The total number of — which would be done in partment of the hospital failed to do.” He added that if denied the allegations made also tested positive for CO­ PUBLISHING PVT LTD., the Publisher & Owner of this newspaper, does not vouch government. deaths stands at 148, accord­ two­three days. they work at. service to humanity was a by police. VID­19. for the authenticity of any advertisement or advertiser or for any of the advertiser’s products and/or services. In no event can the Owner, Publisher, Printer, Editor, Dir- ector/s, Employees of this newspaper/ company be held responsible/liable in any manner whatsoever for any claims and/or damages for advertisements in Ready to provide necessary trains for this newspaper. Govt. will take full care of migrants in Capital, says CM transporting migrants: Railways tells HC Man stable Staff Reporter around 10 lakh migrant of Bonded Labour, in its pe­ New Delhi workers to their home tition, had said the official after shooting Officials told to ensure that these workers face no problem The Railways has informed towns”. website of the government the Delhi High Court that it The submission was meant for registration of mi­ incident Special Correspondent was ready to provide the made before a Bench of grant workers for transit to NEW DELHI “necessary trains” as and Chief Justice D.N. Patel and their respective home towns Staff Reporter Chief Minister Arvind Kejri­ when States put up a request Justice C. Hari Shankar and the helpline numbers NEW DELHI wal on Sunday said the go­ for transporting migrant which was hearing a petition are not properly working. Two days after a 27­year­ vernment is responsible for workers to their respective seeking the registration and The petition also said old man allegedly shot at the migrant labourers living home towns. repatriation of migrant there was need of appoint­ himself after his friend re­ here and would take care of The Railways also said workers in the Capital. ment of Nodal Officers in fused his proposal in Outer them if they want to remain “more than 800 trains have The National Campaign each district of Delhi for the North Delhi’s Narela, he is in the city. already departed, taking Committee for Eradication same. said to be stable. For those who want to re­ A senior police officer turn to their home States, he said that the man, a resi­ said the government would dent of Kotla Mubarakpur, arrange trains for them. Migrant labourers on their way to Uttar Pradesh on Sunday. is undergoing treatment “The government has or­ * SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA but is out of danger. dered all the officials to en­ On Friday, the man went sure that no migrant labour­ to his friend’s house and er should face any problem. proposed to her. He also It will arrange trains as many asked her to come with as needed for stranded la­ him. However, when she bourers,” he said. The go­ refused, he shot himself in vernment order stated that it the chest. He was rushed to should see that no migrant hospital. The woman is worker walk on roads or on married and her husband railway tracks. is lodged in jail, the police “In case they are found in of special trains so that tra­ Sisodia tweeted the link for said. such condition, they should vel of stranded workers can migrant workers to register The police have regis­ appropriately be counselled, be done at a faster rate. themselves to receive reser­ tered a case under relevant taken to nearby shelters. Till Deputy CM Manish Siso­ vation on the special trains sections and is probing the such time they are facilitated dia said 25 trains and a large and asked people not to matter. to board the Shramik special number of buses have car­ gather in huge numbers at The headline of our re- trains or buses to their ho­ ried over 35,000 migrant la­ stations. port in the Saturday edi- metowns,” the order read. bourers to their home States The AAP attacked the BJP tion had erroneously said It called for proper coop­ and on Sunday, eight Shra­ for putting migrants in a sit­ ‘Man found dead in Nare- eration with the Railways in mik special trains ferried uation where they are facing la’. The error is regretted. the running of more number around 12,000 migrants. Mr. atrocities. ‘I regret coming to quarantine centre’

Man who recently tested positive alleges unhygienic conditions at facility

Ashok Kumar More than two days meals twice a day. The lock GURUGRAM <> after I tested is opened and we are told Less than 48 hours into a positive, I have no to collect the meals from quarantine centre here, symptoms. But I outside the main door,” with allegedly unhygienic said the official, who works fear to catch some conditions and lack of at Udyog Vihar Phase­IV. proper care, a 30­year­old infection while bank official regrets having staying at this Complaints raised informed the authorities centre The official’s brother­in­law about his COVID­19 status. Bank official made a series of tweets Inmates have earlier com­ raising all these issues to plained of poor facilities at 13, he too self­quarantined which the Twitter handle of other centres in the city. himself at his home and got Gurugram Deputy Com­ “I didn’t know earlier a test done from a private missioner responded by that patients with mild lab for ₹5,000, including saying that the nodal officer symptoms could be qua­ ₹500 consultation fee. was informed and the mat­ rantined at home, else I ter would be resolved on would have never come The toilets at the quarantine Frantic calls priority.

here. More than two days centre. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT After the result for the sam­ He also alleged that sam­ after I tested positive, I ple came on May 15, he ples of the family members have no symptoms. But I the past two days. started calling the helplines were not collected despite fear catching some infec­ “We are kept locked in­ frantically to know how to repeated requests. tion while staying at this side this centre. No doctor go forward. “It was only the The man claimed that he centre. Already, I have a or official has visited us. If next day that an ambulance had received calls only sore throat since morning,” we need any help or have reached my home and from journalists so far, and said the man, talking to The any queries, there is no brought me to this centre,” none of the government of­ Hindu over phone from the contact person. I have not said the official. ficials had contacted him. centre running from a med­ been told how long I need He said that he preferred Chief Medical Officer, J.S. ical college. to stay here,” said the offi­ lukewarm water and tur­ Poonia, said there were cial, who suspected having meric milk, but those were never any complaints No one to contact contracted the virus from not available at the centre. about the quarantine With 50 more people in the his colleague. He said he was better off at centres in the district and centre, some of them just He recalled that soon af­ his own house. “The toilets the facilities were up to the suspects, he rued being ter his colleague tested pos­ are stinking. We get tea and mark. He said the matter locked up at the centre for itive for COVID­19 on May biscuits in the morning and would still be looked into.

Published by N. Ravi at Kasturi Buildings, 859 & 860, Anna Salai, Chennai-600002 and Printed by S. Ramanujam at HT Media Ltd. Plot No. 8, Udyog Vihar, Greater Noida Distt. Gautam Budh Nagar, U.P. 201306, on behalf of THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD., Chennai-600002. Editor: Suresh Nambath (Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act). Regd. DL(ND)-11/6110/2006-07-08 ● RNI No. UPENG/2012/49940 ● ISSN 0971 - 751X ● Vol. 10 ● No. 118

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DELHI THE HINDU 4 NORTH & EAST MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

18 new cases Inhuman to send bodies by Amarinder blames Centre, reported in BJP States for migrant crisis Punjab trucks, Soren tells Adityanath SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Punjab CM flays Sitharaman’s remarks about Sonia, Rahul CHANDIGARH Jharkhand CM lashes out at his U.P. counterpart, urges Nitish to arrange ambulances Punjab recorded 18 fresh SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ter also flayed Ms. Sithara­ COVID­19 cases on Sunday Satyasundar Barik sage. He also announced ₹4 the migrants’ bodies tran­ CHANDIGARH man’s remarks that former and reported three more BHUBANESWAR lakh ex gratia to the next of sported by trucks, Auraiya Punjab Chief Minister Ama­ Congress president Rahul deaths taking the toll to 35, Jharkhand Chief Minister He­ kin of all the 11 people killed Superintendent of Police rinder Singh on Sunday ac­ Gandhi should have walked according to an official mant Soren on Sunday and ₹50,000 to those Suniti said different vehicles, cused the Bharatiya Janata with the migrants when he statement. lashed out at Uttar Pradesh injured. in some cases ambulances Party governments at the met them, terming it highly The number of positive Chief Minister Yogi Aditya­ On Saturday early morn­ and trucks, were arranged to Centre and in States for ag­ frivolous and totally unbe­ cases has reached 1,964. Of nath for the ‘inhuman treat­ ing, 25 migrant workers, in­ transport the dead back to gravating the migrant crisis coming of a senior Central the three deaths, two were ment’ meted out to migrant cluding 11 from Jharkhand, their native places. and politicising such a grave Minister. from Gurdaspur while one workers who died in a road were killed when a trailer Referring to the photos of issue. was from Ludhiana district. accident in U.P.’s Auraiya dis­ they were travelling in a truck in which some bodies “The entire Congress par­ Entry of buses The Health department said trict on Saturday. Hemant Soren. * FILE PHOTO rammed a supply lorry near were dumped, she said the ty, including all party­led “Instead of ridiculing Rahul, the major chunk of the new Taking strong exception Auraiya in Uttar Pradesh. persons seen along with the States, were working day who came out on the roads cases were reported from to the migrant workers’ bo­ However, he deleted it la­ bodies were those who had and night to support the mi­ CM Amarinder Singh to extend support and com­ Amritsar and Ludhiana dis­ dies being transported by ter and tweeted again. Treatment for injured been discharged after grant labourers in this hour passion to the migrants, Nir­ tricts respectively. The ac­ trucks, Mr. Soren tweeted, “This inhumane treat­ Terming the situation inhu­ treatment. of crisis, with my own go­ ment that Congress presi­ mala should have spoken to tive cases are 563, it added. “Heartless to see @UPGovt ment of our migrant workers man and very insensitive, Apparently disturbed ov­ vernment having already ar­ dent Sonia Gandhi should the Chief Minister of the BJP­ Health Minister Balbir led by @myogiadityanath ji could possibly be avoided. I Mr. Soren directed Bokaro er the incident, Mr. Soren ranged 149 trains to ferry have asked her Chief Minis­ led U.P. government to allow Sidhu said that in the wake could not even arrange for request @UPGovt and Office Deputy Commissioner and took to the social networking 178909 migrants to their na­ ters to help the migrants, entry to the buses arranged of COVID­19, all civil surge­ ambulance to transport the of @NitishKumarji to ar­ Jharkhand Police to give im­ site putting out information tive States till May 16,” said Captain Amarinder said the by Priyanka Gandhi to tran­ ons in the State have been bodies of migrant workers to range suitable transporta­ mediate treatment to the in­ for several times on Sunday. the Chief Minister, adding Congress chief had been sport migrants,” he said, re­ directed to ensure the sup­ their families. I request tion of the deceased bodies jured as soon as they enter Meanwhile, the Jhark­ that the process of facilitat­ holding regular interactions ferring to the buses that ply of hypertension and dia­ @NitishKumarji to arrange till Jharkhand border and we the State. The officials were hand Mukti Morcha and Bo­ ing the labourers to go to with the party Chief Minis­ were stranded at the Delhi­ betes medicines, which are ambulance for remaining will ensure adequate digni­ asked to take the bodies to karo district administration their homes was still conti­ ters on this and other criti­ U.P. border on account of two major co­morbid condi­ journey to Bokaro and ac­ fied arrangements to their their respective homes with gave rice and ₹25,000 cash nuing in Punjab. cal Covid­19 and lockdown the Uttar Pradesh adminis­ tions contributing to higher cord them some dignity in homes in Bokaro,” says dignity. to the family of the Reacting strongly to Nir­ relates issues. tration’s refusal to let them risk of acquiring COVID­19 death.” Jharkhand CM’s Twitter mes­ When drawn attention on deceased. mala Sitharaman’s com­ The Punjab Chief Minis­ enter the State. infection.

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC U.P. migrant Take me home Cong. hits out at Haryana govt. walking home dies of ‘hunger’ for using force against migrants

Omar Rashid LUCKNOW They should be treated with empathy, says ex­CM Hooda A migrant worker who had returned from Mumbai on SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ruption. They were then pac­ “The government should a truck allegedly died of CHANDIGARH ified,” Sukhbir Singh, SHO, ensure that the workers hunger in Kannauj while After the incident of police Yamunanagar (Sadar), told don’t flee from the State and he was walking back home using mild force to disperse a reporters. arrangements should be to Hardoi district, officials group of migrant labourers The police used mild force made for their stay. They said. who blocked the national to disperse the agitating should be provided with im­ The migrant worker, Vi­ highway in Haryana’s Yamu­ group, many of whom said mediate monetary relief or nod, and 26 others had nanagar, the Congress on their patience was running alternative employment. If boarded a truck from Sunday hit out at the ruling out as it had been days since the government is not able to Mumbai towards U.P. on BJP­JJP government for being they had been stuck at the do this or if the poor labour­ May 14. “insensitive and inhumane”. relief centre. ers want to go home, then The last time he ate On May 16, a group of mi­ proper arrangements should proper food was on May 15, grant labourers, who had ‘Insensitive, inhumane’ be made for their safe return said Shailesh Kumar Singh, been staying in a relief centre Former Haryana Chief Minis­ home,” he said. SDM Kannauj. at Karera Khurd village in Ya­ ter and Leader of the Opposi­ Congress leader Randeep Early on Saturday, munanagar district, besides tion Bhupinder Singh Hooda Singh Surjewala also con­ around 3 a.m., the truck a few others who were tra­ condemned the use of force demned the incident and ac­ carrying 27 passengers velling from neighbouring on migrant labourers by the cused the State government reached Kannauj. Seven­ Punjab, blocked traffic on police. of oppressing the migrant la­ teen workers belonging to the Yamunanagar­Panchkula “It is insensitive and inhu­ bourers. “..In Haryana’s Ya­ Hardoi got off at the by­ National Highway, demand­ man to beat up poor labour­ munanagar, the Khattar go­ pass. “They had barely ing to be sent back to their ers who are victims of cir­ vernment is beating up walked for half a km when home States. cumstances and the migrants by chasing them!” one of them died. He had “A few migrant labourers government should treat said Mr. Surjewala in a tweet been lagging behind the had blocked the highway, them with empathy in this with a video clip of the inci­ Migrant labourers wait in queues for screening before leaving for their homes, in Lucknow on Sunday. * PTI others,” said Mr. Singh on CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC which resulted in traffic dis­ difficult period,” he said. dent tagged to it. Sunday. The preliminary reason behind the death as per the Sharp spike in accounts of the relatives Rajasthan HC issues directions to control COVID-19 infection in jails who came with him was hunger, hinted the official. Odisha cases “During the journey, he The court said it was concerned that 128 people, including convicts and jail officials, had tested positive during last 48 hours Staff Reporter drank water and ate bis­ cuits but maybe he did not Special Correspondent registered a public interest li­ the action being taken by the symptoms of virus infection once again present the pri­ families,” the court said. It BHUBANESWAR eat any food on the way,” JAIPUR tigation which it heard at a State government. Besides after completing the isolation soner before the medical gave directions for conduct­ Odisha on Sunday regis­ said Mr. Singh. Taking cognisance of the special sitting held at the resi­ the Chief Justice, the Bench period. authorities at the end of isola­ ing tests of jail staff and their tered a sharp rise in CO­ “He didn’t get anything spread of COVID­19 infection dence of Chief Justice Indrajit comprised Justice Ashok Ku­ In its directions, the court tion for check­up to verify if family members on a regular VID­19 cases with 91 per­ to eat on the way ,” said in the district jail in Jaipur, Mahanty here. The court said mar Gaur. asked the State government to he or she had developed any and random basis, at least sons testing positive. With Ram Kumar, the victim’s where over 100 inmates have it was concerned over reports incorporate a requirement in symptoms of virus infection. once in every fortnight. this, the State’s total count brother. tested positive, the Rajasthan that 128 persons, including Isolation wards the SOP for mandatory testing The RT­PCR test should be The medical officers in has now touched 828. High Court on Sunday gave a the convicts, undertrial pri­ Mr. Swarup informed the of an accused by the local carried out to cover asympto­ each district will inspect the The government, which slew of directions to control soners and jail officials, had court that special isolation medical authorities for CO­ matic prisoners before being isolation wards in the jails and had earlier reported two OBITUARY & the disease in prisons across tested COVID­19 positive dur­ wards had been created in all VID­19. “The accused person shifted to the general ward, give suggestions to the jail new deaths, backtracked REMEMBRANCE the State by incorporating ing the last 48 hours. district and central jails, should be allowed to be re­ the court said. authorities to take steps for saying test result did not BIRTH CENTENARY new provisions in the stan­ The court summoned Ad­ where an accused or prison­ manded in judicial or police “The jail authorities who maintaining cleanliness and confirm to be COVID­19 dard operating procedure ditional Chief Secretary er, on his first admission, was custody only if he/she is are in direct contact with the sanitisation. Besides, the jail positive in one case. Hence, (SOP). (Home), Rajeev Swarup, and required to spend 21 days. found negative.” prisoners in isolation also re­ doctors must be made availa­ the death­toll stands at 4. A Division Bench of the Director General (Prisons), Such prisoners are shifted to As regards the isolation pe­ quire special attention to en­ ble for general check­up of Now, the number of ac­ High Court took suo motu N.R.K. Reddy, to the Chief Jus­ the general wards of jails only riod of 21 days, the court di­ sure that the virus is not trans­ prisoners in isolation wards tive cases in the State is cognisance of the matter and tice’s residence for explaining if they are found to have no rected the jail authorities to mitted to them or their everyday, the court said. 604. Punjab farmers’ to go for direct seeding of rice PUBLIC NOTICE COVID-19 cases see They are shifting from traditional sowing method because of labour shortage sudden jump in NE VIKAS VASUDEVA straw, for the timely sowing CHANDIGARH of next wheat crop. Results 9­year­old youngest case in Assam As the labour shortage is im­ from research trials and minent owing to exodus of farmers’ field survey have al­ SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT cal College and Hospital. He migrant labourers amid the so indicated that wheat grain GUWAHATI is the youngest to have test­ ongoing lockdown, farmers yield, after DSR, is 1.0­1.2 The number of COVID­19 ed positive in the State after in Punjab seem all set to go quintal per acre higher than positive cases in the North­ two 16­year­old girls, one of for direct seeding of rice puddle transplanted rice,” east has almost quadrupled whom died. (DSR) this khairf season, said Mr. Bhullar. in a little more than a fort­ The boy’s case , along moving away from the tradi­ “As the DSR involves more night since May 2. with that of a 28­year­old tional practice — of sowing precision in timing and grea­ What has intrigued doc­ who came from Chennai to nursery and then transplant­ ter accuracy in operations tors and officials is that ma­ Cachar district, took the to­ ing it. compared to conventional ny of the new cases do not tal number of COVID­19 Farmers and agri­experts transplanted rice. It gives have any travel history be­ positive cases in Assam to told The Hindu that they are The DSR technique will save irrigation water, labour and best yield and quality when sides maintaining mini­ 97. But Tripura led the table hopeful that this technology, power in contrast to the traditional method. * FILE PHOTO: AFP sowing is done in the month mum or no contact with pe­ with 167 cases while Megha­ which had been recommend­ of June,” said Mr. Bhullar. ople who had tested laya and Manipur took the ed in Punjab as an alternative scale at farmers’ fields. It dium to heavy textured soils Bhartiya Kisan Union (Lak­ positive. third and fourth spots with method of rice (paddy) plant­ helps in saving irrigation wa­ including sandy loam, loam, howal) general secretary Ha­ The total number of cas­ 13 and seven cases ing, will save irrigation water, ter, there’s lesser weed pro­ clay loam and silt loam, rinder Singh’, said there’s ab­ es in the region was 61 till respectively. labour and energy (power) in blem, besides there is re­ which account for 87% area solutely no doubt that sowing May 1 midnight. By Sunday, The bulk (159) of Tripu­ contrast to conventional duced incidence of nutrient of the State. with DSR will increase this the figure increased to 287, ra’s cases were reported method of raising rice nur­ deficiency, especially iron, year. “I am myself all set to three of whom — two in As­ from two Border Security sery and then transplanting owing to lesser leaching of Groundwater recharge sow paddy with the new tech­ sam and one in Meghalaya Force battalion headquar­ rice seedlings in a puddled nutrients and deeper root de­ “Not only this, the DSR offers nique. It’s cheap, less time — died. ters. field. velopment,” said Makhan avenue for groundwater re­ consuming and save water as Assam Health Minister The region, according to “The DSR technique is less Singh Bhullar, principal agro­ charge as well as it prevents well. Besides, this year we are Himanta Biswa Sarma on data provided by the Health time consuming and labour nomist at the Ludhiana­ the development of hard pan facing labour shortage as ma­ Sunday said a 9­year­old ministries of the affected intensive than the conven­ based Punjab Agricultural just beneath the plough layer. ny migrant labourers have boy who returned from Del­ States, has 159 active cases tional practice. The DSR tech­ University. It matures 7­10 days earlier gone back to their native hi with his parents tested — 101 in Tripura, 52 in As­ nique called ‘tar­wattar DSR’ Mr. Bhullar said that the than puddle transplanted places. So, at such a time the positive and was being sam, five in Manipur and has been developed and suc­ technology has a wider adap­ rice, hence it gives more time DSR is a viable option for treated at the Jorhat Medi­ one in Meghalaya. cessfully tested on a good tability as it is suitable for me­ for the management of paddy me,” he said.

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THE HINDU DELHI MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 SOUTH 5 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Reach out to migrants, says Jagan Shadow of Maharashtra cases There should not be any dearth of facilities and food to workers, officials told Staff Reporter Migrant killed, another raises tally in Karnataka VIJAYAWADA injured in road mishap Andhra Pradesh Chief Minis­ VIJAYAWADA Two die of infection in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka; Kerala records 14 cases ter Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy A migrant worker, Sk. Minarul, on Sunday asked officials to 23, died and another was Special Correspondent injured in a road accident on extend all help to migrant Bengaluru the outskirts of the city on workers on humanitarian Andhra Pradesh and Karna­ Sunday. The mishap occurred grounds. when a private bus carrying taka reported one COVID­19 Speaking to the officials migrant workers from Chennai death each on Sunday, while over telephone, the Chief Mi­ to West Bengal hit a stationary Tamil Nadu recorded four nister said, “There should lorry at Gannavaram around deaths. not be any dearth of facilities 4.30 a.m. The deceased, a In Karnataka, cases linked and food to the workers who native of West Bengal, was to Maharashtra continued to are walking to their native In protest: Migrants from West Bengal in Vijayawada seeking working in Tamil Nadu. surface in several districts. places. This is the time to transportation to their State. * K.V.S. GIRI CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC On Sunday, 40 returnees show sympathy and help from Mumbai and Kolhapur them generously. Don’t step shifted to 62 relief centres in from that State at Ganjam to various destinations. — 18 of whom were in Man­ back on expenditure in­ the last three days. Of them, with prior intimation. Another 22 trains are being dya and the rest in Hassan, volved.” 485 were heading to various Following the agreement, planned during this week to Kalaburgi, Yadgiri and Shiva­ districts in the State. The re­ 902 Odisha workers — 470 ferry 33,000 people. Offi­ mogga — tested positive. Relief centres maining were walking to­ from Prakasam, 410 from cials are pursuing the issue He asked officials to arrange wards Odisha, Bihar. Uttar Krishna and 22 from Srikak­ of obtaining NoCs from the buses for the workers walk­ Pradesh, Jharkhand, and ulam districts — were sent to receiving States. ing on the highway and to Chhattisgarh. that State on Saturday night. Officials said checkposts shift them to the nearest re­ Chief Secretary Nilam Another 450 workers from were provided with staff The fatality in the State lief centres. Sawhney spoke to her Od­ Guntur district would be from the Revenue Depart­ took the toll to 37, and 55 The officials told Mr. Jagan isha counterpart on the is­ sent on Sunday. Already, 31 ment to counsel the workers new cases were detected, Mohan Reddy that 4,661 mi­ sue, following which the Shramik Specials are being to visit the relief centres with raising the tally to 1,147. This grant workers were stopped neighbouring State agreed to operated from Andhra Pra­ a promise to send them by included 37 COVID­19 month that witnessed 1,846 continued run of COVID­19 la had received 60,612 non­ at various checkposts and receive the migrant workers desh to ferry 39,000 people the special trains. deaths, one non­COVID cases. cases with 42 more reported resident Keralites, of whom death and 509 discharges. The latest death was in on Sunday, taking the total to 3,467 came through various A 54­year­old male resi­ Krishna district, which so far 1,551. Of the new cases, 37 airports, 1033 through sea dent of Udupi with cardiac registered a toll of 15, the se­ were from Greater Hydera­ ports, 55,086 through bor­ issues was admitted to a priv­ cond­highest in the State af­ bad, two from Rangareddy der check posts and 1,026 by 588 Indians reach Kochi from Maldives ate hospital in Udupi District ter Kurnool, with a toll of 19. and three were migrants. trains. The number of per­ and died due to cardiac ar­ A Health Department bul­ sons under surveillance rose rest on May 14. His samples letin said, the tally had risen Kerala cases rise from 48,825 to 62,529 over­ This is the second trip by INS Jalashwa; AI flight evacuates 181 from Gulf tested positive for COVID­19 to 2,380, including 150 mi­ COVID­19 cases continued to night, 61,855 being quaran­ on May 16. Seventeen of the grants, while the toll was 50. rise in Kerala, with 14 more tined at home. Special Correspondent and clearance procedures new cases were women and With 103 fresh recoveries, testing positive on Sunday. Tamil Nadu’s COVID­19 KOCHI were coordinated by the Ker­ nine were children. active cases came down to While 12 of these were im­ tally crossed 11,000 on Sun­ INS Jalashwa arrived at the ala police. Also, 22 of the new cases 874. A total of 1,456 patients ported cases, two cases, in­ day with the State adding Kochi port here on Sunday Meanwhile, an evacuation were from Mandya. Of these, had recovered, with a recov­ cluding that of a health care 639 cases – exceeding the from the Maldives with 588 flight (Air India Express IX except four with a contact ery rate of 61%, against a worker, were picked up from 500 mark after three days – Indians stranded in the is­ 434) from Dubai brought 181 history, the remaining 18 had mortality rate of 2.1%. the community. including 81 returnees from land country following the Indians from the Gulf on Sa­ a travel history to Maharash­ Among cases involving mi­ Malappuram accounted other parts of the country. COVID­19 lockdown. turday night. The evacuees tra. While ten cases were re­ grants, 23 patients had reco­ for four cases, Palakkad, While four patients died, the This is the second trip by comprised 57 men and 124 ported from Kalaburgi, six vered in Anantapur. Kozhikode and Kannur two overall COVID­19 numbers INS Jalashwa, which had ear­ women. Of them, 32 were were from Hassan, four from The new cases were in Sri­ cases each, and Kollam, Er­ touched 11,224 of which lier reached Kochi with 698 children below the age of 10 Dharwad, three each from kakulam (7), Chittoor (4), nakulam, Thrissur and Kasa­ 6,971 were active cases. Indians from the Maldives on and 70 of the women were Yadgiri and Kolar, two each Guntur (4), Kurnool (3), Pra­ ragod one case each. Of the 639 persons who May 10. Naval vessel INS Ma- pregnant. from Dakshina Kannada and kasam (3), Visakhapatnam Of new cases, two re­ tested positive, 558 were gar too had evacuated 300 A person with symptoms Shivamogga and one each (3) and Nellore (1). All new turned from West Asia, while from within the State and the Indians stranded in the Mal­ Warm welcome: Indians who were stranded in Maldives of COVID­19 and hailing from from Udupi, Bhatkal in Utta­ cases in Prakasam and one 10 came from Tamil Nadu rest included 73 from Maha­ dives and brought them to deboarding INS Jalashwa in Kochi on Sunday. * SARATH A S. Thrissur was admitted to the ra Kannada and Vijayapura. case each in Chittoor and and Maharashtra. The case rashtra, three from Telanga­ Kochi on May 12 as part of Ernakulam Medical College The Health Department, Kurnool were linked to in Kollam was that of a na, two each from Karnataka the ongoing Samudra Setu Three persons who been sent to various centres Hospital. Of the others, 34 which had converted Victo­ Koyambedu market. health worker and one in Er­ and Rajasthan and one from mission to evacuate by sea showed COVID­19 symptoms for observation, the commu­ had been sent to different ria Hospital into a COVID­19 Over a 24­hour period nakulam, a Uttar Pradesh na­ Andhra Pradesh. Indians stranded in different were admitted to the Karuve­ nication added. COVID­19 care centres, while hospital, was working on an ending Sunday, 9,880 tests tive from the Maldives. The State recorded four parts of the world. lippady Taluk Hospital. They A communication from 146 had been sent to their exit plan to resume non­CO­ were done and a total of 2.38 Kerala had reported 601 deaths taking the toll to 78. Of the 588 passengers, hail from Kollam, Thiruva­ the Cochin Port Trust said it houses but would be under VID activities there. lakh samples tested in the cases of COVID­19, of which (With inputs from Vijaya- 487 are from Kerala, said a nanthapuram and Palakkad had facilitated the safe tran­ observation, said a commu­ Andhra Pradesh reported State, representing 4,780 497 had recovered. wada, Chennai Hyderabad communication from the Pu­ districts. sit of 1,488 Indian expa­ nication from the district ad­ only 25 new cases, the low­ tests per million. Since May 7, when expa­ and Thiruvananthapuram blic Relations Department. Forty­seven others have triates. The disembarkation ministration here. est daily tally in the past one Telangana witnessed a triates began to return, Kera­ bureaus)

IN BRIEF Operation to Weather Watch Cong. uses Moideen ‘Complete Kaleshwaram Rainfall, temperature & air quality in select metros yesterday trap tiger to to target Kerala govt. begin today work on a war­footing’ Telangana CM leads marathon meeting He visited a quarantine centre on May 8 Special Correspondent MYSURU Special Correspondent nor irrigation tanks, lakes HYDERABAD Rahul to give away 1,300 G. Anand The Karnataka Forest De­ and ponds, the CM said dis­ dialysis kits in Wayanad Thiruvananthapuram partment is trying to trap Chief Minister K. Chandra­ trict­wise meetings would MALAPPURAM The public foray of Minister two tigers and tranquillize sekhar Rao has asked irriga­ be held over the next two to Congress leader Lok Sabha for Local Self­Government them to reduce a conflict tion engineers to take up the three days so that the hur­ member from Wayanad Rahul A.C. Moideen during the CO­ situation around Bandipur works pertaining to the lift­ dles in filling the tanks could Gandhi will give away 1,300 VID­19 lockdown appeared in Chamarajanagar district ing of three tmcft of water be discussed. Before that, ir­ dialysis kits to kidney and to have come as an oppor­ and in the Virajpet territo­ from the Kaleshwaram pro­ rigation engineers should liver patients in his tunity for the Congress to rial division of Kodagu ject so that it can be diverted encourage farmers to take constituency. The kits, put the LDF government on district. to needy areas during the the silt from tank beds vo­ containing vital medicines the defensive. The operation to trap next flood season itself. luntarily and dump it in and dialysis components, The party has attempted A.C. Moideen the elusive tiger in Bandi­ In a marathon meeting their fields to improve soil were being readied for to make an issue out of Mr. pur will commence on with Ministers of districts in fertility, Mr. Rao said. distribution. They would Moideen’s televised appea­ here on Saturday, took um­ Monday, while the depart­ the Godavari Basin, officials The Chief Minister in­ reach the patients across the rance at a quarantine centre brage at the decision of the ment has been on the tig­ and engineers of the Irriga­ structed the Committee of constituency within a week, for Non­Resident Keralites health authorities to waive er’s trail in Virajpet since tion Department, which Engineers­in­Chief to decide said A.P. Anil Kumar, MLA. Temperature Data: IMD, Pollution Data: CPCB, Map: INSAT/IMD (Taken at 18.00 Hrs) in Thrissur on May 8. It has quarantine for Mr. Moideen almost a fortnight without went on for nearly eight whether it was possible to Mr. Kumar said 1,300 Forecast for Monday: Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning patients were chosen after accused the Minister of hav­ in what it described as a par­ much success. hours on Sunday, the Chief improve the carrying capac­ and gusty winds very likely at isolated places over Jammu & inviting applications from the ing attempted to reap politi­ tisan move to avoid any em­ T. Balachandra, Direc­ Minister told the engineers ity of the canal from the Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, West Bengal, needy in the Wayanad Lok cal dividend by giving short barrassment to the govern­ tor, Bandipur National to begin impounding lakes Lower Manair Dam from the Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Sabha constituency. shrift to precautions. ment. Park, said they had se­ and ponds as soon as the existing 6,000 cusecs to coastal and south interior Karnataka and Kerala and with light- Mr. Moideen represents It said this decision con­ cured permission to begin projects start receiving fresh 9,000 cusecs, or whether a ning at isolated places over Jharkhand and Arunachal Pradesh. TDP slams A.P. govt. Kunnamkulam in the dis­ trasted with the govern­ the operation to capture water. For the purpose, the parallel canal system was city rain max min city rain max min for attack on doctor Agartala...... —....37.0....24.6 Kozhikode...... —....33.2....27.8 trict from where several of ment’s insistence that the the tiger. Based on pug required distributory canals needed to take more water VIJAYAWADA Ahmedabad...... —....41.9....28.2 Kurnool ...... —....40.3....28.7 the arrivals hailed. Five of Congress leaders, who had marks and camera trap im­ and off­take sluices should to the areas below the pro­ Aizawl...... —....28.7....17.9 Lucknow...... —....40.7....24.0 The TDP came down on the them later tested positive visited the Walayar check­ ages, they had identified be taken up and completed, ject. Officials can reorganise Allahabad...... —....43.1....25.8 Madurai...... —....37.4....27.0 Andhra Pradesh government Bengaluru ...... —....33.4....25.0 Mangaluru ...... —....35.1....27.1 for the alleged stripping and for SARS­CoV­2. post in Palakkad to highlight the tiger operating in a he said. the Irrigation Department Bhopal ...... 0.6....41.4....25.0 Mumbai ...... —....33.7....27.5 beating of Dr. Sudhakar, who The party’s political af­ the plight of stranded Kera­ 1,000­hectare area outside Stating that the focus based on present and future Bhubaneswar...... —....39.0....26.6 Mysuru ...... —....34.1....22.2 Chandigarh ...... —....37.5....21.6 New Delhi ...... —....41.2....25.4 is placed under suspension fairs committee, which met lites, go into quarantine. the Kundakere range. should be on filling all mi­ requirements, he suggested. Chennai ...... —....37.6....28.6 Patna ...... —....40.0....24.1 allegedly for pointing out Coimbatore ...... —...... —....25.8 Port Blair...... —....32.3....26.8 that the government was not Dehradun...... —...... —....18.8 Puducherry ...... —....38.4....26.8 CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC Gangtok...... 17.0....21.5....16.0 Pune...... 2.4....37.6....24.6 supplying N95 masks to CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC Goa...... —....35.7....27.5 Raipur ...... —....38.8....24.1 doctors, by the Guwahati ...... 37.6....31.8....19.6 Ranchi...... —....37.4....24.5 Visakhapatnam police. In a Hubballi...... —....34.0....25.0 Shillong...... 1.4....23.7...... — series of tweets on Sunday, Hyderabad ...... 16.9....38.2....24.7 Shimla...... —....23.7....13.8 Trump honours Telugu girl for lauding COVID­19 staff Imphal ...... 0.4....30.8....19.1 Srinagar...... —....25.7...... 9.0 TDP national president N. Jaipur ...... 0.4....40.9....26.8 Thiruvananthapuram...... 5.4....32.7....26.9 Chandrababu Naidu said the Kochi ...... 5.2....31.6....26.8 Tiruchi...... —...... —....29.4 Dalit doctor who had asked Kohima ...... —....24.2....15.2 Vijayawada ...... —...... —...... — 10-year-old Sravya had sent personalised cards to healthcare workers across the United States Kolkata ...... —....38.3....28.9 Visakhapatnam ...... —....35.3....28.2 for an N-95 mask was not a thief and the government R. Ravikanth Reddy (Rainfall data in mm; temperature in Celsius) Sravya, along with Laila she said, adding that her Mr. Vijay Reddy said Pollutants in the air you are breathing Yesterday should explain why the Hyderabad Khan and Lauren Matney parents raised her with the Sravya had always shown CITIES SO2 NO2 CO PM2.5 PM10 CODE doctor was being threatened. Little contributions in from Troop 744 based out of Indian values of Vasudhaiva concern for the society and Ahmedabad...... — .24 15 ....49 ...68 ....* Bengaluru ...... 03 .11 42 ....46 ...68 ....* In observation made at 6.00 difficult times make a great Elkridge, Maryland, donated Kutumbakam (the world is had been very active * p.m., Singrauli, Madhya T.V. serials to resume Chennai ...... 04 .02 49 ....09 .....— .... Pradesh recorded an overall difference, and when Sravya 100 boxes of Girl Scouts one family). volunteering for various * production from May 25 Delhi ...... — .53 26 ..303 .290 .... air quality index (AQI) score Annapareddy sent cookies to local firefighters, President Trump praised community activities along Hyderabad ...... 05 .63 30 ....86 .....— ....* of 252 indicating a BENGALURU Kolkata...... 05 .06 11 ..... — ...32 ....* dangerous level of pollution. personalised cards to doctors and nurses. the scouts and said he was with her brother, Aviv * In contrast, Aizawl, Mizoram Kannada television serials, Lucknow...... 07 .46 55 ..152 .....— .... recorded a healthy AQI score healthcare workers fighting They also sent in awe and admiration of the Annappareddy. * presently off air due to the Mumbai ...... 20 .19 10 ....58 .133 .... of 22. COVID­19 across the United personalised greeting cards heroism, bravery, “Recognition from the Pune...... 37 .13 52 ....46 ...44 ....* lockdown, are likely to Visakhapatnam 11 .15 06 ..... — ...15 ....* resume from mid-June. After States, little did she know to healthcare workers across commitment and love of the White House was totally Air Quality Code: * Poor * Moderate * Good (Readings indicate average AQI) a break of over a month, that it would catch the the country showing their Americans fighting the unexpected and this would SO2: Sulphur Dioxide. Short-term exposure can harm the respiratory system, shooting is set resume from attention of the American support and encouragement virus, said Sravya’s father, make a huge difference to making breathing difficult. It can affect visibility by reacting with other air May 25. However, though the President himself. to their fight against the Vijay Reddy Annappareddy, her life and her ambition to particles to form haze and stain culturally important objects such as statues Kannada Television The 10­year­old Telugu virus. Sravya is a fourth a pharmacist from do more for the society,” he and monuments. NO2: Nitrogen Dioxide. Aggravates respiratory illness, causes haze to form by Association (KTVA) has girl born in the U.S. was grade student at the U.S. President Donald Maryland, who hails from added. reacting with other air particles, causes acid rain, pollutes coastal waters. secured permission from the among three girl scouts in Hanover Hills Elementary Trump with Sravya. * AP Guntur. His wife, Seeta Sravya’s parents had CO: Carbon monoxide. High concentration in air reduces oxygen supply to State government, a section that country to be honoured School in Hanover, Kallam, a medical graduate donated ₹25 lakh for setting critical organs like the heart and brain. At very high levels, it can cause dizziness, confusion, unconsciousness and even death. of television producers are by President Donald Trump Maryland. delighted that their small from Andhra Medical up a water purification plant PM2.5 & PM10: Particulate matter pollution can cause irritation of the eyes, wary of the move and are on Saturday in the White “Everyone can do work has been recognised. College, Visakhapatnam, in Ramanayapalem, Andhra nose and throat, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath, reduced unlikely to resume production House for applauding something is what our team “We represented the entire hails from Narasaya Palem Pradesh, in Sravya’s name lung function, irregular heartbeat, asthma attacks, heart attacks and premature death in people with heart or lung disease anytime soon. COVID­19 frontline workers. believed,” said Sravya, school children of the U.S.,” near Bapatla. when she was born.

CM A ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

DELHI THE HINDU 6 EDITORIAL MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Getting India back to the Afghan high table New Delhi’s Afghan policy needs changes and must include openly talking to the Taliban and all other political groups India’s such unqualified backing? ways to achieve that end. This is focus only on Taliban sanctuaries His clear and public response especially so because Afghanistan in Pakistan. came last month in a manner. It impacts on India’s interests, espe­ In such a situation, it was essen­ Peaking could only have been disappoint­ cially its security concerns. The tial for India to have maintained its Despite the extended lockdown, ing to Indian decision makers. The question that India’s security and strong links with the Afghan go­ United Nations Secretariat organ­ foreign policy decision makers vernment, built and supported its the steady rise in cases is a cause for worry Vivek Katju ised a meeting on Afghanistan should therefore ask themselves is traditional Afghan allies — perhaps n 106 days since the first laboratory­confirmed novel where it invited the six current this: why did the powers not con­ this was discreetly resumed — but coronavirus case was reported on January 30, India physical neighbours of Afghanis­ sider India’s participation vital to also establish open lines of com­ surpassed China’s tally of 84,038 . As on May 15, In­ f India’s foreign and security tan—China, Pakistan, Iran, Turk­ the present peace­making efforts, munication with the Taliban. This I policy planners had anticipated menistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikis­ especially when the U.S.­Taliban was especially because they were

dia had over 85,500 cases and the death toll stood at GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO Idevelopments in Afghanistan tan. In addition, invitations were deal was concluded leading to a informally conveying that India 2,752, as against 4,633 in China. There are only 10 other they would have pursued nimble extended to the United States, Rus­ Minister S. Jaishankar to assuage possible new stage in Afghanis­ should not consider them as Pakis­ countries that have more cases than India. At the same approaches, seeking to establish sia and the Ghani government. Ob­ hurt sentiments. But the balm of tan’s evolution? tan’s puppets and also because time, the toll in the U.S. alone went past the total num­ open connections with all its polit­ viously, Mr. Ghani did not condi­ good words cannot obscure the they had gained international re­ ber of cases in China, while the total case load crossed ical groups, including with those tion his participation on India’s basic fact that the U.S. acts to pro­ The Taliban and Pakistan cognition. Contacts and discus­ 1.4 million. On March 18, when China reported zero perceived to be in Pakistan’s pock­ inclusion. He should have done so mote its interests in Afghanistan. It Mr. Khalilzad offered first a clue. sions do not mean acceptance of fresh cases, India had just 162 cases and three deat hs. et. Instead, they continued to ri­ if only for the constructive role obviously expects that if in doing He followed it up with what is the their ways or that their professions gidly cling to Afghanistan Presi­ New Delhi has played in Afghanis­ so Indian interests are exposed, obvious reason. He said, “I do of not being Pakistan’s stooges Despite the country being under lockdown since almost dent Ashraf Ghani even as his tan’s reconstruction since the Tali­ India will protect them as best as it think engagement between India should not have been tested. end­March, the number of fresh cases and deaths re­ equities diminished with each ban were ousted from the country can. and all the key players in Afghanis­ ported each day has continued to rise steadily — on av­ passing month. This, despite his in 2001­2002 after 9/11. Also, for The fine diplomatese of the Mi­ tan, not only in terms of the go­ Echo from the past erage, over 3,600 cases have been reported daily since becoming the winner of the presi­ consistently supporting him. nistry of External Affairs state­ vernment but also in terms of the It is sad that despite all that India May 8. This is of serious concern as contrary to the ad­ dential elections held in Septem­ If Indian policymakers had ment of the conversation between political forces, society and the Af­ has done in Afghanistan over the vice of WHO, India has not fully utilised the precious ber last year but whose contested adequately pondered on Mr. Gha­ Mr. Khalilzad and Mr. Jaishankar ghan body politic is appro­ past 18 years since the Taliban lockdown period to increase manifold the number of results were declared five months ni’s stance they would have re­ and National Security Adviser Ajit priate….” Responding to a ques­ were ousted from Kabul in 2001, it later. called his position on India in the Doval in Delhi on May 7 cannot tion of groups in Afghanistan finds itself on the margins of inter­ tests carried out daily while simultaneously tracing, iso­ immediate aftermath of assuming override the blunt message con­ targeting India he said, “I believe national diplomacy on Afghanis­ lating and treating COVID­19 patients. That even during Cut to the quick the leadership of the National Un­ veyed by the U.S. official in his in­ that dialogue between India and tan. It is reminiscent of the time in the lockdown India has witnessed the shortest time, of Inexplicably, Prime Minister Na­ ity Government brokered by the terview to this newspaper, “‘India the Taliban are important, and it the 1990s when, at Pakistan’s insis­ 13 days, for cases to double compared with 14 other rendra Modi congratulated Mr. Americans in September 2014. He should talk directly to Taliban, dis­ would be important that issues of tence, India was considered a pro­ countries that have the most cases reported is testimo­ Ghani for winning the elections, in had then relegated India to the cuss terror concerns directly’,” concerns like this [ terrorism] are blem and kept out of crucial global ny to the wide spread of the virus. A reason for this December 2019. At that stage, the fourth concentric circle of five in (The Hindu, Inside pages, ‘Inter­ raised directly.” Taking Mr. Khalil­ forums on Afghanistan. It did not could be that cases in other countries, barring Russia Afghanistan election commission importance to Afghan interests. view, Zalmay Khalilzad’, May 9, zad’s views in their entirety, it is matter then because along with had only announced the prelimin­ Hence, it is not surprising that he 2020). He noted that despite In­ clear that he feels that by avoiding Iran and Russia, it kept the resis­ and Brazil, have already peaked or are about to. Unfor­ ary results and most countries did not bat adequately for India to dia’s contributions to Afghanis­ open contacts with the Taliban, In­ tance to the Taliban going through tunately, even as the number of cases has crossed maintained a discreet silence. It become part of the meeting called tan’s economic development — dia has reduced its role in interna­ Ahmed Shah Masood. Mr. Ghani is 94,700, India is yet to begin investigating community took the commission two months by the UN. Indeed, if all his fine and these are undeniably signifi­ tional diplomatic efforts. no Masood and there are no coun­ transmission despite the strongly suggestive findings of more to declare Mr. Ghani as Presi­ words of India’s importance to Af­ cant covering large parts of the That the U.S. is currently cru­ tries on the horizon which are sentinel surveillance among those hospitalised for sev­ dent­elect, a result that was reject­ ghanistan were actually true, he country, and are popular — as well cially dependent on Pakistan for really opposed to the Taliban ac­ ere acute respiratory infections. Given the high rat e of ed by Mr. Ghani’s main rival, Ab­ would have lobbied and ensured as its long history of contacts with the successful implementation of quiring a major place in the Af­ asymptomatic transmission, high viral resurgence is in­ dullah Abdullah. It led to two India’s participation. that country, it does not have a its Taliban deal aimed at securing ghanistan’s formal power simultaneous swearing­ins; both place in international diplomacy as orderly a withdrawal as possible structures. evitable when the lockdown is lifted. Mr. Ghani and Mr. Abdullah took Point man’s blunt talk on Afghanistan. As Mr. Khalilzad from what is a major strategic re­ India needs to take corrective With over 11,200 cases, Tamil Nadu has the second oath as President. It is true that the So much for Mr. Ghani. What truly put it: “But when it comes to inter­ verse for the world’s pre­eminent diplomatic action even at this late highest number of cases next to Maharashtra (over international community ulti­ cut India more to the quick was national efforts, India yet does not power is not in doubt. Mr. Khalil­ stage, and even in the time of CO­ 33,000). But with over 4,000 tests per million, TN is mately supported Mr. Ghani but the U.S. going along with India’s have a role that it could.”He patro­ zad’s positive words for Pakistan VID­19. It must begin openly talk­ testing nearly two times more than Maharashtra. It is qualified it with an insistence that absence. So much for the personal nisingly added that the U.S. wants make it clear. More significant is ing to the Taliban and with all pol­ not the States that report more cases that is a cause for he enters into a real power­sharing chemistry of the leaders of the two India to have a more active role in his comment, “Our strong posi­ itical groups in the country. It concern, but those that have reported fewer. Active agreement with Mr. Abdullah. countries. The day after the meet­ the peace process. tion is that there shouldn’t be [ter­ must realise that its Afghan policy case finding and testing of most people with a travel his­ That agreement has just been ing, Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. Clearly, as the most significant ror] sanctuaries on either side of needs changes. reached. It will inevitably further point man on Afghanistan and the power in the region, India should the Afghan­Pakistan border….” tory early during the lockdown could be one reason weaken Mr. Ghani. architect of the Taliban deal, have ensured that it had a place on This is in sharp contrast to U.S. Vivek Katju is a former Indian why Karnataka has reported fewer cases. Similarly, sur­ How has Mr. Ghani reciprocated spoke to India’s External Affairs the table and should have devised President Donald Trump’s earlier Ambassador to Afghanistan veillance and case finding of those with a travel history early on have been good in Andhra Pradesh and could be a reason why it has reported fewer than 2,400 cases so far. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and West Labour rights are in free fall Bengal have reported high case positivity. This could either be due to good surveillance, which is unlikely, or By suspending labour laws, States are exploiting the unique opportunity provided by the national lockdown wider spread of the virus in the community, at least in nances and notifying rules, in operate. This is in line with the In­ additional benefits. Private agents specific regions. If the latter be the case, India can ex­ which labour rights are suspended dustrial Relations Code, 2019, wait and watch for a predictable pect huge numbers to be reported in the coming weeks. without tripartite discussion. which proposes to raise the mem­ environment before committing No State, including Kerala, can thus be complacent. The continuity in direction of bership threshold of a trade union their money and, therefore, can­ policy, although more vigorously from 15% to 75% of the workforce not be the principal agent for guid­ pursued now, is obvious: for in­ in an establishment, for it to be re­ ing an economy caught in a down­ Anamitra Roychowdhury stance, consider the extension of a cognised as the negotiating union. ward spiral. Farm gate in focus work day up to 12 hours. It is ar­ Therefore, it seems the novel Move to amend the Essential gued that this would address the coronavirus pandemic simply pro­ Issue of timing Commodities Act is fraught with risks s India slowly attempts to lift problem of labour shortages at a vided a window to aggressively ful­ Finally, consider the timing of la­ its nationwide lockdown, time when social distancing is the REUTERS fil the long­term agenda of diluting bour rights suspension. A lthough he Centre’s objective of using the COVID­19 crisis Aunder compulsion of reviv­ norm. Interestingly, draft rules on ments, would essentially consider labour rights. This becomes evi­ industry associations and govern­ to usher in an Atmanirbhar Bharat saw Finance ing the economy, labour rights are the Code on Wages, 2019 already the national floor wage, and this in dent from the length of suspen­ ment are projecting these changes TMinister Nirmala Sitharaman focus Friday’s disappearing at an astonishing proposed extension of a workday effect would dilute the idea of mi­ sion of these labour rights — which as necessary for enticing FDI relo­ tranche of announcements on farm sector reforms. The pace. Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pra­ by one hour (from eight to nine nimum wage. vary from 1,000 days (M.P.) to cating from China, this is only a centrepiece was a ₹1­lakh crore fund to finance agricul­ desh and Gujarat, which are States hours) when the novel coronavi­ Additionally, the U.P. ordinance three years (U.P.). Surely there is cover for the unique opportunity ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Par­ rus pandemic was nowhere on the also exempts employers from no basis to expect that the impact provided by the lockdown. In oth­ ture infrastructure projects at the farm gate and pro­ ty, took the lead in suspending horizon. Further, even though complying with the Industrial Dis­ of the lockdown will stretch for so er times, such a violent attack on duce aggregation points. Given that the lack of adeq­ crucial labour laws for varying working hours are extended, there putes Act 1947. Therefore, em­ long and it appears that State go­ the fundamental rights of workers uate cold­storage facilities continues to extract a high lengths of time. is no provision for overtime pay in ployers can hire and fire workers vernments are competing to pro­ would lead to widespread protests price on farmers and the agrarian economy by way of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat (alth­ at will; however, employers even ject themselves to be investor­ and massive strikes. Both instru­ post­harvest losses, especially in perishables , the tar­ Undemocratic introduction ough such provisions are available now are allowed to offer “fixed­ friendly. ments are toothless now; protests geted outlay is a welcome step. The decision to channel This strategy visualis es effecting in Uttarakhand, Haryana, Rajas­ term” employment without any But will such suspension of la­ are prohibited by lockdown rules the funds to agricultural cooperatives, farmerproducer an economic turnaround through than and Himachal Pradesh). restrictions on the number of re­ bour rights, aimed at reducing la­ and strikes are meaningless when improvement of India’s rank in the newals. Hence, firms hardly face bour cost, stimulate private invest­ production days are lost anyway. organisations, rural entrepreneurs and start­ups is also “ease of doing business” index, Shades of an agenda any problem in adjusting their ment and ensure recovery? Past However, this exposes the authori­ encouraging as it lays the onus of creating the appro­ thereby attracting foreign direct Next, take the U.P. ordinance that workforce. experience does not inspire confi­ tarian nature of the state, and ev­ priate infrastructure or logistics solution largely on the investment (FDI) and enthusing shockingly exempts employers Now check the M.P. ordinance dence. The Reserve Bank of India, ery section of society must come principal beneficiaries, the farmers themselves. The domestic private capital. Flexible from complying with the Mini­ which exempted factories employ­ for some time now, has single­ together to protect the rights of Minister also unveiled a ₹ 10,000 crore scheme to pro­ labour and environmental laws mum Wages Act 1948. However, ing less than 50 workers from reg­ mindedly designed policies that workers. This is essential for des­ mote the formalisation of micro food enterprises. Su g­ are key instruments through the Code on Wages, 2019 makes a ular inspections and allowed third­ reduce the cost of borrowing capi­ troying the rights of one section of gesting a cluster approach focused in different regio ns which improvement in ranking is distinction between national mini­ party inspections. Again the wages tal, but this has clearly failed to un­ society makes the rights of other sought (incidentally, India’s rank mum wage (calculated on the basis code severely eroded the inspec­ leash animal spirits. Further, re­ sections of society vulnerable as on signature produce, Ms. Sitharaman said the goal was jumped from 130 in 2016 to 63 in of an objective formula) and na­ tion mechanism by snatching ductions in corporate tax in well. For example, the plight of to assist unorganised enterprises in scaling up food sa­ 2019). tional floor wage (without provid­ away the power of inspectors to September 2019 made no impact migrant workers will now spread fety standards to earn the products certification and Such thinking forms the core of ing a methodology to calculate it). conduct surprise checks. Even in boosting private capital and re­ to the working class as a whole, build brand value. The package, though, may be more the ‘Make in India’ programme; This was done on purpose, for the when violations in law are detect­ viving growth in subsequent quar­ and industrial accidents such as beneficial in the longer term than providing any imme­ therefore, elements of labour law minimum wage calculated by a go­ ed, they are mandated to advis e, ters. Actually, banking on private the ones in Bhopal and Vishakha­ diate relief from the lockdown­exacerbated distress in dilution are already visible in the vernment­appointed committee in provide information and facilitate investment for economic recovery patnam could engulf larger sec­ the rural hinterland. four labour codes aimed at conso­ 2018 was ₹375 per day, whereas, employers to comply with the law; when the economy is wrapped in tions of society. It is time we see lidating 44 central labour laws the national floor wage in the same in fact, they are now called inspec­ acute uncertainty is essentially fu­ these interconnections and resist Crucially, the Minister also announced three reform (these are on wages, industrial re­ year was a mere ₹176 per day; ho­ tor­cum­facilitator. tile. This is easy to understand: for unitedly. proposals that are ostensibly aimed at enabling bett er lations, social security and occu­ wever, State governments, under The M.P. ordinance further example, home buyers, once un­ price realisation for farmers by removing restrictions pational safety, health and work­ the wages code, are directed to set states that for new establishments, certain about completion of a Anamitra Roychowdhury teaches at the and facilitating enhanced marketing freedom. These in­ ing conditions). However, what is their minimum wages only above provisions guiding industrial dis­ housing project, will never evince Jawaharlal Nehru University and is the clude amendments to the 1955­vintage Essential Com­ surprising is the undemocratic the national floor wage. Thus, pute resolution, strikes/lockouts interest even if flats are offered at author of the book, ‘Labour Law Reforms modities Act that would effectively hollow out the legis­ manner, by promulgating ordi­ States, vying for private invest­ and trade unions would cease to dirt­cheap rates accompanied by in India: All in the Name of Jobs’ lation by deregulating cereals, pulses, oilseeds, ed ible oils, onions and potato. While the Economic Survey, in LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters emailed to [email protected] must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials. January, had recommended jettisoning the “anachro­ nistic” Act, the law has nonetheless remained a vita l To read more letters En route home the absence of family and their steel­hearted A ‘package’ out of sync? package was announced, it online, scan the QR code tool in the government’s armoury for protecting con­ In the midst of a national the worry of determination to overcome One fails to understand in already took into account sumers from irrational volatility in the prices of e ssen­ lockdown that seems to be unemployment, to say that the odds, one wonders why the immediate situation of half the earlier also losing their lives in their tials by tamping down on black marketeers and hoar­ stretching out, the they are suffering would be officials are still dithering the COVID­19 pandemic, expenditure. The need of valiant attempts to reunite ders. While the Act’s provisions do have scope for an condition of hungry and an understatement. How over helping them. how allowing greater the hour is to provide short­ with their families. The overzealous bureaucracy to harass even an honest ex­ homesick migrant workers they are keeping The stranded migrants private participation in the term relief in the form of narrative of their arduous porter, who may have paid a fair price to the farmer and caught between a situation themselves alive with no must be sent back to their coal and space sectors will cash transfers, loan waivers journey amidst scarcity of stocked produce for shipment overseas, total deregula­ of ‘no employment, no idea of where the next meal home States by operating provide relief to Indians, and compensation to the food and the often ruthless earnings’ and their dire will come from is moving. more trains and arranging especially the poor (Page 1, needy. Is anyone listening? behaviour of State officials is tion for foodgrains is fraught with the risk of future in­ necessity to sustain In the lockdown situation, for last­mile connectivity by “Govt. throws open defence Shabana Parvez, saddening. The “smart flationary food price spikes. The other two proposals themselves has become they have hardly anyone to operating road transport production and coal Roorkee, Uttarakhand attempt” to boost the are also of concern. While one seeks to bypass the most heart rending. It fall back on. And with exclusively for them. If sectors”, May 17). The economy by handing out APMC regime through a central law that would allow becomes an emotive issue if public transport elaborate and “branded” fourth “tranche of ■ The hefty stimulus package loans, privatisation and farmers the freedom to sell across State borders, the one considers that these suspended, their state of arrangements can be made economic stimulus” can at announced by the Centre space exploration ventures is other proposes a framework for farmers to enter into workers have to cross a physical discomfort and to bring back Indians best be classified as long­ will only dampen the hopes not going to help this pre­sowing contracts that would purportedly help as­ divide of thousands of emotional shock increases. stranded in foreign term reforms and should be of migrant workers. The important section of India. A kilometres in order to get In such circumstances, countries in similar done through the huge scheme has largely large chunk of the Finance sure them of offtake volumes and prices. Both the back to some sort of their return home should conditions, why the legislation route and not offered them food grains and Minister’s announcements changes, once enacted, could privilege market forces security and the comfort of have been arranged with all deafening silence over through the ordinance nothing more. The mega­ are applicable and relevant without necessarily safeguarding food security. Surely, home (Inside pages, May stops pulled out. When unfortunate migrant route. Moreover, including package has failed to focus only in a normal, post­ it would be in no one’s interest to throw the baby out 17). many of us are silenced and labour? the fourth tranche in the on the plight of those worst pandemic world. with the bathwater. In the face of impediments moved to tears by the R. Sampath, ₹20­lakh crore package is affected; they have not only Deepika Jain, such as language, culture, images of suffering and also Chennai again odd. Even when the lost their livelihoods but are New Delhi

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THE HINDU DELHI MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 OPED 7 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

FROM THE READERS’ EDITOR Where is health in the stimulus package? Can Facebook’s self-regulation A part of the relief funding must be used to improve the country’s health infrastructure

wave of infections. The pandemic ensure information hygiene? has exposed a hard truth: most priv­ ate healthcare providers seem to be The tech giant has launched a content oversight board incapable of and unwilling to help even during a national crisis. And In­ the harvesting of personal data by Cam­ dia’s private sector in health is siza­ bridge Analytica and the mindless censoring A.K. Shiva Kumar ble. According to recent figures, the of the Pulitzer Prize winning photograph of private sector accounts for 93% of all the “Napalm girl” that spoke about the bar­ hospitals, 64% of all hospital beds, barity of war. People from other regions India can pause and breathe a sigh of and 80­85% of all doctors. Rapidly have their own lists of failures of the plat­ relief in its efforts to contain the declining revenues and sharply erod­ A.S. Panneerselvan form. spread of the coronavirus. Though ing profits are leading to the closure the situation varies across States, at of many private hospitals. Only a few Dealing with localised propaganda the end of the first innings, the coun­ private providers have come forward We have spent a decade discussing the pro­ Second, there is a huge gap between the try seems to have an advantage. to extend support to the blems posed by social media platforms and magnitude of Facebook’s size, reach, linguis­ Our bowlers have done well to li­ government. looked at issues such as filter bubbles, echo tic diversity and influence on one hand, and mit the COVID­19 score and flatten Not addressing weaknesses in the chambers, information silos, viral virus, mis­ the limitation of the oversight board to look the curve. Credit for containing the public health delivery system can ogynist trolling and amplification of toxic into localised propaganda on the other.As of spread of the virus should go to our thwart all efforts at reviving the eco­ content. The platform companies have now the first quarter of 2020, Facebook has 2.6 frontline medical and health workers nomy. State governments need to be started acknowledging their role in vitiating billion monthly active users and the number in government who literally rushed “The pandemic has brought into focus India’s low spending on public health.” prepared as the worst maybe yet to the information universe and undermining surpasses 3 billion people a month if one in­ in where angels fear to tread to save Healthcare workers in Mumbai in April. * REUTERS come. the lives of millions. cludes the other popular products of the people’s lives. Putting aside threats This is the time then to seize the Last week, Facebook apologised for its company such as WhatsApp, Instagram and to personal safety, family interests, tivities, restoring livelihoods, ad­ In all this, the silence around opportunity and invest in universal role in the 2018 anti­Muslim riots in Sri Lan­ Messenger. It is available in 101 languages. and stigma, selfless government dressing concerns of hunger and health is disturbing. While economic health coverage (UHC) by reversing ka. An in­house probe found that incendiary For instance, how will the oversight board health workers across the country starvation, stimulating small and me­ stimulus packages are essential, the the financial neglect of public health­ content on the social media platform may handle a toxic posting in Tamil? I have not­ are the ones who are leading the dium enterprises, and enhancing match cannot be won without ur­ care. Nearly every country in the have led to the deadly violence. The social iced a growth in bigotry, hate and abuse in charge. farm incomes. The package of ₹20­ gently and immediately stepping up world that has achieved anything like media conglomerate has also launched a Tamil­language postings. These do not re­ We shouldn’t however forget that lakh crore, equivalent to about 10% investments in health. UHC has done it through the public content oversight board, which will be able veal their true colour if they are subjected to the pitch conditions aren’t favoura­ of India’s GDP, announced by the assurance of primary healthcare. to overturn decisions by the company and mechanical translation without providing ble to the Indian players. Even before Prime Minister on May 12, is expect­ Strengthening public health Announcing a new ‘health invest­ Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg on wheth­ adequate context. What are the mechanisms COVID­19, India was staring at a se­ ed to restore the livelihoods of mil­ Dealing with the COVID­19 pandemic ment plan’ (as part of the stimulus er individual pieces of content should be al­ to capture the gravity of the polarising con­ rious economic slowdown. India's lions of migrants and other workers has brought out the critical impor­ package) is the urgent need of the lowed on Facebook and Instagram. Google tent that fills cyberspace? Problematic posts GDP growth for 2019­20 was lowered who have lost their jobs and also en­ tance of the public sector in health hour. At least 1% of GDP out of the sti­ has launched its Google News Initiative to should be removed on a war footing because to 4.1% from 5% projected by several able entrepreneurs and businesses provisioning. However, stuck at mulus package should be earmarked help journalism thrive in the digital age. there is a political dividend for inciting hate. agencies before the outbreak of the to get re­started. around 1.15% of GDP for well over a for improving the country’s health Will these initiatives and measures by the We must remember that the grim images virus. Recent reports predict that the Some elements of the stimulus decade, the low level of public infrastructure and strengthening pu­ platform companies be enough to sanitise broadcast by the killer in two mosques in impact of COVID­19 might reduce package have been announced. Oth­ spending on health is both a cause blic health service delivery. And up our news and information environment? I Christchurch, New Zealand could not be GDP growth rate to 1.1% or even low­ ers might follow. While it is too early and an exacerbating factor account­ to 70% of the additional expendi­ can reasonably claim that I am not only fami­ controlled or moderated by the social media er in the current financial year. Un­ to comment on the impact of these ing for the poor quality, limited tures should be ring­fenced for prim­ liar with the works of two members of the giants despite the conscious and collective employment has been growing since announcements, one should not for­ reach and insufficient public provi­ ary healthcare and further streng­ 20­member Facebook oversight group — decision to take down the offensive video. January 2020 when the first cases of get that the fear factor in reviving em­ sioning of healthcare. Despite this, thening health and wellness centres, Alan Rusbridger, former editor of The Guar­ There seems to be no mechanism to prevent coronavirus emerged. According to ployment and business is real. Eco­ the public health system has risen to primary health centres and com­ dian and Nighat Dad, the Executive Director reposting of offensive content, which was ta­ the Centre for Monitoring Indian nomic desperation might leave poor the challenge so far. The Union and munity health centres. Only then can of Pakistan’s Digital Rights Foundation — but ken down. Economy, India’s unemployment workers with no choice but to return State governments seem to have State governments be better pre­ also respect their contribution to a free and Rebecca MacKinnon, a fellow with the Un­ rate at the end of May 16, 2020 was to work. But many of them are truly found the financial resources to pro­ pared to face a second round of the fair information space. Mr. Rusbridger has iversity of California National Center for Free staggeringly high at around 24%. worried about getting infected. Busi­ vide an emergency response to deal pandemic. Investing in health, apart written an explanatory note on why he Speech and Civic Engagement and co­foun­ The second reason why the pitch nesses are also genuinely concerned with the pandemic. With agility and from improving people’s well­being, agreed to join the team. He sees the social der of Global Voices, is convinced that the isn’t in India’s favour is because our about the collapse of demand and speed, orders have been placed for is also essential for accelerating and media giant at the intersection of three hu­ oversight board “cannot stop the exploita­ healthcare delivery system in most shutting down of retail outlets. PPEs, ventilators, testing kits, and sustaining India’s economic growth. mongous crises in front of credible informa­ tive collection and sharing of user data, or States is extremely fragile. One won­ Equally disconcerting for them are other supplies needed to detect and If cricket is a game of chance, so is tion space: information chaos, crisis in free stop the company from deploying opaque al­ ders, for instance, whether Bihar can the difficulties in and consequences treat COVID­19 patients. It is possible the match against COVID­19. What expression and crisis in journalism. Though gorithms that prioritize inflammatory con­ handle the consequences if the virus of not adhering to conditions set by that resources allocated for other the immediate future holds for India he is guarded about the final outcome, Mr. tent to maximize engagement.” I tend to begins to spread with the return of the government. They are worried health programmes are being divert­ in terms of the spread of the virus is Rusbridger said: “There is, in my view, no ex­ agree with her. In print and broadcast organ­ millions of migrant workers back to about the unpredictability of govern­ ed to deal with the COVID­19 pan­ not known. As is said of matches, ‘it cuse for not trying. The balancing of free ex­ isations, there is a shared value system bet­ the State. Many other States also face ment’s actions and policy revisions. demic. The opportunity cost of such ain’t over till it’s over.’ There is only pression with the need for a better­organ­ ween all the stakeholders which makes self­ a similar plight given the poor state This could well be a reason why, ac­ diversion of funds could be high. Me­ one way to win this match and esta­ ized public square is one of the most urgent regulation an effective mechanism. But there of primary healthcare facilities. cording to recent reports, in the dia reports point out, for instance, blish a self­reliant and prosperous In­ causes I can imagine.” is no unifying objective between Mark Zuck­ midst of the long­term structural that people’s access to routine mater­ dia: seize the opportunity and step I am a votary of self­regulation but I am erberg, his hand­picked corporate board, Fa­ Restoring livelihoods shift from China, companies prefer nal and child health as well as family up investments in public health sceptical of the mechanism created by Face­ cebook’s nearly 2.5 billion users and the During this innings break, discus­ to relocate manufacturing to coun­ planning services in parts of the across the country. book. First let us look at some of the proven oversight board, despite the individual cre­ sions on the strategy to win the tries in the Association of Southeast country has been negatively impact­ instances of its gross failures: the anti­Mus­ dentials of its members. match have been focusing on ending Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, and ed. Also, many States are simply not A.K. Shiva Kumar is a Delhi-based lim riots in Sri Lanka, the violence against the lockdown, reviving economic ac­ not India. in a position to deal with a second development economist Rohingya in Myanmar, the sordid details of [email protected]

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC Licensed to beat, abuse and kill CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC Police brutality, a colonial legacy, has tenaciously FROM THE ARCHIVES clung on to the mantle of law enforcement personnel FIFTY YEARS AGO MAY 18, 1970 ‘Task Force’ for Peace in Cambodia M.P. Nathanael armed with the power to take anyone to task, policemen exercise their un­ The 11­nation Asian and Pacific conference On April 16, Mohammed Rizwan, 19, bridled power to beat, abuse and on Cambodia ended today (May 17, Jakarta) a resident of Chhajjapur village, Uttar even kill after they have donned the with the setting up of a “task force” of the Pradesh, ventured out of his home to khakis. Foreign Ministers of Indonesia, Malaysia and buy biscuits. He was beaten with rifle Application of force is definitely a Japan to initiate action by the United Nations butts and lathis by the police, while legal requirement and it is justified and other countries for an effective solution other residents purchased their groc­ by arming policemen with lathis, pis­ to the Cambodian situation. The conference, eries from the shop. In a battered tols, rifles and other modern wea­ attended by Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, condition, he managed to reach pons. But the mere issue of lathis and Laos, South Vietnam, the Philippines, South home. After some home remedies weapons in no way justifies their in­ Korea. Japan, Australia and New Zealand, did not work, he was admitted to the discriminate use on innocents or besides Indonesia, urged in a joint commu­ local hospital where he died in the even the accused. Prudence de­ nique that “all foreign troops be withdrawn wee hours of April 18. mands that these weapons be used in from Cambodia and hostilities be stopped” There was nothing unusual in this a just manner. Though the subject of and also that all parties respect the sove­ incident or similar acts of brutality human rights is a part of training cur­ reignty, neutrality and territorial integrity of committed by the police as migrant riculum in training institutions, no Cambodia. Towards this end the members workers, taking an arduous inter­ seriousness is attached to it. Those of the 1954 Geneva conference and all inter­ State journey, attempted to return to who violate human rights are seldom ested parties were urged to hold talks to con­ their respective villages. In several taken to task. By virtue of being from CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC vene an early international conference “to places, elderly people were ruthless­ the same fraternity, most superiors DATA POINT find a just, peaceful and effective solution” ly beaten. The high­handedness overlook instances of brutality as to the Cambodian situation. The Foreign Mi­ shown by the police during the va­ they consider it an innate demand of nisters who participated in the conference rious phases of the ongoing lock­ the job of policing. True, there are of­ decided to place their views before the Unit­ down even led to a petition being ficers who brook no unjustified use of ed Nations and apprise all UN members of filed with the State Human Rights force but their numbers are few. the gravity of the situation. Commission of Tamil Nadu. The peti­ To make matters worse, seldom tion called for the institution of a are senior officers seen on the spot A HUNDRED YEARS AGO MAY 18, 1920 grievance redressal mechanism to in­ when their junior­ranking personnel The Dyerites. quire into the excesses committed by are on duty. Presence of senior offic­ law enforcement personnel. ers with their personnel in the field (From second editorial) Taking a serious view of police not only will be conducive in building After deep cogitation — and perhaps a little brutality, the Commonwealth Hu­ up a spirit of camaraderie with them, anxious waiting to see which way the wind man Rights Initiative in March issued it will also serve as an opportunity to blows — the Madras Times has come to the a set of guidelines for police, in no brief the personnel and deter them conclusion that General Dyer’s action was uncertain terms prohibiting them from any wrongdoing. perfectly justified. Its reason for this remar­ from using force on persons violating kable conclusion is not less remarkable, be­ the lockdown regulations. In this re­ Difficult working conditions ing based on the analogy of the battlefields. gard, the Bengaluru Police later set On the other hand, it is true that long Now, what are the facts? At a time when or­ an example by divesting the police­ duty hours tend to test the patience der had been restored after a period of mob men of batons and instead engaging of policemen. Working under tre­ rule, a meeting, the prohibition of which in the use of persuasive methods to mendous pressure without any res­ was imperfectly known, was held. It was at­ seriously implement the lockdown. pite for relaxation, some of them are tended by a large number of country­people constantly on a short fuse and tend to down for the Baisakhi fair. There were a Trained to be fierce vent their ire on innocent victims. number of women and children also pre­ A legacy of the British rulers, brutali­ Large vacancies in police forces sent. General Dyer heard of the meeting, he ty has been a tenacious characteristic are also responsible for this state. proceeded thither to make an example, and of the Indian police and precious lit­ Against the UN recommendations of immediately on arrival opened fire and con­ tle has been done to eradicate it. 222 police personnel for a population tinued firing. In his evidence, he has clearly Most policemen are made to believe of one lakh, most States in our coun­ shown that he did not think the meeting was from their very training days that try have around 100 personnel only. a rebellious one except on the technical brutality is inherent in the very role Proper planning in recruitment, ground that it was held in defiance of the to be performed by then, to instil a training, in service courses and close prohibition. Fiat Justicia, says the Madras certain degree of fear in the citizens. supervision by senior officers can go Times. If the justice of General Dyer is typi­ This attitude is reinforced by training a long way in reducing, if not eradi­ cal of British justice, we should prefer the instructors, who abuse and even cating, brutality by policemen. justice of the Germans in Belgium, the Bul­ manhandle errant trainees. Unfortu­ garians in Macedonia, or the Belgians in the nately, posting to police training in­ Congo. There is so much less of sickening hy­ stitutions is considered a punish­ M.P. Nathanael is a retired Inspector General pocrisy, less of pharisaical divergence bet­ ment. Having picked up the traits and of Police, CRPF ween practice and profession in the latter.

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DELHI THE HINDU 8 NEWS MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE FROM PAGE ONE It’s a ₹3.22 lakh crore package: Congress ‘FM’s claim of States to decide on helping States What the Finance Minister has announced does not total up even to 2% of the GDP, says the party is misleading’ infection zones Special Correspondent the economy as compared to Parliaments of nearly 23 Special Correspondent New Delhi the borrowing, credit and countries had met virtually, New Delhi “With a view to ensure safety Ministry. The actual quantum of the additional loan,” he added. but “we continue to dither The Opposition parties in offices and work places, MHA said only essential Atmanirbhar stimulus pack­ Because of the extended even to hold meetings of criticised Finance Minister employers on best effort ba­ activities shall be allowed in age announced by the go­ lockdown, which was ex­ standing committees of Par­ Nirmala Sitharaman for sis should ensure that the ap­ the containment zones. vernment is not ₹20 lakh tended for the fourth time liament. What is happening claiming to have given the plication is installed by all “Strict perimeter control crore or 10% of the country’s on Sunday, the country had in India? We are the largest State governments adeq­ employees having compati­ shall be maintained, and no GDP as claimed by Prime Mi­ lost more than 7% of the democracy. We are taking uate help during the lock­ ble mobile phones. District movement of persons would nister Narendra Modi but GDP, which amounted to ₹18 the ordinance route arbitra­ down and the COVID­19 authorities have been asked be allowed across the zones, merely ₹3.22 lakh crore, lakh crore, he said. The par­ rily,” Mr. Sharma said. pandemic. to advise individuals to in­ except for medical emergen­ which is 1.6% of the GDP, the ty also criticised the opening The Congress also criti­ Announcing the fifth stall the Aarogya Setu appli­ cies and for maintaining sup­ Congress said on Sunday, ments put together add up to up even to 2% of the GDP,” up of sensitive sectors, in­ cised Ms. Sitharaman’s claim and the final tranche of the cation on compatible mobile ply of essential goods and hours after Finance Minister a fraction of what the go­ Mr. Sharma said. cluding nuclear energy, to of adequate support to the Aatmanirbhar stimulus phones and regularly update services. Buffer zones are Nirmala Sitharaman an­ vernment had promised. the private sector. State governments. “Modi package, Ms. Sitharaman their health status on the areas adjoining the contain­ nounced the final tranche. “It all adds up to ₹3.22 Loan route “Corona pandemic and govt. acting as a ‘mai­baap’ said the Centre has paid App. This will facilitate time­ ment zones, where new cas­ Addressing an online lakh crore, beginning from The Congress has been criti­ the National Disaster Man­ sarkar to state govts. Tax de­ States ₹46,038 crore tax ly provision of medical atten­ es are more likely to appear. press conference, Congress the first announcement of cising the government of tak­ agement Act have not empo­ volution and statutory dues. She also said the tion to those individuals who In the buffer zones, more spokesperson and Rajya Sab­ ₹1.76 lakh crore, which is ing the loan route instead of wered the government to grants to state governments States, while demanding are at risk,” MHA said. caution needs to be exer­ ha member Anand Sharma 1.6% of the GDP. This is not a extending immediate help embark upon a grand clea­ is now passed of as “gener­ an increase in the borrow­ The MHA guidelines said cised,” MHA said. said while the Congress wel­ time for political one­up­ with cash transfers. rance sale, as I said yester­ ous support”. It’s your prim­ ing limit, had only bor­ inter­State movement of veh­ Schools, colleges, educa­ comed the additional alloca­ manship, but, I would like to “We want to convey that day [on Saturday] of India’s ary Constitutional obliga­ rowed 14% of their existing icles and buses has been al­ tional institutions, hotels, tion of ₹40,000 crore for the debate this with the Finance there is a huge difference national assets. These issues tion, Finance Minister, and authorised limit. lowed with mutual consent restaurants except canteens Mahatama Gandhi Rural Em­ Minister, let her contradict between what is wage sup­ will have to be discussed, re­ comes before Centre’s own CPI(M) general secretary of the concerned States and at bus depots, railway sta­ ployment Guarantee what I am saying that what port, income support, finan­ visited and corrected,” he expenditure,” Congress lead­ Sitaram Yechury said this is Union Territories. States tions and airports will re­ Scheme, all the announce­ you have given does not total cial support and stimulus to added. er Jairam Ramesh tweeted. a ‘misleading’ claim. “All could decide on movement main shut. funds that the Centre has of vehicles within its Places of large public to statutorily transfer to boundaries. gatherings such as cinemas, the States and the decision The guidelines said, “local shopping malls, gymnasi­ of the RBI to increase ways authorities should ensure ums, entertainment parks Cong. indulging and means advances is that shops and markets open and all kinds of social, politi­ now being claimed as Modi with staggered timings, so as cal, cultural and religious government’s ‘support for to ensure social distancing. congregations remain the States’,” he said in a All shops shall also have to prohibited. in theatrics: FM tweet. ensure six feet distance Restaurants will be al­ “FM mocked at States among customers and also lowed to operate kitchens saying they have so far not allow more than five per­ for home delivery of food It should work with Centre, says Nirmala used only 14% of their bor­ sons at one time.” items. “Sports complexes rowing entitlement. Why? MHA said the fresh guide­ and stadia will be permitted Special Correspondent When they go to the mar­ lines allow States to deli­ to open only for sports activ­ NEW DELHI ket in the current situation, neate Red, Green and ities. However, spectators Lashing out at the Con­ interest rates rise sharply Orange zones following the will not be allowed in these gress’s criticism of the go­ increasing their debt bur­ parameters set by the Health complexes,” the MHA said. vernment over the plight of den,” he said. migrant workers, Union Fi­ RJD MP Manoj K. Jha Govt. hikes borrowing nance Minister Nirmala Sith­ said Shakespeare’s lines araman on Sunday accused from Macbeth, “False face the party of indulging in dra- must hide what the false limits for States by 5% mebaazi or theatrics by sit­ heart doth know” , aptly ting with workers on the describe the five­day­long Some analysts felt that this both Central and State fi­ roads rather than directing affair of announcements. amounted to double count­ nances were stressed, which the State governments to ing as the credit guarantee is why GST compensation work with the Centre to send schemes to support small has not been paid to any more migrants home by Nirmala Sitharaman companies and non­banking States since December, and train. Traders finance companies would al­ estimated that the increase On Saturday, Congress deal with these issues in a so tap into the RBI’s in borrowing limits would leader Rahul Gandhi had responsible way.” unhappy with measures. make extra resources worth been filmed sitting on the “The final picture shows ₹4.28 lakh crore available to pavement and talking to mi­ Congress’s poser stimulus plan that of the ₹20.97 lakh crore States. grant workers returning to The Congress reacted sharp­ stimulus package — which While she noted that the their home States as they ly to Ms. Sitharaman’s out­ special correspondent amounts to 9.8% of GDP — States have so far only bor­ passed through a south Del­ burst, accusing her of not of­ NEW DELHI only ₹2.2 lakh crore can be rowed 14% of their already hi neighbourhood. fering any solace in the form Expressing “deep disap­ traced as direct additional authorised limits, analysts “It would have been bet­ of cash transfers and instead pointment” with the go­ budgetary cost to the Central pointed out that this limit is ter if he had walked with labelling them as dramebaa- vernment’s ₹20 lakh crore exchequer, while another meant for the entire year, them while carrying their zi. economic package, the ₹1.55 lakh crore relates to al­ and nine States have already children and luggage,” Ms. “Do you find the helpless­ Confederation of All India ready budgeted expendi­ advanced their borrowing Sitharaman said in response ness of the migrant workers Traders (CAIT) on Sunday tures,” said Ernst and Young calendars even at a time to a question at a press con­ dramebaazi? Are the blisters said traders across the chief policy adviser D.K. Sri­ when the interest on their ference on the stimulus on their feet theatrics,” Con­ country had been com­ vastava, who is also on the bonds has shot up to 9%. package. gress spokesperson Ran­ pletely sidelined and the Advisory Council for the 15th “States are paying a high deep Surjewala asked the Fi­ group would now seek the Finance Commission. cost for market borrowings, ‘Wasting time’ nance Minister in a video intervention of Prime Mi­ “The remaining 85% while the Centre’s cost is “Was it not dramebaazi to sit message. nister Narendra Modi for comes from the RBI’s liquidi­ lower at about 6%. It would and waste the time of mi­ He pointed out that 135 la­ support. ty announcements, credit have been better for the grants who were walking on bourers had died during the CAIT national president guarantee schemes and insu­ Centre to borrow from the the roads?” Instead of play­ lockdown. B.C. Bhartia and secretary rance schemes, apart from market and transfer to the CPI to hold nationwide protest ing politics, the Congress “Rahul Gandhi had gone general Praveen Khandel­ the structural reforms which States,” said economist Pro­ leadership should direct its to share the pain of the mi­ wal said in a statement, are not really stimulus or re­ nab Sen, who is also a former Modi govt. ignored the plight of the working class, says party State governments and grant workers. If doing that “The traders will be land­ lief measures.” Chief Statistician of India. those led by its allies to work is a crime, then we will con­ ing into a great financial The decision to allocate He was also critical of the Special Correspondent their homes. The party ac­ CPI general secretary D. together with the Centre,” tinue it. If trying to shake a crisis on lifting of lock­ New Delhi ₹40,000 crore to the new Public Sector Enter­ cused the government of ig­ Raja said the government’s she said. deaf and blind government down as they will have to MGNREGA scheme in addi­ prise Policy as part of a sti­ The Communist Party of In­ noring their plight and mis­ stimulus package was a polit­ “The States led by the out of a reverie is a crime, pay salary, interest, bank tion to the ₹61,000 crore al­ mulus package, noting that dia (CPI) will hold a nation­ eries. ical rhetoric. “Indian econo­ Congress governments then we shall continue doing loans, taxes and various located in the Budget was privatising PSUs would find wide protest on Tuesday The CPI has demanded my has been sick and sinking should be asking for more it,” he said. other financial obligations widely welcomed, as a mea­ fewer buyers at a time of glo­ against the Narendra Modi that the government give because of the disastrous trains to send migrants back Mr. Surjewala added that ... nearly 20% traders will sure that will support rural li­ bal recession, while any po­ government for the “unpre­ ₹10,000 to all migrant work­ neo­liberal policies being to their homes,” said the Fi­ the Congress asked the BJP have to wind up their busi­ velihoods at a time when re­ tential buyer would be cedented hardships imposed ers as travel allowance. The pursued by the Modi govern­ nance Minister. government to apologise to ness and another 10% trad­ turning migrants swell spending money which on the working class” due to party has also demanded an ment for the past six years. “I fold my hands in front the migrant workers for ers dependent on these unemployment in the could have gone into fresh loss of livelihood, lack of increase in man­days under COVID­19 added to the cri­ of Congress president Sonia causing them endless suffer­ 20% traders will have to villages. investment on a financial food and finance to reach the MGNREGA. sis,” he said. Gandhi and request her to ing. close their business.” However, given that States transfer instead, effectively account for 40% of MGNRE­ contracting demand. GA expenditure, including Announcing far­reaching most upfront costs, they will changes, Ms. Sitharaman U.P. withdraws order on also have to be willing to had said the new policy will Halt Central Vista project, say ex­officials spend on the scheme. notify specific strategic sec­ State governments have tors in which at least one Letter to PM cites environmental concerns and pandemic expenses increased working hours been given more fiscal room PSU will remain, although in the current crisis with the private companies will also Damini Nath strengthening the public vironment Ministry and the NEW DELHI The decision was challenged in HC hiking of their borrowing li­ be allowed. PSUs in all other health system, to provide Central Vista Committee, mits from 3% to 5% of Gross sectors will be privatised. Sixty former bureaucrats on sustenance to people and to during the ongoing special correspondent The decision was chal­ LUCKNOW State Domestic Product Even in the strategic sectors, Sunday wrote an open letter rebuild the economy, taking lockdown. lenged in the Allahabad (GSDP), which is particularly no more than four PSUs will to Prime Minister Narendra up a proposal to redesign the “This precinct ... acts as The Uttar Pradesh govern­ High Court through a peti­ important as GSDPs are like­ be allowed, with the rest be­ Modi and Housing and Ur­ entire Central Vista at a cost the lungs of the city, with its ment has withdrawn its re­ tion by the U.P. Workers ly to contract, further shrink­ ing privatised, merged or ban Affairs Minister Hardeep of at least ₹20,000 crore, a fi­ dense mature tree canopies cent order increasing daily Front. After the court issued ing possible borrowing at a brought under holding Singh Puri asking them to gure likely to escalate signifi­ serving as a repository of bio work hour shifts in manu­ the State a notice in the mat­ time when States are at the companies. stop the proposed redeve­ The revamp project has cantly, seems particularly ir­ diversity and the vast lawns facturing units from the ex­ ter, Suresh Chandra, princi­ frontline of containment and For the health sector, the lopment of the Central Vista already received key responsible. It seems like of the Vista as a watershed isting 8 hours to 12 hours. pal secretary, Labour de­ relief operations. However, Finance Minister promised and construction of a new approvals. Nero fiddling while Rome for the city between the The Yogi Adityanath­led partment, in an order dated the hiked limits will be con­ increased public expendi­ Parliament. burns,” they wrote. Ridge and the Yamuna. Con­ government had on May 8 May 15 directed the Chief ditional on States imple­ ture including infectious dis­ Going ahead with the pro­ the former officials, includ­ The letter comes as the structing a large number of passed a notification dilut­ State counsel to inform the menting reforms related to ease hospital blocks in every ject at this point of time, ing retired IAS, IFS, IPS and Central Public Works De­ multi­storeyed office build­ ing provisions of the Facto­ court that the notification to ration portability, ease of do­ district and public laborato­ when the country is facing IRS officers, said. partment is working on float­ ings, with basements, will... ries Act of 1948 and in­ increase work hours was ing business, power distribu­ ries in every block, without the COVID­19 pandemic, “In the post COVID­19 sce­ ing the tender for the project irreversibly change and creased work timings by withdrawn. tion, and urban local bodies. mentioning any specific fi­ would be akin to “Nero fid­ nario, when enormous and has received key appro­ damage the environment,” providing certain exemp­ The matter is listed for The Finance Minister, said nancial outlay. dling while Rome burns”, funds are required for vals, including from the En­ they wrote. tions to factories. May 18. Maharashtra cases One militant, soldier killed in gunfight in J&K surge by 2,347 Special Correspondent night at Khotra in the Che­ The police said Bhat’s 1990s,” said the police. Srinagar nab Valley. A police spokes­ name came up during the in­ The police said Bhat was The average number of new 37.5%. He added that there One militant and a soldier man said Bhat was a close as­ vestigation into the fabrica­ part of a group of terrorists cases per day from May 10­16 were 3.1% patients in ICU, were killed in an operation sociate of the slain Hizbul tion of an IED, which was that killed RSS activist Chan­ has risen to 3,989, com­ 0.45% on ventilators and by the security forces in Do­ Mujahideen commander Ri­ detonated near a CRPF con­ derkant Sharma and his per­ pared to a daily average of 2.7% on oxygen support. In­ da district of Jammu and yaz Naikoo. He hailed from voy at Banihal in March 2019. sonal security officer in April 3,675 from May 8­14. Union dia’s testing capacity had in­ Kashmir on Sunday. Pulwama in south Kashmir “Bhat had visited the Che­ 2019. Health Minister Harsh Vard­ creased to 1,00,000 tests A police spokesman said and joined militancy last nab Valley and was given the With his killing, the police han said on Sunday that the per day through 373 govern­ the militant, identified as Ta­ year. He was also a confi­ task of recruiting youth and said, the security forces country’s fatality rate had ment laboratories and 152 hir Ahmed Bhat, was encir­ dante of the current Hizbul reviving the Hizb activities in were able to create a deter­ fallen to 3.1% and the recov­ private laboratories, the go­ cled during a search opera­ Mujahideen commander the region, where militancy rence to the revival of mili­ ery rate had improved to vernment said. tion launched on Saturday Saifullah. was stamped out in late tancy in the Chenab Valley.

CM A ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

THE HINDU DELHI MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 COVID-19 9 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE IN BRIEF Pandemic brings Uttarakhand’s ‘ghost’ hamlets to life State govt. is have half a dozen families,” But returning to aban­ says Mr. Oniyal, who lives in 1,750 such villages in State doned houses is not always a hoping to retain Sangaura village with his pleasant experience. “In As­ migrant workers father Vidyadutt Sharma. Special Correspondent blue­collar workers who noli village, a family returned Ghaziabad Mr. Sharma incidentally is work in the service industry after five years to find that Anuj Kumar the protagonist of Nirmal Sharad Singh Negi, vice­ or factories in different their house was not habita­ Mumbai reports highest Ghaziabad single-day surge Chander’s documentary Mo- chairman, the Uttarakhand parts of the country. Even ble. So we had to quarantine PUNE “Aapada main avsar (oppor­ ti Bagh, which was nominat­ Rural and Migration before the first lockdown, them in a school,” says Mohd Maharashtra reported its tunity in disaster)”— Tribhu­ ed for the 92nd Academy Commission, said there are 60,000 workers had Mujtaba Khan, district infor­ highest single-day surge yet van Oniyal has latched on to Awards and captures life in around 1,750 ‘ghost villages’, returned. There were cooks, mation officer. on Sunday, with 2,347 new Prime Minister Narendra the hills of Pauri Garhwal, about 10% of total revenue drivers, waiters, reception­ A total of 23,423 migrants COVID-19 cases, as the total Modi’s phrase to turn the the district with the highest villages, in the State. ists among them. After the had reached 1,121 gram pan­ tally breached the 33,000- pandemic into a possibility number of abandoned villag­ “Unlike Uttar Pradesh first lockdown, two lakh chayats of Pauri till May 16, mark to soar to 33,053 cases. to inject life into the ghost es in the State. and Bihar, those who are workers have registered on according to the District In­ With 63 new fatalities, the villages of Pauri Garhwal in returning to Uttarakhand the State portal and are formation Office. death toll shot up to 1,198. Uttarkhand. Harsh life are not construction being brought back,” Mr. Dhiraj Singh, district ma­ Mumbai city, which recorded Every day, the social acti­ “I know it won’t be easy. Out labourers; they are largely Negi said. gistrate, Pauri Garhwal, says a staggering 1,595 of these vist and journalist gets calls of 10 families returning, only A family back home in Pauri. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD many returning workers new cases to post its highest from people who have left two or three will stay back. would be engaged in horticul­ day-surge as well, breached the villages in Pauri Garhwal Some of them who settled in in a marketing job in Delhi, reached here a few days back layan Amaranth), enough to In Pabau, the young block ture, poultry and apiculture the 20,000-case mark to rise for a better life in the cities. western Uttar Pradesh de­ returned to his village, and are quarantined in our feed a few families. So hun­ development officer Praveen activities. “The government to 20,150 cases. “Every day, I get five­six cades back are for a picnic; Thampla, in mid­March to four­room house,” Mr. Singh ger will not be an issue. As Bhatt is optimistic. “These wants them to stay back and calls from residents who mi­ some will not be able to cope make arrangements for his said. for education, I can send my are early days, but yes, there is making efforts to that end.” Discharged COVID-19 grated many years back for with the harsh life of hills mother’s barsi (a ritual per­ The two months have gi­ daughter to Pauri, 18 km are stories of families return­ Mr. Oniyal says he is trying patient found dead better prospects. These are and return once the pan­ formed a year after the death ven him an opportunity to away. If government pro­ ing after eight years to the to train people in the cultiva­ AHMEDABAD not exactly from abandoned demic subsides,” he says. of a person). “After the lock­ return to farming. “I grew ve­ vides some support, I won’t same house they padlocked, tion of cash crops, piscicul­ The body of a 67-year-old villages but those which still Rajendra Singh, who was down, my family somehow getables and chaulai (Hima­ return,” he says. to be quarantined,” he says. ture and poultry farming. COVID-19 patient was found at a bus stand here in Gujarat on Friday, a day after he was discharged from the Civil Hospital. The incident caused On unforgiving road, till outrage prompting Chief Case surge disproves prediction of decline Minister Vijay Rupani to order a probe. “He was discharged death did them part since he had mild symptoms NITI Aayog member V.K. Paul had said that the number of active cases would dip to zero by May 16 and was asked to be under Truck ditches ill man, friend stays back home quarantine,” said Dr. SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT said, there will have to be a NEW DELHI M.M. Prabhakar, OSD flattening in new cases that Staff Reporter Shivpuri at the hospital. The number of COVID­19 lasted over two weeks in key positive cases in India near­ States such as Gujarat, Maha­ Reaching home a couple of Migrant worker dies of ing the six­digit mark has dis­ rashtra and West Bengal that days late was all right for Ya­ exhaustion in Odisha proved an assessment by were fuelling the rise in num­ qoob Mohammad but not BERHAMPUR V.K. Paul, NITI Aayog mem­ bers. “So far, there is no such returning to his village A 28-year-old migrant ber and head of a govern­ evidence of a decline. So I alone, without his friend worker, who had returned ment­empowered commit­ don’t know the basis of that Amrit Ramcharan. “Both from Andhra Pradesh, died in Odisha’s Ganjam district on tee on medical management. forecast. We are planning, in our parents are waiting. We Saturday, just a few hours On April 24, Mr. Paul, an terms of keeping ventilators, had left home together to away from home, owing to internationally acclaimed beds, ICU facilities ready on work in Surat and decided exhaustion and summer heat. paediatrician, made a de­ the assumption that this will to return together,” said Mr. Bimal Sahu, 28, who hails tailed presentation at the last much longer,” a member Mohammed. from Nayagarh district, used daily Health Ministry brief­ had then told The Hindu. When his febrile friend Yaqoob Mohammad to work at a dhaba in A.P. ing, detailing how the lock­ was dumped along the high­ trying to help his friend After the lockdown was down helped to curtail the Steady increase way in Kolaras of Shivpuri Amrit Ramcharan. announced, he initially spread of the novel coronavi­ Since April 27, there has not district in Madhya Pradesh * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT started walking and then rus. His presentation sug­ been a day when India has on Friday by a truck headed managed to board a truck. gested that the first lock­ posted fewer than 1,500 cas­ for Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Mo­ on a ventilator, but could down had prevented India es, and the number has stea­ hammed disembarked, too. not survive. Travelling some Ahmedabad remains from seeing a 1,00,000 cases dily increased to over 3,000 “I couldn’t leave him alone 850 km, huddled up in an main COVID-19 cluster in April. It had also slowed a day. On Sunday, India re­ in that condition. Other open truck in searing heat, AHMEDABAD the rate of transmission and ported nearly 5,000 cases workers in the truck felt he he had suffered a heat Gujarat’s COVID-19 curve increased the doubling time, over a 24­hour period. To be carried the coronavirus, but stroke and dehydration. continues to see a sharp rise the period it took for cases to sure, doubling time has im­ he was my friend. They re­ “Their repeated appeals with 391 new infections and double, to about 10 days. proved and testing rates, too, fused to call for medical to stop the truck at a water 34 deaths occurring on However, included in this have significantly increased, help,” he recalled. point went in vain,” said A. Sunday, increasing the State’s was a PowerPoint slide that with Union Health Minister Alongside the Mumbai­ L. Sharma, Shivpuri Chief cumulative figures to 11,380 projected the benefits from 1,500, and this would drop was made available to the that the curve was only Harsh Vardhan claiming that Agra highway, before the Medical and Health Officer. and 659. Gujarat has the “extending the lockdown” to 1,000 cases by May 12, and media and heavily criticised meant to show a “trend”, but India is now testing nearly ambulance arrived, Mr. Mo­ Mr. Mohammed was second largest number of fatalities after Maharashtra. beyond April 15. This had a down to zero by May 16, this on social media, electronic he has never explained the 1,00,000 samples a day. In­ hammad cushioned his Ramcharan’s roommate for Ahmedabad remains the main curve showing the number curve showed. The Hindu copies of that slide no longer rationale behind the assess­ dia’s test positivity rate re­ friend’s head on his lap and three years. cluster with 31 deaths and of active cases plummeting had reported, on April 25, appeared to show the ques­ ment. He has not responded mains at around 4%, mean­ sprinkled water to keep him Mr. Mohammed is now at 276 cases on Sunday. The to zero by May 16. that members of his own tionable curve in new cases to repeated requests by The ing 4 of 100 samples are from sinking. an isolation facility at the city’s tally for both cases and From May 3, India would committee didn’t agree with declining to zero. Hindu for comment. turning up positive. Howev­ The same night, Ramcha­ district hospital. Their sam­ fatalities has climbed — to hit its peak in adding daily that assessment. Mr. Paul was since quoted For a decline in the na­ er, this varies within the ran’s temperature shot up to ples have been collected for 8,420 cases and 524 deaths. new cases at a little above While the presentation by The Caravan as saying tional average, experts have States. 105 degrees and he was put COVID­19 test. ‘Commercial sex work may spike cases’ Researchers feel red light areas should remain closed even after lockdown

Jacob Koshy COVID­19 cases by 21% in CO), and over 5 lakh custom­ NEW DELHI Mumbai, 27% in Pune, 31% in ers visit red light areas. Allowing commercial sex New Delhi, 56% in Nagpur, The study relied on data work to commence imme­ and 66% in Kolkata in a 45­ from Census figures on sex diately after lockdown in In­ day period, the study finds. worker populations and in­ dia’s red light areas could Deaths can be reduced by terviews in red light areas. lead to a rapid rise in cases 63% in India, 28% in Mum­ “Our study findings show that could overwhelm hospi­ bai, 38% in New Delhi, 43% there is a strong effect of the tals, says a modelling study in Pune, 61% in Nagpur and red light area closures, espe­ from researchers at the Yale 66% in Kolkata in the first 60 cially immediately following School of Medicine and Har­ days, it says. These numbers the lockdown,” study co­ vard Medical School. are based on the prevalent author Dr. Jefferey Town­ Though these findings have Workers disinfecting reproduction number (R0) send, Professor of Biostatis­ been “shared” with the State a red light area in of 2.0, meaning that every tics, Yale School of Medicine, governments, these are still Mumbai. * VIVEK BENDRE infected person spreads the said in a statement. The oth­ being peer­reviewed. disease to two others. Ex­ er authors are Alison Galva­ As per the study, if red days in Pune, 30 days in Nag­ perts say that an epidemic ni, Director, Center for Infec­ light areas are kept closed pur, and 36 days in Kolkata. starts to cease when the R0 tious Disease Modelling & following the lifting of lock­ For the purposes of the dips below 1. Analysis, Yale University; down, there can be a delay study, the lockdown period There are close to and Dr. Sudhakar Nuti, De­ in the peak of COVID­19 cas­ was considered from March 6,37,500 sex workers in In­ partment of Medicine, Mas­ es by up to 12 days in Mum­ 24 to May 3. dia as per the National AIDS sachusetts General Hospital bai, 17 days in New Delhi, 29 The closure can reduce Control Organisation (NA­ and Harvard Medical School. Rampukar’s tears shock humanity He was stuck in Delhi for three days and could not see his son who died in Bihar Press Trust of India told PTI over the phone. New Delhi “One policeman even said, Rampukar Pandit, who be­ ‘Will your son become alive came a snapshot of India’s if you go back home. This is migrant tragedy with his lockdown, you can’t move.’” photograph sobbing by a A woman in Delhi and a road in Delhi, is back in Bi­ photographer — he did not har, broken at not being able know Mr. Yadav’s name — to see his son before he died. were his saviours, he said. “A “We labourers have no journalist asked why I was so life, we are just a cog in the upset and tried to help me wheel, spinning continuous­ by taking me in his car, but ly until we run out of life,” the police did not allow him. the 38­year­old said. Face of a tragedy: The photo of Rampukar Pandit weeping by The woman gave me food, The construction labour­ a road in Delhi was widely shared across all media. * PTI ₹5,500 and booked my ticket er, who worked at a cinema in the special train, and hall site in Delhi, was spotted Begusarai, almost 1,200 km guished at the thought that that’s how I reached home.” weeping as he talked on the away during the lockdown, he might not get home on Mr. Pandit is now at a qua­ phone by the side of the Ni­ was widely shared across all time to see his baby. Shortly rantine centre on the out­ zamuddin Bridge in Delhi by media. Mr. Pandit had been after the photo was taken, skirts of Begusarai. “My wife, PTI photographer Atul Ya­ stuck there for three days be­ his son, who had not yet who is unwell, and my three dav on May 11. The powerful fore help arrived. turned one, died. “I pleaded daughters, are waiting for image of the distraught man, When the photograph to the police to let me go me. The wait just doesn’t struggling to reach home in was taken, he said he was an­ home but none helped,” he seem to end,” he said.

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DELHI THE HINDU 10 NEWS MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

INTERVIEW | AMAR SINHA ‘India must not give Taliban legitimacy until it joins intra­Afghan talks’ With the terrorist organisation not willing to announce a ceasefire even amid the COVID­19 crisis, they mustn’t get a ‘free pass’ from U.S., says former envoy to Kabul

Suhasini Haidar ■ Unfortunately, the U.S.­Ta­ ment, the Taliban are not directly to discuss security intra­Afghan meet, where re­ ist Afghan entity, and not a liban deal has a tolerance for even willing to announce a concerns. This reminds one gional countries were invit­ proxy for other countries. Saying that the U.S. is trying to salvage its deal with the Tali- violence written into it. It ceasefire, amidst the corona­ of the situation before 2001, ed, and Taliban representa­ ban, despite rising violence in Afghanistan, National Security contains no commitment to virus crisis, amidst these before the global war on ter­ tives were present. We Bilateral ties between New Advisory Board (NSAB) member and former envoy to Kabul stopping attacks against Af­ brutal attacks, and not even ror, when each country was attended it as a “non­official” Delhi and Kabul remain Amar Sinha stressed it would be pointless for India to en- ghan forces, only those during the month of Ram­ on its own. presence. strong, but there is a sense gage with the group till it joins the intra-Afghan dialogue. against American soldiers zan. They mustn’t get a ‘free At present, the Taliban is a Talking directly to the Ta­ India is being sidelined in and NATO forces. According pass’ from America. destructive force. It will be­ liban is different, and should the regional talks on After a bitter electoral the most. We saw this in to intelligence reports, the come a political force only be done only once we know Afghanistan… battle, the top leadership in 2009, and again in 2014 after Taliban has decided to not to What is your reaction to U.S. when it joins the intra­Af­ what we want. It’s clear that Kabul has reached a elections brought fractured claim attacks on civilians. <> I think everyone special envoy Zalmay ghan talks. Otherwise, at what the Taliban wants is re­ ■ No doubt, our bilateral ties settlement that will bring mandates. And this time, Those are left to ISIS­KP. here realises that if Khalilzad’s suggestion — in best the Taliban can pretend cognition. India should have are very good, and we must Abdullah Abdullah into the too, it is heartening to see the Taliban comes an interview to The Hindu — to be some sort of a govern­ a wish list of its own. be engaged in the regional government with President the efforts of Mr. Ghani, Mr. The U.S. statement also puts that India should talk ment in exile based in Doha, process for peace in Afghan­ back to power, joins Ghani as the President of the Abdullah, and other leaders the blame for the attacks on directly to the Taliban? conducting negotiations Some have suggested that istan. High Council for peace and to effect a compromise. One ISIS, not Taliban. How the mainstream, with other players, but not India’s wish list should We deal with Afghanis­ national reconciliation, shouldn’t overlook this deve­ should India see this U.S. then India will ■ I think everyone here real­ with people in Afghanistan. include commitments on tan’s neighbours at many re­ expected to lead the intra- lopment. It is a positive deve­ position? engage with them as ises that if the Taliban comes Why should India give leg­ security, safety of gional fora: SCO, RIC, SAARC Afghan dialogue with the lopment, certainly. we do any political back to power, joins the itimacy to this kind of force minorities, and etc. However, we should not Taliban. How do you see this ■ The U.S. is trying to salvage force in Afghanistan mainstream, then India will in its own neighbourhood? infrastructure projects… feel bad if India is not at ev­ development? This week has also seen their deal with the Taliban, engage with them as we do Would you agree? ery table. some of the worst possible especially with elections The real question is that if any political force in Afghan­ Yet, you have yourself taken The truth is, when it ■ Despite all the fighting and attacks in Kabul, including ahead. They must have their the Taliban says that ISIS­KP istan. But they need to be­ part in talks in Moscow in ■ For me there is only one comes to Afghanistan’s fu­ the rival factions, the Afghan at a hospital maternity own sources, but it is strange is their enemy, should they come a political force first. 2018, which included the real expectation we should ture, India cannot be ig­ leadership has shown once ward. Has the situation to absolve the Taliban of guilt not join hands with the U.S. What is of concern is Mr. Taliban…. have: that the Taliban should nored. again its ability to come to­ there worsened since the while investigations are still and Afghan government to Khalilzad saying that India deal with India as an inde­ gether when that is needed U.S.-Taliban agreement? under way. go after ISIS­KP? At the mo­ needs to speak to the Taliban ■ Yes, Russia convened an pendent entity, as a national­ POWER SHARING DEAL Ī PAGE 12 Odisha braces for Amphan impact GA to invest ₹6,598.38 cr. for The districts where the cyclonic storm is likely to inflict the most damage are COVID­19 red zones 1.34% stake in Jio Platforms Staff reporter tion after receiving detailed BHUBANESWAR information about the severe Odisha is bracing for heavy cyclone,” said Special Relief Tech investors make a total commitment of ₹67,195 crore rain under the influence of Commissioner Pradeep Jena. severe cyclonic storm Am­ special correspondent strategic insights across 40 phan, which is set to skirt Red zones MUMBAI years of technology invest­ away from the State’s north­ The State government is con­ General Atlantic, a leading ing for the benefit of Jio.” ern coast to make landfall cerned about evacuation global growth equity firm, Jio Platforms is a next gen­ between West Bengal and since the cyclone is expected has agreed to invest eration technology platform Bangladesh. to have the maximum im­ ₹6598.38 crore in Jio Plat­ with more than 388 million The India Meteorological pact on Balasore and Bha­ forms Ltd., a wholly owned subscribers. Department (IMD) said in its drak districts, which are digital services firm of Re­ Bill Ford, CEO of General bulletin on Sunday: “The marked as red zones in con­ liance Industries Ltd., for a Atlantic, said, “As long­term severe cyclonic storm ‘AM­ taining the COVID­19 pan­ 1.34% stake, valuing the backers of global technology PHAN’ over southeast Bay of demic, and have reported 119 company at ₹5.16 lakh crore. Mukesh Ambani leaders and visionary entre­ Bengal and neighbourhood and 74 COVID­19 positive cas­ With this investment, Jio preneurs, we could not be slightly moved and lay es, respectively. It will be a Platforms raised ₹67,194.75 known General Atlantic for more excited about invest­ centred over central parts of On high alert: Marine police personnel patrolling a beach to prevent fishermen from venturing difficult task to maintain so­ crore from leading technolo­ several decades and greatly ing in Jio. We share Mukesh’s South Bay of Bengal and into the sea in Puri, Odisha. * PTI cial distancing while evac­ gy investors, including Face­ admired it for its belief in In­ conviction that digital con­ neighbourhood about 980 uating and sheltering the af­ book, Silver Lake, Vista dia’s huge growth potential. nectivity has the potential to km south of Paradip (Od­ and then re­curve north­ Rainfall will commence in 20 when heavy to very heavy fected population. Equity Partners and General General Atlantic shares our significantly accelerate the isha), 1,130 km south­south­ northeastwards and move Odisha from May 18 with rainfall is likely to take place Three units of the Nation­ Atlantic, in less than four vision of a digital society for Indian economy and drive west of Digha (West Bengal) fast across northwest Bay of heavy rainfall likely to occur in coastal districts. al Disaster Response Force weeks. India and strongly believes growth across the country. and 1,250 km south­south­ Bengal and cross West Ben­ at isolated places over the Twelve districts remain and the Odisha Disaster Ra­ Mukesh Ambani, chair­ in the transformative power General Atlantic has a long west of Khepupara (Bangla­ gal — Bangladesh coasts bet­ district of Gajapati, Ganjam, on alert. “We have kept in­ pid Action Force have alrea­ man and managing director of digitisation in enriching track record working along­ desh).” ween Digha (West Bengal) Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Ken­ frastructure ready for people dy reached Bhadrak district. of RIL, said, “I am thrilled to the lives of 1.3 billion In­ side founders to scale dis­ It added: “It is very likely and Hatiya Islands (Bangla­ drapara. to be evacuated from vulner­ Ten units of the NDRF will welcome General Atlantic, a dians. We are excited to lev­ ruptive businesses, as Jio is to move nearly northwards desh) during the afternoon The IMD has issued an able areas. We will issue a be deployed, while another marquee global investor, as erage General Atlantic’s pro­ doing at the forefront of the slowly during next 24 hours or evening of May 20.” ‘orange alert’ for May 19 and clear instruction for evacua­ 10 are on standby. a valued partner. I have ven global expertise and digital revolution in India.” Multiple conditions on discoms Over 42,000 undertrials released

Centre imposes many riders for States to avail ₹90,000­crore package 16,391 convicts freed on parole in a bid to unclog prisons, says NALSA report

T. RAMAKRISHNAN companies. To be paid in Departments before the first coms should have arrange­ Krishnadas Rajagopal country. The report was pre­ approximately 4,66,084 in­ ing 144 in Uttarakhand — CHENNAI two tranches, the loan will disbursement. ments for self­assessment by NEW DELHI pared under the aegis of mates. The court said the Na­ which is the highest — 79 in The Central authorities have have a tenure of up to 10 Officials of the Tamil Nadu end consumers and digital Legal services institutions NALSA Executive Chairman tional Crime Records Bureau Haryana, 63 in Delhi, 48 in imposed a number of condi­ years, including moratorium Generation and Distribution payment of the bills, apart have intervened to release and Supreme Court judge put the rate of occupancy at Tamil Nadu and 18 in Kerala. tions on State governments of not more than 3 years. Corporation (Tangedco) say from installation of “smart” 42,529 undertrial prisoners N.V. Ramana. Indian prisons at 117.6%. The “The NALSA, in coordina­ and their power distribution The conditions have been they are awaiting informa­ or pre­paid meters at the as well as 16,391 convicts on It said the highest number court issued guidelines, tion with the Ministry of Wo­ companies (discoms) to avail stipulated at each stage, ac­ tion on the State­wise brea­ premises of the government parole to de­congest prisons of undertrial prisoners re­ formed committees and men and Child Develop­ themselves of benefits from cording to letters sent by the kup of the overall amount, departments and attached during the COVID­19 pan­ leased was 9,977 in Uttar asked the legal services auth­ ment, has issued directions the ₹90,000­crore package. Central agencies, the Power even though the communi­ offices. If a State fails to pay demic, a report from the Na­ Pradesh, followed by 5,460 orities to work together and to the State legal services Called the ‘Special Long Finance Corporation (PFC) cation of the REC & PFC ref­ the power bill and subsidy tional Legal Services Author­ in Rajasthan and 4,547 in Ta­ release undertrial prisoners authorities to collaborate Term Transition Loan to Dis­ and the Rural Electrification ers to the amount outstand­ within 60 days of the due ity (NALSA) said. mil Nadu, 3,698 in Punjab and those on bail and parole with One Stop Centres coms for COVID­19’, the fi­ Corporation (REC), on Satur­ ing as on March 31, 2020. In date, it will be charged with The NALSA, a statutory and 3,400 in Maharashtra. to bring the prison popula­ (OSCs) established in each nancial assistance is meant day to heads of the State util­ respect of the Tangedco, the an additional interest of body to provide free legal The Supreme Court ob­ tion down. State for providing legal as­ to help the discoms clear ities. The discoms should figure is around ₹16,000 0.25% on the outstanding services to the weaker sec­ served in March that physi­ Legal assistance was pro­ sistance to women facing their dues to power produc­ submit an “unconditional crore, of which approxi­ loan amount. tions, said 243 undertrial cal distancing, an effective vided in 658 cases of domes­ domestic violence. The fo­ ers, both belonging to the and irrevocable” guarantee mately three­fourths are due The insistence on “smart” prisoners had been granted measure to check the spread tic violence during the lock­ cus has been to provide legal Central public sector under­ from the respective State go­ to the Central PSUs. or pre­paid meters is being bail and 9,558 persons in re­ of the novel coronavirus, down. A total of 727 cases assistance as well counsell­ takings (PSUs) and the priv­ vernments with due appro­ As part of “pre­commit­ made so that the discoms get mand had been given legal would be difficult in prisons. was reported to State legal ing services to victims and ate sector, and transmission val from the State Finance ment conditions,” the dis­ their dues regularly. representation across the There are 1,339 prisons with services authorities, includ­ the needy,” the report said.

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SCAN TO PLAY Are you a cryptic lover or SUDOKU FAITH + 12938 a quick solver? Find out Now! @ https://crossword.thehindu.com (set by Afterdark) Brahma Jnana for liberation 13 Leading Indian dissenter is orchestrating trouble; imbecile (5) Prakarana granthas are aids to help beginners get in itiated 15 Pill contains sulphur, aluminium and sodium chloride (5,4) into Vedanta study which alone can equip one with the 18 Relative has cow, but had beef heartlessly earlier (9) drive, means and practices to attain Brahma Jnana, said Sri 21 Relish found in fajitas tested (5) R. Rajagopala Sarma in a discourse. This is the final goal that 22 Auctioneer’s upset, losing oriental liqueur (9) liberates one from the cycle of samsara, say the scr iptures. 24 Records copies after end of shoot (5) They also show the difficulties in knowing/ realising/ attain­ 26 Now that it’s destroyed, find other similar things (7) ing Brahman though He is all pervading, all knowing and all 27 Start to blow away (7) powerful. When caught in this world, the jivatma is mired in 28 To mislead class in the absence of leader to pass time reading is ignorance of the true values. Just as it is difficult to t ry to antagonism (11) identify objects in dim light, the jivatma gropes to seek the ■ DOWN eternal truth in this immediate world of change and sense 1 Attacking American president (ex) in German capital... (9) perceptions which he considers as the reality. But eve n in 2 ... is indecent, cold and impolite (5) this context, there is no guarantee that his observations and 3 Concentrated and repaired instrument kept inside (9) conclusions are true and valid since he has to deal wi th 4 Ordeal for soldiers in dry surroundings (7) layers of misconceptions that can easily distort his opinion 5 Son’s upset, wants to be back holding sweetheart in cosmetic and judgment. surgery (4,3) For instance, it is possible for one to mistake a rope for a 6 Investigation on custody challenged, company dismissed (5) snake in inadequate light and then experience fear and con­ 7 Yes, waged war towards the end (8) fusion about its presence until such time when with the help Solution to puzzle 12937 Solution to yesterday’s Sudoku 8 Pace gets last wicket, dismissal by Thomson primarily (4) of light only the rope is seen. All along, there was no snake at 14 Almost magic recreated in a landscape, originally resembling a all. This is the analogy quoted in scriptures to show that this picture (8) universe and creation is the superimposition on Brah man. ■ ACROSS 16 Automobile seen on Eastern Express causeway corner’s reportedly Lack of knowledge or partial knowledge makes one think of Alfa Romeo (6,3) this world as the reality. But it is Brahman who has created 1 Workers’ presentation submitted earlier to finance professionals... 17 Too much of a dalliance with this will lead to sleeping often (6,3) this entire universe and is also present in each and every as­ (11) 19 Leftover tuna, reheated with some elder and given to nurse (7) pect of it. Brahman supports all of this and is the cause for 9 ... is a mistake, books left one embarrassed in retrospect (7) 20 Driver is curt, gets drunk on weekend having beer often (7) its dissolution as well. Brahman alone is the eternal Truth 10 Shake used milk container (7) 22 Hood seen at college with a member of parliament (4) and the jagat is a superimposition. The inner self in each be­ 11 Rob’s son is holding a duck (5) 23 Cordial subject, donates a penny for society (5) ing is of the nature of this Brahman. This is the Brahma Jna­ 12 Net money distributed, touring Japan for pleasure (9) 25 Search for pastor’s gown (5) na that dispels ignorance and thereby gradually leads one into the path of liberation.

CM A ND-NDE YK 0 Delhi • monday • may 18, 2020

www.thehindu.com/education

www.facebook.com/thehinduedge

www.twitter.com/thehinduedge EDUCATIONPGETLUS THE EDGE

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There is no better time than now for Indian educational institutions to experiment and move to remote­ Time for a transition learning models. But are they? b G Srinivas and Salil S

The immediate impact of ments collected through While digital (vii) Conduct of laboratory COVID­19 is ubiquitous. emails, which cannot be sessions. Though colleges and un­ equivalent to active re­ learning platforms iversities have shut down, mote learning. At the third are currently Some concerns exams postponed, events level, a combination of The first and foremost is the cancelled, and regular tools incorporates learn­ substituting for non­availability of desktop/lap­ classes suspended, learn­ ing management systems regular learning top to participate in the online ing is not on hold eve­ (like Moodle or Google lecture. The percentage of stu­ rywhere. Online learning Classroom), conferencing methods, they can dents using Android mobile in and offerings of education tools (like Skype or Zoom), complement the the online classes is 75%. It is al­ technology providers get extensive use of MOOCs so appropriate for AICTE to broader and deeper (like Swayam, Coursera or traditional in the think of a shift in the policy of among some sections of Edx) and assessment tools future as well insisting on a minimum num­ society. The pandemic (like Quizlet and peer eval­ ber of computers in the institu­ points out our educational uation tools). At the fourth tion. b Kuncheria P Isaac capabilities, gaps, and few level, classes are conduct­ The second concern is tran­ learning residuals. ed as per the timetable, sparency in conducting assess­ Using alternative modes but in synchronous online The COVID­19 outbreak has led ments online for which we of educational delivery in mode aided by Learning educational institutions to should go by the “honour­ the coronavirus season Management Systems with adopt several of the following code” way or limit the time for can be the most massive high levels of functionality digital technologies: closed book examination or en­ experiment in remote­ of all the tools in the third Record video lectures of courage open book examina­

learning Indian education. level. ISTOCKPHOTO/GETTYIMAGES teachers and upload them on tion. YouTube or similar platforms The entire education system Institutional responses Tools : ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: certificates, validation of sions are the new neces­ the period of lock­down is for students to view and listen in the country is moving to Out­ at their own pace. Even if there has been a Obviously, most of our in­ Online learning and educational content, and sary reality of not a short­time to rethink come­Based Education and the Provide notes and content market drive and regulato­ stitutions fall under the offerings of education credentials with better instructional design in the and develop new teaching Blooms Taxonomy levels of Re­ ry thrust on online learn­ first and second catego­ technology providers transparency and control. mainstream. and learning models. related to the courses to stu­ member, Understand, Apply, ing and educational tech­ ries, and the challenge is get broader and However, more research is If one of the objectives To make the shift hap­ dents through email, What­ Analyse, Evaluate and Create nologies for long, many to push them to the next deeper among some required in these areas, of higher education is to pen, each institution can sApp, and so on. are applied to learning out­ institutions do not have levels. It is not hard to do sections of the society. with a particular focus on prepare our students for create a transition sche­ Lectures delivered on comes. the necessary mechan­ so by selecting the right The pandemic points instructional delivery. the future, an emergency dule in which expecta­ digital platforms at sche­ Several other innovative isms in place to meet such tools and co­creating with out our educational is the right time to rise up tions from tech support duled slots when students join techniques can be used to as­ emergencies. Some are the students. The UGC has capabilities, gaps, and The inevitable to the challenges of learn­ and pedagogical spaces to listen and interact. These are sess learning outcomes. The slow in incorporating the circulated more than two few learning residuals. transition ing continuity. are defined. called live lectures or webinars. open book examination system tools and methods. Yet, dozen resources to the The emergency transition COVID­19 demands us Ideally, the platform should of short duration and reports/ there are significant efforts academic community for in learning even during to remote learning is most­ Remote learning is not to imagine a collective have the following facilities to projects requiring longer dura­ from many responsive in­ online learning and self­ this crisis. ly by force. And there are a distant future educational future, which achieve the feeling of a face­to­ tion could make the assessment stitutions. We can see four paced learning. The inequity in real debates that online learn­ Remote work and educa­ was unimaginable a few face classroom environment. transparent and improve the levels of responses in ad­ education is reflected in ing cannot replace face­to­ tion are not reserved for months back. Once the (i) Provision to see each knowledge and skills of the lear­ dressing the COVID­19 Digital imbalance the digital space as well. It face learning. emergencies but, in chal­ willingness and the basics other. ners required by Industry 4.0. emergency in the sphere Many national institutions may be ironic but true Yet, online learning, be­ lenging times, the pan­ of the educational change (ii) Presentation of slides and of teaching and learning. and international schools that, to bridge this digital ing an umbrella term, off­ demic is a powerful remin­ are correct, we can keep content. The writer is, Vice Chancellor, At the bottom, all edu­ have shifted entirely to on­ imbalance, the cure may ers a possibility to shift der to reassess our modes calm and carry on. (iii) Use of white board. Hindustan Institute of Technology, cational activities have dif­ line mode because of their come from technology it­ and extend our under­ of delivery and a wake­up (iv) Discussion forum. Chennai (former Member fered and the downtime preparedness and pre­ex­ self. Popularisation of low­ standing and practice call to overcome the vul­ G Srinivas is the Joint (v) Marking attendance. Secretary, AICTE and founder Vice period becomes a proxy isting privileges. Students cost devices like Raspber­ from video classes to on­ nerability of academia. If Secretary and Salil S is the (vi) Conduct of assignment Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam vacation. At the second, vi­ from affluent backgrounds ry and technologies like line interactive exercises. flexible delivery and close Education Officer with the and assessment. Technological University) deos are uploaded, mostly and premier institutions blockchain may allow the Non­‘Google’­able assign­ social interfaces are the fu­ University Grants on YouTube, and assign­ have a distinct advantage implementation of digital ments and learning exten­ ture of higher education, Commission.

e- learning personal contact and there can­ ble home environment, but per­ value add) ) not be a classroom discussion. haps face challenges that Online learning: This may have been true earlier, anyone running a home office The ongoing but the current tools available would face — that of balancing largely serve this purpose. Brea­ home responsibilities with the COVID­19 lockdown The medium of kout rooms in Zoom allow rigours of being in a classroom. . has paved the way small­sized groups to be However, the online world formed, with the instructor be­ has the advantage of flexibility, for several tomorrow ing able to visit each of these along with reduced commuting institutions going rooms. Newer tools are being time. Additionally, societies and designed by which the instruc­ business are moving to a largely online to conduct tor can cold call, even on video online presence. The basic ob­ classes. Will this conferences, or participants jection that there is less interac­ can be invited to contribute. tion in an online space, is re­ change the course The most important part is to dundant, if one considers the of education? realise that this is a new medi­ constant attention to WhatsApp um and we are now in the early chats. These have now been stages. augmented by Zoom, Google or b FREEPIK Rajiv Agarwal Skype calls for socialising. Once Experiments vs learning this becomes the accepted Traditional vs virtual The lockdown has forced insti­ norm, online education will be­ Education institutions have tutions to go online, without come more acceptable. been among the hardest hit by any warning or preparation, Institutions will realise that It is important to shift the focus of the the current COVID­19 lockdown. and consequently, learn fast. this method allows them to re­ traditional vs online classrooms debate to Overnight, they were forced to FREEPIK There is a lot of experimenting tain their best faculty, offering consider a new medium, which going on as there is scarce expe­ them better control over their concentrate on what benefits students had been supposedly only an rience in this area. The faculty schedules. Faculty will soon get experimental endeavour till have had to learn the medium over the learning curve and be­ b Adya Sharma then. In the typical higher edu­ and then understand how to gin to appreciate the enhanced Individual choices cation model, classes are held in od, pioneered at the Harvard train the thinking process more use it effectively in class. Jug­ capabilities of the digital medi­ Time and again, a narrative comes For a working professional, an on­ a physical environment, usually Business School, as a teaching than the pursuit of what is the gling between various controls, um. They will be able to reach up that predicts the end of tradi­ line course provides much­needed through case studies, lectures method. The richness of a case “right” answer. chat windows, allowing people out to a wider range of students tional college degrees. This became flexibility. They would like to in­ or group work. discussion comes from partici­ Now lecture­based sessions electronically into the class, who need not come to campus more common in the last decade crease their qualifications to en­ The lecture mode is usually pants’ contributions, and the have gradually moved online, watching online videos, or all the time, and students who with the entry of massive open on­ hance career opportunities but used in highly technical sub­ professor’s ability to evoke res­ with some fairly good results. switching between various win­ were earlier sitting in classes line courses. While online courses may not find the time to attend reg­ jects where the professor ex­ ponses and have discussions Sure, there are a limited num­ dows, or drawing on a separate will prefer operating from have become a force to reckon ular classes. So, an online class may plains detailed concepts or the­ guided into the intended areas, ber of courses available online, digital pad or on­screen, could homes or internet cafes. with, the value of the traditional be more convenient, as it saves ory. This is augmented by a Q&A to bring about learning for parti­ on various platforms such as become overwhelming for most In short, things are not going degree is still as strong as ever. time, money, and energy. as part of the session, where cipants. The basic assumption is Coursera, Udemy, Edx, and so faculty. But there is really no to be the same again. The ques­ Should we really be comparing Many students studying in tradi­ students can get their queries that by learning how decisions on. But I found a higher focus choice but to learn. Many facul­ tion is, how prepared are we? the two and predict the success of tional classrooms also enrol in on­ clarified. were made in the past, one can on IT­related courses. ty have stepped up to the task, one at the cost of the failure of line courses to complement their train one’s self to evaluate bet­ The online teaching method for this is the medium of tomor­ The writer is Professor, Strategy another? Shouldn’t a comparison degree. In fact, in many institutes, Lecture vs Study ween multiple choices in the gi­ is not supposed to be conducive row. and Family Business, at Bharatiya be done between two similar ob­ online courses are a part of the cur­ On the other hand, most busi­ ven context, usually with limit­ for teaching cases. The typical On the other hand, students Vidya Bhavan’s S.P.Jain Institute of jects? This that takes us to the core riculum. If a good course is availa­ ness schools use the case meth­ ed information. This will help objections were that there is no are in a familiar and comforta­ Management & Research question: are traditional degrees ble online, institutes encourage stu­ and online courses competitors or dents to enrol for the same. can they complement each other? One pedagogy that can be used is the flipped classroom or blended save the date postgraduate, Humanities and payable at Noida/ Delhi Noida / A comparison learning. Online content can be ) Social Sciences programme at Delhi. Traditional classrooms have an ad­ used for passive learning, which b Dean’s International Excellence the University of Strathclyde, Eligibility: Those who have vantage when it comes to discipline can then be discussed in the class­ Award ­ Postgraduate Taught: and must have paid the tuition passed or will appear for the and motivation. The structured room to make the interaction more Humanities and Social Sciences fee deposit before May 31. qualifying exams under the schedule of attending classes and active and engaging. This helps the Contact hass­pg­ higher secondary (10+2) from routine face­to­face interactions student understand and grasp diffi­ Institution: University of [email protected] any recognised Board of with instructors helps students de­ cult topics and, at the same time, Strathclyde education such as AISSCE/IB/ velop social skills, discipline and clear their concepts with the b Undergraduate and Number of scholarships: 50 ICSE, or equivalents. All eligible routine. In contrast, an online faculty. postgraduate courses Value: Up to £4,000 candidates will have to undergo classroom allows you a flexible The debate should not be about Subjects: Education, English, Institution: Institute of an entrance exam , which schedule as one can study from which is better, as both have their History, Law, Modern Languages, Management Studies, Noida comprises a written test and anywhere. plus and minus points. This debate Physical Activity for Health, Programmes: Business personal interview. Qualifying While an instructor in a tradi­ needs to be seen against a bigger Politics, Psychology, Social Work Management, Law, Mass candidates will be required to tional classroom can act as your picture of how both can comple­ and Social Policy, Speech and Communication, and Information carry their portfolio. Admission mentor and guide, social interac­ ment each other so that the biggest Language Therapy, Journalism, Technology. is based on the marks obtained tion in online courses is mainly gainer is the student. Creative Writing How to Apply: Applicants can in qualifying exam and the through discussion boards or video Deadline: May 31 collect the application form by performance in written test and chat. Another crucial difference is The writer is Director, Symbiosis Help with: Tuition fees post or online by paying a personal interview. the cost with online courses being Centre for Management Studies, Duration: One year demand draft of ₹ 1,050/­ for Deadline: July cheaper than traditional courses. Pune Eligibility: Candidates must have UG courses and ₹1, 450/­ for http://imsnoida.com/ http:// an offer of study for a full­time, PGDM in favour of IMS­ NOIDA imsnoida.in

CM A ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

DELHI THE HINDU 12 SHOWCASE MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Harikumar JS :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: All is well Q&A Piyush Gugale, and his wife, Neha, Psychologists advise were blessed with a baby boy on April parents to stay 23. However, Piyush, doing his DNB at cautious and careful, a hospital in Pune, has not yet been rather than being able to cuddle his son and be with Ne­ anxious; some of the ha, both of whom are otherwise doing cartoons by Anant well about 130 kilometres away in Ah­ Mehra * GETTY IMAGES/ mednagar, Maharashtra. “Inter­dis­ ISTOCK, ANANT MEHRA AND SHAJU JOHN trict travel is out of the question now. Moreover, given the risk of Coronavi­ rus exposure, I don’t want to take a chance though the choice is so hard,” each other and try not to let stress and says the young father. frustration crack you up. Make expres­ Anant Mehra and Shubhra Mittal sions of affection, appreciation, kind­ from New Delhi welcomed their first ness, and warmth a part of life,” he ex­ child, Mira Achala Mehra, in February. plains, pointing out the importance of They heave a sigh of relief over finally developing a certain “mental immuni­ putting behind the sheer “dread” of ty” as well. being in a hospital. “But the uncertain­ Mom, dad, A good way of battling the stress of ties didn’t end there. I realised that multi­tasking as a parent is to “adapt”, some baby products that were in fact aided by careful planning. “In having essential for us were not categorised to navigate by multi­tasking through as essential items, rendering it difficult hectic schedules at the pace of tech­ i s the world scary? GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCK to procure,” he says. nology, some may lose their emotional * Further South in Thiruvananthapu­ The pandemic has added one more layer to regular anxieties that parents anchors. It helps to schedule remin­ ram in Kerala, software engineer Pra­ with new­borns face, but experts say there are ways to fulfil our aspirations ders to briefly tune in to one’s own I am a 34­year­old man. Over the last veen LR recollects how he had to rhythm — our breath, our heartbeat plead with the police to let him go and even to the rhythm of Nature. 10 years I have got a severe pulsating when he was out on his motorbike These can help us modify our pace headache in the left eye region. I during the lockdown. “While my wife, and stay emotionally stable. Then, used to be very athletic, but due to Sheryl, was still in the hospital, I often physical exercises and practices such had to travel home and back to bring as yoga and meditation are also help­ personal reasons (persistent fights in food and other essentials,” he says. ful,” says Dr M Nithya Poornima, Assis­ the family) I am almost on the verge The couple has been blessed with a tant Professor, Department of Clinical of clinical depression. Please help. girl. Psychology, National Institute of Men­ ■ It seems like you are undergoing a lot of tal Health and Neurosciences (NIM­ stress due to the conflicts in the family. Each Parents’ fear HANS), Bengaluru. of us deals with stress differently. Some It’s easy to imagine how the COVID­19 She adds that it also helps to under­ people share their feelings and some pandemic has impacted the “welcom­ stand that perhaps what’s “normal” is internalise their feelings. Human beings need ing plans” of many new parents and also changing. “Acknowledgement support and understanding, specially during expectant couples, but some feel and acceptance of the new normal can difficult times. I recommend you and your tougher times are ahead. Bringing a help parents decide what is essential family undergo family therapy to resolve child into a world beset by unprece­ now and how that can be accom­ issues. This will help you feel less stressed. If dented strictures is hard enough ; the plished effectively. Focussing on the you are having a low mood and are anxious, it anxiety, fear and doubt about raising essentials and differentiating them would be helpful to seek both medical and them up in a post­COVID­19 world, from the optional helps consider obli­ therapeutic interventions. Please consult a make it harder still. gations and options with an open therapist who will help you understand your “The top priority, of course, is one at a time. For instance, since the afloat. Multi­tasking is inevitable. Also, we may have to make. You never mind and less worry and fear, particu­ situation and suggest the next few steps. health and safety. Then it’s about lockdown, our domestic help has with the ongoing pandemic, there just know,” she says. larly with sudden financial insecuri­ I recently broke up with someone, helping them build good immunity,” stopped coming. So we have to take can’t be any let­up about cleanliness ties,” says Dr Poornima. says Abirami Thiagarajan from a fami­ care of our baby and get all the house­ and hygiene,” says Anant, who has Some reassurance Ironic, but one notable “positive” but can’t leave my thoughts behind. I ly of industrialists in Madurai who re­ hold chores done as well, in addition been posting quirky anecdotal car­ Psychologists advise parents to stay of the pandemic is a drop in air pollu­ can’t sleep normally and my mind is cently welcomed her second child, a to making sure the business is kept toons on social media on parenting. cautious and careful, rather than be­ tion levels worldwide, though it’s cer­ preoccupied. What should I do? girl. “My (elder) son will soon turn With the economy in a tailspin, pay ing anxious and panicky. “The ideal tain to bounce back once the old ways ■ Break­up or loss is very painful and one two. I feel there will be a lot of res­ cuts, lay­offs and retrenchments thing is to continue having a healthy resume, and may only get worse in the goes through a grieving process. The process trictions, especially on travel, in hound many young parents, life and lifestyle within the four walls scramble to make up for the losses. will take time and its natural to go through the coming months, if not a few casting a shadow on the fami­ of the home. One way of helping kids This weighs on the minds of many pa­ various stages of anger, denial, sadness, and years. This may have a negative ly’s aspirations and “plans” for get used to certain realities is by slowly rents, especially those residing in ci­ having repetitive thoughts. Keeping a journal impact on the emotional and in­ their kids. Sravani Vinod from integrating preparedness into the set ties prone to the more immediate ef­ and writing down all your varying thoughts tellectual growth of children,” Chennai, who recently had of values,” he says. “Anxiety may only fects of pollution. and feelings will help you express and she says. another boy, explains the dif­ make parents more edgy, inadvertent­ “Environmental pollutants and tox­ articulate the pain. Being in the company of Anant, who runs an online fering circumstances in which ly driving them in incorrect direc­ ins are scientifically proven to have an near and loved ones will also help. design brand Krita and Penna the family welcomed the two tions, like being overprotective or impact on the cognitive development of (meaning ‘chalk and pencil’ kids. “The COVID­19 situation turning into helicopter parents. This children though more in­depth research Anna Chandy is Chairperson – The Live Love Laugh in Swedish), talks about was unexpected. I’m a home­ may create a vicious cycle of anxiety,” is on,” says Dr Gupta. He suggests some Foundation (TLLLF), an NGO that works in the area of “multi­pronged stressors” maker and my husband, Vinod says Dr Deepak Gupta, Child Psychia­ precautions on an individual level, such mental health young parents face today . Reddy, runs a lorry transporta­ trist, Centre for Child and Adolescent as adopting an eco­friendly lifestyle as Nothing in this column is intended to be, and is not, a “As a parent, questions of tion service, which has greatly Well Being, Delhi. much as possible. Minimising plastic at substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek independent advice from a stability and sustainability as suffered due to the lockdown. It is in such times that the mutual home, eating home­cooked food, licensed practitioner if you have any questions regarding a self­employed person con­ Financial insecurity apart, support of partners is paramount, es­ spending more time together rather a medical condition. Email us your questions at cern me now, though I prefer to right now, we are more con­ pecially in nuclear families that may than on individual screens, are things [email protected] stay optimistic and take things cerned about hospital visits lack a support system. “Be there for we have control over.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: CONVERSATIONS WITH SELF Some connections that we miss When needs and some that we have override wants rediscovered, during the lockdown Lost and Found Sweta Akundi Can we live with greater compassion Human touch and sensitivity towards one another A hug, a pat on the back, close dancing, mock-wrestling, pulling someone’s cheek, making love. There are infinite forms of the human touch that many living alone post the lockdown? through this period of lockdown have accepted as a non-possibility, for at least a couple more months in the future. And that has only made us value it more. “Touch is the earliest sensory modality which develops in human beings and is important for the development of secure attachment and intense bonds,” says psychologist Nupur Dhakephalkar, founder of Center for Mental Health, Pune. It is why new parents are ETTY IMAGES/ISTOCK

advised skin-to-skin contact. The reduction of stress response, though seen most in G * children, is not age-limited. “Touch is related to increased oxytocin (bonding hormone) levels in the brain. When you have anxiety, there is increased activity in the TT Srinath Eating local sympathetic nervous system. This reduces on touch response,” she says. So those of us It took for all major fast food chains and restaurants to be shut for a while, Post the quarantine I was who are living with families, or friends, let us not take them for granted, and maybe at to force us into buying local, seasonal foods from the nearby store. Cooking asked to serve out, on re­ least hug them good night. our own food has made us take a good look at the ingredients we are using, GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCK

turning from overseas, I had * and what goes into our bodies. We began to enjoy and appreciate food for to remain in Delhi, in conti­ its taste, as opposed to treating dinner as an activity that accompanies nued confinement and wait whom perhaps I have never The art of ‘timepass’ TV-viewing. It’s not as if we are glad we don’t eat outside anymore, or as if out the lockdown period. I ever told. It is so for all our ‘Shooting the breeze’. ‘Hanging out’. ‘Chilling’. The we have given up on junk food for life. It’s just that we now know what do believe we can, as res­ guests too, who have to re­ English language has many synonyms for the Indian goes into it, and at what cost it comes. ponsible citizens, recognise main at the hotel. Anxiety, idea of ‘timepass’. Sitting around with your friends, that if we do not adhere to worry and fear is no diffe­ doing nothing is a cultural phenomenon common all Relationships, old and new the norms of healthcare be­ rent for me as it is for you over the world. Nupur points out the importance of At the Center for Mental Health, many calls that Nupur gets are about ing recommended, the vi­ and the guests at the hotel. being around company: “Humans are social animals, rus, which does not dis­ Good health is all that people living in crowded homes, with no space for themselves. Yet, she and they need to have the possibility of contact and criminate between those matters.” acknowledges that this period has been fruitful for relationship building. Not communication, even if they aren’t actively engaging who have and have not will These are not homilies just between family members living together, but also with old friends. with them all the time,” she says. Digital forms of surely consume us. being uttered by one we “When there is a state of calamity, it makes us reach out to people that we communication are not a replacement, though it is Staying at a hotel, barely would think is beyond the did not before,” she says. It starts off as a simple message to check in on the not for a lack of trying. People have been working occupied, and with a few pale of human needs, but situation at the other person’s end, but makes way for actual conversations together, working out together, cooking together, staff members to minister to the words of a human being that you could have been procrastinating for whatever reason. “Constantly the needs of the few guests, such as you and I, with and even watching movies together, all the while reaching out to, and keeping in touch with all the people in our lives is also a I had occasion to speak to whom we probably all share connected via a video call. Not really talking, but coping mechanism for some,” she says. During the first phase of social some of the staff. Like us, the same emotions and feel­ basking in the knowledge that someone else is doing distancing, back in early March, apps like QuarantineChat, and dating apps they too had to remain in ings. A possible awakening exactly what they are, right this moment. the hotel. Brijesh, a staff is being made available to like Bumble, Tinder and OkCupid reported a spike in users, as we collectively member, shared with me each of us. Can we embrace hoped to replicate our offline interactions in the online world and meet new what the lockdown and the it and look forward to living Open fields and skies people. But now, the emphasis is more on strengthening existing bonds. virus is teaching him about with greater compassion, Times when we could hop, skip and jump to our parks life, and given that he, like I, sensitivity towards one and beaches or go on long rides to mountaintops The sound of silence is impacted, his sharing is another and mindfulness seem so far away right now. Not all of us living in For the first time in many years, we have not been waking up to the sound truly poignant. than we have lived so far, or cramped cities and towns have the luxury to afford of traffic blaring outside. This period has taught us how to be okay with “I have realised that to­ will we return to an exis­ green spaces around our homes; windows of silence seeping into most of our days. On a normal basis, “people are day I can live with much less tence of ostentation and than I ever imagined,” he opulence, lacking humane buildings open up to more buildings. The benefits of constantly surrounded by sound, which leads to cluttering in the mind,” said. “My meals and those values, which might cut us being around Nature for our mental health are so says Nupur. We would turn to meditation and yoga to give us a break from of my family and even for off from one another? A widely accepted that it has led to the development of the noise, but what if a slower, less buzzing routine became a part of our the guests in the hotel have question begging for a recent field of applied psychology: ecotherapy. The lifestyle? The downtime will help us listen to ourselves, make space for become simple. Wants that I introspection. lockdown has given us greater appreciation and new ideas to emerge, and be more productive when we do work. If we have had are no longer rele­ affection for the few trees that we do have in our allow ourselves that, of course, and not fill this vacuum with texting, vant and what I need is The writer is an organisational vicinity, and prompted many to try their hands at scrolling and other content consumption. Habits can be formed with some more significant than what I and behavioural consultant. kitchen and terrace gardening. practice and commitment. want. I am lonely, missing He can be contacted at people who matter and [email protected] CM A ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

THE HINDU DELHI MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 SHOWCASE 13 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Musical notes ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: HOMING IN Your weekly Live Gigs in lockdown schedule features a mix of DJs, the opera, and some much- loved familiar indie-rock Nirali Kartik, a times Meghna Majumdar classical vocalist, on Madhur Tankha how live streaming has become a Online streaming provides a way of relaxing and also gives us someth­ medium for musicians ing to look forward to during life in coping with lockdown the lockdown, feels Nirali Kartik, a Hindustani classical vocalist, who is currently practising new ragas like Shahana Kanada and Bilaskhani To­ di at her home in Mumbai.

“Though the experience of a live Bracing for the challenge: Nirali Kartik * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT concert can never be replaced by online streaming, the mited equipment. But the artistes them a viable commercial good thing about it is that are trying their best to provide a proposition in India? the audience can still lis­ wholesome musical experience.” Now that the Coronavirus seems Bob Sinclar ten to their favourite During the lockdown, Nirali is us­ here to stay, the artistes should Yes, Bob Sinclar. Right from his home, every single day. artists from within ing Skype to receive online sessions charge a fee from organisers. Cor­ The House music icon and DJ of international repute the comfort of their from her Guru Pandit Sanjeev Ab­ porates can also invite performers has been going live on Facebook for more than 55 days homes,” she says. hyankar. into their online meetings or ses­ now. He even collaborated with French, Italian and However, the Excerpts from an interview: sions to perform. Not only will the Danish DJs like Michael Calfan, Anfisa Letyago and challenge is to offer meetings be livened up, but it can Morten live last week, in a session that was watched by the best possible also help musicians. over nine lakh people. As far as Tuesday nights go, that sound and video As a performer what are the one was pretty memorable. quality. “And challenges you have faced that too with li­ during the lockdown? The feedback is different in a In the olden days, artistes did chilla hall and online. Can you tell us Ben Gibbard: (the spiritual practice of penance in a little about this. Sufism that extended to 40 days). It's different but you can always get Live From Home They went within themselves to re­ an overall picture of what the gener­ Death Cab For Cutie has flect on the learnings and also to re­ al feedback is, irrespective of the forged a signature sound fine their art. This was done by con­ platform. If something has touched in the indie rock, fining themselves in a room for days the audience, it gets its way across. alternative rock realm together. The lockdown is like a over decades. But compulsory chilla. offstage and at home, What can the Government do founder­frontman Ben to ensure that artistes have Gibbard is happy Are there any new music work and payment? strumming everything genres you have discovered The livelihood of musicians is im­ from Beatles covers to during the lockdown? pacted in the current scenario. The requests from his fans. What started as a daily This has been a time of creating new Government should reach out to ar­ livestream is now a songs and practising new ragas. I tistes directly. It can also get corpo­ weekly one, on Thursdays have a fusion band Maati Baani, and rates to help under their CSR pro­ Vienna State Opera 4 pm Pacific Standard we released a song, Karpur Gau- grammes. There are a lot of artistes The performances may not be live, but the streaming Time, with a fundraising ram where we have re­imagined an whose livelihood depends only on certainly is. The historic Vienna State Opera is initiative tied in once in a ancient Sanskrit chant, with upto 17 live concerts. Since these have digging into its vast archive of recorded opera and while. All on Death Cab different musicians from nine coun­ stopped, artistes are wondering ballet performances, and streaming one of them at a For Cutie’s official tries. The song has gone viral over what can they do. The Government, time. Its Home Streams page YouTube channel. the internet. NGOs and artistes have to come to­ www.staatsoperlive.com has a calendar of gether to find a concrete solution. productions that include classics like The Nutcracker We would love to know how and Don Giovanni. Streams have been scheduled till you are keeping busy at home. With online musical events Nirali Kartik will perform on the HCL May 26, so this is your chance to soak up some fine Tell us who you are watching Concerts Baithak platform on May 25 European culture, at home in your pyjamas. live at [email protected] being free in India, when and which will be live-streamed on how can we think of making Facebook.com/HCLConcerts at 7 p.m.

Gowri S Titled simply as ‘People Match­ lin, “Before I had started working photographer. There have also ing with Artworks’, this series of When life imitates art on this series, I never liked to see been times when his efforts went It was at the age of 34 that Berlin­ photographs, is slowly garnering people in front of artworks in gal­ futile. “If there’s no frame to based Austrian photographer, global attention for the very rea­ leries, as it takes away from the catch, I stand there and study the Stefan Draschan, owned his first son that it is unusual. But we find experience of viewing a piece. It artworks myself. I feel that the oil camera. It was gifted to him, by that it is only one of the many un­ On International Museum Day, meet the is, in fact, still unpleasant. For in­ paintings breathe more when his brother, as a reward for giving usual and seemingly bizarre ideas photographer who spends hours in galleries stance, when I visited the Ver­ there’s no one around,” he says. up smoking. Until then, he had that the photographer has been meer Exhibition in Louvre, we Apart from photographing pe­ flitted between many roles — “stu­ following. and museums, observing people who end were never allowed more than ople matching with artworks, Ste­ died History, co­owned a cafe­ Among the Gauguins and Mo­ up matching with the artworks two seconds in front of each fan had also been catching some bar­club, was a journalist, DJ, nets at Musée de l’Orangerie, Pa­ painting.” light­hearted, funny sights — peo­ teacher and a social media con­ ris, he would wait. Multiple revi­ But his dislike gave way to an ple sleeping in museums and li­ sultant…” Stefan took up photog­ sits too, would follow, for the artistic project solely built on ob­ braries is one! In fact, this is also raphy as a serious calling, having perfect frame. servations of mundane activities. an entire series in itself. “Interest­ staunchly followed the works of Sometimes, people wearing It was in 2015 that Stefan decided ingly, I have also found people ar­ Stephen Ellcock, an online cura­ colours that instantly match the to document the many sights that Colourful coincidences guing with the artworks at times,” tor of art history. artwork walk in; sometimes, the often go unnoticed in museums Stefan has captured 1,200 he recalls. Soon enough, he would find same person that Stefan had seen and galleries. such frames since 2015 How has the lockdown been himself waiting around in galler­ years ago would walk in and peer Over years, and after multiple * STEFAN DRASCHAN treating his artistic practice? “I ies, for people to walk in, and un­ at the very same painting. Some­ visits and long intervals of wait­ had been in museums for a total knowingly end up matching with times, he would catch as many as ing, he has shot about 1,200 such he spotted the same person in the of 1,500 days in the last five years the artwork they are viewing (in 10 such occurrences within 90­ frames, till date. However, in the same gallery, whom he shot 30 so I think it’s okay to stay home terms of the colours or patterns odd minutes of waiting. And none past two months, he had not been months before. “He was in front and look back at the work I have they wear or how they pose). He of these frames are orchestrated able to visit museums and galler­ of the same painting as well. I produced,” he concludes. spots happy coincidences of co­ or posed for. ies due to the lockdown. had, in fact, predicted that he lour, form, pattern and style and About the inception of the Stefan’s favourite experience would come in front of the paint­ View Stefan Draschan’s work on photographs them. idea, Stefan writes to us from Ber­ working on this series was when ing again, some day,” says the Instagram (@stefandraschan)

POOCH CAFE PEANUTS

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE CALVIN AND HOBBES

TIGER PEARLS BEFORE SWINE

CM A ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

DELHI THE HINDU 14 WORLD MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE China expert warns of a second wave Afghan President, rival The majority of Chinese at the moment are still susceptible to the COVID­19 infection: Zhong Nanshan sign power sharing deal Reuters Beijing Brazil is now Ghani to retain Presidency; Abdullah to lead key council Mainland China reported five new confirmed CO­ fourth highest Associated Press VID­19 cases for May 16, KABUL down from eight the pre­ in case count Afghan President Ashraf vious day, the National Ghani and political rival Ab­ Health Commission (NHC) Reuters dullah Abdullah have signed said in a statement on BRASILIA a power­sharing agreement Sunday. Brazil’s confirmed cases of two months after both de­ Two of the five confirmed the COVID­19 rose on clared themselves the win­ cases were so­called import­ Saturday past those of ner of last September’s pre­ ed infections, while three Spain and Italy, making sidential election. were locally transmitted in Brazil’s outbreak the fourth Mr. Ghani spokesman Se­ the northeastern Chinese ci­ largest in the world. Brazil’s diq Sediqqi tweeted on Sun­ ty of Jilin. Health Ministry registered day that a political deal bet­ The number of confirmed 14,919 new confirmed cases ween Mr. Ghani and Mr. cases in the mainland now in the prior 24 hours, Abdullah had been signed, Step towards peace: Ashraf Ghani, right, and Abdullah stands at 82,947 and the taking the total to 2,33,142, in which Mr. Ghani would re­ Abdullah exchanging documents in Kabul. * AFP death toll at 4,634. China behind the U.S., Russia and main President of the war­ does not include people who the U.K. torn nation. The deal calls Potential risk: Youngsters buying snacks from an eatery on a pedestrian shopping street have been tested and found DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD for Abdullah to lead the in Beijing on Saturday. * AP India hopes agreement country’s National Reconci­ were initially under reported liation High Council and in Wuhan but said the go­ some members of Abdul­ will ensure peace, stability ‘Spraying disinfectants can be harmful’ vernment has learned les­ lah’s team would be includ­ to be asymptomatic carriers sons from the SARS epidem­ ed in Ghani’s Cabinet. Special Correspondent “India hopes the Political in its tally of confirmed Agence France-Presse pathogens because disinfec­ could be physically and ic 17 years ago and he thinks NEW DELHI Agreement and creation of cases. Geneva tant is inactivated by dirt psychologically harmful and all the data will be correct Reconciliation Council India welcomed the agree­ the High Council of National The three domestically­ Spraying disinfectant on the and debris,” said the WHO in would not reduce an infect­ since January 23. The Reconciliation Council ment signed by Afghanistan Reconciliation will result in transmitted cases are related streets, as practised in some a document. ed person’s ability to spread Residents were advised has been given the authority President Ashraf Ghani and renewed efforts for esta­ to a district in Jilin city called countries, does not elimi­ The WHO said that streets the virus,” said the docu­ not to leave the city and to handle and approve all af­ his political rival Abdullah blishing enduring peace and Fengman, which has been nate the new coronavirus and pavements are not con­ ment. Spraying chlorine or anyone who do need to leave fairs related to Afghanistan’s Abdullah on Sunday, bring­ stability and putting an end classified by Chinese officials and even poses a health risk, sidered as “reservoirs of in­ toxic chemicals on people must provide a negative test peace process. ing them together in govern­ to externally sponsored ter­ as a high­risk area for the World Health Organiza­ fection” of COVID­19, adding can cause eye and skin irrita­ result taken within the pre­ Omed Maisam, a spokes­ ment and appointing Mr. rorism and violence,” said a COVID­19. tion (WHO) warned on that spraying disinfectants tion, bronchospasm and gas­ vious 48 hours. man for Mr. Abdullah’s Abdullah to the High Peace statement issued by the Mi­ Heightened disease con­ Saturday. can be “dangerous for hu­ trointestinal effects. Jilin is the second largest team, confirmed an agree­ Council tasked with talks nistry of External Affairs. trol measures in the district “Spraying or fumigation man health”. “If disinfectants are to be city of Jilin province, which ment had been signed at the with the Taliban. New Delhi also called for include allowing only one of outdoor spaces, such as It added that spraying in­ applied, this should be done borders North Korea and presidential palace. “A tech­ The move is expected to an “immediate ceasefire” to person from a family to go streets or marketplaces, is... dividuals with disinfectants with a cloth or wipe that has Russia. It temporarily sus­ nical team will work on the speed up the intra­Afghan help Afghanistan deal with out and purchase daily ne­ not recommended to kill the is “not recommended under been soaked in disinfec­ pended passenger train ser­ implementation of the dialogue preparations that the COVID­19 pandemic. cessities each day, according COVID­19 virus or other any circumstances”. “This tant,” it said. vices last Wednesday. agreement and details will are already delayed two The Taliban has thus far re­ to the district’s official post DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD Fengman district said it be shared later,” he said. months behind the planned jected all calls for a cease­ on WeChat. will tighten the lockdown by Afghanistan has been in date of March 10. fire. day that the danger of a se­ susceptible to COVID­19 in­ lenge, it’s not better than the closing stores, including de­ political disarray since the DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD ‘Big challenge’ cond wave of infections is fection because (of ) a lack of foreign countries I think at partment stores, house ap­ country’s Election Commis­ Zhong Nanshan, the Chinese looming large. immunity,” Mr. Zhong said as the moment.” pliance stores and furniture sion in December an­ for U.S. and NATO troops to vernments, including Gha­ government’s senior medical “The majority of... Chi­ quoted in the CNN report. Mr. Zhong acknowledged stores but will keep super­ nounced Mr. Ghani had won leave Afghanistan. It was ni’s, have been accused by adviser told CNN on Satur­ nese at the moment are still “We are facing (a) big chal­ that the number of infections markets open. the September 28 election seen at the time as Afghanis­ international watchdogs of with more than 50% of the tan’s best chance at peace in widespread corruption. vote. Mr. Abdullah had re­ decades of war. Meanwhile, Kabul and ceived more than 39% of the Since then, the U.S. has other cities are in lockdown vote, according to the EC, been trying to get the Tali­ to stem the spread of the co­ Barack Obama criticises U.S. virus response but he and the Elections ban and the Afghan govern­ ronavirus. Afghanistan has Complaint Commission ment to begin intra­Afghan performed only limited test­ Leaders aren’t even pretending to be in a second televised commen­ month, he harshly criticized charged widespread voting negotiations, but the politi­ ing so far with about 22,000 cement address for high Mr. Trump’s handling of the irregularities. cal turmoil and personal tested. charge, he tells graduating students school seniors, Mr. Obama pandemic as an “absolute Mr. Ghani and Mr. Abdul­ acrimony between Mr. Gha­ The country has more panned “so­called grown­ chaotic disaster”. lah both declared them­ ni and Mr. Abdullah imped­ than 6, 400 confirmed infec­ Associated Press Edition,” a two­hour event ups, including some with This is the latest sign that selves president in parallel ed talks. Negotiations that tions in a nation of 36.6 mil­ WASHINGTON for students graduating from fancy titles and important Mr. Obama intends to play an inauguration ceremonies in were to take place in March lion. As more testing be­ Former President Barack historically black colleges jobs” who do “what feels increasingly active role in the March. They have been never happened. comes available, the Obama on Saturday criti­ and universities broadcast good, what’s convenient, coming election. He has gen­ locked in a power struggle Despite 18 years and bil­ country’s confirmed infec­ cized U.S. leaders overseeing on YouTube, Facebook and what’s easy.” erally kept a low profile in since then and the discord lions of dollars in interna­ tion numbers will likely rise the nation’s response to the Twitter. His remarks were “Which is why things are the years since he left office, prompted the Trump admi­ tional aid, Afghanistan re­ sharply, according to public coronavirus, telling college unexpectedly political, given Barack Obama so screwed up,” he said. even as Mr. Trump has dis­ nistration to announce it mains desperately poor. The health officials. The death graduates in an online com­ the venue, and touched on paraged him. Mr. Obama would cut $1 billion in assis­ poverty level soared from toll ­— officially at 168 — is mencement address that the current events beyond the idea that so many of the folks ‘Absolute disaster’ told supporters on the call tance to Afghanistan if the 35% of the population in likely much higher. pandemic shows many offi­ virus and its social and eco­ in charge know what they’re Mr. Obama did not name that he would be “spending two weren’t able to work out 2012 to more than 55% last The country’s health care cials “aren’t even pretending nomic impacts. doing,” Mr. Obama said. “A President Donald Trump or as much time as necessary their differences. year. Poverty in Afghanistan system, devastated by four to be in charge.” “More than anything, this lot them aren’t even pretend­ any other federal or state of­ and campaigning as hard as I A peace agreement bet­ is defined as a person who decades of war, is woefully Mr. Obama spoke on pandemic has fully, finally ing to be in charge.” ficials in either of his appea­ can” for Joe Biden, who ween the U.S. and the Tali­ survive on $1 or less a day. S unprepared for a major out­ “Show Me Your Walk, HBCU torn back the curtain on the Later on Saturday, during rances. But earlier this served as his Vice­President. ban signed February 29 calls Successive Afghan go­ break. Israel swears in unity government Pak. President issues order to ELSEWHERE

Netanyahu insists on pursuing plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank hold polls in Gilgit-Baltistan

Agence France-Presse nearly three million Palesti­ Jerusalem nians and some 400,000 Is­ Alvi also promulgated an order to form a caretaker govt. Israel’s Parliament swore in raelis living in settlements Press Trust of India Ardern turned away from its new unity government on considered illegal under in­ ble” occupation after the cafe under virus rules Sunday led by Prime Minis­ ternational law. Islamabad apex court allowed holding WELLINGTON ter Netanyahu and his form­ Netanyahu told the cham­ Pakistan President Arif Alvi of elections in In New Zealand, no one is er rival Benny Gantz, ending ber that annexation “won’t has promulgated an order to Gilgit­Baltistan. exempt from the strict the longest political crisis in distance us from peace, it form a caretaker govern­ Earlier this month, the coronavirus prevention the nation’s history. will bring us closer”. ment as well as to conduct Ministry of External Affairs measures — not even Prime Lawmakers in the 120­per­ Israel’s unity government elections in Gilgit­Baltistan (MEA) in Delhi said a de­ Minister Jacinda Ardern, who son parliament, the Knesset, starts work amid the corona­ province, a move strongly marche was issued to a se­ was denied entry to a cafe formally approved the three­ virus pandemic and after a opposed by India. nior Pakistani diplomat because of her own social year coalition government political crisis that saw three The presidential promul­ lodging a strong protest over distancing rules. Ms. Ardern, with 73 voting for and 49 Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Benny Gantz speaking at the inconclusive elections and gation came days after the Arif Alvi the court ruling and clearly her fiance Clarke Gayford and a group of friends were against. One member was swearing-in ceremony in Jerusalem. * REUTERS left the country in political Pakistan Supreme Court on conveying that the entire un­ absent for the vote. limbo for more than 500 April 30 allowed the federal authorising the Prime Minis­ ion territories of Jammu and turned away from a cafe in Addressing the Knesset coming government should hu said on the issue of Jewish days. government to amend a ter of Pakistan to legislate on Kashmir and Ladakh, in­ Wellington on Saturday before the vote, Mr. Netanya­ apply Israeli sovereignty ov­ settlements in the occupied The coalition government 2018 administrative order to an array of subjects. cluding the areas of Gilgit because it had reached its hu vowed to push on with er West Bank settlements. Palestinian territory. was agreed last month bet­ conduct general elections in India has conveyed its and Baltistan, are an integral customer limit. AFP controversial plans to annex “It’s time to apply the Is­ Such a move is seen likely ween veteran right­wing the region. strong protest to Islamabad part of India. Pakistan kills 4 IS-linked large parts of the occupied raeli law and write another to cause international leader Netanyahu and the The Gilgit­Baltistan Order for its efforts to bring “mate­ The Gilgit­Baltistan As­ militants in shootout West Bank. glorious chapter in the histo­ uproar and inflame tensions centrist Gantz, a former ar­ of 2018 provided for admi­ rial change” to territories sembly will complete its five­ MULTAN Mr. Netanyahu said his in­ ry of Zionism,” Mr. Netanya­ in the West Bank, home to my chief. nistrative changes, including under its “illegal and forci­ year tenure on June 24. Pakistani police acting on intelligence raided a militant hideout in a wooded area in the country’s east killing four Chinese Ambassador Democrats to probe Trump’s firing of watchdog members of an Islamic State- linked group, the country’s counter-terrorism agency said found dead in Israel on Sunday. The overnight raid They call the dismissal of State Department official, who was investigating Pompeo, politically motivated was carried out in Agence France-Presse The Chinese Foreign Mi­ Bahawalpur, a deeply Herzliya nistry said it would only Agence France-Presse cial tasked with monitoring to wrongdoing by Secretary had recommended the firing conservative district in Punjab China’s Ambassador to Is­ comment when it had “so­ WASHINGTON governmental misconduct Pompeo himself,” and said and hand­picked Stephen province where outlawed rael, Du Wei, was found lid” information. Congressional Democrats on and abuse since April, and the firing was “transparently Akard, a former aide to Vice Sunni militants have a strong dead at his residence on the Mr. Du had previously Saturday launched a probe drew criticism even from designed to protect Secre­ President Mike Pence, to suc­ presence. AP outskirts of Tel Aviv on Sun­ served as Ambassador to into President Donald members of his own party. tary Pompeo from personal ceed Mr. Linick. day, police said. Ukraine. Trump’s “politically­motivat­ “The firings of multiple In­ accountability ... and may be By law, the administration 2 Pakistani girls killed for The 57­year­old envoy, The Haaretz daily said in­ ed” dismissal of a govern­ spectors General is unprece­ an illegal act of retaliation.” must give Congress 30 days’ talking to man who had arrived in Israel in itial reports said staff had ment watchdog believed to dented; doing so without notice of its plans to termi­ ISLAMABAD mid­February, was found found Mr. Du dead in his have been investigating Se­ good cause chills the inde­ ‘At Pompeo’s behest’ nate an inspector general, in Two Pakistani teenaged girls dead in his home in Herzli­ bed and that there were no cretary of State Mike pendence essential to their A Democratic congressional theory giving lawmakers were killed in the name of honour after their video clip ya, north of the city, spokes­ signs of violence. Pompeo. purpose,” tweeted Republi­ aide, speaking on condition time to study the move — and with a man surfaced a couple man Micky Rosenfeld told It quoted Israel’s emer­ The announcement came can Mitt Romney. of anonymity, said Mr. Linick protest if warranted. of weeks ago in the country’s AFP. gency medical service Ma­ after Trump told House of “It is a threat to accounta­ Donald Trump was probing complaints that “A general lack of confi­ restive northwestern tribal Police units were at the gen David Adom as saying Representatives Speaker ble democracy and a fissure Pompeo inappropriately dence simply is not sufficient region, police said on Sunday. scene “as part of the regular the cause of death appeared Nancy Pelosi late Friday that in the constitutional balance said in a statement they “un­ used a political appointee to detail to satisfy Congress,” The two girls, aged 16 and 18, procedure... (but) there is to be a cardiac incident. he planned to dismiss State of power,” Mr. Romney alterably oppose the politi­ perform personal tasks for warned Republican senator were killed by one of their no investigation into his He had undergone a 14­ Department Inspector Gen­ continued. cally­motivated firing”. himself and his wife Susan. Chuck Grassley. paternal cousins. A case of death,” Mr. Rosenfeld said. day home quarantine on ar­ eral Steve Linick. Two senior Democrats — The lawmakers said Mr. CNN, citing a senior State But previous such firings murder was registered and a Mr. Du’s wife and son rival in Israel because of the It was Mr. Trump’s third Senator Bob Menendez and Linick had apparently Department official, report­ have gone through manhunt was launched to nab were not with him in Israel. new coronavirus outbreak. abrupt dismissal of an offi­ congressman Eliot Engel — “opened an investigation in­ ed that Mr. Pompeo himself unimpeded. the culprits.

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THE HINDU DELHI MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 MONEYWISE 15 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

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N. Sreekanth MIND YOUR MONEY

Q. With reference to the latest Budget, I want a clarification about exemptions to senior citizens. Currently, senior citizens are taxed starting Don’t borrow from ₹3 lakh and super senior citizens from ₹5 lakh. They are exempt from paying advance tax quarterly. I want to know if the exemptions continue in new tax regime PARAMASIVA CHARI TROUBLE A. If the senior citizen opts for the old regime, the taxability of seniors and super seniors shall continue as mentioned in the Paying off loans and investing in SIPs will query. With effect from April 1, 2020, if a senior citizen opts to pay tax as per rates of equip one to deal with financial turbulence the new regime, he/she shall not enjoy the special basic exemption limits as per the old Gaurav Mashruwala regime. face says) I introduced cre­ serve people having a The senior citizen, based on his income There was an interview dit cards. fixed deposit in level and sources of income, may choose conducted by an anchor Credit card as a pay­ bank which whichever regime is most beneficial at the on television. She was in­ ment mechanism is not is giving 6% time of filing the return. For those assessees terviewing a demon. The bad if the full bill is settled. and a home having business income, the choice is conversation went so­ However, if the bill is only loan on which they available only once. Senior citizens having no mething like this… paid in part, with the rest are paying 8% interest. business income do not have to pay advance Anchor: What is the to be settled over a period This does not make sense. generated 18% returns. abnormal returns on their ing less. cuts, erosion in invest­ tax under the new regime as well. cruellest thing you have of time, the demon will ce­ If the equity market investment. The value of their equi­ ment value etc. significant­ Q. I had taken an early retirement from a done in life? lebrate as it will make History repeats itself drops by 7%, they would When I suggested that ty mutual fund had ly better vis­a­vis those corporate job before attaining 60. The last Demon: (laughs) Doing one’s life miserable. Many a time, when the lose 7% plus 12%, which is instead of investing, they dropped substantially who have to service EMIs. EPF contribution made by my employer was cruel things is my job. That All kinds of loans cause stock market is rising, peo­ the interest paid on bor­ should pay back home while the rate of interest The best way is to pay in August, 2018. is what I do always. obstacles in wealth crea­ ple borrow money and in­ rowed funds. loan, they did not like my on the housing loan had back loan and use the mo­ Subsequently, I withdrew the entire corpus of accumulated PF (excluding pension) in Anchor: Tell our view­ tion. This does not mean vest the amount in shares. Their gains would be advice. gone up. ney saved from paying in­ April 2019. It included the interest for FY ers something cruel that we should not borrow. In­ The thought process is less and losses more than After a few years, they An almost similar situa­ stalments in investing. 2018­19 also. How do I compute the tax you would do which stead of staying in a rented that on the borrowed the other investors. contacted me again. They tion, or probably even Start SIP of an amount payable for the period when there was no would send shivers down house and paying rent, it is amount, the rate of inter­ In the year 2008, Radha had gone through finan­ more severe, is being ob­ equivalent to the instal­ contribution? There was no TDS on their spines. better to go for a home est is 12% but in the share and Pankaj, a young cou­ cial turbulence. While I served right now, except ments. Every instalment withdrawal. Demon: I make chil­ loan and pay monthly in­ market, they can generate ple in their early thirties, had forgotten about the in­ that this time round we are we pay has an interest SANDEEP SAHA dren orphans, I spread stalments in the form of 18%. What they forget is wrote to me. They had a teraction, they reminded also dealing with a pan­ component which is so­ A. It is assumed that your retirement from epidemics in which lots of EMIs. Similarly, if some­ they will have to pay 12% query. me about the conversa­ demic and an economy in meone else’s income. employment was in August 2018. Withdrawal people die, I created world one is ill in our family and irrespective of whether They had a home loan tion. Instead of paying a slowdown mode than However, every SIP of the entire corpus of accumulated PF is not wars; holocaust. there isn’t sufficient health they are able to generate on which they were paying back the loan in 2008, what it was in 2009. leads to nourishing our taxable if you had completed 5 years of Anchor: Can you tell us cover, we have to borrow. 18% or not. instalments on time. They they invested in equity If possible, get out of wealth. Therefore, pay off continuous employment, including your something in which you, Borrowing for funding If they really generate had surplus funds which mutual fund. In 2009, the loan. Trust me, indivi­ the loan at the earliest and period of service with your previous as demon, takes pride in. daughter or son’s educa­ 18%, the actual returns they wanted to invest. when there was fall in ov­ duals and families without use the amount to nurture employers, if any. If this condition is not Which according to you is tion is also justifiable, but less the interest paid on Year 2008 was the year erall economy, Pankaj lost EMI burden will be able to your wealth. satisfied, then the withdrawal is taxable a feather in your cap? having borrowed, pay off the loan will be about 6% . when there was a massive his job for a while and later deal with most financial (The writer is a finan­ based on your respective tax slab rates wherein employer’s share will be taxed as Demon: (thinks and la­ the loan at the earliest. Much less than rest of the equity market rally and had to settle for an em­ turbulences such as in­ cial planner and author of “Income from Salaries” while employee’s ter, with a mild smile on So many times we ob­ investors who would have everybody was generating ployment which was pay­ come loss, job loss, pay ‘Yogic Wealth’) share is taxed under “Income from Other Sources”. Interest accrued on the contributions from both employee and employer at the time of THINK INVESTOR BLACKBOARD - SOVEREIGN GOLD BOND employment is tax exempt if withdrawal was done after completion of 5 years of continuous employment, if not, interest will be taxed under the above­mentioned heads It pays to continue with SIP in equity This really is paper gold of income. However, if the corpus has not been withdrawn immediately on retirement, the Investors have to navigate their way through various options on the table Sovereign gold bonds are issued by the govt. interest accruing post retirement is chargeable to tax. ITAT ruling of Bengaluru Venkatesh Bangaruswamy row to bridge the shortfall. ASHISH RUKHAIYAR bench in the case of ACIT V Dilp Ranjrekar, Your portfolio is down 20% Or, perhaps, you will use 2017, held that the interest accrued since since March 2020. You are your self­occupied house as What is a sovereign gold bond (SGB)? retirement to complete withdrawal of the ■ entire corpus to be taxable under “Income concerned whether you can collateral to raise the re­ Sovereign gold bond is a substi­ from Other Sources”. recover the losses in time to quired amount. tute for holding physical gold. The achieve your goal three years The more gainfully occu­ bonds are issued by the Reserve Q. I am a retired senior citizen aged 72. My hence. If this is your story, pied you are in the present, Bank of India (RBI) on behalf of the wife is a home makeraged 69. you are not alone. While it is the less you are likely to be government and is a bond denomi­ My tax consultant says interest on SB account is to be divided into two and be hardly comforting to know worried about the future. nated in gold. The government is­ shown in each of our IT returns. Also, please that many like you are suffer­ Therefore, continue your sues such bonds in tranches at a clarify if any deduction is allowed for FD ing from significant portfolio SIPs in equity, unless your fixed price that investors can buy interest income. losses, the question remains: income is volatile because of through banks, post offices and also MARIADOSS JOSEPH What should you do now? In the current economic condi­ in the secondary markets through <> The latest tranche, this article, we show why tions. If so, invest only in the stock exchange platform. which closed for A.Interest derived from FD/RD/SB etc. with you have limited choices to bonds till such time your in­ any bank, co­operative society engaged in subscription last banking activities and post office in the hands repair your portfolio. Yet, come becomes stable. What are the benefits of buying SGB? week, was priced of senior citizens amounting up to ₹ 50,000 you do not have to be overly Finally, should you, based ■ These bonds are backed by a so­ at ₹4,590 per gram can be claimed as deduction. Hence,₹50,000 worried about not achieving With each investment option having its own positives and on expert opinion, conti­ vereign guarantee and can also be can be claimed as maximum deduction in your life goal! negatives, investors can go for equity SIPs. * GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCK nually switch between equi­ held in demat form. Further, they the India Bullion and Jewellers Asso­ case interest derived is higher than ₹50,000. Suppose you sell your ty and bonds in the hope of are priced as per the underlying ciation for the last three business For individual bank accounts held separately loss­making equity invest­ over the next three years, in­ would feel if you win a lot­ recovering your existing spot gold prices. Hence, investors days of the week preceding the sub­ in the names of yourself and your wife, ments now and invest the vest in bank deposits and tery a year hence, you will losses and improving your who want to invest in gold can buy scription period. At the time of re­ respective interest credits are to be proceeds in fixed deposits, make­up for the existing overestimate your future investment returns? As Neils the bonds without worrying about demption, cash equivalent to the considered in your respective ITRs and each of you can claim the deduction of up to earning, say, 5% post­tax re­ losses in your equity invest­ happiness. It is the same for Bohr said, “Prediction is dif­ safekeeping of physical gold along number of units multiplied by the ₹50,000. In case of joint account maintained turns. What if you have to ments. But can you? Several negative events, including ficult, especially if it is about with locker charges, making charges then prevailing price would be cre­ only for the purpose of easy operation and earn 8% to accumulate the have lost their jobs, and ma­ failing to achieve goals! the future!” Do not let ex­ or purity issues. Plus, these bonds dited to the bank account of the the funds relate to only one person, then the money required to achieve ny have taken a salary cut. That means, despite what perts’ predictions about the offer an interest at the rate of 2.5% investor. SB interest needs to be shown only in the ITR your goal? Investing in fixed During these uncertain you believe today, you may economy, the stock market per annum on the principal invest­ of the person whose money is lying in the SB deposits is a sure way to fail times, expecting to increase suffer less regret even if your and gold drive your invest­ ment amount. While the interest on How was the latest tranche priced? account. in achieving your objective! savings may be difficult. equity investments do not ment decisions. the bonds are taxable, the capital ■ The latest tranche, which closed On the contrary, if the SB account has Alternatively, you may be So, what should you do? recover existing losses and Some did correctly pred­ gains at the time of redemption are for subscription last week, was funds of both the persons, interest derived on such funds is to be divided in the hands of tempted to invest in gold, gi­ Your optimal course of ac­ generate handsome returns. ict the 2020 pandemic and exempt from tax. These bonds can priced at ₹4,590 per gram. Those the respective depositors i.e. yourself and ven the handsome returns it tion is to continue your exist­ But without equity invest­ the 2008 sub­prime crisis. also be used as collateral for availing who apply online were eligible for a your wife. Therefore it is suggested to follow has generated in the recent ing systematic investment ments, you have small But were those same indivi­ loans from banks and NBFCs. discount of ₹50 per gram. Reports the advise of your consultant as the source of times. But, gold typically ris­ plan (SIP) in equity. But what chance of achieving your duals successful with all oth­ suggest that RBI will again issue such the money into the concerned bank account es when there is world crisis. if the stock market does not goal for reasons mentioned er predictions? It is difficult How are the bonds structured? bonds in June, July, August and Sep­ is known to him. What if the world economy recover in time to achieve earlier. to consistently, successfully ■ SGB has a fixed tenure of eight tember. (The author is partner, GSS Associates, revives over the next three your goal? And, if the market does predict market movements years, though early redemption is al­ Chartered Accountants, Chennai) years and gold underper­ not recover in time to and economic events. For lowed after the fifth year from is­ Are there any risks in investing in Readers can send in queries on personal finance and forms the stock market? Overestimating regret achieve your goal, you may your part, continue your ex­ suance. Since the bonds are listed SGB? investing to [email protected]. Our experts Your decision to switch to We typically overestimate to­ still find ways to bridge the isting SIPs in equity. on the exchange, these can be trans­ Capital loss is a risk since the bond who write on personal finance will answer these gold could lead to regret. day as to how an event that gap in your portfolio three (The author offers train­ ferred to other investors as well. The prices would reflect any change in queries. Moneywise will not give specific There is, of course, anoth­ could happen in the future years hence. Maybe, your in­ ing programmes for indivi­ bonds are priced in rupees based on gold prices. If gold prices fall, the recommendations for investment in a particular mutual fund scheme, share or fixed deposit. er alternative. You can in­ will impact us then. That is, come levels will go up then duals to manage their perso­ the simple average of closing price principal investment would fall pro­ crease your monthly savings when asked today, how you and you can confidently bor­ nal investments) of gold of 999 purity, published by portionately.

LOOSE CHANGE Bank fixed deposit rates Home loan interest rates

. . . . Ravikanth Interest Rates (%) Interest Rates (%) Loan Amount (Rs.) Loan Amount (Rs.) Bank Name Highest 1-year 3-year 5-year Bank Name Highest 1-year 3-year 5-year Name of Lender Name of Lender Slab tenure tenure tenure Slab tenure tenure tenure Upto 30 lakh Above 30 lakh & Above 75 lakh Upto 30 lakh Above 30 lakh & Above 75 lakh . . upto 75 lakh upto 75 lakh . . (In %) (In %)

SMALL FINANCE BANKS HDFC Bank 6.00 5.80 6.00 6.00 Karnataka Bank 5.90 5.90 5.80 5.80 PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS Standard Chartered >=9.11 >=9.11 >=9.11 Utkarsh Small Finance Bank 9.00 8.20 8.00 8.35 ICICI Bank 5.75 5.70 5.75 5.75 HSBC Bank 7.95-8.50 7.95-8.50 7.95-8.50 Fincare Small Finance Bank 9.00 7.25 8.50 7.50 Jammu & Kashmir Bank 5.70 5.70 5.50 5.50 State Bank of India 7.35-8.10 7.60-8.25 7.70-8.35 Bandhan Bank 8.50-11.75 8.50-11.25 8.75-11.25 Suryoday Small Finance Bank 9.00 7.25 7.50 9.00 Kotak Mahindra Bank 5.60 5.60 5.00 5.00 Union Bank of India 7.10-7.65 7.35-7.75 7.40-8.05 South Indian Bank 8.10-9.35 8.10-9.35 8.10-9.35 Jana Small Finance Bank 8.25 8.00 7.75 8.00 Punjab National Bank 7.20-7.45 7.35-7.70 7.35-7.80 Dhanlaxmi Bank 8.25-9.40 8.25-9.40 8.25-9.40 Equitas Small Finance Bank 8.00 7.75 7.55 6.75 PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS Lakshmi Vilas Bank 8.95 8.95 8.95 North East Small Finance Bank 8.00 7.50 7.00 6.50 Bank of India 7.25-8.15 7.25-8.15 7.25-8.15 Ujjivan Small Finance Bank 7.50 7.50 7.25 6.75 Bank of India 5.90 5.90 5.80 5.80 Central Bank of India 7.25-7.35 7.25-7.35 7.25-7.35 Tamilnad Mercantile Bank 8.65 8.65 8.65 ESAF Small Finance Bank 7.50 7.50 7.00 6.50 IDBI Bank 5.90 5.85 5.75 5.90 Canara Bank 7.30-9.30 7.30-9.30 7.30-9.30 RBL Bank 9.55-11.75 10.90-11.40 10.90-11.40 AU Small Finance Bank 7.53 6.75 7.53 7.25 Union Bank of India 5.90 5.75 5.75 5.80 Bank of Baroda 7.25-8.25 7.25-8.25 7.25-8.50 Capital Small Finance Bank 7.00 6.60 6.60 6.50 Punjab & Sind Bank 5.85 5.85 5.85 5.85 Indian Overseas Bank 7.45 7.55 7.70 UCO Bank 5.75 5.75 5.75 5.70 IDBI Bank 7.80-9.30 7.80-9.30 7.80-9.30 HOUSING FINANCE COMPANIES (HFCs) PRIVATE SECTOR BANKS Punjab National Bank 5.75 5.75 5.75 5.75 Indian Bank 7.40-7.65 7.40-7.75 7.40-7.90 HDFC Ltd. 7.85-9.25 8.00-9.50 8.10-9.60 RBL Bank 7.50 7.20 7.00 7.15 Canara Bank 5.75 5.75 5.70 5.70 Punjab & Sind Bank 7.30-7.65 7.30-7.65 7.30-7.65 LIC Housing 7.40-8.80 7.40-9.00 7.40-9.20 DCB Bank 7.35 6.75 7.35 7.35 Indian Bank 5.75 5.75 5.65 5.65 UCO Bank 7.30-7.40 7.30-7.40 7.30-7.40 IIFL >=8.70 >=8.70 >=8.70 IDFC First Bank 7.25 7.25 7.25 7.25 Indian Overseas Bank 5.75 5.70 5.70 5.70 Lakshmi Vilas Bank 7.25 6.50 6.25 6.25 Bank of Baroda 5.70 5.70 5.70 5.70 PNB Housing 8.95-9.70 8.95-9.70 8.95-9.70 IndusInd Bank 7.00 7.00 6.75 6.75 State Bank of India 5.70 5.50 5.70 5.70 Indiabulls Housing >=8.99 >=8.99 >=8.99 Nainital Bank 7.00 6.00 6.10 6.10 Central Bank of India 5.65 5.65 5.65 5.65 PRIVATE SECTOR BANKS Aditya Birla Capital 9.00-12.50 9.00-12.50 9.00-12.50 Bandhan Bank 6.50 6.50 6.35 6.25 Bank of Maharashta 5.60 5.60 5.50 5.50 GIC Housing Finance 9.10-12.50 9.10-12.50 9.10-12.50 Tamilnad Mercantile Bank 6.40 6.30 6.25 6.25 Axis Bank 8.10-11.50 8.10-8.85 8.10-8.85 Repco Home Finance >=9.25 >=9.25 >=9.25 FOREIGN BANKS Dhanlaxmi Bank 6.40 6.25 6.25 6.15 ICICI Bank 7.70-8.60 7.70-8.70 8.05-8.80 Tata Capital >=9.25 >=9.25 >=9.25 South Indian Bank 6.30 6.30 6.25 6.25 Deutsche Bank 6.75 4.60 5.25 6.75 IDFC First Bank 7.40-11.40 7.40-11.40 7.40-11.40 Piramal Capital & Housing >=9.65 >=9.65 >=9.65 Federal Bank 6.25 6.00 6.25 6.25 DBS Bank 5.70 5.50 5.55 5.70 Federal Bank 8.35-8.40 8.40-8.45 8.45-8.50 Reliance Home Finance 9.75-13.00 9.75-13.00 9.75-11.00 Karur Vysya Bank 6.25 6.00 6.05 6.05 HSBC Bank 4.25 3.50 4.00 4.00 Citi Bank* 7.34-8.29 7.34-8.29 7.34-8.29 *Linked to 3-Month TBLR Axis Bank 6.10 6.00 6.10 6.10 CitiBank 4.00 3.50 4.00 4.00 Kotak Mahindra Bank 8.20-8.85 8.30-9.00 8.55-9.25 “You did that?! You hid away the mouse again?!” CSB Bank 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00 Karnataka Bank 8.55-9.50 8.55-9.50 8.65-9.50 Rates as on May 13, 2020 Source:Paisabazaar.com City Union Bank 6.00 6.00 5.50 5.50 FD rates as on May 13, 2020 Source:Paisabazaar.com

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DELHI THE HINDU 16 SPORT/LIFE MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Govt. nod for re-opening sports complexes ‘My father showed me the right way’ Kohli talks about his biggest influence in a chat with Chhetri However, no spectators will be allowed; doubts remain over resumption of competitive action Ashwin Achal traordinary to become suc­ UTHRA GANESAN However, the MHA guide­ Bengaluru cessful, and that I had to NEW DELHI line also says “all social / pol­ India’s cricket captain Virat achieve this purely through The latest guidelines on the itical / sports / entertain­ Kohli recalled how his late my own effort and hard extension of lockdown from ment / academic / cultural / father Prem instilled values work. My father showed me the central government have religious functions / other and principles in him that the right way, through ac­ finally opened up the gatherings and large congre­ have helped shape his suc­ tion and not merely words.” spectre of training for ath­ gations” are still prohibited, cessful career. Prem passed away when letes across the country, thereby casting a doubt on On the Instagram live chat Kohli was 18. with caveats. “Sports com­ the resumption of sport. show Eleven On Ten hosted “In fact, I went and batted plexes and stadia will be per­ Meanwhile, the National by football star Sunil Chhe­ in a Ranji Trophy match the mitted to open only for Sports Federations (NSFs) tri, Kohli reminisced about day after he died. His death sports activities. preferred to wait before de­ an incident from his junior made me realise that I had to “However, spectators will ciding on their future course cricket days when his father Sunil Chhetri and Virat Kohli. make something of my life. I not be allowed,” the MHA of action. stood tall as a role model. think about how nice it note on Sunday said. “In my home State (Del­ said. “My father — an honest would be if I could have gi­ This would allow athletes BCCI reacts hi), sometimes things hap­ middle­class man who had ven my father the peaceful — stuck in various Sports Taking into the account the pen which are not fair. On worked hard all his life to be­ retired life that he de­ Authority of India centres restrictions on air travel and one occasion, a certain so­ come a successful lawyer — served,” Kohli said. across the country — to res­ movement of people till May meone did not play by the did not even understand Chhetri said he was a big ume their practice. 31, the BCCI has announced rules when it came to selec­ what ‘little extra’ meant. My fan of Sachin Tendulkar and While this would allow Back to life: A semblance of normalcy will be restored once the athletes resume training in the that it will wait before orga­ tion criteria. father simply said, ‘If you stopped watching cricket af­ non­contact sports to start now silent stadiums. * FILE PHOTO: K. MURALI KUMAR nising a skill­based training want to select Virat, then let ter the latter retired. “I start­ training almost immediately, camp for its contracted There is merit, but... it be purely on merit. I will ed watching cricket again those with full or partial con­ training centres? The SAI details,” IOA president Na­ There is also uncertainty on players. It added that it will “He told my father that give you nothing extra’. only after Kohli emerged on tact would be looking for centres are in any case not rinder Batra said. The res­ the complexes that can be work in sync with the State while I had the merit to be “I didn’t get selected. I the scene, hitting century af­ further clarity . “We still open to general public but trictions, however, mean on­ opened up, since a lot of Associations to chalk out a selected, a little extra (possi­ cried a lot; I was broken. But ter century. He is the most­ need to clarify if all sports every sport is different, so ly training facilities are likely them also belong to various programme for skill­based bly a bribe) was needed to that incident taught me a lot. loved sports personality in complexes are open or only let us wait a day to know the to begin at the moment. State governments. training at a local level. confirm my selection,” Kohli I realised that I had to be ex­ the country,” Chhetri said.

IN BRIEF There will be hesitancy when Chess Gurukul beats Superkids to title Cologne, Mainz in a draw COLOGNE sport resumes, says Dravid Karthikeyan does the star turn, Praggnanandhaa lends finishing touch Cologne had to sweat to rescue a point in a 2-2 draw Press Trust of India and badminton legend RAKESH RAO After Divya Deshmukh (2), with visitors Mainz 05 in the NEW DELHI Prakash Padukone in the NEW DELHI also Ramesh’s student, put Bundesliga on Sunday. On Rahul Dravid reckons ‘Staying Ahead of the Two­time National cham­ Superkids ahead by account­ Saturday, Monchengladbach there could be “a sense of Curve­The Power of Trust’ pion Murali Karthikeyan did ing for R. Vaishali and stun­ beat Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1. The results: Cologne 2 (Uth doubt, hesitancy and fear” show on Facebook Live. the star turn for Chess Guru­ ning Aditya Mittal, Karthi­ Park is first post­virus initially in the minds of kul before teammate R. keyan beat Divya, N. Srinath 6-pen, Kainz 53) drew with golf champion Mainz 2 (Awoniyi 61, Kunde 72). athletes as well as people Fitness issues Praggnanandhaa put the fin­ and Raunak Sadhwani. The­ SEOUL Saturday: Frankfurt 1 (Silva 81) in general when sport “(Regaining) match fitness, ishing touches to a 4­3 tri­ reafter, Karthikeyan was Park Hyun-kyung won the lost to Monchengladbach 3 resumes in the post­ game fitness, I think that umph against Superkids in held by in­form Arjun Ergaisi world’s first big-purse post- (Plea 1, Thuram 7, Bensebaini COVID­19 pandemic world. will take a little bit of time the Superfinal of the inaugu­ (0.5). As per rules, the draw coronavirus golf tournament 73-pen). before people can ral Sukooon Resorts Indian packed off both GMs. in Yangju on Sunday. The Korean LPGA Championship — Stefanidi triumphs Sense of doubt or fear confidently trust Chess.com League on This left Gurukul’s No. 2 featuring three of the world’s PARIS “For a short period there themselves and go all Sunday. Praggnanandhaa needing top 10 women players — was Olympic pole vault champion may be a sense of doubt or out... and that needs to be With only a few seconds Reason to smile: Star of the day Murali Karthikeyan, left, with only a draw against Nihal Sa­ fear about certain things, I factored in, to give athletes remaining of his allotted teammates Aravindh Chithambaram and R. Praggnanandhaa. marked by a ban on spectators Katerina Stefanidi of Greece rin to decide the title. and tight safety measures. AFP beat American Katie Nageotte am sure there will be a enough time to be able to time, Praggnanadhaa de­ * RAKESH RAO The results: certain hesitancy when we regain match fitness.” fended brilliantly to hold Ni­ and Canadian Alysha Newman Ankita, Divij to be in the ‘Ultimate Garden Clash’ get back in, also there will Dravid felt players will hal Sarin and take Chess Gu­ team’s success. I’m glad I after results. That’s the rea­ Superfinal: Chess Gurukul bt nominated for Arjuna on Saturday. AFP be certain hesitancy in not forget their skills by rukul to the title. The draw could play some very strong son our board order went by Superkids 4-3 (R. Vaishali lost to Divya Deshmukh; Adtiya Mit- NEW DELHI terms of people,” said the time activities resume meant Gurukul’s top player moves.” ratings, without trying to be tal lost to Divya; M. Karthikeyan The All India Tennis Dravid on Sunday, and said sportspersons Aravindh Chithambaram Gurukul skipper R.B. Ra­ clever about it,” he said. bt Divya; Karthikeyan bt N. Sri- Association is set to nominate speaking alongside will quickly get their mojo was not required to play. mesh hailed his players for “Karthikeyan played very nath; Karthikeyan bt Raunak Ankita Raina and Divij Sharan Olympic champion back as they are used to Karthikeyan, modest as holding their nerve. “We, at well after coming in when Sadhwani; Karthikeyan drew for the Arjuna Award and shooter Abhinav Bindra facing challenges. ever, said, “I’m happy, I Chess Gurukul, enjoy and we were down by two with Arjun Ergaisi; R. Praggna- coach Nandan Bal for the could contribute to my try to be creative and not go points,” he added. nadhaa drew with Nihal Sarin). Dhyan Chand honour. PTI Pranjala making the most of Australia sojourn The young tennis star working on regaining fitness under ATP DMS Paul Ness

Kamesh Srinivasan best physiotherapists in the NEW DELHI world. Y. Pranjala is in Australia un­ Winning back­to­back sin­ der lockdown, but using the gles titles in $25,000 ITF wo­ time to regain physical fit­ men’s tournaments in Lagos ness and iron out health is­ in 2018 has been the high sues, with the full attention point of her career so far, of ATP Director of Medical and Pranjala thanked coach Services Paul Ness. Stephen Koon for her pro­ “I arrived in Australia on gress — physically, technical­ February 23, on a three­ ly and mentally. month visa. The visa expired on May 13, and the process of Good advice extending it is on,” said Pran­ Home away from home! In Stacey Ness, Pranjala has found the “I started thinking better on jala in an Instagram conver­ ideal friend to beat lockdown blues. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT court. I begged him to let me sation with the tennis play doubles, but he said no. fraternity. sprints. It is a lot of fun. He begin with, Pranjala later I am glad I listened to him,” picks me up from my place found a friend from Hydera­ said Pranjala, who rose to a Hands-on training and drops me back,” said bad studying in Melbourne — career­best rank of 265. “Paul has 23 years of expe­ Pranjala, quite grateful to Himakesh Sankineni — to For the record, she was rience at the Australian Ness and his wife Stacey. practise on a private court. ranked No. 15 among ju­ Open, and working with top Pranjala even had a mem­ Pranjala also expressed niors, won the Asian junior players. He has put no res­ orable birthday this year her gratitude to GoSports title and also made the dou­ trictions on my movements. despite being away from Foundation for funding her bles quarterfinals of junior He works out with me every home, thanks to Stacey. Australian visit and for get­ Grand Slams in Melbourne day, even beats me in the Hitting against the wall to ting her treated by one of the and Paris. Documenting the struggles of women Assam NGO collects testimonials from lower­income groups in Her Lockdown Story

Suvojit Bagchi ing women of lower income organisation’s executive di­ KOLKATA groups and their distress in rector Banamallika Choud­ Sulema, a middle­aged surviving the lockdown has hury, who edited Her Lock- mother, has always had a been meticulously docu­ down Story. tough life. Her husband died mented over the last two The stories have been young and her in­laws kept months by Asma Khatun and written and illustrated by her child but pushed her out 35 of her co­workers at the U.K.­based scientist Shreeja­ to retain ownership of her Women’s Leadership Train­ ta Gupta. husband’s stake in the family ing Centre (WLTC), an As­ property. She fought an ar­ sam­based feminist organi­ More stories duous legal battle to retain sation that also works for cis “The plan now is to make the the three­year­old boy’s cus­ and transsexual people. book more comprehensive, tody but lost any claim to the Last Friday, WLTC pu­ mainly focusing on working land. blished a book of short sto­ women, and to make our “Still, she could hang on ries — Her Lockdown Story — workers, like Asma, write as she worked as a house­ based on these testimonials. the stories in multiple lan­ keeper for a wealthy family Among them is Ms. Sulema’s guages, with translation into in Tezpur,” said Asma Kha­ account, titled ‘Dust Storm’. English. Finally, [we want to] tun, a social activist, who has Ms. Sulema walked a dis­ sehold things to buy, the to take it to the government been in touch with Ms. Sule­ tance to reach her em­ long wait felt not long so that some notification is ma. ployers’ house and all along enough. However…they…re­ issued to release the salar­ Since the beginning of the she thought, as she narrates fused to pay,” the story re­ ies,” Ms. Choudhury said. lockdown, Ms. Sulema was in her story, “They are good lates. In the next phase, Ms. unable to go to her work­ people.” She was hopeful How Ms. Sulema, who al­ Khatun and her colleagues place. Facing destitution and that her employers would lowed WLTC to use her will collect stories of work­ realising that she could not not “rob her off her justified name in the book, is surviv­ ing women in tea gardens, feed her child, she reached income”. ing the lockdown with her factories, households and out to the employers she had “She could buy vegetables child to care for is another farms. served for three years. and eggs, lentils…she was so story, said Ms. Khatun. “Maybe we will ask Sule­ Such testimonials — about occupied in her thoughts, WLTC has plans to collect ma to write for us now,” said 200 in number — from work­ making a mental­list of hou­ about 1,000 stories, said the Ms. Khatun.

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