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NEW AVATAR BJP HOLDS PROTEST PORTUGAL FACE BELGIUM Actor Bhoomika Dash is set to catch the fans Maharashtra BJP held road blockades across the In a thrilling encounter, defending champions by surprise in her next film Mana Mora state demanding restoration of quota for OBC take on Belgium for a place in the quarterfinals at Euro 2020 Kagaja Gudi LEISURE | P2 in local governing bodies TWO STATES | P8 SPORTS | P12

VOLUME 11, ISSUE 87 | www.orissapost.com BHUBANESWAR | SUNDAY, JUNE 27 | 2021 12 PAGES + SUNDAY POST | `5.00

BLACK LIVES MATTER Cop who killed George Floyd gets 22½ yrs in prison

REUTERS

Washington, June 26: A judge sen- tenced former Minneapolis police of- ficer Derek Chauvin to 22½ years in prison Friday for the murder of George Floyd during an arrest in May 2020, Delta Plus variant video of which galvanised a national protest movement against racism. A jury found Chauvin, who is white, guilty April 20 of unintentional second- found in 12 states degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the PRESS TRUST OF INDIA in 12 districts and this has death of Floyd, a Black man. The ver- happened in the last three dict was widely seen as a landmark re- New Delhi, June 26: Fifty- months. It cannot be said buke of the disproportionate use of po- one cases of Delta Plus vari- that in any district, state it lice force against Black Americans. ant of the coronavirus have is showing an increasing Chauvin’s sentence was one of the been detected across 12 states trend. Till the time we don’t longest given a former police officer in the country, with correlate this we will not for using unlawful deadly force in the Maharashtra reporting the say this is a rising trend be- United States, Minnesota Attorney highest number of 22, the cause its mutations are the General Keith Ellison, whose office Centre said Friday, stressing same as Delta variant," that there are still very lim- Sujeet Singh told a media EIGHT MONTHS ON: Farmers shout slogans during a protest against three farm reform laws, and over other issues at the Golden Gate in Amritsar, Saturday. Farmers are Derek Chauvin ited cases of this mutation briefing of the health min- observing June 26 as ‘Save Agriculture, Save Democracy Day’ to mark seven months of their agitation (STORY ON P8) PTI PHOTO and it cannot be inferred istry. that it is showing an up- There was some variance ward trend. in the figures in the slides These 51 cases were de- presented at the briefing IRREGULAR by MANJUL tected from over 45,000 sam- but officials confirmed later ples sequenced so far in the that the total cases of the ` country. Delta Plus variant detected Sujeet Singh, Director of so far stand at 51 across 12 State spent 6.02cr on prosecuted the case, told reporters. the National Centre for states. Successful prosecutions of police of- Disease Control (NCDC), So the transmission po- ficers in such cases have been rare. said 22 cases of Delta Plus tential in the Delta variant “Today’s sentencing is not justice but variant have been found in can also found in the Delta it is another moment of real ac- Maharashtra, followed by Plus variant, he added. countability on the road to justice,” nine in Tamil Nadu, seven The NCDC is among the Mahanadi case: RTI Ellison said outside the courtroom, in Madhya Pradesh, three in 10 institutes involved in calling on law enforcement leaders Kerala, two each in Punjab genome sequencing of the `87.93 LAKH SPENT ON AIR TRAVELS OF OFFICIALS ALONE around the United States to see it as and Gujarat, and one case coronavirus in the country. a moment for reform. At the White each in Andhra Pradesh, Sujeet Singh said the GYAN RANJAN MOHAPATRA, OP House, US President Joe Biden, who Odisha, Rajasthan, Jammu Delta Plus variant signifies There is absolute freedom of speech. See, GOVT SPENDING ON MAHANADI TRIBUNAL one can join our party and say anything to has spoken several times with the and Kashmir, Haryana and the Delta variant with an Bhubaneswar, June 26: The Odisha PAYMENT MADE TO FUNDS RELEASED Floyd family, said the sentence seemed Karnataka. additional mutation – anybody these days! ` government spent more than 6.02 Mukul Rohtagi, SC Lawyer `1.14 crore appropriate. Both Floyd’s brother "There is very limited B.1.617.2.1. This specifically crore from the state exchequer to pay Rodney and his nephew Brandon number of cases of this mu- refers to the acquisition of ` the lawyers contesting the contentious Mohan Katarki, SC Lawyer 1.80 crore Williams criticised the sentence as a tation (Delta Plus). In India, the K417N genetic variant in FUEL PRICES ON A ROLL Mahanadi inter-state river water dis- Sri Agrawal Law Associates `41.73 lakh “slap on the wrist.” “We were served there are very limited cases the background of Variant pute in the Tribunal on behalf of the Visits of technical team `1.58 crore a life sentence,” Williams said out- (of Delta Plus). There are of Concern (VoC) Delta NEW DELHI: Global cues pushed fuel state and on government officials for Air travel of technical team `87.93 lakh (out of `1.58 crore) side the courthouse. nearly 50 cases that are found (B.1.617.2). prices to increase again across the their airfares to different places. country Saturday, adding more misery A response from the Water for the common man already grappling Resources Department to an RTI ap- state government paid `1,14,50,000 Chandra, RC Tripathy, GN with rising food prices amidst shrinking plication filed by this correspondent only for the services rendered by sen- Yoganarasingham, Ramesh Kumar income. The retail prices of both petrol revealed startling fact on the state ior advocate Rohtagi who appeared Gupta, Arun Kumar Padhi, GC Sahoo CITY FUEL PRICES funding for the case. However, four before the tribunal on behalf of the and BP Das. Interestingly, the gov- years down the line and despite in- state thrice between 2018 and 2019. ernment spent around `87.93 lakh PETROL `98.94 (+0.35) vestment of `6.02 crore, no major Similarly, `1,80, 90,000 was paid to on the air travels of these officials DIESEL `96.68 (+0.39) breakthrough has been achieved in another senior advocate Mohan V alone. and diesel rose by a sharp 35 paise per the case. In fact, the state even failed Kartaki who appeared before the tri- Odisha had been at loggerheads litre Saturday to touch new high of `98.11 to get a stay from the Tribunal on bunal for the state for ten times be- with neighbouring Chhattisgarh over and `88.65 per litre respectively in Delhi. the issue. tween 2018 and 2020. the ‘illegal’ construction of several With the rise, petrol price has reached As per information available, the Meanwhile, the Odisha govern- barrages and pick-up weirs upstream very close to hitting the century mark all state government employed 14 lawyers, ment also paid `41,73,664 to Sri of Mahanadi river and had sought the across the country extending the scope including former Attorney General Agarwal Law Associates, a New Delhi- intervention of the Supreme Court of historic high prices that had already of India and senior Supreme Court based law firm, for the services ren- in the case. made the fuel rate cross the `100 per litre lawyer Mukul Rohatgi to present dered in the case. Following the Supreme Court’s in- mark in certain cities and towns. Odisha’s side before the Tribunal. Similarly, the state government tervention, the Central government The lawyers’ panel also included also employed non-legal technical constituted Mahanadi Inter-State WEATHER noted advocates like Harish N Salve, experts to study various aspects of the River Water Disputes Tribunal to former Solicitor General of India, Mahanadi water dispute in order to settle the dispute between Odisha BHUB CTK and Mohan V Katarki. The RTI query assist the state government in prepar- and Chhattisgarh over the sharing of revealed that the state government ing its representations and spent Mahanadi waters, March 12, 2018. MAX 33.4° 34.0° paid `4,44,84,832, including taxes, to around `1.59 crore on the visits of However, the Tribunal has so far

TEMP MIN 25.8° 25.0° various reputed lawyers and law these officials and experts to New failed to address the concerns raised Forecast firms of the country during the pe- Delhi and other places between 2017 by Odisha. The state government ap- Humidity 83% 80% Generally riod between March 1, 2018 and and 2021. pointed noted lawyers to present its Rainfall 2.5mm Nil cloudy sky January 31, 2021. The expert committee included side before the Tribunal but is yet The RTI reply claimed that the engineers like ME Haque, Suresh to get the desired results. MORE P3 27 new ministers tipped in Modi Cabinet SINCE PM MODI CAME BACK TO POWER IN 2019, THIS WILL BE THE FIRST SUCH RESHUFFLE-CUM-EXPANSION

INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE tions for the BJP next year, BJP UP Central berth from LJP, as are JDU nom- chief Swatantra Dev Singh, a cer- inations RCP Singh and Santosh Kumar. New Delhi, June 26: With the all-party tainty; Pankaj Chaudhary, MP from Karnataka may well be represented by meeting on J&K done and dusted, the Maharajganj, Varun Gandhi, and al- MP . impending Cabinet reshuffle has once liance partner, Anupriya Patel are Gujarat BJP president CR Patil is mov- again gathered pace. As many as 27 among the probables. ing to the government along with probables, including heavyweights Rajya Sabha MP Anil Jain, Odisha Ahmedabad West MP Kirit Solaki. , Sushil Modi, MP Ashwini Vaishnaw and former MP From Haryana, Sirsa MP Sunita , Narayan Rane ; former Railway Duggal, a former Income Tax officer is and , could be part Minister from Bengal Dinesh Trivedi also among the probables. Ladakh MP of the massive reshuffle of the Union are also on the list. Jain is also pres- Jamyang Tsering Namgyal who im- Cabinet reportedly imminent. ident of the All India Tennis pressed with his Parliament speech is The new ministers in the Narendra Association. There is a sizeable con- also being considered. The reshuffle is Modi government, who are likely to Bengal. BJP spokesperson and mi- tingent from Rajasthan, including being necessitated by some vacancies be sworn in include former Congress nority face Syed Zafar Islam is also former Union Minister in Modi gov- caused due to untimely deaths like heavyweight from Madhya Pradesh, tipped for a Central government role. ernment PP Choudhry, youngest MP Ram Vilas Paswan and Suresh Angadi y Scindia, who is now in the BJP; for- Also on the master list are former from Rajasthan hailing from Churu, and exits of Akali Dal and Shiv Sena.

mer Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal and Rahul Kaswan and Sikar MP Many ministers are saddled with

k y m c Sushil Modi; senior BJP organisa- former Maharashtra CM Narayan Sumedhanand Saraswati. multiple portfolios due to the deaths tional heavyweights party general Rane, besides, Maharashtra Beed MP The lone entrant from Delhi will be and exits of some memers. Upcoming secretary Bhupender Yadav from Pritam Munde and Gopinath Munde’s New Delhi MP Meenakshi Lekhi. elections in UP are a factor in the Rajasthan and daughter is on the reshuffle candi- Amid the significant churn in Bihar, reshuffle and also the need to add from Madhya Pradesh who was in dates list. From which Pasupati Paras who rebelled against some heft to government with the charge of the BJP’s campaign in West is headed for ‘make or break’ elec- Chirag Paswan is likely getting a entry of Bhupender Yadav. P2 KRAVITZ’S DIRECTORIAL DEBUT WHY PAUL McCARTNEY SUNDAY | JUNE 27 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR PUSSY ISLAND LANDS AT MGM HAD TO CHOP ONIONS Big Little Lies star Zoe Kravitz’s directorial debut The Beatles icon Paul McCartney shared why he Pussy Island has been acquired by MGM. According to would always chop the onions when he cooked with Variety, the studio has bought the global distribution his late first wife Linda. “I would always volunteer to

rights for the film, which has Magic Mike star chop onions as I liked the idea of sparing Linda the y

Channing Tatum on board as one of the leads. tears,” he said, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

k y m leisure c FORTUNE FORECAST Kay Kay reveals Malaika’s mushy b’day wish to Arjun Bhoomika unveils Mumbai: Malaika Arora wished sweatshirt and grey track pants, Arjun Kapoor on his 36th birth- Arjun dons a grey T-shirt, black his ‘escapist way’ day Saturday with a romantic hoodie, black shorts and a cap. her new avatar ARIES wish and a cozy picture of the Celebrations for Arjun’s birth- Of late you have been very couple. day started Friday night at Bhubaneswar: Bhoomika Dash, while Basantraj Samal and Manas preoccupied with work and New Delhi: Kay Kay Menon is me,” says Kay Kay. “Happy birthday my sunshine,” Mumbai’s Taj Mahal Palace hotel. one of the top actresses of Odia Padhiary have written the lyrics and social life. It is about time solid as ever essaying a complex The story casts the actor as a posted Malaika on Instagram, The actor had a star-studded birth- film industry, is all set to appear in dialogues respectively. Somio is the you gave yourself a break to indulge in role in the segment Bahrupiya of timid make-up artist named along with a picture of the two. day bash attended by some of his a new avatar in her next film Mana film’s director of photography. PNN something for your own benefit. Your the anthology series Ray. The Indrashish Saha, who inherits a In the picture post, Malaika is industry friends and family mem- Mora Kagaja Gudi opposite Rakesh. health could be a cause of concern. Ganesha advises you to put everything episode is based on late legend strange book on prosthetic ex- seen in Arjun’s arms smiling bers. The movie explores the dark phase else on the back-burner if you are feeling Satyajit Ray’s short story in Bangla pertise when his grandmother against the backdrop of a pic- From Ranbir Kapoor and Alia of youngsters’ lives when they take stressed out. titled Bahurupi, or the impres- passes away, along with a sub- turesque valley. The picture ap- Bhatt to Ranveer Singh and Aditya to drugs. sionist, and comes laden with an stantial amount of money. Reality pears to be a throwback from a va- Roy Kapur, many of Arjun’s in- Talking about her charac- element of fantasy. The actor de- and fantasy fuse in the storyline, cation. dustry friends attended the bash. ter, Bhoomika says, “I will TAURUS codes how he faced the challenge and Indrashish is sucked into a vor- The two stars are On the work front, Arjun play the character of a small of essaying a brutally realistic tex of doom as he begins to imag- seen in active wear. Kapoor has the films Ek Villain town girl Nisha who takes to There will be a positive role that treads into the ine he is invincible and starts While Malaika Returns and Bhoot Police in the substance abuse and fights surge in your career prospects today. However, domain of make- abusing his newfound ‘power’ to wears a blue pipeline while Malaika currently hard to get rid of it. She be- this progress may not be in the direction belief. ‘become’ anybody he wishes. T-shirt, judges the dance reality show comes lonely after losing her that you expected. Financial opportuni- “I have an The 54-year-old actor ad- white Super Dancer 4. IANS father at an early age. ties and success will knock at your door, easy way dresses the element of make- Eventually, she starts keeping a rare combination of guests. that can belief about the story say- company with people who also be ing: "Even in a newspaper, happen to be drug peddlers called the you often see headlines that and gets trapped. Then GEMINI escapist are unimaginable, right? You Rakesh comes to her way. I look believe it because it is in the rescue and helps her You will meet all kinds of at a story newspaper. Similarly, for me, comes out of the sit- people in matters related to work. You will need to as a story. I the story becomes factual at uation. The plot also understand their demands and needs and removed the that point of time. I try to re- tells how children, will have to strive to fulfill them. Your baggage. I look move all other baggage at- after getting neg- courteous nature will endear you to peo- at it as (director) tached to it." lected by their work- ple. You will receive praise for your intelli- Srijit (Mukherji)’s IANS ing parents, become gence as well, says Ganesha. interpretation of wayward in life.” the story and Written by that’s the news- Dibyasingh Ray, CANCER paper head- Mana Mora Kagaja People will surround you. line for Gudi is directed by You will entertain them with debutant Debjyoti your hilarity. Social contacts Patra. Japani has will benefit you. Students will excel and concentrate on their work. It will be a scored its music good day, says Ganesha.

LEO You are businesslike and SAI Int’l hosts global reading fest ‘Booktopia’ practical in your approach, however, you have a ten- dency to lose your temper. You will be APART FROM INDIA, THE GLOBAL EVENT SAW PARTICIPATION OF AROUND 500 STUDENTS able to channelise your aggression into business today. It is a good thing, since FROM JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA, SOUTH AFRICA, RWANDA, UGANDA AND PAKISTAN you need an outlet for your energy. The advise of your elders will help you. Bhubaneswar: City-based SAI magical, mystery and others. International School organised Speaking on the occasion Silpi ‘Booktopia’, a global reading fes- Sahoo, the Vice-Chairperson of VIRGO tival inspired by Round Square the school said, “Reading is an You will find your banal day- ideals, to encourage reading habits enriching experience that shapes to-day routine work to be among school students, Saturday. very irritating today, says Round Square is an interna- Ganesha. Avoid the tendency to exagger- tionally diverse network of 200 ate things out of proportion. You will not, like-minded schools in 50 coun- however, let anything impact on your enthusiasm to work. You will do something tries on six continents that connect novel to win the appreciation of people. and collaborate to offer world- class programmes and experi- ences, developing global compe- tence, character and confidence in LIBRA students. Elise interacting with a student Ganesha says that you will Apart from India, the global Participants showing their books during a session behave unlike your nature event saw participation of around a child’s future and deepens one’s and take a more serious attitude towards life. This is unlike you 500 students from Japan, South the keynote speaker of the evening. organising such an insightful event. thoughts and feelings. It widens our but your seriousness will give you the Korea, South Africa, Rwanda, Interacting with the students, Later, the participants were di- world, expands our perspectives opportunity to take up further responsi- Uganda and Pakistan. Marr emphasised upon developing vided into 10 barrazas or subject- and enhances our imagination. bilities that will prove to people that you Teen prodigy Elise Marr, a reading habits for one’s personal based discussion sessions themed It influences the way we perceive can be responsible too. Michigan based writer, composer, growth. She thanked SAI on the different book genres such different things and opens our singer, actor and musician was International School authorities for as fiction, classic adult fiction, heart to possibilities.” PNN SCORPIO Blood is thicker than water, and you will experience this in true sense today, says SUDOKU Ganesha. Dedicate this day to your family and friends, enjoy and make merry. Feel post To solve the Sudoku puzzle, fill in the boxes in such a as if you are on the top of this world when PEANUTS CROSSWORD manner that every row, column and 3x3 box contains you set out on a secret date with your the digits 1 to 9, without repeating any. beloved. Life is beautiful, indeed!

SAGITTARIUS Your temper is as hot as a fireball today, foresees Ganesha. Not for nothing they say that anger may destroy the world. Don't axe your own feet by your aggressive behaviour. Cool down and think before you act. There are chances that you may experience financial crunch, handle it carefully, advises Ganesha.

CAPRICORN You are witty and wise. With CALVIN AND HOBBES your extraordinary vision and intelligence you will help many their career and later, thanks to you, they will be near to their goals. Whenever some dark clouds of reality hover above your head, you know how to find the silver lining and get out of a problem. SOLUTIONS

AQUARIUS You have done backbreak- ing work to come this far. Today, you will see your efforts come to fruition. But, you need to be aware about the presence of the green-eyed people around you, especially if you are in some kind of a business,

warns Ganesha. Take care of your health. BREVITY CROSSWORD

PISCES Organized and sorted as you are, you will still find y yourself clouded with emo-

tions today. Those you are thoughtful and

k y m calculative as a person, you will discover c the joy of emotions and the warmth that accompanies them. You will take the time to feel things instead of thinking of them and this change in your behaviour will either be the cause of worry or amusement for those SUDOKU who are close to you, says Ganesha. CHECK FOR SOLUTIONS OF THE PUZZLES TOMORROW COVID-19 TRACKER P3 CHARIOT WORK SUNDAY | JUNE 27 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR INFECTED RECOVERED DEAD Carpenters World 18,13,54,977 16,59,13,569 39,28,721 constructing the domes of chariots at India 3,01,83,143 2,91,93,085 3,94,493 Rath Yard in Puri,

downtown Saturday Odisha 8,97,062 8,63,824 3,848

k y m c Allocate 95% vax to govt hosps, Centre told Supply documents to Odisha,

PNN/AGENCIES Noting that the presence of pri- MINISTER’S TAKE vate hospitals is very low and lim- Ch’garh: Mahanadi tribunal Bhubaneswar, June 26: Seeking ited to only about 5 per cent of the modification in the vaccination s per the revised Central guidelines total healthcare sector in Odisha, POST NEWS NETWORK policy, the state government has Athat came into effect June 21, 25% of Das said the state government ap- urged the Centre to allocate Covid- monthly production of vaccines by prehends that, as per the existing New Delhi, June 26: The 19 vaccines in 95:5 ratio between the domestic manufacturers will be procured guideline, the state may lose out its Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal state government and private hos- by private hospitals proportionate share of 25 per cent Saturday directed the Central min- pitals instead of 75:25 earlier. owever, presence of private hospitals allocation of vaccines to the private istries and agencies to supply doc- State Health and Family Welfare Hin state is very low and limited to only sectors. uments related to Mahanadi basin Minister Naba Kishore Das in a 5 per cent of the total healthcare sector Das urged Vardhan to revise the to Odisha and Chhattisgarh. letter to Union Health and Family allocation of vaccines to Odisha at A three-judge bench of the tri- he state govt apprehends that as per the Welfare Minister Harsh Vardhan a ratio from 75:25 to 95:5 keeping in bunal headed by Supreme Court existing guideline the state may lose out Saturday said that the vaccination T judge Justice AM Khanwilkar and its proportionate share of 25 per cent mind the ground reality. And, the activities will be "severely affected" allocation of vaccines to the private sectors share of the private sector may be comprising Justices Ravi Ranjan if the Centre does not change its handed over to the state govern- and Indermeet Kaur issued direc- guidelines.Earlier June 14, ment, he demanded. tions to the Central agencies after Additional Chief Secretary, Health, private hospitals in Odisha is very domestic manufacturers will be “Since June 21, 2021, we are able both the states apprised the tribu- Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra had negligible. procured by private hospitals. to vaccinate more than 3 lakh ben- nal that they haven’t received all the sought copies of Technical Advisory Hirakud dam project. The state written to the Union Health sec- As per the revised Central guide- However, till date, only seven private eficiaries per day and will con- documents required in the adju- Committee notes of over 23 projects government also requested all retary for a similar demand. lines that came into effect June 21 hospitals in Odisha have been able tinue our endeavour to achieve 100 dication of Mahanadi river water cleared in Mahanadi basin since Public Accounts Committee re- The minister in the letter men- across the country, 25 per cent of to procure vaccines from the man- per cent vaccination in the state.” dispute between the riparian states. 1950 namely Mayana Tank, Gej ports on the Hirakud dam except tioned that the procurement by monthly production of vaccines by ufacturers, Das said in his letter. Das mentioned in the letter. The tribunal has posted the matter Tank, Dhara Tank and Saroda 11th report. It also pleaded for the for hearing to August 14. Tank. The state government also project wise detail utilisation in During the hearing, the coun- sought detailed reports of several Mahanadi basin. sels appearing for Odisha and projects cleared by the CWC in Further, Odisha government Chhattisgarh complained before Mahanadi basin. sought environment clearance re- Eye on rural polls, BJD appoints senior observers the tribunal that agencies like The state government had re- ports issued to around 35 projects Central Water Commission (CWC), quested the Ministry of Jal Shakti in Mahanadi basin from the POST NEWS NETWORK senior observer for Mayurbhanj the new observer for Balasore dis- India Meteorological Department to provide it letter of submissions Ministry of Environment, Forest and Keonjhar. trict while Sudhir Kumar Samal for (IMD), Ministry of Jal Shakti, and summary of recommenda- and Climate Change. Bhubaneswar, June 26: In view The regional party has also Bargarh, Prasanta Muduli for Ministry of Environment and tions made by the advisory com- Notably, the Mahanadi tribunal, of the upcoming Panchayat elec- named observers for all 30 districts. Angul, Pranab Balabantaray for Forests and others have not supplied mittee in 1948 for Hirakud dam. It constituted in 2018, has completed tions in the state, ruling BJD Party’s organisational secretary Bhadrak, Soubhagya Nayak for complete documents sought by had also demanded Terms of the three-year tenure March 12, Saturday appointed senior ob- Pranab Prakash Das has been given Boudh and Usha Devi for Cuttack. both the states. Reference, report of advisory com- 2021 and is now on the extension of servers for 30 districts. the charge of Mayurbhanj and Legislator Atanu Sabyasachi The Odisha government had mittee constituted in 1952 on two years. The party also rejigged the ob- Keonjhar districts while MLA Nayak is the district observer for servers for all the districts. Chandra Sarathi Behera is the ob- Gajapati and Rayagada whereas A statement issued by BJD gen- Angul and Dhenkanal. server for Koraput and Malkangiri. Bijay Nayak will continue to work 39 sportspersons join police eral secretary (Media Affairs) Similarly, MP Prasanna Acharya The ministers who have been for Dhenkanal district. Manas Mangaraj said party pres- is the senior observer for Cuttack, given charge of various districts Nalini Kanta Pradhan is the ob- Bhubaneswar: Thirty-nine meritorious ident Naveen Patnaik has appointed Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, are: Prafulla Mallik (Ganjam), Samir server of Sambalpur, Subash Singh sportspersons including 30 women Saturday joined the Odisha Police. Previously, 96 six leaders as party’s senior ob- Bhadrak and Balasore. Ranjan Dash (Jagatsinghpur), Ashok for Jharsuguda, Debashish sportspersons were appointed in various ranks servers for various districts. Minister Bikram Keshari Chandra Panda (Jajpur), Naba Samantaray for Kendrapara, of Odisha Police in six-phases. At an induction Former minister Debi Prasad Arukha is the senior observer for Kishore Das (Kalahandi), Pratap Pramila Mallik for Khurda, Pradip programme held virtually, Chief Minister Mishra has been appointed as sen- Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Jena (Kandhamal), Susanta Singh Kumar Amat for Subarnapur and Naveen Patnaik said the state will continue to ior observer for Ganjam, Nayagarh, Rayagada and Gajapati. Finance (Bolangir & Deogarh), Tusharakanti Pritiranjan Gharai for Sundargarh. support the sportspersons in every possible Kandhamal, Khurda, Puri and Minister Niranjan Pujari is senior Behera (Nabarangpur), Senior leader Sanjay Das Burma, manner to enable them to achieve their Boudh districts while Soumya observer for four western districts— Padmanabha Behera (Nayagarh), who was earlier the observer dreams. He congratulated the new personnel Ranjan Patnaik has been given the Nuapada, Kalahandi, Bolangir and Dibya Shankar Mishra (Nuapada) for Nabarngpur and Rayagada in Odisha police and said the state is investing charge of Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh. Likewise, former MLA and Ranendra Pratap Swain (Puri). districts, has been excluded from more than `1,000 crore in developing the

Sambalpur, Subarnapur, Deogarh, Maheswar Mohanty will act as Senior BJD MLA Pratap Deb is the new list. sports infrastructure across the state.

k y m c P4 SUNDAY | JUNE 27 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR downtown BMC RESCUES CANAL RENOVATION

Monsoon plays truant as HOMELESS

k y m 11 dists receive deficit rain BEGGARS IN CITY c PRESS TRUST OF INDIA RAIN RAIN Bhubaneswar, June 26: The Bhubaneswar Municipal COME AGAIN Corporation Saturday said it had he state has received 169.6 rescued many homeless beggars Tmm rain during the period and rehabilitated them to shelter from June 1 to 26 which is 3 per homes. cent less than the normal Several average rainfall of 175.3 mm agencies have been he highest 255.3 mm rainfall regularly Twas recorded in Sundargarh conducting district while Ganjam district special drives for the rescue of recorded the lowest rainfall of 79.5 mm homeless persons found in the city, the BMC said. ayurbhnaj, Keonjhar, “With an aim to make MJajpur, Bhadrak, Boudh, Bhubaneswar #BeggarFree, BMC Monsoon rain lashes the Capital city of Bhubaneswar, Saturday Bolangir, Kandhamal, Ganjam, team mobilised and rescued many Gajapati, Rayagada and homeless beggars from Master POST NEWS NETWORK from 20 to 59 per cent during the pe- Nabarangpur districts have Canteen area, Ram Mandir area, riod, the Met Centre said. recorded deficit rain ranging Rajmahal area,” the civic body Bhubaneswar, June 26: As many Bhadrak district recorded the from 20 to 59 per cent tweeted. as 11 out of 30 districts in the state highest 49 per cent deficit rain, fol- They were taken to a shelter for have received deficit rainfall till lowed by Ganjam & Gajapati (46 per rainfall of 20 to 59 per cent. urban homeless (SUH), where they date ever since the onset of south- cent each), Kandhamal (35 per The remaining nine districts "will stay with other inmates as a west monsoon, Bhubaneswar cent), Jajpur (34 per cent), Keonjhar have received normal downpour family", it said. Meteorological Centre said Saturday. (27 per cent), Bolangir (26 per cent), during these days. The districts For providing shelters to the Work in progress for Taladanda canal (inset) renovation and beautification project in Cuttack, Saturday OP PHOTO The state has received 169.6 mm Nabarangpur (25 per cent) and are: Balasore, Dhenkanal, Angul, homeless persons, eight SUHs are rain during the period from June Mayurbhanj, Rayagada & Boudh (24 Deogarh, Sambalpur, Nayagarh, in operation with an inmate ca- 1 to 26 which is 3 per cent less than per cent), it said. Khurda, Kalahandi and Malkangiri. pacity of 368, the civic body had said the normal average rainfall of 175.3 Puri is the only district that has Meanwhile, the Meteorological in a separate post Friday. 24 dists see surge in positivity rate mm. The highest 255.3 mm rainfall received excess rainfall of above 60 Centre said thunderstorm with The corporation added that a was recorded in Sundargarh district per cent. The district has recorded lightning is very likely to occur at rehabilitation centre for specially- while Ganjam district recorded 220 mm rainfall so far which is 66 per one or two places of Balasore, abled beggars with an inmate ca- POST NEWS NETWORK the lowest rainfall of 79.5 mm. cent more than the normal downpour. Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, pacity of 100 is in operation since Districts like Mayurbhnaj, Nine other districts— Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, May 5. Bhubaneswar, June 26: The test Keonjhar, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Boudh, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Two rehabilitation centres are positivity rate (TPR), a crucial pa- Bolangir, Kandhamal, Ganjam, Sonepur, Nuapada, Cuttack, Gajapati, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, also in operation for the elderly, rameter in Covid-19 management, Gajapati, Rayagada and Nabarangpur Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara & Kandhamal, Rayagada, Malkangiri women and child beggars with a ca- has shot up in 24 districts Saturday have recorded deficit rain ranging Koraput—have recorded excess and Koraput districts Sunday. pacity of 100, it added. as compared to the previous day. According to state Health de- partment data, the TPR moved north- ward in Angul, Balasore, Bargarh, Bhadrak, Bolangir, Boudh, Cuttack, 3,554 new cases, 47 fatalities in 24 hours Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Kandhamal, AGENCIES hurda reported the highest state now has 33,019 active cases. est number of fresh fatalities at Kendrapara, Khurda, Koraput, Knumber of new cases at 651, A total of 2,028 new cases were nine, followed by five each in Malakangiri, Mayurbhanj, Nuapada, (10.64 per cent), Malkangiri (7.4 Commenting on this, Public Bhubaneswar, June 26: Odisha's followed by Cuttack (501) and registered in quarantine centres, Bargarh, Cuttack and Nayagarh, Puri, Rayagada and Sonepur. per cent), Mayurbhanj (8 per cent) Health director Bijay Mohapatra Covid-19 tally rose to 8,97,062 Balasore (271) while 1,526 fresh infections were de- and three each in Sundargarh, Data shows that 12 out of 24 dis- and Puri (10.17 per cent). Two other said the state government has in- Saturday as 3,554 more people tested tected during contact tracing. Puri and Ganjam. tricts have recorded TPR of above districts - Jajpur and Nayagarh - tensified active surveillance and vac- positive for the infection, while 47 ,644 more people have been Khurda district, of which Fifty-three coronavirus patients 5 per cent. The districts are— have also recorded above 5 per cent cination drive to minimise the in- fresh fatalities pushed the state's 3cured of the disease, taking Bhubaneswar is a part, reported the have died due to comorbidities to date. Balasore (6.93 per cent), Bhadrak TPR even though there is a down- fection rate. However, TPR in some coronavirus death toll to 3,848, a the total to 8,60,142 highest number of new cases at The state has thus far tested over 1.34 (7.18 per cent), Cuttack (7.89 per ward trend. districts including Bhubaneswar Health department official said. 651, followed by Cuttack (501) and crore samples for Covid-19, includ- cent), Dhenkanal (5.04 per cent), The state as a whole recorded a city is rising because some people As many as 3,644 more people ing the total number of recover- Balasore (271). ing 68,695 Friday. Odisha's positiv- Jagatsinghpur (7.99 per cent), TPR of 5.17 per cent Saturday while are still violating Covid guidelines have been cured of the disease, tak- ies to 8,60,142, he said, adding the Khurda also recorded the high- ity rate stands at 5.17 per cent. Kendrapara (5.21 per cent), Khurda it was 4.53 per cent Friday. and putting others at risk, he said. Step up vigilance DEMO AGAINST FARM LAWS Capital city adopts smart to curb nCoV: Cong ways to detect black spots POST NEWS NETWORK Bhubaneswar, June 26: The state POST NEWS NETWORK The automatic vehicle BSCL official said. unit of Congress Saturday urged The city has 25 public address sys- the state government to ensure Bhubaneswar, June 26: In a bid location system with tems, 15 dynamic message sign- proper enforcement of Covid-19 to enhance surveillance system in on-board units will boards and 25 live traffic violation protocols at every level. Capital city, the Commissionerate detection system working across the Party leader Suresh Routray Police and Bhubaneswar Smart help track the vehicles of city under the BSCL. Moreover, Saturday said, “The number of City Limited (BSCL), Saturday, Commissionerate Police there are nine traffic accident Covid-19 cases detected Saturday held a joint meeting that discussed recording system devices to know has raised apprehensions about a setting up of advanced technologies the location and analyse accident- worsening pandemic situation. The for efficient traffic management lation detection system (TVDS) prone sites. government needs to take it very se- and enforcement activities. can further be strengthened to en- Meanwhile, emphasising the riously and must adopt timely ac- Chaired by BSCL CEO, Sanjay force traffic rules. We also pro- rapid use of the modern technol- tions. The government needs to Kumar Singh, the meeting held posed how public address system ogy for effective city-level admin- tighten the norms and increase vig- on BDA premises was also at- and dynamic message signboard istration, the meeting also dis- ilance.” He also said, “It has already tended by Police Commissioner can be used for effective dissemi- cussed the automatic vehicle closed down Unit I market following Soumendra Priyadarshi, and nation of information during location system with on-board units violation of Covid norms but now Additional Police Commissioner calamities. for real-time tracking of the concerns are more regarding Rekha Lohani. The meeting re- Traffic accident recording Commissionerate Police vehicles wet markets where we see large con- viewed several systems being im- system will also be used for col- and their optimised operation man- gregations despite the lockdown in plemented by BSCL under the city lection of accident data and sub- agement. Through this facility, the place. We need to put the curbs at such surveillance system and smart sequent analysis over GIS usual vehicle tracking system will places. Human lives are important Activists of CPI, AITUC and BKMU hold a demonstration at Bhagwati Bhawan in Bhubaneswar, Saturday, seeking traffic management system. platform for tracing out black become interactive with two-way and more vigilance can help us tackle scrapping of the new farm laws OP PHOTO “We discussed how traffic vio- spots and accident-prone areas,” a communication. the disaster better.” Take almonds to stay fit: Experts Crushed by pandemic, artistes seek aid from govt

POST NEWS NETWORK POST NEWS NETWORK pandemic. As a result, many jun- ment should not show step-moth- FILM INDUSTRY ior artistes, technicians, camera- erly attitude to us. There should be Bhubaneswar, June 26: Almond Cuttack, June 26: The Covid-19 men and light men lost their liveli- a special scheme to help the Board of California hosted a ses- pandemic and the restrictions im- IN DOLDRUMS hood, he added. artistes,” Goswami said. sion on importance of ensuring posed by the government to check estrictions on shooting of Popular singer Ira Mohanty and Director Sudhanshu Sahu, how- family health and nutrition amidst the spread of the deadly virus have Rfilms and serials have lyricist Nirmala Nayak urged the ever, welcomed the state govern- the Covid-19 pandemic. Addressing taken a heavy toll on the livelihood pushed many actors, lyricists, state government to address the ment’s decision to put restrictions the seminar held recently, some of artistes of Odia film and serial singers, technicians and other plight of the artistes by providing on shooting of movies and serials experts stressed the use of almonds industry. artistes into financial misery assistance to them. during the second wave. “We have for a healthy life. Restrictions on shooting of films “Artistes are like daily wagers. to wait for some more days to re- The session was attended by and serials have pushed many ac- hese artistes have They earn their bread by working sume shooting. Now, the primary RJ Shelee and Bengali and Odia ac- tors, lyricists, singers, technicians Texhausted their savings to in movies and serials. The second task of the government is to bring tress Arpita Chatterjee and Ritika and other artistes into financial meet daily expenses during the wave of the pandemic has inflicted the infection rate under control,” Samaddar, Regional Head-Dietetics, misery. pandemic heavy damage on the industry. It is Sahu added. Music director Abhijit Max Healthcare – Delhi. These artistes have exhausted few artistes have either sold the duty of the government to help Majumdar said the artistes of film Chatterjee said, “Almonds are their savings to meet daily ex- Aout their musical all sections of the society during industry have formed an outfit to known to be a source of zinc, penses during the pandemic. Even, instruments or mortgaged them this moment of crisis,” they said. collect donations from its mem- which plays a crucial role in a few artistes have either sold out to arrange money for family of artistes including actors, singers that many producers and direc- Lyricist Bapu Goswami, on the bers and assist those suffering growth, development, and the their musical instruments or mort- expenses and technicians have lost their tors were following the Covid-19 other hand, pleaded for a special from financial distress. maintenance of immune func- gaged them to arrange money for source of livelihood. Several films protocols strictly at the shooting scheme for the working and re- “We have raised our plight with tion. I keep almonds in the house family expenses, sources said. sistance to them. have been left incomplete due to sets. However, the state govern- tired artistes. “Artistes usually pro- the state government through var- all the times, and ensure that each Amid this gloomy situation, the “The Covid-19 pandemic has Covid-19 restrictions,” said pro- ment had put restrictions on the vide entertainment to the people. ious forums. However, the gov- family member eats a handful of artistes have urged the state gov- given a body blow to the film and ducer and actor Pradyumna Lenka. shooting of movies and serials in Besides, their work enriches our cul- ernment is yet to listen to our

the nuts every day.” ernment to provide financial as- serial industry of Odisha. Hundreds Actor Sritam Das has claimed the wake of second wave of the ture and tradition. The govern- pleas,” Majumdar said.

k y m c P5 SUNDAY | JUNE 27 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR state

DISTRESS SALE DELTA PLUS IN ODISHA

k y m Epidemiology team rushed to Deogarh c

POST NEWS NETWORK

Bhubaneswar, June 26: A day after the detection of a Delta Plus variant case coming to the fore in the state, the Odisha government Saturday rushed an epidemiol- ogy team to Deogarh district which reported the first such case, offi- cial sources said. The patient who has been found carrying the Delta Plus variant of the SARS-CoV-2, was stable and has no such health complaints. The epi- demiology team will further ex- amine his health condition after six weeks of his illness, said Director of Health Services (DHS) Dr Bijay Mohapatra. He said the state government had undertaken contact tracing of the infected person and the health condition of all of them will now Members of Dongria Kondh tribe resort to distress sale of pineapples as they failed to transport their produce due to be examined again. The team will the epidemiology team will as- we have not found any other case The ILS director said the Delta the lockdown in Bissamkatak of Rayagada district OP PHOTO also verify the vaccination sta- certain the impact of the new of this variant, so far,” variant was found in plenty dur- tus of the people who have come variant on the patient and his Dr Parida said. ing the second wave of the pan- in contact with the patient. contact persons. Dispelling the fear of the Delta demic. But, now it has been mu- The DHS said that the Delta Meanwhile, the Director of Plus variant among the people, tated and named as Delta Plus. Free dialysis for Plus variant infected person from Institute of Life Sciences, Dr Parida said: “Had it (delta plus) The Delta Plus variant is as dan- Smart City tag still Deogarh had taken the first dose Bhubaneswar, Dr Ajay Parida said been so dangerous, we could have gerous as the Delta variant, he needy at RGH of the vaccine March 30. He was there is no point in panicking found more such cases. But since opined. infected in April, maybe after over detection of the Delta Plus April, no other sample has tested Meanwhile, what has come as AGENCIES coming in contact with another variant in Deogarh district positive for the new variant.” a matter of concern for the health eludes Berhampur Covid patient. He was asympto- in Odisha. As not a single case has been de- experts in the state is that the test Bhubaneswar, June 26: A free matic due to the effect of vacci- “We have found only one Delta tected in the last two months, it in- positivity rate (TPR) in some dis- dialysis service was started at the nation. His entire genome has Plus variant case in Odisha so dicates that the new strain has tricts remained around 10 per Rourkela Government Hospital in SURVEY FOR SMART ROADS AND 20 been sequenced and he has fully far. The concerned person of not spread fast as predicted, Dr cent. The state government had Odisha that would benefit people SMALLER ROADS BEGINS recovered, he said. Deogarh district was infected in Parida said. “If it was highly con- earlier relaxed lockdown norms who cannot afford the cost and “The case of Deogarh proves April. It has been found during tagious, then we must have found keeping in view the TPR rate, said have to go to faraway places for that vaccines are effective against genome sequencing conducted on a number of variants of the same Dr Mohapatra. The state govern- the procedure, officials said the Delta Plus variant, which is over 3,000 samples collected from strain from April to till date. So, ment will further review lock- Saturday. also called as a variant of con- four states like Odisha, , we should not unnecessarily panic down restrictions at a high-level Rourkela MLA Sarada Nayak cern,” Dr Mohapatra said, adding Chhattisgarh and Bihar. However, about the new strain,” he said. meeting June 30. and Sundargarh Collector Nikhil Pawan Kalyan inaugurated the unit Friday. The dialysis unit has four ma- Cash loading firm staff held for loot of `34L from ATMs chines. The service began under the ‘Sahaya’ scheme of the state gov- ernment, Kalyan said. POST NEWS NETWORK Later, the authorities of the It was difficult for many families banks filed separate FIRs at Sector to avail the dialysis service at the Rourkela, June 26: Police ar- 19, Sector 7, Chhend and right time as they cannot afford rested an employee of a cash load- Government Railway police sta- the high cost, Nayak said. ing firm on the charge of looting tions in connection with the fraud. Hospital Director Santosh Swain cash to the tune of `34 lakh from “The accused Harish Chandra said the service would hugely ben- the ATMs of four banks, Saturday. Das is a B.Tech degree holder. He efit those who have to go to places The accused was identified as stole `34 lakh on different occa- like Cuttack for dialysis. The District Harish Chandra Das, a B. Tech sions in the last one year while Collector said the service has been graduate and an employee of a pri- loading cash in ATM machines. made operational in a public-pri- vate cash loading firm in the city, The matter came to light after an vate partnership mode. an official of the Sector-7 police audit was conducted,” said Rourkela station said. He was working with SP Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo. Writers Pvt Ltd for the last “Separate cases have been reg- Dana Majhi’s daughter POST NEWS NETWORK The state government one year. istered and the accused has been According to police, Das managed half of the firm. He committed one year. arrested and produced in a court. clears Class X exams Berhampur, June 26: The Silk City has decided to build to commit the loot by using the se- the loot in phases on various oc- The fraud came to light after If needed, we will take him on re- has not yet been upgraded to a smart roads in 114 cret passwords of the ATMs in casions while loading cash with the banks conducted an mand for further questioning,” AGENCIES Smart City as promised to it by which he used to load cash on be- another employee over a period of audit recently. Bhamoo added. the government. Recently, the urban areas of the state Bhubaneswar, June 26: Chandini Berhampur Municipal Corporation Majhi, the daughter of Dana Majhi (BeMC) has begun a survey for in phases. Berhampur Woman's body who carried his wife’s corpse on his building smart roads in the city. The and the Chief Minister’s CREATING OPPORTUNITIES shoulders for 10 km after allegedly civic body’s budget meeting for being denied a hearse by the gov- 2021-22 Thursday approved a spend Assembly constituency found near creek, ernment hospital in Kalahandi of `20 crore for this project. It’s Hinjlicut have been district, was among the 2,81,658 proposed that 20 smart roads will injured kid rescued girls who cleared the Class X state be built in some select lines in 40 included in first phase board examinations, the results of wards of BeMC. AGENCIES which were declared Friday. The earlier elected council had Chandini, a student of a tribal decided to convert the Silk City the proposed pathways will be Kendrapara, June 26: The school run by Bhubaneswar-based into a Smart City. All preparations widened. Special measures will Odisha Police Saturday recov- Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences for this had been completed in ac- be taken to ease vehicular traffic ered the mutilated body of a (KISS), secured 280 marks out of 600. cordance with the guidelines of on these roads. Separate roads will woman and rescued an injured Her two younger sisters are also the government of India. Then be built for two wheelers and pedes- child from a mangrove forest in studying in the school. mayor and commissioner K Madhvi trians. This will smoothen the ex- Kendrapara district. Dana Majhi from Melaghar vil- and Nikhil Pawan Kalyan, re- isting traffic issues in the city, of- The woman’s body and the in- lage in Thuamul-Rampur block of spectively had visited Bhubaneswar ficial sources said. jured child, aged around two the district had walked 10 km with and Delhi several times in this re- It may be mentioned here that years, were found near a creek in his wife’s body in 2016. gard. However, Rourkela scored the BeMC has a network of over 400 the Kandarapatia mangrove for- After the incident came to light, over Berhampur in the final peck- km of pucca, concrete and kutcha est under the Jamboo Marine KISS founder Dr Achutya Samanta ing order. The Silk City was dropped roads. The contract firm for the Police Station limits, a police had admitted Majhi’s three daugh- out of the list of Smart Cities. Janibili drinking water supply officer said. ters to the school in view of Now, the state government has project has dug roads at many A forensic team reached the his poverty. decided to build smart roads in places in the city on the alibi of lay- spot and started an investigation, Chandini, who had walked along 114 urban areas of the state in ing of pipelines. The condition of he said, adding that the woman’s with her father, thanked Samanta. phases. Berhampur and the Chief these roads has been miserable. body and the injured minor have KISS has achieved a 100 per cent Minister’s Assembly constituency While the main roads of the not been identified. result, while the state-wide pass Hinjlicut have been included in city have been repaired as they A preliminary investigation percentage has been 97.89 per cent, the first phase. This has enthused are used by senior officers and suggested that the woman was Samanta said. As many as 1,900 the civic body. A sum of `20 crore politicians, the condition of the murdered, the officer said. students of the institute appeared has been earmarked for this in lanes and by-lanes in the city has The body of the woman was in the examination. this year’s budget. According to been pathetic. Denizens have de- sent for post-mortem, while the Mohan Charan Raita of Saura the engineering section of the manded expeditious completion child was taken to the district tribe from Gajapati district emerged BeMC, the survey work has been of the construction of the smart headquarters hospital, he said, as the KISS topper, securing expedited. roads project and the survey work adding that the health condition Artistes perform during a promotional campaign of a welfare scheme as part of an initiative by the district 540 marks. Under the smart roads project, before that. of the boy is stated to be serious. administration to provide them employment opportunities during the lockdown in Sundargarh, Saturday OP PHOTO Gang of dacoits Shortage of textbooks hits students amid pandemic POST NEWS NETWORK demand for books here. Only recently, supply of books to busted in Jeypore Sambalpur, June 26: The out- dealers has started. Sambalpur break of the Covid-19 pandemic zone has nine districts and 121 POST NEWS NETWORK Behera said. According to a police has wreaked havoc with the edu- dealers under it. There are 23 deal- source, a number of articles in- cation of students. Even as the ers in Sambalpur district, 31 in Jeypore, June 26: In a major cluding swords, cloaks, chloroform government has introduced var- Bargarh district, one in Debgarh, crackdown, Jeypore town police spray, mobile phones, laptops, TV ious initiatives like online edu- eight in Jharsuguda, 23 in busted a 16-member gang of da- sets and gold jewellery were re- cation including in the YouTube Sundargarh, 20 in Bolangir, four coits in Koraput district as part of covered from the gang. Police have mode to take care of the class- each in Sonepur and Kalahandi its anti-criminal drive. also seized grocery items worth room education of students, ab- and seven dealers in Nuapada dis- The gang includes nine minors over `7 lakh from the gang. sence of Class IX and Class X text- trict. Books are supplied to these as well, Jeypore sub-divisional po- Separate teams of police were books in the market has further dealers as per their invoices, lice officer (SDPO) Arup Abhisekh earlier formed to nab the crimi- distressed the parents and stu- officials said. Behera informed media persons nals as the police had been getting dents alike. At present, 60,000 textbooks have

at a presser held here. several complaints regarding da- The reason cited for the un- reached the branch office in the

k y m c “A total of 16 dacoits including coity and robbery in Jeypore town. availability of these textbooks in first phase. These books have been nine juveniles have been appre- The special teams prepared a the market is the changes in the cur- of Secondary Education over the arrived here as yet, said deputy Sambalpur zone. However, books equitably distributed across the hended in connection with two blueprint and collected vital in- riculum, especially in Oriya and last three days. Despite changes secretary in-charge Kailash worth just `40 lakh to `42 lakhs nine districts in the zone. Behera cases of theft and robbery in formation on secret hideouts of Geography. At least 60,000 text- in the Oriya curriculum, 6,000 Chandra Behera. have been sold to dealers in the said even Geography books will Jeypore town, two cases in Sadar the miscreants who were active in books have arrived at the office of Oriya textbooks have reached here. Earlier, textbooks worth over `1 current academic year. Books could be made available to students with- and one case in Sunabeda area,” the town, a senior official said. the Sambalpur branch of the Board But no Geography textbooks have crore were sold to dealers in not be sold even as there was heavy out much delay. P6 SUNDAY | JUNE 27 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR power post

FOCUS HONG KONG When we have passed beyond

knowings, then we shall have

k y m Knowledge. c SRI AUROBINDO DEATH OF FREE SPEECH

he Hong Kong newspa- cate the government in Beijing. per Apple Daily has been Local businesses stopped adver- forced to close. On the tising in Lai’s publications, and pro- Years of Growth Lost T day it was shuttered, peo- China newspapers in Hong Kong ple queued to buy one last copy; published cartoons of Lai as a ill four years ago, the Indian government would use the phrase “fastest a million were printed. The paper monstrous beast wrapped in the growing economy.” The prime minister would repeat the phrase “one was doomed since last year, when American flag. T bright spot in the global economy” to describe, and used it last at 8 pm China’s Communist government Lai faced physical danger as November 8, 2016, when he gave us the Demonetisation speech. imposed a harsh National Security well. His house in Hong Kong was Since then, we have not heard much about the fastest growing bright Law on Hong Kong. Its offices firebombed. He was threatened spot. There is not much talk about the economy and has not been for the last were raided by the police. Its jour- with machetes, and he was under four years. When it looked like India’s economy had run into trouble, the boast- nalists were threatened with vi- constant surveillance and followed ing paused. Now that it is clear that India’s economy has been ruined, we have olence. Its assets were frozen. wherever he went. stopped speaking about it entirely. Of course, just because the government Salaries could no longer be paid. Yet he never gave up. Lai turned does not speak about something does not mean that the problem does not exist. Senior editors and a chief colum- up every year to commemorate It does and we must try and understand what has happened to India. nist were arrested. the Tiananmen Square Massacre. According to government data, our economic growth began braking The paper’s alleged crime was He marched in pro-democracy sharply before January 2018. From here, for some reasons which we need “collusion with foreign powers,” demonstrations. He visited Britain not speculate about today, we fell into a decline which we could not pull out or as the former Chief Executive Apple Daily offered some of Asia’s sharpest and the United States to elicit sup- of. For the four quarters of 2018 and for the next four quarters of 2019 and of Hong Kong, CY Leung, crassly port for maintaining Hong Kong’s for the first quarter of 2020, we fell. This was before the Covid pandemic and put it, “collusion with scum from political reporting and was often the only freedoms. Although he was by the time the national lockdown was announced, we had stopped grow- Ian Buruma foreign countries.” Its real crime publication in Hong Kong that regularly exposed ridiculed for meeting US Vice ing completely. was its highly critical coverage President Mike Pence during The government did not tell us why our economy had imploded. The prime of the Communist Party of China, and analysed financial or political wrongdoing Trump’s presidency, he went to minister simply stopped speaking on the subject. On October 14, 2019, The WHEN FREEDOM of the Hong Kong government, see the Democratic Speaker of the Hindu published a piece written by Parakala Prabhakar, who is finance min- and of corrupt local tycoons and that regularly exposed and analysed to crush the protests, killing thou- House Nancy Pelosi, too. And his ister ’s husband. Assessing the economy, he wrote: “There IS UNDER SIEGE, politicians ever since Jimmy Lai financial or political wrongdoing. sands, Lai became a vocal oppo- tabloid, with its peculiar blend of is anxiety all over about the economic slowdown in the country. While the PEOPLE CANNOT founded the paper in 1995. Lai is a fascinating and com- nent of the Communist regime. He scandal, gossip, and serious po- government is still in denial mode, data flowing uninterruptedly into the Lai himself has already been in plicated figure. An avowed admirer sold his garment business, which litical reporting, was Hong Kong’s public domain show that sector after sector is staring at a seriously chal- AFFORD THE prison for almost a year, charged of Donald Trump and a devout was threatened with closure in indispensable voice of free speech. lenging situation. Private consumption has contracted and is at an 18- with fraud, collusion with foreign Catholic convert, he holds rather China anyway, and started a mag- Now that voice has been si- quarter low of 3.1%; rural consumption is in a NARCISSISM countries, and taking part in un- strident views on the superiority azine called Next, and then Apple lenced, and Lai is in prison with deep southward dive and is double the rate of OF SMALL lawful demonstrations. He could of Western Christian civilization Daily. “Information to me is free- others who tried to protect the the urban slowdown; credit off-take by micro and in theory be locked up for life. over what he sees as the tyranni- dom,” he said. right of Hong Kong’s citizens to small industries remains stagnant; net exports DIFFERENCES Neither Lai, nor his paper, fit cal nature of Chinese civilization. Lai wrote articles calling Li speak and write freely, to be ruled have shown little or no growth; GDP growth is THAT IS the high-minded ideal of progres- This opinion is not uncommon Peng, who carried out the savage by law, and to vote for their own au- at a six-year low with the first quarter of FY20 sive activism. Apple Daily is partly among Christian Chinese political crackdown in 1989, an “idiot” and tonomous government. Their pol- registering just 5%; and unemployment is at a TEARING APART a sensationalist tabloid full of sto- activists, but it tends to find more “the son of a turtle egg” (a par- itics are diverse: Martin Lee is a 45-year-high. The government, however, is yet LIBERAL ries about the sexual transgres- backing from the far right in the ticularly nasty insult among main- venerable barrister and moder- to show signs that it has come to grips with sions of movie stars and other local West than from liberals. land Chinese). Since Li was ru- ate liberal democrat, Joshua Wong what ails the economy. Much less evidence is avail- POLITICS IN celebrities, salacious gossip, and gen- Lai is what might be described mored to have been adopted by is a young leftist firebrand, and Lai able to believe that it has a strategic vision to COUNTRIES eral muckraking. In most liberal as a rough diamond. After fleeing Zhou Enlai after his own father was is a red-baiting, Trump-admiring address the challenges.” Aakar Patel democracies, such publications China in 1959 at the age of 12, in killed – a claim Li has denied – conservative Christian. Yet they This was 20 months ago and before the pan- WHERE PEOPLE are usually seen as the unfortu- less than 30 years he worked his calling his parentage into ques- stand together. When freedom is demic, and before the recession of 2020 and be- nate price to be paid for the right way up from being a child labourer tion was an especially stinging af- under siege, people cannot afford fore the second wave of Covid. I received a Now that it is clear THINK to free speech. The British tabloid in a garment factory to become a front. The government denounced the narcissism of small differ- newsletter from a business daily this week which that India’s economy DEMOCRACY press, for example, is hardly pro- textile magnate whose jeans brand, Lai as a “traitor,” a “black hand,” ences that is tearing apart liberal listed what the position was for the last finan- gressive, high-minded, or principled. Giordano, sold well all over China a “rotten apple,” and so on, and politics in countries where peo- cial year, which ended a few weeks ago in April. has been ruined, CAN BE TAKEN But Apple Daily was principled and elsewhere in Asia. He became viewed his support of democratic ple think democracy can be taken Consumer spending contracted by 9 per cent we have stopped FOR GRANTED in its way. True, the paper’s tone a very rich man. politicians and activists in Hong for granted. and investments contracted by more than 10 per speaking about it was populist and not always civil. Everything changed radically Kong, and his efforts to keep the cent. Manufacturing, services, and construc- People from mainland China ar- for Lai after the savage crackdown memory of 1989 alive, as danger- The writer is an editor tion lost value somewhere in the range of 8 per entirely. Of course, riving in Hong Kong to share in its on the pro-democracy demonstra- ously subversive. and author, most recently, cent. What happened in the last financial year just because the riches were once compared to “lo- tions in China in 1989. He had sup- It was in fact unusual for a Hong of The Churchill Complex: was that we went back to the past. We slowed custs.” But Apple Daily also of- ported the student protesters oc- Kong tycoon to defy the Communist The Curse of Being Special, down, then we stopped growing and then we government does not fered some of Asia’s sharpest po- cupying Tiananmen Square and government and promote democ- From Winston and FDR to started going back. The rest of the world kept speak about litical reporting and was often the sent them free T-shirts. When the racy. Most businessmen keep quiet Trump and Brexit growing and left us behind. The reason the av- something does not only publication in Hong Kong Chinese authorities sent in troops or do their best to please and pla- ©PROJECT SYNDICATE erage Indian is today poorer than the average Bangladeshi is to be found in the last 48 months. mean that the By April 2021, manufacturing, trade, transport problem does and communications were down at the same level that they were in 2018. That is three years of not exist SPECTRUM NATION growth lost. Construction has lost two years. The output of core industries such as cement, refineries, steel is the same as it was in March 2017. That is four years India lost while the rest of the world produced more. Sales of passenger vehicles including cars have gone back to their 2016 lev- Education system & global competitiveness els. That’s a loss of five years. This is not an anomaly. The auto sector has been hammered for many years now and it is clear that the middleclass has stopped growing. Two wheeler sales are today at the same point that they he Switzerland-based in this year was `197.4 lakh crore. sessment. The government can The situation in heath is similar. were 10 years ago. The sales of commercial vehicles, meaning trucks that Institute of Management This works out to an expenditure also make teaching of computers The Union and state governments carry around goods, are today below where they were when T Development (IMD) makes of `6,51,618 crore. The school-going compulsory from Class VI so that are spending `1,900 per year per first became prime minister. a World Competitiveness Ranking age population is 45.9 crore. The per students can be prepared for fu- person. The two components of Is this some new data that I am referring to? No, this is publicly available of major economies. India has been student expenditure being made ture challenges and opportunities. this expenditure are public and and has been known to all who are part of the sector. If some of us have not ranked 43rd among 64 countries. is `14,196 per year. This money is In this background the New curative health. Public health con- known that the situation is this grim it is purely because it has not featured Among the five BRICS economies, being spent in paying hefty salaries Education Policy is entirely a fail- stitutes vaccination, health edu- in a Mann Ki Baat yet. China is placed at 16th rank, Russia to government teachers. The gov- ure. It fails to introduce English cation, epidemiology and similar If you don’t acknowledge a problem, as Manmohan Singh said about the at 45th, Brazil at 57th, and South ernment is giving attractions like at primary level, technical educa- activities that can only be under- economy in an interview last year, then you cannot begin to solve it. This is Africa at 62nd. India was placed no fee, free books and mid-day tion at secondary level and fails to taken by the government. The ex- why we will not solve this problem. The leader of India has too much pride Bharat at 41st rank in 2016. We then slipped meals to encourage students to en- create a carrot-and-stick policy for penditures on curative health are to say to us that he has failed us on the economy. His cabinet of chamchas Jhunjhunwala to 47th in 2017, climbed back to roll in government schools where teachers. Unfortunately, the pol- substantially made to provide free dare not say it either. His finance minister’s husband must write an article 43rd in 2018 and remained there they get sub-standard education. icy is being made by the same ed- healthcare to government em- in one of India’s most reputable newspapers to bring to the notice of the world in the last two years. Another Global The government teachers funda- ucation bureaucracy. ployees though, of course, private that we are sunk. IT IS CLEAR THAT Competitiveness Index of 141 coun- mentally have no interest in teach- The second weakness in our patients are also treated. The gov- The impoverishing of Indians and the wrecking of our economy is hap- OUR EDUCATION tries is made by the World Economic ing because their salaries are secure competitiveness ranking is in the ernment must dismantle the cur- pening at the same time when the concentration of our wealth is being Forum. They have placed China irrespective of the results of their area of environment and health. ative health system and provide skewed towards a few. The two richest men in Asia are not from China, whose SYSTEM IS on 28th, Russia on 43rd, South students. The curriculum is also The IMD has ranked India at the ‘health vouchers’ to every citizen economy is six times bigger than India’s. They are two Gujarati men who NOT PROVIDING Africa on 60th, India on 68th and ‘backward’ looking with focus on lowest among 64 countries. We are with which she can buy health- represent the model of ‘growth’ in India. Brazil on 71st position. Here too regional languages against English; at 64th rank in both components— care from either private or gov- SKILLS TO THE India has been slipping. India was and on languages instead of math- pollution and human development. ernment hospitals. About `1500 YOUTH THAT MAY placed at the 58th rank in 2018 and ematics and sciences. Time has The policy of the Union govern- per year can be provided from the WISDOM CORNER slipped to 68th rank in 2019. come to undertake surgery of the ment is to look the other way on en- present expenditures, including to ENABLE THEM TO The main cause of this slippage government education system. The vironment in order to attain eco- government servants. Trust in dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity. EARN A LIVING is our education system. India was governments must give this huge nomic growth. For example, in the The situation is serious. It is KAHLIL GIBRAN placed at 59th rank among 64 coun- money directly to students in the recent past the government has necessary to improve our compet- No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings. tries in education. They have also form of ‘education vouchers’ with relaxed requirements of air pol- itiveness in the community of na- WILLIAM BLAKE said that unemployment increased which they may pay the fees in a lution for thermal power plants; tions. That, in turn, requires that from 10.4 per cent to 23.0 per cent school or university of their choice. it has promoted pollution of our we repair our education, environ- To be angry is to revenge the faults of others on ourselves. in the last year. It is clear that our My estimate is that about 1/3rd rivers by converting them into wa- ment and health policies that are ALEXANDER POPE education system is not providing students will not use these vouch- terways; and it has proposed amend- pulling our competitiveness down. skills to the youth that may enable ers. The 2/3rd students who use ments to the Environment Impact We are slipping and will continue them to earn a living. This unfor- these vouchers can be given vouch- Assessment that would take a num- to slip as the GDP growth rate will tunate situation exists despite con- ers of `24,000 per year which would ber of activities out of the re- continue to fall as has been WORDSWORTH siderable expenditures being made be more than sufficient for them to quirement to obtain an environ- happening over last seven years. by the Union and state govern- pay fees of good English medium ment clearance. The government’s ments. According to RBI, the gov- schools in most small towns and vil- policy is counterproductive. The pol- The writer is a former Nosopoetic ernments spent 3.3 per cent of GDP lages which are charging about lution is leading to a decline in our Professor of Economics at on education in 2019-20. The GDP `1,000 per month as per my as- competitiveness and hitting growth. IIM, Bangalore. espite its form, this has nothing to do with poetry (or noses). The first Dpart is from Greek nosos, a disease, while the second is a disguised form of poietikos, creative or productive, which is the source of the English adjective poietic with the same sense plus a number of specialist Support, don’t stigmatise Standoff escalates compounds, including galactopoietic, relating to the production of milk, and morphopoietic, of the formation of organic structures. So something Sir, The theme for this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Sir, Twitter denying access to Electronics nosopoetic causes disease. You might think the term would have found Trafficking is ‘Share Facts on Drugs, Save Lives.’ The most common reason for ini- and IT Minister for favour with doctors, as it would be a useful addition to their vocabulary. It etters tiation into drug use is peer pressure. It’s a case of ‘if you cannot beat them, join them.’ an hour, alleging a violation of US copy- never caught on, however — despite appearing in a couple of glossaries of It was also found that they started using drugs because they have friends who are al- right laws marks an escalation in stand- medical terms in the early nineteenth century — and around the middle of ready using drugs or who are already addicted to drugs, so while hanging out with off between the Union government and the the century was supplanted by pathogenic. Nosopoetic was invented by the TOL THE EDITOR those friends they were initiated into the habit. The other reasons why people get into US digital giant. Twitter reinstated the extraordinary mathematician, physician and satirist Dr John Arbuthnot, who Readers of Orissa POST drugs is stress, due to family pressure or because parents do not understand them. account with a warning note that they also created the persona of John Bull who symbolises the English character are most welcome to contribute letters They are being judged by others; depression due to unemployment, not getting proper may lock it again or potentially suspend and nation. He introduced nosopoetic in his work of 1733, An Essay (200 words), articles and care and love from family, and personal problems like divorce and loneliness. Some it in case of any additional notices against columns (between 750-1250 Concerning the Effects of Air on Human Bodies. More than a century later, it words). Contributors are people who are alcoholics and are fed up with life are easier to get influenced by drug the account. The minister claimed that appeared in a work written by a pioneering educationalist in Indiana to requested to send their addict friends. But unlike alcohol in the case of drugs the suffering or withdrawals his statements castigating the mi- encourage students to learn new words by putting them in context: The contact numbers and full are worse. Now in order to prevent drug addiction more awareness about its ill-effects croblogging platform on television chan-

multifarious cibarious substances engorged into inane and jejune stomachs, postal address/email ID. They may also is needed for the younger generation. We need to catch them young. Families should nels for non-compliance with India’s IT

k y m send in their valuable comments, opinion c during the nuptial festivity, were extremely nosopoetic on the guests and suggestions, preferably by email, be open and accept the reality if their children are using drugs, and seek immediate norms had ruffled Twitter’s feathers. (Letters to Squire Pedant, by Samuel Hoshour, 1856). Cibarious means to: [email protected] help from de-addiction centres. On the other hand, the community should be made Several legal experts have flayed the plat- relating to food, or edible; inane is being used here in its ancient sense of aware so that there will be no discrimination and stigmatisation against drug addicts. form’s move as being arbitrary and against void or empty; jejune is likewise in its earliest meaning of fasting or being It is important that parents, the community and teachers interact with de-addiction IT rules. The unprecedented spat has put hungry. This periphrastic conglomeration may be reduced to “The wedding B-15, Rasulgarh Industrial Estate, centres available near them to be able to support drug addicts in need of help. Twitter in the eye of a storm. guests became ill from overeating on empty stomachs.” Bhubaneswar-751010 K Ravi, BHUBANESWAR NJ Ravi Chander, BANGALORE P7 SUNDAY | JUNE 27 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR state

DEMOLITION DRIVE

k y m Waterlogged Aul villages c appeal to govt for bridge

basic as an ambulance whenever there is a health emergency or a fire tender when there is a fire the vil- lage. The only link for their asso- ciation with the outside world is by way of boats. Their long-held de- mand for a bridge to their pan- chayat has been buried under bulky files of the administration. The state government had laid the foundation stone of a bridge in 2016. However, the irony is that there is no follow-up action after that. Officials visit these water- logged villages whenever there are some official functions, politi- cians also visit them before elec- tions, but they forget the hard fate of these people once their work is over. Centre and the state Four thousand people living in these three As the surrounding rivers of Encroachments near Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital in Bolangir were razed OP PHOTO government spend crores of villages are cut off from the outside world as these villages are connected to the rupees to fulfill the most of the time in a year they find themselves Bhitarkanika sanctuary, these fundamental needs of these marooned rivers are always infested with people such as their education, crocodiles. The villagers always health and transportation, but As the surrounding rivers of these villages are live under the fear of death. nobody cares to find out connected to the Bhitarkanika sanctuary, these People’s miseries know no whether these funds have rivers are always infested with crocodiles. The bounds whenever there is a flood Survey begins for 3rd railway line of SER borne the desired fruits villagers always live under the fear of death in the rivers. Regular floods have turned to be a permanent curse POST NEWS NETWORK progress, sources said. Even as even as work for the third rail line known that the main building of for these residents. Floods inun- this station generates revenue has begun. the proposed station will come up POST NEWS NETWORK Ekamania gram panchayat in date their farmlands and get them Jaleswar, June 26: Even as peo- in the region of `10 crore per People in Jaleswar have ex- on the platform number 4 instead Aul block of Kendrapara district sand-cast. This is high time the ple in this region have long de- annum, it has not been upgraded pressed concern that the au- of the platform number 1, as de- Aul, June 26: Even many decades is a case in point. Ekamania, government did something for manded upgradation of the to NSG-4 category. Many outfits thorities have ignored the old manded. after independence, there are hun- Nalapahi and Dakhinadiha vil- these people, claim local intelli- Jaleswar railway station on the on behalf of the people of map and the station development The secretary of the social wel- dreds of villages in the state that lages constitute this panchayat gentsia. outskirts of Balasore district, the Jaleswar and members of the so- plans. A railway team comprising fare development council, are still deprived of basic human which is 15 km from the block Health services have been a authorities have paid scant regard cial welfare development council DRM Manoranjan Pradhan, chief Ramachandra Jena, BJP leader amenities. headquarters. The panchayat is dream for these people. Residents, to this demand. Besides Jaleswar, have met the railway divisional engineer, construction BK Jain, Arun Kumar Bej, Ramakanta The Centre and the state gov- surrounded by the Brahmani and even if they are afflicted by a small people of Baliapala, Bhograi, railway manager (DRM) at deputy engineer Bom Bom Pande, Bhanj, Abani Kumar Chand, Sarat ernment spend crores of rupees to the Kharashrota rivers. cold, are forced to visit hospitals Rasgovindpur, Raibania areas de- Kharagpur and additional general assistant engineer Rajiv Chandra Parida, Ajit Mohanty, fulfill the fundamental needs of Four thousand people living in in Rajnagar or Mahu. As it were, pend on this railway station. Even manager at Kolkata, but to Choudhry, chief divisional op- Sukumar Rana, Ramchandra Sahu, these people such as their educa- these three villages are cut off there is no government or the ad- people in East and West Midnapur no avail. erating manager Satyendra Kamal Chakrabarty, Rabindra tion, health and transportation, from the outside world as most of ministration to listen to the plight districts of West Bengal look to The railway authorities had Barma, chief commercial man- Kumar Patra, Manoranjan Das, but nobody cares to find out the time in a year they find them- of these people. Villagers of the this railway station for their promised these delegations that ager Manoj Kumar Singh, com- Phalguni Panigrahi, Jagannath whether these funds have borne the selves marooned. They have no paanchayat have against appealed transportation. their demands will be favourably mercial manager Ashotush Singh Gochhayat, Sanjeev Kumar Patra, desired fruits. People are still ma- access to health, education and to the government to construct a As this station falls under the considered whenever work for the carried out a survey. Rabinarayan Patra, Satyanarayan rooned from the outside world as transportation. bridge over the rivers, without south-east division of the rail- third rail line begins. However, A memorandum was submit- Dash, Rayaj Khan were present at they were decades back. People cannot avail a facility as further delay. ways, it has not made enough nothing has come off this promise ted to the committee after it was the meeting. Declare one day for children Crematorium near Kesinga Lecturer held for sexually in each district: W&CD dept assaulting female student

POST NEWS NETWORK To end child marriage stadium in Kalahandi opposed POST NEWS NETWORK Bhubaneswar, June 26: The fully, a taskforce and a started, it may upset the sport Balasore, June 26: In a shocking Women and Child Development lovers and affect organising of incident, a lecturer of Balasore department Friday directed the committee have been sports events in the stadium. Art and Craft College near the ITI District Collectors to declare one set up in each of the 30 Besides, there is no facility near in this town was arrested by police day in each quarter as “A day for the crematorium for the relatives on charges of sexually assaulting children’ in the state. districts across the of the cremated persons to im- a plus-II girl student of the college. In a letter to all District Collectors, state to address the merse ashes after the cremation. The matter came to fore after a Aravind Agrawal, Director, ICDS There are some government of- video of the incident went viral and Social Welfare said “We have issues properly fices like tehsil office, RD office, on social media platforms. The ac- been successful to prevent more excise department’s office, kendu cused lecturer was identified as and more number of child mar- leaf godown and fire station near Sashanka Sekhar Das, a lecturer of riages as compared to previous ances related to children, review of the stadium as well. History department in the college. years and as of now, as many as effective implementation of child Mentioning the above issues, Police arrested him after the girl’s Das was conducting 3,007 villages in the state are de- protection related laws, schemes and ex-municipality chairman Jain father taking offence of the video group tuitions due to clared child marriage free.” programmes. It could be a dedi- and BJP’s Kesinga town president lodged a complaint in the Sadar To end child marriage fully, a cated working day to be planned to Banerjee requested Sub-Collector police station. closure of the college taskforce and a committee have discuss issues related to protec- POST NEWS NETWORK a place near the Tel river. Singh to take steps to shift the Police registered a case under been set up in each of the 30 districts tion of rights of children with According to sources, Kesinga crematorium to somewhere else. 354(A) IPC and 8 POCSO Act and for Covid-19 pandemic across the state. However, it is ob- clear accountability and follow-up Kesinga, June 26: The residents NAC had launched a signature They have proposed a place near arrested the accused, Sadar IIC and often used to call served that due to various reasons plan. of Kesinga town in Kalahandi dis- campaign last year, seeking peo- the Tel river. Ashok Nayak said. The accused and these committees are not meeting This will help in ensure regu- trict are opposing the construc- ple’s opinion regarding the con- Kalahandi Sub-Collector Singh the victim were taken for medical the students to his regularly. larisation and make these com- tion of a crematorium close to the struction of a crematorium near said he will discuss with the examination. Later, he was pro- house for coaching Therefore many issues which mittees functional. This will also stadium. the stadium. Collector in this regard. When duced in court from where he was could have been settled at district enhance coordination among au- Sub-Collector Sushant Kumar Meanwhile, the District Collector asked, executive officer, Kesinga remanded to judicial custody after and sub-district level are not being thorities and committees, it will also Singh was on an official visit to has directed the PWD to construct NAC, Siddharth Pattanayak said his bail pleas were rejected. bers and the girl lodged a com- addressed properly. Hence, in order save time of responsible officers Kesinga NAC Friday. On this oc- the crematorium at an estimated there is no government land near Reports said that Das was con- plaint with the college authorities to establish synergy and bring har- while increasing their commit- casion, ex-municipality chairman cost of `75,00,000. At a time when the Tel river. “Since the type of ducting group tuitions due to clo- following which he was dismissed mony among the district level com- ment. It will help in making chil- Ram Kumar Jain, BJP’s Kesinga the construction work is presently the land near the river is village sure of the college for Covid-19 from the service. Later, the girl’s fa- mittees, the district may decide a dren a priority and will create a pro- town president Prashant Kumar going on in full swing, the town res- forest type, there will be problem pandemic and often used to call ther lodged a complaint at the fixed day in each quarter and de- tective environment for them. Banerjee, Sarita Sindur and some idents have started opposing the in getting a crematorium con- the students to his house for tu- Sadar police station after a video clare it as 'A day for children'. The action taken in this regard senior citizens took the matter up coming up of a crematorium near structed on it. In order to prevent itions. of the incident went viral in so- On this specific day a combined and declared 'Fixed Day Meeting- with him at the NAC office, de- the stadium. the sanctioned money from re- Recently he called the girl to his cial media a few days back. meeting of the committees at dis- A Day for Children' may be inti- manding that the under-con- They alleged the stadium is turning, the crematorium is being residence on the pretext of pro- Meanwhile, some other students trict and sub-district level can be mated to this department, said struction crematorium on the west the only such facility in Kesinga constructed near the stadium,” viding tuition classes and tried to have also made allegations of mis- organised to take stock of the griev- Agrawal. side of the stadium be shifted to town. Once the crematorium is he added. outrage her modesty. Family mem- behavior against the lecturer. Lack of road forces FRONTLINE villagers to carry Ambitious ‘ring-road project’ critical patient on cot in Subarnapur district falters POST NEWS NETWORK POST NEWS NETWORK Sundargarh, June 26: Relatives and friends of a critical patient Sonepur, June 26: Despite having were forced to carry the latter on sufficient funds for the purpose, a cot for about two kilometres in a proposed ring-road project in the absence of adequate road con- Subarnapur has faltered thanks nectivity at Kumudaphala village to the apathetic attitude of the ad- under Balishankara block in ministration. None of the officials Sundargarh district. The man concerned have any answer as to turned critical after consuming when the project will start, locals poison in a bid to commit alleged. suicide. According to sources, the ring- The man’s family members had road project includes a portal frame to rush him to a hospital to save bridge (PFB) on a 1,250 metre-long his life. They dialed the 108 helpline stretch starting from Kumbharpada number for an ambulance. However, to Dasamati Ghat. A concrete re- the vehicle could not reach taining wall will be constructed lect sample soil from deeper ground rounded by the Mahanadi and the Kumudaphala as it had to cross a on the side facing the Mahanadi level, the source said. Tel rivers from three sides. creek on its way to the village, a river. A tender was floated for the However, after recollection of Erstwhile king Birmitrodaya Singh local said. project with an estimated cost of soil samples from the peer points, Deo had planned to build a ring

The ambulance driver was forced `56,09,83,000, several months ago. the project did not witness any road to save the town from flood.

k y m c to park his vehicle on the road Soil was tested at 45 peer points progress, the locals lamented. Later, the state government took nearly two kilometres away from to facilitate the bridge construc- Meanwhile, Sonepur MLA and up the project and decided to com- the patient’s village. With assis- tion, in January this year. Chief finance minister Niranjan Pujari plete the ring road as it would not tance of the driver and a few vil- engineer of the works department had ordered the department officials only protect the town from possi- ASHA workers engaged in Covid related works receiving pulse-oximeters at a programme in Sonepur OP PHOTO lagers, the man was carried on a cot had inspected the project site and to expedite the project work. ble floods but also ease the traffic to the vehicle. advised the contract firm to col- Notably, the ancient town is sur- woes on roads inside the town. P8 MAHARASHTRA PUNJAB

SUNDAY | JUNE 27 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR

k y m Punjab, Haryana farmers take out protest marches BJP holds statewide c protest to demand OBC AGENCIES FARMERS HAD PLANNED TO MARCH TOWARDS PUNJAB AND Chandigarh, June 26: Scores of HARYANA RAJ BHAVANS AND protesting farmers from Punjab SUBMIT A MEMORANDUM TO quota in local bodies and Haryana Saturday took out MARK THE COMPLETION OF SEVEN protest marches against the Centre's MONTHS OF THEIR AGITATION three farm laws even as police used a water cannon to disperse culti- FARMERS COMING FROM THE vators as they broke barricades at MOHALI SIDE WERE LED BY the Chandigarh-Mohali border. FARMER LEADER BALBIR SINGH Farmers had planned to march RAJEWAL WHILE PROTESTERS towards Punjab and Haryana Raj FROM THE HARYANA SIDE WERE Bhavans here and submit a mem- LED BY HARYANA BKU (CHADUNI) orandum to mark the completion LEADER GURNAM SINGH CHADUNI of seven months of their agitation AND SAMYUKT KISAN MORCHA against the three central agri-mar- MEMBER YOGENDRA YADAV keting laws June 26. A heavy police force was de- ployed in and around Chandigarh to stop protesters from heading to- the Chandigarh Deputy AGENCIES The fact is that this wards Punjab and Haryana Raj Commissioner for giving it to the issue can be resolved Bhavans, said officials. Punjab Governor. Mumbai, June 26: The at the state level. The Barricades were put up at many Similarly, Gurnam Singh Maharashtra unit of the BJP state government can places to prevent farmers coming Chaduni and Yogendra Yadav gave Saturday held 'chakka jam' or road restore the reservation by from Mohali and Panchkula to go sembled at Gurdwara Amb Sahib at the Chandigarh-Panchkula bor- and raising slogans against the a memorandum to another offi- blockade protests across the state formulating a law. There is towards Chandigarh. in Mohali before moving towards der where Haryana police had de- BJP-led government, farmers, in- cial to submit it to the Haryana demanding restoration of reser- no need for any act of the However, agitating farmers, com- the Punjab Governor House. ployed water cannon and trucks. cluding women and youths, com- governor. vation for the Other Backward Central government. That is ing from the Mohali side, entered Similarly, farmers from several Farmers coming from the Mohali ing from Mohali marched towards After the submission of memo- Classes (OBC) in local governing why OBC reservation is Chandigarh after forcing their way parts of Haryana also gathered at side were led by farmer leader Chandigarh on tractors, vehicles randums, farmer leaders appealed bodies which was quashed by the through barricades put up at the Gurdwara Nada Sahib in Haryana's Balbir Singh Rajewal while pro- and walked on foot. to protesters to return. Supreme Court in March this year. prevalent in other states Chandigarh-Mohali border while Panchkula. They headed towards testers from the Haryana side were They were stopped near sector Though traffic was diverted to The party had announced that it except in Maharashtra facing water cannon. A protester Haryana Raj Bhavan. led by Haryana BKU (Chaduni) 17 by police where some buses were alternative routes, commuters in would hold agitation at 1,000 loca- I LEADER OF could be seen climbing to the top Farmers in Panchkula forced leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni parked on the road to prevent pro- Chandigarh faced inconvenience. tions across the state. OPPOSITION IN THE ASSEMBLY of a water cannon vehicle. their way through a layer of bar- and Samyukt Kisan Morcha mem- testers from heading towards The majority of farmers were with- Leader of Opposition in the Earlier, a large number of farm- ricades but they were not allowed ber Yogendra Yadav. Punjab Raj Bhavan. Rajewal there out masks and not following Covid- Assembly Devendra Fadnavis There is no enmity between us and ers from several parts of Punjab as- to enter Chandigarh and stopped Carrying farmer outfits' flags submitted the memorandum to appropriate behaviour. participated in a protest in his them. If you are honest towards the home district Nagpur, while cause of the OBCs then regard- Leader of Opposition in the less of party lines we are ready to KOTKAPURA POLICE FIRING Council Pravin Darekar took part stand with you. I want to tell you FOR A CAUSE in an agitation in Thane, due to with full confidence that within which traffic on the road con- the next three to four months we necting the city with Mumbai af- can bring back the OBC reservation. fected for some time. If you give us power...I want to tell Badal questioned Addressing BJP workers in you with confidence that if I fail to Nagpur, Fadnavis said his party bring back the political reserva- will restore reservation for OBCs tion for OBCs, I will retire from in local bodies if given power, and politics," the former chief minis- for 4 hours by SIT if not, he will retire from politics. ter said. "The fact is that this issue can Former minister , Faridkot in 2015. be resolved at the state level. The who led a protest in Pune, said if Several senior Shiromani Akali state government can restore the the BJP's demand are not met, the Dal (SAD) leaders, including reservation by formulating a law. party will launch bigger protests Bikram Singh Majithia, Balwinder There is no need for any act of the in future. The Maha Vikas Aghadi Singh Bhundar, N K Sharma and Central government. That is why (MVA) government in the state Daljit Singh Cheema, reached the OBC reservation is prevalent in has failed to retain political reser- Punjab Police Officers' Institute other states except in Maharashtra. vation for the OBCs, which is nec- in a show of support to Badal. You (MVA) will have to make a essary for the community's uplift, After his questioning, Badal law. We will not stop until we ex- she said. came out of the institute at 3.10 pose their lie. This protest is held Munde alleged the state gov- pm and then waved at the Akali Dal to condemn this government on the ernment kept deferring various workers from his vehicle. issue," he said. elections, including those in the “I am indebted to the party work- Fadnavis, who represents Nagpur cooperative sector, when the ers for giving so much love and re- South-West seat in the Assembly, case regarding the OBC reser- spect,” Badal tweeted. said OBCs are being purposely de- vation was pending in the court, On Tuesday, the SIT led by prived of the political reservation. and it was only after the court Additional Director General of Police personnel take part in a bicycle rally to create awareness against substance abuse on the occasion of International "I want to appeal to all the OBC scrapped the quota, the elec- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Police (Vigilance Bureau) LK Yadav Day against Drug Abuse, in Patiala, Saturday PTI PHOTO ministers in the MVA government. tions were announced. had questioned Shiromani Akali Chandigarh, June 26: Shiromani Dal patriarch and former Punjab Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh chief minister Parkash Singh Badal Badal Saturday was questioned for two-and-a-half hours. Punjab CM writes to Rajnath for around four hours by a Special The Punjab government had Study needed on Ujani Dam Investigation Team probing the formed the new SIT to probe the 2015 Kotkapura police firing inci- Kotkapura police firing incident fol- for Sainik School sanction dent. lowing the directions of the Punjab The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Haryana High Court. INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE water supply to Latur: Maha min dubbed the SIT investigation as The new SIT is investigating the “malicious”. Badal reached the two FIRs registered on October 14, Chandigarh, June 26: Punjab AGENCIES Punjab Police Officers' Institute 2015 and August 7, 2018 in connec- Chief Minister Amarinder Singh at Sector 32 here around 11 am fol- tion with the Kotkapura incident. Saturday urged Union Defence Latur, June 26: Maharashtra lowing a summons by the SIT. The High Court had on April 9 Minister to imme- water resources minister Jayant Badal was the deputy chief min- this year quashed a report by an ear- diately approve the memorandum Patil Saturday said experts have ister and holding the home portfolio lier Punjab Police SIT into the fir- of agreement (MoA) for a Sainik been directed to study the feasi- when incidents of desecration of ing at people protesting in School in Gurdaspur district, and also been signed and submitted to bility of providing water from religious texts and the subsequent Kotkapura in 2015 over the alleged also sanction a third Sainik School the Department of Ex-Servicemen Ujani Dam in Solapur district to peo- police firing at people protesting desecration of the Guru Granth in Bathinda. Welfare in the Ministry of Defence. ple in Latur. The dam has been against it had taken place in Sahib in Faridkot district. In a letter to the Defence Minister, However, he said this shall not, built on Bhima river, a tributary of Amarinder said the state govern- in his opinion, suffice to meet the the Krishna river, and has been at ment would sign the MoA for the aspirations of the Punjabi youth. the centre of several promises by third Sainik School as soon as the Emphasising on the need for at politicians cutting across party ministers Amit Deshmukh and the feasibility of supplying Ujani A true leader knows when approval of the ministry is received. least one Sainik School each in the lines that its water would be sup- Sanjay Bansode as well as MLA Dam water to Latur. It will require The Chief Minister pointed out Malwa, Doaba and Majha regions, plied to parched Latur city. Babasaheb Patil about supplying detailed study." that the state government has al- the three natural geographical di- Speaking at a press conference water from Ujani Dam to Latur. The minister said there was to protest, says Uddhav ready allotted 40 acres of land at visions of the state, he said it was while touring Latur during the Not promising if the demand also some legal difficulty in sup- Dalla Gorian in Gurdaspur dis- felt that a third Sainik School in day as part of the NCP's 'Pariwar could be met, the minister, who is plying water from this dam to trict to establish Punjab's second Bathinda will suitably cater to this Sanvad Yatra', Patil said he had also Maharashtra NCP chief, said, people of Latur, though he did PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Protesting on the streets should Sainik School and the MoA has requirement. received memorandums from state "Experts have been asked to study not elaborate. be avoided during the Covid-19 Mumbai, June 26: In a veiled pandemic, and "taking an appro- barb at the state BJP leadership, priate decision on when to protest Maharashtra Chief Minister and when to have dialogue is the Uddhav Thackeray Saturday said hallmark of a true leader," he said. Long road to recovery awaits Elephanta Island knowing what is the right moment “A true leader is one who protects to stage a protest and when dia- the community in terms of em- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA ferry services would stop plying due the world heritage site,” he said. logue is a better option is the hall- ployment, education and health. COVID IMPACTS TOURISM to rough weather in monsoon pe- The ferry boat service from the mark of a “true leader”. Spreading the virus through a Mumbai, June 26: The coron- riod, due to which there used to be Gateway of India has remained He was speaking at a virtual show of strength is not right. We avirus pandemic has hit the tourism no tourists. “But the last one-and- shut since the island is shut for function to mark the birth an- are doing all we can to fight the legal industry hard everywhere and the a-half year of lockdown has hurt tourists and the locals have to go niversary of Chhatrapati Shahu case. A review petition has been Gharapuri island that houses fa- us very hard," he said. to Uran, Nhava and Mora for daily Maharaj, the reformist ruler of filed,” he said. “Taking to the mous Elephanta caves, a world “Initially, the gram panchayat purchases, he said. the erstwhile princely state of streets for rightful and just de- heritage site off Mumbai coast, is provided food grains to the local res- Another resident, Someshwar Kolhapur. mands is in the blood of the Shiv no exception to it. idents, but now it has run out of Bhoir, said his local eatery has re- There were legal hurdles in the Sena. But we know that when The residents of this tiny is- money. We don't know whether we mained shut since March 2020. "We implementation of the Maratha there is unanimity and agreement land, which comprises three ham- will be able to pay have run out of our savings and quota -- quashed by the Supreme over an issue, protest should stop lets- Rajbunder, Shetbunder and The salaries to our 14 have to depend on the small fish Court in May -- and a legal solution and dialogue should take place,” the Mora Bunder- are completely de- residents of this member staff,” available near the shore for our needs to be found, Thackeray said. chief minister said. pendent on tourism for livelihood, Thakur said. diet. Some NGOs have been help- and in normal times, except dur- tiny island are He said the ing out with groceries and sani- ing monsoon, this place witnesses completely dependent on gram pan- tisers, masks required for the a heavy footfall of tourists who tourism for livelihood, and in chayat has safety,” he said. come to see the collection of cave been de- The ASI has appointed 40 secu- temples predominantly dedicated run out of money, and some NGOs a few local people normal times, except during manding a rity guards at the Elephanta caves. to the Hindu god Shiva. are helping them out with gro- depend on fishing monsoon, this place share in the Even though the premises are shut, However, the situation changed ceries and other things. for survival,” he funds col- these guards are paid their salaries after the Covid-19 crisis broke out Talking to PTI, Gharapuri's said. “We have been witnesses a heavy lected by the on time, Bhoir claimed.

last year. The pandemic and the sarpanch Baliram Thakur, said 99 seeking financial aid Archaelogical “All of them are outsiders. Had

k y m footfall of tourists c subsequent nationwide lockdown per cent of the 1,100 population to the locals and the de- Survey of India the local youths been roped I to as well as the state-level restric- depends on tourism, which is com- mand is being pursued at the (ASI) - Rs 40 per do- provide security, the villagers tions have affected the lives of the pletely shut since March 2020. tehsildar level,” he said. mestic tourist and Rs 400 per for- would have benefited. Similarly, people. “There are cutlery shops, small Thakur said the locals were ac- eigner. “But we don't get any fi- the local youth should have got em- The residents said that besides restaurants, local guides, who pro- customed to calamities of four to nancial assistance from the ASI ployment to man the Elephanta them, the gram panchayat has also vide services to the tourists. Only eight days of span when the boat for providing basic amenities at jetty,” he said. TRAIN WITH A VIEW P9 Let us reiterate SUNDAY | JUNE 27 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR our commitment to share The Indian Railways Saturday launched a facts on drugs and realise Vistadome coach service on the Mumbai- our vision of a drugs free Pune Deccan Express Special train, which India. Remember- ran full house. Railway Ministry officials addiction is neither cool said that the Mumbai-Pune Deccan Express

y nor a style statement Special train started its first run with LHB

k y m rake and Vistadome coach Saturday c national NARENDRA MODI | PRIME MINISTER

of the day uote Inoculation of 60+ age group sluggish after initial high May we work now if your fight over HEALTHCARE EXPERTS EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE SLOW PACE OF VACCINATION OF THE 60-PLUS PEOPLE WHO ARE oxygen is finished? Let us together make MORE PRONE TO HAVE CO-MORBIDITIES AND REMAIN MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO SEVERE DISEASE a system so no one faces shortage of PRESS TRUST OF INDIA years of age and those of 45-plus rumours about Covid-19 vaccines EXPERTS RAISE CONCERNS Hospitals have expressed con- oxygen in third wave. Corona will win with co-morbidities started from are the biggest hurdle to vaccina- cern over the slow pace of vacci- if we fight with each other. The New Delhi, June 26: The pace of March 1 at both government and tion coverage. nation of 60-plus people who also nation will win if we fight together vaccination of the 60-plus popula- private centres. Some people think they will suffer from the maximum num- tion has become sluggish in the On an average about 80.77 lakh never contract Covid-19, others be- ber of comorbidities. ARVIND KEJRIWAL | DELHI CHIEF MINISTER past few weeks after an initial high, vaccine doses were given to the 60- lieve that the virus itself is on the Dr Shuchin Bajaj, Founder with healthcare experts attributing plus population per week between way out. Irrational mistrust of sci- Director, Ujala Cygnus Group of it to mobility issues and misin- March 13 and April 2, but the weekly entifically approved vaccines is Hospitals, said vaccine hesitancy It took 70 years formation and unsubstantiated ap- figure dropped to about 32 lakh be- also a factor. While vaccine hesi- in the elderly population is a very for the BJP to prehensions about the jabs. tween June 5 to 25, according tancy has always been a phenom- real issue. Among many factors, succeed in According to Health Ministry to the data. enon in our country, today it tends one is a fear that people with pre- their agenda of data, 2.29 crore elderly people have Healthcare experts expressed abrogation of Article to accentuated by opinions on so- vious heart disease will have some 370. We won’t back been fully vaccinated so far while concern over the slow pace of vac- cial media, where even people with issue because of some unfortu- off from our mission, 6.71 crore have received just one dose cination of the 60-plus people who no subject expertise but having nate videos that were circulating even if it takes us 70 weeks or 70 of Covid-19 vaccine till now. are more prone to have co-mor- wide following can influence peo- around. Some people have done months or more time The 60-plus population in India bidities and remain more suscep- ple, he said. their CRP (c-reactive protein) tests was projected to be at 14.3 crore tible to severe disease. Some people in rural areas be- also to see if that was raised and OMAR ABDULLAH | NATIONAL in 2021, so that would imply that just Dr Sujeet Ranjan, Executive lieve that Covid-19 is mostly for fects will show up two to three added. He said it has also been ob- then they feel that they should not CONFERENCE VICE PREZ 16 per cent of them have been fully Director of The Coalition for Food urban people. Also, many people years from now. These rumours, sus- served that most public places in take the vaccine, Bajaj said. vaccinated till now. and Nutrition Security (CFNS), have heard on the social media picion and fear are making it harder rural areas lack senior citizen- Bajaj said mobility is also a very Vaccination for those over 60 said myths, misconceptions and that the vaccine and its side-ef- to remove vaccine hesitancy, he friendly infrastructure. big issue for the 60-plus age group. I want the Olympics movement and the importance of Olympics to be understood by SII begins manufacturing Resolve poor connectivity in everyone, spread across the length and breadth of India. Sports is the biggest soft power of a nation rural areas: CJI to Law Min KIREN RIJIJU | UNION SPORTS MINISTER Covovax; kids’ trial in July PRESS TRUST OF INDIA justice delivery and is also de- priving thousands of young lawyers In August 2020, Novavax New Delhi, June 26: Chief Justice across the country of their liveli- SHORT TAKES of India NV Ramana has written hood. and SII had announced an to Law Minister Ravi Shankar A whole generation of lawyers agreement under which Prasad seeking steps to resolve the is being pushed out of the system BJP appoints poor digital connectivity in rural, due to digital divide, the CJI said. the US biotechnology tribal, remote and hilly areas that Justice Ramana also said that he new unit chiefs company had given SII the is adversely impacting the pace of recently wrote to the minister of New Delhi: The BJP Saturday licence to manufacture justice delivery. Law, Communications and IT high- named Bhabesh Kalita and The CJI referred to the digital di- lighting these issues and requested Sharda Devi as presidents of and supply the vaccine in vide and said that a whole gener- him to initiate steps on priority its Assam and Manipur units ation of lawyers is being pushed out to bridge the digital divide and respectively. The appointments low and middle-income of the system due to the techno- also to evolve a mechanism to help were made by BJP national countries logical inequality. the advocates who have lost liveli- president JP Nadda and come He was speaking during the re- of the book, he informed that the hood due to the Covid pandemic and into immediate effect, party lease of a book, ‘Anomalies in Law matter of connectivity figured who are in dire need of financial general secretary Arun Singh INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE ducted in 920 children -- 460 each in Aayog Member (Health) said ear- and Justice’, authored by former prominently in the two-day con- assistance. said in a statement. Kalita, who 12-17 years and 2-11 years groups, lier this month. Supreme Court Judge Justice RV ference of chief justices of high The CJI also highlighted the is a sitting MLA in the Assam New Delhi, June 26: The Pune- media reports said. The company intends to file for Raveendran in a virtual function courts that he had held recently. need to declare the legal profes- assembly, will replace Ranjeet based Serum Institute of India In August 2020, Novavax and SII regulatory authorisations in the here. The poor connectivity in rural, sionals and associated functionaries Kumar Dass, who became a (SII) has begun manufacturing had announced an agreement under third quarter, upon completion of During the course of the panel tribal, remote and hilly areas is as frontline workers and the need minister in the newly-formed Novavax’s protein-based vaccine government in the state led by which the US biotechnology com- the final phases of process quali- discussion that followed the launch adversely impacting the pace of to vaccinate them all on priority. . Covovax, CEO Adar Poonawalla pany had given SII the licence to fication and assay validation needed has said. manufacture and supply the vac- to meet chemistry, manufacturing The company will also begin cine in low- and middle-income and controls (CMC) requirements. Top BJP leaders meet clinical trials of Novavax for chil- countries. Upon regulatory approvals, MONEY LAUNDERING CASE Floods following dren starting July. In March 2021, CEO Poonawalla Novavax remains on track to reach to discuss strategy for overnight rain Excited to witness the first batch said Covovax will be launched by a manufacturing capacity of 100 mil- of Covovax (developed by September this year. lion doses per month by the end of Assembly polls 2022 Patna: Water-logging occurred @Novavax) being manufactured Covovax trials finally begin in the third quarter and 150 million ED summons Anil at several places in Patna this week at our facility in Pune, India; the vaccine is made through doses per month by the end of the Saturday following overnight he shared in a tweet Friday. a partnership with Novavax and fourth quarter of 2021. PRESS TRUST OF INDIA rain. Water accumulated up to In the recently released Phase - Serum Institute of India, said Adar Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech Deshmukh next week knee level in several posh 3 trials, Covovax has shown over- Poonawalla. Hope to launch by has also two vaccines that are being New Delhi, June 26: areas including Rajvanshi all 90 per cent efficacy against September 2021! tried on children, Covaxin and PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Preparation for the assembly Nagar, outside Patna airport Covid-19. The US-based trials also Recently, the Centre stated that BBV154, a one-shot nasal vaccine. polls in five states early next and Boring Road. The official demonstrated the two-shot vac- Novavax Covid vaccine efficacy ZyCov-D, the Zydus’ Covid-19 Mumbai, June 26: Former year was the main agenda of a residence of deputy CM and the Bihar Vidhan cine 100 per cent protection against data in a large trial are promising vaccine has also started trials on chil- Maharashtra home minister Anil meeting of senior BJP leaders, Sabha also got flooded due to moderate and severe disease. and that clinical trials are being con- dren in the age group 12-18 years. Deshmukh has been asked to appear including several Union minis- the heavy rain. Residents in The vaccine has great potential ducted and are in an advanced The government is also consider- before the Enforcement Directorate ters, Saturday as they deliberated these localities are facing to protect our future generations stage of completion in India. ing providing legal indemnity to (ED) for questioning early next on political and governance is- huge problems. Rain water below the age of 18. Trials are on- What we’re learning from data Pfizer and Moderna to roll out their week after he sought a fresh date sues linked to these states. also entered Nalanda Medical going. Well done team, he said. available in the public domain is vaccines in India. Pfizer has an- for appearance in a money laun- Party president JP Nadda and College and Hospital's, SII’s Phase-2 and 3 clinical trials that this vaccine is very safe and nounced that its vaccine is safe for dering case related to an alleged Union ministers , general, OPD and ICU wards. of Covovax will reportedly be con- highly effective, Dr VK Paul, NITI children above 12 years of age. multi-crore bribery-cum-extortion Rajnath Singh, Nirmala racket that led to his resignation in Sitharaman, Narendra Singh April, officials said. Tomar, , Piyush Rajdhani derails; The 71-year-old Nationalist The central agency early on Goyal and Dharmendra Pradhan STATUE REINSTATED Congress Party (NCP) leader was Saturday arrested his personal sec- were among those who attended passengers safe asked to depose before the inves- retary Sanjeev Palande (51) and the meeting, party leaders said. tigating officer at the agency of- personal assistant Kundan Shinde Preparation for the assembly Mumbai: The front wheel of the fice in Ballard Estate here by 11 am. (45) after it carried out raids against polls in five states was the main locomotive hauling the Nizamuddin-Madgaon Rajdhani However, he did not turn up and them and Deshmukh in Mumbai agenda of the meeting, a party Superfast Special, derailed instead sent his lawyers to the ED and Nagpur Friday. leader said after the meeting. while it zoomed through a office seeking case documents and The aides were brought to the ED Union ministers Pralhad tunnel in Ratnagiri, officials said a fresh date for appearance. office for questioning following Joshi, Mansukh Mandaviya and here Saturday. The incident Official sources said Deshmukh the searches and arrested subse- Hardeep Singh Puri, besides occurred around 4.15 am as the has now been asked to appear next quently. They were sent to ED cus- BJP general secretary train sped between Ukshi and week by Tuesday. Earlier, lawyers tody till July 1 by a special PMLA Bhupender Yadav and its vice Bhoke stations in the Karbude of Deshmukh handed over a letter here. The ED case against president Baijyant Jay Panda Tunnel on the Konkan Railway written by the politician to the in- Deshmukh and others was made also attended the meeting. route. The mishap occurred vestigators. out after the CBI first carried out Assembly polls in Uttar owing to a boulder crash in the "He (Deshmukh) will not appear a preliminary inquiry followed by Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, tunnel, but there are no injuries today. We have not been given doc- a regular case being filed on the or- Manipur and Goa are slated for to any passengers, most of uments related to this case and we ders of the Bombay High Court. early next year. whom were sleeping at that have given a letter to ED demand- The court had asked the Central The BJP is in power in all time in the train. ing these documents and case de- Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to these states except Punjab, and PTI PHOTO tails in which he is to be ques- look into the allegations of bribery has been holding a series of tioned. We will furnish our reply made against Deshmukh by for- meetings of its senior leaders as NCB busts int’l Workers re-install the statue of former Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru on its pedestal, in the premises of the Vidhana accordingly," lawyer Jayvant Patil mer Mumbai Police commissioner it works to put up an impres- Soudha in Bangalore, Saturday. The statue had been removed due to metro rail construction work near the Assembly told reporters outside the ED office. Param Bir Singh. sive show in the next round of drug syndicate elections. New Delhi: The Narcotics In the meeting, party leaders Control Bureau (NCB) also took stock of various de- Saturday said that it has Ayodhya to be global tourism hub, PM reviews development plan velopment works going on in busted a drug trafficking these states as the BJP leadership syndicate operating over has often stressed on the need for darknet. The syndicate was INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE was informed about various up- ity with adequate spaces for cy- coordination among different supplying drugs to coming and proposed infrastructure clists and people on foot. Traffic ministries and the party or- international markets with New Delhi, June 26: Prime projects to improve connectivity management will also be done in ganisation in an effort to factor the use of multi Minister Narendra Modi Saturday with Ayodhya. Various infra- a modern manner using Smart in the feedback, sources said. cryptocurrencies, said an NCB reviewed the development plan for structure projects like Airport, ex- City infrastructure. Uttar Pradesh is especially official, adding that they even Ayodhya as Uttar Pradesh gov- pansion of Railway Station, Bus sta- Prime Minister Modi described crucial to the BJP’s political for- used internet pharmacy as ernment officials made a presen- tion, roads and highways were Ayodhya as a city that is etched in tunes as the party has been the method. The official said that tation which encompassed vari- discussed. the cultural consciousness of every dominant power in the coun-

y the syndicate were operating ous aspects of Ayodhya’s An upcoming Greenfield town- nine websites all registered in Indian. Ayodhya should manifest try's most populous state since

development. ship was also discussed which in- the finest of our traditions and Prime Minister Narendra Modi

k y m geographical space beyond c India. He said that the Chief Minister Yogi Adityantath cludes lodging facilities for devo- the best of our developmental trans- led it to power at the Centre syndicate is spread across was also present in the meeting. tees, space for Ashrams, Maths, formations. in 2014. Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Ayodhya's development is being Hotels, Bhavans of various states. He said that the coming gener- The ruling party leaders have Uttarakhand in India and envisaged as a spiritual centre, A tourist facilitation centre and a given to development of infra- the Saryu river will also be made ations should feel the desire to visit been holding deliberations for having tentacles in US, UK, global tourism hub and a sustain- world class museum will also structure around the Saryu river a regular feature. The city will be Ayodhya at least once in their life- weeks over a number of politi- Canada and Philippines. able smart city. The Prime Minister be built. Special attention is being and its ghats. Cruise operation on developed to ensure sustainabil- time. cal and governance issues. P10

SUNDAY | JUNE 27 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR

k y m c

From Bangladesh to Australia, when the global Coronavirus crisis was gradually lessening in intensity, the Delta variant has forced nations to impose new curbs. Delta variant, earlier named Indian variant but later renamed as B.1.617.2, is a variant of lineage B.1.617 of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. After causing widespread mayhem in India for almost two months, the Delta variant of Covid-19 is now spreading rapidly in several other countries around the world

Surge rings new pandemic alarm DELTA DATA Most transmissible n The Delta variant has certain significant mutations in the he highly-contagious Delta two weeks after the second dose spike protein of the virus. These spikes are like hooks of all variants: WHO variant is causing a surge the vaccine was 60% effective Tin new Covid-19 cases even in against the variant. that have to find the receptors he Delta variant of Covid-19, countries with high vaccination in a human cell. Studies have identified in at least 85 coun- shown that these spikes hook T rates and experts warn that inoc- RETURN TO RESTRICTIONS? tries, is the “most transmis- ulation campaigns are in a race Delta is so contagious that experts onto receptors called ACE-2 sible” of the variants identified so against time to contain it. say you would need to inoculate and allows the infection to far and is spreading rapidly among For the moment the pandemic is more than 80 percent of a popula- spread by replicating the unvaccinated populations, WHO genetic code of the virus. still slowing down with the World tion in order to contain it -- a tar- chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Health Organization (WHO) re- get that would be challenging even n Some key mutations in Delta has warned. “I know that globally porting the lowest number of new for nations with significant vac- variant – E484Q, L452R and there is currently a lot of concern cases worldwide since February cination programmes. P614R – make it easier for the about the Delta variant, and the and decreasing deaths attributed In Africa, the WHO estimates spikes in the virus to attach to WHO is concerned about it too,” to the Coronavirus. that only one percent of the pop- ACE-2 receptors. This means it Director-General Ghebreyesus said can infect and replicate faster But concerns are growing about ulation is fully vaccinated -- the at a WHO press briefing Friday. and even evade the body’s the fast-spreading variant, prompt- lowest ratio globally. natural disease-fighting He noted with concern that as ing new restrictions in countries A further complication is that immunity more efficiently. some countries ease public health that had previously managed to Delta seems to largely bypass im- and social measures, “we are start- n control their epidemics. munity that might be conferred According to WHO, the spike ing to see increases in transmis- Cases are on the rise in Russia, by a previous infection, said Samuel protein make the Delta variant sion around the world. More cases the “fastest and fittest” Australia, Israel and across parts Alizon, a biologist specialised in in- means more hospitalisations, fur- variant yet. of Africa, in part due to Delta. fectious disease modelling. ther stretching health workers and Lead at the WHO said the Delta Other countries fear they could be “We can’t really rely on natural tainment measures would risk a health systems, which increases variant is a “dangerous” virus and next. immunity anymore,” he told AFP. surge in new cases across age the risk of death,” he said. is more transmissible than the that vaccines are slightly less ef- ant after the first dose. Two weeks With large numbers of younger groups. While pointing out that new Alpha variant, which was itself ex- VACCINATION KEY fective against Delta, they are still after the second dose the vaccine people remaining unvaccinated, This could lead to a rise in “hos- Covid-19 variants are expected and tremely transmissible across Europe Top US infectious disease sci- highly effective. But only after the was found to be 88% effective at stop- tough measures may have to be pitalisations, and deaths, poten- will continue to be reported, “that’s and any country that it entered. entist Anthony Fauci called the second dose. ping symptomatic disease from reintroduced to stop the spread, tially reaching the same levels of what viruses do, they evolve - but “The Delta variant is even more variant the “greatest threat” to ef- A study conducted by the Public the Delta variant. even in nations where large-scale the autumn of 2020 if no additional we can prevent the emergence of transmissible,” she said, adding forts to control the virus and called Health England, has found that The same study concluded that vaccine rollouts had held out the measures are taken,” it added. variants by preventing transmis- that the WHO is seeing trajecto- for an acceleration in vaccinations, both Pfizer-BioNTech and provide AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccines pro- promise of reopening. Some countries, like Israel and sion.” ries of incidents that are almost American media reported Tuesday. a 33% protection against sympto- vide a 33% protection against symp- In Europe, the ECDC warned Australia, have already announced In a strong warning, Dr Maria “vertical” in a number of coun- While several studies have shown matic disease caused by the vari- tomatic disease after first dose and that any further relaxation of con- a return to certain restrictions. Van Kerkhove, Covid-19 Technical tries around the world.

UNITED STATES GERMANY The Covid-19 Delta variant, now accounts for more than 20 Germany’s disease control center says the Delta variant accounted per cent of Coronavirus infections in the US, the Centers for for more than 15% of Coronavirus infections in the country by mid- Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday. The delta vari- June, with its share roughly doubling in a week. The Robert Koch ant is currently the greatest threat in the US to our attempt Institute said in a weekly report that the more contagious delta to eliminate Covid-19,” Dr Anthony Fauci, the country’s top variant’s share in sequenced samples rose to 15.1% in the week infectious disease expert, warned at a White House briefing. ending June 13. That compares with 7.9% a week earlier. Overall “Good news: Our vaccines are effective against the delta cases in Germany have declined to their lowest level in months. variant.” The variant makes up more than 50 per cent of new infections in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and RUSSIA Wyoming. Buryatia, a republic in Siberia, became the first Russian region Wednesday to announce a lockdown because of a surge in Coronavirus infections. The lockdown will take UNITED KINGDOM effect Sunday and last for two weeks, during which only essential services such as grocery shops, pharmacies, The number of Delta variant cases of Covid-19 in the utility companies, public transport and media organisa- UK have risen by 35,204 since last week to a total tions will be allowed to operate. Coronavirus infections of 111,157, representing a 46 per cent increase, health offi- in Russia have surged in recent weeks, with the daily cials said in the weekly report released Friday. While the tally of new cases growing from approximately 9,000 in Delta variant now accounts for approximately 95 per cent of early June to over 17,000 Friday. cases that are sequenced across the UK, PHE said the both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine continue to provide good pro- tection against hospitalisations. The latest figures show that BANGLADESH an additional 514 people were admitted to hospital in Bangladesh has announced it will impose a tough new lockdown England with a diagnosis of Covid-19 in the week up to June starting Monday, after a “dangerous and alarming” surge in Delta 21. There have now been a total of 117 deaths in England of variant cases of Coronavirus. All government and private offices people confirmed as having the Delta variant - eight of which will be shut for a week and only medical-related transport will be were people under the age of 50. Six of these eight people allowed, the government said late Friday. “No one can step out of were unvaccinated, while two died after more than 21 days of their homes except in emergency cases,” a statement added. receiving a first dose of a Coronavirus vaccine. Infection rates have been rising sharply since mid-May in Bangladesh, home to around 170 million people. The government recorded almost 6,000 new cases and 108 fatalities June 25, the second-highest death toll yet in the pandemic. AFRICA In Africa, which has so far been spared the worst of the pandemic, infec- tions are surging at an alarming rate in at least 12 countries, with conti- nental cases expected to hit a record peak in around three weeks. The AUSTRALIA Delta variant has been reported in 14 African countries, making up the Central Sydney’s streets were deserted Saturday as bulk of new cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, Australia’s largest city began a week-long lockdown to according to the World Health Organisation. The highly contagious Delta contain the highly contagious Delta Coronavirus variant, variant is driving a surge in South African Covid-19 infections that is test- with authorities warning broader restrictions could fol-

ing the capacity of hospitals and forcing authorities to mull tighter restric- low. More than 80 Covid-19 cases have been reported so

k y m tions. The hardest-hit country in Africa recorded 18,762 new infections far in an infection surge linked to an international flight c Saturday -- its highest daily figure since January. crew transported to a quarantine hotel from the airport. Health authorities have flagged a string of new possible virus exposure sites, including a popular city bar, in addi- tion to the scores of businesses and public places already identified as risks. Higher INDIA EXPORTS DRAGON FRUIT P11 consumption of SUNDAY | JUNE 27 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR fuels should support a rise In a major boost to agri export, India in the indirect taxes levied has exported the first consignment of on them, affording a 'Dragon Fruit' to Dubai. Accordingly, a window for a partial consignment of 'Dragon Fruit' also reversal in the cess hikes referred as Kamalam has been exported that were imposed last year from Maharashtra. It was processed and

ADITI NAYAR CHIEF ECONOMIST ICRA packed at APEDA recognised exporter

k y m business | , c of the day uote VW to end sales of ‘MSMEs need to integrate with global value chains’ combustion engines The first phase PRESS TRUST OF INDIA t present lot of trade is efforts must be made to strengthen in Europe by 2035 of Ola’s electric the sector locally to enable their pen- scooter factory Ahappening in the form of global New Delhi, June 26: MSMEs need etration and reach globally, he said is nearing completion value chains and MSMEs should and the company to understand the importance of in- understand the importance of at the Assoham webinar. expects to start rolling tegration with global value chains integration with those chains and The ministry has undertaken out vehicles soon which are driving the trade cur- upgrade themselves accordingly several initiatives to modernise the rently, Union minister Pratap sector during the last year. These in- BHAVISH AGGARWAL | CEO, OLA GROUP Chandra Sarangi said Saturday. he integration of MSMEs is clude putting in place financial sup- The Minister of State for MSME Tcritical for the financial viability port mechanisms through Fund of said that at present lot of trade is of global value chains as not only Funds, broadening definition of During the past happening in the form of global do they provide a low-cost way of MSMEs, introducing IT based REUTERS seven years, value chains and MSMEs should operations but also with their Champions platform to provide so- over $70bn geographical reach and innovation investment has been understand the importance of in- lutions to issues of MSMEs. "The role Berlin, June 26: German car- tegration with those chains and capabilities, MSMEs form the and potential of Indian MSMEs maker Volkswagen will stop selling made in renewable cornerstone for fostering global upgrade themselves accordingly. along with the need to improve combustion engines cars in Europe energy in India. India economic growth has a liberal foreign The integration of MSMEs is their efficiency, productivity and by 2035 as it shifts to electric ve- investment policy for renewables critical for the financial viability operations but also with their ge- nerstone for fostering global eco- quality needs to be viewed in the con- hicles, but later in the United States allowing 100% FDI through the of global value chains as not only ographical reach and innovation nomic growth. the global value chain, MSMEs text of a globally competitive land- and China, a board member was automatic route in sector do they provide a low-cost way of capabilities, MSMEs form the cor- In the process of integration to face many challenges, therefore scape," he added. quoted as saying Saturday.

RK SINGH | POWER MINISTER "In Europe, we will exit the busi- ness with internal combustion ve- hicles between 2033 and 2035, in India’s tyre the United States and China some- industry has an US inflation measure what later," Klaus Zellmer, immense RBI bars MPs, MLAs from Volkswagen board member for growth potential in sales, told the Muenchner Merkur the emerging new newspaper. world order. posts biggest y-o-y "In South America and Africa, However, an effective it will take a good deal longer due collaboration between the industry to the fact that the political and and raw material partners is holding MD post in UCBs infrastructure framework condi- imperative to harness this potential increase since 1992 tions are still missing." ANSHUMAN SINGHANIA | Under the propriety criteria, the person to be nominated as MD shall not be engaged in INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE By 2050 at the latest, the entire MD, JK TYRE & INDUSTRIES any other business; shall not hold the position of a MP or state legislature or municipal Volkswagen fleet should be CO2-neu- Washington, June 26: A key US tral, Zellmer told the newspaper. corporation or municipality or other local bodies inflation measure closely watched In Europe, he is aiming for elec- SHORT TAKES by the Federal Reserve posted its tric cars to account for 70% of AGENCIES biggest year-on-year increase in total sales by 2030. This would May since 1992, indicating rising prepare the company for a possi- Amazon’s AWS New Delhi, June 26: In a crack- inflation pressures with the re- ble tightening of the European down on political interference, the opening of the economy, the Union's climate targets and even buys Wickr Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has Commerce Department reported. go beyond them. New York: Amazon’s cloud barred MPs, MLAs and members The so-called core personal con- EU policymakers have clamped computing unit has bought of municipal corporations or other sumption expenditure (PCE) price down on exhaust emissions, forc- encrypted messaging local bodies from holding the office index, the Fed's preferred infla- ing carmakers to spur develop- platform Wickr to enable of managing director (MD) or tion measure, jumped 3.4 per cent ment of low-emission technology secure communication as whole-time director (WTD) in urban in May from a year ago, the largest or face penalties if they exceed employees largely work from cooperative banks (UCBs). 12-month increase since April 1992, limits on CO2 emissions. Many of the increases home, the company said. These directions are applicable Xinhua news agency quoted the Wickr, a startup founded by to all Primary (Urban) Co-operative Department as saying Friday. we are currently seeing privacy advocates, offers to Banks. The RBI had exempted Including volatile food and energy will play out as we GLOBAL ECONOMIC help develop self-destructing UCBs with a deposit size of less than prices, the headline PCE price move into the summer messaging technology for `100 crore from the requirement of index rose 3.9 per cent from a year months when the effect of a RECOVERY POSITIVE financial services firms and seeking prior approval of the on any trade, business or industry; other co-operative bank or a co- earlier, the fastest annual pace sharp drop in prices a year gaming companies. The value Reserve Bank for appointment/re- should not have substantial inter- operative credit society. since August 2008, well above the ago dissipates. The of the deal was not disclosed. FOR INDIA, SAYS EY appointment/termination of ap- est in any company or firm as de- The person shall submit a self- Fed's inflation target of 2 per cent. remainder will intensify Companies moving to hybrid pointment of MDs or WTDs. debate within the Fed about work environments due to the fined in Section 5 (ne) read with declaration form on personal in- "Many of the increases we are Covid-19 pandemic are Under the propriety criteria, Section 56 of the Banking tegrity. While the exempted UCBs currently seeing will play out as we when to taper asset increasingly focusing on the person to be nominated as MD Regulations Act, 1949; and shall are not required to obtain prior move into the summer months purchases and hike rates protecting their or WTD shall not be engaged in not be a director, manager, man- approval, they are required to for- when the effect of a sharp drop in DIANE SWONK I communication with any other business or vocation; aging agent, partner or proprietor mulate a board approved policy prices a year ago dissipates. The re- CHIEF ECONOMIST, GRANT THORNTON business partners across shall not hold the position of a of any trading, commercial or in- based on all the other provisions of mainder will intensify debate within remote locations. Member of Parliament or state dustrial concern. these directions for appointment / the Fed about when to taper asset Swonk said, adding seven out of 18 legislature or municipal corpora- In addition, the person should not re-appointment / termination of purchases and hike rates," Diane Fed officials are now expecting to In terms of rural tion or municipality or other local be of unsound mind and stands appointment of MD or WTD. Swonk, chief economist at Grant raise rates at least once in 2022. economy, the report Affle claims bodies; and shall not be a director so declared by a competent court; These banks shall immedi- Thornton, a major accounting firm, But Fed Chair Jerome Powell of any company other than a com- should not be an undischarged in- ately report the appointment / re- said Friday in a blog. said on Tuesday that the central cited that in April 2021, victory in Indus pany registered under Section 8 solvent; should not be convicted appointment / termination of “Faster than expected inflation bank would not raise interest rates fertiliser sales have of the Companies Act, 2013. by a criminal court of an offence appointment of MD or WTD to figures have made many within preemptively based on inflation New Delhi: Digital advertising In addition, he shall not be a involving moral turpitude; and the respective regional offices the ranks of the Federal Reserve fears, reiterating recent inflation declined vis-a-vis firm Affle claims to have won partner of any firm which carries should not be a director of any of the RBI. more nervous about rate hikes,” surge is transitory. the initial legal battle in a case April 2020 filed against it by Walmart- owned PhonePe in a INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE Singapore court in the Indus OS stake sale matter. PhonePe BIZ BUZZ MINI India rolls out all-new MINI range of cars New Delhi, June 26: Global eco- had placed a bid to acquire 92 nomic recovery is positive for Bhubaneswar: MINI India launches the all-new MINI 3-Door per cent stake in Indus OS at a India's economy in the current Realme launches advanced products Hatch, the all-new MINI Convertible and the all-new MINI John valuation of around USD 60 phase of turmoil, says consultancy Cooper Works Hatch in India. This all-new MINI range will be million. However, the biggest Bhubaneswar: Realme, firm EY. In its Economic Pulse re- available in petrol engines as Completely Built-up Units shareholder in the company, India’s first brand to launch port, the consultancy firm said: (CBUs). Test Drives and Bookings are open at all MINI Affle Global Pte Ltd (AGPL), a 5G enabled smartphone, authorised dealers and the MINI Online Shop (shop.mini.in). “India's exports have continued to has opposed the deal. launched the newest perform well. India's total exports additions to its Narzo MINI now offers its latest range of products in the premium compact car segment in India. The ex-showroom prices of the petrol engine variants of The all-new MINI 3-Door of goods have grown 59 per cent over family- Realme Narzo 30 5G May 2020 and remained stable com- and Narzo 30, along with Hatch, The all-new MINI Convertible and The all-new MINI John Cooper Works Hatch are CESL resumes `38,00,000, `44,00,000 and `45,50,000 respectively. MINI India offers secure and pared to April 2020.” realme Smart TV Full HD 32 “Due to Covid’s second wave inch and realme Buds Q2. comprehensive ownership packages that include Service Inclusive, Repair Inclusive and distribution services exports in India took a Realme Narzo 30 5G, is MINI Secure which further reduce cost of ownership. New Delhi: Energy Efficiency powered by new-gen 5G hit in April, and only a slight in- Services Limited (EESL) Processor called the crease was accounted in May. Saturday said its subsidiary MediaTek Dimensity 700 Samsung brings in two Galaxy Tabs However, the Services exports still CESL has resumed distribution 5G, which also supports 5G Dual SIM Dual Standby. It comes grew 6 per cent vis-a-vis May 2020.” Bhubaneswar: The smartphone brand Samsung launched However, India's total imports of LED bulbs in villages of with a massive 5000mAh battery and smart 5G power Galaxy Tab S7 FE and Galaxy Tab A7. Galaxy Tab S7 FE is of non-oil goods have come down Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, as saving. Its camera consists of a 48MP high resolution priced at `46999 for 4GB + 64GB variant and `50999 for 6GB part of its Gram Ujala Scheme. primary camera and a 16MP ultra-clear front camera. It has +128GB variant. While Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is available in 3GB by 17 per cent in May over April Under the Gram Ujala upto 11GB RAM and 6GB hardware. Its 6GB + 128GB storage + 32GB and priced at `14999 for LTE and `11999 for WIFI 2021. "This indicates sluggish de- ` programme, rural consumers variant is priced at 15999. The first sale is scheduled for model. Galaxy Tab S7 FE features a large 12.4-inch display supporting a 16:10 aspect ratio mand in the domestic market." are given a 7 watt and a 12- June 30, 12:00 pm. While, Realme Narzo 30 comes with picture and 244 pixels per inch (PPI) resolution for vivid picture details. At 10090 mAh, In terms of rural economy, the watt LED bulb with a three- MediaTek Helio G95 gaming processor and features a 6.5- Galaxy Tab S7FE comes with a mega battery. It comes with the powerful Qualcomm report cited that in April 2021, fer- year warranty against inches screen with a 90Hz ultra-smooth display. It Snapdragon 750Gprocessorthat helps deliver enhanced performance. Galaxy Tab A7 Lite tiliser sales have declined vis-a- submission of working comprises a massive 5000mAh battery. has an 8.7–inch screen. The new model sports 8MP rear camera and a 2MP front camera. vis April 2020. incandescent bulbs at an affordable cost of `10 per bulb. The scheme was launched by Union Power Minister RK Singh in March this year, EESL said. Survey reveals interesting travel trends in post-Covid world

INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE mediately to get over the period ucts where cancellations would be tions, Kashmir, Leh-Ladakh, of relative immobility brought allowed as a rule. Himachal, Andamans, Goa and Federal Bank Mumbai, June 26: The Covid-19 about by the pandemic. The Thomas Cook India and Kerala have caught the fancy of gives 400-odd jobs related travel curbs in different A significant 69 per cent of the SOTC Travel surveyed over 4,000 the travellers, while Dubai-Abu parts of the country have had a respondents in the survey indi- customers across India's Tier 1-3 Dhabi, Maldives, Mauritius, New Delhi: Federal Bank lasting impact on the track and cated keen interest to travel in 2021 cities to identify emerging con- Thailand, Europe etc. remain hot Saturday said it has provided tourism industry. With mobility post ease in restrictions -- with 18 sumer behaviours and trends that travel destinations globally. Also, 400-odd part-time jobs with a restricted, less Indians were trav- per cent ready to travel immediately will drive travel preferences in the 35 per cent respondents chose hol- monthly salary of `18,000 at elling for non-essential work for post unlock and 51 per cent within Covid era. idays between 3 and 5 days; 52 per its branches in Kerala so far, most part of the last year. the next 3-6 months. A significant 69% of The survey covered consumers cent for 6-12 days; and 13 per cent in a bid to help those who Now with the second wave of What has changed from pre- of India's top eight metros, mini met- for over 12 days. lost their employment due to the pandemic subsiding and peo- Covid period to now is that peo- the respondents in ros like Pune and key Tier 2/3 mar- About 62 per cent respondents the Covid-19 pandemic. ple are coming out, the most per- ple are increasingly preferring the survey indicated kets such as Jaipur, Indore, prefer to travel with family/friends; Designated as 'Covid tinent question in the travel in- travel choices that provide hygienic Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, Nagpur, 20 per cent as couple/solo; and 18 Wardens', these people were dustry is whether finally leisure staying options coupled with best keen interest to Surat, Baroda, Bhubaneswar, per cent in a vaccinated group. hired to manage crowds, travel will pick up pace? What will safety protocols. travel in 2021 post Lucknow, Chandigarh, Mysore, Even with the pandemic still provide masks and sanitiser be the trend in the post-Covid world? In the survey, 70 per cent re- Coimbatore, Visakhapatnam, lurking, 77 per cent respondents

to the public visiting the A survey by Thomas Cook India spondents ranked health & safety ease in restrictions Guwahati, Patna etc. continued to express strong pref-

k y m c branches in the state, it said. and SOTC Travel as part of their as the key consideration while re- What is interesting is that trav- erence for interaction with an The livelihood enhancement Third Holiday Readiness Report sanitation of rooms was selected ness to increase spends to ensure cent respondents reiterated their ellers want options for both do- expert for guidance/reassur- project was started as part of has found that people's interest in by 52 per cent respondents as a higher levels of health and safety need for refundable or zero can- mestic and international travel in ance, 27 per cent opting to pur- its CSR initiative in August travel has increased tremendously key requirement. on their holiday. Another inter- cellation products. just about equal number of pref- 2020 and is continuing chase holidays through retail even now. during the month with several ex- Majority or about 66 per cent of esting trend brought out by the With the uncertainty created by erences expressed in the survey. outlets while 17 per cent for pressing desire to start travel im- the respondents showed willing- survey is that a whopping 81 per the virus, people want flexible prod- Among the domestic destina- home service.

k k y y m m c c

P12 SUNDAY | JUNE 27 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR sports IN A BATTLE OF NO.7s, RONALDO’S PORTUGAL TAKE ON DE BRUYNE’S BELGIUM IN A ROUND OF 16 MATCH OF EURO 2020 Czech test awaits the Dutch Thrilling clash on cards

AGENCIES Championship, having triumphed alongside Lukaku in the final third against France in the latter stages at Euro 2016; they also reached the of the field, leaving Dries Mertens of Wednesday’s contest, but the de- Seville, June 26: One of the stand- semifinals in 2000 and 2012, in ad- on the bench. fender has trained ahead of his out ties in the round of 16 stage of dition to claiming the runners-up Dedryck Boyata should get the match and should get the nod once Euro 2020 will take place here spot at Euro 2004, which is an in- nod over Jason Denayer to start again, with Diogo Dalot on standby. Sunday evening, with Belgium, dication of their credentials in this in the back three, while Thorgan Danilo Pereira is also a doubt who have a 100 percent record at this famous competition. Hazard is likely to keep out Yannick with the blow to summer’s competition, facing the Portugal will have Carrasco to feature as the left-sided the face that he defending champions Portugal. to do it the hard wing-back for the Red Devils. suffered Belgium breezed into the knock- way if they are Youri Tielemans was an unused against the out round by winning all three of to make an- substitute against Finland but will world cham- their Group B fixtures to top the sec- other final, with be back in the side for this match, pions, but tion, while Portugal ultimately the likes of Italy, with Witsel also potentially fea- the mid- qualified from Group F in third France and turing in the middle of the park, fielder is behind France and Germany in Spain all pos- which would allow De Bruyne to being tipped the ‘Group of Death’. sible opponents form part of the front three. to overcome the Martinez’s side are now unbeaten in the latter As for Portugal, Nelson Semedo issue to feature in their last 12 matches and will stages, and it will had been expected to miss out with as part of a The in-form Netherlands would look to carry forward their winning run when they take the field against Czech certainly fancy their chances of be fascinating to see the problem that he midfield Republic at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Sunday challenging for the trophy, although how they picked up three. the winner of this contest is likely per- AGENCIES slowly winning over his critics Wembley, the Czechs’ victory over to face a dangerous Italy side in after some pre-tournament pes- Scotland and dogged draw with the quarterfinals. Budapest, June 26: The simism with regard to their chances, Croatia was enough for them to Belgium finished Netherlands outfit is arguably ex- and another welcome fixture with advance as one of the best third- third at the 2018 ceeding expectations under Frank Wales or Denmark awaits should the placed outfits, and they have been World Cup but have de Boer prepare for battle in the Netherlands progress as expected. rewarded with a fixture of daunt- not advanced past round of 16 stage of Euro 2020 as Not since Euro 2000 – when De ing proportions. the quarterfinals of they take on the Czech Republic at Boer was an integral cog in the In doing so, Jaroslav Silhavy a European the Puskas Arena, Sunday. Oranje machine – have the has already steered his side fur- Championship since form The Oranje eased through Group Netherlands opened a European ther than Pavel Vrba could dur- finishing as runners-up Sunday C as winners to advance to the Championships campaign with ing their ill-fated 2016 run – keep- in 1980, meaning that night, as knockout stages, while the Czech four straight victories, but having ing with the theme of the Czech their experience in the Belgium will Republic booked their spot in the dazzled and delighted so far, a first Republic bowing out at the group latter stages is limited despite now certainly be- elite 16 as one of the four best third- quarterfinal appearance since 2008 stage one year then progressing being considered as one of the lieve that they placed outfits. is no less than their ardent sup- to the knockout rounds during the finest sides in international football. can harm the The ruthless nature of the porters will accept. next cycle. Portugal, as mentioned, ulti- Iberian side. Netherlands has shone through at Following in the footsteps of The Czech Republic have never mately qualified from Group F in Martinez’s these Championships, with no other Scotland and Croatia, Czech been knocked out at the last 16 third position, having picked up team selection team in the group stage topping the Republic became the third team stage of the Euros as an inde- a 2-2 draw against France for this match is eight goals that Oranje scored in to be thwarted by England’s staunch pendent nation, but if they are to Wednesday night. The section pro- going to be fas- their three group matches, and De defence at Wembley, as a first-half break the cycle of going one worse vided all sorts of twists and turns cinating, but it is Boer has witnessed his side score at header from Raheem Sterling was than they did in previous knockout in the final gameweek, but a spir- expected to be least two goals in each of their last all that separated the two sides rounds (runners-up in 1996, semi- ited Hungary ultimately finished Kevin De 10 matches in all competitions. during a low-key affair in the finalists in 2004 and quarterfinal- fourth to exit the competition. Bruyne and Having seemingly found the op- English capital. ists in 2012), Silhavy will need A Selecao are, of course, the Eden Hazard timal formula for success with a Despite falling to their first and Patrik Schick and co to be firing on holders of the European new-look 3-4-1-2 set-up, De Boer is only defeat of the group stage at all cylinders at the Puskas Arena.

Manu-Saurabh SPRINTER’S TOKYO OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION TAKE A NUDGE AFTER SUFFERING STRAIN bags silver in HI nominates Sreejesh, 10m air pistol Dutee’s hopes hang by a thread Deepika for Khel Ratna PRESS TRUST OF INDIA INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE Osijek (Croatia), June 26: Injury scare PRESS TRUST OF INDIA old Sreejesh, who will be playing Continuing their impressive run, the Patiala, June 26: Star sprinter for Hima in his third Olympics and proba- Indian duo of Saurabh Chaudhary Dutee Chand’s hopes of cracking Patiala: Star sprinter Hima Das Saturday suffered an injury scare after New Delhi, June 26: Veteran bly last, has played a key role in and Manu Bhaker clinched the sil- Tokyo Olympic qualification time sustaining a muscle pull during the 100m heats at the ongoing National India goalkeeper PR Sreejesh and India’s silver medal win at the 2018 ver medal in the 10m air pistol of 11.15 seconds in the women’s Inter-State Athletics Championships here. However, the severity of her former women’s team player Hockey Champions Trophy in mixed team event at the ISSF 100 metres final at the National injury could not be ascertained. “We hope Hima Das recovers ASAP Deepika were Saturday nominated Breda, bronze medal at the 2018 Shooting World Cup here Saturday. Inter-State Athletics Championships after muscle pull during 100m heats this morning at Inter-State meet,” by Hockey India for this year’s Asian Games and gold at the 2019 Already assured of a silver, the Saturday may get dashed after she the Athletics Federation informed on its twitter handle. Hima, who is on prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel FIH Men’s Series Finals in Indian duo was on par with strained her left quadriceps mus- the verge of missing out on Tokyo Olympics as she is yet to qualify for Ratna Award. Bhubaneswar. Russia’s Vitalina Batsarashkina cles in the morning session. the showpiece, did complete the race and finished third in heat 3 with a timing of 12.01 seconds. In the process, she also qualified for the final and Artem Chernousov at 12-12 “It was a bad day for me on to be held on Saturday evening, but her participation in the title race is HARMANPREET, VANDANA AND NAVJOT before losing the last two series to Saturday morning as I strained still not confirmed. If the injury turns out to be serious, it will be a big RECOMMENDED FOR ARJUNA AWARDS go down 12-16. my left quadriceps muscles dur- blow to 4x100m women’s relay team’s qualification bid for the Tokyo Representing the other Indian ing the women’s 100m heats. I’ve Games as Hima is vital member of the quartet, also comprising Dutee team in the same event, taken medicine as well as treat- Chand, Dhanalakshmi and Archana Suseendran. Hima is unlikely to Yashaswini Singh Deswal and ment from physio. My leg injury make it to Tokyo if she doesn’t make it to the relay team. Abhishek Verma missed out on a should be fine. I should be able to bronze medal. Deswal and Verma, run a fast time in the final in the who qualified in the third place, evening,” the 25-year-old 2018 to fully recover for Saturday morn- final, Dutee said she has taken med- were completely outplayed by Jakarta Asian Games silver-medal- ing’s 100m heats. “I clocked 11.76 sec- icine and got treatment from her Iran’s Golnoush Sebghatollahi list in 100m/200m told IANS. onds to win my heats. I took it easy physio. “I’m feeling better. Hope and Javad Foroughi, losing 7-17 in At the Indian Grand Prix IV, in the preliminary round in the the stiffness will vanish by evening. the bronze play-off. Dutee had clocked 11.17 seconds morning session as the main focus Will do a good warm-up for the It was a bad day in the office for in women’s 100m final. It was a na- in 2019 in Ranchi. Dutee says she is the final which is in the evening,” evening session. I will see how my the Indian rifle shooters, compet- tional record and better than her went all out during women’s 4x100m she added. injured leg reacts and will plan the ing in the 10m air mixed event. previous record of 11.22 secs clocked relay heats Friday and wasn’t able To prepare for the evening 100m final race accordingly,” she added. Swimmer Sajan Prakash creates history for India

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Prakash will take part in the Tokyo Games alongside Maana New Delhi, June 26: Sajan Prakash Patel, who has been nominated by Saturday became the first-ever the Swimming Federation of India Indian swimmer to qualify for the for the Universality places. Olympic Games by breaching the Prakash’s direct qualification PR Sreejesh Deepika ‘A’ standard time, clocking 1:56:38 means Srihari Nataraj, who missed seconds in the men’s 200m butter- the ‘A’ the 100m men’s backstroke Besides the duo, vice-captain of Sreejesh has received the Arjuna fly event at the Sette Colli Trophy by 0.05s in Rome Friday, will not be India’s Tokyo Olympics-bound award in 2015 and the prestigious in Rome, Italy. competing in the Tokyo Games de- men’s team Harmanpreet Singh Padma Shri recognition in 2017. The Games ‘A’ standard was set spite being nominated for the and women’s team members Deepika, on the other hand, was a at 1:56.48 seconds and the 27-year- Universality places. Vandana Katariya and Navjot Kaur vital part of the Indian women’s old Prakash completed the run 0.10 The Universality quota allows were nominated for the Arjuna hockey team, which won the silver seconds faster at the FINA-ac- one male and one female com- awards. medal at the 2018 Asian Games credited Olympic qualifier. petitor from a country to partic- The national federation also and at the 2018 Asian Champions “I have worked very hard for ipate in the Olympics, provided no nominated RP Singh and Ch Trophy. this, and I was confident with the other swimmer from the same Sanggai Ibemhal for the Dhyan Dragflick sensation Harmanpreet way I had trained,” Prakash was gender qualifies for the Games Chand Award for Lifetime has over 100 international caps quoted as saying in a press release. or receives a FINA invite based on Achievement, while coaches BJ while Vandana has over 200 inter- “This was my last chance, and his or her Olympic Selection Kariappa and CR Kumar were rec- national caps. Navjot boasts of over I knew I had to do it here. I had come time (B time). ommended for the Dronacharya 150 international appearances.

so close to the qualifying mark in I have received from SFI, SAI and added Sajan. sented India in the 2016 Rio Games. It was a good day for Indian Award. The National Sports Awards are

k k y y m m c c the previous meets, but my Coach the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Prakash also rewrote his own “Historic moment in Indian swimming as TOPS developmental According to a statement issued given to the country’s sportsperons Pradeep Sir and I planned my ta- Sports (MYAS). I believed in myself national record of 1:56.96s that he Swimming !!! Sajan Prakash breaks swimmer Kenisha Gupta also cre- by HI, the period of consideration by the President of India on the oc- pering in such a way that I would and my Coach Pradeep Kumar. had set last week at the Belgrade the glass ceiling clocks 1:56.38 an ated a national record. The Mumbai for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna casion of National Sports Day peak at these two events in Serbia Pradeep Sir was the anchor and I Trophy swimming competition. Olympic qualification time. CON- swimmer clocked 57.35 second in Award is between January 1, 2017 August 29 every year to celebrate and Rome. owe this to him. I knew I had it in This will be Prakash’s second suc- GRATULATIONS,” tweeted the 100m freestyle event at the to December 31, 2020. hockey legend Major Dhyan “I am grateful to all the support me, and I am glad I achieved it,” cessive Olympics, having repre- Swimming Federation of India. Rome event. During that period, the 35-year- Chand’s birthday.

1 Printed and published by Tathagata Satpathy on behalf of Navajat Printers and Media Pvt. Ltd. and printed at Navajat Printers, B-15 Industrial Estate, Rasulgarh, Bhubaneswar -751010, Odisha;Phone:7894447142(Marketing). Editor: Tathagata Satpathy, RNI No. ORIENG/2011/37159