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SARILERU… BEATS BAAHUBALI 2 { Page 12 } www.dailypioneer.com US CHEERS INDIAN ENGINEERS FOR ANOTHER DOCTOR WORKING IN AIIMS, DELHI GOVT TO GIVE RS 5K EACH GOVT LAUNCHES APP TO ASSESS, BUILDING LOW-COST VENTILATOR DELHI TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 TO AUTO DRIVERS, OTHERS ALERT PEOPLE ABOUT CORONAVIRUS

heering the Indian engineers for building a low-cost ventilator, the US resident doctor from Delhi's prestigious All India Institute of Medical elhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday announced that those he government on Thursday launched a mobile app to help people Chopes that this invention succeeds and can eventually be mass produced ASciences has tested positive for coronavirus, sources said. Rigorous Ddriving public service vehicles will be given Rs 5,000 each to sail Tassess themselves the risk of catching coronavirus infection and alert as the critical medical equipment can save many lives from contact tracing is on after he said he had attended a farewell ceremony through the nationawide lockdown imposed due to coronavirus scare. authorities if they have come in close contact with the deadly coronavirus that has killed over 5,000 people at work. This is the seventh doctor in Delhi to contract the highly Kejriwal said that he had got a lot of requests from the drivers a person infected with the deadly virus. According in America and 40,000 others globally. The United contagious virus. The doctor, who belongs to the of autorickshaws, RTVs and e-rickshaws among other public to a ministry official, the app will detect only fresh States, which as per latest projections is expecting Physiology Department, has been admitted to the new service vehicles that they are on the verge of starvation due cases and will send out alerts to only those who between 100,000 and 200,000 deaths due to the private ward for further evaluation and multiple to the lockdown. "Those driving public service vehicles will have been nearby the infected person. "The App, coronavirus, requires thousands of ventilators in the testing. His family will also be screened, sources be given Rs 5,000 each to tide over the lockdown. This may called ‘AarogyaSetu' joins Digital India for the next few weeks. It has roped in 11 private sector said. Yesterday, three doctors in Delhi had tested take 7-10 days. We are planning this," Kejriwal said. He said health and well-being of every Indian. It will companies, including car manufacturers and plane positive - two of them were from the Safdarjung that as the government does not have bank account details enable people to assess themselves the risk of makers to build ventilators. hospital, which is located just opposite AIIMS. of these drivers, this is taking time. catching the coronavirus infection. ‘Exponential growth’ PM hints at staggered lifting of as world stares at 10 L lockdown, seeks suggestions cases, 50,000 deaths Area-wise, age-wise restrictions may be the norm as country looks to return to normalcy PNS n NEW DELHI With new coronavirus cases NAVEENA KAVI The goal is to ensure set to breach the 1-million n HYDERABAD minimum loss of life; mark, the world is witnessing an "exponential growth" The country-wide lockdown the global situation is far from which is a bad sign as the Death of patient announced by the Centre won’t satisfactory with speculation number of deaths has more fuels fear of be lifted in one go, but will end of a second wave in some than doubled in the past week, COVID-19 spread in phases. countries the World Health This was more or less made NARENDRA MODI Organisation (WHO) warned in Dharavi slum clear by Prime Minister Prime Minister on Thursday. Narendra Modi during his According to latest data n WHO chief Tedros Adhanom videoconference with Chief from Johns Hopkins Ghebreyesus that as we enter the Ministers of various states on ing would be the norm. University's Center for Systems fourth month since the start of the 4 Thursday where he said that was Staggered emergence could We are facing a grave financial crisis, Science and Engineering Covid-19 pandemic, he is deeply important to formulate a com- be based on the kind of work so much so that we could not even pay (CSSE), there were 9.56 lakh concerned about its rapid escalation mon exit strategy to ensure stag- people do or the age bracket. full salaries for the month of March to our cases globally, with over 48,000 and global spread of infection gered re-emergence of the pop- The first thing that was shut — deaths in 180 countries. ulation once the lockdown ends. educational institutions — officers and employees. Our revenues have "As we enter the fourth "It is important to formulate could be the last to open as fallen to negligible levels month since the start of the As per the CSSE data, the a common exit strategy to children and senior citizens — Y S JAGANMOHAN REDDY Chief Minister Covid-19 pandemic I'm highest number of cases in the ensure staggered re-emergence come in the ‘high risk individ- deeply concerned about the world was recorded in the US of the population once the uals’ category. Likewise, move- rapid escalation and global at 216,515, while Italy lockdown ends," PM Modi ment of high-risk category cit- spread of infection," WHO accounted for the largest death emphasised, according to a izens could be restricted. chief Tedros Adhanom toll at 13,155. statement giving details of the An area-wise staggered 38 more in AP test positive for Ghebreyesus said during a The pandemic was showing interaction. He asked states to emergence can also be execut- virtual media conference on no sign of abating in Europe, send their suggestions for such ed. For instance, area-wise Thursday. where the confirmed cases an exit strategy. curfew, which the Old City of COVID-19, tally reaches 149 "Over the past five weeks, were approaching 500,000 and India is under lockdown Hyderabad is familiar with, can we have witnessed a near the death toll swelled to 30,000 with citizens forbidden to leave be implemented. Telangana PNS n VIJAYAWADA people who tested positive for the are awaited. exponential growth in the on Wednesday, reports their homes, and restrictions Chief Minister K highly infectious virus had either In all 1,730 samples were number of new cases, reach- Xinhua. on normal daily life. Even if the Chandrasekhar Rao has been In more distressing news, attended the Tablighi Jamaat tested of which 149 were found to ing almost every country," he Spain became the third lockdown is eased, in the referring to such restrictions as many as 38 more congregation at the group’s be COVID-19 positive, 1,321 were added. country with the highest num- Min identifies absence of vaccine or cure, time and again. people tested positive headquarters in negative and results of 409 "As we enter the fourth ber of cases at 104,118, after 20 existing, every time people venture out, States as a whole can be cate- for the Coronavirus in Nizamuddin of Delhi or samples are awaited. month since the start of the the US and Italy (110,574). 22 potential the country would be back to gorised into high, medium and Andhra Pradesh on were their contacts. Krishna district tops the list COVID-19 pandemic, I am In Italy, a further 727 deaths square one of the pandemic. low risk zones and places where Thursday, taking the Fortunately, there has been with 23 positive cases in the state deeply concerned about the from COVID-19 were report- hotspots Until such time a cure or vac- COVID-19 cases were detected overall tally to 149, no COVID-19 positive case followed by Nellore district with 24 rapid escalation and global ed in the 24 hours from cine is found, which the World in large numbers can be locked according to a bulletin from Srikakulam and and Guntur with 20 COVID-19 spread of infection," he said Tuesday to Wednesday, taking Health Organisation says it is at down for some more time. released by the state government Vizianagaram districts in the state; positive cases. during the virtual news con- the death toll to 13,155. 5 least a year away, social distanc- 3 on Thursday. Most of these 38 however, a few more tests results 3 ference. 3 Jagan urges Centre Naval sailor No major impact of lockdown injured in on GST collections in AP, TS to extend ‘liberal aid’ mishap PNS n VIJAYAWADA crore for this on April 4," the L VENKAT RAM REDDY Chief Minister said. He urged onboard vessel n HYDERABAD TS witnessed just 9 Hinting that the state's revenue the Central government to PNS n VISAKHAPATNAM per cent drop in GST has fallen to an abysmal low of extend liberal financial assis- Contrary to the claims being collections in March Rs 2 crore a day, the Andhra tance to overcome the pathet- A Navy sailor was grievous- made by the governments of Pradesh government on ic situation and bail out the ly injured in an accident of Telangana and Andhra 2020 when Thursday made a desperate state. Official sources, who material failure in the high- Pradesh states over suffering compared with plea to the Centre to extend took part in the videoconfer- pressure air system on board huge revenue losses on account March 2019, while ‘India specific liberal financial assistance to ence, said the Chief Minister a naval vessel, the Navy said of Coronavirus lockdown, the AP recorded even tide over the "grave crisis" also requested that the Centre here on Thursday. A Board latest data released by the strategy needed’ under the impact of COVID- supply Coronavirus testing kits of Inquiry has been ordered Deadline extended Centre on GST collections for lower drop of 2 %. 19 and the consequent lock- and Personal Protection by the Navy to investigate for comments on March 2020 showed that there PNS n NEW DELHI down. Equipment (PPE) in view of the into the cause of the inci- was not much impact on the "We are facing a grave spurt in the number of cases. dent, which occurred on relaxation in QIP, Telugu states. of just 2 per cent. collections of Rs 3,667 crore in Congress MP Rahul Gandhi financial crisis, so much so Noting that the state record- Wednesday, the Eastern delisting norms TS witnessed just 9 per cent Only Punjab, Haryana, February 2020 against Rs 3,563 has emphasised that India that we could not even pay full ed 132 Coronavirus positive Naval Command said in a drop in GST collections in Tripura, Meghalaya, Odisha, crore in March 2020, a reduc- specific strategywas needed salaries for the month of cases so far, the Chief Minister statement here. March 2020 when compared Gujarat and tion of Rs 104 crore. to combat Covid-19. March to our officers and informed the Prime Minister 3 with March 2019, while AP Karnataka achieved higher Similarly, AP registered GST Gandhi tweeted, "At the employees. Our revenues have that 111 of them were related recorded even lower drop of 2 collections in March 2020 collections of Rs 2,563 crore in CWC meeting today I fallen to negligible levels," to the Tablighi Jamaat congre- 8 per cent. even in the February 2020 against Rs 2,548 emphasised the urgent need Chief Minister Y S gation in New Delhi. TS recorded GST collec- lockdown period when crore in March 2020, a drop of to devise an India specific Jaganmohan Reddy told “Of these, 91 are those tion of Rs 3,563 crore in March compared with March 2019. just Rs 15 crore. strategy to combat the Prime Minister Narendra attended the event and 20 have CORONAVIRUS TODAY 2020 against Rs 3,897 crore in Even when compared with At the national level, the #COVID19 Pandemic & for Modi during a videoconfer- come in contact with them.We March 2019, a decline of 9 per the GST collections in GST collections for March, Congress workers & leaders ence on Covid-19 manage- have identified 1,085 persons OUTBREAK ALMANAC cent. February 2020, when there 2020 stood at Rs 97,597 crore, to help soften the blow by ment. who attended the congrega- Similarly, AP's GST collec- was no lockdown, there was lower than Rs 1.05 lakh-crore assisting the poor & the most "We have promised Rs 1,000 tion at the Nizamuddin Month & Paksham: tions stood at Rs 2,548 crore in not much impact on the collected in February, 2020, a vulnerable sections of our to each BPL family as relief Markaz and have quarantined Chaitra & Shukla Paksha March 2020 against Rs 2,589 Telugu States. decline of 8.4 per cent. society in every possible way." because of the lockdown and them. Panchangam: crore in March 2019, a decline Telangana recorded GST 3 3 we immediately need 1,500 3 WORLD Tithi: Dashami: 12:57 am (Next Day) Nakshatram: Pushya: 06:41 pm

Time to Avoid: (Bad time to start CORONA CRISIS 9,36,204 Cases any important work) Mercury @ 42 degrees C, Confirmed Rahukalam: 10:47 am – 12:19 pm Caseload points to community transmission Yamagandam: 03:22 pm – 04:54 pm but Covid-19 plays it cool! 47,249 Varjyam: NIL Deaths Gulika: 07:44 am - 09:15 am PNS n HYDERABAD The US Centers for Disease PNS n HYDERABAD Stage-3 as well. Subsequently, Good Time: (to start any important Control and Prevention says: once they zeroed in on the fact work) Temperatures have soared "Generally, coronaviruses sur- With the number of Covid-19 that the majority of fresh 1,94,578

to as high as 42 degree vive for shorter periods of cases increasing by the day in Covid-19 patients are from Recovered Amritakalam: 12:29 pm - 02:02 pm Celsius in the State with the time at higher temperatures the country, and with spikes in among those who attended Abhijit Muhurtham: 11:54 am - 12:43 pm highest day temperature and higher humidity than in daily counts reported by many the Tablighi Jamaat's congrega- INDIA recorded in Badradri cooler or dryer environ- states, there is an uncertainty tion at Markaz, Nizamuddin; VIJAYAWADA Kothagudem at 42.2 degree ments." over the government's repeat- the focus shifted to figuring out Confirmed WEATHER Celsius; state capital record- According to CDC, it is not ed claims that there is no com- these patients and their con- Cases 2536 Forecast: Clear ed day temperature at 39 yet known whether weather munity transmission. tacts. Temp: 34/26 degree Celsius. and temperature impact the As of Thursday evening, At the community transmis- Several people, including spread of COVID-19. The India reported 50 deaths, with sion stage, also called as Stage- Deaths Humidity: 72% 70 Sunrise: 06.08 Chief Minister K only way to reduce transmis- 1,764 active cases. Telangana 3, a disease spreads in the pop- Sunset: 06.29 Chandrashekar Rao, have sion of coronavirus is social reported 9 deaths and 130 ulation in such a way that peo- suggested that COVID-19 distancing and maintaining cases, while Andhra Pradesh apparently suspected commu- the stage. Towards this end, ple don't know how they were Current Weather Conditions Recovered will not survive in India's hygiene. reported 143 cases and 1 death. nity transmission and did Health Minister Etela Rajender exposed to the contagion. 189 Updated April 02, 2020 5:00 PM summer temperatures. 3 Initially, the TS government make preparations to deal with reviewed the preparedness for 3 VIJAYAWADA | FRIDAY | APRIL 3, 2020 vijayawada 02

CAPSULE Jasmine growers seek Low key celebrations mark SBI staff to donate two-day salary to Rama Navami in Telugu States PM CARES Fund PNS n VIJAYAWADA VIJAYAWADA: In all, 2,56,000 employees of State Bank of India relief as sales plummet Subdued celebrations marked Sri Rama Navami in Andhra (SBI) have decided to contribute n two days’ salary to the Prime PNS VIJAYAWADA n Pradesh and Telangana on The flower fetches Rs 1,200 a Thursday due to lockdown. Minister’s National Relief Fund to kg during its peak season, fight against the COVID-19. With Traditional cultivators of jas- With no public congregation mine flowers are cursing their which commences from allowed and temples remain- this collective effort and January and lasts till June. As commitment of SBI employees, fate as there is a huge slump ing shut across both Telugu Rs 100 crore will be donated to in demand following imposi- of now, farmers are finding it States, the devouts performed the PM CARES Fund, which is tion of clamp down in the difficult to sell 200 kg of the puja and conducted other rit- created to fight against the country due to the coron- flowers as there are no takers uals at home. coronavirus. Last Week, SBI had avirus. During the season, for the flowers even if they While extending his greet- committed 0.25 per cent of farmers of the region sell at are offered for Rs 60-70 a kg ings, Chief Minister YS annual profit for FY 2019-20 as least 1,000 kg per day. Jaganmohan Reddy appealed part of its CSR activities to fight The flower fetches Rs 1,200 n They are complaining of to people to celebrate the fes- COVID-19, said Rajnish Kumar, a kg during its peak season, inability to recover even tival in their homes in view of Chairman, SBI. He further stated which commences from labour charges and electricity the coronavirus threat. He attend the celestial wedding of n The Chief Ministers of “It is a matter of pride for State January and lasts till June. As charges for the borewells offered prayers for the wellbe- Lord Rama with His consort of now, farmers are finding it ing and prosperity of people. Sita. Kalyanotsavam, which is both the States greeted Bank of India that all our people on Sri Rama employees voluntarily came difficult to sell 200 kg of the n Chiruvella Venkata Reddy, another n Farmers hired labourers and got the flowers No devotees were allowed traditionally held at the Mithila forward to pledge their two days’ flowers as there are no takers farmer of Pedana, said earlier it was plucked but giving them away to temples free for Kalyanotsavam, or the Stadium, was shifted to the Navami salary to the PM CARES Fund. for the flowers even if they are the traders, who used to return empty of cost after 10 am because of poor sales. annual customary celebrations temple this time. n Governor Biswa offered for Rs 60-70 a kg. at Lord Sree Sita Ramachandra Several devotees had booked This is the time where we all handed due to lack of production to Unless the government comes to the rescue Bushan Harichandan need to combat this battle of They are complaining of inabil- match the demand. Now the situation of farmers, jasmine farmers are not in a Swamy temple in the temple tickets online but ity to recover even labour Bhadrachalam in Telangana. the authorities cancelled them and his Telangana COVID-19 outbreak with united is completely reversed position to recover efforts. We at SBI would keep charges and electricity charges The low-key ceremony saw and returned their money. counterpart Tamilisai continuing our support to the for the borewells. participation by a couple of Ajay Kumar said this was done Soundararajan government in all its endeavours In fact, on a festive occasion 10 cents and maximum of 50 lockdown, marriages and other Chiruvella Venkata Reddy, ministers and officials besides a to prevent gathering of devo- conveyed their to address the challenges of this like Sri Rama Navami, the cents. Daily, farmers sell flow- celebrations have been put off. another farmer of Pedana, said few priests Bhadrachalam. On tees in view of the lockdown. greetings to people pandemic.” stocks of flowers should ers at Pindivanipalem centre Religious programmes in tem- earlier it was the traders who behalf of the government, Authorities in both the States exhaust the moment they enter from 7 am to 9 am. ples also cancelled. A farmer used to return empty handed Minister for Endowments P had also appealed to people not n Authorities in both the the market. But on Wednesday, Wholesale traders from of Pedana, Perumalla Srinivasa due to lack of production to Indrakaran Reddy, Minister for to visit any temple on the occa- States appealed to the market wore a deserted Vijayawada, Gudivada, Rao said plucking of flowers match the demand. Now the Transport P Ajay Kumar, sion of Rama Navami. The people not to visit any SRM-AP donates look as there are no takers for Machilipatnam, Pamarru in begin as the clock strikes five. situation is completely Government Advisor KV Governors and the Chief temple on the occasion Rs 25 lakh to govt the flowers. Krishna district and Besides the family members, reversed. Farmers hired Ramanachari made the offer- Ministers of both the States of Sri Rama Navami Farmers of Pedana village Bhimavaram and Eluru in West two labourers are hired for labourers and got the flowers ings to the temple. About 40 greeted people on Rama VIJAYAWADA: The novel and villages in Gurudu mandal Godavari district purchase every 10 cents. Heavy drop in plucked but giving them away people, some of them wearing Navami. Governor Biswa coronavirus has evolved as a bordering it – Pindivanipalem, flowers from here and sell them demand is forcing us to leave to temples free of cost after 10 face masks, attended the cere- Bushan Harichandan and his his greetings to people on the pandemic that forced lockdown Posinavanipalem, Naidupalem, at retail prices in their areas. the flowers to the trees unhar- am because of poor sales. mony conducted by the priests Telangana counterpart Tamilisai occaion. He offered prayers to in many countries, including Ganjalapalem, Dakshina During marriage season, vested. This year farmers Unless the government comes in the temple premises. Soundararajan conveyed their God to bestow blessings on peo- India. In this regard, SRM Telugu Palem – cultivate jas- flower commands a price of Rs incurred total loss, he said not to the rescue of farmers, jas- Every year thousands of peo- greetings to people. ple in the State to be happy, University-AP has donated Rs 25 mine extensively. The area 1,200 a kg, and Rs 600 during knowing how to run the fam- mine farmers are not in a ple from both the Telugu States Telangana Chief Minister K healthy and prosperous with lakh to the government to under the crop ranges between normal days. Because of the ilies all through the year. position to recover. travel to Bhadrachalam to Chandrashekhar Rao conveyed longevity. combating the virus. Pro-Vice- Chancellor Prof D Narayana Rao, Director of Campus Life and Maintenance Venkataachalam COVID-19: and PRO Venugopal handed over the cheque to Minister for Heartfulness helpline to cope with lockdown stress Education Adimulam Suresh PNS n HYDERABAD 1800 121 Dhyana (3492). Several us to understand the situation here on Thursday. SRM The Helpline 'Voice That Cares' can be AP Chambers seeks University-AP president P hundreds of Heartfulness train- as it stands today, demystify it Sathyanaranan said, “The The Heartfulness Institute with accessed by anyone by dialing the toll-free ers trained by their guide Daaji and see it as it should be seen. COVID-19 pandemic has created its global headquarters near number 1800 121 Dhyana (3492). Several will respond to public calls and There is too much information bailout package an unprecedented global here has set up a 24X7 helpline hundreds of Heartfulness trainers trained help alleviate emotional or men- and too many changes in a very catastrophe and a national public for citizens to deal with the tal distress of callers. short time. How does one see health emergency. In this crisis, stress due to coronavirus lock- by their guide Daaji will respond to public "Empathy is known to be it in a larger context of one's life measures taken by the down in the country. calls and help alleviate emotional or one of the strongest healers and and what steps are needed to government under the leadership As the pandemic has created mental distress of callers the trainers are well versed to strengthen one's ability to han- of Chief Minister YS uncertainty, fear, panic and iso- navigate the callers through the dle their feelings and emotions Jaganmohan Reddy are lation among people, distress due to the ongoing thereby creating positive emo- commendable.” Heartfulness on Wednesday to help them deal with the situ- Cares' can be accessed by anyone lockdown," the institute said. tions to deal with the situation announced various initiatives ation. The Helpline 'Voice That by dialing the toll-free number "There is clear need for all of together," Daaji said. DRDO developed Personal Protective

Equipment for combating COVID-19 PNS n VIJAYAWADA made the recovery extremely difficult in the near to medi- PNS n VISAKHAPATNAM have applied their technical ic blood exceeds the criteria being hampered due to non-avail- The economic activity has um term. At this juncture, they knowledge and expertise in tex- defined for body suits by ability of seam sealing tapes. The come to a grinding halt in the sought relief measures from The Defence Research and tile, coating technology and nan- MoH&FW. Industry is geared up DRDO has prepared a special State due to the coronavirus. the State and Central govern- Development Organisation otechnology into research to for the production of the suit in sealant as an alternative to seam Hence, the Andhra Pradesh ments for recognising non- (DRDO) has developed a num- find a solution in the form of a large quantities. Kusumgarh sealing tape based on the sealant Chamber of Commerce and performing assets (NPA) from ber of products and technologies bio-suit to fight COVID-19 Industries is producing the raw used in submarine applications. Industry Federation (AP 90 days to 270 days and waiv- for defence against CBRN This has resulted in find- material, coating material Presently bio-suits prepared Chambers) general secretary er of interest burden for six (Chemical, Biological, ing a specific type of fab- and the complete suit is using this glue for seam sealing by Potluri Bhaskara Rao and months for MSME units. Radiological and Nuclear) agents. ric with a specific type being manufactured an industry partner has cleared president KVS Prakash Rao They also sought a bailout Blood from Coronavirus As a part of this effort, the of coating for making with the help of test at SITRA, Coimbatore. This sought relief from the State package for enterprises/ indus- DRDO, Gwalior, has developed a bio-suit, which can another industry. can be a game changer for the tex- and Central governments for try to battle the current crisis. CBRN Permeable Suit Mk V and keep the medical, The production tile industry. MSMEs, travel and tourism, They requested to announce a survivors might save lives 53,000 suits have been supplied paramedical and capacity of 7,000 The DRDO can mass produce hospitality, automobile and fiscal stimulus of three to five to the Army and NDRF. other personnel suits per day exists. this glue through industry to sup- auto ancillaries, transport, per cent of India’s gross PNS n NEW DELHI For first responders attending requiring PPE safe Another industry is port the seam sealing activity by granite (mining), spinning domestic product to save the Convalescent to radiological emergencies a from COVID-19. The being brought in with suit manufacturers. and textiles, agro and food business community. The United States Food and plasma is the reusable suit has been developed suit has been prepared with the experience in garment The DRDO is putting all out proacessing units. There is an urgent need for Drug Administration (FDA) liquid part of by Institute of Nuclear Medicine the help of the industry and has technology and efforts are on to efforts to see that these suits are aIn a release issued here on the Central government to has permitted the emergency and Allied Sciences (INMAS), been subjected to rigorous test- ramp up the capacity to 15,000 produced in large numbers and Thursday, they pointed out respond to the situation to investigational use of blood of blood that is Delhi. ADRDE, Agra, has devel- ing for textile parameters as well suits per day. serve as a robust line of defence that there is a hope of econom- provide financial and bailout people, who recovered from collected from oped various types of parachutes as protection against synthetic The bio-suit production in for our medics, paramedics and ic recovery in the last quarter packages to support various COVID-19 as a possible anti- that use fabrics similar to protec- blood. the country by DRDO industry other personnel in the front line of fiscal 2019-2020. However, ailing sectors and others, they dote for the deadly disease. patients, who tive technical textiles. The labs The protection against synthet- partners and other industries are for combating COVID-19. the coronavirus epidemic has added. "As there are no approved recovered from treatments, FDA is permitting an infection. the emergency investigational use of convalescent plasma to Antibodies treat COVID-19. The treatment present in it are Sri Rama Navami Brahmotsavams begin at Vontimitta involves the use of convalescent proteins that n plasma collected from recovered PNS VONTIMITTA n The annual Brahmotsavams COVID-19 patients," the FDA might help fight will last till April 11 and will be stated. the infection The prestigious Sri Rama conducted a simple manner Convalescent plasma is the Navami Brahmotsavams of Sri as darshan for pilgrims in the liquid part of blood that is col- Kodandarama Swamy temple temple was suspended as a lected from patients, who recov- effective to do so," the FDA said. at Vontimitta in YSR Kadapa part of coronavirus ered from an infection. It stated that the plasma must district commenced with precautionary initiative. Only Antibodies present in it are only be collected from recovered Dwajarohanam event on the temple deputy executive proteins that might help fight the individuals, if they are eligible to Thursday morning. officer Lokanatham, staff and infection. donate blood. "A physician The annual Brahmotsavams priests participated in the Use of convalescent plasma should contact their local blood will last till April 11 and will be fete was also studied in outbreaks of centre to enquire about obtain- conducted in Ekantham in a other respiratory infections, ing convalescent plasma from a simple manner as darshan n Earlier, as per Pancharathra including the 2009-2010 H1N1 recovered donor." activity for pilgrims in the Agama tradition, influenza virus pandemic, 2003 The agency, however, warned temple was suspended as a part Dwajarohanam-the sacred SARS-CoV-1 epidemic, and the of possible side effects of the of coronavirus precautionary flag hoisting ceremony was 2012 MERS-CoV epidemic. plasma transfusions. "It is gen- initiative. Only the temple Rajampeta MLA and TTD Board member Meda Mallikarjun Reddy carries silk clothes to present to Sri Kodandarama Swamy to mark Brahmotsavams at Ontimitta in YSR conducted by installing The FDA added, "There is erally safe and well-tolerated by deputy executive officer Kadapa district on Thursday Garuda flag atop the temple some information that suggests most patients, but can cause Lokanatham, staff and priests pillar, along with Nava it might help some patients allergic reactions and other side participated in the fete. were also conducted government will be presented Tirumanjanam was performed at enhancing the divine charm of Kalasabhishekam invoking recover from COVID-19." It is effects. Earlier, as per Pancharathra Rajampeta MLA and TTD for this celestial occasion. The Ranganayakula Mandapam to Srivari temple further. and inviting the galaxy of possible that convalescent plas- The FDA is working with its Agama tradition, Board member Meda TTD has made all arrange- the utsava idols of Sri Sitarama Pedd Jeeyar Swami and gods for the event ma contains antibodies to the government partners, including Dwajarohanam-the sacred flag Mallikarjun Reddy presented ments for live telecast of the Lakshmana Sametha Hanumanta Chinna Jeeyar Swamy of virus that causes COVID-19 and the National Institutes of Health hoisting ceremony was con- silk clothes to Sri event on SVBC channel. Swamivarlu. Tirumala, TTD EO Anil performed at the Bangaru might be effective against the (NIH) and the Centres for ducted by installing Garuda Kodandarama Swamy on the Meanwhile, the prestigious Thereafter, Vedic priests Kumar Singhal, Additional EO Vakili inside the Srivari temple. infection.” Disease Control and Prevention flag atop the temple pillar, opening day of the 10-day fete. and holy event of Sri Sita Rama chanted pasuras from Divya AV Dharma Reddy, temple The TTD has, however, can- "It is important to determine (CDC), to develop master proto- along with Nava Sri Sitarama Kalyanam will Lakshmana Sametha Prabandam besides Purusha deputy executive officer celled the Sri Hanumanta through clinical trials, before cols for use by multiple investi- Kalasabhishekam invoking and be performed within the cor- Hanumanta Asthanam was Suktam, Tetittiriya Upanishad, Harindranath and other offi- Vahana Seva conducted on the routinely administering conva- gators in order to coordinate the inviting the galaxy of gods for ridors of Sri Kodandarama held in Srivari temple on Sri Suktam, Bhu Sultam, Neela cials participated. occasion of Sri Ramanavami in lescent plasma to patients with collection and use of COVID-19 the event. Sri Rama Navami Swamy temple on April 7 and Thursday. Suktam and Pancha Shanti Later in the night, Sri view of the coronavirus restric- COVID-19, that it is safe and convalescent plasma. festival and Pothana Jayanti the silk clothes on behalf of Earlier during the day, Snapana mantras, which were aimed at Ramanavami Asthanam was tions.

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ndhra Pradesh has taken the lead in its fight against COVID-19 Awith the state government tak- Fighting COVID-19, the Andhra Pradesh way ing many proactive steps like deploying 2.5 lakh strong vil- (Accredited Social Health surveillance is being done by and constituency level task medical college hospitals and lage and ward volunteers at the Activist) workers and ANMs Leading the fight from the front is a network a team of ward volunteers, force consists of local MLA other private hospitals to place ground level and conducting (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife) are of over 2.5 lakh strong village and ward additional ANMs, ASHA and other officials. their premises with all avail- door-to- door surveys to iden- visiting the houses of foreign workers and other functionar- The formation of task forces able resources and manpower tify people with symptoms returnees daily to counsel volunteers who are playing a pivotal role in ies every day. At secondary at all levels coupled with the at the disposal of district col- among others. them and to enquire about tracking down foreign returnees to the state. level, surveillance of sympto- work of volunteers and other lector as and when the need Leading the fight from the their health condition. matic patients is done by a medical and paramedical staff arises. front is a network of over 2.5 Besides, using the services of So far, the volunteers have tracked down ward level surveillance teams at the ground level helped the Further, the state will use lakh strong village and ward volunteers, the state govern- over 10,000 foreign returnees by conducting headed by a medical officer. state government to monitor 'COVID alerting tracking sys- volunteers who are playing a ment has distributed rice and The state government has the crisis on a real time basis tem' tool developed by state pivotal role in tracking down daal to all the ration card a comprehensive door-to-door survey twice constituted special task forces to take effective and quicker disaster management author- foreign returnees to the state. holders at their doorsteps on covering about 1.4 crore households in the at the state, district and con- decisions. ity to track over 30,000 people So far, the volunteers have March 29. It is also planning state. This helped the state government take stituency levels to take stock of So far, the state govern- placed under home quarantine tracked down over 10,000 for- to give a cash assistance of Rs the measures needed to con- ment has set up isolation facil- by tracking location of their eign returnees by conducting 1,000 to the people on April 4 better interventions on a real time basis. tain the spread of COVID-19. ities with about 17,000 beds in mobile numbers with the help PRUDHVI VEGESNA a comprehensive door-to-door with the help of volunteers. The state level task force the state. It is planning to set of telecom service providers. survey twice covering about After coming to power, the consists of five ministers, three up isolation facilities with Besides, the state govern- 1.4 crore households in the Jaganmohan Reddy govern- the state government has officers from the chief minis- 5000 beds in each district. ment has also set up a dedicat- state. This helped the state gov- ment recruited about 2.5 lakh covering about 50 houses. the spread of Coronavirus at devised a special strategy to ters office ( CMO) and 10 It is also planning to utilise ed toll free helpline (104) and ernment take better interven- volunteers to deliver essential Reportedly, this model is the ground level. fight the virus tooth and nail. other IAS officers. Similarly, the services of private hospi- COVID-19 dashboard to pro- tions on a real time basis. services like pensions and being emulated by the Kerala As the incidence of COVID- It has put in place two stage the district level task force con- tals . A GO (governmental vide real time information to Further, village and ward rations at the doorsteps of and UK governments as it 19 cases is high in urban areas surveillance in urban areas. At sists of district collector and order) has been issued in this the public to contain the volunteers along with ASHA people with each volunteer proved effective in countering when compared to rural areas, primary level, house to house other district level officials regard directing all the private spread of COVID-19. KURNOOL MIGRANT LABOURERS IN MUMBAI Naidu asks Jagan to set up Braving lathis for a pail of water more Covid-19 testing labs PNS n VIJAYAWADA PNS n KURNOOL n In a highly commercial The labourers have been place like Mumbai where asking the government author- Opposition leader N In a pathetic situation, at ities to send them back to their Chandrababu Naidu on least 600 families that migrat- the owners collect rent districts or send them to relief Thursday wrote a letter to ed to Versova in Mumbai from even for the thatched camps. Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan 11 mandals of the district are houses, the lives of Devadas of Yemmiganur Reddy asking him to take reeling under the impact of migrant labourers have said that he, along with other immediate steps for enhancing severe poverty for want of become miserable. Since labourers, migrated to Mumbai coronavirus testing facilities in works because of the lockdown there are no works, the seven months ago. He said that order to contain the fast clamped on the whole country. migrant labourers, who the 600 odd workers are going spreading of infection in the Moreover, there is none to have no assured savings, without job for the past 10 State. come to the rescue at this days. Even if the migrants step Naidu drew the Chief hour of crisis. have no other option out of their huts to receive food Minister's attention to the sud- Let alone having two square except to beg from the charitable public, den spurt in virus +ve cases in meals a day, the Telugu migrant n Males are paid Rs 500 police are wielding lathis. If the the State and this was mainly labourers in Mumbai are find- AP government did not come due to poor testing facilities ing it difficult to have porridge per day while females are to their rescue, there would be with just four labs in the State at least. They have to brave lathi paid Rs 300. But the no light at the end of the tun- as against 23 in Maharashtra, blows to fetch a pail of water for lockdown has denied nel for them, he said. 17 in Tamil Nadu, 15 in The TDP chief asked the government Rs 5 each. In a highly commer- them their daily bread. Another worker Dayakar Telangana, 15 in Delhi and 12 not to suppress the facts with regard cial place like Mumbai where The most affected says that everything is com- in Kerala. Only 1,307 tests were the owners collect rent even for among them are lactating mercial in Mumbai. A pitcher- conducted so far in the State as to COVID-19 cases as such a step the thatched houses, the lives mothers, aged, physically ful of water is being sold at Rs against 6,323 in Maharashtra, would further deteriorate the of migrant labourers have challenged and children. 5. Whether the family eats or 7,965 in Kerala, 6,530 in become miserable. Since there not, it has to pay Rs 2,000 a Rajasthan, 3,799 in Karnataka situation with nobody having any are no works, the migrant month towards rent for the hut. and 2,796 in Tamil Nadu. clue as to what is happening labourers, who have no assured Peddakaduburu, Aspari, are paid Rs 300. But the lock- to control the virus. But the For using a bulb and fan, the Naidu said that the govern- savings, have no other option Nandavaram, Kodumuru, C down has denied them their government officials find it electricity charges collected ment should know about the except to beg. Belagal, Guduru, Pattikonda daily bread. The most affected convenient to ignore the diffi- are Rs 1,500. The workers are steps being taken in other nobody having any clue as to ment has given Rs 1.75 lakh Though some charitable and other mandals migrated to among them are lactating culties being faced by migrant finding it difficult to feed the countries and states for their what is happening. There are crore package and asked the public come forward to provide Mumabi eight months ago to mothers, aged, physically chal- labourers. The Kurnool district lactating mothers and the aged replication in Andhra Pradesh rumors that even corona States to take a one-time dis- them with food packets, police work as casual hand in cement lenged and children. administration dashed a letter at this juncture. He appealed to so that grave danger could be deaths were suppressed in tribution of three-month are not entertaining people to products making units and as The government is also sad- to the Government of the authorities to come to their avoided to the lives of people Kurnool, Vijayawada and ration and three-month pen- come out on to streets. casual jobs like cleaning of dled with the responsibility of Maharashtra asking it to give a rescue. here in the coming weeks. Rajahmundry, he said. sions to the poor. Workers from Adoni, roads and so on. Males are paid taking care of the migrant relief of Rs 600 to the labour- Identification and segregation Naidu stressed the need for He took objection for allow- Gonegandla, Yemmiganuru, Rs 500 per day while females labourers apart of taking steps ers. of infected persons is very preventing starvation of lakhs ing crowds at ration shops even crucial to prevent the deadly of daily wage workers working in areas that are declared as red virus, he opined. in the unorganised sector, zones. Personal Protective He asked the government construction, toddy tappers, Equipment (PPEs) should be not to suppress the facts with fishermen, artisans, SC and ST provided to doctors, health Schoolchildren keep learning PM hints at staggered regard to COVID-19 cases as communities, who are not workers, police, sanitation such a step would further finding work due to lock- workers, media persons and during coronavirus lockdown lifting of lockdown... deteriorate the situation with down. The Central govern- those distributing ration. Narayana institutions start online classes in both states Continued from Page 1 APCC chief PNS n HYDERABAD 32 more in AP Jagan urges Centre The criteria for geographical urges govt to Technology has been literal- opening can also be based on the test positive... to extend ‘liberal aid’ ly saving the education sys- presence of public gathering Continued from Page 1 set up open tem during the lockdown spots. Currently, a person can Continued from Page 1 situation and draw up strategy. due to Covid-19. move about in a 3 km radius; this Another 17 COVID-19 positive He said that 2012 non-ICU While some schools are can be extended to 5 km and cases were identified in PP Centres Patients and suspects are being beds are ready in Vizag, using WhatsApp as a medi- eventually 10 km. The PM asked Prakasam district followed by kept in home isolation and Vijayawada, Nellore, and um to monitor the student's States to "work on war footing, 16 in Kadapa district and 14 in PNS n VIJAYAWADA quarantine facilities and provid- Tirupati. homework, others are giving identify virus hotspots and encir- West Godavari district. The ed all necessary medical help,” Moreover, special hospitals study from home schedule. cle them" to contain the infec- number of positive cases in Andhra Pradesh Congress he said. have been set up in 13 districts The Bharat Scouts and tion. The focus for the next few Visakhapatnam district was 11 Committee president S From February 10, 2020, for COVID-19. A total of 10,933 Guides School has created a weeks must be testing, tracing, followed by nine each in Sailajanath demanded that onwards 27,876 foreign non-ICU beds, 622 ICU beds WhatsApp group for each isolation and quarantine, Modi Chittoor and East Godavari the government set up open returnees have entered the state. were set up in these hospitals. class and section. Once the told states. districts, Anantapur district Paddy Purchase Centres All of them are under observa- Apart from these other 20,000 student completes his/her Wuhan, the fountainhead of recorded two positive cases across the State to purchase tion and among these 10,540 are beds are ready to accommodate homework, the parent sends starts with a fitness song. A Cloud for meetings. The the virus, lifted its lockdown par- and Kurnool one. the paddy from farmers. from urban areas and 17,336 in main cities and towns for iso- the picturesof the homework parent said, "My son is study- teacher takes classes online tially last week and people there According to State Nodal In a release here on from rural areas, the Chief lation. A total of 1,000 ICU beds pages through WhatsApp. ing in Delhi Public School and wherein the children were are allowed to enter but not leave, officer Dr Arja Srikanth, the AP Thursday, he said that Minister informed. are ready in the state, Chief Which is then acknowledged was given a study from home asked to login from school the city. Cinemas were opened, government would set up up paddy was still with farmers "We require a lot of PPEs and Minister said to Modi. by the teacher. schedule. It includes water mail-id. but shut again. Wuhan imposed with two more COVID-19 in some districts and asked also test kits. Kindly ensure their Ration has been provided to TRS leader Kalvakuntla break, lunch, studying English, Some schools are taking it limits on how many people testing centres and also supply the government to purchase supply to AP," he said. people along with an addition- Kavitha shared this on twit- Hindi, Telugu and Math for further and making it could enter and shopkeepers set adequate number of Personal it from them immediately. He also explained about the al 1 kg of dal for free and the ter and applauded the stu- first standard students. Water mandatory for students to up dispensers for hand sanitis- Protective Equipment (PPEs) He said that it was time door-to-door survey being same will be repeated another dents, parents and teachers of break includes washing hands attend online classes. er and checked customers for to hospitals. These two testing for rabi harvesting and undertaken in both rural and two times in April. Moreover, the school for making the and the schedule ends with a Another parent said, "St signs of fever. Mette Frederiksen, labs would come up in Guntur farmers should be provided urban areas to keep a tab on financial assistance of Rs 1,000 effort in these difficult time. dance. It is upto the parents to Ann's school located at the PM of Denmark, had earli- and Kadapa districts, taking the with harvesting machines Coronavirus patients and also will be provided to the poor for In cases where online class- take it forward." Vijaynagar colony is con- er said that her country’s govern- total number of such labs to and farm laborers should be identify possible carriers. their expenses. es cannot be conducted, man- Another parent Yogesh ducting online classes and ment might have to control six. The State has testing allowed to work in fields. Jagan explained the regular As many as 218 camps have agements of the schools are Reddy said, "My son's online was insisting students to when people go to work and facilities in Vijayawada, The migrant workers, who surveys are being conducted by been set up to accommodate giving 'study from home' classes have started on come on online classes or school in order to prevent peo- Tirupati, Kakinada and were stranded in some volunteers, ANMs, Asha work- 9,695 people. Among these schedule. The schedule is from Wednesday and the school is else they will not get atten- ple from getting too close to one Anantapur. areas, should be provided ers and these are helping the 5,876 are from other states and 11:00 am to 2:30 pm which using the app called Zoom dance." another on public transport. with the harvesting work. health department monitor the 3,819 belong to AP. Naval sailor... Mercury @ 42 ... Caseload points to community... ‘India specific ‘Exponential growth’ as... Continued from Page 1 Continued from Page 1 Continued from Page 1 contain the virus and limit its strategy needed to 'An incident of material failure social-economic impact. According to TSDPS, the Continued from Page 1 in the High-Pressure Air sys- But that was the lowest daily The UN Office for the highest maximum tempera- combat Covid-19’ tem onboard a Naval vessel tally of fatalities since March 26. Coordination of Humanitarian ture 39.4 degree C was The Union Ministry of Continued from Page 1 berthed alongside at In France, 509 more Affairs (OCHA) said it has pro- recorded at Madhapur. If not Health and Family Welfare Visakhapatnam occurred on COVID-19 patients died in the vided $78.8 million in respons- for the lockdown, the state said: "We can consider that we Rahul Gandhi while speaking Apr 1.One sailor on duty in the past 24 hours, bringing the es to the pandemic. would be busy preparing for are in the community trans- in the CWC meeting said, vicinity of the incident was death tally to 4,032 on It includes $75 million from the upcoming heat wave con- mission stage only when there "COVID-19 particularly grievously injured," it said. Wednesday, said General the UN's Central Emergency ditions.Badradri are about 20 to 30 per cent attacks aged persons, people Director of Health Jerome Response Fund (CERF), with Kothagudem, Khammam, cases with no clue on how they with lung disease, diabetics, Salomon. the rest coming from country- Nalgonda and Suryapet wit- got the virus." persons with heart disease, No major impact... The cumulative number of based, pooled funds. nessed temperatures of making them most vulnerable. infection cases in the country Programs in 15 countries around 41 degrees. Most of Levels of community All State Governments need to Continued from Page 1 rose to 57,763. have been supported through the state will be witnessing transmission issue special advisory for these GST collections had crossed Across the Atlantic, the US these funds and additional temperatures in the range of None to Minimal - Evidence of categories and take care." Rs 1 lakh-crore for four consec- became the first nation with countries were being identified 39-40 degrees. isolated cases or limited com- "We have looked at utive months, till Feb. more than 200,000 COVID-19 under the global CERF alloca- According to the forecast, munity transmission, case #COVID for 2 months since Of the total Rs 97,597 crore, infections on Wednesday, tion of $60 million -- one of the maximum temperatures are investigations underway, no February and have spoken to Central GST stood at Rs 19,183 according to a new tally from largest ever made. expected to be in the range of evidence of exposure in large transmission with high likeli- community transmission, experts. No country in the crore, state GST at Rs 25,601 Johns Hopkins University. So far, according to the 37 degree to 40 degree communal setting, e.g., health- hood or confirmed exposure healthcare staffing significant- world has attempted a lock- crore, integrated GST was Rs It has recorded a total of OCHA, close to $374 million Celsius, while the minimum care facility, school, mass gath- within communal settings with ly impacted, multiple cases down with huge migrant 44,508 crore, which included Rs 5,119 deaths. in donor funds have been temperatures would be in ering. potential for rapid increase in within communal settings like labour without arranging for 18,056 crore collected on Meanwhile, UN agencies made available for the global the range of 24 degree to 26 Minimal to Moderate - suspected cases. healthcare facilities, schools, their stay, food and ration & imports continued to help countries plan. degree Celsius. Widespread and/or sustained Substantial - Large scale mass gatherings etc. pushing them back home." VIJAYAWADA | FRIDAY | APRIL 3, 2020 nation 04

BCG-COVID STUDY: SHORT READS Death of patient fuels fear of Large-scale epidemiological COVID-19 spread in Dharavi slum research needed PNS n MUMBAI The death of a COVID-19 BMC makes public GIS Govt under-funding patient from Mumbai's Dharavi, known as one of the fight against covid-19: biggest slums in Asia, has Chidambaram exposed its residents to the vul- map of affected areas nerability of contracting the PNS n MUMBAI A BMC spokesperson said NEW DELHI: Senior Congress viral infection and sparked a that the citizens can check leader P Chidambaram on fear of its spread in the highly The Brihanmumbai Municipal these coronavirus-affected Thursday alleged that the congested area. Corporation (BMC) has made areas on the weblink:- government is "under-funding" Several small scale industries public the GIS map of https://mumgis.mcgm.gov.in/ the fight against the coronavirus and workshops of leather COVID-19 affected areas in portal/apps/webappviewer/in pandemic and asked the Modi goods, pottery and textiles the city on its website on dex.html?id=47726549910f49 dispensation to announce that it A whopping 15 lakh people live in will fund the battle with Rs 5-6 operate from the slum colony Thursday, officials said. 20b8ce6367053a1697. PNS n NEW DELHI vaccination and COVID-19 small shanties dotting the narrow lakh crore. In a series of tweets, spread over 613 acres. Two days ago, the BMC The BMC has also formed cases reported in various coun- he said it is the ninth day since A whopping 15 lakh people bylanes of Dharavi, making it one of had announced the GIS map- a 'corona war room' in its dis- With a new study linking BCG tries, it will be "premature" to say the miserly FAP(financial live in small shanties dotting the most congested areas of the city ping of coronavirus-affected aster control unit, which will vaccination with scale of sever- there is a direct correlation. assistance plan) I was the narrow bylanes of Dharavi, areas in the city, besides set- be functional round-the- ity of COVID-19 globally, doc- "Large-scale epidemiologi- announced by Finance Minister making it one of the most con- ting set up a 'war room' to clock and various activities tors in India said "large-scale cal studies need to be conduct- Nirmala Sitharaman and asked gested areas of the city. Hospital, some 300 tenements will also undergo tests. monitor the viral infection in like planning, prevention and epidemiological studies" need ed before we can draw any con- where is the promised FAP II. Therefore, after the death of in the building and around 90 No one will be allowed to go the city and take steps to pre- management of the pandem- to be conducted before drawing clusion on this link, as suggest- "In my view, FAP II must the man, the authorities are shops were cordoned off by out of the building till the time vent its spread. ic will be conducted there. any conclusion. ed by the study," he told PTI. address the gaps and taking no chance and they police. test results of high risk contacts The civic body had said Maharashtra Chief According to the study led by The lung surgeon conjec- shortcomings in FAP I and the have sealed the slum rehabili- Residents of the building come out, he said. that with the help of the Minister Uddhav Thackeray a US-based researcher, a com- tured that as far as India and its needs of the categories that tation authority (SRV) building were quarantined at home. A "The Brihanmumbai maps, residents in those areas has sent two senior IAS offi- bination of reduced morbidity demography is concerned, were completely left out earlier," in which he lived. civic official said they have also Municipal Corporation (BMC) could take precautions more cers - Ashwini Bhide and Dr and mortality could make the there is a possibility that "we Chidambaram said. "Govern- The area has been demarcat- planned periodic spraying of is going to provide food and vigilantly, and people visiting Ramaswamy N - on deputa- Bacillus Calmette-Guerin have developed a better ment is hopelessly under- ed as a 'containment zone', a disinfectants in the area, while ration to residents of the build- those places for any work tion to the BMC to take steps (BCG) vaccination a "game- immune system to this virus funding the fight against the civic official said. the police have restricted peo- ing," the official said. could take preventive mea- to contain the spread of the changer" in the fight against through prior infections" which epidemic. Under-funding will The building in which the ple's movement there. The BMC has demarcated sures. deadly disease in the coun- novel coronavirus. people in the western countries exacerbate the situation and the man lived is surrounded by "All high risk contacts of the around 146 such containment The maps of the areas try's financial capital. The BCG vaccine is part of may not have been exposed too. money spent may turn out to be slums on all sides. The deceased, deceased have been stamped zones in the metropolis where where there are higher num- Bhide, the former manag- India's universal immunisa- "Besides, their are other con- a waste. Dr Jahangir Aziz has who had a garment shop in and quarantined. The swab they have either found one or ber of coronavirus cases will ing director of Mumbai Metro tion programme and adminis- founding factors like lockdown already warned the government Dharavi, developed symptoms samples of his family members more COVID-19 patients or be posted on the BMC web- Rail Corporation Ltd tered to millions of children at imposed in India by the govern- in this regard," the former like cough, cold and fever on and some building residents suspects, to contain the spread site to provide information (MMRCL), will work as coor- birth or soon after it. ment when the infection was in finance minister asserted. March 23 and was admitted to have been sent for testing," he of the pandemic, he said. about it to the public, civic dinator of the war room that Arvind Kumar, lung surgeon stage 2. And there is a possibil- hospital on March 26. said, adding that all senior cit- In a 'containment zone', chief Praveen Pardeshi had will collect and analyse the at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital ity that a less virulent strain of After the man died at the izens and people with respira- police limit people's access by said in a release. data on coronavirus disease. said, while there seems to be an COVID-19 is in circulation in Case registered nearby government-run Sion tory illness in the building barricading the area. apparent link between BCG India," Kumar said. against nine clerics who attended Jamaat SHRAVASTI (UP): An FIR has TN CM pitches been registered against nine Health Ministry issues guidelines clerics who returned from the for Central Tablighi Jamaat's congregation in New Delhi's Nizamuddin last support month and were hiding in a for dialysis of COVID-19 patients madrassa on the Nepal border, PNS n CHENNAI police said on Thursday. They PNS n NEW DELHI All hemodialysis units have been booked under IPC Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K should educate their personnel, Sections 188 (disobedience to Palaniswami on Thursday The Health Ministry on including nephrologists, nurs- order duly promulgated by pitched for Central govern- Thursday asked state and es, technicians, other staff and public servant), 269 (negligent ment support to the state's ini- Union territories to identify all patients undergoing treat- act likely to spread infection of tiatives tied to coronavirus and earmark at least one ment along with their care- disease dangerous to life) and pandemic like prevention and hemodialysis facility with ade- givers about COVID-19, it 270 (malignant act likely to relief measures during his quate number of machines, said. spread infection of disease). meet with Prime Minister trained staff and other support All universal precautions "Police found nine maulanas, Narendra Modi through video equipment as a preparatory must be strictly followed and residents of Amroha, in a conferencing. Palaniswami, in fixed-point dialysis unit in all staff members should strict- madrassa in the Jamunaha the second such meeting con- case of rise of COVID-19 epi- ly follow hand hygiene, the locality of the Malhipur area Testing, tracing, should vened by the Prime Minister demic. guidelines stated, adding med- where they were hiding on to discuss ways to check the In its 'Guidelines for Dialysis ical and support staff treating Wednesday. They arrived here spread of coronavirus with all of COVID-19 patients', the infected patients should be on March 13 and stayed in a be focus: PM tells CMs Chief Ministers, detailed the ministry said health depart- monitored for COVID-19 mosque too,"SP Anup Kumar PNS n NEW DELHI Interacting with them through initiatives being pursued by his ments may issue directives to coronavirus (SARS CoV-2), is general population," it said. infection at the dialysis facili- said. They neither informed the government in thwarting the district administrations allow- currently a pandemic, which The guidelines stressed that ty and should take necessary administration about their Prime Minister Narendra video conference, he said it contagion in Tamil Nadu ing easy movements of such produces high morbidity in the patients on regular dialysis action if found infected. presence nor volunteered for Modi on Thursday told chief is necessary to ensure which occupies the third slot patients, accompanied by one elderly and in patients with should adhere to prescribed The ministry recommended the medial examination, the SP ministers that to check the in the country in terms of the attendant, to a dialysis facility. associated comorbidities. schedule and not miss their that dialysis units should have said, adding that they have spread of the novel coron- availability of separate and total number of infections. The number of COVID-19 "Chronic kidney disease dialysis sessions to avoid any a designated screening area, been quarantined in the avirus, testing, tracing, isola- dedicated hospital facilities As many as 110 new cases cases climbed to 1,965 in the stage-5 patients on dialysis are emergency dialysis. where patients can be screened madarssa itself. tion and quarantine should for COVID-19 patients were reported in 15 districts of country on Thursday while the also vulnerable group because The guidelines outlined that for COVID-19 before allowing remain the focus in the next the State on April 1 bringing death toll rose to 50, according of their existing comorbidities, dialysis units should have a them to enter inside dialysis Three killed in few weeks. Interacting with the total count to 234. A brief to the Union Health Ministry. repeated unavoidable expo- signboard posted prominent- area. them through video confer- ters that it is important to for- release here said Palaniswami It said the government-run sure to hospital environment ly in the local language as well It said the screening area elephant attack in MP ence, he said it is necessary to mulate a common exit strate- detailed Modi "about the pre- transport system should be and immunosuppressed state... as Hindi and English asking should have adequate space to ANUPPUR (MP): Three ensure availability of separate gy to ensure the staggered re- ventive and relief measures arranged for those who do not These patients are therefore not patients to report any fever, implement social distancing persons, including two women, and dedicated hospital facili- emergence of the population being pursued by the state gov- have private vehicles. only more prone to acquire coughing or breathing problem between patients and accom- were killed by a herd of wild ties for COVID-19 patients. once the lockdown ends, an ernment and the Central help The ministry said COVID- infection but also develop in dialysis unit and waiting panying persons while waiting elephants at a village in Madhya Modi told the chief minis- official statement said. needed for such initiatives." 19, a disease caused by a novel severe diseases as compared to area. for dialysis staff. Pradeshs Anuppur district, an official said on Thursday. The incident took place on the intervening night of Wednesday Bihar official suspended and Thursday, when a herd of Security concerns with video conferencing app Zoom 10 to 12 wild elephants entered fields outside Purba village, n PNS MUMBAI episode. Lockdowns across the application can be vulnerable to resting with the hosts, defaced for roping in quacks about 80 km from here, world due to the COVID-19 cyberattacks, including leakage the slides which were being Pushprajgarh sub-divisional Of Security concerns with popular pandemic, which have forced of sensitive information to cyber shown and played various PNS n PATNA March 25 last, screenshots of Magistrate Vijay Deharia said. video conferencing app, Zoom, professionals in the service sec- criminals. videos, according to the reports. which had gone viral on the The elephants attacked three came to light during a media tor across the world to work "The Zoom meeting plat- In its advisory, CERT-In has An overzealous medical officer social media. In the notification, villagers, including two women, briefing by television body from home, have resulted in the form got hacked and as a result, suggested some measures for in Bihar ended up being sus- whereby Kumar has been sus- who were working the fields at BARC on Thursday. app being the most popular way we had to end the meeting enhancing the security of Zoom pended for floating the idea that pended with immediate effect the time, he said. While two of The Broadcast Audience of conducting meetings. urgently," said an e-mail from meetings including keeping the the fight against coronavirus and attached to the office of a them were killed on the spot, Research Council (BARC), Zoom has seen a spike in the organisers. Zoom software patched and pandemic be ramped up by special secretary here, the offi- one of the women died during which was hosting a virtual con- downloads and usage, but According to reports, there up-to-date and always set strong, roping in quacks. The Bihar cial has been pulled up for treatment at a hospital in ference to inform people about experts have been repeatedly were 600 users on the confer- difficult-to-guess and unique health department in its sus- undermining the state govern- Pushprajgarh, the SDM said. TV and smartphone consump- pointing out to security risks In), the national agency to com- ence when the incident hap- passwords for all meetings and pension order Wednesday, ments efforts by calling for Officials from the district tion trends amid the lockdown, with the app. bat cyberattacks and guarding pened. webinars. The BARC confer- rapped Ashesh Kumar, the civil roping in "jhola chhaap doctors" administration and forest was forced to stop the briefing The Computer Emergency the cyberspace, said the The hackers are likely to have ence has been rescheduled for a surgeon of Siwan district, for (quacks) which was "against department reached the spot to midway because of the "hacking" Response Team of India (CERT- unguarded usage of the digital had taken over the controls later time in the evening. issuing a circular to the effect on medical protocol". assess the situation, he added. Magistrate car attacked Jamia student arrested in WB students of Class 1 to 8 will be in Assam connection with Delhi violence automatically promoted to next class PNS n GUWAHATI PNS n NEW DELHI Chhatra RJD unit of PNS n KOLKATA Two persons attacked a mag- The Delhi Police on Thursday JNU also demanded This resulted in istrates vehicle and injured arrested a student of Jamia The West Bengal government suspension or his driver in Assams Bajali Milia Islamia for allegedly the release of Haider on Thursday announced that district when the officer was hatching a conspiracy to incite all students studying in Class inordinate delay enforcing the lockdown in a communal riots in northeast and said the police 1 to 8 will be automatically pro- in holding class market on Thursday, police Delhi, officials said. should become moted to the next class in view exams in different said. The two who pelted the Meeran Haider (35), a PhD of the emergent situation due magistrates vehicle with student at Jamia, is the president 'people-friendly' and to coronavirus outbreak. schools apart stones injuring the driver of RJD youth wing's Delhi unit, not scare people Education minister Partha from suspension were arrested. sources said. Chatterjee told reporters on of classes The vehicle was also dam- On Wednesday at 10 am, demanded the release of Haider Thursday the School Educa- aged. The incident occurred Haider was called for interroga- and said the police should of dissent," they said. tion department has decided when the magistrate was clos- tion by the Special Cell at their become 'people-friendly' and The JCC said Haider was there will be no detention of Presently many private ing down shops at the market Lodhi Colony office and was not scare people. The Jamia diligently working to provide students from class 1 to 8. schools, under ICSE and CBSE in Bhabanipur area, which subsequently arrested, the offi- Coordination Committee (JCC), ration to the needy during the "The department is passing closure of all educational insti- classes from nine to 12 can be curriculum, are already holding were open during the lock- cials said. Rajya Sabha MP and a group comprising students lockdown. on instruction to the schools tutions from March 16 due to held "with the help of technol- online classes from classes 5 to down imposed to contain RJD leader Manoj Jha tweeted, and alumni from the varsity, con- "The JCC demands that he (state-run and state-aided) to the coronavirus pandemic. ogy (net), mail and through 12.On April 1, Union HRD the COVID-19 outbreak, "Delhi Police called him for demned the arrest and demand- must be immediately released as fully enforce the 'no detention' This resulted in suspension or video conferencing." Ministry directed the Central police said. investigation and then received ed his immediate release. all charges against him are base- policy in all institutions for inordinate delay in holding class "We want to ensure classes can Board of Secondary Education Security personnel reached orders from above and arrested "The country is facing a mas- less," they said. In February, the those studying up to the eighth exams in different schools apart be held through modern tech- (CBSE) to promote all students the area and intensified Meeran Haider, who has been sive health crisis, however, the northeast part of the national standard, in view of the present from suspension of classes. nology. We are working on the of classes 1 to 8 to the next class patrolling. The total number helping people during the time state machinery is busy harass- capital was rocked with violence situation," Chatterjee said. Chatterjee said the mechanism. We will roll it out in view of the situation due to the of coronavirus cases in Assam of coronavirus outbreak." ing and framing student activists which claimed at least 53 lives The School Education Education department is work- after getting the consent of CM coronavirus outbreak in the is 16 so far. Chhatra RJD unit of JNU also in false cases to suppress voices and several got injured. department had ordered the ing on a mechanism to ensure Mamata Banerjee," he said. country. VIJAYAWADA | FRIDAY | APRIL 3, 2020 nation 05 SHORT READS Chronicles of death not foretold in coronavirus days PNS n NEW DELHI al cost. "The kind of support "In the evening, one gets from friends, neigh- 'CMs should ask As a kind of hush settles deep- the entire family bours and relatives is not there er across the expanse of India these days due to the restric- religious leaders to met virtually and thousands of towns and vil- through Zoom, tions," he said. avoid large gatherings' lages shut down to ward off a For many families, the lock- Coronavirus helplines pandemic, life goes on as it must paid last respects down has also meant coming to MUMBAI: Prime Minister – and so does death. to my grandfather terms with the fact that every- Narendra Modi on Thursday In times of social distancing, and consoled each thing cannot go as they had either busy or accepted Maharashtra Chief thousands of people are dying other," Jain said as always planned. Minister's suggestion that alone without a last glimpse of In Odisha, for instance, many religious leaders should be their loved ones who are unable the number of Hindus believe that those cre- asked to refrain from holding to reach them. Mourning, too, COVID-19 cases mated in Swargadhar in Puri unreachable: Users large gatherings. Thackeray is about isolation with no crossed 1,900 with will get moksha. PNS n NEW DELHI me that I have nothing more made the suggestion during a extended family, friends or even 50 fatalities On normal days, about 60 than seasonal flu," he said. video conference with Modi in neighbours to share your grief down came into force but none belief. And the emotional trau- bodies are cremated at When over the counter parac- Tiwari is among the many the morning, the Chief in person. In a dystopian pre- of the others could. They attend- ma is just one of the many things Swargadwar each day, said Bjay etamols did not help abate people who have raised con- Minister's Office (CMO) said. sent, imagined as a distant ed the funeral through the to deal with. burial grounds strictly limiting Kumar Das of the Puri Delhi-based Ankur Tiwari's cerns, especially in the last two Modi held a video conference future only in fiction perhaps, Zoom mobile application. When 77-year old Kesavan, the number of people allowed. Municipality. But this has come low-grade fever, sore throat weeks when the number of with all chief ministers to the affluent and connected are "In the evening, the entire who lives in a Chennai suburb, According to Rakesh Kapoor, down to less than 10. and breathlessness, he tried positive COVID-19 cases in discuss ways to check the mourning with each other family met virtually through heard news of the death of his caretaker of the Shamshan Ghat B Dhai, from Banki village in calling up the COVID-19 the country started spiking, spread of coronavirus. The through video conferencing and Zoom, paid last respects to my 94-year old mother at his sib- (Mukti Dham) in Punjab's Cuttack, went to Swargadhar for helplines to check if he need- about the allegedly non-func- prime minister accepted attending virtual funerals. grandfather and consoled each ling's home in a distant corner Ludhiana town, the number of his mother's last rites in accor- ed to get tested for the fatal tional helpline numbers issued Thackeray's suggestion and Others, in villages and towns other," Jain said as the number of the city, his first thought was people at a cremation have dance with her last wishes and virus, but to no avail. by the central and state gov- asked allchief ministers to without easy access to technol- of COVID-19 cases crossed the commute. Finally, he told come down sharply from 100 to a handful of family members "The numbers were either ernments. speak to religious leaders from ogy, are left to grieve, alone with 1,900 with 50 fatalities. PTI, he just left home without just 20. “As soon as the body accompanied the hearse to the busy or did not connect at all. As on Thursday, at least their respective states and ask their thoughts and no one to Actor Sanjay Suri did the waiting for the pass. arrives, we allow people to pay seaside town. I waited for over half an hour 1,965 people in the country are them to tell the community help with the healing process. same when his wife lost her "The spectre of coronavirus is their last respects for just one or However, the post death rit- on a single call, but it never infected with coronavirus while members about the need for Delhi-based journalist Ritika grandmother. horrible as it punishes even two minutes and then start the uals have been done away with. connected," Tiwari told PTI. 50 have died due to the disease. social distancing and avoiding Jain, who lost her her 85-year- “… it was so strange attend- those who are not affected,” process of performing last rites,” Church leaders are being The two helpline numbers Over a month back, the cen- large gatherings, the CMO said old grandfather in Palitana, ing a funeral via Zoom. Strange added K Veeraraghavan, also he said. equally strict. “Normally, over that the 46-year-old teacher tral and the state governments in a statement. Modi also Gujarat, during the 21-day lock- times!” he wrote on Twitter. from Chennai, who lost his In Haryana, too, rules are 100 people are present at the had tried calling were — 011- set up 24X7 helplines to supported Thackeray's view down, which began on March With governments limiting father recently. No members of being strictly followed. burial ground during funeral of 22307145 (Delhi govt) and 011- answer people's queries on that citizens need to be in good any member of our communi- mental health during the 24 to curtail the spread of the the number of people who can the family could join the crema- Sukhbir Singh, from 23978046 (central govt), both of novel coronavirus, including lockdown period, it said. State coronavirus, couldn't get to attend a funeral to 20 or less, no tion. Gorakhpur village in the state, ty. However, we will have to which he took down from the when, how and where one Health minister Rajesh Tope, meet him that one last time. way to travel from one city to Funerals have always been a lost his uncle to cancer recent- reduce the number to less than audio message that plays on the should get tested in case they Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, Her father managed to take another and passes needed to time for social bonding in ly and said the family followed 20 during this 21-day period,” phone before making a call. have symptoms like coughing, Tourism Minister Aaditya the last flight from Mumbai to leave the house, deaths have Indian society. But not any all the regulations. said Paresh Das of the Church "Eventually, I had to go to a fever, shortness of breath, and Thackeray and senior Bhavnagar just before the lock- become complicated beyond more with crematoriums and But it all came at an emotion- of Christ in Bhubaneswar. local doctor, who has assured vomiting. bureaucrats also attended the video conference. NCC offers to join the PIB's COVID-19 Tiger mauls man to Fact Check Unit Min identifies 20 existing, 22 potential hotspots n death at MP's fight against Covid PNS NEW DELHI The advisory managing quarantine and isola- Bandhavgarh Reserve becomes tion facilities and community PNS n NEW DELHI The Union Health Ministry on stressed on capacity based training in pyscho social UMARIA (MP): A man died operational Thursday said it has identified 20 building, saying care, the document said. after being attacked by a tiger The NCC has offered the ser- existing and 22 potential hotspots identified human The ministry advised states to at a village in Madhya vices of it cadets from across the PNS n NEW DELHI of COVID-19 in the country and resource needs to be identify and designate a nodal Pradesh's Bandhavgarh Tiger country to join India's fight asserted that although there is no trained online using officer for training who will Reserve (BTR) on Thursday, a against coronavirus, the defence The Press Information Bureau's evidence of widespread commu- coordinate all these activities. forest official said. Chintamani ministry said on Thursday. COVID-19 Fact Check Unit nity transmission, containment online training For COVID-19 management, Baiga (40) was mauled to death At least 1,965 cases of (FCU) became operational on measures will require large programs developed it advised the district administra- by a tiger when he stepped out COVID-19 have been report- Thursday. The unit is headed human resource. by the ministry tion to pool-in the requisite to relieve himself in the early ed till date in the country and by the bureau's director gener- The ministry said this in an human resources who would stay hours of Thursday at Gohani 50 people have died due to it. al, Nitin Wakankar, a statement advisory on human resource in the containment zone till village, BTR's sub-divisional "The National Cadet Corps Employment of volunteer issued by the PIB said. The PIB management of COVID-19 to identified. The containment ministry. The training for differ- such operations are over. Officer (SDO) Anil Shukla said. (NCC) has offered a helping NCC cadets will be based on on Wednesday had set up a provide guidance to the states on measures to break the cycle of ent target groups shall cover areas "For isolation areas, in addi- Baiga was posted as a hand to civilian authorities in the requisition from state govern- portal to check facts related to manpower that can be mobilized transmission and clinical man- like field surveillance, contact tion to training, all hospital staff, watchman at the Gohani village country's fight against COVID- ment and district administra- the novel coronavirus pan- for the management of the dis- agement of those affected would tracing, sampling, packaging dentists and AYUSH practition- camp of the forest patrolling 19 by extending the services of tion, the statement said. "The demic. It will receive messages ease along with possible role require large human resource," and shipment of specimen, hos- ers available should also be party, he said. When villagers cadets under 'Exercise NCC NCC has issued guidelines for by email and will send a assignments and their training it said in the document. pital infection prevention and trained. Retired doctors and raised an alarm, the big cat left Yogdan'," the defence ministry temporary employment of its response in a stipulated time- requirements. The advisory stressed on control, including use of appro- other healthcare professionals Baiga at a distance and fled the said in a statement. cadets to augment relief efforts frame. The official version of "Although there is no evidence capacity building, saying identi- priate PPEs and biomedical should be identified to work in scene, the SDO said, adding So far nearly 47,000 senior and functioning of various any news on COVID-19 can be to widespread community trans- fied human resource needs to be waste management, clinical case non-COVID areas in hospitals in that the victim had already died NCC cadets have volunteered agencies involved in battling the obtained from the unit, the mission, 20 existing and 22 trained online using online train- management including ventila- case of emergencies," the adviso- of severe injuries by then. pan-India, a senior official said. pandemic," it added. statement said. potential hotspots have been ing programs developed by the tor management, training on ry stated.

Kargil man tests Air India suspends positive for covid-19 Top Cong leaders criticise govt AI to conduct special flights to London LEH/JAMMU: A man from contract of 200 Kargil has tested positive for coronavirus and efforts are for insufficient measures employees to fly out stranded foreigners being made to trace all his contacts, a senior official said PNS n NEW DELHI unite humanity. PNS n NEW DELHI PNS n NEW DELHI on Thursday. "The test of one "The magnitude of the chal- person has arrived. He is Top Congress leaders on lenge before us is daunting but Air India on Thursday tem- Air India is planning to conduct positive. The person belongs to Thursday discussed the situa- our resolve to overcome it porarily suspended the con- multiple special flights to Sanjak area of Chitan belt of tion arising out of the coron- must be greater," she said. tracts of around 200 employees London between April 4 and Kargil", Commissioner (Health) avirus outbreak, with party She said in India, the poor including pilots, who were re- April 7 to fly out foreigners Rigzin Samphel told reporters. chief Sonia Gandhi criticising and disadvantaged have been employed after retirement, as all stranded in the country amid the The infected person is already the Centre for "unplanned" most vulnerable to the conse- domestic and international lockdown to combat the spread in quarantine in a hospital, he implementation of the lock- quences of the pandemic. "We commercial passenger flights of coronavirus, said senior offi- said. Teams of health workers down and calling for "solidar- must come together for their have been suspended in the cials on Thursday. headed by a block medical ity" in meeting the challenge sake and do all we can to sup- country till April 14 to curb the India is under a 21-day lock- route between April 4 and 7. In a letter to Civil Aviation officer (BMO) have been sent to the area of Sanjak-Chitan to posed by the pandemic. port them through the difficult COVID-19 pandemic, official down till April 14 and all domes- The officials added that the Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on find out his contacts and take Besides Sonia Gandhi, for- days that lie ahead," she said. said. "Since almost all the planes tic and international commercial national career will also be con- Monday, one of the airline's pilot urgent action, he said. "We mer prime minister Describing as "heartbreak- have been grounded and the passenger flights have been sus- ducting flights on Mumbai- unions had alleged that crew came to know that he had also Manmohan Singh, former Addressing the meeting, ing" the sight of lakhs of peo- carrier's revenues have taken a pended for this time period. London route on April 5 and members of Air India are being visited Achanathang area of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi Sonia Gandhi said the country ple walking for hundreds of significant fall during the last However, cargo flights and April 7. When asked if these provided with substandard, ill-fit- Kargil. We have sent a team to and other senior leaders dis- is in the midst of an unprece- kilometres without food or few weeks, the airline has decid- flights specially permitted by the flights to London from India will ting and flimsy personal protec- that area to find his contacts," cussed the health crisis at a dented health and humanitar- shelter, she criticised the gov- ed to temporarily suspend the aviation regulator DGCA can bring back Indians on their tive equipment (PPE) on flights he said. While the man has no meeting of the Congress ian crisis that has caused ernment for its "unplanned" contract of around 200 employ- operate during this time period. return, a senior Air India official that are being operated amid history of foreign travel, he had Working Committee (CWC) "untold suffering" across the implementation of the nation- ees including pilots who were Senior Air India officials said responded, "It is unlikely. As per coronavirus pandemic to either come in contact with pilgrims held through video confer- world but also "reaffirmed the wide lockdown and causing re-employed after their retire- the national carrier will conduct the plan till now, these flights will bring Indians from abroad or from Iran, he added. encing. bonds of brotherhood" that hardships to the poor. ment," said the official. four flights on Delhi-London return empty from London". take foreigners to their countries. AIIMS' doctor tests positive? Meteorological data relayed by aircraft goes PNS n NEW DELHI A senior resident doctor of down by 60% due to suspension of flights AIIMS, Delhi has tested positive for COVID-19, official sources PNS n NEW DELHI confirmed on Thursday. A scientist dealing with the aircraft The doctor from the The suspension of flights in relay data said the information is run Physiology Department has India due to the coronavirus in two models in India – the UK MeT now been admitted to the new outbreak has led to a 60 per private ward of the hospital cent decline in the availability office model and US' Noaa model – for and all those who had come in of meteorological data relayed coming out with forecasts contact with him are being by aircraft, Ministry of Earth screened and advised home- Sciences Secretary M Rajeevan quarantine accordingly. said on Thursday. He said the data is important Meteorological Data Relay The family members of the He told PTI that due to the as all the measurements are (AMDAR) observing system doctor will also be screened itive for the coronavirus infec- test results came out positive reduction of air traffic across taken directly unlike the one commenced as an operational and their samples will be test- tion, they said. two days ago. They are now the world, the crucial meteoro- from satellites which have to be programme sanctioned by ed, official sources said, One of the Safdarjung undergoing treatment at the logical data shared with air traf- converted through different WMO. adding further contact-tracing Hospital doctors, who is part isolation ward of Safdarjung fic controls by planes has gone models. "AMDAR and other air- has been initiated. of the team treating COVID- Hospital. down by 50-60 per cent glob- other sets of data that are used span of 10 days. Since meteorological phe- craft-based observations pro- The source of the infection 19 patients at the hospital, is "All doctors and staff who ally. The air traffic controls in to forecast to bridge the gap," He said the airlines across nomena is inter-linked, data vide an improvement in fore- is yet to be ascertained but offi- believed to have contracted the had come in contact with turn share data with meteoro- the scientist, who works with the globe share data with air from different parts of the casting ability through a reduc- cial sources said the doctor disease during the course of them have been tested and so logical organisations. one of the institutions under traffic controls, which in turn globe is crucial in weather tion in NWP forecast error of does not have any foreign duty, the sources had said. far nobody else has been found A scientist dealing with the the Ministry of Earth Sciences, share data with meteorological predictions. up to 15-20," the WMO stated travel history so far. The other medico, a female positive for coronavirus infec- aircraft relay data said the added. organisations. According to the World on its website. Two resident doctors of the resident doctor who is a third- tion," said sources. information is run in two India Meteorological "The aircraft are fitted with Meteorological Department, A 21-day lockdown was Centre-run Safdarjung year post-graduate student of At Sardar Patel Hospital and models in India – the UK Department (IMD) Director meteorological equipment that the idea of making meteorolog- announced by Prime Minister Hospital in Delhi also have Biochemistry Department, had Delhi State Cancer Institute MeT office model and US' General M Mohapatra said measure the temperature, air ical and other scientific atmos- Narendra Modi on March 24 to tested positive for COVID-19, recently travelled abroad, they (DSCI) too, a doctor each has Noaa model – for coming out the data shared by the flights is speed and humidity. The air- pheric measurements from air- fight the coronavirus outbreak. besides two doctors of two had said. tested positive for the coron- with forecasts. used in forecast models, espe- craft shares the observation on craft is nearly as old as aviation Since then all flight services in Delhi government-run hospi- Both of them showed symp- avirus infection, the sources "It does affect the quality of cially in the medium range in the route it takes," Mohapatra itself, but it is only in the late the country have been sus- tals who have also tested pos- toms of COVID-19 and their had said. forecast, but then there are predicting weather over the said. 1980s that the Aircraft pended. VIJAYAWADA | FRIDAY | APRIL 3, 2020 op nion 06 www.dailypioneer.com facebook.com/dailypioneer | @TheDailyPioneer | instagram.com/dailypioneer/ PAPER WITH PASSION Our own safety net As we run against time in our battle to fight the virus, we A novel course correction need to scale up domestic manufacture of medical devices he Coronavirus spiral was inevitable but now that it is squeezing health infrastruc- With a rapid rise in COVID-19 cases, the Government can ill-afford to either extend the lockdown Tture and medical care staff, we are bat- tling a second front of the disease, when it or do without it. The best course of action is to opt for a gradual lifting of the curfew attacks the preparedness. Doctors and care- givers from around the country have com- plained, even threatened to go on strike, because they do not have enough personal protective equipment (PPE), namely coveralls, gloves, goggles, masks and so on. There have been reports of frontline staff making use of raincoats and anything else that they can lay their hands on. The lockdown and the migration of labour have meant that even DEEPAK SINHA those manufacturing these essential gear are not being able to roll them out at breakneck speed. Though there is no dearth of Indian innovation — like the Pune mong the vast numbers of pic- tures starkly reflecting the real- virologist’s version of the test kits, IITs’ collective efforts to roll out apparatus or ity of the utter deprivation even car companies’ offer to make ventilators — the fact of the matter is these and difficulties confronting are all small-scale efforts. What is needed is a massive rollout, which, because the migrants trying to reach the safetyA of their own homes, there was one of policy hurdles, delay in placing orders and over-dependence, like the West, that truly encapsulates the tragedy. It was on China for crucial components, has been halted badly. Even the contracts being aptly captioned as: “Bharat meets India.” handled by domestic companies are of a small to middling nature, with no capa- There can be no two opinions that at this time of great peril, India once again let bilities to scale up output. It would be easy enough to attribute the scarcity to a down Bharat, the colloquial euphemism for global trend, arguing all countries battling the Coronavirus are facing it as well. those vast numbers who inhabit the hin- But we didn’t plan it as well with the Government ordering PPEs just before the terland. While the labourers may be blamed for having panicked, that would be lockdown. Safety wear would now need at least three weeks to be readied domes- excusable given the limited amount of tically, considering imports are not that reliable with most infected countries depen- information made public by Prime dent on factory floors in China and Southeast Asia. China has just about emerged Minister Narendra Modi when he announced a nationwide lockdown for 21 after the first wave of the virus and its manufacturing prowess is still not 100 days on March 24. per cent. The Government could also not have exported 90 tonnes of medical It can be debated as to who should be equipment and safety gear to Serbia at this time of a national emergency, con- blamed for this avoidable tragedy but what cannot be disputed is the fact that the firmed by a tweet from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) implementation of the Prime Minister’s though denied by the Health Ministry. Leave aside N95, even the triple layer sur- directive was poorly organised with little gical masks are not available for healthcare staff. There is also the issue of facil- or no cooperation among various Ministries or States. And for this, bureau- itating working capital for these units in the time of lockdown. As for chemicals crats, who are the final arbitrators of how and disinfectants, India has been dependent on China for critical intermediate things should proceed, must take a major goods and components. With so much dependence on China, particularly for share of the blame. The situation was not distinct set of challenges, if we data. No matter how accurate following strict isolation administrative machinery is helped in any way by Union Minister were to have any hope of con- it may be, it is a minimum of norms. The fact is that till now, in a state of disrepair. Gross raw materials, it is difficult to find easy replacements. Prakash Javadekar’s asinine tweet about the trolling the virus, it still required two weeks behind, given the lag testing has been poorly handled neglect and misgovernance of As we ride this unprecedented World War III, that literally came from nowhere Government’s decision to screen the immense courage and deci- between an individual becom- by the nodal agency responsi- the past 70 years have led to the and hit us before we could realise it, what should be the road looking ahead? Ramayana on public demand. As usual, the siveness on the part of the ing infected, the emergence of ble, the Indian Council of present situation. There’s a Simply prioritise our health sector and go back to home-grown drug and health police were left to muddle through, which Prime Minister to have gone the symptom and the diagno- Medical Research. This needs need for the present by and large they did at their incompetent ahead with it, at the time he did. sis finally being confirmed. immediate rectification. Government to greatly up its equipment manufacturing. They were there before but globalisation meant these best; though examples of exemplary behav- Though, instead of just exhor- Having realised that it has Of course, there are some game if it is to remain in con- units were sidelined and lost out on the cost advantage to cheaper imports. And iour on the part of some personnel must tations to follow his directions, not been fully effective in pre- who believe that for a country trol of the outcomes. now that the virus may spur the process of de-globalisation as it were, we need be appreciated. it may have been more appro- venting the community spread which lost approximately six Finally, it also stands to rea- While the scale of these heart-rending priate to have treated his listen- of the virus, the Government million people to the Spanish son that we cannot get back to to begin with crucial sectors that impact national safety, health and well-being. scenes is only a small fraction of what ers as adults and laid out the now faces the dilemma of how flu and three million to the our bad old ways. The involun- Immediately after Wuhan, the Government drew up a list of 38 drug raw mate- occurred, they are still reminiscent of the line of thought that was guid- to proceed ahead even as the Bengal famine, numbers mean tary improvement in pollu- rials that it wants locally produced to end the country’s dependence on Chinese Partition and the refugee crisis. Most of us ing his decision-making and the time for the lockdown to be lift- little. We should, therefore, get tion levels that have occurred would be aware that the communal riots likely future course of action. ed approaches. Conventional back to business as usual and because of the lockdown must imports. Some of our key life-saving drugs, including those for cardio-vascu- prior to the Partition left millions of peo- In democracies, citizens wisdom suggests the hope for the best, much in the not be frittered away in the lar issues, use active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), which are solely sourced ple dead or homeless, forcing the minor- abhor autocratic behaviour and Government can hardly afford manner in which Japan has name of economic progress. from China. Indian drugmakers import around 70 per cent of their total bulk drugs ity community, from both sides of the generally tend to show displea- to do so as there’s a possibility been acting till recently. We must give sustainable devel- newly demarcated borders, to migrate with sure by exhibiting disobedi- that cases may spike, Hong There’s also the speculation opment more than just lip ser- from there. Now there is no time for committees, policy or pondering. There is what little they could salvage. However, ence. That, unfortunately, along Kong and Singapore being that high temperatures may vice. Undoubtedly, in the long already a Make in India wishlist suggesting ways to make India one of the top what most of us would not be aware of is with ignorance on the part of recent examples. actually impact the spread of term, we will also have to five medical devices manufacturing hubs in the world. Most domestic manu- the fact that former Prime Minister some and a complete disregard On the other hand, it also the virus. A case in point is address the weakness in our Jawaharlal Nehru and MA Jinnah moved for social norms by those who cannot afford to let the lock- Australia, which is in its sum- administrative and police infra- facturers have in pre-crisis days shut their idling units and become importers quickly to handle this tragedy and estab- should have known better, down continue indefinitely mer season and where the structure to make them more and traders themselves. We have ignored an industry that could have helped us lished an ad hoc Military Evacuation resulted in the measures being given the impact such an action Government has been able to effective, efficient and decen- stave off this crisis. What else explains that though there are 1,000 domestic Organisation (MEO) in September 1947, implemented as envisioned. would have on the country’s control the spread of the virus tralised. ` under Maj Gen Chimni. The body func- In this context, the action economy. Thus, one reasonable despite a disjointed effort in More importantly, we must medical devices manufacturers, only 15 have a turnover of above 200 crore tioned for just three months and did yeo- of religious groups and politi- option would be for the this direction. This suggests look at our primary and sec- and the rest are less than `10 crore. If they are to scale up, then they need an man service. It was responsible for escort- cal leaders organising large Government to lift the lock- that if we are willing to take ondary education syllabi and enabling ecosystem, a level-playing field vis-a-vis imports and assured volumes. ing Muslim refugees from India to Pakistan gatherings is condemnable. In down in a graduated manner, some risks, we could go with introduce changes that will and Hindu refugees from Pakistan to addition, one has no choice but district wise. This would the gradual lifting of the lock- give much more importance to The last won’t be difficult given India’s huge market for healthcare, projected to India. Within that period, it escorted 85 to cater to the average citizens’ require identifying “hotspots,” down, increasing the pace of developing social responsibil- be the fourth largest in Asia. Post-Corona, the demand is not expected to dip lakh refugees, providing them with not just excessive reliance on fate. This from where the virus seems to opening up as ambient temper- ity and character building. but rise. This way we can easily end our import dependence by 70-90 per cent. secure passage but also arranging for has, in turn, rendered us more be spreading, and keeping atures rise. Without attention, how can we And be self-sufficient in the time of unforeseen crisis. their transportation, food, campsites and vulnerable to the onslaught of those areas in complete isola- Whatever decisions he may ever develop responsible citi- medical support, a far cry from what we the virus. The fact is that even tion while opening up activity take, Prime Minister Modi zens in the future? witnessed recently. This clearly shows the without these hiccups, the in other areas that appear to be finds himself in an unenviable (The writer, a military vet- level to which our political leadership and Government already has an free of the virus. To make this position of being damned if he eran is a Consultant with ORF administrative capabilities have sunk. extremely challenging task happen, it is essential to scale does and damned if he does and a Senior Visiting Fellow No Wimbledon Notwithstanding the fact that a nation- ahead. Its response to the up our testing apparatus and not. There is also no getting with The Peninsula Foundation, The cancellation of this summer's edition of the tennis wide lockdown was inevitable, given our spread of the virus is based on tracking capabilities, along with away from the fact that our Chennai) tournament is a big blow for fans and athletes as well he length of the men’s tennis season at S O U N D BITE Wimbledon is one that is often debated and there It is praiseworthy how States I am not a Bollywood Controversy around Beijing's The lockdown may have been Tseems to be a general acceptance that it is have worked together to singer. I am just a singer. transparency has strained ties, necessary but the unplanned undoubtedly the longest when compared with other check the spread of the Bollywood’s biggest problem adding to bad feelings trig- manner in which it has been virus. The focus should be is that there are too many gered by a conspiracy theory implemented has caused forms of team sports. Wimbledon is not just a cham- on testing, tracing, isolation things involved, including in China that the US military chaos and pain in the lives of pionship, it is a culture. But in all the eeriness of the and quarantine. business. was to blame for the virus. millions of migrant workers. Coronavirus, this sporting event, too, has fallen vic- Prime Minister Singer US President Congress chief tim like other games and championships. Everybody —Narendra Modi —Palash Sen —Donald Trump —Sonia Gandhi understands the need to prioritise public health but the regret is more about not getting back to the con- stancies that have so far defined our lives as we knew it. It was, perhaps, the L E T T E R S T O TH E EDITOR biggest blow that the oldest Grand Slam tournament, one that has maintained continuity ever since it was first held in 1877 with the exceptions of World War- Selective amnesia Teachers’ role I and World War-II, suffered when its leaders unanimously announced not a post- Amid lockdown, class divide all too evident ponement but the rescheduling of the event for June next year. But the cancel- Sir — Over the last two days, he class divide in India has become starker amid Sir — With the number of lation was inevitable. Some may argue that the decision came too early with the there has been much shouting in the nationwide lockdown necessitated by the COVID-19 cases and deaths game scheduled for May and the UK Government yet to review restrictions but the media regarding the gather- TCoronavirus crisis, with visuals of migrant workers increasing rapidly, everyday life ing at the Markaz building in walking long distances, being herded in trucks and hosed around the world has changed the organisers took the right call by giving certainty to the players than the game Nizamuddin. As per reports, with disinfectants. At the same time, India's rich rushed drastically. In these times, one of itself. Yes, with global sporting events receding on account of the present cri- some positive cases of COVID-19 to hire luxury private jets to fly their children studying the odd outcomes is the lack of sis, the news that there will be no Wimbledon this year will jolt many fans and were found there, which led to the abroad back home. The rich India is rich enough to appreciation of teachers. With whole debate on the gathering of weather the difficult days on its own but its poor coun- schools shut, most parents are athletes as well. Millions of spectators will miss the classic final between Roger foreigners in the Markaz. Before terpart will wither away without timely intervention by home tutoring their children Federer and Novak Djokovic, unending rallies by champions and traditional del- passing any judgment on the the Government. Nobody is saying that the lives of the although schools are offering icacies like strawberries and cream. Of course, players, for whom rankings depend event in Markaz, it is necessary to rich are not precious but all human lives are. support. Like so many occupa- know when and why people It is important for the Government to respect the tions, teaching requires training, on their form and performance, stand to lose the most, especially when it is a gathered there and why they did rights of people while implementing restrictions. The way cleansing ritual of yore. The primitive-style, futile exer- skills and commitment. When we matter of prowess on the grass court. Eight-time Wimbledon champion Roger not evacuate the place after a the hapless migrant workers were made to squat on the cise to eradicate the virus made a mockery of medical return to a normal life, it would Federer took to Twitter to express his shock and could do so with a one-liner, complete lockdown was roadside, shut their eyes and were hosed with disinfec- science. When the pandemic puts the less fortunate, be good to continue to value the announced. tant — sodium hypochlorite, a chemical not even sprayed impoverished segments of population in aggravated work that teachers do. “devastated.” An equally devastated seven-time Wimbledon singles champion The truth is that Markaz is a on cattle but used to clean inanimate objects — and deprivation and distress, it falls on the Government to Dennis Fitzgerald Serena Williams, too, expressed it with a one-liner, “I’m shocked.” place where people from around robbed of their dignity in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly was do all that it can to support them with food, water, shel- Melbourne With age not on their side, it remains unclear if Federer and Serena would the globe come and stay. On “dehumanising,” to describe in one word. The Bareilly ter and some cash. Its response must match the impact March 22, without prior notice, incident was an illustrative example of the administra- of the crisis. At what cost? still be playing when Wimbledon resumes in 2021. Federer is almost 40 now the countrywide lockdown was tion’s entrenched habit of looking at the poor as no more G David Milton and with the Wimbledon cancelled this year, he stands to lose an opportuni- imposed and Prime Minister than herds of cattle. The disinfection bath looked like a Maruthancode ty to add the 20th slam to his well-decorated cap. Serena, 39 right now, remains Narendra Modi asked every- Sir — It is regretful that while well- stuck with 23 Grand Slam singles titles, just one step away from equalling that body not to cross the lakshman off people coming from abroad rekha of their homes. The Check black marketing the market are on the rise. The directly in the market. This will were not sprayed with disinfectant, of Margaret Court’s record. In the midst of all this, the only succour is that the Markaz authority also followed reason for this is irregular supply ensure regular supply of the migrant labourers were hosed game will still manage to maintain its relevance, prestige and financial clout. it, besides informing the nearest of essentials as commodity essentials and at the same time down with it. The poor are bear- police station, which neglected Sir — Amid a nationwide lock- exchanges are happening on a keep a check on high prices as ing the cost of the rich. Unlike other sporting events, Wimbledon may not face any monetary rout for the alert. If Markaz is responsi- down ordered by the thin volume. However, the pres- well. The farmers can be issued Shambhavi the decision came well ahead. Besides, it has an extensive insurance policy ble for this crisis, so should the Government, economic activity ence of black market dealings passes for a limited time period Via email that would guard it against the global pandemic. police. has been halted and stock mar- cannot be denied. In lieu of this, to directly sell their goods. Asim Suhail kets, too, have been battered but the Government must allow pro- Navneet Seth Send your feedback to: Mumbai prices of essential commodities in ducers to sell their products Via email [email protected] VIJAYAWADA | FRIDAY | APRIL 3, 2020

www.dailypioneer.com analysis 07 FIRSTCOLUMN POINTCOUNTERPOINT Let us restart the UPON INFORMATION AND BELIEF, IRAN OR ITS UNLIKE THE US, WHICH SURREPTITIOUSLY PROXIES ARE PLANNING A SNEAK ATTACK ON US LIES, CHEATS AND ASSASSINATES, economy TROOPS AND/OR ASSETS IN IRAQ. IRAN ONLY ACTS IN SELF-DEFENCE. The young workforce has to be thrown back into —US PRESIDENT —IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER the great rebuild ahead. But the playbook will be DONALD TRUMP MOHAMMAD JAVAD ZARIF revised many times as we go India must seize the day KUMARDEEP BANERJEE was at the serving end of a serpentine queue of humanity, distanced Considering the impact of the US-China trade war, the Hong Kong revolt and the COVID-19 by a metre each, standing under the hot sun with whatever con- Itainers they could grab at the last minute, to fill with food. As I stood spread, it is likely that the US, and the world at large, would reduce trade ties with Beijing there trying to help all with a spoonful or two of nourishment, it struck me that these people, who form the invisible algae layer of the econ- omy, will soon wither away with a scarred psyche of a war they could- n’t see or understand. The invisible virus is a mystery in terms of its mutations and manifestations to the best scientific minds in the world. Hence, it leaves little scope of being understood by a lay person. In such a scenario, based on the limited and evolving research on the Coronavirus, it is imperative for each State to decide the best way forward to protect its citizens and save the economy. India took the bold step of putting its 1.3 billion citizens under lockdown for almost a month. Much has been written and published on the plight of migrant workers walking along railway tracks in hopes ABHISHEK RAJA of reaching home, some succumbing to fatigue and hunger. But the he COVID-19 menace continues to expand lockdown is possibly the only solution to save a giant scoop of humans globally as the virus has infected 9,38,348 peo- from an epidemic. Criticism and the emergence of a “hard State” have Tple till now and killed 47,286. And the num- become topics of conversations and on the social media. Somewhere, ber is going up by the hour. Prime Minister Narendra as it always happens in a war, these messages start being taken seri- Modi has imposed a nationwide lockdown for three ously and a fertile patch is laid for seeds of discontent against the weeks in an attempt to slow the spread of the powers that be. Coronavirus. Everyone, except those related to essen- However, in this new India, the reach of the Government has been tial services or facing a medical emergency, has to amplified tremendously via the digital media. To the Government’s cred- stay confined to their homes as social distancing is it, despite a sudden hard lockdown for almost a month, it ensured the country’s only hope of getting through this cri- the supply of essential items like food and medicines for citizens and sis without major damage. Though, as of now, the critical business continuity as far as possible in the current scenario. number of reported Coronavirus infections and casualties remains relatively low in India — around But the biggest niggling point which remained was the lack of seam- 2,032 confirmed cases and 58 dead — the fear is that, less flow of information from the top to the executor wielding a stick should the virus hit as it has in the United States (US), and many times a clueless policeman manning a checkpoint. Europe or Iran, it would lead to a disaster far big- The country watched the Prime Minister, for the second time in ger than anywhere else because of our teeming pop- a couple of days, addressing the nation at a time unseen and unheard ulation and cheek by jowl existence. The Indian of in this century. The citizens then rushed out in a collective panic economy is large and complex and the pandemic to stock up on whatever they deemed necessary to prepare for an will have direct and indirect consequences over a uncertain time ahead. Such was the panic that policemen on the streets longer period of time. However, as the American had to intervene and the much-talked-about police bandobast and business tycoon Warren Buffett once said, “A great upturning of supply carts got ample publicity. In retrospect, a lock- investment opportunity occurs when a marvellous business encounters a one-time huge but solvable down of this magnitude could have been planned better, with Standard problem.” Operating Procedures (SOPs) and clear dos and don’ts percolating Governments to the rescue: Right now, the from the top Government official at the Centre to the lowest clerk in whole world is dealing with losses, both human and THE India and China, are at the forefront. Both of roads which are not always paved or tities on tight schedules. the States, the police force, civil defence personnel and right up to economic because of the pandemic. However, we MANUFACTURING nations have very dynamic production wide enough to be able to transport prod- India’s manufacturing culture of pro- the volunteers on the ground. It could have saved the Government humans have survived in this world despite all the SECTOR HAS THE capabilities and unique economic land- ucts comfortably. But, with the introduc- ducing at a smaller scale has at times cre- from a lot of criticism for an otherwise, “just in time decision.” The numerous disasters that have visited the planet scapes with proven skills, strengths and tion of the Goods and Services Tax ated a poor image in the eyes of big com- because we have learnt to adapt ourselves to the envi- POTENTIAL TO (GST) E-way bill, the time for delivery of panies, entrepreneurs and investors. In other issue is that almost simultaneously all Central Government depart- RANK AMONG weaknesses, that make them both viable ments got into a frenzy of issuing multiple advisories which further ronment, no matter how tough it is. In keeping with choices. But now, India will surely have an consignments has reduced. The addition, India favours family and artisanal our indomitable spirit, Governments worldwide have THE TOP THREE edge over China and must make the most Government is working steadily on invest- models which result in buyers facing multiplied at the State and District Magistrate level. This led to obvi- GROWTH ous confusion among the law-enforcers and law-abiders, alike. Sure opened up their treasuries and announced finan- of this opportunity. Prime Minister ing in the development of railways, high- greater quality risk and production delays. cial packages to help businesses and ordinary peo- ECONOMIES AND Narendra Modi’s goal through the ‘Make ways, ports and airports, which is expect- After China, India is the only coun- it is also a great sign of participative governance where almost every ple tide over these tough times and make up for the PRODUCTION in India’ initiative is to bring basic man- ed to cut back transportation time and try in the world to match the scale of oper- key decision is available for the common man to see and share. financial losses they are experiencing due to lock- DESTINATIONS OF ufacturing to an economy that needs bet- costs by 20 per cent. ations and integrate its supply chain for However, it would be best to create a central dashboard or tracker of downs. While the US approved an over $2 trillion THE WORLD. ter-paying jobs. With an increasing share Product expertise: China’s major global customers. To effectively harness all crisis-related orders, right to the village panchayat level if need be, rescue plan for its people, India announced a $22.6 of a young working population, India can advantage over India is its ability to scale. the emerging opportunities, India needs ` CORPORATIONS in one framework. The world-class digital channels of a giant con- billion ( 1.70 lakh crore) package. HAVE A GOLDEN achieve its full manufacturing potential as Beijing has created Special Economic a carefully-crafted strategy and its metic- nected governance created in the last few years will need to be inte- China has bigger problems than COVID-19: OPPORTUNITY TO it looks to benefit from its demographic Zones (SEZ) and industrial clusters to ulous implementation at the grassroots grated right to the last mile, once this crisis is over. Before the Coronavirus outbreak shook the world, EMERGE FROM dividend and large workforce. encourage manufacturers, suppliers and level. Policymakers are far more prepared The next step would be to plan the kickstart of the nearly $3 tril- newspapers were flooded with news related to the However, it is imperative to weigh our other relevant parties to be physically close today than they were during the 2008 eco- US-China trade war. The US imposed three rounds THE SHADOW OF choices carefully by considering specific to one another. It provides higher flexibil- nomic meltdown. Crude oil is at the low- lion economy, even as the full ramifications of the dreaded virus play THE SERVICES out in the subcontinent. A task force comprising several inter-minis- of tariffs on Chinese products last year on over $250 external factors that will have an impact ity and the ability to react in case of insuf- est it has been in the last few decades, thus billion worth of goods. While justifying these, US SECTOR AND on our supply chain. First, let’s review the ficient quality, non-conforming materials, reducing overall costs. India has a huge terial departments and senior-most Government officials has been President Donald Trump said that he wanted to “stop SEIZE MORE OF economic landscape in India and China or other issues. As per McKinsey, Chinese domestic market with a rapidly-increas- created to rebuild the India of tomorrow. This task force should open the unfair transfers of American technology and THE GLOBAL followed by five key factors that influence manufacturers are five times more produc- ing middle class and overall population. multiple channels of communication with the war room officials cur- intellectual property to China” and protect jobs. MARKET. manufacturing in these two countries. tive than their counterparts in India. Investments in the Indian manufacturing rently waging a battle against COVID-19 and with industry bodies to Apart from this, China is also facing anti- THEREFORE, Pricing: Purchase cost is usually the However, most Indian manufacturers sector have been on the rise and post chalk out a post-crisis revival plan. Government protests in Hong Kong. The agitations WHEN WE THINK most important factor when manufactur- use high quality machines and tools to COVID-19 they would increase further. Again, the decision to allow transportation of essential and non- started in June 2019 and the demonstrations, OF SCOPE, THIS ing overseas. But so is quality, delivery produce good quality products. Many Initiatives like ‘Make in India’ and sector- essential items stuck on trucks in highways crisscrossing the coun- which began as a fight against a Bill that would have SEEMS TO BE THE times and the ease of doing business. Indian industries are well-known for this specific incentives to various manufactur- try is a positive one. However, the vital question of those vehicles still allowed Hong Kong residents to be extradited to the India’s manufacturing labour is more com- and are considered trustworthy when it ing companies aim to make the country mainland, have morphed into a call for free elec- BEST TIME FOR petitive when compared to China. In 2014, comes to their work ethics and business a global production hub. stuck has to be sorted. The labour force, which was unloading those INDIA TO ACHIEVE trucks and was the crucial link in the supply chain, has fled. It will tions, which largely do not exist in China. The Bill the average cost of manufacturing labour deals. Unlike China, India does not carry India is already an attractive destina- was withdrawn later but demonstrations continued ITS DREAM OF per hour was $0.92 in India and $3.52 in the stigma of poor-quality production. tion for foreign investments in the man- take a huge amount of confidence-building measures, including giv- and protesters demanded full democracy and an BECOMING A China. India has a huge number of Language skills: English is the sec- ufacturing sector as several mobile phone, ing some sops like a free, post-health check-up documented ticket inquiry into police atrocities. The rallies have qui- $5 TRILLION labourers who are skilled as well as ond official language in India and exec- luxury and automobile brands, among back to the fields, factories and under construction buildings of India. etened considerably as most residents hunker ECONOMY unskilled. The skilled, educated workers utives have embraced it to conduct busi- others, have set up or are looking to estab- The word documented here means a proper ticket issued in any cat- down at home to avoid being sickened by the like researchers, engineers and IT profes- ness. In contrast to China, India incorpo- lish their production bases here. This sec- egory with the name and details of the person travelling for work in Coronavirus. However, smaller protests neverthe- sionals are able to contribute cost-effec- rates British customs and legal systems, tor has the potential to rank among the any mode of transport. less flare up now and then and arrests continue. To tive development support to manufactur- ensuring a smaller culture gap that needs top three growth economies and manu- While it may look like a hard State keeping a tab on people’s move- Beijing, it is a direct challenge to the leadership, tan- ing operations. to be bridged. Therefore, India has a clear facturing destinations of the world. ment, yet the irony is, one has to somehow track, if any resurgence tamount to losing control of Hong Kong, which it Along with a massive workforce and edge over China in soft skills. Corporations have a golden opportunity of the dreaded virus is to be prevented. There could be other better can never tolerate. an emerging supply base, India also has Manufacturing processes: India’s to emerge from the shadow of the services ways to do the same in anonymised formats as well. The crux remains An opportunity for India: Right now, the US access to natural resources needed in pro- culture, as compared to China’s, has sector and seize more of the global mar- has more known cases of the Coronavirus than any duction. Notably, iron ore and aluminum always been to manufacture at a small ket. Therefore, when we think of scope, once at the end of 21 days, hopefully the virus has been clustered other country and people in general blame China for engineered goods, cotton, silk and jute scale. In certain instances, to keep costs this seems to be the best time for India to and isolated, the rest of the country can be eased back to normalcy. for the outbreak of this pandemic. Considering the for textiles and coal for power generation. low, China is relocating production sites achieve its dream of becoming a $5 tril- The young workforce has to be thrown back into the great rebuild impact of the US-China trade war, the Hong Kong Logistics: Newer roads and highways, to other developing countries and entre- lion economy. As they say, “Victory ahead. But the playbook will be revised many a time as we go about revolt and the COVID-19 spread, it is likely that the railways, waterways and airports give preneurs are replacing manpower with comes from finding opportunities in this business of kickstarting the Indian economy. US, and the world at large, would reduce trade rela- China an advantage from a logistics per- machines. Overall, China is maximising problems.” (The writer is Country Manager, India, ITI Council) tions with China. When it comes to choosing the spective. On the other hand, India relies its manufacturing processes, aiming to stay (The writer is an author and GST and best overseas manufacturers in Asia, two countries, heavily on a massive network and grids competitive and delivering larger quan- economics specialist) The buck stops with the WHO There is an urgent need to reform the global health watchdog to ensure that such an outbreak like the Coronavirus pandemic should not occur in the future due to lack of transparency and strong work ethics world. The global economy has never Beijing did not think it prudent to tail time was already lost before the ing the Coronavirus the “Chinese that no country can effectively battle on WHO reports and trust it to warn in the past faced such a critical situa- inform the WHO and other countries WHO got its act together and virus.” In retaliation, China launched an outbreak of this magnitude alone, them of any outbreaks. tion due to a pandemic and the inter- of the world well in advance about the announced on January 24 that a propaganda war, saying that the virus Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi The larger question is not just why national community has never serious implication of this virus. The COVID-19 can spread from human to was planted by the American army and held a meeting with the South Asian the WHO failed in its duty but how appeared so helpless as it is today, espe- whole world came to know about this human and as late as on March 13 also expelled US journalists. At the Association for Regional Cooperation China succeeded in not letting the cially when it is equipped with a high- deadly virus only when China failed in declared the Coronavirus a pandem- same time, it is also very interesting to (SAARC) member countries on March world know the actual number of ly advanced healthcare system. its efforts to hide information about the ic. As a result, China’s efforts to sup- note that the US and most of Europe 16 and an emergency fund was creat- COVID-infected people. And also This, in turn, brings us to a focal COVID-19 outbreak. press information about the is dependent on China for its medical ed with India making an initial contri- how it persuaded the WHO to spread question on the outbreak. Was it pos- But, Taiwan, which is one of the Coronavirus and the WHO’s complete items, including pharmaceutical ingre- bution of $10 billion. pro-China information to the interna- sible to prevent the global spread of this leading countries in the health sector failure in its duty have so far resulted dients, masks and gloves. In fact, the Soon after, member countries of tional community. Of course, this is not SUMIT KUMAR contagion? It is certainly not easy to and also happens to be China’s neigh- in over 9,38,348 confirmed cases and spread of the Coronavirus could be G-20 held a meeting through video- the first and the last time when WHO answer this question but it is equally bour, did not waste a second in 47,286 deaths worldwide. seen as a golden opportunity for conferencing, expressing their collec- has worked at the behest of China, s the Coronavirus pandemic true that had China and the World informing the WHO about the possi- Now, while there is a growing China to make a better trade deal with tive resolve to minimise the social and especially when its DG happens to be continues to rapidly spread Health Organisation (WHO) acted ble global outbreak of the Coronavirus, understanding among scientists and the US. Whatever may be the possible economic damage of the Coronavirus a pro-China man. Aacross the globe, countries have promptly and honestly, the impact of as it transmits from human to human. doctors that the Coronavirus hopped impact of the COVID-19 on bilateral pandemic. In doing so, they have decid- It is a serious indication of how also intensified their efforts to protect this virus could have been reduced to Sadly, the WHO completely ignored to humans from a bat and they are also relations between Beijing and ed to inject $5 trillion into the global China will continue to undermine their people from this deadly virus. Of a minimum. In this context, it needs Taiwan’s early warning and the move- trying to identify “patient zero” to reach Washington, the fact remains that the economy. global democratic institutions if nec- course, human civilisation has seen sev- to be recalled that while the first case ment of people between other coun- the bottom of the Coronavirus pan- global geopolitical and economic Another important aspect of this essary and corrective measures are not eral deadly contagions in the past and of COVID-19 was identified in Hubei tries and China continued at a normal demic, China appears more interested milieu shall not remain the same at the G-20 meeting that has largely remained taken by the world community to the Coronavirus outbreak would also province on November 17, the Chinese pace. Even after becoming aware of the in saving its dubious prestige in the end of this crisis. And, certainly, underemphasised is Modi’s call for the address this challenge. There is an not be the last one. But this compre- Government acknowledged that there global risk of the Coronavirus in international community than explain- China’s cosmetic efforts to extend a need to strengthen and reform the urgent need to reform the WHO to hension does not allow us to overlook were Coronavirus cases in Wuhan only December 2019, WTO Director ing the truth behind the global spread helping hand to other countries in con- WHO. The fact that its Director- ensure that such a crisis should not some critical facts about the present at the end of December 2019. And it General, Tedros Adhanom of this virus. Undoubtedly, China’s trolling this disease shall not remove General supported China’s cover-up occur in future due to lack of trans- global health crisis: This is the first time was only on January 23 that China Ghebreyesus, was busy praising China’s unscrupulous behaviour has set off an the bloodstains from its hand. efforts is the prime reason for the expo- parency and ethics. in recent history when a deadly virus finally decided to put Hubei province “commitment to transparency.” ugly spat between China and the US, On the other hand, sensing the nential explosion of COVID-19 across (The writer is ICSSR Post-Doctoral could spread to almost all parts of the under lockdown. Not surprisingly, Eventually, a significant portion of cur- with President Trump repeatedly call- gravity of the situation and realising the globe, because countries heavily rely Fellow, Pondicherry University) VIJAYAWADA | FRIDAY | APRIL 3, 2020 money 08 CAPSULE ‘Lockdown to cost Indian ONGC to lose Rs 4,000 crore on new gas price economy $4.64 bn every day’ PNS n NEW DELHI State-owned Oil and Natural PNS n NEW DELHI that every single day of the Gas Corp (ONGC) will lose nation-wide lockdown will cost about Rs 4,000 crore in revenue SBI lists USD 100 The unprecedented nationwide the Indian economy almost and start making cash losses lockdown that shut businesses, USD 4.64 billion. Consequently, after the government slashed the mn green bonds suspended flights and stopped the 21-day lockdown will result natural gas prices by a steep 26 on India INX all modes of transport will cost in a loss of GDP of almost USD per cent by benchmarking it NEW DELHI: (PTI) BSE's India the Indian economy almost 98 billion." against rates prevalent in gas- International Exchange (India USD 4.64 billion every day and Stating that the ratings agency surplus nations. INX) on Thursday said state- the entire 21-day lockdown will employed multiple methods to Prices of natural gas, which is owned SBI has listed green result in a GDP loss of almost assess real GDP estimates for Q1 used to produce fertilizer, gen- bonds of USD 100 million USD 98 billion, Acuite Ratings FY21, he said there is a signifi- erate electricity and gets convert- (about Rs 750 crore) on its & Research Ltd said on cant risk that it may contract up ed into CNG for use in automo- debt listing platform. The bank Thursday. to an extent of 5-6 per cent as biles and piped natural gas for On April 1, the gas price was reduced has listed green bonds of USD The rapid spread of Covid-19 compared to a pre-Covid household cooking, was from from USD 3.23 per mmBtu to USD 2.39 - 100 million under its USD 10 has not only disrupted the glob- growth estimate of 5 per cent. April 1 cut to USD 2.39 per mil- billion global medium term al economy but also triggered a In such a lockdown scenario, lion British thermal unit - a rate an 84 cent reduction note programme on India partial shutdown in many parts The rapid spread of Covid-19 has not the sectors that are most severe- about 37 per cent lower than the INX's Global Securities Market of India from early March and ly impacted are transport, hotel, cost of production. Green Platform (GSM), the an almost complete shutdown only disrupted global economy but also restaurant, and real estate activ- "These rates are unsustainable exchange said in a statement. from March 25. triggered a partial shutdown in many ities. for us. We have already told the annually. cubic meters per day of gas from "The issuance has been done "While the countrywide shut- parts of India from early March and an In our opinion, there would government that the gas pricing Oil Minister Dharmendra western offshore, the breakeven in very challenging market down is scheduled to be lifted be at around 50 per cent GVA should be freed. There should be Pradhan, in a written reply to a is around USD 3.8. conditions. We welcome SBI's from April 15, 2020, the risks of almost complete shutdown from Mar 25 (gross value added) loss in these complete pricing and marketing question in the Lok Sabha on "The rates are now way below green bond issuance on our prolonged disruption in eco- sectors, which account for freedom," ONGC Chairman March 20, 2017, had stated cost," Shanker said. GSM platform," India INX MD nomic activities exist depending around 22 per cent in overall and Managing Director Shashi that the cost of production of For every USD 1 dollar and CEO V Balasubramaniam on the intensity of the outbreak," my in 2020. growth for FY21 (April 2020 to GVA, in Q1 of FY21," it said. Shanker told PTI here. natural gas in the prolific change, the company's revenues said. The State Bank of India the credit rating agency said in Acuite Ratings believes there March 2021) to be in the band On the other hand, the ser- The BJP-led government had Krishna Godavari basin is are impacted by Rs 4,400-4,500 (SBI) has earlier also listed its a statement. is a risk of a contraction of April- of 2-3 per cent which takes into vices that are expected to see in October 2014 evolved a new between USD 4.99 -7.30 per crore annually. maiden green bond issuance The ongoing disruption, it June (2020-21 fiscal) GDP to the account a significant economic enhanced activities during this pricing formula using rates mmBtu. The same for other On April 1, the gas price was on India INX of USD 650 said, will have a significant eco- extent of 5-6 per cent, with Q2 revival in the second half of the crisis are communication, prevalent in gas surplus nations basins is in the range of USD reduced from USD 3.23 per million, he added. SBI nomic consequence across the (July-September) also likely to financial year. broadcasting, and healthcare. like the US, Canada, and Russia 3.80 -6.59 per mmBtu, he had mmBtu to USD 2.39 - an 84 Chairman Rajnish Kumar world and also in India. post modest growth in a best- Sankar Chakraborti, CEO, But with a 3.5 per cent share, to determine the price in a net said. cent reduction which trans- said, "It is an extremely IMF has already forecast a case scenario. Acuite Ratings & Research, their contribution to the over- importing country. Prices using For ONGC, which produces lates into annual Rs 4,000 crore important transaction for the recession for the global econo- It expects the overall GDP said: "Acuite Ratings estimates all GVA is small. this formula are calculated semi- most of its 64 million standard of revenue loss. country especially in this critical situation. We believe this issuance will reassure confidence in the country's Deadline extended for comments Retail sales strength in the international bond market". recovery may on relaxation in QIP, delisting norms kick-start PNS n NEW DELHI Securities and In the wake of coronavirus Exchange Board from May pandemic, Sebi has extended of India (Sebi) PNS n NEW DELHI the deadline for public com- TVS Motor Company ments on proposed relaxation had sought The short-term impact of Successfully in norms with regard to six- comments on the coronavirus pandemic month-gap between two QIPs, these two on retailers in the country Completes BS-VI and delisting of a firm in case will be severe, but retail sales Acuite Ratings sees of its merger with listed hold- proposals till recovery period for India is Coal India transition April 15 Domestic Hosur, Tamil Nadu, ing firm till April 30. expected to kick-start from Securities and Exchange tions received by Sebi seeking the first week of May subject Q1 growth contracting acting swiftly India (NewsVoir): TVS Motor Company registered sales of Board of India (Sebi) had extension of timelines due to to the lockdown not being 144,739 units in March 2020 sought comments on these impact of COVID-19 pan- As per the Sebi regulations, extended further, a report by to continue as against 325,323 units in two proposals till April 15. demic, it has been decided to a listed company cannot make Capillary Technologies said. 5-6 pc on virus woes March 2019. There has been a In addition, the deadline has extend the timelines for seek- any subsequent qualified insti- The report said until supplies been extended for submission ing public comments on... tutions placement until the March 16, the consumer PNS n MUMBAI huge impact on the Company's The agency fears n production and sales this of comments till this month- (the) consultation papers to expiry of six months from the retail sales and walk-ins did that if shutdown is PNS NEW DELHI month because of COVID-19 end on proposed e-voting April 30, 2020," the regulator date of the prior qualified insti- not see much dip compared Domestic ratings agency lockdown across the country. facility provided by listed firms said in a report dated March tutions placement made pur- to last year and this could be Acuite Ratings has forecast a lifted on April 14, State-owned Coal India TVS Motor Company launched as well as on a proposal that 31. suant to one or more special due to festive shopping massive 5-6 per cent con- the risks of a has taken various initia- attractive and feature rich BS- will require listed entity to With respect to QIP, it has resolutions. (Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Navratri traction in growth in the first prolonged tives to continue dry fuel VI versions of its entire obtain prior approval from been proposed to relax the In respect of delisting, the etc). quarter of the new fiscal due supply to various sectors, portfolio. These have been well the shareholders before mandatory requirement of a capital markets regulator pro- "However, the India con- to the coronavirus-driven disruption in including power, even received and there are extending any loan and guar- six-month-gap between two posed to exempt a listed com- sumer retail witnessed a big lockdown. economic during the lockdown peri- adequate stocks already in the antee to promoter entities. successive issuances of shares pany from following regulations drop in sales by 46 per cent The agency estimates the activities exist od, Coal Minister Pralhad market when it reopens. The comments on these two to qualified institutional in case of its merger with a list- and 55 per cent fall in the daily loss to the economy Joshi said on Thursday. International market demand proposals were sought till investors by listed companies ed holding firm, if the share- number of customers per from the lockdown at around "Acting swiftly, was also good for both two- March 31. requiring urgent funds, if they holders of the subsidiary enti- store from March 17 to 25, USD 4.6 billion and fears that @CoalIndiaHQ has taken wheeler and three-wheeler "In view of the representa- meet certain conditions. ty gets shares of the parent. which is expected to drop if at all the countrywide shut- several initiatives to con- categories. However, due to further in the coming weeks down is lifted on April 14, the half." tinue coal supply even the lockdown, there was a due to the ongoing nation- risks of a prolonged disrup- The worst hit sectors due to during the ongoing #lock- significant loss in production, wide lockdown," it added. tion in economic activities the lockdown are transport, down," Joshi said in a and also vehicle stock in the Security The government had exist depending on the inten- hotel, restaurant and real tweet. The mea- factory for both domestic and announced a 21-day lock- sity of the outbreak. estate activities, which would sures include extending international markets, which concerns with down starting March 24 to "The 21-day lockdown will see around 50 per cent GVA the time for coal lifting could not be dispatched. contain the spread of the result in a GDP loss of almost loss accounting for around 22 and making payments and ‘Zoom’ during deadly coronavirus infection USD 98 billion, pulling down per cent in overall GVA, in relaxing penalty against that has claimed thousands of the Q1 growth 5-6 percent," Q1. defaulters, the minister Allow refractory BARC's meet lives globally. The study by the agency warned, adding The agency believes that it said. makers to operate Capillary Technologies was that in the best case scenario, would take at least two-three "Extending the time for PNS n MUMBAI undertaken on the impact of growth may limp back into months to restore the supply coal lifting and making plants: IRMA COVID-19 in the retail the green territory in Q2. chain even if the lockdown is payments, to relaxing New Delhi: The Indian Security concerns with pop- Cipla completes ecosystems of India, Middle Accordingly, it expects "the limited to 21 days, as there are penalty against default- Refractory Makers Association ular video conferencing app, East, China, and Singapore. overall GDP growth for FY21 also further risks of local ers, coal companies are (IRMA) on Thursday said Zoom, came to light during Data of over 10,000 stores to be 2-3 percent which takes lockdowns in various regions truly supporting the refractory manufacturers must a media briefing by televi- successful phase-3 was analysed in these regions into account a significant eco- depending on the extent of the nation in this time of be allowed to operate plants sion body BARC on before and during lockdowns. nomic revival in the second outbreak. need," Joshi tweeted. during the lockdown period as Thursday. The coal minister last non-availability of the key The Broadcast Audience clinical study week had directed all the ingredient could hit steel Research Council (BARC), officials of the coal min- production. While the which was hosting a virtual PNS n NEW DELHI over 100 sites in the US Date for track, trace system for istry to work harder to government has allowed the conference to inform people enrolling 1,400 asthma patients, ensure that critical coal steel industry to continue about TV and smartphone Pharma major Cipla on it added. supplies are maintained operations along with raw consumption trends amid Thursday announced the suc- "This is an important mile- exports of drug formulations extended during the lockdown peri- materials like iron ore and coke the lockdown, was forced to cessful completion of Phase-3 stone and is a testament to od due to Covid-19 pan- during the lockdown under the stop the briefing midway clinical study for generic fluti- Cipla's strong respiratory capa- PNS n NEW DELHI The date has been extended demic so that power and Essential Services Maintenance because of the "hacking" casone propionate and salme- bilities and will go a long way from time to time. The last other critical sectors are Act, but refractory which is a episode. terol inhalation powder indicat- in strengthening our respirato- The government has again extension was till April 1, 2020. unaffected due to the cur- critical component for Lockdowns across the ed for treatment of asthma ry franchise in the US," Cipla extended the date for imple- The manufacturer or rent situation. production of any high world due to the COVID-19 and chronic obstructive pul- MD and Global CEO Umang mentation of track and trace exporter of drug formulations The coal ministry had temperature manufacturing pandemic, which have monary disease. Vohra said. system for exports of drug for- will have to print the barcode said that daily meetings of process like steel, cement or forced professionals in the The study results demon- Unmatched presence across mulations till October 1 this as per the global standards at all senior officers of the brass, agrochemicals has been service sector across the strate that Cipla's fluticasone the care continuum and the year, according to directorate different packaging levels - ministry are being held for left out, the IRMA said. "All world to work from home, propionate and salmeterol widest range of drug-device general of foreign trade with respect to maintaining the primary, secondary and tertiary monitoring coal produc- steel plants are carrying some have resulted in the app inhalation powder 100/50 mcg combinations has established (DGFT). parent-child relationship in - to facilitate tracking and trac- tion, supplies and dis- inventory ranging from 10-15 being the most popular way is therapeutically equivalent to Cipla's position as a lung leader The decision is applicable packaging levels and its ing of their products. patch. days. But they need to be of conducting meetings. Advair Diskus 100/50 mcg, in India and other key emerg- for both non-SSI (small scale uploading on central portal has Barcode helps in tracking The first such virtual replenished and everyday we Zoom has seen a spike in Cipla said in a statement. ing markets, he added. industry) and SSI-manufac- been extended upto October 1 and tracing origin of drugs, meeting took place on are getting calls from major downloads and usage, but The Phase-3 study, which "Our endeavour is to extend tured drugs. this year for both SSI and non- which minimises the chances March 26 through video steel manufacturers regarding experts have been repeated- successfully completed in the this expertise across developed "The date for implementa- SSI manufactured drugs," of genuine medicines being conferencing by Coal supply of refractories," IRMA ly pointing out to security first attempt, was conducted markets through niche product tion of track and trace system DGFT has said in a public considered spurious, sub-stan- Secretary Anil Kumar Chairman Parmod Sagar said. risks with the app. over a period of 15 months at development," Vohra said. for export of drug formulations notice. dard or counterfeit. Jain. Dominos Pizza, ITC Foods join hands 20% APAC non-fin cos in high PNS n BENGALURU They announced the launch of Dominos Essentials to deliver essential items at Dominos Pizza, in partnership risk due to Covid-19: Moody's with ITC Foods, on Thursday home in view of the lockdown imposed announced the launch of owing to the spread of coronavirus PNS n MUMBAI "We have identified six sec- Dominos Essentials to deliver tors as the most affected by essential items at home in view Only 20 per cent of the non- the coronavirus outbreak, of the lockdown imposed financial companies in the namely airlines, auto OEMS owing to the spread of coron- Kolkata, Chennai and to complete the order. Asia Pacific (APAC) region and auto parts supply, oil & avirus. Hyderabad. Dominos Safe Delivery Expert face high exposure to coron- gas producers, gaming, glob- The delivery infrastructure To avail of this service, cus- would follow the Zero Contact avirus disruptions and the al shipping, discretionary of Dominos would be lever- tomers need to use the latest Delivery practice to deliver resultant credit risks, Moody's retail and hospitality," the aged to help customers order version of the Dominos app the package. Investors Service said on report said. Also, of the 20 per everyday grocery essentials," a and click on Dominos This service method would Thursday. consumer demand and glob- cent high exposure compa- joint statement said. Essentials section. ensure that customers receive It noted that while these 20 al travel restrictions, 36 per nies, 67 per cent have negative A combo pack of Aashirvaad would be available on Dominos available for consumers first in Customers would then be their order without coming in per cent companies face high cent face moderate exposure outlook or are under review Atta and spices including chilli, app starting today (Thursday), Bengaluru and then in the able to select the combo pack contact with the Safe Delivery risks from the pandemic as and 27 per cent of them stare for downgrade, weak liquidi- coriander and turmeric powder it said. The service would be cities of Noida, Mumbai, and use digital payment mode Expert, the statement added. they are sensitive to shifting at refinancing risks. ty, or both. Follow us on @TheDailyPioneer facebook.com/ dailypioneer

Friday April 3, 2020

NGOs to the rescue of needy oronavirus is making life difficult for daily labourers and those living in the Hyderabad youngsters slums who earn on a daily basis. Daily wage labourers are finding it hard to from various C get their bread and butter. But sever- al volunteers and NGOs of Hyderabad shares, “Covid-19 is a pandemic that has its wings organisations are are doing their best to ensure daily-wage labour- S police (DGP’s essential supplies covid widely spread. Even the smallest physical contact ers and migrant workers receive sufficient and facilitation center) has created a group on can spread the virus at an alarming rate. While doing their bit to nutritious food, with help from the Telangana state TWhatsapp with people who are willing to anxious citizens of India and the government are police. supply dry ration/food to the needy. Police are trying to educate themselves, a lot of scams and serving the needy by Malleshwar Rao, founder of Aarambham, coordinating with women and child welfare, online frauds are creating panic. Complaints are distributes food to at least 5,000 people every day MEPMA, media requests etc. Group of dedicated being registered from different parts of the coun- donating essential with the help of volunteers across the city. “Corona NGOs/young volunteers are working with the police try on various scams in the name of Coronavirus. made life difficult for over thousands of such peo- to help migrant labour, destitute homes, Hackers are using different techniques to take ple in the city. By taking necessary precautions, construction workers, stranded people. One can advantage of this situation and fool people,” he groceries, and we are distributing food to the needy in areas like informs. To prevent people from such scams his Madhapur, Kondapur, Miyapur. We distribute reach out to TS police if in dire need through organisation is explaining and debunking myths creating awareness eggs, soaps and other essentials to those living in Whatsapp on +91 94906 17523. and techniques that hackers use, to fool people. slums. Many people around the city have been He said that the Covid-19 map malware can about various issues helping us with donations,” he tells us. to ensure our services reach those that need it.” spy on an individual through his/her android Prasanna Vikhil of ‘Friends Being Helping Sara of Seven Rays foundation is helping peo- phone’s camera and microphone. “This malware in times of the Corona Hands’ is donating essential groceries to the needy ple around ECIL by distributing groceries and map is designed to steal your critical information orphanages in and around Uppal. He shares, “We food. “This time of social distancing is important such as username, password, credit card details, pandemic, writes V are providing food for the elderly thrice a day. We and we are to stay home to prevent the spread of and other valuable information. As a user tries are working with two other organisations includ- the virus. Through our strong volunteers’ to navigate through the map to see the spread of By taking necessary SATEESH REDDY ing Sri Rajamatha and VIP Helping Hearts to feed base, we are identifying the areas that Coronavirus disease worldwide or in a specif- the needy. Police officials are playing a crucial role need help, through calls and emails. ic country and learn other things about the precautions, we are We then send our volunteers to help spread of coronavirus, a malware is activat- distributing eggs, soaps and people.” ed in the background which basically is an other essentials to those Members of Sri Sai Shanti Sahaya information stealer,” he explains. Seva Samithi are helping people in the There also are a plethora of advertisements living in slums. Many people slums of Manikonda and Abids. They online, claiming to sell special face masks to around the city have been set up a vehicle and with the help of protect from Coronavirus. “There are no spe- helping us with donations. the police, are donating food. One of cial veils accessible to shield you from coro- the members, Purnashanti says, navirus. Anyone claiming to We distribute food to atleast “With the help of the police, we sell special masks that pre- 5,000 people everyday. are able to distribute food to vent Coronavirus is a fraud- more than 1,000 people in the ster. Scientists and other MALLESHWAR RAO city.” health officials all over While there are those that the world are yet to are helping with food and find a cure. Products groceries, there are others or companies who like Rupesh Mittal, founder claim to have a of Cyber Jagriti, who are vaccination or creating awareness any other medi- among people about cine are just look- cybercrimes during the ing to scam you,” he Corona crisis. Rupesh adds.

Ahead of World ith all gymnasiums being cises to help build strength and squats motivation on Instagram, thanks to the shut as a result of nation- which will also help women ease their various challenges, home work out Health Day, wide lockdown, maintaining regular movements,” adds the trainer. videos. But Satish Paryada asks one to Stay W physical fitness in times like Emphasising the bene- refrain from taking up Celebrity trainer this has become a task. fits of burpees, Satish high- these challenges. “These Ahead of World Health Day, lights how this physical Do's for home challenges can result in Satish Paryad, in we speak to Hyderabad’s renowned fit- activity will help burn calo- workout injuries and that’s the ness trainer, Satish Paryada, who’s ries like a single leg-body- last thing you would want fit and an exclusive chat trained the likes of Mahesh Babu, Allu weight rep of lunges. They „ Warm-up well to suffer from, in times Arjun, Jr. NTR and Adivisesh among can help boost your „ Drink adequate like these,” he says. others. He helps us understand why endurance in the comfort water Instead, he advises one to with SHIKHA and how one must stay fit, even while of your home, he says. go onto apps like ‘Animal at home. “If you have a dumbbell „ Breathe right Flow on Demand’ and DUGGAL, The celebrity trainer says that the fit- at home, it should help you ‘Sun-Salutation’ to safe at ness industry has indeed come to a halt work out at home to keep Dont's while recharge one’s body. “A shares tips on and is becoming an ardent concern for your body in good shape. healthy and safe envi- gym freaks who cannot stop themselves You can try out a bench doing a home ronment for working out how to stay fit from pulling off numerous sets of press, lying fly exercise or workout is what one needs to lunges, push-ups, etc. “Endurance maybe a pullover and work out in peace. during exercises are what one needs to prac- sweat it out. You can also „ Don't exercise in Crunches, planks, jump- home tice at home along with a few other have a drilling session of a humid room ing exercises, hip-rota- quarantine and simple workouts/exercises. The possi- active yoga that will restore „ Don't practice tions, and calf exercises bilities of going to the gym can be your metabolism and fix jerky workouts are some of the other some do's and daunting now, however, you can still your flexibility,” says this body movements that exercise at the comfort of your home. gym enthusiast. „ Don't lift heavy can help you stay fit while don'ts Beginners can try basic push-up exer- There is no shortage of weights without at home,” he adds. supervision 10 health Vijayawada Friday April 3, 2020

ctress Taapsee Pannu says slow and steady is the mantra that has helped her get an audience and their trust. COVID-19: Award-winning ‘SLOW The actress is elated that her fans gave her the no. 1 spot on a list created by Bollywood Ranker on the basis A of votes that audience gave to her movies on IMDb. singer-songwriter Adam “I might not have the maximum hundred- AND crores grossers, but it’s quite satisfying to see that the audi- Schlesinger dies at 52 ence has voted me basis the kinds of films I have done,” Taapsee said. “Slow and steady is the mantra that has helped me get mmy winner Adam Schlesinger, best known as the co- my audience and their trust. I hope I live up to their trust founder of the 2000s pop-rock band Fountains of Wayne, STEADY every time they decide to spend the few hours of their has succumbed to coronavirus complications. He was 52. life watching my films,” she added. The composer was admitted to hospital after testing pos- The Pink star continued, “It helps me feel I am on E itive for COVID-19 infection and was on ventilator. the right path and that I can continue pushing the enve- Schlesinger passed away on Wednesday morning, The IS MY lope as there is an audience who is following my thought Hollywood Reporter has confirmed with Schlesinger’s lawyer. process. That is why I try and push to do something new and dif- He is also known for co-writing the band’s 2003 hit Stacy’s Mom. ferent every year.” Schlesinger also worked as an executive music producer on the Taapsee recently won Best Actress Awards for her movie Badla and musical show at The CW Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and composed songs Saand Ki Aankh. On the film front, Taapsee will be seen in Haseen for A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!, Too Late With Adam MANTRA' Dillruba, Rashmi Rocket and Shabaash Mithu. Carolla, The Howard Stern Radio Show and The Dana Carvey Show. He won three Primetime Emmys: two for original music and lyrics for the 2011 and 2012 Tony Awards and, another for original music and lyrics for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend in 2015. A Colbert Christmas, co-written by Schlesinger and David Javerbaum, won him the 2009 Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album. Schlesinger also penned the iconic song That Thing You Do, which Neha Kakkar, Salim Merchant, was part of the 1996 film of the same name, starring Tom Hanks. The actor also wrote and directed the film. Hanks, who himself is recuperating from the coronavirus at home, took to Twitter to mourn the writer, who receive Armaan Malik gear up for ‘sofa' gig an Oscar nod for the song. “There would be no usic artistes like Neha Control live for the first time along with Singers like Shirley Setia, Arjun Playtone without Adam Kakkar, Salim Merchant and his other popular songs such as Kanungo, Dhvani Bhanushali, Jonita Schlesinger, without his Armaan Malik have come Main hoon hero tera and Bol do Gandhi, Yo Yo Honey Singh and That Thing You Do!. M together so that their na zara. Darshan Raval will also entertain the He was a One-der. fans can enjoy live “Today, when social dis- TikTok community. Lost him to Covid- music while seated on tancing is the need of the “It is important for us to stay at 19. Terribly sad their sofas. hour, music is the one home, take precautions and fol- today,” the actor. It’s been days since the nation- thing I find my solace in. low social distancing. I am Schlesinger wide lockdown was announced. I personally believe that doing my bit by staying also wrote songs To make things entertaining, one can do a lot of cre- indoors and a platform like for title sequences TikTok as part of its ative things while stay- TikTok is helping us all in for Netflix’s To #GharBaithoIndia campaign, ing at home, and I staying positive, con- the Bone, Warner has started TikTok Sofa am spending my nected and enter- Bros’ Music & Concert. time creating new tained via their Lyrics, 20th Neha will be perform- music every day. initiatives,” Century Fox’s John ing her latest hits like With TikTok’s said Arjun. Tucker Must Die Yaad piya ki aane lagi live music ses- and Me, Myself & and Garmi. sions, I am Irene and Universal’s “At a time like this, as looking forward Josie and the much as staying home to having fun Pussycats. is important, so is and more The celebrated composer is also credited as a maintaining positivity importantly writer of songs for popular Amazon series The and keeping ourselves spreading Marvelous Mrs Maisel, NBC’s Late Night With Seth engaged. As an artiste, love and Meyers, the 2013 Emmy Awards, the 2012 Tony I am using this time to comfort Awards, The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, My interact with my fans through Name Is Earl, One Tree Hill and the 1997 through TikTok my Academy Awards. and its live concert music,” A prolific name in Hollywood’s music enter- to keep them said tainment side, Schlesinger co-wrote the music entertained. Armaan. and lyrics for the 2008 Broadway musical Cry- Being calm Baby, adapted from the John Waters movie that right now is starred Johnny Depp. the key,” said Recently, he reunited with his Crazy Ex- Neha. Girlfriend collaborator Rachel Bloom on the Armaan score for a forthcoming Broadway musical will be per- adaptation of the 1990s sitcom, The Nanny. forming his Besides Fountains of Wayne, Schlesinger new sin- also helped discover bands Ivy and Tinted gle Windows. He worked with Dashboard Confessional, The Monkees, They Might Be Giants and Robert Plant as a record produc- er. Schlesinger was also nominated for a Golden Globe and many Emmys, Tonys and Grammys. FUN

ARCHIE CALVIN AND HOBBES

GARFIELD REALITY CHECK SPEED BUMP CROSSWORD

NANCY

SUDOKU Yesterday’s solution

GINGER MEGGS

Rules l Each row and column can contain each number (1 to 9) exactly once. l The sum of all numbers in any row or column must equal 45. VIJAYAWADA | FRIDAY | APRIL 3, 2020 sport 11 Playing Test cricket made Virat better person PTI n NEW DELHI ever be able to do it (seldging) with AB. There is a friendship that lasts Rohit roasts Pant over ‘biggest six challenge’ ndia captain Virat Kohli on much longer than all these things.” Thursday said he became a bet- In fact, asked to choose two bats- know that the young wicketkeep- Iter person by playing Test crick- men he enjoys batting with most, De er-batsman wants to challenge et, calling the format a representa- Villiers is one of them along with for- him in hitting the biggest six. tion of life where one doesn’t have mer skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. During an Instagram Live the option of quitting when the “I enjoy batting with those who session, Jasprit Bumrah told Rohit going gets tough. understand my running between the that Pant wants to challenge him Speaking to former England wickets. You have to understand my to see who can hit the biggest six batsman and IPL teammate Kevin calls. I have enjoyed batting with MS between the two. Pietersen during an Instagram Live, and with AB, we don’t even need to In reply, the Indian opener Kohli touched upon his passion for call as we look at each other and we played down the challenge in Test cricket, the worst phase of his know.” hilarious manner, saying: “Mere career, how he turned into a vegan Kohli also spoke about the sath usko karna hai? ek saal hua and how much he is filled with grat- Indian cricket team being one of the nahi usko cricket khelke, chhakke itude for being able to live a comfort- best fielding sides in the world and ka competition kar rha hai (He able life during a global crisis like how he got that culture in the side. wants to compete against me? He COVID-19. “I was lucky to be in the centre has played cricket for hardly a Asked which is his favourite for- of transition. I got to see what we year and wants to have a compe- mat, the Indian skipper emphatical- were lacking and what the world was tition).” ly replied: “Test cricket, Test crick- doing and we needed to catch up. So Rishabh Pant bats during nets session PTI Rohit has so far hit 423 sixes et, Test cricket, Test cricket and Test I was lucky to play with players who in international cricket in 346 cricket. I have said it five times.” were on same page,” Kohli said. MUMBAI: Ace India cricketer Rohit matches whereas Pant has hit 47 “Because it is the representation The pair also went down mem- Sharma on Wednesday roasted maximums in 56 games he has of life. Whether you get runs or not, ory lane to talk about their days play- Rishabh Pant after he came to played for India so far. IANS you have to clap when others are bat- ing together for Royal Challengers ting. You have to go back to your Bangalore (RCB) in 2009 and 2010. room, get up and come the next day. “Right from 2009-10 we had you think (about winning the runs. To go through that feeling “You have to follow the routine amazing fun at RCB. We hit off well IPL), the more it keeps running that you will fail demolished me. whether you like it or not. It’s like life from Day 1. You came in as the big away from you. There have been “I promised never to let that where you don’t have the option of KP a star. We had a gun team with added pressure lately but we need happen to me again,” he said with not competing. Test cricket has Kallis, Boucher, Anil Kumble, Rahul to just enjoy and not take pressure.” a message for all youngsters who made me a better person,” said Dravid,” Kohli said. As he had said earlier, he want to be the next Virat Kohli. world’s premier batsman, who has 27 RCB have reached three finals would like to play all formats till The reason for the disaster in hundreds and 7240 runs in 86 but have never won an IPL. Kohli, 2023 and then take a call, he reit- England was putting himself ahead games. Virat Kohli plays a shot during his innings against New Zealand in the first Test at Wellington AP/File Picture as captain of the side, said he feels erated that the 2014 tour of of the team and being “obsessed Pietersen, a superb Test batsman they deserved a title but added he England was the lowest point of his about his own game and success” himself, lauded Kohli for trashing the pening,” the former England captain ment and then comes thinking But there is one guy he will never is not obsessed to win one with the career when he felt that failure was and not being able to shut out the idea of four-day Tests which the ICC said as Kohli had a hearty laugh. about strategy. sledge in his life and that is AB de franchise. inevitable. voices who spoke about success in has floated to pull in more crowds. His aggressive on-field “I don’t think I need to behave Villiers, for the simple reason that “We have reached three finals “It was a phase where I felt that England being the ultimate Test of “I was called for a debate and I demeanour has polarised opinions myself just because I am the captain. there is just too much of respect. but haven’t won. We deserve to win there was no chance of me getting a cricketer. told them that if Virat Kohli does- but the Indian skipper feels that for I need to be abe to enjoy and then “IPL has done a lot in terms of a title. At RCB, we get talked about any runs. I would get up and go to “Don’t be self centred,” was his n’t want four day Tests, it’s not hap- him, aggression is a form of enjoy- comes strategy.” respecting each other. I would never so much as we had stars. The more a match knowing that I will not get message to the youngsters. WC won was by India, obsession over Umar Akmal needs to show one six should stop: Gambhir Vaughan calls for five-week IPL in Sept PTI n LONDON However if one goes by steady rain in Chennai. It is commitment to be a regular in IANS n NEW DELHI with a humongous six Vaughan’s suggestion, it a decision that can’t be off Sri Lanka pacer ormer England captain would mean that he is taken that lightly,” a senior Pak team: Misbah ormer India opener Nuwan Kulasekara. FMichael Vaughan feels a expecting IPL in the BCCI official said. FGautam Gambhir on With that six, Dhoni shortened five-week Indian September window in the There is a suggestion to PTI n KARACHI Thursday lashed out at had fulfilled the long- Premier League leading up lead upto the World T20 do away with the ICC those only celebrating cherished dreams of bat- to the ICC World T20 in which begins in Australia World T20 in October- akistan head coach MS Dhoni’s six to win ting legend Sachin October and November on October 18. November and hand that Pand chief selector the 2011 World Cup, Tendulkar, who had all could be a feasible solution In September, India are slot to the BCCI for con- Misbah-ul-Haq has saying it was won by the the batting records to his if the current situation, in supposed to play Asia Cup ducting of IPL but sources advised Umar Akmal to entire team and not just name in international the wake of COVID-19 in the UAE which is going in ICC as well as BCCI feels change his attitude and one hit. India lifted the cricket except his hands pandemic, is brought under to be hosted by the Pakistan that it’s too premature to said the senior batsman World Cup on April 2 at the World Cup tro- control by then. Cricket Board. After the comment at the moment. needs to show commit- nine years ago. phy. The Master Blaster While IPL has been Asia Cup, England are sup- “You don’t know the ment towards the game to “Dhoni finishes off in had waited 22 years to postponed till April 15, posed to come to India to situation tomorrow. Let become a regular member style. A magnificent lift the trophy and on there is very little chance of play three ODIs and three there be a sign that the of the national team. strike into the crowd! April 2, 2011, his dream a shortened tournament in T20Is. curve is flattening and nor- Misbah said while India lift the World Cup was finally fulfilled. May as it might take months weeks leading up to the Then the WC happens .. So “September is the time malcy can return. That’s there was no doubt about after 28 years!” these ESPNCricinfo, for normalcy to return. T20 World Cup in Oz .. All important for the game that when there is monsoon in when you start discussing Umar’s potential and tal- were Ravi Shastri’s therefore, “Here’s a thought .. The players use it as the great the IPL takes place but also India. Mumbai will be options,” the BCCI source ent as a batsman but he words after Dhoni led tweeted “the IPL is played for the 5 warm up for the WC .. the WC,” Vaughan tweeted. under water, there could be said. needs to reassess his pri- India to a win in the shot that sent orities as a professional 2011 World Cup final at millions of cricketer. the Wankhede Stadium Indians into jubila- Mental strain to wait for Olympics will take toll: Biles “If Umar thinks he tion” with a photo of NRAI under pressure to can play in the same mode the moment. NEW YORK: Reigning world and Olympic as he is today, it will be dif- Gambhir, in his all-around gymnastics champion ficult for him. He needs to Pakistan head coach Misabh-ul- reply, said: “Just a Simone Biles says coping with the cancel New Delhi WC show total commitment Haq in a file picture PCB/Twitter reminder mental strain of waiting another year and focus to become a month issued him a show @ESPNcricinfo: #world- for the Tokyo Olympics will take a PTI n NEW DELHI ment in two parts — cellation in Munich, regular member of the cause notice. Umar appar- cup2011 was won by heavy toll by 2021. Rifle and Pistol compe- which was to be held side,” he told reporters ently submitted his reply entire India, entire Biles, who turned 23 last month, ressure is building titions from May 5-12, after Delhi. Given that via video conference. by the deadline of March Indian team & all sup- told the Today show on US Olympic Pup on the National while Shotgun compe- lockdowns are being Umar, 29, earlier this 31 and had reportedly port staff. High time telecaster NBC that she expects coach- Rifle Association of titions from June 2-9. enforced not just in week submitted his reply admitted he made a mis- you hit your obses- es will have her in top condition, but India (NRAI) to call off However, with India, how will the to a show cause notice take by not reporting the sion for a SIX.” getting her mind in top shape in July the upcoming shooting the Munich shooters prepare issued to him by the approach. The stylish a year later than planned will be dif- World Cup in New World Cup for an event like a Pakistan Cricket Board Misbah made it clear left-hander had ficult. Delhi after the cancel- being can- World Cup for breaching clauses of that Umar could still give scored 97 while “Physically I have no doubt that lation of the Munich celled, now,” a source the Anti-Corruption code some years to Pakistan Dhoni, who had my coaches will get me back in shape,” edition owing to the sources close said. which pertains to not cricket but for that he promoted himself Biles said. “But mentally going anoth- COVID-19 pandemic. to the NRAI “Going by the reporting an approach to would need to show to No 4, smashed er year, I think that’s what’s going to The Delhi World said the sport’s views of many asso- spot fix during the more commitment and an unbeaten 91 as take a toll on me and all of us, most Cup, originally sched- apex body in India is ciated with the sport in Pakistan Super League 5 discipline. India won by six of the athletes. Tokyo Olympics this year and is play- uled to be held from also under pressure to India, the writing is on in February. “He also has to work wickets. “So we have to stay in shape men- ing next year’s Games “by ear.” March 15-26, was post- follow suit, considering the wall and the NRAI The PCB Security and very hard on his fitness “A World Cup tally as much as physically, and that will Biles won all-around, vault, floor poned barely four days the uncertainty arising would do well to Vigilance wing suspended and show everyone he is won by Indians, for play a big factor moving forward, lis- and team Gold at the 2016 Rio before the start of the out of the unprece- announce it now rather Umar on the first day of very much interested in India & with India!” tening to your body and your mind.” Olympics and owns five all-around event. dented health crisis. than doing it much the PSL on February 20 playing for a long time Gambhir later Biles told the Wall Street Journal world titles among her 19 world titles It was then decid- “There is pressure, later,” another source for beaching the Anti- for Pakistan,” Misbah tweeted. she was planning to retire after the since 2013. AFP ed to hold the tourna- especially after the can- added. Corruption Code and last said. Belgian league agrees to Corona crisis to end ‘unhealthy’ spending in football IOC chief thanks PM Modi for his support to Tokyo Olympics MUNICH: The crisis caused by the crisis it is causing will at least put an ons are one of the world’s richest declare season finished coronavirus pandemic will stop the end to this idea of ‘always more, clubs although they have been reluc- containment of the COVID-19 virus,” Bach AFP n BRUSSELS “unhealthy” inflation of player wages everything more expensive and tant to splash out on the kind of wrote in his letter. and transfer fees in football, Bayern quicker than before’.” transfer fees paid by other top sides “I am really grateful for your support he Belgian football league Munich chairman Karl-Heinz He added: “Supply and demand in Europe. for the Olympic Games and their unifying Thas recommended that the Rummenigge wrote in an editorial will regulate the market and help Their record transfer fee is the 80 role, which the G20 Leaders’ Summit had current season be declared published on Thursday. establish a new equilibrium”. million euros ($87.3m) spent on already expressed at your meeting last year finished early due to the coro- “With every crisis comes an With the German season being France defender Lucas Hernandez in Osaka.” navirus pandemic with the opportunity,” Rummenigge noted halted on March 13, Bayern players from Atletico Madrid last year, some The IOC chief firmly put his support present table accepted as final, in Bayern’s own club magazine. “For have agreed to take a pay cut, as have way short of the world record 222 behind Tokyo, saying despite the pandem- it said on Thursday, becoming a long time we have seen unhealthy players at other clubs in the million euros paid by Paris Saint- ic, the Japanese city is well-prepared to host the first European league to amounts of money paid in wages and Bundesliga. Germain to Barcelona for Neymar in the quadrennial Games. take such a measure. transfer fees. The coronavirus and the The reigning German champi- 2017. AFP “Given the great work having been The decision is set to be done by our Japanese partners and friends, formally validated at a General Tokyo is the best-ever prepared Olympic Assembly on April 15, mean- city.” ing that Club Brugge would be Barca could offer Griezmann to get Neymar back IOC President Thomas Bach AP/File Picture He is confident that with the support declared champions as they league table as final”. of the global leaders, the Tokyo Games next currently sit 15 points clear of Belgium — whose nation- IANS n LONDON selling him could aid the this summer after seven LAUSANNE: International Olympic year will be a grand success. Gent at the top of the table. al team top the FIFA world Lionel Messi-led side fund years with the Premier Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach “Thanks to the excellent and trustful In a statement, the Belgian rankings — would become panish football giants their summer spending. League club. has thanked India’s Prime Minister cooperation we are enjoying, like from the Pro League said it was “very the first European league to SFC Barcelona could part Barca seem deter- Willian, whose con- Narendra Modi for his unflinching support G20 Leaders’ Summit, we are confident that unlikely” to be able to hold take such a measure due to the ways with Antoine mined to sell Griezmann tract with the Blues expires to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which has these Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be matches in front of crowds ongoing health crisis, which Griezmann in order to even if PSG don’t agree to in June, said he is open to now been shifted to 2021 because of the a great success,” Bach said. before June 30 and that it had saw football across the conti- bring back Neymar from the deal, though the cur- offers from other clubs global coronavirus pandemic. “Like you, we are confident that the “unanimously decided that it nent grind to a complete halt Paris Saint Germain, rent market might prevent after talks about a new In a letter to Modi, dated April 1, Bach Olympic Games 2020 will be a symbol of was not desirable...to contin- in the middle of March. according to a Sky Sports such hefty deals from hap- deal broke down. said he was “grateful” to the Indian Prime human resilience. They will again show the ue the competition” after that The Belgian season report. pening, given how many “I have a beautiful Minister for his support to the Tokyo unity of humanity in all our diversity by date. stopped with one round of Barelona have long clubs are struggling finan- story at Chelsea. I have a Games during the recent G20 Leaders’ bringing together the world’s best 11,000 Matches behind closed games remaining in the 30- wanted to bring Brazil for- cially as a result of the coro- great relationship with the Summit which was held via video confer- athletes from all 206 National Olympic doors were “theoretically pos- match regular season. ward back into their fold navirus outbreak, the fans and everybody at the ence in the wake of the pandemic. Committees and the IOC Refugee Olympic sible”, but the league said it pre- After that the league usu- after he left them to join the report as quoted by report further said. club. But my contract is “Please accept my sincere thanks for Team.” ferred not to put more pressure ally splits up, with the top six French heavyweights PSG ESPNFC. ending and it’s going to be the support you have given to the Olympic “As humankind currently finds itself in on health services and police having their points totals in 2018. France World Cup ‘BEAUTIFUL’ STORY difficult,” the 31-year-old Games Tokyo 2020, expressed in the a dark tunnel, together with our Japanese in the circumstances. It there- halved and going on to play PSG value Neymar at winner Griezmann has not Brazilian midfielder was quoted as saying by Extraordinary G20 Leaders’ Summit partners and friends we want to make these fore agreed not to restart the each other home and away to €150m while Barca value been at his best form in his Willian has revealed that he Brazilian news service Uol. Statement, commending the International Olympic Games a light at the end of this season and “accept the current decide the title winners. Griezmann at €100m, says first season in Spain and is likely to leave Chelsea Olympic Committee for contributing to the tunnel,” he added. PTI 12 tollywood Vijayawada Friday April 3, 2020 Payal perfecting ROMANTIC Telugu language he might not have Pranadeep’s 5Ws, where she had the best of run plays a cop, and in Jayanth’s of late but Narendra, where she will be actress seen as a fighter pilot. She is S Payal also in talks for her Tamil debut. Rajput is girl to romance keen on more offers from Telugu. Which is why, we hear she is trying to per- fect Telugu and SHAURYA impress upon filmmakers. “Besides tuning to OTT platforms for In the film, ven before her maiden Telugu be fresh. She hopped on board the past 10 days, film, Romantic, alongside Akash immediately after the script was nar- Payal is also using the an emotional Puri opens in cinemas; Ketika rated to her. While she will be seen as lockdown period to Sharma has bagged another Shaurya’s love interest, the role has its own learn Telugu. Yes, she sports drama, E plum project. Although some prominence in driving the narrative for- understands and can reports indicated that she was ward.” speak the language a Ketika will cast in Naga Shaurya’s next with Sukumar’s The source further adds that the film bit but she wants to be assistant Kasi Vishal last month, it’s far from has gone in front of the cameras last more comfortable with be will be true. We’ve reliably learnt that she has been month in Hyderabad but after shooting it. She is taking the help cast opposite Shaurya in his next with for a couple of days, the team had to call of Google for the same. seen as Santhossh Jagarlapudi, who earlier direct- off the shoot because of Covid-19 outbreak. The idea is to dub for ed Sumanth-starrer Subrahmanyapuram. “Ketika though didn’t shoot in the first two her parts in the Shaurya's The untitled film is a joint production ven- days as she wasn’t required. Alongside her, future,” says a ture between Sharrath the film will see Naseer and source. Marar, Narayana Das Satya in supporting roles. The actress love interest. Narang and Ram Jagapathi Babu too has given will be next Mohan Rao and was his consent to for a key sup- seen in debu- Her role has launched sometime porting role but his dates are tant direc- back in last October. a problem. As far as the sup- tor its own A source close to porting department goes, the development tells Santhossh got the nod of prominence us, “Santhossh Kaala Bhairava for musical received good feed- accompaniment, while RX in driving the back about Ketika’s 100 lensman Ram Reddy is performance in the cinematographer,” the narrative Romantic through a source shares. cinematography An emotional sports drama forward, finds friend of his and in which Shaurya will be seen decided to approach as archer, the film will be NAGARAJ her. The other reason majorly shot in Hyderabad was that her pairing while some portions require GOUD with Shaurya would the unit to visit Warangal. Mani Sharma balances big and small cinema t’s not just big films for Mani Sharma, who is in Now, Nikhil's much demand after iSmart Shankar. Having I agreed to compose music for Chiranjeevi-starrer wedding Acharya, Venkatesh-starrer Naarappa and Nithiin-starrer Power Peta, the tunesmith is balanc- ing out small cinema deferred as well. The latest small film — ikhil Siddartha, who recently in an after Rahul interview stated that he would be Vijay’s wedding his fiancée Dr Pallavi Varma Black N in Hyderabad on April 16 come what & White — that he accepted is may, seems to have changed his a love story which features mind. A little birdie informs us that a new actor Akhil Reddy the actor has decided to assess the situation after in the lead. A directo- the lockdown is lifted and will wed only when rial venture of his and Pallavi’s families are comfortable with Padma Raju, the the idea of big wedding. “Being a doctor, it was untitled film goes more of Pallavi’s decision that the wedding gets to floors postponed to some other date. Nikhil too shortly. echoed a similar opinion after seeing the situ- Somaraju ation first-hand on ground. Both the families Kalyani is will consult a priest later this month and fix on producing it under AK the muhurat,” chips in a source. Talkies. Nikhil, who is busy distributing masks and sanitizers to health officials, cops and needy in the past one week, got engaged to Pallavi in Goa on February 1st. On the work front, the actor has films like Karthikeya 2 and 18 Pages to shoot this year.

BEING A DOCTOR, IT WAS MORE OF PALLAVI’S DECISION THAT THE WEDDING GETS POSTPONED TO SOME OTHER DATE. NIKHIL TOO ECHOED A SIMILAR OPINION SARILERU… BEATS BAAHUBALI 2

uperstar Mahesh Babu-starrer Sarileru Neekevvaru, which had its KIARA OR SARA FOR MAHESH? satellite premiere on Ugadi last S month, has managed to draw record eanwhile, script work of Mahesh’s next with television rating points (TRPs), MParasuram is in full-swing. According to the overthrowing Baahubali: The Conclusion from latest buzz, the makers are keen on either Kiara the top slot. The Sankranti action-drama gar- Advani or Sara Ali Khan to do be the film’s lead- nered 23.4 TRP while SS Rajamouli’s costume ing lady. Word on the street is that Namrata is in drama got 22.28 when it premiered nearly three favour of Kiara as her chemistry with Mahesh in years ago. The high rating points of Mahesh’s Bharat Ane Nenu worked out well and fans are film is attributed to the current lockdown in rooting to repeat her again. If the actress is not in place. With Sarileru, Mahesh now has two films a position to accommodate dates given her tight in top five Telugu films with highest number schedule in Hindi, the makers would want to of TRPs. His Srimanthudu stands at number 5 approach Sara. with 21.34 TRPs. Chuffed to bits with this The untitled film, a joint production venture achievement of Sarileru, film’s producer Anil between Mythri Movie Makers, 14 Reels Plus and Sunkara tweeted the next telecast will be even GMB Entertainment, is a love story laced with fam- better with added scenes. ily emotions, plenty of humour and action.