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$ %'( $) & / 4'889 anyone the right to declare if we’re people of Congress or not, itching for a strong nobody has that right. We’ll PCongress leadership at the build the party and strengthen Centre in order to corner the it. We believe in the strength Narendra Modi-led and unity of the Congress”. Government, the group of 23 His Cabinet colleagues Congress leaders, known in the Kapil Sibal and Manish Tewari party circles as “dissident” voic- also batted for a strong es, on Saturday launched a Congress leadership at the top. ( 0/ :;( fresh offensive questioning the Sibal said, “We had gathered top brass of the party why it together earlier too and we ligible Covid-19 vaccine failed to utilise the services of have to strengthen the party Easpirants in the country an “experienced” leader like together”. will have to shell out 250 per Ghulam Nabi Azad when it Sibal questioned as to why shot — 150 cost of vaccine needed him the most. the Congress was not utilising plus 100 service charge — if At least seven leaders the rich experience of Ghulam they opt to get themselves belonging to this “group of dis- Nabi Azad. inoculated at the designated senters”, assembled in Jammu “He is one such leader who private hospitals during the sec- to attend Shanti Sammelan knows the ground reality of ond phase of the vaccination organised by the Gandhi Congress in every district of drive beginning March 1 to States and UTs on the vacci- vate hospitals empanelled Global Family. every State. We were saddened cover people aged above 60 nation of age-appropriate under Ayushman Bharat Interestingly, the “show of when we realised that he is years and those over 45 with groups through a video con- PMJAY, over 600 hospitals strength” was organised by being freed from Parliament. comorbidities. ference (VC) on Saturday. empanelled under CGHS and these leaders a day after the We didn’t want him to go from However, the Government “There would be other private hospitals empan- announcement of the Assembly Parliament”. hospitals will be providing the Government health facilities elled under State Governments. polls by the Election "#$ Referring to the treatment jab free, the cost to be borne by which will be used as Covid “Health Insurance Schemes Commission of India (ECI) in meted out to Azad by the party the Centre. “The private hos- vaccine centres such as medical can participate as CVCs. Health five States, including Kerala, high command, Sibal said, pitals can charge up to 250 per college hospitals, district hos- Departments of State Assam, Tamil Nadu and West Apart from Ghulam Nabi Pradesh Congress Committee, ation should connect (to the “What is the real role of dose of Covid-19 vaccine. pitals, sub divisional hospitals, Governments have already ini- Bengal. Azad, former Cabinet Ministers including its chief GA Mir, party). We’ve seen good days of Ghulam Nabi Azad ? A person However, the jab will be given CHCs, PHCs, Health Sub tiated dialogue with these pri- In one voice all these lead- Kapil Sibal, Manish Tewari, attended the event. Only loy- the Congress. We don’t want to who flies an aircraft is an expe- free of cost at Government Centres and Health and vate hospitals so that they can ers sent out a clear message to Anand Sharma, former alists of Ghulam Nabi Azad see it weakening as we become rienced person. An engineer hospitals across the States. The Wellness Centres. Geo refer- be encouraged to participate in the Congress leadership to Haryana Chief Minister from the Kashmir Valley and older.” accompanies him to detect cost will be borne by the ence maps with GPS coordi- this drive as CVCs. start working towards strength- Bhupinder Singh Hooda, par- Jammu region attended the In a veiled attack on the and repair any malfunctioning Centre,” said Union Health nates of all these health facili- A list of all these private ening the party before it’s too liamentarians Raj Babbar, and event in full strength. party leadership, the former in the engine. Ghulam Nabi ji Secretary Rajesh Bhushan in a ties have been prepared that hospitals has been uploaded on late. The tone and tenor of the Vivek Tankha attended the Leading the charge from Union Minister went on to add, is experienced as well as an statement here. will serve as CVCs and these the website of Ministry of speeches made by these leaders event in Jammu. the front, one of the senior “All of us have covered a long engineer”. “250 will be the ceiling — Geo referenced maps are being Health and Family Welfare clearly indicated the Congress Wearing saffron headgears, most members of the group distance to reach where we’re Echoing similar sentiments 150 cost of vaccine plus 100 shared with the States,” a senior and National Health Authority,” party is headed for a major all these leaders also openly Anand Sharma said, “The today. Nobody among us has Anand Sharma also said, service charge. This arrange- health official added. said the official. “shakeup” in the days to come. came out in support of the Congress has weakened in the come through the window, all “There has never come such an ment will remain effective till To ramp up the Covid vac- So far, 77 per cent of These leaders also made it demand for restoring “state- last decade. Our voice is for the of us have walked through the occasion after 1950 when there further orders,” Bhushan said in cination capacity manifold, sig- healthcare workers have been clear they will not sit idle as the hood” to Jammu & Kashmir. betterment of the party. It door. We have come through is no representative of Jammu a statement here following an nificantly a large number of administered with the first country was facing numerous None of the office-bearers should be strengthened every- the students’ movement, the & Kashmir in the Rajya Sabha. interaction with Health private facilities are being dose and 70 per cent got the challenges. of the Jammu & Kashmir where once again. New gener- youth movement. I’ve not given This will be corrected”. Secretaries and MDs (NHM) of involved. “Around 10,000 pri- second dose, the official added. %&' ( # !"$% &$" /& (( ;00'( While the Congress-DMK talks are in a deadlock, the ith the Election AIADMK scored a major point ! WCommission of India on Friday by enacting a legis- declaring the poll schedule for lation that granted 10.5 per cent #$% the Tamil Nadu Legislative reservation for the 2 crore "# Assembly on Friday, the DMK strong Vanniyar community in $ and the Congress are finding it the Government service. This ( 0/ :;( %#%# difficult to arrive at an amica- has been a long standing & ble seat sharing agreement. demand of Dr Ramadoss, he Centre on Saturday $ A national leader of the founder of the PMK. This Tadvised States and UTs — Congress told The Pioneer that brought in some cheer to the Maharashtra, Punjab, Gujarat, &' the DMK is proving to be a AIADMK as it has pacified Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, ( tough taskmaster when it is three of its major allies, the BJP, West Bengal, Telangana and ( ( ( (( '*+ #$% ''&" time for seat allocation. “The the PMK and the Puthiya Jammu & Kashmir — to ( & "#$ ( )'(* + maximum they had offered as Tamilakam. enforce Covid-appropriate $ till Saturday 2 pm is just 20 ( ( ) ( # The DMK, which has been behaviour by dealing firmly surveillance strategies in in districts reporting a reduc- + , seats. Please remember that the # ( "#$ on an aggressive mood till with violations and ensure respect of potential super tion in testing, and increase -. Congress was allocated 40 seats early last week, has suddenly effective surveillance in case of spreading events,” the Union RT- PCR tests in districts hav- / $ during the 2016 Assembly elec- 40. “The DMK is winning elec- led Narayanasamy mellowed down and main- potential super spreading Health Ministry said in a ing high antigen testing. tion and we won eight seats,” tion by making use of the Government in Puducherry taining a silence. Meanwhile events so as not to let the situ- statement. The States and UT were said the senior leader who did goodwill enjoyed by the which lost vote of trust because TTV Dhinakaran, general sec- ation go out of hand. The need for effective test- directed to focus on surveil- ' ' ) not want to be identified. Congress in Tamil Nadu. There of the resignation of the lone retary of the AMMK and These States and UTs have ing, comprehensive tracking, lance and stringent contain- ( ( Last week the team of is a strong anti-DMK feeling in DMK member. nephew of VK Sasikala, been reporting a high Covid- prompt isolation of positive ment in selected districts #$% & Congress leaders deputed by the State, but the Congress will The Congress negotiators Jayalalithaa’s former aide, 19 active caseload or an cases, and quick quarantine of reporting reduced tests/high " " & party chief Sonia Gandhi called survive because it has showed were led by former Kerala declared that he would be the increasing trend in new cases close contacts were also strong- positivity and increased cases. & . on the DMK headquarters and the world that the party does Chief Minister Oommen Chief Ministerial candidate of in the last week, noted Cabinet ly emphasised. They have also been 0 O+ 0 held a round of meeting with not require power to become Chandi and Karnataka leader the front to be led by his party. Secretary Rajiv Gauba while During the review meet- advised to carry clinical man- the second rung leaders of the strong,” said the leader who was Dinesh Gundu Rao. The This means that there are four chairing a high-level review ing, States were advised to agement in districts reporting Dravidian major. accompanying Rahul Gandhi absence this time of Ghulam CM candidates in Tamil Nadu meeting with Chief Secretaries undertake vaccination on pri- higher deaths and promote &*('+ “It was not a pleasant expe- to Thoothukudi on Saturday. Nabi Azad has surprised as on Saturday, the other three of States/UTs. ority in districts reporting Covid-appropriate behaviour , rience,” said another leader, a What comes out of the TNCC leaders. “Azad was the being incumbent Edappadi “They were advised not to higher cases and monitor to ensure effective citizen -$.% 2 + O close aide to party scion Rahul Congress leaders’ comments is leader who knows the func- Palaniswamy, MK Stalin lower their guard, enforce strains and clustering of cases communication to not let 3 )2+3* 24+" Gandhi. the fact that there is a trust tioning of the DMK inside (DMK) and film actor Kamal Covid appropriate behaviour for early hotspot identification complacency set in, '$5 $ The leader said the grand deficit between the party and out. But he was conspicuous by Haasan (MNM). Tamil Nadu and deal firmly with violations. and control. especially in light of the vacci- 6 N5 ' O old party of India would not be the DMK. This was visible in his absence this time,” said the goes to the poll on April 6 to It was strongly underlined that They have also been asked nation drive entering the next $ & happy with anything less than the downfall of the Congress- leader. elect 234-member Assembly. they need to follow effective to improve the overall testing phase. $' $& ' R ! "#""! ! $ ') * ' + Manipur; 30 districts of list while vegetables for 107 dis- aim of increasing the income of Odisha, 23 districts of Punjab, tricts and spices for 105 dis- the farmers. These identified , ,-* 4 districts of Sikkim, 36 dis- tricts are at the second and the products will be supported tricts of Tamil Nadu; 8 districts third position in the list. Paddy under the PM-FME scheme ! ,/& 0/ :;( for exotic vegetables; East Delhi of Tripura, 75 districts of Uttar will be promoted in 40 districts, (PM Formalisation of Micro for namkeens, and South-west Pradesh, and 18 districts of wheat-5 districts, coarse cum food Processing Enterprises ( /';(05<0 s part of its effort to boost Delhi for milk-based prod- West Bengal. nutri cereals in 25 districts, Scheme) of the Ministry of Afarm exports, enhance ucts. As many as 13 districts pulses 16 districts, commercial Food Processing Industries audi Arabia’s Crown Prince farmers’ income and raise rural Similarly, Kupwara is to be each of Uttarakhand and crops 22 districts, oilseeds 41 which provides incentives to SMohammed bin Salman jobs, the Centre on Saturday developed for walnut; Andhra Pradesh, 11 districts districts, plantation 28 dis- promoter and micro-enter- (MBS) likely approved the finalised a list of products from Ganderbal for honey; each of Delhi, Meghalaya, tricts, floriculture 2 districts, prises,” the Ministry said. killing of US-based journalist agriculture and allied sectors Bandipora for processed poul- Mizoram and Nagaland; and 33 honey 9 districts, animal hus- At the governing council Jamal Khashoggi inside the under the “One District One try/mutton; Durg and Koriya districts each of Assam, bandry/dairy 40 districts, aqua- meeting last week, the NITI Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Focus Product (ODOFP)”, in Chhattisgarh for tomato- Gujarat, Rajasthan and culture/marine fisheries 29 dis- Aayog also reiterated that food according to a newly declassi- scheme that will be promoted based products; Surguja for Telangana have been included. tricts and processed products processing and export under fied US intelligence report. in a cluster approach in 728 dis- litchi; Batod in Gujarat for That apart, three districts 33 districts. The Ministry said One District One focus But the Biden Administration tricts across the country. guava; Porbandar for gram- of Andaman & Nicobar Islands; that the list of products have Product scheme not only aligns is not going to sanction MBS. For instance, Uttar based products; North Goa total three districts of Dadra been finalised after taking perfectly with district-level The intelligence findings Pradesh’s Ballia district is to be for jackfruit; Ambala for onion and Nagar Haveli and Daman inputs from the States/UTs crop diversification, but will were long known to many US promoted as Bindi ( tikuli) and Kinnaur for fruit wine and Diu; two districts each of and Indian Council of also help raise rural jobs and officials and, even as they cluster; Deoghar and Dumka in under the ODOFP scheme. Besides, also help to provide districts of Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh and Puducherry; one Agricultural Research (ICAR). income of farmers. remained classified, had been Jharkhand for Peda products According to the Ministry, jobs in rural sector. 24 districts of Jharkhand, 20 district each of Chandigarh “These products will be “This future development reported with varying degrees hub; Rajouri for spices; the product chosen in the dis- The list includes 25 dis- districts of Jammu & Kashmir; and Lakshadweep are part of promoted in a cluster approach of agriculture with rise in of precision. Anantnag for trout fish; trict for promotion, having tricts of Arunachal Pradesh; 38 31 districts of Karnataka; 14 this exercise. through convergence of the income will augment shift in But the public rebuke of Ayodhya for Jaggery; Auraiya export potential which will districts of Bihar; 28 districts of districts of Kerala; 52 districts According to the Ministry, Government of India schemes, demand towards processed MBS is still a touchstone in US- for food processing desi ghee; boost farm exports and Chhattisgarh; 2 districts in of Madhya Pradesh; 36 districts fruits have been identified for to increase the value of the food and thereby furthering Saudi relations. Srinagar for flowers; Budgam enhance farmers’ income. Goa; 22 districts of Haryana; 12 of Maharashtra; 16 districts of 226 districts, the highest in the products and with the ultimate this cycle,” it said. +,- +.+/
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- there is no place for egos here. 03 Through the four generations of passing %34 % on the tradition of who will lead the next 3%4 264 generation of young dancers, Aavartan, "% 6 7 866 "% which means a cycle, is interesting to watch ,%" 4 964" — that a guru can be jealous of her pupil but :, 4 :2%:46 manages to over come her insecurities via a '()* story told to her by her guru. Narayan may not be a great actor but he latest film by writer-director there is no doubt where her skills lie — a (-77(.!14 6 Durba Sahay, who had made her brilliant Kathak dancer. Those who love : $ Tdebut as a director with The Pen, is classic dance forms, this movie is a treat to 8- >C $$ & a take on the guru-shishya parampara and watch. To see Narayan dance so beautifully 0 $ J how one cycle ends and the next begins. even though she us 70 years old is magical. $83 & H % $ %%I' With danseuse Shovana Narayan in the It just goes to show that one can never take %9$ 4 lead, the one-hour-and-56 minutes are the art form from the artist whatever be the $ #>= spent exploring the beautiful relationship age. The dual towards the climax where she / $ $ $ that a gurus have with their shishyas and performs is absolutely riveting. One can see I4 32 %% how sometimes ego and pride cone in the clearly why she is still the queen of her art. + + % . I way of this beautiful and sacred Watch this one for some excellent relationship. But the whole premise behind footwork by Shovana Narayan. an art form is to surrender to the art and L - #.-8 8- %=L &3 " +8 5 $( $ $ $83 & H % $ . %9$ , ) . $* ' . C$9 ,)3 & H 5 $ % 8 $ H *B %%% %C 3 8 )3 & HB= $ > 8 was no need to let it deviate so much. 8 H *B %% If the makers had gone with the name and $ $" %= ; 8 )3 & H>$ " :.;0%2 8 H *B%%% " % copied most of the scenes, they might have stuck true to the book by British author Paula Hawkins 0 B %C$,)3 & H>$ '()* 2015 novel of the same name. One doesn’t J $ 8 H *B%%% et’s talk about the positives first. It starts off on understand the need to go for a twist that doesn’t a good note. The opening scene tells you that make much sense because there are so many gaps Lthere is more to come and it is bound to be that are difficult to fill. However, if can manage to interesting — murder-crime thrillers are definitely watch it like any other B-town movie and not look a treat to watch. And this latest Parineeti Chopra film for answers that need to be addressed, The Girl On is no different. A girl on the train who watches the The Train manages to hold your attention. But there life of another woman and reminiscing her own and is a condition— one should have neither seen nor wishing it was her in place of that girl is normal read the book by the same or watched the 2016 enough . More so when our life is in shambles and movie staring Emily Blunt. The character in the nothing is going right. So far so good. Hindi version is played by Chopra. Unfortunately, as the movie progresses it If by any chance one gas done either of the starts to spiral out of control and goes off track. Of above, it will be a lost cause even if there is a course the makers wanted to give a Bollywood feel deviation at the climax which is definitely a to the film and hence the song and dance but there surprise. L -
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O' ,P( P & C$ )6 *& & '()* % +"", - .")( - L& / ( $ . $ & &OL$ " $ . " BL 5$ / 0 & * 12%2 )3% !" $. 5E M ( $ & " 0 /6& $ ($ $ $ & $ &. $ ; ( What is your role in Ranju Ki forward and steer him towards a path that (. $ ' . & Betiyaan? is different from the present one. One has $. $ $ $ & $ M I play Guddu Mishra; he is from to achieve a balance where you don’t lose ( ($ $( C" ' ,+ $ Muzaffarpur, Bihar. He is someone who is your audience and yet cater them towards . $. $ N BL respectful of his father and because of his progressive ideas. 8)5 * father’s wish to get married to a particular You started off with films, what was the ( / ' '& & 2 ( person, even though he doesn’t agree to attraction of venturing into TV? 5 & $ & .$ & this, he gets married to Ranju (played by After doing films like Mrityudand, $ JL ) *O Reena Kapoor). She is timid and has no whatever that came my way after that was ( 8$ ' ,+ $ voice of her own. Ranju has four daughters. not all that exciting. The roles offered were ), 5 *$ 8 But my character is of a patriarchal not doing anything for me. I waited for two & '2& $ IM mindset, he yearns for a son who can take years to get work. Then came a time when )0 + * his family name forward. Even though he I needed to work and met a person who $ 8$ & & respects his father, he wants to break the was making a show, he appeared to be I/ ,6 )C$ : & $ . norm and achieve what he has wanted to progressive with his ideas. He made the +.* & $ do, dreaming of doing. Even though he has show Muskaan (1999). Once I started &;)D $. a wife and daughters, he gets married to doing TV I realised that the commitment $ *2 )L 6 * another with whom he has two sons. His to TV is very heavy especially with daily " $. $ situation is unconventional but with a soaps. With weekly, one could still do films. $ conventional marriage. This is a bit of Once daily started, it became difficult to )(+8:*( & "& . $ + &L dichotomy. do films and TV. But if your character was $ - L <$ $ How did you get this project? not pivotal, one could still manage but the E " & ' I had earlier done a show for Rashmi minute your role became central to the $ $ $ Sharma Telefilms titled Shakti-Astitva Ke show, doing anything else, it was unfair to 3 & / M Ehsaas Ki. The show was about a eunuch not be committed to one platform. $ $$ $ child. The role that was offered to me was Is that why you haven’t done movies M $ $ ' $ challenging. The show was quite in the recent past? ( 5& " progressive and hence had agreed to do The funny part is; it is ironic but the & $ this show. I liked that my role was strong truth is that every time I waited for a movie $ $ & ' ' and all the twists and turns that happen to come my way and it didn’t and I took $ & $ & $ are because of me. up a TV show, the very next day of 2 & $ K What made you play Guddu Mishra? shooting of the TV, I would get an offer &. K Of course, the fact that while my of doing a film. I don’t know whether it is $. character finds himself in a conventional luck or fate. Also, once you commit to a . 8. 2 & ## marriage, the situation is unconventional. TV show, it requires full attention and one C C 6C'. +E)8$ * '6 $C 6 Second, the more important one is that the cannot plan in advance. 4 ' ' C 2 $ ' .' . show is about a single working mother; You have a film background. Was there '. C. + 0 $ $ $& $ something that is becoming prevalent in ever a time when you wanted to be 2 , & 4 L<6, our society. More and more people are something else besides an actor? $ & ( D L2 '. breaking out and craving a life for Yes, definitely. There was a time when ! 8.6D C themselves. It is encouraging people to I wanted to be a fighter pilot — the whole $ $ . & ( $' $ believe in their dreams and to strike out idea of having so much power under you! .. ( )'C*&. and make a living. But then my mother threatened and & & ) * 6 2 ' , & $ & $ Was the fact that the role different bullied me, I am the youngest of the $ $ + $) C* $ $. . from what you had done in the past also siblings and since she could not bully them, (+ 8: O 3 . . the attraction of taking up Ranju...? she did it with me. I agreed not to pursue ; 2 $ More than the character that I was flying. But I have no regrets. $ 6CE .0 + " '2& $ essaying, it was the concept of the show Is it important for an actor to find a " BL( $ & & 4. that had me take up the project. The connection with the character he is 6$ L&0 8 )' $ . concept is very interesting. I felt that the essaying? 2 & .* . ' ' 2& $ show is extremely progressive, that it has Actually, what an actor needs to have & /6C )&' */ $ & & something to say. The part that has been in his arsenal is to understand different + ( ) $-* E $ $O& offered here, I have something to say, there facets of life and society. To be able to /6E $ ' ' .'" ' was a certain amount of identifiability here. understand different thought processes. $ $ 6 $/ ' $ "$ & I thought that the audience would get Also, to be able to understand characters $ L& E ' something out of it. of people. If one is unable to do this, one $< ' M & Do you think that people get impacted is just playing a part that people may or 6$ $ C$+." ,6 . & $ ". by what a show wants to say? may not be able to identify with. One & & L2 ;E ""I2 N 6O' ' Yes, it does. When you pick up a learns a lot from society and people and . ,6 $ N$ . O subject like Ranju.... when one wants to an actor needs to learn from them. $. $. .& N. O $ break the mindsets of people, if one tries What next? 6C $. 6 &$ $ $& to approach this aggressively, there is a I am open to any form of medium 4$$ $ N $ . $" ; & possibility that one may be rejected. At to work in. It is just that whenever it /6 " ,6 $ $ I times, at the cost of looking regressive, you comes my way, I hope I am in a position slowly and gently push a thought process to take them up. Let’s see what is in store.
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;<05<(05 ;) % L' (0'(<0 ,(L '5'(0 ( ;,' 90 public money is being spent on the position holders. Claiming trongly condemning the that Crores of rupees per Sdecision of the Uttarakhand month are being spent on posi- Government to appoint more tion holders, he said that there position holders, the Aam are more than 100 such persons Adami Party (AAP) has alleged in the state now. that in order to provide favour He said that it is an irony to people close to him the Chief that the employees are forced Minister Trivendra Singh to go on strike for non-pay- Rawat is burdening the exche- ment of salaries but the CM has quer of the State. appointed 100 persons on dif- The spokesperson of the ferent positions. state unit of the party, Ravindra Anand said that it is clear Singh Anand today said that on that these appointments are one hand the State being done to keep the sup- ( ;,' 90 Jankalyan Evam Swarojgar value to the ringal products Government is finding it hard porters of CM in good humour Sanstha, the training pro- which she said can be done by to pay the salaries of the as the assembly elections are week long training pro- gramme is part of GBPIHED introducing new designs to employees and on other the scheduled next year. Agramme meant to enhance sponsored project. the products. USARC Director value to the Bamboo and Inaugurating the training pro- Prof MPS Bisht stressed on Ringal products made by var- gramme, Chief Guest Senior usage of local resources for + O $ ious entrepreneurs started at FRI scientist Dr Santan enhancing the project value. ( , ;,' 90 ments shop said, "Because of owner, Mahesh Yadav whose Doiwala block of Dehradun on Barthwal informed the gather- Local Gram Pradhan Neha the traffic mess our business shop has been marked at dif- & B4 Saturday. ing about preparing nurseries assured all support to such ne of the busiest intersec- also gets affected as there's a lot ferent spots said, "We also want Organised by Uttarakhand of Bamboo and Ringal saplings. training programmes. Otions in Dehradun, the of rush and resulting dust due development through road ( ;,' 90 Mahesh Joshi has said that the Science Education and Dr Manju Sundriyal As many as 30 women Jogiwala Chowk has for long to which customers do not real- widening as these accidents minister is misleading the peo- Research Centre (USERC) in referred to efforts that can be entrepreneurs are taking part in been affected by a traffic bot- ly wish to visit. Road widening and traffic congestion bothers erming the statement of ple of the country. He said that association with Saraswati undertaken towards ensuring the training programme. tleneck which remains unre- is necessary but the govern- us and the locals too but when TUnion Petroleum Minister the price of every consumer solved despite different steps ment should also think about a large section of our shop is Dharmendra Pradhan in which item is at peak at the moment taken by the police and other local shopkeepers like us- more likely to be demolished, we also he had held the Covid-19 pan- and the general public is reel- authorities concerned . than half of our shop will be expect to get something in demic and winters responsible ing under it. Joshi added that ) Protracted traffic congestion on gone in the widening process return from the government. for increase in the prices of the government has no control one of the major entry points but we don’t know where we First, the pandemic and then petroleum products and cook- over the prices and both cen- to the provisional state capital will go after that. The this encroachment issue- both ing gas as highly irresponsible, tral and state governments are - ( has become a sore for the Government must provide us have made our life difficult. It the spokesperson of Rajya continuously ignoring the authorities too since construc- compensation or reallocate our would be better if they provide Andolankari Samman Parishad interests of the people. / He was admitted to the All to install CRT-D devices to tion of the Mohkampur flyover shops." someplace to ensure our liveli- India Institute of Medical save the life of the patient. has resolved traffic issues only Some in the area remain hood too just as what the gov- Sciences (AIIMS) Rishikesh This process of installing the till it reaches the pending prob- skeptical like Dinesh Negi, the ernment did while executing C 8:'8 6,& recently. device has been done without lem of Jogiwala Chowk. owner of Garhwal Sweet Shop the demolition for widening of ( ;,' 90 The associate professor making the patient uncon- Recently, the Union Road at Jogiwala Chowk who has Chakrata Road. Jogiwala is ( ;,' 90 at department of cardiology, scious,’’ he said. Transport and Highways min- doubts about the government’s now under the purview of the akir Singh Rawat, the father ainital resident Dr Barun Kumar said that to The Director AIIMS ister Nitin Gadkari had asked intentions. He said, “The gov- Municipal Corporation of Fof Congress MLA from NMohammad Hasim save the life of this patient of Rishikesh, Dr Ravikant com- the state government to submit ernment is considering the Dehradun and now it is the Kedarnath Manoj Rawat died on became the first person in the heart failure, it was very mended the team of doctors a proposal for resolving the 1938 map for encroachments responsibility of the MCD to Saturday in Gopeshwar, Chamoli state to get treatment costing important to install a CRT-D who carried out the complex Jogiwala issue. While this and according to that they will handle this issue." district. He was 89 years old and more than five lakhs in the device in his body. “This procedure of device trans- development has been wel- take over all the areas where the While both the central and was ailing from some time. The Ayushman Bharat scheme. device functions like a pace- plantation. comed by some, others remain canal used to be. state governments are executing Chief Minister Trivendra Singh There is a limit of 5 lakh in maker. The State Coordinator of skeptical about this issue and However, our shop has not various major projects, it now Rawat has expressed deep sor- a year for the golden card After all tests found that Ayushman Bharat Yojana the government’s capability to been marked because no canal remains to be seen whether the row on the demise of father of Congress Committee (PCC) holders under the scheme the patient has breathing Uttarakhand, Atul Joshi said get it resolved. was present here. If they want authorities manage to swiftly the Kedarnath MLA. In his con- president Pritam Singh and but the limit can be increased problems and his heart func- this is the first case in the state Talking to this correspon- to take our shops they will have tackle this long pending issue dolence message the CM has other Congress leaders have also in exceptional cases. Hasim, tion is not functioning prop- of treatment of a person with dent about the recent develop- to pay us otherwise we are not which successive governments prayed for peace of the depart- expressed their condolences at 62- year- old, was suffering erly and the heart size has also a Golden Card costing more ments, an employee of a gar- leaving". Another sweet shop have failed to effectively resolve. ment soul. The Pradesh the death of Rawat. from a type of heart failure. become larger. It was decided than 5 lakh. # $%& ( news platforms and print clude non-adults from viewing platforms seem to be totally more than two-thirds of was quoted as saying “I’m half, so that the people got back “reasonable restrictions”. These media on the one hand and adult content. They must get oblivious of all this. Australians were concerned unabashedly pro-tech but that their constitution and democ- are in place because India is a online and television news down to do it. The grievance The vulgar comments about “what is real or fake on can’t mean a tech free for all”. racy. vibrant democracy and the media on the other and to redressal mechanism thought posted on social media about the internet”. In response, This in a sense sums up the Obviously, their commit- most diverse society in the bring the online news portals of is three-tier, with the pub- women professionals in media ACMA says the digital plat- current mood in this issue ment to basic democratic val- world with many social, polit- within the ambit of the Code of lishers and self-regulating bod- or in other fields and the forms agreed to self-regulato- across democracies. ues has and will continue to ical and economic complexi- Ethics that govern the print ies being the first two. The third inability of the Indian State to ry code “to provide safeguards In the U.K, self-regulation influence their policy formu- ties. That is why India’s found- media like the norms of jour- tier is the Central Government deal with such behaviour against serious harms arising governs the print media and lations vis-à-vis media regula- ing fathers have, with great nalistic conduct drawn up by oversight committee. The pol- makes one wonder whether the from the spread of dis- and private television and radio tion. intuition and foresight intro- the Press Council Act, the icy proposed requires publish- IPC is inapplicable in cyber misinformation”. Some of the are regulated by the Finally, a word about the duced a caveat vis-à-vis free- Cable Television Networks ers to appoint grievance redres- space. actions promised by the digi- Independent Television framework within which com- dom of expression, so that * (Regulation) Rules, 1994. This sal officers and ensure time- The Indian digital and tal platforms include disabling Commission and the Radio panies should operate in India. constitutional rights promote was long overdue because of bound acknowledgement and OTT players can draw lessons of accounts and removal of Authority as provided by a As the union minister for internal peace and harmony. alancing the need for reg- the recklessness and irrespon- disposal of grievances. Then, from the concerted action content. statute. Information Technology What these freedoms are and Bulation to keep out obnox- sibility that is on display in there can be a self-regulating taken by the digital companies In the UK, the As regards the two minis- Mr.Ravi Shankar Prasad said, what these restrictions are ious online content that pro- some of these platforms. body headed by a retired judge. in Australia which have come Government is all set to bring ters who announced the gov- they must function with the have been defined by our motes violence and vulgarity Similarly, while the cinema Online platforms are wary together and drawn up a code in a law to make online com- ernment’s guidelines – Mr.Ravi laws of the land. This is non- Supreme Court in innumerable with the need to preserve our industry has a film certification of rules that seek verification of to deal with fake news and dis- panies responsible for harmful Shankar Prasad and negotiable. cases and the law as laid down core constitutional values and agency with oversight respon- accounts, access control etc, but information. It is called the content and also to punish Mr.PrakashJavadekar - it In recent times, Twitter has by India’s apex court is the law freedom of expression is at the sibilities, OTT platforms have these issues need to be resolved Australian Code of Practice on companies which fail to remove should not be forgotten that tried to define freedom of of the land. We do not want core of the new rules which none. However, in order to within the framework of India’s Disinformation and such content. The aim of the both of them are the heroes of expression and even claimed some private international have been formulated by the ensure artistic freedom, the laws. For example, while main- Misinformation and it was proposed “Online Safety Bill” is what is called the “Second that it seeks to protect the free- companies to assume the role union government to address government has proposed self- stream media is conscious of released only recently by the to protect internet users and Freedom Struggle” when they dom of expression of Indians. of some supra courts and put concerns regarding the new regulation and said the OTT provisions in the Indian Penal Digital Industry Group. deal firmly with platforms that fought against the dreaded “Freedom of Expression” is their own spin on our media. entities should get together, Code (IPC) dealing with pro- Australian promote violence, terrorist Emergency imposed by Prime embedded in our chapter on Constitution. The policy has tried to evolve a code and come up with motion of violence, enmity Communications and Media material, child-abuse, cyber Minister Indira Gandhi in the fundamental rights in our con- create the much-needed level- content classification, so that a among communities, defama- Authority (ACMA) has wel- bullying etc. The Digital mid-1970s and suffered incar- stitution and it is circum- (The writer is an indepen- playing field between online mechanism is evolved to pre- tion etc, content on online comed the initiative and said Secretary, Mr.Oliver Dowden ceration for about a year and a scribed by what are called dent journalist) +,- +.+/ 0 +"" ""0 ( *1234 1 - 6 % 5 2 =%6 ,% ,4 &% 6 " O14.P ( ;'0 (5',; removing the evils of casteism, ( ;'0 (5',; 19 jails in Haryana and the state a sum of Rs 11 crore has been government plans to start Jail- aryana Chief Minister allocated under the Sant aryana Additional Chief radio in almost all the jails in HManohar Lal Khattar on Mahapurush Vichar Samman HSecretary, Home, Rajeev order to initiate the process of Saturday launched four welfare and Prasaar Yojana. Arora on Saturday inaugurat- Jail reforms for inmates. He also schemes at a state-level pro- Under this scheme, finan- ed the third ‘Jail-Radio’ of shared that the authorities con- gramme organised here to cial assistance from Rs 50,000 Haryana in the Central Jail, cerned have been in dialogue mark the 644th birth anniver- to Rs 1 lakh will be provided to Ambala. with the founders and office- sary of Guru Ravidas. the social and religious organ- In his address, Arora, said bearers of various NGOs The district-level virtual isations for holding pro- that the main objective of start- regarding introducing more programmes were also organ- grammes on the birth anniver- ing Jail-Radio is to promote art, Jail reforms. ised in all 22 districts. saries of the saint at the block creativity and harmony among Selvaraj said that the first Khattar launched and gram levels. the inmates. On this occasion, phase of installation of Jail- Mukhyamantri Antyodaya Khattar said Guru Ravidas ( ;'0 (5',; The CMD said that recent- DGP (Jails) K.K. Selvaraj was Radio in Jails has been com- Parivar Utthan Yojana under is still relevant today and every- ly PSPCL has advertised 2632 also present. Earlier, jail-radios pleted with the introduction of which selection of one lakh one while rising above caste, he Punjab State Power posts of 5 different categories have also been started in radio in Ambala Jail and now poor families residing in the financial assistance," he said. Awas Navinikarn Yojna. creed, class and community TCorporation Limited including 1700 assistant line- Panipat and Faridabad in col- Jail-Radio will be started in four state who are having lowest On the occasion the Chief Earlier, this scheme was should take inspiration from (PSPCL) has recruited 10378 men. He further said that the laboration with ‘Tinka-Tinka other jails of the state under the family income would be done Minister announced an limited to the BPL families the life and teachings of such employees in the past 4 years as recruitment process for the Foundation’. second phase. He said that he through Parivar Pehchan Patra increase in financial assistance belonging to the Scheduled great personalities for ensuring its contribution in the imple- appointment of these posts Arora said that the Central was satisfied with the improve- portal. So far 65 lakh families under the Dr B.R. Ambedkar Caste. He said from April 1 the brotherhood and social har- mentation of the Ghar Ghar will start in near future. He Jail at Ambala is considered as ment in behaviour of inmates in have been identified, he said. Awas Navinikarn Yojna to Rs annual income slab of the BPL mony in society. “On this aus- Naukari (Job to every house- added that PSPCL has already a historic jail in India and is state jails. Jail Superintendent, "Every possible effort will 80,000 from Rs 50,000 for the families would be increased picious day, I bow to the great hold) initiative of Punjab given employment to 1406 among the three Central Jails of Lakhbir Singh said that the be made to increase the fami- repair of houses belonging to from Rs 1.20 lakh to Rs 1.80 Saint Guru Ravidas Ji. I urge Government ."The PSPCL has dependents of deceased the state. introduction of Jail Radio has ly income of such families' to the Scheduled Caste families lakh. Also the legal aid given to everyone to come forward and given jobs to 7866 technical employees of the corporation He said that though a Jail helped in transforming frus- at least Rs 8,000 to Rs 9,000 per living below poverty line (BPL). the Scheduled Caste has been strengthen the bonds of society employees of 17 different cat- since January 2017. Divulging has a restricted environment tration in inmates towards pos- month. For this, the govern- He also announced that the increased to Rs 21,000 from Rs by following the path of rever- egories and 2512 non technical the details, he added that 1112 but with the introduction of itive thinking and is like a ray ment will emphasise on skill BPL families belonging to any 11,000. Khattar said in a bid to ence, devotion, equality and employees of 10 different cat- dependants have been given radio, its inmates will be inter- of hope for the inmates and will development, besides providing category will be able to avail the spread the message of social compassion shown by him,” he egories", PSPCL CMD A.Venu jobs under group 'D' and 294 acting with the outside world. further enhance creativity in employment opportunities and benefits of Dr B.R. Ambedkar harmony, brotherhood, and said. Prasad said on Saturday. under group 'C'. He said that there are a total of them.” * , " ) (- &0 ))(P ) ( / , % - ( % & $ 8 ( 8'0 ( hiv Dham will be con- Sstructed at Mandi by spend- ! ing an amount of over Rs. 150 and would be an added attrac- tion for the tourists visiting Mandi district, Himachal Chief " " Minister Jai Ram Thakur said on Saturday. arship holder, topper Speaking after laying the throughout her life. She has foundation stone of Shiv Dham done M.Sc in Human Phase-I at Mandi, Thakur said Genetics, M.Phil Zoology, that the credit of this goes to the M.ed. She served as a Lecturer Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a Principal. Being from who helped the State in getting an entirely different profes- clearance of Shiv Dham project sional stream, she always and 604 other projects hanging ( ;(8:' be provided 'Professional DGP said that the police dreamt of becoming a in fire for need of forest clear- expansion of Kangra Airport. won all the four seats in Advice’ and a Road Clearing administration will try to pro- model.Belonging to a small ances. The Chief Minister said Parliament with a record mar- day after Congress MLAs System to be developed. vide DSP security facility in Raj town Bassi Pathana, a normal The first Phase of this pro- that the Shiv Dham would be gin. Aheckled Himachal At present there was only Bhavan also. stereotype family in Punjab, ject would be completed at a cost developed in an area of 9.5 Governor Bandaru Dattatraya one Personnel Security Officer A day before, in the budget she could never dare to pur- of Rs. 40 crore. Thakur He also hectare at Kangnidhar and CONDEMNS BEHAVIOUR in the Assembly complex, (PSO) deputed during the session of Himachal Pradesh sue her dreams. Her destiny laid the foundation stone of would be a major attraction for OF CONG MLAs Deputy Speaker of Himachal functional activity or in the Assembly on Friday, five changed when she got mar- multi-storey parking near U- the tourists visiting Chhoti Kashi Jai Ram Thakur said that Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Hans movement of the Governor Congress legislators including ried to an Army Officer, then Block to be constructed at an Mandi. He said that the Shiv the act and conduct of the Raj called on the Governor at but now, the system would be Leader of Opposition Mukesh ( 8;Captain passed a weak resolu- Captain Amarinder had failed death toll to 5,825, a medical waiver and electricity in the tion in the assembly against the to provide education to the bulletin said. upcoming budget session. The farm laws which he did not Dalit students and now the col- SBS Nagar saw a maximum decision was taken during an send to the parliament in time. leges and the students were suf- 75 fresh Covid-19 cases, all-MLA meeting presided over He said that later, Captain fering. Cheema said that more Jalandhar 70, Patiala 69, by senior leader of the party passed amendment acts in the than 1,600 colleges were on the Ludhiana 62, among others. A and Leader of Opposition Assembly which had no legal verge of being shut and more total of 368 coronavirus (LoP) in the Punjab Assembly, standing to counter the laws. than 50,000 students had not patients were discharged after Harpal Singh Cheema at the "Nor did Captain meet the got their degrees. He said the recovering from infection, tak- party headquarters on PM and oppose these laws, but AAP will also raise the issue of ing the number of cured per- Saturday. he also failed to give the farm- post-matric scholarship in the sons to 1,710336, the bulletin Addressing the media after ers MSP, which was their ini- upcoming budget session. said. the party meeting, Cheema tial right. Instead of fighting for Talking about the recent There are 14 critical said that Capt Amarinder their rights, Captain is going suicides of farmers in Dasuya patients who are on ventilator Singh had failed to fulfil all the around telling farmers to accept and Tarn Taran because of support, while 79 are on oxy- promises that he made back in the proposals given by the indebtedness, Cheema said that gen support, it said. Over 2017. "It has been 4 years since central govt," said Cheema. more than 65 farmers had 29,023 samples were collected then and we have reached the Hence, in the upcoming bud- killed themselves because of the for Covid-19 testing on final budget session and none get session, the AAP would heavy loans which they were Saturday. So far, 49,82,773 sam- of those promises have yet raise the issue of MSP, he unable to pay. "Captain ples have been tested for coro- been fulfilled," he added. added. Further slamming Amarinder had promised that navirus in the state, the bulletin Cheema said that as the Captain Amarinder and his he would waive off all the added. principal opposition party in minister for looting the Dalit loans of the farmers, however, the assembly, AAP will take up students of Punjab, Cheema the farmers kept on waiting. 60 NEW CASES IN all these issues in the budget said that minister Sadhu Singh When nothing changed, they CHANDIGARH session to show the people of Dharamsot gobbled up the took the desperate path of sui- Chandigarh on Saturday Punjab, the failures of the money meant for the education cide," he said. Cheema said that reported 60 more coronavirus Captain government. Taking a of poor Dalit students and the party MLAs met these cases, taking the Union dig, Cheema further said that Captain Amarinder had still families and shared their pain. Territory's infection count to Capt Amarinder along with not taken any action against He said that the families were 21,719, according to a medical SAD helped Prime Minister him. "Captain released a new devastated with the loss and bulletin. No Covid-19 related Narendra Modi pass the black post-matric scholarship they were even more devastat- death was reported on Saturday farm laws. "Once, it was passed scheme in the state and pro- ed with the betrayal they got and the toll stood at 351, as per Captain occupied himself in vided no benefits to the stu- from Captain Amarinder the bulletin. theatrics and tried to fool the dents. He also formed a com- Singh. +,- +.+/ * 5 6 $ P ) 9 ) ( ) ) ) ( ))( 2 % % )( (- ,/& 0/ :;( ( 0/ :;( tion was led by Shri Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Union Home he Election Commission ndia and Bangladesh on Secretary.Sh. Mostafa Kamal T(EC) has decided to keep in ISaturday decided to finish Uddin, Senior Secretary, abeyance Assam Government’s the early completion of border Public Security Division, decision of transferring and fencing and tackle the menace Ministry of Home Affairs of posting over a dozen police of cross-border terrorism. At Bangladesh led the officers after the announce- the virtual Home Secretary Bangladesh delegation. ment of poll schedule. ( 0/ :;( level talks, headed by Union “India and Bangladesh The poll body has written Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla attach highest importance to to chief secretaries and chief rime Minister Narendra and Bangladesh Mostafa Kamal their bilateral relations. Both electoral officers of five States— PModi on Saturday said the Uddin, Senior Secretary, Public Secretaries reiterated their West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Government has prepared a Security Division, it was reit- commitment to further Nadu, Assam and ‘National Toy Action Plan’ that erated that either country expand and strengthen mutu- Puducherry—going for the electioneering work and also the Central Government under includes 15 ministries and should not be used for any al cooperation in the security polls, drawing the particular shall not make use of official provisions of their laws, on departments to make the activity inimical to each other’s and border related issues. Both provisions of model code of machinery or personnel during equitable basis. industry competitive and pro- interests. sides reaffirmed not to allow conduct to the party in power the electioneering work.” There “This shall be subject to vide it with a global platform. “The 19th Home the territory of either country and immediate enforcement shall be a total ban on use of condition that such accommo- The Prime Minister said Civilisation. The world has tainment and psychology. Secretary Level Talks (HSLT) to be used for any activity of the MCC. official vehicle by any political dation is not already allotted or the ancient toy culture of the studied the toys of the “Take Lattu (top) as an between India and Bangladesh inimical to each other’s inter- According to the EC, the party, candidate or any other occupied by election related country reflects the practice of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappan example. When children learn were held virtually today in ests. Both sides discussed early Assam Government ordered person connected with election officials or Observers. Such reuse and recycling, which is era,” he said. to play with Lattu, they learn the backdrop of completion of pending fencing the transfer of 12 IPS and 6 (except officials performing political functionaries shall not part of the Indian lifestyle. Prime Minister had in his about gravity and balance. In ‘MujibBarsho’and 50 years of along the Indo Bangladesh APS officers on the day the any election related official carry out any political activity He said India has the ‘Ma’am ki baat’ radio pro- the same way, a child playing Bangladesh Liberation War Border (IBB) as agreed by the election schedule was duty) for campaigning, elec- while staying in the potential to take the world gramme also stressed the role with a slingshot inadvertently and establishment of diplo- Prime Ministers of the two announced. The Commission, tioneering or election related Government Guest back to eco-friendly toys. played by the toys in shaping starts learning basics about matic ties between the two countries,” said Union Home therefore, decided to keep the travel during elections. The Houses/Rest Houses or other The fair that will continue mind and reflected on the kinetic energy and potential countries. The Indian delega- Ministry in a statement. transfer/posting of these police government transport includ- Government accommodation from February 27 to March 2 rich and varied Indian tradi- energy. Puzzle toys develop officers in abeyance till further ing official air-crafts, vehicles, etc,” it said. aims to bring together all stake- tion of toy Making. strategic thinking and prob- orders. In West Bengal, the poll machinery and personnel shall The poll body further said holders including buyers, sell- Addressing the Toy Fair lem-solving thinking, “ Prime H % body replaced the top cop in not be used for furtherance of that no advertisements shall be ers, students, teachers, design- that he inaugurated, the Prime Minister sight to explain. charge of law and order for the the interest of the party in issued in electronic and print ers, etc on a virtual platform to Minister said that India has Modi said that the new State. Jag Mohan, who was power,” the EC said in its com- media highlighting the achieve- create sustainable linkages and given the world some of the National Education Policy also C $ previously DG (Fire Services), muniques. ments of the government at the encourage dialogue for the most popular games like Chess incorporates play-based and has been named as the new The EC also stated that cost of public exchequer. “If any overall development of the and ludo. activity-based education. ( 0/ :;( The attached assets are sit- ADG and IGP (Law and public places such as maidans advertisement has already been industry, according to a “Chess, which is so popu- “This is an education sys- uated at Nelamangala, Order), replacing Jawed etc., for holding election meet- released for telecast/broadcast Government statement. lar in the world today, was ear- tem in which logical and cre- he Enforcement Koratagere, Chikkabalapura, Shamim “with immediate effect ings, and use of helipads for air- or publication in the print Speaking at the India Toy lier played in India as ative thinking can be increased TDirectorate (ED) has Srirangapatana and Bengaluru and in the interest of public ser- flights in connection with elec- media, it must be ensured that Fair 2021 here that he also ‘Chaturanga or Chaduranga’. in children through riddles attached immovable assets in Karnataka and at vice”. Shamim will now take tions shall not be monopolised the telecast/broadcast of such inaugurated, the Prime Modern Ludo was played as and games. Special attention (agricultural and non-agri- Madakasira in Andhra over the DG (Fire Services) by itself. Other parties and ads on electronic media is Minister said the Government ‘Pachisi’. In our scriptures too, has been given to this,” he said. cultural land, buildings, resi- Pradesh. position. candidates shall be allowed the stopped forthwith and that no has prepared a National Toy there are descriptions of young The Prime Minister assert- dential flat and factories) The ED initiated investi- In a letter, the EC said use of such places and facilities such ad is published in any Action Plan. It includes 15 lord Ram, and lord Krishna’s ed that in the field of toys, worth 84.40 crore held by gation on the basis of a com- “…the particular provisions of on the same terms and condi- newspapers, magazines, etc., ministries and departments toys,” he said. India has tradition and tech- Kanva Group of companies) plaint received from the Office Model Code of Conduct relat- tions on which they are used by i.e. in print media, from today to make the industry compet- Modi said that even today nology coupled with concepts and related entities besides of the Registrar of ing to the ‘party in power’ the party in power,” it said. itself and it should be immedi- itive, ‘Aatmanirbhar’, and to Indian toys are simpler and and competence. those of Founder Director Cooperative Societies, which inter alia says that the The EC further points out atelywithdrawn,” it said. provide it with a global plat- cheaper than western toys and “We can take the world and President of Bengaluru- Bengaluru and various regis- party in power whether at the that rest houses, dak bungalows The MCC is a set of rules form. appealed to the manufacturers back towards eco-friendly based Sree Kanva Souhardha tered FIRs wherein it was Centre or in the States con- or other government accom- put in force by the Election “This first Toy Fair is not to make toys that are better for toys. The National Toy Action Co-Operative Credit Limited alleged that the entity has cerned, shall ensure that no modation where elections have Commission of India to guar- just a business or economic both ecology and psychology. Plan has been prepared which (SKSCCL), Harish S. collected 650 crore deposits cause is given for any complaint been announced or are taking antee free and fair elections. It event. This programme is a “Try to use less plastic in includes 15 ministries and The accused individuals from the members of public, that it has used its official place can be given to the polit- is a set of norms that have link to strengthen the coun- toys. Use such things that can departments to make the and the entities had collected assuring high rate of interest position for the purposes of its ical functionaries who are pro- evolved with political parties try’s age-old culture of sports be recycled,” he said. industry competitive, 650 crore from the public through commission agents, election campaign”. vided security by the State in Z consenting to abide by the and gaiety. India toy culture is Indian toys, he said, con- Aatmanirbhar and take India’s and total attachments in the without maintaining required “The Ministers shall not scale or above or equivalent by principles embodied in the said as old as the Indus Valley tain elements of science, enter- toys to the world,” he said. case is about 340 crore. liquidity. combine their official visit with various State Governments or code. O ) 6( ) 0( P $ ) ( # " ( //( 0/ :;( cacies from every region of the ) ) ( ) country at “Bawarchikhana” nion Minister for Minority section. UAffairs Mukhtar Abbas Besides, different cultural ( 0/ :;( Naqvi on Saturday said here and musical programmes were ))(- ( that the “Hunar Haat” is play- daily presented by renowned attling insolvency pro- ing “phenomenal and perfect” artists of the country such as Bceedings, The Pioneer role in making “Vocal for Vinod Rathore (21 Feb); ( 0/ :;( “During investigation, it media group is gearing up to Local” campaign a “mass Nizami Brothers (24 Feb); was revealed that Panna Lal undergo a major facelift. The movement” and as of now Sudesh Bhonsle (26 Feb); Sl he NIA on Saturday filed a Mahto, the kingpin of human group is planning to augment given employment to over five Kailash Kher (27 Feb) and Tchargesheet against four trafficking racket, along with his its revenue, improve its con- lakh people and ‘still counting.’ others. persons in a case relating to wife, Sunita Devi, was operat- tents, and radically change its Speaking at the “Hunar Naqvi said that the “Hunar human trafficking in the guise ing a Human Trafficking net- digital presence through the Haat” in Jawaharlal Nehru Haat” has, as of now, provid- of running placement agencies work in the guise of six introduction of new technolo- Stadium here Naqvi said that ed employment and employ- before the NIA Special Court, Placement Agencies in Delhi. gy, new marketing strategy “Hunar Haat” has been becom- ment opportunities to more Ranchi under various Sections They used to traffic poor and and revamping of its circula- ing “Kumbh of backers of bril- than 5 lakh 30,000 artisans, of the IPC, Provisions of the innocent minor boy and girls tion. liance”. craftsmen and artists . Inter- State Migrant Workmen from Jharkhand on the pretext The senior employees of Naqvi said that more than The Union Ministry of (Regulation of Employment of providing them jobs in Delhi the newspaper both from the 12 lakh people have visited the Minority Affairs will provide and Conditions of Service) Act, and neighbouring States. management and the editorial “Hunar Haat”, started from craftsmen. Naqvi said that indige- employment and employment 1979 and the Juvenile Justice However, the victims were side met on Saturday under the 20th February and become More than 600 artisans nous handmade products such opportunities to 7 lakh 50,000 (Care and Protection) Act, exploited and were never paid leadership of NCLT-appointed “Proud Promoter” of Prime and craftsmen from more than as Applique work, dry flowers, artisans and craftsmen 2015. the promised remunerations,” Interim Resolution Professional Minister Narendra Modi’s 31 States and UTs participat- jute-cane, brass products, through 75 “Hunar Haat” Those charged are Panna the NIA said in a statement. (IRP) Ranjeet Kumar Verma “Vocal for Local” campaign by ing in the “Hunar Haat”. wooden and clay toys, Ajrakh which will be organised by Lal Mahto, Sunita Devi During the investigation, where it was decided to effec- purchasing handmade prod- Artisans and craftsmen from Block Print, Blue Art Pottery, completion of 75 years of the (absconding), Gopal Oraon two other accused Gopal Oraon tively tackle the “existential” serious issues flagged by them ucts of indigenous artisans Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Pashmina Shawl, Khadi prod- country’s independence. and Shiv Shankar Ganjhu. and Shiv Shankar Ganjhu, both challenge the one of the oldest regarding their remuneration and craftsmen worth crores of Bihar, Chandigarh, ucts, Banarsi Silk, Wooden The “Hunar Haat” is avail- The case was initially reg- residents of Khunti district media houses in the country is and staff shortage. “I will do rupees. Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Goa, Furniture, Chikankari able on virtual and online istered as FIR No. 07/2019 at were arrested. Both were close facing. everything possible to create a The number of visitors is Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Embroidery, Chanderi Silk, platform http://hunarhaat.org AHTU police station in Khunti, associates of the kingpin Panna “I am here as a representa- proper atmosphere so that likely to go above 16 lakh in Pradesh, Jammu-Kashmir, Lac bangles, Rajasthani jew- and on GeM Portal also where Jharkhand on July 19, 2019 in Lal Mahto, and were actively tive of the court and my main everyone can contribute to the the next two days, he said. This Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, ellery, Phulkari, Oil Painting, the people of the which the accused Panna Lal involved in trafficking vulner- objective is to keep The Pioneer revival of the company,” he said. “Hunar Haat” will be con- Ladakh, Madhya Leather products, Khurja pot- country and abroad can buy Mahto, aged about 37 years, of able persons from Jharkhand, it group as a going concern. I’ve He said he didn’t believe in cluding on March first, 2021. Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, tery, Sandalwood artefacts products of indigenous arti- village Ganaloya under Murhu said. no score to settle or no axe to a witch-hunt, but he expected The 10-day “Hunar Haat” Odisha, Puducherry, Punjab, from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, sans and craftsmen police station, Khunti was Investigation has also grind. I want the cooperation everyone to help him imple- was inaugurated by Defence Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Jute products from West digital/online. arrested for running a Human revealed that both were owners of everyone to make The ment the court’s order in letter Minister Rajnath Singh. Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Bengal, rare antiques made of Next “Hunar Haat” will be Trafficking network in of three Placement Agencies in Pioneer a vibrant brand again, and spirit. Several Ministers, MPs, Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West glass, mats and carpets etc organised in Bhopal (12 to 21 Jharkhand and New Delhi. Delhi, involved in human traf- both in Hindi and English,” The Delhi bench of the senior government officials, Bengal etc are participating in were available for sale and dis- March 2021); Goa (25 March The NIA had taken over ficking racket. Another accused Verma said during the course National Company Law various Diplomats, renowned the “Hunar Haat to display and play at the “Hunar Haat”. to 04 April); Kota (9 April to the investigation on June 13 last Sunita Devi, wife of arrested of an exchange of idea session. Tribunal (NCLT) last month industrialists have come here sale of their indigenous hand- Naqvi said that the visitors 18 April); Surat (23 April to 2 year after re-registering the accused Pana Lal Mahto, is He added that he expected the initiated insolvency proceed- to encourage the artisans and made products. also enjoyed traditional deli- May). case as RC-09/2020/NIA/DLI. absconding. company operation to return to ings against the CMYK normal in a short while. Printech , which runs the oper- The IRP assured the ation of The Pioneer newspaper, employees that their priority following a plea by one of its 6$P ' - ( would be look into a range of directors. O P . ( 0/ :;( Minister of MSME Nitin ufacturing Khadi products Gadkari has lauded Khadi’s from any financial burden. ( 0/ :;( Communications. Wan, the Esther Aboodi hadi and Village Industry successful e-commerce ven- “All expenses incurred on “If their beneficial effect Assistant Professor of O (P ( KCommission’s (KVIC) ture saying this provided a operating Khadi e-portal is eople who took statins — bears out in randomized clin- Medicine in Cardiology and foray into the online market- wide marketing platform for borne by the KVIC. While in Pwidely used cholesterol- ical trials, statins could poten- Cardiac Electrophysiology ing segment has found various Khadi and village case of other e-commerce lowering medications – may tially prove to be a low-cost and a cardiac electrophysiol- tremendous public patron- industry products to a larger sites, product cataloguing, have reduced risk of develop- and effective therapeutic ogist at NewYork Presbyterian ) < age. Testimony to this is the population. “E-marketing of packaging and dispatch are ing severe Covid-19 disease, a strategy for COVID-19,” adds /Columbia University Irving gross turnover of over Rs Khadi is proving to be a the responsibility of the team of researchers said co-lead author Mahesh V Medical Center, one of the ( 0/ :;( Narendra Modi’s words as 1.12 crore in just 8 months of game-changer. Our efforts respective sellers, KVIC has adding that they were approx- Madhavan, cardiologist at study’s senior authors. Gujarat Chief Minister to urge the launch of Khadi’s e-por- should be to reach a turnover a policy that the Khadi insti- imately 50 per cent less likely NewYork- “As cardiologists, statins he Congress Saturday the government to reduce the tal www.khadiindia.gov.in. of Rs 200 crore per year,” tutions and PMEGP units are to die if hospitalised for the Presbyterian/Columbia naturally came to mind,” Taccused the Modi high tax components on petro- Launched on July 7, 2020, Gadkari said. exempted from any such infection. University Irving Medical Gupta says. “In addition to Government of ignoring the leum products. Singhvi said the Khadi e-portal has delivered KVIC has developed the financial and logistical bur- “Our study is one of the Center. their well-known cholesterol- woes of common man and common man is already hurt orders to over 10,000 cus- e-portal in-house without den. This saves them a lot of larger studies confirming this Gupta, Madhavan, and lowering effect, statins are asked it to shed its “arrogance” due to rising inflation and job- tomers out of the 65,000 peo- spending a single rupee on money and, therefore, Khadi’s hypothesis and the data lay the study’s leadership group known for their anti-inflam- and reduce the tax imposed on lessness amid a decline in the ple who visited the e-portal web-developing. Unlike other e-portal is a unique platform the groundwork for future are cardiologists who cared matory, anticoagulant and petrol, diesel and LPG. economy post-pandemic. till date. The KVIC has also online portals, the KVIC for lakhs of Khadi artisans,” randomized clinical trials that for hospitalized Covid-19 immunomodulatory proper- Addressing a press confer- The PM may ignore the delivered more than 1 lakh takes care of all logistics and KVIC Chairman Vinai are needed to confirm the patients in the spring and ties.” ence here, Congress spokesper- Congress’ demand, but he articles/commodities to these infrastructure support like Kumar Saxena said. benefit of statins in Covid- summer of 2020 when the Based on their observa- son Abhishek Singhvi said the should at least listen to his own customers. During this peri- cataloguing, product photo- Khadi’s online sale that 19,” said Aakriti Gupta, car- first wave of the pandemic tions, the authors looked at government should immedi- words as Gujarat CM during od, the average online pur- shoot, maintaining online started with just Khadi Face diologist at swept through New York City. outcomes for 2,626 patients ately roll back the additional the UPA regime at the Centre, chase has recorded at Rs inventory and packaging and Masks during the Covid-19 NewYorkPresbyterian/ “We observed that with Covid-19 who were taxes of 23.78 and 28.37 per or may heed RBI Governor 11,000 per customer, which is transportation of goods to lockdown, has evolved into a Columbia University Irving patients who got very sick and admitted to a quaternary aca- litre on petrol and diesel Shaktikanta Das’s advice that an indication of Khadi’s ever- the customers’ doorsteps. This full-fledged E-market plat- Medical Center and one of the required hospitalization had demic medical center in respectively, which will help the rising fuel prices will have growing popularity and the saves Khadi artisans, institu- form with nearly 800 prod- co-lead authors of the study high rates of hyperinflamma- Manhattan during the first 18 bring down fuel prices. a cascading effect, the Congress diversity of its product range. tions and PMEGP units man- ucts. published in the Nature tion and clotting,” says Elaine weeks of the pandemic. He quoted Prime Minister leader said. +,- +.+/ 6 " " " ( D'05<0 The reports could not imme- diately be independently con- , R% olice in Myanmar escalated firmed but appeared credible, Ptheir crackdown on demon- with both photos and identifi- strators against this month’s cation of the victim. The reports military takeover, deploying from Monywa also said dozens " " early and in force on Saturday or more people were arrested. as protesters sought to assem- The military takeover ( 90( 0'(<0 ble in the country’s two biggest reversed years of slow progress cities and elsewhere. toward democracy after five yanmar’s UN ambas- Security forces in some decades of military rule. Suu Kyi’s Msador strongly opposed areas appeared to become more party would have been installed the military coup in his coun- aggressive in using force and for a second five-year term in try and appealed for the making arrests, utilising more office, but the army blocked “strongest possible action from plainclothes officers than had Parliament from convening and the international community” previously revealed themselves. detained her and President Win to immediately restore democ- Photos posted on social media Myint, as well as other top racy in a dramatic speech to showed that residents of at members of her government. the UN General Assembly least two cities, Yangon and At the General Assembly in Friday that drew loud applause Monywa, resisted by erecting New York, Myanmar’s UN from many diplomats in the makeshift street barricades to ambassador, Kyaw Moe Tun, 193-nation global body. try to hinder the advance of the declared in an emotional Ambassador Kyaw Moe police. speech to fellow delegates that Tun began his statement saying $ - ) =#6 & = Myanmar’s crisis took a he represented Suu Kyi’s “civil- he represented Aung San Suu & # ) ') ) ) ( dramatic turn on the interna- ian government elected by the Kyi’s National League for '( & ) ( ) = tional stage at a special session " ( ) (- & & " people” and supported the fight Democracy “civilian govern- = > " of the United Nations General against military rule. ment elected by the people” in Assembly on Friday when the biggest cities, Yangon and November. Police have increas- kilometres northwest of He urged all countries to November, and supported their won by Suu Kyi’s NLD party. with UN Secretary-General country’s UN ambassador Mandalay, where demonstra- ingly been enforcing an order Mandalay, used force against issue public statements strong- fight for the end of military rule. He also urged stronger inter- Antonio Guterres “that mili- declared his loyalty to the oust- tors have been hitting the by the junta banning gatherings protesters. Both cities, with ly condemning the coup, and to He urged all countries to national measures to stop vio- tary coup is not acceptable in ed civilian government of Aung streets daily to peacefully of five or more people. populations of less then refuse to recognise the military issue public statements strong- lence by security forces against this modern world and the San Suu Kyi and called on the demand the restoration of the Many other cities and 200,000 each, have been seeing regime. He also called for ly condemning the military peaceful demonstrators. coup must cease.” world to pressure the military government of Suu Kyi, whose towns have also hosted large large demonstrations. stronger international mea- coup, and to refuse to recognize “It is time for the military “We will continue to fight to cede power. National League for protests against the Feb. 1 Social media carried sures to stop violence by secu- the military regime and ask its to immediately relinquish for a government which is of There were arrests Democracy party won a land- coup. Police in Dawei, in the unconfirmed reports of a pro- rity forces against peaceful leaders to respect the free and power and release those the people, by the people, for Saturday in Myanmar’s two slide election victory in southeast, and Monywa, 135 tester shot dead in Monywa. demonstrators. fair elections in November detained,” Tun said, agreeing the people,” he vowed. #$8 .$ 7&# (5 & / " ! * ' & ' ;02 ' 2 Q! " R > & . $ ( /';(05<0 bers of Congress were notified groups the US deems respon- " "," ! 0 before the strikes as two Air sible for recent attacks against & resident Joe Biden said Force F-15E aircraft launched US interests in Iraq. ( /';(05<0 it was done by Senator Chris Dubai: Iran’s impoverished percent of the population access- 0 PFriday that Iran should seven missiles, destroying nine In a political twist for the Coons. Indian-American law- southeast experienced wide dis- es the internet only through their 8 0 "2 6 view his decision to authorize facilities and heavily damaging new Democratic administra- s many as 140 Democratic makers Ami Bera, Ro Khanna, ruptions of internet service over phones, rights groups said, crip- ' + US airstrikes in Syria as a two others, rendering both tion, several leading Congress Alawmakers have reintro- Pramila Jayapal and Raja the past week, internet experts pling the key communication warning that it can expect con- “functionally destroyed.” He members in Biden’s own party duced a legislation in the US Krishnamoorthi are among said Saturday, as unrest gripped tool. Residents reported a 8 sequences for its support of said the facilities, at “entry denounced the strikes, which Congress to prevent future those who are supporting the the remote province after a restoration of internet access. militia groups that threaten US control points” on the border, were the first military actions Muslim bans and prohibit dis- bill. The legislation strengthens string of fatal border shootings. “This is Iran’s traditional interests or personnel. had been used by militia he authorized. crimination on the basis of reli- the Immigration and Several rights groups response to any kind of protest,” ( / “You can’t act with impuni- gion. Nationality Act to prohibit dis- reported in a joint statement Amir Rashidi from Miaan 2#9 +.O ty. Be careful,” Biden said when The Muslim travel ban, crimination on the basis of reli- that authorities shut down the Group, a human rights orga- a reporter asked what message * 9' :) introduced by former US gion, and restores the separa- mobile data network in the nization that focuses on digital he had intended to send with the President Donald Trump, tar- tion of powers by limiting restive provinces of Sistan and security in the Middle East, told airstrikes, which the Pentagon " " 81 ; geted several Muslim-majority overly broad executive Baluchistan, calling the dis- The Associated Press on & said destroyed several buildings nations and restricted the entry authority to issue future travel ruptions an apparent “tool to Saturday. . in eastern Syria but were not Washington: The White House wake of recent attacks on US of people from Iran, North bans. conceal” the government’s “Shutting down the internet $& intended to eradicate the mili- has said that through the interests in Iraq, including a Korea, Syria, Libya, Yemen, “When the Trump harsh crackdown on protests. to block news and pictures get- tia groups that used them to airstrikes in Syria, President Joe rocket attack last week which Somalia and Venezuela. Administration issued its The reports of internet inter- ting out makes (authorities) feel facilitate attacks inside Iraq. Biden protected US personnel killed a civilian contractor and President Joe Biden ended the xenophobic Muslim ban, it ference come as Iranian author- more comfortable opening fire.” >( ?4 444 Administration officials and facilities, and deterred the injured a US service member Muslim ban on his day one in was immediately apparent that ities and semi-official news agen- The week saw a series of esca- , *' & defended the Thursday night risk of additional attacks “over and other coalition troops. the office last month. it was unconstitutional, dis- cies increasingly acknowledge lating confrontations between $8 ( O; 8 airstrikes as legal and appro- the coming weeks”. “The president is sending In the House of criminatory, and morally rep- the turmoil challenging local police and protesters. Crowds priate, saying they took out On Thursday, airstrikes in an unambiguous message that Representatives, the National rehensible,” said Nadler. authorities in the southeast — a with light arms and grenade =%%%% $ facilities that housed valuable Syria targeted facilities belong- he’s going to act to protect Origin-Based “I am grateful that highly sensitive matter in a launchers descended on Kurin $ “capabilities” used by Iranian- ing to a powerful Iranian- Americans, and when threats Antidiscrimination for President Biden took bold country that seeks to repress all checkpoint near Iran’s border ' , ; 8 backed militia groups to attack backed Iraqi armed group, are posed, he has the right to Nonimmigrants (NO BAN) action on day one to repeal this hints of political dissent. For with Pakistan, Abouzar Mehdi American and allied forces in reportedly killing one take action at the time, and in Act was reintroduced on Friday ban and reunite families, but three days starting Wednesday, Nakhaie, the governor of $ Iraq. fighter and wounding several the manner of his choosing,” by House Judiciary Committee we cannot risk the possibility of the government shut down the Zahedan, said in comments ( L M John Kirby, the Pentagon’s others. White House Press Secretary Chairman Jerrold Nadler and any future President reinstating mobile data network across carried by Iran’s semi-official chief spokesperson, said mem- The strikes came in the Jen Psaki told reporters. PTI Judy Chu, while in the Senate this heinous policy,” he said. Sistan and Baluchistan, where 96 ISNA news agency. AP & . $ & )P' (/ & ( ) '. . 7 & $ 5- $ 0 9 5 *#%8 5 $O: . $ " O 2 * ' Damascus: Attackers struck a many of which are outside Islamabad: Terrorists attacks Institute for Peace Studies. 4 / gas pipeline in eastern Syria on government control. are on the rise in Pakistan amid “Unfortunately, instead of ( +<,"'9"+,(0 );'((* fugitive until his 2019 arrest on au-Prince, and other commu- ; "/ " Saturday, leaving it ablaze but SANA said the attack a growing religiosity that has helping to inculcate better ethics charges including rape, kid- nities, including some in causing no casualties, state news occurred in the area known as brought greater intolerance, and integrity, this phenomenon aitian authorities napping and murder. Artibonite, which is Haiti’s / agency SANA reported, the lat- Abu Khashab in the eastern prompting one expert to voice is encouraging a tunnel vision” Hannounced Friday that Joseph was riding on a largest department. ' >) * est incidence of sabotage against province of Deir el-Zour that concern the country could be that encourages violence, intol- more than 400 inmates escaped motorcycle through the Authorities have not yet /% ' 9. Syria’s oil and gas infrastructure. borders Iraq. overwhelmed by religious erance and hate, he wrote and 25 people died in a prison Artibonite area in the town of provided much details on the "# As in the past, no one Sleeper cells of the Islamic extremism. recently in a local newspaper. breakout, making it the coun- L’Estère on Friday a day after breakout except to say that 60 & . claimed responsibility for the State group are known to be Pakistani authorities are “Religiosity has begun to try’s largest and deadliest one his escape when he was spot- inmates have been recaptured 6 attack. Syria’s nearly 10-year active in the area and have tar- embracing strengthening reli- define the Pakistani citizenry.” in a decade, with the prison ted at a checkpoint, police and the investigation is ongo- $ conflict, which has killed about geted government forces and gious belief among the population Militant violence in Pakistan director and a powerful gang spokesman Gary Desrosiers ing. State Secretary Frantz half a million people, has also US-backed Kurdish fighters in to bring the country closer togeth- has spiked: In the past week leader among those killed. told The Associated Press. He Exantus said authorities have badly affected oil and gas fields, eastern Syria. AP er. But it’s doing just the opposite, alone, four vocational school Some believe on Thursday’s said Joseph pulled out a gun created several commissions to creating intolerance and opening instructors who advocated for jailbreak at the Croix-des- and died in an exchange of investigate who organized the up space for a creeping resurgence women’s rights were travelling Bouquets Civil Prison in north- gunfire with police. breakout and why. Among :) in militancy, said Mohammad together when they were east Port-au-Prince was to free Joseph ruled Village de those killed was the prison Amir Rana, executive director of gunned down in a Pakistan gang leader Arnel Joseph, who Dieu, or Village of God, a director, identified as Paul " " the independent Pakistan border region. AP had been Haiti’s most wanted shantytown in downtown Port- Joseph Hector. R " " 1-*8) )7,( ( /';(05<0 " legislation has been intro- " ! Aduced by a group of influ- " ential Republican senators to end China’s access to 10-year multi-entry visas until it is 78 certified that Beijing has ceased ( ,<8 its campaign of economic and ( :<0 <0 talks to secure a sovereign, demo- industrial espionage against UN investigation into the cratic and united Afghanistan, the US. Aattack on a humanitarian K Prime Minister Boris and to preserve the gains made by The legislation, Visa convoy in Congo that killed the UJohnson has reiterated civil society and women and girls,” Security Act, was introduced by Italian ambassador, his body- Britain’s support to Afghanistan in the Downing Street spokesperson Senators Marsha Blackburn, guard and driver will look into its fight against the Taliban, as part said. Tom Cotton, Rick Scott, Ted whether the long-planned mis- of the wider North Atlantic The US-Taliban Peace Cruz, and Marco Rubio on sion’s security protocols were Treaty Organisation (NATO) Agreement also mentioned a Friday. It would prohibit followed and whether infor- alliance. pledge from the Taliban to prevent Chinese nationals from receiv- mation might have leaked to In a phone call from Downing militant forces from operating in ing 10-year B-1/B-2 visas until the unknown gunmen involved Street in London with Afghan its areas, and dialogue between the the Secretary of State certifies in the ambush. President Ashraf Ghani on Friday, Taliban and the Afghanistan gov- that China has ceased its cam- The deputy communica- Johnson also agreed on the impor- ernment. paign of economic and indus- tions director of the World tance of making progress in peace Besides regional matters, trial espionage against the Food Program, Greg Barrow, talks to secure a sovereign, demo- Johnson and Ghani discussed the United States and ended its told an online briefing Friday cratic and united Afghanistan. Covid-19 crisis and global efforts provocative and coercive that the February 22 mission to “He [Johnson] reiterated the around access to vaccines to com- behaviour towards Taiwan. bring Ambassador Luca UK’s longstanding support for bat the pandemic. The B-1/B-2 visas are Attanasio to a WFP school the Afghan government’s fight “The Prime Minister and issued to those who come to feeding program in eastern against the Taliban as part of the President Ghani also discussed the US for business, visit or Congo had been in the works NATO coalition,” a Downing global efforts to tackle the pan- tourism purposes. since 2020. Street spokesperson said. demic and the rollout of vaccines Under this legislation, Advance planning and In February last year, the US in Afghanistan and the UK,” Chinese citizens would be eli- security meetings as well as and Taliban signed a peace agree- Downing Street said. gible for one-year multi-entry security briefings took place up ment in Doha, Qatar, which pro- The conversation between the visas. This policy would repre- to the moment the seven- visioned withdrawal of all two leaders comes amidst a review sent a return to the pre-2014 member team took off from American and NATO troops from of the US-Taliban peace deal by the visa status quo and does not Goma, in Congo’s east, in a war-torn Afghanistan by May 1. Joe Biden-led US administration, apply to Taiwan or certain res- two-car convoy bound for the “They agreed on the impor- creating uncertainty over the idents of Hong Kong. program in Rutshuru, he said. tance of making progress in peace future course of events. : +,- +.+/ * " 2 P 0%> 6% ' 9' : ()$" * Q 6%% (8 < D , 8 0/ :;( Concurrently, the CD yield / & 0/ :;( its name, “the fact that we carries much more weight across maturities was confined 0/ :;( Agriculture and Farmers Food Processing Industries partner with multiple publi- with Indian automotive man- mproved economic environ- to a narrow range, amid sub- Welfare in consultation with which provides incentives to he Indian Car Of The cations which look at various ufacturers as well.” Iment in 2HFY21 and the dued issuances. Similarly, the he Centre on Saturday said the Ministry of Food promoter and micro-enter- TYear (ICOTY) 2021 and aspects of Speaking to The Pioneer, Centre’s focus on higher spend- issuances of commercial paper Tthat the list of One District Processing Industrieshas prises.Many products also the Indian Motorcycle Of Aspi Bhatena, Editor of Bike ing especially on infrastructure (CP) by corporates have fallen, One Focus Product (ODOFP), finalised the products for One include convergence of The Year (IMOTY) 2021 Magazine and Chairman of will give a boost to FY21 cred- due to a lesser requirement which will be promoted in a District One Focus Product , resources and approach from awards were announced at a the IMOTY jury said that the it growth, India Ratings and amid fewer rollovers. cluster approach through con- said an official statement. the other departments. The glittering ceremony here in award was proof of how Research (Ind-Ra) said. “The CP yields however vergence of the various The list of products have Ministry of Agriculture and Delhi. Indian manufacturers have The agency’s February have largely seen an upward schemes, has been finalised. been finalised after taking Farmers Welfare will support The winner of the ICOTY motoring, progressed. “In all the years 2021 edition of its credit mar- revision, owing to the Reserve The products have been iden- inputs from the States/UTs ODOFP from its ongoing cen- was the Hyundai i20 and the some are targeted at enthusi- we have given this award, we ket tracker showed an upgrade Bank of India’s announcement tified from agricultural, horti- and Indian Council of trally sponsored schemes such IMOTY award went to the asts and other are targeted at have not given it to a ‘lemon’, to its FY21 credit growth esti- of the restoration of liquidity cultural, animal, poultry, milk, Agricultural Research (ICAR). as Mission for Integrated Royal Enfield Meteor. The practicality. all our winners have enjoyed mates to 6.9 per cent from 1.8 management operations.” fisheries and aquaculture, These products will be Development of Horticulture ICOTY award, which is cel- This in addition to the immense commercial suc- per cent. Besides, demand from marine sectors for 728 districts promoted in a cluster approach (MIDH), National Food ebrating its 16th year this independent judges who cess and some like the 2019 Accordingly, the agency fund houses for corporate across the country. through convergence of the Security Mission’ (NFSM), year is well-established as come from various other winner, the Royal Enfield said that amid the pandemic, bonds and short-term funds Fruits have been identified Government of India schemes, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana India’s top car award and publications and almost all of Interceptor have had the credit offtake in the bank- has increased by “Rs 52 billion for 226 districts, the highest in to increase the value of the (RKVY), Paramparagat Krishi similarly IMOTY is India’s us have been evaluating cars immense global success.” ing system has remained and Rs 10 billion, respective- the list while vegetables for 107 products and with the ultimate Vikas Yojna (PKVY). leading two-wheeler award. for at least a decade makes At a function held at the muted, which led to lesser ly”. ditstrics and spices for 105 aim of increasing the income of The implementation of Speaking to The Pioneer, this award the most influen- Andaz attended by the senior issuances of certificates of On the other hand, the districts are at the second and the farmers. These identified ODOFP by State Governments Yogendra Pratap, Editor of tial in India. management of several auto- deposits (CDs). agency said that CP issuances the third position in the list. products will be supported will benefit farmers and pro- Auto Today and the Our judges have over 350 motive companies, both “The CD issuances for by non-banking financial com- The chief food crop paddy has under the PM-FME scheme vide support for realizing the Chairman of the ICOTY jury years of combined experience awards firmly established January 2021 increased for panies and housing finance been identified for 40 districts (PM Formalisation of Micro expectations of value addition said that ICOTY will always evaluating cars and because themselves as India’s leading public sector banks, whereas companies have remained while wheat for 5 districts. food processing Enterprises and subsequently enhancing remain as India’s top car we are not part of a ‘single’ and most credible awards for that for private banks have encouraging, both in terms of The Ministry of Scheme) of the Ministry of agricultural exports. award and not just because of publication, I believe ICOTY the industry. remained muted. total amount and volumes. /1 - Q > 6% ) O)( ( ( 81'8* "#"$ % P $# % ?1 24 ( 0/ :;( bring the stories of India to the ( 0/ :;( Government hereby specifies 5??8@ ( 0/ :;( Khadi’s successful e-commerce world,” he said. fifty lakh registered users in venture saying this provided a 0/ :;( rime Minister Narendra While referring to the tra- he Government has fixed India as the threshold for a he e-market portal unveiled wide marketing platform for PModi on Saturday exhorted ditional toy industry, the Prime Tfifty lakh registered users as social media intermediary to be 0/ :;( Tby Khadi and Village various khadi and village ountry’s petrol and diesel toy manufacturers to use less Minister underlined the need the threshold for defining ‘sig- considered a significant social Industries Commission industry products to a larger Cprices continued its north- plastic and more eco-friendly for promoting Handmade in nificant social media interme- media intermediary,” the noti- he new series of Sovereign (KVIC) has achieved a gross population. He said e-mar- ward march on Saturday, after and recyclable material in a bid India. diary’, which will have to fication said. TGold Bonds 2020-21 will be turnover of over Rs 1.12 crore keting of Khadi is proving to be a three-day break, taking its to increase the share of the If there is a demand for adhere to additional obligations Earlier on Thursday, the opened for the period March 1- in just eight months of its a game-changer. Gadkari also retail rates to unprecedented domestic industry in the glob- Made in India today, then the and compliance under the new government announced the 5, 2021. launch, the MSME Ministry said the effort should be to levels and burning holes in the al market. demand for Handmade in IT rules that seek to crack tightening of the rules govern- The issue price of the Bond said on Saturday. reach a turnover of Rs 200 crore consumers pockets. Inaugurating the first India India is also increasing equal- down on misuse of social ing social media and streaming during the subscription period “Launched on 7 July per year.KVIC Chairman Vinai Oil marketing companies Toy Fair, the Prime Minister ly, he said, adding “today peo- media platforms. companies, requiring them to shall be Rs 4,662 per gram. 2020, Khadi e-portal has deliv- Kumar Saxena said all expens- raised the pump price of petrol said, “We have to become ple do not only buy toys as a The new rules, announced take down contentious content The Settlement date under ered orders to over 10,000 cus- es incurred on operating Khadi and diesel by 24 paise and 15 Aatmanirbhar in the toy sector product, but also want to con- earlier this week, require ‘sig- quicker, appoint grievance the Series XII scheme had tomers out of the 65,000 peo- e-portal are borne by KVIC. paise per litre on Saturday. and also cater to the global nect with the experience asso- nificant social media interme- redressal officers and assist been fixed for March 9. ple who visited the e-portal till “While in case of other e- With this, petrol is now market”. ciated with that toy. So, we have diaries’ to follow additional investigations. The Government in con- date. KVIC has also delivered commerce sites, product cata- priced at Rs 91.17 a litre and Observing that India’s to promote Handmade in India due diligence, including the The move aims to make sultation with the Reserve Bank more than 1 lakh articles/com- loguing, packaging and dis- diesel Rs 81.47 a litre in the share in the USD 100 billion as well”. appointment of a chief com- social media platforms like of India has decided to allow modities to these customers,” patch are the responsibility of capital. global toy market is very small, The Prime Minister pliance officer, nodal contact Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter discount of Rs 50 per gram an official statement said. the respective sellers; Across the country as well and 85 per cent of the toys in appealed to the manufacturers person and resident grievance and Instagram - which have from the issue price to those During this period, the KVIC has a policy that the the petrol and diesel prices the country are sourced from to make toys that are better for officer. All three officials will seen a phenomenal surge in investors who apply online average online purchase has Khadi institutions and PMEGP increased between 20-30 paise abroad, Modi said there is a both ecology and psychology, have to reside in India. usage over the past few years in and the payment is made been recorded at Rs 11,000 per units are exempted from any per litre depending on the need to change this situation. using less plastic and more of They will have to publish a India - more accountable and through digital mode. customer. MSME Minister such financial and logistical level of local duty at the state “In the field of toys, India such things that can be recy- monthly compliance report responsible for the content Nitin Gadkari has lauded burden,” Saxena said. level. has tradition and technology, cled. and details of the contents hosted on their platform.Social India has concepts and com- Referring to the initiatives removed proactively. media companies will have to petence. We can take the world of the government, Modi said At present, the country remove contentious content A ( ( back towards eco-friendly toys. the countryhas now graded has 53 crore WhatsApp users, flagged by the government or %% 6% Through our software engi- the toy industry in 24 major 44.8 crore YouTube users, 41 court orders within 36 hours neers, computer games can sectors. crore Facebook subscribers, and take down posts depicting %6 , 6% ) ( "6 8A< 9- 21 crore Instagram clients, nudity or morphed photos while 1.75 crore account hold- within 24 hours of receiving a 0/ :;( “Tractor industry whole- ers are on microblogging plat- complaint, as per the latest ,6 , % sales should grow strongly at form Twitter.”...The Central intermediary rules. holesale growth is more than 25 per cent on bet- New Delhi:The Government Product’ (ODOFP), an official Wexpected to continue for ter retails and channel filling.” on Saturday said it has finalised statement said. tractors, passenger vehicles and “Volume growth is expect- a list of products from agri- Inputs from the States/UTs two-wheelers said equity ed to be positive across culture and allied sectors that and Indian Council of research firm Emkay. regions.” will be promoted in a cluster Agricultural Research (ICAR) As per its sectoral update, According to the update, approach in 728 districts across have also been taken to prepare channel checks indicate better PV industry volumes are like- the country as part of its effort the list. retail sales for tractors and ly to remain in the positive ter- to boost farm exports and “The products have been PVs, while it remains subdued ritory, with industry growth at enhance farmers income. identified from agricultural, for 2Ws on a YoY basis. over 15 per cent. The agriculture min- horticultural, animal, poultry, istry, in consultation with food milk, fisheries and aquaculture, processing industries ministry, marine sectors for 728 districts has finalised the products for across the country,” the state- ‘One District One Focus ment said. ;< + " = : New Delhi: People from all age interacting with buyers at the groups have been enjoying the Garden Bazaar while purchas- 34th edition of the Garden ing products. Tourism Festival. With the objective to cre- The event was graced by His ate awareness about the envi- Excellency, Walter J. Lindner- ronment and showcase the German Ambassador to India. rich floriculture of Delhi, the Over the first week of the three-week extravaganza is event, visitors were seen expe- themed ‘#Colours of Nature riencing the floral arrange- this year. ments, and unique displays of Unlike a three-day format hanging baskets, dahlias, cut that was being followed previ- flowers, recycled floral display ously, Delhi Tourism has and tray gardens. extended the festival to three Many were keen on gaining weeks, to give a safe, socially experience to create their own distanced and memorable home gardens and were seen experience to its visitors. +,- +.+/ ; Q7 % 664%6AR@% %% $ ))' - ( # O ) P - - (- ( ';8 '2' because every time you come pink-ball Tests, Ashwin said: ( ';8 '2' “We need to get over it and if you are ask- back into this setup, especially “There is no apprehension. If ing whether the pitch in the third Test was a good avichandran Ashwin has now that I am only playing Test there was apprehension, we ndia off-spinner Ashwin Ravichandran on surface, I do not see any players of England com- stopped bothering about cricket, it’s important to come would have expressed.” ISaturday said that the talk around the pitch- ing out and complaining. You should be hoping Rlandmarks “long, long back and offer to the team.” He said it was all about es being used in the ongoing Test series against for a good cricket match, not the surface,” he said. time back” as his only endeav- Ashwin wants to be in this adapting. England is “getting out of hand.” Ashwin also cited a press conference of Virat our currently is to work on his happy zone and enjoy his craft “This is a new facet that has India edged ahead in the four-match series Kohli during a South Africa tour where the India craft and be useful every time as he always does. been introduced to the game. with a 10-wicket win over England in the third captain refused to blame the pitch for the results. when he plays for India. “I am looking to get better We are used to playing with the Test at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad, and “There is a video doing the rounds where Ashwin has become the as an individual and cricketer. red ball. We are conditioned to a major talking point in the match was the Virat Kohli is talking in South Africa and he fourth Indian bowler to com- That’s probably one of the rea- playing with the red-ball and pitch which offered sharp turn from day one. says I am not here to talk about the pitch. plete 400 wickets in Test crick- sons why I am really, really now all of a sudden, they have While several former England crick- That is how we have been taught to play et and was asked if surpassing happy and I am enjoying my got in the pink ball. The pink eters questioned the nature of the cricket, that’s why I say let them sell ‘Peak 619’ could be a reality in game and probably the best I ball has got a new dimension Ahmedabad pitch, Ashwin questioned thoughts, buying is our choice,” he coming years. have done in the last 15 years. to the game, so it’s about adapt- the narrative that is emerging. added, similar to the tweets he had put out “If you look at it pragmat- I would like to continue this ing,” he said. “I think I have said that in the on Friday. ically, it’s 218 wickets away,” phase and not think about too “You play more and more past as well, everyone is entitled to The 34-year-old off-spinner, who has Ashwin, who is always good much else,” the bowler added. and get used to it, the players their opinion and I am not here to become second-fastest to 400 Test wick- with words answered. Ashwin has been in the are going to adapt better. The say that your opinion is right and ets, tweeted about “ideas being sold” to “For me, I have stopped bio-bubble since the IPL and same thing with one-dayers. it is wrong. The fact remains form public opinion. thinking about all those land- then has been part of the We were used to playing with that the talk about the surface “I am not disturbed with things marks and all long, long time Australia series and the ongo- incredibly hard. Yes, we get larg- bonding has gotten better,” he the red ball and then shifted to is getting out of hand,” said being taken out of context. That is ago.” ing England series, and he er hotel spaces. We do get our said. the white ball. Initially, the Ashwin in a virtual press confer- what has been happening for the He said he is looking to said that is incredibly hard to entertainment area. We bond Ashwin also said there was white-ball was doing a lot. ence on Saturday. last decade, if not more. That is become a better cricketer, every be without family but in the much better. One thing that no apprehensions about playing Now, it does nothing. That’s “Why would you talk about why I put out the tweets I did time he stepped on the field. same vein said that the team stands out is that the fact that the Pink Ball Tests. how this format will also the surface and sell that to us time yesterday (Friday). People “It’s been about what I can bonding has got better. because of this bio-bubble the Asked have the players evolve. Anything new is going and time again? Is there any need to get the context and do, how I can get better, what “I think without them players are getting together spoken about the apprehension to have a lot of challenges,” he instance where the pitch has been what is happening,” said more I can offer to the team (family) around it can be more than ever. I think the team to the board about playing elaborated. talked about this much when we Ashwin. have played games in other “There have been countries. people messaging me “I somehow find it that the match has fin- 8 . ( N, O 3, % funny that when ished in two days. they speak Every pink-ball game about the we have played has ( 0/ :;( surface, it ended within three ,%%@ immediately days. I do not know he Motera track may have gets quoted what to say, unfor- Treceived a lot of flak after the all over in tunately, many peo- pink ball Test ended inside two for the final Test at Motera. our press ple have not played days but it is unlikely to attract “Jasprit Bumrah made a and this is the pink-ball game, any severe sanctions from the request to BCCI to be released the issue so they will not game’s governing body ICC from India’s squad ahead of the here. There understand this with the pitch for the final fourth Test owing to personal have been facet of the game. game set to be a batting beau- reasons,” BCCI Secretary Jay instances, “My angst ty. Shah said in a media release on we have against the With India 2-1 up in the Saturday. been to whole thing is four-Test series and needing a “Accordingly, the fast New that someone draw to qualify for the World bowler has been released and Zealand, says one Test Championship final at he will not be available for where both thing, there Lord’s from June 18-22, anoth- selection for the fourth Test.” the Tests got are so many er turner is currently out of Bumrah has already been over in a total people question as the home team will rested for the limited-over of five days.” watching the be aiming to take minimal risks series, comprising five T20Is Ashwin said that the talk same picture as far as the track is concerned. well for the new venue which is said. and three ODIs, beginning on around the pitch is unnecessary but are not “Expect a good hard surface expected to host a lot of impor- If there has been one good March 12 here as part of the and there is no set rule on how a able to paint which will be firm and even tant matches during IPL as well and one bad pitch at the same team’s extensive workload man- cricket pitch should behave over a different bounce. It will be a batting beau- as ICC T20 World Cup. venue, the ICC is unlikely to ( ';8 '2' agement programme. the course of a Test match. one as com- ty and since its a traditional red “If there are two matches take any action. While India The 27-year-old Indian “The bowler wins the game, pared to ball match, one can expect a played at the same venue, you would be happy with a 3-1 mar- ast bowler Jasprit Bumrah pace bowling spearhead has the batsmen need to bat well to someone very high scoring contest here can’t hold one result in isolation. gin, they will not require a result Fwill miss the fourth and been inside bio-secure bubble score runs. Who defines what a who is dri- from March 4-8,” a senior BCCI Let the final Test be over and oriented turner as a draw would final Test against England, since August prior to the Indian good surface is? Seam on the ving a certain official privy to the develop- then only based on match ref- suffice their purpose. beginning here on Thursday, Premier League in the UAE. first day, then bat well in the case and sell- ments told PTI. eree Javagal Srinath’s report can Also the Indian team man- as he was released from the England all-rounder Chris next couple of days and spin ing a certain Also the BCCI bigwigs ICC decide its course of action. agement doesn’t want to prepare Indian squad, owing to per- Woakes also has left the Test on the last two days, come case to us. This along with the team manage- Also as of now, the England a track that can ideally backfire sonal reasons. tour without playing a match on, who makes these needs to stop,” ment understands the fact that team hasn’t lodged any official on them in a very high-stake The BCCI said no addition as part of the ECB’s rotation rules? he added. another dust bowl won’t augur complaint,” the BCCI official game of cricket. to India’s squad will be made policy. - ) ( & ! &" ( 4'(+9, Suryakumar Yadav (29), who Saurashtra to a 62-run win over but it proved too little in the end. played their roles to perfection. Chandigarh. The 26-year-old plun- In other games, Services beat kipper Shreyas Iyer’s fluent For Rajasthan, left-arm spin- dered six sixes and 16 fours in his Haryana by 112 runs and Bengal S116 and an impressive show ner Shubham Sharma (3/59) did knock from 130 balls to propel win by 82 runs against Jammu & by India speedster Shardul the bulk of the damage. Saurashtra to a massive 388 for 7 Kashmir. Thakur powered Mumbai to a Chasing 318, Manender Singh after Chandigarh opted to bowl. 67-run win over Rajasthan in an (40) and Mahipal Lomror (76) In reply, Chandigarh, who UK, ASSAM WIN Elite Group D game of the Vijay tried to take the game deep with have been impressive in their Chennai: Uttarakhand notched Hazare Trophy here on their 101-run third-wicket stand, debut Elite season with three wins up their fourth straight win beat- Saturday. but medium pacer Akash Parkar on the trot, could manage 326 for ing Mizoram by eight wickets in This was Mumbai’s fourth broke the partnership after trap- 7. their Plate group match. successive win, having earlier ping Singh in front of the wicket. The win helped Saurashtra Uttarakhand are currently on defeated Delhi, Maharashtra Shardul castled Lomror to leave consolidate their lead with 16 top of the standings with 16 points and Puducherry. Rajasthan at 160/4. points, four clear of Chandigarh to from four matches, sharing the Opting to bat at the KL From thereon, it was an uphill close in on a quarterfinal spot. position with Assam, who won Saini stadium, Mumbai rode on task for Rajasthan and they were The No 4 batsman paced his their match against Sikkim by Iyer’s 103-ball knock to post a eventually bowled out for 250. innings brilliantly taking 53 balls four wickets. competitive 317/7. The elegant In other matches of the group, for his half-century before he Leg-spinner Dikshansu Negi right-handed batsman led from India opner Shikhar Dhawan’s 153 stepped up to race to his second took 6 for 21 in a brilliant bowling ( 0/ :;( Shwetha Verma, along with the the front before his bowlers helps Delhi beat Maharashtra by List A century in the next 39 balls. performance to help Uttarakhand seasoned Sushma Verma, are the bundled out the opposition for three wickets at Sawai Mansingh There was no stopping Prerak bundle out Mizoram for a paltry eteran medium pacer two keepers in both formats. 250 with Thakur (4/50) doing Stadium. While Puducherry win by as he took another 27 balls to cruise 117. VShikha Pandey was on Pandey’s exclusion was the bulk of the damage. 104 runs against Himachal to 150. He was dismissed by Jagjit In reply, Uttarakhand knocked Saturday dropped from India’s more to do with the selectors Iyer anchored the innings Pradesh. Singh in the final over but the dam- off the required runs in just 10.5 ODI and T20 squads that will wanting to check out the pace before toying with the Rajasthan age had been done. overs. take on South African women in bowling bench strength and attack, scoring his second cen- PRERAK SLAMS 174 Chasing the target, In another match, Assam a twin series starting March 7. rookie right-arm medium pac- tury of the tournament with the Kolkata: In Group E clash, middle- Chandigarh skipper Manan Vohra chased down a target of 246 set by The most debatable decision ers C Prathyusha and Monica help of 11 fours and three sixes. order batsman Prerak Mankad (50) and Arslan Khan (61) put on Sikkim in the 48th over to main- by the Neetu David-led selection Patel were included in both the He found able partners in took Eden Gardens by storm with a century-plus stand and then tain their all-win record in the committee, however, was the squads. Sarfaraz Khan (30) and a sensational 174 to power Ankit Kaushik chipped in with 54 group. exclusion of teenage batting There is also young seamer sensation Shafali Verma in the Simran Dil Bahadur, who is part ODI squad which has plodders of the T20 Internationals team. like skipper Mithali Raj and Left-arm spinner Yastika , -$. % Punam Raut, whose strike-rates Bhatia has made way for Ekta have come under the scanner Bisht in the 50-over squad while time and again. Veda Krishnamurthy, after a ( 4<;0E year hiatus. the 50-over World Cup that negative over a week ago has %>? "2" With 19 T20 Internationals prolonged lean phase, has been The three matches of the year. been ruled out of the T20 series. under her belt and an amazing dropped from both squads. eteran batsman Chris Gayle T20I series will be played on He had earlier said that the A West Indies spokesman '( '9 C:'0 Women’s T20 World Cup last ODI squad: Mithali Raj Vhas returned to the West March 3, 5, and 7 at the 2019 World Cup matches would added that fast bowlers Sheldon year, Shafali is a box-office (Captain), Smriti Mandhana, Indies squad for Coolidge Cricket be his last appearances for West Cottrell and Oshane Thomas, community coronavirus cricketer. Jemimah Rodrigues, Punam the first time in Ground in Antigua, Indies. along with batsman Shimron Aoutbreak in Auckland has “It will be interesting to Raut, Priya Punia, Yastika nearly two years which will be making “Chris Gayle has performed Hetmyer and all-rounder forced New Zealand cricket know whether skipper Mithali Bhatia, Harmanpreet Kaur, D for the three- its International very well in recent tournaments Roston Chase have all failed to bosses to hastily reschedule two Raj, who herself loves to bat at Hemalatha, Deepti Sharma, match T20I series debut. and the selection panel thinks reach the minimum fitness T20 matches against Australia as the top of the order and con- Sushma Verma, Swetha against Sri Lanka, The big-hitting that he can still add great value standard in time to be consid- other affected sports assessed sumes more deliveries than per- Verma, Radha Yadav, beginning on Gayle last played for to our team,” Roger Harper, ered for selection. their options. missible, had at all wanted Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Jhulan March 3. West Indies in their Cricket West Indies’ (CWI) T20I squad: Kieron Pollard Prime Minister Jacinda Shafali in the ODI squad,” a Goswami, Mansi Joshi, The 41-year-old home series against lead selector, said. (c), Nicholas Pooran, Fabian Ardern has ordered Auckland, senior BCCI official, who Poonam Yadav, C Prathyusha, top-order batsman India in August “As we build towards the Allen Dwayne Bravo, Fidel New Zealand’s largest city and Wednesday, will go ahead but sounded miffed with the move, Monica Patel was recalled to the 2019 after defence of the T20 World Cup, Edwards, Andre Fletcher, Chris the centre of the outbreak, into without spectators. told PTI. T20I squad: Harmanpreet 14-man squad under the opportunity is being taken Gayle, Jason Holder, Akeal a seven-day lockdown from Game four, scheduled for “Her absence means that Kaur (Captain), Smriti Kieron Pollard on the to determine our best team Hosein, Evin Lewis, Obed Sunday, requiring people to stay Auckland on Friday, has been India lack firepower save Mandhana, Shafali Verma, basis of his good per- and squad as we go forward.” McCoy, Rovman Powell, Lendl at home except for essential moved to Wellington and, again, Harmanpreet and Smriti. We Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti formances in recent The selection panel also Simmons, Kevin Sinclair. shopping and work. will be played behind closed lost out on a big hitter,” he added. Sharma, Richa Ghosh, tournaments, includ- named the squad for the ODI ODI squad: Kieron Pollard (c), The remainder of the coun- doors. The selectors, though, have Harleen Deol, Sushma Verma, ing the IPL and series against the visting Sri Shai Hope, Fabian Allen, Darren try faces Level Two restrictions The spokesman said they included a lot of rookies based Nuzhat Parveen, Ayushi Soni, Pakistan Super Lankans to be played between Bravo, Jason Holder, Akeal which limit the size of public would wait for Government on their last season’s domestic Arundhati Reddy, Radha League. March 10-14 at the Sir Vivian Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Evin gatherings. advice on whether crowd restric- performances as well as A and Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Senior fast bowler Richards Stadium in Antigua. Lewis, Kyle Mayers, Jason A New Zealand Cricket tions are to be lifted before B team series against Poonam Yadav, Mansi Joshi, Fidel Edwards, 39, is All-rounder Andre Russell Mohammed, Nicholas Pooran, spokesman said the third match deciding if there will be specta- Bangladesh. Monica Patel, C Prathyusha, also back in the nation- is recovering from contracting Romario Shepherd, Kevin in the current T20 series, to be tors at the final game of the series Rookie keeper-batsman Simran Dil Bahadur. al squad after a nine- Covid-19, and despite testing Sinclair. played in Wellington on in Tauranga on Sunday. * ( ' $% $.$" 1 ' 1%(1 2 3 %( 1 % % 2 % - 1 (3 ' 1 5 ' 1 L % % 1 /.$% 2 7&7< 6 % &8-C2;0;7$%:##0:.%08%2$.9%. 8.$2..0A 9%88.28 2-:$8%970.8.:%.1.7027;.# %8A%8%.09%8$%8;80%2.%8:.% -8.$-#.820A&#A08# 442 %2.8:2 ' $& $ G (;' ;;'2,' = $ LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM TURBULENT TIMES n the last one year, our lifestyles and of discretionary spends of customers. This is has delivered a crash course in agility for through. These messages are delivered with habits have changed forever. The way we new revenue for the companies but not neces- organisations of all stripes. “bounded optimism” — hope combined with live, eat, play, work is all altered. The sarily brought forward from the future. realism. resulting lockdowns of countries has However, the growth that these industries are brought national economies to a stand- seeing may not sustain once people begin to It is said that innovation and creativity love Istill. Salary and job cuts are happening step out for leisure and entertainment. crises and constraints. Crisis brings out con- What makes a leader is not just thinking throughout the world. Lives versus livelihood And then there are big winners in this straints and makes innovation almost a forcing about self but for the larger community. Be it is a constant debate. No one living in these crisis. Industries like video conferencing, function. Leaders often leverage consultants to giving back to the community in cash or kind times has experienced a crisis that can be online grocery delivery, digital payments get a fresh, outside perspective on their organi- or even gestures where one takes care of people remotely equated to this one. And things are have seen a huge spike in adoption and have sations to find opportunities to innovate. A cri- who are not directly on the organization’s pay- still unfolding. reached levels they would have otherwise sis can have much the same effect, putting the roll but on the frontline; leaders showcase how When we are not going out to eat out but expected to reach in order of months to spotlight on vulnerabilities, problem areas; it is not enough if the organization alone pro- cooking more at home; when we prefer ser- years. These are likely fundamental customer great and small, that we’ve been ignoring or are gresses. No true leader sees crisis as a time to vices at home rather than going out; when we behaviour changes and expected to stay even just plain unaware of. When a crisis hits, we carve out a competitive advantage; definitely need high speed internet to work from home, when the crisis eases. These industries are are forced to confront the truth about how our not at the cost of a struggling competitor. when masks are the new fashion statement; all not only making a lot of revenue during the systems work (or don’t). The places where Compassion is leadership, leadership is com- these changes in our behaviour shape the way crisis. And when the crisis is over, the new things could be done better or more efficiently passion — compassion not just for self but for different industries are leading their way normal of these industries will be at a higher become glaringly obvious. All of a sudden, everyone else, especially ones where one has through the crisis and changing the core strate- level. These are industries that are mostly opportunities for innovation are staring us in no self-interest whatsoever. If anything, the cri- gy. Covid-19 has impacted every sphere of the constrained on their supply side to handle the face. sis will make leadership more humane and corporate world. the exponential growth in demand. The current crisis is bringing a whole new above self-interest. The pandemic has had a varied impact on Few years down the line, leadership and set of innovations. Services like medicine, edu- different industries. Across the globe, there business lessons from this crisis will be taught cation, industrial plant set ups are all going have been industries where revenue has gone as crisis management case studies in B-schools. digital. Google and Apple are collaborating on In times of crisis, the acceptance of failure negative; for some it has even gone down to Which of these lessons will be permanent contact tracing. Dunzo is working with brands and moving on from there to the next step and zero. Industries like travel which relied on peo- armours for future leaders for dealing with any to get the products delivered at one’s doorstep. the next is a critical leadership trait. These are ple physically moving around even needed to crisis? And do the learnings differ depending ITC’s personal care team deserves recognition times when given the dynamicity of the situa- refund future bookings. Entertainment like on which side of the revenue curve a company ;+'0 8( ;';' ' for introducing a range of new health and tion, decisions need to be made based on the physical events, movie ticketing, are in the finds itself. Does leadership need to be reac- L',( (8+' <0 hygiene products for households. Its hospitality limited information available and many times same category. It is not sure when revenue is tive? Here are the top 5 lessons coming directly (33,0(0 9,( team curated a gourmet menu, which recreates in decentralized manners. Fail fast is more going to return. Some of these industries fall in from senior leaders across different industries the ITC dining experience for our customers important than learning and waiting to make the bucket of ‘putting off for the future’. For and organisations. ' ,<;5:<2;, in the comfort of their homes. While these are the right decision. Different business models example, people are putting off the visit to the ;'L20(0 9,( just a couple of examples, leaders across indus- are prototyped and many of them may not hairdresser and are likely to go back when the /;,,L09;'5<0 tries continue to strive to change and innovate work. It’s ok. Leaders move on. crisis eases. These industries are shifting their Ever since the world reported its first case, to ensure that they deliver nothing short of There are often external circumstances present revenues into the future. The immedi- every day has been a roller coaster ride. 05'(LS3<,<8( excellence in their products and services to our beyond one’s control. Leaders are kind to your- ate focus is on cash conservation. Situations on the ground have evolved rapidly. ;'L05<0 # ( ) ( ) - B P B & -01 2( 345 6 * * # * 7 $.. 7 - -8 -0 mar prem ki nagari mein aapka on giving rise to poetry and folklore. Hindola Mahal, named thus because its .= swagat hai (welcome to the city As I climb up Rani Roopmati’s pavil- sloping outer walls give the impression that of eternal love), a green- ion, I imagine her standing under one of the palace is swaying. As per our guide, the coloured board greets us as we the canopies gazing at her beloved structure is built without a foundation and 7 enter Mandu, a small town 100 Narmada on the one side and at the Baz to ensure that it remained standing for cen- Akm west of Indore in Madhya Pradesh. Bahadur palace on the other. Rani turies it was built at a 77 degree angle. HOW TO GET THERE Myths, legends and Mandu seem to be Roopmati’s pavilion which is on top of a During the monsoons swings were hung in Mandu is located about a 100 km made for each other. As you drive through hill was originally a watch tower. Besides the main hall for the queens to sway. from Indore and the only way to get there lush green fields dotted with palaces and the two canopies, Baz Bahadur built a Hindola Mahal has an elegant façade and is by road. pavilions it is easy to lose yourself in the water reservoir (Rewa Kund) so that beautiful symmetrical arches. town’s stories of romance, courage and Narmada water could be provided to Because Mandu changed rulers so HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU NEED betrayal. Roopmati. The water was supplied in the many times various structures were built, You can cover Mandu’s main sights The most fascinating of all tales is the whole building through an aqueduct. destroyed and rebuilt. It has over 3,000 including the Jahaz Mahal, Hindola royal love story of Baz Bahadur, the last sul- There is a clear view of Baz Bahadur’s structures from the 12th to the 16th cen- Mahal, Roopmati Pavilion, Baz Bahadur’s tan of Malwa (1555-1562) and his beau- palace from Roopmati’s Pavillion. The tury in a 26 sq km area. You cannot walk Palace and Jami Masjid in a day trip from tiful consort Roopmati. In these parts, Baz palace is a medley of Rajasthani and more than a 100 feet without spotting a Indore, if you are prepared to walk quite Bahadur and Roopmati are no less than Islamic styles of architecture. While beautiful monument, that tells its own story a bit. If you wish to slow down the pace Romeo-Juliet, Heer-Ranjha or Laila- strolling through the long corridors, adding to the agelessness of the place. and explore some of the lesser known Majnu. Legend has it that once when Baz arched entrances and domed pavilions I It was Mandu’s geographical location monuments, then you can spend two days. Bahadur was on a hunting trip, he saw a could sense the echoes of a glorious past. which made it such an important city. It beautiful woman singing. He was so smit- It was to acquaint the visitors to this prospered greatly under the Sultans of WHERE TO STAY ten by her beauty and melodious voice that historic past of Mandu — as also art, cul- Malwa for nearly 200 years. At its peak, There are a few hotels in Mandu and he asked her to accompany him to his cap- ture and heritage — that Madhya Pradesh Mandu had a population of over 9 lakh peo- most are fairly basic. The best option is ital, Mandu. Roopmati agreed but had only Tourism Board recently organised a two- ple. The small town today has a population the MPTDC Hotel — Malwa Retreat one condition, she needed to set eyes on day festival. One that I was apart of. of just 15,000. Built primarily as a fort, mul- located next to one of Mandu’s Lakes. her beloved river Narmada every day. tiple ancient gates herald you every few Thus, two canopies were built on top of a metres, transporting you to a bygone era. WHEN TO GO watch tower within 48 hours (if our guide The first written inscription about The peak season in Mandu is the is to be believed) so that Roopmati could Mandu is from the sixth century. But over monsoon, when there is lush greenery all see the river Narmada, 23 km away, come the years, it changed hands several times. around. Besides that the weather is pleas- rain or shine. The Parmar rulers moved their capital If the numerous monuments in Mandu ant in the winter months from November- Unfortunately, for the lovers, their from Dhar to Mandu in 1261, seemingly will take your breath away, the presence of February. romance was short lived. In 1562, Mughal to take advantage of its strategic location several baobab trees, native to Madagascar emperor Akbar decided to invade Mandu on top of a plateau. The weakening of the and mainland Africa, will leave you won- HOW TO GET AROUND and sent his general Adam Khan to cap- Parmar rule and the attacks from Delhi dering. These massive, towering trees Mandu doesn’t have autos or cycle ture Mandu. Baz Bahadur’s small army was intensified in the last years of the thirteenth bereft of leaves and with bulbous trunks dot rickshaws as of now and so to get around no match for the great Mughal army. century and in 1305, Alauddin Khilji cap- the Mandu landscape leaving one bewil- you need to have your own vehicle or the Mandu fell easily and Baz Bahadur escaped tured Malwa. Another hundred years dered. Where did they come from? There hotel can organise it for you. to Mewar. Adam Khan who had heard of later, when Delhi was being ruled by seems to be no satisfactory answer. Roopmati’s beauty requested to meet her. Mohamed Shah Tughlaq, his governor My guide says it was probably gifted WHAT TO EAT Sensing her fate, she poisoned herself and Dilawar Khan Gori and his son Hoshang heard during prayers all across the large One of the most striking structures in by a traveller from those regions in the Do try ‘Mandu ki imly’. It’s sold at stalls avoided capture but not before she wrote Shah ruled Mandu for several years and mosque. Mandu is the Jahaz Mahal built by Sultan mid-15th century but there doesn’t seem outside Jami Masjid. the following poem: renamed it Shadiabad or the City of Joy. Jami Masjid is no longer an active Ghiyasuddin Khalji, supposedly to house to be a record of the same. While the pres- Chitt Chanderi, sabe Malwa, It was they who turned the town into mosque but in its heydays it could accom- his harem of 15,000 women. It is believed ence of the trees surprises tourists like me, MUST WATCH Jiyo bhayo udas, an architectural marvel by building icon- modate over 5000 people. that Mughal Emperor Jehangir, who vis- for the locals they have always been The light and sound show at Hindola Kyonki bhag gaye Bahadur Baz, ic structures like the imposing Jami The tomb of Jami Masjid’s creator, ited Mandu in 1617 and spent nearly seven there. The baobab tree’s fruit is sold in the Mahal is a must watch. The half an hour Preet meet ke din gaye, Masjid, modelled after the Umayyad Hoshang Shah, lies next door to it. months there, writing extensively about local market as ‘Mandu ki imly’. Break open show provides a good overview of Gaye Bahadur Baz, Mosque in Damascus (Syria). Considered Considered the first marble mausoleum, Mandu in his memoirs Jehangirnama the elongated fruit and you find a cluster Mandu’s history and legends. Ab na jiyo jaat hai, one of the finest and largest models of local folklore claims that Shahjahan was called the palace Jahaz Mahal because built of white-coated seeds. The texture is Yahan kahan hai kaz Afghan architecture in India, the red sand- inspired by this tomb while constructing between two lakes — Munja and Kapur — powdery and not fiberous like imly but it THINGS TO KNOW (My heart is sad seeing the sunrise in stone mosque has a sprawling courtyard the Taj Mahal. its shadow looks like a ship. The beauti- is tangy. Network is a major issue but if the Mandu since Baz Bahadur has run away. enclosed by huge colonnades with perfect- Whether that’s true or not, Hoshang ful palace with its gorgeous halls, ceno- As I leave Mandu, I imagine it in all plan is to be cut-off from your daily life The days of meeting my lover are over. It’s ly symmetrical archways, pillars, bays Shah’s tomb built entirely in white marble taphs, and striking pools is an architectur- its glory as it lives on in its palaces and and enjoy Mandu’s serenity then it works. difficult for me to live now and I have no and domes. The variety of domes are not is a beautiful structure with lattice-work, al wonder. pavilions, its ballads and legends and I take There are a couple of ATMs in the main more work to do here). meant only for ornamental purposes but arched openings, domes and jalis giving The Jahaz Mahal is part of a larger com- a bit of its charm and romance back home market. But digital payments are accept- History or legend? The love story lives ensured that the Imam’s voice could be it an elegant look. pound that includes the very interesting with me. ed by most. Hotels accept credit cards. cross called the “Cross of Sacrifice”, a very common feature in any World War cemetery with more - @ 5 ! than 40 graves. This cross of sacri- fice was designed by Reginald Blomfield. Row upon rows of head- $$ / $ ,4 .& $ 2 ( <80059+' stones tell a saga of pain, pangs and excoriated sacrifices. Every headstone mentions the nce the summer capital of five. This reflects the impact of the were high casualties of soldiers. name of the soldier, his designation undivided Bihar, known for war on the region as a maximum Many a brave-hearts lost their lives. and his age at time of death. Every Oits wild beauty and cool number of Allied soldiers were sta- Only some got decent burials as headstone is decorated with the reg- weather, Ranchi now looks like the tioned here to protect India from a many returned home as badly muti- imental badge of the dead and a per- poster boy of an unplanned probable Japanese invasion in the lated bodies. It was a dark moment sonal line dedicated to him by his urbanised over-populated city. early 1940s. in time. family. Despite being the capital of a rela- One needs to go back in the his- As it did at the end of the First The cemetery is the final rest- tively new state, Jharkhand, town tory to recall that the fall of World War, Commonwealth War ing place of soldiers belong to reg- planning is noticeably missing here. Singapore and Rangoon in 1942 in Graves Commission began organ- iments such as the Royal Australian As the state tourism is working the hands of Japan, had caused great ising the Army cemetery across the Air Forces, Royal Canadian Air to put the state on a larger travel panic in British India. By 1944, the globe. The project in Ranchi was Forces, East Yorkshire Regiment, map, there do exist some hidden Axis forces had already entered undertaken in 1952. Relics of the West African Army, Royal Army gems of history waiting to be discov- India, with Netaji Bose’s INA, and fallen soldiers were taken to Ranchi Ordinance, East Lancashire ered. had overtaken a large area near from various battle fields and other Regiment, Westmorland & Close to the old Hazari Bagh Imphal, Manipur. The eastern part military and civil cemeteries and a Cumberland Yeo, among others Road’s Netaji Nagar locality (at of India had a very weak defence small war cemetery was designed that lost their lives to lost cause. It Kantatoli Chowk), and right behind with only seven divisions of the with all international features. This is heart breaking to see that many the old bus stand, a small piece of army and almost no air fields. place was well organised and opened soldiers were as young as 20 years history sleeps in oblivion. This is By May 1942, the Allied forces to visitors in 1952. 704 graves from old. The pain of the loved ones is Ranchi Commonwealth War had started amassing their army across India were identified and reflected in the memoriam lines Cemetery, where many fallen sol- from the Commonwealth coun- shifted here. Today, the cemetery has etched on the stones. diers of Second World War got their tries and started building logistics 51 gravestones of Indian soldiers, of Though the cemetery is not easy final resting place. These soldiers infrastructure in form of new air which four belong to the Bihar to locate and gets only few visitors, lost their lives in India and Burma strips and army bases. By the end of Regiment. This cemetery houses it is very well maintained. So next while protecting the glory of the 1944, places such as Calcutta, three non-war graves as well. There time you visit Ranchi, do make time Queen of England. Guwahati, Kohima and some other are 200 graves from 12 other civil to visit this piece of history. As reads Interestingly, of the eight World frontiers of Assam and Bengal were Britain, New Zealand and India. British and American Army officers however, remained unaffected dur- cemeteries. a message at one of the resting War cemeteries in India, eastern flooded with the American and Around the same time, a secret gave training to the Chinese soldiers ing the war. Green open field lends a sad places: Thoughts go back to bygone states such as Manipur, Nagaland, Commonwealth soldiers arriving army training camp was opened at back from the front. Clearly Ranchi Elsewhere in Assam, Manipur, beauty to the cemetery. At the cen- days. Life moves on but memory Bengal, Assam and Jharkhand house from Canada, Australia, Great Ramgargh near Ranchi where was abuzz with action. The suburbs, Arunachal and even Calcutta, there tre, stands a long freestanding Latin stays. uvitiut 2 "1 " he Mahinda Rajapaksa trapped on the coast at the end and deadly extremist outfits in TGovernment in Sri Lanka is of the war. Besides thousands the world and the world should in trouble again. The horrors of went missing and the Lankan be concerned about the outfit the three decades of Lankan security forces were blamed for as they had inspired networks Civil War are revisiting the the disappearance of the Tamil worldwide, including the al- Government. The two brothers rebels who either surrendered Qaeda in Iraq. The brutal tac- — Mahinda and Gotabaya — or captured. tics and the employment of are holding the two crucial Recently in a meeting with child soldiers by the LTTE posts, Prime Minister and a UN envoy, Lankan President were causing concerns across President, respectively. Gotabaya acknowledged for South Asia in its heydays. Earlier, Mahinda served the first time that more than Further some reports indi- as the President from 2005 to 20,000 people who disappeared cate that women were also 2010, when Gotabaya was the during the country’s Civil War forced to join the organisation. Defence Secretary. During this were dead. Only after seven years of its for- period, both the brothers Further his office released mation in 1983, the organisa- crushed the Liberation Tigers a statement that steps would be tion opened its Women’s Front 0.$ 9%#2 of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and put taken to issue death certificates of the Liberation Tigers under an end to the longest Civil War for those missing. This has cer- the leadership of Vithusha. :##%8;A0 in the country. tainly dampened the hopes of Like many other African terror ::0-8.%#%.8 However it was the lead- those who were expecting a groups, the LTTE used to ership of former Lieutenant positive response from the recruit children for combat D-2.%:A0.$:%92 Colonel Gotabaya, who final- Government. forces. :099%..-%8;.$ ly led the Lankan Army to the Sri Lanka, the island As per the estimates of the successful war against the nation, had witnessed the Sri Lankan Directorate of %%#1 $ dreaded LTTE leadership of scourge of terrorism for about Military Intelligence, as much Velupillai Prabhakaran in 2009. three decades. The terror as 60 per cent of the outfit’s 0898.2$0-# It was good that an ethnic ter- fuelled by the monstrous LTTE fighters were below 18 years. It $#.$0-821 ror movement came to an end had claimed many lives, includ- was also revealed that the fight- that took the lives of many in ing the civilians, soldiers and ers of the Tamil Tigers who .$%2 .$ the past. And the armed forces high-profile political leaders were killed in the war were #.%082$%7.8 of this tiny island nation and its within and outside the country. mostly between 9 and 18 years. political leadership breathed a The LTTE under the lead- These were some of the .$%8$#2 sigh of relief. Prabhakaran’s ership of Prabhakaran was harrowing episodes of the 9D0%.8.$2. torture regime was over with simply running a parallel LTTE that rightly underlines his killing in May 2009 at the Government in the North- how the terror organisation 0-#.%0. hands of the Lankan Army. Eastern parts of Lanka. Today, was simply twisting and under- This had not only shattered the Tamils and other minority mining the epithets of basic the command structure of the groups like the Muslims and human rights. Initially, it Tamil Tigers, but also pushed Christians are alleging massive seemed to be an endless saga of the outfit to the brink of clo- violation of human rights by terror, violence, torture and a sure. The organisation had lost the Lankan forces in the final parallel state run by an author- both its firepower and man- war against the LTTE in 2009. itarian leader. power. The Lankan But the international commu- Today the Tamils are call- Government forces too had And this has been haunt- rights during the war. relations among all of Sri pursue genuine truth-seeking nity must not forget the reign ing for accountability and jus- received severe casualties ing the Rajapaksa Government Therefore, the UN human Lanka’s diverse communities or accountability processes… of terror brought by tice for the crimes committed though the forces received since the end of the Civil War rights office blames both for and faith groups. This will Moreover, the systems, struc- Prabhakaran and his team over during the Civil War by the abundant supply of arms from and now also with the return- carrying out unparallel brutal- bring an added pressure on the tures, policies and personnel innocent civilians across the Lankan forces. It is hard time China. ing of the duo to power. ities against the innocent civil- Lankan Government, but then that gave rise to such grave vio- island. for the Rajapaksa duo to The end of the war brought Sri Lanka is facing a new ians during the war. how Colombo will respond lations in the past remain and The LTTE, formed on May respond to the Tamil minori- the most vital question to the UN Resolution at the UN Germany and Canada are may only decide the future of have recently been reinforced”. 5, 1976, by Prabhakaran was ty in their country and to the & $$ fore — the massive violation of Human Rights Council among the six countries that the families of the victims. This has put the Rajapaksa once used to be the only terror world Tamil diaspora on this human rights by the Lankan (UNHRC), calling on the formed the core group along UN Human Rights chief Government in the dock. All group in the world possessing sensitive issue. What is expect- Army. Though the Rajapaksa human rights abusers to with Britain to bring the reso- Michelle Bachelet has submit- efforts are on to pressurise its own military. Its political ed from Colombo is quick Government had justified the account and asking the coun- lution on Lanka. Lord Ahmad, ted her report on Sri Lanka to Colombo so as to offer justice headquarters was in redressal of the grievances of war, the humanitarian con- try’s Government to deliver Britain’s Minister of State for the UNHRC. While introduc- to the families of thousands of Kilinochchi, situating at a dis- the minorities in the North and cerns emerging from the num- immediate justice to the vic- South Asia and the ing the report to the Council, victims and missing persons in tance of 200 miles north of Eastern part of the country. ber of dead, missing and post- tims. Britain and others have Commonwealth, said: “The she said the effect of the con- this devastating war. Lanka’s capital city of Colombo. It is time to accept the war rehabilitation of the Tamil circulated a draft of the reso- victims from all communities flict on thousands of survivors As per the records made And this military consisted of responsibility of war crimes on civilians exposed the extreme lution among the members of of Sri Lanka’s brutal Civil War from all communities was dev- available by the international three distinct branches — the the part of the Lankan level of brutalities that the the UNHRC. are, a decade later, still await- astating. media and human rights agen- Tigers (Infantry), Sea Tigers Government. It is time to heal Lankan forces resorted to. It is expected to be adopt- ing justice for loved ones mur- She highlighted that 12 cies, the war killed about (Sea Wing) and Air Tigers the wounds. Else, relationship Both the Rajapaksa broth- ed at the end of the four-week dered or missing and dealing years after the end of the 1,00,000 people, including (Air Wing). It had gradually between the Sinhalese major- ers turned out to be heroes Spring Session of the UN’s top with the repercussions of vio- armed conflict in Lanka, the 40,000 Tamil civilians, massa- emerged as the most lethal and ity and rest of the minority among the majority Sinhalese human rights body. The session lence and conflict”. domestic efforts to ensure jus- cred by the Lankan Army in well-organised terror group. communities, particularly with population, but questions of the began on February 22 in He further commented tice for victims have failed. the final onslaught. In fact, the Federal Bureau the Tamils, would further dete- violation of fundamental rights Geneva. that the current resolution Further she stated, “Despite However, the Rajapaksa of Investigation (FBI), in its riorate. of the Tamils in the North and Both the Tamil Tigers and moved by his country in the commitments made in 2015, Government completely denies report published in January Eastern part of the country the Lankan Army were accused UNHRC is a vital step towards the current Government, like these allegations. An estimat- 2008, stated that the LTTE (The writer is an expert on remained unanswered. of massive violations of human reconciliation and peaceful its predecessor, has failed to ed 1,50,000 people were was one of the most dangerous international affairs) . 7= @ " 202;..98.7#8.2:870%8# .%90-.E.2.$:082.8.#:0##:.$-98A#-%22$%8A:.707-#.%081# .%9:099-8%. 2;.:.%08:8.E82#27022%#.02.%:..$9098.0A.$#0:#707-#.%08 0E%8;.09%8%9%2.$7.$0;8278.$..07-#%:$#.$ he ongoing global pan- determination of whether there Cyprus (Michael-Kordatou et (Gujarat) to understand the develop an early signalling falling into the Yamuna river Finland, Germany, the Tdemic of coronavirus dis- are Covid-19 carriers (both al, 2020), Ireland (Cahill et al, application of WBE surveil- spread of Covid-19 in com- and select STPs. Netherlands, and Pakistan. The ease 2019, caused by severe asymptomatic and sympto- 2020), Italy (La Rosa et al, lance in India. munities during partial and The advantages of waste- same can be planned for India. acute respiratory syndrome matic) in an area to enable pre- 2020), Japan (Haramoto et al, The WWTP has a capaci- post-lockdown periods in 2020. water surveillance in Delhi In the past, WBE has played an coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), ventive measures such as rapid 2020), South Africa (Street et ty of 106 MLD receiving efflu- This study gave interesting will include the monitoring of important role in the eradica- has been declared as a public screening and quarantine, even al., 2020), The Netherlands ents of Civil Hospital treating insights for informing policy wastewater samples from tion of polio in 2011 in India, health emergency of interna- before the residents of that city (Dutch Water Sector, 2020), Covid-19 patients. The number actions. sewage treatment plants and and at present, wastewater sur- tional concern (WHO, 2020). have been tested. Spain (Chavarria-Miró et al, of gene copies was found com- The wastewater surveil- major drains of the Yamuna veillance continues at 52 Several research studies In India, the pandemic 2020), USA (Peccia et al and parable to that reported in the lance study in Chennai has the river in Delhi can help in esti- WWTPs and unregulated across the globe have con- steadily rose from April 2020 Hart & Halden et al, 2020), and untreated wastewaters of potential for replication in mating the number of infected catchment areas for detection firmed that SARS-CoV-2 with peaking in mid-August India (Kumar et al and Arora Australia, China, and Turkey other Indian cities like Delhi as individuals, and hence provide of poliovirus. ribonucleic acid (RNA) has 2020. The cumulative con- et al., 2020). and lower than that of the USA, well as upscaling it for larger robust scientific evidence for This surveillance network been detected in faeces of not firmed cases have significant- For effective dissemina- France, and Spain. A similar geographic areas covering a informed decision making at can be a viable resource for the only symptomatic but also ly lowered at present. tion of knowledge created by study was conducted by large population. Also, it could the policy level. detection of SARS-CoV-2 in asymptomatic patients. It has Several research groups the current research efforts, and researchers of Dr B Lal Institute potentially be one of the bases This is an early, cost-effec- wastewater in the country, also been seen that sewers or across the globe have reported to empower collaboration on a of Biotechnology (Rajasthan) for scientifically informed deci- tive, unbiased community-level including the national Capital sewage treatment plants (STPs) detecting novel coronavirus global scale for wastewater- with samples from sions to implement public indicator of the presence of Delhi. can provide near-real-time SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater. based epidemiology of SARS- hospital wastewater as well as health intervention strategies Covid-19 and of “hot-spots” There is a need to identify outbreak data because they In Switzerland, École CoV-2, there are various ongo- from WWTPs of Jaipur, consistent with legal and ethi- within a community. It will the key issues and challenges " C&$# C #D constantly collect human fluids Polytechnique Fédérale de ing initiatives such as the which has been a pandemic cal considerations in India. support risk mitigation deci- related to the development of shed by infected population. Lausanne (EPFL) researchers, European Union’s NORMAN - hotspot (red zone) since April At present, Delhi has 41 sions for the communities, and validated methodological pro- Thus, wastewater-based working in association with the SCORE Joint Initiative (Sewage 2020. Sewage Treatment Plants guide decisions about where tocols for the quantitative epidemiology (WBE) is a Swiss Federal Institute of Analysis CORe group Europe) To analyse the presence of (STPs) with a cumulative treat- and when to impose or relax analysis of SARS-CoV-2 in promising approach to under- Aquatic Science and (score-cost.eu/), COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 in the commu- ment capacity of 3,149 MLD. more targeted restrictions on wastewater. stand the prevalence of virus- Technology (EAWAG) on WBE Collaborative nity wastewater of different Out of 41 STPs, 32 STPs (2,775 movement and activity. It will The data generated from es in any given wastewater wastewater sampling and (covid19wbec.org/), Biobot catchments in Chennai city in MLD) are operational and 9 help alert asymptomatic infec- the SARS-CoV-2 wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) analysis developed a study in Analytics (biobot.io/), NSF India, a group of scientists led STPs (373 MLD) are non- tions in the community monitoring system in Delhi catchment population. March 2020, which acts as an Research Coordination by Chakraborty et.al from SRM operational . Also, important- through real-time community might be used to show a A densely populated coun- early warning signal for spread Network (RCN) Institute of Science and ly, 75 per cent of pollution is sewage detection could be roadmap for tracking disease, try like India will require con- of SARS-CoV-2 in communi- (sites.nd.edu/rcn-wastewater- Technology, Mu Gamma contributed by three major determined. intensifying testing, stant vigilance to contain ties. Similarly, in April 2020, sarscov2/), COVIDPoops19 Consultants Pvt Ltd (MGC) drains (Najafgarh, It will be very useful for re-introducing public orders Covid-19 infection hot spots, sewage sampling across greater (https://twitter.com/COVIDPo and The Energy and Resources Supplementary and Shahdara) positioning resources and trig- related to social distancing or $ $ # unless and until either a vaccine Paris (France) for more than ops19?s=20), Global Water Institute (TERI) jointly imple- out of all the drains falling into gering public actions for quarantines (if needed), and is proven to be effective or herd one month, researchers have Pathogen Project (GWPP) mented an intensive waste- the river Yamuna. Given the improved health outcomes. It even lifting restrictions once a immunity is achieved, to com- detected a rise and fall in novel (waterpathogens.org/) and water surveillance study, the current sewage management will also alert second and sub- cessation of infection is bat the spread of SARS-CoV- coronavirus concentrations others. first-of-its-kind in the southern scenario of Delhi, a waste- sequent waves, and develop confirmed. 2. Real-time community that correspond to the shape of In IIT Gandhinagar, India, region of India. water surveillance study (sim- preparedness towards outbreak sewage detection can be taken the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Kumar et al, 2020, for the first The study entailed partial ilar to the one conducted by of other pandemics in the (Paromita Chakraborty is as early as possible to restrict the region. time, detected the presence of lockdown and post lockdown SRM IST, MGC and TERI in future. Associate Professor, SRM the movement of the local Other researchers have also three SARS-CoV-2 genes survey along the wastewater Chennai) can be taken To track any resurgence of Institute of Science & population, working to min- reported detecting novel coro- (ORF1ab, N and S virus) in discharge points in Adayar up in the national Covid-19, national wastewater Technology, and Girija K Bharat imise the pathogen spread and navirus SARS-CoV-2 in waste- wastewater. 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D $ $ . / & 6 & &$ $. $ . $ ' ( $ E $ 6 ; . < $ $$ < $ D E & $ . & $ O. & $ & $ $ -:E8-9 -:E8-9% -:E8-9 % -:E:0#0-, 5 -:E:0#0-<"/ -:E:0#0-8 -:E -:E8 -:E8 & ( > & $ ) # % E ( < F E( E E( &< +43284222* .$ 2;','2;9;'0+' 8' < here are two working tools of the consciousness over a period of time. SAMÃDHI: As one gets established in moment in ‘as is where is’ condition. Dhyana process — an imagery to Pursuing the process doesn’t happen the dhãranã process, the seeker is in The question now is: If all about life, Tfocus upon and a mantra related to without meeting difficulties on the way. harmony with the imagery and its relat- including the mind, is manifestation of the image — as has been explained in the Invariably, the seeker is confronted with ed educative import, as well as the res- nature driven energy orchestra, which previous issue. Mantra is usually a set of distracting thoughts that drift our atten- onating mantra. We, thus, enter into a would be continuously pulsating, how syllables placed in a logical sequence to tion away from our focal point, again state of dhyana. Pursuing the process comes mind gets into a state of no activ- create a particular sound effect. It could and again. Don’t confront those distract- further, a stage is arrived at when ity for becoming at peace with the self? be just a seed letter, syllable, word, or a ing thoughts. If you ever do that, they mantra gets dropped. Eventually all Well, mind can never get into an inac- set of words, which as a sequel to stress will stay put in mind, and keep visiting thoughts drop but one remains steadfast tive state the way a running vehicle is created and uttered by mouth, is heard again and again. The only way out is with the concept synonymous with the halted. But pursuing the dhyãna by ears, and apprehended by mind. training one’s mind to remain disen- imagery in focus. This state is termed as process, a state is arrived at when mind Mantra is so called, because it involves a gaged from them. Mind it; unless you being in savikãr samãdhi (immersed in is in perfect harmony with the element mental process. The word as such com- pay attention to something, it won’t the iconic figure targeted). Further of consciousness. The unitary mind prises of ‘man’ out of ‘manana’ and ‘tra’ affect you. down the line, even the iconic figure then submerges with the cosmic mind. out of ‘trãna’. Mana stands for mind; Keep chanting the mantra and try to drops. Following which the mantra, the Evidently then, mind becomes an inte- manana implies reflection in mind; and bring back attention to the imagery imagery, and the mind become one grated part of cosmic flow, and so is at trana stands for liberation. sought after again and again. Gradually, seamless awareness, which means peace with the self and the rest. It is So, chanting of mantra helps attain the distracting thoughts will go out of attaining the state of nirvikalpa (form- something like someone standing on liberation from mental limitations. It, reckoning, and you may be able to less) samãdhi. earth plane not able to have a feel of thus, serves a great purpose, as mantra remain focused for a longer stretch of In samãdhi, mind, free from any tremendous speed at which the latter happens to be a radiant energy, rather a time. Let me add here that when the thought input, becomes quiet. For, all would be spinning. For, the person and sound-body of consciousness, set in cor- sound notes of the mantra resonate to thoughts prevailing in mind, which the earth are synonymous. This is what respondence with the consciousness of the imagery in focus, over a period of otherwise condition one’s mind, get may be termed as being in a state of the related imagery. Following repeated time, one gets so involved that distract- dropped. These very thoughts hold Yoga. In the state of Yoga, mind enters chanting of the mantra with focus on the ing thoughts if any are left far behind. the key to your futuristic aspirations an infinite domain having no distinctive related imagery, consciousness of the When one gets fully established in the also. You are free from any sense of existences. seeker, in the first place, comes to terms process, mind becomes one pointed. In the past or future. So, there remains # (( with that of the mantra and the imagery. the process, one also inculcates a value nothing in hand to process, and hence (( E ( Eventually the seeker’s consciousness system, coming as it may with the educa- at peace. It is a state of being when # < ++*'***'++4*4123832@+43*123838 becomes one with the eternal element of tive import of the imagery in focus. you are just enjoying your present 9 < F E( & /T0'L0 80 (,'' <09:(05 (<, ★ ) T '(; ;'0 ,'4'C;8<:'0(<, (<,) ,'(L* 3 * 9*#