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UPPI’S NEXT MOUNTED ON RS 80 CRORE { Page 11 } www.dailypioneer.com A GLIMMER OF HOPE Covid-19 has no doubt shaken the world, but there is a glimmer of hope from at least three major factors. Remdesivir, previously tested in humans with Ebola virus disease and in animal models for treating MERS and SARS, has reportedly cured about 70% of Covid-19 patients treated as part of study in the US. It is now taking longer for Covid-19 cases to double in India (6.2 days), compared to the situation before the lockdown (3 days). Indian scientists are testing Mw, a multi-purpose vaccine that has proved effective against leprosy and boosts immunity in hosts, to see if it can help tackle Covid-19. Gilead's drug Remdesivir shows Data presenta- Doubling rate of tion on Covid- promise against COVID-19 cases in India reduced 19 needs to be PNS n NEW YORK Remdesivir by Gilead Sciences is one of several reworked to drugs being fast-tracked into trials by the World NEW DELHI: The Union Health Ministry said on Friday the rate at soothe nerves A potential drug from phar- which the number of coronavirus cases in the country was becoming maceutical major Gilead Health Organization, comparing potential double in the last one week was 6.2 days, as against three days Sciences has shown tremen- before the nationwide lockdown was imposed. At dous promise in an ongoing treatments in hospitalised COVID-19 patients in a a daily media briefing about updates on COVID- clinical trial at the University 19 situation, Joint Secretary in the Health India 2 dozen countries, including Canada Ministry Lav Agarwal claimed of Chicago Medical Center where 36 of 53 severe COVID- that India has been doing testing vaccine 19 patients who were treated lowing the report. stage is that we look forward better than many other with anti-viral medicine "The best news is that most to data from ongoing studies countries on the outcome NEW DELHI Indian scientists are testing a remdesivir have shown clini- of our patients have already becoming available". ratio, which is the number of multi-purpose vaccine that has proved effective cal improvement. been discharged, Gilead's severe Covid-19 recoveries from coronavirus against leprosy and boosts immunity in hosts to see if According to a report which is great. We've study includes 2,400 partici- infection versus the it can help tackle the coronavirus, the chief of country's in The STAT, the only had two pants from 152 different clin- number of deaths. "If 80 largest public-funded research institution told NDTV on researchers saw rapid patients perish," ical trial sites all over the per cent of the patients Friday."With the approval of the DCGI (Drug Controller General recoveries in fever and Kathleen Mullane, world. in India are recovering of India), we have begun tests on the MW vaccine that has respiratory symptoms, the University of Remdesivir by Gilead and in 20 per cent cases been successfully used against leprosy," Dr Shekhar Mande, with nearly all patients Chicago infectious Sciences is one of several drugs deaths are being Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research reported, then by that discharged in less than disease specialist being fast-tracked into trials by (CSIR), said. "Making a vaccine is a lengthy process. The research is standard India has been a week. overseeing the the World Health going on. We are working on a vaccine that improves the immunity in doing a little better than Gilead's shares remdesivir studies Organization, comparing hosts. We are awaiting two more approvals. Once we have those, we many other nations jumped more than 15 for the hospital, was potential treatments in hospi- will start trials. We will know the results within the next six weeks," Dr on the outcome Mande said. The World Health Organisation has said a specific vaccine per cent in after-hours quoted as saying. talised COVID-19 patients in ratio," he said. trading and Dow futures Gilead said in a a dozen countries, including for the novel coronavirus that has triggered the ongoing COVID-19 surged more than 800 statement: "What Canada. 2 pandemic could take at least 12 months or longer. points on Thursday fol- we can say at this 2 2 RBI steps will help protect India suspends KCR to seek support of AP, Maha CMs livelihoods of TS to continue ‘50% people: Nadda all visas till May 3 PNS n NEW DELHI to enforce lockdown till April 30 The Government of India PNS n HYDERABAD has suspended all existing pay cut’ for April too 5 visas granted to foreigners Upping his ante on the Centre's and all incoming passenger decision to exempt a few sectors L VENKAT RAM REDDY traffic into India through fromlockdown restrictions n HYDERABAD Immigration Check Posts starting April 20, Chief Minister (ICPs) till May 3. The rules K Chandrasekhar Rao is learnt- Amid pervasive heartburn, a will be applied to all except to have decided to seek the sup- PIL plea against last month's certain categories, an order port of neighbouring Andhra salary cut in the High Court, issued by the foreigners' divi- Pradesh andMaharashtra Chief the state government is under- sion of the Ministry of Home Ministers to effectively enforce stood to have decided to go Affairs (MHA) said. The the lockdown as it is tillApril once again for 50% pay cut to ministry decided to extend 30,without giving relaxations to employees and pensioners in the suspension of all existing any sector whatsoever, irre- day or two. All the three states have Telangana for the second visas granted to foreigners, spective of the Centre's guide- The Telangana Chief been witnessed spikes in coro- month in a row. except to those belonging to lines. Minister wants the three na cases dayafter day. In fact, The state government imposed diplomatic, official, UN or KCR is expected to talk to AP 'neighbouring states' to coop- the situation in Maharashtra is 50 per cent pay cut foremployees international organisations, and Chief Minister YS JaganMohan erate for containing the spread alarming asit tops the country's andpensioners in March, citing Right or wrong, employees and pensioners employment and project cate- Reddy and Maharashtra Chief of coronavirus by strictly list of corona positive cases and 'financial constraints' as if the received 50 per cent pay for the month of March on gories, till May 3 in the wake of Minister Uddhav Thackeray enforcing existing lockdown deaths. term originated only on account the coronavirus outbreak. over phonein this regard in a curbs tillApril 30. 2 of corona outbreak. April 1. Now, the same policy would be continued in Right or wrong, employees the case of salary and pensions for April too and pensioners received 50 per cent pay for themonth of ‘RBI measures to March on April 1. Now, the has been criticized in informed ther with complete lockdown No respite, 66 new cases in Telangana same policy would be contin- circles. Official sources said for the month. The state cab- boost liquidity, ued in the case of salary and- since the financial condition of inet meeting on April 11 incentivise banks PNS n HYDERABAD District Active cases There are 286 active cases in Hyderabad area and pensions for April too. the state government had turned decided to extend lockdown It may be pertinent to note from bad to worse in April on till April 30. In this backdrop, to lend more’ Telangana reported 66 more GHMC 286 562 in Telangana. One case each was reported here that a division bench of account of lockdown,there is no official sources said there is no cases on Friday, taking the total Suryapet 44 from Vikarabadand Jogulamba Gadwal. the Telangana High Court on possibility of the government way in which the government number of Covid-19 cases to Wednesday directed the State paying full salary and pensions canmobilise funds to pay full 766. Of these cases, 46 were Nizamabad 42 districts and 209 clusters. The Health Department government to respond to a for April. salaries and pensions for April. reported in GHMC area and as Telangana, which was among advised citizens to ensure that PIL plea filed in connection The justification of the gov- The state government issued 8 many as 21 cases were reported Vikarabad 33 top 5 states in the country, freshly cooked food and safe with GO 27 issued for deduct- ernment is that it could not order (GO Ms No27) on from Suryapet. Warangal 21 attained 7th position in the potable water is consumed. ing the salaries and pension of bear financial losses in March March 30 imposing 75 per cent Suryapet now has second number of Corona cases. The The Control Room received government employees and when 50 percent pay cut was cut in gross salary of Chief highest number of Coronacases reported from Vikarabadand states with highest number of 399 calls on Friday, five of pensioners respectively and imposed, though there was Minister, ministers, MLAs, TODAY in the state after Hyderabad. Jogulamba Gadwal. There were cases are Maharashtra, Delhi, which pertained to suspected GO 45 directing the public and lockdown in state only in the MLCs, chairpersons of all cor- There are 286 active cases in no deaths reported on Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Corona cases and three for private establishments to pay last 12 days of the month porations and electedrepre- ALMANAC Hyderabad area and 562 in Thursday. On Thursday, con- Rajasthan, Gujarat and Uttar ambulance facility in full salary to its employees. from March 20 to 31. In April, sentatives of all local bodies. Month & Paksham: Telangana. One case each was tainment efforts continued in 13 Pradesh respectively. Hyderabad. This dichotomy in thinking the situation deteriorated fur- 2 Chaitra & Krishna Paksha Panchangam: Tithi: Ekadashi: 10:16 pm Nakshatram: Shatabhisha: 04:24 am (Next Day) Two nurses test positive Corona is the stuff of nightmares for many Time to Avoid: (Bad time to start any important work) n NAVEEN KUMAR Contracted it from Talabkatta victim n HYDERABAD Not knowing what to do, most of those Rahukalam: 09:08 am - 10:41 am who are active on social media are Yamagandam: 01:48 pm – 03:22 pm NAVEENA GHANATE ing the March 13-15 Tablighi If you are experiencing a string Varjyam: 09:38 pm - 11:26 am n HYDERABAD Jamaat congregation in of weird, unexplainable night- posting their experiences online, asking Gulika: 06:01 am - 07:35 am Markaz, New Delhi. mares in the past few days, whether they are the only ones having Two nurses, who had come in Before she succumbed to the know that you are not alone. Good Time: (to start any important contact with a Covid-19 pos- virus, the woman was taken to If one goes by personal pro- bizarre and memorable dreams work) itive patient in Talabkatta five facilities: a private hospi- files on social media, many Amritakalam: 08:22 pm - 10:09 pm before she died, tested positive tal in Nampally, Gandhi people are paying more atten- Abhijit Muhurtham: 11:50 am - 12:40 pm for the virus on Friday. Hospital, King Koti tion to their dreams of late, and the other hand, can be warn- to draw more heavily on themes The woman was confirmed Government Hospital, realising that they are not ing signs of anxietye that we from our past," opine dream Covid-19 positive after she Osmania Hospital and Princess alone in experiencing disturb- might not otherwise perceive experts. Psychotherapists sug- HYDERABAD passed away on April10. Durre Shehvar Hospital. ing nightmares of late. in our waking lives. gest that dreaming more often WEATHER She apparently was the Minister Etela Rajender said Not knowing what to do, "With hundreds of millions of and having strange dreams are Forecast: Partly cloudy source of infection for some that three contacts tested pos- most of those who are active on people forced to remain at extremely common during Temp: 39/25 doctors and nurses. Sources itive on Thursday. social media are posting their home during the Coronavirus times of high stress. Humidity: 41% pointedout the results of sam- Over 40 patients have experiences online, asking pandemic, some dream experts "Self-isolation doesn’t help. Sunrise: 05.57 ples obtained from some doc- reportedly been shifted to iso- whether they are the only ones believe that withdrawal from Being trapped at home for Sunset: 06.32 tors are awaited. lationcentres and the test having bizarre and memorable are connected to our wellbeing with intense memories or our usual environments and days and weeks is unhealthy Current Weather Conditions The deceased woman was results of samples obtained dreams. while we are awake. While everyday psychological stres- daily stimuli has left dreamers and can lead to having weird Updated April 17, 2020 5:00 PM among the contacts of a per- from 12doctors have yet to be Science has suggested that bizarre dreams riddled with sors within the safety of their with a dearth of “inspiration,” dreams. son who returned after attend- declared. dream content and emotions symbolism allow some to cope subconscious, nightmares, on forcing our subconscious minds 2 HYDERABAD | SATURDAY | APRIL 18, 2020 hyderabad 02 Data presentation on Covid-19 needs to be reworked to soothe nerves t’s quite heartening to note on social media, most of us likely to panic if they are Covid-19 is tricky due to the that the nation as a whole have our own theories regard- Under such circumstances, the informed that the number of long incubation period. Ihas acknowledged with ing the pandemic. While all common man tends to fall back on persons affected by Covid-19 It is better to provide esti- gratitude the contribution of kinds of opinions are aired, the is in lakhs and the number of mate with a small margin of the medical doctors and other fact remains that among the the state-wise data released at deaths due to Covid-19 is in error, which will send a posi- healthcare personnel, the more important issues that regular intervals about the number of thousands. tive message to the general municipal and panchayat staff need to be addressed are the They would get demoralised public. A low fatality rate and the police personnel in utility of data made available to affected persons and the number of and visualise a dim future. implies that a large percentage minimising the impact of the general public and the deaths due to Covid-19 The same data can be pre- of affected persons is likely to Covid-19 across the country. likely inferences drawn by the sented in a different manner recover and lead a normal life. As such, with the absence of public from such data. that will boost the confidence Further, by providing some live cricket on TV or radio Under such circumstances, convey to the general public? given time period to the total of the general public. It is bet- illustration, awareness among commentary, and intense pen- the common man tends to fall In statistics, crude death population of the country. ter to present case fatality rate the general public needs to be etration of the Internet, social back on the state-wise data rate is measured as a ratio of Therefore, comparing the i.e., the percentage of deaths built regarding the speed of media has come to change the released at regular intervals number of deaths due to all absolute number of deaths S INDRAKANT N LINGAMURTHY among the persons affected by transmission of Covid-19 if way we think. about the number of affected causes during a time-period due to Covid-19 across the Covid-19, which will be a fig- social distance is not main- People are more receptive to persons and the number of (generally a year) to the pop- countries or across the States period also has to be consid- while in some other countries, ure smaller in magnitude and tained at public places. In short, fake news, be it political or deaths due to Covid-19. ulation of the country (gener- in India has no meaning as ered. Some countries are it may be registered as death hence boost the confidence of the information provided to the regarding our health, ultimate- People panic whenever there ally expressed as number of they differ in size (measured in affected by Covid-19 since due to Covid-19. Therefore, for the general public. general public should build ly believing it to be true. Also, is a jump in number of posi- deaths per thousand persons). terms of population). January, 2020 while in some a meaningful inter-country/ In a press briefing on March their confidence and capacity, humans by nature tend to believe tive cases in their state while Historically, Global Crude For instance, it doesn't serve other countries, it is more inter-state comparison, it is 3, 2020, the Director-General in order to be successful in the alarmists news more easily. people in states having fewer Death Rate is coming down any purpose in comparing the recent phenomenon. essential to consider the size of the World Health fight against Covid-19. The situation is such that cases relax and consider them- due to health revolution. number of deaths due to Some conceptual aspects, and the time dimensions and Organisation, Dr Tedros About the authors: everybody is worried and is selves to be safe. The severity of any particu- Covid-19 in a big state like further complicate the matter. related conceptual issues. Adhanom Ghebreyesus report- S. Indrakant, Visiting constantly trying to get updates Does huge available data lar disease is measured in terms Uttar Pradesh with the num- In some countries, the death The people who, in their ed that the fatality rate due to Professor, CESS, Hyderabad on the situation. permit us to draw meaningful of mortality rate which is the ber of deaths due to Covid-19 due to Covid-19 of a severe daily activities generally deal Covid-19 is only 3.4 per cent. and N. Lingamurthy, former With little else to do during inferences? What message do ratio of number of deaths due in a small state like diabetic person may be record- only with figures in hundreds Experts admit that calculating Vice-Chancellor, Kakatiya lockdown except communicate the available data is likely to to that particular disease in a Uttarakhand. Further, the time ed as death due to diabetes and in thousands, are most case fatality rate in case of University, Warangal CORONA CRISIS Simplify paddy procurement, Follow lockdown rules Comprehensive test need says Palla strictly, says Vemula PNS n HYDERABAD PNS n BHEEMGAL The Telangana Rythu Bandhu Samiti president, Dr Palla Roads and Bildings Minister of the hour, say experts Rajeswar Reddy, on Friday Vemula Prashant Reddy on listed out series of measures Friday visited the containment AVINASH DEEPAK PULI all the inmates in the suspect- initiated by state government zone set up at the boys' hostel n MAHBUBNAGAR ed zones are tested with the to simplify procurement of in Bheemgal municipality and preliminary testing methods. paddy and maize from farm- the clusters to spread prevent According to experts, a com- Some pathologists went on ers during the current rabi the spread of coronavirus. The prehensive test in the listed to say that a comprehensive season. Minister spoke to the officials containment pockets and red testing process in a specific dis- The government has issued there and said that the virus zones was regarded as an apt trict by taking it as a pilot unit orders to district authorities cases decreased because of solution to overcome the would pave way for the iden- to procure old gunny bags to strict enforcement of contain- Coronavirus crisis in tification of any suspected procure paddy and maize. In ment rules. Mahbubnagar district. case. case the farm- The Minister called upon They say that an initiation in "This test process should be ers did not people to observe lockdown identified red zones would conducted on the lines of record rules strictly for another 10 pave way for the commence- 'Samagra KuTumba Survey' the area days. He said that a control ment of tests in almost all the and the teams should visit of culti- room has been set up in clus- urban areas of the districts almost all the households and vation, ters to get the essential com- which have been listed among test all the people. During the gov- modities delivered at their the critical areas by the admin- these tests, the suspected per- ernment door-step. MINISTER INAUGURATES istration. sons would be screened and will send Later, he visited the The expert group consisting So far as Mahbubnagar district is this preliminary screening does agriculture exten- Grameen Bank here and PROCUREMENT CENTRE of doctors, biochemistry concerned, the issue pertaining to the not require any major methods sion officials to undertake asked officials to provide tent, researchers and pathologists in except the thermal screening visit to the farmer's field to chairs and drinking water for NIZAMABAD: Minister for Roads and Buildings Vemula Prashant the district feel that a compre- minimisation of cases has certainly process," they opined. asses the crop yield and gives customers who gathered near Reddy on Friday inaugurated a paddy procurement centre at Pachchal hensive test could be taken up succeeded and two districts -- Subsequent to thermal tokens accordingly. the bank to withdraw Rs Nadkada village of Velpur mandal and distributed rice and other on the lines of 'Samagra screening, the next phase tests Further, in case farmers 1,500 granted to them. essential commodities among those who did not have ration cards. Narayanpet and Wanaparthy have The Minster exhorted the farmers to make use of the paddy Kutumba Survey' and since would have to be initiated and live in one revenue village Later, the Minister reviewed procurement centres set up in their villages. Paddy procurement is almost all the members of been declared Corona free zones. of any person with the symp- and his field is located in the Corona reining measures being undertaken in villages through setting up of procurement each and every family are stay- toms of Coronavirus are iden- another revenue village. The with officials at Velpur. He centres in every village as farmers are not in a position to go to the ing home during this lockdown tified they should be instruct- agriculture officials in both asked the officials to continue market yards. The total number of procurement centres set up in period, this process would be many other states. The lock- trict is concerned, the issue ed to take to the quarantine the villages should coordinate to work with the same spirit for Telangana this year was 6800 as against 3800 last year, he said. The an easy task for the ASHA down and the consequent mea- pertaining to the minimisation and isolation processes, the efforts among them and give another 7-10 days. The number of paddy procurement centres increased in Nizamabad workers and other non medical sures in almost all the parts in of cases has certainly succeed- experts said. tokens to such farmers. The Minister boosted morale of district this year to 547 as against 310 last year. The state and para medical groups that the districts have already ed and two districts -- If the pilot concept in the red agriculture officials should those who are staying at the government is purchasing the paddy through Markfed by obtaining a are engaged in dealing with the helped the administration to Narayanpet and Wanaparthy zones is implemented thor- record the crop yield in the quarantine centre at Perkit bank guarantee for Rs 25000 crore. present situation. contain the spurt in the posi- have been declared Corona oughly a similar process needs tokens keeping in mind the and Balkonda. The research group opined tive cases and it even enabled free zones. to be expanded and thus the change of yield from district He told them the govern- that the Telangana govern- the administration to contain In the remaining areas too, entire state would be covered to district, mandal to mandal ment would sent them to rules. Rangareddy, Sapranch Yenugu ment has by now undertaken the movements of suspected this process would become a in the same fashion and that and village to village depend- their homes if they tested neg- Armoor revenue divisional Sweta, additional collector B a mode of operation that has cases in many areas. reality if the comprehensive would help the state fight the ing on the crop manage- ative for the virus. He asked officer Srinivasulu, MROs, Chandrasekhar and others become a guiding force to So far as Mahbubnagar dis- testing process is opted for and deadly virus, they said. ment. them to follow government Markfed chairman M were present. India testing Corona is the stuff of TS to continue ‘50% vaccine Gilead's drug Remdesivir shows... Continued from page 1 to the findings published in emergency access to remde- Continued from page 1 The New England Journal of sivir for qualifying patients nightmares for many pay cut’ for April too Treatment with Gilead Medicine. with severe complications of Several countries including the Sciences's experimental drug More than half of patients COVID-19 who are unable to Continued from page 1 doctor. He said that the brain US and China are working on remdesivir led to clinical on mechanical ventilation were enroll in ongoing clinical tri- has several “folders” for the Continued from page 1 were paid full salaries later. So, vaccines to counter the fast- improvement in 68 per cent of extubated and nearly half of all als. During sleep, your brain things in your life. One folder these employees will continue spreading respiratory virus that 53 patients hospitalised with patients were discharged from Remdesivir is not yet processes the stress, anxiety is for your spouse, another for Similarly, 60 per cent pay cut to receive full salary for the has affected over 21 lakh peo- severe complications of the hospital following treat- licensed or approved anywhere and other feelings you have your work, another for your was imposed for IAS, IPS, month ofApril also. ple across the world and killed COVID-19, another study said ment with remdesivir. globally. when you’re awake,” explained worries and fears and so on, Dr IFSofficers etc., 50 per cent cut The GO on pay cut released nearly 1.5 lakh. In India, over this week. The drug was pro- "Currently there is no Robert W. Baird & Co react- Dr Murthy, a psychotherapist Murthy said. “When you sleep, for government employees by the government stated, 13,000 people have been infect- vided on an individual com- proven treatment for COVID- ing to this opined that these from Hyderabad. the subconscious can just run and 10 per centcut for Class- "These ordersshall come into ed and 437 have died. Dr passionate use basis. 19. We cannot draw definitive results need to be cautiously Describing one of the freely and pick something total- IV government employees, force, for the gross salary for Mande said India is working on Nearly two thirds of patients conclusions from these data, interpreted and added that dreams, a user on a social ly random from any of those outsourced, contract staff. the month of March2020, genome sequencing of the virus in this cohort were on mechan- but the observations from this the more definitive answer media platform said that he saw folders,” the psychotherapist However, the government payable on 1stApril, 2020 and that will help trace its origin and ical ventilation at baseline, group of hospitalized patients will come from the double- a zombie apocalypse type situ- said, adding that it can be from exempted employees from will continue to be in force till- spread. It can also help under- including four patients also on who received remdesivir are blind placebo controlled study ation and that he was taking a movie scene, a past relation- health and policedepartments, further orders." stand if the virus is mutating and extracorporeal membrane oxy- hopeful," said Jonathan D. by National Institute of Allergy shelter with his family in a small ship or something that’s present, besides sanitary workers in The government wants to developing resistance to drugs genation (ECMO). Grein, Director of Hospital and Infectious Diseases shuttered shop, which he does- like the Coronavirus. local bodies, from 50 per utilise the provision of 'orders being used against it. "The NIV Treatment with remdesivir Epidemiology, Cedars-Sinai (NIAID), part of the US n't know how he ended up in. According to experts, it’s centsalary cut, following will continueto be in force till in Pune has done 25 sequenc- resulted in an improvement in Medical Center, Los Angeles, National Institutes of Health, “If every day you’re watching important to pay attention to uproar that pay cut will hit the further orders' to impose pay ing. We have done 30 sequenc- oxygen support class for 36 of and lead author of the journal expected in late May. the news, and it’s making you the emotions evoked by your morale of these staff who are cuts again foremployees and ing in two of our labs. We do patients over a median follow- article. Remdesivir is an investiga- scared or uncomfortable or dreams after you wake up. In now frontline warriors in the- pensioners for the second some 500 to 1,000 in coming up of 18 days from the first Since January 25, 2020, tional broad-spectrum antivi- worried about your relatives or some circumstances, dreams fight against corona. They month in a row in April. two weeks," he said. dose of remdesivir, according Gilead has been providing ral treatment. yourself, and this goes on ad can be a way for our brain to nauseam for months, it will decipher what we’ve learned impact your dreams,” said the and observed during the day. KCR to seek support of AP, Maha CMs to... Doubling rate of cases in... Continued from page 1 severe acute respiratory infec- Continued from page 1 wide lockdown. it's a BJP-ruled state and KCR der points. He feels that states tions (SARI) and influenza- Noticeably, Jagan did not doubts whether should be given the discretion "Before lockdown, the dou- like illness (ILI), Agarwal Telangana shares long borders make any announcement Yeddyurappawould support to lift curbs depending on bling rate of coronavirus cases said. with Maharashtra and regarding the extension of him in this cause keeping aside local situation. He is of the was 3 days. Going by the The number of novel coro- AP.Official sources said KCR lockdown in AP prior to April politics. opinion that neither the Centre number of cases in the last navirus cases in India rose by wants to have the Chief 14. After Prime Minister Although Modi has decided nor the Union HealthMinistry seven days, the doubling rate 1,007 and 23 deaths were Ministers of neighbouring NarendraModi announced the toexempt a few sectors from is in a position to accurately has been 6.2 days. In 19 states reported in 24 hours, taking states on board while safe- extension of nationwide lock- the rigours of the lockdown know the ground realities and and Union Territories the the tally of total infections to guarding 'mutual interests' in down till May3, the AP govern- from April 20 to help re-start therefore the State govern- doubling rate is less than the 13,387 and fatalities to 437, the containing thespread of coro- ment has chosen to simply fol- the stalledeconomy, KCR is ments should be left to take national average," he said. joint secretary in the health navirus. low it. opposed to the idea. their owndecisions. The health ministry official ministry said, adding 1,749 Interestingly, the Chief However, KCR is clueless on According to KCR, the KCR is apprehensive that the also said the average growth people have been cured of the Ministers of Telangana and seeking the support Centre's proposal on partial proposed relaxations from April factor of cases from April 1 infection so far, which is 13.06 Maharashtraannounced the ofKarnataka Chief Minister lockdown would make it all the 20 could complicate matters so has been 1.2, whereas between per cent of the total patients. extension of lockdown till BS Yeddyurappa --another more difficult to control the much so that there could be March 15 and 31 it was 2.1. Agarwal further informed April 30 on the same day -- that state with which TSshares bor- corona situation due to wider spread of the virus and all This decline of 40 per cent that five lakh rapid antibody isApril 11, three days prior to der points and where the cases resumption of movement peo- efforts till date to contain the was due to increase in testing, testing kits are being distrib- the end of the 21-day nation- are increasing. This isbecause ple and vehicles on states' bor- virus would go the drain. including that of cases with uted to states for districts.

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RIME Stay indoors, KTR tells residents CORNER Challans fail to deter PNS n HYDERABAD 3 BOOKED FOR VIOLATING MA&UD Minister KT Rama Rao along with Ministers Etela LOCKDOWN lockdown violators Rajender, Srinivas Goud held he Cyberabad Police on late a video conference with the DAVE BENNETT SILVERY speed guns to nab persons Addl. Collectors, Municipal TThursday night booked two n Chinese citizens and their friend HYDERABAD who take advantage of empty Commissioners of all Districts from Nagaland for violating roads and over speed on them. of Telangana State from lockdown at Sanath Nagar in Four weeks into the lockdown, The Cyberabad zone alone GHMC Head office, here on Hyderabad. According to the the traffic police of the tri-com- has more than 12 speed guns Friday. police, the trio was traveling in a missionerate area have issued set up at crucial roads, that was To contain the spread of car when they were stopped by close to nine lakh challans on able to issue more than 23,000 Coronavirus, the measures to To monitor the contain- the police at Moosapet errant motorist and lockdown challans till Friday. be implemented strictly in ment zones minster empha- CEOs all checkpoint. Upon inquiry, they violators. However, strict polic- Traffic police and Law and containment zones directed sised on 12 key points: Proper told the police that they were ing and stringent enforcement Order officials are seen all MA&UD Minister KT Rama barricading; Appointing offi- praise for going to Patancheru to meet a of the law does not seem to be around the city pleading and Rao. Minister said that there cials form line departments; friend. Since it was not an a deterrent to persons who are sensitising those who are ven- are 260 containment zones in Appointing para medical staff emergency, police detained and hell bent on disobeying as is turing out. Awareness cam- the state out of which 146 fall to conduct fever survey; govt steps booked them for violating the seen in the increasing number paigns on the lockdown rules within GHMC limits, the Ensuring sanitation and of challans issued. on social media and in person remaining fall in 43 municipal- spraying are strictly done; HYDERABAD:IT Minister KT lockdown. The youngsters in Rama Rao on Friday interacted their mid-20s were residing at Since the start of the lock- at various checkpoints were ities across Telangana. Delivery of essentials; People down, the Cyberabad Police Since the start of the lockdown, the conducted, warning the public Municipal commissioners should be informed about with about 100 headhonchos Bongulur on the city outskirts. belonging to the Hyderabad They are the students of a have issued a total of 4.24 Cyberabad Police have issued a total against committing traffic vio- and zonal commissioners were containment guidelines to be lakh challans against viola- lations. But despite the full directed by Minister to ensure followed and arrangements Chapter of CEO's Club over a University in the city. They had of 4.24 lakh challans against violator video call. KTR has been been staying in the city since tors. The Rachakonda Traffic fledged efforts of these front- the people living in contain- made by government through Police issued close to 62,000 line warriors to enforce the ment zones stay indoors. He via public address system; conducting a series of such August 2019. Further, they did interactions with various not have any recent travel challans and the Hyderabad booking cases of double riding an order lawfully promulgated lockdown and stop the spread also directed the officials that Distribution of pamphlets to Traffic Police issued more than on two wheelers, which is pro- by a public servant). A major- of coronavirus, the public essentials including milk, veg- households; Door-to-door industry organizations to history, police said. Later, they discuss the impact of were taken to the police station four lakh challans. hibited according to the GO 45 ity of the cases booked by the seems to grow restless and keep etables and medicine should be inspection by medical teams As if issuing challans in a bid and 48 issued by the govern- police are via e-challans or venturing out. In cases of delivered at their door steps. and officials; Senior officials lockdown and also to evolve a and their vehicle was seized. A strategy to restart the industry. case under sections 188, 269, to discourage people from ven- ment for enforcing the lock- non-contact cases, booked emergency, motorists who ven- The essentials should be deliv- monitoring the zones regular- Various CEOs complimented 270 and 271 of the IPC, Disaster turing out was not enough, down. The other violations after traffic cops on the streets ture out are supposed to be ered only by the volunteers. ly are the key points rolled out the Telangana State Management Act and Epidemic police personnel even seized include venturing beyond a 3- or the control room take pic- self-disciplined and responsi- Minister also said that vol- by Minister; Ensuring people Government's efforts to Diseases Act was registered vehicles. With more than km zone, triple riding, driving tures of the violator. Apart ble. The challans are just to unteers should be provided don't step out of their house contain the Coronavirus. They against all three. Later notices 50,000 vehicles seized, includ- without helmet, not wearing from the Traffic Police officials, ensure that they follow the with separate dress code. The and regulating their move- expressed their happiness for were also served to them. ing 39,000 vehicles in helmet by pillion rider, viola- Law and Order officials were lockdown rules strictly or face needs of the people should be ments are the other key having a decisive leadership in Hyderabad commissionerate tion of no entry and driving also seen manning cameras consequences, said an official. noted by creating WhatsApp points; Ambulances on the state. area, 3,862 vehicles in without documents among and clicking pictures of viola- The most number of vehicles groups, people living in the standby in case of emergency; COMPLAINT FILED IT Minister K T Rama Rao said Rachakonda and 7,157 in others," said Anil Kumar, tors on the roads. seized across the three com- containment zones will be the Directed officials to ensure that India woke up at the right AGAINST TV9 Cyberabad as of April 17, Additional Commissioner The Traffic Police are also missionerate is two wheelers. group members. Minister supply of rice. time and the lockdown seems n advocate from Hyderabad Friday, the police are going all (Traffic), Hyderabad. using the Automated Number Officials said that the vehicles directed the officials to book Further Minister appealed to be working as per our out to discourage citizens to Police are booking cases Plate Recognition (ANPR) which have been seized during cases against people living in the people to stay where they Ahas sent a defamation notice observations Minister said that to the TV9 news channel not venture out. under various violations of software to identify the vehicles the lockdown period will not containment zones and flout- are as lockdown in force and the current lockdown has given demanding an unconditional "Since the beginning of the the Motor Vehicle Act and also violating the 3-km lockdown be returned by any means ing guidelines that need to be providing shelter and food to us time to brace up. apology for telecasting a lockdown, we have begun Section 188 (Disobedience to norm. Officials have also set up until the lockdown ends. followed. the migrant workers. defamatory programme by depicting Hindu goddess Renuka Yellamma as Coronavirus and thereby hurting the sentiments of Hindus. On April 13, TV9 Telugu Essentials distributed among ANMs KTR, Kavitha's Twitter banter winning hearts! News channel had aired 'ISmart n Varthalu', wherein the Hindu PNS HYDERABAD Goddess Renuka Yellamma was mocked as Coronavirus. "Can TRS Malkajgiri constituency you explain what Hindu religion in-charge Marri Rajasekhar and Hindu goddess has got to do Reddy on Friday lauded the ser- with the Corona Virus which vices being rendered by ANMs originated from China?" asked and ASHA workers in the State the advocate in the petition. The Government's combat against advocate demanded that the Coronavirus. PNS n HYDERABAD on different occasions. I have a strong feeling I'll need lowers."Annayya .. Bhabi ki channel telecast an unconditional He said that the people of the However, this time it was the to stay home even after the kuda chance isthunnava," apology within seven days from constituency would not forget Chief Minister K sibling's banter and that too on lockdown is lifted," a Twitter tweeted Kavitha, asking her the date of receipt of the notice, their services. Speaking after Chandrashekhar Rao's son and a social media platform which user asked KTR. brother if he is also giving failing which a complaint would distributing masks, sanitisers daughter are known not only lightened up an apparent seri- "Hey, when Virat Kohli chance (for haircut) to his be filed with the NBSA for and 25-kg rice and other essen- for their command over mul- ous situation due to coron- could let his wife style his hair, wife. derogatory, malicious and tial commodities to each of the tiple languages and oratory avirus induced lockdown. why don't you," came the reply The banter amused the defamatory program and also to ANMs and ASHA workers, he skills but also for a good sense "Sir a sincere query: Any from KTR. Twitter users who posted initiate civil and criminal asked them to exercise caution of humour. thoughts on opening barber However, it was Kavitha's videos, memes and made com- defamation proceedings against and take precautions while dis- Both K. T. Rama Rao, a state shops or salons post 20 Apr? witty remark aimed at broth- ments as to what would hap- the channel in the court. charging their duties. He want- ed assurance to the people to For the past 15 days, food, cabinet minister and his sister My wife is eager to try her hand er which made the day lively pen if KTR's wife gets a chance ed them to wash their hands support them in all respects at water and essential commodi- K. Kavitha make witty remarks on haircut and if that happens for huge number of their fol- for haircut. with sanitisers daily and wear this hour. Exhorting the people ties are being distributed among masks. to remain indoors to drive away the poor and needy in Medchal MHA: Trace Rajasekhar Reddy lauded the virus from the state's soil, he and Hyderabad. Mandal Chief Minister K conveyed his special thanks to Pradesh president Padma Jagan Two women Rohingyas Chandrashekhar Rao for being medical professionals, doctors, Reddy, vice-MPP, MPTCs, Hyd varisty gets approval the early bird to put in place var- government officials and to municipal chairmen and othes test positive who attended ious precautions and for extend- media. took part in the programme. as Covid-19 testing centre PNS n HYDERABAD Jammat meet PNS n HYDERABAD PNS n HYDERABAD Masks Two women have tested pos- Timely help for newborn The University of Hyderabad itive from Musheerabad area, Rohingya Muslims from (UoH) has been chosen by the one on Thursday and the Hyderabad and across India PNS n HYDERABAD Security Council (RKSC) vol- distributed to central government to add to other on Friday. Police had allegedly attended the unteers. During the survey, a the COVID-19 testing capabil- sources claimed that they do Islamic event in Delhi, latest The Rachakonda residing migrant of Malkaram police ities in Telangana. Selected to not have a travel history and report reveals. The Ministry of Commissionerate in collabora- has requested the team to help PNS n HYDERABAD be part of the city cluster both are above 55. According Home Affairs has reportedly tion with Tata Institute of Social their new born baby with birth established for the region, the to sources, though the duo written to states to trace Service (TISS) has started a related complications. The Hyderabad Traffic Police premier university will handle did not have a travel history Rohingya Muslims who had social economic profiling and The baby was delivered at took up precautionary mea- COVID-19 testing operations but might have been in con- attended Tablighi Jamaat needs assessment of migrant home as the parents could not sures to ensure personal in a separate laboratory locat- tact with Markaz returnees. events at Mewat, Haryana and workers residing in commis- afford institutional delivery hygiene and protection of ed at the Center for DNA "The whole area surround- Nizamuddin Markaz. sionerate. The survey is collect- charges. The Jawaharnagar their personnel in view of the Fingerprinting and the coordinating institution testing times", said Prof Appa ing their residence was cor- It is stated there is a possi- ing data on the social aspects, Police Station Sub Inspector Coronavirus pandemic. Anil Diagnostics (CDFD). for Hyderabad. Rao Podile, Vice-Chancellor, doned off and the other rel- bility that they have contract- including the responsiveness of Anil and Circle Inspector Kumar, Traffic Additional The UoH will be part of the "I am happy that UoH has UoH. atives were sent to quarantine ed Coronavirus infection. It is the migrants and psychological Bhikshapati Reddy immedi- Commissioner, distributed city cluster comprising of been identified as a Testing The City or Regional clus- centres. Further steps are also reported that Rohingyas issues brought on by the lock- ately arranged an ambulance to 2,500 hand sanitisers, 10,000 Center for DNA Centre being a Top Research ters of testing centres are being being followed as per proto- living in camps at Hyderabad down so that the targeted shift the baby to CHC, masks and 200 face shields to Fingerprinting and and teaching University and set up to scale up the testing col, the sources said. had visited Markaz approach can be helped as Malkajgiri with the help of the police personnel. The Diagnostics (CDFD), CSIR- we have the facilities and man- capacity, and will serve the city Samples of other persons Nizamuddin and attended a needed. Pawan and Maheswari, RKSC sanitisers were recently donat- Centre for Cellular Molecular power to carry out the tests. and state in testing of COVID- residing in the home have Jamaat event at Mewat. The survey that began on volunteers. The infant is under ed by film director Harish Biology (CSIR-CCMB), Our university along with 19 samples. been collected and they are Furthermore, Rohingyas from April 14, was being conducted the observation of Dr Raju, Shankar and masks by Jeevan National Institute of Animal CDFD is geared to effectively UoH will immediately iden- directed to be in home quar- Shaheen Bagh who had at Jawahar Nagar sector 1 superintendent of CHC Prasad, a social activist. Apart Biotechnology (NIAB), and handle the laid down proce- tify 15 technical personnel for antine till the results are out. undertaken activities related to Mandal parishad school on Malkajgiri. Based on the lab from this, all traffic patrol CSIR-Indian Institute of dures for COVID-19 testing. data entry, sample sorting, Even if they are negative the Islamic Missionary orga- Friday by the Rachakonda reports the baby will be referred vehicles and official vehicles Chemical Technology (CSIR- Its a privilege for UoH to be of liquoting and coordination also, the residents were told nization have not returned. Police with Rachakonda to Niloufer Hospital, if needed. were sanitised. IICT). The CSIR-CCMB is help to the nation during this with other testing labs. to be under home quarantine. Measures in place to tackle NO SERVICE Covid-19: Mobiles, TV sets pile up for repairs spread of virus, says CS NAVEEN KUMAR food and preserve medicines. sales in India, said in a state- n HYDERABAD Also, with as many as 70 per ment that it has received a PNS n HYDERABAD cent of the service techni- strong influx of consumer With zero service providers cians staying close to the ser- queries and complaints during With no positive case regis- available for all electronic vice centres, there is no issue the lockdown and has tried to tered continuously for 14 devices and home appliances, of migrant labour and opera- solve minor software issues days, restrictions in 16 con- the public is either donning tions can easily be restarted over chat and emails. "Today, tainment zones in the city the mechanic's hat or coping once the government allows smartphones are one of the were lifted, said Chief up with the manual labour it," he said. Most companies most essential items, after Secretary Somesh Kumar. work. The majority is simply are currently running online food and groceries. All measures were in place holding onto the defective and telephone support in a It helps enforce social dis- in the earmarked contain- pieces till lockdown is lifted. limited way and have tancing by helping people ment zones to curtail the As per the numbers collat- uploaded do-it-yourself videos connect without having to go spread of virus. If no positive ed by the India Cellular and to help consumers. "Although out and this is something that case is reported in 14 days in Electronics Association the YouTube videos help to an cannot be overlooked," a com- an earmarked zone, contain- place in a containment zone few persons tested negative, (ICEA) and the Consumer extent, it's always not accurate pany spokesperson said. ment status will be lifted at Malakpet in the city. they have been under quar- Electronics and Appliances for a commoner as issues may An LG representative said there, he said. There are about 750 hous- antine in the local mosque, Manufacturers Association vary. My laptop stopped work- consumers are operating their The State government is es in the above zone and an he informed. Since all the (CEAMA), more than 5 mil- period from March 22 to April "A lot of gadgets have ing, crippling my work and air-conditioners without first setting up containment zones exclusive WhatsApp group entry and exit points are lion mobile phones, 70,000 13, said the report, adding that become dysfunctional and forcing me to use and rely on getting them serviced as tem- to curb the spread of virus in has been created to facilitate barricaded in the zone, the refrigerators and 50,000-plus there are another more than need urgent service, which is smartphones. I've tried fixing peratures rise, while even places where positive cases the provision of essential situation is presently under television sets have piled up 30,000 microwave ovens, AC not possible remotely," said it numerous times but it keeps water purifiers cannot be ser- were being registered. The commodities, groceries, control. for repair and servicing in and washing machines which Kamal Nandi, CEAMA pres- popping new issues. I have viced or repaired right now. Chief Secretary along with medicines etc based on the A special nodal team com- India during the first phase of needs repair at a time when ident and business head at absolutely no idea what's caus- Many companies have extend- Municipal Administration requests of residents, he said. prising police, medical and the lockdown enforced to con- Indians are locked indoors Godrej Appliances. ing it," said Nithin Raj, a pri- ed their service and repair and Urban Development In one particular family in health officials has been set trol the spread of the coron- and doing household chores "With so many refrigerators vate employee. warranty periods to provide Principal Secretary Arvind the zone, 11 positive cases up to monitor the situation avirus. themselves due to the lock- not working, customers are Xiaomi, which has the consumers some benefits due Kumar inspected measures in were registered and though in the zone, he added. The numbers are from the down. finding it difficult to stock up biggest share of smartphone to the lockdown. HYDERABAD | SATURDAY | APRIL 18, 2020 hyderabad 04

HC seeks HC to TS govt: Spell out steps Satellites come in handy report on disabled for Forest Department PNS n HYDERABAD taken to tackle Covid-19 PNS n HYDERABAD The Telangana High Court on Friday sought a report on the PNS n HYDERABAD With huge swathes of forest special steps being taken by it area in Telangana under sur- to meet the needs of disabled The Telangana High Court has Pension: Govt veillance by two satellites hired persons of the state. It asked expressed in concerns over the- by the Forest Survey of India the state government to sub- growing number of coronavirus told to review (FSI), information regarding mit the report by April positive cases in the state capi- forest fires helps the forest 22,2020. A division bench of tal. Itasked the state government department chalk out preven- the HC passed these orders to spell out how it would per- its decision tive measures particularly dur- while dealing with a Public form Covid-19detection tests in PNS n HYDERABAD ing the summer months. Interest Litigation (PIL) filed the coronavirus hotspots of the Wildfires in Telangana are by city based advocate Shiva state. It askedthe state govern- The Telangana High Court mainly ground fires in nature Ganesh Karnati, a native of ment to submit a detailed report on Friday directed the state and manmade (deliberate or Uppal. During the course of on the issue and adjourned the government to file a counter incidental), while some are as compared to other Crown created and being maintained; arguments done through matter till April 24,2020. affidavit in the petition filed natural and unintentional. cover density classes. Of the 9,470km of Peripheral trench video conference mode, the A divisionbench, compris- by Telangana government These wildfires occur between total 9,790 compartments it is (CPT) is dug up which also counsel for the petitioner ing the Chief Justice of the state pensioners Joint Action November and May. March is identified that, 1,106 com- prevents spread of fire, Kowturu Pavan Kumar and D. Justice RaghavendraSingh Committee (JAC) challeng- the most susceptible month for partments are high fire prone besides harvesting of water; Sudarshan said that the state Chauhan and Justice T. ing the GO No 27 issued by the wildfires. No loss to forests and 1,621 are medium fire Watch towers have been con- government had failed to Amarnath Goud passed the it for deferment of 50 per cent and wildlife are reported due prone. structed at vantage locations implement the comprehensive orders, whiledealing with a pension payment in respect to these ground fires, but Similarly, 1,279 habitations as fire observation points; disability inclusive guidelines batch of PIL pleas filed on of retired employees of the ground flora and the young are identified as high fire Procured firefighting equip- Issued by union government theissue of the coronavirus. Give time to displaced state. regeneration is only damaged. prone out of total 4,252 fringe ment like Fire blowers; on March 26,2020 for protec- The division bench took up the The petitioner JAC submit- Beedi leaf collectors, cattle villages. About 2,530 roads Deployed Quick response tion of and safety of different- hearing of the cases through ted that all the pensioners and rearers, travelers, pilgrims, are identified as high fire teams during peak season ly abled persons during the video conference mode. residents: High Court their family members were illicit cultivators, encroachers prone out of 10,633 forest with hired vehicle in vulner- ongoing covid 19 pandemic. The advocate-general told PNS n HYDERABAD families. Arguing the case the dependent on the pension for etc. are the main causative roads. Forty three ranges are able ranges, apart from the They said that the although the theHC, during the course of counsel for the petitioners B their livelihood. During the actors for ignition of fire. highly vulnerable to fire. existing base camp watchers, state government had claimed arguments, that the state govern- The Telangana High Court on Rachna Reddy told the High course of arguments, the divi- It is observed that 62 per Special attention is given to strike force members and fire that it was prepared to face the ment hadbeen taking all kinds Friday directed the state gov- Court that the authorities con- sion bench asked the advo- cent of the fires are found to be these areas besides covering watchers for firefighting and pandemic covid 19 with the of requisite precautions to con- ernment to give time to the dis- cerned were releasing the water cate general on which basis 50 falling in a slope more than 30 other areas. Following all conducting awareness cam- establishment of necessary tain the spreadof the virus, placed residents of Ananthagiri without providing the compen- per cent deferment of the per cent, BL unit areas account these, the forest officials have paign; District firefighting quarantine Center's and isola- including procurement of test- village in Rajanna Sircilla dis- sation to the affected families. pension amount was done by for about 52 per cent of forest adopted a strategy to combat cells in the office DFO are tion wards and hospitals, it has ing kits and performance of the trict till April 22, 2020 to com- She also said that the water it. It also asked the state gov- fires, forest fire incidences are forest fires. Those include, established in the Districts to not turned them disabled tests. Responding to the query pletely shift to the temporary was being released despite the ernment as to who would more in MDF and OF classes about 8,000 km fire lines are help reach out in time. friendly so far. raised by the division bench accommodation provided to ongoing lockdown. come to the rescue of the pen- regarding the management of them before taking possession Responding to this the division sioners if they fall ill. It felt the hotspots, he said that special and causing submergence of bench also asked the state gov- that the decision was not ‘Government arrangements had been made to the petitioners houses under ernment to file a counter with proper as help the people residing in the Ananthagiri reservoir which is complete details in the case It would directly affect the completing Covid-19hotspots of the state. In part of Kaleshwaram lift irriga- before adjourning the case by livelihood of the pensioners. another PIL plea related to bru- tion project. A division bench two weeks. The state govern- The division bench of the HC tal attack on an innocent man by of the HC comprising of the ment had provided the accom- comprising of the Chief road works' the Wanaparthy police, the HC Chief Justice of the state Justice modation to the displaced fam- Justice of the state Justice RS PNS n HYDERABAD once again asked the state gov- RS Chauhan and Justice ilies at the designated Chauhan and Justice T. ernmentweather an FIR was T Amarnath Goud passed Resettlement colony as per Amarnath Goud later posted Telangana State Finance filed against the accused police these orders while dealing with Schedule III of Land the matter to April 24 for fur- Commission chairman G in the case. a petition filed by the affected Acquisition Act, 2013. ther hearing. Rajesham Goud, held a review meeting with the Finance Commission offi- cials Suresh Chanda, Member Secretary and Chenniah, Increase testing, says Uttam Member and discussed the impact on local body rev- PNS n HYDERABAD istered against the Congress enues in the State. leaders to prevent them from In the meeting, the com- Telangana Congress leaders distributing food and other mission has discussed various have said that the State govern- essential items among needy activities taken up by the state ment should increase the num- persons. government to contain the ber of tests for Coronavirus in Meanhile, he demanded the deadly virus. Under the lead- the State. The leaders said that state government to reveal as ership of KCR and KTR, the large scale testing should be to why it has confined to two state officials and representa- done to ensure that the virus or three government hospitals tives have been doing various does not spread from the for conducting Corona tests initiatives and extending help Cong blames infected people to others. instead of allowing the ICMR to the poor by supplying They alleged that TRS Addressing video-confer- approved hospitals for tests. required ration and food. KCR for tribal Ministers and leaders were ence with senior leaders on Telangana Congress and vari- "Government has taken moving around at various Friday, TPCC chief N Uttam ous ICMR approved private great initiatives to sanitise the places, including Red Zone Kumar Reddy said that the hospitals are asking the state entire state, especially the woman's areas, in utter violation of number of tests currently being government on the same but zones that are at higher risk norms without ensuring social done was too low. He said tests the latter is simply neglecting zones. The government has death distancing. Alleging that the should be done on large scale the issue, he said. also has taken up various PNS n HYDERABAD state government is not behav- to identify the affected people. “Besides 2-3 government works in municipalities to ing transparently in regard to He said lockdown was not the hospitals in Hyd, Covid-19 complete various road and Former Minister Mohammed financial affairs, they said that only solution to prevent the testing is not allowed in any underground cable laying Ali Shabbir exhorted the peo- the Chief Minister K spread of Coronavirus. other TS government or ICMR works. The Local and Urban ple to support the poor and Chandrashekhar Rao was Uttam said that the approved put Hospitals, despite body officials and represen- needy who were hit due to speaking lies in regard to pro- Congress has been giving con- our repeated representations. tatives have taken the owner- lockdown. He said that the curement of produce from structive suggestions to the Now this map by researcher ship in this fight against impact of ongoing crisis farmers by stating that he government. However, the rul- Jamewils also says ‘no info’ on Covid-19 and are doing very could be minimised if every- allotted Rs 30,000 crore for ing TRS party leaders are try- testing. Why is Telangana good job to support the peo- one plays his/her role without procurement where as it needs ing to take political advantage. CMO so secretive on this mat- ple at any given time,” they depending on the authorities only Rs 20,000 crore. He said cases were being reg- ter?(sic),” Uttam tweeted. said. alone. Shabbir Ali was speaking to the media after distribut- ing ration kits among 418 sanitation workers, water and Discharge us: Asymptomatic patients electricity staff (municipal) of Kamareddy Municipality on PNS n HYDERABAD Health Minister Such cases are often report- Friday. He informed that the ed during tests done as part of Ration Kits comprises of 10 The asymptomatic nature Eatala Rajender contact tracing. Moreover this items including 5 kg rice, 1 kg of Coronavirus has turned also confirmed Isolation is apparently trou- oil, 1 kg sugar, etc., His fam- out to be double edged that 80-90 per bling Covid-19 patients, espe- ily members including his sword as patients being cially since they can't see their son Mohammed Ilyas, broth- treated in hospital want cent patients do family. This is resulting in er Mohammed Nayeem and to leave. A kind of con- not have patients insisting upon leaving others also distributed ration fusion exists among symptoms the premises. Several new stud- kits among 1,100 workers. patients as they were ies have shown that carriers Shabbir Ali also blamed brought to hospital even showing mild or even no the government for the death though they were general- 80 per cent of patients being symptoms may be helping of a Tribal woman in ly feeling okay and want to go treated in Gandhi Hospital spread the virus. Kamareddy who died of heart about their daily lives. Apart are not showing symptoms. According to Robert attack while standing in bank from treating such patients, the "The patients don't have fever, Redfield, the director of the queue for several hours to task at hand for the doctors in Health cold, sneeze or cough, but Centres for Disease Control withdraw Rs 1,500 deposited Gandhi is to explain why they Minister Eatala Rajender also they were tested positive. They and Prevention, 25 per cent of by the government. The vic- are patients. Our doctors are confirmed that 80-90 per cent think they are not patients, but people infected with the new tim, Kamala Bai, 45, hailed interacting with them and patients do not have symp- for us they are patients," the coronavirus don't present any from Kannapur Tanda of explaining the details, said the toms. According to Telangana Health Department officials symptoms or fall ill but can still Ramareddy mandal. Health Department officials. Health Department more than said. transmit the illness to others. Congress leaders step up in serving needy K VENKATESHWARLU Speaking to 'The Pioneer', essential goods to the migrant n HYDERABAD Nizamuddin said that they laborers from other states. start their work every day in On the other hand, Some leaders from the the morning and distribute Sangareddy MLA T Jagga Telangana Congress are help- the food from 3PM onwards to Reddy is extending help to the ing the poor, especially the the needy for their dinner. migrant labourers by provid- migrant labourers on a regular "We are cooking vegetable ing vehicle facility to ensure basis since the lockdown came biryani or vegetable rice every that the migrant labourers into force. They are extending day to about 3,000 people. We reach their native villages. help by distributing essential already distributed essential Jagga Reddy is sending the goods, vegetables and other goods including 10-kg rice, 2- migrant labourers to their items. kg dal, 1-kg Oil, 200 gram native places with his person- The Congress leaders - Mirchi, 100 gram Tamarind, al money. So far, he had send TPCC Minorities Department 250 gram garlic-ginger mix, 1- about 2,000 workers to their chairman Abdullah Sohail kg salt, to about 2,000 families. native places through Shaik, TPCC official Waliullah Sameer have sup- 22. We will continue this till the Sangareddy to Zaheerabad, spokesperson Nizamuddin and plied more than one lakh food Every day, Nizamuddin and end of lockdown," he said. Maharashtra border, GHCCC Minorities packets besides distributing Waliulla are distributing food Abdullah Sohail is extending Karnataka border, Department chairman essential goods packets and packets to the labourers living help to the migrant labourers Narayanakhede, Jukkal, Waliullah Sameer, and all DCC vegetable to the needy. in-Golconda Khilla, MD Lines, by reaching out to them follow- Kamareddy and several other presidents and constituencies' Abdullah Sohail Shaik is too Hakimpet (Tolichowki), ing the suggestions he received places by arranging DCM in-charges are extending help continuing his philanthropic Hakimpet Kunta, Zirra- from other states Congress vans. In a statement, he made to the poor every day. work by distributing essential Asifnagar, Tolichowki and minority departments. it clear that he would the same Especially, Nizamuddin and goods to the needy since March nearby areas. Abdullah is mainly distributing in the coming 15 days. HYDERABAD | SATURDAY | APRIL 18, 2020 nation 05 SHORT READS Lockdown norms ignored at 14-day quarantine in a month for docs, nurses in Odisha former PM grandson's wedding PNS n BHUBANESWAR Doctors, nurses and all health PNS n BENGALURU service providers in Odisha's Govt lifts curbs on With congregation COVID-19 hospitals are exports of medicines Scores of people thronged a of any type not placed under quarantine for 14 made from Paracetamol farmhouse to get a glimpse of allowed during days after they have tended to the wedding of former Prime patients for about the same NEW DELHI: The government Minister and JD(S) supremo, H the lockdown to period in a particular month, on Friday removed restrictions D Deve Gowda's grandson check the spread a top official here said. on exports of medicines made Nikhil Kumaraswamy, ignor- of coronavirus, Arrangements for safety from Paracetamol amid the ing appeals not to visit the have been made for health outbreak of Covid-19. However, venue in view of the ongoing Kumaraswamy workers in the facilities ear- restrictions on exports of lockdown in the wake of the explained in a marked for coronavirus Paracetamol active COVID-19 outbreak. video message patients, and those dealing pharmaceutical ingredients Nikhil, son of former Chief with suspected or confirmed for the time being, he main- (APIs or raw materials) will earlier this week "Arrangements have Minister H D Kumaraswamy, cases provided with Personal tained. "Arrangements have been made for the continue, the Directorate tied the nuptial knot with that the event will Protection Equipment (PPE), been made for the hospital staff General of Foreign Trade Revathi, the grand-niece of the green zone. If at all the dis- JD(S) leader N H Konaraddi be a low-key Development Commissioner S in hotels and hostels. Other hospital staff in (DGFT) said in a notification. To former Karnataka housing ease spreads in Ramanagara, also denied the accusations C Mohapatra said on facilities are also being set up hotels and hostels. export a product, which is minister M Krishnappa. the entire blame will be on saying that all the norms were family affair with Thursday. for them. These professionals under restricted category, an Other facilities are The marriage was solem- Deve Gowda's family," Rudresh followed. minimum number "Currently, the state has 24 have been given special train- also being set up for exporter requires no-objection nised at Kumaraswamy's alleged. "Whatever central guide- of people dedicated COVID-19 hospi- ing on how to handle COVID- certificate or permission of a Kethaganahalli farmhouse at He also said that he would lines are there, we have them tals. Eleven more will be up 19 patients. They conduct them. These profess- licence from the DGFT. "...The Bidadi in the neighbouring meet the Deputy Commission- followed in toto. The social dis- and running by April 20. mock-drill before starting ionals have been formulations made from Ramanagara district, a JD(S) er and the Superintendent of tancing norm has also been had also appealed to his party Doctors, nurses are working work," he said. given special training Paracetamol (including fixed- stronghold. Police of Ramanagara district adhered to," he said. workers, relatives and well-wish- for 15 days in a month and Noting that Chief Minister dose combinations)...are made on how to handle "The information we have is and ask them how permission Sources said the family was ers not to visit the venue. putting up in an accommoda- Naveen Patnaik had directed COVID-19 patients. free for export with immediate that at least 150 to 200 vehicles was granted for such a "large forced to shelve grand plans in According to him, after the tion given to them. Their food officials to set up dedicated effect. However, Paracetamol were given permission to gathering". view of the COVID-19 lock- lockdown was announced, the and other requirements are hospitals when just about one They conduct mock- APIs will remain restricted for attend the event. This hap- JD(S) MLC T A Sharavana down with only close family marriage was planned at their taken care of... or two cases surfaced, drill before starting export," it said. The government pened when the social workers denied allegations that the members in attendance. home here itself but since "After having worked for 14 Mohapatra said a total of 3,951 work," he said on March 3 had put export who want to serve the badly lockdown norms were flouted. With congregation of any social distancing will be a or 15 days, they undergo quar- beds and 293 ICU beds have restrictions on 26 pharma affected poor people are not "There were only eight peo- type not allowed during the challenge, it was decided to antine for the same period been set up in the 24 COVID- ingredients and medicines, including paracetamol. getting permission to run their ple on the stage to perform rit- lockdown to check the spread of organise it in Ramanagara. He before resuming service," 19 facilities. patients get focused treatment However on April 6, it removed vehicles," Ramanagar BJP dis- uals as against the claim that coronavirus, Kumaraswamy cited Bengaluru being in the Mohapatra said. Some of these facilities have in a professional manner and the export restrictions on 24 trict president M Rudresh people crowded the venue. explained in a video message ear- "Red Zone" with maximum All healthcare service come up in a matter of 20-25 medical staff and other patients APIs and formulations exclud- alleged. Social distancing was main- lier this week that the event will COVID-19 cases in the state as providers have been told not to days, he said. in general hospitals are not ing Paracetamol. India expor- "Till now Ramanagara is tained throughout the mar- be a low-key family affair with also a reason for shift in the return home or come in con- "The dedicated hospitals will exposed to infection," ted formulations made from safe from coronavirus and is in riage," Sharavana told P T I. minimum number of people. He venue. tact with their family members ensure that coronavirus Mohapatra said. Paracetamol worth USD 5.41 billion during April-January 2019-20. It was USD 5.8 billion in 2018-19. According to RBI steps will help protect Mizoram to conduct remaining Are 14 days enough? Mumbai-based doctor Sachin Ramteke, Paracetamol is used Kerala's case for 28-day quarantine commonly to treat body pain livelihoods of people: Nadda n and fever. "It is used as sym- board exams from April 22 PNS THIRUVANANTHAPURAM n ptomatic treatment to control PNS NEW DELHI n body temperature," he said. PNS AIZAWL On March 19, as the first flush BJP president J P Nadda said of COVID-19 cases were being on Friday that the measures After launching teaching reported from across the coun- Disappointed with RBI taken by the RBI to deal with through television channels, try, a man flew from Dubai to announcements, need the crisis caused by coron- the Mizoram Board of School Kerala's Kannur and was avirus will help protect the Education (MBSE) has decid- promptly asked to self-isolate at more measures to livelihoods of people by infus- ed to conduct the remaining home for 28 days, despite show- help poor: Congress ing liquidity and improving Higher Secondary School ing no symptoms associated credit flow. Leaving Certificate (HSSLC) with the novel coronavirus. NEW DELHI: The Congress Under the leadership of examinations from April 22, an He was tested on April 14 - 26 expressed disappointment over Prime Minister Narendra official release said on Friday. days later - while he was still the announcements made by Modi, the government is tak- The release said that the asymptomatic; the state took this virus, 17 were found COVID-19 the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) ing all necessary steps to help remaining HSSLC examina- precaution because his travel his- positive. Around 95 per cent of on Friday to support the the economy cope with this The Reserve Bank of India tions of Arts, Science and tory placed him in a high-risk these 17 cases were asymptomatic. economy, saying the crisis arising out of COVID- on Friday cut the reverse repo Commerce streams would be category. Two days later he was "We are following a strict 28- government should take more 19, Nadda said. rate and announced a slew of held from April 22 to April 24 and coaching for the students. education department has found to be COVID-19 positive. day isolation (period) and high- measures to mitigate the "Initial ? 50,000 Cr to sup- measures including re-finance in all the (HSSLC) examina- In Mizoram, lessons for stu- instructed all the students to On March 20 two others risk category people are being problems of the poor people port small & mid NBFCs, window of Rs 50,000 crore and tion centres under the MBSE. dents on several subjects are give priority to home school- returned to Kannur from Dubai tested, even if asymptomatic. suffering due to the refinance facilities of ?25,000 targetted long term repo auc- In view of the extension of being telecast from Monday to ing and their parents must and both were placed in isolation. There is nothing to worry about coronavirus-induced lockdown. Cr to NABARD to help farm- tion of similar amount to deal the nationwide lockdown till Saturday via the Aizawl also monitor them during They too were asymptomatic, because all these people have Senior Congress leader Ajay ers, ?15,000 Cr to SIDBI to with the impact of the May 3, the Central government Doordarshan Kendra. this period. meaning they showed no symp- been in strict mandatory isola- Maken claimed the measures boost loans to start-ups & COVID-19 pandemic. has stopped regular and ongo- "The half-an-hour teaching Meanwhile, Mizoram Health toms. As with the above case, tion with regular follow-ups," K announced by the RBI would SMEs, ?10,000 Cr to NHB to Das assured that the RBI ing academic -- normal and programme began on Monday Minister R. Lalthangliana said samples were collected on April Narayana Naik, the medical offi- not help all those who are support housing for all, will will use all instruments at its off-line -- activities and inter- (April 13). Students are to in a separate press release that 14 and they returned positive for cer said. However, the story is a suffering due to the crisis prove to be significant steps," disposal to deal with the chal- actions to prevent the spread attend these classes on DDK the 22-year-old woman from the novel coronavirus on April 16. little different in most other caused by the virus and said the the BJP president tweeted, lenges posed by the outbreak of coronavirus. Aizawl Channel," an official Aizawl, who had tested positive According to the Kannur parts of the country, where the country's central bank should citing various measures of the novel coronavirus, However, various state gov- from the Mizoram Education for coronavirus at a Mumbai District Medical Officer, of the 248 testing criteria for COVID-19 is introduce more measures. announced by RBI Governor depending on the evolving ernments have initiated and Department said. hospital on April 13, is a breast people who had returned from still the display of symptoms dur- Shaktikanta Das. situation. encouraged online teaching He said that the school cancer patient. abroad and were tested for the ing a 14-day isolation period. Yes Bank scam: Wadhawan brothers' IAF chopper makes plea for FIR rejected Three ‘thieves’ Cong makes 10-point Army surround attackers Pak Army shells MUMBAI: A special court here beaten to death, emergency landing civilian areas in has rejected the plea of DHFL promoter Kapil Wadhawan and 100 detained demand charter to Delhi govt in Hoshiarpur, who killed SPO in Kishtwar Poonch his brother Dheeraj, seeking PNS n NEW DELHI PNS n JAMMU PNS n JAMMU inspection and certified copies PNS n PALGHAR pilots safe of the FIR registered against The Congress on Friday said PNS n HOSHIARPUA A gunbattle has broken out The Pakistan Army on Friday them in connection with the Three persons were dragged migrants and daily wagers should between security forces and shelled civilians areas and for- Yes Bank scam. The plea was out of their car and beaten to be incentivised as it put forth a 10- An Apache helicopter of the the suspected terrorists who ward posts along the Line of rejected by the court on the death by a group of villagers point demand charter before the Indian Air Force made an killed a special police officer Control (LoC) in town sectors grounds that the matter is not in Palghar district of Arvind Kejriwal government to emergency landing in the and critically injured his col- of Poonch district, drawing urgent and the accused has Maharashtra on suspicion help those in distress in the fields of Budhawar village in league in Jammu and retaliation from the Indian liberty to apply after the that they were thieves, police national capital due to COVID- the district on Friday follow- Kashmir's Kishtwar district Army, officials said. This is 13th lockdown is lifted, Wadhawans' said on Friday. 19. The party demanded that ing a technical glitch, officials early this week, officials said. Kishtwar Central Jail three consecutive day of shelling lawyer said on Friday. The Inspector Anandrao Kale fixed power charges be waived off said. Two pilots on board — On Monday, the suspects weeks ago, and Basharat and firing by Pakistani troops Wadhawan brothers are named of the Kasa police station said and school fees should not be in touch with a Pizza delivery Flight Lieutenant Anoop and attacked the SPOs with axes in Hussain. along the LoC in Jammu and as accused in the Central the gruesome incident took charged from students, besides boy, feared to be infected with the Flight Lieutenant Rajat —are Tander village and escaped into The official said the two are Kashmir. On Thursday, Pakis- Bureau of Investigation (CBI) place between 9.30-10 pm on payment of salaries of school virus, and have been quarantined safe. There was no damage to the jungle. The police had been believed to have joined the ter- tan targeted civilian areas and FIR pertaining to the swindling Thursday. teachers in aided schools and should be immediately tested. the helicopter or on the on their trail since and located rorist ranks and carried out the forwards posts along the LoC of money by Yes Bank The mob attack took place workers in MSMEs by the govern- Addressing a press conference ground, they said. The heli- them on Friday. Additional attack to lay their hands on in three sectors of Poonch and promoter Rana Kapoor and at a time when a nationwide ment. Congress senior spokesper- through video-conferencing, copter had taken off from the security forces were rushed their weapons. This was the Rajouri districts, officials said. others. Both Kapil and Dheeraj lockdown is in force to curb son Ajay Maken sought Standard Maken said testing should be Pathankot base. and a gunbattle ensued, a police first terror attack in Kishtwar "At about 1100 hours, the Paki- were absconding since the case the spread of coronavirus. Operating Procedures (SOPs), ramped up in the national cap- officer said, adding details district this year. stan Army initiated unprovok- was registered against them on The identity of the victims to be notified as regulations, for ital and asked whether Delhi had would be made available later. Kishtwar was rocked by a ed ceasefire violation along March 7, prompting the CBI to was not yet established, he delivery boys in the national cap- entered the community trans- The attackers have been series of terrorist attacks in LoC in Qasba & Kirni sectors get non-bailable warrants said, adding more than 100 ital to help stop the spread of the mission stage-3 of the virus as identified as local residents November 2018, when it saw of district Poonch by firing with (NBWs) against them from a people have been detained by deadly virus through them. 135 people have been kept Ashiq Hussain, a rape accused its first terror attack in over a small arms", Defence spokes- special court. the police. He said all 89 people who were "under investigation". who was released on bail from decade. man Lt Col Anand said. ITBP begins distribution of PPEs, masks to frontline agencies New portable UV racket can PNS n NEW DELHI daily capacity to double the pre- "Some sister sent volume," an ITBP The Indo-Tibetan Border Police forces like the spokesperson said. disinfect surfaces just by waving (ITBP) has begun distribution of Central Industrial At present, 200 PPEs and 500 PPEs and masks being prepared masks are being fabricated at the PNS n NEW DELHI (LPU) in Punjab, told PTI. by its troops and their families, Security Force Saboli centre every day, he said. "Our UV racket is a perfect to a number of organisations at are also in touch The Wives Welfare Researchers have developed a solution to achieve this. the frontline of the battle against with us and we Association is also chipping in portable racket with ultravio- Whether it is keys, bags, food coronavirus, officials said on this task and it has prepared let (UV) light which they say delivery or e-commerce pack- Friday. Last week, the ITBP had will provide them about 1,000 masks till now. Its can disinfect almost every sur- ets; one needs to wave the rack- launched a special stitching facil- PPEs and members are stitching masks at face — from groceries, e-com- et over them just for a few min- ity at its camp located at Saboli masks," the ITBP home and sending it to the merce packets, keys, currency utes to disinfect them,” Singh in Haryana's Sonipat district to Saboli centre, he said. notes to vehicles — simply by said. prepare protective gear. chief said “Some requests for supply of waving the device over them, The researchers explained A senior official said 200 PPEs these items are also being made and may help in the fight that all one needs to do is to and 200 masks have been provid- vices. These are not meant for use will provide them PPEs and analysed for use by the Northern to us on social media and we are against the COVID-19 pan- wave the racket over the surfaces ed to Haryana Urban Local by doctors at hospitals who are masks," the ITBP chief said. Indian Textile Research looking at their requirements to demic. to shield the person holding it while holding it at a distance of Body (ULB), 50 PPEs to Rohtak treating coronavirus patients," The senior official quoted Association (NITRA) and the All cater to them as quickly as pos- The 80-centimetre-long from bodily contact with 4-5 inches from the object for Dental College, 20 PPE suits and ITBP Director General (DG) S S above said all such equipment India Institute of Medical sible,” the spokesperson said. racket comprises of an oval harmful UVC rays, they said. 60 seconds to disinfect it. 50 masks to Sarvodaya Vidyalaya Deswal said. distributed till now has been Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, the The ITBP is also running a head which has tubes of UVC "The current pandemic has The racket is also equipped in Rohini, Delhi and 20 PPEs and He said the force is ramping up given free and the force is man- official said. quarantine facility in Delhi, one — ultraviolet light with wave- shown that we need to be more with an object movement iden- 50 masks to the Kondli (east its capacity to prepare more aging the cost of production from "Till now, we have been fabri- of the largest in the country with lengths between 200-280 vigilant about our safety and tification feature, which means Delhi) municipal corporation. such medical equipment to cater its monetary reserves. The PPEs cating these items for our own 1,000 beds, since January 28. nanometres — embedded on should ideally disinfect any- the device shuts the sanitising "These COVID-19 protection to other organisations. prepared by the ITBP cost about use in health and quarantine About 1,200 Indians and foreign- the one side, the researchers thing that we carry from out- process if it observes any gear are meant to be used by peo- "Some sister forces like the Rs 100, while the price of masks facility management centres but ers, rescued from coronavirus- said. side into our homes," Mandeep human intervention, to avoid ple working at quarantine facil- Central Industrial Security Force comes to less than Rs 5, he said. due to the increased demand, the affected countries, have been The other side of the device Singh, an assistant professor at any harm to the human skin, ities and rendering similar ser- are also in touch with us and we These products have also been force is planning to enhance the catered to by this facility till now. is covered with a metallic sheet Lovely Professional University they said. HYDERABAD | SATURDAY | APRIL 18, 2020 op nion 06 www.dailypioneer.com facebook.com/dailypioneer | @TheDailyPioneer | instagram.com/dailypioneer/ PAPER WITH PASSION Who has the eyeballs? Opp CMs are stealing a march with their interactive strategies vis-à-vis the handout briefings of the Centre Empire state of mind n the beginning, it seemed like a genuinely coop- erative effort, the decision to fight COVID-19 in Will New York city rise again from the shadow of COVID-19? It did from the trauma of 9/11. Ithe Indian context and within our set of challenges and resources. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, known for his muscular approach, did enforce a Will there now be a second coming? Those familiar with NYC’s resilience know there will be nationwide lockdown in the world’s most popu- suffer the discrimination that had lous democracy, overriding any other concern continued to be heaped on them except that of saving lives and arresting the spi- despite the abolition of slavery. ral of the disease. There were several rounds of The road was prepared for the discussions with Chief Ministers of affected States, movement for equality, an issue that was gaining increasing experiences and lessons were shared and an all- momentum, to swell into the party consultation held. Modi himself did set aside tidal wave of the civil rights politics on the shelf and even consulted his predecessor Manmohan Singh on the movement of the 1960s when many barriers collapsed. economic fallout of the disease. Then the reverse migration of the daily wage earn- HIRANMAY KARLEKAR The 1960s were a turbulent ers threw everybody off guard and the humanitarian crisis of returning labourers, period. Besides the peaking of the wanting to escape the forced lockdown, the big city disease and work in their own eering through the window, I civil rights movement, the one could see the iconic Manhattan against the United States’ partic- fields for whatever it paid added another front in the battle. And now that everybody landscape with its tall towers ipation in the Vietnamese War (as is up to the gills in trying to assess the trajectory of the problem, they are coming soaring into the sky. I was on an David Elliott calls it in his defin- apart yet again. Although Central despatches talk about a peak in May/June before American Airlines flight from itive book the by the same name), PWashington DC that was set to land at convulsed the campuses and a petering out, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said he doesn’t expect the what was then Idlewild Airport and is now streets. NYC was no exception curve to flatten before September. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot John F Kennedy International Airport. and the highest point in the mul- expressed concerns over the phased and gradual easing of lockdowns, saying the That was my first view of New York City tiplicity of protest meetings, (NYC) and the date, if memory serves, was marches and sit-ins was clearly disease spiral was such that an opening up decision could go either way. Now as March 2, 1960. the April 15 Spring Mobilisation the nerves are fraying at the edges, both ruling and Opposition parties have begun Over the years, New York has become march against the war in whataboutery and mutual blame games at a time when we are just about reining in my second-most favourite city, the first Vietnam, which attracted sever- being Kolkata, where I was born and al hundreds of thousands of par- the disease and need to choke and chase it away. The Maharashtra BJP is blaming where I grew up, and which remains home ticipants. the Shiv Sena alliance Government of Uddhav Thackeray for mishandling the migrant despite my decades in Delhi. I, therefore, In NYC, the civil rights, issue. The Bengal BJP is blaming the Mamata Banerjee Government for fudging death deeply mourn the tragedy that has struck anti-war and the Beat move- both NYC and New York state in the form ments, which often overlapped, figures in cases of co-morbidities and the Delhi BJP is in a war of words with the of a massive COVID-19 attack, sending flowed parallelly in the 1960s. Aam Aadmi Party Government over access to medical gear and testing. Now there’s thousands to the hereafter and paralysing The three subsided in the a raging war over whether we are testing enough, although the Indian Council of a throbbing megacity with its vibrant early1970s. The reasons were sev- Medical Research (ICMR) is confining tests to hotspot clusters, claiming the pene- diversity of peoples and cultures, waxing eral. The civil rights legislation of along its wide avenues and in the shad- the 1960s seemed to have taken trative approach, and not wasting kits. Of course, the rapid antibody tests have just ows of its concrete canyons, epitomised some of the edge of the African landed. Perhaps the distancing between the Centre and Opposition States is becom- by the Wall Street. American drive for equality. The ing more pronounced over issues of transparency. I am not the proverbial New Yorker Vietnamese war limped to a who has lived in the city for years and feels close in 1972. Internal feuds It is a fact that apart from his national addresses, rallying his citizen soldiers for the richness of its life in his/her viscera. I souls have left along with singer, dancer, actress and civil and Jean Toomer were important split the Left-leaning Students for a big fight, the Prime Minister hasn’t exactly held a press conference or been talk- am an outsider whose many visits, none junkies, hustlers and muggers; rights activist, made her mark writers whom The Crisis gave a Democratic Society, which was ing to the media, except for some confabulations with newspaper barons on sec- more than a month long at a time, have left the Yuppies (young, upwardly- here, as did Ethel Waters, cele- salience. While the Renaissance’s active in both the anti-war and behind a string of warm memories of excit- mobile professionals) and the brated for her mellifluous ren- role in enabling individual writ- civil rights movements. All toral concerns. His Health Minister, too, is missing from daily briefings, leaving that ing encounters with people, visits to gal- university authorities have taken dering of the blues and Adelaide ers to be recognised and success- involved were tired of the pro- job to the Health Secretary. In comparison, Chief Ministers of all Opposition States leries and museums, of the buzz of many over much of it. A sigh for that. Hall, the noted jazz singer who ful is important, much more so longed campus unrest. have been interactive on a daily basis, keeping their people abreast of developments voices in bars, varied fares in restaurants But then NYC has seen many later migrated to Britain. its contribution to laying the The Beat movement had and hours of bookshop browsing (alas most transient bursts of literary and The visual and plastic arts groundwork for the evolution of also lost steam. The East Village and spelling out strategies according to the evolving situation. This spontaneity and of them have now closed down). The vari- artistic excellence under the flourished. Aaron Douglas’s African-American conscious- Other, the shrill voice of counter- hands-on approach have not only struck a chord with the people, they have made ety of people one sees is stunning — rang- canopy of its fervid creativity. paintings and Augusta Savage ness and literature and defining culture and protest, died in the Chief Ministers look taller than they were before COVID-19. Politically, the suc- ing from White Anglo-Saxon Protestants The area around the Columbia and Meta Warrick’s sculptures its ethos. Du Bois wanted African 1972. The Village Voice, a sober (WASPS) to African Americans, from University and the West End Bar were widely and critically American artists to remember platform of creative dissent cess of Chief Ministers like Gehlot in Rajasthan with the Bhilwara model or Pinarayi those of European origin to those of is a part of West Harlem which, applauded. It was equally a time their moral responsibility project- founded in 1955, ceased publi- Vijayan in Kerala has given them a doer-deliverer image that will last for a while. No Chinese, Latin American, Sri Lankan, in turn, is included in the wider for intellectual ferment, which ing the issue of racial equality in cation in 2017, surviving online BJP Chief Minister is being seen as proactive, continuing to be just under Modi’s Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Indian stock, sprawl of Harlem, enveloping owed much to the collection of their work. James Baldwin, the till 2018. The Bohemians from those in dark suits scurrying around the central and eastern part of essays, The Soul of Black Folk novelist and essayist whose writ- moved out of the village. Yet shadow. Even Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, only ridiculed these days without any in the financial district in lower Manhattan, the latter, in the northern reach- (1903) by WEB Du Bois, sociol- ings shook the United States in New York was not bereft of political capital, has emerged as a mature version, something which he could have to residual hippies lounging around in the es of NYC. ogist, historian, civil rights the 1960s, did this in all his works, excitement. The village had its done long before. He, too, held an impromptu press conference and though pro- Village’s Washington Square Park. In the 1920s and early activist, author and editor. He and, particularly tellingly, in jazz and restaurants. Until the My memories, too, are diverse. I 1930s, the entire area was the played a major, if not defining, Nobody Knows My Name and COVID-19 horror struck, per- voked, refrained from attacking the Modi Government over crisis management. Truth remember the West End Bar on the venue of what has come to be role in shaping the Harlem The Fire Next Time. formances and exhibitions drew be told, he did raise an alarm about the possible COVID-19 impact as early as February, Broadway opposite Columbia University. known as the Harlem Renaissance, as did Marcus Unfortunately, the Great thousands to the Lincoln Centre has been harping on early testing to save lives and pleading for an economic pack- Later closed down, it was frequented by the Renaissance, which saw a flow- Garvey, founder of the Universal Depression delivered a crippling for the Performing Arts, which university’s faculty members and students ering of African American cul- Negro Improvement Association blow; other factors like internal now houses the New York age. However, he was pooh-poohed by not just the BJP’s IT cell but its senior lead- and, often, by celebrities and writers. It was ture in the spheres of literature, (UNIA) and the African squabbling worsened matters. Philharmonic, the Metropolitan ers. Still, at the press conference, he emphasised how all parties should work togeth- here that Jack Kerouac (On the Road, The music, theatre, visual art and Communities league. The wide- The Harlem Renaissance hob- Opera, the New York City Ballet er in a united fashion to face the crisis. Rahul, who had paid dearly for personally Dharma Bums, The Subterraneans et al), sculpture. There was an explo- ly-circulated weekly newspaper, bled to an end in the early 1930s. and the Julliard School of Music. attacking Modi, has been mature in his approach. In fact, he just insisted on mak- William S Burroughs (of Naked Lunch and sion of music, particularly jazz. Negro World, which he founded As they say, sic transit Gloria The Museum of Modern Art Junkie and much else) and Allen Ginsberg Paul Robeson was a towering and ran on behalf of the UNIA, mundi (Thus goes worldly glory). and the American Museum of ing “constructive suggestions” to the Government, calling for direct cash transfers (Howl and Other Poems and Kaddish and presence. Many others, who and The Crisis, the quarterly Before waning, however, it pro- Natural History drew streams of to migrants and rushing the overstocked foodgrains in a disciplined manner. He is Other Poems) held court, gave identity to became tall eminences later, cut mouthpiece of the NAACP jected the ethos and culture of visitors. taking the moral high ground and at least started to make sense. And with his press Beat writing and shaped its emerging con- their teeth at the Cotton Club, which Du Bois founded in 1910 African Americans on their Over the whole city now tours, with the word “Beat” being first used for a long time a Whites-only and edited until 1934, played a terms and not in terms of the hangs the sinister shadow of the conference, he is just pointing to the vacuum in communication from the other side. by Hubert Edwin Huncke (Guilty of nightclub at the heart of Harlem, critically important role in pub- stereotypes many Whites had COVID-19 pandemic. Will it Communication dissolves panic and fear. Everybody is using the COVID-19 sce- Everything: The Autobiography of Herbert which featured promising lishing African American writers imposed on them. With its cre- ever recover? It did from the nario to reap dividends later on. The Prime Minister has stepped up no doubt, but Edwin Huncke and The Evening Sun African American performers. and giving them much-needed ative reverberations spreading far trauma of 9/11. Will there now Turned Crimson among others). Duke Ellington, composer, visibility. and wide, it made the world sit be a second coming? Those needs to build a credible and constructive talking point, too. And be seen as a deliv- Prior to gentrification in the last cou- pianist and jazz orchestra leader, Langston Hughes was, per- up and take note. It aroused the familiar with NYC’s resilience erer rather than speech-maker. ple of decades or so, the area around made his mark here. Louis haps, the most important literary latent pride of African Americans know there will be. Columbia University and the West End Armstrong, trumpeter, who pro- figure of the Harlem Renaissance. in their own accomplishments, (The writer is Consultant Bar was marked by poverty and a high foundly influenced the evolution Countee Collen left behind his culture and capabilities and made Editor, The Pioneer, and an Zoom into our lives crime rate. Now the Beats and kindred of jazz, played here. Lena Horne, mark as a poet. Arna Bontemps them progressively unwilling to author) With concerns over privacy, is the Chinese app S O U N D BITE masking data mining and surveillance? Over the past few days, I post- I don’t get to sleep enough as Given these differences, the Humanity faces perhaps the onths before the deadly Coronavirus ed a few tweets. After that, I I don’t get tired enough. I feel choices made and what trial of its time as Covid-19 started getting threatening there should be a certain China is today, which I grips the world. The mission virus struck the world, we had never even messages on my social media amount of discipline and respect, let’s not be so naive is to do whatever to prevent Mheard of Zoom, the US-based video con- handles. I am no Zaira Wasim, patience. I hope we all come as to say it’s been much the epidemiological curve ferencing app that was first founded in 2011 by I wouldn’t get threatened. out as better human beings. better at handling this. from steeping any further. a Chinese immigrant Eric S Yuan. With countries Grappler Actor French President RBI Governor facing a nationwide lockdown, almost the entire —Babita Phogat —Arjun Kapoor —Emmanuel Macron —Shaktikanta Das world population was compelled to work from home and it is here that it became a critical com- ponent of an enabling technological infrastructure. So much so that after TikTok and Whatsapp, it ranked as the third-largest downloaded app. Centre, state governments must According to data, in India itself, in the 10 days between March 1 and 11, when work from home arrangements were just begin- ning to kick in, there were 1.25 lakh Zoom downloads. But at the same time, con- cerns regarding an increasing dependence on this platform were already red-flagged. not glossover migrants' crisis In fact, there are serious questions about privacy and security. This is why the Union Government’s latest advisory warning against the usage of the application as it was he incidents that unfolded at society now is the spread of fake STATES WOULD WELL state dishes out food every day for Bandra West recently suggest news as if it is competing with coro- over 54 lakh migrant workers.There “unsafe” and “vulnerable to cyber crimes” doesn’t spring a surprise. But the popu- Tthat the gross insensitiveness navirus in terms of speed. A single TO FOLLOW IN THE is undoubtedly, an unprecedented larity of the app cannot be denied. From conducting business meetings to facilitat- of both the Centre and the state gov- piece of unsubstantiated news drove FOOTSTEPS OF challenge at hand. And, at times like ing religious services, to conducting online classes and even meeting friends for vir- ernments towards the crisis facing thousands of people on to the this, it is easy to lose sight of who migrant workers has finally reached streets on Mumbai, regardless of KERALA, WHICH it is that really needs help. The states tual hangouts, it has become the default social chatroom. The benefits are far too its tipping point. Thousands of lockdown curbs, police posts and, ACCOUNTS FOR 65% cannot afford to forget that these many to lure in a network of users. Its services are free (superior services are charged workers took to the streets imme- above all, the risks of contracting the workers, who are living in though), it can accommodate up to 100 users in a single video call and has addi- diately after Prime Minister virus. The unstoppable forwarding OF THE SHELTERS deplorable conditions, thousands of Narendra Modi announced the of messages too reared its ugly head. THAT THE COUNTRY kilometres from their homes, are tional features, for example, foregrounding the speaker. It is a saviour for people in extension of the Coronavirus- All of this undermines the serious- heroes, alongside everyone who is self-isolation, who are dying to catch a glimpse of another human face. inducednationwide lockdown. ness of the state of affairs and one HAS FOR MIGRANT sacrificing their comforts for the Undoubtedly, when world stocks are plummeting, its share price has doubled. Makes Considering that the eventual could even say that we are now fac- WORKERS wellness of society. Providing them extension has figured in discussions ing the risk of citizens lowering their with decent facilities is essential to one wonder if anybody had anticipated a work from home scenario? for over two weeks prior to the social responsibility. With little or let them know in the darkest hour But now it appears if this was another Chinese effort to mine data of its users announcement, one can't help but no accountability, citizens, partic- month would have been in vain had more diseases than prevent any. of their lives that they are not alone. to create a world surveillance network. Perhaps this is the reason the Government ask: Why, knowing very well ularly the unlettered ones,have no the railways operated even for 24 Social distancing, which the Centre This the least any government can migrant workers' plight, the govern- option but to buy into whatever hours. The already terrorising pan- and state governments preach, do for them. is warning against its use in secure communications. Accusations involve the already- ment willingly glossed over the false news or views irresponsible demic would know no bounds sounds hollow if one looks at the At the end of the day, the coun- established concerns on privacy and end-to-end encryption. Its ease of use also issue? Why could they not utilise publications trot out. If the recent and the situation would be well out conditions in which migrant work- try, post lockdown, would require encouraged bad actors — there have been several cases where users have taken the lead time to prepare for trans- events are not proof enough of the of anyone's hands. Considering ers are 'sheltered'. the services of migrant workers port of the workers? Or, worse still, foregoing aberrations, nothing else this, the bare minimum that could States would well to follow in most to help recoup the losses recourse to making racist attacks, child abuse, even pornography. While the com- are the discomforts and issues of the can be! be done is to provide adequate and the footsteps of Kerala, which caused by the virus and put the pany is still making amendments on a daily basis, it has also cultivated an image of unorganised sector of no impor- It could very well be argued that proper shelter as well as resources accounts for 65% of the shelters that economy back on a trajectory of being a snooper on the prowl. And its admission that some calls were “mistaken- tance to the ruling parties which rise travel is of the least importance, to these migrant workers who are the country has for migrant work- growth. to power in every election with their considering the gravity of the situ- crammed in makeshift shelters ers. Alongside testing for the virus, Chandra Lekha ly” routed to China is not reassuring at all. Nobody knows the shape of a post-COVID votes? ation in the country. The efforts of with unstable roofs and unclean the state has made providing food Law Student world but politics is in full play. Another problem that haunts the government over the last one bathrooms, which would bring for these workers a top priority. The O.P. Jindal Global University HYDERABAD | SATURDAY | APRIL 18, 2020

www.dailypioneer.com analysis 07 FIRSTCOLUMN Innovations in POINTCOUNTERPOINT CANADA WILL BE ONE OF THE EARLY BORDERS WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT bureaucracy WITH THE US TO BE RELEASED ONCE OF TIME, STILL, BEFORE WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED. LOOSENING SUCH RESTRICTIONS. The Govt should find a way to harness talent and —US PRESIDENT —CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER expertise from a larger resource pool but with a DONALD TRUMP JUSTIN TRUDEAU well thought out strategy for nation building Crime and punishment VK BAHUGUNA ince time immemorial, mankind has been facing existential threats ‘Covidiots’ are breaking the law and putting the lives of other people at risk. and one of the challenges during such times is how to organ- They must be held accountable and booked under the criminal justice system Sise manpower to meet the threat. In the modern world, a com- petent bureaucracy fills the gap but is embroiled in red-tapism, which proves counter-productive. Therefore, it is time for the bureaucracy to embrace innovation to fight any challenges that come its way. If one actor in the bureaucratic chain slips up, things go haywire quickly. The latest example is the faux pas in Delhi where the impact of the lockdown on daily wagers and the unorganised sector workers was not visualised by the Centre, the Lieutenant-Governor or the Delhi Government. In fact, after the suspension of two IAS officers, it was revealed that the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses were fer- rying labourers to the Uttar Pradesh border. It should have been planned better. Before/after the announcement of the lockdown by the Prime DEEPAK SINHA Minister, officials of different Ministries should have been in touch with State Government officials to handle the migrant workforce and address oes it make sense to be politically correct their needs. The Intelligence Bureau (IB) also appears to have failed when faced with an existentialist crisis? If in tracking the foreigners who came to India to attend the meet in Da person is fighting for his/her life and finds that survival depends not just on his/her own Nizamuddin. Or its advice was not acted upon by the police and the actions but also on the actions of the administration. neighbours/community, how should one respond? This brings us to the need for innovation in the Indian bureaucra- The choices are pretty stark and binary, there cy in order to make its functioning quick and effective. There are more is no time or place for grey areas and that is how than 65 lakh pensioners and 48 lakh regular employees and the ques- it should be. Simply put, good deeds must be tion is how to improvise the functional talent of the regular staff and rewarded while bad deeds must be punished. And harness the experience of retired officers without committing to any political correctness be damned. remuneration. Is it possible to have a provision in the rule book to use During the present pandemic, as the number the experience of retirees in national building without increasing the of confirmed Coronavirus cases and casualties superannuation age? continue to spiral not just globally but also in the country, there are millions of anonymous doctors, The average lifespan is increasing and as per studies a person is nurses and other healthcare professionals, media at his/her best professional capability in the age group of 60-68 years. personnel, soldiers, policemen, grocers and shop- Hence, globally almost all governments have increased the retirement keepers, delivery staff, sanitation workers and age of their staff. The superannuation age of United Nations (UN) employ- many others, who keep our essential services func- ees is 65, in the US it is 66 and will be raised to 67 by 2023. The UK tional. They are on the frontline, battling the is proposing an increase in the pension age to 66 by 2020 and 67 COVID-19 monster, keeping us safe without a care between 2026-2028. It is the same situation in the most of Europe. for their personal safety and for the future of their But it is still 60 years in India, China, Malaysia, Thailand and other devel- families. Many healthcare workers have even been GIVEN THE oping countries. However, there is a sound rationale behind this dif- INFIRMITIES IN ference. The populations of developed countries have stabilised and infected and died due to the pandemic. These “Corona warriors” must be thanked and applaud- OUR CRIMINAL due to negative population growth they lack experienced manpower ed for their dedication and resilience, wherever JUSTICE SYSTEM, replacement. Therefore, they want to hold on to their experienced work- in the world they may be. In fact, more than just THERE IS AN ism and treated as such with no quar- India’s first death from the Coronavirus. the lives of other people at risk, for which ers, particularly when they are at the peak of their capabilities. On the gestures, we must reciprocate and do our best to URGENT AND ter being given. There is no differenti- Clearly, the Central Government’s writ they must be held accountable. other hand, developing countries like India have burgeoning popula- keep them safe, albeit by ensuring that we PRESSING ation here between Over Ground seems to run only within the National This clearly suggests that given the tions and their educated youth is facing severe unemployment. Hence, remain disciplined and follow rules regarding NECESSITY TO Workers (OGW) and terrorists and all Capital Region (NCR), even if there! infirmities in our criminal justice system, we can ill-afford to increase the retirement age beyond 60 years. social and physical distancing; contribute what we of them are no different from those The second incident is even more there is an urgent and pressing necessi- can to make their lives easier and, most impor- INTRODUCE wielding guns or explosives. appalling because those involved are the ty to introduce summary punishments. However, the Indian bureaucracy has created several post-retire- SUMMARY ment sinecure for itself. And politicians in the Central and State tantly, treat them with the respect they deserve. Even among the scores of others very ones who are expected to set These must be handed out without fear The other side of the coin pertains to how we PUNISHMENTS. who disobey societal norms, there are examples for the rest of us to follow. It or favour and be applied on all who Governments dole this out indiscriminately without consideration for THESE MUST BE merit, which is nothing but crony capitalism. These positions are being deal with those who violate social and physical dis- some who do so deliberately because pertains to the marriage of Nikhil break the rules. Obviously, the scale of tancing norms, knowingly or unknowingly, HANDED OUT they believe they are above the law. These Kumaraswamy, the grandson of former punishment meted out should be based cornered by IAS officers mostly as they harbour the notion that all the “Covidiots” as they have commonly come to be WITHOUT FEAR OR are those who belong to religious groups Prime Minister Deve Gowda, to Revathi, on the severity of the misdemeanour. top talent in the country is available within this group of civil servants known. Ignorance after over two months of fac- FAVOUR AND BE or political parties or are seen as influ- the grand-niece of former Congress This will be similar to the legal only. It has taken the form of quid pro quo and is the root cause of ing this pandemic is no longer a viable excuse and APPLIED ON encers who consider that their wealth, Minister M Krishnappa. Hence, a VIP process of summary disposal that exists the malfunctioning of the Government, waste of talent and poor deliv- those who violate norms must be treated as delib- ALL WHO BREAK social status or position protects them. wedding. within the military justice system, where ery. This also leads to unfair networking and lobbying among babus. erate defaulters, regardless of how illiterate or igno- THE RULES. The examples that best illustrate this While only family members were punishments are awarded and carried The Government should, therefore, mull an innovative way to use rant they may actually be. The motivation for their OBVIOUSLY, THE kind of horrendous behaviour are from invited and the event was moved out of out on the spot. and harness talent and expertise from a larger resource pool but with actions obviously stems from the belief that either SCALE OF Karnataka, where the unwillingness of Bengaluru to a farmhouse some distance If the offence is seen to be of a seri- a well thought out strategy. The Centre is trying to bring fresh talent it is not in their hands or that they are unlikely the State administration to act is con- away, the adherence to social distancing ous nature, or the individual is a repeat to be effected by the virus, even if they catch it. PUNISHMENT doned by the Central Government, just norms or the wearing of masks, as is offender, s/he could then have an FIR into the Government through lateral entry. It is, however, being done METED OUT on an ad hoc basis, which is counter-productive. The Centre should The problem of disciplining or getting these because it happens to be a BJP one. mandated, were completely disregard- registered against him/her as per our people to adhere to the law is that our legal sys- SHOULD BE In one case, a chariot-pulling ritu- ed by those attending. Photographs avail- criminal justice procedure. However, for constitute a higher Government management service and after 15 years tem is such that summary punishments do not BASED ON THE al that was a part of the Siddalingeshwara able in the public domain show this utter such behaviour, the charges preferred on the job, all officers of the organised civil services with proven capa- exist. So, actually punishing a wrongdoer takes SEVERITY OF THE Fair, held in Chittapur village, in disregard for the nation”s fight against against the individual must be non-bail- bility should be allowed to be screened by the Union Public Service months, if not years. Moreover, given the poor MISDEMEANOUR Kalaburagi District of Karnataka, saw the the virus. But this was only to be able and instead of being kept in a prison Commission (UPSC) through a written and personality test. This will quality of recruits to our police forces, leaving the participation of thousands of devotees, expected as the Karnataka Chief s/he must be kept locked in specially ear- also help in junking the deadwood. disciplining of wrongdoers in their hands will lead who violated the nationwide lockdown Minister, BS Yediyurappa, had earlier set marked “internment camps” where s/he For the pensioners, it could be done by amending pension rules to sadistic and uncalled for abuse. None of this is and social distancing norms with a precedent of sorts, when he along with will be ineligible to receive anything and the Government should retain the power to summon them and likely to deter individuals from indulging in activ- impunity. some of his Cabinet colleagues attend- other than prophylactic medical care for make it compulsory for them to be available at least for seven days a ities that may not amount to being seen as crim- The police and District ed a wedding in Belgavi, at which there COVID-19 till his/her case is brought to month, should it need them. But this should be without remuneration, inal in nature but are certainly not socially accept- Administration remained mere specta- were over 5,000 guests present. This, just trial. There is little doubt that extraor- except for a marginal transport allowance per sitting. This will help the able behaviour either. tors even though they were aware of the days after he had himself passed direc- dinary situations demand extraordinary For those indulging in such behaviour do not planned event well in advance. They tions that not more than 100 guests measures. Those who follow the law can- Government increase its productivity as well as efficiency and pen- see that their actions could be responsible for were finally forced to act and lodge an could be invited to weddings. not be held hostage by the few who do sioners will also get an opportunity to contribute to nation-building. putting others in harm’s way and even if they do, First Information Report (FIR) against Finally, there are also those who not follow rules, using our democratic Many retirees will challenge this provision but it may be given a try for some it is of no concern. the temple trust a day later, after a mael- either unwittingly or carelessly break process as their excuse. The notification on an optional basis as it will open a window of opportunity for inno- In fact, some who feel that they have been strom erupted on social media. The like- these norms just because they lack self- of such a measure will act as a strong vation. The Government should identify such works at different levels treated unfairly by society at large, or even by the lihood of any substantive action being discipline or believe they can get away deterrent against willful misbehaviour in each department and use the large mass of talent, which otherwise country, see this as an ideal opportunity to get taken against those responsible seems with it, much like those who jump traf- and should be put in place for the dura- goes waste after retirement. There is ample opportunity to innovate even. Among the latter there are also those work- unlikely. fic lights when there are no policemen tion of this pandemic. on this and it may be possible to bring the curtains down on regular ing at the behest of forces that are inimical towards Incidentally, Kalaburagi has been about. (The writer, a military veteran is a post-retirement jobs and save money on defunct posts. the country and wish it harm. They should obvi- deemed a COVID-19 hotspot and is The fact of the matter is that all consultant with the Observer Research (The writer is a retired civil servant) ously be categorised separately and their actions under complete lockdown. It also has the “Covidiots” belonging to any of these Foundation and a Senior Visiting Fellow must be treated as deliberate acts of bio-terror- dubious distinction of having reported groups are breaking the law and putting with The Peninsula Foundation Chennai) There is great opportunity in the Corona crisis Instead of waiting for the stock market to hit the bottom, experts recommend taking a gradual and incremental approach where you start investing a small portion of your cash on a regular basis and take advantage of the current crisis than 18, which is far less than its his- fails with equal regularity. The impact 2009 during the “Great recession.” the insurance sector may see gains. Wipro, Infosys and so on could be the took to support their economies. torical range of 20-24. Markets across of the Coronavirus on the stock mar- Given the economic slowdown in The automobile sector, which beneficiaries. But real estate, hospital- Once business and economic normal- large, mid and small caps have correct- ket has all the characteristics of a “black India, the Yes Bank imbroglio, the was suffering due to the 2019 econom- ity and the entertainment sector might cy returns, the stock market will start ed sharply from their peaks. In the swan” event. CAA-NRC protests, Delhi riots, panic ic meltdown, may benefit from the be the real losers in the stock market. moving in a positive direction. Financial Year (FY) 2019-20, the mid- Crash and recovery: Worldwide amid the Coronavirus, the sentiment Coronavirus outbreak. Recently, The oil and natural gas sector might Recovery would be faster than expect- cap index fell by 26 per cent while the stock markets have a history of crash is extremely negative. And this led to Maruti Suzuki India said that they also suffer but as crude oil prices are ed. But if people only do discretionary Sensex fell by 22 per cent. But that does and recovery and the Indian bourses the March-April meltdown on the expect to see a boom once the lock- low, their losses are under control for spending then economic revival would not mean that it is the end of the stock are no different. The Sensex plunged Indian bourses. down is lifted and as social distancing now. Due to the lockdown, inflation take longer. market. Volatility tests the patience of 53 per cent in one year during the Fear and greed: Investing in the becomes a common practice, forcing has reduced but so have the volumes. Whether it is correction or growth, ABHISHEK RAJA investors and traders. While the trad- “Harshad Mehta scam” in 1992 but stock market is not all about techni- people to buy more cars. Similar Various sectors have felt the positive both phases are worth taking an er ends up losing money the investor recovered 127 per cent in 17 months. cal and fundamental analysis but also views were shared by other automo- impact of the pandemic whereas oth- exposure in the stock market. But don’t ny crisis brings with it great grabs multi-baggers. During the “tech bubble burst” in 2000, about analysing the behaviour of bile makers. The Nifty 50 Index — a ers have borne its negative impact. try to catch the falling knife. investment opportunities but it COVID-19 is a black swan event: the Sensex crashed 56 per cent in 17 investors at large. Investors discuss and diversified 50 stock index accounting Thus, their share prices will move What should investors do? Most Ais not easy to decipher what to Throughout history, there have been months but recovered 138 per cent in agree to take rational decisions but at for more than 13 sectors of the econ- accordingly. of us would want to wait till there is bet on. At present the sentiment in highly improbable events that catch two-and-a-half years. When the US times they are influenced by events and omy — has rallied by over 20 per cent What of recovery? It would be some clarity or evidence on how the stock markets across the world is almost everyone by surprise and can faced the “Lehman crisis” in 2008, the behave irrationally. Sometimes their since its March lows. foolish to expect a quick economic Coronavirus will be contained, before gloomy and financial markets in potentially have a large impact on sta- Sensex crashed 61 per cent in a year actions are influenced more by emo- The Nifty Pharma Index, on the rebound from the current crisis. But deciding to invest. But practically India, too, are witnessing sharp volatil- tus quo by disrupting human activi- but recovered 157 per cent in 17 tions rather than the fundamentals of other hand, has skyrocketed to over 37 considering the all-out efforts by waiting for the bottom to invest is ity as a result of this. The fall is in line ties and/or creating havoc. These are months. The current market has the stock market. Historically it has per cent, outperforming the broader Central banks and fiscal authorities to extremely difficult. Therefore, instead with the global benchmark indices as called “black swan” events. The name crashed around 30 per cent in less than been proven that in a bullish market, markets quite remarkably. This hap- soften the blow, a deep economic of waiting for the market to hit the bot- the domestic market usually tracks stems from the fact that up until 1697, three months. Due to the COVID-19, investor decisions are based on poten- pened because with the world grap- slump might be avoided. The problem tom, experts recommend taking a them. The stock market is likely to con- mankind believed that all swans were no one knows when the economy will tial gains rather than losses and they pling with the Coronavirus pandem- in the current scenario is that until we gradual and incremental approach tinue to be highly volatile in the near white. Then Dutch explorers sighted come back on track. Some experts make risky investments. However, ic, the spotlight is clearly on healthcare. know how quickly and thoroughly the where you start investing a small por- future. Further, with Foreign Portfolio black swans for the first time in even compare this meltdown of glob- stock markets reward patient long- In the same way, the agriculture sec- public-health challenge will be met, it tion of your cash on a regular basis. If Investment (FPI) flying to the safety Western Australia, completely nullify- al economies to the “Great Depression” term investors. There is no better way tor might not be affected much. is virtually impossible for economists there are sharp further corrections, the of dollar-backed assets, this has led to ing the belief that swans can only be that started in 1929 and lasted until the of making money other than owning However, despite numerous to predict the endgame. amount deployed can be increased a sharp plunge in the Indian stock mar- white. Thus, the term “black swan” is late 1930s. Between 1929 and 1932, the a great bunch of Indian companies and attempts by the Reserve Bank of India Global trade is expected to fall aggressively. The current crisis can be ket. The S&P BSE Sensex, which was used to describe an improbable event worldwide Gross Domestic Product ignoring the inevitable ups and downs to stem the freefall in the Indian cur- across all sectors this year but could a great opportunity for stock market 42,273 points on January 20, dipped which also has an extreme impact. (GDP) fell by an estimated 15 per cent. of the market. rency against the US dollar, there is no rebound later depending on when the investors. to 29,894 points on April 8. The Price The field of finance regularly By comparison, the global GDP fell by The future of other sectors: The end to the pain. This may benefit the pandemic is brought under control (The writer is an author and GST to Earning Ratio of the Sensex is less attempts to capture outlier events and less than one per cent from 2008 to banking sector may see more pain but software export sector and TCS, and the policy choices governments and tax expert) HYDERABAD | SATURDAY | APRIL 18, 2020 money 08 CAPSULE RBI comes to NBFCs' rescue; Fuel sales slump 50% in April; petrol down 64%, diesel 61% boosts cash availability PNS n NEW DELHI ly consumption numbers stopped plying, vehicles went off released by the oil ministry in the road and cargo movement PNS n MUMBAI banks under TLTRO 2.0 accounts from March 1, 2020 Rs 50,000 crore to Nabard, India's fuel consumption the second week of every month. stopped as most people were ‘Strongly support should be invested in invest- to May 31, 2020. Sidbi and NHB to enable them slumped by a record 50 per cent Industry officials said this is asked to stay home to help The Reserve Bank on Friday ment grade bonds, commercial "NBFCs have flexibility to meet sectoral credit needs. in April as all petroleum prod- the biggest ever drop in sales and check the spread of coronavirus. measures announced a slew of regulato- paper, and non-convertible under the prescribed account- "This will comprise Rs ucts except LPG saw massive the first data for the complete The lockdown was earlier announced by RBI ry and liquidity measures for debentures of NBFCs, with at ing standards to consider such 25,000 crore to Nabard for refi- demand erosion following a lockdown period. this week extended till May 3. non-banking finance compa- least 50 per cent of the total relief to their borrowers," the nancing regional rural banks nationwide lockdown halted March sales numbers were India had consumed 2.4 to revive economy’ nies (NBFCs), including Rs amount availed going to small Governor said. (RRBs), cooperative banks and economic activity and travel. released last week but this million tonnes of petrol and New Delhi: TVS Motor 50,000 crore of targeted long- and mid-sized NBFCs and The central bank also decid- micro finance institutions According to provisional included consumption in the 7.3 million tonnes of diesel in Company on Friday lauded term repo operations (TLTRO microfinance institutions ed to provide special refinance (MFIs); Rs 15,000 crore to industry data for fuel consump- pre-lockdown period as well. April 2019. As much as RBI's measures to support the 2.0) which will focus purely on (MFIs). facilities for a total amount of Sidbi for on-lending/refinanc- tion in the first half of April, Prime Minister Narendra 6,45,000 tonnes of ATF was economy amid countrywide providing funding to the sector. These investments have to ing; and Rs 10,000 crore petrol sales were down 64 per Modi had announced a 21-day used in that month last year. lockdown. The RBI has RBI also gave NBFCs flexi- be made within one month of to NHB for support- cent, while diesel slumped by 61 lockdown beginning March 25, In March 2020, the country's announced a slew of measures bility for an 'asset classification the availment of liquidity from Measures are ing housing per cent. shutting offices and factories, petroleum product consump- to boost liquidity to NBFCs and standstill' period from March the RBI and it will be classified aimed at finance com- Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) barring those involved in essen- tion fell 17.79 per cent to other financial institutions. It 1, 2020 to May 31, 2020 for all as held to maturity (HTM) panies consumption collapsed by 94 tial services. Also, flights were 16.08 million tonnes. Diesel, also reduced the reverse repo their borrowers who have even in excess of 25 per cent of providing relief to (HFCs)," per cent as most airlines have suspended, trains the most consumed fuel in the by 25 basis points to 3.75 per availed the three-month repay- total investment permitted to NBFCs that have Das said. stopped flying. country, saw demand contract cent. "I strongly support the ment moratorium announced be included in the HTM port- been facing The only fuel that showed by 24.23 per cent to 5.65 mil- measures announced by the earlier. folio, Das said. growth was LPG as the govern- lion tonnes. RBI today to support the The measures are aimed at Also, exposures under this challenges due ment dole of free cooking gas This is the biggest fall in economy in this period. It is a providing relief to NBFCs that facility will also not be reck- to Covid-19 cylinders to poor households diesel consumption the sign of their continued efforts have been facing challenges oned under the large exposure fired up consumption by 21 per country has recorded as to stimulate economic activity due to COVID-19 related dis- framework. cent during April 1 to 15, the most trucks went off- and protect jobs," TVS Motor ruptions. RBI said in respect to data showed. road and railways Company Chairman Venu "It has been decided to con- accounts for which lending Overall the decline in petro- stopped plying trains. Srinivasan said in a statement. duct targeted long-term repo institutions have decided to leum product sales was 50 per Aviation Petrol sales dropped The long-term repo operation operations (TLTRO 2.0) for an grant moratorium or defer- cent, it said. turbine fuel 16.37 per cent to 2.15 for NBFCs and micro-lenders aggregate amount of Rs 50,000 ment, and which were standard The data pertains to sales million tonnes, while is a good tool to ease liquidity crore, to begin with, in tranch- as on March 1, 2020, the 90- made by three public sector consumption ATF consumption fell without tinkering with policy es of appropriate sizes," day NPA norm shall exclude (PSU) oil marketing companies. collapsed by 32.4 per cent to 4,84,000 rates and Rs 50,000 crore is a Governor Shaktikanta Das said the moratorium period, Private firms such as Nayara tonnes. However, LPG while addressing media that is there would an Energy do not share mid-month 94% as most sales rose 1.9 per cent to substantial amount, he added. through video conferencing. asset classification sales trend and their numbers airlines have 2.3 million tonnes in RBI said the funds availed by standstill for all such get reflected only in the month- March. BMW Motorrad stopped flying sales surge 71 pc in Jan-March period Gadkari, Goyal hail RBI New Delhi: BMW Motorrad, the Sebi eases rules for Sensex rallies 986 pts; rate-sensitive two-wheeler arm of German luxury carmaker BMW, on Friday said its sales increased cos on intimation stocks soar post RBI boost measures to prop up by 71.5 per cent in the first quarter of the current year at PNS n MUMBAI 1,024 units from 597 units in to exchanges coronavirus-hit economy January-March period of 2019. Equity benchmark Sensex ral- “BMW Motorrad India has PNS n NEW DELHI Sebi said prior intimation to lied 986 points on Friday, led PNS n NEW DELHI dow that banks are allowed to posted robust growth in Q1 stock exchanges shall be by gains in banking, energy and give on loan repayments, to 2020, a result of the extremely Markets regulator Sebi on reduced to two working days IT stocks after the Reserve Union Minister Nitin Gadkari ease the worries of micro, strong brand we have built Friday eased compliance rules for board meetings held till Bank announced a slew of liq- on Friday said that "bold and small and medium enterprises among motorcycling for listed companies with July 31,2020. uidity-boosting measures to forward looking" policy inter- (MSMEs) that are in danger of enthusiasts in India," BMW regard to prior intimation to Under the norms, stock support the economy during ventions by the RBI shall pro- becoming bad loan accounts. Group India President and CEO stock exchanges about board exchanges need to be provid- the coronavirus crisis. vide a much-needed boost to "I specially thank RBI for Rudratej Singh said in a meetings amid the extended ed prior intimation about The RBI further eased bad- the economy. their special focus on MSME statement. The company has nationwide lockdown to tack- meetings of the board at least loan rules, froze dividend pay- Other Cabinet ministers and providing 50,000 cr for brought its most aspirational le coronavirus pandemic five days before the meeting if ment by lenders and pushed Piyush Goyal and Smriti Irani refinancing of MSMEs and desirable global products to The regulator has also financial results are to be con- banks to lend more by cutting too hailed the measures, saying through SIDBI, NABARD & Indian customers and relaxed rules pertaining to sidered and two working days the reverse repo rate by 25 basis these steps would ensure ade- NHB. The extension of loan developed a truly close-knit intimation to stock exchanges in other cases. points. After starting over 1,116 quate liquidity, ease financial classification to 180 days for riding community that attracts for loss of share certificates as Sebi has also given relax- points higher, the 30-share stress and steer India's emer- stressed assists shall address to riders who use motorcycling as well as issue of duplicate cer- ation to companies for sub- BSE benchmark pared some indices settled up to 6.83 per buoyed by RBI announce- gence as a world leader in the NPA's issue, " the Minister for a means to explore life, he tificates. mission of information regard- early gains to end 986.11 points cent higher. ments. post COVID-19 scenario. MSME and Road Transport added. The BMW 310 and the Sebi has been giving relax- ing loss of share certificates or 3.22 per cent higher at In his second televised Market ended on a firm The Reserve Bank of India and Highways Gadkari tweet- GS range are particularly ation to listed companies and and issue of duplicate certifi- 31,588.72. address since the nationwide note tracking positive global (RBI) cut the reverse repo rate ed. popular among the Indian other market intermediaries cates to the stock exchange. Similarly, the NSE Nifty lockdown began on March 25, cues and announcement of and announced a slew of mea- In another tweet, he said: riders, Singh noted. "Though as part of efforts to ease The norms require listed zoomed 273.95 points, or 3.03 Reserve Bank of India (RBI) stimulus package by the RBI, sures including re-finance win- "State governments are under our riding events are on hold to their compliance bur- entities to submit such per cent, to finish at 9,266.75. Governor Shaktikanta Das said Sanjeev Zarbade, VP PCG dow of Rs 50,000 crore and severe liquidity crunch, ensure social distancing, we are den. information within two Axis Bank was the top gain- pledged to boost liquidity and Research, Kotak Securities. targetted long term repo increasing of WMA engaging with fellow riders In a circular, the days of them getting er in the Sensex pack, surging expand bank credit. Further, reports from the US auction of similar limit by 60 per cent digitally and through social regulator said it information. over 13 per cent, followed by He announced measures that a drug from Gilead is amount to deal with the shall help state govern- media. We are closely has decided to It has been decided ICICI Bank, IndusInd Bank, including a cut in the reverse showing great results in treat- impact of the Covid-19 ments garner more monitoring the market situation grant relaxation that any delay beyond Maruti, TCS, Kotak Bank and repo rate, Rs 50,000-crore tar- ing Covid-19 cases also led to pandemic. resources". and its impact on future from the provi- the stipulated time Reliance Industries. geted long-term repo opera- positive sentiments, he added. Besides, it has been Commerce and demand," he added. sions of listing will not attract penal On the other hand, Nestle tions (TLTRO) and refinancing Bourses in Shanghai, Hong decided that the NPA Industry Minister Goyal norms in the face provisions. This relax- India, HUL, Tech Mahindra facilities for Nabard, Sidbi and Kong, Seoul and Tokyo ended classification norms also took to micro blog- of challenges faced ation is for intimations and Sun Pharma ended in the NHB. with significant gains, and will exclude the ging site Twitter to by listed entities due to be made between red. The rupee rebounded 48 stock exchanges in Europe 3-month express his views Textiles cos' to the COVID-19 March 1 to May 31, the Interest rate sensitive, bank- paise to provisionally settle at were also trading on a strong moratori- on the FBI's topline likely to pandemic. regulator added. ing, financial, auto and realty 76.39 against the US dollar, note. um win- announcements. decline by 20-25 pc in FY21: Ind-Ra Indian tobacco consumption, exports ‘RBI measures to boost liquidity, Spot gold markets PNS n MUMBAI may dip by 20% due to lockdown remain shut due to incentivise banks to lend more’ India Ratings and Research PNS n NEW DELHI "In view of the difficulties said. on Friday said textile compa- PNS n HYDERABAD However, the Board was yet muted demand this year. countrywide being faced due to #COVID19, Of this, Rs 25,000 crore goes nies are likely to see a 20-25 to take a call on that. A mem- Tobacco Board expects Finance Minister Nirmala the @RBI has taken a slew of to NABARD, Rs 15,000 crore per cent decline in their Domestic consumption and ber of India Tobacco about 20 per cent dip in lockdown: HDFC Sitharaman on Friday said the steps aimed at maintaining to SIDBI, and Rs 10,000 crore topline this fiscal owing to export of tobacco may wit- Association noted that the demand this year," sources PNS n NEW DELHI RBI has taken a slew of steps to adequate liquidity in the sys- to NHB for improving long- muted domestic demand ness a dip of about 20 country exports about told PTI. maintain adequate liquidity in tem, incentivising bank credit term funding requirements of and sub-par exports in the per cent during the Rs 5,000 crore worth of When contacted, Tobacco Spot gold markets remained the system, incentivise bank flows, easing financial stress, agriculture and the rural sector, April-June quarter due to current year due to tobacco after value Board chairmanRaghunadha shut on Friday due to the credit flows, ease financial and enabling the normal func- small industries, housing COVID-19 related disrup- the ongoing lock- addition to USA, Babu Yadlapati said Andhra countrywide lockdown to pre- stress and enable normal func- tioning of markets," finance companies, NBFCs tions. down to contain Europe and other Pradesh and Karnataka pro- vent spread of COVID-19, tioning of markets, following Sitharaman said in a tweet. and MFIs, the minister said. Ind-Ra in a report said coronavirus spread countries. "Like any duced 124 million kgs and 103 according to HDFC Securities. difficulties being faced due to In order to increase credit to "To increase MSME liquidity, coronavirus related disrup- in India as well as other industry the million kgs respectively last In the international market, COVID-19. farmers, MSMEs and @RBI announced a targeted tions weighed on the textitle some countries in tobacco industry also year. "We will ensure that all both gold and silver were trad- Announcing a second stim- housing sector, RBI long-term repo operation sector which has been facing Europe and the US, sources came to standstill due to lock- the tobacco produced by farm- ing lower at USD 1,695 per ulus in less than a month, the announced a spe- totalling Rs 50,000 crore aimed multiple headwinds in form close to the Tobacco Board down. Tobacco auction in AP ers will be cleared. We will ounce and USD 15.23 per RBI eased bad-loan rules, froze cial refinance facil- at mid and small NBFCs and of flattening demand from said. which began earlier was also request the industry to lift ounce, respectively. "Gold dividend payment by lenders ity totalling Rs MFIs. This amount can be key exporting countries and Sources indicated that the suspended. It is expected to unsold stocks if any from prices traded lower with spot and pushed banks to lend 50,000 crore for revised upwards if needed in the increasing competition from Board may ask farmers to cut begin after April 20. them. international gold prices wit- more by cutting the reverse NABARD, SIDBI future. RBI also cut the reverse neighbouring countries like sowing in Karnataka this year Due to delay in supplies and We will not let any farmer nessing correction on Friday repo rate by 25 basis points to and the National repo rate by 25 bps to Bangladesh, Pakistan and following the plunge in also health advisories on suffer even if there is a drop in towards USD 1,695 per ounce," help mitigate risk to the econ- Housing 3.75%," Sitharaman Vietnam. demand. COVID-19, there may be demand," Babu said. it said. omy posed by the pandemic. Bank, she said. Trai raises int'l call termination Lockdown leaves ready-to-cook high and dry PNS n MUMBAI movement of all types of Lack of employment and the charges to 35-65 paise/minute goods, essential and non- The national lockdown from essentials, among several resultant pains in continuing to PNS n NEW DELHI as well as standalone players to March 25 to combat the other relaxations. live in cities have created a ensure level-playing field Covid-19 pandemic left the Lack of employment and crisis of reverse migration Telecom regulator Trai on between standalone and inte- ready-to-cook and snacks cat- the resultant pains in contin- Friday said international call grated companies. egory reeling as curbs on the uing to live in cities have cre- termination charges will be "...the authority has decided movement of goods and eco- ated a crisis of reverse migra- only 15-20 per cent man- makes it easy brought under forbearance that the rate of ITC shall be nomic activities led to supply tion as millions of daily power, those staying nearby,” for people who but within prescribed range of kept under forbearance with- chain disruptions and caused wagers returned to their Krishnarao Buddha, senior are working from 35 to 65 paise/min against a in a prescribed range of Re 0.35 massive production losses, homes, bringing down pro- category head at Parle home and have chil- fixed rate of 30 paise/minute per minute to Re 0.65 per posing hurdles for all stake- duction in many sectors, Products, told PTI. dren and senior citi- earlier -- a move expected to minute," Telecom Regulatory holders including consumers. including FMCG companies. This has also caused a zens to take care. Same benefit telecom operators. ceiling, and left it to operators Authority of India (Trai) said The government has Unofficial estimates say breakdown in supply chain as is the case with bache- International termination to set the rate under a forbear- in its latest regulations. extended the three-week lock- nearly half of the over 14- well and it has become a huge lors/students. ," he charge is the rate payable by an ance regime, it has, however, The regulator said that as down by another 18 days to crore migrant workers have challenge to send supplies to opined. Indian International Long mandated that operators will this new regulatory regime May 3, to arrest the spread of left for their homes and are distributors in the absence of CG Corp' executive Distance Operator (ILDO), offer non-discriminatory rate for the rate of international ter- the deadly Covid-19 pandem- unlikely to return soon. truck drivers, he adds. director Varun who carries the call from out- for such termination charges to mination charge is being pre- ic that has taken close to 1.46 "Since the lockdown, our Snacks and condiments Chaudhary said since side the country to access everyone. scribed for the first time in the lakh lives globally, including manufacturing has come are very much in demand the lockdown was provider in the country in The regulator has said that country, it will closely monitor close to 440 in India. down to just about 15-20 per and needed in families espe- declared unexpectedly whose network the call termi- an access services provider its implementation, including The Centre, meanwhile, has cent as our workforce mainly cially with children or senior almost all FMCG nates. will offer non-discriminatory the trends and patterns of eased some curbs by issuing comprises migratory workers, citizens. companies are While the regulator has rate of such termination charge international long distance revised guidelines to enforce who have left for their homes. "The ready-to-cook, facing distribution chal- given a range with floor and a to their own associated ILDOs voice traffic in the country. lockdown 2.0 -- allowing We are manufacturing with snacks and condiments lenges. Follow us on @TheDailyPioneer facebook.com/ dailypioneer

Saturday April 18, 2020

‘Mind, heart, soul feel AT HOME IN HYD’ the same? If yes, were they How is the city helping you in natural beauty like rocks, lakes true? your career? and the forests for our future hat makes Hyderabad, a concrete I was not apprehensive at all. It has helped me immensely. generations. One of the reasons possibly is Since I am the principal of one jungle compared to the lush green because I am a geography of the most prestigious schools Do you plan to settle down in W teacher. I knew it was a cos- in the country, the Hyderabad the city after your retirement? valleys and plateaus of Himachal mopolitan city with beautiful Public School, Hyderabad is It is too early for me to think weather for most of the year. helping me in every way. about retirement. But if I do set- Pradesh, endearing enough for someone to Another plus point is the fact tle down in Hyderabad, I will be that it is a very secular and wel- How different is the education very happy about it. coming place. I am happy that system here when compared to make it their home? all of it and much more have other cities? Also, is it good or Have you visited Hyderabad been true. bad? earlier before shifting here? If One such person who has moved from The education system is more so, what kind of differences Have you lived in other cities or less similar like any other you’ve seen as a visitor and as a Himachal Pradesh to Hyderabad is Skand in the country? If so how is good city in the country. Parents person living here? Hyderabad different from are more aware and alert to their I had visited Hyderabad only Bali, the principal of the Hyderabad Public them? children’s future here and maybe twice before moving here and it Yes. Hyderabad is very differ- a tad obsessed with science. We was an official visit on both School, Begumpet. He tells The Pioneer ent. It does not have the level of need to understand that human- occasions. So I did not get to see aggression, pollution, snobbish- ities, soft skills and life skills will much of the city. what is so special about Hyderabad that he ness which are prevalent in play a major role in unknown many other cities. It gets under future careers of students. What is it that your relatives or has moved from Himachal Pradesh, a state one’s skin very fast and is a very friends who visit you like to welcoming city. Hyderabad has What do you like and dislike take back and what are the that has scenic valleys and fields that are become one of my most the most about Hyderabad? places they want to visit? favourite cities. There is nothing to dislike They like to take back the the envy of one and all, in his conversation about Hyderabad. I love that it is biryani, bakery and pearls. They One thing that comes to your simple yet modern, traditional also like to visit Falaknuma, K RAMYA SREE mind when you think of yet progressive and historic yet Chowmohalla, Charminar, Qutb with Hyderabad and why? forward looking. Everything Shahi Tombs and Golconda Rich and strong culture. about the city is unique and I Fort. People are rooted to their histo- hope we are able to preserve its Can you share your association welcomed me and my family ry, traditions and values. There Last but not the least, what is with Hyderabad? with open arms. We are all very are no showoffs here. Hyderabad to you? I am working as the principal happy to be in Hyderabad. We Hyderabad is home. of the Hyderabad Public School, have been received with Can you share one of your It has given a very beautiful Begumpet. The school is not immense love and affection. fondest memories here? warm experience to me only the pride of Hyderabad and here are many memorable and my entire family. My wife Telangana but the entire coun- Migrating from other cities, moments I have spent here and and son are all very happy here. try. one generally has it is very difficult to pick just Hyderabad is home. To me one belongs to where apprehensions or one. In fact, every day spent at It has given a very beautiful one’s heart is. I have no hesita- How has the city been treating pre-conceived the Hyderabad Public School, warm experience to me tion in saying that my mind, my you? notions. Did Begumpet is full of memorable heart and my soul feel at home Hyderabad has you also have moments. and my entire family. My in Hyderabad. wife and son are all very happy here. To me one belongs to where one’s heart is. I have no hesitation in saying that my mind, my heart and my soul feel at home in Hyderabad COVID 19 and Diabetes ith more and COVID 19 is the same as include drinking lots of Coronavirus and Middle ease. The affected person more the general population. fluids to avoid dehydra- East Respiratory must remain isolated for at Coronavirus tion. Self-monitor blood Syndrome-related coron- least 14 days. A vast W positive cases Diabetic patients at high- glucose frequently to pre- avirus (MERS-CoV). majority of patients have coming to light er risk: vent hypoglycaemia as well mild disease which can be with each pass- If diabetic patients do as to identify glycaemic Measures to prevent managed at home. Dosage ing day, it has become not control their blood excursions. Patients with COVID-19: of anti-diabetic drugs may increasingly important for sugars adequately, they are type 1 diabetes must moni- Other measures a diabet- need to be adjusted (con- people to stay indoors and at a higher risk of develop- tor urine ketones, if two ic patient can take to pre- sult a physician). take necessary precautions. ing diabetes-related com- readings of random plasma vent COVID-19 are giving Hospitalized patients with The aged and vulnerable plications because the glucose are above special care to patients severe levels need frequent have been asked to be even body’s ability to fight off 250mg/dL, they should with diabetes along with blood glucose monitoring. more cautious, given their an infection is compro- immediately consult a weak immunity to fight the mised. Viral infections can physician. virus. But diabetic patients also increase inflamma- Patients should be too are to take this serious- tion, or tissue oedema in instructed about personal ly since they face a higher people with diabetes. This hygiene and cleaning injec- chance of experiencing is also caused by above- tion/infusion sites and fin- serious symptoms and target blood sugars, and ger-stick sites with soap complications from both could contribute to and water or rubbing alco- COVID-19. But if diabetes more severe complications. hol. Patients with poor is well managed, the risk of Currently, the medical glycemic control should be getting severely sick from fraternity doesn’t know of consulted about the warn- any reason to think ing signs and symptoms of COVID-19 will pose a dif- diabetic complications and ference in risk between the need for hospitaliza- type 1 and type 2 diabetes. tions if necessary. People who already have diabetes-related health Clinical considerations: problems are likely to have Some clinical considera- worse outcomes if they tions for patients with dia- contract COVID-19 than betes in times of COVID- people with diabetes who 19 epidemic include that are otherwise healthy, they are at risk of infec- whichever type of diabetes tions, especially influenza cardiac/ renal complica- Insulin is a preferred agent People who already they have. and pneumonia. This risk tions and having adequate for control of hyper- have diabetes-related can be reduced by good protein intake and atten- glycemia. But more impor- When should a diabetic glycemic control. tion to nutrition. Exercise tantly, diabetic or not, health problems are patient suspect COVID- All people with diabetes has been shown to improve everyone must practice likely to have worse 19? (above 2 years of age) are immunity, so one might as thorough washing of hands outcomes if they A diabetic patient recommended to take vac- well try it for other health with soap and water, prop- should suspect COVID-19 cination of pneumococcal benefits, if not this. er respiratory hygiene, contract COVID-19 when adults face difficulty and annual influenza. avoid or minimise contact than people with in breathing, persistent Diabetes was seen as an Measures to take if infect- with the affected person. diabetes who are pain or pressure in the important risk factor for ed: chest and when one's face mortality in patients If a diabetic person (The writer of the article, otherwise healthy, or lips turn blush pink. infected with Pandemic experiences symptoms of Dr Meghanath, MD, DNB, whichever type of Precautions to be taken: Influenza A 2009 (H1N1), COVID-19, he/she must is a consultant physician at diabetes they have Precautions that a dia- Severe Acute Respiratory notify the health authority Care Hospitals, betic patient must take Syndrome (SARS) and get tested for the dis- Visakhapatnam) 10

Hyderabad Saturday April 18 2020 what’s brewing Lockdown diaries: FARMVILLE TIME IN B-TOWN! ith the COVID-19 Mouni Roy in a recent Life Never Stops Teaching’,” lockdown shutting Instagram post shared pho- wrote the actress on everyone in their tographs of freshly-plucked Instagram. W homes, B-Town organic tomatoes from her In a recent tweet, Dia Mirza denizens are con- garden. The actress also regu- expressed, “Favourite chore of stantly looking for larly waters her flower plants. the day — watering the gar- new ways to stay occupied. A Mouni’s organic tomatoes den. Maali kaka is staying popular means that has can have a tough competition home. Staying safe. So we take emerged for our celebrities is from Raveena Tandon who turns to water the garden in organic farming. Many of shared pictures of her “home- our co-op.” them are busy growing organ- ic vegetables and fruits in their garden, while some have taken up the task of keeping the gar- den clean. Bhumi Pednekar has decid- ed to learn the science of hydroponics farming or soil- less gardening from her moth- er during this lockdown. “My mom and I always wanted to have a hydroponics garden of our own where we grow our own vegetables and can have a fully sustainable lifestyle. We wanted to have a garden to table lifestyle at home and we are both happy with the progress. I have been working closely with my mom during this time. I’m proud that our garden can now pro- duce food for two days of the week!” the actress informed a few days ago. Shilpa Shetty recently shared a video where she can be seen “cleaning and tending to the garden” with a broom. The actress shared another video last week where she was teaching her son how to pluck grown” tomatoes on organic brinjals from their Instagram. garden, and at the same time “Homegrown tomatoes! We ensuring the child didn’t touch forget how simple things in the green chillies. life can bring such joy...” “One of the greater joys of expressed Raveena. life is to see your efforts com- The lockdown season has ing to fruition in this circle of also turned Juhi Chawla into life; whether it is about start- an organic farmer. The actress ing a new venture, seeing your shared pictures where she can child grow up or just the be seen planting tomatoes and plants you nurture bearing preparing beds for coriander vegetables and fruits for you to and fenugreek. Juhi called it enjoy. Planted these seeds in her “Naya kaam” (new task)! pots 4 months ago and was Payal Ghosh recently shared thrilled to see brinjals and photographs where she can be chillies ready to be harvested. seen brooming her garden and As they say, what you sow, so taking care of plants. “Had fun you shall reap. Clean organic gardening, it’s relaxing way to produce,” the actress wrote on get in touch with nature, also Instagram. good for mind and body... Aditya Roy Kapur also always overlooked it...you recently shared a picture on never know, sometimes criti- Instagram where he can be cal times also teach you good seen sweeping dry leaves in things.. as it is rightly said, the garden with a broom. ‘Never Stop Learning Because FUN

ARCHIE CALVIN AND HOBBES

GARFIELD REALITY CHECK SPEED BUMP CROSSWORD

NANCY

SUDOKU Yesterday’s solution

GINGER MEGGS

Rules l Each row and column can contain each number (1 to 9) exactly once. l The sum of all numbers in any row or column must equal 45. 11

Hyderabad Saturday April 18 2020 tollywood

Babu admits it Uppi’s next was an easier said than done mounted on process to have got the nod of Sethupathi for Rs 80 crore the film, a rustic aunched earlier this year, the love story, first look of Upendra-starrer multilingual film, Kabza, starring Vaisshnav unveiled on Thursday, received l a thunderous response from the actor’s fans. Naturally, film’s Tej and Krithi director R Chandru, who is teaming up with Uppi after Brahma and I Love you, Shetty, finds is ecstatic. “We are glad that the Telugu audiences have NAGARAJ given a thumbs-up to the first look. We are confident that the film too will meet GOUD with a similar response upon release. The hero’s characteri-

sation, Upendra garu’s performance, and the story will stand out as the film’s biggest highlights,” he said. He added that 30 per Sethupathi garu told me cent of the film’s shooting is over but right now it is on pause mode because of Covid-19. “We will resume the shoot once things return to normalcy. We are making Kabza on Uppena is a story than ’96: a budget of Rs 70-80 cr. Jagapathi Babu garu has got a major role in the movie. A top actress will be cast opposite Upendra garu, the name of which will be revealed soon,” he informed. An underworld gangster — retro peri- BUCHI BABU SANA od drama, the film’s irst-time director Unfortunately, Sukumar garu And when Buchi Babu allotted time was one hour. ‘It’s a better story than ’96 story spans from 1947 Buchi Babu Sana and I couldn’t meet him finally got Sethupathi’s Turns out, Sethupathi garu and it will be spoken across to 1980. Lagadapati has pulled off a there,” Buchi Babu recalls in appointment for the narra- was insistent that I narrate it. the country post release’. Sridhar is presenting F casting coup last a conversation with The tion three months later, he He said, ‘Brother, I will Moments later, he informed the Telugu version, year when he Pioneer. was in for a shock. “I’ve took understand, you go ahead’. I that he would be doing the while Chandru is dou- managed to sign Six months later, the direc- my assistant to him to nar- wasn’t even prepared; film much to our collective bling up as the pro- on Vijay Sethupathi for a cru- tor could finally get a ren- rate the story in Tamil. Our because I was sure that my joy,” the director explains ducer as well. Besides cial role in Uppena. Usually dezvous with his favoured assistant would do the job. fondly. Kannada and Telugu, selective with his choices, actor at Park Hyatt, 15 minutes into the narra- Effusive in his praise for the film will release in this is the acclaimed Tamil Hyderabad. “It was a casual POST THE tion, he wanted to know, the actor, the director adds Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, actor’s second film in Telugu meeting. Sukumar garu COMPLETE PITCH, ‘Can I light a cigarette if you that Sethupathi is an Odiya and Marathi. — after a brief appearance in introduced me to Sethupathi don’t mind?’ He was hungry extremely down-to-earth megastar Chiranjeevi-starrer garu, saying I’m his student. SETHUPATHI SAID too, so we ordered biryani. actor and if he believes in Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy. The actor told me later that it WITH A LAUGH, Also, before I proceeded with something, he will do it with Babu admits it was an easier might take time to reach him the narration, he asked me all his heart. “Once he comes said than done process to in person but he will take a ‘IT’S A VERY BAD whether it’s a negative role or to the sets, he will never visit have got the nod of call on a story in just two a positive role. When I said his caravan until pack-up. He Sethupathi for the film, a rus- days after the narration. He ROLE’. AFTER A it’s a negative role, he said he has no complaints even if we tic love story which is mak- informed me that he will be PAUSE, HE ADDED, would listen to it. The narra- go late into the nights. He ing all the right noises cour- visiting Hyderabad again for tion exceeded our allotted has immense respect for tesy it’s fresh pairing of Sye Raa shoot and that he ‘IT’S A BETTER time and he didn’t even have directors. At times, he would Vaisshnav Tej, Krithi Shetty will get back to me. In the STORY THAN ’96 the biryani. Post the com- feed me with his own hands and the rollicking soundtrack meanwhile, to impress him plete pitch, he said with a during lunch hours. As an by Devi Sri Prasad. “When I and to ensure that he doesn’t AND IT WILL BE laugh, ‘It’s a very actor, he is ready to give you started penning the story, I miss out on the finer nuances SPOKEN ACROSS bad role’. After a four-five variations of a would refer to the protago- of the script, I’ve got hold of pause, he added, scene,” the director rhap- nists as hero and heroine on an assistant director who is THE COUNTRY sodizes, signing off. paper without any particular fluent in Tamil. Within a POST RELEASE’ actors on mind. But for the week, the assistant director antagonist part Rayanam, I grasped my story and started only envisaged Vijay narrating it to me in Tamil. Sethupathi. Our team, He was better than me narra- including my boss Sukumar tion-wise. Maybe I got bored garu, wasn’t sure whether the of hearing my story in Telugu I’M READING ALOT. actor would do the film. Even time and again… but I Chiranjeevi garu expressed enjoyed the Tamil narra- I’VE RE-ORGANISED apprehensions about tion even though I Sethupathi’s participation in couldn’t understand it,” MY ENTIRE BOOK the film after I pitched him he reminisces. SHELF. I’M ALSO the script. He was like, ‘Sethupathi is a busy artiste, INTO A LOT OF right? Will he do it?’ But he AUDIO BOOKS wanted us to narrate him the story during the Azerbaijan WHEN I’M leg filming of Sye Raa WALKING Narasimha Reddy. Big B extends his Movies and help to T-town daily wage employees shows for ays after lauding the work being Nandini Reddy done by Corona Crisis Charity — an initiative which has been ith restrictions in place over Covid-19 d formed to aid the daily wage outbreak, filmmaker Nandini Reddy is employees of the industry who absorbing a lot of content on OTT plat- have been hit by industry shut- forms. Simultaneously, she is also super- down — Bollywood superstar Amitabh W vising the dialogue version of her next. Bachchan has extended his help to the “I’m reading a lot as well. I’m occupied employees of Telugu industry. The Hindi with Bethlehem right now. I’ve re-organised my cinema legend has arranged 12,000 entire book shelf. I’m also into a lot of audio corona relief coupons worth Rs 1,500 books when I’m walking,” she tells us. each to be distributed to the daily The director, whose last was the super hit Oh wage film workers in Telugu states. Baby, insists that she is balancing shows with Megastar Chiranjeevi, who started films. “I’ve completed watching Caliphate and it’s CCC, shared the news on his absorbing. I’ve started watching Broadchurch on Twitter page on Friday. “A BIG Netflix. I’m half-way through Panchayat on THANK YOU to ‘BIG B’ for Amazon Prime in between the thrillers. It’s light this wonderful initiative.These and easy. As far as films go, I’ve completed coupons can be redeemed at Trance (Malayalam), Ayyappanum Koshiyum #BigBazaar stores (sic),” the (Malayalam) and Dia (Kannada),” she con- actor, who shares close ties with cludes. Bachchan, wrote on Twitter. HYDERABAD | SATURDAY | APRIL 18, 2020 sport 12

No proposal on IPL from Lanka: BCCI Seam & swing top priorities for Shami PTI n NEW DELHI guarantee when a meaningful discussion can take place on IANS n NEW DELHI come to him with time and ri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is the subject even if it comes after a lot of training. Skeen to host the currently- along. eam India boasts of a fast- “As you keep playing, you ICC exploring all options on T20 WC suspended IPL but the influ- “There is no proposal bowling attack that skip- learn a lot of things. It is all PTI n MELBOURNE also undertaking a comprehen- ential voices within the BCCI from SLC yet and obviously Tper Virat Kohli says he is about following one process sive contingency planning exer- feel that there is no point in no discussion,” the official proud to lead. And the man after the other. So, when you he International Cricket cise,” an ICC spokesperson told discussing such a proposal in said when asked what will be who has been an integral part have learnt one trick and mas- TCouncil (ICC) is not in a SkySport. a “closed world” battling the the BCCI’s stand when the of the transformation of a tered it, you then move to the hurry to take a decision “This includes exploring all COVID-19 pandemic right offer is on table. young attack into world beaters next one and work on that. In whether the T20 World Cup options available to us based on now. The SLC can have the is Mohammed Shami. Having the beginning, I didn’t have should be postponed in the a range of scenarios connected The IPL, scheduled from matches on three grounds — started off under former skip- much idea about reverse swing. wake of COVID-19 or staged as to the pandemic.” March 29-May 24, has been Galle, Kandy and Premadasa per Mahendra Singh Dhoni, “But slowly I came to scheduled, saying it is “explor- The T20 World Cup is still postponed indefinitely by the Stadium — with logistics Shami is now the leader of the understand what the process of ing all options” as part of its six months away and ICC said BCCI and the Board will only reduced to less than half as pack under Kohli. reverse swing is all about and comprehensive contingency it will take a decision after con- conduct the tournament when there are no inland flights. While bowlers tend to get how it can be an integral part planning for all its events. sulting all stakeholders, includ- normalcy returns. Having an IPL could help slower as a Test match progress- of a pace bowler’s armoury. With Australia sealing its ing the Australian government. SLC president Shammi the SLC gain significant finan- es, Shami is someone who gets Then I started working on it borders and putting restrictions “We will continue to take Silva on Thursday said that Sri cial stability, more than what better with each passing session and I had to work hard,” he on travel to contain the dread- advice from experts and lanka is ready to host the a short white-ball series and has time and again shown explained. ed disease, there have been authorities, including the mega event as the country, against India (three T20Is and that he can be a match-winner It is often said that a bowler speculations that the T20 World Australian government and which has fewer positive cases, three ODIs) can guarantee in in the second innings for Team is only as good as his captain Cup scheduled to be held from will take decisions at the appro- is expected to return to nor- July. India. So what is his area of allows him to be because at the October 18 to November 15 priate time,” the spokesperson malcy earlier compared to As of now, the BCCI will focus when he has that ball in end of the day it is the skipper could be postponed to next year said. India. be more keen on having it in hand? who has to trust his bowler to or held inside closed doors. “We will utilise all the data “The BCCI will not be India in either of the “I try to ensure that my deliver. And Shami says the “We are continuing with and information available to us in a position to say any- two slots between pace doesn’t fall below the relation between Kohli and our planning for ICC events as to ensure we can take well- thing when the world is September-October 140kph mark. But my focus is him is there for all to see on the they are, but given the rapidly informed, responsible deci- closed,” a senior Board and October- on the seam and swing. I have field. evolving situation as a prudent sions that are in the best inter- official said. November. always tried to make sure that “Do I need to say this? I and responsible measure we are ests of our sport.” Sri Lanka has just these two things remain perfect. think the results bear testimo- over 200 cases cases right I can bring pace with my phys- ny to the fact that Virat backs result because as a bowler, all mat? Shami says it is all in the now as against India’s ical strength and you can always us to the core. He has always you need is for the captain to mind. tally of more than work on it by doing strength given us that freedom to do back you and believe in you and “Mindset obviously does 13,000. The death training. But I have always what we feel confident about. your vision,” he insists. change as per the format. In toll in India has given priority to swing and Also, it is very important at the Critics had started saying terms of skills also you do crossed the 400- seam and never for a minute let international level to have a cap- that Shami had become a red- need to change and adapt as per mark. them take a backseat,” he smiles. tain who knows your strengths ball specialist till he showed the the format because what will The official And the reverse swing? and weaknesses and also backs world he can be a force to reck- work for you in Tests might not confirmed that Did Shami have it from the you. This in turn helps you raise on with even in white-ball work for you in the shorter for- currently, there word go? Or did it take time to your game. cricket. Now that he plays all the mats of the game. It is all about is no proposal master the art? The pacer says “Also, Virat has a lot of trust three formats, how different is the mindset and how you adapt from the SLC Mohammed Shami prepares to bowl during India’s nets session PTI/File Picture that it is something that has in our abilities and he gets the the preparation going into a for- to the situation,” he said. and there is no De Kock won’t be SA’s Lockdown hasn’t affected our goal PL clubs committed to finishing season to win Olympic medal: Mandeep Test captain: Smith LONDON: Premier League clubs Premier League more than £1 bil- ing when it is safe to do so and IANS n BENGALURU remain committed to finishing the lion ($1.2 billion), clubs looked at with the full support of the govern- AFP n CAPE TOWN top-flight season, but did not set various models for a potential ment,” added the spokesman. ndian hockey striker Mandeep a June 30 deadline to complete the return to action. “The health and wellbeing of ormer Test skipper Graeme Smith was on ISingh believes the team has fixture list at their latest meeting. However, Britain is on lock- players, coaches, managers, club FFriday confirmed as South Africa’s director of moved on from the initial disap- With the Premier League post- down until May 7 at the earliest, staff and supporters are our prior- cricket — and revealed that Quinton de Kock pointment which they had to deal poned since March 13, it had been leaving English football to play a ity and the league will only restart would not be elevated to the Test captaincy. with following the postponement suggested a firm closing date for waiting game in the hope of an when medical guidance allows. Jacques Faul, acting chief executive of Cricket of Tokyo Olympic Games and are the season needed to be imposed. improvement in the health crisis. “Today’s shareholders’ meet- South Africa, said Smith had been appointed for now working on improving their But the 20 clubs did not dis- A Premier League spokesman ing provided an opportunity to a two-year term, expiring at the end of March skills and fitness during the lock- cuss wrapping up the remaining 92 said a number of complex scenar- discuss possible scheduling mod- 2022. Smith was appointed in an acting capaci- down in place due to COVID-19 Premier League fixtures by June 30 ios were being worked through. els. It remains our objective to ty last December. pandemic. when they met on a conference call “We are actively engaging with complete the 2019/20 season but The 39-year old captained South Africa in a “At first, it was disappointing with league chiefs. stakeholders, including broadcast at this stage all dates are tentative world record 108 Test matches and in 149 one- (Olympic postponement) but With fears that failure to fin- partners, and our aim is to ensure while the impact of COVID-19 day internationals. with the entire world battling this ish the season could cost the we are in a position to resume play- develops.” AFP He told a tele-conference that the debate over crisis, we understand this decision the Test captaincy was one of the challenges he was made keeping the players’ doing hockey training we have “We are in a better position to faced during a period when no cricket can be safety in mind,” Mandeep said. been given a specific program begin training once the lock- SINGLES played because of the coronavirus pandemic. “We have moved on from the schedule to follow which includes down is lifted,” he added. Current top 4 qualify for CL if 3 NEW VIRUS CASES AT QATAR WC SITES “It’s not going to be Quinton,” he said, citing initial disappointment and are independent training schedule India last won a Gold in Doha: Qatar has detected three more coronavirus De Kock’s responsibility as the country’s limited- now working on maintaining our for all players,” said the Indian Hockey in 1980 in Moscow season cancelled: Spanish FA cases among workers on World Cup stadiums, overs captain as well as being wicketkeeper and fitness levels during this lockdown striker. Olympics. Since then, they have bringing the number of infections among those a key batsman. period.” “This is something every ath- participated in eight Olympic AFP n MADRID involved in 2022 tournament construction to eight. The “Quinton will be our white-ball captain but The hockey team, both men lete will have to deal with from editions but have failed to make Gulf nation has reported seven deaths from the COVID- from a workload and mental capacity aspect we and women, are currently at the across the globe and we are no dif- a podium finish. And after qual- he Spanish Football 19 disease and 4,103 cases in total, announcing the want to keep him fresh. From personal experi- Sports Authority of India (SAI) ferent. ifying for the Tokyo Games, the TFederation (RFEF) first infections in stadium workers on Wednesday. ence I know that captaining all three formats is Centre in Bengaluru where they “At least, I would like to team was in high spirits and proposed on Thursday Building work for the stadiums and infrastructure to challenging and we don’t want to overburden are carrying out their fitness think we are in a better position were looking forward to end the that La Liga’s current stage the tournament has continued through the crisis him.” drills and keeping in touch with than others with the team still medal drought. standings decide which even as non-essential retail has been halted and Smith gave no indication of the likely the game. together going about other aspects “This lockdown has not teams qualify for mosques, parks and restaurants have closed. replacement following the decision of Faf du “We are lucky the entire core of training like analysing our affected our goal of winning a European competitions if Plessis in February to step down from the job. group is together here in SAI, opponents matches, making indi- medal at the Olympics,” Mandeep the season has to be can- EUROPEAN TOUR CANCEL FRENCH, BMW OPEN “There’s no one person you can pinpoint,” he Bengaluru and our coaching staff vidual presentation to our coach- insisted while stressing on the goal celled due to the coron- London: The European Tour on Friday announced the said. “There are a lot of players on a similar level.” is also here. Though we are not es via video meetings and so on. of the team. avirus pandemic. cancellations of both the French Open and the BMW South Africa’s next scheduled Test series is in La Liga and UEFA International Open in Munich due to the coronavirus the West Indies in July but Smith said that it had have not given their pandemic, with the Scottish Open postponed. The not been finalised due to the COVID-19 outbreak. approval to the plan, with British Open, golf's only major tournament played South Africa are also due to go to Sri Lanka Vettel dismisses idea of back-to-back races both governing bodies est-placed finalist outside outside the United States, had already been scrapped. for a limited-overs tour in June but Smith said insisting they are still the top six. The French Open, continental Europe's oldest Open both tours could be postponed. BERLIN: Four-time world the same weekend. gested that he would will probably be a little focused on finding a way “The decision will be competition, was due to be held from July 2-5, but “We are in discussion with the boards of those champion Sebastian However, Ferrari star favour staging races with- different, but not too to ensure domestic sea- made, when requested by was cancelled after the French government extended countries and decisions will Vettel on Friday cau- Vettel fears such a move out fans if it allowed a much, I hope, because we sons are completed. UEFA, according to the the ban on all mass gatherings until mid-July. The have to be made pretty tioned against the temp- could lead to burnout for quick resumption as long want to run in front of Javier Tebas, La Liga’s positions on the last day BMW event in Munich was scheduled for June 25-28. soon,” he said. tation to shoehorn too team staff. as it did not become a the fans.” president, said earlier this of the First Division when Smith said his imme- many Formula One races “We drivers are a lit- common feature. Vettel insists that for month the league had an equal number of games AUSTRIAN FOOTBALL COULD RETURN IN MID-MMAY diate priority was the T20 into a revised calen- tle privileged,” Vettel “It’s complicated,” him even a 10-race sea- identified the end of May, are played by the 20 Vienna: Austrian Bundesliga could make its return to World Cup in Australia in dar, describing the told reporters by tele- admitted Vettel. son is just as valuable as start of June and end of teams,” said the statement action from its virus-forced suspension as early as October and move as “not realistic”. conference from his “On the one hand, a 22-race campaign. June as possible times for from the RFEF. mid-May, the league's president revealed. Teams from November, assum- The 22-event F1 sea- home in Switzerland. there is the health of There have been fixtures to restart. “The top four at that the top division will be able to restart training next ing it happened as son has been decimated “Of course, the the sport, on the talks over an extension. But the RFEF, which time would go into the week, albeit in a scaled back format of just six players planned. by the coronavirus with races are tiring but other, that of the However, those conversa- regularly clashes with La UEFA Champions League at a time, and Christian Ebenbauer is refusing to rule He said South nine races either can- there have to be people who work tions took a twist after Liga over political issues and the fifth and sixth out matches being played behind closed doors and Africa hoped to celled or postponed. limits for the in the paddock Vettel finished the 2019 in Spanish football, has ranked, plus one of the finishing the season by the end of June. “Personally I host a Twenty20 The French Grand staff. They must and especially the c’ship behind new team- put forward a back-up two finalists of the Copa think that it's absolutely possible that we could restart series against Prix scheduled for June rest. fans. mate Charles Leclerc. plan that would see the del Rey, to the UEFA playing matches in mid-May,” he told reporters. India in August as 28 is also in doubt as is “We must also “There are “At the beginning (of current top four — Europa League, according part of the build-up the Belgian Grand Prix, see if it is easy to several options. the coronavirus crisis), Barcelona, Real Madrid, to different circumstances AUS, KOREA ITTF TOUR EVENTS CANCELLED to the world event. set for August 30. reschedule races, if No one likes to the priority was to man- Sevilla and Real Sociedad that may occur.” Singapore: International Table Tennis Federation “There is a lot of F1 chiefs have float- the circuits are not run in front of age the situation in the — qualify for the If the Copa del Rey (ITTF) has confirmed that the Australian Open and the doubt about what ed the idea of mak- already taken. Many empty stands, best way and therefore Champions League. final was played and Real South Korean Open have been cancelled amid COVID- the situation will be ing up for lost time questions remain. I but we will the negotiations were put Getafe and Atletico Sociedad beat Bilbao, 19 outbreak. “The ITTF is looking at a number of by then but we are in by staging races think the schedule have to see if it on hold,” said Vettel. Madrid, in fifth and sixth Valencia would take the different scenarios and possibilities of rescheduling, discussions with the on successive will be busier, but 10 will not allow us to “I think we are going respectively, would go into additional Europa League but it is currently still too early to make any decisions Board of Control for weekends or consecutive week- resume much soon- to move forward but we the Europa League, along spot as the seventh-placed until there is greater certainty about when activities Cricket in India,” he even having ends is not realistic.” er. do not have a specific with Athletic Bilbao, as team in La Liga, said the can resume,” the sport's ruling body explained in a said. two races on Vettel sug- “The first races deadline.” AFP the Copa del Rey’s high- RFEF. statement. The Australian Open had been scheduled for June 23 to 28, while the South Korean Open was to take place between June 16 and 21. WOMEN'S HOCKEY TEAM TO RAISE FUNDS Laver Cup postponed until 2021 US Open fate to be decided in June New Delhi: The Indian womens hockey team will BOSTON: The fourth edition of the raise funds for helping the poor and migrant families Laver Cup has been postponed NEW YORK: US Open organizers While the indoor tennis being of the players, the fans and whose lives have been affected due to the COVID-19 from September 2020 to 2021 on Thursday said they are plan- courts have been turned into a our staff.” pandemic by launching an 18-day fun fitness because of scheduling conflicts with ning for the Grand Slam event to hospital zone, the Louis Dowse said they have some challenge. While the challenge aims to raise other tennis events in a year disrupt- go ahead as scheduled and that an Armstrong Stadium has been time to seek the advice of medical crowdfunding for the cause, the movement also ed by COVID-19, organizers said on event without spectators is “high- transformed into a meal assembly experts before they make their encourages people to use this opportunity to adapt to Friday. ly unlikely”. area for patients, volunteers and final decision. an active lifestyle during the nation-wide. The The Europe vs World men’s United States Tennis area schoolkids. “We are looking at time frame challenge will see members of the team come up with team tournament had been sched- Association chief executive Mike Dowse said they are in con- of June to make that decision. We fitness tasks that range from burpees, lunges, squats uled for Boston from September 25- Dowse said nothing “is off the tact with a half dozen doctors and will approach it through a med- to spider man pushups, pogo hops and more. Each 27, but those dates clash with the table” and a final decision on the are going to be seeking their ical advisory group. Based on that day a player will give a new challenge and tag 10 new dates selected by the French to do for everyone concerned,” fate of the event would come in advice in making the next moves. information we will make the people on their social media handles, to take up the Tennis Federation for the post- Roger Federer, a key backer of the June but having fans attend the “We’re very fortunate that decision if it is safe to play the challenge and donate `100 to the fundraiser. poned French Open, now scheduled Laver Cup, said in a statement event is still their goal. we’re the fourth Grand Slam to go, tournament or not,” he said. GREMIO PREPARED TO SELL PEPE for September 20-October 4. released by organizers. “Playing without spectators, so time is on our side at this The US Open is now the next The tournament will now be “Although disappointing, the we are not taking anything off the point,” Dowse said. “Obviously major tournament on the sched- Rio: Gremio could be forced to sell Brazil under-23 held September 24-26, 2021, also in good news is that TD Garden will table. But right now that’s a high- the National Tennis center’s our ambition is to run the tour- ule from August 31-September 13, forward Pepe as they grapple with the financial impact Boston. still be able to host the event next ly unlikely scenario,” said Dowse. indoor courts in New York were nament. with Wimbledon having been of the coronavirus pandemic. Pepe has reportedly “It’s unfortunate that the Laver year and I really look forward to “That’s not in the spirit of cel- being used as a makeshift hospi- “Having said that, it won’t be cancelled and the French Open attracted interest from Spanish clubs Sevilla and Cup has to be pushed back a year, finally playing in Boston for the first ebration of tennis.” tal facility to treat those affected the driving factor. The driving fac- postponed to a September 20 start Valladolid, though Gremio said a firm offer has not yet but at this stage it’s the right thing time at Laver Cup 2021.” AFP Dowse’s comments come as by the coronavirus pandemic. tor will be the health and well on the red clay in Paris. AFP been made for the 23-year-old. AGENCIES