monday, august 2, 2021 DELHI - Sosin Classes

CMYK

J ND-NDE

monday, august 2, 2021 DELHI

City Edition

16 pages O ₹�10.00

Printed at . Chennai . Coimbatore . Bengaluru . Hyderabad . Madurai . Noida . Visakhapatnam . Thiruvananthapuram . Kochi . Vijayawada . Mangaluru . Tiruchirapalli . Kolkata . Hubballi . Mohali . Malappuram . Mumbai . Tirupati . lucknow . cuttack . patna

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Ever wondered why CEOs, leadersand recruiters talk endlessly aboutsoft skills? Find out in Skill It, Kill

It, a new book in which entrepreneur Ronnie Screwvala shares personal stories and observations fromhis failures and successes, to giveyou an insider’s view of the ‘invisible’ skills that can cut years off� yourlearning curve. Excerpts from aninterview:

We all know Ronnie Screwvala,

the businessman. Tell us more

about the writer. What prompted

you to write this book?

I am an accidental author. Theinspiration for this book stemmedfrom the interactions with learners.I think lifelong learning is an integral element for growth in this era’shypercompetitive environment.Today, to make a mark, youneed to have a strong element of focus. If you wantto be in the top 2025percentile of your organisation, you have tocome out of your comfort zone, upgradeagain, specialise andcontinue this cycle till youhave achieved your goal.While talking to students, I sawa serious gap in their soft skills.Now while ‘skill’ means lots ofthings to a lot of people, it cannotbe restricted to a degree, diplomaor even certifi�cations. I believe thatequipping yourself with the rightcommunication skills is importantand, without it, people are oftenleft behind, despite having the righthard skills for the job.

What skills do students need

today?

Through school, we tend to focus on our grades and rank and donot invest any eff�ort in acquiringsoft skills like communicating eff�ectively or inculcating the art of storytelling. Communication is a severely underrated skill, especially inthis digital remote work era. Mostpeople assume that communication is tethered on oratory skills or

command of the language. Actuallyit is so many things, including listening, absorbing and knowingwhen to stop. If you acquire the artof communicating through storytelling, you will be able to infl�uenceand impact people by shaping theirminds. Stories help us connect withthe audience and foster empathy.Storytelling is a lifelong skill thatought to be honed.

You’ve coined some new words.

Tell us about the new LOL.

This comes from my own experience as a young professional. Iwould be so excited about putting apoint across that I would not allowthe person before me to fi�nish whathe/she was saying. Not only was itrude but also wrong.

Listening is a skill Ihave worked very hardto improve through mycareer. It requires focused thoughts, attention to detail, feedback, and the abilityto absorb whatanother person isspeaking in order todecode what theyare really saying.

So, for me Listen,

Observe, Learn is the new LOL. Totruly listen and then act on feedback from others will help us avoidrepeating mistakes and accelerateprofessional growth and change.Moreover, even great ideas andteams can be aligned if you followthe new LOL.

Why is up

grading and

futureproof

ing one’s ca

reer

important?

This is wherethe concept of Lifelong Learningcomes into play. Ifyou were to believethat your greatestlearning and great

est failure are yet to transpire, thenyou are allowing yourself to keep an

open mind. This, in turn, opensyour mind to learning and upgrading your skills because it remindsyou that you have still got so muchto learn.

Why do you debunk the idea of

multitasking and emphasise the

importance of saying no?

My dog taught me that multitasking is overrated and often counterproductive! To put it simply, multitasking leads to distraction, whichleads to all kinds of hazards. Multitasking fosters the habit of distraction from the task at hand, leads toa decline in the quality of yourwork, and to an eventual decline inproductivity overall. Eventually itleads to feeling overwhelmed anddisconnected on a daily basis.

Entrepreneur RonnieScrewvala talks aboutthe importance oflifelong learning andwhy he wrote Skill It,

Kill It

b Archana Subramanian

‘COMMUNICATIONis an underrated skill’

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Stories help us connect withthe audience and fosterempathy.

GE

TT

Y I

MA

GE

S/I

ST

OC

KP

HO

TO

OFF THE EDGE )NANDINI RAMAN

I am a Commerce graduate. I

am currently a school teacher,

a stock market trader, a

cryptocurrency trader, a CSE

aspirant, an aspiring writer, a

farmer, and a YouTuber. I see

immense opportunities in

each of these. But, the limited

time available in a day has

started to take its toll. Please

help me to fi�gure out a way to

manage them. — Sourav Baroi

Dear Sourav,I understand your dilemma

on having to balance all of this.If you are going to getdistressed, overwhelmed andnot enjoy these activities, it ispointless. Make a list of one ortwo from all these that youlove, makes you feel greatabout yourself, are passionateabout, helps you earn, you areexceptional at, and is also ahobby and a passion. Youcould also have a cause that is

close to your heart where youconsciously dedicate time,money, and resources to makea diff�erence.

I am an English Hons. student,

but I want to pursue Mass

Communication. I do not

know whether to start an

Instagram page for content

creation, or study and equip

myself with skills fi�rst. I have a

podcast channel, but it is not

monetised in India though it is

growing. —Yashika Garg

Dear Yashika,Do a course in Mass

Communication and equipyourself. Education is neverwasted; you will learn the tipsand tricks that will alwayscome handy. Today,technology is a great boon toyoungsters, and your podcastis testimony to it. However,should you want to work for amedia conglomerate in thefuture, your education shouldbe able to open doors. Also,keep working oncommissioned projects andcontent creation on Instagram.It is a matter of time before youcan monetise your podcast.

I’m currently in my fi�rst year

of B.A. LL.B from National

Law University, Patiala. How

and when should I start

preparing for the judiciary

exams to have a better chance

of clearing it right after my

graduation? — Siddharth

Shankar Singh

Dear Siddharth,Focus on topics that are

important from the point ofjudicial services exam.Cultivate a rational andreasonable world view and

have independent opinions,which are free from bias. First,be clear of what the statepatterns are. Start yourpreparation with bare acts,with interpretations andillustrations — break it intoparts and then study about 35sections a day. Ensure that youread the newspaper every dayto know what is happening inthe world. Work on yourlanguage skills, both Englishand Hindi. GK, current aff�airsare important too.

I am from Agra, and in the

fi�nal year of B.CA. I want to do

an MBA and am preparing for

the CAT. But others are

suggesting that I do an M.CA.

Which is a better option? —

Sheetal Jain

Dear Sheetal,Where is your interest and

what subjects are you fond of?MCA and MBA are goodcourses and capable of gettingyou good jobs. But, they arediff�erent fi�elds. If you re atechnology enthusiast or havean interest in software andprogramming, then, opt forMCA. MBA is the right optionfor candidates who are good atmanagerial and administrativeskills.

Disclaimer: This columnprovides advice, guidanceand suggestions oneducation and careers. It isa guiding voice from apractising careercounsellor.

The writer is a practising

counsellor and a trainer. Send your

questions to

[email protected]

with the subject line ‘Off� the edge’.

A guided pathUncertain aboutyour careeroptions? Low onselfconfi�dence?This Q&A columnby Nandini Raman,practisingcounsellor andtrainer, may help

b IIT-BHU Varanasi Department ofElectrical Engineering Junior ResearchFellowship

A research opportunity for the project“Development of Cyber Resilient Protection Scheme for AC Microgrid”.Eligibility: Open to candidates below 28years, with an M.E./M.Tech degree inElectrical Engineering with specialisation in Power System or equivalent witha minimum of 60% marks or CGPA 6.They should also be GATE/NETqualifi�ed.Prizes and rewards: Up to ₹�35,000 plusHRAApplication: Email Deadline: August 06b4s.in/edge/IBVE0

b ONGC Scholarship to MeritoriousGeneral Category Students

The aim is to provide fi�nancial supportto the meritorious students belongingto the economically weaker General category. Eligibility: Open to General candidatesin the fi�rst year of Engineering, Geology/Geophysics, MBBS,or MBA programmes. Gross family income shouldbe less than ₹�2 lakh per annum from allsources. They must have obtained a minimum of 60% marks or equivalentCGPA/OGPA in Class 12 for Engineeringand MBBS courses, and a minimum of60% marks or equivalent CGPA/OGPAin graduation for PG courses in Geophysics/Geology and MBA. Prizes and rewards: ₹�48,000 per annumApplication: Online and postDeadline: August 06b4s.in/edge/OSB8

b DXC Progressing Minds Scholarship

DXC Technology supports meritoriousstudents from underprivileged sectionsof the society. Eligibility: Open to students who are Indian nationals and currently in the fi�rstyear of B.E./B.Tech. programme in CS/IT/EE/EC streams in the academic year202122. They must have obtained atleast 60% marks in the previous class.The annual family income should notexceed ₹�4 lakh from all sources. Applicants must not be availing any otherscholarship benefi�ts of ₹�6,000 per annum or more. Children of DXC/Buddy4Study employees are not eligible.Prizes and rewards: 50% of the total feesor ₹�40,000 per annum (whichever isless)Application: Online Deadline: August 15b4s.in/edge/DXC1

Courtesy: buddy4study.com

Scholarships)

b Dean’s InternationalExcellence Award

The University of Strathclyde’s(Glasgow) Dean’s InternationalExcellence Award Postgraduate Taught off�ers all qualifi�edinternational postgraduate students a meritbased scholarshipof £4,000 towards the fi�rst year

of tuition fees of a fulltime Master’s EdD Education or oneyearMRes programme in the Facultyof Humanities and SocialSciences.Eligibility: Candidates must beavailable to commence theiracademic studies in the U.K. bythe start of the academic year inSeptember/October 2021. Theymust have an off�er of study for afulltime postgraduate programme and must have paid the

tuition fee deposit before August 31. Deadline: August 31For more details, emailhasspg[email protected]

b Sanskriti University extendsadmission deadline

Sanskriti University, Mathura, isinviting online applications foradmission to diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduateprogrammes.

Eligibility: For UG programmes,those who have passed or willappear for the Higher Secondary (10+2) exam from any recognised Board of Education.For Diploma programmes, students must have passed theClass X exam from any state orcentral board. For PG programmes, those who have a undergraduate degree.Deadline: September 30 https://bit.ly/3Ca3OpQ

save the date)

SantaMonica Presents The Hindu Study Abroad Webinar on study avenuesin key destinations such as Canada,the U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Germany, the U.S. andmore. The session will cover indemand courses with economical fees,how to identify the right college, process of application, timelines, eligibility criteria, scholarships and fi�nancialaid options and poststudy career possibilitiesand PR prospects. The speakers are Nicy Binu,Director, SantaMonica Study Abroad Pvt.Ltd.; Divya S. Pillai, Project Manager, Canada;Sobhitha Thomas, Project Manager, the U.K.;Liju Jacob, Project Manager, Europe; andAleena George, Project Coordinator, the U.S. The session will bemoderated by Pankaja Srinivasan, freelance writer.

On August 8, at 5.00 p.m.To register, visit https://bit.ly/SANTATHE or scan the QR Code

Study abroad webinar

CMYK

J ND-NDE

www.thehindu.com/education

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EDUCATION PLUSGET THE EDGE

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Delhi • monday • august 2, 2021

CMYK

M ND-NDE

monday, august 2, 2021 Delhi

City Edition

16 pages O ₹�10.00

Printed at . Chennai . Coimbatore . Bengaluru . Hyderabad . Madurai . Noida . Visakhapatnam . Thiruvananthapuram . Kochi . Vijayawada . Mangaluru . Tiruchirapalli . Kolkata . Hubballi . Mohali . Malappuram . Mumbai . Tirupati . lucknow . cuttack . patna

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Smashing victory: Bronze medallist P.V. Sindhu celebrating during the medal ceremony for the women’s singles badmintonevent in Tokyo on Sunday. She defeated He Bingjiao of China 2113, 2115 in the third place playoff�. * GETTY IMAGES

P.V. Sindhu wrote her nameinto the history books with abronze at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday.

The badminton star became the fi�rst Indian womanto win two Olympics medals,with her latest eff�ort being afollowup to the silver at theprevious Games in Rio de Ja

neiro in 2016. In the thirdplace playoff�, the 26yearold defeated He Bingjiao ofChina 2113, 2115.

It was a clash that the Hyderbadi pocketed with ease.Sindhu set the tempo, dictated the angles and toyed withher rival. And during thosebrief moments when sheseemed overeager, hercoach Park TaeSang hinted

to her that she should calmdown.

Having lost to Tai TzuYingof Chinese Taipei in the semifi�nal on Saturday, Sindhuwas even more driven toseize the one medal at stake.And it showed as she craftedthe contest’s template, a traitthat she maintained rightthrough her Olympics’ campaign except in the semifi�

nals against a splendidTzuYing.

Sindhu’s Olympic encore,even if the medal shades arediff�erent, has ensured thatshe would be consideredone of the greatest ever Indian sportspersons.

Badminton ace becomes the fi�rst Indian woman to win two Olympics medals

Special Correspondent

Chennai

Sindhu bags bronze, scripts history

ROAD TO BOXER’S HOME BEING

REPAIRED IN ASSAM A PAGE 10

A MEMORABLE SUNDAY A PAGE 13

The Chief Ministers of Assam and Mizoram havesought to ease tensionsalong their troubled interState border following a discussion with Union HomeMinister Amit Shah.

An exchange of fi�re between the police forces ofboth States on July 26 left sixAssam policemen and a civilian dead and 60 others, including Superintendent ofPolice of Cachar districtNimbalkar Vaibhav Chandrakant, injured. Assamclaimed the fi�ring was onesided and unprovoked,while Mizoram said they retaliated to the aggression bythe Assam police.

Mizoram Chief MinisterZoramthanga on Sundaytook to Twitter to say that hehad a telephonic discussionwith Mr. Shah and his Assamcounterpart, Himanta BiswaSarma. “We agreed to resolve the border issue amicably through meaningfuldialogue,” he tweeted.

He also asked the peopleof Mizoram to “avoid postingsensitive messages and

make judicious use of theirsocial media platform” toprevent any possible escalation of the situation. He laterdeleted the tweet, but retweeted a post by Dr. Sarma.

“Our main focus is onkeeping the spirit of northeast alive. What happenedalong the AssamMizoramborder is unacceptable tothe people of both States,”Dr. Sarma said. “Border disputes can only be resolvedthrough discussion.”

Dr. Sarma later told presspersons in Guwahati that his

government would approach the Supreme Courtin 15 days for an amicable solution to the boundary rowfor both States to follow.

The two States share a164.6km volatile border,with each government accusing the other of not maintaining the status quo andencouraging its people to encroach. The border confl�ictis decadesold but thingsstarted getting violent fromOctober 2020.

Assam, Mizoram agreeto ease border tensionWill approach SC for amicable solution, says Assam CM

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

GUWAHATI

CONTINUED ON A PAGE 8

With the interState borderdispute between Assam andMizoram fl�aring up, theUnion government could berelying on satellite mappingto demarcate boundariesand settle such disputesbetween States, senioroffi�cials said on Sunday.

Satellite mapsto be used


New Delhi


DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

The gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenues in Julyrecovered sharply to₹�1,16,393 crore, after slipping below the ₹�1 lakh croremark for the fi�rst time ineight months in June.

The Union governmentcalled the collections a signof a rapid economic recovery from the second wave ofthe COVID19 pandemic,though economists said theyindicated an “incomplete”rebound.

“With the easing out ofCOVID restrictions, GST collection for July 2021 hasagain crossed ₹�1 lakh crore,which clearly indicates thatthe economy is recovering ata fast pace. The robust GSTrevenues are likely to continue in the coming monthstoo,” the Finance Ministrysaid in a statement on Sunday.

The July numbers includereturns fi�led between July 1and 5, amounting to ₹�4,937crore, as taxpayers were given relief on delayed returnfi�ling for June in the wake ofthe second wave.

The July collections were33% higher than a year ago,with the GST collected onthe import of goods rising36% and domestic transactions, including import ofservices, growing by 32%.

“There is a heartening sequential increase, as well as

a substantial yearonyeargrowth, but GST collectionsremain well below the alltime high recorded in Aprilof ₹�1.41 lakh crore. In ourview, this is further evidencethat the graduated unlockingin June 2021 has triggered anincomplete recovery that isexpected to strengthen in July,” said Aditi Nayar, chiefeconomist at ICRA.

Signifi�cant variationsWhile most States reportedpositive growth in tax collec

tions compared with July2020, there were signifi�cantvariations — Odisha andJharkhand reported a 54%uptick, followed by Haryana(53%) and Maharashtra(51%), while Tamil Nadu andGujarat clocked 36% growth.

Kerala reported a 27%surge in GST revenues, despite having stricter COVID19restrictions in place thanStates such as Uttar Pradesh,West Bengal and Rajasthan,which recorded a growth of18%, 15% and 12%,respectively.

“The pace of growthacross the States was highlyuneven in July 2021, withsome industrial heavyweights recording a sharpexpansion,” Ms. Nayar said.

The Ministry attributedJune’s blip in GST revenuesat ₹�92,849 crore, after posting above the ₹�1 lakh croremark for eight successivemonths, to the complete orpartial lockdowns in mostStates and Union territoriesin May.

Rise in collectionsa sign of economicrebound: FinMin Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI

GST revenues hit ₹�1.16 lakh crore in July


The Unnao rape survivorhas approached a Delhicourt alleging harassmentby the personal security offi�cers deputed on the direction of the SupremeCourt for her protection.

District and SessionsJudge Dharmesh Sharmadirected the InvestigatingOffi�cer of the CBI to submitan impact assessment report. “Application hasbeen moved on the behalfof the complainant that sheand her family memberswere harassed by the PSOsin a sense that they are notallowing her to enjoy her liberties,” the court said.

Survivor allegesharassment by PSOs

Staff Reporter

New Delhi

DETAILS ON A PAGE 9

DU admissions to UGcourses start todayNEW DELHI

Registrations to various

undergraduate courses in

Delhi University are set to

begin from Monday. The

registration portal will be

open till August 31 for

aspirants to complete the

application process.

CITY A PAGE 3

DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

NEARBY

Grey Line extension to open on August 6NEW DELHI

The DMRC on Sunday said the

NajafgarhDhansa Bus Stand

extension of Grey Line and

the Trilokpuri section of Pink

Line between Mayur Vihar

Pocket 1 and Trilokpuri Sanjay

Lake stations will be

inaugurated on August 6.

CITY A PAGE 2


Heavy rain leads to roadcave-in, waterloggingNEW DELHI

As rain continued to lash

Delhi, waterlogging was

reported in several parts of

the city. After a road cavein

under the IIT fl�yover, another

incident was reported on

Ashoka Road on Sunday.

CITY A PAGE 2


CMYK

M ND-NDE

more spells later, the situationon Golf Course Road has beenfar better compared to the previous year. We now plan toplant vegetation along thecreeks,” said Mr. Yadav. He, however, conceded that the workin the creeks was done withoutthe supervision of an environmental expert and not basedon any report orstudy.

Subhash Yadav, Head,Urban EnvironmentDivision,GurugramMetropolitan DevelopmentAuthority,said the agencyconstructed chuteson the roads along thecreeks, raised the height of thespeedbreakers, dug up con

committee comprising thenMunicipal Corporation Gurugram Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh, Additional Commissioner Jaspreet Kaur and thelocal councillors in ZoneIII,deliberated on the matter anddecided that the four creeksfl�owing through the area mustbe cleaned and widened, andtheir segments reconnected toavoid fl�ooding,” said TusharYadav, Executive Engineer,MCG Division8, ZoneIII.

Waste dumped in creeksMr. Tushar said a huge quantity of waste, mostly construction and demolition waste, wascleared from the creeks, whichwere then also widened. Thepipes from under the roadsconnecting them to the drainalong the ChakkarpurWazirabad Bandh were also desilted.

“Despite the heaviest rain ofthe season on July 19 and two

It is often remarked that history repeats itself.

In Gurugram, it repeatsitself every monsoon in theform of waterlogged roads.

A heavy spell of rain —around 160 mm in a span ofless than 36 hours on July 1819— left the city inundated.

Water gushed into housesand roads virtually turned intorivers. Underpasses on the national highway runningthrough the city were alsofl�ooded, and a body was retrieved from one underpass.

All major roads and intersections in the city were waterlogged. Sheetla Mata MandirRoad, a perennial waterloggingpoint, was the worst aff�ected.

Videos of devotees, including women and children, wading through waisthigh waterwent viral on social media.

But despite the heavy rainfor more than a day, the situation on Raghvendra Road, alsoknown as Golf Course Road,was remarkably better thanthe previous year with none ofthe underpasses on the roadbeing inundated and the rainwater getting drained just afew hours after the downpour.

In 2020, three underpasseson Raghvendra Road, a signalfree stretch through DLF areafrom Shankar Chowk to AITChowk, were inundated andhad to be shut for traffi�c.

The longest underpass, nearDLF PhaseI Rapid Metro station, was fi�lled to the top.

“After the rains last year, a

tour trenches and created water bodies in 600hectares areaof Aravalis to successfully collect around 11,46,000 kilolitresof water on July 19.

Drainage system“The water collected was estimated to be equal to the city’swater supply for 34 days.

Since the water drainagesystem of the city is

not made to handle rainfall of this

scale in a singleday, there waswaterlogging.The situationcould havebeen far worse

had the watercollected in the

Aravalis also fl�oweddown into the city’s

drainage system,” he said.Mr. Subhash claimed the ex

perts had suggested construc

tion of concrete check dams inside the creeks, but he used hisexpertise to decide that earthen check dams were enoughto hold the runoff�, keeping inview the amount of rainfall thecity received.

Several environmentalists,however, are fuming at whatthey call the “unscientifi�c”,“shortterm” and “quickfi�x”approach of the governmentagencies to solve ecological issues. The environmentalistspointed out that the water bodies dug up in the creeks hadleft several trees uprooted androots of many other exposedand caused the soil aroundthem to erode, causing moreharm than good.

“It seems that no calculations were done for the dimensions of the pit before diggingit. After rains are over, thesehuge pits can be great dumping areas for construction and

demolition waste and otherwastes,” said Hemani PundirRawat, a volunteer for CleanAir, in a tweet about the pit dugin Creek1 along Sunset Boulevard Road.

Unwanted constructionA few others have also objected to the construction of the“unwanted” cement chutesdespite hume pipes along theroad, and the “mindless” digging of the forest to create contour trenches and the settingup of avoidable check dams.

Saurav Bandhan, an environmentalist, said the government agencies must take “appropriate scientifi�c measures”to collect and harvest the rainwater fl�owing down thecreeks, ridges, natural drainsof the Aravalis without displacing any trees and soil.

“Widening of natural drainscould be done but with proper

care, and appropriate soil erosion prevention measures. Depending on the average annualrainfall, contour bunds orgraded bunds could be constructed of proper structuraldesign and construction material. Boulders, stones and rubble should be used. No cemented structures should bepermitted in the Aravalis. Therainwater runoff� on the roadsshould be channelised into thenatural drains, depressions,creeks etc. with the help ofhume pipes fi�tted with trashscreens,” said Mr. Bandhan.

He added that loose sandysoil of the Aravalis, if compacted properly with vegetation toprevent erosion, could be usedfor constructing the bunds orbarriers but only with properunderstanding of the slope,fl�ow rate, volume of rainwater,and other factors.

Hydrogeological experts,geologists, structural engineers, etc. must be consultedand such projects should beimplemented under their supervision, he added.

“The Aravali mountainrange is ecologically fragile.Destroying the Aravalis willdestroy the ecosystem of Gurgaon,” warned Mr. Bandhan.

Activists fume over‘mindless digging’

to combat fl�ooding

Environmentalist SauravBandhan said governmentagencies must consult expertsbefore taking up any work in theecologically fragile area; (left)one of the creeks along GolfCourse Road; (below) some ofthe waste that was removedfrom the creeks. * ASHOK KUMAR

Ashok Kumar

GURUGRAM

Ahead of monsoon, the Gurugram civic body decided to clean,widen and connect the four creeks along Golf Course Road.

Environmentalists have panned the approach as ‘unscientifi�c’

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Sunday said the NajafgarhDhansa Bus Stand extension of Grey Line and theTrilokpuri section of PinkLine between Mayur ViharPocket 1 and TrilokpuriSanjay Lake stations will beinaugurated on August 6.

Union Minister for Housing and Urban Aff�airs Hardeep Singh Puri and ChiefMinister Arvind Kejriwalare expected to inauguratethe two new extensions after which passenger services will commence at 3 p.m.

With the opening of

these sections, the DelhiMetro network will become 390km long with286 metro stations.

Vital connections The DMRC said the 891metrelong NajafgarhDhansa Bus Stand sectionwill take the metro furtherinto the interior areas ofNajafgarh, while the Trilokpuri section will connectthe entire 59kmlong PinkLine with important landmarks such as Anand ViharRailway station, Anand Vihar ISBT, Nizamuddin Railway station and markets inSouth Extension, INA, andLajpat Nagar.

Puri, CM to inaugurate new extensions


NEW DELHI

Grey Line extension, PinkLine segment to open onAug. 6, announces DMRC

A man helps a rickshaw puller stuck in a waterlogged road under a railway bridge in northDelhi’s Shalimar Bagh on Sunday morning. * SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA

As rain continued to lashDelhi, waterlogging remained an issue in severalparts of the city. After a roadcavein under the IIT fl�yoveron Saturday, another incident was reported fromAshoka Road on Sunday.

The Captial received 12.8mm rainfall between 8 a.m.and 5.30 p.m. on Sundayand 28.2 mm of rainfall overa period of 24 hours endingat 8 a.m. The maximumtemperature settled at 32.1degrees Celsius, which wastwo degrees below normaland the minimum temperature settled at 24.8 degreesCelsius — two degrees belownormal.

The Met has forecast agenerally cloudy sky withmoderate rain/thunderstorms on August 2. Themaximum and minimumtemperature is likely to settle between 29 and 25 degrees Celsius.

PWD Minister SatyendarJain on Sunday said the roadcavein under the IIT fl�yoverhas been repaired in recordtime. He tweeted: “The tireless eff�orts of our Delhi JalBoard offi�cials have restored the broken water pi

peline before yesterdaymidnight under the IITfl�yover. Thereafter, ourPWD offi�cials worked roundthe clock and repaired thesunken road under the IITfl�yover in record time [sic]”.

The PWD said there was aleakage under the IIT fl�yover and the road was submerged in water and wasthus closed for traffi�c. The

DJB said it repaired the broken pipeline in less than 8hours and the water supplywas restored before thenext water supply time sothat no inconvenience wascaused.

Water levels in YamunaDelhi government offi�cialsalso said the Yamuna wasfl�owing just below the danger mark at 205.30 meterson Sunday morning, whichwas just below the dangermark of 205.33 meters.

They added that over 100families living in the Yamuna fl�oodplains have beenmoved to higher areas overthe last few days.

Extensive waterlogging, road caveinreported in Capital due to heavy rainMet Department forecasts cloudy sky with moderate rain today


NEW DELHI

Repair work being carried out under the IITDelhi fl�yover onSunday. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

<> Our PWD offi�cials

worked round the

clock and repaired

the sunken road

under the IIT fl�yover

in record time

Satyendar Jain

PWD Minister

Twelve persons have beenarrested for allegedly cheating foreigners on the pretextof providing them technicalsupport, the police said onSunday.

The accused used tocheat the foreigners by impersonating tech supportersof an ecommerce company.The accused have been identifi�ed as Mandeep Singh, Sattick Chakraborty, HarpreetSingh, Nitin Choudhary, Jobin George, HanumantuRao, Mohit Gupta, NiteshKumar, Subhodeep Bhattacharya, Moumita Majumdar,Diksha Khetarpal, and Shaba Khatun.

The police got informa

tion that some persons wererunning an international online cheating racket in Dwarka Sector7. The accusedused to get in touch with theU.S. or Canadabased residents via VOIP calls, bypassing the legal internationallong distance gateways.

“On Saturday, a raid wasconducted at the premisesand the accused were held,”said DCP (Dwarka) SantoshKumar Meena. The accusedused to send fake popups asransomware detected, security warnings etc. to theU.S. residents. They instructed victims to call on anumber specifi�ed on thepopup in order to pay fortechnical support to resolvethe threat.

All of the accused arrested from Dwarka

STAFF REPORTER

NEW DELHI

12 cheat foreigners byposing as tech support

The Delhi police issued lessthan 1,000 challans for notwearing masks for the 16thconsecutive day in the city,said offi�cials on Sunday.

According to the data, 1,113people were prosecuted fornot wearing masks on July 15.Since then, the police have issued challans in triple digitsonly. As per data provided bythe police, they issued 988challans for mask violationson July 16.

On Saturday, a total of 37people were prosecuted forviolating social distancing, 34for spitting and 22 for consumption of liquor, pan, gutkha, tobacco etc., it said. Twopersons were prosecuted forlarge public gatherings andcongregations, it said.

The police said they haveissued a total of 833 challanson Saturday.

A total of 1,64,562 peoplewere prosecuted for notwearing mask in the nationalcapital during lockdown fromApril 19 to July 31.

In the same period of time,

police challaned 26,155 people for violating social distancing norm, 1,558 for largepublic gatherings or congregations, 740 for spitting and1,481 for consumption of liquor, pan, gutkha, tobacco etc.,the data said. A total of1,94,496 challans were issued

from April 19 to July 31, thedata said.

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority on July 24, inits latest set of lockdown relaxations, said the Delhi Metro and public buses will operate with full seatingcapacity from July 26 while cinema halls, theatres and multiplexes will open with 50%occupancy.

DDMA unlock guidelinesThe latest DDMA unlock guidelines say the Delhi Metrowill be allowed to operatewith 100% seating capacityfrom July 26 but no standingpassenger will be allowed.

The order also directedthat the number of people allowed at marriage functionsand funerals will be raised to100.

For 16th consecutive day, less than1,000 fi�ned for not wearing masks A total of 1,64,562 people prosecuted for not wearing masks from April 19 to July 31

STAFF REPORTER

NEW DELHI

The Delhi Traffi�c Policeon Sunday issued an advisory saying a portion of aroad near Laxmi Nagarmother dairy has beenclosed for 10 days due torepair work in underpassand upper side of National Highway 24.

Alertnate routesCommuters and motorists coming from LaxmiNagar side, mother dairytowards Kalyanpuri andTrilokpuri can take a leftturn towards service roadon NH24 then take Uturn from next underpassand can reach their destinations, the Delhi Traffi�cPolice tweeted.

Motorists and commuters coming from Kalyanpuri and Trilokpuri sideand want to go to LaxmiNagar and Ghazipur cantake a left turn towardsservice road NH24frommother dairy underpassup to Khel Gaon nearAkshardham nationalhighway authority of India offi�ce and go to theirdestinations, it said.

A portion of a roadcaved in at Mangolpurifollowing downpour, affecting traffi�c movementin the area.

“The road near YBlockin Mangolpuri has cavedin. The traffi�c will be heavy,” the Delhi Traffi�c Police said in a tweet.

In another tweet, itsaid traffi�c has also beenaff�ected in Zakhira underpass, Azadpur underpassand Shakti Nagar underpass due to waterlogging.

Road nearLaxmi Nagarshut for repairwork: police

STAFF REPORTER

NEW DELHI

<> The road near

YBlock in

Mangolpuri has

caved in. The

traffi�c will be heavy

Delhi Traffic Police

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DELHI THE HINDU

MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 20212EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

CITY

CMYK

M ND-NDE

Published by N. Ravi at Kasturi Buildings, 859 & 860, Anna Salai, Chennai-600002 and Printed by S. Ramanujam at HT Media Ltd. Plot No. 8, Udyog Vihar, Greater Noida Distt. Gautam Budh Nagar, U.P. 201306, on behalf of THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD., Chennai-600002. Group Editorial Officer: Krishna Prasad. Editor: Suresh Nambath (Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act).

Regd. DL(ND)-11/6110/2006-07-08 ● RNI No. UPENG/2012/49940 ● ISSN 0971 - 751X ● Vol. 11 ● No. 182


THE HINDU DELHI

MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2021 3EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

CITY

0DISCLAIMER: Readers are requested toverify and make appropriate enquiries tosatisfy themselves about the veracity ofan advertisement before responding toany published in this newspaper. THGPUBLISHING PVT LTD., the Publisher &Owner of this newspaper, does not vouchfor the authenticity of any advertisementor advertiser or for any of the advertiser’sproducts and/or services. In no event canthe Owner, Publisher, Printer, Editor, Dir-ector/s, Employees of this newspaper/company be held responsible/liable inany manner whatsoever for any claimsand/or damages for advertisements inthis newspaper.

Timings

DELHI

MONDAY, AUG. 02

RISE 05:44 SET 19:12

RISE 00:25 SET 14:12

TUESDAY, AUG. 03

RISE 05:44 SET 19:11

RISE 01:02 SET 15:07

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 04

RISE 05:45 SET 19:10

RISE 01:42 SET 16:02

After a bumpy start to therollout of the ‘One NationOne Ration Card’ scheme

(ONORC) in Delhi, fair price shops(FPS) have distributed 87.8% oftheir target for July in the last 12days, according to government data.

Owners of fair price shops saidthat initially there were glitches inthe online system, which the ePoS (electronic point of sale) machines use, leading to queues atshops, but the system is workingbetter now.

Distribution of ration started only from July 20, as the Delhi government decided to implement theONORC scheme a day before it.“Last week, the system was notworking for a few hours for threedays at a stretch leading to longqueues of people waiting to get ra

tion. However, for the past twothree days we have not faced anymajor problem,” said Satvir Singh,61, who runs a shop at Matia Mahal.

Mr. Singh showed a WhatsAppgroup, “Circle 21 Matia Mahal’, inwhich government offi�cials were

also present, and other FPS owners had also posted photos of theirePoS machines, which could notretrieve data of people, after entering their ration card number.

Initially, there were problemswith the government server andmany a time, shop owners were

unable to connect the ePoS to theonline system.

No alternative wayDetails of a benefi�ciary need to beentered online before distributingration under the ONORC scheme,and if the system is not working,then there is no other alternativeto give ration.

“When a number is entered, ithas to be checked with the localserver and an UIDAI [Unique Identifi�cation Authority of India] server. If the person is from outsideDelhi, then the other State’s serveris also involved. So, if there is problem in any of the servers, theprocess won’t be complete,” a Delhi government offi�cial said.

“Initially there were issues, butwe have fi�xed most of the issuesand the distribution is going verywell now,” the offi�cial added.

Krishan Kumar, who also runs a

FPS, also said that the issues withthe system are less now.

Govt. lacks preparedness Anjali Bhardwaj of the Delhi RoziRoti Adhikar Abhiyaan said thatthe government should havelearnt from its past mistakes andshould have been prepared thistime.

In 2018, the government hadstarted distributing ration throughePoS, but had to stop and go backto the manual system due to problems with the online process.

“With the pandemic, PDS [public distribution system] has become the lifeline for people. Whenthere are disruptions in the distribution, many won’t be able to feedtheir children,” Ms. Bhardwaj said. She said that the governmentshould have an alternative method to distributeration if the online system is not working or biometrics are not being detected bythe machine.

“There is an uneven burden onthe vulnerable people when itcomes to the ePoS system. Peoplewho do manual labour and old people are the ones, whose biometrics do not match with the systemin most cases. And they are themost vulnerable too,” she added.

Ration distributionpicks up pace after

server glitches Shops distributed 87.8% of their target for July since ONORC scheme implementation: govt. data

Lifeline: (Right) Ration distributionusing e-PoS machine atJahangirpuri; foodgrain distributionin progress at a centre in Majlis Parkin the city. * SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA

Nikhil M Babu

New Delhi

Registrations to various undergraduatecourses in Delhi Un

iversity (DU) are set to begin from Monday. The online registration portal willbe open till August 31 for aspirants to complete the application process.

According to DU offi�cials, the university willpermit candidates applyingunder the ECA (extracurricular activities) andsports categories to uploadcertifi�cates from the lastfour years instead of theusual three, as an exception due to the pandemic.Like last year, no trials willbe held and admissions under these categories will bebased on certifi�cates submitted by the candidates.

Rajeev Gupta, Chairperson of DU Admissions, hadearlier said: “All trialbasedadmissions includingsports and ECA quota willbe completely based oncertifi�cates this year. Students can upload certifi�cates from last four years.This is a modifi�cation towhat was done last year.For this year’s admissionprocess, candidates canpick the three best certifi�cates from the last fouryears and upload.”

Mr. Gupta said that thismodifi�cation was broughtin to ensure that studentswho had missed out on participating in events last yeardue to the pandemic can also apply by choosing theirthree best certifi�cates.

Same procedureAccording to the university,the entire admission process will be held online andaspirants are not requiredto visit colleges and departments for any purpose. Theadmission criteria have alsoremained unchanged forthis year, according tooffi�cials.

“The admission committee has taken a consciouscall to not change any eligibility criteria. Consideringthe unprecedented situation, the fee structure, registration and cancellationcharges have also been keptthe same. Colleges will alsonot be asking students to fi�lladditional forms. However,

colleges can collect additional data or informationbut that will not require extra payment,” Mr. Guptasaid.

Senior offi�cials associated with the university’s online admission portal saidthat suitable frameworkhad been created where aspirants can check fee structures for every college andcourse.

The varsity’s online portal will also have 24x7 helpdesks and Chatbots to assiststudents in clearing doubts

and queries, offi�cialsadded.

“The admission branchwill organise webinars andtutorial videos for aspirants. These videos willhave details about the registration process and assiststudents to fi�ll the application forms. Interactive andAIbased questionnaireshave also been developed.All colleges and departments have been asked toappoint nodal offi�cers, details of which will beuploaded on the website,”

senior DU offi�cials said.Apart from 13 courses for

which admissions will bethrough DUET (Delhi University Entrance Test), admissions to all other undergraduate courses will bebased on merit, the varsityhad announced earlier thismonth.

Cutoff� marksFollowing the declarationof the CBSE XII board examinations, principals ofseveral DU colleges and offi�cials said that an increased number of students scoring above 95%could lead to the universityhaving soaring cutoff�marks this year.

Last year, Lady Shri RamCollege had an asking scoreof 100% for three courses –Economics, PoliticalScience and Psychology.

However, several offi�cials also said that the cutoff� marks would also depend on the number of aspirants applying to thevarsity this year. Senior DUoffi�cials had also said that“better modalities” for cutoff� marks would be workedout to avoid “over and under admissions.”

According to the university, there are around65,000 undergraduateseats on off�er this year.

Yet another yearof admissions

Delhi University is off�ering 65,000 UG seats for aspirants thisyear for which registrations will begin today. Principals andoffi�cials believe that an increased number of students scoringabove 95% could lead to higher cutoff� marks

Students at the School of Open Learning in DelhiUniversity. * SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA

Shinjini Ghosh

NEW DELHI

The Delhi zoo was reopened to the public onSunday, three and a halfmonths after it was temporarily shut due to a surge inCOVID19 cases during thesecond wave.

The facility had earlierremained closed for over ayear due to the pandemicand bird fl�u and was reopened on April 1.

“Rain could not deterthe spirit and enthusiasmof the people, especiallythe young ones. We are trying our best to make theirvisit worthwhile,” Zoo Director Ramesh Pandeysaid.

The zoo will operate intwo shifts — from 8 a.m. tonoon, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Visitors are required tobuy tickets online on thezoo’s website or at the entry gates using QR codes.The administration has also introduced cycles for itsstaff� in a bid to minimisenoise pollution due to vehicles and reduce carbonfootprint.

According to Mr. Pandey, the zoo had recordedonly 124 animal deaths, thelowest in the last threeyears, while it remainedclosed to the public in202021. There are 94 species and 1,162 animals inthe zoo at present.

Delhi zooreopens afterover 3 months

Press Trust of India

New Delhi

The Delhi High Court hasgranted time to the CentralBoard of Secondary Education to respond to a plea concerning the methodology ofassessment of private Class Xstudents after the examination was cancelled on accountof the pandemic earlier thisyear.

Justice Prateek Jalan, hearing a petition moved by themother of a private Class Xstudent, passed the order after time was sought by thecounsel for the Central Boardof Secondary Education(CBSE).

“Rupesh Kumar, learnedcounsel for the Central Boardof Secondary Education,seeks ten days’ further time totake instructions on the methodology for assessment ofprivate candidates for theClass X examinations,” thejudge recorded in the orderdated July 29 as he listed the

matter for further hearing onAugust 23.

The notice to CBSE in thepetition was issued in Junewhen the court granted sixweeks’ time to the educationbody to clarify its stand.

In her petition, Payal Bahlhas submitted that while students have been declared as“pass” after the announcement of cancellation of examinations, CBSE has not issuedany notifi�cation regarding itspolicy on how marks are to beawarded to private students.

CBSE’s attitude towardsthe students who are privately enrolled in Class X examination is “prima facie violative of the Article 14 of theConstitution of India” andtakes away “their equal opportunity of proceeding withfurther education”, she contended. It is highlighted thatCBSE has already notifi�ed thatassessment of regular Class Xstudents was to be based oninternal assessment.

Board’s counsel sought 10 days’ time


New Delhi

HC seeks CBSE stand onplea on assessment ofprivate Class X students

The Capital recorded 85 newCOVID19 cases and onedeath, according to a healthbulletin released by the Delhi government on Sunday.The bulletin added that72,447 tests have been conducted with a positivity rateof 0.12%.

There are 582 active casesin the city out of which 172are under home isolation.The total number of casessince the pandemic beganhas now gone to 14,36,350along with 25,054 deaths.

On Saturday, the city hadreported 58 COVID19 caseswith a positivity rate of0.08% and one death due tothe infection.

Sharing details about thevaccination drive, the bulle

tin said that 83,049 peoplehad been vaccinated in thepast 24hours out of which20,179 got their fi�rst dose.The total number of peoplevaccinated has reached1,00,32,817 out of which26,65,152 have received bothdoses.

Vaccine stockThe vaccination bulletinshowed that as of August 1morning, 3,56,130 doses ofCovaxin was available as1,18,490 doses were addedto the stock on July 31. ForCovishield, 4,76,610 dosesremain.

The government has 909centres at 401 locations witha capacity to vaccinate1,58,502 people in a day. Thetotal number of days forwhich the stock remains is 5.

Capital sees 85 moreCOVID-19 cases, 1 deathTPR at 0.12%; active cases stand at 582


NEW DELHI

Supreme Court Judge andExecutive Chairman of National Legal Services Authority, Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, on Sunday unveiled ayearlong campaign by Haryana Legal Services Authority to strengthen legal services in the State andinaugurated several projectsassociated with it.

Launching the campaign,“Quality of Legal Services isKey to Access to Justice forAll”, at Apparel House inSector44 here, Justice Lalitinaugurated a dedicated videoconferencing facility forstructured and regular consultation between the inmates and legal aid counselin all districts of the Stateand kids zones for the children accompanying theirparents to Alternative Dispute Resolution Centres.

He also released a shortfi�lm on Juvenile Justice Act(Care and Protection) Act,2015; animated short clip onrights of a person at prearrest and arrest stage andawareness posters enumer

ating rights of a person atprearrest, arrest and remand stage to be affi�xed inpolice stations, courts andjails.

Speaking on the occasion,Justice Lalit emphasisedupon the need for virtualmodes of creating awarenesswhen the physical interactions were not possible in situation like COVID19. He alsoshared his views on the diffi�culties faced by people whiletaking legal aid and put emphasis on working out suchproblems so that the confi�dence of the people on thelegal services authoritiesmight get better day by day.

The campaign, conceptualised by Haryana StateLegal Services Authority, isaimed at strengthening thelegal services at diff�erentstages and make justice accessible for all despite anyeconomical or social constraint. Its primary objectiveis to enhance the quality oflegal services and maximisethe eff�orts of Legal ServicesInstitutions in reaching outto people living in any corner of the State.

Campaign to strengthen legal services launchedSeveral projects related to it unveiled


GURUGRAM

Samyukta Kisan Morcha(SKM) on Sunday appealed toHaryana farmers not to oppose the ‘Tiranga Yatra’ ofthe State’s BJP unit claimingthat it was a “devious plan” toinstigate and defamefarmers.

The umbrella body of 40farmer unions said in a statement that the other programmes of boycott and fl�agprotests against the BJP andthe JJP will continue.

“The proposed ‘Tiranga

Yatra’ of the BJP’s Haryanaunit is mainly to instigatefarmers and defame them.SKM urged farmers to seethrough this devious plan ofBJP, and to not let this dirtytactic, under the guise of thenational fl�ag, succeed,” it saidin the statement.

The Haryana BJP’s twoweeklong ‘Tiranga Yatra’ahead of the 75th Independence Day began from Bhiwani on Sunday, with party’sState chief O.P. Dhankarclaiming that thousands offarmers also joined the event.

Mr. Dhankar, along withState Agriculture Minister J.P.Dalal, rode a tractor with Tricolour fi�xed on its both sidesduring the ‘yatra’, which wastaken out on a 30kmlongroute from Bahal to Loharu.

The SKM also said the ‘Kisan Sansad’ will continue atJantar Mantar in Delhi onMonday.

“The Kisan Sansad, despite the site of the Sansad inJantar Mantar being fl�oodedwith water, is functioning in adisciplined manner, with detailed deliberations. In Chhat

tisgarh, a parallel Kisan Sansad was run by the StateKisan Sabha on Friday, in solidarity with the Kisan Sansadnear the Parliament,” themorcha said.

The Kisan Sansad is part ofthe latest strategy of the farmers who have been protestingagainst the Centre’s threecontentious farm laws at multiple Delhi borders since November last year.

The farmers have expressed fear that the newlaws will eliminate the Minimum Support Price system

and leave them at the mercyof the big corporations.

Over 10 rounds of talkswith the government that hasbeen projecting the laws asmajor agricultural reformshave failed to break the deadlock between the twoparties.

As part of these Kisan Sansad sessions, 200 farmersfrom the protest sites participate in a mock Parliamentsession at Jantar Mantar during which issues concerningthe farming community werediscussed.

‘Tiranga Yatra a plan to instigate and defame farmers’SKM appeals to Haryana farmers not to oppose it; fl�ag protests against BJP and JJP to continue


New Delhi

The Hyderabad Public School,Begumpet (ICSE), Hyderabad, T.S. isseeking a dedicated Principal withstrong Administrative and AcademicVision. Interested Candidates posses-sing Post Graduate Degree in ateaching subject and B.Ed. from aRecognized University with Five Yearsof Experience as Head of a ReputedSchool may send their CV’s with in7 Days through Email / Courier or dropit at the office of the undersigned. ToThe Secretary to BOG The HyderabadPublic School, Begumpet, Hyderabad,T.S. 500016, Phone: 040-27761546 /67590000, E-mail: [email protected]

EDUCATIONAL

PUBLIC NOTICE

EDUCATIONAL

EDUCATIONAL

PUBLIC NOTICE

CMYK

M ND-NDE


DELHI THE HINDU


NORTH & EAST

Farmers growing grains andvegetables in their fi�elds inwestern Rajasthan are nowsorting and grading their processed agricultural productswith machines. Taking advantage of subsidies, incentivesand land conversion off�eredby government agencies during the pandemic, cultivatorsin the State are fast turning into entrepreneurs.

With the agroindustry setting its fi�rm foot in nondescript rural areas, mainly inJodhpur district, chains ofwarehouses, cold storage facilities and food processingunits have been establishedon agricultural land in a bigway. Despite the adverse circumstances of the COVID19pandemic, as many as 617agroprojects are in the pipeline with an estimated investment of ₹�1,255 crore.

Farmers have evinced akeen interest in setting up units for oilseeds, pulses, spices,cotton, milk and grain processing along with warehouses and cattle feed enterprises.While becoming fi�nanciallyselfsuffi�cient, farmers are al

so providing employment tothe village youths.

Support for entrepreneurship in the farmer communitycame through the State government’s agroprocessing,agribusiness and agriexportpromotion policy adopted in2019. The ambitious schemegives subsidy on capital investment and interest tofarmers and entrepreneursfor setting up agroprocessingindustries and developinginfrastructure.

Mohan Ram Chaudhary,who established an agroindustry at Mathania village inJodhpur’s Osian tehsil, toldThe Hindu that the decreas

ing ground water level hadcreated diffi�culties for hisfarming activities. “When Icame to know of the newscheme, I submitted a projectreport for a groundnut decortication unit. The loan andsubsidy were approved in thepandemic,” he said.

Onion, garlic exportWoman farmer Munni Sankhla, known as a progressivecultivator in the region, hasinstalled an oniongarlic dehydration plant in her agricultural fi�eld. Ms. Sankhla saidher unit had started exporting onions and garlic, available locally in good quantity,

after value addition. Farmerswere also getting fair pricesfor their produce throughsuch units.

Shiv Ram Parihar of Balarwa village, who has set up aspice processing enterprise,said farmers could store theircommodities with the creation of warehouses and getloans to meet their immediateneeds without the compulsion to sell the produce immediately after harvesting.

50% grant for projectAs part of the policy, farmersand their organisations are given a 50% grant, or a maximum of ₹�1 crore, of the project cost, while other eligibleentrepreneurs get the grantof 25%, or a maximum of ₹�50lakh. To reduce the cost of operation, farmers are given interest subvention at the rateof 6% for fi�ve years on gettingterm loans.

Bhaskar A. Sawant, Principal Secretary, Agriculture,said the value addition toagricultural products woulddirectly benefi�t the cultivators by facilitating the sale ofprocessed items at fair and remunerative prices.

As many as 617 agroprojects are in the pipeline with an investment of ₹�1,255 crore

Mohammed Iqbal

jaipur

Warehouses and food processing units established on farmland in Jodhpur's Osian tehsil. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.

Rajasthan farmers turning into entrepreneurs

Repatriation of severalhundred people who had taken shelter in Assam’s Karimganj district followingclashes with Bru refugees innorth Tripura began on Sunday. The exodus occurredlast week after local indigenous residents and MizoramBru refugees of a makeshiftcamp clashed over allegedencroachment of farmland.

At least 700 people of Halam subtribes were displaced after rioters torchedseveral houses at Damcherraarea of north Tripura district. A number of peoplesustained injuries, but nonewas seriously hurt.

The displaced peoplecrossed the Longai river toreach Karimganj of Assam.Karimganj district administration provided them shelter and distributed reliefmaterials.

North Tripura district administration sent vehicles toKarimganj on Sunday tobring back the displaced people.

District offi�cials said theyhave arranged temporarystay of the returnees at aschool building in Damcherra before they would returnto their respective hamlets.

CRPF contingents havebeen deployed in violencehit places and Section 144 ofCrPC imposed to contain thetension. Authorities claimedthat the situation has beencompletely normal.

Local leaders of diff�erentpolitical parties, village elders and Bru refugee representatives extended help torestore peace and amity between ethnic groups.

TIPRA for peaceMeanwhile, Tipraha Indigenous Progressive RegionalAlliance or the TIPRA, whichis governing the Tribal Autonomous District Council,has called for ‘peace and unity among the State’s 19 tribal clans’.

Over 700 Halam peoplereturn to Tripura They had fl�edafter clashes withBru refugeesSyed Sajjad Ali

Agartala

Three members of a familydrowned and two are missing after the car they weretravelling in plunged intothe Indira Gandhi canal inHanumangarh district onSunday, the police said.

Harish (40), his wife Suman (36), daughter Meenakshi (14), son Manish (7)and sisterinlaw Manju (36)were there in the vehicle.The bodies of Suman, Meenakshi and Manju werefi�shed out of the canal nearRanjitpura village, the police said. “Eyewitnessesclaimed that the driver deliberately turned the vehicletowards the slope of the canal. The matter is beingprobed,” the police said.

Three killed ascar plungesinto canal


Bikaner

Bihar Chief Minister NitishKumar and Janata Dal (United) general secretary K.C.Tyagi called on former Haryana Chief Minister OmPrakash Chautala at his residence here on Sunday to enquire about his health andalso discussed politicalissues.

The lunch meeting between the three leaders wasprescheduled and Mr. Chautala had announced it thispast Tuesday.

Abhay’s tweetIndian National Lok Dal secretarygeneral and formerLeader of Opposition, Abhay Singh, shared the newsabout the meeting betweenthe three leaders with atweet in Hindi and a few pictures. In one of the pictures,Mr. Kumar is seen off�ering a“shawl” to Mr. Chautalawith the two leaders surrounded by a couple ofmore people. Mr. Tyagi is also seen in the picture.

Mr. Chautala, who wasreleased from jail lastmonth on completion of his

10year sentence in a corruption case, had this pastTuesday said that he wouldsoon start meeting politicalleaders towards forging a‘third front’.

The octogenarian leaderhad said that he would tryto meet leaders of all Opposition parties before September 25, the birth anniversary of former DeputyPrime Minister Devi Lal, toforge an alternative to the“corrupt BJP government atthe Centre”. Mr. Chautalahad said that he also hadplans to meet Mr. Kumar, aBJP ally.

The BJP is the ruling par

ty at the Centre and has alliance governments withthe JJP in Haryana and withJD(U) in Bihar.

Farm laws fl�ayedMr. Chautala had said thatthe “biggest need today is tochange the present regime”, adding that theCentre’s farm laws wereagainst the farmers andwould only benefi�t the corporate. Mr. Kumar and Mr.Tyagi have earlier workedwith Mr. O.P. Chautala’sfather and former DeputyPrime Minister late Chaudhary Devi Lal.

(With PTI inputs)

Bihar CM Nitish meetsINLD chief O.P. ChautalaHe enquires about Haryana leader’s health, discusses politics


GURUGRAM

Bihar Chief Minister NitishKumar * FILE PHOTO

Indian National Lok Dal chiefOm Prakash Chautala *

Former Manipur Congresspresident Govindas Konthoujam joined the BJP onSunday, saying he was impressed with the Modi government’s developmentwork for the region.

He joined the BJP in thepresence of Manipur ChiefMinister N. Biren Singh,State BJP chief A. Sharda Devi, Rajya Sabha MP Anil Baluni and the party’s incharge for the State SambitPatra, among others.

Mr. Konthoujam latermet BJP president J.P.Nadda.

“I welcome him to theparty and wish him the verybest for his new innings,” hetweeted.

A sixtime consecutivelyelected MLA from the Bishnupur seat, Mr. Konthoujam had quit the Congress afew days back and his decision to join the saff�ron partywould be a boost to it aheadof the Assembly elections inthe state early next year.

The Chief Minister, whowas also in the Congressprty before joining the BJP,called Mr. Konthoujam afriend and asserted thatmore leaders will be joiningthe party.

Ex-ManipurCongress chief joins BJP

Press trust of India

New Delhi

BJP MP Kirori Lal Meenawas detained on Sunday after he unfurled a tribal fl�agon the wall of the AmbagarhFort by hoodwinking theheavy police force deployedat the monument, a centreof dispute between themembers of the Meena community and Hindutvaorganisations.

The white fl�ag was unfurled at a parapet in the rearside of the fort, where thetribal leader along witharound a dozen supportersreached in the early hours.

Tensions had escalatedbetween the Meenas andHindu organisations in Juneafter a saff�ron fl�ag atop thefort here was removed by agroup of youths from theMeena community.

BJP MP Kirori Lal Meenaunfurls tribal fl�ag, detainedPress trust of india

Jaipur

DEATH ANNIVERSARIES

OBITUARY & REMEMBRANCE

CMYK

M ND-NDE


THE HINDU DELHI


SOUTH

Weather WatchRainfall, temperature & air quality in select metros yesterday

Temperature Data: IMD, Pollution Data: CPCB, Map: INSAT/IMD (Taken at 18.00 Hrs)

Forecast for Monday: Heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolatedplaces over Uttarakhand, west Uttar Pradesh, east Madhya Pradesh and subHimalayan West Bengal and heavy rainfall at isolated places over Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, westRajasthan, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Bihar and Assam

city rain max min city rain max min

Agartala................ 5....33.2....25.8 Kozhikode.................... 4....31.8.......25

Ahmedabad........ 0.3....31.4....25.3 Kurnool .......................—....33.8....24.3

Aizawl...................—........ —........ — Lucknow.................... 35....30.2....25.5

Allahabad..............—....27.1....25.8 Madurai .......................—....38.2....26.4

Bengaluru .............—....27.5.......20 Mangaluru ................ 2.4....29.2....24.2

Bhopal ............... 4.6....25.2.......23 Mumbai .................... 0.4....30.4....26.4

Bhubaneswar...... 0.5....33.8....25.4 Mysuru ........................—....29.8....20.6

Chandigarh ...........—....34.9....27.7 New Delhi ................. 40....31.8.......23

Chennai .............. 11....34.8....24.4 Patna .......................... 1.......35....26.4

Coimbatore ...........—....32.9....22.6 Port Blair................... 13....30.8....23.9

Dehradun ........... 0.6....30.2....24.9 Puducherry ............... 0.6....35.5....24.9

Gangtok............. 1.3....22.6....18.6 Pune............................ 4....28.7....21.8

Goa.................... 1.3....30.4.......25 Raipur .........................—.......28.......25

Guwahati ........... 0.8....33.2....26.1 Ranchi ....................... 10....27.8....23.3

Hubballi ................—.......27.......21 Shillong.................... 0.7....23.3....18.1

Hyderabad ............—....29.9....22.8 Shimla......................... 1....23.9....18.6

Imphal ................ 51....30.3....21.2 Srinagar.......................—....29.2....19.5

Jaipur ................. 62....33.2....24.4 Thiruvananthapuram.........—....31.1....23.5

Kochi .................... 5....30.2.......25 Tiruchi.........................—....36.7....28.4

Kohima ............ 51.1....27.5....21.1 Vijayawada ..................—........ —........ —

Kolkata .................—....33.8....27.1 Visakhapatnam .............—.......38....27.8

(Rainfall data in mm; temperature in Celsius)

Pollutants in the air you are breathing Yesterday

CITIES SO2 NO2 CO PM2.5 PM10 CODE

In observation made at4.00 p.m., Udupi, Karnatakarecorded an overall airquality index (AQI) score of227 indicating an unhealthylevel of pollution. Incontrast, Shillong,Meghalaya recorded ahealthy AQI score of 13.

Ahmedabad..... 22 .44 .24 ....61 ...86 ....*

Bengaluru ....... 10 .22 .25 ..169 .108 ....*

Chennai .......... 12 .13 .33 ....12 ...72 ....*

Delhi .............. ..4 .15 .86 ....52 .150 ....*

Hyderabad ...... ..1 .68 .15 ....13 ...28 ....*

Kolkata........... 11 .27 .22 ....51 ...69 ....*

Lucknow ......... 18 .14 .84 ....60 ...66 ....*

Mumbai .......... 67 .10 ...— ....63 .103 ....*

Pune............... 22 .11 108 ....74 ...66 ....*

Visakhapatnam 13 .44 .29 ....40 ...87 ....*

Air Quality Code: * Poor * Moderate * Good (Readings indicate average AQI)

SO2: Sulphur Dioxide. Short-term exposure can harm the respiratory system,

making breathing difficult. It can affect visibility by reacting with other air

particles to form haze and stain culturally important objects such as statues

and monuments.

NO2: Nitrogen Dioxide. Aggravates respiratory illness, causes haze to form by

reacting with other air particles, causes acid rain, pollutes coastal waters.

CO: Carbon monoxide. High concentration in air reduces oxygen supply to

critical organs like the heart and brain. At very high levels, it can cause

dizziness, confusion, unconsciousness and even death.

PM2.5 & PM10: Particulate matter pollution can cause irritation of the eyes,

nose and throat, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath, reduced

lung function, irregular heartbeat, asthma attacks, heart attacks and premature

death in people with heart or lung disease

Telangana announcesfarm loan waiverHYDERABAD

The Telangana Cabinet

decided to waive crop loans

in the range of ₹�25,000 to

₹�50,000 this year, at a

meeting chaired by Chief

Minister K. Chandrasekhar

Rao on Sunday. The upper

age limit for employment of

economically weaker sections

was increased by five years.

IN BRIEF

Naval officer drowns in waterfalls in Kerala KOTTAYAM

Lt. Abhishek Kumar, 28, of

the Southern Naval

Command, drowned in the

Marmala waterfalls near

Teekoy in Kottayam district on

Sunday. He is a native of

Lucknow. He was among a

group of eight Navy officers

who visited the waterfalls.

A sudden surge of water is

said to have swept him off.

Ignoring what marine biologists have warned of as a serious “developmental misstep”, the Lakshadweepadministration is pressingahead with plans to construct beach and lagoon villas on three islands of theUnion Territory with its fragile coral ecosystem.

A tender notice invitingproposals from developersfor building 370 villas usingthe design, build, fi�nance,operate and transfer(DBFOT) model on publicprivate partnership (PPP) basis on Minicoy, Kadmat andSuheli islands was issued byDistrict Collector S. AskerAli, in his capacity as managing director of the Society forPromotion of Nature Tourism and Sports (SPORTS),on July 31. September 2 is thelast date for submission ofproposals.

A group of concernedscientists and researchershad petitioned the administration early last year detailing why the NITI Aayogledproject will be ecologicallydisastrous and socioeconomically illconsidered.

Lagoons as insurance“The lagoon is a vital ‘insurance site’ protecting the islands’ land and freshwatersupply. Lagoon coral patches

are temperatureadaptedand serve as refugia for climatedisturbed outer reefsin Lakshadweep. Theplanned lagoon development will destroy, permanently modify and pollutelarge areas of the lagoon andits ecosystems,” the petitioners said.

The beaches being cultural and ecological spaces forthe islanders, the projectwould be detrimental to the

interests of the local community as well, they argued.

“Apart from being vital asnesting sites for several species of turtle, it is a multiuseenvironment for fi�sh processing, copra processing,boat landing, fi�sh sale, recreation and other criticalsocial functions. Having access to the beach is critical toisland life. Even beaches onuninhabited islands like Suheli are heavily used throughthe fair season for fi�sh processing,” the scientists pointed out.

75-year rightsAccording to the tender notice and draft concessionagreement, the plan is toaward to the successful bidder exclusive rights over 8.54hectares of land and 6 hectares of lagoon on Minicoy;5.557 hectares of land and 6hectares of lagoon on Kadmat; and 3.823 hectares of

land and 6 hectares of lagoon on Suheli island; for aperiod of 75 years to buildand operate these villas.

The proposed builtuparea for the luxury project inMinicoy will be 13,702.5 sqmetres on land (110 beachvillas) and 5,020 sq metre(40 fl�oating villas) on the lagoon; in Kadmat it will be10,823 sq metre area on land(75 beach villas) and 4,500sq metre (35 fl�oating villas)on water; and in Suheli 9,945sq metre on land (60 beachvillas) and 6,300 sq metre(50 fl�oating villas) on water.

The project is estimated tocost about ₹�806 crore.

While there was earliertalk of 80% of employmentin the project going to the local community, the documents only mention in passing that the “concessionaireshall make necessary eff�ortsto employ locals to the extent possible ”.

Row over Lakshadweep beach villa planAdministration issues tender for 370 structures on beaches, lagoons despite warning from experts

S. Anandan

Kochi

Green concerns: Scientists and researchers fear the projectwill destroy the fragile ecology of Lakshadweep. * ISTOCK

A Division Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court refused to entertain a writ petition fi�led by the State Bankof India (SBI) against an obligation to pay ₹�215.11 croretowards underdeclaredGST to the Andhra Pradeshgovernment on an exempted turnover and directed itto seek an alternative remedy from the appellate forumconcerned.

The SBI had fi�led the petition challenging an order ofassessment issued by theDeputy Commissioner ofState Tax (Audit, No.1 Division, Vijayawada), whereinthe bank was held liable to

pay GST to the tune of₹�215,10,75,375.

The bank had primarilycontended that it was notliable to pay any tax since itwas not rendering any service while levying penal interest on defaulters.

The Commercial Taxesdepartment relied on theagreements SBI entered intowith various borrowers anddetermined that the levy ofpenal interest was actuallyan act of forbearance and aservice for which the bankwas charging amounts andhence was liable to pay GST.

Y.N. Vivekananda, government pleader, arguedthat the SBI was liable to paythe State tax.

Court asks SBI to pay₹�215 cr. GST to A.P. govt. ‘Bank can move appellate forum’

Staff Reporter

VIJAYAWADA

The enforcement of the Karnataka government’s newCOVID19 guidelines requiring a negative RTPCR reportfor travellers from Keralaand Maharashtra, resulted inconfusion at the interStatecheckposts, particularlyalong the border with Maharashtra, leading to traffi�csnarls. The revised guidelines were issued in the wakeof a surge in cases in theneighbouring States.

The new guidelines, announced on Friday night,mandate that travellers tothe State must have an RTPCR negative report con

ducted within the previous72 hours unlike the earlieroption of producing a vaccination certifi�cate for entry.

The police and healthworkers at the interStatecheckposts refused entry tovehicles carrying passengerswithout the required RTPCRnegative reports. The movecaused chaos as several tra

vellers were not aware of thenew norm. Even those having COVID19 negative reportfound it diffi�cult to enter theState from Maharashtra as along queue of vehicles delayed the process of checking their reports.

Sahil Sheikh, a regular traveller between Maharashtraand Karnataka, remarked: “I

have to shuttle three times aweek. How can I keep gettingtested twice a week?’’

Belgavi Deputy Commissioner M.G. Hiremath andSuperintendent of PoliceLakshman Nimbaragi visitedthe Kuganoli checkpost onSunday to take stock of thesituation. He told The Hinduthat the system would bestreamlined in a few days.

A similar situation prevailed along the border withKerala.

At the Attibele check postnear Bengaluru, borderingTamil Nadu, offi�cialsscreened vehicles bearingregistration numbers of Kerala and Maharashtra whichwere coming from both Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Travellers without a negative RTPCR reports were refusedentry.

Visitors to Karnataka hit by new normsMany withoutRTPCR reportrefused entry


BELAGAVI/ MYSURU/ BENGALURU

Chaos reigns: People queueing up at the Attibele checkpostin Bengaluru on Sunday. * MURALI KUMAR K.



WEST

After facing crushing lossesfor the last 18 months due tothe pandemic, the poultry industry is demanding that theUnion government permitthe import of crushed geneticallymodifi�ed (GM) soyseeds for captive consumption of farmers.

With the sector bedevilledby increasing productioncosts, misinformation regarding the link betweenpoultry and avian fl�u outbreaks, COVID19inducedrestrictions and natural calamities, skyrocketing pricesof raw materials like soybean(that constitutes 25% of poultry feed) and maize (thatconstitutes 60%) in the lastone year have only compounded the woes of thepoultry farmers.

“The outbreak of COVID19 has created a massivecrisis that led to an initial depletion of demand in chickenproducts due to false newsabout the link between thevirus and poultry products.This created an unwarrantedfi�nancial crisis and led to theerosion of working capital.For the last several months,high speculation activities insoya contracts on NCDX has

been disturbing the sector,”said C. Vasanthkumar, president, Poultry Farmers andBreeders Association, Maharashtra.

Relief measuresThe association urged theUnion and the State government for nonfi�scal and fi�scalrelief measures, includingthe restructuring of termloans and additional workingcapital.

“We urge the governmentsto reschedule outstandingterm loans by providing anextended time (612 months)for liquidation of loans toprevent the farmers fromturning into nonperformingassets. Considering the scaleof fi�nancial losses, we request governments to grantinterest subvention of at least4% for three years and additional working capital loansto meet the increased production costs,” Mr. Vasanthkumar said.

The most important nonfi�scal is for the government toallow import of crushed GMsoy seeds for captive consumption of end users, poultry farmers.

“Given the ratcheting prices of soybean, we request thegovernment to allow the im

port of crushed GM seed atleast for the particular timeframe to stabilise raw material market,” he said.

Rising pricesHe said that the rise in soybean process had led to theskyrocketing of prices of eggsand chicken products in theretail market.

“Chicken and eggs are theonly cheapest nonvegetarian protein sources availablein the market. But, owing tothe increased raw materialprices, retail chicken pricesare rising at a whopping ratewith chicken being sold at₹�250₹�300 per kg in the retailmarket. This could lead to aninfl�ation in food prices in thecountry amid the pandemic.”

The sector has enduredlosses of more than ₹�700crore in Maharashtra alonesince the eruption of the pandemic in March last year.

“We had a similar situationin 2006 when there was afi�rst outbreak of avian infl�uenza. During that time, thegovernment of India had announced interest subventions and increased the credit duration to the poultryfarming for the limited period,” Mr. Vasanthkumarsaid.

Poultry industry urges Centreto allow import of GM soy seeds‘Farmers battered by pandemic and rising raw material costs’

Shoumojit Banerjee

Pune

In a veiled attack on the BJP,Maharashtra Chief MinisterUddhav Thackeray on Sunday said the language of intimidation would not be tolerated and a befi�tting replywould be given to thosespeaking it.

He made the statement inthe wake of BJP legislator Prasad Lad’s reported remarksthat if needed, the Shiv SenaBhavan, the headquarters ofThackerayled party in central Mumbai, would be demolished. However, he laterretracted the remarks and expressed regret saying theywere presented out of context by the media.

Speaking at the inauguration of the BDD Chawls redevelopment project here, Mr.Thackeray referred to his

threeparty Maha Vikas Aghadi dispensation as a “tripleseat” government (with theNCP and the Congress beingthe other constituents).

Recalling a dialogue fromHindi blockbuster “Da-

bangg” — “Thappad se darnahi lagta (not scared of being slapped)” — the Chief Minister said, “Nobody shouldspeak the language of slapping us as we will give backsuch a tight slap that the oth

er person will not be able toget back on his feet.”

Asking the benefi�ciaries ofthe chawls redevelopmentproject not to fall prey to allurement once the projectgets over, he said, “Marathiculture must be protected inthe redeveloped constructions at any cost as thechawls had a historic legacy,where revolutionaries hadlaid down their lives and alsowere witness to the Samyukta Maharashtra movement.”

NCP chief Sharad Pawar,who was also present at theevent, said the legacy of BDDChawls should be protectedand the Marathispeaking people must stay back in the redeveloped houses, whichwould be given as part of theproject being overseen by theMaharashtra Housing andArea Development Authority.

He asks benefi�ciaries of chawls redevelopment project not to fall prey to allurement


Mumbai

Process begins: Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray during thefoundation stone laying ceremony for the redevelopment ofBDD Chawls in Worli, Mumbai, on Sunday. * EMMANUAL YOGINI

Language of intimidation won’t be tolerated: CM

One person has been arrested and a hunt is on foranother in a case where aman was assaulted with ironrods and made to eat garbage from a bin in Jogeshwari in Mumbai, a video ofwhich has left netizens fuming on social media.

The incident occurredlast month and a CrimeBranch Unit X team nabbedone of the accused, AbdulKhalid Malik Shaikh (47),from near a railway station,an offi�cial said.

Mr. Shaikh is a historysheeter who has been externed two times earlier andhas now been charged with

attempt to murder in this incident by the Meghwadi police, the offi�cial said.

“His associate Fahid Zahid Ali Shaikh (20) is on therun and and eff�orts are on tonab him. The complainantand the accused stay in thesame locality and the incident is a fallout of an old dispute,” he said.

Assault on man in Jogeshwari: one arrestedPress Trust of India

Mumbai

Man falls into tank at work site, injuredTHANE

A construction worker was

injured after he fell into a

tank in Thane city around 1.45

a.m. on Sunday, regional

disaster management cell

chief Santosh Kadam said.

The tank was uncovered and

unprotected, Mr. Kadam said.

He added that the man,

identified as Ganesh Nirmal,

was rescued by fire brigade

personnel and hospitalised.PTI

A plan to resettle 60 familiesaff�ected by the devastatingJuly 22 landslide in Taliye inRaigad’s Mahad taluka,which killed over 80, is ready, Maharashtra Urban Development Minister EknathShinde said on Sunday.

Mr. Shinde, who is lead

ing a team from Thane district for relief work following several rainrelatedincidents in the area, alsosaid ₹�50 lakh would be given for the repair of the Mahad sessions court buildingwhere fl�oodwater entered.

He said villagers had demanded rehabilitation offi�ve hamlets.

Raigad landslide: plan to resettlefamilies ready, says MinisterPress Trust of India

Thane

A 68yearold farmer waskilled by a tiger in Brahmapur tehsil in Maharashtra’sChandrapur district, a forestoffi�cial said on Sunday.

The incident occurred inPadmapur village, some 130kilometres from the districtheadquarters, on Saturday

evening when Hiraman Kotgale was working on stopping outfl�ow of water fromhis fi�eld, N.R. Praveen, ChiefConservator of Forests,Chandrapur circle, said.

“After he did not returnhome till late evening, his family alerted forest staff� whomounted a search andfound the body in the bush

es. He was attacked by a tiger. The kin has been givencompensation of ₹�20,000,”he said.

This is the 29th mananimal confl�ict incident reported from the district thisyear, with 25 people beingkilled in tiger attacks, threeby leopards and one by anelephant, he said.

Man killed in tiger attack in Chandrapur


Chandrapur

This is 29th mananimal confl�ict incident reported this year

The IMD on Sunday saidthat Satara and Parbhanidistricts had received 70%more rainfall than normaltill July 31 this year. Nandurbar district had recorded less than average rainfall till now, H.S. Hosalikar,senior scientist at the IMD,Pune, said in a tweet.

Excess rainfall inSatara, Parbhani Press Trust of India

Mumbai

CMYK

M ND-NDE


DELHI THE HINDU


EDITORIAL

Border tensionsThe muddling matchbetween Assam andMizoram militates againstthe interests of the Statesconcerned as, after all, it isnot the Line of ActualControl (Page 1, “Assam CMwants neutral probe intoborder clash”, August 1).Rather than sink theirdiff�erences in the largerinterest of citizens, leaderson both sides appear to beeager to keep the border

cauldron simmering. Bothleaders ought not to viewthe situation from theprism of Assam versusMizoram but keep in mindthat they need to showmore allegiance towardsthe country. Their puerileactions are doing a greatdisservice to the nation.Deepak Singhal,

Noida, Uttar Pradesh

■ What has transpired alongthe AssamMizoram border is

nothing short of a nationalshame and is anunprecedented event in thehistory of independent India.Establishing peace in theNortheast has been ahardearned eff�ort. Afterdecades of insurgencies andpolitical instability, theregion has slowly begun tobury the ghosts of the pastand adopt development asthe new mantra andcontribute to nationbuilding. Issues such as

territorial disputes whichcan result in animosityamong indigenouscommunities will only helpderail all peace buildingeff�orts and hinderdevelopment in the region.Assam, as a responsibleState, must play the biggerrole in resolving theboundary disputes throughconsensus, compromisesand confi�dence building. Himangka Kaushik,

Guwahati, Assam

■ Novak Djokovic’s behaviourduring his bronze medalmatch loss in the Olympicshas left even his diehardadmirers of his playing skillsin shame. One cannot keepwinning continuously.Remaining graceful evenwhen things do not pan outas expected is a key part ofone’s celebrity status.V. Lakshmanan,

Tirupur, Tamil Nadu

Tokyo exitIt is unfortunate that MaryKom’s exit from the TokyoOlympic Games ended on asour note. Perhaps, that iswhat sports is all about — winsome, lose some, but takethe result in perspective.What was surprising was herpresumption; there is asubtle diff�erence betweenconfi�dence andoverconfi�dence. Balasubramaniam Pavani,

Secunderabad

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters emailed to [email protected] must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials.

To read more lettersonline, scan the QR code

Anand Srinivasan

In recent times, rightleaningeconomists have been arguingthat the Government does not

need to do anything with the economy and that it will revive by itself. They call those who disagreewith them, doomsday merchants.These economists reason that, likeafter the Great Depression, theeconomy rebounded worldwide,and so will it with us. The argument is fallacious on fouraccounts:

The fi�rst factor, demand. In thecase of the Great Depression, demand was created by the SecondWorld War eff�ort. Especially in theUnited States, which was largelyspared of the destruction, its industrial capabilities could be usedas a supply base for the entire Allied eff�ort. In the current scenario,there is no war to create demand.On top of it, the COVID19 pandemic has resulted in demand destruction. This is because manyjobs have been lost, and evenwhere jobs were retained, therehave been pay cuts. Both of thesetrends were confi�rmed in theCentre for Monitoring Indian Economy and other surveys. The onlybright spot in this dismal scenariois that the western world has spenta lot of money stimulating the economy. From the point of view ofthe Indian exporter, rising freightcosts and nonavailability of containers is a signifi�cant impedimentalong with structural issues suchas a strong rupee relative to major

competitors. Only the Indian ITsector is placed well to capitaliseon rising demand in the worldmarkets.

Next is infl�ation. India is suff�ering from stagnant growth to lowgrowth in the last two quarters. Atbest, any growth in the currentquarter will be illusionary becauseit comes on top of substantial negative growth in the fi�rst quarter oflast year, perpetuating a statisticalphenomenon known as the “lowbase eff�ect”. The base eff�ect statesthat when measuring YoY, or yearoveryear growth, we take the previous year’s numbers as the baseand measure the growth as a percentage. As in the low initial baseset by last year, almost any growththis year is seen as a signifi�cantgrowth percentage. In comparison, the absolute growth fi�gure isnegligible. This scenario is eerilysimilar to the early 1970s in the United Kingdom and the UnitedStates, where low growth wascombined with rising infl�ation.

Causes in IndiaInfl�ation in India is being importedthrough a combination of highcommodity prices and high assetprice infl�ation caused by ultraloose monetary policy followedacross the globe. Foreign portfolioinvestors have directed a portionof the liquidity towards our markets. Compared to a developedcapital market such as that of theU.S., India has a relatively low market capitalisation. It, therefore,cannot absorb the enormous capital infl�ow without asset prices infl�ating. This might be seen as awelcome move, but it is to be noted that most of India’s populationdo not own equity or bonds,which means that they cannotcash in on asset infl�ation. The

wealthy upper class gets richerdue to access to fi�nancial assets.The middle and lowermiddleclass get destitute due to regressive indirect taxes and high infl�ation, with their wealth erodingdue to said infl�ation. Especially inthe case of the lower middle class,infl�ation is lethal as they do nothave access to any hard assets, including the most fundamentalhard asset, gold.

Fuel pricesAdditionally, supply chain bottlenecks have contributed to the infl�ation we see in India today. Essential goods have increased incost due to scarce supply becauseof these bottlenecks caused by COVID19 and its reactionary measures enforced. India’s usurioustaxation policy on fuel has madethings worse. Rising fuel pricespercolate into the economy by increasing costs for transport. Furthermore, the increase in fuel prices will also lead to a rise in wagesdemanded as the monthly expense of the general public increases. This leads to the dangerous cycle of infl�ation anddepleting growth.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)has chosen to look the other way,claiming that this infl�ation is transitory in nature while infl�ationaryexpenses are entrenched. Infl�ation is here to stay because the RBI

is infusing massive liquidity intothe system by following an expansionary monetary policy throughthe GSAP, or Government Securities Acquisition Programme. Thisis designed to keep the interestrates of government bonds at 6.0%and thereabouts. An added threatof rising rates is the crowding outof the private sector, which corporates are threatening to do by deleveraging their balance sheetsand not investing.

The third is interest rates. Theonly solution for any central banker once he realises that infl�ation isentrenched is tightening liquidityand further pushing the cost ofmoney. If this does not dampen infl�ation, repo rates will need to goup later this year or early nextyear. Tightening the money supplyis a painful act that will threaten todecimate what is left of our economy. Rising interest rates lead to adecrease in aggregate demand in acountry, which aff�ects the GDP.There is less spending by consumers and investments bycorporates.

On NPAsFinally, rising non performing assets, or NPAs. Rising interest rates,lack of liquidity, and off�ering credit to leveraged companies insteadof direct subsidies to supportsmall and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) and micro, smalland medium enterprises (MSMEs)to counter the COVID19 pandemicand its eff�ects will result in NPAs ofpublic sector banks climbing faster. Our small and medium scalesector is facing a Minsky moment.The Minsky moment, coined bythe economist Hyman Minsky,states that every credit cycle hasthree distinct stages. The fi�rststage is that of cautious lending

and risk aversion by the bankers.The second stage is lending totrustworthy debtors who can paythe principal and its interest. Thethird stage is a state of euphoriacaused by rising asset priceswhere bankers lend to debtors regardless of their ability to pay backinterest, let alone the principal.

Minsky momentThe Minsky moment marks the decline of asset prices, causing masspanic and the inability of debtorsto pay their interest and principal.India has reached its Minsky moment. This means that the publicsector unit and several otherbanks will need capital in copiousamounts to make up for bad debt.Several banks and fi�nancial institutions have collapsed in the last 18months in India. The Union government’s Budget is in no position to infuse large amounts ofcapital. At best, we can expect apiecemeal eff�ort as in the past seven years. As a result of the abovecauses, credit growth is at a multiyear low of 5.6%. Banks do notwant to risk any more loans ontheir books. This will further dampen demand for real estate and automobiles once the pentup demand is over. The Indian economyis in a vicious cycle of low growthand higher infl�ation unless policyaction ensures higher demand andgrowth. In the absence of policyinterventions, India will continueon the path of a Kshaped recoverywhere large corporates with lowdebt will prosper at the cost ofsmall and medium sectors. Thismeans lower employment as mostof the jobs are created by the latter.

Anand Srinivasan is a fi�nancial

consultant

A cycle of low growth, higher infl�ationUnless policy action ensures higher demand and growth, India will continue on the path of a Kshaped recovery

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Even as billionaire Jeff� Bezoswas preparing to blast off� into space last month, another

billionaire, Bill Gates, took anequally momentous decision tolaunch his own nuclear reactorwith an eye on the possibility of exporting fast breeder reactors topower hungry nations (https://reut.rs/3ylFSgW). Both of themcharacterised their initiatives asessentially aimed at the environment to reverse climate change.Answering criticism on his expensive and wasteful adventure, Bezosinsisted that he had an environmental vision: “We need to take allheavy industry, all polluting industry and move it into space, andkeep Earth as this beautiful gem ofa planet that it is,” he said. Mr.Gates stressed the importance ofnuclear power as the clean energyrequired to meet the requirementsof the world, even though the safety of nuclear reactors and the riskof proliferation of nuclear weapons are a growing concern.

The future of atomic energyBack in 200708, the then DirectorGeneral of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohamed ElBaradei, had establisheda Committee of Eminent Personsto look at the future of nuclearpower in 2020 and beyond. As anExecutive Director of the Commission, I had helped to produce a report, which asserted that “the international community has bothauspicious opportunities and signifi�cant challenges to tackle as theworld moves into its seventh nuclear decade. Expanded use of nuclear technologies off�ered immense potential to meetimportant development needs. Infact, to satisfy energy demandsand to mitigate the threat of cli

mate change — two of the 21st century’s greatest challenges — thereare major opportunities for expansion of nuclear energy”. The report predicted that a “nuclear renaissance” will solve not only theworld’s energy problems, but alsoalleviate climate change.

Fukushima and afterBut the expectation was shortlived because the Fukushima Daiichi accident in Japan on March 11,2011 completely transformed thenuclear power situation beyondrecognition and dealt a blow toplans for swiftly scaling up nuclearpower to address not only climatechange but also energy povertyand economic development. AnIAEA article, “Nuclear power 10years after Fukushima: the longroad back”, says, as the globalcommunity turned its attention tostrengthening nuclear safety, several countries opted to phase outnuclear power. The nuclear industry was at a standstill except inRussia, China and India. Even inIndia, the expected installation ofimported reactors did not materialise because of our liability lawand the antinuclear protests inproposed locations. India had togo in for more indigenous reactorsto increase the nuclear component of its energy mix. More than50 nations, which were knockingat the door of the IAEA for nuclearenergy for peaceful purposes,quietly withdrew their requests.

After intensive eff�orts to strengthen nuclear safety, as said in thisarticle, and with global warmingbecoming ever more apparent, nuclear power is regaining a place inglobal debates as a climatefriendly energy option once again. Countries such as Japan and Germanyreopened their reactors to produce energy. But even as organisations such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)and the International EnergyAgency (IEA) recognise the abilityof nuclear power to address majorglobal challenges, it remains uncertain whether the value of thisclean, reliable and sustainable

source of energy will achieve itsfull potential any time soon.

The Fukushima Daiichi accident, adds the article, continues tocast a shadow over the prospectsof nuclear power. Furthermore, insome major markets, nuclear power lacks a favourable policy and fi�nancing framework that recogniseits contributions to climate changemitigation and sustainable development. Without such a framework, nuclear power will struggleto deliver on its full potential, evenas the world remains as dependent on fossil fuels as it was threedecades ago.

The Gates planEven when the uncertainty continues and the antinuclear lobby isgaining momentum, TerraPower,the nuclear company founded byMr. Gates, has just announced anagreement with private funders,including Warren Buff�ett, and theState of Wyoming, U.S. to site itsNatrium fast reactor demonstration project there. Moreover, sinceit falls within the “advanced” smallmodular reactor project of the U.S.Department of Energy (DOE), theDepartment will subsidise the project of one of the richest men inthe world to the extent of $80 million this year.

As an article by the nonproliferation sentinels in the U.S, HenrySokolski and Victor Gilinsky, titled“Bill Gates’ Fast Nuclear Reactor:Will It Bomb?” (https://bit.ly/3fjM1Tc) says, Mr. Gates believes that the fast breeder reactors will replace the current reactors. The DOE and other nuclear

enthusiasts also believe that small,factorybuilt, modular reactorswill be cheaper and safer, and willbe so attractive to foreign buyersthat they will revive America’s nuclear industry and enable the United States to compete in an international market now dominated byChina and Russia. Another benefi�tenvisaged is that fast breeder reactors will provide a solid nuclear industrial base for meeting U.S. military nuclear requirements. DOEhas found bipartisan Congressional support for funding the project.

Mr. Sokolski and Mr. Gilinskyhave challenged the move on several grounds such as the failure ofearlier eff�orts to develop suchreactors, and the risk of the turning of inert uranium to plutonium,and then using the plutonium asfuel. They have argued in their article that it can even “breed” excess plutonium to fuel new fastreactors. What concerns themmost is that plutonium is a nuclearexplosive which can be used fordeveloping a bomb. They areafraid that the availability of plutonium through commercial channels would be fraught withdangers.

As their article says, TerraPower announced in March that Natrium would be fuelled with uraniumenriched to 20% U235 rather thanexplosive plutonium. But thequestion being asked is if Natriumreactor takes off� and is off�ered forexport, will the same restraint apply. Currently, only a handful ofnations can make 20% enricheduranium. The critics believe thatthere will be a rush to make 20%enriched uranium world wide.The main objection to nuclear enrichment beyond a point in Iranarises from the fact that it wouldlead to weapon grade uranium being available for them.

The other objection beingraised against the Gates project, ascited in the article, is that the principal reason for preferring fastreactors is to gain the ability tobreed plutonium. That is surelywhat foreign customers will want.The way it is confi�gured, the reac

tor would make and reuse massivequantities of material that couldalso be used as nuclear explosivesin warheads.

Focus on India and ChinaIndia’s fast breeder reactor, whichis not subject to international inspections, is seen as capable offeeding the nuclear weapons capability of India. And the recent reports that China is building twomore fast reactors have immediately provoked internationalconcerns about China’s possibleweapons plutonium production.The opponents of TerraPower believe that India and China will beencouraged in their eff�orts to develop fast breeder reactors andmay even want to buy them fromMr. Gates. They also think that thecharacterisation of TerraPower assmall is a gimmick and they willhave to be made big to make themeconomical. The claim that fastreactors are safer than light waterreactors has also been called intoquestion.

It has been pointed out that U.S.Presidents Gerald Ford and JimmyCarter made it U.S. policy to discourage the commercialising ofplutoniumfuelled reactors. President Ford had announced that theU.S. would not support reliance onplutonium fuel and associated reprocessing of spent fuel until “theworld community can eff�ectivelyovercome the associated risks ofproliferation.” (https://bit.ly/3fi�i71N). The critics do notthink that the world has reachedsuch a stage.

No one can predict whether thespace adventure of Mr. Bezos orthe nuclear venture of Mr. Gateswill benefi�t the U.S. and the widerworld. But billionaires have thesixth sense to know how to multiply their own billions.

T.P. Sreenivasan is a former Ambassador

of India and Governor for India of the

International Atomic Energy Agency

(IAEA). He is also Chairman, Academic

Council, the Director, NSS Academy of

Civil Services and the Director General,

Kerala International Centre

The draw of space and nuclear technologiesIt remains to be seen whether the new ventures of Jeff� Bezos and Bill Gates will strike a chord and benefi�t mankind

T.P. Sreenivasan

AP

India at the Olympics has always been about feverish

hopes, bruising anguish and a few medals. Since its

debut at the Games in 1900, the world’s second most

populous nation has ended up with either a singledigit

tally or none at all. That familiar tale is being repeated a

week after the Tokyo Olympics commenced and India

is currently assured of three medals. One, a silver

claimed by weightlifter Mirabai Chanu in the 49kg cate

gory. And second, a minimum of a bronze guaranteed

as boxer Lovlina Borgohain qualifi�ed for the semifi�nal

in the welterweight segment. The bout will be held on

Wednesday. Badminton star P.V. Sindhu too joined the

party, seizing her bronze after defeating China’s He

Bingjiao 2113, 2115 during Sunday’s thirdplace play

off�. Through their exploits Mirabai and Lovlina, hailing

from Manipur and Assam, respectively, have revealed

the rich sporting ability shimmering in the Northeast

ern States linked to the mainland through the chicken’s

neck above Bangladesh. Mirabai and Lovlina owe their

triumphs to their innate strength and hard work be

sides the obvious support from family and the Sports

Authority of India. With Sindhu, they have also reiterat

ed womenpower. Sindhu, who won the silver at the

previous Olympics at Rio de Janeiro, had an exceptional

run till she ran into Chinese Taipei’s Tai TzuYing in the

semifi�nal and then made amends with a bronze.

India had a moment to savour when its women’s

hockey team entered the quarterfi�nals. While a strong

Australian outfi�t awaits in the knockout on Monday, the

women will add to India’s evergreen hockeyhopes that

gained a fi�llip after the men defeated Great Britain 31

during Sunday’s quarterfi�nal. After the 1980 gold, the

men’s quest to win another Olympic medal has gained

impetus and the road ahead is tough but interesting. In

the limited chronicle of good tidings, Kamalpreet Kaur’s

excellent throw of 64 metres in the discus throw event

was a spark. Kamalpreet qualifi�ed for Monday’s fi�nal

and a lot is resting on her shoulders. While these stir

ring events kept India afl�oat, there is also the litany of

heartbreaks that included Mary Kom’s loss in boxing, a

fact the 38yearold failed to initially admit following

her adrenaline rush. The travails in shooting and ar

chery did not add up to the original template of good

form and resultant expectations. Shooters Saurabh

Chaudhary and Manu Bhaker had their moments but

they were not enough. The Games exert immense pres

sure as it is always about the athlete combining indivi

dual excellence with national pride. Tennis champion

Novak Djokovic failed to even win a bronze while gym

nast Simone Biles withdrew from events citing mental

fatigue. It is never easy and the Indian contingent

would vouch for that going into the second week.

Elusive goldIndia is still searching for a gold medal as

the Olympic Games enter the second week

Reservation for students from Backward Classes in

seats surrendered by States to an ‘AllIndia Quo

ta’ (AIQ) in medical colleges run by State govern

ments was long overdue. The Centre’s decision to ex

tend its 27% reservation for ‘other backward classes’ to

all seats under the AIQ is a belated, but welcome deve

lopment, as Other Backward Class (OBC) candidates

have been denied their due for years. And in concord

with its keenness to balance OBC interests with those of

the socially advanced sections, the Union government

has also decided to provide 10% of the AIQ seats to

those from the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).

This is almost entirely the outcome of a Madras High

Court verdict and the eff�orts of the Dravida Munnetra

Kazhagam, which approached the court with the de

mand. The AIQ is a category created by the Supreme

Court to free up some seats from residential or domicile

requirements in some States for admissions to their

medical colleges. Introduced in 1986, the AIQ com

prised 15% of undergraduate medical and dental seats

and 50% of postgraduate seats surrendered by the

States for admission through a central pool. There was

no reservation in the AIQ, and, once in the past, the Su

preme Court set aside a Madras High Court order di

recting the Centre to implement Scheduled Castes/

Scheduled Tribes quota in the category.

In 2007, the Supreme Court allowed 15% Scheduled

Caste reservation and a 7.5% Scheduled Tribe quota un

der the AIQ. Meanwhile, based on a central law favour

ing Backward Class reservation in educational institu

tions, the Union’s 27% OBC quota was introduced in

central educational institutions. There was no move to

implement OBC reservation in the category. In the

courts, the Medical Council of India argued against OBC

reservation, but the Union government said it was not

averse to the reservation, subject to an overall 50% li

mit. The omission of OBC reservation in the AIQ seats

was obviously discriminatory. There were OBC seats in

medical institutions run by the Centre, as well as State

specifi�c quotas in those run by the States. It was incon

gruous that seats given up by the States to help the

Centre redistribute medical education opportunities

across the country were kept out of the ambit of affi�r

mative action. There was even a case to argue that, as

AIQ seats originally belonged to the States, the quota

policy applicable to the respective States ought to be

applied to them. The Madras High Court, in July 2020,

held that there was no legal impediment to OBC reser

vation, but, given that the policy varied from State to

State, it left it to the Centre to decide the modalities for

quotas from this academic year. The Centre has now

decided on the 27% OBC quota, but not before the High

Court termed the delay in doing so “contumacious”.

Long overdueOBC reservation in AllIndia Quota medical

seats puts an end to a discriminatory policy

CMYK

M ND-NDE


THE HINDU DELHI


OPED

Lahore, July 31 A Punjab Government PressCommunique States: On the afternoon ofthe 27th July H.E. the Governor and Sir JohnMaynard received a deputation from ChiefKhalsa Dewan and discussed with them certain outstanding points in connection withthe present Sikh situation. Another Communique states special permission was a fewyears ago granted to the Sikh community towear Kirpans, but in granting this concession Government did not intend it to coverthe case of large weapons or of ordinaryswords and accordingly prosecutions wereinstituted a few months since against twoSikhs in Amritsar District for wearing suchweapons or swords either in addition to orwithout ordinary Kirpans. The accused wereconvicted in both these cases but in view ofthe fact that the practice of wearing largeweapons or ordinary swords appears tohave now much diminished Governmentwhile reserving to themselves the power totake necessary action if the practice againbecomes prevalent, have remitted the punishment to which the accused were sentenced in the two cases above referred to.

A HUNDRED YEARS AGO AUGUST 2, 1921

The Sikh Situation

Pegasus, the mythical winged horsefrom Greek mythology, is known tohave allowed Bellerophon, the Corinthian hero, to ride him in order todefeat the monstrous Chimera before fl�ying off� to the heavens wherehe was turned by Zeus into an eponymous constellation. He has now returned to earth in the guise of a malware designed to fi�ght terrorism,criminality and national insecurity.Though interpreted as an allegory ofsoul’s immortality in modern times,Pegasus becomes a symbol of poeticinspiration, only to be turned into areprehensible cyber weapon in thehands of dictators and bigots withthe purpose of putting down dissentand killing critical thought. The constellation still glows in the heavens,but no longer evokes the ageoldmythical sensations for humanity.

Where science has brought usHow science has aided in the inadvertent political game of demolishingbasic human rights has fi�nally fructifi�ed in the production of a technology that infi�ltrates human privacyright up to the bedrooms of its targets. When C.P. Snow walked intothe Senate House at Cambridge in1959 to deliver his Rede lecture, ‘TheTwo Cultures’, he sparked a globaldebate that would put a nail in thecoffi�n of humanities, giving a boost tothe study of science for the advancement of humanity. The two distinctcultures that emerged led to the confrontation between the technocratsand ‘literary intellectuals’. While theformer stood in favour of social reform and progress through technology and industry, the latter, who Snowdisparagingly called “natural Luddites”, had insignifi�cant consideration for progress through industrialisation. We now know where sciencehas fi�nally brought us. The shadowing of our every move in a cybersavvy world has resulted in escalatingmilitary and police repression.Mounting security concerns havebeen met with mounting technological responses. It is a world riddenwith tensions between security and

freedom, secrecy and transparency.Democratic structures along withfundamental liberties stand erodedin the face of unrestrained free market economics that exists only to direct every facet of life. This is a system of the Panopticon, anarchitectural edifi�ce where the warden in a central tower can monitorthe prisoners in their cells withoutthe prisoners seeing the warden.

The use of Pegasus, therefore, poses a stark danger to democracy andfreedom, particularly in 10 governments believed to be the customersof NSO Group: Azerbaijan, Bahrain,Kazakhstan, Mexico, Morocco,Rwanda, Hungary, India and theUAE, all believed to have a dismal record in the protection of humanrights. The obsession with powerthrough surveillance has brought inits wake not just the blitzkrieg of information, but also given rise to political systems that aim at behaviourcontrol, destroying the sanctity ofthe individual’s privacy and therebythreatening democracies with serious consequences. We are caughtin a world where the harsh reality ofpower and its exercise takes predominance over the constitutionallyguaranteed right of selfdetermination and freedom of expression. Thecentral motive, however, remainspolitical domination through thecontrol of any dissent or ideologicalvariance with the state.

The security agencies of democracies and dictatorships are engaged ingathering the phone ‘data’ of citizenswho show any signs of opposition,heaping it all away for any contingency that might arise in the future.Working against all norms of jurisprudence, the national security stateremains ‘legitimately’ above board,blatantly pursuing acts of social con

trol through surveillance on the basisof national security. The new metamorphosised role of Pegasus has fi�nally become the terror of a devastating hacking scandal, a means ofpunishing people and threatening todrown the world of freedom.

This is at the heart of the contemporary debate on the use of Pegasus,a battle between the totalitarian stateand dissidence. In such circumstances, living in confrontation with thestate apparatus is tantamount to being labelled as “antinational”. Thereare many incarcerated without a trialfor years. True to the concept of fascism, the interrogation of state policy becomes a betrayal in the Orwellian sense, where free thought anddebate are an anathema.

The utopia promised by the government of Oceania in George Orwell’s 1984 is an illustration of thelogic of totalitarianism. Such an overorganised system represents thepurging of history and free humanthought for the smooth and peacefulrunning of the state apparatus. Criticism is not permitted by a management that has at its disposal highlydeveloped surveillance technology,the ‘thought police’ that incarceratesor eliminates any ‘thought criminal’.

As Hannah Arendt argues, thestate ensures not just the transformation of the outside world but also thevery dysfunctionality of the unpredictable nature of human creativityand its spontaneity. In Orwell’s novel, O’Brien, an agent of the thoughtpolice, owing complete allegiance tothe Party, explains to Winston, thecentral character, the unending process of persecution that can appeasethe ruling class so as to give it an assurance of its immortality. The statemanipulates the rebirth of Winston,turning his rebellious old self into a

faceless believer. Similarly, in hisclassic, Brave New World, AldousHuxley envisages material progressall right, but with enormous dangersto human creativity. In such a world,no prodigies or rebels can be born. Itis a world of the “hatchery” in which“hobbits” are “manufactured” at various stages of arrested physical andmental development whose strengthlies only in falling into line.

The Pegasus upheaval fi�nds a parallel in Orwell’s ‘Big Brother’ symbolising the modern state and itsauthoritarian apparatus. Governments have lied about intelligenceoperations, illegally spied on millions of innocent people, and collected data from every conceivable electronic source to be potentially usedto censor dissent, blackmail peopleor just intimidate those who struggleto make corporate and state poweraccountable. The postSnowdenyears have seen new technologieslike Pegasus enhancing surveillanceto the point of exposing us to thedanger of losing our very grip overour daytoday private aff�airs.

Expansive interrogationThe ills of the modern state emergingfrom the culture of secrecy is therefore apparent. There would probablybe a world of feasible peace andopenness if there were no classifi�eddocuments. One thing has becomeclear after the revelation of many governments illegitimately engaging inspying on their citizens: the hour hascome to oppose all such excessiveoppression through serious politicalaction. Like Edward Snowden, we alllive online and indeed, there really isno place to hide. However, the futureis not foreclosed, and as long as thereis critical inquiry, there is hope. AsHoward Zinn, the historian, oncesaid: “We are supposed to be thinking people. We are supposed to beable to question everything.”

A more expansive interrogation ofthe treachery inherent in the returnof the Pegasus aff�air and its fallout forrights activists, investigative journalists and writers calls for a seriousprobe. Or else, the gradual diminishing of our individual right to freespeech and the dismantling of democratic institutions would culminate inthe return of Orwell’s Oceania.

Shelley Walia is Professor Emeritus at Panjab

University, Chandigarh

The hour has come to oppose excessive oppression through serious political action

Pegasus, a blemish on democracy

Shelley Walia

IST

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K P

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TO

Among the multiple challenges a journalisthas to confront is the quality of writing thatsustains the readers’ interest. Elegant writing is neither a legal requirement nor a regulatory prescription. It is an earnest invitationfor an exchange of ideas without taxing thereader. One of the instructions Vinod Mehtagave me when I became an editor 20 yearsago was to ensure that my journalism is notboring. “Boredom kills journalism,” heasserted.

It is trite to say journalism is not fi�ction.Good, reliable journalism has to adhere tostrict factual accuracy. The rules of attribution cannot be compromised. The act of verifi�cation is an integral element of journalism.In short reports, these three elements suffi�ce. A talented desk will ensure that nomeaning is lost and hence, no reader is lost.However, in longform journalism, engagingwriting matters.

Concerns in narrative journalismThe year I became an editor was the year theNieman Foundation at Harvard Universityestablished a programme on Narrative Journalism. Nieman Curator Bob Giles said, “Narrative journalism builds a newspaper’s franchise for the long term. It plays to thestrengths of print journalism — space andconsidered reporting — adding value that noother medium can duplicate.” The programme underscored that the values of journalism and creative approaches to prose caneasily coexist without the core tenets of goodreporting being eroded.

Russel Frank, who worked as a journalistfor decades before becoming a journalismteacher, fl�agged a major concern of editorstowards certain aspects of longform journalism. He wrote: “When reporters write stories that read like good fi�ction they inevitablyarouse suspicions. Reality is messy. Speechis messy. If a story is tidy — if the plot is tooseamless or the quotes are too eloquent —the reporter probably juiced it a little. Reconstructed scenes are particularly suspect. Instead of relying on tape recordings or notesof their own observations, reporters rely on

the memories of the people who werethere.” Mr. Frank also pointed out that “thesurge of interest in narrative journalism hascoincided with a surge of scepticism amongnewspaper readers.” Journalists add notesfor their print version and give hyperlinksfor the web version to ensure that the rulesof attribution are not lost in writing a report.

Fog everywhereLiterature teaches us how to work withwords in a manner that the reader doesn’tget bored. Much has been written about thejournalistic quality of Charles Dickens’s writing. What we learned from him is the art ofdescription, which is diff�erent from the actof deception. For instance, in Bleak House,he wrote: “Fog everywhere. Fog up the river,where it fl�ows among green aits and meadows; fog down the river, where it rolls defi�led among the tiers of shipping and the waterside pollutions of a great (and dirty) city.Fog on the Essex marshes, fog on the Kentishheights. Fog creeping into the cabooses ofcollierbrigs; fog lying out on the yards andhovering in the rigging of great ships; fogdrooping on the gunwales of barges andsmall boats. Fog in the eyes and throats ofancient Greenwich pensioners, wheezing bythe fi�resides of their wards; fog in the stemand bowl of the afternoon pipe of the wrathful skipper, down in his close cabin; fogcruelly pinching the toes and fi�ngers of hisshivering little ‘prentice boy on deck.”

This is a wonderful example of how fragments and extremely long sentences coexistto make reading a worthwhile experience.The fi�ne editor, Harold Evans, in his book,Do I Make Myself Clear? Why Writing WellMatters, refers to Dickens to explain the newlanguage of obfuscation that is creeping intoour public sphere. He wrote: “Fog everywhere. Fog online and in print, fog exhaled intelevision studios where time is anyway tooshort for truth. Fog in the Wall Street executive suites. Fog in the regulating agenciesthat couldn’t see the signals fl�ashing dangerin shadow banking.” His antidote was: “Butnever come there fog too thick, never comethere mud and mire too deep, never comethere bureaucratic waffl�e so gross as to withstand the clean invigorating wind of a soundEnglish sentence.” This, indeed, shall be thegoverning creed of both the reporters andthe desk as they put out their stories.

[email protected]

What makes a readerkeep readingIn long-form journalism, engaging writing matters

A.S. Panneerselvan

FROM THE READERS’ EDITOR

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DATA POINT

UNICEF states that “breastfeeding isamong the most eff�ective ways toprotect maternal and child healthand promote healthy growth and optimal development in early childhood.” Infants should be breastfedwithin one hour of birth, breastfedexclusively for the fi�rst six months oftheir lives, and be breastfed after sixmonths in combination with solid,semisolid and soft food until theyare about two years old.

Many advantages Breastfeeding provides greater immunity for children against infection,allergies, cancers and obesity; andimproves brain maturation. It is alsobenefi�cial for the mother: it promotes faster weight loss after birth,reduces postpartum bleeding, andprotects her against breast cancer,ovarian cancer, and osteoporosis.Data from The Lancet show thatmore investment in breastfeedingcould add $300 billion to the globaleconomy and prevent about8,20,000 child deaths every year.

The advantages of breast milk areevidencebased, yet globally only25%40% of babies are breastfed.Breastfeeding and later wet nursingwere the norm for millions of years.During the Renaissance period,breastfeeding came to be seen as unfashionable. Feeding bottles and formula milk were aggressively advertised leading to a reduction inbreastfeeding between the 17th and19th century. However, during thelate 19th century, an increase in infant mortality rate and rise in noncommunicable diseases during adulthood were attributed to bottlefeeding. This prompted experts andleaders everywhere to push forbreastfeeding across the world.

The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) was established in1991 to create awareness about theimportance of breastfeeding. In 1992,WABA in coordination with UNICEFintroduced World BreastfeedingWeek during the fi�rst week of Augustevery year. India enacted the InfantMilk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles andInfant Foods Act in 1992 with stringent regulations. However, the National Family Health Survey5 data

show that there has been a decline inearly breastfeeding in as many as 12of the 22 surveyed States and UnionTerritories while the share of institutional births has increased.

Maternity and paternity leaveThe Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(DMK) has promised in its manifestothat maternity leave in Tamil Naduwould be extended to 12 months.This is essential as women are entering the workforce in large numberswhile society has shifted to a nuclearfamily system. Such a move will ensure uninterrupted breastfeeding.Nevertheless, counselling and educating the parents, establishingbreast milk banks, providing lactating mothers with subsidised breastmilk pump equipment, and settingup exclusive facilities to breastfeedwill prove to be benefi�cial for mothers to provide exclusive breastmilkfor children up to six months.

The inclusion of husbands in thisconversation is incumbent. Both themother and newborn are vulnerablefor the fi�rst 12 weeks. Getting used tobreastfeeding takes at least 14 days.Therefore, assistance from the partner is indispensable during this time.However, Indian law only allows for15 days of paternity leave. It is imperative to extend this to 1216 weeks.

India is a lowmiddleincomecountry with a meagre allocation ofthe GDP towards health. Communicable and noncommunicable diseases hamper our economic growth.The theme for World BreastfeedingWeek this year is ‘Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility’. With achange in social, cultural and environmental factors, breastfeeding isno longer mothercentric. Governments must allocate specifi�c funds,rigorously implement the law, investin educating parents and healthworkers and involve civil society organisations and the media in spreading awareness. Breastfeeding has decreased during the COVID19pandemic. Therefore, it is importantthat the promotion of breastfeedingshould be a continuous process, notan event restricted to a week.

Poongothai Aladi Aruna was Information

and Technology Minister of Tamil Nadu

under the DMK (2006-2011)

The benefi�ts of breastfeedingThe promotion of breastfeeding should be acontinuous process, not an event restricted to a week

Poongothai Aladi Aruna

New Delhi, Aug. 1: The Chief Election Commissioner, Mr. S.P. Sen Varma, said here yesterday that the bogus inclusion and wrongful exclusion of names would be eliminatedaltogether in the new electoral rolls to be fi�nalised in October. He told newsmen thatthis was possible with the introduction ofthe electoral card system, unprecedented inthe history of election anywhere in theworld. He said that about 125 offi�cers andemployees of the Election Commission in 35batches were checking and supervising therevision of electoral rolls in the Union Territory of Delhi. The two Deputy Election Commissioners and the three Secretaries weredaily making random checks both in the rural and urban areas. The last date for completing the enumeration work originallyfi�xed for July 31 had been extended to August15. Supervision by the Election Commissionstaff� had instilled great enthusiasm amongthe enumerators and the voters, especiallyin the rural areas. In a particular area whichthe Chief Election Commissioner did notwant to disclose, there were 2,000 bogusnames, and in another there was largescaleexclusion of names.

FIFTY YEARS AGO AUGUST 2, 1971

Electoral rolls being made foolproof

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FROM THE ARCHIVES

CMYK

M ND-NDE


DELHI THE HINDU


NEWS

FROM PAGE ONE

“The improvement in GSTcollections both on domestic transactions and imports, accompanied by thefact that major producingStates have shown signifi�cant increases, would indicate that the economic activities have resumed acrossthe country,” said M.S. Mani, senior director at Deloitte India.

July’s collections includecentral GST revenue of₹�22,197 crore, State GST of₹�28,541 crore and IntegratedGST of ₹�47,865 crore, ofwhich nearly ₹�28,000 crore

was from import of goods.Compensation Cess collections, used to recompenseStates for adopting the GSTregime, stood at ₹�7,790crore, including ₹�815 crorecollected on import ofgoods. “The governmenthas settled ₹�28,087 crore toCGST and ₹� 24,100 crore toSGST from IGST as regularsettlement. The total revenue of Centre and the Statesafter regular settlement inthe month of July 2021 is₹�50,284 crore for CGST and₹� 52,641 crore for the SGST,”the Ministry said.

GST collections recoverto ₹�1.16 lakh cr. in July

With the monsoon pickingup pace again and coveringthe whole country, sowing ofKharif crops is also showingsigns of recovery. The lag inthe sown crop area is nowless than 5% in comparisonwith last year’s, an improvement from almost 12% twoweeks ago.

The biggest continuinglags are in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, where the threeweekhiatus in the rains has resulted in lower sown area forrainfed crops such as coarsecereals, oilseeds and pulses.This gains importance inview of the fact that risingprices of edible oils and pulses have been major contributors to recent infl�ationtrends.

Uneven spreadThough the monsoon rainfall is now just 2% below normal, the overall fi�gures hideboth geographical and temporal unevenness. In thethird week of June, the mon

soon halted its progressacross central India, resulting in a threeweek delay inrain during a crucial sowingseason.

According to the India Meteorological Department,Madhya Pradesh, parts ofMaharashtra, interior Karnataka and Telangana receivedexcess rainfall in the lastweek of July, bringing theircumulative rainfall for theseason up to normal. Guja

rat, however, remains in thedefi�cient category, alongwith eastern Rajasthan. Overall, a third of the districtsacross the country have seendefi�cits so far.

According to AgricultureMinistry data, the total sownarea across all crops as of July 30 was 848 lakh hectares,4.7% lower than the 890 lakhhectares sown at the sametime last year. A week ago,the lag was almost 9%. In

mid July, the lag was 11.6%.The main Kharif crop is

paddy, which is seeing a 4%drop in acreage in comparison with last year’s, mostlyfrom eastern India wherethe sowing window is stillopen.

Millet area downCoarse cereals and oilseedsare both showing a lag ofabout 5.6% with shortfalls inRajasthan, Maharashtra,Madhya Pradesh and AndhraPradesh. Ragi sowing isdown by a third, with a 31%fall in crop area from lastyear’s. The area sown withjowar is down by 11%, bajra9% and small millets 81%.

Maize is the only cerealwhich is holding steady withno diff�erence from lastyear’s. Groundnut coverageis down by 10% and soybeanstill lags 3.4%.

Among pulses, the areasown with moong dal is 10%lower than last year’s, whileurad lags 9%. Arhar dal sowing, on the other hand, isproceeding briskly, with a4% gain in crop area so far.

As monsoon recovers, Kharifsowing lag drops below 5% Threeweek break hits acreage under oilseeds, pulses and millets


NEW DELHI

Brisk pace: Farm labourers planting paddy in a fi�eld at Rajgarhvillage near Dakala in Patiala. * PTI

A hotline was establishedbetween the Indian Army atKongra La in north Sikkimand the People’s LiberationArmy (PLA) at KhambaDzong in the Tibet Autonomous Region to further thespirit of trust and cordial relations along the border, theArmy said on Sunday.

“The inauguration was attended by ground commanders of the respective Armies and a message offriendship and harmonywas exchanged through thehotline,” the Army said in astatement. The event coincided with PLA Day on August 1, it stated.

Peace measureStating that the armed forces of the two countries hadwellestablished mechanisms for communication atthe ground commanders’ level, the Army said these hotlines in various sectors wenta long way in enhancing thesame, and in maintainingpeace and tranquillity onthe borders.

India and China have twomilitary hotlines in eastern

Ladakh, among others atChushul and Daulat BegOldi.

The two sides held the12th round of Corps Commander talks on Saturday atMoldo on the Chinese side.The details of the outcomeare awaited.

As reported by The Hindu

earlier, since the standoff�began in eastern Ladakh inMay 2020, in addition to theCorps Commanderleveltalks, the two sides have also held ten Major Generallevel talks, 55 Brigadierleveltalks, and 1,450 calls overthe two hotlines.

In February, during a telephonic conversation, theForeign Ministers of Indiaand China agreed to establish a new hotline betweenthe Foreign Ministries as astep to ensure “timely communication” against thebackdrop of the Ladakhstandoff�.

This will be in addition tothe longdelayed hotlinebetween the Indian Army’sDirectorGeneral of MilitaryOperations and China’sWestern Theatre Command, which is expected tobe established soon.

India, China establishhotline in north SikkimArmy says it will further spirit of trust


NEW DELHi

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On the draw

Venugopal Dhoot, formerpromoter and chairman ofthe Videocon Group, hasmoved the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal(NCLAT) against the June 8,2021 order of the NationalCompany Law Tribunal(NCLT), Mumbai, approvingthe bid of Vedanta Groupcompany Twinstar Technologies Ltd. to acquire thebankrupt Videocon Industries Ltd. for ₹�2,962 crore.

Mr. Dhoot has petitionedNCLAT to set aside the ‘Resolution Plan’ approved bythe NCLT and to direct theCommittee of Creditors toconsider the ‘ResolutionPlan’ submitted by him under Section 12A of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code

(IBC) that entails a “zerohaircut” (involving no lossto the banks or creditors).

Accusing the resolutionprofessional of withholdinginformation in the tenderform and eroding the valueof the company by closing itdown, Mr. Dhoot said in hispetition that the resolutionprofessional had violatedSections 30(2) and 61(3)(ii)of the IBC.

He said the decision toseparate the oil assets andthe consumer durable assets of the company had ledto minuscule price realisation from the bidding process, which he now wantsscrapped.

The NCLT had in June, ina verbal order, accepted thebid of Twin Star Technologies Ltd. for Videocon.

Dhoot moves NCLAT toset aside Videocon orderSpecial Correspondent

Mumbai

The J&K police move to denysecurity clearance to those“involved in crimes prejudicial to the security of theState, including stonepelting” is likely to aff�ect hundreds of families in Kashmir,where the offi�cial list ofstreet protesters swelled signifi�cantly between 2008 and2017 to nearly 20,000.

“All the fi�eld units of theCID SBKashmir are herebydirected to ensure that during verifi�cation related topassport service and anyother verifi�cation related togovernment services,schemes, the subject’s involvement in law and order,stone pelting cases and other crime prejudicial to thesecurity of the State be specifi�cally looked into and samemust be corroborated fromlocal police station records,”

the fresh order reads.It called for collecting dig

ital evidence such as CCTVfootage, photographs, videos, audio clips and quadcopter images available in the records of the police, securityforces and agencies as references. “Any subject foundinvolved in any such casesmust be denied the securityclearances,” it said.

Top sources said the list of

persons — including lawyers,journalists, politicians, civilsociety members — with “adverse background reports”had been growing longer inthe past one year. Manymainstream leaders, evenfrom the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party, were deniedpassport and traveldocuments.

Former Chief Minister and

Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) president MehboobaMufti was denied a passportin March after an “adverse”report by the CID. She approached the High Court butthe judge observed that “thescope of this court in thematter of grant or otherwiseof passport in favour of an individual is very limited”.

Cycles of protestsThe fresh order is likely toleave hundreds of local people ineligible for passportand jobs in the Valley, whichsaw major upheavals andprolonged cycles of streetprotests and civilian killingsduring the 2008 Amarnathland row, the 2009 Shopian“murder” case, the 2013hanging of Parliament attackconvict Afzal Guru, the 2016Burhan Wani killing and theprotests after the Centre’smove to end J&K’s special

status on August 5, 2019.According to the offi�cial fi�

gures, 3,773 cases of law andorder were registered in2016 and 2017, and resultedin the arrest of 11,290 people. As many as 9,730 peoplefaced charges between 2008and 2017 for participating inthe protests. The Omar Abdullah and the MehboobaMufti governments announced amnesty.

Offi�cial fi�gures suggestthat between 2016 and 2017,2,330 people were arrestedin Srinagar, 2,046 in Baramulla, 1,385 in Pulwama,1,123 in Kupwara, 1,118 inAnantnag, 783 in Budgam,714 in Ganderbal, 694 in Shopian, 548 in Bandipora, 547in Kulgam and two in Dodadistricts during 2016 and2017. Around 56 governmentemployees were among the4,949 found involved instonepelting incidents.

Adverse police report to cause hurdles in J&KMove likely to aff�ect hundreds as obtaining a passport or government job will become impossible

Street fi�ght: Protesters clashing with the police in Srinagar inSeptember 2018. * NISSAR AHMAD

Peerzada Ashiq

Srinagar

Supreme Court judge Justice U.U. Lalit on Saturdaysaid every police station inthe country must have display boards informingabout the right to legal aidand the availability of freelegal aid services.

Justice Lalit, who is theExecutive Chairman, National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), made thestatement during the release of posters containinginformation about the rightto legal aid and availabilityof the free legal aid services. The posters will be installed at police stationsacross Haryana.

Such boards/posters arethe fi�rst step in the direction to ensure that no accused remains unrepresented during investigationand trial, the judge said.

‘Police stationsmust displaylegal aid info’

Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI

As part of the process ofevolving a consensus amongthe three services on the reorganisation of the forces into integrated triservicetheatre commands and fi�netune the model, a tabletopwargaming exercise washeld on July 22 for the fi�rsttime, in which all scenarios,including a collusive threatof a twofront war from China and Pakistan, were wargamed, according to a Defence offi�cial.

“At the meeting held onJuly 22, for the fi�rst time ever, a tabletop exercise waswargamed with operationalsettings, which was playedacross all theatres simultaneously, multidomain andcross theatre. This was largein extent from the NorthernCommand to the Andamanand Nicobar islands, and catered to the collusive threatwe expect from two of ourneighbours,” the offi�cialsaid.

This was played for a fullday and was attended by

around 40 offi�cers, including the Chief of the DefenceStaff� (CDS), General BipinRawat, three Service Chiefs,ViceChiefs and DirectorGeneral of Military Operations equivalent from thethree services.

‘Frank exchange’There was a frank and freewheeling exchange to evolvethe best process on theatrisation and many of the concerns put forward by varioussides over the creation of thecommands were addressed,

including that of the AirForce, the offi�cial said.

Explaining the consultations, the offi�cial said whenDefence Minister RajnathSingh was briefed in June, hehad advised two things — toform a consultative committee to address the concernsof the stakeholders outsidethe services and hold consultations to resolve service issues one more time.

The committee headed bythe CDS, with the three ViceChiefs and representativesfrom other Ministries con

cerned, had met and resolved most of the issues related to the functions,rotational nature of all commanders, need for a unifi�edmaritime structure, including the Coast Guard, andhaving the paramilitary inborder commands, the offi�cial said. Broad consensusemerged on the need to takeforward the theatrisationprocess expeditiously andthe Air Force, too, is onboard, the offi�cial said. “Various views were heard andwould be taken on board. It

was made aware that suffi�cient time would be given forthe structures to be formed,reviewed and stabilised.”

“The creation of integrated theatre commands West,East, Maritime Theatre Command [MTC] and IntegratedAir Defence Command areaccordingly being progressed,” offi�cials said. Asstated by Gen. Rawat earlier,the Northern Commandwould be left out of the ambit of the process for nowand integrated at a laterstage.

Exercise held to fi�netune integrated theatre commandsAll scenarios, including a collusive threat of a twofront war from China and Pakistan, played out, says Defence offi�cial

Dinakar Peri

NEW DELHI

Two top offi�cials, however,told The Hindu that the government had no plans tohold a “neutral probe” intothe July 26 fi�ring incident.

Return of normalcy andconfi�dence building is necessary in the area and thatis why CRPF forces are patrolling the areas under thedirect supervision of the Union government, the offi�cials said. “Both the Stategovernments are cooperating and the Central government is assured that therewill be no more border fl�areup,” one of the offi�cials quoted above said.

For a more permanentsolution to dealing with interState border issues, theNorth Eastern Space Application Centre (NESAC) hasbeen asked to map and demarcate the State boundaries using satellite imaging.

The idea of using satelliteimagery for settling borderdisputes was mooted by Union Home Minister AmitShah a few months ago, saidone of the offi�cials.

A joint initiative of the Department of Space (DoS)and the North EasternCouncil (NEC), the Shillongbased NESAC is already being used for fl�ood management in the region. In January this year, the Ministryfor Development of theNorth East Region (DONER)gave the satellite imageryproject to NESAC.

“Since there will be scientifi�c methods in the demarcation of borders, there will

little scope for discrepancyand there shall be better acceptability of the boundarysolutions by the States,” oneof the offi�cials said.

However, an Assam government offi�cial, whodidn’t want to come on record, contested such aclaim. “Disputes arise mainly because there is a diff�erence in perception regarding what constitutes ourarea and what constitutestheir area. For example,Mizoram wants to follow the1875 notifi�cation regardingLushai Hills but it’s not acceptable to us,” the offi�cialsaid.

The Mizoram government claimed that a 509squaremile stretch of theinnerline reserve forest notifi�ed in 1875 — under theBengal Eastern FrontierRegulation of 1873 — belongsto it. The Assam government, on the other hand,maintained that the constitutional map and boundarydrawn by Survey of India in1933 was acceptable to it.

Satellite maps to be used to resolve row

The idea was mooted byHome Minister Amit Shah afew months ago.

Since the July 26 incident,locals in Assam haveblocked the National Highway306 besides uprootinga stretch of the lone railwaytrack connecting Mizoram.Transportation of peopleand goods to and from Mizoram has thus been aff�ected.

Withdrawal of FIR likelyThe Mizoram government islikely to withdraw the FIRfi�led against Dr. Sarma, theState’s Chief Secretary, Lalnunmawia Chuaungo, toldpresspersons in Aizawl onSunday. “Our Chief Ministerhas suggested that I shouldlook into the inclusion of theAssam Chief Minister’sname in the FIR,” he said,pointing out that naming Dr.Sarma in the FIR did nothave the approval of Mr. Zoramthanga.

The Chief Secretary didnot specify if the casesagainst six Assam offi�cials

and 200 other unidentifi�edpolice personnel would bewithdrawn.

Four bookedThe Mizoram police hadbooked four senior Assampolice offi�cers, including anInspectorGeneral of Police,the Deputy Commissionerand the Divisional Forest Offi�cer of Cachar district onvarious charges, includingattempt to murder and assault. They were asked toappear before the investigation offi�cer at the Vairengtepolice station in Kolasib district of Mizoram.

Likewise, the Assam police summoned Mizoram Rajya Sabha member K. Vanlalvena and six others offi�cials,including the Kolasib Deputy Commissioner and theSuperintendent of Police,for questioning at the Dholaipolice station in Cachar onSunday.

Assam, Mizoram agree to ease border tension

Chaos ensues: Police personnel during the clash at theAssamMizoram border on July 26. * PTI

CMYK

M ND-NDE


THE HINDU DELHI


NEWS

States and their agenciesshare an “equal responsibility” to ensure that people arenot booked under Section66A of the InformationTechnology Act for expressing themselves freely on social media, the Centre hassubmitted in an affi�davit tothe Supreme Court..

Section 66A was declaredunconstitutional by the Supreme Court in a judgmentin 2015. On July 5 this year,an apex court Bench led byJustice Rohinton F. Narimansaid it was “distressing,”“shocking” and “terrible”that people are still bookedand tried under Section 66Aeven six years after the apexcourt struck down the provision as unconstitutionaland a violation of freespeech.

The People’s Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL), an NGOrepresented by senior advocate Sanjay Parikh and advocate Aparna Bhat, haddrawn the court’s attentionto the violations.

Justice Nariman had authored the judgment trashingSection 66A in a petitionfi�led by law student ShreyaSinghal, who highlightedcases of young people beingarrested and charged underthe ambiguous provision fortheir social media posts.

In its response, theCentre said the police andpublic order were “Statesubjects” under theConstitution.

“Prevention, detection,investigation and prosecution of crimes and capacitybuilding of the police areprimarily the responsibilityof the States,” the Centresubmitted in the affi�davit.

It said law enforcementagencies share equal responsibility to comply with

the apex court judgment.They take action againstcyber crime off�enders asper the law.

The Centre said the Ministries of Information andTechnology and Home Affairs had done their best todisseminate knowledgeabout the Supreme Courtjudgment in Shreya Singhalcase. Section 66A had prescribed three years’ imprisonment if a social mediamessage caused “annoyance” or was found“grossly off�ensive”.

The Supreme Court hadconcluded the provision tobe vague and worded arbitrarily. Justice Nariman hadagreed with Mr. Parikh onJuly 7 that the “state of affairs is shocking”.

Mr. Parikh had urged thecourt to intervene and workout a mechanism to disseminate the Shreya Singhaljudgment to every policestation and trial court in thecountry.

“Section 66A of the IT Acthas continued to be in usenot only within police stations but also in cases before trial courts across India,” the PUCL hassubmitted.

The NGO has urged theapex court to direct the government to collect all thedata/information regardinginvestigations under Section66A and pending cases indistrict and High Courts.

‘States too mustensure cases are notfi�led under Sec. 66A’It was declared unconstitutional in 2015

Krishnadas Rajagopal

NEW DELHI

Union Ministers Smriti Irani,Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi andBhupendra Yadav held ameeting with a group of Muslim women on Sunday,which was observed as ‘Muslim Women Rights Day’ tomark the second anniversary of the enactment of thelaw against triple talaq. TheMinisters also interactedwith several women whowere aff�ected by triple talaq.

Big reform: NaqviMinister for Minority Aff�airsMr. Naqvi said the lawagainst triple talaq had proven to be a “big reform” toensure constitutional rightsfor Muslim women, said astatement by his Ministry.

Minister for Labour and

Employment Mr. Yadav wasquoted as saying that theCentre’s decision to providequota for OBCs and economically backward sections inmedical/dental studieswould also benefi�t the poorsections of Muslims.

Meanwhile, Over 650 citi

zens — Muslim and nonMuslim women, men and transpersons, women rightsactivists, human rights activists, academics, studentsand hundreds of citizens —issued a strong statement‘rejecting’ the gesture of observing Muslim Women

Rights Day as mere “opticsduring an unprecedentedonslaught against the rightsof the Muslims under thepresent government”.

“This government has remained silent as Muslimshave been lynched... TheBJP, both at the Centre andthrough its State governments, has determinedly“gone after” Muslims undermyriad laws, both old, newand proposed — beef bans,anticonversion includingthe recent Uttar PradeshProhibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Ordinance, 2020, and its proposed U.P. PopulationControl Bill. Such a government has no moral right todeclare any national day inthe name of Muslim women,” the statement said.

Union Ministers meet Muslim womenMeet to mark the second anniversary of enactment of law against triple talaq

Interactive session: From left, Bhupendra Yadav, Smriti Iraniand Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, in New Delhi on Sunday. * PTI


NEW DELHI

Twotime Congress MLAfrom eastern Assam’s Thowra Assembly constituency,Sushanta Borgohain, joinedthe Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) on Sunday.

He is the second legislator to switch over to the BJPafter Rupjyoti Kurmi, whowon the Mariani Assemblyseat for the fourth straighttime earlier this year.

“His joining will strengthen the party immensely,”Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said,welcoming Mr. Borgohain,who has been one of themost vocal critics of the BJP.

The BJP is expected tofi�eld him for the Thowra

constituency in the byeelection scheduled by October. Mr. Kurmi is also expected to be fi�elded fromthe Mariani seat.

Mr. Borgohain had submitted his resignation fromthe Legislative Assembly onJuly 31, a day after quittingCongress.

Down to 27 seatsCongress is now down to 27seats in the 126member Assam Assembly.

The House has an eff�ective strength of 122 after theresignation of the Congressduo, and the death of twoother MLAs — one each fromthe Bodoland People’s Frontand United People’s PartyLiberal.

Second Congress MLAfrom Assam joins BJP Sushanta Borgohain is a twotime MLA


GUWAHATI

A Delhi court has upheld thefi�nding of the Central Bureauof Investigation (CBI) whichruled out any foul play in the2019 car accident involvingthe survivor of the Unnaogang rape.

The CBI concluded thatthere was no evidence regarding criminal conspiracyhatched among the accusedpersons, including expelledBJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, who is serving a life imprisonment for raping thegirl in 2017, with the driver ofthe truck, which collidedwith the car carrying thevictims.

On July 28, 2019, the survivor, along with her two auntsand a lawyer, were on theirway to meet her uncle Mahesh Singh, who was lodgedin a Rae Bareilly jail, whentheir car collided with atruck. The survivor’s twoaunts and the lawyer werekilled in the accident.

Mr. Mahesh Singh, in hiscomplaint, alleged that theaccident was the result of a

conspiracy hatched by Sengar along with his associates.He also alleged that in orderto execute the conspiracy,the Personal Security Offi�cers (PSOs) who were deployed with the rape victimand her family memberswere withdrawn which waswhy they were not accompanying the victims in the car.

District and SessionsJudge Dharmesh Sharmanoted, “There was indeed avery diabolical backgroundof the events that had takenplace prior to the incident inquestion, but at the stage ofconsidering taking of cognisance of off�ences allegedly

committed by the accusedpersons, this court cannotbe swayed by public sentiments, media reports northe aspect of the convictionof Kuldeep Singh Sengar”.

“I have no hesitation inholding the fi�ndings of theCBI in the fi�nal report/chargesheet that there is no caseagainst the accused personsso as to take cognisance andproceed against them underSection 302 (murder) and307 (attempt to murder) ofIPC r/w Section 120 B of IPCcan not be faulted,” thejudge said.

The court said that merelybecause Sengar had beenprovided with a mobilephone “surreptitiously bythe jail authority at SitapurJail would not invite an inference that he was involved inthe planning the accident”.The court, however, framedcharges against the truckdriver for causing death byrash and negligent driving,besides framing charges ofcriminal intimidation againstSengar and his associates.

Unnao accident: Delhi

court upholds CBI fi�ndingInvestigating agency ruled out foul play in 2019 incident

Kuldeep Singh Sengar

Soibam Rocky Singh

New Delhi During the highpitchedelection campaign in the2021 West Bengal Assemblypolls, Trinamool Congresschairperson Mamata Banerjee did not attack the Leftparties particularly the CPI(M). However, the only leader whose name the WestBengal Chief Minister referred to again and againduring her campaign was

former Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar.

“Ask Manik Babu what theBJP has done in Tripura,” Ms.

Banerjee would often referin her speeches. Much to theadvantage of the Trinamool,Mr. Sarkar campaigned in

West Bengal largely stressingon the alleged excesses ofpolice and administration onthe economically weakersections in Tripura after theBJP came to power in 2018.

After the sweeping victoryin West Bengal, it came as nosurprise that the TrinamoolCongress has set its eyes onthe Tripura Assembly elections which are scheduled tobe held in 2023. The recentcontroversy over IPAC representatives being bookedby the BJP government inTripura and not being allowed to leave the hotel hascome as on opportunity to it.

Trinamool Congress general secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee will on Monday be visiting Tripura. Mr.Banerjee’s visit makes it thethird delegation of the TMCleadership visiting the northeastern State in less than seven days.

Ministers Bratya Basu andMoloy Ghatak visited Tripura on July 28 followed by party MPs Derek O’Brien andKakuli Ghosh Dastidar on July 29.

Mr. Banerjee on Mondaywill visit the Tripureshwaritemple in Tripura and hold apress conference in Agartala.

Trinamool eyes Tripura to gain national footprintAbhishekBanerjee to visitAgartala today

Launching an attack: Mamata Banerjee criticised Tripura CMManik Sarkar several times during her campaign. * FILE PHOTO

Shiv Sahay Singh

Kolkata

Launching a broadsideagainst the Narendra Modiled Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) government at theCentre, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole onSunday charged the BJP withdistorting history while accusing Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari ofbeing a “BJP stooge” and hisoffi�cial residence, the RajBhavan, a “virtual offi�ce forthe party”.

He further lashed out at

the Modi regime for severelycurtailing the press, claiming that the former PrimeMinister Rajiv Gandhi hadextended a lot of freedom towards the fourth estate despite getting fl�ak from it in thealleged Bofors Gun scandal.

“Recently, the State’s Governor Koshyari commentedthat it was Jawaharlal Nehruwho was responsible for Partition in 1947… ordinarily, ifone were to talk of PanditNehru’s towering contributions in building the modernIndian nation, even 10 days

would be less. But when theGovernor of a State, who issupposed to be the holder ofan impartial offi�ce, says sucha thing, it is truly shameful…the Governor is behaving like a BJP agent and hisresidence is functioning likea veritable BJP offi�ce,” Mr.Patole said.

He was speaking in Puneat the historic Kesari Wadabuilding on occasion of thelaunch of a series of programmes to commemoratethe Diamond Jubilee year ofIndependence.

Maharashtra Raj Bhavan hasbecome BJP’s offi�ce: PatoleState Congress chief lashes out at BJP for curtailing press

Special correspondent

Pune

The Unnao rape survivor hasapproached a Delhi court alleging harassment by thepersonal security offi�cers(PSO) deputed on the direction of the Supreme Courtfor her protection.

District and SessionsJudge Dharmesh Sharma directed the Investigating Offi�cer of the Central Bureau ofInvestigation (CBI) to submitan impact assessment report

in this regard with the assistance of the local police.

“Application has beenmoved on the behalf of thecomplainant that she andher family members wereharassed by the PSOs whoare deputed as per the direction of the Supreme Court,in a sense that they are notallowing her to enjoy her liberties,” the court said.

The court said that asealed envelope was also received from the police in

which certain allegationswere levelled against thecomplainant and her familymembers. “It is directed thatthis application be taken upfor consideration, the courtsaid.

The woman was kidnapped and raped by expelled Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Kuldeep SinghSengar in 2017 when she wasa minor. The case was transferred from Unnao to Delhiand was probed by the CBI.

Survivor alleges harassment by personal security offi�cersStaff Reporter

New Delhi

India will always be a supporter of international law,said External Aff�airs MinisterS. Jaishankar laying out thepolicy perspective that theIndian team at the U.N. willpursue during the SecurityCouncil Presidency in August. The Minister’s comment came as India tookcharge on Sunday againstthe backdrop of intensifyingconfl�icts in Afghanistan andMyanmar.

“As we take over UNSCPresidency for August, lookforward to working productively with other members.India will always be a voiceof moderation, an advocateof dialogue and a proponentof international law,” saidMr. Jaishankar in a social media message.

The comment indicates

that maritime security,which is of signifi�cance indealing with freedom of navigation in the South ChinaSea, is likely to receive bulkof Indian attention. However, four major Asian confl�ictsare raging and diplomaticanalysts say India should focus on resolving the confl�ictsin Afghanistan, Myanmar,and Yemen and fi�nd a lastingsolution to troubles in Syria.

On Sunday, The Hindu reported that India will on Au

gust 9 organise a virtualOpen Debate for heads ofstate and government titled“Maintenance of international pace and security: Enhancing maritime security —A case for internationalcooperation.” It was also reported that meetings relatedto the Asian confl�icts couldbe convened during August.

India’s past role in usingthe UNSC as a tool for confl�ict resolution was highlighted by Minister of Housing

and Urban Aff�airs HardeepSingh Puri, who served asthe Permanent Representative of India at the SecurityCouncil in 2011.

“Ten years ago this day,India had last assumed presidency of the UNSC. I was privileged to preside over thehorseshoe. We specifi�callycautioned against the ‘use offorce’ in Libya and failure toact in Syria. Results are staring us in the face and continue to haunt the UNSC,” saidMr. Puri in a social mediapost on Sunday.

The developments in Afghanistan and Myanmar especially are of immediate importance to India and thebroader Asian region. Indiais an elected nonpermanentmember of the SecurityCouncil and had receivedsupport of the AsiaPacifi�ccountries in the election.

UNSC Presidency: Jaishankarlays out policy perspectiveFreedom of navigation in South China Sea likely to receive bulk of attention

Kallol Bhattacherjee

NEW DELHI

Leader of the Opposition inthe Rajya Sabha MallikarjunKharge has written to RajyaSabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu objecting to theChair’s decision not to admit adjournment noticesunder Rule 267 to discussthe Pegasus snooping controversy, a source said onSunday.

Though there is no offi�cial word on the letter, either from the Congress or Mr.Kharge's offi�ce, a seniorleader confi�rmed to The

Hindu that a letter was senta few days ago.

For over a week now, Opposition members havebeen giving notices underRule 267 on the Pegasus issue but they have not beenaccepted.

Mr. Kharge has raised theissue in the letter and is saidto have pointed out that“Opposition is being denied

an opportunity to raise issues even under the rulebook”.

When Mr. Naidu hadpointed out that Oppositionwas preventing other members from raising importantissues, Deputy Leader of theCongress in the Rajya SabhaAnand Sharma had arguedthat Opposition should alsobe allowed to raise issuesunder the rule book.

As the monsoon sessionenters its third week, theOpposition is all set to stepup its demand for a debateon the Pegasus issue.

Kharge writes to Venkaiahon denial of debateMPs had given notices under Rule 267


New Delhi

Mallikarjun Kharge

CMYK

M ND-NDE


DELHI THE HINDU


NEWS

(set by Arden)

Never go off� the grid.

We are digital now. Come solve online!

@ https://qrgo.page.link/jjpTn

■ ACROSS

1 Crop of a kind we raise (6)

4 Doctor aims to follow with daily presence (8)

9 Tailoring units get ultimate fabric to make cloaks (6)

10 Arden’s after money, all detailed on tape (8)

12 People assemble here before a trip (5,3)

13 Head of police cross with someone who sells duplicates (6)

15 Randy felon is dividing prize money, it's a very small amount (12)

18 Invested after a magazine became traditional (4-8)

21 A woman in America, for us in India (6)

22 I’m on it, following a setter within a time frame (3,5)

24 Venerated marriage vow — left side shaky (8)

25 Beer only after a bite (6)

26 One called into shade to give an earful (8)

27 Instruments used only in batteries (6)

■ DOWN

1 In other constituencies, insets have no effect (3,2,3)

2 Feeling about maiden, same feeling (8)

3 After open text messaging you are sent out of the church (15)

5 When calm hearts get cured (4)

6 Who’s Putin to be allowed to come in the way? It’s a dangerous

game... (7,8)

7 ... a bit like promoting a strongman (6)

8 Our predecessors put me in a cage... (6)

11 ... slated to be free, yea (7)

14 Wrong categorisation, linking Titania with this Dickensian

character (7)

16 Deplorable to get caught at boundary, covers are off for last

match (8)

17 Upsurge is on novel books (8)

19 Basically cut in and cut out, looks tacky (6)

20 Our support for gun and protection (6)

23 Proper use of annexed land (4)

SCAN TO PLAY

+ 13315SUDOKU

Solution to puzzle 13314 Solution to yesterday’s Sudoku

DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

Kamsa sends Putana to kill the baby Krishna, growing up inGokula. Srimad Bhagavatam says she went as a lovely lady.Why did Putana have to adorn herself and look good? It wasthe norm in the past for a mother to dress up well and lookpleasant, when she picked up her child to feed it, so that thechild looking at her would be happy. Nampillai says thispractice was observed widely. The importance of breastfeeding is stressed thus, elaborated V.S. Karunakarachariarin a mantra. Also, the fi�rst time a mother feeds her child, thefather has to utter a mantra. Apsatambha sutra says thatsoon after the child is born, the mother must feed it fromher right breast, while the father recites the mantra. Themantra goes thus: “Let no demons hurt your child. Let therebe no danger to this child from ghosts. Let milk yieldingcows not hurt this child. Let this child have a lot of aff�ectionfor you. This child will drink up your old age. This childshould get strength through your milk. ” So, the mantra saysthat neither harmful beings like demons, nor harmless oneslike cows should hurt the child in any way. The phrase usedin the mantra for the child is “dhanasya priyaa,” meaningthe dear child is the mother’s wealth. Thus breastfeedingwas given great importance, with a ritual and a mantra dedicated to it. When Putana puts Krishna to her breast, hesucks not only her milk, but her life as well.

Later, Krishna recalling the incident, praises Vasudeva’sadherence to prescribed practices as having protected Him.He is referring here to the fact that when He was born, Devaki breastfed Him, and that Vasudeva recited the mantra forHis protection at that time. The Lord showed the world theimportance of this ritual and how the mantra serves to protect the baby.

FAITH

Mantra to protect children

The Central InformationCommission (CIC) hasslammed the Union government’s blanket denial of information related to a committee overseeing medicaloxygen supplies during thepandemic, stating that its rationale was “farfetched”and “unjustifi�ed”. In its order on Saturday, Information Commissioner VanajaSarna directed the government to respond to the Rightto Information (RTI) requestwithin 10 days.

The RTI request, fi�led byactivist and freelance journalist Saurav Das in April2021, sought information ona ninemember EmpoweredGroup set up a year earlierunder the Chairmanship ofthe Secretary, Departmentfor Promotion of Industryand Internal Trade. Whenthe fi�rst wave of the pandemic began, it was responsible for coordinating thesupply of PPE kits, RTPCRtest kits, N95 masks andgloves. It subsequently became responsible for the

supply of medical oxygen aswell. Mr. Das requested information on the dates,agenda and minutes of thecommittee’s meetings tilldate, and presentationsmade to the committee.

The government deniedthe request, citing Sectionsof the RTI law that allow exemptions on the grounds ofnational security, strategicinterests, commercial confi�dences, intellectual property and Cabinet papers.

In a hearing on Saturday,the Central Public Information Offi�cer (CPIO) arguedthat the Empowered Groupwas set up in a time of crisis

to cut across the severalarms of the government andensure that bureaucratichassles did not impede decisionmaking. “These proposals and deliberations contain highly sensitiveinformation,” he said.

The CIC dismissed the government’s defence, sayingthat the citing of exemptionon the grounds of Cabinetdiscussions “appears to bean afterthought, whichseems farfetched also”. Theexemption cited related tonational security was “alsonot justifi�ed.” The CIC further directed the CPIO to provide a reply within 10 days.

CIC fl�ays govt.’s denial ofdetails on oxygen panel‘Respond to the Right to Information request within 10 days’


NEW DELHI

Lack of information: Medical oxygen cylinders for patients ata hospital in New Delhi. * SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

The Ministry of Ayush hascollaborated with the U.K.’sLondon School of Hygieneand Tropical Medicine(LSHTM) to conduct a studyon ‘Ashwagandha’ for promoting recovery fromCOVID19.

A Ministry release said theAll India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), an autonomousbody under the Ministry ofAyush, and the LSHTM recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) to conduct clinicaltrials of ‘Ashwagandha’ on2,000 participants in threeU.K. cities — Leicester, Birmingham and London(Southall and Wembley).

‘Indian winter cherry’‘Ashwagandha’ (Withaniasomnifera), commonlyknown as ‘Indian wintercherry’, is a traditional Indian herb that boosts energy, reduces stress and makesthe immune system stronger. It is an easily accessible,overthecounter nutritionalsupplement in the U.K. andhas a proven safety profi�le.The positive eff�ects of ‘Ashwagandha’ have been observed in long COVID19,

which is a multisystem disease with no evidence of itseff�ective treatment or management. It added that thesuccessful completion of thetrial could be a major breakthrough and could givescientifi�c validity to India’straditional medicinalsystem.

“While there have beenseveral studies on ‘Ashwagandha’ to understand itsbenefi�ts in various ailments,this is the fi�rst time the Ministry of Ayush has collaborated with a foreign institution to investigate its effi�cacyon COVID19 patients,” theMinistry said.

According to AIIA directorTanuja Manoj Nesari, who isalso a coinvestigator in the

project along with Rajgopalan, coordinator (international projects), the participants have been randomlyselected. Sanjay Kinra of theLSHTM is the principal investigator of the study.

“For three months, onegroup of 1,000 participantswill be administered ‘Ashwagandha’ [AG] tablets, whilethe second group of 1,000participants will be assigneda placebo, which is indistinguishable from AG in looksand taste. Both patients andthe doctors will be unawareof the group’s treatment in adoubleblind trial,” Dr. Nesari said.

The participants wouldhave to take the 500 mg tablets twice a day. A monthly

followup of selfreportedquality of life, impairment toactivities of daily living, mental and physical healthsymptoms, supplement useand adverse events would becarried out.

It took over 100 meetingsspanning about 16 monthsthrough both diplomatic aswell as regulatory channelsto sign the MoU, Dr. Nesarisaid. She added that the study had been approved by theMedicines and HealthcareProducts Regulatory Agency(MHRA) and certifi�ed by theWorld Health OrganizartionGood Manufacturing Practices (WHOGMP).

Reducing anxiety Recently, a number of randomised placebocontrolledtrials of AG in humans in India had demonstrated its effi�cacy in reducing anxiety andstress, improving musclestrength and reducing symptoms of fatigue in patientstreated for chronic conditions.

“After the trial’s success,‘Ashwagandha’ will be a proven medicinal treatment toprevent infection and be recognised by the scientifi�ccommunity worldwide,” theMinistry noted.

Clinical trials of ‘Ashwagandha’ soon The trials will be conducted on 2,000 participants in three U.K. cities, says govt.

Research on: ’Ashwagandha’ is an easily accessible,overthecounter nutritional supplement in the U.K.


NEW DELHI

The Public Works Department (PWD) has started repairing the road to boxerLovlina Borgohain’s home inGolaghat district, eastern Assam. The work was undertaken soon after she reachedthe welterweight category

semifi�nals in women’s boxing at the Tokyo Olympics,assuring at least a bronzemedal for India.

The 23yearold pugilist’shome in Baromukhia villageunder the Sarupathar Assembly constituency has hada partlymetalled road foryears.

The village is about 3 kmfrom Barpathar, the nearesttown.

‘Before she returns’“We are trying to repair theroad with sand and gravelbefore she returns from Tokyo. The road will be metalled after the monsoon sea

son,” Sarupathar’s BJP MLABiswajit Phukan said, addingthat Chief Minister HimantaBiswa Sarma had wanted theroad to be usable for vehicleswithin a few days.

PWD offi�cials said about600 metres of the road leading to Ms. Borgohain’s homewould be repaired for now.

Road to boxer’s home being repaired in Assam SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

GUWAHATI

The Delhi High Court hasasked the Department ofPersonnel and Training(DoPT) to give the details ofthe total number of vacancies notifi�ed and reservations given in accordancewith the Right of Personswith Disabilities Act for theCivil Services Exam (CSE),2020.

A Bench of Chief JusticeD.N. Patel and Justice JyotiSingh gave the directionwhile hearing two petitions,which alleged that seats forthe visually challenged andpersons with multiple disabilities had not been reserved in accordance withthe Rights of Persons withDisabilities (RPWD) Act of2016. The High Court askedthe DoPT to submit an additional affi�davit before August 2, the next date of thehearing. “The DoPT willclearly highlight in the affi�davit the total number of vacancies notifi�ed and the reservations given inaccordance with Section 34(1) of the Right of Personswith Disabilities Act, 2016 asalso the details of 251 vacancies for which it is statedthat no reservations can bemade,” the court ordered.

The Union government’sstanding counsel submittedthat the fi�nal vacancies notifi�ed for the CSE, 2020, were

836, out of which therecould be no reservation for251 vacancies. The counselsaid as against the remaining 585 vacancies, 24 hadbeen reserved and the reservation was in accordancewith the mandate of Section34(1) of the Act, that is, 4%.

The High Court was dealing with two petitions — onefi�led by the Evara Foundation and other by NGOSambhavanam. It had earlier sought responses of thegovernment, the Union Public Service Commission(UPSC) and the DoPT on thepetitions seeking quashingof the notice announcingthe civil services preliminary and an interim stay onthe declaration of the results on the ground that aninadequate number of seatshad been reserved for persons with visual and multiple disabilities.

The Evara Foundationcontended that due to an inadequate number of vacancies for the visually challenged and those withmultiple disabilities, fewercandidates belonging tothese two categories wouldqualify for the main examination.

NGO Sambhavana saidthe UPSC had reserved only24 vacancies for personswith disabilities out of a total 796 “expected approximate vacancies”.

Give details of vacanciesfor disabled in CSE: HCSubmit this before Aug. 2, it tells govt.

Staff Reporter

New Delhi

Union Home Minister AmitShah on Sunday lauded Uttar Pradesh Chief MinisterYogi Adityanath and histeam for taking the State tothe “top spot in the country” with regard to law andorder. Mr. Shah said theState had developed in allfi�elds under Mr. Adityanath,and the State governmenthad done well during bothwaves of the COVID19pandemic.

Speaking at the foundation laying ceremony of theUttar Pradesh Institute ofForensic Sciences here, Mr.Shah targeted the Opposition parties and said “thosedreaming” of coming topower in 2022 should prepare themselves for anotherrout. “Those dreaming [ofcoming to power], I want totell them, bhaiya [brother],once again prepare yourselffor a crushing defeat. BJP isgoing to form the government with a huge majority,”Mr. Shah said. In 2017, theBJP and its allies had wonover 320 seats in the 403member Assembly.

Mr. Shah also appealed tovoters in the State to not bemisled, but to see for themselves the developmentworks in their village and cities along with the change inthe law and order situationsince 2017. “Riots have come

to an end. Look at that. Jati-vad [casteism] came to anend. BJP has uprooted pari-vaarvad [dynastic politics],”Mr. Shah said.

‘Not based on caste’ The BJP governments didnot function on the basis ofcastes or families, but forthe poorest person in thecountry and for improvinglaw and order, he added.

Mr. Shah attacked Opposition parties and politicalleaders, claiming that theyget active only when elections approach. He saidthese leaders were nowhereto be seen during fl�oods orCOVID19, or when farmerswere dying of hunger.

Later, speaking in Mirzapur while laying the foundation stone of the Vindhyavasini Corridor project, Mr.Shah asserted that the BJPdid not fear vote bank politics.

U.P. on top in terms oflaw and order, says ShahHe lavishes praise on CM Adityanath


LUCKNOW

Union Home Minister AmitShah with U.P. CM YogiAdityanath in Lucknow. * PTI

Punjab Agricultural University’s (PAU) upgraded technology for the direct seedingof rice (DSR), the ‘tar wattar’(good soil moisture) DSR,seems to have caught thefancy of paddy farmers inthe State.

A rise in the area plantedunder the novel DSR technique indicate that farmersare moving away from thetraditional practice of puddle transplanting.

Improved versionThe Ludhianabased University introduced the DSRtechnique in 2020, an improved version of earlierDSR (dry) technique.

In the new technique, presowing irrigation is appliedin a levelled fi�eld and theprimed seed is sownimmediately.

“Last year, the COVID19outbreak and the subse

quent lockdown had led toan exodus of labour. Therewas concern among farmerson the timely completion ofplanting due to a shortage oflabour. However, availabilityof the DSR technology cameto their rescue. Rice was di

rectly seeded on about onefi�fth of the area in the State.The successful adoption ofthe technology has evenfound an echo in Haryana. In2020, rice was sown throughDSR in about fi�ve lakh hectares in Punjab, against just

23,450 hectares in 2019,”Makhan Singh Bhullar, principal agronomist at PAU, toldThe Hindu.

“This year, rice cultivationarea under DSR has touchedabout fi�ve lakh hectares. Weare hopeful that this may increase after the fi�nal data iscompiled,” he said.

Mr. Bhullar said yield levels after a largescale adoption of the DSR technique in2020 had convinced farmersabout its viability.

“The DSR method saves alot of groundwater becausethe crop does not need frequent irrigation as in thecase of a puddled paddyfi�eld. The method is alsopocketfriendly as manualtransplanting is getting costlier with each passing season. This method also addresses the shortage of farmlabour,” Amreet Inder Dhillon from Mehtabgarh in Ludhiana, who uses the DSRtechnique, said.

Punjab paddy farmers taking to new technique‘DSR technique saves groundwater, is cheaper and yield and quality are good’

A farmer sowing paddy seeds in his fi�elds using the DSRmethod in Punjab.

VIKAS VASUDEVA

CHANDIGARH

The July 31 deadline tocomplete administeringthe fi�rst COVID19 vaccinedose to all eligible benefi�ciaries in Goa has been missed as only 87% of the target has been met, a senioroffi�cial said on Sunday.

The July 31 deadline wasset by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant with the aimof getting the State prepared to tackle a possiblethird wave of the infection.

“Now, 87% of the eligiblepopulation of Goa has beengiven the fi�rst dose of theCOVID19 vaccine. Currently, 23% of benefi�ciarieshave got both doses,” StateVaccination Offi�cer Dr. Rajendra Borkar said.

Independent MLA Rohan Khaunte attacked thegovernment for missingthe deadline and said theBharatiya Janata Party wasmore interested in “trampling democracy” thanfi�ghting the pandemic.

Goa on Sunday reported59 fresh cases and onedeath, taking the tally to1,71,205 and the toll to3,148. With 105 patients being discharged, total recoveries rose to 1,67,046.

Goa misses deadline togive fi�rst jab


Panaji

CMYK

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THE HINDU DELHI


Afghan forces fought fi�ercestreet battles and bombedTaliban positions on Sundaywhile insurgents swarmedmajor cities as they steppedup their nationwideoff�ensive.

Hundreds of commandoswere deployed to the western city of Herat while authorities in the southern city ofLashkar Gah called for moretroops to rein in the assaultseven as Afghan air strikes leftscores dead on the streets,residents said.

Fighting has surged acrossAfghanistan since early Maywhen U.S.led foreign forcesbegan a fi�nal withdrawal thatis now almost complete.

After seizing large tracts ofrural territory and capturingkey border crossings, the Taliban have started assaultingprovincial capitals.

In Kandahar, Afghanistan’s secondlargest city and

the former stronghold of theinsurgents, days of fi�ghtinghave displaced thousands ofpeople who crowded intothe city centre to escape thecrossfi�re on the edge of theprovincial capital.

Flights out of Kandaharwere suspended on Sundayafter at least two rockets hitthe runway before dawn.

The facility is vital to

maintaining the logistics andair support needed to keepthe Taliban from overrunning the city, while also providing aerial cover for largetracts of southernAfghanistan.

Taliban claims attack

The Taliban claimed the attack, saying governmentwarplanes were “bombard

ing” their positions from theairport.

The rocket barrage cameas the Taliban inched closerto overwhelming at least twoother provincial capitals, including nearby Lashkar Gahin Helmand province.

“Fighting is going on inside the city and we haveasked for special forces to bedeployed,” Ataullah Afghan,head of Helmand provincialcouncil, said.

Afghan security forceshave increasingly relied onair strikes to push the militants back from cities even asthey run the risk of hitting civilians in populated areas.

“Every inch of the city hasbeen bombed,” BadshahKhan, a resident of LashkarGah, said, adding the twowarring sides were fi�ghting“street to street” battles.

“You can see dead bodieson the streets. There are bodies of people in the mainsquare,” he said, adding the

Taliban had even surrounded the city’s police headquarters and Governor’soffi�ce.

“The threat is high inthese three provinces... butwe are determined to repeltheir attacks,” Afghan security forces spokesman AjmalOmar Shinwari said.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan(UNAMA) demanded the Taliban “provide answers” forthe rocket attack on its offi�cein Herat on Friday that killedan Afghan guard.

The capture of any majorurban centre would taketheir current off�ensive toanother level and fuel concerns that the army is incapable of resisting theadvances.

As fi�ghting raged, President Ashraf Ghani againslammed the Taliban for failing to marshal their negotiating power to reach a peacedeal.

Afghan forces digging in to defend citiesAt least two rockets hit Kandahar airport, disrupting fl�ights; residents fl�ee amid airstrikes, street battles

Agence France-Presse

Kandahar

Fighting intensifi�es: Afghan commandos standing guard inEnjil district of Herat province on Sunday. * AFP

Pakistani authorities have fi�nalised a law to award provisional provincial status tostrategically located GilgitBaltistan, a media reportsaid on Sunday.

India has clearly conveyed to Pakistan that theentire Union Territories ofJammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas ofGilgit and Baltistan, are anintegral part of the countryby virtue of its fully legal andirrevocable accession.

India maintains the Government of Pakistan or its

judiciary has no locus standion territories illegally andforcibly occupied by it.

Dawn newspaper reported that under the proposedlaw by the Ministry of Lawand Justice, the Supreme Appellate Court (SAC) of GilgitBaltistan may be abolishedand the region’s electioncommission is likely to bemerged with the ElectionCommission of Pakistan(ECP).

Sources in the Law Ministry told the newspaper thatthe draft of the Bill titled‘26th Constitutional Amendment Bill’ had been pre

pared and submitted toPrime Minister Imran Khan.

According to the sources,the draft Bill has been prepared after careful readingof the Constitution of Pakistan, international laws, theUN resolutions especiallythose related to a plebisciteon Kashmir, comparativeconstitutional laws and locallegislation.

The stakeholders, including the governments of GilgitBaltistan and Pakistanoccupied Kashmir, had beenconsulted on the proposedconstitutional amendment,the report quoted sources.

Pak. fi�nalises Bill to grant newstatus to GilgitBaltistan: reportIndia opposed to any change in ‘illegally occupied territories’


Islamabad

Myanmar’s military rulerMin Aung Hlaing has takenon the role of Prime Minister in a newly formed caretaker government, state media reported on Sunday, sixmonths after the Armyseized power from a civiliangovernment.

In a speech on Sunday,Gen. Min Aung Hlaing repeated a pledge to hold elections by 2023 and said hisadministration was ready towork with a future regionalenvoy on Myanmar.

The announcement andspeech came exactly sixmonths after the Armyseized power on February 1from a civilian governmentfollowing elections thatwere won by Aung San SuuKyi’s ruling party but thatthe military said had beenfraudulent.

Gen. Min Aung Hlaing haschaired the State Administration Council (SAC) thatwas formed just after thecoup and that has run Myanmar since then, and the caretaker government will replace it.

“In order to perform thecountry’s duties fast, easilyand eff�ectively, the state administration council hasbeen reformed as caretakergovernment of Myanmar,” anewsreader on state Myawaddy television said.

In his speech, Gen. MinAung Hlaing repeated apledge to restore democracy, saying, “We will accomplish the provisions of thestate of emergency by August 2023”.

He added: “I guaranteethe establishment of a unionbased on democracy andfederalism.”

Shortly after the coup,junta leaders promised newelections within two years.The reference on Sunday to

August 2023 was interpreted by some local media asextending that time frameby six months.

Gen. Min Aung Hlaing also said his administrationwould work with any specialenvoy named by the Association of Southeast AsianNations (ASEAN).

ASEAN meet

ASEAN Foreign Ministersare to meet on Monday,when diplomats say theyaim to fi�nalise a special envoy tasked with ending violence and promoting dialogue between the junta andits opponents.

The military authoritieshave faced months of protests, strikes that have paralysed public and private sectors, and a resurgence ofarmed confl�icts in theborderlands.

The authorities havebranded their opponents asterrorists. “At present, thewhole country is stable except for some terrorist attacks,” Mr. Min Aung Hlaingsaid.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisonersactivist group has accusedthe armed forces of killing939 people since the coupand said at least 6,990 military opponents have beenarrested.

The military said thenumber of protesters killedis far lower.

He pledges to hold elections by 2023

Reuters

BANGKOK

Gen. Min Aung Hlaing

Myanmar juntaruler takes PM role

The U.S. and the U.K.joined Israel on Sunday inalleging Iran carried out afatal drone strike on an oiltanker off� the coast ofOman in the Arabian Sea,in which two people werekilled, putting further pressure on Tehran as it deniedbeing involved in theassault.

U.S. Secretary of StateAntony Blinken said theU.S. was “confi�dent” Irancarried out the attack, using multiple drones.

Calling it a “unlawfuland callous attack,” BritishForeign Secretary DominicRaab said his country andits allies planned a coordinated response over thestrike.

Israeli Prime MinisterNaftali Bennett earlier saidIsraeli intelligence had evidence linking Iran to the attack, but did not off�er it.

U.S., U.K., Israelblame Iran for ship attack

Associated Press

Jerusalem

The infl�uential sister ofNorth Korean leader KimJongun said on Sunday thata planned military exercisebetween Seoul and Washington would “becloud” relations, staterun mediareported.

The warning comes amida surprise thaw on the Korean peninsula, promptedby a series of personal letters between Mr. Kim andSouth Korean PresidentMoon Jaein.

The two sides on Tuesdayrestored communicationsthat were severed morethan a year ago, announcing

their leaders had agreed towork on improving ties.

But Kim Yojong — a keyadviser to her brother theNorth Korean leader —warned the mood couldshift if the South holds jointmilitary drills with the United States later this month.

Kim’s sister warns againstS.KoreaU.S. military drill‘Move could aff�ect recent thaw in ties’


Seoul

Kim Yo-jong

Haniyeh reelected as chief of HamasGAZA

The Islamic militant group

Hamas on Sunday said it has

re-elected its supreme

leader. Ismail Haniyeh, who

has been living in exile for

the past two years, was given

a new four-year term by the

Shura Council, the Islamic

group's top decision-making

body. Haniyeh is a former aid

to Hamas’ founder, Ahmed

Yassin, who was assassinated

in an Israeli airstrike in 2004.

He served as the Palestinian

PM after Hamas won

parliamentary elections in

2006. AP

ELSEWHERE

Shouts of “Liberty!” haveechoed through the streetsand squares of Italy andFrance as thousands showtheir opposition to plans torequire vaccination cards fornormal social activities, suchas dining indoors at restaurants, visiting museums orcheering in sports stadiums.

Leaders in both countriessee the cards, dubbed the“Green Pass” in Italy and the“health pass” in France, asnecessary to boost vaccination rates and persuade theundecided.

Italian Premier MarioDraghi likened the antivaccination message from somepolitical leaders to “an appeal to die.”

The looming requirementis working, with vaccinationrequests booming in bothcountries.

Still, there are pockets of

resistance by those who seeit as a violation of civil liberties or have concerns aboutvaccine safety. About80,000 people protested incities across Italy last weekend, while thousands havemarched in Paris for the pastthree weekends, at timesclashing with police. Morethan 200,000 marchedacross France on Saturday,14,000 of them in Paris, in

the biggest show yet.Denmark pioneered vac

cine passes with little resistance. Belgium will require avaccine certifi�cate to attendoutdoor events with morethan 1,500 people by midAugust and indoor events bySeptember.

Germany and Britain haveso far resisted a blanket approach, while vaccinationsare so popular in Spain that

incentives are not deemednecessary.

Many say vaccine pass requirements are a source ofinequality that will furtherdivide society, and theydraw uneasy historicparallels.

“We are creating a greatinequality between citizens,’’ said Simone in Veronabecause he said he “fearedfor his livelihood.” “We willhave fi�rstclass citizens, whocan access public services,the theater, social life, andsecondclass citizens, whocannot. This thing has led toapartheid and theHolocaust.”

Holocaust survivors callthe comparison a distortionof history. “They are madness, gestures in poor tastethat intersect with ignorance,’’ said Liliana Segre, a90yearold Holocaust survivor and Italian Senator forlife.

Europe’s vaccine cards meet resistanceProtests in Italy, France against making health passes mandatory for social activities

Up in arms: Protesters marching in Paris against vaccinationpasses on Saturday. * AFP

Associated Press

Verona

New Zealand Prime MinisterJacinda Ardern on Sundayformally apologised for police crackdowns in the 1970sthat “unfairly targeted” thecountry’s Pacifi�ccommunity.

The infamous “dawnraids” were carried out byoffi�cers and immigration offi�cials, often accompaniedby dogs, to arrest and deport individuals who hadoverstayed their work visas.

Pacifi�c people compriseda third of overstayers but represented 86% of prosecutions, while Britons andAmericans in New Zealand— who also comprised athird of overstayers — sawjust 5% of prosecutions inthe same period.

“Today, I stand on behalf

of the New Zealand government to off�er a formal andunreserved apology to Pacific communities for the discriminatory implementation of the immigration lawsof the 1970s,” Ms. Arderntold a gathering of Pacifi�cdignitaries in Auckland.

Minister for Pacifi�c Peoples William Sio, who emigrated with his family fromSamoa to New Zealand in1969, described the raids as“racism of the worst kind.”

Wellington encouragedmigration from Pacifi�c islands such as Samoa, Tongaand Fiji after Second WorldWar to fi�ll worker shortagesas the economy expanded.

But those who migratedfaced a backlash during the1970s downturn, withclaims they were taking jobsfrom New Zealanders.

New Zealand apologisesfor raids on Pacifi�c peopleOverstayers were ‘unfairly targeted’


Wellington

Anger and frustrationmounted in Congress overthe weekend as a nationwide eviction moratoriumexpired during a surge inthe COVID19 pandemic.One Democratic lawmakereven camped outside theCapitol in protest.

Lawmakers said theywere blindsided by President Joe Biden’s inaction asthe midnight Saturday deadline neared, some furiousthat he called on Congressto provide a lastminute solution to protect renters.The rare division betweenthe President and his partycarried potential lasting political ramifi�cations.

New York Rep. Alexandria OcasioCortez said Sunday that Democrats have to

“call a spade a spade” afterthe deadline expired.

“We cannot in good faithblame the Republican Partywhen House Democratshave a majority,” she said.

Ms. OcasioCortez andother Democrats joinedRep. Cori Bush, DMo., onSaturday evening and overnight on Sunday as Ms. Bushcamped outside the Capitol.“I don’t plan to leave beforesome type of change happens,” Ms. Bush said,though the House had already left for its August recess.

More than 3.6 millionAmericans are at risk of eviction. The moratorium wasput in place by the Centersfor Disease Control and Prevention when jobs shiftedand many workers lost income at the peak of COVID19 crisis.

U.S. eviction ban expires,putting millions at riskCan’t blame Republicans: OcasioCortez

Associated Press

Washington

CMYK

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DELHI THE HINDU


MONEYWISE

We all will agree with the premise that our fi�nancial goalsand needs keep changing at different phases of our lives. Tostay fi�nancially secure duringall these phases, it is importantto have a term life insuranceplan. Term insurance that provides a huge life cover at a verysmall premium (For example ₹�1crore life cover for next 30years at ₹�500 per month) is acritical tool that provides a safety net to ensure the fi�nancialstability of the family. To keeppace with changing fi�nancialneeds, it is also important tokeep reviewing insurance plansas well.

Term insurance is never aonetime decision and it is important to review the coverageas you age. This is important tomake sure that the future needsof the dependents are metadequately. Here is a quick lookat the stages of your life whenyou should review terminsurance cover.

Young and singleYour career has probably justbegun. While you may feel thatyou do not have any dependents unless your parents havealready retired or you have a sibling who is dependent on you,this is the right time to start insurance planning from multipleperspectives. A very simple andfundamental aspect that manydo not realise is that you can getinsured easily when the per

ceived risk is low but the aspectis ignored by most. Also, whenthe risk is higher, everyonetends to run towards insurancebut it gets tougher to get covered.

At a young and healthy age,you can get a term insurancevery easily with very fewchecks. Even the premium willbe very low. As you grow older,there is an inherent risk ofhealthrelated issues and anyexternal accidents that maymake it tough to get cover at alater stage at a good price. Takeadvantage of the younger ageand health condition and purchase a plan that can coveryourself and an education loan,if any. In addition, while yourparents may not be dependenton you at this stage, you wouldhave, for sure, wanted them tolive their retired life without atight fi�nancial budget or live in amuch better fi�nancial positionthan your income would haveensured. A term insurance policy that you take at such an age

can take care of this aspect incase of any unforeseen event.

Marriage, childrenWhen you turn about 30,chances are quite high that youare married and have veryyoung children. Salaried professionals would have reached

midmanagerial level and selfemployed individuals would beenjoying a stable income infl�ow. On the personal front, youmay also have retired and dependent parents. At this point,you would be surrounded bymultiple liabilities and it is important to have adequate cover

age to pay for all such liabilities.It is important to have a signifi�cant cover to pay for all possibleexpenses of your family. Getyour coverage enhanced to ₹�1crore for overall protection andcoverage up to your retirementage or your earning capacity.

Late 40s, early 50sWhen an individual reacheslate forties and early fi�fties, heor she is likely in a senior managerial role while business owners are potentially looking to expand their businesses. At suchan age, the income of an individual increases signifi�cantly andthere is a proportionate rise inexpenses as well. This is mostlybecause the children are grownup and are at the stage of incurring major, onetime expensessuch as their weddings or considering higher education. In addition, it might be possible thatyou take a loan for such expenses or buy a home for your family. All these expenses make itessential that you enhance the

sum assured of your term coverso that all expenses are metcomfortably even in your absence. At this stage of life, theaverage person is best advisedto get term cover worth at least₹�1.5 crore.

The right coverIdeally, when buying a term insurance plan, it is always advisable to buy a policy with a coverage amount/sum assured upto 12 – 15 times of your annualincome. Apart from this, thereare other factors that must begiven due consideration whendeciding on the coverageamount. Forgetting to factor inloan outstanding is common asthe EMI is automatically debited monthly but the outstandingloan may still be signifi�cant. Retirement planning for thespouse, medical emergenciesand everyday expenses all needto be thought through. It is important to know all your liabilities while planning to buy aterm insurance plan.

The need for terminsurancecoverage usually peaks whenyou are in the middle of yourcareer and have liabilities topay. It is therefore advised tobuy a plan as early as possibleso that you can lock in the highest coverage possible at minimum prices. Waiting to buyterm insurance till liabilitiesadd up on your shoulders maysometimes prove costly.

(The writer is Business UnitHeadTerm Insurance, PolicyBazaar.com)

Let your life cover strategy age wellSajja Praveen Chowdary

A term insurance plan needs to be reviewed and added to at diff�erent stages in life

<>Term insurance is never a one-time decision and it

is important to review the coverage as you age.

This is important to make sure that all future needs of

dependents are met comfortably

Readers can send in queries on personal fi�nance and

investing to [email protected]. Our experts

who write on personal fi�nance will answer these

queries. Moneywise will not give specifi�c

recommendations for investment in a particular

mutual fund scheme, share or fi�xed deposit.

Bank fi�xed deposit rates .

Bank Name

Interest Rates (%)

Highest 1-year 3-year 5-year

Slab tenure tenure tenure.

.

Bank Name

Interest Rates (%)

Highest 1-year 3-year 5-year

Slab tenure tenure tenure.

SMALL FINANCE BANKS

Utkarsh Small Finance Bank 6.75 6.25 6.00 6.00

Suryoday Small Finance Bank 6.75 6.50 6.25 6.25

Ujjivan Small Finance Bank 6.75 6.50 6.75 6.75

Jana Small Finance Bank 6.75 6.25 6.50 6.50

Equitas Small Finance Bank 6.50 6.35 6.35 6.25

Fincare Small Finance Bank 6.50 5.60 6.25 6.00

ESAF Small Finance Bank 6.50 6.50 5.75 5.25

AU Small Finance Bank 6.25 5.00 6.25 6.00

Capital Small Finance Bank 6.25 6.00 6.00 6.00

PRIVATE SECTOR BANKS

DCB Bank 6.50 5.80 6.50 6.50

RBL Bank 6.50 6.10 6.30 6.50

State Bank of Mauritius 6.50 6.50 6.50 6.00

IndusInd Bank 6.00 6.00 6.00 6.00

Nainital Bank 6.35 5.25 5.35 5.35

IDFC First Bank 6.00 5.50 5.75 6.00

Karur Vysya Bank 6.00 5.25 5.50 5.75

CSB Bank 5.75 5.00 5.25 5.25

Axis Bank 5.75 5.10 5.40 5.75

South Indian Bank 5.65 5.40 5.50 5.65

Tamilnad Mercantile Bank 5.60 5.50 5.25 5.25

Karnataka Bank 5.60 5.20 5.50 5.50

Dhanlaxmi Bank 5.60 5.25 5.40 5.50

Bandhan Bank 5.50 5.50 5.25 5.00

HDFC Bank 5.50 4.90 5.15 5.30

ICICI Bank 5.50 4.90 5.15 5.35

DBS Bank 5.50 4.25 5.50 5.50

Jammu & Kashmir Bank 5.30 5.10 5.30 5.30

Kotak Mahindra Bank 5.25 4.50 5.10 5.25

PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS

Union Bank of India 5.60 5.00 5.40 5.50

Canara Bank 5.50 5.20 5.50 5.50

State Bank of India 5.40 5.00 5.30 5.40

Punjab & Sind Bank 5.30 5.15 5.30 5.30

Indian Bank 5.25 5.00 5.25 5.25

Bank of Baroda 5.25 4.90 5.10 5.25

IDBI Bank 5.30 5.00 5.30 5.25

Punjab National Bank 5.25 5.10 5.10 5.25

Indian Overseas Bank 5.20 5.15 5.20 5.20

Bank of India 5.15 5.10 5.15 5.15

Bank of Maharashta 4.90 4.90 4.90 4.90

FOREIGN BANKS

Deutsche Bank 6.25 3.85 4.50 6.25

HSBC Bank 4.00 3.10 4.00 4.00

CitiBank 3.50 2.75 3.50 3.50

Home loan interest rates .

Name of LenderLoan Amount (Rs.)

Upto 30 lakh Above 30 lakh &

upto 75 lakh

Above 75 lakh

.

(In %)

.

Name of LenderLoan Amount (Rs.)

Upto 30 lakh Above 30 lakh &

upto 75 lakh

Above 75 lakh

.

(In %)

PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS

Punjab & Sind Bank 6.65-7.60 6.65-7.60 6.65-7.60

State Bank of India 6.70-7.50 6.95-7.65 7.05-7.75

Bank of Baroda 6.75-8.35 6.75-8.35 6.75-8.60

Union Bank of India 6.80-7.60 6.90-7.65 6.90-7.65

Punjab National Bank 6.80-7.75 6.80-7.90 6.80-8.00

Central Bank of India 6.85-7.30 6.85-7.30 6.85-7.30

Bank of India 6.85-8.35 6.85-8.35 6.85-8.35

Canara Bank 6.90-8.90 6.90-8.90 6.90-8.90

UCO Bank 6.90-7.00 6.90-7.00 6.90-7.00

Bank of Maharashtra 6.90-8.05 6.90-8.40 6.90-8.40

IDBI Bank* 6.95-10.05 6.95-10.05 6.95-10.05

Indian Bank** 7.00-7.25 7.10-7.35 7.20-7.40

Indian Overseas Bank 7.05 7.15 7.30

PRIVATE SECTOR BANKS

Kotak Mahindra Bank ^ 6.65-7.20 6.65-7.20 6.65-7.20

ICICI Bank ^^ 6.75-7.30 6.75-7.45 7.10-7.55

Axis Bank 6.90-11.50 6.90-11.50 6.90-8.55

HSBC Bank^^^ 7.20-7.75 7.20-7.75 7.20-7.75

South Indian Bank 7.25-10.00 7.25-10.00 7.25-10.00

Karur Vysya Bank 7.35-9.55 7.35-9.55 7.35-9.55

Karnataka Bank 7.50-8.75 7.50-8.75 7.50-8.85

Federal Bank 7.65-7.70 7.70-7.75 7.75-7.80

Dhanlaxmi Bank 7.85-9.00 7.85-9.00 7.85-9.00

Tamilnad Mercantile Bank 8.25 8.25 8.25

Bandhan Bank 8.50-11.75 8.50-11.25 8.75-11.25

RBL Bank 10.20-12.80 10.20-10.70 9.50-10.00

HOUSING FINANCE COMPANIES (HFCs)

LIC Housing 6.66-7.85 6.66-8.05 6.90-8.05

HDFC Ltd.*** 6.75-7.45 7.00-7.70 7.10-7.80

Bajaj Finserv 6.75-8.50 6.75-8.50 6.75-8.50

Tata Capital >=6.90 >=6.90 >=6.90

PNB Housing 7.35-9.35 7.35-9.55 7.70-9.55

GIC Housing Finance >=7.45 >=7.45 >=7.45

Repco Home Finance >=7.75 >=7.75 >=7.75

Indiabulls Housing >=8.65 >=8.65 >=8.65

Aditya Birla Capital 9.00-12.50 9.00-12.50 9.00-12.50

Reliance Home Finance 9.75-13.00 9.75-13.00 9.75-11.00

*10 bps concession for women borrowers under limited period offer.

Conditions apply.

**Interest rate of 6.85%-7.00% p.a. offered under IND AWAS

Scheme

^ Special HLBT rates starting at 6.65% p.a. for any loan amount for

self employed and 6.60% p.a. for salaried. Rates for salaried are under

Freedom offer valid for all logins till 15th August, 2021 and disbursals

till 30th September, 2021

^^ HLBT interest rate range of 6.75%-7.55% p.a. for any loan

amount, with repayment from ICICI Bank Account

^^^ HLBT offered at an interest rate of 6.64% p.a.

***Special interest rates available under limited period offer. Valid

for disbursements availed on or before September 30

Rates as on July 28 Source:Paisabazaar.com

Q. I am a 21yearold medical student. I havestarted a recurring deposit (RD) with the₹�1,000 that I save every month. Now, I wantto start investing. What options would yousuggest? Am I eligible to invest in stocks andmutual funds (MFs)? Since investment gainsare subject to taxation, what rules will I besubjected to if I start investing at this age?

SHARAN D.

A. As you are 21 and a major, you cancertainly invest in any instrument of yourchoice, including shares and mutual funds,irrespective of whether you are employed ornot. You will, of course, need to meet theKYC requirement specifi�ed for each type ofinvestment. Usually, if you have a PAN cardand an Aadhaar for proof of address, thisshould suffi�ce for most investments, alongwith the account opening form.

Apart from bank RDs, you can considersmall savings schemes operated by IndiaPost. These are absolutely safe investmentsbacked by the Government of India. IndiaPost off�ers 1, 2, 3 and 5year fi�xeddeposits, a recurring deposit account, a5year monthly income account, a 5yearNational Savings Certifi�cate where yourinterest compounds until maturity, a 15yearPublic Provident Fund and many otheroptions that off�er a guaranteed return.

There are also deposit products fromNonBanking Financial Companies such asHDFC and Sundaram Finance that off�er fi�xedreturns if you lock in for 1,2,3 or 5 years. Theinterest you earn on both post offi�ce schemesand NBFC deposits are treated as yourincome and taxed at the income tax slab rateapplicable to you each year.

MFs are riskier investment vehicles thatdeliver returns based on movements inmarket prices of the assets they invest in.You can invest either through monthlyinstalments (called Systematic InvestmentPlans or SIPs) or through onetimeinvestments. There are diff�erent types of MFscarrying diff�ering risk profi�les, from thosethat invest in large, mid and smallcapstocks to those that invest in safer optionssuch as bonds. The key advantage ofopenend MFs is that they off�er anytimeliquidity as you can sell your units to the MFwhenever you need to exit. The dividendsreceived from MFs are taxed in your hands atyour IT slab rate. The capital gains are taxedas shortterm or longterm capital gains,based on how long you hold the fund.

When you buy shares, you get to own ashare of the business which entitles you todividends from the company and share priceappreciation, if any, when you sell the shares.Dividends are taxable in your hands asincome and capital appreciation as short termor longterm capital gains (after one year ofholding).

As you have no income from an occupation,you will need to add up all your incomesfrom stipend, dividends from MFs and shares,interest from deposits and shortterm capitalgains from any sale of MFs and shares toarrive at your gross taxable income. If yourtaxable income is up to ₹�2.5 lakh in a year,you are not liable to pay any IT. For incomebeyond ₹�2.5 lakh up to ₹�5 lakh, you pay taxat 5%. For income beyond ₹�5 lakh and up to₹�10 lakh, you pay tax at a 20% rate. To savetax, you can also invest in instruments undersection 80C of the IT, which allow you toclaim up to ₹�1.5 lakh in annual deductionfrom your gross taxable income. Certain postoffi�ce schemes and ELSS MFs are eligible forthis deduction. In eff�ect, up to ₹�4 lakh ofyour income can be exempt from IT in a yearprovided you are able to use 80C eff�ectively.

However, tax savings should not be youronly objective while choosing investments.Before choosing them, you need to be clearon three things – the fi�nancial goals towardswhich you are investing, the time horizonsyou have to achieve them and your riskappetite which is your ability to take lossesor volatility in your returns. For holdingperiods of 7 years or less, you must considerdeposit products, post offi�ce schemes anddebt MFs. You should venture into shares orequity MFs only if you have a 7yearplushorizon. Finally, tax can be levied on your MFor stock market investments once youbecome a taxpayer, as and when you sellunits or shares and make capital gains.

Q. I am a senior citizen (81). I redeemed MFsin January this year. The total capital gainreceived was ₹�13.30 lakh. My annual incomeis ₹�17 lakh, from other sources. Can I get taxexemption for capital gains u/s 54 EC?

A.P. CHARI

N. Sree Kanth answers: With eff�ect fromApril 1, 2019, capital gains arising from saleof land, building or both only are eligible forexemption under Section 54EC of the IT Act,1961. The capital gains in your case arearising from the redemption of MFs due towhich they are not eligible for exemptionunder Section 54EC of the IT Act. Dependingon the nature of the MF redeemed, the taxtreatment will vary and accordingly, will haveto be included in your total income.

Q. Please clarify whether total income(taxable income) or gross total income is tobe taken into consideration for fi�ling IT.returns. Also, is TDS applicable to eachbranch for bank deposit interest?

A.R.K. SUNDARAM

A. For fi�ling returns for individuals under Sec.139 of the IT Act, total taxable income willbe considered to determine it exceeds themaximum amount not chargeable to IT.

Under Section 194A of the Act, the words‘a banking company’ is used, due to whichthe limits for nondeduction applies to eachbanking company and not branch wise.

(N. Sree Kanth is partner, GSS & Associates,Chartered Accountants, Chennai)

ASK US

AArati Krishnan

The RBI recently released thefeatures of Retail Direct Gilt Account as part of its (and the government’s) initiative to encourage retail participation ingovernment bonds.

The question is: should youinvest in government bonds? Inthis article, we discuss the benefi�ts and the issues associatedwith such investments. For thepurpose of our discussion, wewill assume that you are investing to achieve a life goal. We also assume that, at present,your preferred choice for bondinvestment is bank deposits.

Interest-rate riskYou are exposed to interestraterisk when you invest in bondmutual funds or any bond investment that generates capitalappreciation. The risk is thatbond prices typically declinewhen interest rate rises (or inanticipation of rates going up).You are not exposed to this riskif you invest in bank depositsbecause you earn only interestincome.

Now, direct investment ingovernment bonds also protects you from interest raterisk. How? True, governmentbonds trade in the market andoff�er opportunities for capitalappreciation. But you canchoose to earn only interest income by keeping these bondstill maturity and receive the parvalue from the government. It

is possible that you may have topay a premium to buy thesebonds. The point, however, isthat you need not bother aboutprices going down during thelife of the bonds. And, ofcourse, government bonds donot have credit risk. So, youcan be confi�dent of gettingback the par value at maturity.

The upshot? Governmentbonds off�er stable income, justas bank deposits do, and typically without credit risk. Butbefore you do decide to invest,consider an important risk associated with suchinvestments.

Reinvestment riskSuppose you want to accumulate ₹�15 lakh in 10 years. Assuming you have ₹�10 lakh today,you must invest in a productearning 4% per annum to ac

cumulate ₹�15 lakh in 10 years. Suppose, you invest in a 10

year government bond off�ering4% posttax interest income. Itseems that you are all set toachieve your goal. But unwittingly, you have exposed yourself to reinvestment risk.

To accumulate ₹�15 lakh in 10years, you need to earn 4% on acompounded annual basis. So,the interest income you earnevery year must be reinvestedat 4% till the tenth year. The issue is that RBI could lower theinterest rate in any of the intermediate years. And, that wouldmean you cannot reinvest at4%. Referred to as reinvestment risk, this risk, if not managed well, can set you on a pathto failure to meet a life goal,

Suffi�ce it to understand thatthe more frequent the interestpayments, the greater the rein

vestment risk. Now, government bonds pay every halfyear. So, this risk could be greater with government bondsthan comparable bonds payinginterest rate annually.

ConclusionYou should directly invest ingovernment bonds if you areexcited about the newer investment avenue. But, you shouldconsider the following points ifyour objective is to invest in government bonds for achievinga life goal:

First, both governmentbonds (if held till maturity) andbank deposits do not carry interest rate risk.

Second, government bondsexpose you to reinvestmentrisk. Bank deposits do not, ifyou invest in cumulative fi�xeddeposits (for lump sum money)and recurring deposits (for savings from monthly income).

Third, you can invest anytime in deposits and match thematurity of your deposits withthe time horizon for your lifegoal. With government bonds,your primary investment is dependent on when RBI holdsauctions, and the bond maturity off�ered in each auction.

Finally, bank deposits expose you to small credit riskwhereas government bonds aretypically creditrisk free.

(The author off�ers trainingprogrammes for individualsfor managing personal investments)

An investor must mull fi�ner points before choosing government bonds over bank FDs

While bank deposits expose the investor to small credit risk,government bonds are typically risk free. * GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCK

Venkatesh Bangaruswamy

THINK INVESTOR: GOVT. BONDS

Do you want to bond with the best?Precious metals remainedbroadly range bound in July. After a distinctly weak performance in June, Comex goldmanaged to close in the green.

The U.S. Federal Reserve’sdovish stance on interest ratesand the soft trend in the U.S.dollar helped gold prices recover in July. Comex gold gained2.6% to close at $1,817.2 anounce. But Comex silver lost2.5% to $25.45 an ounce.

Mirroring the global trend,MCX gold futures gained 1.9%to close at ₹�48,001 per 10 gm.MCX silver futures closed 1.8%lower at ₹�67,847 per kg.

The shortterm outlook forComex gold is positive. Theprice may rise to the immediatetarget range of $1,8701,880. Amove past $1,837 would confi�rm the positive outlook. Thisoutlook would be under threatif the price closes below the immediate support at $1,7401,750. Until this is breached,there would be a case for amove to $1,880 and higher. Adrop below $1,740 may impartweakness and the price couldthen slide to $1,6501,660.

The price of Comex silverhas been confi�ned to a rangeand the nearterm outlook depends on the direction of thebreakout from this range. Amove above $26.8 would be asign of strength and may propelsilver price to the next target of$27.528. However, a fall below$24 would be a sign of weakness and it could then slip tothe downside target of $2222.5.

Though MCX gold closed ona positive note in July, the priceis still confi�ned to a range. Theshortterm outlook hinges onthe direction of the breakoutfrom this range. A move above₹�49,000 would be a sign ofstrength and it could then riseto the major target at ₹�51,25051,300. A close below ₹�47,300would be a sign of weaknessand could push the price to₹�43,50044,000.

The nearterm outlook forMCX silver is negative. It couldslide to the immediate targetrange of ₹�63,00063,500. Thisview would be invalidated if theprice moves above ₹�70,0070,500. A close below ₹�65,900would strengthen the case for aslide to ₹�63,500 and lower.

To summarise, the shortterm outlook for precious metals is unclear. A breakout fromthe levels mentioned would infl�uence the direction of theshortterm move.

(The author is a Chennaibased analyst / trader. This isnot meant to be trading or investment advice)

Gold gleams, silver strugglesB.Krishnakumar

TECH TRAIL: PRECIOUS METALS

* GETTYIMAGES/ISTOCK.

CMYK

M ND-NDE


THE HINDU DELHI


SPORT

DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

The Sindhu fi�le

B Age: 26

B Born: Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (now Telangana)

B Current BWF World Ranking: 7

B Olympic record: Silver: 2016 Rio; Bronze: Tokyo 2020

B Achievements: First Indian woman athlete to win twoindividual Olympic medals; First Indian to win the WorldChampionships (2019, Basel); First Indian to win theseasonending BWF World Tour Finals (2018, Guangzhou); fi�ve medals at the WorldChampionships; two medals at Asian Games (including silver in women’s singles in 2018);three medals at Commonwealth Games (including gold in mixed team event in 2018)

B BWF titles: Superseries (2016 China Open, 2017 India Open, 2017 Korea Open); Grand Prix(2013 Malaysia Grand Prix, 2013 Macau Open, 2014 Macau Open, 2015 Macau Open, 2016Malaysia Open, 2017 Syed Modi International)

B National awards: Padma Bhushan (2020), Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (2016), Padma Shri (2015),Arjuna Award (2013)

B Compiled by Ashwin AchalDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

22 Gold medals are onoff�er at the Games onMondayArtistic Gymnastics: Men’sRings, Men’s Vault, Women’sFloor ExerciseAthletics: Men’s 3000msteeplechase, Men’s LongJump, Women’s 5000m, Women’s 100m Hurdles, Women’s DiscusBadminton: Men’s Singles,Women’s DoublesCycling Track: Women’s TeamSprint; Equestrian: EventingJumping Team, Eventing Individual JumpingSailing: Men’s Skiff� 49er, Women’s Skiff� 49er FXShooting: Men’s 50m Rifl�e 3Positions, Men’s 25m RapidFire PistolWeightlifting: Women’s87kg, Women’s +87kgWrestling: Men’s GrecoRoman 60kg, Men’s GrecoRoman 130kg, Women’s Freestyle 76kg

MEDAL EVENTS

Artem Dolgopyat (Isr): Artisticgymnastics: Men’s Floor Exer-cise; Max Whitlock (GBr): Artis-tic gymnastics: Men’s PommelHorseRebecca Andrade (Bra): Artisticgymnastics: Women’s Vault; Nina Derwael (Bel): Artistic gym-nastics: Women’s Uneven BarsLamont Marcell Jacobs (Ita):Athletics: Men’s 100mMutaz Essa Barshim (Qat) &Gianmarco Tamberi (Ita): Ath-letics: Men’s High JumpYulimar Rojas (Ven): Athletics:Women’s Triple JumpGong Lijiao (Chn): Athletics:Women’s Shot PutChen Yu Fei (Chn): Badminton:Women’s SinglesLogan Martin (Aus): CyclingBMX Freestyle: Men’s ParkCharlotte Worthington (GBr):Cycling BMX Freestyle: Wo-men’s ParkShi Tingmao (Chn): Diving: Wo-men’s 3m SpringboardFrance: Fencing: Men’s FoilTeamXander Schauff�ele (USA): Golf:MenMatt Wearn (Aus): Sailing:Men’s One Person Dinghy-LaserAnneMarie Rindom (Den):Sailing: Women’s One PersonDinghy-Laser RadialEmma McKeon (Aus): Swim-ming: Women’s 50m FreestyleAustralia: Swimming: Women’s4x100m Medley RelayCaeleb Dressel (USA): Swim-ming: Men’s 50m FreestyleRobert Finke (USA): Swimming:Men’s 1500m FreestyleUSA: Swimming: Men’s 4x100mMedley RelayAlexander Zverev (Ger): Ten-nis: Men’s SinglesBarbora Krejcikova & KaterinaSiniakova (Cze): Tennis: Wo-men’s Doubles; Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova & Andrey Rublev(ROC): Tennis: Mixed DoublesNeisi Patricia Barrera (Ecu):Weightlifting: Women’s 76kg

GOLDIES

Tamberi and Barshim. * AP

Badminton: Women's singles(bronze medal match): P.V.Sindhu bt He Bingjiao (Chn)2113, 2115. Boxing: Men's super heavyweight (quarterfi�nals): SatishKumar lost to Bakhodir Jalolov (Uzb).Equestrian: Cross Country individual: Fouaad Mirza22nd.Golf: Men's individual (fourthand fi�nal round): Anirban Lahiri (T42), Udayan Mane (56).Hockey: Men (quarterfi�nals):bt Great Britain 31.

INDIAN ODYSSEY

Athletics: Women: 200m:Dutee Chand, Round 1, 7.20a.m.; Semifi�nals 3.55 p.m.Discus (fi�nal): KamalpreetKaur, 4.30 p.m.Equestrian: Eventing individual jumping: Fouaad Mirza.Qualifi�er, 1.30 p.m.; Final, 5.15p.m.Hockey: Women (quarterfi�nals): vs Australia, 8.30 a.m.Shooting: Men’s 50m Rifl�e 3Positions: Aishwary PratapSingh Tomar, Sanjeev Rajput.Qualifi�cation, 8 a.m.; Final,1.20 p.m.

All times IST.

INDIANS IN ACTION

P.V. Sindhu fi�xed her hair,shuffl�ed her feet thrice,leaned forward and muttered “come on.” She took adeep breath before lettingthe shuttle sail over the net.The point ended with athunderous crosscourtsmash, and she let out ascream. She had scaled themountain of expectations,beating China’s He Bingjiao2113, 2115 to secure anOlympic bronze medal.

She is now the fi�rst Indianwoman to have backtobackmedals at the Olympics.

Emotional confl�ictSindhu, however, hadwalked into the court with amyriad of thoughts. “I hadan emotional confl�ict,whether to be sad that I hadlost a chance to make it tothe fi�nal or fi�nd happinessthat I had another shot atwinning a medal,” she said.

But none of thosethoughts mattered once thecontest began on centrecourt at the Musashino Forest Plaza.

Bingjiao, much like TaiTzuying on Friday, tried torestrict play close to the netbut Sindhu countered. TheChinese kept the shuttle lowbut whenever she off�eredSindhu even an inch of fl�ight,she was greeted by a pointkilling smash.

The Indian led 118 and astreak of Bingjiao unforcederrors saw her cruise ahead.There came a time when theChinese shuttler looked exasperated — she had done re

markably well to cover thecourt and return a Sindhusmash but the 26yearoldfrom Hyderabad smashedthe return to the other end ofthe court. She pocketed thefi�rst game 2113.

Longer ralliesBingjiao tried to engageSindhu in longer rallies inthe second game in a bid tocontrol the tempo of thegame, but the Indian wasprepared. She fi�nishedpoints early and derivedgreat success from her ferocious forehand crosscourtsmashes.

The duo was tied 1111, before Sindhu switched gearsto take off�. She toyed withBingjiao to surge ahead 1915.A minute later, she embraced her coach Park Tesang, with another Olympicmedal in her bag.

“I’m super happy to bethe fi�rst Indian woman athlete to win backtoback medals,” she said, noting thatthis medal was a lot more diffi�cult to achieve compared tothe silver in Rio 2016, whereshe had little expectations orpressure. “It hasn’t sunk inyet! I just want to be in themoment and I’m going to enjoy this,” said the reigningWorld champion, who madeit a memorable Sunday forIndia.

Sindhu stamps her class, adds another feather to her capThe shuttler becomes the fi�rst Indian woman to secure backtoback medals at the Olympics

Roaring success: P.V. Sindhu reacts after winning a point in the bronze medal match againstChina’s He Bingjiao. She won in straight games. * GETTY IMAGES

BADMINTON

Shyam Vasudevan

Tokyo

P.V. Sindhu hopes she can inspire a new generation afteradding the Tokyo Olympicsbronze to her 2016 Rio silveron Sunday. The World champion defeated China’s HeBingjiao 2113, 2115 to addanother prize to her collection, fi�ve years after fi�nishing second at the Rio Games.

Now she feels that Indianscan use her achievement asa springboard for more badminton success.

“I’m sure a lot of youngsters and others will get motivated to work hard andcome up,” she said. “I'm surewe can do this. If I can do it,

anybody can do it.”

Sindhu was aiming to become only the second Indianto win an individual Olympicgold, but had lost to ChineseTaipei’s Tai Tzuying in thesemifi�nals.

She said she was “sad” atnot being able to go one better than at Rio. However,Sindhu was able to put thedisappointment behind her.

“I had to close out all myemotions for this one matchand give it my all,” she said.“I’m very happy and I thinkI've done really well. Gettinga medal for the country isdefi�nitely a proud momentfor me and the people outthere.”

Sindhu followed up her2016 Olympics silver by winning the World title in 2019.

Gunning for Paris

She said she would “defi�nitely” look to challenge forOlympic gold again at the2024 Paris Games, andbacked herself to continueimproving.

“Every time I win, it’s astepping stone,” said the 26yearold. “It builds my motivation. I can do much better and I can work harder.

“I think that's my passiontowards the sport — onceyou achieve something, youwant to achieve more andmore.”

‘If I can do it, anybody can’

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

TOKYO

Role model: Sindhu hopes that her achievements will inspire a generation. * GETTY IMAGES

The Indian men’s hockeyteam ended a 41year wait tomake it to the medal roundat the Olympics as it registered a 31 win over GreatBritain at the Oi Hockey Stadium on Sunday to advanceto the semifi�nal.

The Indians will take onRio 2016 silver medallist andreigning world championBelgium, which beat Spain31 in the last eight, in thelast four on August 3.

Early leadBritain saw more of the ballinitially and looked menacing, but India took the leadin the seventh minuteagainst the run of play.

Simranjeet Singh won theball at the edge of the circleand neatly played it to Dilpreet Singh, who convertedfrom close range.

Brilliant saveIndia goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh pulled off� a fi�ne save todeny Samuel Ward soon after as Britain pushed for an

equaliser. Graham Reid’sside doubled its lead withinseconds of the second quarter when Hardik Singh wonthe ball and found GurjantSingh.

Gurjant skilfully weavedpast his marker and snuck itinto the goal past custodianOllie Payne.

Upping the anteThe Indian defence dealtwith a barrage of attacks inthe third quarter as Britainupped the ante, and dominated possession.

The Indian backline waskept on its toes, but Britainlacked the fi�nishing touch.

Having squandered twopenalty corners, it fi�nallyconverted off� its third in the45th minute as Ward foundthe back of the net.

The last 15 minutes were anervy aff�air — the Indianshad to hold on to their slender onegoal lead, while theBritish continued to play onthe off�ensive.

Sreejesh summoned allhis skill as he made save after save to keep the British atbay.

India's task became even

more challenging whenskipper Manpreet Singh wasshown a yellow card with sixminutes on the clock andhad to sit out.

The British had the manadvantage but failed to makeit count as Hardik netted India’s third in the 57th minute.

Solo runThe 22yearold went on asolo run during a counterattack and made his way towards the opposition goal.He had his fi�rst shot savedbut scored on the rebound.

Minutes later, the Indiancamp broke into emotionalcelebrations after sealingthe win.

Closer to their dreamThey had just taken a stepcloser to their dream ofbringing back Indian hockey’s Olympic glory days.

“We are very happy because we are reaching thesemifi�nal after a long time.The tournament isn’t overyet and we need to keep ourfeet on the ground and focuson the next match,” saidManpreet.

Powering through: Gurjant skilfully weaved past his markers to score. * GETTY IMAGES

India beats GB, ends fourdecade waitDilpreet, Gurjant and Hardik fi�nd the target in the 31 win

HOCKEY

Shyam Vasudevan

TOKYO

It was a magical Sundaynight in Tokyo as Lamont

Marcell Jacobs virtuallycame from nowhere andraced away as the fastestman of the Olympics.

With American worldleader Trayvon Bromellcrashing out in the semifi�naland China’s Su Bingtian topping that round in a newAsian record time of 9.83s,many had expected surprises in the fi�nal.

Still, none expected Jacobs to come good for hehad never won any major100m title earlier.

The race was anybody’still about 70m when the 26yearold Americaborn Italian made his move to stunningly take the gold in an European record time of 9.80swith American Fred Kerly(9.84) and Canadian Andrede Grasse (9.89) picking silver and bronze.

Jacobs is the fi�rst Italian totake the 100m title and itswas a personal best for allthree.

It was certainly a dramaticday and a wonderful Italiannight, for the men’s high

jump produced two goldmedallists after GianmarcoTamberi and Qatar’s MutazEssa Barshim fi�nished levelat 2.37m after clearing alltheir earlier heights in theirfi�rst attempt.

They had both failed at2.39. They were given twooptions: a jumpoff� or toshare the gold and they decided to go for the latter.

Tamberi shed tears of joyfor he had missed the 2016Olympics with an injury andwas in crutches around thattime. He brought the cast,that held his leg togetherthen, to the Tokyo track toremind the world what hehad been through.

Barshim was in tears too,it was the World champion’s

fi�rst gold after silver in Rioand London 2012.

A few minutes beforethat, Venezuala’s YulimarRojas was screaming in delight after breaking InessaKravet’s 26yearold women’s triple jump World record with 15.67m (old 15.50)in her last eff�ort.

She had broken the Olympic record with her fi�rstjump, a 15.41. Portugal’s Patricia Mamona (15.01) andSpain’s Ana Peleteiro (14.87)took silver and bronze.

Lijiao fi�nally gets goldEarlier China’s Gong Lijiao,who had won silver andbronze earlier, completedher Olympic medal set inwomen’s shot put with a personal best 20.58m.

All her fi�ve legal throwswere better than Americansilver medallist Raven Saunders’ eff�orts (19.79).

Jacobs! The bolt from the blueItalian emerges 100m winner; Rojas sets triple jump record

ATHLETICS

Stan Rayan

The Italian Job: Lamont Marcell Jacobs, right, edges out Fred Kerly to succeed the legendaryUsain Bolt as the 100m champion. Andre de Grasse, not in pic, bagged the bronze. * AFP

Yulimar Rojas... leaping intohistory. * REUTERS

DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

B Jacobs came from a familyof motorcyclists, but hismother Viviana was againstit. So he tried everything,including swimming,football and basketball

B He is a decent long jumpertoo and has a personal bestof 7.95m

DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

CMYK

M ND-NDE


DELHI THE HINDU


SPORT

HYDERABAD: R.H. Sequeiratrained Smashing Blue (AkshayKumar up) won the SultanPheroze Plate, the feature eventof Sunday’s (Aug.1) races here.The winner is owned by Mr. RamaSeshu Eyunni & Mr. P. PrabhakarReddy. Sequira saddled two morewinners on the day, while AkshayKumar stole the limelight by winning five races.1. ROYSTON ROCK PLATE (1,200m)(Terms) Maiden, 3yo only (Cat.II): KEYSTONE (Akshay Kumar) 1,Galwan (Nikhil Naidu) 2, JeanLafette (R. Ajinkya) 3 and Zeus(Trevor) 4. 11/2, 2 and 2. 1m,14.01s. ₹�12 (w), 12, 16 and 29 (p).SHP: 48, THP: 76, FP: 63, Q: 68,Tanala: 967. Favourite: Keystone.Owners: Mr. Tegbir Singh Brarrep. Sarainaga Racing Pvt. Ltd.Trainer: R.H. Sequeira.2. FAIR TRIAL PLATE (DIV. II)(1,200m) rated 20 to 45 (Cat. III):CASTLEROCK (Ajeeth Kumar) 1, AllTime Legend (Akshay Kumar) 2,

Blue Valentine (Trevor) 3 and RedRiver (R.S. Jodha) 4. Not run:Crackershow. 11/2, 3 and 3. 1m,14.57s. ₹�40 (w), 13, 10 and 10 (p).SHP: 33, THP: 55, FP: 152, Q: 58,Tanala: 300. Favourite: All TimeLegend. Owners: Mr. & Mrs. DilipThomas rep. Rajagiri Rubber &Produce Company Limited.Trainer: S.A. Shehzad Abbas.

3. FAIR TRIAL PLATE (DIV. I)(1,200m), rated 20 to 45 (Cat. III):XFINITY (Akshay Kumar) 1, Mandala Bay (Trevor) 2, Story Teller(R.S. Jodha) 3 and The Prospect(A.A. Vikrant) 4. Not run: Kingston. 51/2, Nk and 11/2. 1m,13.60s. ₹�23 (w), 11, 10 and 36 (p).SHP: 39, THP: 85, FP: 59, Q: 16,Tanala: 509. Favourite: MandalaBay. Owner: Mr. Akshay Karan.Trainer: Ananta Vatsalya.

4. ANAB E SHAHI PLATE (DIV. I)(1,200m), rated up to 25 (Cat. III):BATTLE READY (Akshay Kumar) 1,Air Salute (N.B. Kuldeep) 2, Misty

mar) 2, Campania (Trevor) 3 andAdvance Guard (Nikhil Naidu) 4.Not run: Best Buddy. 3/4, 1 and 3.1m, 42.90s. ₹�22 (w), 10, 20 and 11(p). SHP: 82, THP: 68, FP: 316, Q:173, Tanala: 558. Favourite: Campania. Owners: Mr. Rama SeshuEyunni & Mr. Marthand SinghMahindra. Trainer: R.H. Sequeira.

7. ANAB E SHAHI PLATE (DIV. II)(1,200m) rated up to 25 (Cat. III):SHELDON (G. Naresh) 1, N R ITouch (Akshay Kumar) 2, Hip Hop(C.P. Bopanna) 3 and Let It Be Me(B.R. Kumar) 4. 31/4, Hd and Nk.1m, 14.40s. ₹�370 (w), 51, 14 and129 (p). SHP: 38, THP: 401, FP:1,834, Q: 645, Tanala: 87,174. Favourite: Due Dilligence. Owner:Mr. Mukund Kakani. Trainer:K.S.V. Prasad Raju.

Jackpot: 70% ₹�47,775 (7 tkts.) and30% 201 (713 tkts.); Treble: (i) 251(124 tkts.), (ii) 2,143 (24 tkts.); MiniJackpot: (i) 439 (76 tkts.), (ii) 11,145(5 tkts.).

River (Gaurav Singh) 3 and Acadian Angel (G. Naresh) 4. Nk, 2and Sh. 1m, 15.78s. ₹�21 (w), 14, 17and 28 (p). SHP: 43, THP: 81, FP:91, Q: 72, Tanala: 632. Favourite:Battle Ready. Owners: Mr. C.Parthasarthy, Mr. Rajat Parthasarthy, Mr. V. Krishna Das & Mr.Veeramachaneni Bharat. Trainer:D. Netto.

5. SULTAN PHEROZE PLATE(1,200m) rated 80 and above (Cat.I): SMASHING BLUE (Akshay Kumar) 1, Corfe Castle (GauravSingh) 2, Trump Girl (AbhaySingh) 3 and Lightning Bolt (Trevor) 4. Sh, Nk and 21/2. 1m,13.26s. ₹�23 (w), 10, 13 and 40 (p).SHP: 37, THP: 131, FP: 70, Q: 39,Tanala: 1,293. Favourite: Lightning Bolt. Owners: Mr. Rama Seshu Eyunni & Mr. P. PrabhakarReddy. Trainer: R.H. Sequeira.

6. FAIRWAY PLATE (1,600m) rated20 to 45 (Cat. III): LAMHA (AkshayKumar) 1, Grand Finale (B.R. Ku

Smashing Blue wins Sultan Pheroze PlateTNPL 2021: Star Sports 2(SD & HD), 7.30 p.m.

Tokyo 2020: Sony Ten 2, 3 &Sony Six (SD & HD), 5.30 a.m.onwards (Tuesday)

TV PICKS

Caeleb Dressel won twomore titles on Sunday to endhis Tokyo campaign with fi�vegolds, as Australia’s EmmaMcKeon became the fi�rst woman swimmer to win sevenmedals at a single Olympics.

Fantastic eff�orts

Dressel earned the title ofworld’s fastest swimmerwith a lightning 21.07 seconds in the 50m freestyle

before helping the US menshatter their own world record in the 4x100m medleyrelay.

McKeon was just as impressive, blasting throughthe 50m in 23.81s then spearheading Australia to the medley relay honours on the fi�nal day of action. It boostedher medal tally to seven —four gold and three bronze —surpassing the six won byEast German Kristin Otto(1952) and American NatalieCoughlin (2008).

McKeon also matched the

record for the most decorated female athlete at a singleGames ever, tied with Russian gymnast Maria Gorokhovskaya (1952).

Like McKeon, Dressel tookthe 50100 freestyle double,but also powered to the100m butterfl�y title in worldrecord time, while adding4x100m free and medley relays to thrust himself intorarifi�ed company.

He joins Americans Michael Phelps, Mark Spitz and

Matt Biondi, and Otto, as theonly swimmers to win fi�ve ormore golds at one Games.

While the US again toppedthe medals table with 30, including 11 gold, secondplaced Australia had 20 medals, nine of them gold.

Dressel and McKeon returned for the eventclosingrelays with Dressel delivering a storming butterfl�y legto steer the US to a worldrecord 3:26.78s. That shatteredUS’s own global mark of3:27.28s set at the 2009World Championships, with

Adam Peaty’s Britain takingsilver ahead of Italy.

In the women’s relay,McKeon swam the fl�y forAustralia, which came homein an Olympicrecord3:51.60s to upset twotimedefending champion USA.Canada was third.

Distance double

America’s Robert Finke overcame fatigue to secure theOlympic distance double bywinning the men’s 1500mgold medal to go with his800m title.

Dressel, McKeon leave in a blaze of gloryUSA betters own world record in the men’s 4x100m medley relay

Superman: Caeleb Dressel joined a very exclusive club of fi�vegold winners at asingle edition. * REUTERS

Mermaid: Emma McKeon’s tally of seven medals is the best ever by a womanswimmer. * REUTERS

TOKYO OLYMPICS SWIMMING


Tokyo Alexander Zverev brushedaside Karen Khachanov instraight sets on Sunday toseal the Olympic men’s singles title and win Germany’sfi�rst tennis gold since 1992.

The fourth seed produced a dominant display towin 63, 61 in 79 minutes.

Zverev becomes only thesecond German to win anOlympic singles gold afterSteffi� Graf in 1988, while Boris Becker and Michael Stich

took the men’s doublescrown four years later.

Barbora Krejcikova andKaterina Siniakova of theCzech Republic added thewomen's doubles gold totheir French Open crown bybeating Swiss singles champion Belinda Bencic andViktorija Golubic 75, 61.

Krejcikova, who also wonthe Roland Garros singlestrophy earlier this year, andSiniakova had needed deciding tiebreaks in their lastthree matches, but were dominant against Bencic andGolubic.

Zverev’s dream runends in goldKrejcikovaSiniakova pair triumphs

Did I just?! Alexander Zverev after beating Karen Khachanovin the fi�nal. * REUTERS

TENNIS


Tokyo

B. Adhiban and P. Harikrishna kept alive their chancesof qualifying for the quarterfi�nals, but K. Humpy foundthe going tough on the opening day of the $100,000Chessable Masters online rapid chess tournament onSaturday.

After fi�ve rounds of theroundrobin phase in the 16player fi�eld, Adhiban (3

points), Harikrishna (2.5)and Humpy (1) had their taskcut out for the remaining 10rounds.The results (involving Indians):Fifth round: B. Adhiban drewwith P. Harikrishna; K. Humpydrew with Abhimanyu Mishra(USA).

Fourth round: Vladislav Artemiev (Rus) bt Adhiban; Harikrishna drew with ShakhariyarMamedyarov (Aze); Hikaru Nakamura (USA) drew withHumpy.

Third round: Adhiban drewwith Ju Wenjun (Chn); LeQuang Liem (Vie) drew withHarikrishna; Humpy lost to David Anton (Esp).

Second round: Eduardo Iturri

zaga (Esp) lost to Adhiban; Harikrishna bt Humpy.

First round: Adhiban bt AryanTari (Nor); Nakamura bt Harikrishna; Humpy lost to Artemiev.

Standings (after fi�ve rounds):1. Wesley So (USA, 4), 24. Vladislav Artemiev (Rus), HikaruNakamura (USA), Firouza Alireza (Fra) (3.5 each); 59. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Aze), David Anton (Esp), Le Quang Liem(Vie), Jorden van Foreest(Ned), B. Adhiban (3 each), 1011. Levon Aronian (Arm), P. Harikrishna (2.5 each); 1213.Aryan Tari (Nor), Eduardo Iturriaza (Esp), 1415. Ju Wenjun(Chn), K. Humpy (1 each), 16.Abhimanyu Mishra (USA, 0.5).

Mixed results for Indians

CHESS

RAKESH RAO

NEW DELHI

Humpy fi�ndsgoing tough

Dolgopyat brings cheer to IsraelArtem Dolgopyat assuredhis place in Israel’s sportshistory by winning the fl�oorexercise to claim thecountry’s fi�rst evergymnastics medal onSunday. In other events MaxWhitlock defended hispommel horse title, RebecaAndrade succeeded SimoneBiles as vault champion andWorld champion NinaDerwael hopped up ontothe uneven bars to endBelgium’s wait for agymnastics gold.

Lahiri T42 and Mane 56thas Schauff�ele takes goldGolfer Anirban Lahiri shot afi�nalround 72 for a tally of279 to fi�nish tied 42nd in the60player fi�eld at theOlympic Games on Sunday,while compatriot UdayanMane also shot 72 for a 287and end up 56th. Overnightleader Xander Schauff�ele(USA, 266) won gold aheadof Rory Sabbatini (Slovakia,267) and C.T. Pan (ChineseTaipei, 269).

Satish goes down to World champion JalolovSatish Kumar lost to World

champion and top seedBakhodir Jalolov ofUzbekistan 50 in the +91kgquarterfi�nal clash onSunday. Armyman Satish,the fi�rst Indian superheavyweight boxer toqualify for the Games, wonthe hearts with acourageous performance.Even Jalolov acknowledgedSatish’s brave eff�ort after theend of the bout.

Tingmao’s reign continuesChina’s Shi Tingmaoclaimed her second goldmedal at the TokyoOlympics with victory in the

women’s 3 metrespringboard diving onSunday, becoming thesecond woman to retainboth individual andsynchronised titles.

Worthington serves it up inBMX freestyleFormer chef CharlotteWorthington served up theride of her life as the Britonbecame the fi�rsteverOlympic champion in BMXfreestyle on Sunday.Australia’s Men's favouriteLogan Martin won the men'sevent.

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\ TOKYO TITBITS \

Artem Dolgopyat...tumbling to victory. * GETTY IMAGES

Xander Schauff�ele...taste ofvictory. * AP

Worthington...defyinggravity. * REUTERS

The presence of physioAnand Dubey has helpedthe Indian Olympic Association solve a problem forthe wrestling team at theOlympics.

The experienced Anandhad travelled as Sania Mirza and Ankita Raina’s physio after the tennis teamopted for him rather than acoach when it was allowedonly one support staff�.

Meanwhile, the wrestling squad had one physiowho could only enter thetraining venue and was notstaying in the village.

The early exit of the tennis players led to the IOAconverting Anand’s tennisaccreditation to all access.He was already staying atthe athletes village andthus has been able to immediately help thewrestlers.

Anand — part of the Indian Fed Cup and DavisCup teams over the years —has an extended service inthe Commonwealth Gamesand Asian Games.

Tennis physiocomes towrestlersrescue

Kamesh Srinivasan

NEW DELHI

Frenchman Esteban Oconfended off� Sebastian Vettel totake a maiden Formula Onewin for Alpine in a chaoticHungarian Grand Prix, thatsaw Lewis Hamilton charging through from lasttothird to retake the championship lead from tenthplaced Max Verstappen.

The 24yearold Oconcrossed the line 1.8 secondsclear of his Aston Martin rival, while Hamilton nearlycaught the pair up but fell 2.7seconds short.

Still, the Briton put himself six points clear of Verstappen, who scored just thesole point after being caughtup in an opening lap

incident.The Dutchman, who had

made a good start on a wettrack from second on thegrid, was right behind Hamilton heading into the fi�rstcorner when he was collected by McLaren’s Lando Norris. The Briton was himself

tagged by the slow startingMercedes of Valtteri Bottasthat sent him sliding into theRed Bull.The results: 1. Esteban Ocon(Alpine) 1:32:54.762s, 2. Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin),+1.859s, 3. Lewis Hamilton(Mercedes) +2.736, 4. Carlos

Sainz Jr. (Ferrari) +15.018, 5.Fernando Alonso (Alpine)+15.651, 6. Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) +1:03.614, 7. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) +1:15.803; 8.Nicholas Latifi� (Williams)+1:17.910, 9. George Russell(Williams) +1:19.094, 10. MaxVerstappen (Red Bull)+1:20.244. 1 lap: 11. Kimi Raikkonen (Alfa Romeo), 12. DanielRicciardo (McLaren), 13. MickSchumacher (Haas), 14. AntonioGiovinazzi (Alfa Romeo); DNF:15. Nikita Mazepin (Haas), Lando Norris (McLaren), Sergio Perez (Red Bull), Valtteri Bottas(Mercedes), Charles Leclerc(Ferrari), Lance Stroll (AstonMartin).Standings: Drivers: 1. Hamilton192 pts., 2. Verstappen 186, 3.Norris 113, 4. Bottas 108, 5. Perez 104; Constructors: 1. RedBull 289, 2. Mercedes 285, 3.McLaren 163, 4. Ferrari 148, 5.Alphatauri 49.

Esteban Ocon drives to a maiden victoryVettel second; Hamilton retakes championship lead

HUNGARIAN GPReuters

BUDAPEST

Thrilled: Esteban Ocon is joy personifi�ed . * GETTY IMAGES

Pakistan’s bowlers did justenough to restrain a rampant Nicholas Pooran andcome away with a sevenrunvictory over the West Indiesin the second T20 International of the fourmatch series here on Saturday.

Pooran’s explosive unbeaten 62 off� 33 balls with six 6sand four 4s kept the West Indies in with a chance untilthe fi�nal over when 20 runswere required to overhaulPakistan’s 157 for eight.

However, Shaheen ShahAfridi dismissed captain Kieron Pollard and then deniedPooran to ensure the visitorswere kept to 150 for four. Also, off�spinning allrounder

Mohammad Hafeez, bowlingthe fi�rst over, dismissedAndre Fletcher with his second ball and conceded justsix runs in his four overs.

West Indies suff�eredanother setback when open

ing batsman Evin Lewis retired hurt on 35 midwaythrough the innings.

Earlier, Jason Holder andDwayne Bravo put thebrakes on the Pakistan scoring rate.

Holder returned fi�gures of4/26 while Bravo claimed 2/24 as the tourists squandered a solid platform provided by Babar Azam andMohammad Rizwan. Babar’spolished 51 (58, 2x6, 4x4)was the top core of theinnings.The scores: Pakistan 157/8 in20 overs (Mohammad Rizwan46, Babar Azam 51; Jason Holder 4/26) bt West Indies 150/4(Evin Lewis 35, Nicholas Pooran62 n.o.).Toss: West Indies.MoM: Hafeez; Pakistan won byseven runs to lead four-matchseries 1-0.

Pakistan edges Windies narrowlyHafeez stars for the visitors; Pooran battles in vain

PAKISTAN IN WI


(Providence, Guyana)

Nicholas Pooran. * AFP

The Cricket AustraliaBoard on Sunday endorsedthe appointment of formerAustralian captain GeorgeBailey as chair of the National Selection Panel(NSP) to replace the retiring Trevor Hohns.

Ben Oliver, Cricket Australia’s Executive GeneralManager, High Performance and NationalTeams, said the search hadbegun for a thirdpanelmember to join Bailey andhead coach Justin Langer.”

George is a highly respected leader who is nowwell established on theNSP alongside Justin as thehead coach. He hasbrought recent playing experience with a deep understanding of the game,an open and collaborativestyle, and a desire to keepimproving the selectionfunction.

The thirdpanel memberwill add to their combinedexperience as we look forsomeone who will bringcomplementary skillsalong with their own perspective and diversity ofthinking,” said Oliver in anoffi�cial statement. Baileysaid he was looking forward to the new role.

Bailey to leadCA’s selectionpanel

ANI

Melbourne

It was a moment of delight atthe Suchitra Academy. Pra

deep Raju, Praveen Raju,trainer Srikanth Verma andthe young badmintonplayers, who had sparredwith P.V. Sindhu in the leadup to the Tokyo Olympics,have played an importantrole behind Sindhu’s bronzemedalwinning feat at the Tokyo Olympics.

“Yes, we were defi�nitelydisappointed after Sindhu’sloss to Tai Tzuying in thesemifi�nal. Now we’re gladthat she pulled off� anothermemorable performance,”said Pradeep, who has beenworking with Sindhu’s coachPark Tae Sang since Februarythis year.

“Sindhu has been with ussince 2017. When she startedher quest for the Olympicgold after her belowpar performances in the three tour

naments in Thailand, including the Super Series fi�nal, shewanted to prove a point toherself and the world,” saidPradeep.

“From the Suchitra Badminton Academy, the seniormost strength and conditioning trainer and a physio travelled with Sindhu,” Pradeepsaid. “We have given inputs to

the strength and conditioningteam, and she is now fasterand leaner. She had matchsimulations where she playedfrom positions like 160, 1720,1820. If you see this helpedher against Akane Yamaguchiin the quarterfi�nal in the fi�rstgame,” Pradeep said.

“We ran video analysis onher game and all her possible

opponents to ensure she understands and adapt very easily to every style of play,”Pradeep said.

“Despite pandemic throwing the tournament structurehaywire, it worked in Sindhu’s because it gave herenough time to learn newstrokes like slow drop and thehalfsmashes,” he said.

Support system behind Sindhu’s medal journeySuchitra Academy played a big part in her success

BADMINTON

Helping hands: P.V. Sindhu along with physio B. Evangeline, Pradeep Raju of Suchitra Academyand fi�tness trainer Srikanth Verma at the academy. * FILE PHOTO

V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM

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