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chandigarh | gurugram | jalandhar | bathinda | jammu | srinagar | vol.140 no.88 | 16 pages | ~4.50 | regd.no.chd/0006/2018-2020 established in 1881
/thetribunechd /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com
HP porter walks
250 km to his
village in Sirmaur
Bhanu P Lohumi
Tribune News Service
Shimla, March 29
“My feet are swollen and I am
unable to wear shoes”, said
Ashok who, along with nine
others, walked 200-250 km
over a span of three days
from Shimla to his native
Matiyana village in Shillai
area of Sirmaur.
A porter in Shimla, Ashok
said he ran out of money and
rations and was left with no
option but to trudge back
home. He is not the only per-
son to have done so. Hun-
dreds of daily wagers work-
ing in the state capital are
headed home in Shillai and
Renuka areas of Sirmaur.
Headed home after
running out of money
“We started from Shimla on
March 27 and took a short cut
via the Ashwani Khud – Junga-
Yashwant Nagar-Rajgarh-
Haripurdhar-Shillai route. Car-
rying boiled rice and water, we
also walked during the night,”
said Rohit, who belongs to
Shillai. Some villagers provid-
ed them food on the second
day while at Rajgarh they got
food packets from the police.
“A large number of people are
running out of essential items
and are starving,” Ashok said.
Meanwhile, in a letter to the
CM, Shillai MLA Harshvard-
han Chauhan has said a large
number of labourers, guides
and students were stuck in
Solan, Baddi and Barotiwala,
without money and food.
REGION COMBATS VIRUS
ANOTHER CASUALTY IN J&K, FIVE MORE TEST POSITIVE
Jammu: The Union Territory of J&K saw the second Covid
death on Sunday, even as five more cases tested positive
— two each in Srinagar and Budgam districts and one from
Baramulla. In all, 6,465 travellers and persons in contact with
suspected/positive cases have been put under surveillance while
3,567 are under home and hospital quarantine. “Sad start to the
day. Unfortunate demise of a coronavirus patient in Srinagar this
morning”, tweeted Rohit Kansal, official spokesman. TNS
PB SEES SECOND DEATH
Chandigarh: In Punjab, a 62-year-
old man died in Amritsar on Sun-
day. He was a contact of the
Nawanshahr patient who died
earlier. The number of confirmed
cases in the state stand at 38.
The test reports of 190 suspect-
ed cases are still awaited. A
media bulletin issued by the
Health Department said so far
977 samples had been collect-
ed. Of these, 38 had been found
positive and 749 negative. The
results of 190 samples were yet
to come. Confirmed cases have
been hospitalised. TNS
NO NEW CASE IN HP
Shimla: The samples of 17 per-
sons, suspected to have been
infected by the virus, have test-
ed negative. With this, the
count of positive cases in the
state stands at two. As many as
2,673 persons with foreign trav-
el history were under quaran-
tine. Of them, 811 have com-
pleted the mandatory 28-day
isolation period. TNS
STAY HOME, JOHNSON
URGES BRITONS WORLD
Exodus unabated, states told to seal borders
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 29
Mass exodus of migrant
labourers continued unabat-
ed on the fifth day of the 21-
day nationwide lockdown,
even as the Centre directed
the states to ensure 14-day
compulsory quarantine at
government facilities for all
those arriving in their
respective territories.
Workers from Greater Noi-
da, Delhi and Gurugram
have been leaving their
workplaces in hordes to
reach Kaushambi and Lal
Kuan Bus depots in Ghazi-
abad battling hunger and
tiredness in the hope that
the buses deployed by the
UP Government would earn
them a passage.
Most of them were seen
walking through the lanes
and bylanes of Greater Noida
(West) to reach the two bus
depots in the hope to get
transportation to travel to
their native places as far as
Gorakhpur, Deoria and dis-
tricts of Bihar.
Ministry of Home Affairs
(MHA) officials said detailed
instructions on the exodus
had been shared with state
governments. “Those who
have violated the lockdown
and travelled during the peri-
od of lockdown will be sub-
jected to minimum 14-day
quarantine at government
facilities,” reads the directive
sent to states. The Centre has
also asked the states to take
measures to curb free move-
ment of people across cities.
In this regard, the officials
COVID-19CASES
STATE +VE DEATHS
Chandigarh 8 0
Punjab 38 02
Haryana 21 00
Himachal Pradesh 3 1
J&K 18 02
Ladakh 13 00
Delhi 72 02
HARYANA CURTAILS
INTER-DIST MOVEMENT
Chandigarh: The number of
Covid-19 positive cases in
Haryana so far stands at 21
with Gurugram reporting 10
cases, the maximum in the
state, according to a Health
Department bulletin. Acting on
the directions of the Union Gov-
ernment to restrict inter-district
movement of migrant labour-
ers, the government has set up
129 shelter homes for 29,328
migrants across the state.
“Directions have been issued to
DCs to provide them food and
shelter and to get them
medically examined,” CM
Manohar Lal Khattar said. TNS
NEED TO WEED OUT SPURIOUS PRODUCTS
❝
Adequate arrangements for food and shelter be made for migrant
labourers at the place of their work. Ministry of Home Affairs order
MEASURES ‘INSUFFICIENT’, PIL SEEKS SUPREME COURT INTERVENTION BACK PAGE
said, the states have been told
to ensure timely payment of
wages to labourers at their
places of work without any
cut. “House rent should not be
demanded from labourers for
the lockdown period. Action
should be taken against those
asking labourers or students
to vacate premises,” a senior
MHA official said.
“Only the movement of
goods be allowed and DMs and
SPs made personally responsi-
Effortstocurb massinfection
Purchase process for masks, ventilators ramped up
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 29
As India’s Covid-19 count
reached 1,024 on Sunday
with 27 deaths, the govern-
ment said adherence to
lockdown was the key to
delaying the peak stage of
the disease. “We cannot pre-
dict the peak of Covid-19 in
India. What we can predict is
that if we observe lockdown
100 per cent, we can stay
away from the peak. If we
break the lockdown, we will
reach the peak sooner than
later,” ICMR chief epidemi-
ologist Raman Gangakhed-
kar warned. Over the past 24
hours (8 pm Saturday- 8 pm
Sunday), the government
recorded 106 new cases – up
from 918 on Saturday to
1,024 on Sunday.
There were eight deaths in
24 hours with mortality
trends holding — all eight
were elderly persons with
co-morbid conditions like
diabetes, cardiac and kidney
conditions and asthma.
Signalling urgent prepara-
tions for the community
transmission stage, the gov-
ernment has formed 10
empowered groups of Union
Secretaries to monitor med-
ical emergency manage-
ment, adequate supply of
INFOCUS
MANDATORY QUARANTINE
All migrants moving to
their native places in
violation of the lock-
down to be put in 14-day
mandatory quarantine at gov-
ernment facilities once they
reach their destinations
FOOD, SHELTER FOR POOR
The chiefs of police
and civil administra-
tions of all states will
make adequate arrange-
ments for food and shelter for
the poor and needy at the
places of their work
FULL PAY, NO EVICTION
States have been told
to ensure timely pay-
ment of wages to
labourers without any cut and
take action against all those
asking labourers or students
to vacate premises
<< An NDRF official gets hands
of migrants gathered near
Delhi-UP border sanitised. PTI
ble for the implementation of head,” the official said.
these directions issued under At the Lal Kuan terminal,
the Disaster Management scene appeared pathetic
Act,” the order said. despite local administration
“Adequate arrangements trying its best to facilitate
for food and shelter be made people. Police personnel
at the place of their work for deployed there were seen
the poor and needy, includ- trying their best to control
ing migrant labourers. The the situation, but chaos pre-
Centre had yesterday issued vailed all over. Moved by the
orders for the use of SDRF plight of the people, some
funds for the purpose. Suffi- good Samaritans were seen
cient funds are available distributing bananas and
with states under this water pouches to them.
A group of migrants walk to their villages near New Delhi on Sunday. PTI
ARMY DOC, JCO TEST +VE
New Delhi: An Army COUNT
doctor posted in
Kolkata and a JCO sta-
1024
tioned at Dehradun, have test-
ed positive for Covid-19. Both
had travelled to Delhi in the
first half of March. All those COVID 19CASES
who came in contact with them
have been quarantined at their
respective places. Their condi-
DATE TOTAL RECOVERED DEATHS
29 Mar 1,024 95 27
28 Mar 918 79 19
tion is said to be stable. TNS
isolation beds, personal pro- turing and procurement
tective equipment (PPE), process for personal pro-
N95 masks and ventilators tective gear, masks and
for Covid management ventilators is being devel-
training of human resources oped and ramped up local-
to handle the disease. ly. We are also importing
“The government is PPE and received the first
undertaking rigorous clus- shipment on Saturday.
ter containment. Manufac- continued on page 12
LOCKDOWN HAS SPREAD
PANIC: RAHUL BACK PAGE
Sorry, had no option
but lockdown: PM
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 29
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi today sought the
nation’s forgiveness for
imposing a monumental
lockdown on the country, but
said “we have to win... and
we will definitely win the
battle” against the unprece-
dented menace of coron-
avirus that has claimed at
least 25 lives in India so far.
Addressing the country
during “Mann Ki Baat” radio
programme, the PM sought
“forgiveness” from the coun-
try, especially the poor who
have been troubled the most.
Noting that there was no
other option, but to take the
most difficult decision of
lockdown to beat the spread
of coronavirus, he said
inevitable social distancing
did not mean that one also
went in for “emotional” and
“human” distancing.
Talking about reports of peo-
ple ill-treating those found
Covid-19 positive or in “self-
isolation” to save others from
getting infected, Modi said, “I
request you not to do this. I
have asked you not to venture
out, but this does not mean
that you can’t enter within
yourself. This is the time to
introspect and reflect and con-
tribute to save humanity.”
“Lockdown was the only
answer in the war between
Banks to remain
open in Punjab
on March 30-31
Chandigarh, March 29
The Punjab Government on
Sunday announced that banks
would remain open on March
30 and 31 to facilitate people in
their financial transactions,
amid the curfew restrictions
due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“On the directives of Chief
Minister Amarinder Singh, the
state Home Department has
issued an advisory regarding
operation of bank branches dur-
ing curfew on March 30 and 31,
2020, and beyond,” said a gov-
ernment release. From April 3
onwards, all bank branches
shall be open for two days of the
week, on a rotation basis, it said.
The DCs have been asked
to extend support during the
relaxation to the banking
staff, the release said. — TNS
Men in khaki on job, 16 hours a day
Aman Sood
Tribune news service
Patiala, March 29
In Punjab, men in khaki are
working for over 16 hours
every day to enforce curfew
restrictions. Many of their
seniors are working round
the clock. As many as 40,153
personnel are on duty in 27
police districts. Also, officials
at the police headquarters
HIS MANN KI BAAT
■ There was no other option,
but to take the most difficult
decision of lockdown to beat
Covid spread
■ Those breaking lockdown rules
should see the condition in
other parts of the world where
it was not taken seriously
■ Social distancing inevitable,
but don’t ill-treat Covid +ive
or those in “self-isolation”
to save others
life and death after watching
the experiences world over.
We need to attack the disease
in its first phase only, other-
wise we will not have any
solution, as this virus has
come to annihilate the entire
humanity,” the PM said.
Modi said those breaking
lockdown rules should see the
condition in other parts of the
world where it was not taken
seriously. “Even in developed
countries, they are suffering,
as they did not take precau-
tions beforehand,” he said.
Noting that health is the
source of all happiness, the
PM also talked to two coron-
avirus-positive individuals,
who got cured after treatment.
India moves staff from
Herat, Jalalabad to Kabul
New Delhi, March 29
India has shifted its diplo-
mats and staff from its con-
sulates in Afghan cities of
Herat and Jalalabad to Kab-
ul in view of fast-spreading
cases of Covid-19 in that
country which shares a long
border with Iran, the worst-
hit nation by the pandemic
in the region.
Government sources said
all Indian staff at the two con-
sulates were brought to Kabul
as part of precautionary
measures, following the
swelling number of Covid cas-
es in the war-ravaged country.
According to the Afghan
government, a total of 110
people have been infected
by the virus, although
health experts believe the
are coordinating efforts to
battle Covid-19 spread.
An ASI died while on duty
recently after he suffered a
heart attack. “We were told
that action would be initiat-
ed against us if anyone was
seen on roads during ‘Jana-
ta Curfew.’ After repeated
requests to people failed, we
had to use mild force against
a few. Now we are serving
monday, march 30,2020
IN BRIEF
German minister ends
life over ‘virus crisis’
Frankfurt: Thomas Schaefer,
Finance Minister of Germany’s
Hesse state, has committed sui-
cide apparently after becoming
“deeply worried” over how to cope
with the economic fallout from the
coronavirus, state premier Volker
Bouffier said on Sunday. Schaefer,
54, was found dead near a rail
track. The prosecution’s office said
it was suicide. AFP
Labour Ministry allows EPF
withdrawal amid lockdown
New Delhi: The Labour Ministry
has allowed over 6 crore sub-
scribes of retirement fund body
EPFO to withdraw an amount not
exceeding their three months’
basic pay and dearness
allowance from their EPF account
in view of the lockdown to fight
Covid-19. Besides, Employees'
Provident Fund Organisation has
also introduced online claim set-
tlement facility for all KYC-com-
plaint subscribers. NATION
India repatriates five
stranded Pakistanis
New Delh: India on Sunday
arranged for the repatriation of
five Pakistanis who were strand-
ed here due to the Covid-induced
lockdown. Two of the Pakistanis
had come to India on medical
visas and were stranded in Delhi
and Noida while the other three
had accompanied. BACK PAGE
1971 war hero passes away
New Delhi: Indian Air Force (IAF)
helicopter pilot, Air Vice Marshall
Chandan Singh, who led the dar-
ing helicopter lift of Army troops
across the Meghna (Bangladesh)
river during the 1971 Pakistan-
India war, died of natural causes
on Sunday. NATION
Inadequate facilities
and rising virus
cases prompt move
actual number could be
higher as several provinces
in the country do not have
facilities to carry out lab
tests to check the infection.
The sources said the Indian
staff from the two consulates
were shifted to Kabul as there
are no adequate medical facil-
ities in Herat and Jalalabad.
The Indian diplomats and
staff in Kabul have been told
to take all required precau-
tions to insulate themselves
from the virus while carrying
out their normal duties in the
embassy.— PTI
food to the needy and trying
to help migrants”, said an SI
in Ludhiana.
Officials on duty on the
Patiala-Fatehgarh Sahib bor-
der said not all had been pro-
vided with face masks for
protection against the
virus.“There are no sanitis-
ers. We wash our hands with
soap every half an hour with
continued on page 12
02 PUNJAB THE TRIBUNE
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 30 MARCH 2020

Supply crunch adds to lockdown blues Don’t ‘discriminate’ ENSURE REGULAR

SUPPLY: CM TO DEPTS

Bathinda admn’s delivery system falls flat | Calls on helpline numbers go unanswered in relief ops: Sukhbir Chandigarh: Chief Min-
ister Capt Amarinder
Singh on Sunday
Tribune News Service Tribune News Service potential to snowball into a ordered the depart-
ments concerned to
major law and order prob-
take all possible steps
Bathinda, March 29 Chandigarh, March 29 lem. I request you to direct to ensure uninterrupted
The state government Shiromani Akali Dal presi- all DCs not to distribute and regular supply of
claims to providing essential dent and Ferozepur MP food material as per dictates essential commodities
items at people’s doorstep Sukhbir Singh Badal, who of Congress leaders. Rather, and services at the
during the nationwide lock- on Sunday announced to they can make use of doorstep of the people
down, but the ground reality give ~1 crore from his helplines as well as social across the state. A
paints a different picture. MPLAD fund for ventila- and welfare organisations spokesperson of the
tors in all government hos- to distribute the material to Chief Minister’s Office

C VID-19 pitals in Ferozepur, request-

PANDEMIC
The district administra-
tion has provided people
with helpline numbers of
four utility stores —
Reliance Retail, Big Bazaar,
Best Price and Vishal Mega
Mart — in case they require
anything.
But ask residents and they
say the utility stores aren’t
of any help. Reason: utility
stores have put a condition
— orders less than ~1,000
would not be entertained.
A buyer said, “I had called
up the Best Price number to
place an order for grocery
items. Its employee asked
me to place the order online
on the condition that the
goods must amount to more
than ~1,500. If the amount
was less, the goods would
not be delivered at home.”
Another buyer said, “I had
placed an order with a
Reliance store two days ago.
Till now, I have not received
the goods. I called up the
store several times to
enquire about my order.
Every time, the phone was
switched off.”
The non-availability of
items is not the only prob-
lem; people say shopkeep-
ers selling items secretly are
charging exorbitant rates.
“The district administration
ed the CM to ensure that
the deserving,” he said.
The SAD president also
said on the directions of
Capt Amarinder, the
ACS, Home, had issued
there was no discrimination requested the CM to take
detailed guidelines to all
in distributing food items to note of the fact that despite
administrative secre-
the poor and needy on the announcements and reas- taries, heads of depart-
basis of political affiliation. surances given by him, food ments, divisional com-
He alleged that there were material was not reaching missioners, deputy
disturbing reports that Con- those in need. commissioners, range
gress legislators were com- “Widespread protests officers to ensure strict
mandeering deputy com- have already started in this compliance of
missioners and SDMs and regard. It seems that the the orders
accompanying them to dis- relief which is being sent by to stream-
tribute ration to their sup- the government is being line the
porters. “A backlash has diverted by unscrupulous supply of
already started against such elements. Strict action goods. TNS
Amid curfew, a wholesale and retail grocery market wears a deserted look in Bathinda on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: VIJAY KUMAR politicisation of relief oper- should be taken against
ations with people even these persons, howsoever
LACK OF PLANNING: RESIDENTS OFFICIALSPEAK Punjab Beopar Mandal expressing their anger at influential they may be,”
president Amit Kapoor Congressmen. This has the Sukhbir added.
❝ There is lack of planning in providing essential
items to people. I couldn’t get flour for three days.
❝ The district
administration has
said, “Earlier, the adminis-
tration had circulated a list
I finally managed to buy it from a retail shop situated
2 km from my house by paying extra.
been providing
groceries to Bathinda
residents. If people are
of 40 grocery stores which
were assigned the task of
supplying essential items to
In Ludhiana, elderly hit the most
❝ I had placed an order with a Reliance store two residents. But for some rea- Tribune News Service email to an MC official,
days ago. Till now, I have not received the goods. I
called up the store several times to enquire about
not receiving essential
items, I will look into the
matter and take
son, it revoked the list. Now,
only four utility stores have
been allowed to deliver
❝
Ludhiana, March 29
Covid has made life tough for
Calls on helplines
go unanswered. In spite
of claims, there is no
requesting him to arrange for
the delivery of vegetables in
my locality at the earliest,”
my order. Every time, the phone was switched off. appropriate action. goods. These four stores all. But vulnerable sections the octogenarian said.
Bathinda residents B Srinivasan, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER home delivery of
cannot cater to the demand such as elderly people and He has a request for the dis-
of the entire city. The state migrants are at a double disad-
medicines. Even buying trict administration: “Please
must fix rates of eight to 10 owner in Partap Nagar interiors of the city are run- government must reissue vantage. Senior citizens who groceries and respond to emails or mes-
most essential grocery said, “People have been ning out of stock. the list of wholesalers and are battling age-related ail- vegetables is difficult. sages of city residents at this
items like it has done for calling me up for groceries On the other hand, those retailers for every area with ments and are not tech-savvy SS Chana, IFS OFFICER (RETD) critical juncture.”
vegetables. Shopkeepers as the administration has living in the periphery in their contact numbers. complain that they are at the A retired teacher said: “As
are fleecing buyers,” a 71- failed to facilitate delivery Hardev Nagar, Kheta Singh When contacted, Deputy receiving end. Despite assur- a responsible citizen, I sup-
year-old resident said. of goods. My shop is closed, Basti and Lal quarters are Commissioner B Srinivasan ances from officials about the swered. In spite of claims, port the lockdown. All
Residents in Partap but I cannot refuse my cus- the worst affected. First, said, “We have been provid- uninterrupted supply of essen- there is no home delivery of should stay safe in their
Nagar and Parasram Nagar tomers. So I have started they did not get the supply ing groceries to city resi- tial items and medicines at medicines. Even buying gro- homes. But if we have to go
in old city say the scenario taking the orders on phone. for the first three days of dents and if there are any their doorstep, the ground real- ceries and vegetables is diffi- out to buy essential items
is chaotic. Customers collect the the curfew and when the areas where people are not ity is different, they say. cult,” said 88-year-old retired and medicines, the very pur-
Some shopkeepers are items when they feel con- groceries did reach these getting the delivery of gro- “Calls on many helplines IFS officer SS Chana, a resi- pose of lockdown is defeat-
selling goods, but secretly. venient, but secretly.” areas, only a few received cery, I will get it checked and and phone numbers pub- dent of Sarabha Nagar here. ed. Those who are aged and
A retail grocery store Many grocery shops in the essential items. take appropriate action.” lished in newspapers go unan- “A day before, I sent an are the worst sufferers.”

IN BRIEF
GOVT SETS UP 4 PANELS TO CONTAIN VIRUS
Chandigarh: The state government has constituted four
Will clank thalis if In Faridkot,
15% hike in
committees to deal with key aspects related to contain-
ing the spread of Covid. These committees are related
to health sector response and procurement, lockdown
admn fails to help: prices of goods
Faridkot, March 29

Jalandhar villagers
implementation, media and communication, and agri-
culture and food. The committees will report to the
State COVID-19 Management Group already notified by
the Health and Family Welfare Department for taking
quick decisions. TNS Tribune News Service
BBMB CHIPS IN, HELPS POOR Jalandhar, March 29
Amarjit Kaur from Bhakkhu
Chandigarh: The Bhakra Beas Management Board Nangal carries a crying, ailing
(BBMB) has chipped in with helping the poor during the
baby in her hand, her husband
lockdown. It is not only providing hospital facilities and
ambulances, but also groceries and food to the needy. has fever and cough. She says
Some of the vacant houses in BBMB townships Nangal, when the family went for a
Talwara and Sundernagar have been converted into isola- treatment at a hospital recent-
tion wards. The BBMB helped district administrations in ly they were turned away.
sanitising the three townships. Ambulances are available Kaur says, “Sada kamm band
at all project station of the BBMB. TNS ho gaya. (work has stopped) I
don’t even have ~50. We
urgently need food. Koi davai
vi nahi dinda (no one gives
medicine either),”.
Amarjit, a Kartarpur resi-
dent and the sole breadwin-
ner of the family who was
rendered immobile due to a
recent surgery, says he has no
food to feed his family.
At Fateh Jalal village, a
The SGPC and the Satkar committee distribute food near colony of 150 migrants, makes
the Attari border on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR do with a diet of boiled pota-
toes. Residents of some vil-
19 MILK PLANTS NOW FUNCTIONAL lages mobilised by the Pendu
Chandigarh: Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Sun- Mazdoor Union and the
day directed the Cooperation Department to ensure that all Zameen Prapti Sangharsh
milk plants in the state were made operational so that milk Committee have now given a
producers and dairy farmers were not put to any hardship or call for March 31. They say
inconvenience during the curfew/lockdown period in view of they will clank thalis and oth-
coronavirus. While 19 milk plants have already been made er utensils on their rooftops, if
operational, the remaining two will become operational from they are not provided with
April 1, according to an official spokesperson. TNS groceries and ration.
At the colonies near Chogit-
FOR EMERGENCY, POLICE LAUNCH APP ti and Domoriah Bridge,
migrants line up with out-
Chandigarh: To provide emergency medical and routine
services, the police have launched a Police Emergency Ser- stretched hands whenever
vices App (PESA) as a pilot project. More than 1,000 per-
sons benefitted on the first day of the launch in Sangrur
district. The department has tied up with private clinics and
ambulances as well as NGOs to meet medical emergencies
other than Covid through the app, which also provides for
Sangrur admn claims all’s well, but residents differ
veterinary doctor, plumber, electrician, LPG gas cylinder Tribune News Service
among other services, the DGP Dinkar Gupta. The link and
QR code to download this app are also available on district
police website (www.sangrurpolice.in). TNS
Sangrur, March 29 ❝
Amid Sangrur and Barnala
administrations’ claim that
STATE TO USE DISASTER RELIEF FUND home delivery of all essential
commodities of have begun,
Chandigarh: Punjab has received the lion’s share of the dis-
aster relief fund from the Centre this financial year. The mon- residents of urban and rural
ey will be used to provide immediate relief to the poor during areas think otherwise. In
some villages, residents have
the curfew. Of ~474 crore disaster relief fund for 2019-20, the
first instalment of ~177.75 crore has been released. It may alleged, not a single vehicle
be noted the states have to contribute 25% of the share in of essential commodities has
the fund, while 75% comes from the Centre. Of the Centre’s reached to date.
share of ~355.5 crore for Punjab in this fiscal, the remaining “We have come here to
~99.32 crore will be released in the next. KBS Sidhu, Special enquire about the home
Chief Secretary, Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Man- delivery of essential com-
agement, said that under the present circumstances we will modities as we have not
give priority to use funds for Covid prevention measures. TNS received any supply yet.
No ration, village
residents surviving
on boiled potatoes
someone comes to disburse
rations. Some villages com-
plain while the administration
provided them rations several
times, it’s not enough.
Mangal, a panch at the
Fazalpur village, says, “We
are several families here
mostly from Bihar. The police
came and gave ration to us a
week ago. Yesterday some
people distributed food. The
ration will last a week more at
the most. Teams can’t come
in daily we also understand
that. We are all daily wagers
and have lost livelihoods due
to the lockdown. We need
food to last during the lock-
down or we will starve. Our
homes are all here we have
nowhere to go.”
Maninder, 60, a resident of
the Fateh Jalal village says,
“Allo ubaal ke kha rahe hain
(we are boiling potatoes for
food). No one has given us
ration any day. We need food
to survive. There are 50 to 60
children and 40 to 50 women
here. We used to get Rs 300 to
350 a day. Now jobs are gone.
Though a vehicle came in our
area on Saturday, but it went
back after distributing ration
in some selected houses. We
request the Punjab govern-
ment to look into the matter,”
said a group of women from
Sundar Basti while standing
at the main gate of the San-
grur Deputy commissioner
on Sunday.
“In our village we have not
received any supply yet. On
Saturday, our village pan-
chayat distributed some
ration, but that was for only
few families,” said Bal-
winder Singh from Jhaloor
Retailers procure medicines from wholesale dealers in Amritsar on Sunday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR
Medicines in short supply
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, March 29
In the absence of inter-state
transportation of goods cou-
pled with panic buying by
people, several essential items
such as masks, sanitisers,
insulin and milk powder for
infants are running out of
stock. Retailers say their med-
icine stock won’t last a week.
The Punjab Chemist Asso-
ciation has written to Dr VG
Somani, Drug Controller of
India, New Delhi, seeking
his intervention.
Surinder Duggal, president
of the association, said: “We
have sought permission for fer-
rying medicines from
Zirakpur, Ambala and
Himachal Pradesh in private
vehicles. The state government
should issue curfew passes to
Our village has not
received any supply
of goods so far. On
Saturday, our village
panchayat distributed
some ration, but that
was given only to
selected families.
Balwinder Singh, JHALOOR VILLAGE
village of Sangrur.
Jagtar Singh of Tolewal vil-
lage said on Saturday a vehi-
cle came to supply essential
commodities. “But it was not
free , as claimed by govern-
❝ The stock of insulin
and medicines for
patients of blood
pressure and heart
ailments is fast depleting.
There’s been no supply
from Mohali distributors.
Kailash Ahuja, PHARMACIST IN ROPAR
us so that essentials medicines
can be supplied to Punjab.”
Duggal, who also heads the
north India unit of the
chemists’ association, said
similar situation was emerg-
ing in Jammu and Kashmir
and several parts of Himachal
Pradesh. “Around 70 per cent
of the supply came from
Zirakpur, 10 per cent from
Ambala and remaining from
Baddi,” he said.
ment. The persons sitting in
vehicle were selling the items
and we came back as we do
not have money,” he said.
Sangrur Deputy Commis-
sioner Ghanshyam Thori said
2,500 helplines have been work-
ing across district and their offi-
cers have been supervising the
delivery of necessary commodi-
ties to all villages and assured to
look into the matter if there is
any problem.
“Presently, labourers do
not have money to purchase
necessary. Since shopkeep-
ers are selling their items on
higher rates, they are unwill-
“I talked to medical store own-
ers in Amritsar, Ludhiana,
Mansa and Faridkot over phone
and they told me that panic pur-
chase by people led to the short-
age of insulin. This can prove
fatal in case of an emergency sit-
uation,” Duggal added.
Rajesh Soi, president,
Amritsar Chemist Associa-
tion, said chemists would
run out of medicines related
to diabetes and cancer,
antibiotics, gastric vaccine,
dialysis kits, respiratory
products and life-saving
drugs in the coming days.
“All districts in the state get
supply either from company
warehouses or from clearing
and forwarding (C&F)
agents. Therefore, we request
the Central and the state gov-
ernment to allow transporta-
tion of medicines,” he added.
ing to give grocery items to
labourers on credit. Things
will turn worse, if the gov-
ernment fails to take quick
action,” said Mukesh
Malaud, president of
Zameen Prapati Sangarash
Committee.
“There is no shortage of any
stock and we are delivering
commodities at the houses of
residents. If any resident is
facing any problem, he
should contact our helpline
and we would redress his
complaint immediately” said
Barnala Deputy Commis-
sioner TPS Phoolka.
The widening gap in the
demand and supply of goods
has resulted in 10 to 15 per
cent spike in prices in the
wholesale and retail markets.
In the wholesale market, the
rate of edible oils has
increased by ~15 per kg and,
that of pulses, the hike is
between ~20 and ~25 per kg.
The increase in sugar price in
the wholesale market is ~1.5 to
~2 per kg but, in the retail mar-
ket, buyers are paying ~4 to ~5
more than the usual rate.
The state government is
supplying wheat to flour
millers at ~2,080 per quintal,
but millers are selling wheat
flour at an increased price of
~2,600 to ~2,700 per quintal in
view of the high demand.
The rate of dry fodder for
animals, too, has increased.
The price of mustard and cot-
ton cakes has increased by
~200 to ~250 per quintal. In
case of choker and choker
cattle feed pallets, the prices
have increased by ~400 to
~500 per quintal.
All-India Karyana Associ-
ation president Onkar Nath
Goyal said, “Risk to truck
drivers who are transport-
ing goods, shortage of
labour and demand for
advanced payment by
traders before the delivery
are causing supply short-
age. Panic buying is driving
up grocery prices.” — TNS
‘FAVOURITISM IN
DISTRIBUTING ITEMS’
Moga: Despite claims by the
district administration that
essential items would be
provided at doorsteps of
people, there were reports of
shortage of goods, over-
charging and favouritism by
panchayats in the distribu-
tion system. Vinay Kashyap,
a city-based lawyer, alleged
that even as the administra-
tion had claimed that goods
would be provided at con-
trolled rates, the prices of
vegetables and fruits were
high in local markets.
Ramesh Kuku, president,
Rice and Pulses Dealers
Association, said they were
having limited stocks. TNS
THE TRIBUNE
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 30 MARCH 2020 PUNJAB 03

Migrants won’tstay No case in past 48 hrs State ramps

up stock of May let industry
to operate: Capt
Tribune News Service
14 CLOSE CONTACTS
safety kits
back, no matter what Chandigarh, March 29
No new confirmed case of
Coivd-19 has been reported for
the second consecutive day in
OF PATIALA MAN -VE
Patiala: All 14 close con-
tacts of the first positive
case of the district have
Tribune News Service

Migrant labourers take a long journey back home from Pathankot to Gwalior. PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH
Ravi Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service
Batala (Gurdaspur), March 29
Hordes of migrant labourers
working in the industrial hub
of Batala are walking back
home too, fearing if the corona
outbreak is not controlled they
may either die or if at all they
survive they will be ostracised
by their folks back home.
On a conservative estimate,
of the 15,000 labourers who
have made the city their home
after migrating from UP, Bihar,
MP, Jharkhand and Rajasthan
over the last several decades,
5000 have already left.
Workers, carrying back-
packs, set out on foot in the
morning, walking along the
very roads they built and past
factories where they once
earned their livelihood.
Despite Deputy Commis-
Chandigarh, March 29
Tribune News Service
EASE NORMS TO USE
the state. The number of con- tested negative for Covid- To prepare for any Covid- Chandigarh, March 29 GRANTS, FM URGED
firmed cases remained at 38. 19. “The village of the related contingency, the To address the problem of
However, the report of 190 sus- state government is aggres- migrant labourers and pre-
Capt Amarinder on Sun-
Covid patient has already
day urged Union Finance
pected cases is still awaited. been sealed for the next sively building up its stocks vent their exodus from the
Minister Nirmala Sithara-
According to the media 14 days and all suspected of life-saving equipment state amid Covid-19 crisis, man to amend the condi-
bulletin issued by the state patients have already such as masks, gloves, venti- Chief Minister Capt tions for utilisation of the
Health Department, so far been admitted to isolation lators, PPE kits etc. A large Amarinder Singh has asked 14th Finance Commission
977 samples have been col- ward of the Government quantity of these materials is all industrial units and brick- grants for emergency
lected, out of which 38 were
Rajindra Hospital," Patiala already in stock and more is kilns in the state to com- relief in urban areas. He
Civil Surgeon Harish Mal-
found positive and 749 nega- expected to be available over mence operations with such asked the minister to
hotra said. Health offi-
tive. The result of 190 is the next few days. migrants if they have the pro- advise the Ministries of
cials have already started
awaited. All confirmed cases By March 31, the state will vision to accommodate them Housing & Urban Affairs
the process of sanitisa-
have been hospitalised. The have another 25,000 N95 safely within the premises. and Panchayati Raj to initi-
tion of the village. TNS
condition one of the patients masks, in addition to 52,500 The government is also in ate action in this regard.
is critical, but stable. 19, said he would be counted already in stock, along with 1 discussion with Radha
Officials said the case of 21- in Haryana as per the guide- lakh nitrile gloves. While the Soami Satsang Beas, which food, said the Chief Minister,
year-old resident of Ramnagar lines of Central Government. state having at its disposal has already offered its while appealing to the own-
village in Ghanaur block of the At present the spread of the 26.32 lakh triple layer masks, bhawans as quarantine ers to ensure that social dis-
district Patiala, who was tested disease is limited to six dis- another 12 lakh will be added facilities, to allow migrant tancing was maintained dur-
positive for Covid, would not tricts. Of 22, 16 districts are to the inventory by April 1, labourers to stay there as ing this period.
be counted in Punjab. He had disease free. The confirmed according to Additional Chief these people would be The directions and discus-
PATHANKOT TO GWALIOR ON FOOT been living at his native village 38 cases have been reported Secretary Vini Mahajan. needed for wheat harvest- sions came amid reports of
Jalandhar: With a handkerchief tied to his face, Ram in Patiala before he was admit- from five districts. The gov- To reduce dependence on ing in two weeks’ time. lakhs of migrant labourers
Kumar, treads along the PAP highway in Jalandhar — his ted to Ambala Civil Hospital. ernment has directed to waive outside vendors, the gov- The owners of industrial getting stranded across the
eventual destination is Gwalior, 849 km from his starting As his native village was the process of biometric ernment has roped in local units and brick-kilns can nation, and the problem
point Pathankot. Ram Kumar who had come to Punjab on close to Ambala civil hospital, authentication of patients manufacturers, she said, commence production if assuming ominous propor-
March 16 has had a shortlived stint at Pathankot selling he chose to go there. Dr before getting treatment from adding that samples pre- they have enough space to tions with such labourers
golgappas. A week into his new business, the lockdown Gagandeep Singh Grover, the hospitals under the Sarbat pared by them were at pres- accommodate the migrant gathering in large numbers
caused him to lock up his vend and head home. With no state nodal officer for Covid- Sehat Bima Yojana. ent in testing phase. labourers and provide them at borders in many states.
vehicles available due to the lockdown — he has decided to
reach Gwalior on foot. Accompanied by another family (of
his relative Gulaab) — the troupe of 11 has been traversing
the state highways since Saturday on foot. APARNA BANERJI
sioner Mohammad Ishfaq’s to enter their villages.
claims that the administra- Vishwa Mittar Goel, general
tion has made arrangements secretary, Batala Foundry-
to ensure these people have men Association, said: “I
adequate ration, they are not tried to convince some of
willing to stay back. them to stay calm as normal-
Labourers are adamant on cy will soon return but to no
going back fearing that even if avail. If they are not made
they catch the disease and are aware that the disease is not
cured, they will have to carry fatal and there is no disgrace
the ‘corona stigma’ following in catching the virus, more
which they will not be allowed will go home.”

‘Forced to leave as Stranded for week,

no help from admn’ bride’s kin leave for UP
Ludhiana: Unable to get essential commodi-
ties, migrant labourers are shifting from the
industrial city of Ludhiana to their native
places. Since the means of transport are
unavailable due to Covid-19 lockdown these
migrants have started their journey on foot and
in groups. Raghu, a migrant labourer, says that
they are headed to Saharanpur in Uttar
Pradesh, which is 206 km from here, as they are
unable to manage essential commodities.
“I haven’t eaten anything since yesterday. If
we go out, the police beat us up. We don’t know
from where to buy atta-dal,” says he. Shambu,
another one labourer, says the helpline num-
bers are going switched off and when they get
connected, there’s no help. — Manav Mander
Sangrur: After remaining stranded for almost
a week, the parents and other relatives of a
bride left for their home in Jhansi, UP, from
Malerkotla town. UP residents had come to
marry their daughter on March 21, but after the
imposition of curfew, they were stuck here.
“We had planned grand functions, but had to
cancel all. We also requested all relatives not to
come to our house to attend the marriage due to
Covid,” said groom Hitesh Kumar, a Malerkotla
resident. Due to restrictions, they solemnised
marriage in the wee hours of March 22 only as his
in-laws family planned to go back on March 23.
“All trains were cancelled due to curfew and we all
were stranded here. We couldn’t hold functions as
per plan,” said bride Shveta. — Parvesh Sharma

Punjab Diary
Team CMO at work
Chandigarh: The state's aggressive fight
against the Covid has brought under spot-
light the team CMO, headed by Chief Prin-
cipal Secretary to Chief Minister Suresh
Kumar and the state's top bureaucracy
headed by Chief Secretary Karan Avtar
Singh, who have been aggressively work-
ing behind the scene to ensure that the
state leads the country when it comes to
taking on the virus. The officers have been
successful in putting in place the mecha-
nism to undertake relief measures on a
war footing. From enforcing law and order
to running emergency services via Covid The Amloh SDM, along with NGO members,
app, the top team has been able to use the distributes food items among the needy.
services of the Punjab Police. TNS
On mission to feed poor
Rising to the occasion Fatehgarh Sahib: Gurdarshan Singh Nab-
Amritsar: Politicians and leaders of unions ha Foundation, an NGO run by Amloh
and associations of trade or industry usually MLA Kaka Randeep Singh Nabha, has
end up their conversation with people who come to the rescue of the poor. The foun-
wield some influence, saying, "Koi seva hoi dation in collaboration with the district
te daseo. (If you need any service, please let administration and 15 social organisa-
us know)". These days when the entire coun- tions of Amloh and Mandi Gobindgarh
try is grappling with the shortage of medical has not only been distributing ration
supplies amid Covid threat, a local resident among the needy and serving langar to
welfare association's leader desperately nearly 1,000 people twice daily, but also
wanting some work to be done went on to ensuring the supply of essential com-
offer sanitisers and masks in return. modities at the doorsteps of the people.

CONTRIBUTED BY MANMEET GILL, SURINDER BHARDWAJ

04
129 shelter, relief homes set up for migrants
Khattar tells DCs to seal borders to stop labourer exodus, ensure food, board & lodging for camp inmates
Tribune Need Service
Chandigarh, March 29
In a bid to control and stop
the movement of migrant
labourers across the state,
Chief Minister Manohar Lal
Khattar has directed the
Deputy Commissioners to
completely seal the inter
and intra-state borders.
Khattar said the migrants
should be stopped at their
respective places and no
one should be allowed to
move from the current loca-
tions. The CM gave these
directions while presiding
over the review meeting
with the DCs and SPs
through video conferencing
here on Sunday.
He directed the officers
concerned to set up shelter
or relief camps and ensure
that proper food, boarding
and lodging arrangements
were made for the migrant
labourers staying in such
camps and if anyone still
opposes, strict
should be taken against
action
them.
Khattar said a nodal offi-
cer for every camp in each
district should be appoint-
ed, who would ensure lodg-
ing, food and medical facili-
ties of these migrants.
Apart from this, social dis-
tancing should be ensured
in these camps.
He directed that special
shelter or relief camps
should be set up along
with the national high-
ways for the migrants
walking on foot so that
they could stay there.
The CM said during this
hour of crisis, the participa-
tion of the NGOs and vari-
ous social organisations
should also be ensured.
He said special arrange-
ments should be made for
the people staying alone
and the destitute, especially
senior citizens without chil-
dren.
Chief Secretary Keshni
Anand Arora said elaborate
Four convicts,
11 undertrials
freed in Y’nagar
Yamunanagar, March 29
In an exercise to decongest
prisons following the Covid
outbreak, 11 undertrials
were released on interim
bail from the district jail
here on Friday for 45 days.
District Magistrate Mukul
Kumar sanctioned special
parole to four convicts.
Undertrials with only one
case, in which the maximum
prescribed sentence was up
to seven years, were released.
The undertrials with two
cases, in which the com-
bined maximum prescribed
punishment was up to sev-
en years, were also given
interim bail.
As per information, jail
authorities sent cases of 48
convicts to District Magistrate
Mukul Kumar for considera-
tion of special parole. — TNS
‘DON’T CUT WAGES OR
LAY OFF WORKERS’
■ The state government has
asked public and private
establishments not to lay-
off or reduce the wages of
their employees in view of
the ongoing Covid crisis
■ The Additional Chief Sec-
retary (Industries and
Commerce) has issued
an advisory to DCs and
other officers
■ He asked them to bring to
the notice of establish-
ments that services of
employees, especially
casual and contractual
ones, who might not be
able to discharge their
duties due to circum-
stances, should not be ter-
minated. Their wages
should also not be cut
■ “If any worker takes leave,
he should be deemed to
be on duty without any
consequential reduction
in wages for that period,”
the advisory said
■ Similarly,if a place of
employment is rendered
out of operation due to
Covid-19, the employees
of such unit should be
deemed to be on duty
arrangements had been
made for food and lodging
of migrant labourers. She
said special shelter or relief
homes had been set up in
each district and around
129 were functional. She
was presiding over the Cri-
sis Coordination Commit-
tee meeting with senior offi-
cers through video
conferencing today.
The Chief Secretary
directed setting up of spe-
cial health camps on the
borders for migrant labour-
ers for thermal screening
and medical tests. She
directed officers to explore
the possibility of turning
stadiums in their respective
districts into temporary
stay, so that these labourers
who are moving on foot
could be lodged there.
Drone to aid of Panipat
families in quarantine
Mukesh Tandon
Tribune News Service
Panipat, March 29
The administration has
decided to use a drone to pro-
vide food items and essential
commodities to suspected
Covid patients who have
been quarantined at home.
These persons have been
directed strictly not to step
out of their houses.
The district administration
had home quarantined 886
suspected patients and 305
homes are under quarantine
in the city. It has devised a
special plan to provide essen-
tial commodities to such per-
sons at home.
Ajit Balaji Joshi, Director
General, Higher Education,
said the administration
Migrants continued their march on Sunday, as captured on Delhi-Jaipur e-way at Gurugram. S CHANDAN
No option, but
to trek home...
Panipat, March 29
“We know we are disobeying
government directions, but
have no option as we have no
money and food,” said Babu-
ram from Bihar moving to
his village. Hundreds of
migrant labourers started
moving towards their respec-
tive villages on Sunday.
Baburam said he had been
working at a factory here for
the past eight years and was
staying in rented accommo-
dation. He said he had not
got his salary and the land-
lord was demanding rent,
but they did not have money.
Manish, Lalit, Ravi and
Malkhan of Barabanki in
UP said they had been
working at a factory near
Kurar village, but it had
been shut now. He said they
had exhausted their money
and food and when they
asked the owner for money,
he refused.
Over 3 lakh migrants work in
Panipat industries. DC Hema
Sharma has issued orders to
house owners not to demand
rent from for a month. — TNS
A drone carries essentials for
delivery in Panipat.
planned to provide packets
to persons who had been
quarantined at home as it
was their responsibility.
Hema Sharma, Deputy
Commissioner, said it was a
good idea to provide essen-
tial commodities like medi-
HARYANA
Workers stranded on roads
as buses rushed to Delhi
Sunit Dhawan
Tribune News Service
Rohtak, March 29
Thousands of migrant
labourers facing livelihood
crisis after having lost their
jobs due to the lockdown
imposed to check Covid pan-
demic are not being able to
reach their native places in
view of the cancellation of
trains and buses and ban on
plying of private cabs.
A number of Haryana
Roadways buses were rushed
to Delhi to ferry natives of
Uttar Pradesh as per the
directions of the state author-
ities, but the drivers and con-
ductors of those buses did not
allow the migrant labourers
waiting at bus stops along the
highway along with their
families to board the buses.
On being questioned why
the home travel of migrant
labourers was not being facil-
itated despite the multiple
hardships being faced by
them, Rohtak Mayor Man-
cines and food packets. The
trial run of providing a pack-
et to a family in Ansal using
a drone was successful on
Saturday, she added.
The Health Department
had sent samples of 43 sus-
pected patients for testing so
far. Three were found posi-
tive and 31 negative and the
reports on nine were awaited.
15 shelter homes set up
The administration has
established 15 shelters that
would provide food and
remain open 24 hours. The
needy and labourers could
stay in these shelters. More
shelters for around 5,000 peo-
ple would be operational by
Monday afternoon and 97
were in the pipeline.
Will give house rent,
food to migrants, says
Rohtak Mayor
300-BED SHELTER
HOME AT KARNAL
The Karnal district adminis-
tration has developed a
300-bed shelter home for
migrant labourers at the
Community Centre Kam-
bopura and night shelter
homes in the city. A similar
facility is being developed at
Radha Soami Satsang Beas
on National Highway-44.
The district administration
has warned all the industri-
alists, shopkeepers and oth-
ers not to force labourers to
leave premises or FIRs will
be registered against them.
mohan Goyal maintained
they were making efforts to
provide food and shelter to
jobless migrants as per guide-
lines of the government.
“House rent and food will
Centralised distribution
of essentials in Karnal
Karnal, March 29
The district administration
has started a centralised dis-
tribution system to ensure
the supply of essential gro-
cery items to the needy.
It has divided the city into
20 wards and assigned the
duties to various religious
and social organisations in
each ward to avoid dou-
bling of distribution of
essential items. The author-
ities, however, witnessed
that various organisations
were distributing essential
grocery items to the needy
in different parts of the city
but in some areas double
and triple ration kits had
been distributed, while in
others nobody came for dis-
tribution.
Deputy Commissioner Nis-
hant Kumar Yadav held a
meeting of various social and
religious organisations at the
Mini-Secretariat and
18,000 GET FOOD IN
PALWAL CAMPS
■ Thirtyone camps have
been set up with boarding
and lodging facilities in
Faridabad and Palwal dis-
tricts for persons affected
due to the lockdown
■ Faridabad DC Yashpal
Yadav said facilities have
been provided in nine gov-
ernment schools in the
city for the homeless or
migrant workers
■ Palwal DC Naresh Narwal
said these camps were pri-
marily meant for labourers
or migrant workers
■ Food was provided to
18,000 people walking to
reach their homes in the
district in the past 24 hours
be provided to migrant
labourers living in Rohtak
who have lost their jobs due
to the lockdown. Shelter
homes are also being
arranged for the homeless
migrants,” he stated.
Rohtak Divisional Commis-
sioner D Suresh appealed to
industrialists and voluntary
social organisations to sup-
port the local administration
in serving the needy. “The
district administration has
set up 34 relief centres and
made arrangements to pro-
vide shelter to 14,000 persons.
Distribution of dry and cold
ration material to the needy
will be done for three
months,” he said, adding that
the support of industrialists,
voluntary organisations and
residents was required.
Rohtak Deputy Commis-
sioner RS Verma said
arrangements to lodge the
migrants were being made at
150 schools and institutes in
the district.
Move aims to avoid
doubling of ration,
ensure supply to needy
assigned wards to them. Ward
councillor will assist them.
Taraori rice millers raise
~22L, give 500 ration kits
Rice millers of Taraori on
Sunday extended support
to the needy and collected
around ~22 lakh for essen-
tial grocery items like flour,
rice, mustard oil, sugar, salt,
tea and others.
On the first day, they dis-
tributed around 500 ration
kits to the needy persons
and will provide over 2,000
more kits in coming days
They are taking the help
of the Municipal Commit-
tee and the police to dis-
tribute these items in Tara-
ori town. — TNS
THE TRIBUNE
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 30 MARCH 2020
FARIDABAD 732 STILL UNDER SURVEILLANCE
As many as 840 persons have been placed under surveil-
lance in Faridabad district to date. As per Deputy Civil Sur-
geon and District Nodal Officer, Corona, Dr Ram Bhagat, of
these 108 persons have completed the surveillance period
of 28 days. Revealing that while 732 people were still under
surveillance, he said the Health Department had sent the
samples of 77 persons for testing, of which the reports of
56 tested negative while that of 20 persons were still await-
ed. Of three positive patients, one is out of hospital. TNS
CHANDIGARH JJP GIVES ~51L TO COVID FUND
The Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), the BJP’s coalition partner
in the state, donated ~51 lakh to the Haryana COVID-19
Relief Fund on Sunday. JJP founder member Digvijay Singh
Chautala and other senior leaders of the party met Chief
Minister Manohar Lal Khattar here and handed him over a
cheque, a party statement said. Khattar has contributed ~5
lakh from his personal savings. Digvijay said the workers of
the Indian National Students Organisation, the youth wing
of the JJP, were also prepared to render full assistance. PTI
YAMUNANAGAR 18 SAMPLES TEST NEGATIVE
Three more samples were sent for testing to the Bhagat
Phool Singh Medical College, Sonepat, on Saturday, taking
the total number of suspected cases to 21 in Yamunanagar
district. Dr Vijay Dahiya, Civil Surgeon, Yamunanagar dis-
trict, said of 21 samples, 18 tested negative and the reports
of three samples were awaited, which would come on Mon-
day. “So far, there has been no confirmed case of Covid in
Yamunanagar district,” said Dr Dahiya. TNS
Y’NAGAR RATION DISTRIBUTED AMONG NEEDY
MLA Ghanshyam Dass Arora and Mayor of Municipal
Corporation, Yamunanagar-Jagadhri, Madan Chauhan
on Sunday distributed ration packets among the
needy. The MLA and the Mayor went to slum dwellers
near Sarojini Colony and railway station and gave
ration to 100 families. On the other hand, SK Sachde-
va, Chief Operating Officer of Saraswati Sugar Mills,
and DP Singh, Senior Vice-President, sent 1,000 pack-
ets of ration to the Red Cross Society for distribution
among the needy. TNS
KARNAL FOUR MORE SUSPECTED CASES
The reports of three samples, which were sent on Friday
and Saturday, came out negative, taking the figure of
negative cases to 43. Meanwhile, the department took
the samples of four more suspected persons having flu-
like symptoms. They have been admitted to the isolation
ward of the KCGMC, said Dr Ashwani Ahuja, Civil Sur-
geon. He said so far they had collected the samples of
47 persons, of them 43 tested negative. TNS
FARIDABAD 58 HELD FOR LOCKDOWN VIOLATIONS
The district police have arrested 58 persons for violating
lockdown regulations in the past 24 hours. Total 69 vehi-
cles have also been impounded and challans worth ~1.16
lakh imposed. A police spokesperson said while 24 FIRs
had been registered under Section 188 of the IPC, 58 per-
sons found roaming outside without a valid reason were
arrested and later released on bail. To date, 146 persons
have been arrested for lockdown violations and 401 vehi-
cles impounded, with ~9.91 lakh collected as fine. TNS
PIPLI SIX HOTEL WORKERS BEING TESTED
The 21-year-old Patiala youth who tested positive for Covid
and is admitted at Ambala Civil Hospital had halted at a
hotel in Pipli for food. Samples of six persons working in
the hotel have been taken for testing and the persons
home-quarantined. The youth was on his way from Delhi
in a Haryana Roadways bus. Twelve samples have been
taken in Kurukshetra, of which six have tested negative
and the results of the remaining are awaited. TNS
Spl arrangements
to collect trash from
those in quarantine
Nitish Sharma lines. To ensure waste of quar-
Tribune News Service antined houses doesn’t get
Ambala, March 29 mixed with garbage being col-
The waste from houses lected by sanitation workers,
where people are under the company collecting bio-
quarantine will be collected medical waste from hospitals
and disposed of by a compa- will collect waste from houses
ny engaged to collect bio- of quarantined people and dis-
medical waste from hospi- pose it of scientifically.”
tals in Ambala. At present, “The company has been
nearly 948 persons are in directed to collect waste daily.
home quarantine in Ambala. We don’t want sanitation
As per the information, a workers to come in contact
list of 1,301 persons with for- with the waste of quarantined
eign travel history had people. Besides, this it will
arrived here of which after also help us in avoiding the
eliminating the duplicate community spread,” he said.
entries (19), as many as 1,276 “More than 10 FIRs have
were traced while six been lodged against home-
remained untraced due to quarantine violators. It is
wrong addresses. the responsibility of all over-
Joint Director Secondary seas returnees to contact the
Education Satinder Siwach, health authorities or stern
who has been given the action will be taken against
responsibility of Nodal Officer them and the passport
for quarantine monitoring in authorities will also be
Ambala, said, “As per protocol, directed to initiate appropri-
overseas returnees must fol- ate action against such pass-
low home quarantine guide- port holders,” he said.
THE TRIBUNE
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 30 MARCH 2020 HARYANA 05

State set to battle Schools in Karnal IOCL waives 100-litre

limit on fuel delivery
start session with
invisible enemy
Karnal, March 29 go to pumps for diesel, can
Indian Oil Corporation Lim- avail it by using the mobile
ited (IOCL) pressed into serv- app “fuel humsafar”.

Covid hospital ready in Jhajjar; Manesar facility next

Geetanjali Gayatri
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 29
One Covid-specific hospital,
four more testing labs,
increased testing to include
those suffering from respi-
ratory stress, purchase of
ventilators and tie-ups with
the private sector to aug-
ment bed availability for
creation of isolation and
quarantine wards — schools have started digi-
Haryana has fast-tracked an
entire gamut of operations
to beat the invisible enemy.
Realising it is in a race
against time, the Health
Department is in overdrive
while its top brass keeps a
close eye on rising Covid
cases. “We are in the process
of establishing four more
labs at Karnal, Panchku-
la, Sirsa, Nuh while
augmenting the capac-
ity of PGIMS, Rohtak.
The ECIS medical col-
lege has also applied for
the approval of a lab and the
state government has taken
up the matter with the
ICMR. Additionally, three
private labs have also been
given approval by the
ICMR,” ACS, Health, Rajeev
Arora, said on Sunday.
In the light of the Govern-
ment of India directions of
either having an exclusive
Covid hospital or separate
block in an existing hospital
with an independent entry
and exit, Haryana has ear-
marked the 600-bed private
World College of Medical
Sciences in Jhajjar as Covid
hospital. A private hospital
in Manesar has also offered
its premises for an exclusive
Covid hospital. We working
out the terms and conditions
with them,” Arora said.
The Health Department
has “reserved” 25 per cent
8,500 beds available of
which 1,900 are fully-
equipped ICU beds. As
many as 500 isolation beds
in 422 isolation wards and
3,200 rooms and dormito-
ries with a capacity to take
in 14,000 persons for quar-
STATE TRACKER antine is in place.
Total persons under 12,853 Maintaining that the
surveillance department had adequate
Currently under 12,208 supplies of equipment, per-
surveillance sonal protection kits, hand
Hospitalised 234 sanitisers and masks, Arora
Persons completing 645 said that 35,000 N95 masks
surveillance had arrived in the past cou-
ple of days and the depart-
Samples for testing 650
ment was in the process of
Negative samples 456 procuring another three lakh
Results awaited 175 besides a larger number of
Positive cases 21 personal protection kits.
“Sometimes, there is tem-
TELLING NUMBERS porary shortage, but we are
■ 8,500 total beds trying to tap all available
■ 1,900 ICU beds
sources,” he said, adding
that the department had
■ 1,100 ventilators
adequate supply of medi-
■ 300 ventilators soon
cine. “We have a 24x7
■ 4 more testing labs helpline which is catering
■ 3 lakh N95 masks on way to concerns around Covid
and all of us are working
beds in all hospitals, gov- 24x7 to be able to handle the
ernment and private, for ground situation in the best
Covid patients, making possible way,” he said.
digital classes
Parveen Arora
Tribune News Service
Karnal, March 29
Amid the Covid lockdown,
most private schools in
the city have started the
new academic session on
the digital mode. After
uploading the examina-
tion results of students on
school websites or send-
ing these to parents on
their WhatsApp numbers,
tal classes.
Teachers are giving
assignments to students
through live or recorded
lectures during school
timings daily. The
schools authorities say
this step has been initiat-
ed so that studies are not
affected and students
remain busy at home cov-
ering the syllabus.
“We uploaded the results
on the school website on
March 24 and started digi-
tal classes on March 26.
Teachers formed What-
sApp groups of parents of
their students. Each
teacher posts a lecture
lasting 10 to 15 minutes
daily and after 40 or 45
minutes, another teacher
posts a lecture of the same
duration as per school
timings,” said Sushma
Devgun, Principal, Dyal
Singh Public School, Dyal
Singh Colony.
Since students had not
purchased books so far
due to the lockdown,
teachers were providing
pages of books to students,
she stated. She said stu-
dents could use time effec-
tively with this effort. “We
want students to utilise
their time friutfully during
the lockdown so we have
taken this step,” said Prof
ice its fuel home delivery
facility amid the lockdown.
Anyone, particularly farm-
ers, industrialists and hospi-
Earlier, there was a restric-
tion of minimum order of 100
litres of diesel, but now the
company has given relax-
tal authorities, who cannot ation due to Covid. — TNS
‘STUDIES GOING ON’
❝ We uploaded the
results on the school
VAISH EDUCATION SOCIETY (REGD.) ROHTAK
Public Notice
website on March 24 It is inform to all persons of Vaish Community that to participate
in Tri-annual Election 2020 of Vaish Education Society, Rohtak.
and started digital The last date for submission of Membership Form (either for New
classes on March 26. Eligible Applicant or updating KYC/verification of identity and
Teachers formed address of Old Life Members) was 31.03.2020, but in the light
of COVID-19 nationwide lockdown by the Govt. of India.
WhatsApp groups of A bank guard on way to work Therefore, the Vaish Education Society has provided an extension
parents of their on a deserted Gurugram of 10 days from the end of the lockdown period.
students. Each road. TRIBUNE PHOTO: S CHANDAN President
teacher posts a lecture
lasting 10 to 15
minutes daily and
after 40 or 45
minutes, another
teacher posts a lecture
of the same duration
as per school timings.
Sushma Devgun, SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
(retd) BR Gulati, general
manager, Dyal Singh Col-
lege Trust Society.
Dr Rajan Lamba, presi-
dent, Sahodaya School
Complex, and Principal,
Tagore Bal Niketan
Senior Secondary School,
Sector 6, said they had
developed a mobile app
and asked parents to
download it for starting
the new academic ses-
sion. He said teachers had
created WhatsApp groups
to deliver lectures and
assignment to students.
Parents welcomed the
step of schools and said
this move was helping stu-
dents start the session in a
new manner. “I am happy
that the school has started
the academic session on
the digital mode. My
daughter is enjoying both
digital classes and holi-
days due to the lockdown,”
said Davinder Singh,
father of a student.

Ambala ropes in 123 shops
for essentials on doorstep
Tribune News Service
Ambala, March 29
In order to keep the resi-
dents indoors, the district
administration has roped in
123 chemists, departmental
and grocery stores to supply
essential commodities at the
doorstep in Ambala district.
For this purpose, the dis-
trict administration has
issued a list of these 123
service providers with their
names, addresses and
phone numbers. These shop
owners have been issued
lockdown exemption passes
for their staff and vehicles
to enable their uninterrupt-
ed movement to ensure the
continuity of the supply
chain across the district.
Sharing the details of the
initiative, DC Ashok Kumar
Sharma said stores had been
opened and helplines start-
4 HELPLINES FOR NEEDY
■ The district administration
has set up four helplines to
help the public in distress,
especially the needy.
■ The numbers are 0171-
2530400, 7496854623,
9729179275 and
8199830048
■ The orders received on
these numbers will be for-
warded to the stores in the
area concerned for the
supply of essentials
ed while the staffers from
civic bodies and volunteers
from the District Red Cross
Society had also been put on
duty to take the orders from
the needy and ensure sup-
plies in the area concerned.
According to the plan, the
residents will place the order
over telephone and the
stores will supply the avail-
able items through their
authorised salespersons, car-
rying identity cards issued
by the district administra-
tion, and take the payments
after issuing valid bills.
Sharma urged the resi-
dents not to step out of their
homes during the ongoing
21-day lockdown period and
support the government
efforts to break the chain
and contain the further
spread of the deadly Covid
epidemic in the district.
He claimed that the supply
of vegetables, fruits and cat-
tle feed was being ensured
without any interruption as
per the prescribed standards
in the district.
The DC warned the public
against violating the lock-
down and home-quarantine
protocols, which would
result in strict penal action
irrespective of the violator.
Pvt schools
seek relief to
pay staff
Ambala, March 29
The Federation of Private
Schools’ Welfare Associa-
tion of Haryana has sought
a relief package for the
salaries of employees of pri-
vate schools in the state.
In a letter to Chief Minis-
ter Manohar Lal Khattar,
the federation has claimed
that about 20,000 private
schools are functioning in
Haryana on ‘no profit no
loss basis’ and at this hour
of crisis, no fees are being
deposited in schools.
Kulbhushan Sharma, fed-
eration president, said:
“More than 95 per cent pri-
vate schools are low-fee
schools and the staff in
these schools, both teach-
ing and non-teaching, draw
a salary in the range of
~9,500 to ~15,000 a month.
The federation has request-
ed that a relief package for
the private schools must be
announced.” — TNS

Psychosis is here to stay, people fearing

infection call up psychiatrists for help
Deepender Deswal
Tribune News Service
Hisar, March 29
Amid the lockdown, fear
psychosis is gripping some
persons, who are making
calls to psychiatrists to
enquire about Covid symp-
toms and treatment.
Dr Sandeep Rana, head of
the psychology department
at Guru Jambheshwar Uni-
versity of Science and
Technology, and two pri-
vate psychiatrists, Dr
Narender Gupta and Dr Bir
Singh Yadav, have publi-
cised their mobile numbers
for people to discuss psy-
chological issues.
Dr Gupta, getting 10 to 12
calls every day, said a
woman had contacted him
‘CAUSED BY STRESS’
❝ This is a kind of
psychosis due to stress
of staying indoors and
getting information
about the rising
number of cases in the
world on television.
Dr Sandeep Rana, PSYCHOLOGY DEPT HEAD
to enquire about her hus-
band, who had the miscon-
ception that he was infected.
“She told me that her hus-
band had been gargling
repeatedly, which adversely
affected his throat and
voice. Another man said his
mother had been saying
repeatedly that she was
infected,” he said. These
were signs of fear in the
people, he said.
Dr Gupta said another per-
son who had returned from
Manipur called him up, ask-
ing about the test and
expressing the apprehen-
sion that he was infected.
“Though he was examined
at the PGIMS in Rohtak
after his return, the miscon-
ception was gripping his
mind,” he said. He said he
was getting calls from both
urban and semi-urban areas.
Dr Rana said he had been
getting calls from people
who feared that they were
infected. “This is a kind of
psychosis due to stress of
staying indoors and getting
information on television
about the rising number of
cases in the world,” he said.
He said some persons
were under stress thinking
about the future of their
jobs and others were asking
about ways to deal with chil-
dren wanting to go outdoors
to play. He said parents
needed to chalk out a
schedule with a variety of
activities for children to
keep them engaged.
“They need to be aware of
the gravity of the situation.
Mobile phones and televi-
sion are mediums to keep
them engaged as they will
use mobile phones and
watch television under the
supervision of family mem-
bers,” he said.
06 HIMACHAL PRADESH THE TRIBUNE
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 30 MARCH 2020

Labourers, students stopped on border Border sealed, natives

Those showing symptoms of coronavirus to be quarantined at nearby schools and colleges
Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, March 29
Like UP, Himachal has also
started facing a huge influx
of residents working in other
states wanting to come back.
Hundreds of Himachali resi-
dents are lining up at the
state border, pleading to go
back to their homes. A large
number of them lined up at
the state border at Mehatpur
in Una district today, keep-
ing the district administra-
tion on toes. In Kangra dis-
trict also, many lined up at
the state border with
Pathankot district in Punjab.
Most of the Himachal resi-
dents who are returning are
labourers or students who
were working or studying in
various cities of Punjab.
Many labourers reached the
state borders either on foot
or after taking lift from
passing vehicles. Lakhs of
Himachal residents from
lower areas of the state,
including Una, Hamirpur,
Police stop people at Mehatpur barrier during curfew on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO
Kangra and Bilaspur dis-
trict, work as labourers in
adjoining states of Punjab,
Haryana and Delhi. As most
of them are without work
and are short of food sup-
plies, they are striving to
return to their homes.
Deputy Commissioner,
Kangra, Rakesh Prajapati
said most of Himachal resi-
dents who are coming from
other states are to be kept
under quarantine for a min-
imum period of 14 days. All
those entering the state are
being checked for coron-
avirus symptoms at the bor-
der. Those with symptoms
would be accommodated in
nearby schools and col-
leges. They would be quar-
antined for a period of 14
days, he said.
Those do not have any
symptoms are allowed to go
to their home with a condi-
tion that they would stay
under quarantine for a min-
imum period of 14 days
there. They are being
marked with signs on their
thumbs and pradhans of
OTHERS BEING MARKED ON THUMB
■ The influx comprises
those who are working in
other states and are keen
to come back.
■ Hundreds of Himachali resi-
dents are lining up at the
state border, pleading that
they are allowed to go back
to their homes.
■ Those
who do not have
any symptoms are being
allowed to go with the con-
dition that they would stay
under quarantine for 14
days there.
■ They are being marked
with signs on their
villages have been asked to
ensure that they do not
leave their homes and
remain quarantined.
Ajay Mahajan, district pres-
ident of the Congress, said he
had been receiving distress
calls from residents of Kan-
gra who wanted to return.
The government should
reach out to these residents.
thumbs. Pradhans
of villages have been
asked to ensure that such
people do not leave
their homes.
■ The labourers of Himachal
working in other states are
coming from Mehatpur bar-
rier, Polian and Pandoga
barriers in Una district and
Kandwal, Damtal and
Indora barriers in Kangra
district. Kangra district
shares border with
Pathankot district of Punjab,
Una district shares borders
with Ropar and Hoshiarpur
districts of Punjab.
Rajinder Rana, BJP MLA
from Sujanpur, said he had
received calls from some
patients of the state who
were taking treatment in
the PGI and other hospitals
of Chandigarh. They have
been discharged from hos-
pitals and are now facing
problems in coming back to
Himachal, he said.
told not to enter state
Our Correspondent
palampur, March 29
The District Administration
today appealed to the resi-
dents of Kangra, including
students staying outside
Himachal, not to enter in the
state as all borders are com-
pletely sealed and no one
would be allowed entry into
the state.
Deputy Commissioner
Kangra Rakesh Prajapati
said in view of spread of
COVID-19 the state govern-
ment has sealed all entry
points in Kangra and Una
districts and heavy police
force has been deployed to
check illegal inflow of resi-
dents. He said in case if
some people reach on the
border they would be quar-
antined there (entry points)
for 14 days. Therefore, no
one should try to come to
their native places in pres-
ent situation.
He said appropriate
arrangements had been
being made to keep such per-
sons on the border for 14
days. The authorities con-
cerned had been directed to
take care of such persons and
also provide them food and
medical help.
There were reports that
hundreds of youth working
in Baddi, Jalandhar, Ludhi-
ana and Chandigarh were
coming to their native places
on foot. In the absence of pas-
senger transport, they are
likely to cross the borders in
coming days.
As per reports Punjab and
Kerala are likely to be epi-
centers of COVID-19 in case
the residents of these states
fail to cooperate with the
state government. These
reports had put state agen-
cies on alert. No officer was
ready to take any risk and
wanted to avoid community
infection in the state.
Till date, the state had only
three COVID 19 positive cas-
es. While one has already
died, one has recovered. No
fresh case had been reported
after March 22.

IN BRIEF
CSIR SANITISER AVAILABLE IN MARKET
Video chat only consolation 127 BBN workers walking
PALAMPUR: Hand sanitiser, devel-
oped by the CSIR-IHBT, Palampur, is
for parents, students abroad home provided shelter
available in the local market.
Besides, the CSIR IHBT has started Tribune News Service dents are being served The situation of two for- Tribune News Service
its distribution to different agencies meals in their rooms itself. eigners studying in
and authorities in the state and Shimla, March 29 We are in contact with her Himachal Pradesh Univer- Solan, March 29
outside. The sanitiser was handed The parents of hundreds of through WhatsApp calling sity, who could not return In a bid to help industry
over to Chief Minister Jai Ram Himachalis studying or and our message to her is home, is no different. Epti workers travelling home on
Thakur through DC Rana, Special working abroad are anxious stay safe and stay confined from Indonesia is the final foot from the Baddi-Baroti-
Secretary, Revenue and Disastrous Management. The about the well-being of their to rooms.” he said. year student of mass com- wala-Nalagarh (BBN)
product has been given to the Civil Hospital, Palampur,
children. They are virtually Another teacher at a gov- munication and journalism industrial cluster following
also. It has been provided to offices of SDM and DSP and
Speaker. OC under confinement due to ernment college, Anjali while Nushana from the closure of industrial
lockouts. Sharma, said her daughter Bangladesh is a student of units, the Baddi police
“My daughter is pursuing was pursuing MBBS course the second semester, MA today provided shelter to
FERTILISER SHOPS TO OPEN DURING RELAXATION MBBS from Angles Univer- in Venezuela. “As all stu- geography. They are the 127 persons. Industrial workers given refuge in a shelter home at Ramshehar
SHIMLA: Three hundred plant protection centres will sity in the Philippines. She dents were asked to leave only two girls staying at SP, Baddi, Rohit Malpani, in the Nalagarh industrial belt.
remain open during the curfew relaxation period to facil- has been confined to her for their homes, we had Vidyottama Girls hostel as said 127 were taken to RSS
itate farmers and horticulturists to get fungicide, spray hostel room since March 11, booked air tickets for March they were not allowed to go Bhawan and Ambedkar be provided facilities. Five The abrupt announce-
oil and fertilisers, said Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, but is safe,” says Dr CB 19, but all flights were can- out and stay with friends. Bhawan at Ramshehar as such shelter homes had ment left themwith no
while presiding over a meeting with senior officials here Mehta, Principal, Govern- celled and my daughter “I was planning to go out they were found travelling been identified in Baddi. means to travel home. “No
on Saturday. Thakur said the government had also ment College, Sanjauli. He could not return. Her land- to stay with friends, but the on link roads. A team of The industry workers, who arrangement was made by
decided to allow the shops, selling plant protection said a silver lining was that lady has left for her native university authorities medical officers also visited were residing in rented the government. Due to
material, to remain open during the period. Steps had there were about 80 to 100 place, but there are still advised us to stay put,” said these shelter homes where accommodations, had been high room rentals, a group
also been taken to allow transportation of bee boxes Indian students in the hos- some students around. Epti, adding that a guard their check-up was done. facing shortage of money of four to five often reside
from neighbouring states keeping in view the upcoming tel and the caretaker was Their online studies are was available round the Meals and bedding had also and food. In the absence of in a small room in the BBN
apple season. TNS
also Indian. going on and we are in con- clock and their Internet was been provided. any resources, they had start- area where maintaining
“We have been told that stant touch through video also working. The students The SP added that they ed moving out. Desperate to social distance is also not
PLATFORM FOR DISASTER RESPONSE READY there is nothing to worry as chats. We have asked her to said they were feeling lone- were being looked after by join their families in this feasible. The better option is
ration for two months has stay healthy and alert and ly, but staying here safe was trained police personnel hour of distress, they started to travel home on foot,” said
SHIMLA: The HP State Disaster Management Authority been stored and the stu- not panic”, she said. the only option. and volunteers. They would walking in small groups. Naresh Kumar, a worker.
(HPSDMA) has facilitated the formation of a government
organisation and non-government organisation (GO-
NGO) coordination platform for disaster response (during
and after disasters) and disaster preparedness (during
normalcy), said Director-cum-Special Secretary, Revenue
and Disaster Management, DC Rana here on Saturday.
Migrants tread
350 km to reach BJP workers told Govt releases
funds for state
Mineral fund to be
used for public relief
As on today 51 NGOs are already part of this network
(www.hpiag.in). He said NGO leaders from the District
Inter-Agency Group (DIAG) of the districts would be of
great assistance in effective execution and coordination
Palampur
Our Correspondent
to help the needy farmers
Tribune News Service
of response efforts. TNS Tribune News Service and other rural areas Tribune News Service was minimum movement
Hamipur, March 29 should be prepared. The Shimla, March 29 of people.
With no money in hand and Shimla, March 29 party workers must also The Government of India Solan, March 29 Additional District Magis-
300 YOUTHS STUCK IN BADDI: CONG LEADER no work to do, Arun, Balkis- Every BJP worker must extend cooperation in iden- has released an amount of The Union Finance Minis- trate, Solan, Vivek Chandel,
han and Satish, working at ensure that no one in the tifying such people so that Rs 174.76 crore to 8,73,838 ter’s announcement to said mechanisms were
MANDI: Congress leader Vijay Pal Chauhan said more private firms in Baddi, had state remains without food they could be provided food farmers of the state under allow the district adminis- being developed to begin
than 300 youths hailing from the Seraj assembly segment no other option but to start and shelter during the cur- and shelter. the Prime Minister Kisan trations to use District Min- home delivery of essential
of Mandi district were stuck in Baddi industrial area under nearly 350-km journey on few, said Chief Minister Jai Thakur said that party Samman Nidhi Yojana. eral Foundation Fund to items in the district soon.
Solan district for the past few days because of lockdown. foot to reach their native Ram Thakur while interact- workers must coordinate A spokesperson said that mitigate Covid-19 can help This fund, which was set
All these youths were employed in factories in the Baddi place in the Palampur sub- ing with Himachal party with the district adminis- this amount had been the district administration up in June 2017, has the
industrial area. “Due to the current situation, many of division of Kangra. They president Rajeev Bindal tration for the home deliv- released to the farmers to to provide relief to the com- mandate to collect 10 per
them are facing difficulties in arranging even two square left Baddi on March 27 and and other leaders through ery of essential commodi- assist them in view the lock- mon man. cent of the royalty paid to
meals a day for their survival. Families of these youths are
reached here today. video-conferencing from ties so that people do not down due to Covid-19. Key issues like doorstep the state government in
also in distress,” he added. He said the state government
should make arrangements to take them home. TNS They said their landlords Shimla yesterday. come out of their homes, The Centre has released delivery of essential items case of minor minerals.
had asked them to vacate The Chief Minister said besides ensuring social the fifth financial install- like milk, food and medi- The users of major miner-
the accommodation and thrust should be on provid- distancing. ment of Rs 2,000 to each cines can be initiated using als like the cement plants
HPSEBL SETS UP CONTROL ROOMS their company was shut. ing all possible help to He said that in rural areas farmer in advance which is these funds. are supposed to pay 30 per
Balkishan said they had stranded industrial and they should coordinate due for the period from A local-level delivery cent of their royalty and it is
SHIMLA:HP State Electricity Board has appointed nodal offi- been waiting for their next construction workers in with the functionaries of April to July 2020. The total chain of traders willing to applicable for all cases
cers and control rooms to redress complaints. Eight control month salary, but amid the various areas. panchayati raj institutions number of beneficiary farm- deliver these commodities where the mining lease has
rooms have been set up under Lokesk Thakur, nodal officer, lockdown, their future He added that lists of to provide essential com- ers under the fifth install- at home should be initiated been granted before Janu-
SE, in all electricity divisions. The control room number of Shim- seemed uncertain. labourers in apple growing modities to people. ment in HP are 5,50,713. at the earliest so that there ary 12, 2015.
la city will be 0177-2807826 and will be looked after by Execu-
tive Engineer Tanuj Gupta. A control room has been set up for
Shimla division 0177-2624123 under Pratap Sangroli, execu-
tive engineer. Shimla division number two is 0177-2844022
under XEN Sunil Jarrett. For rural areas under Shimla, control
rooms have been set up in Sunni, Theog and Chopal and their
numbers are 0177-2786538, 01783-238231 and 01783-
Screening centres set up at inter-state barriers
260031. TNS Una, March 29 Quarantine facility provision had been made for quarantin-
Deputy Commissioner ing 2,500 persons today. He
Sandeep Kumar today said ■ Screening centres to be set up said in the first phase, quaran-
HELP ASSURED TO THOSE STRANDED screening centres of the on all six entry points of the dis- tine centres would be set up at
health department have been trict near inter-state barriers religious places. Sandeep
CHAMBA: Chamba Deputy Com- set up on all six entry points ■ Administration sets target of Kumar said quarantine cen-
missioner Vivek Bhatia on Sunday of the district near the inter- creating quarantine facilities for tres that will be activated in
urged people stranded in other state barriers. 5,000 persons. Arrangements the first phase include Baba
parts of the district to stay put for He said people who are had been made for quarantining Bal Ashram in Kotla Kalan
their safety. He assured them that reporting at the inter-state 2,500 persons on Sunday. village, Gurudwara in Dehlan
they will be provided all help by the barriers from Punjab are ■ In the first phase, quarantine village, Jogi Panga and the
authorities of the respective area.
being taken to the screening centres would be set up at reli- Community Complex at Mata
The DC said paying guest (PG) own-
ers and landlords could not force DC Vivek Bhatia centres. He said as per gov- gious places, which have offered Chintpurni shrine. Chief
them to go away as it was their responsibility to take care of ernment orders, all such peo- facilities of stay and food for peo- Medical Officer Dr Raman
them at this critical time. He said if still some one wanted to ple moving from one state to ple coming from other states Sharma said about 250 per-
come back to Chamba, quarantine centres had been estab- another are being quaran- ■ Quarantine centres that will be sons reported at the Mehat-
lished at critical entry points such as Tunnuhatti, Lahru and tined for the next 14 days. activated in the first phase pur barrier, 150 at the Pando-
Draman, where they would be kept for 14 days. “If anyone The DC said the district include Baba Bal Ashram in ga barrier, while 100 reached
entered the district illegally, strict action would be taken”, administration had set a tar- Kotla Kalan village, Gurudwara the Gagret barrier today. All
DC stated. The DC said the dealers of medicines, vegeta- get of creating quarantine in Dehlan village, Jogi Panga were medically examined and
bles and fruits had been asked to ensure free home deliv- facilities for 5,000 persons, and the Community Complex at their quarantine cards had
ery without extra charges. OC adding that arrangements People stranded at Rakkar colony in Una district on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Mata Chintpurni shrine been made, he said. OC
THE TRIBUNE
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 30 MARCH 2020 HIMACHAL PRADESH 07

Doorstep delivery of food Online home

delivery in
Hamirpur
Poor in Mandi get ration
items begins in Shimla
Tribune News Service

Hamirpur, March 29 Mandi, March 29

Tribune News Service
Shimla, March 29
To restrict movement dur-
ing curfew relaxation, the
district administration
today started the home
delivery of grocery items. It
also released the list of 58
stores willing to provide
service in all 34 wards
under the Shimla Munici-
pal Corporation.
“The home delivery facili-
ty has been started in the
city from 9 am to 5 pm. Over
500 volunteers have come
forward to help. The list of
chemists will be uploaded
on the Facebook page of the
district administration
tomorrow for home delivery
of medicines,” said Deputy
Commissioner Amit
Kashyap.
He said 60 persons going
to UP were stopped at the
Shoghi barrier and urged to
stay back. Arrangements
had been made for their stay
and food, he said, adding
that the quarantine facility
was available in the district
The district administration The district administration,
started an online portal for Mandi, has allocated ration
ensuring home delivery of free of cost to poor families
240 tourists stranded in HP Banks to open for 4 hours essential commodities in in Mandi district. Around
here today. Harikesh Meena, 1,000 ration kits were distrib-
At least 240 tourists, including 140 inter- All banks will remain open from 10 am to 2
Deputy Commissioner, said uted among poor families
national, are stranded in the state due to pm and the curfew will be relaxed between
the countrywide lockdown. As many as 130 10 am and 1 pm. The facility of e-pass on people could register on the across the district for free, in
are stranded in Kangra district, 97 in Kullu WhatsApp has been started and over 2,500 portal and place their which ration of 10 days was
district, nine in Sirmaur, three in Shimla dry ration kits distributed to the needy. requirement online and the given to each family. Apart
and one in Chamba. Arrangements have administration would from this, cooked food was
been made for their stay and food. Instruc- Relief for stranded Himachalis arrange for the home deliv- also served in packets
tions have been issued to district tourism Himachal Bhawan and Himachal Sadan in ery of items. He said people among the poor, who were
officials to ensure that they are comfort- New Delhi will provide food and shelter to stu- had to sign up on the web unable to cook at home.
able. The tourists could not be allowed dents and others from the state stranded in portal http://hphmrddma.in Several generous people
to go before April 14 due to the cur- Delhi-NCR. Similar facilities have also been and proceed follow instruc- and social organisations
few, said Director, Tourism, Yunus. available in Himachal Bhawan, Chandigarh. tions to get the required also came forward to help
commodities. He said those the needy. District adminis-
CONTACT NUMBERS who could not use the web tration has urged contribu-
portal could call on phone tors to contact the con-
OSD, Himachal Bhawan, Delhi: Sushil Singla Manager of Himachal Bhawan, Chandigarh,
(98685-39423), numbers 1077, 01972- cerned SDMs of their area ITI Chowk wears a deserted look during curfew in Mandi on
Anil Kapoor (81463-13167)
221277, 221377, 221477 and to provide any assistance to Sunday. PHOTO: JAI KUMAR
Deputy Resident Commissioner, Himachal Receptionist Mahinder Chauhan (99888-89009)
Bhawan, Delhi: Vivek Mahajan (88028-03672) 221877 of the disaster man- the needy.
Landline numbers 0172-5000104, 2638278. agement authority. Additional Deputy Com- ration cards or not. No per- free numbers— 1077 or 1905-
Landline number 011-23711964.
The administration has missioner Aashutosh Garg son should be left hungry as 226201, 202, 203 and 204 of
at the Shoghi barrier, the tional in the buildings of lets. There was no shortage also started issuing emerge- said that they were trying to it was their duty to support the District Disaster Man-
Kuddu barrier at Rohru and government college hostels, of LPG in the state. ny curfew passes at to pub- cover every poor family in the lockdown to fight the agement Centre for the help.
at the Fadis bridge in Nerva schools and hospitals. Meanwhile, 15 persons lic. The police department the district. Covid threat in the state. The authority would provide
sharing the border with Chief Divisional Retail were arrested for violation has been entrusted with The support of people was He added that any person them immediate assistance.
Uttarakhand. Sales Manager-cum-State- of curfew in the state, tak- this task. Arjit Sen Thakur, also required to identify or family who needed food In Kullu district, till now
“If people did not stop level Coordinator, Oil Indus- ing the tally of the accused SP, said people could con- such people in their locality, items could inform the local over 500 families have been
moving, we will be com- try, Anil Kumar Singh said to 302. As many as 114 tact on 01972224339, 112 or so that aid could be provid- administration without any provided ration kits, while
pelled to quarantine them,” there were a total of 208 LPG vehicles have been can send their request on ed in time. delay. They could send an efforts were on to indentify
said the DC. distributors catering to impounded and a fine of Whatsapp numbers The ration was being pro- SMS on WhatsApp number the remaining poor families,
He said more quarantine around 19.50 lakh con- Rs 7,600 imposed on the 7876916802, 7876916818 and vided to poor families and 98059-70400. Apart from which needed ration amid
centres would be made func- sumers and 494 retail out- violators. 7876916825. — OC labourers, whether they had this, they could call on toll the ongoing lockdown.

Stay wherever you are, 7 contacts of Covid patients test negative in Kangra
Closure of OPDs at Tanda medical college compounds trouble for other patients
CM to those stranded
Tribune News Service
Shimla, March 29
Chief Minister Jai Ram
Thakur has urged the peo-
ple who were stranded in
different parts of the state
and outside to remain sta-
tioned wherever they are as
the state government was
not allowing any intra-state
and inter-state movement
in wake of the coronavirus
outbreak.
The Chief Minister
informed this while inter-
acting with the Deputy
Commissioners (DCs)
through video conferencing
in Shimla on Sunday. He
was taking stock of the cur-
few situation. He said, “Ade-
quate arrangements must
be made to ensure proper
food and shelter to the
stranded people and the
DCs must ensure that there
is no inconvenience to the
people and sufficient essen-
tial commodities were
made available to them.”
He said proper hygiene
and sanitation must be
ensured at the make-shift
camps such as schools, DIET
buildings etc to cater to the
needs of stranded people.
Though the government
has no exact figure as how
many people were stranded
outside the state and those
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur with Chief Secretary Anil Kumar
Khachi and DGP SR Mardi in Shimla on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO
inside, he said the move-
ment of people within and
outside the state must be
checked at any cost.
The Chief Minister said
those persons who had
already entered the state
must be kept in quarantine
centres established in the
border areas. He also asked
the DCs to ensure proper
social distancing between
people during the relax-
ation period of the curfew.
He said the government
was committed to providing
better healthcare and that
residents need not worry.
He also asked the DCs to
involve the Panchayati Raj
Institutions to come for-
ward to identify those peo-
ple who have come from
outside and even moved
from one district to another.
The Chief Minister said in
order to facilitate the people
of the state who were
stranded in Delhi or
Chandigarh, control rooms
have been set up at both
Himachal Bhawans. He
said efforts would be made
to provide food and shelter
at these places.
Chief Secretary Anil
Kumar Khachi asked the
DCs to totally discourage
exodus from one district to
another and also from other
states. He said labourers
and workers must be dis-
couraged to travel outside
the state and should be kept
in camps.
DGP SR Mardi said no
outside vehicle would be
allowed to enter the state
and strict action would be
taken against the violators.
Tribune News Service
District Travel history Asymptomatic Suspected Quarantine
In the lurch
Dharamsala, March 29 Bilaspur 130 23 5 102 ■ The Tanda college is now
Eight persons, including Chamba 112 21 1 88 catering to emergency
seven who were in close cases only
Hamirpur 287 60 1 213
contact with Covid posi- Kangra 804 358 33 273 ■ General patients are
tive patients in Kangra COVID-19 TRACKER Kullu 163 48 2 113 demanding that since
district, have tested nega- there are just three cases,
Total suspected 196 Kinnaur 10 1 0 8 there is no need to con-
tive for virus infection at cases Lahaul-Spiti 3 0 1 2
Tanda medical college. vert the only super-spe-
Negative 193 Mandi 340 92 18 217 ciality hospital into Covid-
Chief Medical Officer
Positive 2 Kangra Shimla 226 87 26 162 19 facility
(CMO), Kangra, GD Gupta
Death 1 Sirmaur 186 44 2 138 ■ They said suspects could
said till date 99 persons
had been tested for corona
Samples tested 17 Solan 186 22 16 148 have been quarantined in
Sunday Una 373 100 5 265 any hospitals of the region
infection in the district of
which just three were pos- Negative 17 Total 2,870 857 110 1,730 ■ Many serious patients of
itive, including a 69-year- cancer, heart and other
old Tibetan who died. ONLINE LINK E-PASSES ailments are without regu-
A Covid positive patient The Department of IT has come In a bid to decongest the offices of the District Magistrate, lar treatment now
had now tested negative up with an app to monitor the Department of IT has also made available the e-pass ■ Many pregnant women
which means that the dis- patients in isolation. The link application for the use of the public. The applicant can visit are facing problems as the
trict now had just one covid19.hp.gov.in can be used covidepass.hp.gov.in to apply for the e-pass, informed Tanda medical college has
patient. by doctors and patients. director, IT Rohan Chand Thakur. stopped its OPD facility
The district authorities
had found that 1,272 peo- However, the doctors he was going to get medi-
ple in Kangra had travel referred him to Tanda cines for her. Provide food, shelter free: HYK
history. medical college as The Tanda college is
Of these, 315 had com- Dharamsala hospital had now catering to emer- Tribune News Service charges or not? We have
pleted 28-day quarantine been identified for quaran- gency cases. written to the CM and Chief
period, 244 had left the dis- tine. The patient, however, Patients are demanding Chandigarh, March 29 Secretary to make these
trict, 566 were under home died on way to Kangra. that since there are just Reacting to the HP govern- facilities without any
quarantine and 21 had Many pregnant women three Covid cases, there is ment’s order to allow charges”, said AK Dhadwal,
been kept in institutional from rural areas are fac- no need to convert the Himachal Bhawan in Sector president, HYP.
quarantine. ing problems as the Tanda only super-speciality hos- 28 here to provide food and “The government
Meanwhile, a heart medical college has pital into Covid-19 facility. shelter to all stranded stu- should take up the matter
patient from the Kachehri stopped its OPD facility The suspects could have dents from the state, with the authorities con-
area of Dharamsala died due to Covid-19. been quarantined in any Chandigarh’s Himachal cerned so that movement
due to a cardiac arrest two Rubal Sharma of Baij- hospitals of the region. Yuvak Parishad (HYK) has passes are issued to the
days ago. nath said his wife was in 9- Many serious patients written to Chief Minister Jai those who have their own
Sources here said the month pregnant. She had of cancer, heart and other Ram Thakur to provide means of transport and
patient was taken to the been admitted to a private ailments are without reg- these free of cost. wish to move to
Dharamsala Zonal Hospi- hospital in Palampur. ular treatment now, the “The order does not state Himachal,” added the let-
tal. He faced problems when patients said. whether there will be some ter to the Chief Minister.

FIR against
portal for
fake news
Palampur, March 29
Palampur SDM Dharmesh
Ramotra has lodged an FIR
against a news web portal
for running a fake news per-
taining to sale of curfew
passes for money.
As soon as the web portal
displayed the news, the
SDM personally investigat-
ed the matter and found no
truth in it. He said whatever
the new portal alleged was
far from truth and not
based on facts.
The SDM told mediaper-
sons that no person, who
had been named in the
news, figure in the list of
employees of his office or
were on duty, he added.
He said that before run-
ning the news on the web
portal his comments were
not taken by the reporter,
which is mandatory. Mean-
while, Kangra DC Rakesh
Prajapati withdrew the
powers of all SDMs to issue
curfew passes. Now, all cur-
few passes would be issued
by the DC’s office after
proper verification. — OC
Temple funds being used
to feed daily wage earners
Tribune News Service
Solan, March 29
The Sirmaur administra-
tion is using temple and
Red Cross funds to provide
food to hundreds of labour-
ers who had no money after
the lockdown.
Some industry manage-
ments have also come for-
ward to help for the cause,
said Deputy Commissioner
Dr RK Pruthi.
He said at least 100 people
were fed yesterday at
Nahan. Packets of cooked
and uncooked food were
also being made available
to the labourers in various
industrial clusters like Kala
Amb and Paonta Sahib.
Areas had been identified
where such labourers were
residing and the officials of
the labour and industry
departments had been
directed to help them.
In Baddi district, where
there were about 100 slums
housing thousands of peo-
ple, various police teams
were distributing food pack-
ets. SP Rohit Malpani said
since the migrant workers
from Rajasthan, Uttarak-
hand, Uttar Pradesh, etc.,
had no work at hand, it had
become difficult for them to
arrange even two square
meals in a day.
In a bid to help them, the
police staff distributed food
packets in these slums. This
measure would also ensure
that they remained inside
and did not venture out.
Isolation centres at
Parwanoo, Paonta
DCs of Solan and Sirmaur
districts on Sunday said
any person entering the
state from the border areas
would be sent to quaran-
tine centres set up at Par-
wanoo, Baddi, Nalagarh,
Paonta Sahib and Kala
Amb in the two districts.
Quarantine centres have
been set up at all bordering
areas. The measure has
been taken to ensure that
no person entered the state
from outside. The officials
also directed the panchayat
pradhans to inform about
the people who have arrived
from outside and who need
to be quarantined.
DC Solan KC Chaman
today visited these centres
and took stock of the facil-
ities. He directed the field
officials to facilitate the
needy.
The administration of
Sirmaur has created quar-
antine space for 600 people
at Kala Amb and Paonta
Sahib where due medical
facility would also be made
available.
The DC Sirmaur also
launched a medical
helpline enlisting 156
chemist shops at Nahan,
Haripurdhar, Rajgarh,
Renukaji, Sarahan, Kala
Amb, Paonta Sahib and
Shillai where people can
get home delivery of medi-
cines.
A food helpline on simi-
lar lines has also been
enlisted to facilitate
doorstep delivery,
informed DC Sirmaur, Dr
RK Pruthi.
Supply ration
to poor at the
earliest: Cong
Mandi, March 29
The Congress has urged the
state government to reach
the poor, especially labour-
ers in the rural areas, and
provide them ration in time.
Rajiv Kimta, state secre-
tary of the Congress, said
since the entire country was
lockdown and Himachal
was under curfew, the situ-
ation was not good.
“There is no proper way
of distribution of food to
the poor and the labour
class. As a result, thou-
sands of labourers are with-
out food. Similarly, doctors
and nurses are under
threat because they do not
have proper kits, 108
Ambulance staff do not
have kits and even police is
without personal protec-
tive equipment,” he added.
“Till date, the Health Sec-
retary has not visited any
hospitals. In every district,
they should prepare the list
of people, otherwise people
will die not because of coro-
na but with hunger,” he
added. — TNS
No screening of truckers
coming from other states
Tribune News Service
Solan, March 29
The lack of screening facili-
ty for hundreds of truckers
visiting various industrial
clusters of the state is posing
a threat of spreading the
pandemic in the state.
The authorities are yet to
devise a screening mecha-
nism for them who travel
across states. The Union
Government has permitted
pharmaceutical and food-
based industries to operate
and hundreds of such units
operate in Baddi-Barotiwala- A truck driver being given a food packet in Baddi.
Nalagarh (BBN), Parwanoo,
Kala Amb, Paonta Sahib, cery items and pharma raw was later taken to the Civil
Mehatpur, etc. material, have entered the Hospital where he was
Officials said 67 vehicles state in the last four days. examined. Though he did
carrying industrial goods Alarm bells rang in the not test positive for Covid-
had entered Sirmaur dis- area recently when a tanker 19, he has been kept in isola-
trict in the last 24 hours. In driver, Ajay Kumar, who had tion and his detailed test
the BBN area, 194 vehicles come from UP, was found reports are awaited.
have entered the area since having high fever and Dr Gagan, who serves at the
March 25 while 114 have cough. He was stopped by Civil Hospital, Baddi, said
left for other states. Apart the security officials outside considering a huge influx of
from this, 526 vehicles, the gate of a pharmaceutical truckers from other states, a
including LPG trucks, oil company whose goods it was designated area should be
tankers, vehicles loaded carrying on March 25 at created in this belt, where
with milk, vegetables, gro- Bhud village in Baddi. He they can be directed to stay.
08 OPINION
Tread with extreme caution
THE TRIBUNE established in 1881
It is not within India’s capacity to fill in the power vacuum in Afghanistan
IMF declares recession
India must find its own solutions
T
HE coronavirus outbreak is a dark, blind alley the world is still MK BHADRAKUMAR
trying to negotiate. But International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief FORMER AMBASSADOR
Kristalina Georgieva’s announcement that the world has entered
A
a period of recession provides one certainty: the pandemic has over- WEEK is a long time in poli-
turned global economy for the current year. What was going to be a year tics, as the late British Prime
of slow growth barely two months ago is now a bottomless pit; its depth Minister Harold Wilson once
will depend on the spread and duration of Covid-19. The shock waves said. This is truer today in
have travelled beyond the usual suspects affected by the global travel regard of Afghan politics than any-
ban and the insistence on social distancing. Now that industrial activi- where else. During the week since US
ty has slowed or halted, it is not just travel, hospitality and restaurants Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made
but the entire economic spectrum that is facing job losses. an unannounced urgent visit to Kabul
The IMF, as the premier bailout institution, is planning to double its last Monday to meet with Ashraf
Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, the
financial capacity because the mantra being cited — from Georgieva to
rival Afghan politicians who have each
RBI chief Shaktikanta Das — is that liquidity is the key to surmounting
declared themselves President of the
the crisis. But all bets are off if the world is unable to contain the virus.
This makes it all the more necessary for the world’s financial institu-
country after the disputed elections of
last October, Afghan domestic politics
tions as well as the RBI to ensure there is liquidity for generous and tar- and the US-Afghan relationship have
geted health services support which will not just check the current epi- touched a high level of criticality.
demic but also be the stepping stone for a healthier world. Tragically, the fidayeen attack last
The choice of terminology by the IMF chief — recession, not week on a gurdwara becomes a relat-
depression — is critical as it opens the possibility of a rebound. The ed incident. The attack took place
chances are that if the world shuns the temptation of private profit after a phone call by PM Modi to
and concentrates on public health, and if agriculture and allied activ- Ghani in a vivid display of solidarity.
ities remain resilient, the economy could recover in 2021. But it is very The Indian reports give conflicting
critical to remember the problems that arose after the 2008-09 world interpretations. Citing intelligence
sources, they point a finger at Pak-
financial crisis. The IMF’s formula of easy credit was eagerly copied
istan for staging the terrorist attack in
by several nations, including India, which landed them in a liquidity
Kabul, code-named ‘Blackstar’, while
problem that dogs them to this day. India needs to be more alert to this some accept at face value the claim by
trap because its 21-day lockdown, unanchored by evidence or the ISIS owning responsibility.
research, will throw up many more problems than the IMF can solve. It is entirely conceivable that these
two readings are only notionally
apart, since the ISIS is a riddle
wrapped in a mystery inside an enig-
Averting food scarcity ma. Now, why should there be such
paranoia on the part of the Pakistani
‘Deep State’? To understand that,
Curfew relaxation calls for responsible deeds again, we revert to the changing
B
alignments in Kabul politics.
OGGED down by the tremendous task of balancing the 21-day The Afghan political landscape has
lockdown in force to tackle the insidious coronavirus and ensur- multiple inter-locking templates. The
ing groceries, milk and medicines to the residents, the authori- power-sharing arrangement that
ties are hobbling on a daily basis to attain a sense of order. Three days Washington imposed on Ghani and
after the officialdom failing to match up to the promise of delivering Abdullah following the presidential
provisions at the doorstep as shops remained shut, the UT Adminis- election in 2014 has been in meltdown
trator’s order allowing outlets selling staples to remain open for eight in recent years and has now dis-
hours daily initially, and then for four hours beginning Monday came solved. A Ghani-Abdullah rapproche-
as a relief to the harrowed residents. Even as strict vigil will curb ment seems unlikely.
hoarding and overcharging, the onus of maintaining the one-metre The Afghan politicians are choreo-
distance to keep the virus away is on the shoppers. The Punjab and
Haryana High Court’s stand on the PIL against shop-opening is wel-
come as it addresses the citizens’ concerns.
Himachal Pradesh, which gave a three-hour relaxation in the cur-
few, has witnessed a streamlining of the system. The crowding of man-
dis and markets has largely given way to a relaxed routine, marked by
A scientist and mentor of mentors
the requisite social distancing. The hill state should now focus on the Gursharan Singh
onerous duty of helping daily-wage earners rendered jobless and
stuck in towns — packed in small rooms, sans money — reach their
homes in villages. With the governments working on roping in e-gro-
cers and online delivery apps, things should get further streamlined
soon. Shops are open in Haryana, Maharashtra, Delhi and elsewhere.
T HE news of Prof Darshan
Singh Brar’s death shocked
me and took me down mem-
ory lane when I was a PhD scholar
at Punjab Agricultural University
However, confusion prevails in Punjab. In most towns, shops are open
at random. Punjab must take the preventive lockdown seriously and pull (PAU), Ludhiana. He was elder to
me by about 13 years and an Assis-
out all the stops to ensure that people don’t suffer food scarcity. The inci-
tant Professor doing some chal-
dence of Covid-positive cases among the suspected ones is 7.5 per cent in
lenging research in the area of
the state — thrice the national average. The government is trying to trace crop improvement. Students’
all people with recent travel history — estimated to be in thousands, and Home in the heart of the campus
some, irresponsibly, in hiding — treat them and scale up testing to count- was where we would usually meet
er the spread of the disease. Such suspected carriers must come out for for evening tea. While I would
testing and treatment for their own good and the community, before the work in my lab in the entomology
curve spikes to an uncontrollable high and overwhelms the hospitals. department, he and his team
would be engaged in the plant
breeding lab. He was soft-spoken,
❝ ❞
thought for the day
The greatest crime since World War II has been US Help them get home
foreign policy. — Ramsey Clark Apropos ‘Helpless, and home-
bound’ (March 28), despite the PM’s
appeal to the business community
to not retrench employees, many
on this day...100 years ago labourers have been left in the lurch.
Forced to leave their jobs, they are
heading towards their distant desti-
nations on foot. Their plight calls for
urgent comprehensive action. The
noble gesture by Spicejet to help the
lahore,tuesday, march 30, 1920
needy by arranging special flights
should be emulated by other organ-
Punjab Provincial Conference. isations. The government must mit-
As already announced, the Punjab Provincial Conference will hold its sittings at igate their sufferings.
Jullundur on the 2nd and 3rd April. This is the first session of the Conference VIMAL SETHI, KAPURTHALA
after the events of last April, and we feel sure that all that is good and true in the
Province will not only make a point of attending the session, but will do Full curfew not needed
everything in its power to make the session the great and unqualified success The Punjab FM is right that the state is
that it ought to be. It is precisely because we are anxious that the Conference suffering a daily GDP loss of Rs 1,700
should, in every way, be worthy of the Province and of the occasion that we crore (March 26). This is the direct out-
suggested in a recent issue that it should be postponed to a later date. The come of the curfew. Punjab has 39 cas-
suggestion was based on two grounds. The first and more important of the es in six districts, and 19 of these are in
grounds was what appeared to be the definite decision at the time that a Nawanshahr district alone. Curfew in
meeting of the All-India Congress Committee would be held at Bombay on the these districts was enough to contain
3rd April. As we pointed out in our leaderette on the subject, that were likely to the contagion. Other districts needed
come up for consideration at the meeting relating to the Punjab, and it seemed only sealing of borders. The problem
to us eminently desirable that the Punjab leaders should not be absent from the in Punjab is of tracing NRIs. The gov-
meeting as some of them would be bound to be if the Provincial Conference ernment should follow the direction of
were held simultaneously. The second ground was that both the Hunter the J&K High Court to punish those
Committee’s report and the report of our own Commissioners were yet to be who do not disclose their travel details.
out, and while there was every reason to hope that the latter would be published About 80 per cent of cases show symp-
before the Conference was held, there was no certainty about the publication of toms within a week of infection, so
the former. This, we thought at the time, would detract considerably from the most new cases would be known by
usefulness of the Conference, because the Punjab affairs, which were the March 29. They can be isolated imme-
subject matter of those reports, were also one of the two most important subjects diately. Except few villages, corona has
to be dealt with by a Provincial Conference at the present time. Both these
grounds have since been met by the organisers of the Conference. Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: Letters@tribunemail.com
BEHIND THE SCENES: It is a false notion that America is washing its hands of
Afghanistan. Efforts are on to bring about a compromise between Ghani and Abdullah.
The Afghan political landscape has multiple inter-locking
templates. The new alchemy of US-Afghan ‘partnership’
works to the advantage of both Pakistan and the Taliban.
graphing their future without Ameri-
can patronage. They are acutely
aware that the Taliban is knocking at
the gates and cannot be kept out. Bad
as it is, the really agonising part is that
the US is also forging a future part-
nership with the Taliban.
From Kabul last Monday, Pompeo
flew to Doha on a stopover to meet top
Taliban leader Mullah Baradar before
announcing a $1 billion cut in US aid to
the Kabul regime. The signal is over-
powering — unless the Afghan politi-
cians bury their hatchet and join intra-
Afghan negotiations, as envisaged in
the US-Taliban pact of February 29, the
US will explore other options.
The US announcement on aid
reduction also contained an intrigu-
ing passage which says, ‘We have
made clear to the [Afghan] leadership
that we will not back security opera-
tions that are politically motivated,
nor support political leaders who
order such operations….’
Simply put, Ghani’s hardline asso-
ciates who handle security portfolios
— intelligence, armed forces and
police — have been warned in no
uncertain terms against attempting
a good listener, wonderful explain-
er of the scientific ifs and buts, and
a source of inspiration and motiva-
tion for students and colleagues. I
do not recall any instance when he
criticised anyone. He had the abil-
ity to get the best out of everyone.
He was humble, too. One day,
while I was busy in routine work at
the Dean’s office, my PA sought my
permission for him to see me. I was
surprised why a professor of his cal-
ibre and stature did not just barge
into my office. I touched his feet
and ushered him in. His simplicity
touched everyone around him.
He was the epitome of selflessness
and believed in giving. After joining
the International Rice Research
letters to the editor
not reached rural area. The govern-
ment should not panic and must allow
people to do their normal duties,
including harvesting of wheat crop.
RN MALIK, GURUGRAM
RBI relief
From boosting banks’ liquidity to
providing relief to customers, the RBI
has come out all guns blazing to tack-
le economic disruptions caused by
the corona outbreak (‘EMIs on hold
for 3 months’, March 23). This was a
much-needed relief to the middle
class after the package of Rs 1.7 lakh
crore to poor people, employees and
women. The measures announced
also had a fair bit of firepower to get
companies kick-started after the lock-
down. It can also be extended to
MSMEs and the farm loan sector.
ANJANI SHARMA, CHANDIGARH
Will boost morale
Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, when
unprecedented fear is prevailing
around the globe, the statement of
the RBI Governor is worthwhile to
remember — tough times never
last, only tough people and tough
institutions do (March 28). It will
definitely boost the morale of the
masses. We should strictly follow all
guidelines issued by the govern-
ment, stay at home, do yoga and
meditation. The air is pure follow-
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 30 MARCH 2020
any usurpation of power. Abdullah
also stressed subsequently that the
Afghan security forces should not
‘meddle in political affairs’.
This new alchemy of US-Afghan
‘partnership’ works to Pakistan and
Taliban’s advantage. The Taliban is
showing flexibility to engage with
Ghani and is projecting itself as the
solution rather than the problem. This
is smart thinking, as Ghani is a lame
duck already, and there is no point nit-
picking him. Most other senior politi-
cians — including Abdullah and former
President Hamid Karzai — are seem-
ingly willing to work with Pakistan.
Above all, Pakistan, which calibrated
the US’ proximity with the Taliban, is
de facto facilitating the implementa-
tion of a decision taken by none other
than President Trump — an orderly
US withdrawal from Afghanistan. In
the period ahead, Pakistan’s help will
be crucial for the Trump administra-
tion. On the other hand, Pakistan has
vast experience in dealing with
Afghan politicians. To jog memory,
Pakistan kept a line of communication
open to Najibullah — despite under-
mining the PDPA regime — and once
Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines,
the first thing he did for his alma
mater was to donate money to insti-
tute an award for postgraduate stu-
dents of the PAU. And after superan-
nuation from his service there, he
started rendering his services in the
capacity of an adjunct professor at
the PAU without any remuneration.
Not only this, his key role to run Gur-
dev Singh Khush Foundation shall
always be remembered. He had been
a colleague of Dr Khush, who
evolved a large number of paddy
varieties grown throughout the
world, was popularly known as ‘Pad-
dy Daddy’ and was also the recipient
of the prestigious World Food Prize.
Prof Brar’s colleagues at the
ing the halt in air and road traffic
and industrial production. To fight
against this common enemy, the
cooperation of every citizen is of
immense importance.
RAJESH SHARMA, JALANDHAR CANTT
No supplies
The ongoing curfew in Punjab is
causing a lot of inconvenience to
the people. In Amritsar, we are not
getting fruits, vegetables, medi-
cines, groceries and other essen-
tial supplies. There is no effort
from the government to ensure
the daily supply chain manage-
ment. If it cannot help, the curfew
must be relaxed for some time to
allow people to buy essential
items. Otherwise it shall result in
illness due to malnutrition and
other health complications.
HARTAJ SINGH, AMRITSAR
Cooperation must
Reference to ‘Sukhbir Badal dis-
agrees with Punjab Govt’s use of
“brute force” to implement curfew’
(March 26); the way the Punjab
Police are handling those violating
curfew is creating indignation
among citizens. The government
must understand that people were
not prepared for it and it has caused
a disruption in their daily lives.
There are other legal means to
THE TRIBUNE
at least promoted a (abortive) coup d’é-
tat in Kabul by the then defence min-
ister Shahnawaz Tanai in 1990.
Unsurprisingly, Pakistan prefers to
gently ease out Ghani but will not
allow any outside ‘spoiler’ at this
stage to instigate him. Any such out-
side interference in the endgame will
not find favour with the US either at
this juncture.
There isn’t going to be any restrain-
ing influence on Pakistan if push
comes to shove, because its power
projection into Afghanistan through
the past four decades — at enormous
cost and sacrifice — is reaching its
finale and an outcome that it sought
so tenaciously is almost within reach.
Would any country act differently if
its core interests are at stake, especial-
ly vis-a-vis a neighbour with whom it
has a 2,430-km disputed border?
India needs to tread carefully on this
dangerous minefield. It is not within
India’s capacity to fill in the power
vacuum that the present twilight peri-
od engenders. Pakistan has success-
fully managed the regional acceptance
of the mainstreaming of the Taliban.
Iran recently even called for the forma-
tion of a post-Ghani inclusive govern-
ment in Kabul that is representative.
However, it is a false notion that the
US is washing its hands of
Afghanistan. Efforts are going on
behind the scenes to bring about a
compromise between Ghani and
Abdullah. The consensus that has
been reached on forming a negotiating
team for the forthcoming talks with
the Taliban is a step forward. Equally,
the choice of Cambridge-educated
Masoom Stanekzai, former spy chief
and trusted interlocutor of the western
powers, doubtless underscores that
the US intends to navigate the intra-
Afghan talks toward a new power-
sharing interim government in Kabul.
India should be wary. Strategic
patience and foresight is needed. The
US’ standing in the region will take a
devastating blow if the intra-Afghan
talks get torpedoed, forcing Trump
into a 3 am tweet ordering the uncer-
emonious withdrawal of US troops.
Washington is determined to avoid
such a denouement and expects part-
ners and allies like India to cooperate.
IRRI paid him a moving tribute,
saying how he refused an enhance-
ment in his emoluments. I was to
join others in paying my last
respects to him at his village near
Jaitu Mandi, but this was not to be.
The well-appreciated advice from
his family members in view of the
coronavirus outbreak deprived all
of us of this opportunity. It does not
matter whether we could make it to
his antim ardas, the professor is
always with us — survived by his
students and colleagues. Indeed,
he was a mentor of mentors; humil-
ity, simplicity, ingenuity and
integrity personified. A scientist
never dies but remains immortal
because of his work.
make people follow the PM’s edict.
At this juncture, cooperation from
both sides is much needed.
DRISHTI DOEL, JALANDHAR
It’s not a vacation
Lockdown is not vacation time to
move out, but to stay at home. This
should be understood by all citizens.
At the government level, more isola-
tion wards should be set up and sus-
pected patients should not be given a
chance to escape. All public gather-
ings should be prohibited for a month.
Helplines should be operational at all
times and hospitals should be active
24x7. The police should act against
those going out of their homes with-
out reason. Action against fake news
senders should also be taken.
SAIKRIT GULATI, CHANDIGARH
Indian tradition
Today, when the outbreak is posing a
massive challenge, we understand
that we should be quarantined —
meaning we should observe ‘sutak’.
This tradition has been practiced
since ancient times; at the time of
birth and death. We should be proud
that the whole world is looking at our
culture with respect, be it the
namaste salutation or the cremation
of body. Indian culture and lifestyle
is the best and most advanced.
EKTA SHARMA, JALANDHAR
THE TRIBUNE
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 30 MARCH 2020 OPED 09

Review budgeting for intensive medical care

rare instances. Whereas coronavirus In a crisis like the Covid among the immigrants would possi-
being an uncontrollable unseen ene- bly change their priorities in terms
my, the medical fraternity finds outbreak, the entire of the elusive Green Card and cou-
itself at the forefront of the battle pled with Trump’s aggressive anti-
with shortages in personal protec-
community is affected. immigrant policies, force people to
tive equipment, ventilators and Some boosting of the look for opportunities in their own
intensive care unit (ICU) beds aggra- countries. This may be a good thing
GROUP CAPT MURLI MENON (RETD) vating the struggle. The distur- medical facilities may for countries like India where one
bances and difficulties in lifestyles, could see a thriving of opportuni-
COMMENTATOR
travel habits and supply chains
take place, but you need ties and a certain rehashing of the
worldwide have been unique no a good civil set-up for relative economic clout of nations.

D
ONALD Trump’s self-
anointment as a ‘war-time’
President is playing out
adversely everyday to the
detriment of the average American,
what with his misplaced penchant
for an early reopening of the econo-
my, being at cross-purposes with
sound professional and medical
advice from virology experts such as
Antony Fauci. Thankfully, hands on
state-level impressive leadership by
some American Governors such as
Andrew Cuomo of New York serves
to steady the rocking ship somewhat
and New York might yet manage to
cross the Rubicon in due course with
acceptable damage to its entity.
While it may be okay in some
respects to relate the ongoing chal-
lenges to a war scenario, for purpos-
es of mustering national team work,
the situation as we all know by now,
is quite unlike what you have during
typical war times. First, war sees a
comparatively small group, namely,
the military, facing the brunt of the
frontline action, with a large portion
of the citizenry being affected only
indirectly by way of possibly diffi-
cult living conditions, and perhaps
even physical insecurities, in some
doubt and almost apocalyptic.
Whilst rich nations such as the US
may tide over the medical logistic
challenges over time and win the bat-
tle, poorer nations (including our own
beautiful motherland) would find the
going tough in preventing their med-
ical infrastructure being over-
whelmed in the process. Then again,
‘flattening the curve’ cannot be a
tangible war aim, given the complex-
ities of social distancing as against
the aggressive behaviour of the virus
on the rampage. So, if leadership at
all levels is not par excellence, states
and counties, and subsequently
whole nations, would succumb
under the burden of the emotional
strain brought on by the widespread
mortality and associated social dis-
tress. India has done well to opt for a
nationwide lockdown early enough.
But Trump’s plan of action to
selectively open up the economy
region-wise may not augur well in
terms of arresting the pestilence.
And, like Fauci said last week, “The
virus sets the timeline…you don’t.”
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris
Johnson appears to have realised
his earlier follies a la Trump and is
now heeding to saner counsel on
WAR SCENARIO: Rich nations like the United States may tide over the medical logistics
challenge over time, but poorer nations would find the going tough.
managing the viral spread.
It is true that in an era of instant
social media, the corona ‘war’ is turn-
ing out to be more of a ‘infodemic’
than a mere pandemic. Misinforma-
tion and conspiracy theories abound
and serious effort is called for to keep
one’s head afloat in these trying
times. Current imponderables such as
the origin of the virus, possibility of a
bio war and such stuff can safely be
left for the politicians and strategists
to address post this nasty event.
Currently, the challenge is to
ensure that community spread is mit-
igated. This calls for high levels of
discipline amongst the citizens and
high standards of administrative acu-
men in governments and leaderships
to sustain public health facilities and
to keep the day to day household sup-
plies going. One has always mar-
velled at how rural entities are better
equipped to face the calamities
rather than urban organisations and
set-ups. So, the challenge really is to
ameliorate the hardships caused to
the common man, boosting the emer-
gency medical capabilities while
enforcing discipline and civic sense
at large. Having a ringside seat on the
crisis management acumen of this
first world country, one does see pos-
itive aspects in how the difficulties
tend to bring people together. Oppo-
sition and ruling parties are more
united than ever before and the best
of the private sector is on display
coming forward to augment the gov-
ernment's efforts. Even here in the
large-scale testing and
research into possible
vaccines. A more
disciplined and balanced
government machinery
would come up trumps.
US, it is heartening to see a large
number of Indian doctors contribut-
ing meaningfully to the state effort.
So too, in India, I am sure, there
would be many an unsung hero
helping the authorities in their cri-
sis management.
Notwithstanding the $2 trillion
bailout sanctioned by the US Con-
gress (our own government’s effort
appears paltry), the general social
landscape in this country would
undergo drastic changes post the
event. The marginalised sections
and illegal immigrants would bear
the brunt of the course of the
upheaval in money flow and
changed habitat. The number of
homeless would abound and job-
lessness would spiral. Insecurities
In a crisis like this, the entire com-
munity is affected and there are
limits to what entities such as mili-
taries could do. Yes, some boosting
of the medical facilities may be, but
you need a good civil set-up for
large-scale testing, research into
possible vaccines and enforcing of
social distancing norms.
On the whole, a more disciplined
and balanced government machinery
would come up trumps in this crisis.
Countries like Singapore and South
Korea would excel whilst rich nations
like the United States and the United
Kingdom would flounder. India
would find its cultural strengths
and spiritual moorings and disci-
pline invaluable in getting over this
hill. But India needs to reprioritise
its budgeting for intensive medical
care across the nation, so that we
are ready for a recurrence of such
deadly diseases and pandemics in
the foreseeable future.
Another need is to strengthen our
links to the World Health Organisa-
tion (WHO) so that we are up to date
in global initiatives in challenging
medical exigencies. Our govern-
ment’s SAARC and G-20 initiatives
in this regard need to be applauded.

Kabul gurdwara attack turns spotlight on CAA

S
IKHS have suffered widespread
discrimination in Afghanistan
and have also been targeted by
the Islamic extremists. Under
Taliban rule in the late 1990s, they were
asked to identify themselves by wearing
yellow armbands, but the rule was not
enforced. In recent years, a large num-
KN PANDITA
ber of Sikhs and Hindus have sought
EX-DIRECTOR, CENTRE OF CENTRAL ASIAN asylum in India, which has a Hindu
STUDIES, KASHMIR UNIVERSITY
majority and a large Sikh population. In
July 2018, a convoy of Sikhs and Hindus
was attacked by an Islamic State suicide
bomber as they were on their way to
The Sikh and Hindu meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in
communities in the eastern city of Jalalabad, the capital
of Nangarhar province. Nineteen people
Afghanistan, numbering were killed in that attack, wrote the Los
more than 10,000, are in a Angeles Times in its issue of March 26.
On March 24, heavily armed terrorists
state of uncertainty. In all attacked a group of nearly 200 Sikh and
Hindu worshippers in the gurdwara at
probability, they may Shor Bazaar in Kabul city. The ISIS
have to repatriate to India. claimed the attack. At the same time, the
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah
What if these tens of Mujahid, not only denied any involve-
ment in the carnage, but also disparaged
thousands of Sikhs and it. However, the July 2018 attack on the
Hindus approach the Sikh and Hindu delegation in Jalalabad,
in which 19 were killed and 21 injured,
government for asylum on was claimed by the Taliban.
It is pertinent to know something about
humanitarian grounds and the Sikh-Hindu minority of Indian origin
choose to change their in Afghanistan before we attempt an
analysis of the tragic event in Kabul.
nationality? The CAA was India-Afghanistan relations go back to
the times of the migration of Aryans from
enacted keeping in mind Central Asia to the plains of India in the
these realities. hoary past. The Kushan empire, with its
capital at Pushkalavati, modern
Peshawar, was the disseminator of many
strands of common culture among the
people of the vast geographical region. It
was only during the British colonial rule
over India that strict restrictions were
DESPERATE: With oppressive Taliban rule, Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan became
fear-struck and sought out their relatives for succour.
imposed on the Indians in perpetuating
their age-old relations with the people to
the immediate west of India — Afghans,
Iranians and those in Central Asia.
During the reign of Maharaja Ranjit
Singh, a large number of Sikhs and Hin-
dus of Indian origin, conducting trade in
Afghanistan, settled down in that coun-
try and with time, became its nationals.
These brave and adventurous people not
only conducted their affairs honestly, but
also befriended the Afghan people and
their culture, language and lifestyle.
They felt proud to be called Afghans, and
conversely, they received friendly, rather
fraternal treatment, from the Afghans.
As an integral part of Afghan society,
they have taken part in the political
process of the country. Anarkali Kaur
Hunaryar is a member of the Afghan
Senate and Narendra Singh Khalsa is an
MP in the Afghan Parliament.
The Afghan Hindu-Sikh minority nev-
er became a source of embarrassment,
either for the Afghan or the Indian gov-
ernment. Conversely, they usually con-
tributed to the strengthening of Indo-
Afghan ties over the centuries, especially
in recent cataclysmic times. The attach-
ment of the Sikh and Hindu minorities to
Afghanistan, which is now the mother-
land of those who were born and brought
up in that country, made them build tem-
ples and gurdwaras and they never faced
any obstruction in performing their reli-
gious rites. This was a true and happy pic-
ture of secularism, a philosophy about
which neither the Afghans nor Indians
made any fetish and took it as a way of life.
The Sikhs and Hindus first appre-
hended danger in Afghanistan in 1996,
the year Pakistan-sponsored Taliban
captured power in Kabul and declared
Afghanistan an Islamic caliphate. The
Taliban showed no sympathy to them
because of deep ideological brain-
washing, through which the Taliban
had gone in Pakistan’s seminaries.
Even then, the Sikhs and Hindus tried
not to panic and survived a difficult
time with great fortitude.
When the Taliban rule became
unbearably oppressive and the Talibs
began massacring their brethren, the
Sikhs and Hindus became fear-
struck. Some of them left
Afghanistan and came to India seek-
ing out their relatives for succour.
When the US decided to take on the
Afghan Taliban after finding that the Tal-
iban had links with Osama bin Laden and
his Al-Qaeda, the Sikh and Hindu minor-
ity members in exile in India began mov-
ing gradually back to their country. A
national government replaced the Taliban
in Kabul in 2001 and the members of the
religious minority felt safe under the new
dispensation. They resumed normal life,
though the threat did not leave, and recur-
rent incidents of Taliban attacks on
nationalist forces and civilians continued
throughout the US and NATO operations.
In July 2018, there was a Taliban
attack on a Sikh-Hindu delegation
heading towards Jalalabad. The ques-
tion that was often discussed in politi-
cal circles in New Delhi and Chandi-
garh was why the Sikhs and Hindus
were staying back and not moving in
the face of instability that was likely to
engulf Afghanistan once the American
troops were withdrawn.
The process of engaging the Taliban for
talks with the US through the instrumen-
tality of Pakistan was known to them.
They and the entire world, both were
aware that the Americans wanted to wrig-
gle out of the stranglehold of Taliban
somehow. It should have prompted the
Afghan religious minority to reconsider
their position in an Afghanistan where
now the Americans were not averse to the
Taliban becoming a component of the
new government. The religious minority
failed to make a dispassionate assess-
ment of the upcoming situation.
Finally, the axe fell when the US-
Taliban deal was signed in Doha
recently and not only the Sikh-Hin-
du minority but also large segments
of nationalist Afghans were under
the threat of decimation. The threat
was loud and clear when only a day
after signing the US-Taliban deal,
the latter launched a massive attack
in an eastern province of
Afghanistan and killed many people.
They made it clear that unless their
5,000 captives with the American
forces were released, their attacks
would continue. The hand of Pak-
istan agencies in this dastardly mas-
sacre cannot be ruled out, although
officially, Pakistan has condemned
the heinous crime.
The tussle between Ashraf Ghani and
Abdullah Abdullah for the presidency
has become complicated and US Secre-
tary of State Mike Pompeo, after failing to
reconcile the two claimants for the post of
President, announced the cutting off of
$1 billion annual aid to Afghanistan. The
deal does not seem to have stabilised.
The Sikh and Hindu communities in
Afghanistan, numbering more than
10,000, are in a state of uncertainty. In
all probability, they may have to repa-
triate to India. We would like to ask
those in India who are opposing the
CAA: what if all these tens of thou-
sands of Sikhs and Hindus approach
the government for asylum on
humanitarian grounds and choose to
change their nationality? The CAA
was enacted keeping in mind these
realities. Will the Kabul gurdwara
episode make them re-think their
opposition and talk realpolitik?

quick crossword su do ku calendar forecast

ACROSS MARCH 30, 2020, MONDAY SUNSET: MONDAY 18:41 HRS
1 Spring back (6)
4 Incite (6) 3 1 4 2 ■ Vikrami Samvat 2077
SUNRISE: TUESDAY 06:12 HRS

9 Shiver with horror (7) ■ Shaka Samvat 1942

10 Reject with contempt (5)
11 Defamation in writing (5) 7 9 8 3 ■ Chaitra Shaka

■ Chaitra Parvishte
10
17
Sunny Partly Cloudy Cloudy
CITY MAX
Rainy
MIN
Foggy

12 Azure (3,4)
■ Hijari 1441 Chandigarh 27 15
13 Relevant example(4, 2, 5)
18 Wildly excited (7) 5 2 8 ■ Shukla Paksha Tithi 6, up to 3:15 am New Delhi 30 17
20 The Devil (5) ■ Aayushman Yoga up to 6:18 pm Amritsar 25 14
22 Tidiness (5)
23 To nurture (7) 9 1 8 2 7 ■ Rohini Nakshatra up to 5:18 pm

■ Moon enters Gemini sign 6:06 am.

Bathinda
Jalandhar
28
26
14
13
24 Proffer (6)
Ludhiana 26 14
8 6 5 9
25 Genial and relaxed (6)
SATURDAY’S SOLUTION Bhiwani 30 16
DOWN
4 8 3 7 9 5 6 1 2 Hisar 30 16
1 Steal cattle (6)
2 Small particle (5) 6 9 3 4 8 1 2 6 3 8 4 7 9 5
Sirsa
Dharamsala
29
20
17
09
3 Pamper (7)
5 Out of practice (5) 9 7 5 2 1 6 3 8 4 Manali 19 04
6 Weakly sentimental (7)
7 Subterranean passage (6)
3 6 1 3 4 7 6 5 9 1 2 8 Shimla 19 09
8 Arguments for and 8 5 1 4 7 2 9 6 3 Srinagar 15 04
against (4,3,4)
14 Lack of inhibition (7)
4 3 8 5 6 9 2 1 3 8 4 5 7
Jammu
Kargil
27
04
14
--01
SATURDAY ’ S SOLUTION 15 Conceal from sight (7) 7 6 8 5 4 1 2 3 9 Leh 14 01
Across: 1 Cripple, 5 Aesop, 8 To say the least, 9 Heave, 10 Lattice, 11 Estate, 12 Wanton,
15 Panacea, 17 Sheaf, 19 Shot in the dark, 20 Disco, 21 Speaker.
16 At sea (6)
17 In haphazard way (6)
1 9 7 3 5 1 4 9 2 3 8 7 6 Dehradun 29 14
Down: 1 Catch, 2 Instantaneous, 3 Payment, 4 Exhale, 5 Allot, 6 Stab in the back, 19 Crisply brief (5) 2 3 9 8 6 7 5 4 1 Mussoorie 18 06
7 Pattern, 11 Exposed, 13 Austere, 14 Cactus, 16 Chino, 18 Fakir.` 21 A testing ordeal (5) V EASY TEMPERATURE IN OC
10
Valley sees second virus
death, had no travel history
Positive cases 38 in UT, govt tells people not to hide travel info
C VID-19
PANDEMIC
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, March 29
Kashmir witnessed its sec-
ond Covid death on Sunday.
With the addition of five
new cases, the tally of coro-
navirus inflicted persons
reached 38 in the UT today,
including two cured and
two deaths. The new cases
include two each from Sri-
nagar and Budgam districts
and one from Baramullah.
An elderly man from the
north Kashmir’s Tangmarg
area died of coronavirus at
Chest Disease (CD) Hospital
in Srinagar this morning.
He had no travel history.
The deceased was diagnosed
with chronic liver disease with
viral syndrome at Shri
Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital
on Wednesday. He was later
referred to CD Hospital, where
he tested positive on Saturday.
Hours after his death, four
more persons were found pos-
itive for Covid, officials said.
“Three persons from
Budgam and one from Sri-
nagar were found positive
for Covid today,” said an
Focus on worst-hit Srinagar, Baramulla
Ishfaq Tantry
Tribune New Service
Srinagar, March 29
As Kashmir witnesses a
spike in coronavirus posi-
tive cases, the hunt to trace
people has also been inten-
sified, particularly in Sri-
nagar and Baramulla dis-
tricts, from where the
majority of positive cases
have been reported.
In Srinagar district, the
authorities have tracked
around 260 people with a
travel history since the
launch of a special applica-
tion ‘Talaashsrinagar’ for
such people.
“So far, we have received
267 reports on the app and
70 contacts of first Hajin may be Kashmir’s Wuhan: Docs Ladakh to set up
Covid casualty in With spike in cases, experts call for unburdening critical care hospitals 2 Covid hospitals
hospital quarantine
Majid Jahangir
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, March 29
Nearly 70 persons who had
come in contact with the first
casualty of Covid in Jammu
and Kashmir are under
quarantine at hospitals in
various parts of the Valley,
government officials said.
Kashmir has been gripped
by the fear of coronavirus as
it seems to be spreading
fast in the region. Two per-
sons, including a preacher
(65) of the Tableeghi
Jamaat, have so far died of
coronovirus in the Valley.
At least 11 persons, who
came in contact with the
religious preacher, have
tested positive in the Valley.
“There are nearly 70 of his
(religious preacher) con-
tacts who are being quaran-
tined at Srinagar and north
Kashmir hospitals,” said Dr
Sameer Mattoo, Director,
Health, Kashmir.
Of them, around 40 are
being quarantined in a Srina-
gar hospital. While there are
fears of community trans-
mission, a senior official of
the health department said
there was no indication of a
community spread so far.
“All the men who tested
positive so far were his first
contacts,” the official said.
The official said the preach-
er who died on Thursday had
landed in Srinagar on March
JAMMU & KASHMIR/LADAKH
Women employees of the Health Department carry out a door-to-door exercise in the Jawahar
Nagar area of Srinagar on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: AMIN WAR
official at CD Hospital.
He said doctors had tested
the samples of a paramili-
tary personnel which were
found positive. He, howev-
er, said they had sent his
samples for a retest.
Government spokesper-
son Rohit Kansal confirmed
the Tangmarg man’s death
in a tweet: “Sad start to the
day. Unfortunate demise of
a coronavirus patient in Sri-
nagar this morning.”
The deceased had not trav-
elled outside Kashmir recent-
ly, but officials said he had met
‘Next week critical’
❝ The next week is
critical. We are
apprehending a spike
in cases but are fully
prepared ❞
Dr Masood, GMC SUPERINTENDENT
out of these, 200 were found
to be authentic reports,” an
official manning the app
helpline told The Tribune.
He added that after scruti-
ny, many reports were either
found wrong or those report-
ed had already completed
quarantine period in other
parts of the country but were
reported by neighbours
upon their arrival home.
27 cases in Valley
■ Kashmir has been
gripped by the fear of
coronavirus as it seems
to be spreading fast in
the region. Two persons,
including a preacher (65)
of the Tableeghi Jamaat,
have so far died of coro-
novirus in the Valley
■ At
least 11 persons, who
came in contact with
the religious preacher,
have tested positive
16 but was not screened at the
Srinagar airport on his arrival.
He later went straightaway to
Sopore, his native area, where
he joined a religious congre-
gation. He said the preacher
had developed symptoms of
the infection in the first week
of March while he moved to
UP from Delhi.
“We have informed the
government of UP and Delhi
and people who have come
in contact with him there are
also being quarantined,” the
health official said.
Officials said more than
5,000 people had been put
under observation in the UT
for their travel history. Of
them, over 200 have been hos-
pital quarantined in Jammu
and Kashmir. There are alle-
gations that those kept in
quarantine at many places
have been kept in a single hall,
which could be dangerous in
the present circumstances.
Patient belonged to Tangmarg
■ Anelderly man from the north Kashmir’s Tangmarg area
died of coronavirus at Chest Disease Hospital in Srina-
gar this morning. He had no travel history
■ The
deceased person was diagnosed with chronic liver
disease with viral syndrome at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh
Hospital on Wednesday. He was later referred to CD Hos-
pital, where he tested positive on Saturday
a couple who had come back
from Saudi Arabia in January,
confounding doctors and giv-
ing rise to fears of a communi-
ty spread of the virus.
Kashmir recorded the
first coronavirus death on
Thursday. The victim, who
EFFORTS SCALED UP
■ Srinagar, Baramulla have had maximum cases till now
■ 1,800 under quarantine in Srinagar. 200 with travel his-
tory traced through special application ‘Talaashsrinagar’
■ 587 people with travel history traced in Baramulla
■ All
contacts of positive cases being identified and tested
The official further dis-
closed that out of these 200
people, two were found to
be positive. In Srinagar dis-
trict alone, over 1,800 peo-
ple are currently under
administrative quarantine
and are being observed for
symptoms.
In Baramulla district,
which saw two coronovirus
deaths, one from Sopore and
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, March 29
As Covid positive cases rise
in Kashmir, doctors fear the
region also has a ‘Wuhan’ –
epicentre of coronavirus in
China — of its own.
Hajin, once a bastion of
counter-insurgency militia
Ikhwan-ul-Muslimoon, has
now been called ‘Wuhan’ of
Kashmir after seven of its res-
idents were tested positive for
Covid while 14 are suspected
and 50 have been quarantined.
“Stationed at the Communi-
ty Health Centre (CHC),
Hajin, for the past five days.
Detected seven Covid positive
patients till now and another
14 suspects admitted at
SKIMS with reports awaited.
About 60 family members, all
asymptomatic, of positive
patients along with some 50
odd other suspects in quaran-
tine, all living within a radius
of 3-4 km,” Dr Muzafar Zargar,
a public health expert, stated.
Zargar said, “Such is the
situation at the CHC Hajin
control room that it seems
we are the Wuhan of Kash-
mir valley, pray for all of us.”
All seven positive cases are
in the age group of 25-40
years. They had travel histo-
ry to Nizam ud Din shrine in
New Delhi.
As the number of Covid
patients is increasing,
health experts have asked
the government to keep
Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of
Medical Sciences (SKIMS)
and six associated hospitals
was a Tableeghi Jamaat
leader, died at CD Hospital.
“Couple which tested pos-
itive in Srinagar yesterday
hid international travel his-
tory. This is criminal. Please
note - an entire society is
being put at risk,” he said.
another from Tangmarg, the
authorities have also expe-
dited efforts to trace people
with travel history.
“The Baramulla Govern-
ment College Hospital, along
with the district administra-
tion, has traced 587 people
who had either travelled to
foreign countries or other
states but were not forth-
coming”, Dr Masood, Med-
Residents stand in designated areas to maintain distancing in old Srinagar on Sunday.
UT’s coronavirus report card
Total number of persons enlisted for observation
Persons kept under Home quarantine
Persons kept in Hospital quarantine
Surveillance Completed
Persons under home surveillance
Numbers of samples collected for test
Numbers of samples tested negative
Numbers of samples tested positive
(34 Active cases-27 in Kashmir, seven in Jammu)
Numbers of reports waited
Numbers of cases recovered
Numbers of deaths
of Government Medical Col-
lege (GMC), Srinagar,
reserve only for patients in
need of critical care, which
includes ventilator support.
They have sought ade-
quate stock of personal pro-
tective equipment, ventila-
tors, N-95 masks, anti-viral
drugs, and other drugs.
Prof Muhammad Salim
Khan, who is the head of Com-
7 Pulwama
villages are
‘red zones’
Our Correspondent
Anantnag, March 29
Soon after the first case of
Covid was confirmed here in
the South Kashmir region,
the district administration
of Pulwama declared seven
villages, one of them the
native village of a positive
case, as “red zones”.
This means that there will
be no inward or outward
movement from or to these
villages under Section 144
of the CrPC, Disaster Man-
agement Act and the Epi-
demic Disease Act.
The villages include
Khaigam, Sangerwani,
Abhama of Rajpora tehsil
and Gudoora, Chandgam,
Pinglena and Parigam of
Pulwama tehsil.
“The adjoining villages
have been declared as buffer
zones in interest of safety and
well-being of the general pub-
lic,” officials in the district
administration maintained.
The person who tested pos-
itive had attended a religious
congregation in Gudoora vil-
lage and then moved in sev-
eral other villages, including
his native Khaigam village.
“These areas have become
more vulnerable as far as the
transmission of Covid is con-
cerned. It becomes important
that the movement of people
be curtailed to keep the
spread of the virus in check,”
the officials said.
ical Superintendent of GMC
Baramulla, said.
Though every effort was
being made to trace the con-
tacts of those already
declared Covid positive, Dr
Masood warned that the sit-
uation was not yet normal.
“The next week is critical. We
are apprehending a further
spike in cases but are fully pre-
pared to deal with any eventu-
ality,” he said when asked to
describe the future scenario.
All contacts of the 62-year-
old deceased from Tang-
marg, who died at Chest
Diseases Hospital, Srinagar,
have been identified, traced
and taken into quarantine,
Dr Masood added.
6465
3260
307
735
2163
588
542
38
8 administration had decided
02
02
munity Medicine, GMC Srina-
gar, has asked the government
to send all those quarantined
in hotels and educational insti-
tutions for home quarantine
after screening.
He said home quarantine
people should be put under
surveillance of experts from
Integrated Disease Surveil-
lance Programme (IDSP).
Hundreds of people with
Time for Kashmir to show
resilience once again
ON THE FRONTLINE
ARUN JOSHI
T
HE privacy of everyone
is to be respected all the
time. Time, however,
has changed. It is in the fit-
ness of things for all individu-
als to come out of their closet
of privacy and self-declare
where they had been in the
recent weeks. This would
help the administration in a
big way to counter the fast-
spreading curse of coron-
avirus. There is no other
option if the larger communi-
ty interest is to be served.
It is now a fact that all those
hiding their travel history of
the recent weeks can pose a
potential threat to society. The
secrecy about the places they
visited is not their fundamen-
tal right any more in the time
of the epidemic. Yes, there has
been an extraordinary delay
in recognising the devasta-
tion that Covid-19 can
unleash. There are failures
that have no precedents. The
most important phrase,
“Stitch in time, saves nine,”
was completely disregarded.
The country is paying a very
heavy price for that. J&K is
among the worst-suffering
places in this conflict between
the coronavirus and the
mankind. The numbers have
spiked and there is no certain-
ty that these would be halted
anytime soon. The numbers
are terrifying. The UT of J&K
has already recorded 38 cases
and two deaths. This is alarm-
ing. It can become more
alarming if the right to priva-
cy is not shunned at the
moment by those who know
that they are a big risk factor
for the community.
It is not a theory. It is a real-
time story. Eleven persons in
J&K have tested positive
who came in contact with a
preacher who had visited
many places, but landed at
the Srinagar airport without
being subjected to the
mandatory screening.
Whether his influence as a
preacher and the religious
sect that he represented or
Experts concerned
■ Hajinis being called
‘Wuhan’ of Kashmir, after
seven of its residents
tested positive while 14
are suspected and 50
have been quarantined
■ Head of chest medicine at
SKIMS, Dr Parvaiz Koul,
said Kshmir’s health infra-
structure would not be able
to cope up if the Valley
shows similar susceptibility
to Covid like the countries
in northern hemisphere
travel history outside Kash-
mir have been quarantined in
various hotels and education-
al institutions in Srinagar.
Khan has written to the gov-
ernment that people who had
come in contact with Covid
patients shall be put under
surveillance and brought to
the isolation centre at district
hospital or sub-district hospi-
tal level for testing.
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 30 MARCH 2020
SENSE OF ONENESS
Kashmir’s maximum neighbourhood is made of clusters.
The community feeling is of the highest order. It has deep-
ened and strengthened over the past three decades.Since
early 1990, governed by its political nationalism and reli-
gious affinity, it generated a new sense of oneness. They
have stood united every time they faced a challenge.
Whether it was the natural disaster in October 2005 when a
massive quake jolted it, or the worst-ever floods in Kashmir’s
history in 2014, the Kashmiris stood as a united community
the sheer negligence of the
people involved with screen-
ing made him escape the
process is a matter of investi-
gation, but what is clear is
that the man behaved in the
most unfortunate manner
and has left more people bat-
tling between life and death.
If this is any guide, J&K is
due for a period of earth-
shattering change. It is very
difficult to change habits
here – history has inter-
twined the communities.
Kashmir’s maximum neigh-
bourhood is made of clus-
ters. The community feeling
is of the highest order. It has
deepened and strengthened
over the past three decades.
Since early 1990, governed
by its political nationalism
and religious affinity, it gen-
erated a new sense of one-
ness. They have stood united
every time they faced a chal-
lenge. Whether it was the
natural disaster in October
2005 when a massive quake
jolted it, or the worst-ever
floods in Kashmir’s history
in 2014, the Kashmiris stood
as a united community.
They took on massive
rocks and waded through
the whirlpools of dangerous
floods to save each other.
The situation of violence
and counter-terrorism oper-
ations also bonded them
Our Correspondent
Leh, March 29
The UT Administration in
Ladakh has decided to set
up two Covid hospitals —
one each in Leh and Kargil
districts — as per the Gov-
ernment norms to treat new
cases. This was stated by
Union Territory Ladakh
spokesperson and Commis-
sioner Secretary Rigzin
Samphel here at a press
confrence on Sunday.
He said the Mahabodhi
Society Hospital in Leh
was ready to function and
for that a team of doctors
and senior officers had
visited the hospital to
examine the arrange-
ments and found it satis-
factory for operation.
However, it will take two
days in Kargil where GNM
School will be converted
into Covid-19 hospital.
He further said the
to pool in medical and para-
medical staff from primary
health centres, community
health centres and half
from the district hospitals
for the proposed exclusive
Covid hospitals.
He also said the UT
Administration had made
an appeal to retired and pri-
vate-practicing doctors to
join the Health Department
in assisting the district hos-
pital by providing three
hours a day in the OPD.
THE TRIBUNE
with each other in an
extraordinary way. They are
believing in the same old
theories of yesteryear.
Times have changed. Their
strength may turn out to be
their biggest weakness now.
The social distancing is an
altogether new phrase in
their dictionary. It is not eas-
ily acceptable to them. They
believe that their community
strength would sail them
through these horrible times.
They believe in their own
strength to bounce back.
Now, it is time that, we all,
including the cluster-loving
community, develop new
strengths in social distancing,
and avoid what they thought
was obligated upon them by
society and other factors.
There is a need to fill the time
with work, and that work is to
talk to each other through
windows and balconies.
Kashmiris know this art as
well, when they have commu-
nicated through the lane-
wide distances in the times of
distress. It is a bigger distress
which they can fight with
their social distancing, main-
taining their emotional bonds
through windows rather than
assembling on streets.
Saving Kashmir is of utmost
importance. It is the time for it
to become a ray of hope for the
rest of the country.
Ladakh MP gives
~1 cr from MPLAD fund
■ Ladakh MP Jamyang Tser-
ing Namgyal has sanc-
tioned ~1 crore from his
MPLAD fund for purchase of
laboratory equipment to
establish bio-safety level-3
testing laboratory and infra-
red thermometers (non-con-
tact) to facilitate doctors,
nurses and medical staff
■ The fund will provide per-
sonal protection equip-
ment (PPE), including face
masks, gloves and sanitis-
er kits for medical person-
nel, police and para-mili-
tary personnel so that they
are able to function effi-
ciently by minimising the
risk of transmission
■ The MP said the fund
would also be utilised to
improve ICU ventilators,
isolation and quarantine
wards. He also stated he
was working towards set-
ting up a BSL-3 laboratory,
which was needed urgent-
ly in Ladakh
To fight Covid cases, 100
more ventilators in addition
to the existing 27 have been
demanded from the Centre.
As many as 50 new ventila-
tors will be distributed each
to both districts.
Meanwhile, Ladakh has
not report any Covid posi-
tive case today. So far, out of
13 cases, three have been
cured and discharged from
the hospital.
THE TRIBUNE
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 30 MARCH 2020
28 houses in Ramban
damaged by landslide
120 rendered homeless; administration shifts them to safer places
Our Correspondent
Jammu, March 29
The district administra-
tion acted quickly and
succeeded in saving the
lives of around 120 per-
sons of Dalwas village in
Ramban district on Sun-
day after 28 houses were
damaged in a landslide.
A teams of officials along
with rescue teams from the
police and paramilitary
forces rushed to the moun-
tainous village, located
along the Jammu-Srinagar
national highway, on Satur-
day after reports of a mas-
sive landslide and sinking of
land. The landslide ren-
dered 120 persons homeless.
Additional Deputy Commis-
sioner (ADC), Ramban,
Ashok Sharma said, “The
land started sinking on Satur-
day evening and continued
till Sunday. We took a decision
to shift around 120 people of
the village to safer places.”
Covid threat looms large over Doda Wet spell likely from tomorrow: Met
Tribune News Service
Doda, March 29
Even as the twin districts of
Doda and Kishtwar are free
from Covid till now, but the
threat is looming large as
hundreds of labourers com-
ing from outside Jammu
and Kashmir, especially
from Ladakh, are being
considered potential carri-
ers of the infection.
Many among them are
trying to hide their travel
JAMMU & KASHMIR
“The villagers managed
to collect only their valu-
able items from their
homes. We have shifted
them to nearby schools and
panchayat ghars keeping
social distancing in mind.
We have also provided
them ration,” the ADC said.
“As many as 28 houses
have been damaged com-
pletely and the adminis-
tration has been thinking
about the alternatives to
rehabilitate these people.
The district administra-
tion is also making all nec-
essary arrangements for
the affected families,” the
official said.
A damaged house at Dalwas village in Ramban district of Meanwhile, hundreds of
Jammu on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Kashmir-bound trucks car-
rying essentials are strand-
TRUCKS STRANDED ON HIGHWAY ed on the highway since
Friday afternoon after
■ Hundreds of Kashmir-bound trucks carrying essentials
heavy rain triggered land-
have been stranded on the Jammu-Srinagar national slides and shooting stones
highway since Friday afternoon after heavy rain triggered from the hillocks at nearly
landslides and falling stones from the hillocks at nearly a
a dozen places between
dozen places between Chanderkote and Banihal.
Chanderkote and Banihal.
Covid. Efforts on war footings
12 tested; 5 negative, reports of 7 awaited are in progress. Lockdown is
Over 1,700 persons have been quarantined at different being observed in almost every
places, including their homes, centres and hospitals, whereas area, including in rural areas,
samples of 12 persons were sent for tests, out of which five but few people are hell bent
have tested negative and reports of seven are still awaited. upon putting their lives and
those of their family members
history and are increasing tined, but as the area is vast at risk,” an official of the Doda
the chances of infection and hilly, some labourers are district administration said.
seeping into these districts. not disclosing their identity. He said the situation was very
Though the civil adminis- “This is the biggest threat and grim and if people did not coop-
tration is alive to the situa- challenge in front of the admin- erate and give details of their
tion and is keeping an eye istration, to keep Doda and travel or any kind of symptoms,
on them so that nobody is Kishtwar districts free from any the bomb of Covid can blast any
left without being quaran- kind of infection related to time in these two districts.
Rajouri braces up with
more quarantine facilities
People seek action against ADC for misbehaviour
Our Correspondent
Rajouri, March 29
Till Sunday, 618 residents
with travel history of for-
eign nations or other parts
of the country, have been
placed under quarantine
in Rajouri district.
“Out of these 618, 59,
including four women, are
under institutional quar-
antine at five centres in
Rajouri,” the District
Health Officer said.
As many as 17 samples
have been sent for testing
at Jammu. Reports for
three have been received
out of which one is positive,
the officer maintained.
Three more quarantine
centres have been estab-
lished in Rajouri district,
including one at Girls Hos-
tel, Manjakot (60 beds); Hotel
Tariq Residency (24 beds)
and at Girl’s HSS at Darhal
(12 beds). Already, a 1,000
beds facility is available at 32
centres in the entire district.
As three persons tested
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, March 29
Even as parts of Kashmir
valley witnessed a sunny
Sunday after a wet spell,
the Meteorological Depart-
ment has predicted anoth-
er round of snow and rain-
fall from Tuesday evening.
Sonum Lotus, Director of
Meteorological Depart-
ment, said the wet spell
would last for three days
and was likely to cause
landslides on the Srinagar-
Home delivery of drugs
■ TheRajouri police, under
the guidance of SSP
Chandan Kohli, have
begun home delivery of
medicines to the needy
people/patients.
■ “This service will initially be
available in Rajouri town
and later will be intro-
duced in other parts of the
district,” said the SSP.
■ “People can contact mobile
ph No 7006190520,” the
SSP added.
positive from Manjakot
tehsil, including a retired
doctor, his son and a stu-
dent, the administration
has taken stringent meas-
ures and has declared their
habitations as red zones.
“Screening of the red zone
area people (first contacts)
will be conducted on Monday
and later people of buffer
zones will be screened,” said
Mohammed Nazir Sheikh,
District Magistrate (DM).
Meanwhile, Additional
Jammu national highway.
The highway, Valley’s
only surface link to the
rest of the country, has
been witnessing frequent
landslides for the past five
months due to inclement
weather, forcing suspen-
sion of vehicular traffic.
“A fresh spell of intermit-
tent light to moderate rain
in plains and snowfall in
higher reaches of J&K and
Zojila, Drass and some
areas of Zanskar region of
Ladakh is most likely dur-
Deputy Commissioner
(ADC) and Tehsildar Kotran-
ka, has claimed that neces-
sary funds have not yet been
released for the welfare of
persons to be quarantined.
Block Medical Officer, Kan-
di (Kotranka) also alleged
that due to bad road condi-
tions and non-cooperation by
the official at Deputy Com-
missioner Office, the health
team could not visit Sokar vil-
lage, where some persons are
hiding their travel history.
Meanwhile, Waqar Lone
and other social/ political
activists of Kotranka/ Bud-
hal area alleged that the
ADC, Kotranka, had misbe-
haved with them, instead of
listening to their grievances.
This came to light when
an audio clipping of the
ADC’s misbehavior went
viral on social media. It
was also brought to the
notice of the DM.
District Magistrate, when
contacted by The Tribune,
assured of immediate meas-
ures/ action in this regard.
ing March 31 (night) to
April 2 (forenoon). As usu-
al, it may lead to landslides
in Banihal-Ramban axis of
Jammu -Srinagar National
Highway,” said Lotus.
The weatherman also advised
farmers and orchardists to put
off spraying activities.
“Thunderstorm, with
strong gusty winds of the
order of 30-40 KMPH, is also
likely during the above peri-
od. In view of this, farmers
are informed to postpone
spraying of their orchards
11
Farooq gives
~1.5 cr for
Srinagar
hospitals
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, March 29
National Conference
president Farooq Abdul-
lah on Sunday released
Rs 1.5 crore from his
MPLAD fund, which will
be distributed equally
among three hospitals in
the city here.
The party in a statement
said Farooq Abdullah, who
is Member of Parliament
from the Srinagar con-
stituency, released Rs 1.5
crore to Srinagar-based
hospitals as the region
battles the spread of
Covid-19 disease.
“The amount is to be
equally distributed among
SMHS hospital, CD Hospi-
tal and G B Pant Hospi-
tal,” the party said.
The three National Con-
ference parliamentarians
from Kashmir valley –
Farooq, Hasnain Masoodi
and Akbar Lone — had last
week released Rs 1 crore
each from their MPLAD
funds to be used to combat
the threat of Covid-19.
and prepare drainage to
drain excess water from
their fields,” he maintained.
Though the spring season
has set in, the Valley contin-
ues to witness cold nights.
South Kashmir tourist
resort Pahalgam recorded
1.2°C minimum tempera-
ture while ski resort Gul-
marg in North Kashmir
saw a low of minus 4°C.
Minimum temperature in
Srinagar was 5.8°C, as per
an official of the Meteoro-
logical Department.
12
Experts seek arrangements
for TB, cancer, renal patients
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 29
Even as the government
reminded people today that
adherence to the ongoing
lockdown would determine
how sooner or later India
reached the Covid-19 peak,
doctors privy to the lockdown
fallout said urgent arrange-
ments were needed to ensure
regular medicine and emer-
gency care access for patients
of tuberculosis, cancer and
renal complications.
On the one hand, the Health
Ministry today said it had
accelerated Covid contain-
ment and management
efforts on a war footing, on the
other hand, evidence is grow-
ing to suggest that two lakh
people on TB treatment
might soon be running out of
medicine supplies, putting
them at risk of resistance to
drugs and pushing back
India’s TB elimination target.
Speaking to The Tribune
today, Dr Meenu Singh, pae-
diatrician and head of
Telemedicine Centre, PGI,
Chandigarh, said the govern-
ment must urgently arrange
for home delivery of at least
Help labourers, Nadda instructs party leaders in states
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 29
BJP president JP Nadda
today urged people to follow
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi’s appeal in letter and
spirit and instructed the par-
ty’s state units to help daily
wagers and migrant labour-
ers in their states during the
lockdown period.
Migrant workers struggle to board a bus in New Delhi on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: MANAS RANJAN BHUI
Follow lockdown order, else we
will fail our country: Kejriwal
New Delhi, March 29
If the lockdown is not fol-
lowed, the country will fail to
contain the Covid outbreak,
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind
Kejriwal said on Sunday, as
he assured migrant workers
that his government has
made food and boarding
arrangements for them.
Addressing a digital press
conference here, the CM said
the mantra to make the 21-
day nationwide lockdown
successful was to “stay where
you are” just as Prime Minis-
ter Narendra Modi had
requested. “A large number
of people are returning from
Men in khaki...
water from a hand pump near-
by. We have to carry our own
food”, they said. Dr Sajila
Khan, posted with the Police
Lines, Patiala, said many offi-
cials were suffering from anxi-
ety and some had cough. “We
are examining every case care-
fully. Given the seriousness of
the spread, we are not taking
any chances”, she said.
Commending their role, a
senior IPS officer said, “They
too have families and are
understandably fatigued. We
can use additional forces
from the Government Rail-
way Police to provide them
some respite.”
Announced all of a sudden, the lockdown has left people,
mainly labourers, in panic across the country. PTI
month-long anti-TB drug
stocks to patients registered
on the Health Ministry TB
treatment portal.
Many experts point out that
cancer patients on
chemotherapy are high and
dry under lockdown as radio-
therapy centres of major gov-
ernment hospitals, including
PGI, Chandigarh, are closed.
These patients would need to
access expensive private care
for chemotherapy or risk
worsening their condition.
The same challenge is
being faced by kidney
patients on dialysis. “Even at
PGI Chandigarh we are offer-
“The government and the
administration has made all
the arrangements for the
needy, therefore people who
are trying to migrate should
not panic,” the BJP president
said. He also asked state units
to inform people with the
steps being taken by the gov-
ernment so that they do not
panic, said party spokesper-
son Sambit Patra.
WALKING FROM DELHI TO MP, MAN DIES
Agra: A 39-year-old man, who had walked almost 200 km
from Delhi to reach his home in Morena in Madhya Pradesh,
collapsed and died in Agra. The man, identified as Ranveer
Singh, worked as a delivery agent for a private restaurant. IANS
cities they work in to their vil-
lages due to the coronavirus
lockdown. I appeal to them,
please stay wherever you
are,” he said.
“We have seen what has
happened in some of the
developed countries like the
US and Italy. Thankfully,
India is not at that stage yet.
But going into a crowd will
invite risk of infection,” Kejri-
FROM PAGE 1
Efforts to curb mass infection
Ten Indian manufacturers
have been identified to pro-
duce PPE at home, their cloth
quality has been approved and
they have entered the produc-
tion stage,” Health Ministry
Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal
said, adding that Cabinet Sec-
retary Rajeev Gauba at a two-
day meeting with state Chief
Secretaries had reviewed lock-
down enforcement.
India is globally at the 41st
position on the Covid dash-
board. Italy tops the table fol-
lowed by the US. China is
placed third. Asked if low
Covid testing was the reason
ing only emergency dialysis
in cases of acute renal failure.
We are not in a position to
offer management dialysis as
all hospitals are required to
dedicate blocks and units for
Covid management,” Meenu
Singh said.
Experts at both AIIMS New
Delhi ans PGI have evolved a
system whereby registered
OPD patients can call on
telemedicine counselling
helplines and register daily
during the lockdown period.
Daily OPD visitation at both
these hospitals was around
10,000 before the lockdown and
closure of OPDs.
BJP urges people
not to panic and
follow PM’s appeal
Nadda also reviewed the
BJP’s ongoing programme
in which one crore cadres
would provide food and help
to five crore needy persons.
Meanwhile, the BJP MPs
wal said.
The Delhi government has
made arrangements in
schools for lodging purposes,
the chief minister said. “We
have emptied the stadiums
and made arrangements for
people to stay there too if the
need arises. We are giving
free food to 4 lakh people dai-
ly. Let’s fight this together,”
he added. — PTI
11 groups formed
The Centre has set up 11
empowered groups to formu-
late plans and take necessary
measures for time-bound
implementation to fight Covid.
The groups will be headed by
a senior representative from
the PMO and Cabinet Secre-
tariat to ensure coordination,
sources said. TNS
for India’s low case load,
Gangakedkar said “no”.
He said India was testing
enough and had conducted
34,937 tests using 30 per cent
of the existing daily testing
NATION
Feeling depressed?
Dial Nimhans helpline
To help people deal with anx-
iety and depression during
lockdown, the National Insti-
tute of Mental Health and
Neurosciences (Nimhans),
Bengaluru, has launched a
national helpline number.
Anyone feeling anxious can
dial 080-46110007. Mean-
while, experts say arrange-
ments are needed to ensure
medicine for patients of
tuberculosis, cancer and
renal issues.
“Doctor appointments are
accordingly slotted and
patients are informed by
phone to be present online
during the appointment
slot,” said Meenu Singh.
Asked how the patients were
being prescribed medicines
online, she said there were
various online applications
with prescription formats.
“Writing prescriptions
online is easy and the new
national telemedicine consul-
tation guidelines have also
made such online prescrip-
tions legal,” said Singh, who
is leading the online outreach
with PGI OPD patients.
will also release Rs 1 crore
each from their MPLADS
fund to the Central relief fund
to support the fight against
Covid-19. Nadda said all party
MPs and MLAs will also
donate their one month salary.
Meanwhile, the national
capital continued to witness
scenes of tired people walk-
ing towards their destina-
tions. Some people could also
Maha requisitions pvt
properties for homeless
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, March 29
The Maharashtra govern-
ment has started requisition-
ing private property such as
plots, marriage halls, schools
and vacant buildings to
house homeless people and
migrant labourers with an
objective to put an end to the
movement of people within
and outside the state.
Officials say so far, 163 cen-
tres have been set up across
the state. “District collectors
across Maharashtra have
already identified plots, mar-
riage halls, private and gov-
ernment schools etc which
can be turned into shelters
for homeless people and
migrant labourers. We are
also trying to get manage-
ment of factories to accom-
modate their employees on
the premises,” a state govern-
ment official said.
Sources say the govern-
ment has invoked emer-
gency provisions under the
Epidemic Act, 1897, to
acquire private property for
the purpose. According to
information available from
various district headquarters,
the Navi Mumbai adminis-
tration is requisitioning CID-
CO Exhibition Centre to
capacity. Currently, 113 gov-
ernment and 47 private labs
are conducting tests with the
US FDA on Saturday approv-
ing a kit that promises results
in five minutes.
The Health Ministry on Sun-
day said respective state gov-
ernments had been directed to
conduct health risk profiling of
every migrant and isolate them
as per medical protocol — in
government quarantine for 14
days if they show severe Covid
symptoms like fever, cough,
short breath — and 14-day iso-
lation at a temporary shelter if
they are asymptomatic.
RSS insists on
calling Covid
Chinese virus
New Delhi, March 29
US President Donald Trump
may have agreed to stop using
the term “Chinese virus” for
Covid-19, however, here in India
the ruling BJP’s ideological
fountainhead, the Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), is
firm the pandemic should be
referred to as that.
According to Sangh affili-
ate Swadeshi Jagaran Manch
(SJM), “It is not hate speech.
People are cursing China for
not behaving like a responsi-
ble nation.”
Talking to The Tribune,
SJM’s Ashwani Mahajan
said, “I am not referring to
conspiracy angles or theories
but only facts. Despite having
information about the virus
in December, the Chinese
government did not inform
the world and allowed its
spread. Even the role of the
World Health Organisation
(WHO) is doubtful.”
On being reminded that
India was referring to the
virus as per international
nomenclature, Mahajan said,
“It can be because of diplo-
matic reasons, but the fact
remains that China did not
behave like a responsible
nation and (India) will have to
review our relations with the
country in future.” — TNS
be seen walking away from
Anand Vihar Bus Terminal
after it was reportedly sealed
with the police turning these
people away.
At ITO Bridge, after having
walked seven km from Anand
Vihar, middle-aged Janak
Ram from Azamgarh in UP
gave up returning home. Sim-
ilar scenes were witnessed in
other parts of Delhi.
Don’t leave state: CM
Mumbai: Assuring that
migrant labourers will be
taken care of, CM Uddhav
Thackeray has said basic
necessities like food and
water will be made available
to them. The ‘Shiv Bhojan’
scheme offering meal at Rs
10 will now be available at
Rs 5 from April 1, he said. PTI
house the migrants. Private
buildings in Kalamboli are
also being taken over by the
government.
The townships of Navi
Mumbai, and Panvel and
Pimpri Chinchwad in Pune
are home to a large number
of industrial estates employ-
ing thousands of labourers on
daily wage basis. With no
money in hand in the wake of
Covid outbreak, the daily
wagers have been wanting to
return to their homes.
On Saturday, Chief Minis-
ter Uddhav Thackeray asked
the police and district offi-
cials to seal both state and
district borders to disrupt the
march of locals. Besides this,
police and home guards have
been posted at various check-
points to turn away people
seen walking on the high-
ways and direct them to a
nearby shelter.
SpiceJet pilot
Covid positive
New Delhi, March 29
SpiceJet on Sunday said that
one of its pilots had tested
positive for Covid infection.
A spokesperson said that
the 'First Officer' did not
operate any international
flight in March and the last
domestic flight he operated
was on March 21 from Chen-
nai to Delhi.
Since then, he had quaran-
tined himself at home. The
spokesperson said that all
measures are being taken to
provide appropriate medical
care to him. — IANS
Donations pour in from all
quarters for PM’s relief fund
MoD pledges ~500 cr, Rlys ~151 crore, Adani ~100 cr
Home Minister Amit Shah receives donation from paramilitary personnel in New Delhi. PTI
New Delhi, March 29
President, Union ministers,
ministries, government-run
organisations, individuals
and private bodies con-
tributed or made a pledge to
donate to the newly created
PM CARES Fund on Sunday
and Prime Minister Naren-
dra Modi thanked them for
contributing to India’s fight
against the new coronavirus.
President Ram Nath
Kovind pledged to donate a
month’s salary and appealed
to countrymen to donate gen-
erously to it. Modi hailed him,
saying he is leading the way
and inspiring the nation.
The Railways, the country’s
largest public sector employ-
er, will donate Rs 151 crore to
the fund as 13 lakh railway,
PSU employees will donate
one day’s salary, Railway
Minister Piyush Goyal said.
Defence Minister Rajnath
Singh also announced his
decision to donate one
month’s salary, with Army,
Navy and Air Force personnel
and the ministry’s employ-
1971 war hero
passes away
New Delhi, March 29
Indian Air Force (IAF) heli-
copter pilot, Air Vice Marshall
Chandan Singh, who led the
daring helicopter lift of Army
troops across the Meghna
(Bangladesh) river during the
1971 war, died of natural caus-
es on Sunday.
He was decorated with a
Mahavir Chakra — the sec-
ond highest war-time gal-
lantry award — for his role in
operations in 1971. He had
earned a Vir Chakra for his
role in 1962 war with China in
the eastern Ladakh sector.
During the 1971 war, Group
Captain Chandan Singh was
the commanding officer of
the Air Force Station, Jorhat.
During the war with Pak-
istan, he was at the forefront
of the air operations conduct-
ed for the liberation of
Bangladesh.
It was Group Captain Chan-
dan Singh, working in close
coordination with Lt Gen
Sagat Singh, the commander
of the Army’s 4 Corps,
planned and executed the
special night-time helicopter
operations to airlift nearly
3,000 troops and 40 tonnes of
equipment and heavy guns
deep into enemy territory
with the limited helicopter
force at his disposal. He is
said to have undertaken sev-
eral such missions. — TNS
Rlys announces special parcel
trains to supply essential items
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 29
The Indian Railways has
announced that it will run
special parcel trains to
ensure supply of essential
items packed in small
parcels during the complete
lockdown period in the wake
of Covid outbreak.
Such trains are expected to
be of utility to e-commerce
companies and will help in
delivering medicines, dairy
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 30 MARCH 2020
CONTRIBUTIONS
■ President
to give a
month’s salary
■ JSWand Adani pledge
~100 crore each
■ Javadekar to give ~1 crore
each to Centre, Pune
■ CAPFs contribute ~116
crore, CBSE ~21 lakh
ees deciding to donate a
day’s salary, amounting to a
total of Rs 500 crore.
After the JSW said it will
contribute Rs 100 crore to the
fund, Modi said the poorest of
the poor will benefit from
their remarkable.
Billionaire Gautam Adani too
announced to contribute Rs
100 crore by his group’s philan-
thropy arm to the PM’s Fund.
Tata Sons and Tata Trusts have
already contributed Rs 1,500
crore for the same cause.
The Union government has
set up the public charitable
trust under the name Prime
Minister’s Citizen Assistance
and Relief in Emergency Situ-
Relaxation given for
EPFO withdrawal
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 29
Following the Union Labour
Ministry’s notification of
amendment to EPF Scheme,
the EPFO has directed its
field offices to promptly
process applications received
from EPF members to help
them fight the present situa-
tion arising from the Covid-19
outbreak and the 21-day
nationwide lockdown.
The ministry’s notifica-
tion amending the EPF
Scheme, 1952 allows with-
drawal of non-refundable
advance by EPF members.
The notification permits
withdrawal not exceeding
the basic wages and dear-
ness allowance for three
months or up to 75 per
cent of the amount stand-
ing to member’s credit in
the EPF account in the
event of outbreak of epi-
demic or pandemic.
The measure was also part
of the economic relief pack-
age announced by Union
Finance Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman last Friday to
provide security cover for
those affected the most by
the Covid-19 lockdown.
Covid has been declared
pandemic by appropriate
products, medical equipment,
masks, food items etc to the
people across the nation.
Over 20 routes have been
identified where such trains
would ply. The Ministry of
Home Affairs has already lift-
ed restriction on movement
of goods and commodities
across the country during the
lockdown period.
At present, freight opera-
tions of railways are trans-
porting essential goods such
as foodgrains, edible oil, salt,
THE TRIBUNE
ations Fund (PM CARES
Fund) in the wake of the Covid
outbreak.
Union ministers Nitin Gad-
kari, Dharmendra Pradhan
and Prakash Javadekar were
among others who have
made a similar announce-
ment. Sports Minister Kiren
Rijiju, Labour Minister San-
tosh Gangwar and Law Min-
ister Ravi Shankar Prasad
too have donated their one
month’s salary.
The ruling BJP has
announced that all its MPs will
contribute a month’s salary to
the cause. With Modi’s deci-
sion to set up this fund, all
donations from his party lead-
ers will likely go towards it, a
person familiar with the mat-
ter said. Javadekar said he will
give Rs 1 crore to the fund and
a similar amount to Pune
administration.
The CBSE has donated Rs
21 lakh. Home Minister Amit
Shah said in a tweet that the
Central Armed Police Forces
contributed Rs 116 crore to
the fund. — PTI
NOTIFICATION
The Union Labour Min-
istry’s notification amend-
ing the EPF Scheme, 1952
allows withdrawal of non-
refundable advance. It
permits withdrawal not
exceeding the basic
wages and DA for three
months or up to 75 per
cent of the amount.
authorities for the entire
country. Hence, employees
working in establishments
and factories, who are mem-
bers of the EPF Scheme, are
eligible for the benefits of
non-refundable advance.
The Employees Provident
Fund (Amendment)
Scheme, 2020 has come into
force from March 28.
Meanwhile, the EPFO also
launched its online claim
facility for Covid with-
drawals. The IT division of
the EPFO has devised a sys-
tem for auto settlement of
claims through the cen-
tralised server in respect of
all such members whose
KYC data is fully updated
and compliant.
The EPFO said this would
ring in a paradigm shift in
claim settlements where
claims would be settled
within 3 days.
sugar, coal, cement, milk,
vegetables and fruits etc in
bulk. However, several items
needed to be delivered in rel-
atively smaller quantities,
hence the move.
The trains would ply on the
following routes: New
Delhi–Guwahati, New Delhi-
Mumbai Central, Delhi–Kalyan,
Delhi–Howrah,Chandigarh–Jai
pur, Moga-Chhangsari Parcel
Rcp. Southern Railway trains
would also run on a number
of routes.
13| INF CUS AGRICULTURE
Need to weed out Opinion divided
spurious products on harsher law
The new Bill is aimed at regulating the pesticide trade
Sanjeev Singh Bariana
T
HE Pesticide Management Bill, 2020,
approved last month by the Union Cabi-
net, has generated a debate among various
stakeholders. The Bill is aimed at regulat-
ing the pesticide trade and compensating
farmers in case of losses caused by the use
of spurious agro-chemicals.
“Provisions under the Bill need to be
made strict for punishing manufactur-
ers pushing in spurious pesticides,”
says BS Rajewal, president of the Bhar-
ti Kisan Union (Rajewal).
“We only hear and read about raids on
vendors. Any Act without teeth means
nothing. There is no instance of exempla-
ry action against makers of spurious pes-
ticides in Punjab,” he says.
“Before passing the Bill, Parliament
should also address all ways, including
imports, through which the pesticides
reach the market. There is a need for
an inbuilt mechanism of quality
checks before the product reaches the
farmer,” Rajewal adds.
Government data shows that Punjab is
the highest per-acre consumer of pesti-
cides (0.74 kg), in the country, followed by
Haryana (0.62 kg) and Maharashtra (0.57
kg). Paddy accounts for the maximum
share of the pesticide use (26-28 per cent) in
Punjab, followed by cotton (18-20 per cent)
and vegetables (12 per cent).
A farmer from Jabewal (Ludhiana),
Maninder Singh Gurm, says, “We are
unaware of any strict action against man-
ufacturers of spurious pesticides. There is
no information about the inflow of pesti-
cides from abroad which are known to
have substandard material.”
A former dean of Postgraduate Studies,
Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana,
Prof Darshan Singh, says, “The draft Bill
proposes to raise penalties on the manufac-
ture and sale of prohibited/spurious pesti-
cides to Rs 50 lakh and a jail term up to five
years from the current fine of Rs 2,000 and
jail term up to three years.”
Experts say that the new Bill proposes
removal of the applicability of the Code of
Criminal Procedure, 1973. This will in a
way favour decriminalisation of the agro-
input manufacturing industry. This means
that when the authorities could not control
SS Chahal
Pesticide poisoning a cause for concern
T
HE emergence of new and viru-
lent pests and pathogens in inten-
sive agriculture enhanced the use
of pesticides as a quick and effec-
tive control measure. Proponents of the
Green Revolution focused on maximising
yield to combat hunger, comparing pesti-
cides with medicines used for the sick peo-
ple. Till long after the publication of Silent
Spring by Rachel Carson in the 1960s, peo-
ple were generally not aware of the toxicity
and harmful effects of pesticides. These are
still considered as the most reliable and
potential arsenal against pests threatening
crops. Resultantly, the domestic pesticide
market has grown to an estimated Rs
20,000 crore. In the fiscal year 2019, India
produced 2,17,000 metric tonnes of pesti-
cides. The Indian pesticide market was
worth Rs 19,700 crore in 2018. Growing at
8.1 per cent during 2019-24, it is expected to
reach a value of Rs 31,600 crore by 2024.
The registration, import, manufacturing,
sale, transport, distribution and use of pesti-
cides are regulated by the Insecticide Act,
1968, and Insecticide Rules, 1971. The agri-
culture departments of states are involved
in enforcing the Act by issuing manufactur-
ing licences, environmental clearance and
monitoring the quality of products. Because
of loopholes in the regulatory mechanism
and low level of awareness among the end
users, the business of fake pesticides has
flourished, flooding the market with spuri-
ous and misbranded products. The fake pes-
ticide industry, which was estimated at Rs
1,200 crore in 2008-09 by the Agricultural
Policy Group, became worth Rs 3,200 crore
in 2013 and is growing at 20 per cent per year,
according to the study report released by
FICCI and Tata Strategic Management
Group in 2015. More than one-third of the
pesticides produced by the domestic indus-
try are spurious. Unlike legal products, they
could contain toxic compounds since they
have never been tested for human health.
Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra
Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, West
Bengal, Haryana, Karnataka and Punjab
are the worst-affected states in the country.
The problem has been identified as one of
PESTICIDE MANAGEMENT
The Bill is aimed at compensating farmers for losses caused by the use of spurious agro-chemicals.
Agro-chemical business
Across the country, about 350 companies are engaged in the manufacturing of
agro-chemicals and cater to the domestic market, which is pegged at around
~16,000 crore annually for the organised sector. In Punjab, the annual sale of
pesticides is around ~1,500 crore. It is among the top five markets for agro-chemical
firms in India (Haryana’s market is worth ~1,200 crore). Punjab has witnessed sale of
spurious insecticides and pesticides. The state had banned a company based at Dera
Bassi and seized spurious, unauthorised and expired products worth crores of rupees.
the trade of spurious pesticides even with
a harsher criminal liability clause earlier,
there were more chances of potential
defaulters getting away with just simple
fines under the new Act.
The managing director of a Ludhiana-
based pesticide manufacturing company,
requesting anonymity, says, “We know that
farmers are getting spurious pesticides,
mainly in smaller mandis of the state. At
the same time, our country has sizeable
number of companies which adhere to the
government standards.”
“The law alone is not enough to check
the sale of spurious products. Most of the
poor farmers have no knowledge about
the products’ contents. They depend on
the arhtiyas,” he says.
A pesticide dealer from Dasuya
(Hoshiarpur), Rajesh Gupta, says: “I have
not read the Bill, so I can’t comment on it.
I can only say that if the government stops
the supply of spurious pesticides, there is
the major concerns facing Indian agricul-
ture in the 21st century by PK Chakrabarty,
former Assistant Director General (Plant
Protection), Indian Council of Agricultur-
al Research (ICAR).
Spurious and counterfeit pesticides often
become a reason for crop failure, health
hazards due to unknown toxic impurities
and untested residues, environmental con-
tamination, loss of confidence in measures
for pest control in agriculture as well as an
obstacle to the export of agricultural com-
modities. The organised sector suffers rev-
enue loss. Losses in the farm yield ulti-
mately add to the prevailing agrarian crisis.
Invariably, fake pesticides prove ineffec-
tive in controlling the pests being targeted,
forcing anxious farmers to use indiscrimi-
nate spraying with enhanced dosage at
decreased time intervals. It adds to the cost
of cultivation without reducing the yield
loss. There are numerous such cases of
repeated occurrence like the failure of
apple, cotton and rice crops in the recent
past. A report in Down To Earth in 2017
brought to light a series of farmers’ suicide
in Odisha over crop failure due to a pest
attack and the death of about 30 farmers
due to inhalation of spurious pesticides in
Yavatmal district of Maharashtra while
spraying on cotton. The Lok Sabha was
informed that 233 deaths took place due to
pesticide poisoning between 2015 and 2018
in Punjab. The use of wrong pesticides
adds to the miseries of poor farmers who
suffer from low returns from their agricul-
ture produce. No compensation can fill the
gap created by the loss of human life.
Unfortunately, the ill effects of the appli-
cation of spurious pesticide come to the
fore long after their use in the field. Though
provisions are essential in the Insecticide
Act for awarding penalties to the sources
producing fake pesticides and to compen-
sate farmers, no regulation can be foolproof
to ascertain and ensure the level of damage
in a complex biological system influenced
by a number of physiological and environ-
mental factors. It allows legal practitioners
to find escape routes to evade penalties for
defaulters and compensation to the affect-
ed farmers, for whom it becomes an uphill
task to support their cases with evidence.
no chance we could sell any. Yes, we cannot
absolve ourselves of the responsibility of
selling spurious products. However, some-
times we are unable to make out the quali-
ty of the product from what we are told
about it by the sellers or what is written on
the bags. Besides creating awareness
among sellers, the job of checking quality
will have to be done by the government.”
Pointing out pro-farmer provisions in the
Bill, Prof Darshan Singh says, “There is a
provision for cess to compensate farmers
for losses due to the use of spurious/low-
quality pesticides.” He opines that since the
new Bill aims to rectify shortcomings in the
Insecticide Act of 1968, the matter should be
deliberated upon extensively and amend-
ments considered before it is enacted.
It has also been suggested that state gov-
ernments should be empowered to regulate
the manufacture or use of pesticides in their
jurisdiction keeping in view their respec-
tive environment/ecosystem requirements.
Invariably, fake pesticides prove ineffective in controlling the pests being targeted.
Such cases usually meet the same fate as
those under crop insurance schemes.
A study carried out by PI Devi and her
colleagues at Kerala Agricultural Univer-
sity ascertained that there is monopoly of
the private sector in managing 90 per cent
of the retail trade across the country, lead-
ing to unregulated sale guided by the prof-
it motive alone. Also, it has been revealed
that at least 47 per cent of the farmers get
guidance from pesticide sellers. Most
farmers, being illiterate and ignorant, do
not enquire about the quality, correctness,
specific chemical brands and other
minute details while buying a pesticide.
Normally, there is neither any prescrip-
tion nor receipt, which disqualifies the
farmers from filing a claim for any loss
due to the use of substandard pesticides.
Farmer producer companies, cooperatives
and extension workers can help create
awareness among farmers. It will enable
them to exercise their rights.
The Anupam Verma Committee, in 2016,
recommended a ban on 13 ‘extremely haz-
ardous’ and phasing out of six ‘moderately
hazardous’ pesticides by 2020. It also asked
for a review of 27 pesticides in 2018 which
are barred/restricted for use in agriculture in
other countries. However, total compliance
of the recommendations is nowhere to be
Parveen Arora
P
ESTICIDE dealers of Haryana
are opposing the Pesticide Man-
agement Bill, saying that it is
against their interests, even as
farmers claim that the proposed law can
protect them and ensure safe and effec-
tive pesticides in the market.
The Agro Input Dealers’ Association,
Haryana, which has around 7,000 small
and big pesticide dealers, voiced their
dissent recently. They held a state-level
meeting in Karnal and handed over a
memorandum to local MP Sanjay Bhatia,
demanding the Bill should not be
approved in Parliament.
“We are not against the welfare of the
farmers, but the dealers should not be pun-
ished for the poor quality of pesticides,
insecticides, fungicides, and weedicides.
The manufacturers of these agro-chemi-
cals should be dealt with strictly,” says
Harmesh Singh, president of the associa-
tion. He considers manufacturers responsi-
ble for the quality of the products.
“Our job is to sell the product, while the
whole process of manufacturing and
packing is being done by the manufac-
turers. Moreover, the use of the product
is not in our hands and the farmers do it
on their own. Action should be taken
against the manufacturers if the farmer
faces losses due to the use of substan-
dard items,” he adds.
Nathu Ram, spokesperson for the associa-
tion, says the Bill was earlier framed in 2008
and later in 2015, but could not be tabled in
Parliament. Now, the Union Cabinet has
approved the Bill, but it is yet to be present-
ed in both Houses due to adjournment of
Parliament. “We are opposing this Bill and
have requested the Union Government to
protect rights of the dealers. We demand an
amendment that punishment should be giv-
en to the makers of pesticides, not to deal-
ers,” he adds. He says there should be a
mechanism to educate farmers about chem-
icals through agricultural universities, scien-
tists and government departments.
Ram Kumar Gupta, president, District
Karnal Pesticides Fertilisers and Seed
Traders’ Association, says the provision
for punishment and fine should be for
the manufacturers only. He claims the
government has also ignored their long-
pending demand of abolishing the
mandatory filing of principal certificate
form-9. “We have been depositing GST
seen. The sale of chemically adulterated bio-
pesticides and chemical pesticides in the
name of bio-pesticides, too, is a common
malpractice by unscrupulous traders. “Of
the 23 randomly collected bio-pesticide sam-
ples analysed by an NABL-accredited gov-
ernment laboratory, the Institute of Pesti-
cide Formulation Technology, Gurugram,
four were found substandard and nine
failed the test as they contained chemicals,”
in December 2018, according to Bharatiya
Krishak Samaj president Krishna Bir
Chaudhary. Monitoring and surveillance
are central to detect manufacturing, storage
and appearance of fake and banned pesti-
cides in the market, for which it is important
to have specialists with multidisciplinary
knowledge. Also, there is a need to improve
coordinated functioning of central and state-
level functionaries of enforcement teams. A
judicial framework should also deal quickly
and strictly with the defaulters, awarding
exemplary punishment.
Illegal manufacturers misuse technology
and produce packaging exactly similar or
even better than that of the genuine prod-
ucts. There is a need to detect it through
similar or superior technology. The use of
digital tools like securing hologram seals
and labels, light-sensitive ink designs, low-
cost transport tags integrated with track-
THE TRIBUNE
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 30 MARCH 2020
GOVT INTERVENTION
SS Dahiya, Additional Director,
Agriculture, Haryana, says they
are educating the farmers about the
judicious use of pesticides, fungicides,
insecticides and weedicides.
“We always advise the farmers to
use agro-chemicals only on the
recommendation of agriculture experts
of the department and scientists from
the agricultural university. “We take
action to check the supply of
spurious pesticides,” he adds.
bills and have licences. The govern-
ment has again made filing mandatory
in this Bill. We want the government to
give exemption for this form for dealing
with any company.”
On the other hand, the farming com-
munity is happy with the Bill. Vijay
Kapoor, state general secretary, Kisan
Welfare Club, believes the Bill is for the
welfare of the farmers. “I welcome the
provision of compensation to farmers
in case he suffers any loss due to spuri-
ous chemicals. The Union Government
has kept a provision of farmer produc-
er organisations (FPOs), but it is
already running in Haryana and still
small and marginal farmers are not part
of this system. The government must
ensure that small and marginal farmers
get benefits,” he adds.
Kapoor says the Kisan Welfare Club
organises camps to educate farmers, but
still there is a need to take the awareness
to the fields. “For educating farmers
about the judicious use of pesticides,
there is a need for joint efforts by the Agri-
culture Department, agricultural univer-
sities, farmers’ organisations and scien-
tists of ICAR (Indian Council of
Agricultural Research) institutions.”
For sustainable agriculture, he suggests
the government should give the approval
for the trials of genetically modified seeds to
avoid unnecessary use of pesticides.
Dharam Vir Satija, a progressive farmer
of Karnal, welcomes the provision of
organic farming in the Bill and says the
state government must ensure the supply
of packaged bio-pesticides in the market.
“There must be a stringent mechanism in
place to check spurious agricultural chem-
icals. The government should match the
information mentioned on the packet with
the product inside it,” he says.
and-trace technologies like individualised
bar and QR codes etc. can help in the identi-
fication of genuine or fake pesticides at the
time of purchase. It needs constant efforts to
create awareness of such forensic security
features among farmers and government
officials. It should be mandatory to link it
with the database of the government’s
Kisan Call Centre, enabling verification
through phone calls, SMS and online proce-
dures by the farmers about batch number,
expiry date and originality of the product
they are getting in the market.
Pesticides are sprayed on crops usually
by untrained and illiterate farm labour
without following prescriptions, instruc-
tions and precautions, using faulty nozzles
and approximated many times higher
dosages. It causes more harm than good to
the crops and also becomes a cause for
environment and soil pollution. It leads to
indiscriminate use of pesticides, which is
rampant in our country. It should strictly
be prohibited. Only trained and accredited
workers should be allowed for on-farm
application of pesticides. Recently, the
Central Government has clarified that pes-
ticide spraying using drone technology in
Telangana was illegal because the drift can
take the range of application to high levels
with no control on weather conditions.
Presently, there are no provisions on spray
technologies, which need to be clearly pre-
scribed under the new Bill pending for
approval of Parliament. In line with the
Insecticide Act, each state should establish
its pesticide policy which is of paramount
importance for food security, food safety,
environmental purity and human health.
Working in Copenhagen (Denmark), I
observed rose plants severely infected
with powdery mildew in the garden of
the Institute of Seed Pathology. I sug-
gested that only one spray application of
dinocarp could cure it. But they preferred
to uproot and destroy such plants rather
than saving them by spraying fungicide,
as it is not the practice there. This is a dis-
tant dream for our country.
The author is former Vice Chancellor
of Maharana Pratap University of
Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur.
Send your feedback to infocus@tribunemail.com
14 WORLD THE TRIBUNE
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 30 MARCH 2020

Death toll crosses 33,000

TRACKING
COVID-19
Paris, March 29
The worldwide number of
officially confirmed fatalities
from the novel coronavirus
rose to 33,178 on Sunday,
according to a tally compiled
by AFP from official sources.
More than two-thirds of the
deaths from coronavirus have
now been recorded in Europe.
Over 667,090 declared cases
have been registered in 183
countries and territories since
the epidemic first emerged in
China in December. Of these
cases, at least 134,700 are now
considered recovered.
The tallies, using data col-
lected by AFP offices from
national authorities and infor-
mation from the World Health
Organization (WHO), likely
reflect only a fraction of the
actual number of infections.
Many countries are only test-
ing cases that require hospital-
isation. Italy, which recorded
its first coronavirus death in
February, has to date declared
10,023 fatalities, with 92,472
infections and 12,384 people
recovered. Spain has 6,528
fatalities and 78,747 infections.
The other worst-hit coun-
tries are Iran with 2,640 deaths
and 38,309 cases, and France
with 2,314 deaths and 37,575
cases. The US has the highest
number of infected people
with 124,686 diagnosed cases,
2,191 deaths and 2,612 recov-
eries. Cases there have soared
from 41,511 on Monday, mak-
ing it the country with the
fastest progression rate.
Since 1900 GMT Saturday,
Uruguay, New Zealand and
Mali have announced their
first deaths. Europe has listed
3,63,766 cases and 22,259
deaths to date, Asia 1,04,596
cases and 3,761 deaths, the
Middle East 46,596 cases and
2,718 deaths, the US and
Canada together 1,30,120 cas-
es with 2,250 deaths,. —AFP
Europe records more than
two-thirds of total deaths |
1,04,596 cases and
3,761 deaths in Asia
PAK DEPLOYS ARMY
Islamabad: Pakistan Army has GLOBAL COUNT
7,02,348
deployed troops across the country,
including Pakistan occupied Kash-
mir (PoK), to assist civilian authori-
ties in containing the spread of
Covid-19. “Troops have been DEATHS
deployed to aid civil authorities
under Article 245," said Maj Gen
Babar Iftikhar, spokesperson of Inter-
Services Public Relations (ISPR).
33,178
Only essential services are opera-
tional at the moment. As many as 12
RECOVERED
people succumbed to the virus dis-
ease today. As many as 557 people
are infected in Punjab, 469 in Sindh,
1,49,215
138 in Balochistan, 188 in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, 107 in Gilgit-Baltistan,
39 in Islamabad and two in Pak-
istan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
MOST-AFFECTED COUNTRIES
NATIONS DEATHS CONFIRMED
Workers wearing protective gear spray disinfectant on a street in a residential area, in Islamabad on Sunday as Army was deployed tohelp civil authorities. AFP ITALY 10,779 97,689
SPANISH PRINCESS 1ST ROYAL VICTIM OF VIRUS CHINA DEFENDS SPAIN 6,606 78,799
London: Princess Maria Teresa of Spain has died after testing AGAINST SECOND WAVE CHINA 3,300 81,439
positive for the novel coronavirus, becoming the first royal vic- Wuhan: A growing number of
tim of the disease, it was reported. The Princess, who was King imported coronavirus cases in
IRAN 2,640 38,309
of Spain Felipe VI’s cousin, died aged 86 in Paris on Friday, the China, where the epidemic FRANCE 2,314 37,575
London-based Metro newspaper said on Saturday. Her younger originated in December, risked
brother Prince Sixtus Henry of Bourbon-Parma announced her fanning a second wave of US 2,329 1,31,403
demise, as the death toll in Spain increased to 5,982. infections when domestic UK 1,229 19,522
transmissions had “basically
NETHERLANDS HAS OVER 10,000 CASES been stopped,” a senior health GERMANY 481 60,281
Amsterdam: The number of confirmed cases in the Netherlands official said on Sunday. China, INDONESIA 114 1,285
passed 10,000 on Sunday evenas the rise in deaths and hospi- where the disease first
People wearing face masks wait to cross the landmark Shibuya emerged in the central city of BRAZIL 117 3,904
talisations continued to show signs of slowing. In its daily update,
the Netherlands’ National Institute for Health (RIVM) said con- crossing amid snowfall in Tokyo on Sunday. AFP Wuhan, had an accumulated JAPAN 52 1,693
firmed cases rose by 1,104 to 10,866, an 11% increase. There total of 693 cases entering
were 132 new deaths, bringing the number of fatalities to 771. from overseas, which meant PHILIPPINES 71 1,418
108-YR-OLD UK’S OLDEST VICTIM “the possibility of a new round TILL MARCH 29, TIME: 10.10 PM
CANADA 63 5,655
of infections remains relatively
A 108-year-old woman, who survived the two
TRUDEAU’S WIFE GETS ‘ALL CLEAR’ World Wars and the outbreak of the Spanish flu, big,” Mi Feng, spokesman for NETHERLAND 771 10,866
died within hours of testing positive for coron- the National Health Commis-
Ottawa: Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s wife Sophie AUSTRIA 86 8,648
Gregoire Trudeau said on Sunday that she has avirus, becoming the UK's oldest fatality due to sion (NHC), said. Nearly a quar-
received clearance from her doctor after she was the disease, a media report said. Hilda Churchill ter of those came from arrivals BELGIUM 431 10,836
tested positive for the coronavirus earlier this had been self-isolating at the Kenyon Lodge in Beijing. “Beijing, the capital,
month. “I am feeling so much better and have care home in Salford, Greater Manchester, for still bears the brunt of the SWEDEN 110 3,700
received the all clear from my physician and Ottawa more than a week, but began showing minor risks,” said Xu Hejian, said PORTUGAL 119 5,962
Public Health,” the First Lady said in a FB post. symptoms three or four days ago, said a report on Saturday. spokesman for the govt.
INDIA 27 1,024

New York quarantine put Boris Johnson warns Britons

GLOBE TROT off, travel restrictions stay
NewYork, March 29
US President Donald Trump
has backed off his threat to
quarantine Covid-19’s epicen-
tre, New York City area, but
the Centre for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) issued
an advisory asking people
from there to not to travel.
Earlier on Saturday, Trump
Pope Francis delivers the weekly Angelus prayer streamed via had that he was looking at a
video over the Internet from inside the Vatican, on Sunday. REUTERS quarantine of parts of New
York, New Jersey and Con-
Pope backs UN chief’s call for cease-fires across the globe necticut at the request of oth-
Pope Francis is backing the UN chief's call for
VATICAN CITY: er states that don’t have
a cease-fire in all conflicts raging across the globe to help much coronavirus infection.
slow the spread of the coronavirus.He also said his But later on Saturday night
thoughts are with those constrained to live in groups, he tweeted: “On the recom-
citing in particular rest homes for the elderly, military mendation of the White
barracks and jails. During his traditional Sunday bless- House CoronaVirus Task
ing, the pope called for ''the creation of humanitarian Force, and upon consultation
aid corridors, the opening of diplomacy and attention to with the Governors of New
those who are in situations of great vulnerability.'' He York, New Jersey and Con-
cited U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' appeal necticut, I have asked the
this past week for a global truce ''to focus together on the @CDCgov to issue a strong
true fight of our lives'' against the coronavirus. AP Travel Advisory.” The adviso-
ry will be administered by the
Polish composer Penderecki dies at 86 after long illness governors of those states in
WARSAW/KRAKOW: Poland’s Krzysztof Penderecki, one of the consultation with the federal
world's most celebrated composers, died on Sunday at government, he added.
the age of 86, his family said. Penderecki was known for The CDC issued the adviso-
his film scores, including for William Friedkin's "The ry urging people from the area
Exorcist", Stanley Kubrick's “The Shining” and David
Lynch’s “Wild at Heart”, for his Threnody for the Vic-
tims of Hiroshima and the largely atonal St Luke's Pas-
sion. Penderecki had been tested for coronavirus after
his carer was diagnosed with the illness, but the compos-
Couple run Dubai balcony marathon to beat virus blues
er’s result was negative. Penderecki won four Grammy Dubai, March 29
awards for his music, most recently for best choral per- A South African couple who
formance in 2016. REUTERS ran a marathon on the bal-
cony of their Dubai apart-
‘Game of Thrones’ direwolf dog dies of cancer ment, streaming it online,
LONDON: Odin, who played Bran Stark's direwolf puppy plan to take the project
Summer on "Game of Thrones" in its 2011 series premiere, global to help people shake
passed away after a four-mother battle with cancer. The 10- off the coronavirus blues.
year-old Northern Inuit dog was diagnosed with mouth Collin Allin (41) and wife
cancer in November and his family paid tribute to their pet Hilda covered the 42.2-km
on Facebook. "We can all take great comfort in knowing distance by running more
that he is forever immortalized in the great TV Show Game than 2,100 laps of their 20-m-
of Thrones as Summer Bran Stark's Direwolf Pup in Sea- long balcony from dawn on
son 1 episode 1", Odin's owner William Mulhall, runs Dire- Saturday. A stopwatch pro-
wolf Tours in Northern Ireland, said in the post. Mulhull vided by the couple shows
thanked everyone for their support. PTI they covered the distance in
A view of the Javitz Center in New York City that is expected to
open as a field hospital on March 30, 2020. AFP
CASES POUR IN
■ Of the 124,686 confirmed cas-
es reported on Sunday morning
in the US, 53,520 were in New
York State with 30,765 in the
city and 17,550 in surrounding
areas in the state. Neighbouring
New Jersey had 11,124 cases
and Connecticut 1,524.
■ The spread of Covid-19 is
uneven in the US. Of the 50
US states, six sparsely popu-
lated states have reported
less than 100 cases and six
others less than 150.
five hours, nine minutes
and 39 seconds. "We did it ...
#balconymarathon," Allin
said on Instagram, congrat-
ulating his wife on her first-
to be prepared for the worst
London, March 29
British Prime Minister Boris
Johnson, who is self-isolating
after testing positive for the
coronavirus, has written to
every UK household to ask
people to stay at home and fol-
low the social distancing rules
to fight the pandemic, warn-
ing them things will get worse
before they get better.
In letters which will arrive
through the post for nearly
30 million homes along with
a leaflet outlining the UK Britain Prime Minister Boris Johnson chairs the Covid-19 meeting
government’s advice, at an remotely after testing positive, in London, on Saturday. AP/PTI
estimated cost of 5.8 million
“to refrain from non-essential pound, Johnson says he will el with you – we know things reads. The 55-year-old Conser-
domestic travel for 14 days not hesitate to impose will get worse before they get vative Party leader goes on to
effective immediately.” stricter measures. better. But we are making the express his gratitude to every-
It added that “The Gover- The British Prime Minister, right preparations, and the one who is “working flat out to
nors of New York, New Jersey, who has been working from more we all follow the rules, beat the virus”, including the
and Connecticut will have full home with mild symptoms, the fewer lives will be lost and “truly inspirational” doctors,
discretion to implement this warned that things are set to the sooner life can return to nurses and other carers.
Domestic Travel Advisory.” get worse before they start normal,” Johnson says in his The warning came as the
New York Governor Andre getting better as the UK’s letter to the nation. “From the UK government’s leading
Cuomo, who has been issuing death toll from the outbreak start, we have sought to put in epidemiology adviser, Pro-
dire warnings about the crossed the 1,000 mark to hit the right measures at the right fessor Neil Ferguson, told
spread of coronavirus in the 1,019, with a further 260 time. We will not hesitate to go ‘The Sunday Times’ that the
state, said he did not think a deaths and 17,089 confirmed further if that is what the sci- UK population could need to
quarantine could be legally cases logged on Saturday. entific and medical advice stay at home for nearly three
enforced. — IANS “It’s important for me to lev- tells us we must do,” his letter months. —PTI
rational music. ules and triggered lock-
COVERS 42 KM IN 5 HRS Allin said he planned to downs that have limited
■ Collin Allin(41) and wife Hilda covered the 42.2- organise a "bigger, global options for outdoor exercise
km distance by running more than 2,100 laps of and more inclusive run next" in many countries, but enter-
their 20-m-long balcony where people who are under prising people have found
■ Their 10-year-old daughter Geena acted as race lockdown but keen to stretch ways to fit in a workout.
director, putting up signs marking "start" and "turn their legs can join for a few Elisha Nochomovitz, a 32-
around" and providing her parents with water and kilometres or more. year-old who lives near the
snacks as well as inspirational music "This is about giving people French city of Toulouse, ran
<< Collin Allin (41) and wife Hilda something else to think a marathon on his balcony
about," Allin said. "It's about which measures just seven
ever marathon and thank- race director, putting up getting people to connect, as metres. He managed the
ing the virtual crowd that signs marking "start" and everyone is worried about feat in six hours and 48
cheered them on. "turn around" and provid- the impact of coronavirus." minutes, nearly double
The couple's 10-year-old ing her parents with water The pandemic has wiped out his best marathon finish
daughter Geena acted as and snacks as well as inspi- international sporting sched- time. —AFP
THE TRIBUNE
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 30 MARCH 2020
Delayed
Tokyo Games
likely to open This clarifies medals won in shooting, archery events in Chandigarh in early 2022 won’t be counted in CWG tally
in July 2021 Tribune News Service pionships as part of a com-
Tokyo, March 29
The International Olympic
Committee (IOC) and Japan-
ese organisers are in final
stages of talks to set the
opening date for the Tokyo
Games in July next year,
Japanese media said.
The Tokyo event, postponed
last week due to the coron-
avirus pandemic, will most
likely have its opening cere-
mony in 2021 on July 23 and
closing ceremony on August
8, each a day earlier on the cal-
endar than the original 2020
plan, said public broadcaster
NHK on Sunday, citing
unnamed sources.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
Shooting, archery missing from 2022 Birmingham CWG
New Delhi, March 29
The Commonwealth Games
Federation (CGF) has
released the list of the medal
events programme for the
2022 Birmingham Common-
wealth Games, to a large
extent clearing doubts
regarding the status of the
Commonwealth Champi-
onships for shooting and
archery to be held in Chandi-
garh in early 2022.
As has been widely report-
ed, Chandigarh will host the
shooting and archery cham-
sports competitions to AAI officebearers are also
promise formula between
the Indian Olympic Associ-
ation (IOA) and CGF. This
came about after IOA
threatened to boycott the
Birmingham CWG after
shooting was dropped from
its programme.
At the time it was suggested
by the IOA top brass that the
medals won at the Chandi-
garh competition — sched-
uled to be held in January
2022 — would be added to the
Birmingham Games event.
However, The Tribune
explained on March 1 that
SPORT 15
MEDAL WORRIES This virus outbreak
Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive David
❝
means everything takes
Chandigarh had raised eye-
brows within IOA. Members
upset with the way the budg-
et for the Chandigarh compe-
Grevemberg has written to all the affiliated Commonwealth a backseat. But it is OK, in informal groups have dis- titions was decided. AAI
Games Associations, including the Indian Olympic we can wait and try to cussed the validity of this raised these issues informal-
Association, that the medals won in the Commonwealth work out these issues allocation, saying it wasn’t ly with IOA last week and
Championships for shooting and archery to be held in once this scare gets discussed with the execu- had intended to make it offi-
Chandigarh in early 2022 won’t be counted in the official tally over❞
tive board. cial. “This virus outbreak
of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
AAI official The Archery Association means everything takes a
of India (AAI) even ques- backseat. But it is OK, we
there were to be three medal Won’t be counted be counted in the official tally tioned the logic behind can wait and try to work out
tallies — one for the Chandi- CGF chief executive David of the Birmingham CWG. holding the archery compe- these issues once this scare
garh competitions, one for the Grevemberg has written to all Not surprisingly, shooting tition in Chandigarh instead gets over,” an AAI official
Birmingham CWG, and an the affiliated Commonwealth and archery competitions are of New Delhi’s Yamuna told The Tribune on the con-
aggregate table for Common- Games Associations (CGAs), missing from the list of the Sports Complex, which dition of anonymity.
wealth Sport for 2022, to be including the IOA, making it medal events programme for hosted the archery competi- IOA president Narinder
compiled after the completion clear that the medals won in the Birmingham CWG. tion during the 2010 Com- Batra was unavailable for
of the Birmingham CWG. the Chandigarh events won’t The allocation of the two monwealth Games. comments.

No India-Aus face-off? ‘Laxman’s 281, one of the

announced a delay of about
one year on Tuesday after a call
with IOC President Thomas

greatest knocks vs spin’

Bach. It is the first postpone-
ment in the 124-year history of
the modern Olympics,
although several, including the
1940 Tokyo Games, were can-
celled due to war.
The delay is a huge blow to
Japan, which has invested $12
billion in the run-up, although
financial markets initially
cheered by the decision, as
some investors had anticipat-
ed cancellation.
Economy Minister Yasu-
toshi Nishimura said on Sun-
day the government, now
compiling economic-stimu-
lus measures that Abe said
will be the biggest ever, will
take into account that the
Olympic delay will push back
several trillions of yen (tens of
billions of dollars) of demand
to next year. “If demand is
being pushed back until next
year, that means the same
amount of demand will evap-
orate this year. We’ll take this
into account” in compiling
the stimulus package,
Nishimura told a television
programme. — Reuters
BRIEFLY
ROME
Juventus, Ronaldo agree to
forgo 90M euros in wages
Cristiano Ronaldo and his
Juventus teammates along
with coach Maurizio Sarri
agreed to forgo 90 million
euros ($100 million) in wages
to help the club during the
coronavirus crisis. The club
said the money amounted to
four months worth of wages, a
third of players’ salaries.
Juventus captain Giorgio
Chiellini, who has an
economics degree, led the
negotiations with the club and
fellow players.
NEW DELHI
Inter-state athletics
championship postponed
The National Inter-State Senior
Athletics Championship
scheduled to be held in June
has been postponed after the
national federation today
decided to frame a new
calendar following the
suspension of global sporting
events due to the Covid-19
pandemic. The championship
was to be held from June 25-
28 in Bengaluru and it was to
serve as a qualifying event for
the Tokyo Games which were
now pushed by one year to
2021 in view of the worsening
global health crisis. “We will
have this championship later,
after August, if the situation
becomes stable by May
or June,” said deputy national
chief coach Radhakrishnan
Nair.
KUALA LUMPUR
Stand together to break
the chain: Chhetri
India captain Sunil Chhetri on
Sunday featured in an Asian
Football Confederation (AFC)
campaign to fight the Covid-
19 pandemic and requested
people to do all they can to
overcome “these challenging
times”. In the latest
instalment of the continental
body’s ‘BreakTheChain’
campaign, the Indian
talisman was accompanied
by Chinese Football
Association (CFA) vice-
president Sun Wen,
acknowledged as one of the
greatest women players to
have graced the world stage,
and Myanmar captain Kyaw
Zin Thet. — Agencies
India’s tour Down Under in doubt after Australia announces 6-mth travel ban
COVID-19 FALLOUT ❝ Right now it’s too early A six-month travel ban least for the T20 tri-series Melbourne, March 29
to say anything. It’s a means no teams will be before the World T20,” said Former Australia captain
New Delhi, March 29 potential six-month allowed to enter Australia for a BCCI source. Ian Chappell has picked his
The Australian govern- travel ban. If the the assignments lined up in “The processing of visa, two all-time favourite
ment’s decision to seal its situation is under the coming times, which tickets everything innings against high-quali-
border for the next six control, it could be lifted includes the World T20 and becomes a logistical chal- ty spin bowling and one of
months owing to the Covid- early also.❞ the tour by the Indian team. lenge. Also not only Aus- those is VVS Laxman’s
19 pandemic could adverse- BCCI office-bearer “Right now it’s too early tralia, England is supposed iconic 281 at the Eden Gar-
ly affect India’s Futures ■ India’s
to say anything. It’s a to tour India in September dens in 2001.
Tours Programme (FTP),
tour of potential six-month travel for their white ball leg. Will Thanks to Laxman and
Australia is scheduled
including the much-await-
to begin with a T20 ban. If the situation is under things be normal in the UK Rahul Dravid (180), India
ed face-off Down Under lat- tri-series in October and control, it could be lifted and players allowed to trav- went on to win the game
er this year. it ends with the Test early also,” said a senior el. These are big ques- against Australia after fol-
India’s tour of Australia is series in December. BCCI office-bearer, privy to tions,” the source added. lowing-on.
to begin with a T20 tri-series the developments. If the World T20 is pushed “The absence of any crick-
in October and end with the try’s borders. But those who have an back, then the four-Test et (due to the Covid-19 pan-
Tests in December. The Sourav Ganguly-led idea of the FTP calendar series between India and demic) gives me an opportu-
In between is the World BCCI, in all likelihood, admitted that the practical Australia, which is part of nity to reflect on an aspect of
T20, scheduled for an Octo- might have to explore alter- problem in such a situation the World Championship, the game I enjoy: watching a
ber 18 start, but the mega- nate plans amid the pan- could be the T20 tri-series, could also get affected. batsman utilise good foot-
event’s future is also demic that has so far which starts in the begin- “The frustrating aspect is work to combat top-class
shrouded in uncertainty due claimed over 30,000 lives ning of October and that you can’t even decide spin bowling. Two innings
to the global health crisis. across the world. involves Australia and Eng- anything as the situation stand out: one played by
In Australia, there have While the BCCI is yet to land apart from India. varies from country to India’s VVS Laxman, the
been over 2,000 positive cas- take a final decision on this “If international travel country. However helpless other by Doug Walters of
es along with 16 reported edition of the IPL, the inter- ban in reality exists for six it might sound, we can only Australia,” said Chappell.
deaths, prompting the gov- national calendar will be months, then it becomes a wait and watch,” the source Laxman and Dravid
ernment to seal the coun- another cause of concern. logistical nightmare, at said. — PTI shared a marathon 376-run
stand to engineer an unfor-
VIHARI KEEPS HIS FINGERS CROSSED
gettable win for India.
Chappell was simply in awe
of Laxman’s batting as the
New Delhi: Confined to his home due to the this break is: I will able to celebrate my first wristy Indian batsman
nationwide lockdown, India cricketer Hanuma wedding anniversary with my wife on May 19.” toyed with the likes of
Vihari is optimistic about the season ahead “In normal circumstances I might have been
Shane Warne.
and says he will use the time to “sharpen” his busy with cricket. So, at least one person is not
skills. “I am going to use this time to focus on complaining too much!” he said. With nothing “Laxman’s incredible 281
my fitness, sharpen my skills for county cricket much to do at home, Vihari said he at Calcutta in 2001 is the
as well as for the Australia tour in late had been repeatedly watching clip- best I’ve seen against top-
2020,” said Vihari, who was part of India’s pings of the 2005 Ashes. “A few class leg-spin. At the con-
last tour of New Zealand. Though there is a days into this enforced break clusion of that exhilarating VVS Laxman hit 44 boundaries during his 281-run knock against
lot of uncertainty over when because of the pandemic, I have series I asked Shane Warne Australia at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata in 2001. FILE
sport will resume, the middle- begun to realise all the implica- After 2-yr ban, Smith how he thought he bowled.”
order batsman said he had his tions: I cannot go out, meet eligible for captaincy “I don’t think I bowled in which he hit 44 bound- Donald Bradman did it
“fingers crossed”. “Mentally I am friends or do anything. But that that badly,” he replied. “You aries. Therein lies a clue to more often.”
trying hard to keep myself positive is the need of the hour, you Sydney: Steve Smith’s two-
year leadership ban ended didn’t,” I responded. Laxman’s success: he con- “Walters was the best
and busy. My challenge is: there is no have to isolate yourself
quietly on Sunday, leaving “If Laxman comes three sistently hit the ball along player of off-spin bowling I
cricket for the next three or four and make sure things
months. I do have a summer to look settle down.” “I know him eligible again to captain paces out of his crease and the ground,” said Chappell, have seen; he didn’t just
forward to having signed with a team boredom will set in easily, Australia at a time of uncer- hits an unbelievable on- also praising Laxman’s survive against the very
in the English County Championship, but I have a solution for tainty over when interna- drive against the spin and temperament. best, he occasionally bat-
where my contract starts from late that: watching the 2005 tional cricket will resume. you then flight the next Talking about fellow tered them into submis-
August. Fingers crossed about Ashes on video. It is my Smith was stripped of the delivery a little higher and Australian Walters, Chap- sion. He scored a sublime
that.” Vihari further said the favourite. I have lost count captaincy and banned from shorter to invite another pell called him the best hundred on a Madras
forced break would ensure he of how many times I have leading Australia for two drive and instead he quickly player against spin. “Wal- minefield in 1969, facing
was home for his first marriage watched it,” he said. “Also, I years over his involvement goes onto the back foot and ters scored a Test century the off-spin wizardry of
anniversary, which might not have been planning on taking in the 2018 ball tampering pulls it, that’s not bad bowl- in a session three times. Erapalli Prasanna, club-
have been the case other- up yoga. It’s something I have scandal in South Africa. His
ing. That’s good footwork.” There are no complete bing 14 fours and two sixes
wise. “One good thing thought of doing for a year, in sentence ended on Sunday
and he can again captain “Laxman regularly did records regarding this in the process,” said Chap-
that will come out of fact,” Vihari added. PTI
Australia if called upon. PTI this during his 452-ball stay, feat but I suspect only Sir pell. — PTI
Online coaching Couple run Dubai balcony marathon to beat coronavirus blues What Dhoni really wanted:
for Tokyo-bound
Indian boxers
Dubai, March 29
A South African couple
Run against Covid
worried about the impact
of coronavirus.” ~30 lakh, rest in Ranchi
who ran a marathon on the The pandemic has wiped New Delhi, March 29
New Delhi, March 29 balcony of their Dubai out international sporting Former India captain Mahen-
Their training halted by the apartment, streaming it schedules and triggered dra Singh Dhoni, who has
national lockdown in view of online, plan to take the lockdowns that have limit- achieved almost everything a
Covid-19 pandemic, India’s project global to help peo- ed options for outdoor cricket team could want to
Olympic-bound boxers will ple shake off the coron- exercise in many coun- achieve, has very minor ambi-
be provided online classes by avirus blues. tries, but enterprising peo- tions at the start of his career
their coaches from Monday Collin Allin, 41, and wife ple have found ways to fit — ~30 lakh from playing crick-
to ensure that aspects such Hilda covered the 42.2km in a workout. et and to live peacefully in
as mental well-being and distance by running more Elisha Nochomovitz, a Ranchi, his hometown.
nutrition are taken care of. than 2,100 laps of their 32-year-old who lives near When he began his interna-
Nine Indian boxers — MC 20m long balcony from the French city of tional career in December
Mary Kom, Simranjit Kaur,
Lovlina Borgohani, Pooja
Rani, Amit Panghal, Manish
dawn on Saturday.
A stopwatch provided by
the couple shows they cov-
Toulouse, ran a marathon
on his balcony which
measures just seven
2004, nobody could have imag-
ined that he would become
such a great captain and a
❝ In his 1st or 2nd year
in Indian team, I remember
he said he wanted to make
Kaushik, Vikas Krishan, ered the distance in five metres. superstar. He had limited
Ashish Kumar and Satish hours, nine minutes and He reportedly managed ambitions, said former India 30 lakhs from playing
Kumar — have qualified for 39 seconds. the feat in six hours and 48 opener Wasim Jaffer, who cricket so that he could
the Tokyo Games, postponed “We did it ... #balcony- minutes, nearly double his retired from cricket recently. peacefully live the rest of
to 2021 due to coronavirus. marathon,” Allin said on best marathon finish time. Jaffer, who shared the dress-
his life in Ranchi. —Wasim
In a conference call with Instagram, congratulating The United Arab Emi- ing room with Dhoni in 22
Tokyo-bound boxers today, his wife on her first ever rates, of which Dubai is a Tests and 2 ODIs from 2006 to Jaffer, MS Dhoni’s teammate
the Boxing Federation of marathon and thanking Collin Allin and his wife Hilda covered the 42.2km distance by member, has imposed a 2008, said all Dhoni wanted to
India president, Ajay Singh, the virtual crowd that running more than 2,100 laps of their 20m long balcony. The Thursday to Sunday night- be happy in life was to “make record many times. “I don’t
took stock of their prepara- cheered them on. duo covered the distance in five hours, nine minutes and 39 time lockdown to allow for 30 lakh from playing cricket”. really like being in the news
tions amid the lockdown. “Thank you for all the seconds. INSTAGRAM outdoors and public trans- “n his 1st or 2nd year in Indi- apart from the sports pages. As
“This is a challenging time love and support for doing port sanitation operations. an team, I remember he said for the money, whatever I’ve
for all of us and all the more something silly... was great ing her parents with water keen to stretch their legs With some 468 cases of he wanted to make 30 lakhs earned until now is enough for
a reason for us to take care of to have you all along for and snacks as well as inspi- can join for a few kilome- the novel coronavirus and from playing cricket so that he me to live a very good life,”
ourselves...stay fit, continue the ride,” he said. rational music. tres or more. two deaths, it has also been could peacefully live the rest Dhoni told a newsmagazine in
with the exercises as direct- The couple’s 10-year-old Allin said he planned to “This is about giving peo- promoting a “stay home” of his life in Ranchi,” Jaffer 2008. “I have a good job with
ed by the coaches and try to daughter Geena acted as organise a “bigger, global ple something else to think campaign, a message lit up said in response to a query Indian Airlines. You have to
maintain your weights as race director, putting up and more inclusive run about,” said Allin. “It’s on top of Dubai’s Burj from a fan on Twitter. know what’s enough. I don’t
much as possible,” Singh signs marking “start” and next” where people who about getting people to Khalifa, the world’s tallest This is consistent with what want to drive a Bentley or a
told the boxers. — PTI “turn around” and provid- are under lockdown but connect, as everyone is tower. — AFP Dhoni himself has said on Rolls Royce.” — TNS
16 BACK PAGE THE TRIBUNE
CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 30 MARCH 2020

VIRUS TRAIL
Lockdown has created panic,
confusion, Rahul writes to PM
Says number of poor in country too large for unilateral shutdown
Tribune News Service
‘INDIA’S CONDITIONS ARE UNIQUE’ Tharoor accuses
Modi of not giving
❝
New Delhi, March 29
It is critical to understand that India's
Congress leader Rahul Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chairs a meeting of Group of Ministers
conditions are unique and India will be
Gandhi today wrote to Prime
Minister Narendra Modi to required to take different steps than other
time to prepare to review measures in New Delhi on Sunday. PHOTO: DPR DEFENCE

PREVENTIVE MEASURE: Youths guard their neighbourhood

after putting up a banner reading ‘Outsider Not Allowed’
adopt a nuanced approach
against Covid-19 spread
arguing against a blanket
large countries that are following a
total lockdown strategy
— Rahul Gandhi, CONGRESS LEADER
New Delhi, March 29
Congress leader Shashi Tha-
roor on Sunday attacked PM
Migrants’ movement
during the nationwide lockdown in Siliguri on Sunday. AFP

GOOGLE CANCELS APRIL FOOL JOKES

shutdown of all economic
activity, as is underway.
Expressing solidarity
San Francisco: Google has decided to cancel this year’s with the government,
April Fool prank out of respect for those fighting new Rahul said, “It is critical to
coronavirus pandemic globally. An internal email from
understand that India’s
Google marketing head Lorraine Twohill reportedly said
Google is playing it straight on April 1 out of respect for conditions are unique and
those fighting the coronavirus, reports Business Insider. India will be required to
“We have already stopped any centralised April Fool’s take different steps than
efforts but realise there may be smaller projects within other large countries that
teams that we don't know about. IANS are following a total lock-
down strategy.”
ROSOGOLLAS, SANDESH OFF THE PLATTER “The number of poor peo-
ple in India who are
Kolkata: The ubiquitous rosogolla, sondesh, misti doi are all dependent on daily income
off the platters of the sweet-toothed Bengalis during the
is simply too large for us to
unprecedented lockdown over the coronavirus threat. But they
are not the only ones feeling bitter. The sweet shop owners, unilaterally shut down all
who are staring at huge losses, have urged the state authori- economic activity. The con-
ties to grant them permission to run their businesses, even if sequences of a complete
not at full throttle. They say the milk procured by them is get- economic shutdown will
ting wasted and their employees being rendered jobless. PTI disastrously amplify the
death toll arising from the
Covid-19 virus,” he said in
SHE MADE 1st TESTING KIT DURING PREGNANCY
his letter.
Mumbai: Virologist Minal Dakhave Bhosale led Gandhi suggested a shelter the working poor.
from the front to create India’s first coronavirus nuanced approach that
testing kit even when she was in the last stage takes “complex realities of
of her pregnancy. Bhosale’s efforts paid the Indians into consideration”.
price with her team delivering the testing kit in a “Our priority must be to
record time of six weeks. Bhosale gave birth to a
protect and isolate the elderly
baby girl just a day before submitting the kit to
the authorities for evaluation. “It was like giving and vulnerable from the
birth to two babies,” Bhosale said. PTI virus and to clearly and
strongly communicate to the
young the dangers of proxim-
ity to older people,” he said,
adding, “I suspect that the
government will eventually
extend this even further.”
The former Congress
president reasoned that
millions of elderly live in
villages and a complete
lockdown of economic
engine will ensure millions
of unemployed youth rush
back to villages, increasing
the risk of infecting their
parents and the elderly pop-
ulation living there.
“This will result in a cata-
strophic loss of life,” he
said, seeking social safety
net and use every public
resource to support and
Gandhi also said the gov-
ernment needs to “dramati-
cally increase the number
of tests to get an accurate
picture of the spread of the
virus and to contain it.”
On shutdown he said it
had created immense panic
and confusion.
“Factories, small indus-
tries and construction sites
have closed and thousands
of migrant labourers are
trying to walk home to
their villages and are
stranded at various state
borders. They are rendered
totally vulnerable without
their daily wages or access
to nutrition and basic
services. They are strug-
gling to reach far away
homes,” Gandhi wrote
saying they should be
sheltered and money put
into their bank accounts.
The Congress leader also
said, “It is critical to set up
a defensive wall around
key financial and strategic
institutions to protect
them from the shock wave
that is bound to come as
the true impact of the virus
and our economic shut-
down hits us a few weeks
from now.”
Narendra Modi for not giving
enough time to the people to
prepare before a nationwide
lockdown was imposed.
Taking to Twitter, Tharoor
said in Hindi “Na hee tab tai-
yari thee na hee ab taiyari hai,
tab bhi janata haari thi, ab bhi
janata haari hai”, which trans-
lates as “Neither there was a
preparation then (referring to
demonetisation), nor now. That
time also the common man was
at the receiving end, so is today.”
The Congress MP com-
pared the ongoing situation
with the demonetisation days
by sharing two pictures joint-
ly on the micro-blogging site.
He compared the huge
crowd of migrants standing
in long queues to catch a bus
to return to their native place
at Delhi’s Anand Vihar and
Ghaziabad’s Kaushambi
bus terminals with the one
seen outside banks during
demonetisation.
On one picture he wrote
“Notebandi” (Demonetisa-
tion) and on the other it was
written, “Lockdown”. — IANS
cause for concern: GoM
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 29
A Group of Ministers (GoM)
under the chairmanship of
Defence Minister Rajnath
Singh on Sunday reviewed
the situation arising out of
Covid-19 pandemic and
found the movement of
migrant labourers and their
gathering at various state bor-
ders as a “cause for concern”.
The GoM looked at vari-
ous measures being imple-
mented after the announce-
ment of lockdown.
The ministers briefed
about various arrange-
ments put in place for effec-
tive implementation of the
lockdown to stop spread of
coronavirus.
The ministers were also
briefed by Union Home Sec-
retary AK Bhalla about the
situation. They were briefed
about the availability and
supply of essential com-
modities such as food and
medicines which are satis-
factory and no major issues
are envisaged in this regard.
Similarly, petroleum prod-
ucts are available in adequate
quantities in all parts of the
country. It is being ensured
that supplies for a minimum of
10 days are being maintained.
Cargo movement of essential
commodities by train, air and
road is smooth and any issues
that may arise locally are being
resolved, sources say.
Among the participants
were Minister of Home
Affairs Amit Shah; Minister
of Chemicals and Fertilisers
DV Sadananda Gowda; Min-
ister of Consumer Affairs,
Food and Public Distribution
Ram Vilas Paswan, Minister
of Human Resource Develop-
ment Ramesh Pokhriyal Nis-
hank and others. Minister of
Railways Piyush Goyal par-
ticipated in the meeting
through video-conferencing.

DRDO develops casualty evacuation bags Five Pakistanis

sent back home
PIL accuses govt of taking insufficient
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 29
The Defence Research and
Development Organisation
(DRDO) has designed a
casualty evacuation bag to
transport or isolate persons
infected with Covid-19. The
bag is water and air-proof
and treated to deal with bio-
logical agents.
“The design of the bag was
finalised this week and
DRDO will be procuring an
initial lot of 500 such bags,” a
senior DRDO official said.
“We are looking at the pri-
vate industry which has
expertise in this field to man-
ufacture them,” he added.
DRDO’s Defence Bioengi-
neering and Electromedical
Laboratory (DEBEL), which
carries out research in aero-
medical engineering and life
support equipment and
Nuclear Chemical and Bio-
logical (NBC) protection sys-
BAG IS WATER AND AIR-PROOF
■ The bag, in the shape of a rigid cylinder, is made of non-
medical requirements if
Covid-19 becomes a crisis.
A protective body suit
New Delhi, March 29
India today arranged for the
repatriation of five Pakistanis
measures, seeks SC’s intervention
woven, water-repellant fabric with air and waterproof developed earlier by who were stranded here due Tribune News Service
zippers as well as a ventilator DRDO’s Institute for to the Covid-induced lock- Petitioners want that ~10,000 should be transferred
■ Itis coated with a film to cater to a chemical, biological, Nuclear Medicine and down. Two of the Pakistanis New Delhi, March 29 to all income tax groups as short-term loan
radiological and nuclear (CBRN) environment with Allied Sciences for medical had come to India on medical Accusing the government of
requisite protection against blood and viral penetration and paramedical staff to visas and were stranded in taking insufficient measures
manage and evacuate Delhi and Noida while the to deal with the situation aris- to deal with the situation ing the wrath of the lockdown
causalities in the event of other three had accompanied. ing out of 21-day lockdown to arising out of the lockdown. without any relief from the gov-
tems, has developed this bag. of the 1999 Kargil conflict to CBRN emergencies has Earlier, four stranded Pak- prevent the Covid spread, a Earlier, a PIL on Friday ernment, the second PIL urged
According to DRDO manage patients affected now been adapted for use istan nationals, including a 12- PIL has sought the Supreme sought the SC intervention to the court to direct the govern-
sources, the bag, in the with High Altitude Pul- by medical staff and health year-old boy, Sabeeh Sheeraz, Court’s immediate interven- alleviate the plight of thou- ment to make basic necessities
shape of a rigid cylinder, is monary Odema (HAPO). workers engaged in com- and his accompanying par- tion to tackle the crisis. sands of migrant workers walk- and medical facilities available
made of non-woven, water- The chamber is airtight and bating Covid-19. Over ents and grandfather, were “Because the respondents ing back home. Filed by advo- to all citizens, irrespective of
repellant fabric with air and simulates air pressure that 10,000 such suits are being repatriated via the Attari- (Centre and RBI) have cate Alakh Alok Srivastava, the their financial status. It said
waterproof zippers as well is prevalent at lower alti- produced per day by private Wagah border on March 20. remained ignorant of the situ- PIL urged the SC to intervene mobile vendors must be
as a ventilator. It is coated tudes while evacuating manufacturers and produc- During the two repatriations, ation which has in its eventu- on the ground that despite sin- deployed for each residential
with a film to cater to a patients from high altitude. tion is expected to ramp up the Pakistan High Commis- ality led to the nation stand- cere efforts on part of the Cen- area for purposes of delivery of
chemical, biological, radio- The DRDO has been further with more private sion remained in close contact still and have made the tral and state governments, a essential items and public gar-
logical and nuclear (CBRN) tracking the spread of players joining hands. with the Indian side and is now general public lose faith large number of stranded dens and stadiums must be
environment with requisite Covid-19 since the first Critical care ventilators, making efforts to ensure the which is also of pertinent migrant workers were headed converted into places for food
protection against blood reports of its outbreak in advanced, five-layer N-99 early return of its remaining importance to be immediately to their native villages on foot. and shelter. The petitioners
and viral penetration. China’s Wuhan province. It face masks and hand sanitis- nationals stranded in India. restored for the pandemic to A Bench headed by Chief demanded that Rs 10,000 should
The size and shape of the took a call in the first week ers are other products devel- Meanwhile, the High Com- be curtailed effectively,” the Justice of India SA Bobde is be transferred to all income tax
Covid casualty evacuation of March to enhance efforts oped by DRDO laboratories mission continues to moni- petition filed by Sumit Mehta likely to take up Srivastava’s groups as a “short-term loan”
bag is something akin to a for creating counter-meas- that are now being mass-pro- tor regularly the safety and and Vikrant Narulla alleged. PIL on Monday. recoverable in the next financial
fabric chamber developed ures and creating a mass duced by the industry to mit- wellbeing of the stranded This is the second petition Alleging that citizens from year and no person shall be ter-
by DEBEL in the aftermath supply solution of critical igate the Covid-19 threat. Pakistani citizens. — TNS seeking the SC intervention various backgrounds were fac- minated from their jobs.

Canter runs over

five labourers
Our Correspondent
Gurugram, March 29
Five migrants were killed
and eight critically injured
when a canter carrying veg-
etables rammed into them
here last night.
The deceased were part of
Medics screen passengers, who were airlifted from Iran, a group of around 15 person
before being sent for mandatory isolation in Jodhpur. PTI who were going to their
Covid-19 crisis forces courts to go hi-tech
comfortable in an opaque
environment and resisted
implementation of the RTI by
contesting verdicts delivered
against it by the Central Infor-
mation Commission and the
Delhi High Court.
OBITER DICTA A three-judge Bench head-
BY SATYA PRAKASH ed by the then Chief Justice of
India Dipak Misra had on
September 26 allowed a PIL
The pandemic has
once again proved that
every dark cloud has
a silver lining
phased manner…,” the top
court had said.
However, it had said it
should be done with certain
their increased public interac-
tion. “The pandemic presents
an opportunity to embrace
technology in the justice sys-
tem,” submitted Govin-
dacharya, who had earlier filed
a petition for live-streaming of
the Ayodhya case proceedings.
It’s not that the judiciary is
not using information tech-
nology to enhance its efficien-
fit lawyers and litigants alike
and would make things easier
for judges as well,” Justice Khe-
har had announced. Almost
three years after the announce-
ment, bulk of the filings contin-
ues to be done in paper mode.
Apart from these obvious
benefits, there is a far more
serious issue involved. As an
institution, the Indian judici-

H
native places in UP and ESITANT to implement seeking live-streaming of the safeguards to ensure that the cy and to tackle pendency. ary lacks a sense of history and

275 Iran evacuees were waiting to get a ride.

The truck, reportedly
going from Ahmedabad to
its own order on live-
streaming court pro-
ceedings, the Supreme Court
court’s proceedings in impor-
tant constitutional matters.
The project must be imple-
purpose of live-streaming of
proceedings was achieved
holistically and that it did not
Way back in 2005, the e-courts
programme was launched to
digitise judicial proceedings.
a desire to preserve its pre-
cious moments for posterity. In
recent years, India lost best of

shifted to Jodhpur Ghaziabad, went out of con-

trol and rammed into the
group, including three
has finally been forced to go
hi-tech, thanks to the crisis
created by the outbreak of the
mented in a progressive,
structured and phased man-
ner with certain safeguards
interfere with the administra-
tion of justice or the dignity
and majesty of the court hear-
In October 2006, the Supreme
Court introduced the system
of e-filing of petitions. But the
its legal minds, including Ram
Jethmalani and Anil B Divan
whose skills could have pre-
Jaipur, March 29 Army authorities, as part men, woman and a child. Covid-19 pandemic. to ensure that the purpose of ing the matter and/or impinge e-filing project could not take served in video form for future
A fresh batch of 275 evac- of Op Namaste, have created The truck driver, identified March 27, 2020, will be live-streaming of proceed- upon any rights of the liti- off properly as only a negligi- generation of lawyers and
uees from Iran arrived at wellness facilities which as Rakesh Yadav, a native of remembered as a landmark in ings was achieved holistical- gants or witnesses. ble number of litigants and judges for learning.
the Army Wellness Facility comprise all amenities and Bulandshahar in UP, was the history of Indian judiciary ly, it had said, adding to begin But 18 months on, the order lawyers used it. As a nation, we could have
at Jodhpur this morning. are fully geared up to accom- nabbed. He claimed that when three Benches of the with only important cases is yet to see the light of the day. As a part of the on-going e- captured the historic
As per the procedure, the modate all the evacuees and his vehicle’s brake failed. Supreme Court for the first would be live-streamed as On February 4, a Bench head- Courts Integrated Mission moments when landmark
preliminary screening of provide them with requisite “We were waiting for a bus. time heard urgent matters via suggested under the guide- ed by Justice Arun Mishra Mode Project, ‘The National verdicts that changed the
the evacuees upon arrival medical and administrative Suddenly, a speeding Canter video-conferencing. Both lines submitted by Attorney refused to pass any order on Judicial Data Grid/ (NJDG) course of history of India were
was conducted at the Jodh- support during their quar- first collided with autos, then judges and lawyers took part General KK Venugopal. the issue, saying it would be was launched in 2015 as a pronounced by judges such as
pur airport by the medical antine period. The earlier hit us,” Kuldeep, one of the in the proceedings with the “The project of live-stream- appropriate for the Chief Jus- monitoring tool to identify, Justice Jagmohanlal Sinha
teams from the civil admin- batch of 277 evacuees had injured. Following his com- help of ‘Vidyo’ app sitting at ing of the court proceedings tice of India to deal with the manage and reduce pendency who set aside Indira Gandhi’s
istration and Army. arrived on March 25. — OC plaint, an FIR has been regis- their respective homes. of the Supreme Court on the matter as the administrative of cases by tracking judicial election in June 1975. Live-
tered against the driver For judges who rarely use the Internet and/or on radio and head of the institution. performance across different streaming of court proceed-
under Sections 279, 336, 337, public address system during TV through live audio-visual Last week, former RSS ide- courts in India. ings — when fully implement-
Printed and published by Rajesh Ramachandran for The Tribune Trust
304(ii) of the IPC. courts proceedings, it’s a huge broadcasting/telecasting uni- ologue KN Gonvindacharya In May 2017, the then CJI JS ed — can usher in a new era of
Printed at The Tribune Press, Sector 29-C, Chandigarh.
“We are trying to identify the decision to face a sort of public versally by an official agency, once again moved the Khehar had announced that judicial transparency in India.
Published at The Tribune, Sector 29-C, Chandigarh.
deceased and inform families. scrutiny via live-streaming, such as Doordarshan, having Supreme Court seeking live- the Supreme Court Registry Adopting technology
RNI No. 15/57.
We have been issuing appeal even though it’s available only exclusive telecasting rights streaming of proceedings in would start functioning as a requires more than just a
Copyright © The Tribune Trust. All rights reserved.
to people not to trek to their to a limited audience on the and/or official website/mobile view of outbreak of Covid, say- digital court from first week of change in the mindset of
Telephones: 0172-2655066-72 villages, but desperation to get Supreme Court premises. application of the court, ing judges, advocates and liti- July of that year. “It will be a judges. Covid-19 has once
Circulation: 0172-2670419, Advertisement: 0172-2670256, 257 back has cost them their live,” It’s a bold step for an insti- must be implemented in a gants were at a great risk of manipulation-free system again proved that every dark
Editor: Rajesh Ramachandran* said ASI Rajender Singh. tution which generally felt progressive, structured and communicable diseases due to which would work to the bene- cloud has a silver lining.
*Editor for purpose of PRB Act, 1867