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Simultaneously published from Hyderabad | Warangal | Tirupati | Vijayawada | Visakhapatnam | Khammam | Kurnool | Delhi: RNI No: DELENG/2017/74095

Covaxin phase 2/3 trials put on hold in US

Complacency responsible for low uptake of precaution dose of Covid vaccines: AIIMS chief
TEXAS Health Organization following their Drug application (IND) to evaluate
inspection of Bharat Biotech Inter- the Covaxin.
THe US Food and Drug Adminis- national Limited's (BBIL) manufac- Aer WHO inspection, Bharat
tration has put on hold the phase 2/3 turing facility," Ocugen said on April Biotech had said it is temporarily slow-

DELHI SCHOOL TEACHER,

clinical trials of Bharat Biotech's 12. ing down production of Covaxin
COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin, in WHO had earlier suspended the across its manufacturing units for fa-
USA. supply of Covaxin through US pro- cility optimisation as it has already

STUDENT TEST POSITIVE According to a press release by

15 kids among 44 new Covid cases in Noida;
active infections cross 100-mark
HANS NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI
A Delhi school teacher and
student at a private school
tested positive for Covid-19
on ursday, and both have
been sent on leave, officials
said.
As a precautionary meas-
ures, all classmates of the af-
fected student have also been
sent home.
e worrying news has
come a day aer Delhi
recorded 299 new Covid cases
on Wednesday, a rise of nearly
50 per cent.
"ere are reports of a child
and a teacher testing positive
for Covid. Other students of
the class have been sent home.
We are closely tracking the sit-
uation," ruling AAP's MLA
Atishi said.
Ocugen Inc , Bharat Biotech's part-
ner for US and Canada for Covaxin,
curement agencies, after its inspec-
tors identified GMP (good manufac-
turing practice) deficiencies in the
completed its supply obligations to
procurement agencies and foresees de-
crease in demand.
the FDA's decision was based on the Bharat Biotech's manufacturing Public complacency owing to the
US firm's decision to voluntarily im- plants. Sources had said the city- waning of the pandemic coupled with
plement a temporary pause in dosing based firm however, said it had not the nine month gap between the sec-
Several schools in Delhi participants of the jab, following the supplied the Covid vaccine to any UN ond and the precaution dose are major
and adjoining areas have re- World Health Organisation's obser- agency and no impact of the suspen- reasons for the low uptake of booster
ported Covid cases since the vations on Covaxin manufacturing sion would be felt. shots of COVID-19 vaccines in the
beginning of the new aca- plants in India. OCU-002 is Ocugen's Phase 3 im- 18-59 age group, experts said on
demic session. Around 22 stu- "This is a result of the company's muno-bridging study of Covaxin. ursday. AIIMS Chief Dr Randeep
dents from four schools in decision to voluntarily implement a e company said it will work with Guleria said unlike in the past, people
Noida have tested positive for temporary pause in dosing partici- the FDA to address any questions. e have less fear of the disease now and
Covid infection in last few pants of OCU-002 while it evaluates FDA, in February, lied its clinical due to declining COVID-19 cases they
days. statements made by the World hold on Ocugen's Investigational New have become complacent.
e Gautam Buddh Nagar
Health Department on Mon-
day issued an advisory to
schools across Noida and
Greater Noida, asking them
to immediately inform it
about any child with cough,
cold, fever or any Covid-like
symptoms for timely treat-
ment.
Forty-four people, including
15 children, have tested posi-
tive for COVID-19 in Uttar
Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Na-
gar, the health department here
said on ursday.

Fire personnel
after dousing
a massive fire
which broke
out in a
restaurant at
Punjabi Bagh,
in New Delhi
on Thursday

Massive fire at Delhi restaurant

HANS NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI
A massive fire broke out at a restaurant-cum-bar in west Delhi's
Punjabi Bagh area on Thursday afternoon, Delhi Fire Service of-
ficials said. No casualty has been reported so far, they said. The
police said the restaurant had four floors and a parking facility.
The fire, which started allegedly due to a short circuit, spread to
all the floors, they said.
"We received a call about the fire at Troy Lounge and Bar on
club road in Punjabi Bagh at 1.35 pm and three fire tenders were
rushed to the spot," said Atul Garg, Director, Delhi Fire Service.
Nine more fire tenders were rushed to the spot later, he said. "A
total of 12 fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the blaze
was doused. No one was reportedly inside the building when the
fire broke out. Further investigation is underway," a senior po-
lice officer said.

PM inaugurates
PMs museum
NEW DELHI: Every government
formed after Independence has con-
tributed in taking India to the heights
it has achieved, PM Narendra Modi
said and asserted that barring one or
two exceptions, the country has a Prime Minister Narendra Modi
proud tradition of strengthening at the inauguration of Pradhan
democracy in a democratic manner. Mantri Sangrahalaya
In a speech after inaugurating 'Prad-
hanmantri Sangrahalaya' (prime ministers' museum), which is dedi-
cated to all previous 14 prime ministers, Modi said every prime minis-
ter has contributed immensely in the fulfilment of the goals of
constitutional democracy. Modi also bought the first ticket of the mu-
seum before its inauguration, officials said. He said it is our responsi-
bility to strengthen democracy, noting that India has a proud tradition
of doing so in a democratic
manner with one or two ex-
ceptions. Though he did not
elaborate, the BJP has been
critical of some past Congress
governments, especially the
one headed by Indira Gandhi,
of weakening democracy.
Gandhi had suspended civil
rights and imposed Emer-
gency in 1975. Modi, however,
added that every government
formed after Independence
has contributed in taking the
country to the heights it has
Teachings I am yet to achieved today. "To remem-
see but I follow ber all prime ministers is to
him...religiously know about the journey of in-
dependent India," he said.
The government chose the
RAMZAN birth anniversary of B R
Ambedkar, the key architect
TIMINGS of Constitution and a tower-
ing leader from the Dalit com-
IFTAR (FRI) 06:38 PM munity, to inaugurate the mu-
seum in a gesture resonant
SAHER (SAT) 04:36 AM with political importance.
2 REGION DELHI FRIDAY 15 APRIL 2022

Channi grilled in money laundering case linked to sand mining

HANS NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI/JALANDHAR
FORMER Punjab chief minister
Charanjit Singh Channi was ques-
tioned by the ED for over six hours
in a money laundering investiga-
tion linked to sand mining in the
state, officials said on ursday.
e federal agency recorded the
statement of the 59-year-old Con-
gress leader under the Prevention
of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)
and he le the Enforcement Direc-
torate's (ED) zonal office in Jaland-
har late on Wednesday night.
Channi tweeted to say he was and others before a special PMLA Without naming anyone, former Assembly seats he contested --
"summoned by the ED yesterday court in Jalandhar on March 31. Punjab Congress chief Navjot Chamkaur Sahib and Bhadaur.
regarding the mining case". Honey, currently lodged in judicial Singh Sidhu tweeted, "My fight was e ED action in the case began
"I attended and replied to the custody, has recently applied for for Punjab and not for sand. ose on January 18 aer it conducted
queries put by them to the best of bail. who ran the land, sand and liquor raids against Honey and others and
my knowledge. A challan in this According to sources, the agency mafia let down Punjab for selfish seized about Rs 7.9 crore cash from
case has already been presented by questioned Channi, who had ear- vested interests by looting the ex- his premises and about Rs 2 crore
ED in the Hon'ble court. e au- lier skipped a few summons, about chequer. It is either Punjab or the cash from a person linked to him,
thorities have not asked me to his links with Honey and others mafia in the present financial sce- identified as Sandeep Kumar. e
come again," he posted on the so- and about certain visits his nephew nario! e fight continues." agency had said that it recorded
cial media platform. Channi's made to the chief minister's office. Channi resigned as the Punjab statements of Kudratdeep Singh,
nephew Bhupinder Singh alias He was also questioned about the chief minister aer the counting of Honey, his father Santokh Singh
Honey was arrested in this case by allegations of certain transfer and votes on March 10 as the Aam and Sandeep Kumar during the
the agency days before the Febru- posting of officials in the state as Aadmi Party (AAP) swept the state searches and it was "established"
ary 20 Punjab Assembly polls. A part of the illegal sand mining op- polls. e Congress leader also lost that the seized Rs 10 crore "be-
charge sheet was filed against him erations, the sources said. the electoral battle from both the longed to Bhupinder Singh".

SENT OFFICIALS TO KEJRI CJI prays at Golden Temple

Justice Ramana also visited Jallianwala Bagh massacre site and Wagah Border

FOR TRAINING: MANN

HANS NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI

THE Jallianwala Bagh massacre is

JALANDHAR
FACING criticism over a meeting
of Punjab officials with AAP na-
tional convener Arvind Kejriwal,
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on
ursday said it he who is calling
the shots in the state and rejected
the accusations that his government
is being run through "remote con-
trol" from Delhi.
Mann said it was he who sent of-
ficials for the meeting with Delhi
CM Kejriwal and will continue to
send them to other states to learn
anything that can be implemented
in his state.
Newly elected AAP government
in Punjab had come under fire from
opposition parties, who had de-
scribed the meeting as an interfer-
ence in the state affairs and the
breach of federalism.
e Punjab CM was called a
"rubber stamp" by former chief
minister Amarinder Singh.
"I am taking all decisions," Mann
told reporters in Jalandhar while
defending the meeting.
When asked that he was not
present in the meeting held by Ke-
jriwal with state officials in Delhi,
Mann said, "I had sent them. For
training, the same officers had gone
to Gujarat and for training they had
gone to Tamil Nadu. If we have to
send them to Israel for Punjab's
benefit, I will send them there too."
"In coming days, I will send my
officers to Delhi, Gujarat, Andhra
Pradesh and Tamil Nadu," he said.
"If I find something good in West
Bengal, then I will send my officers
there. If I find something good in
Gujarat, I will send them there too,"
added Mann.
“symbolic of great sacrifices” made
in the face of tyranny and serves as
a reminder of the heavy price paid
for freedom which must be cher-
ished and protected, Chief Justice
of India N V Ramana wrote while
paying tributes to martyrs on
ursday.
e CJI, who along with his fam-
ily members are on a Punjab visit,
was greeted by Punjab Chief Min-
ister Bhagwant Mann upon his ar-
rival at Amritsar on Wednesday
and has visited places like Jallian-
wala Bagh, the Golden Temple in
He said the "good news" about
which he had indicated earlier will
be announced on April 16.
"en you will say keep sending
them," he said, asking the opposi-
tion parties not to criticise just for
the sake of criticism.
Amritsar, and the Wagah Border,
said an apex court official. CJI Ra-
mana was offered 'siropa' at the
Golden Temple.
Justice Ramana became the first
CJI to visit the Wagah Border, the
Border Security Force museum,
and zero point to witness the pa-
rade of BSF personnel in the beat-
ing retreat ceremony. “Jallianwala
Bagh manifests the strength and re-
silience of the people of this coun-
try.
his serene garden is symbolic of
the great sacrifice made in the face
of tyranny. It serves as a reminder
of the heavy price paid for freedom,
which we must always cherish and
protect,” the CJI wrote in the visi-
tors' diary on the occasion of the
103rd anniversary of the Jallianwala
Bagh massacre. He greeted the peo-
ple on the occasion of Baisakhi and
wished the people of Punjab peace
and prosperity.
“My good wishes for Baisakhi. I
am very happy today, my lifetime
dream came true as my family
members and I reached the Golden
Temple. I thank the managing com-
mittee,” Justice Ramana said. He
along with his spouse Sivamala
paid floral tributes to Babasaheb
Dr. B R Ambedkar at Town Hall,
Amritsar on his 132nd birth an-
niversary on ursday.
Chief Justice
of India
Justice NV
Ramana with
his wife
Shivamala at
the Golden
Temple in
Amritsar on
Thursday

Bandi Sanjay kick starts 2nd
leg Praja Sangrama Yatra
HANS NEWS SERVICE
GADWAL
THE State Government is not
afraid of Goddess Jogulamba, but
is scared of MIM. It had failed to
renovate the Shakti peeth, but did
not fail in ensuring that enough
evidence was not submitted to the
court in the case of hate speech by
MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi
alleged the state BJP president
Bandi Sanjay.
Sanjay, kick started his second
leg of Praja Sangrama Yatra from
Alampur temple town aer seek-
ing the blessings of Goddess Jogu-
lamba in Gadwal district on
ursday. He was accompanied by
Telangana BJP in-charge Tarun
Chug and other senior state BJP
leaders.
He said the state government
had been enacting drama on sev-
eral issues including the paddy
procurement and was ridden in
corruption. It was this which
made the BJP to take up the Praja
Sangrama Yatra to create aware-
ness among the people over the
misrule of TRS. He said during his
380 km padayatra which would
criss cross through 10 districts of
Mahabunagar, the BJP will try to
expose the omissions and com-
missions of the government and
will seek the support of people of
Palamuru region to throw this
government out of power in next
elections.
e state BJP president said that
Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar
Rao had enacted the Delhi drama
on paddy only to divert the atten-
tion of the people from the failure
of the government on all fronts.
He wanted to show the Centre and
BJP in bad light and project as if
he was the saviour of farmers. If he
had followed the procedure, by
now procurement of paddy would
have begun smoothly. Now he is
facing many problems as the gov-
ernment does not even have
enough gunny bags to li and
store the paddy. He said it was the
pressure mounted by the state BJP
which made KCR to announce his
decision to purchase Rabi crop.
Seeking people’s support to
come to power in Telangana he
said it was necessary because there
was need to end “the suppressive
and corrupt,” rule of TRS.
DK Aruna, National Vice Presi-
dent, Vijayashanthi, senior BJP
leader, Etala Rajender Huzurabad
MLA, Jitender Reddy, former MP
and other leaders slammed the
TRS government and alleged that
KCR had gone in for redesigning
of irrigation projects for commis-
sions.
Etala Rajender said people were
observing every move of the gov-
ernment and the day to defeat the
pink party was fast nearing. is
elections, even if TRS distributes
tons of money, or uses muscle
power including misuse of police,
it cannot stop the BJP from com-
ing to power, he added.
Ambedkar’s statue disfigured
in UP, cops launch probe
HANS NEWS SERVICE
NOIDA
A statue of B R Ambedkar, the key architect
of India's Constitution, was found disfigured
in Uttar Pradesh's Noida on his birth an-
niversary ursday, prompting police to
launch a probe into the matter. e disfigured
statue is located in Chhijarsi village under
the Sector 63 police station limits area and
the incident was reported by locals in the
morning, officials said. A police spokesperson
said a new statue was being installed to re-
place the disfigured one with the help of res-
idents. “Police force has been deployed in the
area and the matter is being investigated. All
angles are being probed and action will be
taken accordingly,” the spokesperson said.
ere was no law and order-related situa-
tion in the area due to the incident, the police
added.
Born in a Dalit family in Maharashtra in
1891, Ambedkar, a Bharat Ratna, was a jurist
and economist who played an important role
in India's freedom movement and became
the country's first law minister.
Ambedkar championed the cause of the
Dalit community which faced deep-rooted
discrimination. He is regarded as a Dalit icon
for his relentless work for social reforms and
the empowerment of the disadvantaged sec-
tions of society.
`476.89 crore for
development of
mandis: Gopal Rai
PURNA SINGH
NEW DELHI
A high-level joint meeting chaired by Development
Minister Gopal Rai with the officials of Delhi Agri-
cultural Marketing Board (DAMB) and Agricul-
tural Produce Market Committee (APMC) was
held at the Delhi Secretariat regarding the devel-
opment of Delhi’s Mandis. e board passed a
budget of Rs 476 Crores 89 Lakhs for the develop-
ment of Mandis for the financial year 2022-23 at
the meeting.
Development Minister Gopal Rai said, “e
board has given green light to the budget of Rs
476 Crores 89 Lakhs for the development of Delhi’s
Mandis. For the financial year 2022-23, the board
has allocated approximately Rs 178.73 crore to
APMC Azadpur, Rs 13.34 crore to Fruit & Veg-
etables Market in Ghazipur, Rs 13.96 crore to FP
& EMC in Ghazipur, Rs 8 crore to the Flower
Market, Rs 18.91 crore to APMC Keshopur, Rs
45.03 crore to APMC Narela, Rs 5.32 crore to
APMC Najafgarh and Rs 193.57 crore to the Delhi
Agricultural Marketing Board.”
He added, “Along with the development of Tikri
Khampur Wholesale Mandi, the development of
Ghazipur's Fruit and Vegetable Mandi and Poultry
Market, as well as the renovation of Ghazipur
Flower Market, will be carried out, with a budget
allocation of Rs 303 crores.
e Kejriwal Government is committed to the
development, expansion, and creation of better
infrastructure in the mandis.

BJP, Congress, AAP gear up for Himachal polls

DHARMENDRA JOSHI
SHIMLA
HAVING tasted success in the
recent Assembly elections, the
BJP and the AAP are looking to
repeat their strong showing in
the Himachal Pradesh polls due
later this year while the
Congress, having swept the 2021
state bypolls, is hoping for a
turnaround after a string of poll
losses. BJP national president
Jagat Prakash Nadda, Aam
Aadmi Party leaders Arvind
Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann,
and Congress leader Rajiv Shukla
recently visited Himachal
Pradesh as part of preparations
for the state polls. Kejriwal is
scheduled to visit Kangra on
April 23.
The ruling BJP hopes to retain
power in the hill state, as it did in
Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand,
Manipur and Goa last month.
State BJP president and Shimla
MP Suresh Kashyap told PTI that
his party will tell voters about the
development work carried out by
the state government and the
Centre. The BJP has given clean
governance to the nation and the
state, and both its governments
are working with zero tolerance
towards corruption, he said.
Kashyap said the Prime
Minister Narendra Modi-led
government at the Centre
launched the biggest ration
distribution scheme 'Garib
Kalyan Anna Yojana' during the
COVID-19 pandemic and it has
been extended till September this
year. The Modi government has
distributed 759 metric tonnes of
free ration to 80 crore
beneficiaries. In Himachal
Pradesh, the Chief Minister Jai
Ram Thakur-led government has
distributed this ration to eight
lakh beneficiaries so far, he said.
Be it the administration of 185
crore COVID-19 vaccine doses,
surgical strikes in Pakistan, or
evacuation of 23,000 Indians
from war-torn Ukraine, the Modi
government worked with
determination in every field, he
added. Kashyap further said that
Nadda's recent visit to the state
infused new energy in BJP
workers.
Nadda was on a three-day visit
to his home state from April 9
and attended various
organisational and public
programmes. He also held a
roadshow in Shimla on the first
day of his visit.
This was Nadda's first state
tour after the BJP put up an
impressive show in the recent
Assembly polls in five states,
winning four of them. The
Congress, which faced a
drubbing in the Assembly polls
in the five states, is hoping to
wrest power from the BJP and
arrest its shrinking footprint.
State Congress president Kuldeep
Singh Rathore told PTI that his
party will raise issues of
unemployment and inflation as
part of its election campaign.
The people of Himachal
Pradesh are fed up with the "anti-
public" policies of the BJP
government due to which
unemployment and inflation
have increased greatly in the
country, he claimed. Rathore said
the Congress won all three
Assembly seats of Fatehpur, Arki
and Jubbal-Kotkhai and the
Mandi Lok Sabha seat that went
to bypolls on October 30 last year
as the people of the state voted
on issues of unemployment and
price rise.
DELHI FRIDAY 15 APRIL 2022
SSoEs renamed as B R Ambedkar Schools: Kejriwal
l Willbring SOP for schools if need be,
says Kejriwal as Covid cases rise
l Delhi govt to issue guidelines
for schools: Sisodia
HANS NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI
DeLHI government's Specialised
School of excellence (SSoe) will
now be known as BR Ambedkar
School of Specialised excellence,
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal
said on ursday.
Police arrest 3 for killing
man in Sangam Vihar
HANS NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI
THe police have arrested three
people who allegedly shot dead a
man whose family members beat
one of them a few weeks ago, offi-
cials said on Thursday.
on April 10, Mohd Rashid (43),
Deepak (32) and Rohit (22) with
firearms and lathis reached a meat
shop run by Rahul in Sangam Vi-
har and beat up his uncle Hukum
Singh as well as the workers, a po-
lice official said. Rohit and Deepak
opened fire, killing Hukum Singh
while their main target Rahul es-
caped unhurt, the officer said.
The Deputy Commissioner of Po-
lice (Special Cell) said, "on
Wednesday, Inspector Ishwar
Singh received information that
Rashid and Deepak would come
near Khanpur traffic signal on MB
Road between 9 pm to 10 pm to
meet their associate. "A trap was
laid and the two accused were
nabbed following a scuffle." Rohit
was arrested early on Thursday
Deaf and mute girl jumps off
Akshardham Metro Station
HANS NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI
A deaf and mute girl received
critical injuries aer she jumped
off from the Akshardham metro
station on ursday, police said.
She climbed the wall of the
metro station from platform no
2. e security staff and the po-
lice tried to pacify her, but she
didn't heed to them.
A video shows her jumping
down while efforts to pacify her
were going on.
e girl was rushed to Lal Ba-
hadur Shastri Hospital where
she was admitted to the ICU
ward.
e doctors treating her told
the police that she was not fit to
make any statement and her
condition was critical. "Girl is
deaf and mute. Her parents are
also deaf. ey have been in-
formed. She has been admitted
to LBS hospital. She has suffered
fractures on her leg and hand.
treatment is underway."
"e incident happened
around 7.30 a.m. at platform
number 2 side," said the police
official.
8 in 10 families did not contract Covid: Survey
HANS NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI
MAINTAINING social distancing
and wearing masks diligently pre-
vented of eight out of 10 families in
India from getting infected with
Covid, a new survey has claimed.
e survey, conducted by Local-
Circles, received over 29,000 re-
sponses from citizens across 345
districts of India. LocalCircles
claimed that the survey showed 57
percent of Indian families had one
or more individuals testing Covid
positive in the last two years.
It said the objective of this sur-
For Advertisement please Call: 9717809984/ 9718673567
Kejriwal said this at an event to
launch one such school on the oc-
casion of Ambedkar's birth an-
niversary. "Baba Saheb Amdebkar
gave maximum emphasis on edu-
cation and what could be a better
way of paying homage to him than
naming best of our schools after
him," Kejriwal said. The decision
from near the Kalkaji temple, he
said. "The accused disclosed their
involvement in the case and said
they wanted to take revenge as
Rahul and his family members
had beaten Rashid and his associ-
ates on March 28. "Rashid with
his associates planned and exe-
Critical; her
parents are
also deaf
SOCIAL DISTANCING, WEARING MASKS PAID OFF
vey was to understand what works
and create awareness among the
larger citizenry and also quantify
the role of masking, social distanc-
ing and ensuring air ventilation in-
side indoor spaces in the last two
years during the Covid pandemic.
e survey was conducted at a
time when several states have re-
moved Covid restrictions. "on an
aggregate basis, 57 percent of In-
dian families have had one or more
individuals testing Covid positive
in the last two years, or during the
first, second or third waves of the
pandemic.
is question received 10,200 re-
sponses," the survey showed. "eight
CITY/REGION
to rename the schools was taken
by the government during a meet-
ing of the state naming authority
cuted the attack. Rohit had fired
at Singh while Deepak had opened
fire on Rahul but the bullet missed
him," the DCP said According to
the police, two pistols with eight
cartridges were seized from the
three accused.
The trio were previously in-
Children’s book on
life and times of
Ambedkar released
HANS NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI
A new book "The Boy Who Wrote a
Constitution", released on the
occasion of Dr BR Ambedkar's 131st
birth anniversary, seeks to inform
children of the challenging boyhood
and growing up years of
India's first Law Minister.
The fact-based drama, based
largely on Ambedkar's own
recollection of his childhood, is
written by noted playwright and
author Rajesh Talwar. It is published
by Ponytale Books.
"I wrote the book for several
reasons. All children reading about
Babasaheb's childhood experiences
will be inspired by his
determination and heroic struggle
against all odds. Secondly, non-Dalit
children will learn that there are
other children just like themselves
who don't have it so easy.
"Finally, it is important for us to
instill moral values in all our
children at an early age and reading
this play, or better still, enacting it
will further that process.
It will be good for the child, but
also for society as a whole. The
child, as they say, is the father of the
man," Talwar told PTI.
in 10 families who did not have any
family member get infected with
Covid in the last two years said
they minimised social contact and
diligently followed masking and so-
cial distancing norms," the survey
showed.
If responses by those citizens
held on Tuesday. There are 31
SoSes in the city of which 30 will
be renamed after Dr B R Ambed-
volved in 10 cases, including that
of murder, attempt to murder, rob-
bery, extortion, vehicle theft, in-
timidation and assault on police,
officials said. Further investigation
was underway to arrest the asso-
ciates of the three accused, they
added.
Three boys drown in
Yamuna; 1 body recovered
HANS NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI
MoRe than 16 hours aer four
children drowned in Yamuna river
in the national capital, body of one
minor boy was recovered while the
search operation is still on to res-
cue the other three children who
are reported to be missing.
e incident took place on
Wednesday evening at 3:30 p.m.
e children were identified as
Mohammed Ali (11), Sahil (13)
Farman (13) and Rihan (13).
on Wednesday at nearly 5 p.m,
Farman's body was found trapped
who did not get infected in the last
two years are analysed, 80 percent
said they "minimised social contact
and followed masking and social
distancing protocols when Covid
waves came", while 53 percent
"maintained an active and healthy
lifestyle during the same period". it
said, It said 33 percent said they
"only met people outdoors or en-
sured good air ventilation when
they met indoors".
Seventy-four 74 percent of fami-
lies, who had one or more family
members getting infected with
Covid in the last two years, said
they could have avoided it by min-
imising social contact and follow-
3
kar, while Armed Forces Prepara- the city health department. "We His comments came amid re-
tory School has already been are keeping an eye on the situa- ports of some school students
named after revolutionary Bhagat tion," he told reporters on the testing positive for the virus in
Singh. sidelines of an event. "If need be, Delhi as well as the National Cap-
Kejriwal said his government is we will bring in a SoP for Delhi ital Region (NCR). "CoVID cases
keeping an eye on the CoVID-19 schools for Covid." The Covid have slightly increased but there
situation in the city, and will bring positivity rate in Delhi has is no rise in hospitalisation, so we
in a Standard operating Proce- jumped from 0.5 per cent to 2.70 need not worry. There is no need
dure (SoP) for schools if need per cent in a week, even as doc- to panic but stay alert. We have
arises. tors on Tuesday said it was "not a to learn to live with CoVID. We
He said hospitalisation related panic situation" as the daily cases are constantly monitoring the sit-
to coronavirus has not increased count was still low. They doctors uation," Sisodia told reporters. "I
and "there is no need to panic". have, however, cautioned against have got reports from a few
The chief minister's comments dropping the guard. PTI GJS schools in the past few days where
came a day after Delhi reported The Delhi government will parents have informed about their
299 new CoVID-19 cases, a jump soon issue guidelines for schools child testing positive. The educa-
of 118 per cent in two days. The in view of the slight rise in Covid- tion department will tomorrow
positivity rate stood at 2.49 per 19 cases, Deputy Chief Minister issue guidelines to schools in this
cent, according to data shared by Manish Sisodia said . regard," he added.
Student injured after bathroom
ceiling collapses at JNU hostel
HANS NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI
A student was injured after a
taken to
Safdarjung
Hospital by the
hostel warden.
portion of the bathroom ceiling He is doing fine.
collapsed at a hostel in He underwent an
Jawaharlal Nehru University X-ray which
here on Thursday morning, shows everything
officials said.The incident took is fine. The
place at the Sabarmati Hostel. report of CT
"The student was severely Scan is awaited,"
injured and has been taken to the official said. The official said
the Safdarjung Hospital. This is a there are infrastructure issues in
clear case of criminal negligence the university and hostels,
on part of the hostel wardens specifically the ones that are old,
and the Dean of Students. "We require repair.
have time and again brought up "We have not got funds. We
the issue of dilapidated hostel have sought Rs 54 crore to carry
infrastructure and falling out major repair work in hostels
ceilings with the authorities, but but the approval is awaited. We
the JNU administration has been have carried out minor repair
trying to digress the issue in the work in Brahmputra Hostel.
name of lack of funds," All India Sabarmati Hostel will be next
Students' Association activist followed by Narmada. These are
Madhurima Kundu said. old hostels," he added. A senior
A senior university official police official, however, said,
confirmed the incident and said "We have not received any PCR
that due to dampness, the call or any complaint so far in
portion of the bathroom ceiling this regard."
collapsed and injured the second
year student of BA in German
languages. "The student
sustained minor injuries and was
in mud in the river. While the
other three are still missing.
According to the police, all
four children were the residents
of Kalindi Kunj and had gone to
play near the banks of river Ya-
muna.
e police said they suspected
that the children decided to step
inside the water to play. ey
could not cope up with the cur-
rent of the river and were swept
away. e search operation
started with boat club staff which
helped the Delhi Police and Delhi
Fire Service. e search for other
three boys still continues.
ing masking and social distancing
norms during the three waves.
effective masking, social dis-
tancing and indoor air ventilation
remain the best protection against
Covid, the survey showed. e sur-
vey said 61 percent respondents
were men while 39 percent were
women.
It said 45 percent of respondents
were from tier-1 cities, 31 percent
were from tier 2 towns and 24 per-
cent from tier-3, 4 and rural dis-
tricts. e survey was conducted
via LocalCircles platform, and all
participants were validated citizens
who had to be registered with it to
participate.
4 EDIT DELHI FRIDAY 15 APRIL 2022

Systemic neglect of peace & order in WB LETTERS

L AWLESSNESS has become a syn-
onym for West Bengal once again. It
was no different during the Congress rule
in the 70s, too. Similarly, things did not
improve much on the law and order front
under the CPI (M) rule. Now it is the
AITMC that is ruling and violence has
only doubled. The Congress rule had to
contend with the Naxal movement. In the
process of containing it, the Congress
leaders only unleashed a hitherto unheard
of repression. Youth of the universities
were the main target here.
Next was the turn of the Leftists and
violence continued unabated here and the
ruling party cadres cornered all benefits
depriving not only the opposition but all
those who did not agree with them of suc-
cour. By that time, the Congress weak-
ened further with Mamata Benerjee form-
ing her own TMC and she instantly took
to the streets to counter the CPI (M) rule.
Nandigram witnessed the peaks when The
Trinamool Congress, collaborating with
the Maoists, had isolated the entire area
from the rest of the country, by cutting
up all the roads and blocking them by tree
trunks protesting against a Tata car plant.
The villagers were brainwashed against
the government and the progressive
scheme. However, the shootings proved
to be a conspiracy of the TMC and
Maoists alike. Indeed, the police had to
resort to firing when the armed mob re-
fused to disperse even after much persua-
sion and tear gassing and started attacking
the police. The then Chief Minister, Bud-
dhadeb Bhattacharya, was awarded a
clean-chit for non-involvement in the
Nandigram violence by the CBI.
That is in a nutshell the violent story
of West Bengal where people have been
used by the ruling classes as pawns in
their games. Now-a-days, the TMC has
gone a step ahead and began attacking
the opponents on a daily basis, the Op-
position alleges. Cult politics have
reached a frenzy, one could say, and there
is an internal fight, too, among the local
leaders to gain control over their areas.
Last months' attack in Rampurhat in
Birbhum district on a family by TMC
goons in retaliation to the killing of a lo-
cal strongman of the party and the muted
reaction of the government proves that
all is not well.
Now comes the rape and murder of a
teenager by a TMC leader's son and his
friends in a filmy style and here is the
CM who questions the claims of the vic-
tim's family and the Opposition. She cas-
tigates the character of the victim and
goes on to add that "she was pregnant
and there was a gap of five days in ap-
proaching the police.” Does she plan to
absolve the guilty just because they be-
long to her party? Have you ever come
across any Chief Minister who takes such
a stand in the face of criticism?
Of late, advocates of the High Court
who belong to the TMC started protesting
against a justice because he ordered a CBI
inquiry against a scam by a Minister. They
tried to prevent the process of justice itself
by blocking the passage of lawyers to the
court hall being presided over by the
judge. This is also being justified by the
TMC leadership. Yet, Mamata talks of
democratic rights! And every questioning
voice is that of a 'Maobadi' for her.
Gandhis must see writing on the wall
A s the editorial dwelt at length on the dwindling fortunes of the
grand old party, it goes to prove without an iota of doubt that
present Congress in an amorphous state needs to change as the writing
on the wall is clear that Gandhi family despite its unmatched legacy
cannot resurrect the party and bring to its original self. Though Congress
is upbeat with a few wins here and there, it is only due to anti-BJP
attitude and not due to any pro-Congress wave. As Rahul and Priyanka's
presence in the decision-making process saw only the party's fortunes
nose-diving every time, it is an ample proof that the party values privilege
and sycophancy than talent and merit. The party needs a new value
system to come into the reckoning despite the feeling amongst loyalists
that the party would crumble without Gandhi family.
K R Srinivasan, Secunderabad
Blatant misuse of official machinery
I t is really shocking as to how a Tahsildar of Nirmal district was so
over enthusiastic to create an official proceedings to deploy VROs as
sports assistants when the District Collector comes to play tennis on
the court . Of course, the Collector too has private time which should
be honoured and naturally security protocols also come into the picture.

‘HAQQANI GENERALS’ AND THE At the same time, even if there is no pendency in the district works in-
volving people, the VROs cannot be assigned the duties of so-called
'ball pickers' or 'sports assistants.'
Katuru Durga Prasad Rao, Hyderabad.

THREAT OF FASCISM TO PAKISTAN Shocking acquittal of MIM leader

DR AMJAD AYUB MIRZA
I
mran Khan was finally booted
out of power on the early morn-
ing hours of April 10. is is the
first time in the political history of
Pakistan that a sitting Prime Min-
ister has been unseated through a
vote of no confidence. is illus-
trates how deeply the Pakistani po-
litical and military establishment is
divided. e fundamental cause for
this division is two folds – one rea-
son for this division is the unstop-
pable downward spiral of Pakistan's
economy and the other is the denial
of rights of oppressed nations living
under the iron clad of the federation
of Pakistan.
Can the new Pakistani Prime
Minister Shehbaz Sharif turn the
crisis Pakistan is faced with today
into an opportunity? In this article,
I am going to look into issues Pak-
istan is facing and suggest some so-
lutions. Over the years, Pakistan
has become a debt-dependent
economy. In order to run the day-
to-day expenses of the country and
to pay for the interest on the loans,
Pakistan has to get more loans cre-
ating a vicious debt cycle.
Secondly, Pakistan remains on
the verge of social explosion. Per-
petual decrease in the buying
power of the population caused by
inflation, continuous power fail-
ures due to energy crisis and break-
down of the health and social serv-
ices sector due to lack of
development funds are now trans-
lating into public anger in various
forms and shapes. One form of
public dissent is being expressed
through Pakistan Democratic
Movement (PDM), while other in-
cludes the creation of Tehreek e
Labbaik Pakistan and Imran
Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
e top brass of the military es-
tablishment is keenly divided be-
tween what I term the 'Haqqani
Generals' led by the former DG-
ISI and the current Corps Com-
mander Peshawar, Lt General Faiz
Hameed, and those who align
E ntire world had seen the comments of a "secular" party" floor leader
in Telangana Assembly, saying at a public meeting that if given 15
minutes time, he would kill all those of a different community. It is,
however, a paradox of the nth order that the Telangana High Court was
The top brass of the military establishment is neither aware of such provocative comments made in public nor con-
keenly divided between what I term the
vincing evidence to the effect was produced before them.
'Haqqani Generals' led by the former DG-ISI and Seshagiri Row Karry, Hyderabad
the current Corps Commander Peshawar, Lt
General Faiz Hameed, and those who align IPL: Give more chances to newcomers
themselves with the Army Chief, General Qamar
Javed Bajwa. The immediate threat of fascism
W hile Mumbai Indians is struggling to achieve a solitary win in
IPL, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) achieved their first win after a
struggle in first four games. These top teams go by their names and
staying in power might have been gotten rid of generally prefer old players rather than infusing young talent. Even if
they are picked in the team, they are not part of the playing eleven and
but the threat looms on the streets and among thus lost matches after matches repeatedly. CSK got to start investing
the top brass of military establishment of in TN youngsters . TN has been dominating in the white ball format.
Pakistan. A military coup led by mass support of Sundar, SR Khan, Natarajan all coming from TNPL. CSK got to make
use of these resources as well. Even veterans like Dinesh Karthik and
the religious right could prove to be a Ashwin have openly said they will love to be picked by CSK over anyone.
detrimental to the region. Prime Minister Sharif Like how KL Rahul loves RCB and most other player's connection with
has a mountainous task ahead of him with their state franchise. A bunch of spots will be open in a year or two.
Hope at least a couple of locals get chances instead of trying out old
limited political space to maneuver warhorses again and again.
Calicut Krishnan Ramani, Chennai
themselves with the Army Chief, the foundation for small industry, sensus. is would, firstly, remove e rise of the Haqqanis to power
General Qamar Javed Bajwa. which in turn could become a base the internal security threats to Pak- in Kabul was orchestrated by the
Finally, the national question for heavy industry, Pakistan cannot istan and secondly, create a peace- 'Haqqani Generals' of Pakistan mil- Advisors to AP govt – only in name
that revolves around the issue of
political representation based on
economic sovereignty remains
make her economy turn around.
China Pakistan Economic Corri-
dor (CPEC) project is going to add
ful and stable environment for re-
shaping a self-reliant economic
base. Stable economic environ-
itary led by Lt General Faiz Hamid.
No wonder aer being thrown
out of power, Imran Khan's first
E very day, one can see in the news reports through print & electronic
media that either the Honourable High court of AP, or the Hon.
Supreme Court, or the Govt of India or the CAG or other constitutional
dangerously unresolved. From more debt to the economy and it ment is the first step toward con- public rally and a show of street authorities stating that the Govt of AP is acting against the Constitu-
Balochistan to Sindh and from has become both economically and taining social unrest and relocate power was held in Peshawar where tional norms, many times. For example, a very few are quoted here
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Pakistan- politically a dead project. e the protesting population from the the former DG of ISI, Lt General under, out of many & many: Taking huge loans against its repayment
occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK) Baluch and the people of PoGB are streets into the agricultural and in- Faiz Hameed, serves as the Corps capacity; Acted very hastily on 3-Capital concept; Diverted the funds
and Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB), na- not accepting the plunder of their dustrial sector. Commander. e immediate threat granted for Disaster management; Established Sachivalayas on the
tional liberation struggles are now natural resources in the name of And finally only by forming a of fascism staying in power might premises/buildings of schools; Violated the constitutional norms in
a reality that might not resolve sim- "progress." confederation can Shehbaz Sharif have been gotten rid of but the elections; Taking actions on politicians on political lines. The lapses
ply by issuing press statements and Hence, if Pakistan is to survive guarantee an end to the political threat looms on the streets and went on like this, even to the extent of the IASes being punished by the
horse trading. as a geographical entity, Prime conflict that is currently being ne- among the top brass of military es- High Court, many a time, for their misdeeds against the constitutional
In a nutshell, the federation of Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army gotiated though the barrel of gun. tablishment of Pakistan. provisions. Thus, the sanctity of IAS/IPS is lost heavily. Then what are
Pakistan that entered troubled wa- Chief General Bajwa have to re- However, unless Shehbaz Sharif re- A military coup led by mass sup- the dozens of Advisors (both political & official) are doing and in what
ters due to economic mismanage- consider the relation between the solves the Kashmir issue by accept- port of the religious right could manner are they advising the immatured government. Where is the
ment and plunder is now collaps- federation and the provinces and ing PoJK and PoGB as illegally oc- prove to be a detrimental to the re- lapse? Huge amount is spent from the public exchequer towards the
ing under the threat of multiple establish a confederation. cupied territories and accelerates gion. Prime Minister Sharif has a salaries, perks, facilities to the large fleet of Advisors. And a time has
armed separatist movements. Forming a confederation be- their peaceful return into the folds mountainous task ahead of him reached that the crux of the issue is to be found at the earliest, before
In various parts of Pakistan, the tween the provinces and the centre of the Republic of India, peace be- with limited political space to ma- much more damaged is caused to the State.
ultimate authority of the federation simply means that the ultimate au- tween India and Pakistan will re- neuver, therefore, he is le with no TV Nageswara Rao, Visakhapatnam
seems to be broken down beyond thority of control over natural re- main a far-fetched dream. choice but to crush the fascist goons
repair. e central authority of the sources, taxes and trade lies with e ousting of Imran Khan did on the streets and eliminate the
state is being challenged with guns the individual units or states and not deter the looming threat of re- 'Haqqani Generals' while negotiat- thehansreader@gmail.com
in Baluchistan and KPK. And the not with the federal state. e cen- ligious fascism in the region. Imran ing the transformation of the fed-
1973 constitution of Pakistan ap- tre then becomes a weak body Khan was and remains the repre- eration of Pakistan into a voluntary
pears to have decisively failed to which is formed by member states sentative of a conservative middle confederation of sovereign states.
keep the federation intact. only to deal with matters relating class that has been crushed due to
e economy of the country un- to foreign policy and defence. economic instability, the urban job- (Dr Amjad Ayub Mirza is an
der discussion has gone under. erefore, Shehbaz Sharif will less lumpen elements and the gen- author and a human rights activist
With lack of a community-based have to enter into negotiation with erals who have supported Islamic from Mirpur in PoJK. He currently
cottage industry that could become all the stakeholders and win a con- Jihad in Afghanistan and Kashmir. lives in exile in the UK)

Creating wealth, impacting society

NAMRATA DHASMANA
F INANCE Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman said, “Those who
create wealth are India’s wealth.”
This clearly defines the vision of
the government that the wealth
generation is the driving force to
boost the economy. But, why is
entrepreneurship the way to get
the economy rising? The only an-
swer to this is ‘INEQUALITY IN
THE ECOSYSTEM.’
When the inequality persists,
there is an uneven distribution of
wealth and the state of poverty
remains stagnant. Covid-19 has
not only increased the gap of in-
equality by creating deflation in
2019-20. Further, scams such as
Nirav Modi, King Fisher, and
many others also contributed to
lack of wealth circulation, adding
to inequality.
Wealth inequality is a global
issue that has been around for
centuries. The distribution of
wealth in society can be meas-
ured by looking at the Gini coef-
ficient. The Gini coefficient
ranges from 0 to 1, with 0 being
perfect equality and 1 being per-
fect inequality. The United States
has a Gini coefficient of 0.45,
which means that there is still a
lot of work to be done when it
comes to reducing wealth in-
equality in America.
Wealth inequality is not just an
issue of the rich getting richer
and the poor getting poorer, but
nership (PPP) model. Civic society
participation in nation-building is
one of the important aspects of the
government's mid-day meal pro-
gramme. e NGO has success-
fully garnered funds with its intent
of social impact for the country
and creating some benchmarks for
other NGOs and entrepreneurs in
their business models as revenue
generation. Twenty-one years ago,
on November 11, 2000, the Ak-
In India, the inequality has increased due to some shaya Patra Foundation’s first
negative trends of the distribution of income and to kitchen was inaugurated in Ben-
galuru. Ever since, they have been
bridge this divide, there is no other way but to striving to make a positive impact
on the lives of children by provid-
promote entrepreneurship. A true entrepreneur ing them nutritious, hygienic and
even gives back to the government. One of the tasty mid-day meals across India.
As the implementing partner of
classical examples of entrepreneurship is Akshaya the GOI’s flagship school feeding
programme – the Mid-Day Meal
Patra, an NGO runs by some intellects and monks (MDM) Scheme – the Akshaya
Patra serves over 1.8 million chil-
it is also about how wealth is dis- sical examples of entrepreneur- dren in 19,039 government and
tributed among different groups ship is Akshaya Patra, an NGO government-aided schools across
in society. The top 1% of house- runs by some intellects and 14 States and 2 Union Territories.
holds in America own 40% of all monks. This NGO comes with a It strives to address the issue of
wealth, while the bottom 90% vision "We believe it is important classroom hunger and promote
own just 7%. Inequality can be to have a mind of a corporate and education in the country. Such en-
seen in many other countries as heart of a not-for-profit. This trepreneurs create a legacy and
well, such as China, India, and makes an NGO efficient." also share a good reputation of our
Brazil. The NGO has lived up to its mis- country worldwide. During Covid,
In India, the inequality has in- sion of reaching 5 million chil- the NGO provided 22.9 crore
creased due to some negative dren by striving to enhance its meals from March 2020 to Feb-
trends of the distribution of in- initiatives with solutions focusing ruary 28, 2022. is was not char-
come and to bridge this divide, on food and nutrition security for ity but a collective duty that they
there is no other way but to pro- children. did and created some significant
mote entrepreneurship. A true benchmarks. By providing one-
entrepreneur even gives back to Business model Akshaya Patra day mid-day meals they are pro-
the government. One of the clas- It works on private-public part- viding economic support to the
families and encouraging families.
ese children are not deprived of
education because of food and are
getting ready for the future.
Today this trust is running be-
cause of the untiring and relentless
work done by its founders and en-
trepreneurs who begin this entre-
preneurship. e sustainability
model of their entrepreneurship
enabled them to globalize and ex-
pand in countries like the USA,
the UK, and many other countries
also. ey also created a positive
impact for the country by aiding
refugees during Ukraine Russia
Crisis by supplying raw materials
from their kitchen operating in
London.
e entrepreneurial mindset is
to create wealth, create jobs, and
also to be governed with social im-
pact on the ecosystem to be sus-
tainable in their respective indus-
try. is mindset creates a legacy
and survives the governance mod-
els and gives a boost to the nation’s
economy.
In the end, recall what Ratan
Tata says: “Businesses need to go
beyond the interest of their com-
panies to the communities they
serve.”
(Writer is is the founder of
EvoluTioon Strategies and an
Award-winning Leadership
Coach. An alumnus of IIM
Lucknowrecognized Globally
Organisational Culture
Champions. She is a Global
Speaker and an Ex-Army Officer.
No action against minister Eshwarappa until
preliminary inquiry is completed: K'taka CM
BENGALURU: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on ursday ruled out
any action against Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Minister
K S Eshwarappa, against whom police have booked a case for abetting the
suicide of contractor Santosh Patil, until preliminary inquiry is completed.
He said Santosh Patil's suicide case will be thoroughly investigated and
the truth will come out, and only based on the preliminary inquiry the
government will decide on taking action against Eshwarappa.
"ere is no interference of (BJP) high command on this issue,
they have only obtained information, they don't have any role in it.
As I have said first time itself, action will be taken based on the preliminary
inquiry, let the preliminary inquiry happen," Bommai said in response
to a question regarding the BJP high command's decision on Eshwarappa's
future as Minister.
Shortage of court halls delays justice
in K’taka district
MANDYA: Justice delayed
is justice denied is well-
known maxim. is is what
is happening in the district
as the Mandya district court
complex is facing acute
shortage of court halls to
conduct hearings.
e present complex sit-
uated near the office of the
Deputy Commissioner has
15 different courts. Seven of the courts are facing shortage of space while
the number of cases are increasing day by day.
Such is the pathetic state of affairs that many court proceeding are
being conducted in the verandah, car shed and even beside the toilet.
Read more at
https://epaper.thehansindia.com (Bengaluru edition)
DELHI FRIDAY 15 APRIL 2022 AP/TELANGANA 5

Jagan pays tributes to Ambedkar

AP STATE SET TO FOCUS ON Ministers, YSRCP leaders use the occasion to heap praise on CM for following in the

OUTCOME-BASED EDUCATION
l From next academic
year, govt schools to
shift to education that
transforms students into
global citizens through
social and collaborative
skills
l School education
commissioner Suresh
Kumar says NEP-2020
will be implemented by
revising and revamping
every aspect of
education
l The new drive is based
on the assumption that
only teachers can
successfully implement
any programme or
reform at the field level
as they are the direct
facilitators who interact
with the children
SURYA DESARAJU
VIJAYAWADA
COMe the 2022-23 academic
year, government schools in the
state will shift to outcome-ori-
ented education that brings
about positive behavioural
changes and transform students
into global citizens through de-
velopment of social and collab-
orative skills.
‘Child is not the reason for his
or her low performance’ will be
the mantra for the teachers and
the headmasters to follow to
A file picture of Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy interacting with children at
a revamped governemnt school
achieve the set objectives in tune
with the national education
Policy-2020.
“Teachers and headmasters
should be aware of it and take
responsibility for the perform-
ance of students. The state
Council of education research
and Training (sCerT) has been
entrusted with the task of main-
taining academic standards and
ensuring all students attain the
learning outcomes relative to
their class and age,” school edu-
cation commissioner s suresh
Kumar has said.
focused implementation of
the neP-2020 by revising and
revamping every aspect of edu-
cation, including regulation and
governance, and aligning it with
the Un sustainable Develop-
ment goals (Quality education)
would be the top priority of the
government, suresh Kumar said.
As a major step towards
achieving the set goals, infra-
structure in government schools
was being completely refur-
bished with new classrooms and
digital learning aids, besides
clean toilets, playgrounds, art
sessions, etc.,
Career counselling for stu-
dents from Class viii onwards,
duly involving teachers and par-
ents, would be another path-
breaking initiative aimed at nur-
turing talent in the right
direction.
“We are creating a conducive
learning environment in all
schools under the Mana badi:
nadu-nedu programme. it is
now time to ensure adequate
learning outcomes among the
children through effective class-
room transactions,” the school
education commissioner noted.
suresh Kumar, who as district
collector in Medak and guntur,
contributed to the enhancement
of standards in government-run
schools, is now seeking to take
the process to the next level
across the state.
he has addressed the head-
masters of schools, and also the
mandal and regional level edu-
cational officers, on the reform
agenda beginning with an inno-
vative and flexible lesson plan
for each class and subject.
“Any reform in school educa-
tion can be successfully imple-
mented at the field level only by
the teachers as they are the di-
rect facilitators who interact
with the children and impart
them knowledge,” suresh Ku-
mar pointed out.
Accordingly, every teacher
has been asked to prepare inno-
vative and flexible lesson plans
of their subjects in tune with the
standards of the students and
the best practices. Updated in-
formation on each subject apart,
current affairs would also be
part of the lesson plan.
“not just academics, empha-
sis will also be on co-curricular
and extra-curricular activities
so that teaching and learning
become holistic. remedial
learning will be another key as-
pect wherein individual dissim-
ilarities among students will be
addressed so as to help them
build on their knowledge,” the
commissioner said.
The sCerT, which is the Ac-
ademic Authority for school ed-
ucation under the rTe Act, will
develop an academic monitor-
ing mechanism and issue guid-
ance and support to all the field-
level functionaries. it will
monitor the learning outcomes
and assess the students' stan-
dards, according to suresh Ku-
mar. (PTi)
footsteps the of architect of Constitution for uplift of the poor and downtrodden
HANS NEWS SERVICE
VIJAYAWADA
Chief Minister Y s Jagan Mo-
han reddy paid floral tributes
to the architect of Constitution
and bharat ratna Dr b r
Ambedkar on his birth anniver-
sary at the Camp Office at Tade-
palli on Thursday.
Ministers Audimulapu
suresh, Pinipe viswaroop,
Merugu nagarjuna, govern-
ment advisor for social welfare
Jupudi Prabhakar, bapatla MP
nandigam suresh and MLC Ta-
lasila raghuram were present
on the occasion.
Meanwhile, a group of minis-
ters Jogi ramesh, viswaroop,
nagarjuna, suresh, and MLA
vellampalli srinivas visited the
construction site of Ambedkar
smriti vanam in vijayawada
city and inspected the work
progress.
YsrCP celebrated the birth
anniversary of Dr Ambedkar at
the party central office by pay-
ing floral tributes to the social
reformer. speaking on the occa-
sion, Deputy Chief Minister
budi Mutyala naidu said that
Ambedkar had worked for the
upliftment of the poor and
downtrodden, strived tirelessly
for political rights and social
freedom for the Dalits and re-
mains as an inspiration for fu-
ture generations.
he said that Chief Minister
Jagan Mohan reddy is lead-
ing the government with the
true spirit of Ambedkar
working for the welfare of
women, minorities and the
socially underprivileged. it
was because of Ambedkar the
indian Constitution had in-
troduced reservations for the
scheduled Castes, scheduled
Tribes and other backward
Classes, and the Chief Minis-
ter had redefined it benefit-
ing the public.
Minister for housing Jogi
ramesh said that Chief Minis-
ter Jagan Mohan reddy is fol-
lowing in the footsteps of
Ambedkar, making historic
decisions benefitting the
downtrodden communities.
hailing Dr Ambedkar as a
messiah of the downtrodden,
the minister vowed to work for
the welfare of Dalits and the
backward classes in the state.
bC welfare minister Ch
venugopala Krishna said that
Ambedkar’s contribution to the
cause of the country was indis-
pensable, paving way for the
upliftment of weaker sections.
he stated that the govern-
ment is fulfilling the dreams of
the great leader with transpar-
ent governance prioritizing
bCs, sCs, sTs and Minorities.
MLCs Dokka Manikya
varaprasad, Lella Appireddy,
Ummareddy venkateswarlu,
Pothula suneetha and other
senior leaders were present at
the event.
Chief Minister Y S
Jagan Mohan Reddy
along with ministers
and others pays
tributes to Dr B R
Ambedkar on his
birth anniversary at
his camp office in
Tadepalli on
Thursday

Porus, another grim reminder Power sector to be strengthened Sikhs celebrate

Vaisakhi

of lack of respect for life

HANS NEWS SERVICE
VIJAYAWADA
YeT another accident in a chemi-
cal factory, Porus Laboratories, in
eluru claimed six lives and ren-
dered 12 others serious with in-
juries on Thursday. This only adds
to the depressing industrial safety
scenario in the state which refuses
to learn any lesson despite its
shameful record of such accidents
every year.
The last such accident occurred
at the sachin gujarat industrial
Development Corporation in
surat on January 6, this year.
The reason for the accident that
emerged here which killed six per-
sons and led to the hospitalisation
of at least 20 others was said to be
the dumping of hazardous chem-
ical waste into a drain.
in 2020, visakhapatnam wit-
nessed four deadly industrial ac-
cidents resulting in 27 deaths and
scores of people injured.
The major one among these was
the Lg Polymers accident which
killed 12 persons. it has now come
to light that medical monitoring
of the exposed population is yet to
commence despite legal orders to
do so.
eluru, which is now in the news,
had also come under the scanner
for an entirely different ‘accident’-
contamination of the drinking wa-
ter by organophosphate pesticides
sometime back. This was also a
headlines issue, but people are not
aware of the measures adopted by
the government to prevent a re-
currence of the same.
Over 600 persons fell ill in a few
days and everyday people were
shifted to hospitals with strange
symptoms.
such accidents like the one in
bhopal or visakhapatnam or even
in eluru, should be lessons to us,
as experts have opined earlier, not
on just upgrading technology or
imposing stricter regulations etc.
it is all about life.
v ramana Dhara, an occupa-
tional and environmental medi-
cine specialist and a former mem-
ber of the international Medical
Commission on bhopal, had
opined that citizen organisations
need be adequately represented
in national and state commissions
dealing with disasters; that com-
pensation criteria should include
medical, economic and social
damage to victims; and that re-
sources should be allocated for the
economic and social rehabilita-
tion of people and their commu-
nities.
if the state Andhra Pradesh
wishes to transform itself into
‘suvarna Andhra Pradesh', the
primary aspect of it should be ‘re-
spect to life’. The government
may award a compensation - an
ad hoc measure again and no cri-
teria here at all as some get a
higher compensation and others
a notional one - but it does not
matter much.
A people’s government will fo-
cus on preventing such tragedies
through all means. sadly, there is
a huge gap between the word and
the deed in Andhra Pradesh.
HANS NEWS SERVICE
VIJAYAWADA
Observing that power sector
in the state has to be both finan-
cially and physically resilient to
meet the state’s electricity de-
mand in future and address the
existing challenges, minister for
energy Peddireddi ramachandra
reddy said the state government
was strongly committed to
strengthen the power sector and
make it more consumer-centric
to deliver better services to the
consumers.
in view of a high level meeting
with energy department/power
utilities likely on April 18, the en-
ergy minister held a teleconfer-
ence on Thursday to discuss chal-
lenges of power sector in meeting
the demand in view of coal crisis
prevailing in the country, infra-
structure development, release of
agricultural connections and
bringing power supply to nor-
malcy.
The minister said that the state
government has never compro-
mised in protecting the interests
of the electricity consumers and
is giving high priority to the sector
l In a review with chief of discosms and other with gaiety
senior officials, the minister says the
sector will be made consumer-centric
across TS
HYDERABAD
l Directs preparation of an action plan to
Recitation of Gurubani keertans
provide 9 hours daytime free power
and sermons by renowned Ragi
supply to agriculture sector from May 1 Jathas carrying revered Sri Guru
l Officials inform that the normalcy in Granth Sahibji on a palanquin, tak-
power situation is likely to restored by Peddireddi ing out of a colourful Nagar Keer-
April 30 Ramachandra Reddy tan, and breathtaking display of
‘Gatka’ skills by Sikhs, serving of
which is a key source of economic The minister said the power Guru ka Langar marked the 323rd
growth and one of the most im- deficit arising in the state is only ‘Khalsa Panth Foundation Day cele-
portant inputs for economic de- a temporary phenomenon and brations’ popularly known as
velopment. appealed to all the consumers to ‘Vaisakhi’ festival. The festival was
even at this time when the de- understand the situation. celebrated on a grand scale by the
mand for electricity has increased The minister said, “still, certain Sikh community of Telangana with
across the country with limited constraints with regard to coal gaiety and devotion on Thursday
availability of power to buy at the transportation issues, arrange- at Gurudwara Saheb Ameerpet
power exchanges, the utilities are ment of coal rakes, seasonal con- here. It was organised under the
providing quality power to do- ditions, coal price variation in the aegis of the Prabhandak Commit-
mestic consumers and 7 hours market, etc., are affecting 24X7 tee Gurudwara Saheb Ameerpet,
day time free power to agricul- power supply. Also, russia- where over 25,000 Sikh devotees
ture. Ukraine war has led to opera- and other community faiths partic-
ramachandra reddy specifi- tional issues of coal production ipated in the ‘Vishaal Deewan’
cally directed the power utilities and high prices of coal.” (Mass Congregation).
to continue to fully focus on do- energy secretary b sreedhar, The Ragi Jathas rendered Gur-
mestic and agriculture sectors JMD APTransco i Prudhvi Tej, bani keertans and called upon
and prepare an action plan exclu- CMDs of discoms took part. devotees to follow the teachings of
sively for agriculture to provide 9 The officials said that normalcy Guru Granth Sahibji which stands
hours daytime free power supply of power supply is expected re- for national integration, communal
from May 1 onwards. stored by April 30. harmony, brotherhood and peace
to the whole humanity.

Revanth smells KCR’s role in paddy scam KCR pays floral tributes to Ambedkar
• Writes to Union Minister
Kishan Reddy requesting
...Condemns attack HYDERABAD

the Centre to order a CBI on VH’s residence Chief Minister K Chan-

probe into the
irregularities in Custom
Milling Rice procurement
• Alleges important leaders
of ruling TRS joined hands
with rice millers and
committing the paddy
procurement scam running
into hundreds of crores of
rupees every year
HANS NEWS SERVICE
HYDERABAD
TeLANgANA Congress Chief and
MP A Revanth Reddy has de-
manded the Union government to
order a CBi inquiry into the role of
Chief Minister K Chandrashekar
Rao and other important leaders of
the State government in the Custom
Milling Rice (CMR) procurement
scam.
in an open letter to Union Minis-
ter for Tourism and Culture g Kis-
han Reddy, the Congress leader said
that many irregularities were taking
place in the paddy procurement and
the supply of the CMR to the food
Corporation of india (fCi) by the
State government. he alleged that
the important leaders of the ruling
TRS party had joined hands with
rice millers and committing the
paddy procurement scam running
into hundreds of crores of rupees
every year .
Stating that the Union Minister
was aware of the recent field-level
inspections conducted by the offi-
cials of fCi, Revanth said that the
fCi officials found that 4.5 lakh bags
of paddy allotted by the State gov-
ernment under CMR was missing
from the godowns.
e market value of the missing
paddy was around Rs 45 crore and
the total quantity of the paddy was
2,26,948 quintals. e scamsters
were selling the rice allotted under
the CMR category in the open mar-
ket, instead of supplying to the fCi.
he also said that the fCi officials
found that the scamsters were sup-
plying the rice allotted to fair price
shops to the fCi aer polishing it.
Revanth demanded the Union
Minister to inquire into all the CMR
allocations made since 2014, and re-
cover the public money from the rice
millers aer seizing their mills, and
file criminal cases against all the TRS
hyDeRABAD: TPCC presi- drashekar Rao on ursday
dent A Revanth Reddy on paid floral tributes to a
ursday condemned the at- portrait ofDr BR Ambed-
tack on the residence of the kar at Pragati Bhavan on
veteran Congress leader V the occasion of Dr Ambed-
hanumanth Rao in the city by kar’s 131st birth anniver-
an unidentified miscreant. he sary.
also spoke to Vh over phone former minister Motku-
about the incident. Revanth palli Narsimhulu, MP Jogi-
said Vh was leader of people napalli Santosh Kumar,
and wondered as to how the at- MLCs Palla Rajeshwar
tack took place on his resi- Reddy, Naveen Rao,
dence? he demanded that the Pochampally Srinivas
police provide proper security Reddy, MLA Madhavaram
to Vh and other Congress Krishna Rao and others at-
Chief Minister paying tributes to the portrait of Dr BR Ambedkar at Pragathi Bhavan in
leaders. he also demanded that tended the programme. Hyderabad on Thursday
the police take stringent action
against the culprit. former
minister and party leader D
Sridhar Babu also demanded
the State government to pro-
vide police security to Vh and
punish the accused. Mean-
while, the police nabbed the
accused who pelted stones on
the residence of Vh on
Wednesday night. he was
identified as Siddarth Singh, a
native of Uttar Pradesh. e
accused has been staying be-
side the residence of Vh since
the last six months. e police
found that the accused carried
out the attack in an inebriated
condition.
leaders involved in the scam.
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DELHI FRIDAY 15 APRIL 2022 6

biz briefs
Jaipur Rugs
now in B’luru
J aipur Rugs on Thursday
opened its retail store in In-
dira Nagar, Bengaluru. The
store is designed by well-
known architects Sandeep
Khosla and Amaresh Anand of
Khosla Associates. On display
are handmade rugs by interna-
tional and Indian designers in-
cluding the much acclaimed
‘Manchaha Collection’ from
the rural belts of Rajasthan
that blur the definitions of
form and redefine what art
should be. Through its carpets
Jaipur Rugs aims to add art
into everyday life, the com-
pany said in a statement. “This
is the first mono brand store of
Jaipur Rugs in the state of Kar-
nataka after stores in Delhi,
Mumbai, Jaipur and Milan.
We have always admired the
cosmopolitan culture of Ben-
galuru and were anxiously
waiting for the opportunity to
showcase our world class col-
lection to the people of this
great city, Yogesh Chaudhary,
Director, Jaipur Rugs said.
Chicco’s new baby
cosmetics range
Surging tax mop-up keeps
India on $5-trn track
Tax revenues in FY22 grew by a record 34% to Rs27.07 lakh cr and gross corporate taxes
rose to Rs8.6 lakh cr from Rs6.5 lakh cr; India’s GDP estimated to be $3trn: FinMin
NEW DELHI
The focus on capex in the re-
cently announced Budget for the
current fiscal year will boost
manufacturing and tax revenue
collections, thereby keeping In-
dia on track to becoming a $5
trillion economy, the finance
ministry said on ursday.
Tax revenues in last fiscal year
grew by a record 34 per cent to
Rs 27.07 lakh crore, which the
ministry said is "a remarkable
testimony to the rapid recovery"
of the economy following suc-
cessive waves of Covid-19.
“e central government's fo-
cus on making India a global
economic powerhouse and the
host of measures adopted to-
wards this commitment has di-
rectly reflected in India's GDP
growth in recent years. is has
translated into increased rev-
enue collection for the excheq-
uer while keeping India well on
trillion economy,” the ministry
said in a statement. Prime Min-
ister Narendra Modi in 2019 en-
visioned making India a $5 tril-
lion economy and a global
economic powerhouse. e In-
dian GDP is estimated to be
around $3 trillion in 2021-22.
e ministry said apart from a
brief setback owing to Covid-
19, the government has main-
tained the nominal GDP growth
years. GST, a simplified way of
collecting indirect taxes, has
been a revolutionary step pro-
pelling India's GDP.
“With a big push to capex in
the Union Budget of 2022-23,
the coming years are going to
see a surge in domestic manu-
facturing as well as growth in
employment. ese in turn will
directly boost tax contribution
to the exchequer,” the ministry
during 2021-22 was Rs 8.6 lakh
crore against Rs 6.5 lakh crore
in the previous year. is, the
ministry said, shows that the
new simplified tax regime with
low rates and no exemptions has
lived up to its promise, enhanc-
ing ease of Doing Business for
the corporate sector, stimulating
India's economy and increasing
tax revenues for the govern-
ment. In the last fiscal year, di-
rect tax collection rose by a
record 49 per cent to Rs 14.10
lakh crore, while indirect taxes
recorded a growth of 20 per
cent to Rs 12.90 lakh crore--
reflecting buoyancy in econ-
omy and the impact of anti-tax
evasion measures. For the cur-
rent fiscal year, capital expen-
diture (capex) is budgeted to
rise by 35.4 per cent to Rs 7.5
lakh crore to continue the pub-
lic investment-led recovery of
the pandemic-battered econ-
omy. e capex last year was
WhatsApp to boost UPI
adoption for 500 mn users
NEW DELHI We believe that
payments on
MeTA-OWNeD WhatsApp ursday WhatsApp can be a
key partner to NPCI
said that its simple, reliable and secure
experience will accelerate adoption of and the RBI as we
unified payments interface (UPI) for all aim to scale
the next 500 million Indians. adoption of UPI and
financial inclusion to
Welcoming the approval by the Na- those most in need -
tional Payments Corporation of India - Manesh Mahatme,
(NPCI) for an additional 60 million Director-Payments,
users for UPI for WhatsApp -- taking WhatsApp India
its cap to 100 million
for payments -- Manesh
Mahatme, Director-
Payments, WhatsApp
India, told IANS that
the UPI has been an
unquestioned success.
“We believe there is
an opportunity for UPI
to have an even greater
impact for the country
-- especially in rural re-
gions where digital and
financial inclusion can significantly im- five hundred million’ Indians,” Ma-
prove peoples’ lives,” Mahatme said. hatme told IANS. As part of this
“We believe that ‘payments on What- roadmap, he said that the company has
sApp’ can be a key partner to NPCI and planned significant investments in
the RBI as we all aim to scale adoption ‘payments on WhatsApp’ across India
of UPI and financial inclusion to those “including ‘India-first’ features and fo-
most in need,” he added. cus on creating awareness and driving
In November last year, the NPCI ap- adoption among our users”.
proved increasing the user cap for As the adoption of ‘payments on

B aby care brand Chicco

launched its new advanced
baby moments cosmetics
range. According Chicco, the
skin nourishment products are
free from Phenoxyethanol, en-
riched with many new natural
ingredients of 100 per cent veg-
etarian origin. Like its current
line, the new baby moments
also do not have Parabens, SLS,
SLES, Dyes, and Alcohol, Chicco
said. Rajesh Vohra, CEO (Art-
sana India), Chicco, said: “At
Chicco, we make every effort
through our scientific knowl-
edge and global experience of
more than 60 years to fulfil the
wishes of new-age parents.
Chicco baby moments was the
pioneer in offering Parabens-
free baby cosmetics in India 10
years back. Now we are again
taking a lead in bringing no-
Phenoxyethanol products for
babies, because like new-age
parents, we too believe that ba-
bies deserve the best.”
Simulation-based
medical edu
the track towards achieving a $5
High fuel
prices dent
near-term
demand
Mondelez launches Covid
vax drive in select locations
HANS BUSINESS
HYDERABAD
CONTRIBUTING to strength-
ening of government’s Covid re-
lief efforts, Mondelez India has
launched the next phase of the
Shubh Aarambh – Covid vacci-
nation drive. In addition to pro-
viding medical equipment, the
above 10 per cent in recent
NEW DELHI: High prices of fuels
are likely to dampen near-term
demand for energy, however, re-
covery is expected in the second
half of calendar year 2022 (July-
December). Driven by a more
broad-based pickup in economic activity as the coun-
try adapts to live with Covid-19 amid higher vaccina-
said. e gross corporate taxes pegged at Rs 5.5 lakh crore. WhatsApp’s payment service from the
current 20 million to 40 million users.
The NPCI has been giving approval
WhatsApp’ increases with users across
the country, the company looks for-
ward to working with the NPCI to fur-
to WhatsApp in a phased manner so ther expand it to all users.
tion rates, India's oil demand in second half of
calendar year 2022 is expected to be 275,000
that the competition in the digital pay-
ment space in the country is not sti-
WhatsApp kicked off its ambitious
peer-to-peer (P2P) digital payments pi-
barrel per day, said S&P Global Commodity In-
sights which was curated by analysts JY Lim
fled.
“Since our initial approval from the
lot project in India in 2018 with nearly
10 lakh users.
and Kang Wu. “More than 72 per cent of its
population has received at least one dose of
NPCI, we have been working to deliver
a simple, reliable and secure experience
According to the NPCI, UPI had
processed 5.04 billion transactions
the vaccine, and about 61 per cent of its population
has received both doses to be fully vaccinated.
for WhatsApp users that we hope will
accelerate adoption of UPI for the next
till March 29, amounting to Rs 8.88
trillion.
Chai Sutta Bar
opens its 300th BoI moves NCLT India may get
$100-bn FDI in FY23:
outlet in Port Blair
The tea beverage brand against Future Retail PHD Chamber
NeW DeLhI: India is expected
aims to open 1,500 outlets NEW DELHI to attract $100 billion foreign di-
across India by 2022 rect investment (FDI) in 2022-
HYDERABAD: Chai Sutta Bar BANK of India (BoI) has moved 23 on the back of economic re-
opened its 300th outlet in Port the National Company Law Tri- forms and ease of doing business
Blair, Andaman. Looking at the bunal (NCLT), filing a petition (eoDB) in recent years, industry
scorching heat, the brand also in- to initiate insolvency proceed- chamber PhDCCI said on
troduced summer special bever- ings against debt-ridden Future ursday. It also said the current
ages like lassi and mojitos to give Retail Ltd. sets of the Kishore Biyani-led Fu- financial year is expected to at-
respite from the heat. earlier this month, Future Retail ture group firm. Several Future tain a GDP growth of more than
The Journey of Chai Sutta Bar Ltd (FRL) had reported a default of Group companies, including FRL, eight per cent. however, the in-

T he Delhi Academy of Med-

ical Sciences (DAMS)
launched simulation-based
medical education at its Delhi
center to make the student
gets to learn from the best irre-
spective of their location.
The innovative idea of Simula-
tion-based education enhances
the students from all perspec-
tives, it provides a structured,
learner-centered environment
in which novice, intermediate,
and advanced practitioners can
learn or practice skills without
causing harm to patients,
DAMS said. Speaking on the oc-
casion, Dr Sumer Sethi,
Founder of DAMS said, “We are
now starting a new mission
DAMS-SIM, simulation-based
skill training for medical stu-
dents, starting in the Delhi cen-
ter this week. If your actions in-
spire others to dream more,
learn more, do more, and be-
come more, you are a leader."
company has pledged 5 lakh
vaccination doses, of which over
3.75 lakh doses have been ad-
ministered till now across its
factory locations - Madhya
Pradesh (Gohad), himachal
Pradesh (Nalagarh), Maharash-
tra (Maval, Pune) & Andhra
Pradesh (Sri City).
To ensure that the most vul-
nerable communities get easy ac-
cess to Covid-19 vaccination, the
company has partnered with
NGO Save e Children to im-
plement this programme. e
programme involves tying up
with local primary health centres
(PhCs) along with home visits
and door-to-door campaigns to
educate people, bust myths
around the vaccine, and improve
vaccination coverage.
“While the country is in recov-
An AC expert’s hot pursuit of cool home
ering from Covid pandemic, we
understand that this progress can
be sustained only if every indi-
vidual in the country is inocu-
lated in a timely manner. We
hope our vaccination drive will
provide support to the Govern-
ment’s efforts in strengthening
the overall health infrastructure
and achieving the vision of vacci-
nating the entire country. With
well-being of people and planet
at the core of our purpose jour-
ney, we are committed to provid-
ing continual support to India in
its fight against Covid,” Ophira
Bhatia, Senior Director, Corpo-
rate & Government Affairs
(CGA), India & CGA Lead, Asia,
Middle east & Africa, Mondelēz
International said.
started in Indore in 2016 when two
young self-made entrepreneurs
thought of a vision to serve India's
most preferred beverage in kulhads
to serve the environment with the
high maintenance of hygiene. Chai
Sutta Bar endorses ‘desh ki mitti’
with its kulhad tea and has the vision
to make everyone connect with the
soil of India. The brand addresses
absolute chai and food lovers with a
variety of flavours and platters in an
eco-friendly manner. Apart from its
food and world-class services, the
brand provides a source of regular
income to potter families and em-
ploys specially-abled youth for mak-
ing a more inclusive and brighter In-
dia. In 2021 only, Chai Sutta Bar has
opened 110 outlets while generating
employment opportunities for at
least 400 people from the economi-
cally poor section.
Rs5,322.32 crore to its lenders on
account of the ongoing litigations
with e-commerce major Amazon
and other related issues.
"Bank of India has served an ad-
vance intimation of filing an appli-
cation under Section 7 of the In-
solvency and Bankruptcy Code,
2016 against the company for de-
fault on non-payment of monies
due in terms of the Framework
Agreement entered into between
the company and Bank of India,"
FRL said in a regulatory filing.
e Future group firm said it has
received a copy of the petition and
is in the "process of taking legal ad-
vice". BoI, the lead banker of the
consortium of lenders of FRL, had
last month through a public notice
in newspapers claimed its charge
over the assets of FRL and warned
the public against dealing with as-
had entered into agreements with
their respective lenders in terms of
the RBI circular dated August 6,
2020, in which a resolution frame-
work for COVID-related stress was
announced.
FRL is part of the Rs 24,713
crore deal announced by Future
Group in August 2020, under
which it is to sell 19 companies op-
erating in retail, wholesale, logis-
tics and warehousing segments to
Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd
(RRVL). All 19 companies would
be consolidated into one entity --
Future enterprises Ltd -- and then
transferred to RRVL under the
proposed deal. Future Group com-
panies will be conducting meet-
ings of their respective sharehold-
ers and creditors between April
20-23, 2022 to seek their approval
for the Rs 24,713 crore deal.
Augmont Gold clocks
flation scenario has been stoked
by rising international commod-
ity prices, particularly of crude
oil, it said.
“India is expected to attract a
$100 billion FDI inflow in 2022-
23 supported by various ground
touching economic reforms and
significant ease of doing business
in recent years," the chamber
said. It has suggested a ten-
pronged strategy to strengthen
the economic growth and
achieve the target of becoming a
$5 trillion economy in next five
years. e suggestions include
speedy infrastructure invest-
ments, inclusion of more sectors
under the PLI scheme, increase
in public investments in agricul-
ture sector, addressing the high
commodity prices and shortages
of raw materials.

FloBiz’s new
brand campaign
N eobank FloBiz launched its
new brand campaign ‘Busi-
ness Ka Achha Time Shuru’ with
a series of four ad films. The
newly announced branding
campaign bolsters the efficiency
and advanced billing capabilities
of FloBiz’s flagship product my-
BillBook, which is a leading GST
invoicing and accounting soft-
ware. The communication en-
capsulates the various chal-
lenges faced by small and
medium enterprises in the day-
to-day operations and manage-
ment of their businesses. The
campaign will go live across sev-
eral media platforms, including
OOH, OTT, social media, mobile
applications, websites and will
also witness large scale offline
branding to create long term
visibility in micro-markets across
the country, the company said.
The search for opportunities very
oen takes aspirants to far-off
places from home. With big
dreams, they land in unknown
places, facing problems with local
food and culture. Surviving from
day to day, they’re le with very lit-
tle savings and hardly anything to
send home to their loved ones.
is is the case of Mohammed
Mobin of Kolkata who has been an
air-conditioner servicing expert with
Urban Company for the last three
years. e quest for achieving some-
thing had le him to spend 18 years
in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chandi-
garh, Noida and Gurgaon. he had
seen a lot in these years, and learned
some tough life lessons. however, he
ended up making very little money.
he missed his family and friends
back home. Finally, he decided to re-
turn home in 2016. he was happy
that he was back with the family.
however, his earnings were not that
encouraging. is went on for an-
other two years. It was providential
Mohammed Mobin
that Mobin landed at Urban Com-
pany. “Within 3 months, I could serv-
ice 550 ACs. I earned Rs 3 lakh to Rs
3.5 lakh,” said a satisfied Mobin.
Quickly, Mobin learned that he
could deliver services at his own pace
making enough money to take care
of his family’s needs. he realised how
tough it was for him wandering from
place to place in the past. Now he
stays with his family and picks up
jobs willingly from Urban Company.
Quickly, Mohammed Mobin
learned that he could
deliver services at his own
pace making enough
money to take care of his
family’s needs. He realised
how tough it was for him
wandering from place to
place in the past. Now he
stays with his family and
picks up jobs willingly from
Urban Company
It is evident that he has overcome
stress when he shares: “I’ve started to
buy household requirements on eMI
since I have confidence of a steady
income. First, I bought a fridge and
then my bike.”
As the entire world came under
lockdown due to the pandemic,
Mobin was worried since his earnings
depended on home visits. “I used to
wonder what could be my future,”
worried Mobin. But he stayed loyal
to Urban Company. e company
equipped the likes of Mobin with pro-
tective gear and Covid protocol.
“even during the pandemic, I could
earn Rs 1.25 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh and
cleared all my eMIs every month
without any disruption,” says Mobin.
Loyalty to Urban Company has
paid him well and Mobin has been
able to experience the luxuries of a
happy home aer joining Urban
Company. his happiness has known
no bounds ever since he joined Urban
Company. “I make money during the
peak season of AC servicing. During
the off-season, I get the opportunity
to train new AC partners as a subject
matter expert. My goal is to equip the
new guys with the skills and experi-
ence that I have learnt over the years,”
he shares with contentment. “Now I
am living a secured life. I have access
to everything that is required for a
happy family. is year, I have booked
a new home. Work is progressing well
on the building. Over 50 per cent of
it is ready,” he says.
`100-cr gold loans in FY22
HANS BUSINESS
HYDERABAD
AUGMONT Gold for All has
recorded a turnover of over Rs100
crore gold loans in their first year
of operations in 2021-22 fiscal. It’s
a part of Augmont, an integrated
gold player from refining-to-retail-
ing. e company sees growing de-
mand as rapid advancement of
technology has been fuelling a
high pace of change in the digital
world where people are availing
gold loans online from the comfort
of their homes to achieve this
turnover.
Sachin Kothari, director, Aug-
mont, said: “ere is a lot of inno-
vation in what we have done. Aer
2 years of disruption, it is heart-
ening and overwhelming to see the
kind of response we have received
from our customers. By 2023,
Augmont is aiming to expand with
over 150+ touch points to service
the gold loan requirements of the
customers in Tier-2 and Tier-3
cities with door step services. We
are delighted to continue serving
gold buyers across India and pro-
vide them with the right kind of
affordable solution.”
Augmont is a completely inte-
grated gold player from refining to
retailing. Its platform Gold for All
offers all products related to eMI
Gold, Gold SIP, GOLD FD includ-
ing loans against their gold jewelry.
Augmont has NABL accreditation,
BIS hallmark and IDBI Trustee-
ship and ranked amongst the top-
150 unlisted companies in India
by Dun & Bradstreet in 2021.
Surging past pre-pandemic
years, 2021 saw a six-year high in
gold consumption and digital gold
saving skyrocketed, playing a vital
role. With its products like eMI
Gold, Gold SIP, GOLD FD and
many more, they have made their
mark as major gold platform.
DELHI FIRDAY 15 APRIL 2022
Pinarayi Vijayan gets a rude jolt
as Yechury ‘red flags’ K-Rail
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
cpi-M general Secretary Sitaram
Yechury has given a jolt to Kerala
chief Minister pinarayi Vijayan's
enthusiasm regarding the K-Rail
project.
Speaking to the media in Delhi
on Wednesday for the first time aer
getting a third and final term in the
post, Yechury asked how a green sig-
nal can be given to "a train which is
yet to arrive".
Yechury's tone and tenor on K-
Rail contradicted his position when
he was attending the congress. At
Kannur he had said Kerala needs
such a project, but in Delhi he gave
a different statement.
incidentally, Vijayan at the party
congress had said that everything
has been cleared for the project, but
this volte-face from Yechury, accord-
ing to sources, has le him a bit con-
cerned. is comes at a time when
After 2 years, Dabbawalas
let their load down
for ‘festival break’
MUMBAI
FoR the first time after the two
years of covid-19 pandemic
lockdown, Mumbai's famed
Dabbawalas have gone on a five-
day break to celebrate the
annual village festivals with
their near and dear ones, a
spokesperson said here on
thursday.
Since the start of the
pandemic, this is the first
opportunity for over 5,000
Dabbawalas to take time off to
travel to their villages, mostly in
pune district and celebrate the
festivities of Dev Khandoba,
their deity.
"prior to the pandemic we
used to announce our annual
festival leave in advance to
enable customers to make
alternative arrangements. this
year, there are four holidays of
the five-day sojourn, so our
patrons readily cooperated," said
Ritesh S. Andre, spokesperson
for nutan Mumbai tiffin Box
Suppliers charity trust and
Mumbai tiffin Box Suppliers
Association (nMtBSct and
MtBSA).
Since tuesday, a majority of
the Dabbawalas -- 95 per cent of
the tribe -- have reached their
villages like Khed, Junnar,
Maval, Mulshi, and the rest
scattered across Maharashtra, he
added.
During the pandemic
lockdown, the Dabbawalas were
among the worst-hit service
sectors with business trickling
down to virtually zero and many
Ali goes to jail for a pair of sports shoes and `500
KOLKATA
A pair of sports shoes and Rs 500
in cash was all that it took to turn a
youth from a village near the india-
Bangladesh border in West Bengal
into a smuggler.
Worse still is the fact that he had
no clue of what the cellophane
wrapped packet that he was handed
over contained. he was just to hand
it over to somebody without check-
ing the content.
Fortunately, the packet had eight
gold biscuits inside. had it con-
tained a kilogram of explosives like
RDX, young Ansar Ali could have
spent the better part of his life be-
hind bars, trying to convince the
authorities that he is not part of any
terror outfit.
e incident occurred in Mur-
shidabad district of West Bengal on
Wednesday morning. troops of the
the congress-led uDF has an-
nounced a massive protest against
K-Rail and the state BJp has decided
to observe May 20, the first anniver-
sary of the Vijayan government as a
day of protest at the Secretariat --
the seat of the Vijayan government.
if completed, the K-Rail project
took up alternative jobs or even
quit their world-renowned
profession.
the nMtBSct and MtBSA
also explored options like large
community kitchens for large-
scale deliveries, tying up with
other organisations in similar
businesses, etc., to ensure
livelihood for the then jobless
Dabbawalas.
"presently, of the 5,000 barely
1,200 Dabbawalas are on duty
and serving around 20,000
customers who have started
attending their offices after the
restrictions were lifted in
March... We expect more to join
gradually and substantially by
June," Andre said with hopes of
hard times finally passing them.
Returning to their villages,
many Dabbawalas were
accorded a welcome with cheers
and tears by their families from
whom they had been separated
and not congregated to celebrate
the Dev Khandoba festival for
two consecutive years.
"this year, we have been
selected for the prestigious 80th
'Master Deenanath Mangeshkar
Award' which will be presented
to us in Mumbai on April 24,"
said Andre proudly, of yet
another recognition to his
toiling ilk. Well before the award
ceremony -- which is likely to be
attended by prime Minister
narendra Modi -- the
Dabbawalas shall return to their
daily grind from Monday (April
18) to ferry the tiffin-boxes
filled with good food for their
familiar customers. (iAnS)
Border Security Force (BSF) from
the Boyraghat Border outpost in
the Malda Sector apprehended Ali
and the packet was seized.
e eight gold biscuits inside
weighed 933.07 gm and are valued
at Rs 49,88,192. Ali wept during the
interrogation. he had no clue that
he was being roped into such a vi-
cious racket when the man from
will see a 529.45 km corridor con-
necting iruvananthapuram to
Kasargod with semi-high speed
trains covering the distance in
around four hours.
Both the congress and the BJp
say this project is not needed for Ker-
ala given the massive cost which they
Anti-poaching watchers in
TN demand permanent jobs
CHENNAI
Anti-poAching watchers
(ApWs) of tamil nadu have de-
manded that the tamil nadu
government provide them per-
manent employment in the for-
est department as their job in-
volves high risk.
A total of 1,129 ApWs work
in tamil nadu on a consolidated
pay of Rs 12,500 per month
without any benefits like provi-
dent Fund, health insurance, or
pension. ey are employed in
areas where human-animal con-
flicts take place and hence are
worried about the insecurity the
job offers as well as the risks in-
volved.
ten anti-poaching watchers
have lost their lives while on
duty.S. Sundar (49), an anti-
poaching watcher was tram-
pled to death by a wild ele-
phant on Wednesday at
Kannivadi block range in the
Dindigul forest division.
Family members of ApWs re-
quested chief Minister M.K.
Stalin and the state forest minister
g. Ramachandran to provide
permanent jobs to the anti-
poaching watchers and their de-
pendents.
While tamil nadu govern-
ment has a policy of providing Rs
5 lakh as compensation but anti-
poaching watchers on anonymity
told iAnS that this amount was
provided to anyone who dies of a
wild animal attack.
across the zero line offered him
sports shoes and Rs 500 just to hand
over some 'mobile phone batteries'
to a 'friend'. e man told him that
his friend would give him the sports
shoes and Rs 500 aer receiving the
packet.
But what was Ali doing near the
zero line? is resident of the piro-
jpur village under the Raghunath-
NATION
say will be in excess of Rs 1.50 lakh
crore and would be an environmen-
tal and economic disaster, besides
being a huge burden on the future
generation.
e state has been witnessing
protests ever since the K-Rail au-
thorities started conducting a social
impact assessment study and at nu-
merous places clashes broke out be-
tween the protesters and police.
But aer April 6 till April 10 when
the party congress was on, instruc-
tions had gone out to the K-Rail offi-
cials not to venture out to lay the
marking stones, as Vijayan and the
party did not wish to create a bad
image during the meeting.
And with the first salvo being
fired by Yechury, as and when the
laying of the marking stones are
going to be resumed, it could lead
to more problems. the protests
may increase, especially from
those whose lands might be taken
LUNCH WITH LOVE
R. Muthuvel, an anti-poaching
watcher(ApW) from Dindigul
forest range while speaking to
iAnS said: "We are getting a con-
solidated pay of Rs 12,500 per
month which is a pittance by any
standard and we are leading a
risky life. our main duty is to pro-
tect the forest wealth from being
poached or encroached but the
government and the department
are not giving us our dues. We
get killed any time by the wild
animals, including elephants. ten
ApWs have lost their lives in the
state so far. e compensation
provided is what the government
pays to anyone who is killed by
wild animals."
he also said that the ApWs are
not given any proper gadgets to
confront wild animals, including
elephants, and that they just burst
crackers to drive the elephants
away into the forest.
Ramakrishnan said that they
don't have any safety equipment
while on duty to drive away ad-
vancing wild elephants and added
that the ApWs and their families
were expecting a positive decision
from the chief Minister and the
Forest Minister g. Ramachan-
dran.
e 1129 ApWs and their
family members are planning to
meet the chief Minister and to
push their cause and if there are
no developments, the joint
council of ApWs will conduct
protest march to the state sec-
retariat. (iAnS)
gunj police station in Murshidabad
claimed that he had simply gone to
graze his cattle in the fields near the
border when this unknown person
from across the border pillar ap-
proached him.
"i thought this was going to be
easy. Who checks for mobile phone
batteries aer all? i was keen to re-
turn home with a pair of sports
shoes and Rs 500 by the end of the
day," he told the BSF.
Surjeet Singh guleria, Dig, BSF,
and pRo, South Bengal Frontier,
said that this is where the youth in
indian villages go wrong.
"We have been holding camps
regularly to educate the villagers
about the risks involved in accept-
ing such packages from people from
across the border. We even organise
training camps for the youth so they
may join forces like the BSF and
stay away from crime.
away for the project.
But with Vijayan determined that
this project will go forward, all eyes
are on how the Vijayan-Sitaram tus-
sle on the project is going to take
shape. Also, there has been opposi-
tion to this from the Bengal wing of
the party, whose fortunes disap-
peared forever aer the nandigram
fiasco. A media critic on condition
of anonymity said even though Vi-
jayan continues to have an iron grip
over the party at all levels, the com-
ing days are going to be crucial.
"With the principal opposition
parties now against this and silent
protests beginning within the ruling
Le Democratic Front, with the cpi
and Loktantrik Janata Dal, making
their guarded response, all eyes are
on the statement of Yechury and on
what its impact is going to be. ose
opposed to the project are going to
take advantage of this," said the
critic. (iAnS)
Union Minister
Dharmendra
Pradhan had
sumptuous lunch
with Dalit family
Sarat Kumar Nayak
at Jahnapada in
Parjang in
Dhenkanal district
of Odisha. The
family served food
in traditional sal
leaves to Union
Minister Pradhan,
who was grateful to
the entire family for
such warmth,
affection and love
IB chief in Srinagar to review
Amarnath Yatra preparedness
NEW DELHI
union home Secretary Ajay Ku-
mar Bhalla and intelligence Bureau
Director Arvind Kumar arrived in
Srinagar on ursday to review the
preparations for Amarnath Yatra.
ccording to government sources,
Bhalla will hold a meeting with
Jammu and Kashmir Dgp Dilbag
Singh and other officials of the J&K
administration to see that all neces-
sary arrangements are in place before
its commencement on June 30.
Sources also said that the home
Secretary will hold a meeting of the
chiefs of the central Reserve police
Force and the Border Security force,
Army officials, J&K police chief and
other high officials of the union ter-
"Despite all this, if people carry
out such activities, we have to be
strict. e BSF has a mandate to
stop all illegal cross-border activi-
ties, whether its smuggling, human
trafficking or infiltration. Smugglers
will have to return to the main-
stream or they will not be spared.
Don't choose an easy life of crime
just for a few rupees," he said.
Ali, along with the gold biscuits,
has been handed over to the cus-
toms department at Jangipur, Mur-
shidabad, for further inquiry to try
and nab the main perpetrators.
Ali may get bail aer some time
but will have to appear in court
from time to time before his sen-
tencing. he has also got his name
registered in the list of possible
smugglers on whom the authorities
keep a close watch whenever they
approach the international border.
(iAnS)
Bengal govt rations
beer supply to
retail liquor outlets
KOLKATA
theRe is bad news for beer
lovers in West Bengal, and that
too at a time when demand for
the mild alcoholic beverage is on
the rise because of the scorching
summer heat.
e state excise department
has decided to ration the supply
of the beverage to retail liquor
outlets of the state till further or-
ders.
e excise department has is-
sued clear instruction to the West
Bengal State Beverage corpora-
tion (WBSBc), the sole wholesale
supplier of alcoholic beverages in
the state, on this count and also
provided a formula for rationing.
explaining the rationing for-
mula, a senior official of the WB-
SBc said on condition of
anonymity that as per the excise
department directive, one retail
liquor outlet in a month will re-
ceive only that amount of beer
bottles or cans that they raiseed
from the corporation in the same
month of the previous year, i.e.,
2021.
e directive is effective from
April 2022 and will continue till
ritory and his Ministry to discuss the
security and other important aspects
related to the Amarnath Yatra.
e Dgp will make a presentation
on the security aspect during the
meeting whereas the iB chief is likely
to discuss the intelligence inputs
gathered so far, the sources further
said. in his two days visit to J&K,
Bhalla will also discuss the security
aspect with the senior Army officials.
providing adequate security
seems to be major concerns for the
central government as the Yatra is
commencing aer two years because
of the covid pandemic in 2020 and
2021, officials said.
e Jammu and Kashmir admin-
istration and police have been asked
to make preparations for around
Gehlot criticises
‘bulldozer justice’
JAipuR: RAJASthAn chief
Minister Ashok gehlot on urs-
day condemned the "bulldozer jus-
tice" saying neither the chief min-
ister nor the prime minister has
the power to get houses demol-
ished by bulldozers.
"e right of demolishing
houses via bulldozers does not lie
even with the cM and pM," he
said, adding "how can you raze a
house without any investigation,
without holding anyone account-
able? What must be crossing an in-
nocent's mind when on seeing his
house being brought down like a
pack of cards," he questioned.
commenting on the opposition
without naming them, he said:
"ey say that innocent people
have been arrested in Karauli vio-
lence. So can the Rajasthan gov-
ernment bulldoze their houses
7
further orders, which means till
the production and supply of beer
gets stabilised.
excise commissioner S.
umashankar admitted that be-
cause of the pandemic situation,
the pace of beer production had
slowed, leading to the supply cri-
sis.
however, he expressed hope
that the situation will come under
control soon, and supplies will be
stabilised and rationing will be
withdrawn.
is is not the first time that
the excise department has de-
cided to ration supply of beer in
the state.
o.p. gupta, who owns multiple
retail liquor outlets, told iAnS
that the new rule will be a matter
of worry if the rationing contin-
ues for a long time, since the de-
mand for beer will rise further in
the next three months when the
summer heat will be at its peak.
(iAnS)
iAnS also contacted the office
of the confederation of indian
Alcoholic Beverage companies in
new Delhi to get its comment on
this issue. But it declined to com-
ment on the matter.
eight lakh pilgrims for the pilgrimage
to the holy cave shrine which will be
concluded on August 11.
e cRpF deploys a maximum
number of the security forces during
the Yatra and its Dg Kuldiep Singh,
along with senior officials, have al-
ready held a preliminary round of
meetings last week with Dilbag
Singh and senior officials of the ut
government. officials also said that
aer the successful completion of
this pilgrimage will be an advantage
for the centre as that will endorse
its claims that the security scenario
has improved in the union territory.
e entire preparation for the pil-
grimage will also be reviewed by
union home Minister Amit Shah
before it begins on June 30. (iAnS)
since they have been arrested?" he
questioned.
he also expressed sadness at tV
footage showing helpless people
crying while their houses were be-
ing brought down.
"ey were crying, they were
poor and no one had the right to
bring down their houses without
fair investigation. Let law take its
own course," he said and accused
some state governments of flouting
all laws and constitutional norms.
8 SPORTS
WINDOWS
Pujara, Rizwan
make Sussex
debut in County
Derby: India's Cheteshwar Pujara
and Pakistan's Mohammad
rizwan on Thursday made their
Sussex debut for the game
against hosts Derbyshire in the
County Championships Division 2
here. While Pujara has played
first-class cricket in england in the
past, it is the first outing for Pak-
istan wicketkeeper batter. both
were named in the Sussex playing
eleven which is captained by Tom
Daines. With Derbyshire opting to
bat, Pujara and rizwan are ex-
pected to bat on day two. both
the players stand at the opposite
end of their international careers.
Ex-Colombia
captain Rincón
dies in car crash
bogoTa: Freddy rincón, a for-
mer cap-
tain of
the
Colom-
bian na-
tional
soccer
team
who
played in three World Cups, has
died after being injured in a car
crash. He was 55. rincón was in-
jured Monday when his vehicle
collided with a bus in Cali, Colom-
bia. The Colombian soccer feder-
ation posted news of rincón's
death on its website on Wednes-
day, saying it deeply regrets his
passing and sends a message of
support and encouragement to
his family, friends and relatives.
rincón played at the World Cup in
1990, 1994 and 1998. besides
playing for Colombian and brazil-
ian clubs during his career, the
midfielder also played for real
Madrid, Parma and Napoli.
England pacer
Shrubsole retires
LoNDoN: england pacer any
Shrubsole, a two-time Women's
World Cup winner, on Thursday
announced her retirement from
international cricket after a 14-
year-old career. The 30-year-old,
known for her sharp inswingers,
played eights Tests, 86 oDIs and
79 T20s taking 19, 106 and 102
wickets respectively. Shrubsole
had famously taken six for 46,
which remains her career best fig-
ures, against India in the World
Cup final against India five years
ago. She was also part of 2009
victorious squad and more re-
cently the team that lost to aus-
tralia in the final earlier this
month.
Tomar wins at
selection trials,
Rajput second
NeW DeLHI: Madhya Pradesh's
aishwarya Pratap Singh Tomar
won the men's 50m rifle 3 posi-
tions T4 (fourth trial) competi-
tion, getting the better of sea-
soned Haryana shooter Sanjeev
rajput at the national selection
trials here on Thursday. In the
gold medal contest, Tomar shot
404.9 to finish ahead of rajput
(400.7) at the Dr Karni Singh
Shooting range. both Tomar and
rajput are olympians and if the
result at the trials is any indica-
tion, the two remain India's best
bet in 3P event, notwithstanding
the change in format. Unfortu-
nately, it is also a reflection of
the lack of depth and the ab-
sence of young talents in the
men's 3P event. Navy's g Puru-
sothaman finished third with
395.8, while rajan Tomar of the
army settled for the fourth posi-
tion with a score of 391.0 in the
final stage elimination.
When Tendulkar, Jayawardene ran into the middle
I AM NOT CONCERNED ABOUT ROHIT’S FORM, SAYS JAYAWARDENE
PUNE
THErE cannot be a bigger com-
pliment for a young cricketer's tal-
ent than two of the game's greats
stepping onto the field during a
break to applaud his effortless
clean hitting.
Dewald Brevis, Mumbai india's
young batter from south africa,
earned that honour on Wednesday
night soon aer he launched an ex-
tra-ordinary assault on Punjab
Kings spinner rahul Chahar, hit-
ting him for 4, 6, 6, 6, 6 in an over.
soon aer his sensational assault
on Punjab Kings' bowling, batting
legend sachin Tendulkar, team's
mentor, Mahela Jayawardene,
Mumbai indians' head coach,
Runs flow from Hardik’s bat
MUMBAI
skipper Hardik Pandya smashed a
stroke-filled unbeaten half-century
to guide Gujarat Titans to 192 for
four against rajasthan royals in an
indian Premier League match here
on ursday. Hardik made un-
beaten 87 off 52 balls with the help
of eight fours and four sixes and in
the company of abhinav Manohar
(43 off 28) shared 86 runs for the
fourth wicket to lay the foundation
for Titans' big score aer being
asked to bat. Towards the end,
David Miller played a 14-ball un-
beaten 31-run cameo.
Gujarat Titans did lose some
early wickets but the 86-run part-
nership between Hardik Pandya
and abhinav Manohar helped the
iPL newcomers gain momentum
with the bat. Earlier, rajasthan
royals had won the toss and had
opted to bowl first. is is also Gu-
jarat's highest total of the season
so far.
Brief Scores: Gujarat Titans: 192
for 4 in 20 overs (Hardik Pandya
87 not out , abhinav Manohar 43,
David Miller 31 not out; riyan
Parag 1/12).
SRH takes on KKR
Back to winning ways, a resurgent
Zverev reaches 3rd
round in Monaco
Paris: Under the sunny
but windy conditions at
the Monte-Carlo coun-
try club in Monaco, sec-
ond seed alexander
Zverev of Germany
opened his 2022 clay sea-
son with a straight-set win on
Wednesday, beating Federico Del-
bonis of argentina 6-1, 7-5 to reach
the third round. aer the shocking
exit of top seed Novak Djokovic one
day before, Zverev, seeking his sixth
aTP Masters 1000 title, remained
the highest-ranked player in the
tournament. a victory at Monte-
Kohli way ahead of Smith, Root, Kane, Babar: Watson
NEW DELHI
FOrMEr australia all-rounder
shane Watson has picked Virat
Kohli as the best batter among the
'big five' in Test cricket, preferring
to not read much into the indian
maestro's failure to score a hun-
dred since November 2019.
as per Watson's list, the former
india captain has pipped the likes
of steve smith, Kane Williamson,
Joe root and Babar azam. "in Test
match cricket, i am always going
to say Virat Kohli," Watson said
when asked by isa Guha who he
thought is the best Test batter in
the world, in his latest episode of
Printed and Published by K. Hanumanta Rao, on behalf of Hyderabad Media House Pvt. Limited, Flat.No.609, 6th Floor, Kirti Shikhar Building, Plot.No.11, Dist.Center, Janakpuri, New Delhi- 110058.
and Printed at M/s. Marutinandan Printers & Publishers, A-15, Bara Bagh, G.T Karnal Road, Industrial Area, New Delhi - 110033. Chief Editor: V Ramu Sarma. RNI No: DELENG/2017/74095
MUMBAI INDIANS BREVIS’ FOUR SIXES IN AN OVER ASSAULT
robin singh, team's assistant coach
and captain rohit sharma made
their way into the centre during
the strategic time-out that followed
soon aer. Both Tendulkar and
Jayawardene were smiling while
talking to Brevis.
Brevis' 49 and his partnership
with Tilak Varma rescued Mumbai
indians from a precarious 32/2 in
the chase of the target of 199 set
by Punjab Kings. ough Mumbai
indians eventually fell short by 12
runs, Brevis's clean hitting and the
four stars' gesture of appreciation
will stay with the fans for a long
time.
Brevis, who has gained a repu-
tation as "Baby aB" -- a reference
to his illustrious predecessor aB
Hyd turned
sunrisers Hy- things around with
derabad will
be forced
back-to-back wins over
to tin- Chennai Super Kings and
ker their Gujarat Titans, and
successful Kane's team is now
combination eying a hat-trick of
following victories
Washington
sundar's injury as
they face Kolkata
Knight riders in the iPL
here on Friday. ing hand while fielding against
aer a subdued start to the GT. Washington plays the duel
tournament, srH turned things role of restricting the batters with
around with back-to-back wins his spin bowling and chipping in
over Chennai super Kings and with some runs as a floater. He
Gujarat Titans, and Kane has taken four wickets and scored
Carlo would see the 24-
year-old move closer to
the top spot of the aTP
rankings.
"is is the only Mas-
ters on clay i haven't won
yet, but i'm very motivated
to do so," said Zverev, a 2018
semi-finalist at the event. "i'm very
motivated to play great tennis and i
hope i can show that on the court
this week."
Zverev was dominant in the first
set, winning six games in a row aer
losing the opening game to take the
lead.
the iCC review.
"it's nearly superhuman,
what he is able to do be-
cause he has such high
intensity every time he
goes out to play," Wat-
son added. While
Kohli has slipped to
10th on the iCC rank-
ings, the indian great con-
tinues to hold a remarkable
Test batting record. He has
scored 27 Test centuries and
28 half-centuries and cur-
rently has a Test batting
average of just under
50. e world's cur-
rent No.1 Test batter
DeLHI FrIDay 15 aPrIL 2022
Chahar. am not concerned about the form
Jayawardene says it's just a "mat- as such."
ter of time" before skipper rohit Jayawardene admitted that in-
sharma plays a big knock, some- jured Jofra archer's absence is
thing which his team desperately hurting the team as the bowling
needs to arrest its slide in iPL-15. unit has not been able to sustain
e Mi captain has failed to cap- the pressure. "...obviously, one of
italise on the starts, managing just the best bowlers that we've bought
108 runs at an average of 21.60 this in the auction is Jof (Jofra archer)
season. "if you look at the way he – Jof is not here. so it is tough
starts, the way he hits the ball, it's when you are in that kind of situa-
brilliant. He's timing it, he's getting tion, but we are trying to see how
some really, really good starts. Yes best we can manage. "in terms of
he's disappointed as well, that he's the last four-five games, we've had
de Villiers -- for his exploits during started from the base price of rs not being able to convert them," some really good spells, we con-
the recent U19 World Cup. His tal- 20 lakh. Jayawardene said. trolled things for a while. But we
ent was never in doubt, Brevis was ough he did not make much "We've seen rohit batting deep, cannot hold that pressure going on,
a hot pick in the iPL Mega auc- of an impact in the first four batting for 14-15 overs and getting because in certain times, it's either
tions and Mumbai indians got him matches, Brevis on Wednesday those big scores. it's just a matter two or three overs that we go big
for rs 3 crore aer the bidding made up for that by his assault on of time. He's a quality player and i and that has hurt us.
BAI happy to put me out
a half-century so far in the sea-
of CWG and Asiad: Saina
son. But coach Tom Moody has NEW DELHI in back to back events nonstop is
made it clear that he won't be impossible and it's risking injuries,
available for at least two matches Two-time Commonwealth Games such short notice is not possible. i've
and it will be interesting to see gold medallist saina Nehwal on conveyed this to Bai but there has
who replaces the all-rounder in ursday questioned the timing of been no response from them. it
the Xi. Hyderabad have the op- selection trials and slammed the seems like they're happy to put me
tion of shreyas Gopal and Ja- Badminton association of india for out of CWG n asiad." Bai has ex-
gadeesha suchith in the spin de- "putting" her out the two mega empted players inside the top 15 in
partment or they might give sporting events later this year. the BWF rankings from the trials
another chance to abdul samad, e governing body had called but said shuttlers ranked between
who looked ordinary in the first for selection trials on april 2 to pick 16 to 50 in the latest world rankings,
two matches. For sunrisers, it was the indian team for big-ticket events released on March 29, will have to
the batting failure which was including the Commonwealth participate in the trials to be selected
hurting them as they faltered in Games in Birmingham, the asian for the team. saina, 32, however,
their first two chases, but the Games in Hangzhou and omas questioned the logic of having trials
team addressed the problem with Cup and Uber Cup in Bangkok at this juncture. "i wish we had better
Williamson's openers abhishek sharma and from May 8 to 15. understanding about how to man-
team is now Williamson producing the goods saina, a former world no 1, said age a schedule and not announce
eying a hat- in the last two outings. if sharma she had informed Bai about her de- events with 10 days notice. i'm world
trick of shone with match-winning cision to skip the trials which begins no.23 currently and i almost beat
victories. knocks of 75 and 42, Williamson at the iG stadium on Friday but it the world no.1 akane in all Eng-
However, scored 32 and 57 to set up the did not mean that she was not eager land. One loss at india open and
Washington, a chase in the last two games. to participate at the major events in- Bai tries to pull me down. shock-
vital cog in the rahul Tripathi was looking cluding the Commonwealth Games ing."
srH wheels, good against GT before he retired and asiad. saina, a London Olympics bronze
will be missing in ac- hurt following what seemed like a "surprised to see all the articles medallist, had participated at the
tion aer he sustained a cramp, and his availability will be stating that i don't want to defend German Open (March 8-13), all
split webbing on his bowl- crucial for srH. in Tripathi's ab- my CWG title and my asiad medal. England Championships (March
sence, Nicholas Pooran and i'm just not participating in the trials 16-20) and swiss Open (March 22-
aiden Markram completed the because i just got back from 3 weeks 27) before pulling out of the Korean
job against GT and the team will of Europe events and according to Open (april 5-10). saina has been
expect them to show consistency the schedule there's asian Champi- battling injuries and poor form for
and take the responsibility in the onships," saina tweeted. "in 2 weeks the past couple of years, which saw
middle-order. time, as a senior player to participate see her ranking slip to 23rd.
Teen Rameshbabu wins Reykjavik chess
REYKJAVIK youngest GM, all of whom finished with
7.0 points.
YOUNG Indian Grandmaster (GM) Pragg had a few months back caused
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa added to a sensation when he defeated World No
his growing stature as World's top up- 1 and reigning World Champion Magnus
coming chess star by winning the Reyk- Carlsen in a rapid game.
javik Open chess tournament with a vic- On Tuesday, the 16-year-old topped
tory against compatriot D Gukesh in the the field comprising 245 players -- most
final round. Pragganandhaa, Pragg as of them youngsters like him as the or-
he is fondly called, finished the 7.5 ganisers had given a 50% discount on
points from nine rounds, finishing half- the entry fee for players 16 and under.
point ahead of four players -- Max Praggnanandhaa entered the final
Warmerdam of the Netherlands, Mads round on Tuesday sharing the lead with
Andersen of Denmark, Hjorvar Steinn Warmerdam and Andersen at 6.5 points. the top board, opening up a chance for
Gretarsson of Sweden and American The two players from Scandinavian the Indian GM from Chennai to win the
Abhimanyu Mishra, the world's countries played out a 16-move draw on last round and claim the title.
Marnus Labuschagne, istan skipper Babar, who he has tralian star "has just started to
who has played kept at number two, Watson come off a little bit." "it looks like
26 Test noted, "Babar azam is playing in- smith has really started to play for
matches and credibly well. "(it's great) to be time a little bit more and is not
averages 54.31, able to see how he has adapted his putting as much pressure on the
would have in- game to really move his game to bowlers as he did when was at his
creased the Test cricket as well. "Babar azam absolute best. For me, steve has
'big 'five' to a would probably be No.2 at the dropped down that list a little bit."
'big six', but moment." Babar is currently smith is second on the iCC
was le out of ranked the fih best batter in the rankings, with only australian
the debate for world and appears to be on the team-mate Labuschagne ranked
this topic due to a rise if his recent performances ahead of him. about Williamson,
40-Test minimum against australia are anything to who Watson considers the world's
criteria, the iCC go by. He stroked a superb 196 fourth best at the moment, the
said in a report during the second Test in Karachi australian said, "Kane knows his
on its official and finished the series with a total game inside out and knows how to
website. re- of 390 runs. about Watson's third put pressure on bowlers in any
garding Pak- best batter smith, he said the aus- conditions."