16
T he hailstorm and rainfall that lashed Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday may dam- age the ongoing standing rabi crops, including wheat culti- vation. The national Capital was also whipped by severe hailstorm and downpour since early on Tuesday. According to Agriculture Ministry officials, while the production of wheat and other rabi crops was expected to come down this year as the sowing area has reduced as compared to that of the last year, the hailstorm will further damage the rabi crops. “However, it is too early to estimate the damage from hail- storm. The State Government’s Agriculture Department will assess the damage and inform the Ministry,” said officials. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has pre- dicted widespread rainfall, hail- storm with gusty wind and snowfall along with heavy rain- fall over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on Wednesday. The IMD said rain and thunderstorm will continue on Wednesday in northern and northwest parts of the country due to intense western distur- bance bearing down on North West India and cyclonic circu- lation developed over Afghanistan and Central Pakistan. Rain lashed the plains while higher reaches of Kashmir witnessed fresh snow- fall for the second day. The snowfall and rain blocked the 300-km long Srinagar-Jammu national highway. The flight operations at the airport here were also affected. Four flights were cancelled and 11 delayed due to poor visibility. The Himachal Pradesh capital and picturesque Manali and Dalhousie on Tuesday wit- nessed more snow that snapped road links, however tourists made merry by hurling snow- balls at one another. Director of the Punjab Agriculture Department Jasbir Singh Bains advised wheat growers to not let rainwater stagnate in the field as it could be harmful to the crop. Naseeb Singh, a farmer from Jind district, said rain at this time will help in contain- ing the fungal disease yellow rust, but hailstorm will destroy crop. Wheat is the main rabi crop in Punjab and is grown in over 35 lakh hectare area in the State, also known as the food bowl of the country. In Haryana, 25.01 lakh hectare are under wheat cultivation. As per latest Agriculture Ministry’s data, sowing of win- ter or rabi crops, an indicator of the pace of farm activities, is down by nearly 5 per cent com- pared to last year. A significant fall in sowing in Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Rajasthan has affected wheat and other crops, bringing the overall area under rabi crops down by nearly 5 per cent to 588 lakh hectares. The total area cultivated in the corre- sponding week in 2017-18 was around 618 lakh hectare. Rabi cultivation data released by the Agriculture Ministry showed the area under rice is about 21.5 per cent lower than the same peri- od last year due to a drop in rice cultivation in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Despite favoured conditions for the rabi crops, wheat cultivation, on the other hand, reported a 2.5-per cent deficit as com- pared to last year. As against an area of around 304 lakh hectare sown in 2017-18, the area under wheat cultivation is around 296 lakh hectare, main- ly because of drop in sowing in drought-hit Maharashtra and Gujarat, as well as West Bengal. There is nearly a 10 per cent drop in the sowing of gram, a major pulse crop of the season. This deficit has pulled down the overall pulses area by over 5.5 per cent. As compared to the 157.8-lakh hectare cov- ered in the corresponding week in 2017-18, the pulse has been grown only in 95 lakh hectare so far. Coarse cereals, too, are faring badly, with an overall drop in area of nearly 14 per cent. The area under jowar cul- tivation at 24.6 lakh hectare is around 19 per cent lower than the 30.27 lakh hectare last year; maize is down by 9.5 per cent to 14 lakh hectare. T hree Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists including younger brother of a serving Indian Police Service (IPS) officer were killed in an encounter with security forces in Shirmal village of south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Tuesday. The encounter took place a day after three ultras were gunned down in a similar operation in Hapatnar area of central district Budgam. Clashes erupted at the site of the encounter resulting to injuries to several persons including four journalists. A police spokesman said that the operation was carried out on the basis of “credible inputs about the presence of terrorists” that followed a cor- don and search operation joint- ly by police and security forces in the area. Security sources said that one of the slain terrorists was identified as Shamsul Haq Mengnoo, a resident of Draggad village in Shopian district. Mengnoo was pursu- ing bachelors course in Unani Medicine and Surgery (BUMS) at a Government college here before joining militancy. Belonging to a well-off family of orchardists, his elder broth- er Inamul Haq is a 2012 batch IPS officer, presently posted in North-East. Security sources said soon after the cordon was intensified in Shrimal village, terrorists hiding underground in an open area tried to escape while open- ing fire on the security forces. During the retaliatory action, three ultras were killed. Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range) Swayam Prakash Pani said the security forces conducted “two good” operations in Budgam and Pulwama district on two con- secutive days. “These were dif- ficult operations to conduct. They (terrorists) were hiding in open area,” Pani said. A large number of protest- ers gathered around the encounter site in a bid to ham- per the operation and help terrorists escape. Reports also said that four journalists were hospitalised after they suffered pellet injuries while covering the gunfight. They received pellets on face, neck and other body parts. Police said six security personnel were also injured in the clashes. “Only five cases of injuries were reported and three of them were discharged after preliminary medical attention. Separately six security force personnel injured during the clashes have been discharged after medical attention,” police said in a statement. P oachers killed at least 102 one-horned rhinoceros during the last ten years with Assam topping the list fol- lowed by West Bengal, accord- ing to data obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Two hundred nine poach- ers were arrested for their involvement in such wildlife crime during the same period. The RTI reply also showed that incidents of rhino poach- ing have shown sharp decline in the recent past. While 22 rhi- nos fell to the poachers in 2013, the number came down to two in 2017. Data provided by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, showed that the maximum number of killing of 84 one- horned rhinoceros was report- ed from Assam. West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh are the only two States which have reported such killings, with 17 and one deaths, respectively, during the period, according to data. Noida-based lawyer Ranjan Tomar had sought State-wise data on the number of one-horned rhinos killed by poachers in the last 10 years and offenders arrest from the WCCB, a statu- tory body formed to combat organised wildlife crime in the country. “As per data available in the records of the bureau based on the information from the state forest and police departments, 102 one-horned rhinos have been killed and 209 poachers have been arrested in the last 10 years in India,” the WCCB said in a written reply. T orrential rain washed away Suspended Particulate Matter (SPMs) from Delhi air and the air quality improved to year’s best on Wednesday. This was the first time in New Year when Delhi’s map was coloured “green” with satisfactory levels of Particulate Matters (PMs) on the National Ambient Air Quality Index (NAAQI). Good news for Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) is that the levels of PM 10 and PM 2.5 were recorded under the permissible limit with val- ues 73 and 51 against 100 and 60 in microgram per cubic respectively. As Indian Meteorological Department’s (IMD) prediction proved correct, the national Capital breathed easy after hazardous pollution levels for the past few months gave way to the rainfall. In its weekly weather fore- cast, the Regional Weather Forecast Department, New Delhi (RWFC) has forecast generally cloudy sky with driz- zle. The minimum temperature will remain at eight degrees Celsius while the maximum temperature will fluctuate between 18 and 19 degrees Celsius. For air quality, System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), a unit of Ministry of Earth Sciences (MOES), has forecast satisfactory for Thursday, for Friday, air qual- ity will turn moderate, this fur- ther means that air quality will remain “good” till Friday. According to SAFAR in air quality forecast, the concen- tration of PM 10 will oscillate between 74 and 141 microgram per cubic while levels of PM 2.5 will remain under the permis- sible limit. According to IMD official, the Safdarjung observatory recorded 14.8 mm rainfall, Palam 22.8 mm rainfall, Lodhi Road 15 mm and Aya Nagar recorded 26.1 mm rainfall. “The minimum tempera- ture was recorded at 12.5 degrees Celsius, five notches above the normal,” the official said. The humidity level was recorded at 100 per cent at 8.30 am. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the overall air quality index (AQI) in the city was 133, which falls in the moderate category. It affected 15 trains which ran late with an average delay of two to three hours. These included Howrah-New Delhi Poorva Express, Malda-Delhi Junction Farakka Express and Mumbai Amritsar Express. The Puri-New Delhi Purushottam Express was late by six hours, according to the Northern Railways. Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday referred to former premier Rajiv Gandhi’s remarks on cor- ruption in the country to attack the Congress, saying the party that ruled for years did noth- ing to stop the “loot”, while his Government put an end to it and transferred about 5,80,000 crore directly to the people under various schemes. Without naming Gandhi, he alluded to the former Prime Minister’s remarks that only 15 paise of 1 reaches the masses and said Congress Governments over the years did nothing to stop the “leakage”. Addressing NRIs and Indian-origin people at the inauguration of the 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas con- vention in his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Modi described the diaspora as India’s brand ambassadors and said they were the symbols of the coun- try’s capabilities. The Government has changed the perception that India cannot change, he said in the presence of Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh and UP Governor Ram Naik among others. Chief Ministers of UP, Haryana and Uttarakhand — Yogi Adityanath, Manohar Lal Khattar and Trivendra Singh Rawat — attended the meet. Modi said India’s contri- bution was being recognised at the international level, espe- cially its role with regard to environment. Taking a swipe at the Congress over the issue of cor- ruption, Modi said it got to know about the disease, acknowledged the disease, but neither thought about it, nor did anything in the direction of curing the ailment. “Many people here would have heard what a former Prime Minister had said about corruption. He had said that the money that the Central Government sends, only 15 per cent of that reaches the people. If one rupee is send from Delhi, only 15 paise reaches the villages, 85 paise disappear,” Modi said, alluding to Gandhi’s remarks. “The party that ruled the country for so many years had given the system to the coun- try, a truth that was accepted by the then Prime Minister. But what is regrettable is that later in its rule of 10-15 years, there was no effort made to end this loot and leakage,” Modi said. W ith controversy erupting over allegations made by a self-proclaimed cyber expert who alleged Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) can be hacked and the 2014 Lok Sabha polls were rigged, the Election Commission on Tuesday filed a complaint with the Delhi Police, asking it to register an FIR against him for his false claims which, it said, can “cre- ate fear” in voters’ minds. In its complaint to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi District), the poll panel asked police to inves- tigate the matter “promptly” for violation of certain sections of the Indian Penal Code dealing with spreading rumour to alarm the public and other pro- visions of related laws. Syed Shuja had on Monday claimed at an event in London that the EVMs can be tampered with and that the 2014 Lok Sabha elections were rigged. Detailed report on P5

 · rabi crops, wheat cultivation, on the other hand, reported a 2.5-per cent deficit as com-pared to last year. As against an area of around 304 lakh hectare sown in 2017-18, the

  • Upload
    others

  • View
    4

  • Download
    0

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1:  · rabi crops, wheat cultivation, on the other hand, reported a 2.5-per cent deficit as com-pared to last year. As against an area of around 304 lakh hectare sown in 2017-18, the

����������������������� ������������ ������������������������ ������������ ��������������� ������� ���������� ��������� ����� ������ ������ ���� ����������� ������ �����!"�� � ������� ������� �� ��#

���� ������������������������� �� ���������� �!�"�#���#!$%������$�%�������������������&� �����'!��������(�� ���������� ��� �����������������)$��� �������� �� �����*���� ��!+���������� � ��� ������� ������ �� �� ���� ��������������� � �������$,$���� ����� ���������������� ����� ��#

&����'���������� ��&������� (����)�����!*������)��� ��������$*-.����������/����$���� ��� �������0����������������������� �$���� � ��������� ���� ��������1����������������������������1�����$ #������������������������������ �������� ������ ���� �������� ���������������#

�0*2�3��4(0��� 52/�62�3�

The hailstorm and rainfallthat lashed Punjab,

Haryana, Uttar Pradesh,Uttarakhand and HimachalPradesh on Tuesday may dam-age the ongoing standing rabicrops, including wheat culti-vation. The national Capitalwas also whipped by severehailstorm and downpour sinceearly on Tuesday.

According to AgricultureMinistry officials, while theproduction of wheat and otherrabi crops was expected tocome down this year as thesowing area has reduced ascompared to that of the lastyear, the hailstorm will furtherdamage the rabi crops.

“However, it is too early toestimate the damage from hail-storm. The State Government’sAgriculture Department willassess the damage and informthe Ministry,” said officials.

The India MeteorologicalDepartment (IMD) has pre-dicted widespread rainfall, hail-storm with gusty wind andsnowfall along with heavy rain-fall over Jammu & Kashmir,Himachal Pradesh andUttarakhand on Wednesday.

The IMD said rain andthunderstorm will continue onWednesday in northern andnorthwest parts of the countrydue to intense western distur-bance bearing down on NorthWest India and cyclonic circu-lation developed overAfghanistan and CentralPakistan.

Rain lashed the plainswhile higher reaches ofKashmir witnessed fresh snow-fall for the second day. Thesnowfall and rain blocked the300-km long Srinagar-Jammunational highway. The flightoperations at the airport herewere also affected. Four flightswere cancelled and 11 delayeddue to poor visibility. TheHimachal Pradesh capital andpicturesque Manali andDalhousie on Tuesday wit-nessed more snow that snappedroad links, however touristsmade merry by hurling snow-

balls at one another.Director of the Punjab

Agriculture Department JasbirSingh Bains advised wheatgrowers to not let rainwaterstagnate in the field as it couldbe harmful to the crop.

Naseeb Singh, a farmerfrom Jind district, said rain atthis time will help in contain-ing the fungal disease yellowrust, but hailstorm will destroycrop. Wheat is the main rabicrop in Punjab and is grown inover 35 lakh hectare area in theState, also known as the foodbowl of the country. In

Haryana, 25.01 lakh hectare areunder wheat cultivation.

As per latest AgricultureMinistry’s data, sowing of win-ter or rabi crops, an indicatorof the pace of farm activities, isdown by nearly 5 per cent com-pared to last year. A significantfall in sowing in Gujarat,Maharashtra, West Bengal andRajasthan has affected wheatand other crops, bringing theoverall area under rabi cropsdown by nearly 5 per cent to588 lakh hectares. The totalarea cultivated in the corre-sponding week in 2017-18 wasaround 618 lakh hectare.

Rabi cultivation datareleased by the AgricultureMinistry showed the areaunder rice is about 21.5 percent lower than the same peri-od last year due to a drop inrice cultivation in Tamil Naduand Andhra Pradesh. Despitefavoured conditions for therabi crops, wheat cultivation,on the other hand, reported a2.5-per cent deficit as com-pared to last year. As against anarea of around 304 lakh hectaresown in 2017-18, the areaunder wheat cultivation isaround 296 lakh hectare, main-ly because of drop in sowing indrought-hit Maharashtra andGujarat, as well as West Bengal.

There is nearly a 10 percent drop in the sowing ofgram, a major pulse crop of theseason. This deficit has pulleddown the overall pulses area byover 5.5 per cent. As comparedto the 157.8-lakh hectare cov-ered in the corresponding week

in 2017-18, the pulse has beengrown only in 95 lakh hectareso far. Coarse cereals, too, arefaring badly, with an overalldrop in area of nearly 14 per cent.

The area under jowar cul-tivation at 24.6 lakh hectare isaround 19 per cent lower thanthe 30.27 lakh hectare lastyear; maize is down by 9.5 percent to 14 lakh hectare.

+������������ ���50,0�

Three Hizbul Mujahideenterrorists including

younger brother of a servingIndian Police Service (IPS)officer were killed in anencounter with security forcesin Shirmal village of southKashmir’s Shopian district onTuesday.

The encounter took placea day after three ultras weregunned down in a similaroperation in Hapatnar area ofcentral district Budgam.Clashes erupted at the site ofthe encounter resulting toinjuries to several personsincluding four journalists.

A police spokesman saidthat the operation was carriedout on the basis of “credibleinputs about the presence ofterrorists” that followed a cor-don and search operation joint-ly by police and security forcesin the area.

Security sources said thatone of the slain terrorists wasidentified as Shamsul HaqMengnoo, a resident ofDraggad village in Shopiandistrict. Mengnoo was pursu-ing bachelors course in UnaniMedicine and Surgery (BUMS)at a Government college herebefore joining militancy.Belonging to a well-off familyof orchardists, his elder broth-er Inamul Haq is a 2012 batchIPS officer, presently posted inNorth-East.

Security sources said soonafter the cordon was intensifiedin Shrimal village, terroristshiding underground in an openarea tried to escape while open-ing fire on the security forces.During the retaliatory action,three ultras were killed.

Inspector General of Police(Kashmir range) SwayamPrakash Pani said the securityforces conducted “two good”operations in Budgam and

Pulwama district on two con-secutive days. “These were dif-ficult operations to conduct.They (terrorists) were hiding inopen area,” Pani said.

A large number of protest-ers gathered around theencounter site in a bid to ham-per the operation and helpterrorists escape. Reports alsosaid that four journalists werehospitalised after they sufferedpellet injuries while coveringthe gunfight.

They received pellets onface, neck and other bodyparts. Police said six securitypersonnel were also injured inthe clashes.

“Only five cases of injurieswere reported and three ofthem were discharged afterpreliminary medical attention.Separately six security forcepersonnel injured during theclashes have been dischargedafter medical attention,” policesaid in a statement.

������52/�62�3�

Poachers killed at least 102one-horned rhinoceros

during the last ten years withAssam topping the list fol-lowed by West Bengal, accord-ing to data obtained under theRight to Information (RTI)Act. Two hundred nine poach-ers were arrested for theirinvolvement in such wildlifecrime during the same period.

The RTI reply also showedthat incidents of rhino poach-ing have shown sharp declinein the recent past. While 22 rhi-nos fell to the poachers in 2013,the number came down totwo in 2017.

Data provided by theWildlife Crime Control Bureau(WCCB), under the Ministry of

Environment and Forests,showed that the maximumnumber of killing of 84 one-horned rhinoceros was report-ed from Assam.

West Bengal and UttarPradesh are the only two Stateswhich have reported suchkillings, with 17 and onedeaths, respectively, during the

period, according to data.Noida-based lawyer

Ranjan Tomar had soughtState-wise data on the numberof one-horned rhinos killed bypoachers in the last 10 years and offendersarrest from the WCCB, a statu-tory body formed to combatorganised wildlife crime in the

country.“As per data available in the

records of the bureau based onthe information from the stateforest and police departments,102 one-horned rhinos havebeen killed and 209 poachershave been arrested in the last 10years in India,” the WCCBsaid in a written reply.

����������� ��������� �� ������������������ ������������������ �������������������������������������� �������

!�"�����������#���$�%�&� ������������$���� ������

����������� 52/�62�3�

Torrential rain washed awaySuspended Particulate

Matter (SPMs) from Delhi airand the air quality improved toyear’s best on Wednesday. Thiswas the first time in New Yearwhen Delhi’s map was coloured“green” with satisfactory levelsof Particulate Matters (PMs) onthe National Ambient AirQuality Index (NAAQI).

Good news for Delhi andNational Capital Region (NCR)is that the levels of PM 10 andPM 2.5 were recorded underthe permissible limit with val-ues 73 and 51 against 100 and60 in microgram per cubicrespectively.

As Indian MeteorologicalDepartment’s (IMD) predictionproved correct, the nationalCapital breathed easy afterhazardous pollution levels forthe past few months gave wayto the rainfall.

In its weekly weather fore-cast, the Regional WeatherForecast Department, NewDelhi (RWFC) has forecastgenerally cloudy sky with driz-zle. The minimum temperaturewill remain at eight degreesCelsius while the maximumtemperature will fluctuatebetween 18 and 19 degreesCelsius.

For air quality, System ofAir Quality and Weather

Forecasting And Research(SAFAR), a unit of Ministry ofEarth Sciences (MOES), hasforecast satisfactory forThursday, for Friday, air qual-ity will turn moderate, this fur-ther means that air qualitywill remain “good” till Friday.

According to SAFAR in airquality forecast, the concen-tration of PM 10 will oscillatebetween 74 and 141 microgramper cubic while levels of PM 2.5will remain under the permis-sible limit.

According to IMD official,the Safdarjung observatoryrecorded 14.8 mm rainfall,Palam 22.8 mm rainfall, LodhiRoad 15 mm and Aya Nagarrecorded 26.1 mm rainfall.

“The minimum tempera-

ture was recorded at 12.5degrees Celsius, five notchesabove the normal,” the officialsaid. The humidity level wasrecorded at 100 per cent at 8.30am. According to the CentralPollution Control Board(CPCB) data, the overall airquality index (AQI) in the citywas 133, which falls in themoderate category.

It affected 15 trains whichran late with an average delayof two to three hours. Theseincluded Howrah-New DelhiPoorva Express, Malda-DelhiJunction Farakka Express andMumbai Amritsar Express. ThePuri-New Delhi PurushottamExpress was late by six hours,according to the NorthernRailways.

Varanasi: Prime MinisterNarendra Modi on Tuesdayreferred to former premierRajiv Gandhi’s remarks on cor-ruption in the country to attackthe Congress, saying the partythat ruled for years did noth-ing to stop the “loot”, while hisGovernment put an end to itand transferred about�5,80,000 crore directly to thepeople under various schemes.

Without naming Gandhi,he alluded to the former PrimeMinister’s remarks that only 15paise of �1 reaches the massesand said CongressGovernments over the years didnothing to stop the “leakage”.

Addressing NRIs andIndian-origin people at theinauguration of the 15thPravasi Bharatiya Divas con-vention in his parliamentaryconstituency of Varanasi inUttar Pradesh, Modi describedthe diaspora as India’s brandambassadors and said theywere the symbols of the coun-try’s capabilities.

The Government has

changed the perception thatIndia cannot change, he said inthe presence of MauritianPrime Minister PravindJugnauth, External AffairsMinister Sushma Swaraj,Minister of State for ExternalAffairs VK Singh and UPGovernor Ram Naik among

others. Chief Ministers of UP,Haryana and Uttarakhand —Yogi Adityanath, Manohar LalKhattar and Trivendra SinghRawat — attended the meet.

Modi said India’s contri-bution was being recognised atthe international level, espe-cially its role with regard to

environment.Taking a swipe at the

Congress over the issue of cor-ruption, Modi said it got toknow about the disease,acknowledged the disease, butneither thought about it, nordid anything in the direction ofcuring the ailment.

“Many people here wouldhave heard what a formerPrime Minister had said aboutcorruption. He had said thatthe money that the CentralGovernment sends, only 15 percent of that reaches the people.If one rupee is send fromDelhi, only 15 paise reaches thevillages, 85 paise disappear,”Modi said, alluding to Gandhi’sremarks.

“The party that ruled thecountry for so many years hadgiven the system to the coun-try, a truth that was accepted bythe then Prime Minister.

But what is regrettable isthat later in its rule of 10-15years, there was no effort madeto end this loot and leakage,”Modi said.

��� ��� �'���������"� ������� �� (���)�"���������$������$��$��

*'����� �+�,���� ���-��������./01���������������

�����������������������

������52/�62�3�

With controversy eruptingover allegations made by

a self-proclaimed cyber expertwho alleged Electronic VotingMachines (EVMs) can behacked and the 2014 Lok Sabhapolls were rigged, the ElectionCommission on Tuesday fileda complaint with the DelhiPolice, asking it to register anFIR against him for his falseclaims which, it said, can “cre-ate fear” in voters’ minds.

In its complaint to theDeputy Commissioner ofPolice (New Delhi District), thepoll panel asked police to inves-tigate the matter “promptly” forviolation of certain sections ofthe Indian Penal Code dealingwith spreading rumour toalarm the public and other pro-visions of related laws. SyedShuja had on Monday claimedat an event in London that theEVMs can be tampered withand that the 2014 Lok Sabhaelections were rigged.

Detailed report on P5

�������������� ����� ����� ����������2 ��� �� �� ������� $���� 3�./4���� �� ����� ��

� � �������� ������ � ����� ����� ��������������� ������ ����������� � � � ������������������������� �������� ���!���� ���������������������"����� ��#���������!� ��$��#�� ����%������ &%'

&������������������������ ����� ���������������� ������"� � ���( ���� ��$���#�� ���%������ &%'

�� ������ ���� �������������������

&� ���� � �����$����������� ����������� �������� ����������)��&����� �*��� ��# ����+������ ������,� ��-������ ����%������ &%'

��!�������5 ����� ���������� ���$���� � �����! ���������$����

7���6� �-���� ��������#���8�� ����� +����#�$ ���%

������������� ���

�67,8��0.

30����.�9:9:�4��-�2��625��0�$�6�2;���2���56�05)0(2���05�

7��&�7&�9<=�2�%=��

/=��6�-20�2

2:*&�*!�0;0��=45�05�>��=�,�=/

$>��20-��?�$=456�

����� ��#���8�� ����� 8

�������� ��!,�!"���-# 99@0 ��� ��� ���2A� ����0 ��� �

����������� ��������������� ! "� �#�

"��"#��$!#% %#�����%#���%��#���&#%������%#���

�� �.!%�$#*��/0�������������� ��������������

�������1�����������2�������3�1�34�56��������0��3

������������ ������������������������� ����

Page 2:  · rabi crops, wheat cultivation, on the other hand, reported a 2.5-per cent deficit as com-pared to last year. As against an area of around 304 lakh hectare sown in 2017-18, the

�� �����#���&#%��'�!����$�#( '�)#��#%( *+,��*-./

���������� ����������������������������������������������������� ��������������� ������������������������������������������ ��������������� �� ��������������� ����� ��������������������������������������� ����������� ���� �� ���������������������������������������������������������� ������������ ����� ��������������� ��������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� �������� �!����������������"���������� ���������������������������� �������������������� ���� ��������������������������������� �����������������������������#��������������������������� ���� ����$����%����&�������������������������� ��������������� �����������������������'����������������������������������� ���������������"��������������������(�����������������������������

������������+������� �����$�7*%���$)��� ��������-��B�������� ���������<� ����,�B ���, ��� �������9:!C��-��B��������� ��������� ������������� ����D-���E��������(��� ���������4��� ������������,�B� ��������� �������� ������������� ��D,���E������ �������������� � ������������� ���������� ������������� ���������������� �����#��-��� � ��������-��B�������� ���������<� ����,�B ���, ��� ��������9:!C��� ������-��B����������&������������������������ ��� �������� ���������� ������ ������� �#

�������� ��� ������&���������&�$�7*%���$)�3� �����,�&� �������������������6 �*����� ���0�&�� ��53���- �B��������=��6�� ���������������,�&� �����������������6 ������� ��������6 ���� ��<����$�� ������� ������������������� ������ ��������)����� ������ ���������,�&� ����$����������3� ������� ��&���3� �����6�&� ������$�� ��D3�36$E�������������������#�0������������������� �� ������� ��� ������������������������0 �������� �� � �0��� ���6�� �����#

8� �� ����������2�&��� ��9�� ����'���������)�-��B���,�&� ��������� ���1�������F��� �������-��B���>�� �F�� ���*���� ��!G����'!#�����>�� ��&���� � �������� ���0��5��� ����*���� ��9C#�H����&��������� �����������������4������������ �������2����� ���?������� ��������������� �, �������� ���������� ��#�-��B���,�&� ������� �� ���1�������������� �����>�� �����*���� ��'!����,����*���������������(�������������������� ���������6�������������� �,� ������ ��� �#

����� ���&��� ����'� �����'�������$�7*%���$)���������6�&�����������0$�D��������6�&���E�������&��&���������� ����������������� �������� ��������������������������$���� ��- &����- ���� ��D$--E��� �����0����� ����������������� ��� ���� ���������� ���� &�������������������������� ��#�$--��������������������������� ��� ������������ ��� �����0����� ������������ ��� &������&��������� ���� ������ ���� � &����������������� ����������������� ������������ ������������������� �0����� ����� ��� �������� ������������ ������� ������� ������� �#

��������� ������������������������ �'��� %�!�)�3�����(��� ��� ������������ ������-&�#����#��������������5����� �������������0�� ��������������� �������-��� ���������$5��� ������� �������� ������� #�������������� ����������������5����� �������������0�� ���������������� ����*���� ��9:!C������ �������������&��������������&� ��� �������!I�:::�������� � ���������� ������!:������ ���� ����������&� �������#�0��� ������� ����� ��������������������(��� ����������&����������A���������-��� �#

� �� ���� ����2�&��'������ ������2���3:�$�7*%���$)��� �J����� �� ������-��B���3� ��(� ��������*���� ��9K#����� ��������I�����������������&���#��� �J������������� ���1��������&��������������� �������������G���������������&�������������� ��� ��������� �!#

&��'�����������;4+���� �����������2�&

�$�7*%���$)�*#�#�(��� �������,��� � �(����� �$�5��-��B����������������������$�5��-��B����������������� �&������������������������� ������������� ������ ���&� ������ &���������������������� �� ����#���� ���� �������������������� �����&����� ����$�5��5���� �������� ��&� ��������#�!::�������� ������ ������������ ����� �������#�!9C�� ������#��3������$�5������������� �������������������� ����������������� ��&� ���

��� ���������� ������� �&������ &������ ��� �#�6� ��� ������ ����������I':G+���� ��������� ����&��� ������$�5��-��B���� � ����������������&� �� ��� ���� �������:#G'#

������������� � �� � ���������������� �3�(�0��

Himachal Pradesh's capitalcity Shimla and other tourist

places of the state like Manali,Kufri and Narkanda receivedheavy snowfall since the weehours on Tuesday. Road trafficwas disrupted in several parts ofthe state and the state Capital dueto heavy snowfall.

Shimla received 5 cm snow-fall till 8.30 am and it is likely tocontinue during the day, MeTCentre Shimla directorManmohan Singh said.

Besides Manali received 5cm snowfall, Kothi 20 cm, Saluni6 cm and Kalpa 7.4 cm snowfalltill 8.30 am, he said.

Tourists in large numbersgathered at the historical Ridgeand Mall road in Shimla toenjoy snowfall.

Meanwhile, cold wave con-

ditions intensified across thestate as widespread rain andsnowfall occurred during the last24 hours.

Ghamroor received thehighest 62.8 mm rainfall fol-lowed by Dharamsala 47.4 mmrainfall, Kangra 39.6 mm,Palampur 32 mm, Saluni 25 mm,Kheri 28 mm, Banjar 33 mm,Kasauli 40.5 mm, Dharampur30.2 mm, Jogindernagar 25 mm,Naina Devi 32 mm, Una 21.8mm and Shimla received 13.2mm rainfall.

Light to moderate rain andsnowfall is expected at someplaces Wednesday as well, weath-erman said.

Fresh snowfall and rain alsobrought down the minimumtemperature in most parts of thestate.

The minimum temperaturein Dalhousie and Manali was

minus 1.8 and minus 1.2 degreesCelsius, respectively.

The state capital Shimlarecorded a minimum of 0.7degree Celsius followed by Kalpaat minus 2.4 degrees Celsius, theMeT added.

��� �+���� ��+���� �� �� ����� �������

Soon after heavy snowfall,Himachal Chief Minister JaiRam Thakur took stock of situ-ation arisen in Shimla town andother parts of the State by under-taking walk from GovernmentSecretariat to his official resi-dence Oak Over.

He inspected the ongoingsnow clearance process on wayand directed the authorities toensure normalcy at the earliest sothat general public and touristsdo not face any inconveniencedue to snowfall.

����� �3056�,0�3

Haryana Government hasimplemented a scheme

under which a monthly pen-sion ranging from Rs 5,000 toRs 9,000 is being provided toacid attack victim women onthe basis of percentage of dis-ability so as to provide them acontinuous source of income.

Apart from this, theWomen and ChildDevelopment Department isproviding financial help rang-ing from Rs 50,000 to Rs threelakh to such women for treat-ment, said an officialspokesman,

He said that the victims canapply online from their homes,at Antyodaya Kendras or atAtal Sewa Kendras.

He said that under thescheme, women, who werevictims of acid attacks as onMay 2, 2011 or after, would be given benefit of monthlypension.

He said that Haryanadomicile woman or woman,who had been residing inHaryana for at least three yearsbefore the attack, would be eli-gible for availing benefit ofmonthly pension. The victimherself or her family memberscan apply online on SARALportal for the pension. Theycan also apply to the DistrictSocial Welfare Officer con-cerned, he added.

The spokesman further

said that if the victim is a minorthen her parents or guardiancan apply for pension on herbehalf. If the victim is marriedthen her husband can alsoapply. It would be mandatoryto submit the application formalongwith medical certificateissued by Medical Board, copyof FIR and certificate of lump-sum financial assistance pro-vided by the Women and ChildDevelopment Department, hesaid.

In case of 40 to 50 per centdisability caused by acid attack,the monthly pension would be2.5 times of disability pen-sion. For example if disabilitypension is Rs 2,000 then themonthly pension would be Rs5,000.

Similarly, in case of dis-ability between 51 to 60 percent, the monthly pensionwould be 3.5 times of disabil-ity pension which stands at Rs7,000 and for disability morethan 61 per cent, the monthlypension would be 4.5 times ofdisability pension which standsat Rs 9,000, he added.

���������� �� ���������������������������

��������������������� �!��"��#���� "�����

�����$%�� ��&� !"'����(#!�� �

�)����&�������� �!��"�'���

.�� ������������������� ��������� ����������������� ���������� �����������/ �������%������� &%'

������� �� �� ������ � ����� ���� ��� �� �� ���� �� ���� �������� ����� ��� ��� �� !����� ������ "#$�� %&���� ��'� �����'��$��##"#� (��� )�� #�*"$+�#,-+* �� ������� � ./� 01� �� �������� ����� ���� )�� ""� ����$ � �������� .��� ����&��� 2���� 3�����4 ����� ����� . 5 �05�2.563 ��5����##3��4�������5�����7�� ���8��)����4���9���4��/ �:.�/�� ������47�'����:�������������4��1�����%����������4)����7�����6�� 7�8�� 7�������;����'�)�8%����$��###"� �����4#��$+#��#+<<���//��������������4!$,����������)� %.�6��/7���)'�$"#�,#��0��������4#�"#$+-*=-##:+-*==##� ���&��8������4+��!���������������'�������!�> �5������&��8$""�#���(���������4#<""$",+�++,$+<

Page 3:  · rabi crops, wheat cultivation, on the other hand, reported a 2.5-per cent deficit as com-pared to last year. As against an area of around 304 lakh hectare sown in 2017-18, the

� ���*�� ��+��#���&#%��'�!����$�#( '�)#��#%( *+,��*-./

����� �3056�,0�3

The electoral battle of Jindby-poll has turned into a

bitter fight in the Chautalaclan. After a furlough wasdenied to Indian National LokDal chief OP Chautala, theoctogenarian leader and hiswife Sneh Lata launched a vit-riolic attack on their grandsonsHisar MP Dushyant andDigvijay.

OP Chautala and seniorleaders of the INLD whiledescribing the cancellation offurlough as a conspiracy byDushyant and Digvijay aheadof Jind bypoll scheduled onJanuary 28, went onto callthem “traitors”.

While Dushyant andDigvijay, who have launched aseparate outfit, Jannayak JantaParty (JJP) have maintainedcalm and refuted the allega-tions, their mother, MLA fromDabwali, Naini Chautala wasmoved to tears on Tuesdayduring the election campaign-ing at Jind.

Naina, while urging votersto support his younger son,Digvijay, who is JJP’s candidatein Jind bypoll, turned emo-

tional and could not hold backher tears.

With the Jind bypollbecoming a “matter of prideand survival” in the state pol-itics for both INLD and itssplinter group JJP, the cancel-lation of furlough of formerChief Minister OP Chautalahas triggered a bitter exchangeof words between the leadersof the two parties.

The matter has givenINLD fresh political ammuni-tion to attack the JJP as thedenial of furlough to OPChautala came hours afterDelhi’s ruling Aam AadmiParty announced its support toJJP’s Digvijay Chautala forJind bypoll.

INLD chief OP Chautalaalongwith his elder son AjayChautala is undergoing 10years imprisonment in Delhi’sTihar Jail after their convictionin JBT teachers’ scam in 2013.

Notably, JJP was floated inDecember by Ajay Chautalaalongwith his two sons,Dushyant and Digvijay afterthe trio were expelled by OPChautala for “anti-party activ-ities”.

The keenly watched Jind

bypoll have Congress’ heavy-weight MLA Randeep SinghSurjewala, JJP’s DigvijayChautala, BJP’s KrishanMiddha, son of late INLDMLA Hari Chand Middha andINLD’s low profile candidateUmed Singh Redhu.

In the bypoll, the JJP islikely to eat into the Jat votebank of INLD, the partyfounded in 1996 by formerDeputy Prime MinisterChoudhary Devi Lal, father ofOP Chautala.

While JJP’s Digvijay is seenas strong contender in Jindbypoll, the chances of INLDseems bleak in the electoralcontest. Out on furlough, OPChautala was expected to cam-paign for the party candidateUmed Singh Redhu, in a bid tosave its sliding vote bank in thestate.

Leader of opposition andINLD’s senior leader, AbhayChautala, while talking to themediapersons on Tuesdayannounced to break personalties with sister-in-law NainaChautala and nephewsDushyant and Digvijay.

In a blistering attack on thefamily members of Ajay

Chautala, his younger brotherAbhay said that family of Ajayhas conspired against myfather and mother and we willnever forgive them for this.

It was due to the conspir-acy of Dushyant-Digvijay andDelhi’s AAP Government thatthe furlough of OP ChautalaSahab was cancelled, heclaimed.

Chautala added that hewill approach Union HomeMinister Rajnath Singh todemand an inquiry to exposethe political conspiracy into theissue. We will also approachCourt to ensure that no injus-tice is being done to my father,he added.

After his furlough wascancelled, a video of OPChautala while talking to themediapersons also went viralwhere he alleged that a con-spiracy has been hatched tostop him to campaign forINLD candidate in Jind.

Calling his grandsons–Dushyant and Digvijay—astraitors, OP Chautala hadalleged that AAP has hatchedthis conspiracy, along with theJJP and the voters of Jind willteach a lesson to them. He had

also made an appeal to the vot-ers to support INLD’s UmedSingh Redhu in bypoll.

A letter purportedly writ-ten by OP Chautala also cameforth where he had repeatedhis allegations againstDushyant and Digvijay.

Amid the ongoing familydrama, another video of ailingSneh Lata, wife of OP Chautalawas also released by the INLDwhere she was seen condemn-ing her grandsons for ruiningthe family.

Hisar MP, DushyantChautala has however deniedthe allegations saying that thefurlough was cancelled ontechnical grounds and we havenothing to do with the issue.

Responding to the com-ments made by his familymembers against him,Dushyant said that we respectour elders and we will notmake any comment againstthem.

Digvijay Chautala, who ismaking his political debut inJind bypolls, said the allega-tions levelled against the JJPare baseless.

If we were that powerful,we would have brought our

father Ajay Chautala out of jailfor campaigning, he added.

Ajay Chautala’s wife, NainaChautala however turned emo-tional during the election cam-paigning on Tuesday.

While addressing a gath-ering to seek votes for Digvijay,his mother Naina Chautalasaid, “I am shocked that peo-ple can say such things abouttheir own family members. Iam hurt after reading today’snewspapers, she said.

As she could not holdback her tears, Naina said shedid not want to cry and hadremained strong in the pastfour years. I am just support-ing my sons and want you tovote for Digvijay, she added.

Notably, the INLD is strug-gling to retain its Jind assem-bly seat, won by late MLA HariChand Middha, by defeatingBJP’s candidate with a smallmargin of 2,257 votes in 2014assembly polls.

According to the politicalanalysts, a positive outcome oreven more votes to JJP thanINLD in Jind bypoll will be amajor setback to the INLD,which is the main oppositionparty in Haryana.

�������������� �������� ���� ����������,��-��.�/���

����� �3056�,0�3

To reach out to the voters ofJind assembly constituency

ahead of bypoll, the rulingBharatiya Janta Party inHaryana will carry out MahaJansampark Abhiyan on January 24.

The Jind bypoll are sched-uled to be held on January 28and the counting of votes will beheld on January 31.

Pulling out all stops towrest the Jind assembly seat, theBJP will cover all 174 booths inthe assembly segment during itsMaha Jansampark Abhiyan onJanuary 24. For this purpose,different teams of the partyhave been constituted.

“The party workers willconduct a door-to-door cam-paign on January 24 underMaha Jansampark Abhiyan. All174 booths in the assemblysegment will be covered underthe campaign,” said Anil Jain,senior BJP leader and party’sincharge for Haryana affairs.

Jain said that the partyworkers will apprize the peopleabout the achievements of BJPled Central and StateGovernments. Several welfareschemes have been launched bythe BJP during its tenure, headded.

About party’s opponents inthe bypoll, Jain said that otherpolitical parties could not evenfind a candidate for the bypoll.And, the Congress had to fielda sitting MLA, he said.

The BJP leader added thatthe party is confident of its vic-tory in the Jind bypoll.

On the ongoing battlebetween INLD and JJP, Jain saidthat INLD is fighting its ownfamily and has nothing to dowith the interests of the peopleof Haryana.

The keenly watched Jindbypoll is witnessing a three-cor-nered electoral battle, with theCongress’ sitting MLA RandeepSingh Surjewala, Jannayak JantaParty’s Digvijay Chautala andBJP’s Krishan Middha, son oflate INLD MLA Hari ChandMiddha, in the fray.

Aware of the fact that afavorable bypoll outcome for apolitical party will send out abigger message ahead of 2019general election, the BJP is leav-ing no stone unturned to woothe voters of Jind.

In 2014 assembly polls,INLD’s Harichand Middha hadwon with 31,631 votes anddefeated BJP candidate SurinderBarwala with a small margin2,257 votes.

The bye-election to Jindassembly seat was necessitatedfollowing the demise of HariChand Middha in August.INLD’s Hari Chand Middhahad represented the Jind seat fortwo consecutive terms in 2009and 2014.

The assembly segment hasmore than 1.7 lakh votersincluding over 1.07 lakh urbanvoters and nearly 62,500 livingin villages.

�� �������� ����!� ����"�������

����� �3056�,0�3

Describing clean water as auniversal need, Haryana

Chief Minister Manohar Lal onTuesday exhorted the people totake pledge to keep the rivers,ponds and other water bodiesclean so that we could give abetter future to our future gen-erations.

Manohar Lal was address-ing the devotees at theParmarth Niketan Shivar ofSwami Chidanand Maharaj atArail in Prayagraj, UttarPradesh after going around themodel of clean drinking water.

A statement issued heresaid that on this occasion, healso performed ‘Jalabhikshk’ onthe globe model set up at theshivar with a vision to haveclean water in the world. Healso watched a documentaryfilm on developing houses byusing agriboard of straw.

The Chief Minister saidthat the State Government istaking several steps towardsensuring clean drinking watersupply and also has set up aseparate authority for the reju-venation of ponds in the state.

The Central Governmentled by Prime MinisterNarendra Modi has startedNamami Gange project toaccomplish the twin objectivesof effective abatement of pol-lution, conservation as well asrejuvenation of river Ganga.

The Haryana Governmenttoo is working towards thecleanliness of river Yamunapassing through the State, headded.

Later, the Chief Ministervisited Panchayati Akhara,Bada Udasin Nivaran where he

was accorded warm welcomeby Mahant Maheshwar Das.

Maheshwar Das appreciat-ed the Haryana Government forits efforts to take the Gita Jayantiat international level. The ChiefMinister also took blessings ofthe saints present in the shivar.

������������� �� ���������

����� �3056�,0�3

Expressing concern over theFood Corporation of India’s

(FCI) gradual withdrawal fromprocurement of foodgrains inPunjab, Chief Minister CaptAmarinder Singh on Tuesdaydecided to raise the issue withthe Centre and seek increase incentral agency’s procurementshare.

Capt Amarinder, whilechairing a high-level meeting toreview the procurementarrangements for the forth-coming Rabi Season, said thathe would ask the Union FoodMinister to increase FCI’s sharein the state procurement, whichhe pointed out had declinedfrom 30.69 percent to a mere 12percent in the last 20 years.

He also highlighted that inthe last 10 years, FCI had beenpulling back at the last minute

from procuring even the quotadecided at the start of the sea-son.

FCI, being the primarycentral agency mandated toensure food stocks for thenation, should remain active-ly involved in the food pro-

curement process, said CaptAmarinder adding that thegradual decline in FCI’s shareadversely impacts the financialposition of the whole procure-ment process, thereby burden-ing the state of Punjab.

“The last-minute refusal by

FCI to not procure its earlierdecided share always puts addi-tional burden on the state’sfinances,” he added.

Capt Amarinder also gavein-principle approval to with-draw four state procurementagencies — MARKFED, PUN-SUP, PSWC and Punjab AgroIndustries Corporation (PAIC)— from the procurement-relat-ed operations in a phased man-ner, beginning with PAIC.

The move is aimed atenabling these state procure-ment agencies to solely focuson their original mandate ofpromoting agro-based prod-ucts and cooperative move-ments.

With a view to seekingearly redressal of long pendingfood procurement issues withthe Centre, Capt Amarindersaid that he would be writingto the Union Finance Minister

and the Union Food Ministerseeking a joint meeting.

Underscoring the fact thatdespite the state being forced totake over the colossal Rs 31,000crores Cash Credit Limit (CCL)gap as term loan, the structur-al issues between the state andthe Centre remain unresolved,said Capt Amarinder addingthat he would request the ModiGovernment to resolve allpending issues for once and all,at the earliest.

Lauding the state FoodDepartment for ensuring fourback-to-back seamless pro-curement operations since thepresent Government took over,Capt Amarinder asked theFood Secretary KAP Sinha toimpress upon the Centre tohasten the process of grain-stock movement to create morespace for the storage of wheatduring the ensuing Rabi Season

2019-20.Emphasizing the need to

make elaborate arrangementsfor forthcoming Rabi Season,he also directed the Food andCivil Supplies Minister BharatBhushan Ashu to gear up theirentire staff for timely, smoothand hassle free procurement towin over the confidence of thefarmers.

Expressing concern overthe financial loss suffered bythe state on account of spoilage,the Chief Minister also askedthe Department to undertakeeffective steps for scientificstorage of foodgrains.

The state expects to pro-cure 130 lakh metric tonnes(LMT) of wheat during the rabimarketing season 2019-20, outof which state procurementagencies will procure 104 LMTswheat, said Food and Suppliessecretary Sinha.

���+����'+�� �3056�,0�3

Maha-gathbandhan (grand alliance) will soon become a real-ity in Punjab. The splinter groups of the main political par-

ties of the state are uniting to put up a fourth front to give thema tough fight in the ensuing parliamentary elections.

The leaders of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Taksali includ-ing Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Ratan SinghAjnala, Punjab Ekta Party’s (PEP) Sukhpal Singh Khaira, LokInsaaf Party’s Simarjeet Singh Bains, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP),among others held a closed door meeting at Ludhiana on Tuesdayto work out the modalities of the front, named as PunjabDemocratic Alliance (PDA).

The discussion was held on the sharing of seats, besides oth-ers issues, during the meeting. Another meeting will soon fol-low, expected to be held within a week’s time, in which a deci-sion would be taken on the seat share and the candidates.

Khaira has already expressed his desire to contest fromBathinda against the Badal bahu Harsimrat Kaur Badal who iscurrently Cabinet Minister in the Centre. Bains brothers, whohave stronghold in Ludhiana are expected to contest from theseat. Brahmpura, who is sitting MP from Khadoor Sahib, isexpected to retain the same.

Initially, the PDA was announced by AAP’s rebel leaders,comprising suspended MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi, suspendedMLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, along with Lok Insaaf Party (LIP)MLAs Simarjeet Bains and Balwinder Bains, and Bahujan SamajParty (BSP) state unit president Rashpal Raju, while inviting allthe “like-minded” parties to come along.

Later, SAD (Taksali) too joined hands with the PDA, whichhad already announced to contest the ensuing Lok Sabha elec-tions.

Khaira, who was unceremoniously removed as the Leaderof Opposition in Vidhan Sabha by the AAP central leadershipin August, suspended from the party, and later he resigned fromAAP, said that the PDA would aim to liberate Punjab from theclutches of corrupt traditional parties and the corrupt feudal fam-ilies.

While PEP is formed by Khaira who rebelled against AAPand later joined by another AAP MLA from Jaiton Master BaldevSingh, SAD (Taksali) was constituted by the rebel traditionalAkalis including sitting MP Brahmpura, former MinisterSekhwan and Ajnala. LIP was also formed by Bains brothers —Simarjeet and Balwinder—who were also part of SAD but part-ed ways before 2012 state assembly elections.

All the break-away factions are joining hands against the tra-ditional political parties — the Congress, SAD led by the Badals,and the BJP — to provide the electorates an alternative.

It has been learnt that Brahmpura had also invited AamAadmi Party (AAP) for the meeting. Sources informed that AAPstate unit president Bhagwant Mann had denied to have any coali-tion with Khaira led group.

����� �3056�,0�3

With Lok Sabha electionsstaring at, Punjab Chief

Minister Capt AmarinderSingh on Tuesday ordered theDeputy Commissioners of allthe districts to tighten theirbelts and work harder tostrengthen their public inter-face to deliver on the promis-es on which his governmenthad come to power 22 monthsago.

Making it clear that cor-ruption will not be tolerated atany level, the Chief Minister

said that the State Governmentwas ready to extend any helpneeded by the DCs to ensuretimely completion of projectsfor the development of thestate and welfare of its people.

Chief Minister, days aftersoliciting feedback from theCongress MLAs on the func-tioning of his Government,sent out a strong message to thestate’s administration to pull uptheir socks, and ensure that thepace of hard work and com-mitment is upped over thenext two months to ensure thefulfilment of the Government’sdevelopment agenda for thestate.

At the same time, the ChiefMinister made it clear thatrespect for elected representa-tives needed to be ensured at allcosts. He directed the DCs toextend due courtesy and regardto all elected persons, be it

MLAs or sarpanches. “Theyrepresent the people in ademocracy and we must becordial with them in our deal-ings,” said Capt Amarinder.

Directions were also issuedto the Secretaries to be in reg-ular touch with the DCs toensure that there are no gaps inthe implementation of variousschemes and benefits reachthe people at the grassroots.

He also directed the DCs toidentify bad eggs in variousoffices, be it at tehsils, BDOoffices, Police Stations or themunicipality level, and ensurethat corruption is eliminatedcompletely down to the grass-roots.

Asking the DCs to ensurepunctuality and disciplineamong their staff, the ChiefMinister made it clear thatdelay in implementation ofprogrammes and development

works would not be tolerated.Expressing concern over peo-ple reporting that pace of workin the field is very slow, hedirected the DCs to monitorworking of their office andother subordinate offices in thedistrict effectively.

Capt Amarinder alsoannounced allotment of onelakh plots of five marlas each tothe homeless SC families, withat least 10 plots in each villageacross the state in the firstphase where land is availablewith village Panchayats.

“In case, where land is notavailable and is to yet to bearranged, such SC beneficiarieswould be considered in the sec-ond phase,” he said, announc-ing a series of measures toensure development at both,the rural and urban levels. TheRural Development andPanchayats Department has

been asked to monitor theallotment process.

On the issue of debt waiv-er, the Chief Minister asked theDCs to involve local represen-tatives and ensure that no eli-gible person is left out on anyaccount.

Underlining the need tosustain the momentum of anti-drug campaign, he asked theDCs to review NDPS Act caseswhere bail has been granteddue to non-filing of charge-sheets. “DCs must visit OOATclinics regularly and interactwith all stakeholders to ensuresuccess of treatment,” he said,further asking the officers tocheck misuse of Buprenorphinetablets by unscrupulous ele-ments.

DCs were also directed torevitalize DAPO and Buddyprogrammes through involve-ment of all elected Panchayati

Raj representatives to proac-tively curb drugs in their vil-lages.

Referring to the SmartVillage Campaign for ruralareas and Urban EnvironmentImprovement Programme forurban areas launched by hisgovernment, the Chief Ministerasked the DCs to ensure that alltheir proposals reach the RuralDevelopment secretary andLocal Government secretarylatest by January 31.

“Works must be com-menced through the respectiveagencies, preferably byFebruary 15,” he said, assertingthat this was top priority for hisgovernment and he did notwant any delay in implemen-tation.

Expressing concern overthe pollution caused by BudhaNala, the Chief Minister askedthe Ludhiana DC to coordinate

with the Naamdhari Darbar,who have already taken up thenoble task of its cleaning in atime-bound manner.

The Chief Minister direct-ed expeditious acquisition forKartarpur Corridor inGurdaspur to ensure timelycompletion of the project.

The Chief Minister askedthe DCs to complete, in timeand with due diligence, variousflood control and canal desilt-ing works, asking them to con-verge works with NREGA to domore with State funds.

Capt Amarinder asked theDCs to make all necessaryarrangements for Rabi pro-curement in time as wheatprocurement will clash withLok Sabha elections this time.Transportation and labour con-tracts must be finalized well intime, he said, making it clearthat hassle-free procurement

had to be ensured at any cost.DCs have also been asked

to supervise repair of linkroads to ensure that quality ofroad repair being undertakenby Mandi Board or PWD isgood and not compromised atany cost.

Expressing concern overthe stray dog menace, the ChiefMinister asked the DCs tostart sterilisation programme asthe dogs were now attackinghuman beings in herds, caus-ing grievous hurt or sometimeseven loss of life.

During the meeting, allthe Deputy Commissionersgave their inputs and sugges-tions on farm debt waiver,drug abuse prevention pro-gramme, state-run employ-ment programmes under theGhar Ghar Rozgar and KarobarMission, stray cattle menaceand state run Gaushalas.

����� �3056�,0�3

Punjab Government onTuesday released Rs 65 crore

to the cooperative sugar millstowards the payment of sugar-cane dues to the sugarcanefarmers for the year 2017-18.

Announcing this, the stateCooperation MinisterSukhjinder Singh Randhawaon Tuesday said that theamount would get credited intothe accounts of sugarcane farm-ers by Wednesday.

He said that the cooperativesugar mills were to pay dues tothe tune of Rs 151.33 crore tothe sugarcane farmers, and outof this, Rs 65 crore have beenpaid while the balance Rs 86.33crore would also be releasedsoon.

Randhawa said that duringthe crushing season 2018-19,the cooperative sugar mills hadcrushed 99.15 lakh quintal ofsugarcane till January 21.

“The average sugarcanerecovery of the cooperative

sugar mills today is 10.40 per-cent, while till now, it has been9.61 percent which is likely toincrease further. Bhogpur andMorinda sugar mill had shownmarked improvement in per-formance in comparison withthe previous years and haverecorded 11.40 percent recov-ery rate till date. In comparisonwith the previous crushing sea-son, the cooperative sugar millshave till now producedincreased sugar worth approx-imately Rs 18 crore,” he said.

The Minister added thatin the crushing season 2018-19, the cooperative sugar millsare in the process of makingspeedy as well as sooner pay-ments to the sugarcane farm-ers and till January 21, thePunjab Government hasreleased the payment of Rs178.84 crore out of total dueRs 307.28 crore in respect ofthe sugarcane purchased asper the rate of Rs 310 perquintal fixed by the StateGovernment.

����� ���������������������� �����

��.0��1�1/���2����������0���

������������ ���������� ��������

�������� ����� ��#������� ���������� ����� ����$��2�������� ���6������������A����������� ���� �������������� �� �������� � ������ � �������&��

&��0�������� ��� ��������1+'2������� ��������������� ��+�������'���&������%�( �!��� ����*�� �* 3!�4�!�&����*�����4��(�� �'��#��&�������*�&�������� ���� �&�*��� ������%�����

� ��� ��(#!����$�� �������0��������������������5��� ������ ��������'��#��&��%�( �� � �'�����#�� ������!������&+�)67�'����������&����8�'��������� ��!�������"����

Page 4:  · rabi crops, wheat cultivation, on the other hand, reported a 2.5-per cent deficit as com-pared to last year. As against an area of around 304 lakh hectare sown in 2017-18, the

�(������#���&#%��'�!����$�#( '�)#��#%( *+,��*-./

����� �3056�,0�3

Punjab Chief Minister CaptAmarinder Singh on

Tuesday spoke with the UnionRailway Minister Piyush Goyal

to pursue the state’s demandfor a regular Express Train ser-vice, named Prakash PurbExpress, from New Delhi toAmritsar via Sultanpur Lodhi,to facilitate pilgrims to payobeisance during the 550thbirth anniversary celebrationsof Guru Nanak Dev.

The Chief Minister alsopressed for special train ser-vices for Sultanpur Lodhi fromNew Delhi during the periodfrom October 1 to November30, 2019, to ensure properconnectivity and ease of trav-el to the pilgrims.

He also sought an upgra-dation of the existing RailwayStation at Sultanpur Lodhi toa world-class railway stations,in view of the importance ofthe town to the historic cele-brations.

Pointing out that GuruNanak Dev’s 550th birthanniversary was beingobserved in November 2019,Capt Amarinder referred tothe letter he had written to theMinister earlier this month,

saying that the StateGovernment had alreadylaunched year-long celebra-tions on November 23, 2018,at Sultanpur Lodhi.

The city has immense his-torical and religious impor-tance, he noted, adding that itwas in the holy bein, thatpasses through the city, thatGuru Nanak Devji attainedenlightenment.

Sultanpur Lodhi wasexpected to be the first halt forpilgrims from across the worldto pay homage to the greatguru, said Capt Amarinder.

“Elaborate arrangementsare being put in place forboarding and lodging of thedevotees who would throngthe city. The city is fortunate-ly well connected throughroad and rail network.However, regulated trans-portation of commuters isrequired as huge crowds areexpected to descend in themonth of November 2019,” headded.

Citing the importance ofthe event, the Chief Ministerpointed out that the PunjabGovernment had formed aState Committee to map outand implement various pro-grammes and projects tocommemorate the historicoccasion.

The Central Governmenthad also constituted a NationalCommittee to commemoratethe event, he noted, urging theMinister to issue the necessaryinstructions to ensure that theservices and facilities soughtby the state are provided at theearliest.

Chandigarh: SAD on Tuesdaysaid that Punjabis have com-pletely distanced themselvesfrom a faction-ridden AamAadmi Party (AAP) as its “dubi-ous” leadership was alwaysswitching loyalties at any oppor-tune moment to secure their

vested interests. “Repeated deser-tions in AAP have left the partycadre completely confused aboutwith whom it should be sidingwith. Not only the common peo-ple of Punjab, but even the AAPworkers don’t want to attendparty meetings,” said SAD MPPrem Singh Chandumajra .

He said: “A few days back,party’s Jagraon legislator anddeputy leader in the legislatorassembly Sarbjit Kaur Manukepreferred to skip AAP’s much-touted Barnala rally as she couldnot convince people of her con-stituency to attend the event.”

����� �3056�,0�3

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday said that the Congress-led Punjab Government’s ‘Ghar Ghar Naukari’ farce had been

exposed with only a single person attending the job fair held atLudhiana a day before. “Youth has refused to attend job fair becausethey do not have any faith in the Congress Government. Youngstershave a very bitter experience at earlier job fairs. They have not beenoffered jobs commensurate with their qualifications, and theGovernment is not offering any job in the government sector. Thisis why yesterday’s job fair was shunned by the youth,” said SAD pres-ident Sukhbir Badal.

Sukhbir said that the Congress Government had played a crueljoke with the youth. “They were not only promised Ghar GharNaukari, but also an unemployment allowance of Rs 2,500 per monthbesides smart phones, and the Government has failed to implementany of these.

2��������9�-�:5�����1;����1;�����:��������1�/��

����� ����������������������!"���� �!<�� ����%!��=��%7%� #��%=-�$���=�!� ��>-��-#� $#

� � #?��*#@�7*�A������#�-!���B>�#��� ��%7��#�C%�#1�7�@#*���<��$��-�.��B>�#��1�A��@�#���#!$%� ���@�% ����C%�

�-! �7>-��'�*$%1� ��A��%!% � #>%!��%@�� ��>�=��.#%��7�#

*-�%7�� $#�;;4 $�.%� $�77%C#����=��#!#.�� %�7���A

�-�-���7�<��#C

!������������������������������� �"���#��������

00-���������������)�A������ ��� ���������-��B�����06

Page 5:  · rabi crops, wheat cultivation, on the other hand, reported a 2.5-per cent deficit as com-pared to last year. As against an area of around 304 lakh hectare sown in 2017-18, the

��#���&#%��'�!����$�#( '�)#��#%( *+,�*-./ ������

����;/�1&����������������������� ����'���#���#!$%) ����$� �� ����� ��%� ����������������������&� ����'!���������(�� ��������� ���� �����������������)$��� �������� �� ��� ��� ���������������� � ��� ��������������������������������� � ������$,$�������������������� �����#��������������� �� ���� ����� ����������� �������������&� �����'!�����������������������������0��� �� �����������/����� � ����� ���� ������!!��#��������������������������� ����$� �� ����� ���%� ������L�� �� ���� ������������� �&� �� �������3����(��� ����������#�

�'����������''������4D�E�� �� ������#���#!$%) 0� ������ ������������� �.������������� ����!:�� �����L���������������� ������ ��� ��������� � ������ ����B��������������������� ����������� ������� ����(�����#����� ������� ��������������������D!:'0��������E�0����9:!C������&������������� �� ������ ��� &���������� ����� � ������ ���������������������� ������������������������-������ �������� �� ������������� ���� ����� �����������#

������� ��&�������� �������������� ���#���#!$%) ������ ������� ���������� ���������������� ����&�������������������� &� ������������ ��� ���� ������ �����������&��� ������������� ������������������������� ���������������� ������������#�0���������*�������0 ���(�� �����5�&�������������������������������� �������������������&����������������������������� ��������������� ������#

;4D����&' ��'� �������)����F����� �#���#!$%)�0� ������I:�� ��������� �������� ���� �&��� �� ��������� ������� ��� ������� ������������B���� ����� �������� ������� ���� ��������#��������� &����������������������A���� �.��$�������*������0�����$����������*�������(�*������� ����������� ��������&������<��� ��� ��(������������� ����� �������������& �*����D*��� �6&���E����� �� �� �� ��������� ������K:�� ��������� ��#

��&�����������'��� 1'�����������)����#���#!$%) /������� ������&��������� ������������������������ �������������� � &�������� ��� ���&��������� &����������� ������� ��������� &��#��������� &����������������������A���� ���� ���������3��� ���������������� �� �������� ����������� ������� ��&������B���B����������������� ������������������������������#

��� ������ ���42�� ������ �����#���#!$%) �������� �������������������������) �&� ������ ���������� ���� �������������':�B������� ��� ����&� ����(��� ��������� ��������� �����6�������2�������0��� ��������������� ��� ��#�����0�������������������������������D0��E����������- ���(���� 5� ��� ��(�������������� �� ��� ������������������#

����� 52/�62�3�

In an effort to test the opera-tional readiness of all the

stakeholders to ward off anyattack like the 26\11 Mumbaiterror attacks in 2008 whereinterrorists came in through thesea route, the Navy has com-menced the largest ever coastaldefence exercise Sea Vigil alongthe entire 7,000 km coast of thecountry. The two-day fist of itskind national level exercisestarting Tuesday also covers theExclusive Economic Zone(EEZ). The exercise covers theentire 7,516.6 km coast cover-ing 13 coastal states and unionterritories and stake holdersalso include fishing and coastalcommunities, Navy spokesper-son DK Sharma said here onTuesday.

Explaining the objectives ofExercise Sea Vigil, he said itaims to comprehensively andholistically validate the effica-cy of the measures taken since‘26/11’. Seaward monitoringduring the exercise will entailpatrolling off coast, in OffshoreDevelopment Areas and off ourislands by the Indian Navy,Indian Coast Guard, support-ed by the State Marine Police.

Closer coast, strategicassets, ports, Single PointMoorings (SPMs) will bepatrolled by designated agen-cies. Seaward monitoring willalso entail inputs from techni-cal means, including intelli-gence sources. Shore-basedmonitoring will entailenhanced vigil by the StatePolice along the coast, moni-toring of fish landing centres bystate fisheries departments asalso monitoring of port areasby respective port authorities.

The exercise aims to simul-taneously activate the coastalsecurity mechanism across allstates and Union Territories.The exercise will cover a widefrontage covering for the firsttime the entire coast of India,including island territories.The exercise will also go deep-er, being spread over seaward,coastal, and hinterland areas.Evaluation of critical areas andprocesses, including inter-agency coordination, informa-tion sharing and technical sur-veillance will be undertaken.

On the first of its kind drill,he said so far smaller exercis-es are conducted in coastalstates on a biannual basis,including combined exercisesamongst adjoining states areconducted. The national levelreflects the distance that hasbeen covered since ‘26/11’ andthe relative maturing of theorganisation for coastal securityto take on this large-scaleendeavour.

The scale of the exercise isunprecedented in terms of thegeographical extent, the num-ber of stakeholders involved,number of units participatingand in terms of the objectivesto be met. All operationalassets of the Indian Navy andIndian Coast Guard are par-ticipating in the SEA VIGIL.The conduct of the exerciseSEA VIGIL is also being facil-itated by the Ministries ofDefence, Home Affairs,Shipping, Petroleum andNatural Gas, Fisheries,Customs, State Governmentsand other agencies of centreand state.

Post ‘26/11’, the IndianNavy was designated as theagency responsible for overall

maritime security, includingoffshore and coastal security.The Indian Coast Guard wasdesignated as the agencyresponsible for coastal securi-ty in territorial waters, includ-ing waters to be patrolled by theState Marine Police.

Coastal security is complexconstruct since it involves activ-ities both at sea and at land.The targets of the terroristscould be well inland. In theaftermath of “26/11”, a whole-of-government approach tomaritime security was adoptedand a large number of mea-sures were taken by a host ofstakeholders.

At the apex level NationalCommittee on StrengtheningMaritime and Coastal Security(NCSMCS) with CabinetSecretary at the helm wasestablished to review importantmatters pertaining to CoastalSecurity and for effective cen-tre-state coordination.

Likewise committees havealso been established at Stateand District level. At the oper-ational level, it included settingup of Joint Operations Centres(JOCs) of the Navy and CoastalSecurity Operations Centres ofthe Indian Coast Guard. Amulti-tiered patrol and sur-veillance mechanism withfocus on technical surveillanceand augmenting MaritimeDomain Awareness (MDA)through the coastal radar chainand other systems was adopt-ed. Real-time information shar-ing through the NationalCommand ControlCommunication andIntelligence (NC3I) Network;greater intelligence and opera-tional coordination were madethe focus areas.

����� 52/�62�3�

Aday after a self-proclaimedcyber expert claimed that

EVMs could be ‘hacked’, ahuge political storm eruptedacross the country with theOpposition and ruling partiestrading charges against eachother prompting the ElectionCommission of India (ECI) tolodge an FIR against theclaimant Syed Shuja.

While the BJP and theGovernment alleged that theCongress had organised theEVM hackathon in London,Congress alongwith otherOpposition parties demandeda proper probe in the matterand reiterated their demand forVVPAT voting.

Senior Congress leaderKapil Sibal, who was noticed

being present at the Press con-ference where Shuja claimedthe 2014 general election was“rigged” through the EVMs,stated that he was there as partof invitation from the organiz-ers and claimed that all thepolitical parties including theelection watchdog was invitedfor the presser in London. TheCongress, however, distanceditself from the event.

The BJP dubbed the alle-gations of rigging in the 2014polls a “Congress-sponsoredconspiracy” designed to“defame” Indian democracyand its Election Commission.Finance Minister Arun Jaitleycalled the claims ‘garbage’ andthe next ‘big lie’ after ‘Rafale’,

“Indian JournalistsAssociation London PresidentAshis Ray told me he has sent

invitations to all political par-ties including BJP and alsoElection Commission... He(Ashish Ray) sent me a per-sonal e-mail also. I told himthat I will be in London forsome personal work and heinsisted that I should come as

they are going to make animportant revelation. So Iwent,” Sibal said. Ray was oneof the organisers of the event.

Reiterating Shuja’s claimsthat a day after the 2014 elec-tions, 11 members of his teamwhich was working on EVMs

were murdered, Sibal sought athorough probe.

The ruling party launcheda stinging attack on theCongress and said it has alreadystarted looking for an “alibi” forits certain loss in the comingLok Sabha polls. Union

Minister and BJP spokespersonRavi Shankar Prasad said theIndian Journalists’ Associationis headed by Ashis Ray who isa “committed Congressmanand writes for National Herald”.

Ray “campaigns” for theCongress on social media andhas often attacked PrimeMinister Narendra Modi,Prasad claimed, adding that hehad also organised Rahul’spublic event in London.

Prasad also dismissedSibal’s claim that he was presentin his personal capacity, sayinghe was intelligent enough toknow implications of his beingthere. He claimed that Sibalwent there by deliberate design.He said the invite for the eventhad claimed that the hacking ofEVMs will be shown but the“gentleman” appeared in the USwearing a mask.

“I could not understandthis drama. He (Shuja) offeredno proof and nor did he presenthimself to questioning by themedia. No evidence, no cor-

roboration and no questionand such big allegations werelevelled,” he said.

Prasad also expressed hisparty’s “deep pain” at the alle-gation in the London event thatUnion Minister GopinathMunde was “murdered”because he was aware of the2014 poll “rigging” and was setto disclose it. He dismissed it asrubbish. Munde died in a roadaccident in New Delhi weeksafter the BJP won the 2014 elec-tions.

Uttar Pradesh rivals BSP’sMayawati and SP’s AkhileshYadav, who have joined handsto contest the Lok Sbaha polls,demanded that the upcomingpolls be held using ballotpapers instead of EVMs.Andhra Pradesh Chief MinisterN Chandrababu Naidu toostated leaders of 22 partieswould meet the ElectionCommission soon to discussthe EVMs and the voter veri-fiable paper audit trails(VVPAT) system.

�������2�� �� 52/�62�3�

After year-long confabula-tions, the plan to provide

Central Security IndustrialForce (CISF) security cover tothe four iconic monuments —Sun Temple in Konark inOdisha, Daulatabad Fort, BibiKa Maqbara (Tomb of theLady) and Ellora caves, allthree in Aurangabad inMaharashtra — is now all setto see the light of the day.

Sources in the UnionCulture Ministry said that amemorandum of understand-ing (MoU) in this regard will be

signed soon between the CISFand the Archeological Surveyof India (ASI). “Nitti gritty hasbeen almost finalized in thematter. The pact can be inkedanytime soon,” said the sources.

The ASI had approachedthe CISF personnel in thesemonuments to meet securitychallenges such as encroach-ments and for managingcrowds which increase onweekends and festivals.

Presently, Taj Mahal andRed Fort are the only two ASI-protected monuments in thecountry that are being guard-ed by the CISF, a central force

set up by the Union HomeMinistry for protection ofcountry’s industrial units and

airports.The CISF protected muse-

ums include Salarjung

Museum in Hyderabad,National Museum in Delhiand Victoria Memorial inKolkata. When contacted,Superintending Archeologist(Aurangabad Circle) Dr. DilipKumar Khamari confirmedthat the three monuments willbe under CISF ambit if a pro-posal in this regard is given thegreen signal. But he refused todivulge further details of theproposal which was conceivedearly last year.

However, sources said thatthe four top heritage sites arefacing security threats,encroachments and unman-

ageable crowd flow. “The deci-sion to deploy CISF personnelat these four monuments wastaken early last year after com-pletion of a technical survey bythe paramilitary force, whichfigured out the modalities ofthe new posting such as num-ber of personnel that would berequired, the security equip-ment needed and the kind ofsecurity that needs to be pro-vided at these tourist centres,”said the sources.

Located on a pyramid-shaped hilltop to the north-west of Aurangabad,Daulatabad fort is considered

as one of the most spectacularforts in the country while theBibi Ka Maqbara is a tombbuilt by Mughal emperorAurangzeb’s son Azam Shah inthe memory of his mother(posthumously known asRabia-ud-Daurani). It bears astriking resemblance to thefamous Taj Mahal, the mau-soleum of wife of Shah Jahan.

Aurangabad is also hometo Ellora-- one of the largestrock-cut monastery-templecave complexes in the world,and a UNESCO WorldHeritage Site, featuringBuddhist, Hindu and Jain mon-

uments, and artwork, datingfrom the 600-1000 CE period.

Dedicated to the Hindu‘God Surya’, what remains ofthe Sun Temple complex hasthe appearance of a 100-foot(30 m) high chariot withimmense wheels and horses, allcarved from stone. Once over200 feet (61 m) high, much ofthe temple is now in ruins.

There are 3686 centrallyprotected monuments/sitesunder the ASI, majority ofwhich are manned by privatesecurity agency. The Taj Mahalhas 280 CISF security person-nel while the Red Fort has 290.

*:�� ����������������� ��������� ����

%�$��"��"���&&�������'�$�����������&� ����(������

����:�2���1/�1��1��1����1�9����������6<88

)���� ���� �� �����������*+,������������

����� 52/�62�3�

Union Home Ministry clar-ified on Tuesday that

Indian citizenship would not begranted to any foreigner with-out the consent of StateGovernments concerned afterthe passage of the Citizenship(Amendment) Bill. HomeMinistry spokesperson AshokPrasad said every applicationfor Indian citizenship will beenquired into by the deputycommissioner or district mag-istrate concerned, who willcarry out due diligence andsubmit it to the stateGovernment concerned.

“The State Governmentalso has to conduct an enquirythrough its agencies. Only then,an individual will be grantedIndian nationality. Without thestate government’s recommen-dations, no one will be givenIndian citizenship,” Prasad toldreporters here.

The Citizenship

Amendment Bill 2019, beingstrongly opposed by a large sec-tion of people and organisa-tions in the Northeast, seeks toprovide Indian citizenship topersecuted minorities —Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhistsand Christians — fromBangladesh, Pakistan andAfghanistan after they havestayed in India for seven years,instead of 12 years at present.This is applicable to those whocame to India before December31, 2014.

The six religious minoritiesfrom Pakistan, Bangladesh andAfghanistan were earlier givena special dispensation for grantof long term visas. Peoplebelonging to Hindu, Sikh,Buddhism, Jain, Parsi andChristian religions fromPakistan, Bangladesh,Afghanistan will have to provethey belonged to any of thethree countries and were per-secuted on religious linesamong other things for Indian

citizenship. A large section ofpeople and organisations in theNortheast have opposed theBill saying it will nullify theprovisions of the Assam Accordof 1985, which fixed March 24,1971 as the cut-off date fordeportation of all illegal immi-grants irrespective of religion.

Home Minister RajnathSingh has already said the Billwill apply to all States andUnion Territories and the ben-eficiaries can reside anywherein the country. “The burden ofthese persecuted migrants willbe shared by the whole coun-try. Assam alone would nothave to bear the entire burdenand the government is com-mitted to giving all help to thestate government and people ofAssam,” Singh had said.

Home Ministry sourcessaid the ministry is consideringa proposal to provide incentivesto those people who want tosettle anywhere in India, exceptthe Northeast.

'�� ���+ � 3��� �����4������ ���� �����/�����5����4�����������(.

����� 52/�62�3�

The Government hasapproved granting of Ex-

Servicemen ContributoryHealth Scheme (ECHS) toAssam Rifles pensioners. Thebeneficiaries will include pen-sioners and their dependentsresiding in India and Nepalsubject to certain conditions.The Assam Rifles, one of theoldest para-military forcesmostly deployed in the North-East has officers from theArmy and the home ministryhas the administrative controlof the force. The soldiers arerecruited from all over thenation.

Giving details of the deci-sion taken the CabinetCommittee on Security (CCS),officials said here on Tuesdaythe there are more than threelakh beneficiaries includingdependents. As per the homeministry records, there areabout 92,000 Assam Rifles pen-sioners including about 27,000residing in Nepal.

����� 52/�62�3��

The extensive transfer andposting of officials by inter-

im CBI chief M Nageswar Raois aimed to break the caucus ofwell entrenched officers post-ed in the agency headquartersfor over three years and restorethe professional credibility.

Nineteen out of the 20transfers executed on Mondaycomprise cadre officials. Thelone officer Prem Gautam is anIPS officer who is the SP of theEconomic Offences Wing andhas been given additionalcharge of Deputy Director(Administration/Personnel)after relieving the currentincumbent Anish Prasad, whohad allegedly put formerSpecial Director RakeshAsthana’s number on surveil-lance without due procedure,sources said.

More transfers are in theoffing in the coming days atvarious levels in the agency, thesources said.

In a major reshuffle, Raotransferred around 20 officersMonday, including some offi-cers handling crucial cases likethe 2G scam. The case of SPVivek Priyadarshi who wasprobing the 2G case and wasposted in the headquarter for

over a decade has now beentransferred to Chandigarh.

Likewise, SP SK Nair post-ed as SP in BSFC, Mumbai whowas probing the MehulChoksi/Nirav Modi case relat-ing to PNB scam has beentransferred to Anti-CorruptionBureau in Mumbai. SP OFBSFC, P Balachandran has alsobeen transferred as SP Cochin.

SP Mohit Gupta who wasentrusted by then CBI chiefAlok Verma to probe the caseagainst his deputy RakeshAsthana has been brought tothe BSFC, Delhi.

“The exercise was aimed tocleanse and purge the system.The purpose was also to fill thevacancies in branches whichare handling crucial cases andto restore checks and balancesand strengthen vigilance mech-anism in the agency,” an officialin the know of developmentssaid.

Rao after taking over as the

interim chief of the agency forthe second time on January 11had undone the decisions takenby Verma, who was reinstatedby the Supreme Court onJanuary 8.

The first cycle of transferswas done on October 24, lastyear, a day after Rao was madeacting director of the agency forthe first time.

He was appointed to thepost after the governmentdivested Verma and Asthana oftheir powers following a bitterfeud between the two top CBIofficers.

Verma was removed bythe the high-powered com-mittee led by Prime MinisterNarendra Modi and compris-ing of Justice A K Sikri andleader of CongressMallikarjuna Kharge, two daysafter his reinstatement.

Government again gavethe charge to Rao in an inter-im capacity.

67���� �����������!����� ������+*'��� ������������������������8�� � ���

''!������"� *'�!������� ���2 ���,��� ��� ����

New Delhi: The Pakistani mar-itime agency fired on an Indianfishing boat with seven personson board and sank it onJanuary 17, following whichIndia has lodged a strongprotest with Pakistan over theincident, official sources saidon Tuesday.

Six Indian fishermen onboard the boat ‘Sudama Puri’were rescued by Indian CoastGuard while one fisherman wasmissing after the incidentwhich occurred 64 nauticalmiles south west off MithaPort in Gujarat, they said.PTI

��������� ������������� �������3�������� ������ �

-�������,*.����� ���+��!�����&'���������������(����

&��� �����"���$���9�� ������������*���/��� �&�����������,� ������ ������ ������ ������.�����/������������������������.�����- 0���#���������� �����&����������� �"���� ���*���&�����������,������ ������"�������� �*����� ��$��#�� ����%������ &%'

7���@�G����#�$-AA!#1����� ��7�A#��#*����-7*�34�AA%�#�����7*�=1�%7�!-*%7����@#��AA%�#���$�7*!%7�

��-�%�!����#��!%<#� $#�3�����@,� $#����#��A����%C#<���%=�*���$%��$������>��.%7�� $#�3�����#�7*�����>�� #*�%7� $#�$#�*H-�� #��A����C#���

*#��*#�$���7���.##7� ��7�A#��#*� ���$�7*%���$

Page 6:  · rabi crops, wheat cultivation, on the other hand, reported a 2.5-per cent deficit as com-pared to last year. As against an area of around 304 lakh hectare sown in 2017-18, the

��#���&#%��'�!����$�#( '�)#��#%( *+,�*-./ �����6

������������� ��� �=��0�0

Asaffron Government, if itcomes to power in the

State, will end cross-borderinfiltration and “syndicate taxraj” in Bengal, BJP presidentAmit Shah on Tuesday saidwhile launching a venomousattack on the Mamata BanerjeeGovernment.

Shah who was holding arally at Malda in North Bengalsaid reminding, the first pre-condition for a State-levelchangeover is a thunderousvictory for the saffrons in the

coming Lok Sabha elections.“Trinamool Congress

needs to be uprooted from thisState so as to bring to an endits syndicate tax raj,” Shah saidreminding “in order to see theback of this Government whichhas promoted gun and bombworkshops in the place of tra-ditional factories we will haveto first defeat them in the gen-eral elections.”

Setting a target of 23 seatsShah said “we will have to win23 seats from this State so thatwe can throw them out ofpower in the next State elec-

tions,” adding the coming gen-eral polls will not only deter-mine the future of India butalso write the history of Bengalin a different way.

“The 2019 elections willdetermine whether this TMCGovernment which has mur-dered democracy in Bengaland set up syndicate tax raj, willremain in Bengal or will beuprooted,” Shah adding “inGujarat you don’t have to coughup money to the syndicates forbuying cement, bricks andsand to construct a house.

Attacking the Trinamool

Government for providing asy-lum to the cross-border infil-trators Shah said, “I can assureyou that if BJP comes to powerit will not let any infiltratorenter Bengal.” The TMCGovernment loves infiltrators,which is why it is allergic tonational register for citizensprotesting its implementation,Shah said promising to bringNRC to Bengal if it comes topower in this State.

The BJP Government willprovide citizenship to all theHindu, Shikh, Buddhist andJain refugees during the NRC

regime he said.Mocking the grand United

India rally organized lastSaturday by Chief MinisterMamata Banerjee at the historicBrigade Parade Ground inKolkata and attended by 23national leaders Shah said “thiswas a rally where there were 9aspirants for the PrimeMinister’s post. This meansthere were nine PrimeMinisters whereas in BJP thereis only one, that is NarendraModi,” adding the people willdefinitely choose the betterand later option.

! � �"�# ������� �<�'���������������� ������(�����

*:&���� ��������� �����.� ��/������������������������� ��������� �����������$ �������� �����������%������� &%'

�������� ��� (4($0�

In an effort to keep itsaggrieved ruling alliance

partner Shiv Sena in goodhumour in the run-up to thecrucial Lok Sabha polls, theBJP-led MaharashtraGovernment on Tuesday sanc-tioned �100 crore for the ambi-tious Bal Thackeray memorial,being developed at the erst-while Mayoral bungalow atShivaji Park in north-centralMumbai.

The State Cabinet, at itsweekly meeting presided overby Chief Minister DevendraFadnavis, approved the deci-sion to sanction �100 crore forthe Thackeray memorial.

The State-run MumbaiMetropolitan RegionDevelopment Authority(MMRDA), which functionsdirectly under control of theChief Minister, will make avail-able �100 crore for theThackeray memorial project.

The development came onthe eve of the 93rd birthanniversary of Thackeray onWednesday.

On Wednesday, theBrihanmumbai MunicipalCorporation (BMC), whichowned Mayor's bungalow-compound land, would handover the papers transferring theland to the BalasahebThackeray National MemorialPublic Trust (BTMPT) ser upfor the construction of amemorial for the late Senachief.

Built in 1928 in an areaspread over four acres of land,

the mayor’s bungalow was pro-posed in 2016 as a site for lateThackeray’s memorial. Thebungalow plot admeasuring11,500 sq metre, has beengiven to the BTMPT at a nom-inal lease of �1 per annum for30 years.

Shiv Sena presidentUddhav Thackeray will per-form Ganesh puja at thememorial site on Wednesday.

The BTMPT is expected tolay foundation stone for theconstruction of Thackeraysometime next month, forwhich the ruling Shiv Senamight invite Prime MinisterNarendra Modi.

Informed Sena sources saidthat the party may hold a spe-cial screening of “Thackeray”,a Hindi and Marathi biopicmade on the life and times ofthe late Shiv Sena chief.

Meanwhile, whileannouncing the sanction of�100 crore the Thackeraymemorial project, Maharashtra

Finance Minister SudhirMungantiwar said that the rela-tions between the BJP andShiv Sena, which have beenelectoral alliance partners forthe past three decades, wouldcontinue to remain in themonths and years to come.

Though the sanction of�100 crore for the Thackeraymemorial project, the rulingBJP has once again extendedan olive branch to the miffedShiv Sena, which has repeatedlymade it clear that it would goit alone in all the elections infuture.

The nature of bitternessprevailing between the twosaffron alliance partners couldbe gauged from the fact Senapresident UddhavThackerayhad on January 13 hit out atBJP president Amit Shah, say-ing that no party should con-sider the Sena as "weak" andthat “no one is either born yetor will ever take birth who candefeat my party”.

����5����894��������������%������������� ��

Lucknow: PragatisheelSamajwadi Party (Lohia) chiefShivpal Yadav on Tuesdaytermed the poll alliance betweenthe SP and BSP a ‘thagbandhan',or a coalition of cheaters, andalleged that their chiefs are inthe habit of betraying others.

"This is not a 'gathbandhan'(alliance) between the SP andthe BSP but a 'thagbandhan',” hesaid about the seat-sharing pactrecently announced by the twoparties for the Lok Sabha polls.

“While one ditched hisfather and uncle, the other didthe same with her brother,"Yadav told reporters at his partyoffice here.

He was referring toSamajwadi Party presidentAkhilesh Yadav, who allegedlysidelined him and his brotherMulayam Singh Yadav, and

Bahujan Samaj Party supremoMayawati, who had once tied a'rakhi' on BJP leader LaljiTandon. Shivpal Yadav hadformed the new party aftercomplaining of being sidelinedby nephew Akhilesh Yadav,when he took charge of the SPfrom party founder and fatherMulayam Singh Yadav.

Shivpal Yadav said after theLok Sabha polls his own partywill hold the "master key", with-out which no Governmentcould be formed at the Centre.

"We will form an alliancewith the secular parties, and thetalks are on. You all will be toldabout it soon," he added.

"The PSPL is emerging as aforce in the state and people aregiving it support. Only ourparty can stand against theBJP," he claimed. PTI

+��$�����+ '�+ ����� ��������� ��� � ��������� ���

+������������ ���50,0�

Inclement weather continuedto impact the normal life in

Kashmir Valley as Srinagar-Jammu National Highwayremained closed for the secondconsecutive day as a massiveavalanche hit the vital JawaharTunnel blocking its two tubesfrom the Kashmir Valley side.Hundreds of truckers have beenstranded along the 300-kilo-

meter highway even as theauthorities issued strict advi-sories for the passenger andgoods vehicles.

The traffic managementofficials said that landslideshave hit the strategic highway atsome places in the Ramban dis-trict including Digdol, Panthial,Magarkote and Khooni Nallah.

They said that a massiveavalanche hit the northern tubeof Jawahar Tunnel blocking the

highway completely. They saidit would require a massive clear-ance operation to make the tun-nel safe for passage of vehicles.The area around the tunnel haswitnessed massive snowfall.There was no report of any lossof life or injuries followingavalanche and landslides.

On Monday, the incessantrain and snowfall forced author-ities to suspend vehicular traf-fic on the highway.

�$��� ��������"��������/� �����01���������������

.���� ���������������������������� ��������������������������������/� �����:�����$�� �����( �������� ���������������!����;�3 ����!�9��� �����%������� &%'

+�������''��������32550�

The venue from where Prime MinisterNarendra Modi was to lay the foundation

stone for the All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS) at Madurai on January 29 has been shift-ed to another place following security threat.

Though Tamil Nadu Police was tight-lippedabout the reasons behind the shifting of the venue,persons having access to intelligence inputs toldThe Pioneer that central agencies have taken noteof the statements made by Vaiko, leader of theMDMK and leaders of various Tamil chauvinistorganisations that they would stage black flagdemonstrations against the Prime Minister dur-ing his visit to Madurai.

Security agencies do not wantto risk any chances as last time thePrime Minister visited Chennai, the

DMK and other Dravidian organisations hadflown black balloons against him for the delay inconstituting the Cauvery Management Board asper the orders of the Supreme Court. The PrimeMinister's visit in April 2018 was to inaugurate theDefence Expo.

"The recent speeches made by the Dravidianleaders condemning the Prime Minister over aseries of issues ranging from Karnataka's plan togo ahead with the preparation of detailed projectreport for constructing the Mekedattu Dam andthe 'failure' of the Centre to accept the demandfor compensation package for those affected byCyclone Gaja in November 2018 were highly crit-ical and it is quite natural for central agencies totake note of the same," said a source in ChennaiPolice who did not want his name to be quoted.

Kolkata: A woman on Tuesdaymoved the Calcutta HighCourt seeking permission toabort her 25-week old foetusdue to medical complications.

Hearing the plea of thewoman and her husband,Justice Tapabrata Chakrabortydirected her to appear before amedical board of state-runSSKM Hospital on Thursdayfor examination and to ascer-tain whether the pregnancy wasto be terminated.

Justice Chakraborty direct-ed Additional Advocate GeneralAbhratosh Majumdar to submit

the report of the medical boardbefore the court on January 25.

The woman got married in1999 and gave birth to a girl in2004, their lawyers Kallol Basuand Apalak Basu submitted.

While the woman is ahomemaker, her husbandworks in a private company.

She conceived again inOctober last year and, after fourweeks during a check-up, thedoctor suspected some abnor-mality and advised the womanto undergo a serum test.

After the test, it was foundthat the child was at a high risk

of being affected with DownSyndrome, they submittedbefore the court. They con-sulted two more doctors andafter several more pathologicaltests it was found that the foe-tus was affected by abnormaldevelopment of cardiac organs,stomach, umbilical chord, apartfrom that of the brain whichcan lead to the child beingaffected by Down Syndromefollowing birth. On January 13,when the foetus was aged 23weeks, one of the doctors saidit was a fit case for terminationof pregnancy. PTI

+�������������� ��������������$� ������ ����� �/%

2��� ���#����� ��� ��'������������.=>#�������������

Page 7:  · rabi crops, wheat cultivation, on the other hand, reported a 2.5-per cent deficit as com-pared to last year. As against an area of around 304 lakh hectare sown in 2017-18, the

��#���&#%��'�!����$�#( '�)#��#%( *+,�*-./ �����=

! $���#������ � ����� ��$����������$ ��!�!����� +����2��&����������� ���������� �Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh ShiaCentral Waqf Board ChairmanWaseem Rizvi has written a let-ter to Prime Minister NarendraModi, urging him to shut downprimary-level madrasas acrossthe country in order to checkterror group ISIS’ influenceon Muslim children.

Rizvi, who has supportedthe demand for Ram temple inAyodhya and uniform civilcode, said Muslim children, ifthey want, can take admissionin madrasas after completinghigh school.

"It can be seen that childrenare soft targets for running anymission and at this point oftime ISIS is a dangerous terrororganisation which is gradual-ly getting hold over the Muslimpopulation across the world.

"...If madarasas are not

shut down, about half of thecountry's population willbecome supporters of the ISISideology in 15 years' time,"Rizvi said in the letter.

He said the support to theISIS is clearly visible inKashmir where children arebeing alienated from people ofother religion in the name ofIslamic education.

"In the rural areas of thecountry also, the primarymadarasas in the name ofdonations are harming thefuture of our children and pro-moting fundamentalist think-ing... This is damaging both thecountry and the Muslim chil-dren," he said.

Taking admission inmadrasas after schooling willnot only help them take normaleducation till the high school-level along with children of dif-ferent sections of society andreligion, but also will deterthem from getting easily influ-enced by fundamentalist think-ing, Rizvi said.

He has previously sup-ported the demand of Ramtemple at the disputed site inAyodhya and a mosque,'Masjid-e-Aman', in Lucknow.

Agartala/New Delhi: The BSFon Tuesday handed over the 31Rohingya Muslims, who werestranded on the India-Bangladesh border for fourdays, to Tripura Police, even as30 more community memberswere apprehended in Assam,officials said.

The 31 Rohingyas, whohad apparently come fromJammu & Kashmir, were stuckin no-man's land, beyond thebarbed wire fence along theIndo-Bangladesh border inTripura since January 18.

The situation had led to ablame game between theBorder Security Force (BSF)and its counterpart — BorderGuards Bangladesh (BGB) —with the two sides accusingeach other of pushing theminto their territories.

The decision to hand overthe Rohingyas to the Tripura

Police was taken after the BSFand the BGB failed to reach adecision during talks on theissue.

The 31 Rohingyas under-went a medical check-up andwere later produced before acourt in West Tripura districtwhich sent them to 14-dayjudicial custody, the officialssaid.

Deputy Inspector Generalof the BSF Brijesh Kumar said,

"We took the matter up withthe BGB and requested them totake the Rohingyas back toBangladesh. They denied.Several rounds of talks with theBGB had failed. So, we hand-ed them over to police."

A battalion commander-level meeting was held at theZero Line on Sunday, the offi-cials said.

Officials in New Delhi saidthe BSF informed the Home

Ministry about the final resultof the talks and gave it the sit-uation report.

After receiving the min-istry's nod, the BSF signed thepapers and handed over the 31Rohingyas to the staff of theAmtoli police station in WestTripura district police at 11 am,ending the standoff with theirBangladeshi counterparts.

The officials added that thestate police will verify thedetails of the Rohingyas, andthe BSF has been asked to ren-der assistance for the task.

It is suspected that thesepeople had travelled to theborder area from Jammu &Kashmir, the officials saidadding, that the truth can onlybe established after an investi-gation. Pranab Sengupta, offi-cer-in-charge of the Amtalipolice station, told PTI that the31 Rohingyas, including ninewomen and 16 children, weresent to the Tripura MedicalCollege for a check-up and"were found to be alright".

He said the BSF had been

providing them food, water andother essentials.

While the BGB claimedthey had come from India, theBSF said they had not as therewas no tell-tale sign of breachof the barbed wire fence on theIndian side.

BGB commander inBangladesh's easternBrahmanbaria region LtColonel Golam Kabir told PTIin Dhaka that the "BSF want-ed to push them into our ter-ritory but eventually, they tookthem back".

He said BGB officials heldtwo round of talks with theirIndian counterparts duringwhich "we told the BSF that ifthey were Bangladeshis, bringthem to justice in your coun-try in line with your law fortrespass charges".

"They (Indians officials)tried to convince us that theRohingyas entered into Indiafrom Bangladesh which werefused to accept as these peo-ple were carrying Indian refugeecards," Kabir added. PTI

�������� ���(4($0�

In what will provide an oppor-tunity to movie aficionados to

undertake an absorbing journeyof over a century of Indian cin-ema, the newly inaugurated theNational Museum of IndianCinema (NMIC) at the FilmDivisions campus will remain

open for public between 11 amand 6 pm every Sunday andTuesday.

The NMIC — housed intwo buildings, the New MuseumBuilding and the 19th centuryhistoric palace Gulshan Mahal— which was inaugurated on byPrime Minister Narendra Modion Saturday —opened for thefirst time on Sunday and itremained opened for the secondday on Tuesday.

The NMIC provides aglimpse into Indian film histo-ry and help film students, film-makers, fans and critics to learnand understand cinema as a

medium of artistic expression inthe country and globally.

The museum has on displayartefacts like vintage cameras,projectors, editing and record-ing equipments, costumes, pho-tographs and other materialsportraying the journey of Indiancinema since the dawn of Indiancinema in 1913 with the firstfull-length feature film, “RajaHarischandra” made by the leg-endary Dhundiraj GovindPhadke, known as DadasahebPhalke.

The New Museum Buildinghas four Exhibition Halls whichencapsulate: Gandhi & Cinema:

it not only depicts the moviesmade on the life MahatmaGandhi but also showcases thedeep impact his life had on cin-ema. The Children’s Film Studioin the museum gives visitors,particularly children, an oppor-tunity to explore the science,technology and art behind film-making. It offers hands on expe-rience on various facets associ-ated with making cinema likecamera, light, shooting, experi-ence of acting, etc. — present-ed in an interactive format.

The exhibits displayedinclude chroma studio, immer-sive experience zone, stop-

motion animation studio, virtualmakeover studio, etc.

The NMIC showcases thecreative use of technology byIndian film makers over theyears to produce cinemato-graphic impact on the silverscreen. It also showcases thecharismatic kaleidoscopic pres-ence of the vibrant cinemato-graphic culture across India.

Gulshan Mahal is an ASIGrade-II Heritage Structurewhich has been restored as partof the NMIC project. The dis-plays present here showcase thejourney of over a hundred yearsof Indian cinema.

+� �����3)'���!���������������

<�����������"� ����������������������� ��

"� ��������� ��!�����������������������+��� ��� �� ��������������%� ����������!��� ���������������� ��� ������������������� ������� ��� ��9�� ����0�� ��� �����%������� &%'

Mumbai: An organisationclaiming to work for Brahminrights on Tuesday held a dhar-na here demanding four per centreservation for the communityinstead of inclusion in theCentre's 10 per cent quota foreconomically backward sectionsin the general category.

The protest, in AzadMaidan in south Mumbai, bythe Samasta Brahmin SamajMaharashtra, an umbrella bodyof 24 groups, saw around 1500people, including priests, fromNashik, Thane, Pune and otherparts of the State.

A delegation which metMaharashtra Chief Minister

Devendra Fadnavis later toldreporters that the CM was pos-itive on their demands exceptthat of quota. VishwajeetDeshpande, an organisationfunctionary said, "All otherdemands except reservation forBrahmins were accepted by theGovt. However, reservation isour key demand for which wewill continue our protest."

He added that the 10 percent quota announced by theNarendra Modi Government isfor 250 castes and religions.

"We want 4 per cent quota,which is half of the populationpercentage of Brahmins inMaharashtra. We will intensify

our agitation if the Governmentfails to give reservation beforeLok Sabha code of conductcomes into force," he said.

He added that theirdemands include creation of aseparate financial board for theBrahmin community to helpeconomically weaker sections, aseparate 'atrocity act' to protectthe community as well as stu-dent hostels in every district forthe community.

The group also demandedfree education from kinder-garten to post graduation, com-pletion of the Shivaji memorialand Bharat Ratna for freedomfighter Veer Savarkar. PTI

$������������������ ���������� ������������ ���2������!���������������

��$�����&&���������������������� �����%�*��*���������� ���� &����������$��+� �����/������������ �33'4��

Shillong: The Indian Navy onTuesday resumed its operationto retrieve the decomposedbody of one of the trappedminers detected inside a 370-feet deep illegal coal mine inMeghalaya's East Jaintia Hillsdistrict but failed to achievesuccess.

Navy divers, who had sus-pended their operation onSunday on the advice of the dis-trict administration, along withNDRF personnel, used remote-

ly operated vehicles.After day-long efforts, they

only managed to move thebody a few metres from whereit was left on Sunday andbrought it near the bottom ofthe main shaft, officials said.

"The body has been pullednear the bottom of the mainshaft... The process to bring thebody to the top will take somemore time due to the presenceof some obstructions inside themine," spokesperson of the

operation R Susngi said.Efforts to retrieve the body

would continue on Wednesday,he added.

The Navy personnel hadearlier managed to pull thebody, seen 200 ft along the hor-izontally dug small hole, abouthalf way to the bottom of theshaft. But, it could not bebrought out due to apprehen-sion that further moving itcould result in its disintegra-tion, Susngi said. PTI

Jaipur: Two more people dieddue to swine flu in Rajasthanon Tuesday, taking the deathtoll to 54, an official spokesper-son of the State HealthDepartment said.

The two deaths werereported from Bikaner andKarauli.

As many as 54 people havedied due to swine flu in thestate from January 1 to till date.

The spokesperson said1,414 people tested positive forthe H1N1 virus. Looking at thesituation, the medial and healthdepartment Monday launched

a three-day screening drive forswine flu and it has now beenextended to three more days.

On Monday and Tuesday,more than 55 lakh people werescreened in nearly 20 lakhhouses across the state, Dr V KMathur, Director (publichealth) of the medical andhealth department said.

He informed that 846 peo-ple were found with symptomsof swine flu and they were giventhe medicine. Nearly 20,000people were found sufferingwith fever and samples were col-lected, Mathur said. PTI

��������������� ���������� ������� ��"�0!�����������������)=

��������� ���� ����������������&��)5������

.�+�������� ����/���� ������5��������������� � �����/������������ ��5����� ����%������� &%'

Page 8:  · rabi crops, wheat cultivation, on the other hand, reported a 2.5-per cent deficit as com-pared to last year. As against an area of around 304 lakh hectare sown in 2017-18, the

Sukumar Sen, an Indian civil servant —the first Chief Election Commissionerof India no less — arguably deserved

a ‘Nobel Prize for Peace’ in his official capac-ity for actually launching this country intothe trajectory of democracy. Were it not forthe successful completion of the first gen-eral and Assembly elections in 1952, theexalted principles of democracy, asenshrined in the Constitution, could havereceived a rude setback.

Imagine for a moment in 1953, when SirWinston Leonard Spencer Churchill, to givehim his full breadth, got his Nobel Prize forLiterature (in absentia) “for his mastery of his-torical and biographical descriptions as wellas for brilliant oratory in defending exaltedhuman values”, Sen receiving the same in thePeace category. His citation could read, “forpeacefully conducting the world’s largestelections in India in 1952 on the basis of uni-versal adult suffrage notwithstanding anabysmally low literacy rate of the electorate,thereby launching the Asian nation on the pathof democracy believed to be a preserve of afflu-ent and industrialised nations of the West.”

In reality, the Nobel Prize for Peace, 1953,was awarded to General George C MarshallJunior (1880-1959), former US Secretary ofState, for his plan (‘Marshal Plan’) aimed ateconomic recovery of Western Europe afterthe World War II. No Nobel Peace Prize wasgiven over the next two years. The free worldfailed to fathom the significance of indepen-dent India’s espousing democracy. Indiaspearheaded the struggle for de-colonisationin Asia and Africa. It was also a harbinger ofparliamentary democracy in the non-Western world. One fifth of the world’s pop-ulation, enlisted to the cause of democracy,was no mean achievement at the onset of theCold War. India kept out of power blocs andmilitary pacts.

In early 1975, or 25 years after theConstitution of India came into force, therewere only 40 democracies in the world. Theywere predominantly in rich and industri-alised nations of the West. It was not untilthe 1980s, or more noticeably the 1990s, afterthe cessation of the Cold War, that signifi-cant democratisation happened worldwide.There are around 125 electoral democraciesin the world today.

The role of democracies in contributingto regional peace is well-acknowledged.Democracies rarely get involved into conflictswith each other or display hegemonisticdesigns. They also tend to promote an opensociety. They, thus, have a moderating effecton global situation.

Mao Zedong led China to become aPeople’s Republic within a year of India’s inde-pendence. It, thus, took a very different polit-ical trajectory than India’s. Both nationsshared cordial ties in the beginning before rela-tionships soured. But China’s going over tocommunism, initially as an ally of the erstwhileUSSR, and subsequently as adversary, intro-duced definite tension in international rela-

tions. Its support to North Koreaencouraged the communistregime to attack South Korea onJune 25, 1950, thus triggering theKorean War (1950-1953).

The US failed to tameChina and had to resume har-monic diplomatic relationshipin 1972 after a quarter centuryof alienation. The then USPresident, Richard Nixon, vis-ited Beijing to meet MaoZedong and seal that negotia-tion between the two political-ly incompatibles. But Chinanever lost its capacity to giveheadache to its neighbours andthe free world in general with itsaggressive posturing on geo-political and economic matters.

Our other neighbour,Pakistan, also could not developgenuine democracy. Its record ofmilitary dictatorship extendsfrom Field Marshal Ayub Khanin the 1950/60s to GeneralPervez Musharraf in the newmillennium. It has become a hubof Islamic extremism and terror-ist groups. Its greatest rebuff todemocracy was Islamabad’s per-sistent refusal to accept the resultof general elections of December7, 1970, which sparked off theLiberation War of Bangladesh.The genocide of 1971, mostly ofthe Hindus in east Bengal, by thePakistani Army, remained anexcruciating chapter of history.

India’s democracy is thefruition of Constitutional agi-tations of the 19th century, fol-lowed by mass movements ledby MK Gandhi between 1920and 1942. The first produced anucleus of men versed in thelegislative science and Westerndemocratic principles. The sec-

ond led to the growth of con-tact between the leadershipand the masses.

The demand for the intro-duction of elective principles inIndia long ante-dated thedemand for independence. Thedemand for introducing electiveprinciples (in legislative coun-cils) was raised by the likes ofJustice MG Ranade, antiquari-an Rajendralala Mitra,Surendranath Banerjea and sev-eral other leaders in the lastquarter of the 19th century.There was not even remotely ademand for independence then.

Democracy, based on uni-versal adult franchise, is a gift ofour Constitution-makers. Toensure free and fair elections,they envisaged an autonomousElection Commission underArticle 324. However, universalfranchise is an upshot of our free-dom struggle, which was wagedin the name of every Indian,regardless of gender, social, eco-nomic and educational status.

But to implement the sameat the ground level posed a hugeadministrative challenge. Thedelimitation of constituencies,based on the Census of 1941,creating an accurate voters’ list,building capacity and mobilis-ing Government employees onelection duty were tough chal-lenges for a newly-indepen-dent nation affected byPartition, mass migration andintegration of princely states.

There was no dearth ofsceptics who predicted thatIndia’s first general electionwould prove to be its last. Theyargued that a population with adismal literacy rate of 16.6 per

cent was unfit to handle democ-racy. Critics, however, wereproven wrong. A 51.5 per centvoters’ turnout was recorded,which was by no means unsat-isfactory. The ElectionCommission made elaboratepublicity arrangements to edu-cate the voters. Sen himselfwent over to radio and gave aseries of talks to enlighten thevoters on a range of issues.January 25, 1950, was the daywhen the Election Commissionof India was instituted. Since2011, the day is being markedas ‘National Voters’ Day’ tomotivate and facilitate the vot-ers to exercise their franchise.Democracy is a continuousrevolution, which must be fedinterruptedly.

“Democracy is by no meansa Western institution, it is ahuman institution. Whereverman has attempted to evolvepolitical institutions, he has hitupon this wonderful institutioncalled democracy,” observedSubhas Chandra Bose in hispresidential address at theMaharashtra ProvincialConference in Pune on May 3,1928. Yet like a polar satellite,there was a danger of it going topieces, if not properly launched.India’s first Chief ElectionCommissioner set an example.Today, the Election Commissionconducts elections five times thatsize. Little do we realise howimmensely they contribute toworld peace.

(The writer is author ofrecently published book, ‘TheMicrophone Men: How Oratorscreated a Modern India’. Viewsexpressed are his personal)

)�� *��� ���&� ����� ������ ��� ��������������&������������������������������������������

������+���������������,���������������������������������������������������������������������-������)�� �.���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������(�����,�����������-������� ��������(����� �����������������������������. �����*���������������������������

����������������������������������������������,���,��������.�������#������ �/��������������������� ���������������� �� �������� &����������������������� ������������������� ��0���������-���������/����������� �������������������������(����������������������������������������� ��������������������������������-������1������)��������!���������������������. ������������������������������������������23�����#�.-)���������������������������������������������������������������� �������� �������������������������������������� �.���������� ��&���� ����������������������������������� (��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

4�������������,������$�����������������������������//��(��������������������#������ ��������������������������������� ������� �������������������������������������������������������������������5��������������������(������������������������������������������������������ ������.������������������������)!678)������!��������6��9������������������������������������������"������������������������������(�����:����5���������-������ �#���������������������������� ��������������.���� 1���)���������������������������������������������������������� �������&�������.������������������� ��������������������������� ����)���-������������;���������������733���������������������������������������������������,���������:�����#������ ������������ �#������(��������������������������������� �������������������������������� ��� � ����������������� ���������������������������������,���,�����.<$��������������������������� �������������������������(����������������������������� ����#����������������������������,��&������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������������������������������#������ ��������������� ��)������( )$�����#������"�������������������������������������������������������������������5������������ =/��&���������������������� ������ ������������������������������������+������������������������������=#�,��������������������������������������� ��������������� ���������������������������������� �������������������������(������#���&�������������������������>����?����

@�����������������������������(���������������������������������������������(

�����/� ���������������������������� ��������� ��������������(����������������������/� ��������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������"��������������������������#�������������������������������������(������������ �������������/������������� ������ ������ 850-9� ������������������������������������������� ��������������������

�����������������/���"���������������50-������������ �����������������������.������������������� ����������"�������������(���������������������������� ������������������� ����������������������������������������

��������������������������� ��/�������������������������������������/� ���������������������� ��������������������������������������� ���������� �����������-���/������������������������������������������ �����������/��� ������������������� ����������� ������������� �������������������������� ������������������������������������������ �/��������������������/������������������� ������������������������������������;��������������������������������������������������������� ��������#���������������������������������� ������������������������������������������(�����#������������������������������������������������������������������������ �����������������������������������/�������������50-������������������������������������ ����������������������������������������������������������(����/�������������������������������������� � �������������������������������������������������

#����������5������)�����������/������������������� ���������(������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������ ��������������������,������������������������������/��������50-������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������#��������������������� �������������/�������������������������������������������������������/���������������������������������������������������(���������������� ������������ �������� �� �����������������������5�����,�������/����������������������������,��������<��������������������!������������������������������������� �,����������������������������������������������

6 ������� ������� ��$�?�� ��� �����"��&�-6������ �����"������ ���� ������������������ ��� ���������������� ��� ���������

< �����������$ /����������������� ����$��������7������������"������&��/���"��������

������������� ����

Sir — This refers to the editor-ial, “Didi’s headline act” (January21). The prelude to a mouth-watering political drama hasbeen written for 2019 with anappetiser in Kolkata.

A range of opposition par-ties came together to address amega rally there wherein soar-ing speeches were delivered,gracious gestures exchanged andclever slogans worked to primethe crowds whose expectationswere running high. They all hada common target: The BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP) in general;and Prime Minister NarendraModi and party chief, AmitShah, in particular.

The election was presentedas a binary — the BJP alone onone side with the rest of thecountry on the other. In theaftermath of TrinamoolCongress chief and West BengalChief Minister MamataBanerjee’s rally, the pertinentquestions that need answeringnow would be — what would bethe role of the Congress in thepolitical near-future?

JS AcharyaHyderabad

���������� �

Sir — This refers to the editor-ial, “Wealth inequality” (January22). Wealth inequality is fargreater in India as the masses donot have the right to socialsecurity that our Western coun-terparts enjoy. Inequality is mea-sured in Gini index where high-er index value indicates greater

inequality. A Gini of 0 denotesperfect equality and 100 absoluteinequality. The Gini coefficientwas as high as 48 percentagepoint in 2013 but jumped to analarming 63 percentage point in2016.

After coming out of bottle,the Gini, as it were, had grown15 percentage points in justthree years. The top one per cent

of income tax filers earned 15per cent of total income in2013. After three years, the topone per cent of income tax fil-ers were allowed to gulp 45 percent of all income in 2016.

Not only is India’s inequali-ty growing but doing so now ata much faster pace. This glaringinequality must immediately bebridged by inclusive growth,

developing social sectors, adopt-ing labour-intensive technology,empowering Dalits and womenand ensuring social security forthe needy. Otherwise, such bar-baric inequality will force us tolive in a dog-eat-dog environ-ment where equality and frater-nity are absolute no-no.

Sujit DeKolkata

��������������� �

Sir — This refers to the editor-ial, “Wealth inequality” (January22). It is true that there is a hugegap between the rich and poorin India. And this state is thesame across the world. Thismammoth gap cannot be curbedimmediately but at least weneed to make a start to build asociety where everyone can livedecently and gleefully. The dataexhibited by Oxfam is verymuch similar to the Pareto prin-ciple. If the gap widens betweenthe richer and poorer, a prosper-ous society can’t be formulated.

Kirti Wadhawan Kanpur

� 2 � * , � 6 � < � � � 2 ! ! � 7 &

������������ !!"�#�$��������#���8�� ����� ��M 7���6� �-���� ��M ����� ��#���8�� ����� 8

'�����#���&#%��'�!����$�#( )#��#%( *+,�*-./

�>

6����&������������

���������� -�11�

3���������������� ��������������������� ������� � �����0����� ��� ���������!CI9� ����� ����A� ������������� ������� ����&���� �������������������� ����� ��������&���������������

������������������������� ������ �����F����������������������� ���������������������� �����#�

��%@#��%7%� #�N5� ��� ��(��

0��� �) � �������� �������������������� ��������� ����&�����&�������������� ����������������������� �����������#�

��-�% %-����%@#��%7%� #�N- �&���*�������

����� ���� ��� ���� �����)����� ��������� #�(���� � ����� ������������#������ ��������� �������������������&� ���� �������#�

�� ��N��������������

>������� ��������� &������ &������ ������ ���������� �� ���������������������������������� �������� �����1���#�

�%�#���#�%*#7 N(�<�������5���

� / � � - � � 1 �

� � 1 1 � � � 1 / � 11 ; � � � - � 1 / �

�������� ������������ ����������������

���� ��� ���������� �� ���H�� �F���� �&� ����� ����� �OD*���� ��9!E����,������6�� #������� �����������- ���������������� ����50�=�� ������������������

2 ����������6��� ��� ���� ��� �������������������)����������� �������� ������ ��������������� ������ �#������ �������4��- ��������������������� ���0�� ���� ����� ����� ��� ���� ����A� ������������������� � ����&���������� ��� ���� �&�������������� ���������D��E������ ������ ��������������� ����#�������A������������������ ��� ����� ��������� ���� ������������� �������������� ����� ����������������� ���&������������� ������������ �������� � ��������#�����>-,�������� )����������� � ���� ����������-������� ��������������� �)����������������� ��� ���-�������������������������������������� ��� � ���� ��������#���� ��� ���>-,������ ������� �����������- �������� ��F��������#��������������� ������ ������ ���P����������B�� �� )���6�� .�� ��� �������������������������#

0���&� ���������� ��� ���� ���� ������������� )�� ���� �������������������� ��� ���� ����9:!K����

9:!+������� �� �����������������L�� ��� ���� ���� �������� � ���#��� ��� ������ ������� �����0 ������� �������� ������������ ������ �& ������������������� �� ����� ��������9:!!�� ��� ���� ��� ��� ����������� � ���� �� ��������� ���������������� ���F���� �����#�/����� ����������������� ��������������������� ������ ������ ������������ �������������������� ������ ������������� �����)���� ������������� �������������� ���)�� ���� �� �����)� � �������������� ������>-,��� � ���#����� ������������� ���������������� ���� �)� ������- ������������ �������������� ������� ��� ������������� �� &�������L�� ��1���������������� ��������&����� �&������� ��� ����� ������ ������ ���#���������� � ���� ����������� ��-�������L�� ��������->68>-,����� ������������������������&���������������� ����������������� �� ���&���������������� ����������� �������� ����� �����������) ���������� ���)�� �� ������������� ������ ���������":��� �#�6�� F��� �� ���������� �������� �����#

��<%���I<�7� ��-7!�������������� ������������

62(=��0�>��$0�26=5�45�<2��0�

064���%�05�3��2�����0�,�%��=%�=4��

�=5����4��=5)(0�2��#�

�=�25�4�2�%�22�056%0���2�2���=5��

�32>�25<��0,26�0504�=5=(=4�

2�2���=5�=((����=5�4562�

0�����2�'9"#3=/2<2��

45�<2��0�%�05�3��2����054-�3=��=%�=4�

%�226=(����4,,�2�/3��3�/0��/0,26

�5��32�50(2�=%2<2�>��56�05�

�2,0�6�2���=%,2562����=��0��

056�2�=5=(����0�4�

/������������������������!# #�� �>%�7##�J�@�%!,��@�

Page 9:  · rabi crops, wheat cultivation, on the other hand, reported a 2.5-per cent deficit as com-pared to last year. As against an area of around 304 lakh hectare sown in 2017-18, the

Can the Opposition unite topose a challenge to theBharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

in the coming months? There are somany ifs and buts although WestBengal Chief Minister MamataBanerjee organised a mammothrally in Kolkata’s Brigade groundslast week.

The who’s who of theOpposition gathered to prepare aroadmap for a coalition against theruling BJP. Addressing the ‘UnitedIndia’ rally, Banerjee predicted thatthe BJP’s days were numbered andthat the “expiry date” of the Modi-led Government had come. Therally was, perhaps, the beginning ofOpposition efforts to oust the BJPGovernment ahead of the 2019

Lok Sabha election. Though the ideacould not move forward earlier,when Karnataka Chief MinisterHD Kumaraswamy took oath onMay 23 last year. Several Oppositionleaders had graced that occasiontoo.

But this time, it is likely to befollowed up with another rally inAmravati, Andhra Pradesh, by ChiefMinister N Chandrababu Naiduand another one in Delhi, organisedby Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chiefArvind Kejriwal. An impressive listof leaders from 20-plus parties —including former Prime MinisterDeve Gowda, former UnionMinisters Sharad Pawar, ArunShourie and Shatrughan Sinha,Chief Ministers ChandrababuNaidu, Arvind Kejriwal and HDKumaraswamy, former ChiefMinisters Akhilesh Yadav, FarooqAbdullah, Omar Abdullah andGegong Apang among others —were a part of the Kolkata rally.

From the podium, Banerjeeappealed to the country, ‘Delhi

mein sarkar badal do’ (change theGovernment at the Centre). OtherOpposition leaders, too, echoedsimilar sentiments. This was the firstbig effort by the Opposition after theBJP lost badly in the three Hindiheartland States — Rajasthan,Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh— last month.

The Opposition combine boastsa wealth of leaders but as DeveGowda pointed out, it would be verydifficult for different party leadersto forget their differences and cometogether. There are so manyOpposition parties of various huesand ideologies that are pulling indifferent directions, the possibilityof which is not a national coalitionbut state-specific alliances.

Most importantly, ego of region-al chieftains comes in the way ofunity. In fact, the Congress is work-ing on this strategy and so are otherparties. For instance, in UttarPradesh, the Samajwadi Party (SP)and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)have come together, keeping theCongress out. In West Bengal, will

the Congress go with the TrinamoolCongress (TMC) or the Left? Willthe Telugu Desam Party (TDP)continue its ties with the Congressin Andhra Pradesh, where theparty’s vote share is almost zero?

In the North-East, an alliancewith regional parties is required. Leftparties have remained outside as theydo not want to share the platformwith the TMC. Meanwhile,Telangana Chief Minister, KChandrashekhar Rao, who was busymobilising a federal front, was absentat the rally because he did not wantto share the dais with Naidu andCongress leaders.

These are the challenges thatwill come in the way of Oppositionunity. Once this issue is resolved,then comes the question of whowould be the prime ministerialcandidate? This topic has beenpushed aside for now. Leaders haveclaimed that it will be a collectiveleadership and the candidate can bedecided in a post-poll scenario.

“Throw the BJP out. We will fig-ure out who can become the Prime

Minister. Modiji need not worry,”said Banerjee. Even the Congressagreed that the decision should betaken only in a post-poll scenario.The Opposition, therefore, will gowithout a challenger to Modi despiteits galaxy of leaders. The BJP will,taking advantage of this scenario,opt for a presidential style of cam-paign.

The third challenge is for theregional satraps to show an extra-ordinary determination to sweep thepolls in their respective States. Theydid well in 2014 by winning animpressive number of seats. Arepeat performance would go along way in challenging Modi andhis Government.

The fourth challenge is a ‘one-on-one fight’ against the BJP. Thiswould avoid a division ofOpposition votes but it appearsdifficult. The Prime Minster iscounting on a divided Oppositionto win the 2019 battle.

The fifth and the most impor-tant point is that the Opposition hasno new narrative — just Modi-bash-

ing will not fetch them votes. Unlessthey come up with a new vision, vot-ers will not get enthused. Recently,Modi reacted in his characteristicstyle: “My stand on corruption hasmade some people angry as I pre-vented them from looting publicmoney; they have formed the maha-gathbandhan.” Modi is simply stick-ing to his corruption plank.

There is no doubt thatOpposition unity is very difficult toachieve but there is no harm in try-ing. After all, the BJP came to powerwith just 31 per cent vote share inthe 2014 Lok Sabha poll.

As one of the Opposition lead-ers said, “Manzil bahut door hai,Raasta bahut kathin hai; Dil mile namile, Haath mila ke chalo” (our des-tination is far and the path is diffi-cult; despite our differences, we haveto tread the path holding handtogether). The coming days andweeks will show whether the oppo-sition means what it says.

(The writer is a senior politicalcommentator and syndicated columnist)

8�$� �����"������������

��#���&#%��'�!����$�#( '�)#��#%( *+,�*-./

����� �&����'���������� ��� ����� �&'��+���������������������� ���1�&�� ��

��''�1���������� ��'�����������������,�K�������� ��

���������'

���&�'���������������,���'�������� ���������� ��'������ ���9���'��� ��,&2�������������� ������'�,K��� �&����'�������� ������� ��&����2��

����/��1�� ����

The then Prime Minister Atal BihariVajpayee had conceptualised the PravasiBharatiya Divas to acknowledge theexistence of overseas Indians in thenational narrative, give them a connec-

tive tissue to their country of origin and makethem stakeholders in the country’s development.Significantly, he inaugrated the first conclave onJanuary 9, 2003, to commemmorate the “expatri-ate” Mahatma Gandhi’s return to India from SouthAfrica after 20 years. On that date in 1915,Gandhiji set foot on home soil and drew on hisexperiences to rejuvenate India’s freedom strug-gle. Historically, the overseas Indians funded theactivities of the Indian National Congress and theIndian National Army in gaining Independence.They also led the Ghadar Movement against theBritish Raj. Fifteen editions down the line, theDivas, currently being held in Varanasi, UttarPradesh, has even solidified their role in the coun-try of their birth with the theme being the “Roleof the Indian Diaspora in Building a New India.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is facedwith an uphill task of redefining India as well asglobal politics, is poised to give equal opportuni-ties to overseas communities. The large presence(more than 25 million) of the diaspora across theworld has compelled New Delhi to positivelyengage its untapped asset in fulfilling its internalas well as external dreams. Indians abroad havethe potential to advance the country’s profilethrough their intellect, finance, expertise andenterprise. They played a critical role during the1990s, when our economy opened up for the firsttime, and in 1998, when we were faced withWestern economic sanctions following thePokhran II nuclear tests.

Moreover, in the contemporary globalisedworld, the diaspora has emerged as a powerful fac-tor in developing workable relations betweennation states and been a catalyst in strengtheningbilateral relations between India and host nations.It is also playing a pivotal role in India’s ‘soft power’diplomacy, which is one of the major componentsof New Delhi’s foreign policy strategy. The India-US Civil Nuclear Deal would not have happenedif ethnic Indians in the US had not lobbied suc-cessfully. Our lobby groups, in fact, have done alot to change the perception of India on CapitolHill despite regime changes. And at a time whenthe world talks about how overseas Chineseplough back resources into their home country,it is significant that India retained its position asthe world’s top recipient of remittances in 2018,too, with $80 billion. Interestingly, the total remit-tances are estimated to be equivalent to 2.8 percent of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).According to an Indian Economic Review survey,using National Sample Survey Organisation data,these remittances helped in poverty reduction andchanging consumption behaviour in rural areas.Researchers found that receiver families progressedvery well in spending on healthcare and ameni-ties that pushed up their ease-of-living index.

Therefore, knowing the potential of theIndian diaspora, Modi deliberately interactedwith the overseas community during his trips tothe US, Australia, Myanmar, Fiji, Saudi Arabiaand UK among others. He even liberalised visaservices for them and encouraged them to bepartners in new projects.

The Government is also thinking about con-

necting diaspora communities acrossgenerations, particularly trying to reviveties with original settlers, whom we callPeople of Indian Origin (PIOs). This is agood step as NRIs, also known as the ‘new’diaspora and being more affluent, tend totop the headline acts and seem to projectthemselves as better influencers.

The push for an inclusive approachcan be traced as far back as 2000, whenthe Government set up a high-level com-mittee on Indian diaspora for assessingissues concerning Indians overseas,suggesting new policy and organisation-al frameworks and recommending acountry-specific agenda to intensifyIndia’s diplomatic engagement. On therecommendation of that committee, thegovernment implemented numerouspolicy initiatives, including the decisionto celebrate the Pravasi Bharatiya Divasand institute the Pravasi BharatiyaSamman awards. The most significantinitiative announced by Vajpayee at theinaugural edition was that PIOs in cer-tain countries would get dual citizenship.However, his party lost the next gener-al elections.

In 2004, the Manmohan SinghGovernment adopted two significantmeasures: Establishing a separateMinistry of Overseas Indian Affairs andintroducing the Overseas Citizenship ofIndia Scheme in August 2005 inresponse to “dual citizenship.” During the10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in 2012, thegovernment announced voting rights toNRIs and some of them exercised theirfranchise for the first time in the 2014general election.

However, many in the PIO commu-nity now believe that the governmenttotally ignored the Indian diaspora,except when it occasionally addressedcertain issues as per its own convenience.They were upset by the government’s

handling of racial attacks on Indians inAustralia, when New Delhi watched thewhole episode as a mute spectator andengaged only in lip service to pressuriseCanberra. Another example of the gov-ernment’s apathy was in 2007 when theHindu Rights Action Force (HIN-DRAF) internationalised the wretchedcondition of ethnic Indians in Malaysia.The government’s initial response wastight-lipped. This came as a shocker con-sidering it had given a stern response in2003, when nearly 300 Indians, mostlyIT professionals in Kuala Lumpur, were“maltreated” and “interrogated” byMalaysian authorities. It had warned thatany repeat of such incidents would affectbilateral ties.

Nonetheless, one can also arguethat the victims of ill-treatment onMarch 9, 2003 were Indiancitizens/NRIs. On the other hand, theprotest of November 2007 concernedMalaysian citizens of Indian descentand, therefore, the governmentrefrained from interfering in whatcould be interpreted as interference inthe internal matters of Malaysia.However, the fact of the matter is thatmost PIOs still consider themselves asIndians and, whenever they are in trou-ble in the host countries, look at theirmotherland in protecting their interests.Interestingly, New Delhi also wants toengage the PIOs but without any liabil-ities. The reason is quite clear — thePIOs, at present, do not create an eco-nomic constituency for the Indian gov-ernment compared to NRIs. Therefore,one must engage in some form ofmeaningful reciprocal links with PIOs.

This apathy has led to a lesser par-ticipation of overseas Indians in succes-sive celebrations of the Pravasi BharatiyaDivas. Nowadays, the diaspora hasrealised that the event is more about

“Bharat” rather than the “Pravasi.” TheModi Government has realised thispredicament and, therefore, has made ita biennial instead of an annual event.

Now, it is high time for the govern-ment to revise its almost two-decade-oldreport and chalk out a proactive diaspo-ra policy. In fact, the ruling BJP shouldnot forget its election manifesto of2014, where it made it clear that it wouldwork with Non-Resident Indians (NRIs)and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) byadopting a proactive diplomacy strate-gy, to develop what it referred to as“Brand India.” It stated that “the NRIs,PIOs and professionals settled abroad area vast reservoir to articulate the nation-al interests and affairs globally. Thisresource will be harnessed for strength-ening Brand India.”

India should be obligated toaddress the concerns of ethnic Indiansanywhere in the world, without jeop-ardising their relations with the hostcountries. Only then, the condition ofPIOs as well as India will improve glob-ally, as PIOs constitute more than 75 percent of the Indian diaspora. This is,therefore, an opportune time for NewDelhi to substantially, rather than sym-bolically, recalibrate its diaspora poli-cy that will redefine its terms of engage-ment. This recalibration can pay richdividends to its foreign policy objectivesand will also help them be a valuablehuman resource for developing a newIndia. As the Prime Minister himselfacknowledged, while addressing thefirst PIO Parliamentarians’ Conferencein New Delhi, law makers from coun-tries ranging from the US and the UKto Reunion Islands in the Indian Oceancould boost India’s economic growth.

(The writer is Assistant Professor,Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College,University of Delhi)

/���� ���������&�����������

* ���� ��������������������� �� ���&���� ���* ��� ��� ������� ������������������!�������� ������������ ��������������� ����9������������$��������������������������

�������������� ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������!����������������������������������

4���� ���������������������������������������(���������������� ����������������������� ������������������������������ �#� �������

�����������������������������������1����������� ��������� ��������������������������������������(���(�����������������������+ �����������������������(������.������������������������������������� ���(��������������������������������� ��������������������������A������������������������������������&������ ������������������������������������������������ �4���������������������������������/��������������������������,�����������������������������������������������������������������������/�����������������������������������������������������������������A���������������� ������������������������� ��������������������������������� �������������������������������� �

/��������������������������������������������A������������������ ����������������� ���������� ���(������������������������������� ������������������������� �,�����������������������������������������������=������� ���������������������������������������������#��������������������������

��������������������������������������������������������������������������#�����������������������������������������������4������������������������������������� �5"�������������������������������B3��������������������������� ������ ��������������������������"��� ������������������(��������������������������������������������(���������������� �5�� ������������������������������(��������C��������������B3��������$�����$�������;���8$$;9����������������������������������������D33�������������7�D3�333�� ���#�������������������������������

�������� ������������������������ ������������������������������.������� ��������������������(������� ������������������ �A������������������������(�����������������������������������������4���������(�������� ������������������������� ��������/������� ��������� �� ����� ��� �� �����&� ������ , �������/�������$������������������������ ����������������������������,���� �,�����������������������������(������������������������������������#������������������������������������� ������������������ ���������������������(��������� �������������������������������������������������������,������������������������������������������������ �����������������A�����������������������#�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������1����������������� ��������������"(������������������������������������

������������#�������������������������������������(�����������������������������,��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������-��������������������������������������������&���������������/�������&������������� ���������������������#��������������������������,�����235����/����#������4������������������(������������������&������&������������������������(��������������������������4������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������� ��������� ���� ��������������������������%�������� ����&�������������������������������������������/����������������������� ������������������������4�������������������������������

����������������������������������������������(�������������� ������������������������������(��������.�������������&����������������"����� ����������������������������������������"���������������(������������������������� ��������������������������� ����� /������� ��,����)���*�,������,����� �����������������������*������������������������������/�&����������������������������������� �������� ������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������

���� ������ �� ��������� ���������� ����� �����������

��!"��� �7� � � � 1 � / � � 0 �

����!%&�'!!���%$�"(��)"%!

��*��+��, 9/1�

-����� �;��9��

0���B� ������������������������������������ ������������ ������������ ������� � ��#���

���� ������� ������������������������ ���&������

�*�� ���2;

�/�� �2� � �.�

$��� ������������� �������&������� ���������� ��������� �� ��� � ��� ��� ���A ����#�0��&�������������������������������� ����� ��������� ��������&� ����!������������� ������� ���� �Q'"#CC������4�#���� ���������������� ���� ������ � �������� ������ ����������� �� �����&� �������� �&������������� ���������� �����������������#�

����� ��������������

��������� �� �� �� �����+���

������������ !!"�#�$

(05>��5��32-2=-�2�=%��56�05

=��,�5�D-�=E�=((45��>

$2��2<2��30���32,=<2�5(25�

�=�0��>��,5=�26�32��56�05

6�0�-=�0��2;�2-�/325���

=��0��=50��>066�2��26

�2��0�5����42��0�-2������=/5

�=5<25�25�2#�52/62�3��/05����=

25,0,2��32�-�=�$4��/��3=4��05>

��0$�����2�#��32�20�=5����R4��2

��20��N��32�-�=�0��-�2�25��6=�5=�

��20�2�2�=5=(���5%�425�2�%=��

�32��56�05,=<2�5(25��0�

�=(-0�26��=��32�5���

Page 10:  · rabi crops, wheat cultivation, on the other hand, reported a 2.5-per cent deficit as com-pared to last year. As against an area of around 304 lakh hectare sown in 2017-18, the

&�"�8���#���&#%��'�!����$�#( '�)#��#%( *+,�*-./

�#����� ����

� �� 52/�62�3�

India is expected to edge pastthe US with regard to steel

consumption this year, SteelMinister Chaudhary BirenderSingh said on Tuesday.

Addressing the fourth edi-tion of India Steel 2019, theminister said, “Growth trend insteel consumption in India willcontinue, due to strong manu-facturing sector, diversifieddemand demographics, accel-erated expenditure on infra-structure, anticipated increasein GDP and strong focus on‘Make in India’.

“We are likely to leavebehind US in terms of steelconsumption this year,” Singh

said.A budget of around �6

lakh crore was allocated forinfrastructure development inthe current financial year, henoted.

“So, based on theseenabling factors and with hugepotential yet to be tapped, theper capita consumption caneasily be increased from thecurrent levels,” he added.

Steel Secretary BinoyKumar said that the NationalSteel Policy 2017 along with thePolicy for Preference toDomestically ManufacturedIron & Steel Products haveresulted in savings of more than�8,000 crore till date.

Underlining the impor-

tance of not showing any dis-advantage to the sector, headded that the governmentwas also reviewing theDMI&SP policy and trying tofind convergence betweenDMI&SP policy and PublicProcurement Order 2017 ofDIPP.

“Under the ambit of thepolicy, 16 more steel productswere brought under QualityControl Order, which now cov-ers a total of 53 products. Theendeavour is to bring moreproducts under the QualityControl Order in an efforttowards prohibiting produc-tion, import and distribution ofsubstandard products,” headded.

��������������!�� ���������%���

� �� 52/�62�3�

The Government will soonapproach the RBI seeking a

special dispensation for defer-ment of provisioning require-ments for bank loans extend-ed to some IL&FS group firmsamid ongoing efforts to mon-etise assets of the crisis-hitgroup, official sources saidTuesday.

Some companies of thediversified IL&FS group, whichhas debt burden of over�91,000 crore, have failed torepay loans. Following the cri-sis at IL&FS late last year thatraised concerns over liquidityin the system, the corporateaffairs ministry had super-seded its board.

The sources said efforts tomonetise certain assets ofIL&FS are progressing and thegroup is expected to come outof the woods in the next fourto five months.

Against this backdrop, thesources said the ministry wouldsoon approach the RBI seekingdispensation for deferment ofprovisioning of loans withrespect to some IL&FS groupfirms.

The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) has strict norms in placeregarding non-performingassets for banks and a relax-ation is expected to help theGovernment in getting moretime to resolve problems atIL&FS.

The sources said theGovernment has identified afew IL&FS subsidiaries havingample funds in their escrow

accounts but are unable to ser-vice their debt obligations.

The Government is likelyto cite the current situation,including availability of fundsin escrow accounts of certainIL&FS companies, for seekingthe special dispensation, theyadded.

On Tuesday, the Ministryreviewed the progress made indealing with the problems atthe group.

Following the series ofdefaults by some group com-panies, the Government super-seded the board and appoint-ed seasoned banker and KotakMahindra Bank MD UdayKotak as chairman in October2018.

The IL&FS group compa-nies are estimated to have out-standing loans of about �60,000crore to banks and financialinstitutions, while the totaldebt is over �91,000 crore.

State-owned LIC is the sin-gle largest shareholder inIL&FS group with 25.34 percent while Japan’s OrixCorporation owns 23.50 percent shareholding.

Among others, Abu DhabiInvestment Authority has 12.5per cent stake, IL&FSEmployees Welfare Trust (12per cent), HDFC Ltd (9.02 percent), Central Bank of India(7.67 per cent) and State Bankof India (6.42 per cent), at theend of March 2018.

In August 2018, the debtcrisis at the IL&FS group cameto the fore when one of its com-panies defaulted on repaymentof �1,000 crore debt to Sidbi.

��?%��� ����,�&������������� ����������� ������� &��$���

>� ���(����� � ����!�"�0����/ ��������� ����/�+�������?'�����������+����@������/�6�� �������!�1����������+� �����+�����#�A������/����!�%�0����/ ��$����!��B.!�#��� �+���� ������!��� ������������ ������������������������� �� �����9���� ���- �����������+'/1!�/��� ���/���� ���5�����?//5@�+�����!�5�A�$� ��

. �������.���� ������'�� ��� ����������>�����������������������������5����� ���

. ���������#������ ��5�0����� �����������������- 0��"���� !�+ ���� � ����!�5������5�0��������/�����&����!�>� ���� � ��������+ � ��.� �� ��!�5�������������'�� ����:��������,!����,���� ���- ������5�0�����/��� �����,����5��� �����!�5�0����A#������. ������ ���� ������������������:� ���-�������������..'!�5������������5�0���������$�� �����'������ ���+��� ����#���������������'���������� ���%����?$'+#'%@A�%����>���� � ������. �������.���� ������'�� ������������ ��������#������. �����A�%�����0���� ��� ��������� �������� ��.�� �����,A

$%&+���������������������%���������.������ ���C�*����&���������?1 ���� ��@���D��&/>�.���������5����������$��!����������3 �����������������!���� � ��!��� � �������������A�%��.������������� �������$��� � �/�����!�+�������/��������!$%&+����������0�% ��� !�����������&��� ����������&������# ����!�-������.�����������/�� ���.�� � ��� ��������������������� ��:������!����,�����$���#��

*����0�:�� !�+�#!�$(&+!�'�� �4������ ������������������������ ������9��������������������4�D��.������+�������������(����������� ��'�� �4���������:���������,� ��B����� � ��!�$���#�� A�%�������������������������� �������&�����B ������ ���������������� ������ ������ ����� �����!������ ������������������������ ��(�����&�����/������

/������'����>� ��?/'>@!�&����������$�#+�B � ������������������� �������� ����������� ��� �� ����������������������������������������������������� � ����� ����������A�%���7 �� �������� ��������������� �����������������%E#������������ ������������F��� ��A�.���������!���������� ����������� ��)�G���� ������������� �����������������������������������

� �� (4($0�

Domestic rating agency Icrahas placed the ratings of

six mutual fund schemes underwatch with negative implica-tions due to their exposure tothe crippled infra lender IL&FSgroup entities.

The schemes being putunder watch include a shortterm debt funds and bankingand PSU debt funds fromHDFC, banking and PSU debtfund, bond fund, dynamicbond funds from UTI , AdityaBirla Sun Life short termopportunities fund, Icra said instatement on Tuesday.

The rating action is due tothe “deterioration in the cred-it quality” of the underlyinginvestments of these schemesdriven by their exposure to spe-cial purpose vehicles (SPVs) ofIL&FS Group, the agency said.

These schemes have expo-sure to Hazaribagh RanchiExpressway, Jharkhand RoadProjects ImplementationCompany, and Jorabat ShillongExpressway, the agency said.

“The default risks by vari-ous SPVs of IL&FS haveincreased after the recent man-agement communication tothe trustees expressing to stopfuture repayments citing theirinterpretation of an order givenby National Company LawAppellate Tribunal on October15, 2018,” the agency explained.

Two SPVs of IL&FSdemanded a refund of the debtpayment executed by themafter October 15, 2018 fromtheir trustees, it added.

'BC1/��������'��������D�����������(#1+!�>%'!�* �������������

����� 52/�62�3�

In 2014, Piramal Sarvajal won a first-of-its-kind tender by theDelhi Jal Board, to set up decentralized-drinking-water-solu-

tions across various settlement colonies. Over the last four yearsthe residents of Narela and Holambi Kalan have benefited fromthe affordable, access to safe drinking water. The available borewell water had Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) as high as1300ppm, making it unfit for consumption. The situation atanother settlement colony Holambi Kalan was similar with thewater being delivered in tankers sourced from the stream’Holambi Kalan Bawana Neher’ with Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)of over 800 ppm.

�����'������2�'����������� �&'���� �� ������'�������'��&�+�'�����'����

� �� 52/�62�3�

The Government should opt for the uncondi-tional cash transfer to farmers to alleviate

agrarian distress rather than Universal BasicIncome (UBI) scheme, the SBI said in a report onTuesday.

At present, it may not be feasible to initiateRythu Bandhu Scheme on national level as landdata in several states, including Jharkhand, Bihar,Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu are yet to be digitised,the SBI said in its ’Ecowrap’ report.

“Hence, it is best to initiate unconditionalcash transfer scheme as it will be more equitable(on a per farmer basis) with a meaningful impactand once the problems are ironed out in termsof proper tenancy laws, then make it condition-al,” it said.

The study said that there have been reportssaying that Government is planning to providedirect cash support to the farmers in lieu of var-ious farm level subsidies/support.

“In Budget 2019-20, Government had esti-mated Agriculture subsidy (plus support) at�98,100 crore (Crop Insurance: �13,000 crore,Interest Subsidy: �15,000 crore and FertilizerSubsidy: �70,100 crore),” the report said.

Such move comes on the back of suggestionsin public domain by noted agri-economists aswell as Niti Aayog that perhaps Rythu BandhuScheme that is fiscally prohibitive to launch ona pan India level should be netted against fer-tiliser subsidies, interest plus and insurance sup-port, it said, adding that instead of this the farm-ers should be provided the benefit as direct cashin their account.

“We however believe this argument has flaws,though a cash transfer scheme is always a better

option than an Universal BasicIncome (UBI) scheme. Manycountries have found that UBIdoes not address the structuralproblems and is at best a solutionin interregnum,” the report noted.

: �� ����� ���������� �&����&�������������� ��+�*�.����

� �� 52/�62�3�

Lenders and home buyers ofJaypee Infratech may extend

by around 15 days the January27 deadline to submit propos-als to revive the debt-riddenfirm as shortlisted bidders havesought more time, sources said.

State-owned NBCC, KotakInvestment, Singapore-basedCube Highways and Surakshagroup have been shortlisted asbidders for Jaypee Infratech,which is undergoing insolvencyproceedings in the NationalCompany Law Tribunal (NCLT).

The Committee ofCreditors (CoC) is consideringa proposal to extend the bid-ding deadline by around 15days and a decision would betaken soon, sources said.

The CoC had last monthapproved the evaluation crite-ria to be adopted to select a bid-der for taking over the realtyfirm.

Jaypee Infratech’s interimresolution professional (IRP)

Anuj Jain had in October start-ed a fresh initiative to reviveJaypee Infratech on NCLT’sdirection after lenders rejectedover �7,000 crore bid ofSuraksha group.

He had invited expressionsof interest from companies tosubmit a resolution plan torevive Jaypee Infratech, whichhas many stuck housing pro-jects in Noida and GreaterNoida.

In 2017, the NCLT hadadmitted the application by anIDBI Bank-led consortiumseeking resolution for JaypeeInfratech under the Insolvencyand Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

The tribunal had appoint-ed Jain as IRP to mange thecompany’s business and invitebids from investors.

Consequently, Lakshdeep,part of Suraksha group, hademerged as a front-runner toacquire the firm. However, inMay last year, lenders rejectedthe �7,350 crore bid byLakshdeep as they found theamount to be inadequate.

The realty firm has an out-standing debt of nearly �9,800crore, of which �4,334 crorepertains to IDBI. Other lendersare IIFCL, LIC, SBI,Corporation Bank, SyndicateBank, Bank Of Maharashtra,ICICI Bank, Union Bank, IFCI,J&K Bank, Axis Bank and SreiEquipment Finance.

Jaypee Infratech, a sub-sidiary of Jaypee Group’s flag-ship firm Jaiprakash Associates,is developing about 32,000flats, of which it has delivered9,500 units.

*�������� ���������� ���������� �������A��������� ����������� �&&� � ������!I�����

� �� (4($0�

The domestic equity markettook a breather on Tuesday

after a five-day rising spree asinvestors booked profits inmetal, financials and autocounters, amid weak cues frominternational markets afterIMF lowered its global growthprojections for 2019 and 2020.

The 30-share BSE Sensexdropped 134.32 points to endat 36,444.64, while the broad-er NSE Nifty finished 39.10points lower at 10,922.75.

Participants were seen takingmoney off the table after therecent rally, even as the wider sen-timent remained positive, under-pinned by better-than-expectedQ3 earnings by several bluechips.

The BSE Sensex, afterresuming higher at 36,649.92,advanced to 36,650.47 on buy-ing by domestic institutionalinvestors (DIIs) as well as retailparticipants.

/����7������)����� �� ���������������������������

Page 11:  · rabi crops, wheat cultivation, on the other hand, reported a 2.5-per cent deficit as com-pared to last year. As against an area of around 304 lakh hectare sown in 2017-18, the

&�"�88��#���&#%��'�!����$�#( '�)#��#%( *+,�*-./

(�!�&*!!�'7,&*,���������'����+�+������� ��5,;;�'�+

New Delhi:Japanese automakerNissan Tuesdaylaunched its new SUVmodel Kicks in India,priced between �9.55lakh and �14.65 lakh(ex-showroom). Thenew model, designedspecifically for theIndian market, will beavailable in petrol anddiesel fuel optionspowered by 1.5 litreengines. Kicks will compete with the likes of Hyundai Creta and S-Cross fromMaruti Suzuki, which are priced in the range of �8.85 lakh and �15.1 lakh.Commenting on the new model launch, Nissan Motor Co Senior VicePresident and Chairman of management committee for Africa, Middle East andIndia Peyman Kargar said the vehicle reflects company’s commitment to bringthe best of Nissan global products and technology to India. “Our research anddevelopment (R&D) and design teams in India developed the SUV in collabo-ration with our teams in Japan, America and Brazil,” he added. Nissan IndiaOperations President Thomas Kuehl said, with its progressive design, the Kickswill stand out in the competitive SUV segment in India. As per the company,the model would deliver a fuel efficiency of 14.23 km per litre for petrol vari-ants and 20.45 km per litre for diesel trims. The petrol versions are priced at �9.55lakh and �10.95 lakh, while the diesel variants are priced at �10.85 lakh, �12.49lakh, �13.65 lakh and �14.65 lakh.

���� �� �� ��&��+����������� ���&�'���New Delhi: The country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) Tuesday

said it has commenced bookings for updated version of its premium hatchbackBaleno. The new Baleno can be booked with an initial payment of Rs 11,000,MSI said in a statement. The company expects to launch the model later thismonth or early next month. Giving details about the model, MSI said the updat-ed Baleno will come with new and aggressive front design. The model will offeradditional safety features like speed alert system, co-driver seat belt reminderand rear parking assist sensors, it added. These features are over and above thestandard dual airbags, child seat restrain system (ISOFIX), pre-tensioner and forcelimiter seat belts and ABS with EBD. Since 2016, Baleno has featured among India'stop selling cars. With 14 per cent growth in first nine months of 2018-19 overlast year, Baleno holds the industry record of fastest 5 lakh sales milestone with-in a record time of 38 months. The company has sold over 5.2 lakh units of themodel cumulatively till date.

*-������ ������������ ��$������#�+<�� �� 52/�62�3�

Exporters are likely to getincentives based on para-

meters like research and devel-opment, product-specific clus-ters and production patternunder a five-year foreign tradepolicy (FTP) to be released laterthis year, an official said.

The commerce ministry isworking on recasting the exist-ing export incentive schemes inline with the global tradenorms of the World TradeOrganisation (WTO).

“We are recasting ourexport incentive schemes. Inthe new FTP, they would be incompliance with the globaltrade rules. The new incentivescould focus on R&D activities,production parameters, prod-uct-specific clusters. Rebate

can also be given on statelevies,” the official added.

The last FTP was releasedin 2015 for five years. It pro-vided guidelines for enhancingexports with an overall objec-tive of pushing economicgrowth and job creation.

Under an FTP, the gov-ernment announces incentivesfor exporters. Currently, dutybenefits are provided undermerchandise export from Indiascheme (MEIS) and servicesexport from India scheme(SEIS).

Recasting of the existingsupport measures assumes sig-nificance as the US has chal-lenged these schemes underthe dispute settlement mecha-nism of the WTO. America hasalleged that these incentives areharming American compa-

nies.The official said there are

several product-specific clus-ters in sectors such as auto-mobile, textiles and leatherand providing direct incentivesto them would help boostmanufacturing and exports.

Currently, maximumincentives are cornered by bigautomobile and pharmaceuti-cal companies under MEIS. Inthis scheme, the governmentprovides duty benefits depend-ing on product and country.

“Ideally, the scheme shouldtarget MSMEs,” the officialadded. For the new FTP, thecommerce ministry is engagedwith all commodity boardsand ministries concerned foridentifying the support mea-sures compliant with globaltrade rules.

According to Federation ofIndian Export Organisations(FIEO), the new scheme shouldinclude refund of indirect taxeslike on oil and power; statelevies such as mandi tax.

“The new scheme shouldhelp boost the country'sexports,” FIEO PresidentGanesh Gupta said.

Since 2011-12, India'sexports have been hovering ataround USD 300 billion.During 2017-18, the shipmentsgrew about 10 per cent toUSD 303 billion. Promotingexports helps a country createjobs, boost manufacturing andearn more foreign exchange.

During April-December2018-19, the country's totalmerchandise exports grew10.18 per cent to USD 245.44billion.

: ����4��������� ��������������1'�/������� �� (4($0�

JSW Group chairman SajjanJindal's daughter-in-law

Anushree on Tuesdayannounced a micro-lendingventure to help uplift the uder-served segments.

Her husband Parth Jindal isthe chairman of SvamaanFinancial Services, the newly-launched entity. “This is a for-profit entity registered as anNBFC-MFI. I always wanted todo something for the society,hence this," Anushree told PTI

over the phone. Anushree has abackground in accounting andfinance and the idea of startinga microfinance occurred whiledoing a course on rethinkingfinancial inclusion at theHarvard Business School lastyear. The company was incor-porated last year and after get-ting regulatory approvals madeits first loan disbursal onJanuary 14, she said, adding theimmediate goal is to reach 1lakh borrowers by 2021. Initially,the venture will concentrate onlivelihood loans of up to �25,000

and will branch out into lend-ing up to �3 lakh to micro-enterprises soon, she said.

She said family money hasbeen put into the business as ini-tial capital, which is as per theregulatory norms. Reserve Bankregulations require NBFC-MFIsto have �5 crore in net ownedfunds. The venture will initial-ly be focusing on Maharashtraand Karnataka and has plans toenter Odisha and Chhattisgarhby 2020, Anushree said andmaintains that it is good busi-ness to be in, pointing out to

data on growth achieved by theindustry in the last few years.

After achieving the initialtarget of 1 lakh borrowers,Anushree said, the company willbe taking a call on further cap-ital infusion.

Dinner table talk on financeis, however, limited as there areso many businesses rangingfrom steel to new-age initiativeslike electric vehicles spear-headed by her husband or hermother-in-law's CSR activitiesthat also have to be spokenabout, she said.

� %)"� #!��%!#(�"��(���%!!%("� .��."��(/0��*����1%��� �� 52/�62�3�

Moody’s Investors Service Tuesday saidIndia's insurance and reinsurance sectors

will grow strongly driven by strong economicgrowth and evolving regulatory regime.

It said robust GDP expansion, coupled withcurrent low insurance penetration, should sup-port double digit growth for the non-life sec-tor over the next 3-4 years. During fiscal 2018,total gross premiums for the non-life and lifeinsurance sectors grew 11.5 per cent to Rs 6.1lakh crore (USD 94 billion), bringing the 5-yearcompound annual growth rate (CAGR) to 11per cent. “India's strong economy and evolvingregulatory regime continue to support growthfor its insurance and reinsurance sectors,”Moody’s said in a report titled Insurance —India: Continued regulatory evolution is cred-it positive for India's insurance sector.

Moody’s said it expects India's real GDP toexpand by 7.4 per cent and 7.3 per cent in fis-cal 2019 and 2020, making the Indian econo-my one of the world's fastest-growing.

“The Insurance Regulatory andDevelopment Authority of India (IRDAI) isproactively introducing regulations that willsupport insurers' balance sheets and improvetheir access to capital, a credit positive," Moody'sAssistant VP and Analyst Mohammed Londesaid. Liberalisation of the reinsurance sector —with the admission of foreign reinsurers since2017 and IRDAI's steps to ensure that they cancompete with incumbents — will specificallybenefit the non-life sector. Regulatory reformswill also improve the sector's capital strength,Moody’s said. “In 2015, IRDAI raised the ceil-ing on foreign ownership of Indian insurers to49 per cent from 26 per cent, encouraging glob-al players to buy holdings in local entities.

Besides, the government’s launch of a newprogram in 2018 to provide health insurance for100 million families is credit positive as it willhelp grow health premiums and provide insur-ers with cross-selling opportunities, it noted.

Script Open High Low LTPRCOM 13.12 13.43 12.85 13.34SUZLON 5.26 5.29 5.16 5.19JPASSOCIAT 7.05 7.15 6.91 7.04PAGEIND 22501.00 22999.00 22055.00 22510.10SUNPHARMA 408.60 422.75 408.60 418.05RELIANCE 1234.00 1246.25 1219.40 1234.75YESBANK 191.90 193.90 187.50 192.10SPARC 177.85 187.00 170.00 176.70JUSTDIAL 482.25 489.80 465.45 480.60TVSMOTOR 535.00 559.90 520.60 553.85JETAIRWAYS 274.80 278.90 268.60 273.10ASHOKLEY 89.65 89.65 86.55 88.00TATASTEEL 471.00 471.00 455.90 456.80ASIANPAINT 1425.00 1431.50 1378.00 1406.55HEG 3377.00 3378.55 3202.00 3223.75L&TFH 139.80 140.90 135.25 136.90BANDHANBNK 426.90 426.90 405.95 408.75KOTAKBANK 1281.00 1307.30 1275.00 1291.60PHILIPCARB 169.50 181.00 167.65 178.20M&M 725.50 725.75 705.00 708.05JINDALSTEL 144.50 144.50 135.60 137.90DHFL 212.70 213.70 203.35 204.85MARUTI 7199.00 7199.00 7051.00 7068.25LT 1315.25 1321.00 1296.20 1300.80ICICIBANK 369.10 372.50 366.15 369.00HAVELLS 677.10 720.30 670.60 711.40GRAPHITE 687.00 696.85 675.00 679.15TATAMOTORS 181.40 182.65 176.05 180.45IBULHSGFIN 806.90 817.25 788.65 798.35INFY 740.65 747.20 733.85 744.35STAR 512.95 550.40 508.65 547.75RELINFRA 288.65 293.85 276.30 279.45VEDL 199.40 199.40 191.00 191.45WIPRO 337.00 349.80 336.40 346.45LINDEINDIA 659.95 679.00 649.25 670.45RELCAPITAL 206.15 210.55 202.30 206.65UNIONBANK 85.20 86.70 82.90 83.95TCS 1908.00 1918.20 1890.70 1900.35SBIN 292.35 292.80 288.20 290.30JISLJALEQS 61.50 62.95 60.60 61.50BAJFINANCE 2587.95 2634.85 2575.85 2616.65JUBLFOOD 1173.90 1197.90 1160.00 1165.60TITAN 964.00 985.40 959.05 982.60MINDTREE 882.90 933.00 879.00 919.55ITI 109.50 111.65 104.15 104.70FRETAIL 434.00 449.85 429.95 440.25ADANIPOWER 49.00 52.00 49.00 51.20PCJEWELLER 77.65 77.65 74.45 76.40ITC 290.00 291.70 285.20 289.75AXISBANK 659.40 664.00 632.00 661.80INDIGO 1055.70 1126.40 1048.85 1117.90DELTACORP 242.10 242.10 233.60 234.45DEEPAKFERT 129.70 129.70 118.75 119.65PNB 79.60 80.50 78.45 78.75NCC 86.00 86.85 84.40 86.25IDFCFIRSTB 46.30 47.05 45.05 46.75STRTECH 298.50 301.55 294.30 295.50INDUSINDBK 1508.00 1508.00 1475.25 1501.45DMART 1358.75 1374.00 1351.00 1355.95BHARTIARTL 312.70 312.70 302.00 304.25HDFCBANK 2173.00 2173.00 2130.00 2134.35SPICEJET 80.10 81.50 79.45 80.75ZEEL 435.00 437.00 420.10 425.20SAIL 49.45 49.45 47.40 48.30NIITTECH 1268.00 1305.75 1264.85 1293.20TRIDENT 69.05 72.00 68.65 70.05BOMDYEING 120.60 121.45 114.45 116.90BANKBARODA 117.00 117.00 113.50 113.85BEML 884.35 888.80 866.75 877.20IBREALEST 80.25 80.25 77.10 77.70PETRONET 220.35 226.15 218.40 223.10JSWSTEEL 284.85 284.85 274.85 277.75JSL 30.65 31.00 29.45 29.65RNAM 152.95 170.80 149.20 156.15BANKINDIA 100.30 100.70 97.30 97.80NTPC 143.35 143.55 142.05 142.80HINDALCO 207.00 207.00 200.90 203.15IOC 135.80 137.40 135.55 136.00KAJARIACER 536.75 554.00 535.45 547.35PEL 2285.00 2346.90 2265.00 2334.85RAYMOND 815.00 822.00 805.00 813.10HDFC 2005.75 2005.75 1969.95 1982.60BEL 85.95 87.30 84.40 85.10CENTURYTEX 897.00 897.00 867.30 875.80NBCC 56.90 58.25 56.30 57.65HEROMOTOCO 2795.80 2837.70 2746.00 2823.85GRUH 227.00 227.00 220.50 221.40KPIT 218.00 218.90 214.00 216.10COALINDIA 229.85 230.30 226.20 227.85HINDPETRO 238.90 243.40 238.25 242.15SRTRANSFIN 1111.00 1122.50 1088.80 1095.35SOUTHBANK 14.20 14.30 13.70 14.15RBLBANK 580.00 588.80 572.00 575.20ONGC 145.85 146.00 144.05 144.45BIOCON 664.30 672.85 660.50 668.30ESCORTS 730.00 732.25 713.70 722.25GAIL 328.05 335.30 326.90 331.75UPL 768.00 771.30 752.75 763.30HUDCO 45.35 45.45 44.10 44.95IDEA 32.80 33.70 32.60 33.45FORCEMOT 1554.00 1565.00 1517.00 1523.70SUNTV 513.00 523.00 510.65 519.50CANBK 266.95 269.00 260.40 263.40JUBILANT 705.00 736.90 702.40 731.80HINDZINC 270.80 270.80 257.00 260.75PARAGMILK 248.00 249.90 235.15 236.90JAICORPLTD 110.55 110.75 106.85 107.65HINDUNILVR 1744.50 1754.00 1742.00 1749.90

SUNTECK 337.95 338.65 330.75 335.75CIPLA 510.40 511.65 503.15 506.95APLLTD 588.35 612.50 576.15 587.80DLF 176.00 180.30 174.80 179.45WELSPUNIND 60.15 60.50 57.40 58.65KRBL 366.00 378.55 361.10 364.75FEDERALBNK 88.70 89.90 86.95 89.40HCLTECH 962.60 963.40 938.00 941.60PFC 105.00 105.00 100.75 101.10ABFRL 201.90 216.00 195.10 203.15BPCL 351.65 357.50 351.00 352.80NHPC 25.30 25.65 25.30 25.40NAUKRI 1573.35 1650.00 1516.85 1626.60HDFCLIFE 389.00 389.55 382.05 384.80CHOLAFIN 1171.85 1171.85 1125.85 1138.90INFIBEAM 44.00 44.25 42.90 43.70TECHM 717.00 719.40 701.05 715.20WOCKPHARMA 495.90 497.25 488.75 495.55DCBBANK 182.00 183.30 179.00 180.00AUROPHARMA 777.00 790.30 777.00 788.25NESTLEIND 11275.00 11449.65 11200.00 11215.60ABCAPITAL 92.85 92.90 90.40 90.95TIMETECHNO 106.30 107.50 105.10 105.70DABUR 429.45 433.45 423.25 432.80RADICO 401.25 415.70 401.25 413.25EXIDEIND 243.95 246.30 241.05 244.85BAJAJFINSV 6380.00 6439.00 6343.15 6416.30IBVENTURES 368.50 374.50 357.00 363.00ISEC 224.90 224.90 210.00 211.35GODREJCP 789.65 795.60 768.60 790.95EICHERMOT 20000.00 20374.45 19908.70 20014.15WELCORP 117.50 121.25 113.50 115.95PIDILITIND 1163.00 1167.20 1147.00 1152.60INDIACEM 83.20 84.80 82.35 84.35RECLTD 122.80 123.80 120.20 122.85LUPIN 865.05 872.00 851.50 863.20DIVISLAB 1494.00 1521.00 1484.10 1502.40BHEL 71.45 71.45 69.95 71.00IDBI 56.50 57.45 56.20 57.20CGPOWER 42.00 42.50 40.30 41.90SREINFRA 34.90 34.90 32.35 32.95MANPASAND 82.05 85.55 81.15 82.40GLENMARK 646.50 660.00 646.00 656.10LICHSGFIN 473.85 477.60 462.90 475.30ORIENTBANK 93.20 94.60 92.00 93.60DRREDDY 2598.00 2644.05 2591.95 2640.00DBL 378.05 380.70 366.00 367.65GNFC 357.80 357.80 351.80 354.65LTTS 1656.15 1691.00 1649.45 1668.75ACC 1430.40 1444.00 1418.40 1436.80FSL 50.50 50.50 49.00 49.35SHREECEM 15676.70 16200.10 15210.00 15911.80NATIONALUM 61.00 61.00 59.90 60.55HFCL 22.25 22.55 21.50 21.85INDIANB 243.85 250.90 242.45 248.95QUESS 694.00 717.25 647.90 653.85ULTRACEMCO 3849.00 3879.00 3814.55 3849.45BALKRISIND 868.20 870.00 855.00 859.05RPOWER 28.10 28.25 27.40 28.15ICICIPRULI 354.00 354.00 341.50 344.00IRB 147.85 150.55 143.40 149.25MFSL 434.95 444.60 429.75 436.50DISHTV 34.10 34.95 33.55 34.30UJJIVAN 284.05 291.65 282.85 290.70AJANTPHARM 1143.35 1170.05 1143.05 1162.70VOLTAS 536.00 543.90 526.70 540.15AVANTI 365.20 380.00 363.75 367.80TATAMTRDVR 96.00 96.00 93.50 95.55EDELWEISS 164.50 164.50 160.20 163.00MAHINDCIE 227.40 233.00 224.05 227.65APOLLOHOSP 1315.05 1321.00 1290.00 1295.05M&MFIN 432.50 442.20 432.50 436.15ADANIPORTS 396.00 396.00 387.60 391.85SYNGENE 574.30 581.65 559.70 577.50OMAXE 214.35 214.35 213.20 213.35MUTHOOTFIN 546.40 549.50 535.25 540.75BLISSGVS 162.00 165.85 159.55 161.05AUBANK 605.45 605.45 588.00 595.20MEGH 58.95 58.95 57.35 58.55ENGINERSIN 115.65 118.60 114.75 117.85APOLLOTYRE 215.50 220.15 214.95 218.90MOTHERSUMI 162.75 162.90 159.70 162.45SIEMENS 1045.00 1058.50 1037.30 1052.60TORNTPOWER 258.05 260.00 256.15 257.25SADBHAV 205.65 207.25 198.05 200.00LTI 1775.00 1800.00 1765.20 1781.50GRASIM 811.55 812.10 800.40 803.65

HEXAWARE 325.85 332.80 322.80 331.25RCF 63.60 63.80 62.30 63.20JSWENERGY 68.10 69.30 67.45 68.95GODFRYPHLP 969.00 977.00 949.25 957.55UBL 1486.00 1486.00 1448.15 1459.90BAJAJ-AUTO 2685.45 2694.95 2651.05 2683.95CADILAHC 344.35 346.60 339.75 345.25MAHLIFE 399.35 419.90 399.35 412.20CYIENT 598.95 600.00 590.00 591.45INFRATEL 278.20 281.50 274.65 277.75TORNTPHARM 1846.00 1928.80 1846.00 1913.65ABB 1284.00 1313.70 1280.90 1305.35BATAINDIA 1157.65 1157.65 1140.00 1146.60TATAELXSI 965.00 971.50 960.55 967.05NMDC 90.50 90.70 89.30 90.40TATACHEM 686.10 693.95 678.60 688.50MPHASIS 868.20 874.00 862.25 869.75BHARATFORG 475.90 487.40 473.85 485.25VIPIND 500.50 500.50 492.00 493.95INDHOTEL 136.75 137.50 134.50 136.95WABAG 290.05 291.90 284.05 290.05KEI 353.75 367.10 353.05 361.15CONCOR 666.85 672.00 658.10 670.50CEATLTD 1222.15 1226.90 1205.75 1219.00EQUITAS 118.20 121.90 118.20 121.00TATAGLOBAL 208.55 212.65 208.55 211.60IDFC 42.00 42.75 41.40 42.45ADANIGREEN 37.60 38.95 36.50 37.85SHANKARA 489.80 502.35 486.00 490.70MCX 745.00 745.00 730.60 740.20GRANULES 88.60 88.60 86.30 86.65LALPATHLAB 1007.00 1043.55 993.90 1030.25FORTIS 136.00 137.00 135.20 136.05IGL 286.30 286.50 279.65 282.50CASTROLIND 165.25 166.85 163.60 166.00SBILIFE 619.00 628.00 611.75 618.75GHCL 263.55 263.55 251.85 255.25SUVEN 212.55 215.85 209.05 210.90GMRINFRA 16.05 16.20 15.85 16.15SONATSOFTW 314.80 321.65 310.25 316.40TATAPOWER 75.80 77.50 74.95 76.30BRITANNIA 3144.90 3176.95 3130.10 3150.95THERMAX 1063.55 1150.00 1034.50 1100.45RAJESHEXPO 597.90 597.90 577.00 582.45SYNDIBANK 37.05 37.05 36.35 36.80VENKYS 2298.70 2298.70 2247.50 2252.25KEC 272.90 273.80 263.40 265.20BAJAJCON 354.00 354.00 335.50 351.00TATACOFFEE 95.05 95.40 91.80 92.75BBTC 1220.00 1243.95 1213.00 1220.35AMBUJACEM 212.30 215.25 211.50 213.55ALBK 42.75 42.75 42.00 42.30ZENSARTECH 227.00 227.15 219.05 220.90MARICO 380.00 380.00 371.05 375.60SRF 2019.35 2080.00 2019.35 2070.90CANFINHOME 262.35 267.60 262.25 264.75KTKBANK 119.35 120.95 118.00 118.25J&KBANK 38.85 38.90 38.05 38.75FCONSUMER 41.50 41.90 41.10 41.20GSFC 107.45 108.60 106.75 107.95TRENT 365.00 367.10 358.60 364.90RAIN 121.85 121.85 119.00 120.00INTELLECT 213.60 215.60 210.00 211.80NOCIL 161.75 162.75 159.40 160.25MANAPPURAM 98.50 99.60 98.15 98.75ADANITRANS 216.95 217.50 208.50 209.80IFCI 14.45 14.45 14.12 14.19ICICIGI 852.00 857.35 840.10 844.70MINDAIND 307.70 307.70 292.00 298.20SUPPETRO 180.20 187.95 179.00 185.35COROMANDEL 426.60 437.85 412.80 432.40ASHOKA 129.05 129.20 124.50 125.00PVR 1613.95 1613.95 1590.05 1598.70REDINGTON 80.40 80.40 76.10 78.85BERGEPAINT 321.45 324.00 320.00 322.80JKTYRE 99.25 99.25 97.30 98.10NAVKARCORP 47.50 47.70 45.50 46.20TEAMLEASE 2618.05 2655.00 2510.50 2611.90MGL 905.60 913.95 902.00 906.35OIL 172.00 172.70 170.15 170.65GRINDWELL 571.00 600.75 560.00 563.55KSCL 569.00 569.25 552.10 557.05GESHIP 307.95 307.95 297.50 298.60TIINDIA 331.00 335.00 330.00 331.40COLPAL 1314.00 1319.50 1303.80 1306.80JAMNAAUTO 60.40 60.40 59.50 60.10WESTLIFE 391.00 399.80 381.50 383.80TV18BRDCST 34.15 34.60 34.10 34.15GODREJPROP 736.40 747.00 730.40 735.20BHARATFIN 951.60 957.00 938.00 954.35GSPL 178.55 180.00 177.00 178.25GPPL 89.60 90.95 86.80 87.80DENABANK 13.50 13.50 12.85 13.05AMARAJABAT 777.20 782.95 771.35 779.90CHAMBLFERT 161.45 162.65 159.90 161.65PFIZER 2670.00 2716.90 2660.20 2695.60GSKCONS 7229.05 7259.00 7172.00 7231.65SOMANYCERA 348.50 373.00 348.50 367.50JINDALSAW 77.60 77.85 75.65 77.00BAJAJHLDNG 2966.45 2988.95 2934.90 2955.20SCI 43.90 43.90 42.20 42.40GODREJIND 524.00 527.00 515.85 523.25BAJAJELEC 471.00 474.10 460.30 467.15EIDPARRY 201.50 204.00 200.50 202.65VGUARD 203.15 204.60 201.00 202.55VINATIORGA 1609.30 1620.00 1589.75 1604.50JMFINANCIL 86.60 86.80 84.20 84.65OBEROIRLTY 444.65 449.00 442.05 446.55RAMCOCEM 605.95 606.00 598.05 602.50

KANSAINER 451.75 457.40 448.20 454.00CUMMINSIND 834.00 835.55 826.00 829.80TATAINVEST 843.00 849.00 832.00 836.20ASTRAL 1075.00 1075.00 1039.90 1049.70MRPL 69.50 69.65 68.80 69.20GUJGAS 132.00 132.60 129.50 129.75GUJALKALI 518.00 522.35 513.75 515.90PTC 86.25 86.55 84.20 84.55UFLEX 264.90 265.40 259.60 260.05PERSISTENT 554.85 554.85 539.50 546.20AARTIIND 1566.00 1566.00 1529.00 1554.50HINDCOPPER 48.40 48.40 47.50 47.95TAKE 160.00 161.00 158.00 158.45MAHABANK 14.60 14.60 14.15 14.23APLAPOLLO 1135.00 1135.20 1100.00 1112.90SUPRAJIT 215.25 215.90 207.45 211.20COCHINSHIP 361.15 361.20 358.00 359.20CENTRALBK 32.05 32.55 31.85 32.30IPCALAB 775.15 779.05 761.35 775.05POWERGRID 190.50 190.55 189.00 189.60DCAL 222.40 225.30 216.90 218.45PNBHOUSING 875.60 885.15 872.25 876.80SWANENERGY 99.70 99.70 97.60 98.50INOXLEISUR 243.05 250.95 243.00 249.60CARERATING 985.20 1007.25 981.00 987.20CHENNPETRO 263.00 265.00 259.50 261.20NAVINFLUOR 660.00 667.95 655.00 659.00MOIL 162.10 164.05 162.05 162.40MERCK 3273.05 3356.95 3273.05 3321.00EVEREADY 219.00 223.10 218.00 219.80IBULISL 330.40 347.30 330.40 330.40RALLIS 168.30 169.25 166.20 167.40PRESTIGE 207.10 223.00 207.10 216.20FLFL 412.65 421.00 411.00 419.85TATACOMM 513.05 518.30 509.00 515.80WHIRLPOOL 1479.45 1480.05 1456.20 1465.70GREAVESCOT 121.15 121.25 119.00 119.60GICHSGFIN 256.95 257.35 248.70 251.15NILKAMAL 1336.95 1337.00 1314.50 1323.75SUPREMEIND 1040.10 1059.45 1040.10 1046.85VTL 1091.50 1093.70 1064.70 1073.20SOBHA 493.10 507.00 493.10 503.95GICRE 252.80 253.40 249.30 251.00ITDCEM 121.50 121.50 117.25 120.30BASF 1510.00 1529.00 1500.00 1524.05PIIND 851.65 863.00 850.00 861.85SHK 174.90 177.00 170.00 172.50GLAXO 1400.00 1437.95 1388.00 1416.80THOMASCOOK 225.00 227.00 219.50 220.25PRSMJOHNSN 82.35 82.50 79.75 81.20MMTC 28.05 28.30 27.70 27.80GODREJAGRO 504.20 504.45 498.80 500.60ATUL 3555.00 3566.45 3456.65 3477.50VIJAYABANK 45.85 46.10 45.15 45.35NATCOPHARM* 684.50 694.00 675.05 689.40TATAMETALI 590.00 592.05 580.90 587.30UCOBANK 19.95 19.95 19.55 19.60DEEPAKNI 230.15 231.75 228.00 230.20OFSS 3724.00 3724.00 3665.55 3689.35JSLHISAR 84.20 85.00 82.45 83.65ESSELPRO 119.00 119.00 113.35 114.90HSCL 130.25 130.55 128.90 129.25COFFEEDAY 285.20 294.95 282.95 288.15MOTILALOFS 656.45 676.55 656.45 672.55LAKSHVILAS 72.95 74.20 69.35 70.10SYMPHONY 1132.50 1168.00 1132.50 1153.65BAYERCROP 4295.20 4300.00 4250.00 4268.80ADVENZYMES 165.80 168.30 163.35 164.15REPCOHOME 427.05 432.00 417.50 429.30DCMSHRIRAM 344.00 344.00 335.60 337.40CROMPTON 224.45 225.00 221.10 223.85PHOENIXLTD 585.00 604.95 585.00 603.65CENTURYPLY 171.85 173.05 170.10 170.90GUJFLUORO 884.65 888.00 875.50 880.05MHRIL 213.00 214.10 208.75 210.50JBCHEPHARM 306.00 314.65 304.55 311.05MINDACORP 150.00 150.00 142.35 143.85BDL 279.00 279.90 271.00 273.95IEX 160.70 162.90 159.50 159.75BOSCHLTD 19030.65 19245.00 19018.15 19190.70FORBESCO 2122.00 2223.00 2121.10 2208.75BIRLACORPN 543.75 547.90 530.80 534.80LUXIND 1249.60 1258.40 1213.15 1224.15BLUESTARCO 620.00 625.00 600.00 618.60ANDHRABANK 28.20 28.20 27.35 27.80CUB 192.95 192.95 187.40 189.70BALMLAWRIE 191.70 191.90 190.15 190.50GMDCLTD 84.50 85.00 84.30 84.60HAL 774.05 777.05 765.00 765.60TIMKEN 564.05 566.00 552.80 560.60CENTRUM 34.60 34.60 33.65 33.80NIACL 178.05 181.75 178.00 180.85SUDARSCHEM 324.50 328.20 318.95 322.20THYROCARE 538.30 545.50 528.10 543.45MAHLOG 519.90 519.90 497.20 504.45TEJASNET 218.45 218.45 210.65 213.30LAXMIMACH 5390.00 5498.75 5390.00 5467.15ALKEM 1895.80 1907.00 1883.15 1886.70GET&D 306.65 312.70 301.00 309.40CERA 2670.00 2670.00 2506.00 2569.65GDL 108.40 108.90 106.20 108.35INDOSTAR 335.05 339.00 323.00 327.85CRISIL 1632.55 1670.00 1619.00 1665.50BLUEDART 3240.00 3240.00 3090.00 3103.20JKLAKSHMI 291.00 298.50 291.00 295.70NBVENTURES 112.10 113.00 110.75 111.60TNPL 231.10 231.75 229.25 230.45CORPBANK 27.85 27.85 26.10 27.05NH 188.00 189.20 186.00 187.25

TVTODAY 365.55 370.95 362.70 365.75FINCABLES 436.05 438.55 431.25 436.75HEIDELBERG 151.30 152.90 148.25 151.95INOXWIND 72.50 73.25 70.50 71.45EMAMILTD 427.90 427.90 420.15 424.70AEGISLOG 200.00 200.00 195.00 199.10JYOTHYLAB 195.00 195.55 192.50 193.60GALAXYSURF 1164.00 1164.00 1131.00 1135.75HSIL 236.00 237.80 233.15 233.65NLCINDIA 67.75 68.15 67.60 67.95IOB 14.45 14.45 13.93 14.07SANOFI 6400.00 6465.60 6384.10 6419.20SCHNEIDER 95.00 95.00 92.70 93.45SIS 767.05 792.00 767.05 784.40TVSSRICHAK 2395.05 2432.00 2360.00 2365.60SUNDRMFAST 519.00 524.10 516.40 522.95SHILPAMED 404.00 404.00 391.10 395.35PNCINFRA 146.50 150.80 146.20 149.50MONSANTO 2584.65 2584.65 2552.00 2563.90MRF 65725.60 66148.90 65201.30 65364.90ALLCARGO 109.60 111.00 109.60 110.40HERITGFOOD 531.55 535.00 522.55 525.90NETWORK18 37.75 37.75 37.05 37.15SJVN 25.90 25.90 25.70 25.75JKCEMENT 735.30 735.40 715.50 717.40DBCORP 175.70 180.00 175.65 179.15CAPPL 385.70 392.30 385.10 388.60IFBIND 846.50 846.65 825.00 830.45HONAUT 21983.70 22045.00 21691.05 22018.80KNRCON 210.50 213.55 210.00 213.153MINDIA 20729.00 20799.00 20374.00 20681.95GREENPLY 138.30 138.30 135.30 136.20MAXINDIA 84.80 85.60 84.45 85.00SCHAEFFLER 5561.55 5561.55 5422.00 5447.10LEMONTREE 68.10 68.95 67.55 68.65ORIENTCEM 75.60 75.65 72.70 74.35ASTERDM 164.50 164.50 159.25 160.10VBL 800.30 800.30 791.00 796.50ITDC 297.10 299.00 293.35 295.45KALPATPOWR 378.40 380.65 372.50 375.70SKFINDIA 1925.35 1930.65 1917.20 1921.75AIAENG 1670.00 1670.00 1649.00 1656.95TTKPRESTIG 7677.25 7743.90 7615.00 7652.70ABBOTINDIA 8190.00 8255.00 8190.00 8223.65

HATSUN 729.90 729.90 706.70 709.40ERIS 696.50 697.10 685.05 689.85ASTRAZEN 1603.65 1612.00 1600.50 1608.35TRITURBINE 113.55 113.95 112.55 112.95ENDURANCE 1155.00 1155.15 1140.00 1151.10HIMATSEIDE 213.20 213.20 210.10 212.40FINOLEXIND 540.00 540.00 530.30 532.75EIHOTEL 181.50 182.00 179.55 180.40GULFOILLUB 860.00 864.00 856.00 860.55LAURUSLABS 376.00 380.00 374.50 377.00NAVNETEDUL 109.00 109.50 108.60 108.90DHANUKA 410.65 414.80 408.90 412.45SOLARINDS 1025.95 1039.10 1005.30 1028.95KPRMILL 531.10 533.15 530.00 531.35TIFHL 456.50 476.00 455.00 474.05PGHH 9960.10 10019.90 9940.10 9975.65VMART 2229.45 2283.95 2229.45 2274.65SUNCLAYLTD 3120.05 3130.00 3069.05 3070.40ELGIEQUIP 253.45 253.45 249.15 252.20GILLETTE 6531.20 6531.20 6484.90 6507.00ECLERX 1060.00 1066.00 1051.35 1065.90ISGEC 5000.00 5025.00 4955.00 5001.20RELAXO 744.10 745.15 737.55 739.60MAGMA 105.80 107.00 104.50 106.45JAGRAN 109.80 110.50 109.80 110.25STARCEMENT 95.05 95.30 93.80 94.00ZYDUSWELL 1265.00 1267.80 1256.00 1261.35KIOCL 141.50 144.20 141.50 143.10FDC 172.00 172.00 169.80 170.85LAOPALA 221.20 221.85 217.15 217.60WABCOINDIA 6314.15 6387.00 6297.00 6380.60NESCO 452.40 452.80 447.50 450.05APARINDS 625.75 625.75 615.00 615.00SHOPERSTOP 515.80 521.00 514.00 516.90RATNAMANI 901.25 916.00 899.00 914.40SHRIRAMCIT 1740.80 1759.15 1740.75 1751.85SFL 1275.00 1280.00 1260.00 1269.65JCHAC 1780.00 1781.00 1763.00 1775.00CARBORUNIV 361.50 361.50 356.55 358.05SHARDACROP 309.00 309.00 306.10 307.15AKZOINDIA 1731.95 1736.40 1725.70 1727.00CCL 275.00 275.00 271.70 273.40ASAHIINDIA 255.05 256.00 255.00 255.00GEPIL 815.05 819.90 814.70 818.30

�������

SCRIP OPEN HIgh LOW LTP CHANGENIFTY 50 10949.80 10949.80 10864.15 10922.75 -39.10SUNPHARMA 411.00 423.50 409.40 417.40 19.10WIPRO 336.80 349.60 336.00 348.25 10.45TITAN 962.15 986.40 958.70 981.90 19.15KOTAKBANK 1279.00 1307.95 1273.10 1291.50 23.90DRREDDY 2599.10 2645.00 2589.95 2639.20 39.40GAIL 328.00 336.00 325.05 332.75 4.95HEROMOTOCO 2795.00 2835.00 2742.50 2832.00 37.75BAJFINANCE 2585.00 2635.00 2575.00 2620.50 26.30YESBANK 191.50 193.80 187.40 193.55 1.60BAJAJFINSV 6377.00 6447.05 6350.00 6429.85 45.30HINDPETRO 238.90 243.45 238.35 240.15 1.50ULTRACEMCO 3850.00 3887.00 3800.90 3862.00 12.45INFY 741.25 749.00 734.00 747.00 2.00IOC 135.95 137.30 135.35 136.00 0.35BPCL 351.50 357.60 351.05 352.45 0.90TECHM 714.00 720.00 701.80 715.65 1.75HINDUNILVR 1746.00 1755.00 1741.25 1751.00 4.10BAJAJ-AUTO 2685.00 2695.00 2650.10 2689.55 4.95ITC 289.85 291.00 285.15 290.30 0.40INFRATEL 278.75 280.70 274.50 277.95 0.15AXISBANK 656.35 663.60 653.85 659.40 -0.90ONGC 145.50 146.00 144.05 144.30 -0.40EICHERMOT 20001.00 20350.00 19900.00 19968.00 -60.00TATAMOTORS 181.50 181.50 175.95 180.75 -0.75RELIANCE 1232.85 1246.95 1219.60 1232.00 -5.70CIPLA 510.00 511.40 502.45 506.85 -2.40SBIN 293.00 293.00 288.20 290.85 -1.60INDUSINDBK 1502.00 1506.20 1475.00 1499.00 -8.60TCS 1907.10 1918.25 1890.00 1896.70 -12.00NTPC 143.90 143.90 142.00 142.50 -0.90HDFCBANK 2146.00 2146.80 2129.05 2132.25 -15.90ICICIBANK 370.55 372.50 366.10 368.95 -2.75UPL 766.20 772.05 753.45 763.10 -6.05COALINDIA 228.45 230.35 225.80 227.15 -1.85IBULHSGFIN 802.00 817.70 788.00 797.60 -7.20POWERGRID 191.00 191.25 188.50 189.30 -1.95LT 1316.90 1321.50 1298.10 1300.00 -14.55HDFC 1999.00 2002.15 1968.50 1981.30 -23.15ASIANPAINT 1423.90 1432.05 1375.25 1404.85 -17.25GRASIM 812.00 812.70 800.20 804.00 -11.65ADANIPORTS 393.40 394.70 387.10 390.50 -5.70HINDALCO 206.35 206.35 201.00 203.75 -3.90MARUTI 7180.00 7180.00 7054.50 7056.00 -152.40BHARTIARTL 312.00 312.10 301.55 304.45 -6.90HCLTECH 962.00 964.55 937.00 943.50 -22.25JSWSTEEL 284.00 284.60 274.55 277.50 -7.10ZEEL 436.00 437.35 420.00 424.50 -12.15M&M 727.70 727.70 705.15 707.75 -22.55TATASTEEL 470.70 470.70 455.00 456.30 -15.40VEDL 197.50 197.50 191.00 191.20 -7.25

�������

�����������

SCRIP OPEN HIgh LOW LTP CHANGENIFTY NEXT 50 27323.20 27452.65 27150.60 27430.75 108.35INDIGO 1055.80 1130.00 1046.65 1121.00 58.05HAVELLS 679.70 721.00 670.60 713.90 36.20PETRONET 218.05 226.85 218.05 223.60 5.60PEL 2281.00 2343.95 2261.00 2339.80 58.10MCDOWELL-N 589.70 605.10 580.20 600.55 13.25IDEA 32.75 33.70 32.60 33.55 0.70SUNTV 515.30 523.20 510.05 522.00 9.90ABB 1284.00 1316.80 1280.95 1305.00 23.90AUROPHARMA 780.05 790.20 777.10 787.95 11.75DLF 177.00 180.60 174.75 179.80 2.55BOSCHLTD 19095.00 19321.00 18990.10 19310.00 264.00SHREECEM 15620.00 16199.00 15225.00 15889.95 211.25BIOCON 664.70 671.90 660.10 671.50 8.50DABUR 428.20 434.35 423.20 433.30 5.15GODREJCP 787.00 797.35 768.05 793.00 8.65AMBUJACEM 212.20 215.00 211.40 214.00 1.70ACC 1429.00 1445.50 1418.10 1439.00 9.70BRITANNIA 3150.00 3174.95 3130.15 3169.90 21.50CONCOR 664.00 671.90 657.55 669.00 4.00NHPC 25.30 25.60 25.25 25.40 0.15NIACL 180.10 182.00 179.35 181.25 1.00LICHSGFIN 473.00 477.85 462.60 475.60 2.50SBILIFE 620.00 629.80 611.70 619.95 2.30CADILAHC 343.95 347.60 340.30 345.80 1.20SIEMENS 1040.00 1059.90 1037.00 1048.35 3.55BHEL 70.95 71.55 69.95 71.10 0.15DMART 1353.00 1375.00 1350.00 1354.00 2.70GICRE 250.15 254.00 250.15 252.80 0.25HDFCLIFE 384.90 389.50 381.10 383.95 0.10NMDC 90.25 90.85 89.25 90.25 0.00PGHH 9989.80 10050.00 9908.90 9999.90 -3.25LUPIN 866.00 872.40 851.00 865.00 -1.65OIL 171.95 172.75 170.05 171.60 -0.35PIDILITIND 1160.00 1167.50 1145.45 1152.05 -3.10OFSS 3675.50 3760.00 3663.50 3670.00 -13.70MOTHERSUMI 162.85 163.30 159.60 162.00 -0.90ICICIGI 852.95 858.35 842.90 845.00 -5.95COLPAL 1322.60 1322.60 1303.00 1304.05 -9.20MARICO 377.80 379.95 370.55 374.45 -4.55MRF 65900.00 66166.85 65100.00 65100.00 -1026.10BEL 86.95 87.40 84.35 84.95 -1.55SRTRANSFIN 1111.00 1122.60 1089.10 1094.00 -20.70ABCAPITAL 92.55 92.70 90.05 90.85 -1.75ICICIPRULI 353.00 353.85 343.45 344.85 -6.80L&TFH 138.70 140.95 135.20 137.30 -2.85BANKBARODA 116.45 116.85 113.40 113.80 -2.65SAIL 49.25 49.30 47.35 48.20 -1.15HINDZINC 266.00 266.40 256.35 260.10 -7.45ASHOKLEY 89.25 89.40 86.50 87.90 -2.70BANDHANBNK 425.90 425.90 407.10 408.60 -18.00

Page 12:  · rabi crops, wheat cultivation, on the other hand, reported a 2.5-per cent deficit as com-pared to last year. As against an area of around 304 lakh hectare sown in 2017-18, the

��#���&#%��'�!����$�#( '�)#��#%( *+,�*-./ (�!��8�

1�/11��21�/11��22�/���

�� �1��&���'������ ��&���+��'����������������) ����������*���.� ���� ��������� ��� ����(������������������&� ������������ ����������������� ���� �&�������������� �����������/� ��/� ���#�$��� ����� ���� ������������������������ ����� ����#

����'1���� �� �&�''� ����'��� ����� ��2#�-��!#@)������� �� �����4������������� ������������������������������������ ���������� ������� ���� ���� ���� ���������� �� � �����#�

:� �����1�;5��' �� �+''��������)����� ��%��)�2������������ �������&��� ������� ������������� ���&�������� ������ ���������� �������� �������� ������� ���&���� ��� ������-����� �#����� �� ���������������������������������� ������&��� ������ �����IC����������� ���������� ������������ �!"9���������� ���������� ��� �#

����(�������� �� ����� �'������2�''�$��#) -������.���� �� �- ��(���� �5���1���� ���������� &�������&��)��� � ���������������� ��B� ������ ���������������� ���������������� ������� ����������� �� � ������� ������#

� ��(=��=/

Two ships carrying Indian,Turkish and Libyan crew

members caught fire in theKerch Strait separating Crimeafrom Russia, killing at least 14sailors, according to mediareports.

The fire broke out onMonday off Russia’s territorialwaters. Both vessels were flyingTanzanian flags. One of themwas a liquefied natural gas car-rier and another one was atanker. The fire broke out as thetwo ships were transferring fuelfrom one to the other.

One of the ships, the Candy,had a 17-member crew, includ-ing nine

Turkish citizens and eightIndian nationals.

The other one, the Maestro,had 15-member crew, includingseven Turkish nationals, sevenIndian citizens and an internfrom Libya, Russian newsagency Tass quoted maritimeauthority as saying.

Fourteen people were killedin the accident, Crimea’s headSergei Aksyonov told reporterson Tuesday.

“I cannot say anything aboutthe cause of the fire. We cur-rently have information about 14dead sailors. Other sailors have not reachedhospitals yet. Kerch hospitals areexpecting to receive them, theywill get medical assistance,” he

said.The minister did not spec-

ify the nationalities of personskilled in the accident.

As many as 12 people havebeen rescued, while six are stillmissing. Search and rescueefforts are underway.

“Presumably, an explosionoccurred (on one of the vessels).Then the fire spread to anothervessel. A rescue tug is en route,”said a spokesman for the RussianMaritime Agency.

Some three dozen sailorsmanaged to escape the burningships by jumping off the vessels.

There were no chances tofind survivors in the fire, thespokesperson said.

“As of 6am, the status of theoperation has been reclassifiedto search from rescue because

there is no hope to find sur-vivors,” the spokesperson said.

The fire has not been extin-guished. “The blaze is ongoing,”he said.

Severe weather conditions atsea have prevented rescue shipsfrom taking victims to the shorefor medical treatment, the reportadded. The Kerch Strait is a keywaterway that holds strategicimportance for both Russia andUkraine.

It is an important econom-ic lifeline for Ukraine that allowsships leaving the port city ofMariupol to access the Black Sea.

It’s also the the closest pointof access for Russia to Crimea,a peninsula Moscow annexed in2014. A Russian-built bridgeover the Kerch Strait opened inMay last year.

! � �#� �������<$�� ���# ����� ���������,$ ��8�����!�������

'��� ��� ��������!���������������!�������������������+��� �!����� ����������9����/��� ��� �� ������*�����/����������/������.3��!� ��9���!�+� ������������� .&

� �� /0�3�5,�=5

Kamala Harris’ plunge in the2020 US presidential race has thrilled the

Indian-American communitywhich considers the firstIndian-origin Senator’s“groundbreaking” announce-ment a “proud moment” and areflection that Indian-Americans have finally arrivedat the centre stage of US poli-tics.

Harris, 54, officiallylaunched her campaign for theUS presidential election in2020 to take on PresidentDonald Trump on Monday,saying she was “honoured” toannounce her bid on a daywhen Americans celebratedMartin Luther King Jr whosought inspiration fromMahatma Gandhi.

A rising party star andvocal critic of President Trump,Harris, who is quite oftendescribed as the female BarackObama in the Democraticparty is the fourth Democrat tojoin the battle for the party’snomination in the next year’selection.

While it’s too early to sayon the results of the grillingpresidential primary that wouldconclude with the DemocraticNational Convention in July2020, the Indian-Americancommunity leaders said Harris– who is of mixed parental her-itage from India and theCaribbean – has a fair and clearshot at the White House.

“It’s a proud moment forthe Indian-American commu-nity to see one of our ownannounce to run for the pres-ident,” eminent philanthropistand venture capitalist M RRangaswami, founder ofIndiaspora, told PTI.

Indian-American ImpactFund, a political action com-mittee that supports Indian-Americans candidates, said itwas “thrilled” by Senator

Harris’ “groundbreaking”announcement.

“As thefirst viableI n d i a n -A m e r i c a ncandidate for

President of the United States,she is a trailblazer for ourcommunity and a championfor our values.

We applaud her decisionand look forward to support-ing her enthusiastically in thedays and months ahead,” it said.

Harris would create histo-ry by becoming the firstwoman to be elected as the USPresident if she wins the 2020presidential race againstTrump.

� �� �0�0�3�

At least 27 people were killedand over a dozen others

injured when an oil tankercollided with a passenger busin the Hub area of Pakistan’sBalochistan province, policesaid on Tuesday.

The accident took place inthe Lasbela district on Mondaywhen the bus, travelling toPanjgur from Karachi and car-rying 40 passengers, was hit bythe tanker coming from theopposite direction, the policesaid. “A huge fire erupted afterthe accident as the tanker wascarrying Iranian diesel,” asenior official said.

“The passengers startedjumping out of the bus to savetheir lives but many weretrapped inside as the flamesengulfed the bus and thetanker,” he added. The officialsaid 27 bodies have been recov-ered from the crash site, Geonews reported.

“All of them died fromburn injuries,” Lasbela DeputyCommissioner Shabir Mengalsaid.

He said that six of the 16injured were in critical condi-tion. A rescue official of theEdhi Foundation said due tothe absence of facilities andambulances the injured wereshifted to Karachi after a longdelay. He said most of thebodies recovered were burntbeyond recognition.Balochistan province, bordersoil-rich Iran from where mil-lions of gallons of fuel is ille-gally transported to Pakistan.

9K�� ��������� �� ������ )����� ������-��

(��� �4������>/�&��� ���� ��� ���7� ����'�� ��.��� ����

/��A�9������(��� �!�#+�� �A!���������������������������� ������������������!(������>� ���� ������������� .&

����� /0�3�5,�=5

Boys from a Catholic schoolin Kentucky were treated

unfairly in a rush to judgment,President Donald Trump hassaid after allegations the stu-dents had mocked a NativeAmerican elder.

“Looking like NickSandman & CovingtonCatholic students were treatedunfairly with early judgements

proving out to be false -smeared by media,” Trumptweeted on Monday.

As in many cases, Trump’stweet appeared to be triggeredby Fox News, as he cited thenetwork’s Tucker Carlson say-ing new footage showed“media” were wrong about theencounter.

Footage captured on multiple phone camera videosthat swept social media on

Saturday showed a whiteCovington student standingsilently with his lips taught,extremely close to NathanPhillips, a Native AmericanVietnam war veteran, whobeats a traditional drum whilechanting.

The student wears a redcap bearing Trump’s slogan,“Make America Great Again.”Other students are jumping upand down, chanting.

�")$��%��%�%()�! (%�2) 3��"��("!�(!�1��4!"��(�4!�� #��! (

Page 13:  · rabi crops, wheat cultivation, on the other hand, reported a 2.5-per cent deficit as com-pared to last year. As against an area of around 304 lakh hectare sown in 2017-18, the

��#���&#%��'�!����$�#( '�)#��#%( *+,�*-./ �4�#���8+5,���������������

?��#��������� ��� �!��"��!��������!&����"� �*(�� #��!��*�"#����&'����"#����!�3�������@A�� ��������

Accounting helps you keeptrack of money and who isn’tinterested in money?

Accounting with daily journals,ledgers, bank reconciliation state-ments, profit and loss statements andincome and balance sheets presentan unbiased picture of the financialposition of an organisation.

Accountants tell the true positionwith regard to its liabilities, cashsources, viability of managerial andinvestor decisions and compliancewith taxation and corporate laws.

Further, accounting helps a busi-ness, venture or a nation plan, con-trol and execute their budgets andexpenditures, forecast revenues orturnovers, purchase new assetsor take on new liabilities, mon-itor financial health, take deci-sions with regard to per-sonnel hiring or recruit-ment and regulategrowth in thee c o n o m y .Considering thevital impor-tance of

accounting work to trade, com-merce and Government, is it anywonder that accounting jobs neverlose their significance.

According to payscale.com, thetop salary for an accountant, notbeing a Chartered Accountant, couldgo up to �487,303 a year. There issteady and assured growth for anaccountant over the progression ofher career. Experience affectsaccountant salaries markedly. Thehighest growth can take place dur-ing the middle to late career mile-stones. In a related survey of those

working in accounts on the sameplatform, it was

found

t h a tan over-

whelming 100 percent gave their profession

five out of five stars. While femalesmade up for only five per cent ofthose in the profession, males madean abnormally high 80 per cent.

Most accountants becomerecord-keepers, especially at theentry-level. However, they are sup-posed to check and maintain calcu-lations, create sales and cash flowreports, administer payrolls, preparebalance sheets, carry out billingactivity, manage budgets and inven-tory. At a mid to senior level, theaccountant may also be expected tofile taxes or go through historicalreports to create turnover forecasts.Sometimes, internal audits may beneeded to identify trouble areas inperformance. An accounting staffmust also monitor whether officepersonnel are adhering to companypolicies and relevant statutes. Ittakes skill for the accountant to pre-pare management reports with theright amount of accuracy, detailand illustration.

Ordinarily, commerce graduateswith an additional diploma or cer-tification in specialised accountingpractices may start working as anaccountant. Internships as anaccountant help in cementing work-ing knowledge and adding authori-ty to your resume. Knowledge ofapplication software such asQuickbooks, Tally or Microsoft Excelis indispensable to reconcile newageimperatives with existing compe-tencies. Accounting work is seldomunderstood by solo entrepreneursand small businesses and so theaccountant must be a self-starter.However, in other organisations,she may be required to work as partof a team and collaboration must alsobe part of your skill set.

Accountants, today, may require

additional competen-cies because of the expansion

of digitisation to every sphere ofbusiness. SAP is one of the mostwidely used enterprise applicationprogrammes being used in industryand to obtain veracity and genuine-ness of training, it is crucial tochoose a SAP authorised trainingdelivery partner to complete yourcertification in this software.

Over time, an accountant maygrow into the roles of finance man-ager, account manager, financialcontroller, chartered accountant,chief financial officer or a financedirector.

Remember that you need not bea number cruncher to be an accoun-tant. Arithmetic skills are honed byconstant practice. Initially, you mayeven find reporting work to be bor-ing and repetitive. But it will pay thebills while you earn and you canalways enroll in and complete moreadvanced courses that lead into aleadership role. Financial roles are lit-tle understood and diligence andopen-mindedness can get a long wayin this enticing profession.

%���� ���� ������������ ����!'+.�6���/� ����

,&��������� ��������������������� ���������� �������,�&� �������B����������� ��� ���&� � ������� ����������������6��50�256�0��3>0(��4�30

����� 52/�62�3��

The 2019 Global Talent CompetitivenessIndex (GTCI) report reveals that

Switzerland, Singapore and the US continueto lead the world in talent competitiveness,while countries in Asia, Latin America andAfrica are seeing a progressive erosion of theirtalent base. The report confirms that talentissues have become a mainstream concern forfirms, nations and cities, with talent perfor-mance seen as a critical factor to growth andprosperity.

This year’s report has a special focus onentrepreneurial talent — how it is beingencouraged, nurtured and developed through-out the world and how this affects the rela-tive competitiveness of different economies.New approaches are emerging to stimulateentrepreneurial and intrapreneurial talent andfuture proof employees, for example, the

efforts to develop bottom up innovation andempower employees. Such progress is espe-cially true in the cities, where ‘Smart cities’ecosystems are increasingly acting as talentmagnets.

The results further show:�The highest-ranking countries and citiestend to be the most open to entrepreneurialtalent�Digitalisation and globalisation are increas-ing the role of entrepreneurial talent.

Cities rather than countries are develop-ing stronger roles as talent hubs and will becrucial to reshaping the global talent scene.This growing importance of cities is due totheir greater flexibility and ability to adapt tonew trends and patterns, as nimble econom-ic units where policy can be changed more

swiftly, cities are thus more attractive for tal-ent, especially entrepreneurial talent.

The top-ranked city this year is

Washington DC, followed by Copenhagen,Oslo, Vienna and Zurich. Washington’s steadyeconomy, dynamic population, outstandinginfrastructure and connectivity, highly-skilledworkforce and world class education are allcharacteristics which contribute to making thecity such a talent hub.

For the first time, the 2019 GTCI providesa longitudinal analysis of talent competitive-ness based on the results of all GTCI editionssince 2013.

The main finding is that the gap sepa-rating the talent champions from the rest ofthe global community has been growing.Talent competitiveness is strengthening ingroups of countries where it is already com-paratively high and weakening in thosewhere it is relatively low.

����� 52/�62�3�

Recent trend shows that Indianstudents are opting for interna-

tional universities to pursue theirhigher education in non-traditionalcourses like robotics, applied scienceor artificial intelligence along withsports management, music technol-ogy, photonics and image consulting.With the availability of educationloan for these off-beat and non-tra-ditional courses, this has made itmore convenient for aspirants tostudy abroad.

Although India has a few uni-versities and educational institutionsoffering some of these courses, they

are quite new and have a long way toreach global standards. There aremany renowned educational institu-tions— Universities in Europe andthe United States

Neeraj Saxena, CEO and MD,Auxilo Finserv Pvt Ltd, said: “Earlier,educational loans were available onlyfor certain professional courses.Staying abreast with the changingtrends, many loan providers providestudents with an education loan forstudying courses like robotics, sportsmanagement or music technology.This has led to the rise in the num-ber of Indian students aspiring topursue off-beat courses from inter-national educational institutions.”

��' �����������The School of Health

Sciences (SOHS), IndiraGandhi National OpenUniversity (IGNOU) invitesapplication for its four newskil l-based health pro-grammes. The aim is to cre-ate trained health care per-sonnel for improving healthcare delivery across the coun-try. These programmes are:

�Certificate in General DutyAssistance (CGDA)

The short duration pro-gramme prepares the candi-date in non-clinical tasks orthe activities like use of assis-tive devices, patient care,transporting patients, gener-al hygiene and grooming,handling of samples, drugsand after care of equipmentsand much more.

Eligibility: Class XII passin Science stream withBiology.

Duration: Six months totwo years.

�Certificate in GeriatricCare Assistance (CGCA)

This short duration skillbased programme trains can-didates to provide support toold age people or patients byundertaking non-clinicaltasks such as assessment,patient positions, movements,feeding, hygiene, groomingand much more.

Eligibility: Class XII passin Science stream withBiology.

Duration: Six months totwo years.

�Certificate in PhlebotomyAssistance (CPHA)

This short duration skillbased training programmefocuses on the acquisition ofskills necessary to draw qual-ity blood samples frompatients, storage, transport tolaboratory for medical testingand practice infection controlmeasures.

Eligibility: Class XII passin Science stream with

Biology.Duration: Six months to

two years.

�Certificate in Home HealthAssistance (CHHA)

This short duration train-ing programme focuses on theacquisition of skills neces-sary to provide support byundertaking non-clinicaltasks.

Eligibility: Class XII passin Science stream withBiology.

Duration: Six months totwo years.

� �'���������� The Hotel School invites

applications for admission inthree-year BVoc degree inHotel Management.

In this course, studentswill be taught subjects likefood production, bakery andconfectionary, front office,housekeeping, reception han-dling, food and beverage,management, English andcommunication skills andothers.

Students will learn howevery aspect of a food serviceoperation contributes to theguest experience and willexplore unique features of avariety of food and beverageoperations. Eligibi lity :Candidates, who haveappeared/passed 10+2 exam-ination of CBSE, ICSE orequivalent accreditation.

How to Apply :Application forms andbrochure may be obtainedfrom admission office of TheHotel School at 989, NearOberoi Farm, Kapashera, NewDelhi, Delhi 110037.

Deadline: February 7,2019.

Early childhood is a crucialtime for subjective, social

and physical development of achild. Improvement is affectedby characteristics of the young,their family, and the moreextensive social conditioningaround the surrounding.

Physical well-being, dis-cernment, dialect, and socialand enthusiastic improvementthereafter supports schoolpreparation. Openly supported,focus based, through early youthimprovement programmesadvances the prosperity ofyouthful youngsters.

Most parents think thatEarly Childhood Education(ECE) is not so important fortheir child’s development andtherefore send them directly toprelim primary schools.Therefore, often they end upignoring the basic educationwhich a child needs to learnfrom the beginning. A strongassemblage of proof demon-strates that young children whoget fitting nourishment withpassionate and subjective incite-ment around the surroundingsare better arranged for schooland learning.

Early age improvement pro-grammes are intended toenhance their subjective learn-ing and prepare socially enthu-siastic preschool children thusimpacting preparation for learn-ing in the school setting. Properupbringing, education, person-al development is very necessarytoday. ECE is about honing andmoulding the child which will

eventually form the basis of theirlifelong journey. Let’s discusssome essential benefits of ECE:�Socialisation: Socialisationwith individuals other than thefamily in a protected situationis the fundamental componentto the underneath territories. Asguardians, we instinctively com-prehend that it’s critical toacquaint our children with otheryoungsters and bolster theirprogress into their very ownkinship gatherings. The prior wedo this, the better, as it enableschildren to conquer modestyand increase fearlessness. Inthe event that we leave this forlate in time, we end upobstructing their socialadvancement.�The idea of coopera-tion: Figuring out how toshare, collaborate, alter-nate and drive forwardinside a protected learn-ing condition, guided byexperts inculcates thispractice. This is particu-larly essential for the par-ents who may not beaccustomed to offering thesame to their child at home.�Focusing on integrateddevelopment: The methodol-ogy taken to guide the solidestablishment of the youngster’ssocial, physical and mentaladvancement, sets them up fora lifetime of learning. Teachersspecialised in early childhoodeducation are mostly preparedin recognising regions whereattention is required for young-sters and therefore help in

building projects and exercisesaround these requirements. Thecompany of such experts areadditionally critical as in suchsettings pre-schoolers are agree-able and comprehensive.�Values and morals: A childlearns values and morals fromthe environment that they aregrowing from their parents,relatives and school. So, it’svery important that we givemuch importance to inculcatingvalues and morals in school.There is no bet-ter place totake in thisone, otherthan in ac h a o t i c

preschool condition, whereeverything is shared and classand conduct are both instruct-ed and adapted to naturally.�Flexibility: It’s critical thatearly youth instructors andguardians cooperate to createversatility in child as early asexpected. By making a reliable,secure and reasonable socialcondition, with clear desires andunsurprising outcomes, chil-dren can inculcate abilities inoverseeing themselves and theirfeelings. It’s an educator’s busi-ness to give a testing situationwhere children can learn

through direct encounters.�Confidence, concentra-tion, patience & self-

esteem: Children need oppor-tunities to be involved in an

abundance of social experi-ences, where they can

explore and practice thesocial skills of

patience. A solidfeeling of pros-

perity gives young-sters certainty, pos-

itive thinking and confi-dence which will urge chil-

dren investigate their abili-ties and aptitudes. Positivecooperation with otheryoungsters and instruc-

tors will advance them intoa positive, solid and secureperspective of themselvesthat will enable them toapproach circumstancesand issues unhesitant for

the rest of their lives.%���� ���� ���������������#!�

+���� ������������� �&��������

-05�0*��4(0����5,3���� ��������� ���� ����������������������� ��� ����B���&������� ���������� ���&� ������������� �

%'&%8& �7#��$%!*?������ $��% $�#��!=��$%!*$��*�#*-�� %�7����� 52/�62�3�

����4�&� ��������� ����(�����������������,� ��,������������� � �����

D�-E�4�&� ���� ����� ��� �������������� � ���������N��� ��9:!C�N������6�� ��������#�0 �����9::�� ������&� ���� �� ������������������ �����-4�&� ���� ���($0��($0�D%����� (� ���E��($0�D�������E��-�6���($0�������� �����&� ��� ����������������� �&�#- ���5�������������������(�������������� ��� ����������� �������� ������� �&� ��� ������ �����#�

/� ����� ��������������� ����- ������������H0 ����� ������� ������������ �����������&� ���#����� ��� � �� ���������������� �����������&� � �������������� �� ������������������

������������� ����� �� � ����������� ����� �������� �#O

���� �� ������ ������������ ������������� �������������� ����� ����� ����������P6����������0 ����0�� �.����������&������-������,�� ����� ���������9::!�� �������������� �������� ������ �������������� ����������� � ���� ��������������� #�

0�� �� ��� ������ ���������������� ����� ��� ����������������������� �������&����������� ���������������� #�����&���������� ��������� ������� �������� �� � � �� �����������������&���#

The eighth two-day annualNational Level Science

Contest was conducted recent-ly for school students at VelloreInstitute of Technology. Founderand chancellor of VIT, Dr GViswanathan, handed over prizesworth �3 lakh along with the cer-tificates to the winners.

Organised by VIT everyyear, the National Level ScienceContest gives a platform to theschool students to demonstratetheir talent in their area of inter-est. Competitions and innovativeprojects were displayed duringthe course of the two-day con-test. Around 564 students from33 High Schools and HigherSecondary Schools from TamilNadu, Andhra Pradesh,Telangana, Karnataka and Keralaparticipated in various events.

Around 70 teams took tak-ing part in working modelsevent, 42 teams in idea presen-tation, 59 teams in poster pre-sentation and 62 teams compet-ed in the quiz contest.

S Dhananjayan, Sanjay Band Dhruv N of Shristi

Vidyashram, senior secondaryschool, Vellore, won the firstprize in the quiz contest andreceived �15,000 cash prize,while P Greeshmanth, MAvinashand Ch Bhavadeep of StMary’s Public School, Nellore,AP, won the second place &received �10,000 as cash prize.

In the quiz contest for stu-dents in Class XI and XII,Anand, Krishna Rajmohan andSuhail of Bhavans Vidya Mandir,Kochi, Kerala, won the first

place and received �20,000 ascash prize, while the second prizewith a cash award of �15,000went to Mohan Mythresh,Manish KR and Vignesh C ofSunbeam CBSE school, Vellore.

In the idea presentationcontest, the first place was baggedby E Aswathi of AKM HigherSecondary School Kottoor,Kerala and received �10,000 ascash prize, while the second prizewith a cash award of �7,500 wentto S Bavedra, P Pavithra and S

Thejashwini of KaligiRanganathan Montford,Matriculation Higher SecondarySchool, Perambur, Chennai.

B Aravind, Ashwin RangaVB and LS Yuvanesh of ShristiVidyashram Senior SecondarySchool, Vellore won the firstprize and cash award of �10,000in the working models contestalong with K Somasundharamand D Devandhiran ofGovernment HSS, Pennathur,Vellore. Students of both theschools received �10,000 as cashprize. The second prize with acash award of �7,500 went toJanarthana of Veera LakshmiVidyalaya High School, Salemand P Dinesh Kumar and GDhanush Kumar of SunbeamMatriculation School, Vellore.

Among those who took partin the prize distribution functionincluded Pro Vice Chancellor DrS Narayanan, Dr A Mary Saral,dean, School of AdvancedSciences and Professors Dr RVijayaraghavan, Dr E JamesJebaseelan Samuel and Dr NArunai Nambi Raj.

2��$�����$�������

# �� ��� ���������� ������� ����'&�>� ���� ��4������������/�������� ����� �������������� �����

���� �!���"##��$!

2;-2��25�20%%2���

0��=45�05��0�0��2�

(0��26�>#0��=�6�5,��=-0>��0�2#�=(��32��=-��0�0�>

%=��050��=45�05���5=�

0��0���=4�6�,=�4-�=��I��0�3�0�>20�

6��7���(��! (�#�$�!(�(�4! !%%�� �!8 ;�� �&���&&'�����������

$�� ������� ������������

1������������������������-'%!�#��5�- ��������!���������������� 3��������� ����������������$�� �����B�����/� �����+�������

Page 14:  · rabi crops, wheat cultivation, on the other hand, reported a 2.5-per cent deficit as com-pared to last year. As against an area of around 304 lakh hectare sown in 2017-18, the

There’s no place quite like the designindustry. It’s where creativity andtechnology meet, and where innova-

tion thrives. Design is absolutely every-where-from the clothes we wear to the appswe use, from the cars we drive to the chairswe sit on. As a designer, you have the powerto shape the world. There are many careersthat can be launched after taking a designcourse. Those with a passion for fashion maybecome retail clothing buyers, display mer-chandisers or fashion designers. Mediajobs include magazine cover designer, pho-tographer, design associate and layout edi-tor. Then there are marketing opportunitieslike graphic designer, packaging developer,concept and design technician or produc-tion manager. The retail industry careersinclude showroom design consultant, storedesigner, display coordinator and visualmerchandiser.

Design is one of the most challenging,fast-moving, and visionary fields to work in-and it can be financially rewarding, too.Below are five high-paid fields.

�� �'��������L�''�� �� ��One can choose to be animators, graph-

ic designers, illustrators, game developers,game artists, designers, creative directors,web artists, art directors, installation design-ers, eBook illustrators, storyboard artists,instructors, professors, or freelance artists.This field is slightly different from puredesign. It teaches the artists the use of a widerange of software, artistic and technical tech-niques to create art. Digital design and illus-tration programmes prepare students for

careers in the world of digital design and artby combining traditional painting anddrawing skills with new media digitalapplications and output strategies. Digitaldesigners and illustrators get to work indiverse industries like advertising, multi-media, gaming, graphic design, film andvideo, architecture, automotive, the medicalindustry and even in criminal investigationsas forensics.

������� � ��������Professionals who work in transportation

design are known as industrial designers. Theyproduce designs for automobiles, aircraft,watercraft, mass transit systems and two-wheeled vehicles, taking into considerationaesthetics, ergonomics, manufacturing, mar-keting, safety and economics. They also spe-cialise in areas like hybrid vehicle, recreationalvehicle or aircraft interior design.Transportation designers usually start theircareers with a bachelor’s degree in industri-al design, and many go on to earn a master'sdegree. Learning how to take a product con-cept and design a producible item is the focusof a transportation designer. Transportationdesigners can specialise in an industry, suchas aviation or mass transit, or a specific trans-portation type, such as hybrid or electric trans-port. A bachelor’s in industrial design pro-gramme provides the training in CAD soft-ware and in product design needed by theseprofessionals.

������ ������This is all about creating 3-D products

through an efficient process of idea gener-

ation, development and evaluation. Productdesigners have an understanding of the rela-tionship between art, science and technol-ogy, and have the ability to exploit each ofthese things in different ways to create newproducts.

A designer’s role in an organisationinvolves envisioning, imagining, conceptu-alising and creating products that people canuse and cherish in their daily life. Productdesign or industrial design being a gentlemix of art and technology can help elevatehuman life experience by providing effec-tive solutions to the identified consumerneeds. A product designer works towardsimproving the novelty, usability, function-ality and aesthetics of a product. Studyingproduct design provides a broad theoreti-cal knowledge and practical skill set as onewould require using production methodsand materials creatively.

����������The industry has witnessed tremendous

growth over the last 10 years. With the mar-ket touching the �1,300 crore mark in 2012,it has encouraged various international ani-mation companies to outsource work toIndia. A game designer is someone who hasa vision of what the game is as it goesthrough iterations during its developmentcycle. Besides computer and console gam-ing, mobile games are a new part of the gam-ing sector Established jobs for a gamedesigner include working with game devel-opers or game publishing companies. Thesecan range from small — to large-sized com-panies producing games for other vendors.

One career path to game design could bestarting as a game tester and then gradual-ly moving on to game designing. This canoffer a good grounding in the industry andenable insights into different areas, sinceemployers seek some experience for mid-level positions.

��������������� This is all about the business side of

design. It encompasses the ongoing process-es, business decisions, and strategies thatenable innovation and creation of effectively-designed products, services, communica-tions, environments, and brands. At adeeper level, design management linksdesign, innovation, technology, managementand customers to provide competitiveadvantage for organisational success.

Earlier, design management was seen aslimited to the management of design pro-jects. Over time, it has evolved to otheraspects of the organisation on a functionaland strategic level. Design management pro-fessionals can work in various industries,including advertising and marketing, archi-tecture, graphic design or motion pictures.Entry-level design management profes-sionals can work as marketing assistants,production assistants and project manage-ment assistants. More experienced designmanagement professionals can seek employ-ment as brand strategists, advertising exec-utives, product developers, project man-agers, marketing managers and businessdirectors.

%���� ���� ��- ��������������H�����>� ���� ������#�� ��

�����������)������������&� �� ��� ����� &�������������&� ��� ��������������������L� � ����� ���� �����

�� �������#����������������� ������ ������������������N���������� ������� ���� �����S���������������A� ������ ������������ ��������A���������� ���������������� ���������������� ��������������������� �������������� � �������� � ������������������ ����� ���� �� ������ ��������#

���� �� ����������� ����������� ������������ �������� ���������&���� ������ ������ #������� ������� �)�� ������� ��� ���������� ���������� �� ���������������&������������ � ������� ����� ����

���� ����� �������� ����

�� ��� ������ ���& ��������� ���������#0�&� �������� ���� ���� ���������������������� ������������������������������������������ ������ ����� ������������#3������������� �����&� ��������������������&����� �����T���)���T����� �#�%����������� ��� � ������������ ���U

�������������� ��������������� �) ����*#7 %A=�=�-���->>�� ��=� #@) %������

��������������������������� �������� ��������S������� ����� ������� ����������������� ��������� ������������������������ �#����������������� ������������ �������������� � ����������� �&���������� � �������������������������������� ��#

&#��#�!%� %�) =������� ���������

�A�����������������F���������&��#�%� �A�� ���������� ��L��������� �����N���9:���� ����������� �� �������� �S�0 �������� ����� ������� ����� ���� ��� ������� ����������������������#

�!�7��$#�*) ������������� ��������� ���������������������� ��� ������� ���� ���&� �� ������������������� ����������������� ����B����� �������������#�

��7? �>������ %7� #)�6� �������������� ������� �������� �������� ���� ����������#�0����� �����&���������

�� �������������������� �������������� ���� �������������������� ���� �� ���#

��%��% %�#��#�>�7�%.%!% %#��� ����<) =������ �������������� ���� ������������������� ��������������� ���������� ������ �����#������ ��� ��������������������� ��� ��������� ����������� ��� ������ ��������������

�=�7� � ��.�%7�����<�� �$�@#)�4� ������A� ���������� ������ ����������� �� ������� ���������� ����&� ��� ���� ��������#���������� �����)���� ��������� � ��#3������������� ��� ��������������&�

����� ���� ������� ���� �#� %�<� ��=�-����$#*-!#1�*��7� �*%C#� )

���� �������� ���������������������� ������������������� ������������� ���#���������������������������� ������ ������������ ��� � ������������ ��� ��� �B���#�>�������� ������� ����� ������ ����� ����������� ��������������� �#����� �� �������������&������������������� ������������������������V����� ������������������������ ��������� ����� ������������������������� ��������� �������������������F�������� �#�/ ����������������������� ����� ����������� ��������������� ������ �������� � ������������������� �������� ���� � ��#

��7��#�� �#���!#C#!�) �� ��������

��&��� ��� ��������������������������� �� ����� �� ����������������������#����� ��� � �� ������������������ ������������� �����&�������������������� ��������� ������ ������ �� ����B��������������� �������������� #

�� �$�A����%�7���A�.-�7M�- ) ������ �B��� �� ������� ��������� ��� ������������ ��������������#�%� ����� ������ ����� ������A����&��������������������� �������� ��������� �B���� ��������� �������� ��� ��� ���� ��������#�0�� ����������� ��������&��������������������� ������ ������ ����#

%���� ���� ��&����� �&�����!���� ��� �����/����������1������+68����9��������

/����B���� ���+�����

��#���&#%��'�!����$�#( '�)#��#%( *+,�*-./ �4�#���8�

0 ��- � 1

Fujitsu India hasannounced the launch ofthe 40th edition of theFujitsu Scholarship pro-gramme for qualified appli-cants in India. The selectedparticipants will attendFujitsu-JAIMS Foundation’sGlobal Leaders forInnovation and Knowledge2019 Fall Course. This is a3.5 month course. Selectedstudents will complete theircoursework and field work infour countries; Japan,US(Hawaii), Singapore andThailand.

The scholarship coversthe complete tuition for theGlobal Leaders forInnovation and Knowledgeprogram offered by Fujitsu-JAIMS Foundation.

Application deadline:The application deadline isMarch 8, 2019 for the pro-gramme starting in August23, 2019.

To know more visit:http://www.fujitsu.com/schol-arship.

How to apply visit:http://www.fujitsu.com/glob-al/about/csr/activities/com-munity/scholarship/process/

The Kent StateUniversity invites applica-tions for InternationalFreshman Scholarship. Thescholarship program is avail-able to any non-immigrant to

the United Stateswho is an incoming New

Freshman student at KentState University.

Eligibility: New fresh-man only; Fall admissiononly; Minimum cumulativeSecondary school GPA 3.6 onUS 4.0 scale; 27 ACTComposite,1280 new SAT or1210 old SAT CriticalReading & Math;Unconditional Admission toKent State University as afreshman. English LanguageRequirements: All under-graduate applicants mustobtain a minimum TOEFLscore of 525 (71 on theInternet-based version), min-imum MELAB score of 75 orIELTS score of 6.0, or PTEAcademic score of 48, orCompleting the ELS level 112Intensive Programme.

How to apply: Submit anonline application and non-refundable application fee of$70. Include: Passport bio-graphical page; English lan-guage proficiency scores;Secondary SchoolGraduation certificate/diplo-ma/attending Certificate(Certified English translationand original language);Secondary School tran-scripts/detailed mark sheets(Certified English translationand original language);Additional financial guaran-tee. Kent State UniversityFinancial InformationWorksheet. Financial docu-ments are only required afteracceptance.

Application deadline:February 1, 2019

�������� �����������)���� �������������������� ����������������������������

��������������� �� �� � ���������� �� �� � ��������B���������� ���������������������#�������� ������� ����� ��������������� ��� ������ ������������������ ��������� �������)��������= ���������� ������������� ��������������� ���� �)����� ������������ ��������������� ���#

���� �������� �� ��������� ��������������� ��������� ������-������������� ���$� �������(���������#�0��� �($$����� ������������������ �(6�D(�����E����������� ���#�0������� �������� ���������������� ���7*%�7��>%7�!�7G-�%#���#7 �#�5���6� �#���-��#)���&�$#-@� �!��=��$�%� %�7��#*%��!���!!#�#�<� � �#���-��#) 6(��������� ����+%7���#���#���#*%��!��7%C#��% =��������#���-��#) 6(�������� ����7� % - #��A���� ����*-� #�#*%��!��*-�� %�7��7*��#�#���$��� ����#���-��#) 6(��������� ������*�����#*%��!���!!#�#��7*��C#�7@#7 ��#7#��!���>% �!�������#���-��#) 6(��������� �����%I�@��7� % - #��A��#*%��!��%#7�#���3��� ����#���-��#) 6(

�������� ���

� ������� ��� ���+� ���� ��&�������'�'���������������������������6� ���,��1������%� ������,� �� ����5�����������+�:::)�!:�:::�� �������������� ���� �#���88G'I+'0 ���������� ����*���� ��9C��9:!C

��� �� ��� ���� ���'� ����''�����������6� ���5�����������!9�:::�� ������������� ���� �#���88G'I+"0 ���������� ���*���� ��'!��9:!C

&�����������'����� N��'��O�� ����� ���������6� ������V��9!�:::�� �������������� ���� �#���88G'I+I0 ���������� ����%�� �� ��!�9:!C

'��"�'���'�� �2���'�L����������������6� ���������I�:::)�!:�:::�� �������������� ���� �#���88G'I+G0 ���������� ����%�� �� ��!��9:!C

��� ����'���'���������� ������������6� ���5��������V��!9�:::)�!I�:::�� �������������� ���� �#���88G'I+K0 ���������� ����%�� �� ��!��9:!C

���� ����������� �����������$���� � ���������'I�:::�� �������������� ���� �#���88G'I++0 ���������� ����%�� �� ��!'��9:!C

�� ���� ���� ���� ���������/� ��% ���3��������V��I�:::)�+�:::�� �������������� ���� �#���88G'I+C0 ���������� ����%�� �� ��'��9:!C

�����������������������=��, ����%� ����� ������ ����%�� �� ��!)9��9:!C����5��

6� �#������� ���� ����������� � ��� ��������� ���� �������������������������� �� ������������������ � �&��������� ������9!������� ������ �������������������)�����0��#

������� �������� ���� �� ��������� ��&� �G:������ ������9":�� ������������� ������������&� �������� ���������������������� ��&��� ���#

���������� � ������ ���� ��&�������� ����� ���0������������������� ������������������ ���&� ������������� ������������������������ ������ � ���� ��������������� ��������� ��������� �������� ��� ��� ��� ������� ����#�

������ ���� �� ����A � ��������� ����������������� �������������)�����0����&� &����������������� ����������!''�� ������&��� �#�

0(��� ��������4��� ��������D(�4E�����������������������0����-����

����-�� �0���������� ��������������� ������ ��������������L������� �� #������ ������&����������������� ��������������A� �����

�� �� ������L������ �������� �������� ���� ������ ����� ���� �&� �#�

0��� ��������� �������&� ����� ��A� ���� ���0���-������ �����������

�������������� ����������� ���� ���������������� ������� �� ������������ ��������������� ������ ���������� ���� ���� �� ��� ���0����-����#

4��� ������������� ��� � � ������ �� ��������� ��������������� �������� ����������������� �������&��� ������� �������� ���� ������ ����� ������������� �� ���� ����������������������� � ���� ����� ��� ���������� ���� ����������������������������� ���������#

4��� ������������ �� ������������� ����������� ����� �� 0���������������������

��������� �� �������������&� ���� � � ��������#

3������ ����������� �� ������ ����� ��� ��������������� �� ��������������������� ��������������!#�������������� ������������ ������������� �� ������� ���������������� ����������1���&������� ��������� �� �������������� ����� ����������� �#

��� ���� ���������������� ����� ���� � ���������!!� �� � ����� � ���������������������#

6� ����������������������� ��������5�&���� �����6������ �������������&� �'9IW��� ����������������� ����������������������� ����������������� �� ��������������� ����������� �#�

H���������A������������ ���#/��� �� ������� ���������������&� ���� � � ������������� �����������������&����� ������������ ������ �#�/�� ������ �� ������� ������������������� ����&����&� ���� � �����L�� �������������������������&� �������&� ����� ����������� �O�<� �����A����%����� )�2=���� �� �0��������#

�� �$����� ������ �����������(���������

� ���������5����� 3������� �����������������N�$���= ���1����� - ��������� ��� �� ������3�#

��������� ����

����� ������������������������ ������� ���������3��������� �����������&��� �#���� � �����������������3���������� ����������������������������� �������������������� � �� ����

� ��������� ������������������ ������)�����#�

6 �6��� &����&��6 ���� ���$��(��� �����������3������ ����� ����� ��������� ��� � � ������� ����� �����#

6 �*���� ��6����6 ���� ��%=�2����� ����(���������������� �������� ���������

2A�� ���������2����������������>�� ���0������ ���� �������0��-�����2������������������ ���0�� �������������9:!C#

�������������������� ��6 6��������H���������������� ������ ���������������������������������������������������������#���� �&���������������������������������������� ����� ���� ������ �������� ��� � ���� #����� ��������������� ������ ����������&�������� ������� ��������A����#���.��������� ������� ��������������&��������������#O

�����'�&�'����������'�������'�������������

'���������������'������ ��

�� ���'��������������� �'&���

����� ��������

���������

The global human resources indus-try witnessed massive disruptionin 2018. With technological inno-

vation at its peak, job roles and hiringpractices transformed at a remarkablepace. On the back of this deluge ofinnovation, the sector is projected toreach a whopping $30 billion by 2025.

Across the globe, HR teams adopt-ed technologies like ArtificialIntelligence (AI), Machine Learningand Data Analytics in order to stream-line work and make the hiring processmore efficient. Recruiters utilized thepower of AI to carry out job-candidatematching, a process that is a leg up fromtraditional, commoditised hiring prac-tices. Through job-candidate matching,the skillsets demanded by a particularjob role are meticulously matchedwith the skills possessed by candidates,leading to smarter hiring decisions.Recruiters can therefore cast a wider netwhile searching for candidates and restassured that only the best and mostsuitable ones will finally appear for face-to-face interviews.

The HR managers gave higherimportance to candidate experience inthe entire hiring process. This ensuredthat the right talent was not lost to com-petitors due to poor engagement or lackof timely feedback. In order to ampli-fy the recruiting experience for candi-dates, HR managers began using auto-mated chatbots to provide feedbackpost interviews. Through NaturalLanguage Processing and machinelearning, AI allowed HR managers toassess everything from the cultural fitto the skills of candidates almostinstantaneously. With neutral assess-ment being a key point while getting theperfect fit, Monjin, a video interview-ing and assessment platform has estab-lished a network of elite interviewers,a unique on its own. Lastly, recruitersalso took to social media, online clas-sifieds and video-based hiring plat-forms to further optimise the entire hir-ing process.

While innovative technologies dis-rupted industries, HR faced a uniquechallenge in 2018. Technology createdseveral new jobs across industries, butthere exists a lack of skilled profes-

sionals that can take up these roles. In 2019, upskilling and reskilling

will be one of the key focus areas forHR teams. HR managers will adopt acontinuous learning culture withinworkspaces to motivate employees andensure definitive career growth.Retention is also a major challenge forrecruiters who struggle with attritionmonth after month. A greater focus oncandidate and employee satisfaction,and communication with existingemployees can help HR managersovercome this challenge. Further, com-pany culture and regular incentives canalso give a significant boost to employ-ee retention.

Greater focus will be laid onemployee development across all para-meters from technological to soft skills.Further, HR teams will focus on hiringcandidates who possess relevant skillsand have a vigor to continue learning.

Additionally, HR teams will needto become technologically adept inorder to stay abreast with the rapidlychanging job landscape. While peopleskills will remain at the heart of all HRroles, managers will need to adopt skillsin AI, data analytics and automation tofurther augment HR practices.Technologically advanced HR teamswill excel at technologically advancedsmart hiring, and overcoming the pastchallenges will be easier.

@�� ������#��������$ ������,53��������� ��A�� ���������� ���� ���&��������� ��� ��������&� ���������������� ������� �������� ���9:!C������0$3�*����0�3>0-2

.� 0 ��99������+���������C�+68!����0 �

6�������������������������� �����������)��&��������&���� ���� �������� ���������������������� �� ��� ��������� �������6���05*0>�,4-�0

�*!�)&< � * � + � < � , *

Page 15:  · rabi crops, wheat cultivation, on the other hand, reported a 2.5-per cent deficit as com-pared to last year. As against an area of around 304 lakh hectare sown in 2017-18, the

���"�8���#���&#%��'�!����$�#( '�)#��#%( *+,�*-./

� �� 64$0��

The peerless Virat Kohlion Tuesday became thefirst cricketer to make a

clean-sweep of the ICC'sannual individual awards andwas also named captain of theworld body's Test and ODIteams of the year, line-upswhich were dominated byIndian players.

Kohli became the firstplayer in history to win the SirGarfield Sobers Trophy forICC Cricketer of the Year, hissecond consecutive, the ICCTest and the ODI Player of theYear awards following anextraordinary 2018. Besides,the rapidly-rising wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant claimedthe ICC's Emerging Cricketerof the Year award.

"Not only is Kohli thefirst player to win these threemajor ICC awards togetherbut he has also been namedthe captain of the ICC Testand ODI teams of the year fora fabulous run in internationalcricket," the ICC said in a

statement.Kohli scored 1,322 runs at

an average of 55.08 in 13Tests with five hundreds dur-ing the calendar year while in14 ODIs he amassed 1202runs at an astonishing averageof 133.55 with six centuries.He also scored 211 runs in 10T20Is.

"It's a reward for all thehard work that you dothroughout the calendar year.Having recognition at theglobal level from the ICC issomething you feel proud of asa cricketer because you under-stand that there are manyplayers playing the game,"Kohli was quoted as saying bythe world body in a release.

"... Obviously a very proudmoment for me and some-thing that gives you moremotivation to keep repeatingthe same things because youhave to keep the standard ofcricket up and keep bringingin consistent performances,"he added.

Three players each fromIndia and New Zealand fea-

-�/���%�!!�%��������"�%< ���������������� ���� ����� ������� �,� �� ������ ��� ����=6�����������- ��� ��������>�� ��� ���������� ���� ���� ����

when he led India to victoryat the ICC Under-19 WorldCup in Malaysia in 2008, fin-ished the year as the top-ranked batsman in Tests andODIs.

The highest scorer in bothforms of the game in 2018, hewas one of only two batsmento score more than 1,000 runsin Tests and only among threeto do so in ODI cricket.

Kohli was the unanimouschoice of the voting academyfor the Sir Garfield SobersTrophy with South Africa fastbowler Kagiso Rabada comingin second to him for both thisaward and the Test Player of

the Year honour."This is well-

d e s e r v e drecog-

nitionfor an extra-ordinary talent. His regard forthe game and particularly forTest cricket is also recog-nized and appreciated," ICCChief Executive DavidRichardson said.

"He is passionate in hissupport of the longest form ofthe game and its continuedimportance. . .Virat hasbecome a great ambassadorfor our sport," he added.

Afghanistan leg-spinnerRashid Khan was runner upto Kohli for the ICC ODIPlayer of the Year award.

India won six Tests andlost seven during the votingperiod that ran from January1 to December 31, 2018. InODIs, Kohli led India to ninevictories, with four losses andone tied match.

This was also Kohli's sec-ond successive ODI Player ofthe Year award.

In other awards, theIndian under-19 team' WorldCup triumph in New Zealandwas declared the FansMoment of the Year with 48per cent of votes.

Sri Lanka's KumarDharmasena was votedUmpire of the Year by inter-national captains and the ICCmatch referees, winning theDavid Shepherd Trophy for asecond time.

The ICC Spirit of CricketAward went to New Zealand

tured in the ICC's Test teamof the year, while four eachfrom India and England arepart of the ODI side of theyear 2018.

The Test team includedPant, in just his breakthroughTest year, and fast bowlerJasprit Bumrah, who was theonly player apart from Kohlito be named in both the sides.

The ODI team has open-er Rohit Sharma, spinnerKuldeep Yadav and Bumrahfrom India along with Kohli,while England are represent-ed by Joe Root, JonnyBairstow, Jos Buttler and BenStokes.

The 30-year-old Kohli,who first came into limelight

captain Kane Williamson for"continuing to be a shiningrole model of how our gameshould be played, his behav-iour setting an outstandingexample on and off the field."

����������ICC Cricketer of the Year:Virat KohliICC Test Cricketer of theYear: Virat KohliICC ODI Cricketer of theYear: Virat KohliICC Emerging Cricketer ofthe Year: Rishabh PantICC Men's Test Team of theYear: Tom Latham (NewZealand), DimuthKarunaratne (Sri Lanka),Kane Williamson (New

Zealand), Virat Kohli (India)(capt), Henry Nicholls (NewZealand), Rishabh Pant(India) (wk), Jason Holder(Windies), Kagiso Rabada(South Africa), Nathan Lyon(Australia), Jasprit Bumrah(India), Mohammad Abbas(Pakistan)ICC Men's ODI team of theyear: Rohit Sharma (India),Jonny Bairstow (England),Virat Kohli (India) (capt),Joe Root (England), RossTaylor (New Zealand), JosButtler (England) (wk), BenStokes (England), MustafizurRahman (Bangladesh),Rashid Khan (Afghanistan),Kuldeep Yadav (India),Jasprit Bumrah (India).

Page 16:  · rabi crops, wheat cultivation, on the other hand, reported a 2.5-per cent deficit as com-pared to last year. As against an area of around 304 lakh hectare sown in 2017-18, the

��#���&#%��'�!����$�#( '�)#��#%( *+,�*-./ �'���86

����� (2�$=4�52

Rafael Nadal continued his relentlessmarch towards an 18th major title onTuesday as an emotional Petra Kvitova

swept into her first Grand Slam semi-final sincea terrifying knife attack almost ended her career.

On day nine of the Australian Open, thefairytale runs of Stefanos Tsitsipas and DanielleCollins were also extended as they too sweptinto the last four.

Second seed Nadal inched closer to win-ning an event he has only claimed once beforewhen he trounced unseeded American FrancesTiafoe 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in another ruthless displayfrom a man who has not dropped a set so far.

Tiafoe had announced himself by beatingfifth seed Kevin Anderson, but was no matchfor a player at the peak of his powers as heattempts to become only the third man to winall four Slams twice and the first to do so in theOpen era.

"I had some trouble at this event all mycareer, so I'm very happy with the way I playedtonight," said the Spaniard, who faces anotheryoung gun Tsitsipas in the semi-finals.

"I feel lucky to be where I am."Greek sensation Tsitsipas powered into the

last four with a measured 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/2)win over Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut.

The 20-year-old, who ended Swiss greatRoger Federer's tournament, became theyoungest man to reach the semis at MelbournePark since Andy Roddick in 2003 and the firstplayer from Greece —man or woman — to getso far at Grand Slam.

"I'm just living the dream, living what I'vebeen working hard for," said the 14th seed, wholives in Cyprus but trains at the academy ofSerena Williams' coach Patrick Mouratoglou inFrance.

"I feel a bit emotional but not too much —I know I really worked hard to get here, play-ing in semis of a Grand Slam."

Czech Kvitova had not gone past the lasteight at a major since a burglar slashed her lefthand in December 2016, forcing her out of thegame for six months and leaving her with last-ing nerve damage in the fingers of her racquethand.

But the eighth seed has bounced back andis on a sensational 10-match unbeaten streakafter claiming the Sydney International warm-up title.

She proved too much for Ashleigh Barty,crushing the local hope 6-1, 6-4, and was in tearsafterwards as she reflected on her long journeyback to the top.

"Really, I didn't imagine to be back on thisgreat stadium and play with the best," the two-time Wimbledon champion said.

"I'm calling it as my second career. So it'sthe first semi-final of the second career. I'm real-ly enjoying it."

Kvitova will face unseeded AmericanCollins in the semi-final on Thursday and shedesperately wants to reach Saturday's decider.

"I want it bad, that's right," she said.Collins, the world number 35, had never

won a Grand Slam match before entering this

year's tournament but she stunned three-timemajor champion and second seed AngeliqueKerber in round four.

And the 25-year-old from Florida contin-ued her Cinderella run by bouncing back spec-tacularly to down Russia's AnastasiaPavlyuchenkova 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 in the quarter-finals.

Collins, who has spent long stretches of hercareer playing small tournaments to build upher ranking points, was in big trouble after los-ing the first set to the world number 44.

But she fearlessly battled back into thematch to again stamp her mark on the tour-nament. "This has all been a really incredibleexperience," she said.

����� (��05�

Cristiano Ronaldo missed apenalty but Italian league lead-

ers Juventus eased past bottom clubChievo 3-0 to pull nine points clearon top of Serie A as AC Milanreturned to the Champions Leagueberths with a 2-0 win in Genoa.

Portuguese superstar Ronaldohad sealed Juventus' first title of theseason — a record eighth ItalianSuper Cup trophy against ACMilan last Wednesday inSaudi Arabia.

But the 33-year-old wasoff-form in the first leaguegame after a three-week win-ter break and on the eve of hisreturn to Madrid where he willappear in court for tax fraudcharges dating back to his timewith Real Madrid.

The five-time Ballon d'Or win-ner missed numerous chanceswith Chievo goalkeeper StefanoSorrentino denying Ronaldo, whohas scored 14 times in the league,a first goal from the spot this sea-son.

But Juventus were never wor-ried by Chievo with Douglas Costaand Emre Can scoring in the firsthalf and Daniele Rugani heading

in a third six minutes fromtime.

Brazilian winger Costagot Juventus off the markwith a stunning solo run frommidfield after 13 minutes.Paulo Dybala set up Can for

the German international's firstgoal since moving from Liverpoollast summer just before the break.

Juventus were awarded apenalty for a Mattia Bani handballwith 39-year-old Sorrentino clear-ing having also earlier denied AlexSandro's close-range header.

Ronaldo missed two morechances before Rugani headed ina Federico Bernardeschi free kickto keep unbeaten Juventus, with 56points from 20 games, on track foran eighth consecutive Scudetto.

����� (06��6�

Ghanaian forward Kevin-PrinceBoateng has vowed to make the most

of his shock arrival at Barcelona, after aloan move for the journeyman fromItalian side Sassuolo was sealed.

The leaders of La Liga said in a state-ment on Monday they had agreed a dealto take Boateng on loan until the end ofthe season, with an option to make themove permanent in the summer.

"The agreement includes an eight-mil-lion-euro ($ 9 million) purchase option,"the club said.

The arrival of Boateng, 31, will pro-vide much-needed cover for Luis Suarezup front in Ernesto Valverde's squad fol-lowing the departure of Munir El Haddadito Sevilla.

The fiery forward has been a suc-cessful stopgap many times before, whichBarca boss Ernesto Valverde valued in hisdecision to bring him in.

"He doesn't seem to need much timeto adapt, he knows his stuff and can startplaying straight away," Valverde.

"He's comfortable in many positions,as a central striker or playing off anoth-er striker, and even deeper too," Valverdetold the club website.

The player himself was upbeat aboutthe move when journalists spoke to himat the airport in Italy.

"Barca, I'm coming! I'm sad to leaveSassuolo but this is a great chance,"Boateng said, according to a SKY Twitterfeed.

"But don't ask me about Real Madrid.I only want to focus on Barcelona and Ihope to score at Bernabeu for the nextClassico," Boateng said.

The player will be presented to pressand fans on Tuesday at noon on the CampNou pitch, the club revealed.

Born in Germany, the half-brother ofBayern Munich defender Jerome Boatengmoved back to Serie A last year after help-ing Eintracht Frankfurt win the GermanCup. He has scored five goals in 15 gamesthis season for Sassuolo.

"With experience of playing in four ofthe biggest leagues in Europe, the PremierLeague, the Bundesliga, Serie A and LaLiga, he is a man who has scored goalswherever he has been," FC Barcelona said.

The former Tottenham Hotspur, ACMilan and Schalke 04 player has previ-ously had a spell in Spain, with Las Palmasin 2016-17.

����� $��6,2�=/5�

England is solid favourites although histo-ry is on the side of the underdog West

Indies ahead of the first Test of the three-match series starting on Wednesday atKensington Oval in Bridgetown.

Riding a wave of five consecutive victo-ries — eight in nine matches going back to thelast English summer — which includes serieswins over top-ranked India and an historicsweep in Sri Lanka, the tourists appearsupremely confident of overturning the dis-appointments of their last two Caribbean cam-paigns.

England have only won one Test series inthe West Indies in the past 50 years, a 3-0 tri-umph in 2004, and failed to live up to expec-tations in 2009, when they lost 1-0, and againin 2015 when a five-wicket triumph insidethree days by the unfancied hosts at the sameKensington Oval venueresulted in a shared series.

While the weight ofexpectation will be on the vis-itors' shoulders, West Indiesface a daunting task to halt a run of four con-secutive defeats, all within three days, on a dis-astrous Asian tour late last year which sawthem being brushed aside by both India andBangladesh in two-Test series.

England have a settled look to their teamand took the weekend off training followingtwo satisfactory two-day matches against aCricket West Indies XI at the 3Ws Oval justoutside Bridgetown. By contrast the WestIndies squad reflects both a lack of continu-

ity in selection and the parlous state of thedomestic game.

John Campbell looks certain to make hisTest debut opening the battingalongside the established KraiggBrathwaite. However the 25-year-old's first-class average of 30 sug-gests he will face a stern challenge

from England senior pace spearheads JimmyAnderson and Stuart Broad, who need justtwo more wickets to lift their combined tallyof Test victims to 1,000.

&�����&��+��� ���'��� ���F'�Another newcomer in the West Indies

squad of 13, 30-year-old middle-order bats-man Shamarh Brooks who averages 33 but hasendured a poor season so far in the inter-ter-ritorial first-class competition, is unlikely to

make the final 11 especially given the returnto Test duty of Darren Bravo after more thantwo years out of the team.

Bravo's Test average of 40 and elegant left-handed style would normally make him anautomatic selection except that a Twitter tiradeagainst CWI president Dave Cameron inNovember of 2016 led to his alienation fromthe team until now.

England's build-up to the series has beenserene by comparison although in a yearwhich includes their hosting of the World Cup,where they are expected to be one of thefavourites, followed by the Ashes seriesagainst arch-rivals Australia, they can ill affordto stumble so early against a team they willbe expected to defeat comfortably.

On a Kensington Oval pitch expected tooffer assistance to the faster bowlers, thetourists are likely to go into the opening Testwith one specialist spinner in Moeen Ali whileseam bowling all-rounders Ben Stokes andSam Curran should provide ample support toAnderson and Broad.

�����N���&�&'�OWest Indies— Jason Holder (captain),Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, DarrenBravo, Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer,Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich(wicketkeeper), Kemar Roach, AlzarriJoseph, Shannon Gabriel.England— Joe Root (captain), KeatonJennings, Rory Burns, Jonny Bairstow, BenStokes, Jos Buttler, Ben Foakes(wicketkeeper), Moeen Ali, Sam Curran,Stuart Broad, Jimmy Anderson.

����� $���$052�

Coach Justin Langer on Tuesdaysaid senior batsman Usman

Khawaja must convert solid startsinto hundreds, as Australia look tobounce back from a crushing lossto India when they face Sri Lankathis week.

Australia axed Aaron Finch,Peter Handscomb and the Marshbrothers, Shaun and Mitch, afterthe India humbling. But Khawajasurvived and Langer is looking forfireworks from his number three.

"I had a good hit with him yes-terday actually in the nets uphere at Allan Border Field inBrisbane," Langer told SEN radioof Khawaja, who has a top score ofjust 72 this summer across Testsand ODIs.

"He admitted he's been frus-trated.

"But he seems fine. He's in thebest physical condition of his life,he's training hard, he's playingwell, but that's often the way inTest cricket.

"We need him to stand up. Heknows that, he's our most seniorbatsman. He needs and we needhim to turn some of those greatstarts into hundreds for us."

Australia play two Testsagainst Sri Lanka, starting underlights and with a pink ball at the

Gabba on Thursday, with all theirbatsmen under pressure to dobetter against the sixth-rankedteam in the world.

In-form Joe Burns has beenrecalled to the squad for the firsttime since the South Africa tourearly last year and could open theinnings with rookie MarcusHarris, who did enough againstIndia to keep his place.

But they face competitionfrom Matt Renshaw, who has beenhanded another opportunitydespite misfiring in the domesticSheffield Shield this season.

Young batting prodigy WillPucovski was the surprise pick forthe series and is widely tipped tomake his debut this week.

Langer wouldn't revealwhether the 20-year-old would bein the starting XI, but said hewatched him in the nets onTuesday and "he's a very, verygood-looking player".

"There are always those con-siderations (whether Pucovski isready for Test cricket) ... Probablythe toughest part of the job isselection and you weigh it up andthat's all that's on your mind real-ly," said Langer.

"But he's a terrific young bloke.Regardless of if he plays or not, it'sa great learning experience for himat the moment."

Despite the 2-1 India series loss,selectors kept faith with their paceattack of Mitchell Starc, JoshHazlewood and Pat Cummins, withveteran Peter Siddle also included.

But Hazlewood has since beenruled out of the series with a backinjury, opening the door for JhyeRichardson, who impressed in theone-day series against India.

Hazlewood and Mitch Marshwere co-vice captains of Australiaand with both now missing, TravisHead and Cummins were elevatedto the roles on Tuesday.

"It is a fitting reward for theirprofessionalism and dedication todrive the elite standards of theAustralian men's Test team," saidnational selector Trevor Hohns.

������)� In-form wicketkeeperMatthew Wade has blastedCricket Australia after he wasoverlooked for a recall to the Testside to face Sri Lanka, saying heand other players were unclearabout the criteria for nationalselection.

Wade, who whacked anunbeaten 84 from 49 balls for theTwenty20 Big Bash League'sHobart Hurricanes on Mondaynight, has scored over 1,000 runsacross all formats this summer.

The 31-year-old has alsobeen the leading run scorer in theSheffield Shield with Tasmania.

Despite his performances,selectors opted to add KurtisPatterson to the squad for the firstTest starting Thursday, withnational selector Trevor Hohnshailing his back-to-back cen-turies for a Cricket Australia XI

in Hobart last week."I get told one thing, then I

see the comments in the paperthe next day about Kurtis pilingruns on and getting picked,"Wade said after the BBL game,cricket.Com.Au reported.

"I'm not sure what's going on.It's just a little bit frustrating thaton one hand you can say onething about one player and on theother hand (say) it's why some-one's getting picked.

"I don't think I'm just talkingfor myself, I think all playersaround the country... If the cri-teria is hundreds and scoringruns, then pick the guys that aredoing it. If that's not the criteria,then let us know." Wade said hewas previously told by Hohns hewasn't gaining selection becausehe batted too low in Tasmaniaorder. AFP

!%(�� ��!%�4% � .�� ���4!�3"�$�90:;�$����!7&A�<*&�0�&*<67,�

�!"! ���4% - ��%'�4���4!�3"�$�90:;�$����

!7&A�!�B���<*&�..:/�;-++�.�,�-%/-.+�+-�*+H�����$����/��� �����������% ����� ������ ������������������ � ������������ ����%� �� ���

� �(2�$=4�52

<��� ��������� �-������������ ��� �������������� ������ ������������ �����������������

�A������� ����&���������������F���������������������F��� ���, ����� �������������#�������������� ����-������������� ��������� �������G)"��������0���)�����, ������ ��������� ��%� ���������������������������������������������� � ��#������ ������������������ ����������������

�����,� ���)�� ������������� ���&��� ����!:)+#-������������� ����������������� �6����)�1����� ������/�� ������ �����&����-������������ ��������'9#����"I)��� )� ��-���������������� ��� �����A�����������F������ ����&��������� ��� (�A����(��� �0��� ������)<� � �#*��&���5�������1������������� ��� 5��� ���(�� ����� ��� �������������������������� �������������&���#

����3�1/��������;�/�1����0�B�-�-/�����

*������������ 3�*�����������

<,���,������ ����������

6���������� ������ ��������� ��H �� �������

;�%8-.���;;+�<%���/+�-%/<�+/- �: ��8�*%+/�+;

IH��2���� �����J2��H����������+.����������

�#����!���'!�"��(�1�����*�����������$�%

������*�#����!�* �����(�� ���'�$� �!!����� �

2� ���1 #����"%�(�� �!!�� ���� ���&��#���'����#������� �����

�*������ ����C� 3��$�����&���� ��(�!�