Swine Flu Irina Shayk - G-Plus
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Swine Flu Irina Shayk - G-Plus
India scores easy win in World Cup qualifier VOLUME 02 | ISSUE 23 MAR 14 - MAR 21, 2015 PRICE `10 PG 17 Irina Shayk Swine Flu Suffered ‘Ugly’ Insecurities 10 Things Not to Do PG 16 Page 24 2 G PLUS MAR 14 - MAR 21, 2015 Lead Story GMC plans to reduce city’s public dustbins RAHUL CHANDA A fter Ramky’s exit, the urban local body, Guwahati Municipal Corporation hired 31 NGOs to collect garbage from all the wards of the city and dump it into the dustbins which further gets carried to the Boragaon dumping ground on an everyday basis. But are the dustbins enough to gather all city garbage? Talking to G Plus, a local resident of Sixth Mile said, “I go out from my place with a bag of garbage and make sure that I drop the bag in the public dustbin located at Rukmanigaon, but once I forgot to drop the garbage at Rukmanigaon, I noticed that the next dustbin in GS Road after Rukmanigaon is located at Lachit Nagar. I was shocked that when there are various initiative been taken by the authorities to ease the city garbage woes, there are very less dustbins placed in the city so how will the city remain clean.” The dustbins Guwahati generates 500 MT of garbage on any average day, and according to GMC officials, there are approximately 215 dustbins placed across the city to collect all city’s garbage. The capacity of one dustbin is 2 MT, so, the entire dustbins of the city can collect a total of 430MT garbage, which is lesser than the total amount of garbage produced by Guwahati. But a GMC official said, “There are places were the garbage gets collected twice or thrice a day. The dustbins placed in areas like Ganeshguri, Apsara Cinema, Fancy Bazar, Gaushala, Paltan Bazar and Beltola are cleaned four to five times a day hence, the total garbage collected from the city totals to somewhere around 500 to 600 MT, which gets disposed at Boragaon dumping ground. Disposal plan Guwahati produces 600 MT of garbage every day. To manage the entire city garbage, GMC has 31 NGOs for each ward for primary garbage collection. The collected garbage goes into the bins, and GMC has 215 bins across the city. To transport the collected garbage from the bins, GMC has 12 compactors, 25 dumpers and 12 JCBs. At present all the collected garbage gets transported to Boragaon processing and disposal plant. There is a compost plant of 50 T per day, where 100 MT garbage gets processed. After processing 100 MT garbage, the plant produces approximately 5 ton of organic manure which is sold. GMC is planning to upgrade the plant to the capacity of processing 250 MT of garbage which will then produce 20 ton of organic manure. The plant will also have a plastic recycling unit and will also produce red brick. Are the bins enough? A highly placed source in the GMC said, “GMC is basically planning to reduce the number of dustbins placed across the city. GMC is very soon setting up transfer stations in various areas which will cover a large area and will have a capacity of consuming 100 to 300 MT of garbage individually.” The source further stated that work for three transfer stations have already started in Zoo Road, Adabari and Paltan Bazar. Previously the door to door garbage collection process by Ramky was not successful and so, the NGOs were hired to collect garbage from every household and dump it in the nearby bins. The commercial establishments are expected to keep dustbins near their shops so that public can use it. The garbage again later gets collected by the NGOs. So, the GMC feels that now the city can become dustbin free as according to GMC officials there is a helpline number 8811007000 where anyone can file a complaint if the NGOs are not collecting the garbage. The GMC official said, “You have a bag of garbage and “The people responsible for collecting garbage do not come regularly. It is very difficult and unhygenic to keep garbage at home for three to four days in a stretch as it starts stinking” Guwahati produces 600 MT of garbage per day To manage the garbage, GMC has • 31 NGOs • 215 bins • 12 compactors • 25 dumpers • 12 JCBs • 5 Robots you are waiting in any part of the city, you can just call the helpline number and if a person do not come to collect the garbage within half an hour, the NGO responsible for the services in that area will be suspended.” No one has to go to the dustbin and drop garbage as the new garbage collection plan makes it mandatory for the NGOs to visit all the households and commercial establishments to collect garbage and dump it to the nearby dustbins placed by the GMC. The garbage then further gets collected by GMC and disposed at Boragaon dumping ground. But are the NGOs visiting all the households every day? The problem A local resident of Jyotikuchi said, “The people responsible for collecting garbage do not come regularly. It is very difficult and unhygenic to keep garbage at home for three to four days in a stretch as it starts stinking, so, we have to dispose it in nearby waste lands as there is no public dustbins nearby. There is one at Lal Ganesh which is very far.” Some people from Boragaon also face the same problem and they say that no no one goes there to collect garbage. The NGOs have started visiting the households and as the normal charge which the households are expected to pay for the service, are collecting Rs 30 from each house, but, according to highly placed sources in the GMC, many households are denying to pay the amount. According to many households, they are paying the property and scavenging tax to the GMC, hence there is no reason why they should pay the garbage collection fees as well. There is also a rift within the NGOs about the area demarcation. As previously, there were 60 wards, and now it is reduced to 31 wards, so, people are still confused about which area falls under which ward. An NGO owner said, “One ward has many sub divisions and it is a huge area to cover. The GMC’s map do not tally with the area information explained by the councillor. Some areas which are under a different ward are also being expected to be covered by us, so, the most important thing at present is the proper information about the area demarcation of all the wards.” But somehow, the NGOs are doing an impressive work than the past, as the workers are seen collecting garbage from many houses and shops across the city, although, some places which are not yet covered may require some attention. So, the GMC is planning to reduce the city public dustbins with the help of the NGOs, but people should stop complaining and start cooperating with the urban local body to make the plan a success for the city, but, till then the NGOs have to really prove that they are working regularly. [email protected] G PLUS MAR 14 - MAR 21, 2015 3 In The News budget 2015 is not effective for general public juthika baruah T he Budget 2015-16, placed by Chief Minister in the ongoing Budget Session may have been hailed by the ruling state government as pro poor and progressive, but the opposition parties have lost no time in denouncing the budget as nothing but an election manifesto. Gogoi’s budget emphasized special care for women and CM’s SOP Opera includes working women hostels in all districts, Women and child development authority to be set up, Rs. 10000 each for one lakh women through Self Help Group, Rs. 10000 assistance to BPL families for marriage expenses of their girls, Rs. 10000 to each unmarried women of 40-60 years, Rs. 10000 each to 200 widows in every assembly constituency, Rs. 5000 to every new mother for her diet, at least one woman Director would be appointed in board of Directors of PSUs, Women Cell in all police stations, 30 per cent reservation for women in unarmed police constables recruitment, IT enabled women friendly rural buses for women and VAT exemption for sarees below Rs. 500. Reacting to the budget, President of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) Atul Bora said that the budget is totally an election manifesto and it does not have any change from the previous budget. It would not create any resource and the budget is not effective for general public, rather it has been prepared based on the 2016 election. “Gogoi has decided to distribute one time financial assistance to the females expecting to receive votes from those women as one time financial aid would not help the women in their future,” said Bora. Regarding increase in the price of cigarettes and alcohol, Bora said that it is the young generation who consumes alcohol and cigarettes more. Cheaper products: • Embroidery or jari, chumki, beads etc. • Local handmade jewellery • Glass bangles • Sarees not exceeding value of Rs. 500 per piece • Pens/pencils which costs not exceeding Rs. 250 per piece • Cancer Drugs • Medicinal Oxygen • Export duty of IMFL “It is not a bad decision that the cost of alcohol and cigarette will increase as the youths who generally consume alcohol will think to buy alcohol at a higher cost now. However, alcohol is not a necessity which needs to be bought daily like other commodities like rice, dal, sugar etc. If the tax would have been increased in such items it would have been a difficulty but increase of tax in alcohol will not be a problem according to me” Jyotipad Goswami, Senior executive Global Innovsource Pvt. Ltd. Guwahati has many wine shops and if the young generation would stop consuming alcohol, then the business will come down or else it will have to be handed over to the non-Assamese. He admited that the increase in price will do some good to some extent, especially, if the youths will stop consuming such things. He also said that accidents due to drunken driving might also lessen as a consequence. General Public Reaction on the budget: Liquor: “It is not a bad decision that the cost of alcohol and cigarette will increase as the youths who generally consumes alcohol will think to buy alcohol at a higher cost now. However, alcohol is not a necessity which needs to be bought daily like other commodities like rice, dal, sugar etc. If the tax would have been increased in such items it would have been a difficulty but increase of tax in alcohol will not be a problem according to me,” said Jyotipad Goswami, a senior executive Global Innovsource Pvt. Ltd. Hotel Room Tariff: “As Guwahati is the gateway of North East and many people who come from outside for business and other official purpose or for personal work stay in hotels in the city. And Gogoi’s budget Costlier: • • • • • Alcohol Cigarette Hotel Room Motor Vehicle Tax Levy of coal carrying trucks • Annual tax of vehicles used for carriage of petroleum products which states that hotel room tariff has been increased will be a problem for the people. The price of hotel room is already high in the city and now that it has been increased, people will have to think twice before booking a hotel when anyone come for any official purpose and will stay in a hotel,” said Khanindra Kakati, Businessman. Embroidery or jari, chumki, beads etc.: “I am very happy that the jewellery items will be cheaper as being a girl I have interest in all such thing and as I am a student I don’t get enough money to purchase costly jewellery items. Now that the price will be cheaper it will be helpful for all women, specially the students,” said Sagarika Baruah, an Engineering student. Karishma Phukan, a media employee while commenting on the working women hostels which will be set up in every district, said that it is a good news for the working women as they have to face lots of problem while staying in hostel or PG as the owner of the hostels takes it otherwise when it get late at work. “Most of the girls from remote areas comes out to Guwahati in search of work and have to stay in hostel or rent or in PG which becomes a difficulty for them. If working women hostel will be set up, it will be helpful as they will understand the problems of the girls if they even getin late from work,” said Phukan. She also said that women cell in police stations is also necessary as well as girls who faced untoward situation can’t go to police station to lodge a complaint as there are no female police. In Guwahati where crime against women is rising day by day, women cell in police stations is necessary. Whenever a girl or women face any problem inthe streets, they could at least call women police and also women police could understand the problem better. [email protected] 4 G PLUS MAR 14 - MAR 21, 2015 In The News An Assamese is someone who has no other place to live or die in Dhirendranath Chakravarty juthika baruah A t a time when the definition of Assamese has become a conterversy, noted intellectual Dhirendranath Chakravarty has defined it as the people who do not have other place to live in, breathe in or do not have place to die in other than Assam. According to Chakravarty, people from all castes and ethnic groups that had figured in the census books from 1901 to 1951, including all the communities like Gariyas-Mariyas, Chutia, Bodo, Mishing etc. and people of tea garden should be treated as Assamese. Assam is a land of 78,438 sq.km. with a population of 3.12 crore which is bigger than 77 countries amongst the 213 countries in the world. The Assam Sahitya Sabha had recently adopted a resolution and said that people irrespective of community, language, religion and place of origin and the people who can speak Assamese, accept it as their mother tongue or consider it as the second or third language can be considered as Assamese. But Chakravarty said that not every people who can speak Assamese can be regarded as Assamese because a language can be spoken by everyone but not all are Assamese in originality. “People who are living in Assam by birth can speak in Assamese by adopting the language. In the last 150 years, the people who came to Assam working in tea garden remain as Assamese but 95 per cent of the Bengali people working in school and office of the Bengali community remain Bengali. People who come from Rajasthan or any other Hindi community, among them 5 per cent like Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, Kanaklal Baruah, Ramesh Chandra Choudhury who draw their lineage from Marwaris, Hindustanis or Bengalis are respected as Assamese as they were assimilated with the Assamese community or for that matter the Nepalis and Bengalis who have not assimilated themselves with the Assamese community should be treated as Assamese only to secure the benefit offered to the Assamese people for their survival,” said Chakravarty. On the other hand, Bodo Sahitya Sabha defined Assamese as the persons from countries like Bangladesh, China, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan who are willing to accept Assamese as their first, second or third language. According to Chakravarty, the people who studied Assamese or secured 1st class in Assamese literature can’t be considered as Assamese as “The word Assam has stemmed from the Ahoms after their advent in the 13th century while the word ‘Asomiya’ figured occasionally in some of the Vaishnavite books in the 16th century, the words ‘Assamese’ and ‘Asomiya’ received regular acceptance after their introduction in books and magazines by Baptist missionaries in the second half of the 19th century” the other communities like Nepali, Rajasthani and other Hindi speaking people although they speak Assamese or study Assamese still they complete their rituals like marriage within their own community. Unlike the people who can speak or write English or obtain very good marks in English can’t be regarded as Americans or English, similarly, people from other community who can speak or write Assamese can’t be considered as Assamese. The Bodo Sahitya Sabha alleged that as the Assam Accord has not been implemented, therefore, the indigenous Assamese are facing problem and the Assam Accord implementation Minister Bhumidhar Barman has insulted the indigenous people of Assam by stating that the state government had not yet been able to finalise the definition of As- samese people. The definition is required to provide constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards to the Assamese people under Clause 6 of the Assam Accord. Chakravarty said that every Assamese people should know their background. The Assamese language was formed in a skeleton form 8000 years ago and the ethnic tribes like Mishing, Bodo, Tiwa, Chutia have contributed one language each in the 18th century. In 1959-60, the migration from East Pakistan has taken such a role that the Central Government have to launch a new scheme ‘Prevention of Immigration from Pakistan’ to stop the migration problem. The Central Government has also released adequate amount of fund to the Assam State Government but due to the presence of strong Muslim leaders’ opposition in the state, the scheme failed and immigration of foreigners still continued. In 1972, Bangladesh became independent but after its independence, immigration has increased. The Assam Movement started when 44,000 Bangladeshis entered each constituency and against 857 martyrs in 1985 the Assam Accord was signed through which the Central Government assured that the Bangladeshi infiltrators will be identified and will be boycotted and indigenous people will be protected. “The word Assam has stemmed from the Ahoms after their advent in the 13th century while the word ‘Asomiya’ figured occasionally in some of the Vaishnavite books in the 16th century, the words ‘Assamese’ and ‘Asomiya’ received regular acceptance after their introduction in books and magazines by Baptist missionaries in the second half of the 19th century,” added Chakravarty. Question arise that according to Assam Accord what should the Central Government do to save the culture of the Assamese people. The objective of the clause of the Assam Accord is to stop immigration of foreigners and to protect the indigenous Assamese people of the state from the illegal infiltrators. But the Assamese people have to be identified before any implementation of the scheme for the security of the dignity of the Assamese people. But it is unfortunate for the Assamese people that even after three decades, the true Assamese has not been identified yet. From the ancient days 30-40 tribes are regarded as Assamese like Bodo, Koch, Chutia, Keot, Kalita, Rava, Hajong, Tiwa, Ahom, Brahmin, Karbi, Moran, Matak, Nath, Sut, the tea tribe people etc. but they have forgetten the local dialect of their own. Therefore, Chakravarty said that Assamese are considered those who do not have other place to go or live in or die in. They will choose Assam to come back whether in any situation, if they go outside for study, for job, business etc. but they will come back to their own land. [email protected] G PLUS MAR 14 - MAR 21, 2015 5 In The News Northeast contest on Assamese Cinema Mr & MissMarch 14, 15 still struggling T after 80 years he grand finale of the Sunsilk Mega Miss North East contest is scheduled to be held on March 14 at the ITA Cultural Complex, Machkhuwa from 7 pm in the evening. The organizers said, “32 shortlisted women and 42 shortlisted men will be competing at the grand finale for the Mega Miss North East and Mega Mr North East. The winners of the contest will be crowned by Juhi Gogoi, former juthika baruah Sunsilk Mega Miss North East and Siddharth Boro, Fair & Lovely Men Mega Mr North East 2014”. The 13th edition of Mega Miss Northeast will feature some beautiful women from the north east who will be judged in three categories: traditional wear, evening gown presentation and personality interview. The Fair & Lovely Men Mega Mr Northeast finale will be held on March 15 from 7 pm onwards. Drugs seized at Fatasil Ambari & ISBT C T he Assamese Cinema has completed 80 eventful years after the release of its first film ‘Joymoti’of Rupkonwar Jyoti Prasad Agarwalla, released on 10th March, 1935 but regrettably even after completion of long 80 years, the Assamese film industry has not been able to make a mark for itself in the Indian film industry. Chairperson of Assam State Film (Finance & Development) Corporation, Bobeeta Sharma, while speaking to G Plus, said that although technology has changed dramatically in development of cinema but Assamese cinema lags behind other regional film industries as producers and directors fail to capitalise on issues that could interest audience in the Assamese films. “We have witnessed the transition from black and white to colour films and also technological developments from 16mm to 35mm or even 70mm where the picture quality is much better. The format of camera and sound has also been developed but there is still problem with content and script,” said Sharma. She also said that there is shortage of halls and there is a necessity of quality halls in every city. The Assamese film industry has also found itself struggling to keep alive as people do not have interest in watching Assamese films. “The producers also face problems while promoting the films as the response is very less and although a big budget film can attract the audience but our producers do not get profit for which they can’t think of a big budget film,” Sharma said. She also said that literature on local cinema should be popularized among the people. The cinemas has to be made in such a way that people should have an eagerness about the film, it’s story etc. Only then it would be popular among the audience andwill help in promotion of the films. Generally, the budget of an Assamese film is Rs 50 lakhs and ASFFDC takes a budget of Rs 30 lakhs where 60 per On the occasion of 80 years of Assamese cinema, the Assam State Film (Finance & Development) Corporation Ltd. has screened films of Jyotiprasad Agarwalla. The films are collection of short films on Agarwalla directed by Charu Kamal Hazarika and Rupkonwar Jyotiparasad Agarwalla and Joymoti directed by Bhupen Hazarika. ent will be funded by State Government and 40 per cent by ASFFDC. It is not only the people in Guwahati that have to go to watch Assamese film but the films should also be taken to other cities and towns but due to the absence of cinema halls, the rural people do not get the chance to watch Assamese films. She mentioned that a script workshop will be conducted so that the young directors could come up with strong quality scripts so that it attracts people and create enthusiasm among them to go and watch a film. Another cause of the poor condition of the Assamese film is the quality of the actors. It isbecoming increasingly difficult to find good quality actors or stars now-a-days which was there earlier. The invasion of the home through television, cable, and satellite networks has become another major threat to the existence of Assamese cinema. Commenting on the 80 years of Assamese cinema and its existence in the present day, noted Actor Pranjal Saikia said that there is shortage of cinema halls and the 30-32 cinema halls are also running at a slow pace only with the Bollywood films. The halls do not keep matinee or night show and a single show do not last long. It is the first week that a film depends for its sustainability and if a film does not hit the box office in the first week it won’t last long. Saikia said that the only department which the Government neglects and give minimum fund is the Cultural Affairs department. The young generation don’t even speak in Assamese, do not know Assamese poems which are some of the major drawbacks. Commissioner & Secretary of Cultural Affairs department, Pritam Saikia said that mini cinema policy will be started in order to create the interest of the people. About 4-5 mini cinema halls will come up every year. State Film Awards will also be organized every two years so that the young stars and directors could be encouraged to come out with more quality films. On the occasion of 80 years of Assamese cinema, the Assam State Film (Finance & Development) Corporation Ltd. has screened films of Jyotiprasad Agarwalla. The films are collection of short films on Agarwalla directed by Charu Kamal Hazarika and Rupkonwar Jyotiparasad Agarwalla and Joymoti directed by Bhupen Hazarika. While asked, whether Jyoti Chitrabon be able to produce quality stars in the future for the development of Assamese cinema, Sharma said that it will be able to produce young stars as the young generation are interested in working with the film industry but it is also the responsibility of the producers and directors to make a well to do films with good script and content so that the youngsters don’t break down and lose determination after doing one or two films because of lack of quality. [email protected] ity police detained four persons from two different locations in the city with large quantity of psychotropic drugs on Tuesday morning. Respified tablets weighing 20 kilograms were seized from two persons from Manipur at the Fatasil Ambari area. The two persons arrested from Fatasil Ambari area has been identified as Lalrinawama (35) and Solomona (28). While on the same day, two more persons from Mizoram including a woman were arrested from the ISBT premises with ephedrine tablets weighing 40 kilograms. The arrested duo from Mizoram has been identified as Laldu Hawmi (50) and Thangliyana (35). Police also recovered Myanmar currency worth Rs 1,20000 from the Mizo duo who came from Siliguri and were heading towards Mizoram. British Council’s educational seminar held in city T he British Council organized Great UK Education Seminars in Guwahati as part of the Great Britain campaign at the Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture, Uzan Bazar on Wednesday. In the daylong seminar the participants were given the opportunity to interact with the representatives of the British Council and the alumni and gather knowledge about the aspects of studying and living in UK. Information on the scholarships for Indian students was also provided to the aspiring students at the seminar. A short film depicting the experiences of studying in the UK There’s never been a better time to study in the UK was also screened on the occasion. A large number of students participated in the seminar and interacted about their areas of interest with the representatives. Workshop on different dance forms of Assam A residential workshop on the Assam dance forms is going to be organized from March 20th to March 27th at the Chandmari Colony field in Guwahati. Organisers of the workshop said, “The workshop is organized for the dance forms like, Bihu, Deuri dance, Missing dance, Hajong dane and Tiwa dance”. This for the first time that such a workshop is organized in the city to provide training on multiple folk dances at the same time. Along with training on various dance forms, the workshop would also provide training on various folk instruments like dhol, toka, hutuli, gogona, pepa etc. “Thaneshwar Panging, Nakul Deuri, Bidyasagar Hajong, Anil Saikia, Bihu Samraggi Dr Rupa Deka Pator, Bihu activist Kalyanjit Dutta and many more”, organizers said. Scott Furssedonn Wood visited city hospital T he British Deputy High Commissioner to India Scott Furssedonn Wood on Tuesday visited the Sankardeva Netralaya and surveyed the high quality facilities and expertise in eye care of the institution. Wood during his visit also discussed about the collaboration between Netralaya and some UK based agencies in the field of ophthalmic education, research and technology transfer. Under the Department of Biotechnology, Govt of India the institution has set up an established a molecular biology laboratory for conducting research. Till date there has been no genetic study conducted in this region on glaucoma and the doctors of the institution are hopeful that the research would be helpful for the Glaucoma patients of the north region. 6 G PLUS MAR 14 - MAR 21, 2015 In The News Assam joins campaign for new health warning on G PLUS news tobacco packs I n a significant development for the implementation of new pictorial warnings on tobacco packs in India, several representations and signed letters from women groups, youth associations, doctors, hospitals, self help groups, heads of educational institutions, voluntary organizations, etc across Assam have been sent to the Prime Minister and the Health Minister strongly advocating and supporting for the stronger and new pictorial warnings to be implemented on all tobacco packs from April 1st 2015. Various eminent international public health organizations working on tobacco control and cancer issues across India have also earlier wrote letters individually to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Health Minister J P Nadda for the impressive public health achievement of the new tobacco package health warnings to come into force from April 1, 2015. Government of India on 15th October, 2014 had announced the new pictorial health warnings for tobacco products that have made India the global leader in pack warnings. A notification was released requiring tobacco manufacturing companies to devote at least 85 percent of the surface areas of all tobacco products on both sides to graphically and literally represent the statutory warning. Beginning April 1, 2015 every tobacco product will carry on both sides pictorial depiction of throat and mouth cancer and a message in English, Hindi or any Indian language. Meanwhile, a public awareness campaign “Lives Bachao Size Badhao (Save Lives, Increase the Size)” was The top global rankings for package health warning size: 1.Nepal, 90% (2015) 2.India, 85% (2015) 3.Pakistan, 85% (2015) 4.Thailand, 85% 5.Australia, 82.5% 6.Sri Lanka, 80% 7.Uruguay, 80% launched in mid February, 2015 to support the move for a larger graphic health warning on tobacco products sold across India. The prime objective of this campaign is to garner support through a petition that will be presented to the Government of India in March end, 2015; signatures for which will be collected both online and on ground. The petition, which has been addressed to J. P. Nadda, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare on behalf of oral cancer survivor, SunitaTomar is currently available online at http://chn.ge/1Dy6QQu. In Assam people from different walk of life has signed the online petition which was already acquired nearly 16,000 signatures. “More and more people through organizations, institutions and individually are involving themselves in the campaign. People are now becoming aware of the extreme hazards of tobacco consumption and they are showing their support for larger pictorial warnings by signing the petition and sending written representations to the, the Government of India. The government cannot ignore the appeal of the people and will implement the new pictorial health warnings from April 1, said Ruchira Neog,” Executive Secretary, Voluntary Health Association of Assam (VHAA). VHAA is one of the organizations which are running this campaign in Assam. On the other hand, cricketing icon, Padma Bhushan awardee and India’s Ambassador for Tobacco Control, Rahul Dravid has congratulated the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, for its recent endeavours to strengthen the country’s tobacco control law. Dravid has written to the Health Minister, JP Nadda applauding the Government for mandating 85 per cent pictorial health warnings on tobacco product packages. “I would like to congratulate the Health Ministry for mandating 85 per cent pictorial health warnings for tobacco product packages to be enforced from April 1, 2015. This is indeed a laudable decision and will go a long way in informing the citizens of India about the serious health hazards of tobacco use by curbing the use of the tobacco pack as a medium of product promotion,” Dravid wrote in his letter. Encouraged by the Indian Government decision on new pictorial health warnings, even Pakistan’s Health Ministry on 11th February, 2015 announced the new pictorial warning which will cover 85 percent of the cigarette pack on both sides from the current 40 percent. GHC issues notice to Centre and Nagaland over lynching incident Aditya Gogoi A Gauhati high court division bench today issued notices to the Centre and the state government of Nagaland and sought a detailed status report on the Dimapur lynching incident within two weeks. The court directed the inspector general of prisons in Nagaland to ensure adequate security of all prisoners lodged at various prisons in Nagaland. The Centre, however, has furnished a preliminary report before the court that was forwarded by Nagaland government. “The report did not properly reveal the details of the rape case and did not mention any action against the CRPF personnel which was assigned for the jail security,” Senior Advocate Bhaskar Dev Konwar said while arguing that there is a serious apprehension among the families of prison inmates about their safety and security inside the jails in in the neighbouring state. In its preliminary report, the Centre’s informed the court that four cases has been registered and all together 43 persons were arrested so far. “Each case is being investigated by special investigation team (SIT) and closely monitored by senior officials. Identification of the ring leader of the mob is being made,” the initial report said. Each case is being investigated by special investigation team (SIT) and closely monitored by senior officials. Identification of the ring leader of the mob is being made The report added that in view of the failure of the district administration and police in failing to maintain law and order and protect the accused in judicial custody, the deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police and the senior superintendent of the Dimapur central jail have been placed under suspension. “A judicial probe has been ordered too,” it said. It also stated that Assam government was also requested to ensure safety of people from Nagaland residing in Assam. The HC direction came following one Rajeev Kalita filing a PIL seeking the court’s intervention. The petition pleaded for handing over the investigation of the case to CBI and compensation for the family. On March 5, almost 70008000 locals broke into the Dimapur Central Jail, dragged the accused out, while parading him naked, pelted stones and beat him. They dragged the accused to a clock tower about 7 km away, by tying a rope to his waist from a motorcycle and then lynched him. Dimapur police had said that the mob was led by hundreds of students which prevented the police from using more force. The incident created huge public outcry nationwide. G PLUS MAR 14 - MAR 21, 2015 7 In The News GHY Labour court receives LESSER NUMBER OF cases RAHUL CHANDA L abour-employer relation has always been bittersweet. With employers generally seeking to maximise their profitability, it sometimes leads to clash of interests between the two section. Approximately 28 labour acts are in place across the country to thwart any exploitation of employees by the management, provided the employees raise their issues when required. There are three labour courts in Assam, and with the Guwahati Labour Court looking after 11 districts, G Plus takes a look at the scenario in 2014, the number of cases registered in labour court and their disposal rate. The cases In 2014, the Guwahati Labour Court registered 63 cases out of which 29 cases were disposed. Altogether 64 cases were disposed, but some of the disposed cases were pending cases of previous years. 13 cases were registered under Employee State Insurance Act, 4 cases under section 10 (2) (a) of Industrial Dispute Act 1947, 11 cases under section 33 (c)(2) of Industrial Dispute Act and 10 cases under section 33 (c)(2) of Industrial Dispute Act. According to sources in the labour court, the maximum cases reported from Guwahati are related to non payment, illegal termination, wage deduction and anomalies by the managements. The cases are regis- tered mainly related to legal rights of the employer and employee. The process There are many sectors of employment, some are organised and some unorganised. For example in many organisations or industry there are unions and in some sectors there are no unions. A trade union activist Basanta Kalita informed that in 1950 a landmark judgement of the Administrative Tribunal suggested that the Acts under various labour laws should be always pro-labour, but after the liberalisation, the labour laws were reformed and maximum laws are pro-management. Previously, in an organisation, seven employees had the right to form a trade union, but now, 100 employees can form a trade union, and in Guwahati there are very few organisations were the strength of employees is around 100. So, according to the officials of the labour department, any worker or the employer can approach the labour department with a complaint if there are anomalies or dispute between the employer and the employee. The complaint then gets investigated by labour inspector and notices are issued to both the parties for written statements. A hearing date is fixed and if settled both the parties listen to the decision derived from the hearing or else the complaint gets escalated to In 2014, a major case received by the labour department was from some employees from Assam Roofing Pvt Limited about alleged deduction of wages. A complaint was lodged by the workers union and was registered under industrial dispute act. the government and it is then referred to the respective courts, for example a case under payment of wages act will be referred to the wage court, a case under industrial dispute act will be referred to the industrial tribunal, similarly case under labour laws are referred to the labour court. Then the labour court issues a notice to both the parties for hearing and a decision is derived which both the parties need to follow. Guwahati being the capital receives quite a number of controversial cases every year. The controversial case In 2014, a major case received by the labour department was from some employees from Assam Roofing Pvt Limited about alleged deduction of wages. A complaint was lodged by the workers union and was registered under industrial dispute act. Accord- ing to the officials of office of the labour assistant commissioner, there was a stall between both the parties regarding the calculation of variable dearness allowance. As per the union of the organisation the salary of the employee was illegally deducted, but the management claimed that they had an agreement with the workers and the increased VDA was adjusted. The labour department issued notice to both the parties, and the case is still pending as it is not disposed because the union was asked to submit a rejoinder but according to the department it still fails to provide that. So, the officials said the decision is yet to be taken. But, according to some employees who do not want to be named, the labour department always favours the management of any organistaion because the officials get good money from them. Similarly, since 1996 October, the employees of Assam Spun Silk Mill ltd, Jajiroad, Government of Assam undertaking did not get salaries. In 2003 the employees raised an industrial dispute in Industrial Tribunal questioning justification non-payment. In 2006 an award was passed in favour of the workmen, directing the government to pay entire dues within six months. The government did not pay and then in 2008 the workmen filed a case in the labour court under section 33 ©(2) under the industrial dispute act for recovery of the salary against the chief secretary representing the government. The case number is - 3/2008, which is still not disposed. Meanwhile, in 2005 June, Government of Assam took a policy decision to close down 13 industries including Assam Spun Silk Mill ltd. So, some employees of these industries, with the help of the union has filed cases in the labour against the chief secretary of Assam, who is directly representing the government. According to Basanta Kalita, workers are not adequately aware about the labour laws and the lawyers they approach do not follow the case in the right path which do not get proper results for the complainant. In the organised sector, at least the union know the process and workers are not exploited but in unorganised sector, the workers are exploited on a regular basis but because of ignorance, the labourers do not know whom and how to approach. [email protected] 8 G PLUS MAR 14 - MAR 21, 2015 In The News SAM BALSARA LAUNCHES AD CLUB GHY G PLUS NEWS C hairman of Madison World, India’s leading communication and media firm Sam Balsara launched the Advertising Club Guwagati on 12th March at Hotel Lily. The Advertising Club is constituted to be the premier body of the region’s advertising, media and communication industry. Representatives from publication houses, TV channels and advertising agencies have come forward to constitute the Ad Club which was launched on Thursday. The organization intends to work towards the promotion, growth and protection of the advertising industry which is fast evolving in this region. Aimed at rewarding and recognizing work that is setting benchmarks in the regional communications industry, the Ad Club also intends working towards developing talent, the scarcity of which this market continues to suffer from. During the launch, Balsara said, “The formation of the Ad Club is a sign that the industry is gaining maturity and is evolving, and is a step in a right direction. In the early days in seventies and eighties, the Ad Club, Mumbai played the role of a catalyst in bringing the industry together and raise the standards of the industry, through tea meetings with leading lights, awards, seminars and the like. I am sure Ad Club, Guwahati will do the same.” On the occasion, President of the Advertising Club Guwagati G. Kibriya said, “the Ad Club aims to work towards L-R: Ashok Jain, Ghulam Kibriya, Sam Balsara, Rajeev Kr. Bora, Sunit Jain further organising the industry that is somewhat fragmented currently.” Kibriya who has been in the communications business for over 29 years also mentioned that the regional industry has come a long way and with most matured markets in the country having their Ad Clubs, it is now time for this region to have its own as well. Sam Balsara addressing the media during the launch of AD Club Guwahati The Ad Club Guwahati shall now be open for memberships from representatives of client organisations (advertisers), professionals and students apart from members of the industry. The Ad Club Guwahati has 23 primary general members including the city’s premier media houses and advertising agencies. LIC launches new schemes T he Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) for the first time has launched two new single premium schemes which are tax compliant too, ’Jeevan Sangam’ and ‘Children’s Money Back Plan’. These are non-linked with profits insurance plans which offer guaranteed returns at maturity. ‘Jeevan Sangam’ plan is available for sale from 4th March, 2015 for a limited period. Jeevan Sangam is named so as it offers an attractive and rare conjunction of returns, risk cover and liquidity. Ten times the tabular single premium is being offered as the risk cover, along with loyalty addition. There is no upper limit on investment for this scheme. Policy loan can be availed after three months of the policy issuance. The plan is available from the age of 6 years to 50 years. There is no upper limit in the investment amount. The minimum sum assured is Rs. 75,000 while there is no upper limit. The term of the plan is 12 years but the policy can be surrendered any time during the policy term. Children’s Money Back Plan is designed to meet the educational, marriage and other needs of growing children through survival benefits, money back, and maturity benefits. It provides risk cover on the life of child during the policy term and number of survival benefits money back to meet the various financial needs of children, with provision for bonuses. There is no upper limit on investment. The plan is available for the age of 0 to 12 years. There is no upper limit in the investment amount. The minimum Basic Sum Assured is Rs. 1,00,000 while there is no upper limit. The term of the plan is till the age of 25 years of life assured. Survival benefits that this plan provides 20% of the basic sum assured on completion of ages 18, 20 & 22 years provided the policy is in full force. G PLUS MAR 14 - MAR 21, 2015 9 In Conversation I am not here to investigate corruption Dhiren Baruah RAHUL CHANDA A fter his retirement in 1989, ‘Guwahati Pran’ Dhiren Baruah has spent the rest of his life for the development of Guwahati. President of ‘Save Guwahati Build Guwahati’, an NGO, he is still struggling against all odds to make the city worth living and because of his continuous efforts to develop Guwahati in various ways, the government recently appointed him as the chairman of the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority. GPlus exclusively talks to him. What made you initiate the idea of ‘Save Guwahati Build Guwahati’? I devoted my life for the people as a social activist. Soon after my father’s death, I, my mother and my siblings experienced what poverty is and we had to face the worst phase of our lives. We used to live by having only Muri (puffed rice) with tea that too without sugar to cut down the expenditure. After two years of hard work, we started living a normal life. I studied till the year 1947 and joined student congress to work for the welfare of the state and its people. So it is a struggle from the time of preindependence that I have come up with this project. I only believe in the slogan “Vandey Matram”. This is the only slogan which I believe can bring the people close to their country. My philosophy of ‘Save Guwahati Build Guwahati’ (SGBG) is to save Guwahati, save Assam and save our country. So, not making it too big as a whole country, I started with my own land and thought of saving the city first. So, now as you have joined the government, do you think you will be able to work better for the city? I am fighting for the cause of the people through the platform of SGBG. Today I am here in GMDA as the chairman. Previously in SGBG I have struggled in the field for public grievances and now I took this chair and it is another challenge. I will stand for the people and try to carry out the government programme for the benefit of the people and this is a new phase of my struggle. Because Guwahati people are suffer- “Guwahati will develop and the government has also realized the reality. Guwahati should be the best city in Asia. The people are aware now and the city will surely grow.” ing from hundreds of problems but what I found that after a long fight by SGBG, one of the greatest successes of the people is that the Chatribari fish market is shifted and that was a dream of SGBG. Today SGBG is the happiest organization as I am sitting in GMDA, this is people’s victory. GMDA has initiated many projects and as a chairman I will make sure that all the projects are completed in time. I feel that someone should be here to look after the interest of the people of Guwahati and the money should be utilized properly and the projects should go ahead as early as possible. GMDA should be given full authority to develop the city. The vacant land in Guwahati should be handed over to GMDA for development but it was not done. I have al- ready forwarded the request to the government and they have welcomed our move. What is the difference between GMC and GMDA? People have misunderstood this for a long time but there is no clash between these two departments. One is Guwahati Municipal Corporation Act and according to the corporation act, GMC is supposed to look after the civic amenities of the people like cleaning drain, maintain bazaar and various civic matters entrusted to the GMC. GMDA is entrusted to planning and development based on master plan but that is lacking today. Master plan is not entrusted to the GMC. All the departments should take permission from GMDA which is not happening and the development process is hampered. As chairman of GMDA do you think there is corruption in GMDA and if it is there how will you remove such social problem? Today I am here to give my positive approach to the people of Guwahati. The government has directed me to look after the interest of the citizen and I am looking after it. Corruption is a big subject. All GMDA officials and workers today are committed to do their best. It is very difficult for me to find out corruption and noncorruption. I am here to look after the day today affairs in interest of the people. I have not come here to make any investigation of corruption in GMDA. Government has appointed me to look after the interest and civic affairs of the city and I will look after that with sincerity and honesty. I will ask all my officials to do their duty sincerely and honestly and if I find anything wrong I will not spare anybody. But I am not going to make an inquiry because this is not my job. There are many departments, let them inquire and do their duty. My duty is to see that government programmes should be carried out successfully. Your hobbies? I read a lot of newspapers. I sometimes watch movies too. Your best actors in Assamese and Hindi film industries? In Assamese films, I like Nipon Goswami and Varsha Rani. If you talk about Bollywood, I miss Rajesh Khanna. I like seeing Vidya Balan and Rani Mukherjee. [email protected] 10 G PLUS MAR 14 - MAR 21, 2015 City More eviction drives to be continued prior to monsoon KALYAN DEB A dministrative departments of the city are all geared up to prevent flood situation this year. Following the same, several eviction drives are carried out by the Kamrup Metro district administration in and around the city. Recently, eviction in areas such as Sarvodaya Nagar in Noonmati was undertaken to evict encroachers who had illegally occupied Railway land and constructed dwellings there. Over 30 pucca and kuccha houses were demolished during the drive and around 900 metre of land were cleared in the presence of GMC and police officials. More such actions are expected in the area during the coming days. A continuous and extensive eviction drive since July 1, 2014, launched by Kamrup Metro district administration aiming at clearing all kinds of encroachments on various wetlands, water-bodies, and rivulets that go through Guwahati with a hope of lesser disastrous situation in the upcoming monsoon. The eviction drive triggered hopes, particularly among the residents of the city’s low lying areas, which reel under waist-deep water due to catastrophic flash-flood that has become regular phenomenon during every monsoon. “The ongoing extensive eviction drive is a part of the entire approach of providing relief to the citizens from flood and is regularly carried out not just to prevent flood situations but also to avoid any kind of land encroachment”, said a GMC enforcement official. Carrying out eviction drive on different occasions in not an unseen phenomenon for people of Guwahati, but this time the Kamrup Metro district administration, in a joint mission with GMC and GMC enforcement, fully equipped water master and excavator, huge demolition squads and security forces, carried out the eviction drive simultaneously at various points of Silsako Beel, Bharalu, Mora Bharalu, Basistha and Bahini rivers; and also dredged the water channels to check further encroachment. The district administration has already drawn up short-term, mid-term and long-term plans to protect these reclaimed areas. Among recent projects areas such as Hatigaon, Paltanbazar, Maligaon are to be followed. Meanwhile, the Brihattar Dwipan Das held again for cyber crime T he cyber crime unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Wednesday arrested one Dwaipan Das from Morigaon for allegedly creating a fake site in the name of a satellite television channel and has been booked under Sec 66 and Sec 67 a of the IT Act (case number 09/13). Earlier, Das was arrested twice in the years 2011 and 2012 for similar offences. An official of the cyber crime unit informed that Das, a habitual offender, was arrested from Morigaon where he came to appear in connection with another case. He has been skedaddled for several months and his bail application was also rejected. Chatribari Unnayan Samiti (BCUS) has urged the Government of Assam to complete the eviction operations to free the water bodies of Borsola and Sarusola beels in the heart of the city. In a memorandum submitted by BCUS, which has been waging a campaign for the last several years to make the water bodies in the city encroachment-free, has wailed that though the authorities have carried out several eviction operations in the Borsola and Sarusola, the water bodies are not yet entirely free of encroachments. Including the main water bodies also the drains that connect the lowlying areas to the rivulets are also being paid attention to. JUA expresses concern over attacks on scribes T he Journalists’ Union of Assam (JUA) has expressed grave concern over the assault of seven media persons and cameramen of some TV channels of the State at Kathiatoli, Nagaon in the morning of March 11. In a press release, the JUA lauded the media persons for trying to expose the illegal activities of forest mafia in the area. It is impossible for the forest mafia to illegally fell trees and operate stone quarries without the cooperation and help from the local forest officials, it said. The JUA demanded the administration to nab the culprits and book them under the law. It further urged the government to ensure safety and security of journalists of the State. Among recent projects the eviction drive wil be carried out in areas such as Hatigaon, Paltanbazar, Maligaon and several others. “In several areas it has come to notice that permanent ramps are being constructed over the drains which cannot be moved in order to constitute any kind of cleaning process and the same also keep the rain water from passing out. The drains in the by lanes are equally necessary to be cleaned and those which are being covered with ramps should be removable so that the cleaning process can be easily constituted and be restored to its previous state. Such ramps are also being demolished to carry out cleanliness process”, the official said. “In areas such as R.G.Baruah road and A.T.Road such procedures are being currently carried out”, the official added. Meanwhile, the BCUS alleged that many of the encroachments have been spared for reasons unknown while some encroachers have returned after being evicted. It cited the case of KC Das Commerce College, which has blocked the entire 70-foot wide drain for which vast areas in the central part of Guwahati city gets flooded during the rainy season. The administration is working on all the drainage systems and is functioning in a joint venture with GMC and Kamrup Metro district administration. Whereas, several eviction drives have already been carried out and the further drives will be carried out in the areas under a particular police station for smooth functioning of the process. Last year a Rs. 750-crore project to revamp the drainage system of the state capital with the primary objective to clear the water routes and wetlands was initiated where the entire venture was carried out throughout the city. [email protected] AASU agitation for constitutional protection T he All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) along with 26 organisations on Wednesday decided to launch a joint movement demanding constitutional protection to the indigenous people of Assam to protect them from the demographic invasion by the foreign nationals. Officials of AASU and 26 organisations would meet again on March 17 to chalk out the future course of action in this regard. An AASU release stated that special constitutional protection for the indigenous people of Assam under the provisions of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord is a must for protection of their identity. The AASU said that the definition of Assamese people is required only for reservation of seats in Assembly, Parliament and local bodies. The AASU also alleged that the government is trying to create confusion on the issue. G PLUS MAR 14 - MAR 21, 2015 AGP urges centre to ensure safety Aditya Gogoi City Assam police yet to collect evidence against Sujana T E ven as the Dimapur rape accused Syed Sarif Uddin Khan’s last rites were performed at his hometown, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) asked the central government to ensure that such incidents do not reoccur. AGP also sought intervention of the governor in the matter to book the culprits. “This is an incident of serious lapse in law and order. Now it’s the responsibility of the state government to ensure that such incidents do not reoccur. For that the central government has a role to play,” said AGP general secretary Ramendra Narayan Kalita. The AGP leadership will submit memorandum to the union home minister and Assam governor PB Acharya who is also the constitutional head of Nagaland. “On Saturday we wanted to submit the memorandum but as the governor is not in the city we could not. Besides, we will also approach the union home minister to take up the issue seriously and ensure safety for the Assamese people living in Nagaland,” Kalita said. Condemning the incident, he also said that such kind of incidents further brought bad name for the region. “Already the region has been in news for number of negative things. Now this incident will further add to that. I hope this becomes the last such barbaric incident,” he added. On Sunday, hundreds gathered to pay homage to Khan at his home town in Karimganj district’s Bosla. “We are shocked at the way Assam government has handled the issue. The chief minister should have taken a bolder step towards ensuring safety and security. The Nagaland government must be answerable for letting this incident happen,” Kalita said. Asom Yuba Parishad (AYP), the youth wing of AGP also staged protest demanding justice of the incident. “We will not tolerate such kind of attack time and again. This was a planned attack on an Assamese in Dimapur. We demand that the justice should be given to the victim,” said AYP leader Tapan Das. Concern over ‘proposed move’ of NE centre of Sangeet Natak Akademi E xpressing concern at the ‘proposed move’ to shift North East Centre of Sangeet Natak Akademi from Guwahati to Agartala, Axom Jatiya Gana Sangram Parishad (AJGSP) has urged the state department of cultural affairs to take up the matter with the central government. The AJGSP has also submitted a memorandum to the union ministry of culture in this regard besides seeking the intervention of governor at the earliest. “It is a matter of concern now that a move is on to shift this NE centre from Guwahati to Agartala. Having been apprised of this matter from sources, we filed an RTI with the union ministry of culture. Though we are yet to receive any formal reply, it will lead to serious hurdles for all the traditional and folk artistes of the entire region due to its location and connectivity issues. We are also seeking the intervention of Governor PB Acharya,” said Aroop Jyoti Kalita, chief convenor of AJGSP. The Sangeet Natak Akademi set up the Sattriya Kendra in Guwahati on July 15 in 2008, to promote, propagate and preserve Sattriya dance form. The Akademi also set up its North East Centre (SNA-NE Centre) in Shillong the same year for the purpose of preserving the traditional and folk performing art traditions of northeast India. The office of this centre (SNA-NE Centre) was subsequently shifted to Guwahati in October, 2011 due to its central location and ease of communication for all the folk artistes of the region, said Kalita. AJGSP sought the intervention of the union ministry of culture and the Prime Minister in this regard. “We are still not aware of the reasons for which the centre is being shifted. We appeal a decision should be taken for the benefit of all traditional and folk artistes of the entire region,” Kalita said. AJGSP also urged the state cultural affairs department to take up the matter with the centre on an urgent basis and sort out the matter. “We have also submitted a memorandum in this regard in the union ministry of culture with copies to PMO, state government and to Sarbananda Sonowal, minister of state with independent charge for Youth Affairs and Sports,” he said. So far, nothing has been confirmed officially. 11 he Assam police chief Khagen Sarma admitted that police are yet to collect concrete evidence against Burdwan blast key accused Sahanur Alom’s wife Sujana Begum who is also a suspected Jammat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) member leading to her being granted bail. A lower court here recently granted bail to Sujana following the state police’s Special operation unit (SOU) failing to file charge-sheet in the case within the estimated 90 days’ timeframe. “The investigation is still on and we are collecting evidence. There are many points that needs to be put together to corroborate the various facts and prepare a strong charge sheet in the case,” the DGP Assam police Khagen Sarma said. He hinted that some of the evidence related to the case are linked to Bangladesh and it would take time to probe. However, the police chief said that police have no fear of Sujana fleeing the state. Sarma said that police have been keeping a close observation into the case and upon Sujana too. Assam police though had the scope of praying before the court for Sujana’s extension of judicial custody, they had not, leading to her getting the bail. “Assam police are keeping a close eye on Sujana and her activities,” Sarma added. Sources said that after her release, Sujana has left for her residence in Barpeta district. She was arrested in November last year from the Inter-state bus terminus at Gorchuk here. Sujana was arrested under several sections of IPC and even Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The NIA, which is investigating the Burdwan blast incident, had said that Sujana is a key accused in the case. NIA sources said that she had received jihadi training at a madrassa in West Bengal and was recruiting jihadi elements in the lower Assam districts. Sources in Assam police said that the police are yet to visit the Madrassa where Sujana was allegedly being trained. City roads turn killing machineS at night T he city roads turn to a death trap after dusk. A recent survey of traffic department’s record said that over 60 percent of the road accidents occurring in the city in last two months have happened during the night hours. The statistics revealed that majority of the road accidents occurred between 9 pm to 5 am. Looking at the seriousness of the issue, the city traffic police is currently discussing about building scientific roads throughout the city, especially for night hours with proper florescent lights and signs. “Drunken and reckless driving, especially by youngsters after evening is a major trouble. For bike stunts, we are launching awareness programmes too. NGOs’ help have also been taken in organizing awareness camps in educational institutions too,” city traffic deputy commissioner PJ Goswami said. Traffic police records said that some 72 people have lost their lives in road mishaps, mostly in two wheeler crashes, since January this year in the city. “Another 250 sustained injuries in these accidents since January. Most of them happened while one of the vehicles tried to overtake the other,” a traffic official said. Last year over 1,100 road accidents were registered in the city alone in which some 302 people died. Another some 690 left injured too. In 2014, the city traffic police had also recorded over 1.2 lakh non FIR cases of traffic violations. Ignoring traffic signals, drunk driving, riding without helmets, driving while talking on mobiles and driving without seat-belts are some of the most common traffic offences. School and tourist buses were too found to be involved in over 250 traffic violation cases last year. About 45 school buses were found violating transport rules. During the same period, almost 1,300 two-wheelers and 60 city buses were found flouting norms. The traffic police claimed that in many of the accidents the victims were found having fake driving licenses too. It has alerted the transport department on the matter too. “In city alone, at least 8,000 new vehicles get registered last year and the transport department had issued only some 1,600 driving licenses in this time. It hinted that an illegal racket was possibly issuing fake driving licenses to several minors too,” the official added. 12 G PLUS MAR 14 - MAR 21, 2015 City AVAS Foundation gears up to combat city crimes KALYAN DEB W ith a vision to address issues related to the general health, education and welfare of women and children of all aspects of the society, Avas Foundation strives to create awareness and a fighting spirit against the criminal and anti-social activities such as abuse and discrimination of women, child abuse, child labour, child marriages and various other social issues. In their mission to create awareness regarding such relevant issues, Avas Foundation provides economic and rational empowerment to women by imparting several self help skills such as self-defense training, taking up activities for health and hygiene, health camps in rural and urban areas, etc. The brainchild of sisters, Pomi Baruah and Romy Baruah, ‘Avas Foundation: A heaven of hope’, was founded on August 23, 2007 in the city and over the years has come a long way after it started with the aim of spreading awareness amongst the people of Northeastern region regarding issues relating to health, HIV and AIDS, mass literacy, women and child welfare, environment and economic, social, educational and legal empowerment and has been actively working with people, organizations and institutes for dispersal of information and knowledge. Even as students, Pomi Baruah and Romy Baruah has been actively taking part in social activities and awareness programmes. With zestful beliefs to succeed in the goodness of mankind, the sisters took the initiative of stepping forward with the support of like-minded people rather than feeling distressed for the deprived section of the society. “Violence against women is one of the prominent issues that is being faced in most parts of the northeastern region. Though such cases are rarely registered in the rural areas, such incidents consistently keep taking place. Women who suffer through such episodes cannot manage to speak out loud about such incidences and require a medium in order to be reached out so, we try to provide that particular medium”, asserted cofounder, Pomi Baruah. “Through our programmes we try to reach out to such people and provide them the required counseling and guide them”, Baruah added. Binud Koombang instructing students during a self-defence work shop at St.Stephen’s School Projects: With the growing number of cases of sexual assaults in and around the city, the Guwahati-based NGO has so far taken several initiatives to generate awareness on diverse issues such as sexual abuse, legal protection, gender discrimination, etc. Its primary focus is to develop clarity of self and social identity as well as a holistic sense of security and confidence of body, mind and soul. As a part of teaching self-defense skills to the city’s girl students, Avas Foundation organise workshops in various parts of the city one which was organized in St Stephen’s School, Christianbasti. “There are certain points in a person’s body which if hit at the right part, can temporarily incapacitate a person. In cases of physical abuse, a girl does not have to be an expert in martial skills but with the appropriate use of certain moves, it can buy one some time to rescue herself or call for help. Since in such times one is not mentally balanced enough, so through such workshops it not only build one’s confidence but also teaches one to react correctly if come across such situations”, said Pomi Baruah. Also in association with Naree Shakti, a Mumbai based NGO, Avas took a similar initiative at Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture, Uzanbazar. Binud Koombang, the first action director in Bollywood from the Office Address: Avas Foundation, Kusum Mansion, 2nd Floor, Above Alcare Diagnostic and Research Centre, Dinesh Ojha Path, Rajgarh Road, Bhangagarh, Guwahati- 781005. Website: www.avasfoundation.org . Phone numbers: 9864254777, 9435014973 and 8011000456 Members: Founders: Pomi and Romy Baruah Secretary: Sharmistha Deka Other Members include: Akanksha Chaliha, Mohit Jajodia, Miranda Das, Jinee Choudhury, Ruchika Kadria, Chayanika Kalita, Anantika Jain, and Niru Kabra. Northeast, led the workshops held in St. Stephen’s school and VKIC. Koombang, a second-dan black belt in kung fu, is also the first international professional wrestler from the Northeast to have been associated with Naree Shakti, since 2012 as a key spokesperson wherein, he has led seminars on self-defense at many schools in Mumbai. Naree Shakti, on the other hand, comprises a young team that takes initiative in organisng anti-rape awareness programmes along with self-defense techniques in Mumbai. Avas has also been working in order to mobilize support and connect people and organizations and do their part to achieve the asserted missions. Avas organises classes on sex education, health camps and legal awareness camp among police personnel regarding the Domestic violence Act. The NGO has also started four schools for child labourers, called Gyan Setu Kendra, under the National Child Labour Project. An initiative of the Government of India, the four schools started with 170 students initially and are situated in Panbazar, Bamunimaidam, Maligaon and Bhangagarh. Among upcoming projects, Avas is formulating coming up with a helpline that will include enforcement, medical and psychological support to victims and provide them with legal help. “For instance if a person comes across any situation where she has been abused or has distress through any anti-social activity, one can call the helpline through which we’ll be able to provide any kind of required support. In our society many women hesitate to go to a police station as the procedure is fanaticizing so to avoid such situation people keep themselves from undergoing any legal stir. Through the help-line people will be able to reach us directly and we will be able to help people in the concerned manner”, mentioned the cofounder of the 8 years old NGO. On March 14, 2015 the NGO will organize a workshop to be held on violence against women that will take place at Hotel Landmark. It is being organised in association with Human Rights Law Network (HRLN), Guwahati Branch as the same is designed on the lines of a training programme envisaged to enable participants from various walks of life to subsequently infuse a rights based approach in their areas of work. The approach towards mitigating violence against women which will include members from the legal fraternity, law students, NGO functionaries, government officials, police personnel and interested public and women in general. [email protected] Weather report for the week SAT 14 March SUN 15 March MON 16 March TUE 17 March WED 18 March THU 19 March FRI 20 March High level clouds. Morning clouds. Morning clouds. High level clouds. Sunny Sunny Sunny 16 / 34 °C 16 / 34 °C 18 / 34 °C 18 / 33 °C 15 / 34 °C 18 / 33 °C 17 / 33 °C G PLUS MAR 14 - MAR 21, 2015 13 Drain silt on roadside irks residents City aditya gogoi T he dumped silt excavated from the drains along the city streets have put residents in problem with the Guwahati Municipal Corporations (GMC) taking up the cleanliness drive with the digging of drains just before the rainy season. People complain that this silt kept on the road pollutes the air besides narrowing the roads in many places of the city. With the rainy season approaching, the GMC has started the cleaning up mission of the drains across the city. But while doing so, due to the negligence of the authorities, the workers have left the silt on the side of the drains, leaving the people in deep trouble. This can lead to serious problems for the residents especially the kids. “Yes, this is an unhealthy atmosphere for the people who come into contact with such situation. There are possibilities of infection by a number of diseases -- bacterial diseases like salmonellosis, shigellosis, diarrhea, trachoma and melioidosis among others. Besides, gastroenteritis, hepatitis A, giardiasis, tapeworm infection, threadworm infection, hookworm infection are some diseases which may spread from such rubbish heap,” said Biswajit Sarma, a doctor. Sarma also said that the children are more vulnerable in such situation due to low immunity. In spite of the order from the office of the GMC, many areas still witness such scenes across the city. “We This is an unhealthy atmosphere for the people who come into contact with such situation. There are possibilities of infected by a number of diseases -- bacterial diseases like salmonellosis, shigellosis, diarrhea, trachoma and melioidosis among others. Besides, gastroenteritis, hepatitis A, giardiasis, tapeworm infection, threadworm infection, hookworm infection are some diseases which may also spread from such heaps. Biswajit Sarma doctor We have already issued letters asking the contractors to clean the roads at the earliest or to face consequences. If any contractor does not clean the roads immediately, they will be punished. If the silt is not removed immediately, they will be imposed a fine of at least Rs 16, 000. S Viswanathan GMC commissioner We welcome the i n i t i at i v e s of the GMC to clean up the drains before the rainy season starts. But it’s pretty unfortunate that the authority is not sincere enough to clean the dirt immediately. This dirt further deteriorates the roads as these are kept for several days like that. Bhaskar Jyoti Sarma Resident Departments violating rules of Employment Exchange Act T he Directorate of Employment & Craftsmen Training, Government of Assam, which is responsible for endorsing names of suitable candidates against vacanciesin any government department is facing apathy from several departments that are openly violating the Act. Speaking to G Plus, Joint Director of Employment, Directorate of Employment & Craftsmen Training Government of Assam, Prithiraj Rava said that the Government departments should follow the rules of Employment Exchanges (Compulsory Notification of Vacancies) Act, 1959. But most departments citea 2005 verdict of Supreme Court that mandated a wide publicity of the advertisement in mass media besides endorsement of suitable candidates by the employment exchange. The government departments, without consulting the employment exchange, advertise in newspapers according to their convenience and conduct written examination and interview for the recruitment process. Rava said that cases are filed against such departments but the cases are generally very weak and they are often withdrawn after giving a fine of Rs. 200. In Guwahati, 2,81,542 live registration had been done till August, 2014 which is more compared to 2012, which was 2,54,932. In 2013, it was 19,954. In 2012, the vacancies notified were 1,358 while 37 candidates have been placed by the Guwahati employment exchange. In 2013, the vacancies notified was 1,169 out of which 92 placement had been given while in 2014, 62 candidates were placed in June, 124 in July and 18 in August. The number of live registration of unskilled candidates in Guwahati in 2012 was 9,883 against registration of 1,663, vacancies notified were 39 and placement was given to 20. The total establishments as on September, 2014 was 8,599 out of which 6,802 is public establishments where the number of employment is 5,04,574 of which 89,934 are female employees and 1,797 private establishments where 6,77,933 employees are working out of which 3,20,435 are women. Rava also said that the Government has not been able to provide job opportunities to the candidates for which the numbers of unemployed has increased. One of the main reasons is that candidates have to give bribes in the name of employment which has been depriving most of the educated unemployed from getting jobs. “Even the educated personalities, litterateurs, intellectuals don’t encourage the young people to be self employed for which candidates only seek for government or private jobs. The counselling process is lacking here and therefore, the candidates remain unemployed,” said Rava. There are 52 employment exchanges and it has three divisions- town employment exchange, sub-division employment exchange and district employment exchange. There is also University Information and Employment Guidance Bureau under which there are three Universities- Assam Agricultural University, Dibrugarh University and Gauhati University. Under these exchanges the professional executive degree holders can register their names. The Employment Exchange sponsor names of the candidates to the respective departments and accordingly the departments call the candidates for interview and they select the candidates based on merit, written test and interview. welcome the initiatives of the GMC to clean up the drains before the rainy season starts. But it’s pretty unfortunate that the authority is not sincere enough to clean the accumulated silt immediately. This further deteriorates the roads as these are kept for several days like that,” said Bhaskar Jyoti Sarma. The GMC commissioner S Viswanathan said that they have already issued letters asking the contractors to clean the roads at the earliest or to face consequences. “We have noticed the issue and doing accordingly. If any contractor does not clean the roads immediately, they will be punished,” said Viswanathan. juthika baruah Candidates are register their names at the Employment Exchange, expecting to get jobs in public sectors but the Government is unable to provide jobs to the candidates as there is no potential in the state. There are lakhs of HSLC, HS and Graduate candidates passing out every year but other than public or private jobs, they can’t think of their own business as they don’t get guidance from the people who could encourage them to be self employed and therefore, the problem of unemployment do not come out with a proper solution. The Joint Director stated that if a person start their own business, many people can be employed under their business and at least some percentage of unemployed could have been solved. [email protected] 14 G PLUS MAR 14 - MAR 21, 2015 Society City’s Only SAi baba temple depends on devotees KALYAN DEB S ituated in Radhanagar, VIP Road, Shri Shirdi Sai Tmple is the only temple in Guwahati devoted to the Sai. Constituted by Shri Shirdi Sai Spiritual and Charitable Trust, Guwahati and founded in November 2007, the foundation stone was initially laid on 13th November 2008 during which the temple was built in an open space where the people conducted the daily prayers. It was only in the year 2012 on November 11 when the present building of the temple was inaugurated which gave the city its first ever Sai temple. Followers Like the temples throughout the country, the city Sai Baba temple receive visitors and followers from all religions, caste and creed. Similar to other temples across the country, the temple was constituted with an objective to propagate and spread the teachings of Sai Baba. The Trust, which was in possession of a plot of land measuring about 30,000 sq feet initiated the construction of the Shri Shridi Sai Temple in Guwahati. Situated near the VIP Road, the location surrounded by hills and water bodies have added to the scenic beauty of the temple. Although the temple is not known to most people of the city but it receive visitors from all corners of the state and has gained a significance of its own in recent times. Brief history of Sai Baba Festivals and ceremonies Anually three major festivals are celebrated in the Sai temples all over the world viz. Ram Nabami, Guru Purnima, Vijaya Dashami along with the foundation day of the temple. Since Sai is belived to be an incarnation of God among his followers, several names of Hindu gods are associated with the preacher such a as Sai Ram, Sai Shaam, etc. Moreover, in tribute to the messenger, Aratis are conducted everyday in the temple, whereas Bhogs are only provided on Thursdays and Sundays. Inspiration The inspiration for the construction of the temple is Chandra Bhanu Satpathy who is also responsible for the construction of over three hundred Sai temples around the country and overseas. Author of several books on Sai that have been translated to several languages, Satpathy has also written songs that have been sung by renowned singers of the country. The Bhumi Pujan of the present building of the temple was also conducted by C B Satpathy on January 15, 2009. C B Satpathy is responsible for construction of 218 Sai temples around the country and 100 temples overseas. Fund The temple is run by donations received by the devotees. The donations made on the trust are exempted under Section 80G of IT act, 1961 which is the main source of the functioning of the temple that has four pundits, four security personnel and two helps for the maintenance of the temple premises. A spiritual guru and fakir, Shri Sai Baba was regarded with great reverence by followers of all religion be it Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Christian. Also known as Shirdi Sai Baba, he is regarded by his devotees as a saint, fakir, and satguru, according to their individual proclivities and beliefs. He was revered by both his Hindu and Muslim devotees. It remained uncertain if he was a Hindu or a Muslim himself, however, he stressed the importance of surrendering to the guidance of the true Satguru or Murshid, who, having gone the path of divine consciousness himself, will lead the disciple through the jungle of spiritual training. Although, Sai himself led the life of an ascetic, he advised his followers to lead an ordinary life and remained a very popular guru, worshiped by people around the world. He had no love for perishable things and his sole concern was self-realization. He taught a moral code of love, forgiveness, helping others, charity, contentment, inner peace, and devotion to God and guru. He made no distinction based on religion or caste. Sai Baba’s teaching combined elements of Hinduism and Islam. He gave the Hindu name Dwarakamayi to the mosque he lived in and practiced Muslim rituals, taught using words and figures that drew from both traditions, and was buried in Shirdi. One of his well known epigrams, “Sabka Malik Ek” (“One God governs all”), is associated with Islam and Sufism. [email protected] G PLUS MAR 14 - MAR 21, 2015 Ward number 31 15 Ward Watch Population 7,000 (approx) | Voters 3,500 (approx) Barsapara stadium causes dearth of drinking water for residents KALYAN DEB Concentrated Area: Barsapara Ward number: 6 and 16 Councilor of Ward number 6: Debajit Rajbongshi Phone number: 9864107028 Councilor of Ward number 16: Pran Krishna Bhowmik Phone number: 9957991442 Population: 7,000 approx. Voters: 3500, approx. T he Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Cricket stadium, since its inauguration in the later part of the year 2012 has become a significant landmark of the region. The 59 bighas of land was allotted to Assam Cricket Association (ACA) by the State Government and after clearing a portion from encroachers, ACA started construction in the year 2006. But the lesserknown fact is that since the establishment of the stadium, it has been a major cause for scarcity of drinking water for the residents of the area. The residents who were dependent upon perforated water for drinking and other uses, have been suffering from water scarcity since the establishment of the stadium. Located along the Mora Bharalu, though the roads and the water body have been developed in the recent past, the problem of drinking water remains unanswered. “Since the construction of the stadium, the lack of drinking water has become a severe problem. During winter, when it does not rain, the water level in the wells decrease drastically and those who are dependent upon bored water also suffer from the same. Since several large borings have been installed within the stadium, this has become a prime reason for the lack of underground water. Besides the problem of drinking water, other major problems have Councilor speak: been solved”, said Manik Das, resident of Barsapara. “The road condition earlier were shoddy and were covered by clouds of dust until the construction was carried out last year beside some parts of the road that connect to the stadium entrances. Also an eviction drive was carried out in the area where several shops, clubs and several other establishments were demolished that were illegally established by the Mora Bharalu following last year’s disastrous flood situation”, Das added. Earlier, following a Gauhati High Court order that allotted the ground to the ACA (Assam Cricket Association) in December 2002 for the construction of a state-of-the-art cricket stadium, the Kamrup Metro district administration launched an eviction drive to clear the Barsapara ground for the proposed cricket stadium. During the drive more than 40 houses established on the western side of the 59 bighas ground were pulled down without any kind of resistance from the encrochers. Apart from the problem of drinking water, the dustbin that rests by the main entrance of the Barsapara stadium is also a concern for the residents and passerbys. For a passerby, one can feel the stench from the garbage bin along the Barsapara road. “The garbage bins are unevenly placed by the road and are not cleaned on a regular basis. Presently the condition is far better in comparison to the recent past where the residents of the area littered the entire area by the garbage bin but though the people are cautioned about littering the place, the authorities do not take measures to transfer the garbage from the bin on a regular basis”, said Mridul Chakrabarty. “Though the garbage is collected from the homes, the same is dumped in the bin that remain stacked in the place for several days”, Chakrabarty added. Talking to GPlus, councilor of ward number 16, Pran Krishna Bhowmik said, “The problem of drinking water is a problem faced in most areas of the ward but in particular, the area of Barsapara has not been brought to attention by the people of the area.” “Apart from the area, several other stretches of the ward face the problem of drinking water. Although the GMDA’s water supply project is underway but at the same time, the project has covered less than twenty percent area so far”, Bhowmik added. Meanwhile, the councilor added that the dustbins, not just in Barsapara but those located in the entire city are cleared twice a day and garbage collection is done on a regular basis in the ward. Besides, areas such as Paschim Boragaon and Devkota Nagar are some of the areas that suffer from the problem of drinking water. “The areas have been suffering for a long time from the problem of drinking water and no settlement has been reached so far. Although pipelines under the GMDA’s water supply project has been installed and the completion is awaited very soon”, asserted Debajit Rajbongshi, councilor of ward number 6. [email protected] 16 G PLUS MAR 14 - MAR 21, 2015 Health Swine Flu 10 Things Not to Do G PLUS FEATURE A s swine flu continues to spread, experts from the Centers for Disease Control to the World Health Organization to neighborhood doctors are echoing the call for everyone to practice smart flu prevention techniques. With that in mind, here are 10 swine flu “don’ts” things not to do for swine flu prevention. home, you’ll help prevent other people from getting sick. It is recommended to wait until at least 24 hours after you are free of fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit, or signs of fever, without taking feverreducing medicines. 1. Don’t expect seasonal flu vaccination to prevent swine flu. 9. Don’t rush to the emergency room unless you have certain symptoms. The seasonal flu vaccine doesn’t protect against swine flu. The H1N1 swine flu vaccine is a separate vaccination. Your best bet is to get both vaccines. Seasonal flu can be serious, especially for infants, elders, and people with weak immune systems. The CDC notes that seasonal flu or its complications kill an average of 36,000 people per year in several countries and hospitalize more than 200,000 people. Getting vaccinated each year against seasonal flu is the single best way to protect against seasonal flu, according to the CDC. 2. Don’t count on a facemask to prevent swine flu infection. It’s not clear how effective facemasks are at preventing the transmission of the H1N1 or seasonal influenza viruses. The same is true for N95 respirators worn snugly over the face as filters. The CDC doesn’t recommend face masks or respirators in most settings to avoid catching swine flu, except if you’re at high risk of severe illness from influenza and are caring for someone who has a flu-like illness, or for high-risk people who can’t avoid being in a crowded setting where the swine flu virus is present. But it is highly recommend that sick people wear a facemask to avoid spreading their illness if they must be in close contact with other people. However, don’t rely on a facemask as your only protection . 3. Don’t hold or attend a swine flu party. The guest of honor at a swine flu party is someone who’s got swine flu. The point is for other guests to catch the virus in the hopes that they’ll have a mild illness and gain immunity so that they won’t get sick if the H1N1 virus worsens. Since there’s no way to know whether swine flu will be severe or fatal in swine flu party guests - or anyone else that they, in turn, infect. The CDC urges people to seek emergency medical care for a sick child with any of these symptoms: • • • • • • 4. Don’t neglect planning. One of the golden rules for dealing with swine flu is for sick people to stay home. That means planning ahead in case you or someone in your family gets sick. As WebMD reported in early August, it is recommended for schools to try to stay open, but sick children should stay home. The CDC has also issued guidelines for colleges, universities, and businesses on how to deal with swine flu. Workers may want to look into how their company handles sick leave or time off to care for someone with swine flu. And you might also want to stock up on tissues, disinfectants, and soap or alcohol-based hand sanitizers for work and home. 5. Don’t forget to clean up. Flu viruses can linger on books, toys, countertops, doorknobs, phones, linens, eating utensils, and other objects. Use a household disinfectant, following the directions on the products’ label. It is also recommended that when you launder linens of someone who has the flu, don’t hug the laundry before washing it. Wash your hands with soap and water (or use an alcohol-based hand gel) immediately after handling dirty laundry. 6. Don’t get complacent. Don’t shrug off swine flu precautions. Here are the CDC’s tips for reducing swine flu infection: • Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. Use a tissue or your arm - not your hands. • Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner. • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. • Try to avoid close contact with sick people. • Stay home if you are sick until at least 24 hours after you have been free of fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or more, or signs of fever, without using fever-reducing medicines. • The U.K.’s National Health System notes that when someone sick with flu talks, sneezes, spits, or coughs, infected flu droplets can travel at least 1 meter (about 3.3. feet). The NHS recommends that when you use a tissue, you throw it out after one use. 7. Don’t panic. Although there is no reason to panic, there is good reason to get vaccinated and seek prompt medical care for flu symptoms if you’re in a highrisk group. People who are high priorities for H1N1 vaccination are: Fast breathing or trouble breathing Bluish or gray skin color Not drinking enough fluids Severe or persistent vomiting Not waking up or not interacting Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and cough Here is the list of symptoms that should trigger emergency medical care for adults: • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath • Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen • Sudden dizziness • Confusion • Severe or persistent vomiting • Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough • Having a high fever for more than three days is another danger sign, according to the WHO. • Pregnant women • People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age • Health care and emergency medical services personnel • People between the ages of 6 months and 24 years • People ages 25-64 who have chronic health conditions or weak immune systems 10. If you’re a parent, don’t forget to teach your kids swine flu prevention. 8. Don’t leave home if you’ve got flu-like symptoms. Children need to do the same things as adults - stay home when sick, avoid sick people, cough and sneeze into a tissue, and wash their hands. Those symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue; diarrhea and vomiting may also be symptoms of swine flu. Unless you’re going to get medical care, stay home to avoid infecting others. That means not going to work or school, not running your normal errands, and not traveling. By staying The CDC recommends teaching kids to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice while washing their hands with soap and water, so that they wash their hands for 20 seconds. Another CDC suggestion: Tell kids to stay at least 6 feet away from people who are sick. 17 G PLUS MAR 14 - MAR 21, 2015 Sports India scores easy 2-0 win over Nepal CHHETRI SCORES BRACE in World Cup qualifier KALYAN DEB J ust eight months after the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil concluded with Germany lifting the Trophy at the Maracana, the bid for the next global extravaganza at Russia 2018 took center stage as Asia’s qualifying first round kicked off on Thursday with India playing host to Nepal in the first leg of the 2018 World cup pre-qualifiers. The two sides squared off at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati on Thursday evening as for the first time in history, Assam played home side in a football world cup match. The home team started slow in the first-half but gradually grew into the game although they couldn’t convert their chances into goals. The team was playing long balls from the midfield, which proved to be ineffective and similarly the away team failed to provide much entertaining football. Meanwhile, Sunil Chhetri was heavily marked as the Nepalese defenders did not provide much space in the opening stages but Chhetri broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute when the vice-captain found the back of the net with a neat finish from outside the box and India improved slowly as the game progressed. India looked more motivated as the second half progressed. Stephen Constantine made an intelligent substitution in the 61st minute, bringing in yet another debutant Jackichand Singh in place of an ineffective Lalrindika Ralte. Sunil Chhetri increased the lead in the 71st minute with a solo effort, this time with his right foot as he dribbled past one Nepalese defender gracefully and found the back of the net with ease. The away side looked helpless and failed to threaten the Indian defense. India, on the other hand, looked hungry for more goals. Another second half substitute, Cavin Lobo earned a penalty in the dying stages of the match. Lobo dribbled neatly and entered the opponent’s penalty box. Just when he was about to shoot, he was brought down. The Indian starting line-up saw four debutants, namely Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Saumik Dey, Sandesh Jhingan and Pritam Kotal. Around the half hour mark, Bengaluru FC forward Robin Singh got the first genuine opportunity to give India the lead. Sunil Chhetri forwarded a decent ball to his club mate, but Robin, who was in a comfortable position blasted the ball way above the goal. Minutes later, Robin got yet another opportunity. The goalkeeper came forward to block the Indian forward, who just had to chip it over the custodian, but his shot hit the side netting dismissing chances for the home team to lead by a minimum of two goals. For the home crowd, it was an “It is for the first time in the history of northeast, a world cup event is being hosted in the region and we are looking forward to make it a success since majority of the tickets have already been sold and we are looking forward to put a good game” INDIA: Subrata Paul (Captain), Pritam Kotal, Arnab Mondal, Sandesh Jhingan, Shaumik Dey, Francis Fernandes, Lenny Rodrigues, Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Lalrindika Ralte (Jackichand Singh 57th), Sunil Chhetri, Robin Singh(Holicharan Narzary 90+1). NEPAL: Kiran Limbu, Sagar Thapa, Sandip Rai, Rabin Shrestha, Biraj Maharjan, Bikram Lamba, Rohit, Chand, Jagjeet Shreshtha (Anjan Bista 63rd), Bhola Nath Silwal, Bimal Gharti Magar, Bharat Khawas (Santosh Shahukhala 86th). Referee: Aziz Asimov (Uzbekistan) Man of the match: Sunil Chhetri. Ankur dutta Secretary AFA added thrill to the crowd when home boy Holicharan Narzary made his entry into the middle. Though the substitution was made in the conclusive moments of the match but the crowd welcomed the home boy with a loud roar. Chhetri had a good opportunity to complete his third international hat-trick but was thwarted by Chem- jong, who pulled off an incredible save. India now had a clear advantage in this two-legged encounter against Nepal whereas, Nepal had an uphill task to turn the odds in their favour in the next game. Lately, India versus Nepal contests have been competitive. In the SAFF Championship held in Nepal, India lost 2-1, while in the Nehru Cup tie in 2012, the Nepal Reds dominated the proceedings against a hapless Indian outfit but their failure to convert chances resulted in a 0-0 draw. Earlier a hopeful Ankur Dutta, AFA secretary, after the arrival of both the teams on Monday asserted, “It is for the first time in the history of northeast, a world cup event is being hosted in the region and we are looking forward to make it a success since majority of the tickets have already been sold and we are looking forward to put a good game.” Six pairs of the continent’s lower ranked sides will battle over two legs, on 12 and 17 March where India will play an away match against Nepal. The aggregate winners will progress to join the remaining 34 teams in the next stage. This phase also serves as the first round qualification for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. With so much at stake, the competition looked set to capture the imagination of football fans near and far with many eyes on India, the highest ranked of the 12 sides. [email protected] 18 G PLUS MAR 14 - MAR 21, 2015 Life Going Global with Wisdom and Love T here is strength in peace, in calmness, in love, but it goes unnoticed. What you cannot win with a stick, you can win with love. What you cannot win with guns, you can win through love. The most powerful thing in the world is love! We can win the hearts of people through love. The victory that comes out of ego is worth nothing. Even if you win in ego, it is a loss. Even if you lose in love, it’s a victory! Making people realise this innermost strength that we all have is the challenge! You cannot talk about love when a terrorist is at your door, but is there some way in which we can transform the world? Is there any alternative that can bring sense to people who do not listen to anything other than force? We can start thinking along these lines only when we realise that there is enormous power in love and inner peace. When we are peaceful, we radiate that peace to the people around us and they also become calm. In these times of war and disease in the world, it’s so important that we all meditate a little every day. When we meditate, we nullify negative vibrations, creating a more harmonious environment around us. Being peaceful in a meditative, prayerful state will help. Don’t think that you are insignificant when the world is in a problem. You too have a role to play. Every individual — everyone who is breathing, talking, walking, thinking — has an influence on this cosmos, on this planet. So we can all radiate peace, good thoughts, good vibrations and good wishes — and that will make a positive impact on the planet. When there is a conflict and you interact with both the groups in- volved, they soften up. When communication breaks down, it causes turbulence, which in turn causes stiffness and rigidity. But it helps when you reestablish communication through love, peaceful means and patience. To avoid fanaticism or reli- gious terrorism in the world, it is absolutely essential to inculcate a multi-cultural, multi-religious education for children. It is because a child grows up thinking that other religions or cultures are bad, that he or she is ready to give up his or her life for that cause; but when a child grows up knowing a little bit about all other religions, cultures and customs then there is a sense of belonging with everybody. When every child in the world learns a little bit about every other religion, he will not have inhibitions or hatred towards other religions or cultures. We accept food and music from every part of the world. You don’t need to be Chinese in order to eat Chinese food! You don’t need to be an Italian to eat pizzas, nor a Dane to eat Danish cookies! One doesn’t have to be an Indian to listen to bhajans or sitar music! We need to learn to accept knowledge from every part and this is what has been lacking in the world. His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ji TAKE CARE, LOVE YOURSELF M om was and is still my biggest teacher. She has taught me special things in life, the relevance of which I find now as I go through my daily chores. Beauty was one thing Mom was especially interested in. As far as I remember, she was very particular about my umbrella, even on a cloudy day in Shillong. Later, I realised she was right in more ways than one when I understood only much later about UV rays penetration being highest in the hill-stations. And I always thought I could go without my sunscreen when I was out with my friends walking in Police Bazaar in Shillong. Mom was sensible to powder my face with baby powder, ‘cause she said oily skin attracts dirt and grime, leading to clogged pores, which later erupts into pimples. The umbrella was Mom’s staple which I knew much later was actually kept my skin from damage and I remember carrying one ever since I was in Nursery Class. The skin gets worn out with constant exposure to the sun and I learnt to protect it at a time when it gets damaged slowly, if not rapidly. Now, when I see young girls in their early 20s going to and from college without the umbrella, I sometimes get off the car to tell them to carry one the next time around. I tell them the horrors of the mirror talking to them in a language they wouldn’t like 10 years from now. The sun’s rays have become harsher over the years and it causes a great amount of harm between 10am to 4pm. So, do we just stay indoors during this time? Of course not! We all work, so obviously we have to go out. But my request; please dab yourself with generous amounts of sunscreen lotion on all the exposed portions. If you’re travelling by car, make sure to put detachable shades on the glasses to keep the car and yourself cool. So young girls and boys, please take extreme care before you play in the sun. Another staple accessory that has over the years enhanced its position to more of a necessity is the sunglass. Invest in a good pair to protect your eyes from the harsh UV Rays. However, if you’re unable to get one of the more expensive ones, get a regular pair which is large enough to cover the entire eye area. Have you noticed people who don’t wear protective eye gear in the sun? They have fine-lines or crow’s feet around their eyes from too much of squinting. And this is not only summers I am talking about. The eyes need protection in all seasons, rather all year round. Water, water, water! My mother used to tell me that human beings are like plants and just as plants need a lot of water for it to grow and bear flowers, so do humans. So, please drink at least 4 litres of water every day. Apart from the health benefits, it keeps the mouth feeling fresh all day. I remember how terribly repulsive it is to talk to a person with foul breath at the end of a two hour workshop? You must have experienced a similar situation? So, to save yourself from the embarrassment of someone moving away in repulsion, you could try sipping water all throughout and don’t have aversions even if it means going to a dirty washroom. The pain of getting operated on for your kidney stones is far more unbearable than the excruciating (or so you think) walk to the public toilet. Apart from the pain, the stress on the family is also rather foreboding, not to speak of the time and money that is involved. So like I said, water yourself! And do this for your face too! How you love yourself says a lot about how you are going to love and take care of others. The grooming industry is a billion dollar business and growing every day. Grooming today forms an important part in projecting a healthy image to the world. Hair needs a lot of care. I have had frizzy hair all my life so I have tried all sorts of regimen for my hair. I used to oil my hair regularly, massage for as long as I didn’t get tired and then wrapped a warm towel around my head. I remember when I was in school, Mom used to wash my hair with a special fruit called ritha and then rinse it off with a cup of white vinegar. Every Sunday, I would apply henna globally on my hair, only to realise much later that henna coats each strand of hair and makes it more brittle and frizzy, with the possibility of breakage and split ends. I stopped. I went for hair-spa instead which gave me softer hair. I share a wonderful camaraderie with Gitima, my beautician. Not only is she pretty herself but she keeps advising me on some fantastic antidotes to look good. Moreover, whenever we are together at her parlour, we laugh like crazy while sipping hot coffee and popping dozens of vegetable pakoras. We would rock in our seats, laughing, while tears stream down my ‘facepacked’ cheeks. We would leave no stone unturned to even tickle the ribs of her other clients with our peels of laughter. In short, we just cherish each moment! We have always loved people who have taken care of themselves ‘cause we know they are the ones who can love people. Spend some time for yourself, so that you stay happy and contented. Pamper yourself at least twice a month to a relaxing spa, bodymassage or a pedicure or manicure. Some say a spa is more a feel good treatment than a beauty regimen. But I say, it’s all the more better that it’s a feel good factor. Life is all about feeling good and cherishing every second, every moment. At a grooming session 100 school students, I asked how many of them spend time with pampering and making themselves feel special. I was not very surprised to see only eight hands on the girls’ side and two on the boys. It is completely understandable. A student is busy with studies and so much more. But if they think carefully that if they don’t give time to themselves at this most vital juncture of their lives, then when? My message to young people would be to make it a point to spend at least an hour on a Sunday grooming, pampering and slathering yourself with some special regimen to be rejuvenated for the next day. We love a person who is well groomed. Get yourself a neat haircut, oil, shampoo and condition your hair regularly. Cleanse and moisturise your facial skin, trim your hand and toe nails and keep them clean. All in all, treat yourself like a Queen or a King! Do this for sometime and see the difference it makes to your persona! Happy caring! tinat ATIFA MASOOD G PLUS MAR 14 - MAR 21, 2015 Why Kriti left Akki and joined SRK A ctress Kriti Sanon says she stepped out of Parbhudheva’s directorial “Singh Is Bling” as it was constantly getting delayed and also because its dates were clashing with her other projects. “I’m not doing ‘Singh Is Bling’ now. I think you all must have read. The film was getting delayed for many reasons,” the actress said on Tuesday at the launch of Spring-Summer collection of the store Aldo. “Now when the film is starting, F its dates are clashing with my other projects, so I chose not to do it,” she added. Meanwhile, there are reports that Kriti has signed filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s film. However, she refused to divulge any details and said: “I’m really sorry as I won’t be able to comment on that film right now. Wait for some more time, you will hear everything about the film... I will talk about the film when the time is right.” Is ‘Mard’ Farhan defending documentary on Nirbhaya? B ollywood actor Farhan Akhtar has sought lifting of the ban on Leslee Udwin’s documentary on the December 16 gangrape, saying the British filmmaker has focused on the aftermath of the incident. The ‘Rock On!’ star watched ‘India’s Daughter’ during its US premiere last night along with Oscarwinning actress Meryl Streep and Frieda Pinto. The documentary, says the 41-year-old actor, made him think about the concept of ‘masculinity’. “Watched #IndiasDaughter last night at the US premiere in NYC. Raises some serious questions about the concept of masculinity.. The filmmakers intent is clear. It is not to defame India but use an event that reverberated around the globe as the basis for her study...,” he posted on Twitter. “The directors focus on the aftermath ie public outrage/protests/amendment of law speaks volumes of our vibrant democracy. I humbly appeal to the concerned ministry that they lift the ban on this film. It’s only effect is that of introspection. #IndiasDaughter,” he added. Karishma and Upen all set to unite A ctors Karishma Tanna and Upen Patel, whose crackling chemistry was there for all to see in reality show “Bigg Boss 8”, will now regale TV viewers with their dance skills in the next season of “Nach Baliye”. The rumoured couple will next be seen together shaking a leg in the upcoming seventh season of the dance-based reality show. Hirani haven’t sold rights for ‘pk’ remake ilmmaker Rajkumar Hirani says that he has neither sold the rights of his film ‘pk’ for a Tamil version, nor is he planning to remake it. However, he has confessed that some people are in talks with him for a remake. “We haven’t sold the rights (of ‘pk’) yet. Some people have called. Some conversation is happening but nothing has been finalised yet,” Hirani said on Wednesday during the DVD launch of the film. 19 Entertainment Varun Dhawan does a Daredevil Stunt for Abcd2 V arun Dhawan was shooting for Abcd2 there was stunt which he has to do which would have ideally by a stuntman. It was a stunt close to the precipice of a 5000 feet deep straight fall below which varun said that he would do it himself. ‘Dharam Sankat Mein’ has nothing to do with ‘OMG...’? V ersatile actor Paresh Rawal, whose next film “Dharam Sankat Mein” hinges on religious complexity, says the movie has got nothing to do with his film “OMG - Oh My God!”. “It has nothing to do with ‘OMG’. It’s a different film, so please don’t make assumptions about the film without watching it. One moment you will laugh, and the other moment you will realise that whatever we are saying it’s true,” Paresh said here. “Dharam Sankat Mein” revolves around a Hindu man Dharampal (Paresh), who goes through an identity crisis when he discovers he was adopted as a child, and was born to a Muslim family. Paresh says that as an actor, he has done different films, which have no double meaning. “I’ve never done films with double meaning. A film has to entertain and has to make sense,” he said. Directed by Fuwad Khan, “Dhar- I like to be shameless B ollywood actress Aditi Rao Hydari said she had no inhibitions while facing camera. “Sudhir Mishra (filmmaker) had once told me though I have simple looks, I turn bold in front of camera... I love that I have no inhibitions... I like to be shameless in front of camera,” Aditi told reporters in a private function along with fellow actress Shazahn Padamsee.. The actress is playing the role of Chandramukhi in Mishra’s modern adaptation of ‘Devdas’. Aditi, whose filmography includes ‘Delhi 6’, ‘Yeh Sali Zindagi’, ‘Rockstar’ to name a few, said she liked to be versatile on screen and is comfortable in handling intimate scenes. “Intimacy is a part of life. You have to keep in mind the chemistry between actors while handling intimate scenes,” she said, adding that content of the film is also a major draw for her in choosing projects. “l like doing films that are lauded for their content. I like to be the part of main- am Sankat Mein” also features Naseeruddin Shah and Annu Kapoor. The film is slated for an April 10 release. Aditi Rao Hydari stream and doing films which tickle your funny bone. I would love to do a dance number,” she added. Shazahn, daughter of ad guru Alyque Padamsee and pop singer Sharon Prabhakar, said she was ready to act in Gujarati films. Her films include ‘Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year (2009), ‘Kanimozi’ (2010) in Telugu, ‘Dil to Bachcha Hai Ji’ with Ajay Devagn and Sajid Khan’s multi-starrer ‘Houseful 2: The Dirty Dozen’ in 2012. 20 G PLUS MAR 14 - MAR 21, 2015 Reviews E GAM W REVIE u Yo LD OU N SH ISTE L Album: Piece By Piece Artist: Kelly Clarkson Total War: Attila Mo Revi vie ew Cast: Anushka Sharma, Neil Bhoopalam, Darshan Kumaar and Deepti Naval Director: Navdeep Singh M ira (Sharma) and Arjun (Neil Bhoopalam) are the standard DINK (double income, no kids) couple. One night, when Mira is alone in her car and driving through Gurgaon’s empty streets, she’s almost carjacked. When they go to file a complaint at the police station the next morning, the inspector says unapologetically, “Yeh shahar toh badhta bachcha hai. Kood toh lega hi.” Mira is rattled by her encounter with the carjackers while Arjun is burdened with guilt that he hadn’t driven Mira on that fateful night. Since Mira’s birthday is coming up, Arjun decides to take her on short holiday, outside the city, to cheer her up. Leaving Gurgaon and hitting NH10 proves to be the worst things Mira and Arjun could have done. By the time they’ve made their first dhaba stop, they’re knee-deep in a situation they don’t entirely understand. Arjun’s been punched. A young woman Mira doesn’t know from Adam has told her she’ll be killed if Mira doesn’t help her. There are grizzly men making snide, unhelpful comments. In a nutshell, it’s all going to hell in NH10. Sudip Sharma’s script isn’t the strongest or the most coherent. It has some borderline tackiness, like Mira taking on a new avatar on her birthday (she’s being reborn, geddit?). There are also details that don’t entirely make sense, but as you watch Mira and Arjun negotiating their way through the nightmare in which they’ve found themselves, it becomes painfully clear that much of what we call “common sense” is actually anxious caution that borders on paranoia. For instance, the moment Arjun leaves Mira in the car alone, your breath catches in your throat because you’re certain something horrible will happen to her. Or when you realise Arjun has left his phone in the car when he went running after the bad guys, there’s a chill that runs down your spine. Without any fanfare, Sharma delivers with smooth, skilful grace what Varun Dhawan utterly failed to do in Badlapur: a convincing portrait of how one can become a completely different person, because of a few silly choices and their consequences. No matter how extreme her reaction, Sharma’s acting, particularly in scenes with no dialogues, makes Mira’s every move adds up. When she finally picks up a weapon, it’s is a chilling reference to the 2012 Delhi gangrape — a metal rod — and she’s wearing a yellow jacket, a barely-disguised salute to The Bride in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill. There is, however, a significant difference between The Bride and Mira. The Bride went on a rampage to avenge what was done to her, the way she was exploited, and to claim her own story and her future, as embodied in a daughter who was being kept from The Bride and the truth. Mira is driven to her outburst not by what happens to her, but because she wants to avenge someone else. Perhaps that’s still the only way we can imagine strong women in Bollywood — in relation to men, rather than on their own terms. It’s poetic justice that Sharma’s electric performance makes you forget that anyone else existed in NH10. NH10 was not an easy film to make and it isn’t an easy film to watch, but give it five minutes, and it will suck you into its menaceriddled story. A thoroughly average idea and a flawed script add up to a gripping experience, thanks to Singh’s direction, Merchant’s editing and Sharma’s acting. That’s rare, particularly in Bollywood. T otal War: Attila is sure to be another hit in this series. These games thrive among new fans and history buffs long after they’ve launched. In fact, the Total War games had around 850,000 monthly active players in 2014 even though a new entry in the didn’t come out last year. On average, people play Total War titles for 104 hours per game. The Total War series has been around for 13 years, and The Creative Assembly is now launching multiple offerings based on the same Total War brand. For instance, it recently launched the Wrath of Sparta expansion for Total War: Rome II, and it also announced Total War Battles: Kingdom, a free-to-play realm-building game. This huge PC game is based on Creative Assembly’s massive strategy game Total War: Rome II from 2013. It uses the same campaign map and game engine, but it has a lot of improvements and a more thoughtful design. The player challenges have been heightened. Not only must you guard your borders, you have to deal with family politics, betrayal by allies, disease, starvation, and bankruptcy. The beginning of the Western Roman Empire campaign starts out with the empire in a state of decline. It has split in two and it faces wars on six fronts. Conclusion As with Rome II, the positives outweigh the annoyances. Creative Assembly has been very ambitious with Total War: Attila, and the game is a lot more compelling than its predecessor. It feels more balanced. The A.I. is smarter, but a human general can still beat it. But the unrelenting weight of a collapsing empire pushes a human ruler to the limit. If you simply survive for a while, you’ll feel like you’ve won the game. T Book: Mandate: Will of the People Author: Vir Sanghvi his is the first easy-to-read book about recent Indian political history. Pegged on the general elections that shaped today’s India, Mandate: Will of the People tells the story of Indian politics in a gripping, pageturning style. Vir Sanghvi, the well-known journalist and TV anchor, draws on his personal experiences and memories as well as scores of interviews to piece together an incisive and candid account of what went on behind the scenes. Peppered with little-known details and insider SH You ReOULD ad K elly Clarkson has never achieved the cultural relevance of would-be peers like Beyoncé or Katy Perry, but the 32-year-old American Idol alum was an indisputably dominant force at her mid-2000s commercial peak. With her sixth studio album, Piece by Piece, Clarkson looks to recapture the form that led to four straight top 10 hits (all from 2004 sophomore slam Breakaway) a decade ago -- and occasionally exceeds it. Piece by Piece doesn’t disrupt that similitude, but it gleams with the professionalism that has marked the rest of Clarkson’s postpeak phase. Working with songwriting and production A-listers like Greg Kurstin (Sia, Britney Spears), Clarkson doubles down on songs that put her skyscraping voice first. And it sounds better than ever. The exuberance that resulted in oversung performances early in her career is now tamped down in favor of superior control and dynamic range. information, this book tells the stories behind the story and brings alive the men and women behind the headlines. Many of the questions that linger over Indian politics are answered here: how did Narasimha Rao become Prime Minister? Why did he liberalise the economy? What was the Ram Mandir agitation really about? Why didn’t Sonia Gandhi agree to be PM? And how did Manmohan Singh’s weakness clear the way for Narendra Modi. If you have to read one book about Indian politics - then this is it NOW SHOWING NH 10 (A) Badlapur Dum Laga Ke Haishya Apsara Cinema Daily at 11.00 AM, 2.00, 5.00 & 8.00 PM Anuradha Cineplex Daily at 11.00 AM, 2.00, 5.00 & 8.00 PM Fun Cinemas Daily at 11.00 AM, 1.15, 5.40 & 8.30 PM Gold Cinema (Fancy Bazar) Daily at 11.00 AM, 2.00, 5.00 & 8.00 PM Daily at 5.30 PM Daily at 11.30 AM, 2.30 & 8.30 PM Gold Cinema (Paltan Bazaar) Daily at 11.00 AM, 2.00, 5.00 & 8.00 PM Daily at 2.30 PM Daily at 11.30 AM, 5.30 & 8.30 PM Gold Cinema (Narengi) Daily at 11.00 AM, 2.00, 5.00 & 8.00 PM Telebooking numbers: Anuradha Cineplex; 03612656968, 9954544738, Fun Cinemas: 9864800100, 9864800200, Gold Cinema (Fancy Bazaar): 03612735367, 9854077177, Gold Cinema (Paltan Bazaar): 9854066166, Gold Cinema (Narengi): 8811001898 G PLUS MAR 14 - MAR 21, 2015 21 Tech Watch Xiaomi Mi Pad launched in India at Rs. 12,999 A part from launching the Redmi 2 smartphone, Xiaomi also launched its Mi Pad tablet in India. Priced at Rs. 12,999, the tablet will be up for sale on March 24 and will not need registrations. The Mi Pad has a 7.9-inch IPS display with 2048x1536 pixels resolution, 326 PPI. It is powered by a NVIDIA Tegra K1 processor along with 2GB of RAM. It comes with 16GB flash and supports 128GB of expandable storage via microSD. It has an 8MP rear camera. Full specifications at the bottom of the story. With the Mi Pad, Xiaomi has now officially entered the Indian tablet market, currently dominated by the likes of iBall, Samsung and DataWind. Xiaomi had disrupted the smartphone market, especially the budget segment, with its high spec’d devices at attractive price. It will be interesting to see how Xiaomi performs in the tablet segment. Apart from the Mi Pad, Xiaomi has also launched its latest smartphone Redmi 2 in India. The phone features Snapdragon 410, 64-bit quad-core 1.2GHz Processor, 4.7 inch 720p Sharp/AUO fully laminated display and 8MP camera. Eddy and Cartoon Network launch new tablets for kids E ddy in partnership with Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE) on friday launched ‘Creativity Tablet’ for children, which comes pre-loaded with hundreds of activities, apps and videos designed for children. Eddy and CNE also announced the launch of Ben 10 tablets in India, designed to provide hours of learning and entertainment to kids. The tablets are powered by the Intel Atom Processor Z2520 and are pre-loaded with content from Cartoon Network and POGO. They also come pre-loaded with hundreds of books and learning games from leading international app developers. Both tablets are targeted at children aged 3 and above. Lava Iris Fuel 10, Iris Fuel 25 budget smartphones launched A L Sony announces shutting down of PS Mobile service ony Computer Entertainment Inc (SCEI) has announced that they will be ceasing content distribution on PlayStation Mobile (PSM) after 15th July, 2015. PlayStation Mobile currently works as a storefront and support system for indie games on certified Android devices and the PlayStation Vita. All in-app purchases and redownload of purchased content will from PlayStation mobile will be discontinued after September 10, 2015. In addition the Android PSM app which allows consumers to access PSM content will also be taken down on September 10, 2015. Sony has been not doing well lately and has plans to sell off its mobile arm. HTC Desire 820s dual SIM with octa-core SoC launched H TC Desire 820s with dual sim support is now available in India for Rs. 24,890 as per mobile retailer. HTC unveiled the Desire 820s in November last year with similar specifications as the Desire 820. The Desire 820s has a 5.5-inch HD display with 720 x 1280 pixels resolution and runs Android 4.4 KitKat with HTC’s Sense 6 UI on top. The smartphone has a 13 MP rear camera with LED flash, and an 8 MP front camera, just like the RAM. Other features include 5MP rear camera, VGA front facing camera, 4GB ROM, 3G connectivity. Lava has launched quite a few phones under its Iris Fuel series. It recently launched Iris Fuel 20 smartphone featuring a 4400 mAh battery. Priced at Rs. 5399, the phone features 5-inch display, dualcore processor and 5MP camera. Lava has also launched a Iris Fuel 50 smartphone. ava has launched two new smartphones under its Fuel series – Iris Fuel 10 & Iris Fuel 25. · Both the smartphones come with Airtel bundled offer of 500 MB 3G data free per month for two months (for prepaid consumers). The Iris Fuel is priced at Rs. 6541 while the Fuel 25 comes for Rs. 5666. The Iris Fuel 25 has a 5-inch TFT display. It is powered by a 1.0 GHz Dual Core Processor and a 512 MB S The two tablets run on Android 4.2.2 with an overlay of Eddy’s proprietary Athena OS*, created specifically keeping a child’s learning needs in mind. The Ben 10 tablet and Creativity Tablet are priced at INR 9,999/- and INR 8,999/-, respectively, with limited period launch offers and discounts worth INR 4000/-. They will be exclusively available at http://www.amazon. in/ and http://www.eddytablet.com/. Desire 820. It has a 1.7GHz 64-bit octa-core QualcommMediaTek SoC processor, coupled with 2GB of RAM. The smartphone has 16 GB internal storage expandable up to 128 GB via microSD card. Connectivity options included in the HTC Desire 820s are Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPRS, EDGE, 3G and 4G LTE support. It comes with inbuilt proximity, accelerometer, compass, and ambient light sensors. The smartphone comes with HTC BoomSound, Top 3 Best Free VPN Service Providers of 2015 Dual frontal stereo speakers with built-in amplifiers. It is backed by a 2600 mAh battery. The HTC Desire 820s will compete with devices like the Xiaomi Mi 4, Huawei Honor 6 and Lenovo Vibe X2 4G. The phone’s predecessor, the HTC Desire 820, was launched in India in October alongside the quad-core Desire 820q for Rs 24,500 and Rs 22,500 respectively. The Desire 820 is powered by Qualcomm’s 64-bit octa-core Snapdragon 615 SoC which has a 1.5GHz quad-core ARM Cortex A53 processor and a quad-core 1GHz Cortex A53 processor with 2GB RAM while the Desire 820q has a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 SoC featuring a 1.2GHz quad-core CPU with 1GB of RAM. Both the smartphones run Android 4.4 KitKat with the Sense UI skin on top. Virtual Private Network or VPN is a great way to surf the web more securely or access video content that is blocked in your country. VPN technology is also used by individual Internet users to secure their wireless transactions, to circumvent geo restrictions and censorship, and to connect to proxy servers for the purpose of protecting personal identity and location. Top 3 Best Free VPN Services/Clients are listed below Hotspot Shield VPN Hotspot Shield VPN is the only VPN service in the world, which have got tons of great press from CNN and the New York Times. There are many special features in it, which is not offered by any of the other competitor service. Hotspot Shield VPN is available for PC, Mac, iOS& Android, and it’s very easy to tell when the VPN connection is on or off. It also warns you if you are about to access a website that has been linked to malware or phishing. Cloak VPN Consumers can access their purchased content after 10th September if they have at most three compatible devices activated with the service. Twitter to ban revenge porn Cloak VPN is just another great service to consider when it comes to free VPN. It offers a 30-day trial to each user, after the trial period expires, you will have to buy it on a monthly package, which costs only $1.99/month. Downloading and installing the app is extremely simple, though you do need to register on the Cloak site. Cyber Ghost VPN T witter has updated its policies prohibiting users from posting nude pictures or sexual acts without the subject’s consent. The micro blogging website warns that it will block users accounts and hide content if found breaching the new policies. Twitter in an updated FAQ section says: “You may not publish or post other people’s private and confidential information, such as credit card numbers, street address or Social Security/National Identity numbers, without their express authorization and permission. You may not post intimate photos or videos that were taken or distributed without the subject’s consent.” “You may not publish or post direct, specific threats of violence against others,” it added. CyberGhost VPN top of the list of best free VPNs providers by MakeUseOf.com. CyberGhost VPN is available for Android, iOS, Mac, and Linux, as well as for Windows. This service is free, and the app comes with really great features, and with user friendly interface. There are free and paid versions available. Those users who have free plan have access to 22 of the 200+ servers, where as premium users get access to all of the servers. Indrajeet Bhuyan is a 16 year old tech blogger and security researcher. He is passionate about computers and believes in sharing knowledge and information . He uses his spare time helping people and companies secure themselves. fb.me/ indrajeet.bhuyan 22 G PLUS MAR 14 - MAR 21, 2015 Fun Your weekly dose of Aries TIMEPASS Taurus This action-oriented week can bring promising results if you channel your energy into key goals and ambitions. The more willing you are to override your limitations, the more successful you can be. Tread with care on Tuesday, as a fiery combination could cause an argument or even a minor accident. This is one day when it pays to go slowly. Mercury glides into Pisces on Thursday, putting you in touch with your intuitive awareness and dreaming mind. Watch for messages and guidance. Leo Gemini Feelings could be intense, yet you might keep them to yourself, which wouldn’t be such a good idea. The pressure could be explosive, especially on Tuesday, causing a bout of anger and frustration. To avoid this, it would be best to tackle issues as they arise and discuss them with those who need to know. Not only will this help create a solution but can save you a lot of stress as well. With an active social life, your weekend looks fun and relaxing. Virgo The desire for adventure continues to show up this week, spurring you to take up new challenges. An unexpected romantic opportunity could appear, disrupting your best-laid plans. Think very carefully about getting too involved, as it might not be in your best interests and could even have negative consequences. Saturn turns retrograde in your romance and creativity sector on Saturday, so you’ll likely be a lot more cautious when it comes to dating and making a commitment. Sagittarius The fun meter is set on high, with many opportunities for leisure and pleasure providing thrills and spills. Romance can also be a heady subject, bringing passion and intensity your way. There’s little chance you’ll want to make a commitment, however, which is just as well. Avoid dangerous sports or activities on Tuesday, when it’s best to keep things low-key. Saturn turns retrograde in your sign on Saturday, and you may start thinking about your mission and purpose in life. SUDOKU HOROSCOPE Your social life bubbles with excitement and opportunity. The more people you meet, the more your life opens up in interesting ways. It would be best to avoid cantankerous folks or those looking for trouble on Tuesday. Keep a low profile. Mercury eases into Pisces and your career sector on Thursday, encouraging you to research your options, apply for jobs or interviews, and generally put out feelers. Certain relationships may be up for review starting Saturday, as Saturn turns retrograde. Cancer There’s plenty of activity in your career, kick-starting a new phase. If you’re looking for work, the presence of Mars encourages a proactive approach to getting what you want. Use creative solutions and try to stand out from the crowd and showcase your skills. Avoid impulsive moves on Tuesday, particularly when dealing with those in authority. You might not come out the winner. Mercury entering Pisces can be a chance to indulge your love of new ideas. Pace yourself to conserve your energy. Libra Go easy regarding finances this week, as it could be all too easy to make the wrong moves. Overspending or the unwise use of funds in general could leave you struggling at a later date. If you need to talk, discuss things with a professional adviser who can help set you on the right track. Tuesday is the day to watch out for splurging and melting your plastic. Don’t give in to temptation. Try exercise as a way to channel restlessness energy. Capricorn Scorpio Your relationships can be very direct and honest this week. An upbeat aspect on Monday could encourage you to melt the ice concerning someone you’ve admired for some time. You’ll need to be careful and sensitive to other people’s feelings on Tuesday. Even an innocent remark could cause a spat, leaving you hurt as a result. If you sense tension, stay clear. Saturn turns retrograde on Saturday, encouraging you to take a closer look at your limitations and how you might overcome them. There’s a pleasant focus on your romance sector, paving the way for some wonderful date nights. Use your leisure time to channel your creative skills, as doing so can be very therapeutic now. You can make great strides this week where your job and career are concerned if you focus on one goal and work to achieve it. Avoid impulsive moves on Tuesday, as they won’t help your cause. Starting Saturday, handle resources carefully and try to be thrifty in your dealings. Aquarius It’s “all systems go” at home, with a chance that the days ahead could be fun yet disruptive. Unexpected events will mean that your best-laid plans may fall by the wayside. Avoid frustration if possible, as that will only make things worse. If you’re feeling annoyed or edgy, channel your energy into exercise or a long walk. Doing so will be calming and therapeutic. Mercury gliding into Pisces means it’s time to harness your imagination to manifest your dreams and desires. Communication is fast paced this week. You may be busy closing deals, discussing ideas, and generally interacting with others. There’s a lot to be gained from expanding your network and meeting new people, as the lucky breaks will come rolling in. It would be to your advantage to avoid arguments on Tuesday. One could spoil a friendship, business deal, or lucrative opportunity. Mercury’s presence in Pisces starting Thursday can encourage you to get a handle on finances so you can stay in control. Pisces An upbeat aspect on Monday can be excellent for attending interviews and meetings with a view toward getting results. Your ability to project a confident demeanor can go a long way to helping you succeed. Avoid impulsive spending on Tuesday, as it will certainly do more harm than good. Channel your energy into exercise instead, which will leave you feeling calm and centered. Mercury hikes into your sign on Thursday, encouraging you to share ideas and actively expand your social circle. Useful Life hacks Find your lost treasure the smart way If you think you lost something small and valuable on your floor, you will no longer have to freak out about sucking it up the next time you vacuum. Simply try out this cool trick and see if your missing item winds up stuck to the end of the hose. JUST FOR LAUGHs Once a small boy tries to press a doorbell on a house. A lady noticed that. The boy was very small and the doorbell was too high. Lady thought that she should help him. So she came near to him, lifts him and the boy rings that doorbell. She asked that kid: Now what, sweet little man?” Smart kid replied: Lets run! A man was complaining to a friend: “I HAD IT ALL - MONEY, A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE, THE LOVE OF A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN, THEN POW! IT WAS ALL GONE.” “WHAT HAPPENED?” asked his friend. 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Green Contact-95778-21645 Bathroom , Balcony , Parking With 3 Wardrobe And Lift. Rent- 15,000 Ph No.98644-31944 3BHK Flat With 2 Bathroom, 3rd Floor , Parking, Balcony & Lift in Beltola Rent- 14,000 Pn No.-76630-59321 720sqft showroom with toilet in athgaon suitable for boutique/ computer classes etc. Contact- 98641-59713 5 Room Flat In Maskhowa For Rent. Contact-98641-59713 3BHK New Flat With 2 Bathroom , Parking , Balcony , Lift At Dispur, 2nd , 3rd , 4th Floor, Rent16,000 Call-9864431944 400 sqft Rcc godown available At opp.Nichols school, Chatribari. With Shutter and road facing facility. Ph.No.- 9864159713. 200 sqft Rcc shop inside market. Available and nearby godown. Suitable for any type of CNF work. Ph.No. - 9864159713. 3 room residential flat on third floor 1300 sqft in Krisna Nagar, Chatribari. Ph.Nos. - 9864159713. FOR SALE 2 WHEELER / 4 WHEELER Vento (D) Top Model 2011 Colour: White Ph-88110-91965 EMERGENCY NUMBERS Swift VSI 2012 Model Colour: Silver 4.50 Lacs Fixed Call:88221-41557 Bajaj Pulsar 135 2010 Model Colour – M.BLK M. 98540-91738 Scorpio For Sale 2010 SLX Colour – Silver Ph.- 98599-10119 Pulsar 150 2009 Model, Colour: Black Contact- 88110-91965 Scorpio 2010 LX Colour: Black (D) Contact-98641-06333 Honda Dio 2013 Model, 2013 Model Colour: P.T. Yellow Contact-98640-21414 TVS Apache RTR 08 / 2011 Model Colour : Red 98544-01660 Scorpio Model: SLX 2004, Colour: Silver Contact- 88110-91965 Honda Activa 2012 Model, Colour- Blue Call-95773-69908 Wagon R For Sale 2009 Model Colour : Maroon Contact-98599-10119 Hundai i20 Sportz ABS CRBI Price – 5.20 Lacs Colour – Grey 88221-41557 Swift Dzire: 2010 Model, Colour: White (D), Ph- 98599-91965 3 bigha land in Thakurbari Road , Rangapara with clearcut title & sale deed. Contact- Gopal Das Phone No088768-59216 Activa, Colour: Black 2012 Model Contact: 98641-06333 3 Bighas fully 6 ft higher boundary wall land in Bhojkhowa , Tezpur interested in condition or direct sale. Contact-Vijay Kr. Bagri Contact No.98641-59713 Mahindra Duro 2013 Model Colour: White Contact-98599-10119 Mahindra Duro 2011 Model Colour : Maroon Contact: 88110-91965 Pulsar 150 2012 Model, Colour Black Contact-98641-06333 Citypedia AMBULANCE Ambulance 102 Arya Hospital, Ulubari 2606888, 2606665 Downtown Hospital 9864101111, 9435012669 GLP Social Circle 2737373 GGUMTA (Mirza) 03623-227109 Marowari Yuva Manch 2542074, 2547251 BLOOD BANK Splendor 2013 Model Colour Black Call- 98641-06333 Honda Activa 2004 Model Colour : Black Call- 88110-91965 23 Arya Hospital, Ulubari 2606888, 2606665 Ganga Blood Bank 2454742, 2455029 Lion’s Club of Ghy Central 2546611 Marwari Yuva Manch 2546470, 2547251 Saharia’s Path Lab (24 hours) 2458594 HOSPITALS Arya Hospital, Ulubari (2606888, 2606665) B Baruah Cancer Institute (2472364/66) Brahmaputra Hospital Ltd (2451634/678) Chatribari Christian Hospital 0361-2600051, 9207044374 Downtown Hospital 2331003, 9864079366, 9435012669 Guwahati Medical College (2529457, 2529561) Guwahati Medical College Emergency (2263444) International Hospital 0361-7135005 Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital (2541477, 2543998) Marwari Hospital & Research Centre 0361-2602738/39 Marwari Maternity Hospital 0361-2541202/01 Nemcare Hospital 0361-2528587, 2455906, 2457344 Pratiksha Hospital 0361-2337260, 2337183/84 Basistha Military Hospital (2304617/0351) Railway Central Hospital Casuality (2671025) Redcross Hospital (2665114) Sri Sankardeva Netralaya 0361-2233444, 2228879, 2228921 TB Hospital (2540193) Wintrobe Hospital 0361-2519860, 98647-77986 IHR-Institute of Human Reproduction 0361-2482619,09864103333 GNRC Hospital 0361 2227702 GNRC Life First Ambulance 9401194011 24-HOUR PHARMACIES Arya Hospital, Ulubari (2606888, 2606665) DEAD BODY CARRYING VAN GLP Social Circle 2737373, 9435047046 Marowari Yuva Manch 2542074, 2547251 GGUMTA 98640-16740 ELECTRICITY SUPPLY Call Centre – 9678005171 OTHERS Fire Emergency 101 State Zoo 2201363 GMC Carcass Pickup 9435190720, 9864047222 LPG Emergency/Leakage 2385209, 2541118 RADIO TAXI SERVICES Prime Cabs 0361- 2222233 Green Cabs 0361-7151515 My Taxi 0361-2228888 Cherry Cabs 8876222288 Cinema Hall Anuradha Cineplex – 0361-2656968, 99545-44738 Fun Cinema (HUB)- 98648-00100, 98648-00200 Gold Cinema (Paltan Bazaar) – 98540-66166 Gold Cinema (Salasar) – 0361-2735367, 98540-77177 Gold Cinema (Narengi) – 88110-01898 police station SP, Kamrup District: Ph- 2540278 DGP Control Room: Ph- 2540242 SB Control Room: Ph-2261511 Police Control Room: Ph-2540138, 2540113 Azara PS: Ph2840287 Basista PS: Ph-2302158 Bharalumukh PS: Ph- 2540137, 2731199 Borjhar PS: Ph-2840351 Chandmari PS: Ph- 2660204 Chandrapur PS: Ph-2788237, 2785237 Dispur PS: Ph-2261510 Fancybazar PS: Ph- 2540285 Fatasil Ambari PS: Ph-2471412 Geetanagar PS: Ph-2417323 Hatigaon: Ph-2562383 Jalukbari PS: Ph-2570587 Jalukbari Out Post: Ph-2570522 Jorabat: Ph-2896853 Khanapara: Ph- 2281501 Khetri PS: Ph-2787699, 2787220 Latasil PS: Ph-2540136 Noonmati PS: Ph- 2550281 North Guwahati PS: Ph-2690255 Paltanbazar PS: Ph-2540126 Panbazar PS: Ph-2540106 Pragjyotishpur Ps: Ph-2785237 Women PS Panbazar: Ph-2524627 24 G PLUS MAR 14 - MAR 21, 2015 Catching Up Flintoff is a mean ‘cockroachmuncher’ too! M unching a giant cockroach is not a big deal for former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff as long as it doesn’t have a ‘horrible’ back end taste. Flintoff is taking part in first series of the Australian version of the popular British reality show, ‘I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!’ and he had to go through a creepy crawly treat as hosts Julia Morris and Chris Brown, in Ant and Dec’s role, encouraged the former cricketer to eat the Madagascan hissing cockroach. Homeopathic remedies work no better than placebos: Study A new huge meta-study has revealed that homeopathic remedies work no better than placebos. The new report from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) in Australia reviewed hundreds of published studies testing the effectiveness of homeopathic treatments, and found no reliable evidence that any of them really work. In the report, the council found studies on homeopathic remedies were typically poorly-designed and scientifically flawed, and their findings inconclusive at best. In most cases, the review found homeopathic remedies worked no better than a placebo, or the findings were too flawed to be conclusive. Without such proof, the researchers are concerned many patients are being misled into wasting their money and worse, forgoing more effective treatment options. Irina Shayk Suffered ‘Ugly’ Insecurities T he 29-year-old model - who recently split from the soccer star after five years of dating - admitted she previously thought she had found the “ideal man” but things didn’t turn out the way she hoped. She told Spainish media: “I thought I had once found the ideal man but it didn’t turn out that way. I think a woman feels ugly when she’s got the wrong man at her side. I’ve felt ugly and insecure.” The Sports Illustrated beauty is now on the lookout for a “gentleman” who treats her well. She added: “My ideal man is faithful, honest and a gentleman who knows how to treat women. I don’t believe in men who make us feel unhappy, because they’re boys not men.” Irina recently revealed her ideal date would include “a lot of food” and an “expensive bottle of champagne, because I’m Russian. I love an expensive bottle of champagne.” Swift insuring her legs for $40 million? I t is believed that the 25-year-old’s team looked into how much her legs were worth in case anything happened during her routines. “It seems like a ludicrous sum, but if something was to happen to her legs, Swift wouldn’t be able to give her signature stage performances,” said a source. “Her $200 million career would be in big trouble,” added the source. The singer, who had showed off her legs in a short suit at The Brit Awards last month, was believed to be “embarrassed” once she found out how much her legs were worth. “She thought her legs were possibly worth a million. But $40 million shocked her. She’s even a little embarrassed about it,” said the source. A All it takes is one drink to make you attractive to opposite sex new study has revealed that just one glass of alcohol could make people appear attractive to the opposite sex. Biologist Marcus Munafo, believed that it might have something to do with the physical changes that occur in the face after the initial consumption of alcohol, such as greater pupil dilation, a greater level of muscle relaxation in the face or an increase in rosy cheeks. These characteristics are often associated with good health and attractiveness. What it means was that alcohol was sort of hijacking that mechanism, or promoting the aspects of facial features that people regard as attractive for other reasons, Munafo further added. The study is published in the Journal of Alcohol and Alcoholism. Printed & Published by Sunit Jain on behalf of Insight Brandcom Pvt. Ltd. and Printed at Arkashish Publications (P) Ltd., Katahbari, Garchuk, Guwahati and Published at H/No. 34, K. C. Choudhury Road, Chatribari, Guwahati - 781008, Editor: Koushik Hazarika. Phone: 0361 2737737, Email: [email protected], RNI No: ASSENG/2013/52641